"One Small Step for Man..." - TGG/ADN Multiverse S

[Steve]

Stargate Command, Earth


Every member of SPT-14 who was still conscious took the revelation in through the haze of their combat rush. The personnel of the SGC were far more confused as to what was going on until Hammond asked, "ZPC? Just what is a ZPC? And what's going on here, who are these people? Colonel?"
"Long story, Sir. Short of it is, they are from a different universe..."
"....set of universes, actually," Daniel interrupted, correcting Jack.
Jack gave him an annoyed look. "Yes, set of universes. They're exploring our galaxy through the Stargates and running tests on them and all sorts of things, then they ended up going to a Goa'uld homeworld."
Hammond looked at Jack for a long moment before he turned to Nate. "And you are... Colonel Mackensen?"
"Colonel Nate Mackensen, Allied Nations Marine Corps, sir. I'm the new field commander of the Stargate Project Command."
"Well, Colonel, welcome to the SGC. Can you explain to me your side of what happened?"
"We were sent to run tests on active Stargate wormholes, so we brought along the eggheads." Nate motioned to Zaria. "When we found what I assume was your mobile vehicle on our first site, we shifted sites and one of them ended up being an enemy homeworld."
"And what is this ZPC device that you say is missing?"
"It's what allows us to get home, sir. Um, Doctor?"
Zaria stepped forward. She tried to smile a little out of diplomacy and said, "General Hammond, I'm Doctor Zaharia Herzela, Chief Assistant Researcher for the SPC. The device we're talking about is a 'Zynski Particle Charger. It channels 'Zynski particles into a Stargate that allows it to make contact with the Stargate we have on a planet we call Bowie in Universe Designate FHI-8."
Hammond's hand went to his head. Zaria noticed the look and found it all too familiar, so she quickly added, "Maybe we should go sit down in a conference room or something and I can explain all of this?"
Jack nodded in agreement, saying, "Yeah, that would probably be a good idea."
"Give it a half hour, please," Nate asked. "I want to check up on my people."
Hammond nodded in acceptance of the term. "We'll hold the debriefing in forty-five minutes, Colonel. You are all dismissed."


The infirmary in Cheyenne Mountain looked much like the one in the SPC facility, save for the lack of status screens and active bio-sensor beds. Cyrzanski, Colette, Worf, and Dax had all been injured by enemy fire, and Sakura had taken a cut to the arm that Tang was starting to work on. Nate watched as what he assumed to be the SGC CMO walked up toward Sakura with bandages for her cut just in time to see Tang run the dermal regenerator over it, healing the wound with no scarring. The white-coated doctor, a woman in early middle age from her appearance, showed less surprise than would have been expected.
"Doc?" Nate heard the voice and looked to see Jack standing near him. His voice prompted the doctor to come over, at which Jack pointed to Nate. "This is Colonel Mackensen, he's here to see how his people are doing. Colonel, this is Doctor Frasier."
"Doctor," Nate said respectfully.
"Well, they're all going to live as far as I can tell. They haven't suffered from the full effects of staff blasts as we're used to, so I'm assuming your people have some kind of defense against them?"
"Artificial textiles designed to disperse energy," Nate confirmed for her. "So they'll all be okay?"
Frasier nodded. "The only one I'm worried about is the alien woman, with the spots. Your medic Lieutenant Tang has helped me in treating her, but I don't have the knowledge of how her physiology works to tell you anything definitive."

"Our best bet is to get home, then," Nate said.
"How do you plan on doing that if the doohickey you need is back on Snakeworld?"
"Go to the pre-arranged emergency contact Site, or get the IU radio working," Nate replied.
"Ah, well, good luck on that, the thing looked pretty fried," Jack remarked.


After being cleared for his wound, Worf took a seat at Dax's bedside. She was still unconscious while Tang worked with Doctor Frasier's staff to find ways to heal her, leaving Worf in the complete silence he so often relished.
Of course, he didn't relish this silence. Dax wasn't about silence, in most cases. It was about laughter, and teasing, and passionate living, discussing things or simply speaking for the sake of conversation. It was an odd case of opposites attract, and it had kept them together through good and some very bad times.
Worf looked up to see a figure moving toward them. He recognized Teal'c as the man who had given them cover fire. "I thank you again for your aid," he said in a low rumble.
"Your wife, I presume?"
"Yes," Worf said with a deceptively soft tone. "She is strong. I know she will survive."
"I am certain of it as well." Teal'c looked at Worf for a moment and did not think about the concept that, until now, he had always believed his race to be a fictional creation. And he certainly was not about to bring that up. "Your name is Worf?"
"It is."
"I am Teal'c." After a pause, he continued speaking. "I have heard that the Klingons are a warrior people."
Worf looked up at that. "We are," he said.
"Then we are alike in that respect. The Jaffa are a warrior people as well, though we are kept in thrall to the Goa'uld."
"And yet you are not. Tell me, Teal'c, why you have turned away from the masters your people serve?"

"I am like many Jaffa in that I saw that the Goa'uld are not Gods as they claim to be. For a long time I kept the confidence of my master, Apophis, hoping to limit the suffering he caused to others. Then I met the Tau'ri - the people of Earth - and saw that they were the best hope for defeating the Goa'uld and freeing my people. It cost me much, but I joined them and left the service of my master."
At that, Worf slowly nodded. "Your cause is a great one, an honorable struggle. My people were once enslaved as well, by a race we called 'Hurq'. Many warriors gave their lives in battle to drive them from the homeworld."
"Perhaps your people would be willing to aid us in our struggle for freedom?"
Worf nodded. "I cannot speak for the Empire as a whole, but there are many Klingons who would gladly join you."
This clearly pleased Teal'c. "I would like to speak of this again another time, but we must be going if we are to attend the debriefing your people are participating in. I can assure you, Doctor Frasier is an excellent healer. Your wife will recover from her ailment."

Using the wardroom overlooking the Gate Room, Hammond sat with SG-1 and members of SPT-14 and the expedition; Nate, Zaria, Worf, and Major Parker. He listened to them explain their origins with the slightest hint of disbelief.
It was Sam, however, who asked, "How do you deal with entropic cascade? Our own experiences with alternate universes show that traveling between them is extremely dangerous."
"You've been to alternate universes already?" asked Nate.
"Well, timelines. We found an alien device called a quantum mirror," Daniel explained. "It allows people to shift through timelines. We've done it a couple of times."

"Ah." Zaria gave a nod at that and went on with her explaination. "Well, I can't answer that at the moment, and I'm sure Commander Dax would do better at it, but our experiences have told us that there are certain dimensions, a kind of hyperdimensional substrata maybe, that is common to many, if not all, universes. Kind of a lower layer to reality. The theory goes that this acts as a conduit for energy, allowing for long-term transferrence between universes and shifting the energy states of all of them to accomodate the transferrance."
"So maybe there's a difference between different universes, as you know them, and the different timelines the quantum mirror showed us," Sam said, following along. "Maybe this subspace doesn't allow for transferrence between them."
Jack sighed, muttering, "Girl talk" from his seat beside Nate.

At that point Hammond stepped in. "This is all very interesting, Major, Doctor, but our primary concern seems to be this device you left behind, which the Goa'uld have undoubtedly claimed now."
"You're talking about the ZPC. It's a device that focuses Straczynski particles and saturates a Stargate with them. For a reason we're not sure of yet, this converts any Stargate into an Interuniversal Jump Point Generator, and with wormholes that are far more stable than the ones our technology creates." Zaria put her hands on the table. "I mean, if you tried to walk through an IU jump point, the gravitational distortion would probably tear your body apart even with a protective energy field."
"And these Straczynski particles allow for interuniversal travel, Doctor?"
"Yes, General. Our jump point generators use them in concentrated forms to create wormholes. Kind of like punching a hole through a piece of paper with a sandblaster, if you will. The frequency that the generator emits the particles in determines which universe is on the other side."
Jack clicked his tongue and pointed his finger across the table. "I like it when they give analogies to help understand those big... complicated things."
Daniel rolled his eyes, while Zaria and Sam only grinned with some amusement, before returning to business by asking, "Well, now the important question is.... can the Goa'uld use this ZPC?"

"Well, it depends on how advanced their knowledge of exotic particle physics is," Zaria said. "Even after a century and a half we still haven't fully figured out every principle related to 'Zynski particles. Do we know anything about their capabilities?"
Hammond looked to Teal'c. "Teal'c?"
"Goa'uld science is focused on learning how to use acquired technology more than researching new devices as you know it. The Goa'uld are scavengers of technology."
"And what about the Goa'uld we just fought? I've never seen that lightning bolt mark on a Jaffa before," asked Sam.
"I believe the world we evacuated was Olympos," Teal'c said. "I recognized the markings on the Jaffa, they are warriors of Zeus."
Daniel noded at that. "Zeus, King of the Gods, Lightning bolts and all that?"
"Yes, Daniel Jackson. Zeus is the son of the System Lord Cronus."
"No surprise there, that's who he was in Greek mythology," Zaria remarked.
"Teal'c, please continue," Hammond asked politely.

Teal'c did so. "Zeus once had a powerful empire of his own before he lost it to his father and other enemies. For the last two centuries he has maintained what remains of his empire by playing Apophis, Ra, and Cronus against each other."
"But now Apophis and Ra are out of the way, and I suppose Cronus isn't too happy with Zeus..."
"Indeed. Cronus has most likely already begun plans to deal with Zeus and his family firmly."
"Wait, family?"
"Zeus has had many Goa'uld off-spring. The one I am most familiar with is Hefetus, who oversees weapon development and is in charge of the factories and mines of Zeus' holdings that produce weapons for his armies."
Daniel nodded. "Hephaestus, God of the Forge, producer of tools. It makes sense. What about Ares and Hebe?"
"Ares was the leader of Zeus' army many centuries ago, but he has since risen to the status of System Lord. I know little about Heb, save that she oversees the training of young Jaffa and potential hosts."
"God of War and Goddess of Youth..." Daniel said.
Hammond asked, "How much of a threat does Zeus pose, Teal'c?"
"Among System Lords he is a regarded with a sense of caution but contempt. He has fallen far from the heights of power. What he has now was won through centuries of trickery and manipulation, so he is mistrusted by many Goa'uld. He does, however, possess a capable army and a number of motherships, ensuring that any attack on him would be costly. Many Goa'uld keep their distance from him. It is Hefetus that we should be most concerned about, however, as his skill with technology is widely known."
Nate nodded at that. "So, we have to go back and get the ZPC, make sure this bozo doesn't somehow stumble upon how to use it for IU travel."
"Yeah, good luck assaulting a Goa'uld homeworld," Jack remarked sardonically.
"Well, we have to do something," Nate retorted.

"We should get in contact with Brownsville," Parker stated. "General Thompson needs a full report."
"Fine. Doctor, get Sergeant Dalton and start fixing that IU radio," Nate ordered.
"You can use the lab," Sam offered. "I'd love to help."
Nate saw the look in Zaria's face. They were already walking a delicate legal wire given the official blacklisting of SRC-19 and laws regulating contact with pre-interplanetary societies. But he waved her off, figuring that the situation was too grave to worry about little technicalities. "Go, get it fixed. We're going to need everything we can get on this one."
Zaria nodded and stood up, Sam joining her. As they walked out Parker picked up his radio and said, "Sergeant Dalton, please follow the ladies and bring that IU radio with you," knowing Dalton was right outside.


Olympos


The Jaffa of Olympos bowed at the sight of the craft bearing their god to the Stargate. The rings descended from the craft and inside materialized two figures.
Zeus, Lord of Olympos, had taken a virile male host body, a barrel-chested human figure with a dark brown beard and matching hair that was kept short. He wore a white robe and shorts that bared his lower legs. The look on his face was one of confidence and power, as he was long accustomed to rule.
Beside him was a shorter, stockier figure, muscular but ugly with no hair to speak of on his head. Zeus' son, Lord Hefetus, walked forth toward the Jaffa bearing the recovered device. He looked it over and a thought that had been going through his head grew stronger.
He hid indications of this as he looked to his father, who's eyes flashed with anger. "You allowed them to escape," he grumbled in the deep, unnatural bass tone of a Goa'uld.
The large, bald Jaffa in charge of this band remained on one knee before Zeus. "My apologies, my Lord. The Tau'ri were many, and their weapons more powerful than reported by the others. They destroyed the defense turrets and held my men back until their reinforcements enabled them to escape through the chappa'ai. But they left this behind, my Lord." The Jaffa indicated the device. "It had been attached to the chappa'ai. Perhaps a weapon of..."
"Silence!" Zeus thundered, his eyes flashing in anger. The Jaffa lowered his head and remained silent. "Hefetus! I want to know what this is."
"Yes, Lord Zeus. I will get to work on it immediately," was the reply, with the same inhuman bass timbre as Zeus' voice. As he ordered the Jaffa to bring the device to be ringed back to the cargo ship, a slight smile crossed his face. A suspicion that he felt was going to prove true.
He couldn't wait to see what the device did.

[dragon]

Very nice. Even though if they can get to the emergency site and contact home the bad guys will be in a world of hurt. After all the star gate is big enough for elementals to go through and since you re did the mechs with advance tech than the ementals should be some scary opposition.

[Steve]

Stargate Command, Earth

Sam's lab had become cramped with Zaria, Sam, and Dalton all trying to work on the IU radio (Dalton being the biggest offender in loss of space). The backpack-like device was set upon the main table, opened up and with charred pieces already set aside. Sam stood ready with tools, intrigued in the design of the radio as Zaria did the hard work of actually reaching into it. Sighing, Zaria finally pulled her hands out and wiped the sweat off her forehead. "Okay, good news and bad news. Good news is, the Straczynskium core is intact and undamaged. The bad news is, enough of the transmission and power distribitution gear on the radio has been busted that I'll have to rebuild the radio, and I don't have the parts here."
"Next window for a meeting at the contact site is in ten hours," Dalton said. "That's a long time for Commander Dax to wait."
"What is this Straczynskium anyway?", asked Sam. "I assume it has something to do with the 'Zynski particles you talked about earlier?"
"Straczynskium is a rare element, something your people won't find for another couple hundred years.... at least not without our help," Zaria explained. "When subjected to certain electrical charges of proper voltage, it generates 'Zynski particles. In an IU radio, the particles are propagated in waves that act as carrier waves for radio transmissions between universes."

"So... all you need is to be able to generate enough of an electrical charge into the core to send a message, right?"
"Right but not completely. We also need a control system to regulate the output frequency of the 'Zynski particles so that we broadcast to the right universe, plus a device to transmit and receive UHF transmissions and a decryption module so that we can actually communicate with SPC."
"How much on the radio is intact?"
Zaria looked back inside of it, and after about two minutes of removing intact and burnt parts, she pulled out a piece and smiled. "Well, the decrypter and UHF transceiver are intact, at least."
"Then I have the parts here in the lab to build a new radio," Sam said, a grin on her face.
"Then what are we waiting for?" Zaria grinned widely. "Sergeant," she said to Dalton, "if you can handle getting the parts we'll need for the core's electrical charger, Major Carter and I will put together the transceiver and decypter and build a new control system to regulate the core's output frequency."


The conference room overlooking the Gate room was empty when Nate entered it, having checked up on the injured again. Everyone was fine, as before, though even Tang wasn't sure if Dax could be healed until they got back to Brownsville. Of course, when they got back, Nate would have his own problems given the accidental contact with a pre-interplanetary Earth and the fact that his personality virtually guaranteed a clash with Thompson and Michaels over the fact that he'd been proven disasterously right about the dangers posed by the threat they now knew as the Goa'uld.
He heard a noise and looked over to the staircase in time to see Jack O'Neill finish ascending it. "Hey, heard you were up here." Jack lifted his hand and revealed the two bottles of Heineken he was holding. "Figured you might be interested in a beer."
Smirking with amusement, Nate nodded in appreciation and replied, "Yeah, a beer sounds good right about now. Sure about having it here, though?"
Jack handed him one of the bottles. "Yeah, well, I won't tell if you won't tell. Just stay away from the window."

At that moment the Stargate began lighting up. "Don't worry about it, just SG-5 returning from a mission," Jack remarked. "You only need to worry if the red lights start going off. Which happens often enough around here...."
"Ah." Nate took a swig from the beer and found a seat. "So, 1999. Nice year. Got some rough times up ahead though, even without the Goa'uld."
"Oh really?"
"Yeah." Nate sighed and took a swig. "Well, it can vary by universe. Sometimes different events happened, or they happened but the result was different. Truth be told, I'm not certain how much I can tell you without getting in trouble."
Jack tapped his bottle. "Hey, I brought you beer, at least you could tell me how long I'm going to be enjoying 'The Simpsons'."
Nate chuckled. "Longest run for it was twenty-five years. Universe.... AR-12 I think it was. I still remember seeing the episodes on a 'Classics' channel, like the episode when Ned Flander's wife died...." He blanched when he saw the look on Jack's face. "That hasn't aired yet, has it?"
"No, it hasn't," Jack said in irritation. "Okay, how about things that don't involve spoiling my favorite television shows?"

"Okay. In almost all histories in the Multiverse, Michael Jordan comes out of retirement again."
"Go Bulls. They can always use another three championships."
Nate finished another swig before answering, "Um, no, he actually signs with the Washington Wizards."
Jack finished the gulp on his beer. "Now why the hell would he do that?"
"Uh, was a partial owner or something, I think. I just remember seeing it because my son was a big basketball fan and..." Nate felt an old point throb in his heart and took another drink to try and force it back down.
"Your son, how's he doing?"
Nate was silent for a moment and couldn't help but look off into space for a moment. It was all Jack needed to see to know what had happened, but Nate nevertheless spoke, "My son George died about twenty-five years ago. I have two more adopted sons, Furel and Lorva, and an adopted daughter named Ivliya."
"Those are some interesting names," Jack said, quietly hiding his own pain on the subject.
"They're Bajoran, brothers and sister. I met them when I was recovering from the fighting on Bajor. Their dad was executed by the Cardassians and their mother was killed in the fighting from when we liberated the labor camp they were being held in." Nate smiled slightly. "Furel is in college, Ivliya just graduated from the officer's academy, and Lorva is waiting to defend his doctoral thesis."
"Not bad, not bad at...."

A door opposite the table opened and Nate and Jack turned to see Hammond beginning to walk into the room. While Jack moved his hand slightly to hide the beer bottle he was holding, Nate stood straight from his chair, revealing the beer in his hand, but Hammond gestured to him and said, "At ease", just as he noticed the beer in Nate's hand. His eyes went to Jack, who muttered "Jarheads".
"Major Carter and Doctor Herzela say they will have that radio of your's active momentarily, Colonel," Hammond said to Nate. "Colonel O'Neill will show you to Major Carter's lab. You are dismissed, and please take that with you."
"Yes Sir."


Sam was too busy helping Zaria finish the final wire connections to notice Jack and Nate non-chalantly tossing the empty beer bottles into her trash. After a few moments Jack looked to Nate and asked, "So, they killed off Maude? Why?"
"Hell if I know."
"Do they ever kill off Burns?"
"Don't think so."
Jack snapped his fingers. "No surprise there. Killing a Goa'uld is tough." Jack saw the confused look on Nate and said, "Well, he acts like a Goa'uld."
"You have to be kid...."

"And there we are!" Zaria exclaimed in triumph, pulling away from the IU radio. It was now attached to a laptop computer, itself rigged to read and use the UHF transceiver and decryption module from the IU radio. Sam handed her the computer and Zaria began tapping a few keys. "Sir, it's ready," she said.
"Here goes nothing." Nate picked up the microphone unit on the IU radio and began to speak. "Sierra Papa Charlie, this is Mackensen. Please come in."
There was a moment of silence, after which General Thompson's drawl came in over the speakers Sam had set up. "Mackensen, this is Thompson. Good to hear from you, I'd like a sitrep."
"We had a hostile contact at Site 29, Sir. Turns out the city detected there is an enemy capital of some sorts. We lost the ZPC and one of the portable ZPC parts got hit, so we're without a ride home."
"Where are you now?"
"Well, sir..." Nate swallowed. "I also need to report an Alpha Echo Charlie."
Another bit of silence on the other end. It was unsurprising to Nate, given that "Accidental Earth Contact" was never well-received. "Confirm, Mackensen, that there has been an Alpha Echo Charlie?"
"Confirmed, sir, we have an Alpha Echo Charlie. Sierra Papa Tango One-Four is currently in a secured gate facility on Echo Sierra Romeo Charlie One-Nine.."
Another period of silence. "Colonel, I want you back for a full debriefing."
More like a full ass-reaming, Nate thought to himself before replying, "Yes Sir. We'll await the transiting of a ZPC. I also request medical personnel be ready, Commander Dax is wounded and the indigs aren't too familiar with Trill."
"It will be arranged. We will open the gate in fifteen minutes. Thompson out."


Brownsville, Bowie, Universe Designate FHI-8


Thompson felt an incredible headache as he sat in his office, readying himself for the storm to come when he informed President Dale of the AEC in SRC-19.... and of the lost ZPC unit.
He was reading over a paper when the red lights began to flash and the klaxons began to go off, Sergeant Kurtman warning of an unscheduled gate activiation over the PA. He made his way to the Gate Control Room as the device continued dialing. "Who is it?"
"Could be SPT-4, sir, but I'm not picking up any IU signals from them," Kurtman replied from his station.
"Close the defensive iris and raise shields."
The tritanium iris slid into place and the defensive deflector shields went up. When the Stargate finished dialing and the wormhole activated, there was nothing for a few moments.
A solid image suddenly appeared upon the iris, that of a bald-headed man with a beard and fire around him. "I am Hefetus, God of Olympos.", the man said, his voice booming through the control center. "In the name of Zeus, King of the Gods, you will cease your invasions of this universe or you will face the wrath of Olympos. This will be your only warning. Obey your Gods or suffer the consequences."
The image disappeared. The wormhole, however, did not close. "They're keeping it open from their end, sir," Kurtman reported. "We can't dial out."
Thompson took in a breath. "Get me Colonel Mackensen again."


Cheyenne Mountain, Earth, Universe Designate SRC-19


Nate was standing in the Gate Room with Jack, Sakura, Parker, and Worf, with Dax on a stretcher to the side with Doctor Frasier and Tang attending her. Everyone stood there for several passing moments before Nate said, "It's not like them to be late."
"Colonel Mackensen, please report to Major Carter's lab," one of the Gate techs said over the PA.
"Now what," Nate muttered as he left, Jack and Sakura following. They wound their way through the SGC until they arrived at Sam's lab, where she and Zaria were tinkering with the radio. "Doctor?"
"It's General Thompson for you, sir." Zaria presented Nate with the IU radio's microphone.
Nate picked it up and held it to his mouth. "Mackensen here."

"Colonel, might you explain why the hell we just had someone calling himself a God dial a wormhole here?"
Nate groaned, looks of concern coming across every face in the room. "What did he say his name was?"
"Hefetus. He says he serves Zeus, and right now he's keeping a wormhole to the SPC open so we can't dial out. Colonel, I'd like a full explaination right now."
"Oh, I'd be delighted, Sir." Nate bit into his lower lip. "Very delighted to."
As he began his explaination, the thought crossed Nate's mind: This day just keeps getting worse and worse....

[Vehrec]

Do not spoil the shows that haven't even been animated yet! Or else O'Neill will Zat you. Also, Carter can fix anything. And Hephestus somehow figured out how and who to call to get his message across. That worries me. He's got to go, before the Goa'uld can fit Jump drives to their motherships.

[Steve]

Cheyenne Mountain, Earth, Universe Designate SRC-19


General Thompson digested the news as best as could be expected. The fact that he wasn't calling for Nate's head was a pleasant surprise. "So, the "Diablo" that the Site 32 Humans were talking about..."
"....are known as the Goa'uld, sir," Nate finished for him. "They've apparently named themselves after various old gods like Zeus and Ra and Thor..."
"Um, actually," Jack said, leaning toward the mic and cutting into the conversation without any regards to the contrary, "Thor is not a Goa'uld, he's an Asgard, and is a really good buddy of mine."
Nate put a hand to his head as Thompson responded to the new voice. "Colonel, who was that?"
Answering for Nate, Jack said, "Sir, I'm Colonel Jack O'Neill, United States Air Force and the commander of SG-1."
"Colonel O'Neill, would you kindly keep your mouth shut while Colonel Mackensen finishes his explaination?"
"Just helping you keep track of the good aliens from the bad, sir," Jack answered in a non-plussed tone.

After giving Jack an annoyed look, Nate finished the radio sitrep. "We've already tried to cut the power from this end," Thompson said, "but that won't close the wormhole."
Motioning to the mic, Sam got Nate to hand it over. "Sir, this is Major Samantha Carter, US Air Force. We've dealt with this before, Sir. The wormhole can be sustained for 38 minutes before they shut off. As soon as it goes down, you need to dial out before they can re-establish it."
"Actually...." Zaria had her own idea, and Sam handed her the mic at seeing her expression. "General, this is Doctor Herzela. Major Carter's right, but since the Gate is in FHI-8, dialing out won't be necessary. Simply don't recharge the Gate with 'Zynski particles, then the Goa'uld can't dial in. Are there any other teams in the field, sir?"
"SPT-4 is still on Site 17," replied Thompson. "I intend to bring them back as soon as I can and to halt operations."
"As soon as you recover Commander Dax we can wait for you to bring SPT-4 in. In the meantime, I'd suggest that we no longer keep the gate charged, but only initiate 'Zynski charges when we're preparing to open or receive a gate."
"Very well. The gate will be open for another twenty minutes by your reckoning. We'll contact you again when it goes down. Thompson out."


The atmosphere in the conference room overlooking the Gate Room was oppressive. SG-1 was present in its entirety, with Zaria, Nate, and Sakura sitting on the opposite side. General Hammond's jaw remained clenched as he was given the somber report of Hefetus using the ZPC to block the use of the Bowie jump gate. "Colonel Mackensen, I probably shouldn't have to point out that this development puts all of us in danger," he remarked, looking straight at Nate. "I'm pretty sure your government has rules and laws about dealing with less-advanced versions of Humanity, but I think this situation makes it pretty clear that we have to work together. If the Goa'uld study this device of your's enough and actually achieve the ability to move between universes, then any hope we have of overthrowing them is gone."
"If the Goa'uld expanded to other universes, their ability to build up larger armies would become impossible to overcome," Teal'c added. "The Jaffa will view it as another miracle and be firmer than ever in their belief that the Goa'uld are gods."

"What about these 'Asgard' I've heard mentioned?", asked Zaharia. "They're supposed to be more powerful than the Goa'uld, right? They're even protecting this Earth from them."
"Well, under treaty, yes," Hammond replied, "but they've made it quite clear to us that they no longer have the actual physical strength to protect Earth or any other planet under their protection."
"Yeah, something about a threat even bigger than the Goa'uld in their home galaxy," Jack added. "Which sounds really, really scary."

"So we're left to do this on our own," Nate replied. "The thing is, for my government, this operation is as secret as your's is, and due to treaty law we can't actually send ships here.... not that I'm convinced they'd stand a chance against the Goa'uld anyway. They certainly made short work of one of our vessels eighty years ago."
"Gathering the numbers of personnel needed to make a direct assault on this Olympos would be prohibitive, perhaps impossible." From her chair, Sakura now entered the conversation. "I'd say our best alternative is some form of subtle assault by no more than 2 SPT teams, a strike mission to either recover or destroy the ZPC and to ensure that any databanks they might have accumulated are destroyed."

A wry chuckle came from Jack. "So, you want to assault a Goa'uld homeworld with.... how many people are in your teams anyway?"
"Ten," Sakura answered.
Before Jack could reply, Teal'c made the remark, "I believe the Tau'ri term is 'suicide mission'."
There was a period of silence after that. Finally Hammond looked to Nate again and asked, "How long until you can re-open your gate?"
"Ten, fifteen minutes or so," Nate replied. "I figure General Thompson will leave it uncharged for a few minutes to make sure Hefetus doesn't just dial in again."
"Well, I'd like to meet with General Thompson," Hammond said. "See if we can find a way to get us out of this mess."

Nate was about to comment on Thompson visiting the SGC when Zaria spoke up. "I'm sure he'd be willing to meet you, General Hammond. We'll take you through as soon as we can." Already forseeing how Nate would react, Zaria looked to him. "It's the best way, Colonel. General Thompson has a direct line to President Dale if we need more forces."
"He does?" Nate answered, somewhat surprised.
"There are still things about the SPC you haven't bothered to learn, Colonel," Sakura pointed out.
"That new to the job, huh?" Jack remarked.

There was a sound from the staircase. Major Parker's head appeared. "Sir, Commander Dax is awake."
As Nate moved in his chair, Hammond also stood. "We'll meet here again when it's time to open the gate. You're all dismissed."


The SGC infirmary had quieted down since Nate had last visited. He found Dax at the bed they'd put her in, Worf at her side and Doctor Frasier standing a bit off, looking over a paper. Jack followed in behind him, Zaria taking up the rear. Keeping a stoic expression, Nate walked up to her and said, "Commander, good to see you're well."
She looked at him, but it was Frasier who spoke first. "Your medic helped me pick some medications to ease the pain, but it's still up to your doctors to care for her. There's little more I can do."

"Worf... told me," Dax said weakly. "About everything. I guess... you were right..."
"I've never felt worse about being right either," Nate said sympathetically. "We'll get you back to the SPC in just a bit longer. I'm sure you'll be up and running in no time."
"And when I am... I want to join whatever mission you've got planned," Dax said.
"Well... there's nothing concrete yet..." Nate nodded slowly as a final reply. "I'll bring you along if you want. But it's a mission we probably won't be walking back from."
"That's also what Starfleet's about," Dax replied with an amused look before laying her head back.
Nate stepped back and noticed Tang and some of Fraiser's orderlies working around a nearby rolling bed. "We have to get her ready to be moved," Frasier said. "Can you please wait outside?"
There was a nod in reply, but before anyone could further move red lights went off throughout the infirmary and base. "Unscheduled gate activation in progress," a voice warned on the PA.
"This day just keeps getting better and better," Jack mumbled as they headed off to Gate Control.


Once there they were directed to the briefing room again, where Hammond and Sam were waiting for them with two other individuals. Jacob Carter had returned, and this time he had brought along another Tok'ra, who's host was brown-haired and on the slim side. "Colonel Mackensen, this is Jacob Carter and Nural," Hammond said, introducing them.
Noticing how close Sam was to the older man, Nate put two and two together. "Major Carter's father? Sir, good to meet you."
"The same, Colonel." Jacob looked straight toward Mackensen and toward Nural. "Jack, you haven't met Nural. He's one of the younger Tok'ra, a big supporter of our alliance with Earth. Selmak and I think you'll like him."
"Who's Selmak?" Nate asked.
"Selmak is my Tok'ra symbiote," Jacob explained as Nate came up and gave Jacob a handshake.
"Symbiote? Is it like a Goa'uld symbiote or a Trill one?", Nate asked.
Nural showed a clearly displeased reaction at the mention of the Goa'uld, but Jacob sighed, pulling his hand away. "I see they haven't told you yet, Colonel. The Tok'ra are what you could call cousins of the Goa'uld. We've been fighting them for the past two thousand years, trying to overthrow their empire from within."
"Two thousands years, huh?" Nate shook his head. "That's.... that's pretty long to be waging a resistance."
"Ask them how many Goa'uld System Lords they've taken down compared to us," Jack said.
"You'll have to excuse Colonel O'Neill, he's not exactly a big fan of most of the Tok'ra." Jacob motioned to Nural. "I brought Nural along because I thought it best if he was the one who talked to you about this situation."

Attention turned to Nural, and when he spoke, it was with the unnatural bass timbre of a symbiote in control. "It is perhaps better if I let my host speak," Nural said. His head bowed, and when it came back up, his hand snapped up into a formal military salute. "Colonel Mackensen, Sir, I'm Lieutenant Frank York, United States Star Navy, Second Watch Officer on the U.S.S. Abigail Thompson."
Nate's jaw dropped a little, and even Jack looked a little surprised. "You.... there were survivors?", Nate asked.
"A few of us," Frank York replied, "but I'm the only one left. The rest were executed by the Goa'uld or died when the Tok'ra liberated the mine we were enslaved in."
"My God..."
"So you've known this entire time that there were Humans from another universe and you never told us?" Jack asked Jacob pointedly. "Don't you think that's something we needed to know?!"
"The Tok'ra didn't believe Frank for a long time," Jacob replied. "They thought he was delusional, or had his mind played with by the Goa'uld. At first we mostly used him for minor missions to make sure he wasn't a plant of some sort."
"Nural was the first to think I might not be crazy," Frank added. "He believed in me when nobody else did, so when he needed a host I volunteered immediately."
"We figured it was the best way to find out if he was crazy or not, but even when Nural confirmed he was sane and truthful, well..." Jacob shrugged. "We figured whoever they were, the Humans from the other universe wouldn't come back. But now you are, and we need to talk."
Jacob looked to Frank, who nodded and turned his head back to Nate. "Colonel, this is very important, and I know this might sound off to you, but you have to listen to me," Frank said in an urgent tone.
"Yes, Lieutenant?"
"We need you to bring it back," Frank said in deadly seriousness.
"'It?'"
"The Stargate," Frank said for clarification. "The Stargate that was taken from Tarus.... from the planet near Rebsam, the one you're using now. We need you to give it back."

[Steve]

Cheyenne Mountain, Earth, Universe Designate SRC-19


"Okay, first thing.... I cannot believe we're letting them do this!"
Jack's voice carried across Hammond's office, where the two had retired after hearing out the Tok'ra request for the return of the Tarus/Bowie Stargate. The bewildered look on Jack's face was similar to the one still on Nate's face, as Hammond looked out and saw him still talking to Jacob and Nural/Frank.
"These people might be the best damned thing we've run into out there," Jack continued. "With their help we might actually have a shot at defeating the Goa'uld. And now the Tok'ra want us to give that up?!"

"They say they can help us get back that ZPC device," Hammond replied. "Frankly, if we're going to send a team onto a Goa'uld homeworld, we're going to need their help."
"The price is too high, General. Besides, I don't think they want the Goa'uld to get their hands on inter-universal technology anymore than we do. It's a bluff."
"Maybe, maybe not. But I don't want to take that risk, and I don't think you really want to either. Or the Alliance, for that matter. Which is why we're bringing Jacob and Mr. York with us."
"That's the second thing." Jack finally settled into the chair. "General, Daniel and I can handle talking with these people. There's no need for you to go through. I'm not comfortable with you being at risk."
"Do you have reason to distrust these people?"
"No, but you never know what might happen, General."

"Agreed. But the President's already asked me to handle this personally," Hammond answered. "So I'm going with you."
"Yeah, I figured you'd say that."

A familiar red light went off. "Unscheduled gate activation in progress," was the warning, and everyone headed to Gate Control. The Tok'ra, Nate, and Sam joined them as the iris closed. Behind it the event horizon formed, but instead of the customary blue corona of light behind it hues of green and gold were added. "That's our people," Nate remarked.
"Sir, signal through the gate. It's Colonel MacKensen's people."
"Open the iris," Hammond ordered. "Tell them to come through."

The iris slid open again. A few moments later a couple figures came through, towing a piece of equipment with them. The gate closed behind them.
Taking up the phone, Hammond sent a call through. "Doctor Frasier, please get your patient ready."


About fifteen minutes later everything was ready. SPT-14 had gathered in the Gate Room, as well as the two technicians who had finished connecting the ZPC to the Stargate. SG-1 remained at Hammond's side, with Jacob Carter on his right and Frank York behind them. One of them stood up and gave a thumb's up sign. "Gate's charged," he said while his comrade detached the device from the Gate. The Stellar Navy Petty Officer walked up to Nate. "Sir, General Thompson ordered us to remain here with the device until further notice."
"He did, huh? Guess he's expecting further travel." Nate looked to SG-1 and Hammond. "Good sign there, I guess."
"Beginning dialing sequence now."
The dialing process took the usual amount of time, and the Gate opened as it normally did, but again the customary blue sheen was added to by shifting green and gold hues.

Dax was taken through first, Worf accompanying her along with Tang. Other members of SPT-14 filtered through, and it was left to Nate and Sakura to escort SG-1, Hammond, and the Tok'ra through the Stargate.
When they emerged on the other end, the members of SG-1 looked around at the large Gate Chamber they entered. Jack and Teal'c focused on the automated particle cannons along the walls, even if they were clearly inactive. At the base of the ramp to the Gate were armed men in full body armor, complete with full helmets that had clear visors and large, mean looking weapons in their arms, meaner than the particle rifles that SG-1 had already seen in the hands of SPT-14. The window facing them showed a room somewhat like Gate Control back in the SGC, though even here a holographic display was visible to make a stark difference clear.
At the base of the ramp was a small honor guard, and in the middle stood General Thompson. Hammond led everyone in saluting upon standing before his opposite, and Thompson returned the salute. "General George Hammond, United States Air Force, Commanding Officer of Stargate Command."
Hammond's extended hand was taken by Thompson. "General Arthur Thompson, Texan Air Force, Commander of the Stargate Project Command. Nice to have you, General Hammond."

A surprised, sly grin appeared on Hammond's face, and Jack looked on in surprise. "Texan Air Force?" he asked.
"Maybe Texas remained an independent country in this history," Daniel offered in explaination.
"No. We just went our own way when the United States broke up in the late 21st Century," Thompson replied. "Long story there. Gentlemen and ladies, if you'll follow me...."


Everyone assembled in the conference room, Dr. Michaels joining them on the way, and Thompson went on the phone, checking to ensure the arrangements were ready. After about five minutes he went to his seat at the table directed his attention to the monitor built into the wall. After several moments the screen came on. The other end was a bland office of some sort, or perhaps another conference room, and they were presented with the view of a dark-haired man, green-eyed, who was wearing a normal business suit and tie. "Mister President," Thompson said. "This is General George Hammond of Stargate Command from Earth SRC-19 with his SG-1 team, as well as two representatives of the.... Tok'ra, right?"
Jacob nodded.

"Gentlemen, this is an extraordinary situation for us," the President stated from his end. "Our presence in your universe through the SPT teams is questionable under treaty, and as for the contact with Earth SRC-19.... well, that is a unique situation. And now I'm told that a 'Zynski Particle device has fallen into the hands of an unfriendly empire?"
"Calling the Goa'uld 'unfriendly' is a bit of an understatement, Mister President," Jack remarked.
Hammond gave an annoyed look at Jack, and Jacob began to speak himself. "Colonel O'Neill's right, Mister President. The Goa'uld are a brutal race of snake-like sentient entities that take over host bodies, Humans being their preferred hosts these days, and the Goa'uld System Lords rule empires that together span many sections of the Milky Way Galaxy in our universe. The Tok'ra are an... offshoot, you might say, of the Goa'uld, dedicated to bringing down the System Lords."

"And you're a leader of the Tok'ra, Mister....?"
"Jacob Carter, and Selmak," Jacob answered. "I'm from Earth as well, Mister President. I volunteered to be the host for Selmak when his former host died."
"I see." President Dale nodded his head slightly. "I'm told by General Thompson that you are requesting the return of the Stargate taken from SRC-19 eighty years ago. May I ask why?"

"The version of this planet in SRC-19, Mister President, is called Tarus by the Tok'ra and Goa'uld," Jacob explained. "It was once part of the domains of Ra, the Supreme System Lord of the Goa'uld. He abandoned the planet centuries ago when the naquadah mines ran dry and afterward we moved in and established a supply vault there. Tarus is deep within disputed territory among several System Lords, too far from any secured Tok'ra base to make ship flights to, and without a Stargate there we've been unable to access the materials we kept stored there. Materials that we may have a chance to put into use now that we have Earth helping us. That's why we'd like you to return the Stargate to Tarus."
"That could prove... difficult," Dale remarked. "We have something called the Treaty of New Brasilia. It established the body that regulates the dissemination of interuniversal jump tech and oversees the operation of jump gate assemblies. It also holds power over the Blacklist, a list of universes barred from further contact, which your universe is currently the sole occupant of. Under this treaty, no ship with an IU jump point generator is allowed to make jumps into SRC-19. The software is intentionally rigged to prevent the device from being set to SRC-19."

"Mister President, if I may...." Nural lowered his head, and Frank York was the one who spoke up. "I am Frank York, the sole survivor of the Abigail Thompson. I've served with the Tok'ra as an operative and then as Nural's host since the day they liberated me from a Goa'uld mining camp. Sir, the Tok'ra are the best chance SRC-19 has to get rid of the Goa'uld. We need to let them get access to Tarus again, even if it means going up against the IUCEC."
Jack grumbled inaudibly at York's remarks. This was picked up by Dale, who asked, "Colonel O'Neill, I believe it was... you don't seem to agree?"

Hammond and Jacob looked to Jack. Daniel sighed and Sam put her head against her hand. Jack shifted a little in his seat, added a partial shrug motion to his shoulders, and said, "Well, Mister President, we're allies with the Tok'ra, but I have to say that I'm not sure I can agree with Nural.... Mister York, whatever. The SGC has taken down more System Lords, including Ra, in the last three years than the Tok'ra have in three thousand."
"Two thousand," Daniel corrected.
"Whatever."

Dale smiled thinly at that. "General Hammond, may I presume you share the opinions of your man?"
Hammond made no motion while replying, "Colonel O'Neill has his own opinions. I have to say I'd prefer doing this in a way to keep your people as allies for Earth. We're alone out there, save for the Tok'ra, and our only protection from the Goa'uld is a treaty signed with an alien race that can't actually enforce it and is operating purely on bluffs. But the President and I feel that recovering this ZPC device, or at least ensuring the Goa'uld cannot figure it out, is a higher priority at the moment, even if it means having you return the Stargate to the Tok'ra."

That drew a nod from Dale. "I wish I could say I understand your plight, General Hammond, but I bet I can't. I wish I could do more for you, but right now it's a sensitive time in the Multiverse for us, and going to the IUCEC with this is... very dangerous for the Alliance. And I do agree with you that the lost ZPC has to be our first priority. General Thompson, have you begun formulating any plans for retrieval."
"No, Mister President. Given what the SGC has told us about the Goa'uld, we suspect they'll be ready for any assault through the Stargate," Thompson replied. "We'll have to go by space anyway."
"The Tok'ra can get you onto Olympos, and into Zeus' palace, General," Selmak said, speaking up with the customary bass tone.
That drew a look from Jack. "Oh?"
"We have an agent inside of Zeus' palace, someone who can make sure a cargo vessel goes unnoticed," Selmak continued. "And we can provide that vessel, enough for perhaps fifteen or twenty people."

"If you can do that, we'll provide the teams to go in," Thompson said, with Dale's approval registered by a nod.
"If it's alright with you, Sir, SG-1 would like to volunteer to join you," Jack said. Grinning, he added, "It's a nice chance to add another System Lord to our list, and maybe get to play with some ray guns."
"We'd be glad to accept SG-1's help," Nate remarked, grinning as well from amusement.
"Well, if the matter of that operation is settled, I'll leave you to plan it," Dale said. "The Tok'ra can remain here and we'll negotiate their request for the Gate and see if it can be arranged. Colonels, you and your teams are dismissed."


Zaria was in the science lab checking up on projects and long-term computer observations when the door opened and admitted Sam and Daniel, escorted by one of the facility guards. She looked back at them, dressed more comfortably now in red vest over green sleeveless blouse and green skirt, and smiled in greeting. "Meeting's over I guess?"
"For us." Sam looked around at the numerous wall monitors, keyboard stations, and large table holo-emitter.

Noticing that, Zaria stood. "This is where I study the Stargates and the wormholes they create. I'm crunching the data now from the recorders we had at Site 3. Unfortunately I couldn't get the Site 29 recorders...." Seeing Sam walk over toward the holo-table, she touched a couple keys and brought up a holographic, 3D representation of a Stargate wormhole. "It's really... a work of art. Stargate-created wormholes show none of the instability and gravitational distortions that our interuniversal jump points have. The closest thing is the Bajoran wormhole, I'd have to say."
"Bajoran wormhole?" Sam asked.
"The only known stable wormhole in the Multiverse, from my home universe, in the Bajoran home system." Zaria brought up a display of the wormhole mouth to remain side-by-side with the Stargate wormhole, small numbers and data around both. "It connects two different sides of the galaxy together. A journey of sixty years for our drives cut to sixty or so seconds."

Sam was intensely studying the holo-table, taking in the data presented upon it with a medium and with accuracy that she could only dream of. Zaria turned to see Daniel looking around wistfully. "Doctor Jackson, I don't suppose you're into this part of the job?"
"Yeah, it's a bit out of my area of expertise," he answered. "Don't suppose you have alien ruins I can look over?"
Smiling, Zaria led him over to a computer monitor and a chair. "Keyboards haven't changed much since the 20th Century," she explained, motioning to one that indeed had the old-fashioned QWERTY lay-out, along with specialist function buttons framing the keys. As he settled into the chair she tapped her way through controls. "And from these computers you can look into any public domain server in the Multiverse, give or take a few minutes for IU transmission times. I'm no archeologist, but I'd recommend starting with the University of New Chatham's Xenoarcheology site. New Chatham's got the most prestigious xenoarcheology program in the Multiverse, with holographic records, digital photos, and detailed records of thousands of archeological digs across the Multiverse." When he looked up at her, she smiled and shrugged. "I dated a TA from the department when I was working with a project team at the university. Trust me."

Within minutes she had him on the site, and soon Jackson's fingers were using the tracker to surf through the promised archive of digs. "It could take me years to look through all this," Jackson said in awe.
"It's a big Multiverse," Zaria remarked.
"A pity we don't have years here," they heard Jack's voice call out. They looked to the entrance and Jack was standing there with Nate. "Enjoy the stay while you can, tomorrow we're going to be busy, and the day after we're going after another Snakehead."
"You're being assigned quarters here," Nate said. "Tomorrow we start weapons training at 0700 base time, sharp."
"Weapons training?" Sam asked. She realized she shouldn't have bothered a moment later, given the look in Jack's eyes.
"Oh yes." He grinned. "They're teaching us to use ray guns tomorrow."

[Mayabird]

It's ALIIIIIIIIIIVE! ALIIIIIIIIVE! Yaaaaaaaaaaay!

So how many treaties would they all be breaking if they had a big download-data-onto-whatever exchange at the end? And how many of them would care about that?

[Steve]

It's ALIIIIIIIIIIVE! ALIIIIIIIIVE! Yaaaaaaaaaaay!

So how many treaties would they all be breaking if they had a big download-data-onto-whatever exchange at the end? And how many of them would care about that?

Oh, that's virgin legal territory.

Information exchange from public domain sources is illegal for societies incapable of sustained interplanetary travel, that is, tech levels that don't permit viable intra-system colonies, outside of accidents (like the one that brought Robert Dale's home universe circa 1983 into the Multiverse in 2087 AST).

But thanks to the SGC, the SRC-19 Earth doesn't quite apply, since they are currently interstellar and there's an accidental contact. Anti-info transfer people would point out that the technology isn't sustained travel tech and that it's not widespread, pro-transfer would use those loopholes to claim it legal.

Of course, Dale can simply offer the data in exchange for any technical data that the SGC has that is of value, and justify it as a matter of Alliance security.

[Xon]

SGC gets viable trans-galactic FTL drives in a few years anyway, even at this stage they would have the proto-type X-303 around which has a mostly working FTL drive dramatically better than a Startrek Warp drive for inter-system transit.

And they are really a hop-skip and a jump away from building thier own very basic inter-universe jump drive. Aiming it might be an issue, but transit between universe's is very doable for the SGC by season 10 of SG-1.

[The Duchess of Zeon]

SGC gets viable trans-galactic FTL drives in a few years anyway, even at this stage they would have the proto-type X-303 around which has a mostly working FTL drive dramatically better than a Startrek Warp drive for inter-system transit.

And they are really a hop-skip and a jump away from building thier own very basic inter-universe jump drive. Aiming it might be an issue, but transit between universe's is very doable for the SGC by season 10 of SG-1.

They're not the only ones with improved drive tech coming in, though ADN Cochrane drives are.. Nothing to sneeze at.

Nor is the firepower of mainline dreadnoughts, as things now stand. They could certainly effectively engage Ha'taks.

[Xon]

The X-303 could effectively engage Ha'taks if they actually had viable weapons(those pee-shooters of railguns really dont count). The SGC has always been hurting for non-nuclear weapons with heavy hitting power.

Of course the tiny number of ships Stargate normally fields is a definite downside for them.

Running into the Ori would be a very good reason for blacklisting SG-style verse. Same for the Replicators (The ver which kicked the Asgard's ass or the ones directly built by the Ancients).

[Cecelia5578]

The X-303 could effectively engage Ha'taks if they actually had viable weapons(those pee-shooters of railguns really dont count). The SGC has always been hurting for non-nuclear weapons with heavy hitting power.

Didn't you watch the last episode of SG-1?

[Themightytom]

The X-303 could effectively engage Ha'taks if they actually had viable weapons(those pee-shooters of railguns really dont count). The SGC has always been hurting for non-nuclear weapons with heavy hitting power.

Didn't you watch the last episode of SG-1?

The SGC of this time period doesn't have the Beam weapons.

[Cecelia5578]

The SGC of this time appears to be pre-season 6, so they don't have a lot of things yet, not just beam weapons.

[Steve]

The SGC of this time appears to be pre-season 6, so they don't have a lot of things yet, not just beam weapons.

To be precise, it's Season 3, after the death of Sha're but before the two-parter that brought back Apophis and saw the death of Sokar.

I had to make it that far because if I'd done it before Sha're was dead, the temptation to save her in the story would've been overwhelming, and I didn't want to give myself that temptation since I want the events of SG-1 to flow mostly intact.

[Steve]

Brownsville, Bowie, Universe Designate FHI-8


It was 0700 when Nate arrived in the training holochamber and found only three members of SG-1 ready for him. "Of course," he remarked. "Doctor Jackson."
"Daniel stayed up late last night looking over that website Dr. Herzela showed him," Sam replied. "It wouldn't surprise me if...."
The door opened behind Nate and Daniel rushed in, looking very rushed. Nate looked at his watch. "It's now zero seven oh one, Doctor. You're late."
"Sorry, I..." Daniel's reply was broken up by a yawn. "I was still in the shower."
"Of course."
"I didn't expect you to still use water," he continued. "I mean, everyone talks about sonic cleaners and such...." Seeing Nate's displeased look, he went quiet. "Um, never mind."
When Daniel joined the others, Jack looked at him. "Sonic cleaners?"
"It was a book I read."
"Ahhh..."

Nate went to a cabinent and pulled out a tray. On it were a selection of weapons like the ones SPT-14 carried. "Okay, everyone...." He picked one up. The weapon didn't look much different from a 20th or 21st century assault rifle, save for the lights on the top and a similar light along the clip area. "This is the Rollings-Teffer MP-10G Particle Rifle. The G, as I'm sure at least a couple of you understand, means it's a pretty refined design. In the Alliance Marines we've used the MP-10 since our inception; the nations that formed the Alliance have been using this beauty since the Neo-Nazi revolts."
"You got to fight Nazis?", Jack asked.
"Long story."
"It seems all of the little oddities you have are 'long stories'," Daniel said.
Smirking, Nate picked up an MP-10 and tossed it to Daniel, who barely caught it in time and made a clear "umph" sound as it impacted against his chest. "The MP-10 is powered by a charge clip. An indicator on the top tells you how much juice you have left. Standard clip might power you for, oh, a hundred or so shots. It varies from clip to clip. As part of your kit you'll each be given ten charge clips."
"And once those run out?"
"Then, Doctor Jackson, if you have the opportunity, you use the squad-level recharger you'll be given. But the batteries on those can only recharge about sixty clips, so don't think you can hold your finger on the trigger in a fire fight all the time."

Nate brought three more over. Sam and Nate began to look over their's with interest. When he got to Teal'c, Teal'c did not reach for the offered weapon. "I prefer using my staff weapon," he remarked.
"And Commander Worf prefers bat'leths, he still trained with the MP-10," Nate responded. "If you really want, bring your staff on the mission instead. But I figure it's better for all of us if you can use an MP-10 in a pinch. In case it's necessary for success."
At that Teal'c nodded. "Indeed. I will accept your training, then." He took the weapon.
"Okay, first things first. Safety measures aren't quite the same with these when you're used to assault rifles of your time. With these you...."



Dax woke up after a night's sleep in the SPC infirmary feeling quite a bit better, if still weak. Worf was snoring in a chair beside her, making her laugh softly. Feeling hungry and thirsty she asked an orderly for breakfast. Worf was woken up in the process and remained to have breakfast with her while filling her in on things she hadn't quite picked up while recovering.
During breakfast the orderly brought in Zaria, dressed in her civilian SPC jumpsuit again. "You look a lot better," she remarked.
"I feel better."
"The doctors say you would've recovered faster if fully treated. But we can't blame the SGC for not being up on Trill physiology."
"At least I'm still alive." Putting the fork down, Dax asked, "So, when do we go after the ZPC device?"
"We don't," Zaria answered. "You are staying here. Doctor's orders."
Not taking kindly to that at all, Dax rolled her eyes. "I feel better already, I want to go on the mission. Worf?"

Looking to her husband for support, the only thing Dax got was a distant look. "If Jadzia says she is ready, she is ready," Worf said softly (or as softly as his tone ever got).
The betrayed look on Jadzia's face and her angry "Worf!" made Zaria giggle. Oh, someone's not getting laid anytime soon was the thought going through her head. "If it'll make you feel better, I've got something I'd like you to put together for me."
"Oh?" Dax looked interested.

"Commander Dax?"
Zaria turned and moved out of the way, seeing General Thompson and Doctor Michaels come up. "How are you doing, Commander?" Thompson asked.
"I've been worse," Dax answered. "I've been told I'm not going on the recovery mission."
"Correct, Commander. You still have a couple days of recovery necessary, I won't have you going out there less than a hundred percent. But, um..." Thompson looked to Zaria. "Doctor, could you and Commander Worf please give us a moment?"
"Sure," was her answer.
Zaria walked away, but Worf for the moment didn't, not until Dax nodded at him. It wasn't until they were sure that Worf and Zaria were out of earshot that they began talking to Dax. "I wonder what they are asking her," Zaria said.
"As do I," Worf agreed.


The look on Jack O'Neill's face reminded Nate of the looks his children had when they entered a toy store with stocked gift cards to spend. His aim with the MP-10 was straight and true, and every burst of particle fire seemed to lighten O'Neill's mood. When he finished with another clip and took a recharge from Nate, he said, "I hope we get to keep these babies. Oh, I do...."
They put their earmuffs back on and Nate moved down a slot to Sam Carter. She was having similar luck with the MP-10 and needed two clips replaced, which Nate did immediately. She looked back at him as he picked up her spent clips. "Concentrated high-mass particles. What are these things, miniature particle accelerators?"
Nate shrugged. "Don't ask me, I just know how to use 'em." He moved on to the next cell and saw Teal'c working with his weapon. Five whole clips to replace were ready for Nate. "Keep it coming, Teal'c, you're doing fine," Nate said, giving him replacement clips.

The next shooting partition was occupied by Daniel, who had only one clip to be recharged. He wasn't firing at the moment either, but fidgeting with his gun. Looking up, he saw Nate staring right at him. "Oh, uh...." Daniel removed his earmuffs, and Nate did the same. "I... I can't get the clip out. It's, well, stuck..."
Sighing, Nate took the MP-10 from Daniel and checked it over. He soon identified the problem; Daniel had failed to set the safety lock properly. "Here, Doctor," Nate said, using his thumb on the clip area to set the lock and then using his palm and fingers to pull the clip off. "Safety lock wasn't set," he explained, handing Daniel a fresh clip. "Press a bit harder with your thumb next time." Looking beyond he could see that out of all of them, Daniel was certainly doing the worst, though much better than Nate had imagined he would do.
"Um, thanks, I'll keep that in mind."

Nate stepped away to continue supervising SG-1's exercise. The door opened and he was surprised to see Zaria enter in her SPC jumpsuit, pairs of googles and earmuffs in her hands. "Something I can do for you, Zaria?"
"Reporting for firearm training, Colonel," Zaria answered.
Nate looked at her. "Oh really? Why?"
"Because I'm going with you tomorrow," she replied.
At that Nate chuckled aloud and turned away. "Doctor, this isn't a science run like the last time was supposed to be. This is a covert, high risk op, and frankly it might turn out to be a suicide run."
"Excuse me, Colonel, but if you end up having to look through the Goa'uld computers for ZPC data, you need someone who'll recognize it. That someone is me."
"No, absolutely not," Nate insisted.
"Colonel..."

Their conversation was broken up by the ringing tone of the phone on the wall. Nate walked over and picked up the headset receiver, putting it on his head. "Mackensen here..... really?" He looked down. "No, General, I'm not happy with this. Yes, sir, I understand..... I'll let them know. Thank you, Sir." Nate hung up and the expression on his face was a sour one.
"What is it?" Zaria asked.
"In a moment." Nate walked past her to SG-1. With a touch of a button on the wall, he deactivated the targets onthe other end and got their attention. They approached, removing earmuffs and goggles, and he spoke once he knew they could hear. "Just talked to General Thompson." Nate breathed in sigh. "President Dale has decided to agree to the Tok'ra request for the return of our Stargate." He could see their faces falling, particularly Jack's, as he continued. "After we go through tomorrow and our ZPC at your base is brought back here, the Stargate is going to be removed and prepared for transport to your universe."
"Damn," Jack muttered in reply.

[fb111a]

Just that Stargate has to be returned. I'm sure there's a spare Stargate lying around...

[fb111a]

Any updates for this?

[Steve]

Eventually. I was taking a break from writing this week after getting Timelines #2 done and I figured I'd finish this next. Plus I've finished SG-1 completely now and seen Ark of Truth, so hopefully it'll help get me back into an SG-1 frame of mind.

[dragon]

Any updates for this?

Damn it don't do that. Thought it was an update.

[Steve]

Brownsville, Bowie, Universe Designate FHI-8



The news had spread quickly enough through the SPC, with the reactions being very similar to those by SG-1. Nate for one wasn't perplexed as much by the decision to return the Gate as he was by the simultaneous announcement that the SPC was being mostly shut down after the Gate would be transferred out.
Given his new posting was now being undone - provided he survived the strike mission to Olympos - he spent time trying to get a meeting with General Thompson, who finally had time for him while SG-1 was in a quick training scenario with SPT-14 on the upcoming mission. He walked into the office, saluted, and waited for the General to nod for him to be at ease. "Is General Hammond still here?" he asked.
"No, he returned to the SGC to brief his superiors as to our arrangement. He wasn't happy, of course. Not that I can blame him..." Thompson sighed.
"So, how are we going to get the Stargate back to SRC-19?"
"The President is exploring options, but I'm afraid I can't say anything beyond that. Partly because I'm not sure."
"And we're being shut down? I mean, if we do have a way to return the Stargate we could always get another from an uninhabited world. And Major Carter's told me that it's possible to use a Stargate outside of the system it was initially placed in. So why are we shutting down the SPC?"
"You'd have to ask President Dale." Thompson put his hands flat on the table. "So, how goes the mission prep?"

"About as well as I can expect," he answered. "Colonel O'Neill's team isn't used to working with such a big group, of course, and if I complained before about our specialists, well, they're a team with an egghead techie, a civvie archeologist, and a Jaffa who's trained to fight other Jaffa and primitive enemies."
"They're getting used to our equipment?"
"Very little learning curve, Sir," Nate answered. "I think if he could get away with it, Colonel O'Neill would be dragging half the armory back to the SGC."
Thompson grinned at that. "Yes. President Dale has authorized me to provide basic equipment to the SGC as gifts in return for their support in this operation and as a bit of a consolation gift given we're not going to be around to help further. Only from what what we have on hand, of course. As it is we're in potential violation of the contact limitations of interuniversal law, the President wants to minimize that where possible."
"Can I at least know what the Tok'ra are offering us in exchange for us giving back that Stargate?"
"At the moment, no," was the General's answer. "You'll find out eventually, I figure. But we're keeping a tight wrap on it now." Smiling thinly, Thompson said, "Well, Colonel, I'm sorry you came all this way just to have a reposting waiting for you if you survive the operation."
"As am I, Sir," Nate answered, "as am I." As he went to leave, Nate remembered something and turned back. "General, Doctor Herzela has requested permission to join us."

"I was wondering if you were going to let me know that," Thompson said whimsically. "I take it you don't want her?"
"Aside from being one hell of a knife-thrower and having decent hand-to-hand skills, she's not combat trained and frankly may be more of a liability than asset. I told her no."
"Unfortunately, as I'm sure she's already pointed out, she knows more about the ZPC technology than anyone save Doctor Michaels and will be able to help us ensure that we remove any information on the technology from their computers," Thompson pointed out. "I was about to ask her if she were willing to go when she volunteered. Sorry, Colonel, the Doctor's going with you."
Sighing, Nate muttered, "Well, at least it'll give Major Carter some egghead company," before he left the office.




When Nate returned from lunch to see how SPT-14 and SG-1 were getting along, he found Zaria waiting for him at the door wearing camo fatigues with an MP-10G slung on her shoulder. "Colonel, ready to begin training," she said enthusiastically.
"So you are," he remarked. "I'm still not sold on you coming."
"I know. But if Doctor Jackson can fight the Goa'uld, why can't I?" She grinned mischievously.
"You realize you could get killed, or worse?" He looked at her intently. "There's no telling what could happen."
"Yeah, I know, but I also know what'll happen if those snakes figure out the principles of 'Zynski particles," she replied, gesturing toward the door. "So, after you?"
Nate sighed and opened the door, finding that the two teams were enjoying a break. "Okay, folks, finish the break up, it's time to go through another round...."



Olympos
Universe Designate SRC-19


The lab within the palace of Zeus was attached to the living quarters and sacrophagus used by Hefetus, protected by Zeus' loyal Jaffa and operated by a staff of minor Goa'uld technicians and scientists supporting Hefetus. The bulky, grotesque figure was hunched over the black object, labeled in the lettering that in the past few years had been associated with the upstart Tau'ri, that they had attached to the Stargate. His first test with it had been a stunning success already, even if subsequent attempts to use it had failed.
"Lord Hefetus, are you ever going to tell Lord Zeus that the Tau'ri we encountered are not from this universe?", was the question of one of them. Hefetus looked to the technician Cadmilis - like others in a pleasing host body unlike his own unsightly one - and snorted. "He must be informed...."
"He will be, in due time," Hefetus lied, unwilling to share the spoils of his thought and discovery with his treacherous, ungrateful father.
"If I may, how did you know to dial Tarus?" the older technician, Axerus, asked. Another minor Goa'uld like Cadmilis, Axerus was mostly known for being a Goa'uld who didn't particularly mind the gender of his host, having occupied a male body before "upgrading" to the pretty dark-haired Human female that Zeus had given him as a gift following a technological innovation that helped him defeat Cronus in an engagement. "It is not the only Gate to have gone offline in the past century."

"I have my ways."
What Hefetus was not telling them was a secret he'd kept for many decades. During one of his personal operations, a machination with Heru-ur that eventually failed to blossom, his Ha'tak had come across a small vessel in an unclaimed system not far from Tarus. The ship had been an exploration vessel and had attempted peaceful contact which he, of course, made them regret (though he had admittedly initially considered them a possible ruse by another Goa'uld). Only after examination of the ship and its survivors, as well as the remains of its unconventional space-warping engines, had he realized what they were.
He did finally discover their base, on a gateless world, but it had been abandoned with only the remains of a colony on the planet. Searching the area, he had found no further sign of them save the missing Stargate on the abandoned world of Tarus, which they had obviously brought with them. There was nothing else he could find, nothing else to be gained, by that chance contact.
Until now.
The mysterious device being hooked up to the Stargate had inspired him to realize that these were the same Humans he had encountered before and not the less-advanced Tau'ri that had recently become a pain to so many Goa'uld. He had tested his theory by using the device on the Stargate and dialing Tarus, his projector device ready should his theory prove true... which it had.
"The element at the core of this device is unfamiliar," Axerus said, looking upon the readout of it. "As are the particles it emits upon the device's activation."
"Particles which saturate a chappa'ai if the device is attached to it by the conductor clamps," Hefetus finished for his assistant. "Whomever these Tau'ri are, wherever they are from, their knowledge of science is above the primitive ones we now deal with." But clearly not as advanced as the Ancients, he added mentally, familiar with the stories of the long-lost race, former allies of the annoying Asgard and the weakling Nox, that had developed not only the Stargates but the ring transporters that the Goa'uld made such use of. "The question is, how advanced?"

"Advanced enough to be a threat," Axerus hissed. "That is why we must inform Lord Zeus at once. This information could provide him a means to reclaiming his place among the System Lords!"
"Patience, Axerus, patience," Hefetus replied. "I wish to give Lord Zeus more than the fear of a new enemy. I wish to provide him a promise." Or to finally deliver him to his doom and take my rightful place on Olympos he added to himself. "This device, and the element within it, is the key to travel beween universes. Imagine, Axerus, universes where there are no Asgard, or more powerful System Lords, to limit the empire that Lord Zeus may claim. Virtually endless supplies of naquadah for our use, resources to build the mightiest armada this galaxy has seen, and a refuge should the Asgard ever get the spine to attack us directly." Playing to his subordinate's own ambitions, Hefetus grinned widely. "Lord Zeus may even give us each a universe to rule in his name. An empire for each of us exceeding the scope of all but the mightiest System Lords awaits us if this experiment is successful."
"And why not tell Zeus?" Cadmilis asked.
"I want results for him, not vague promises that, if unmet, he may punish me for," Hefetus replied, never forgetting that it was his father who continually refused to permit him a better host but kept him in this grotesque Human. And he certainly wasn't going to tell him that he would rather use the technology for himself and hand Zeus over to Cronus to curry favor with the System Lord and buy time for further developments. "Now... for our first test..."

Hefetus motioned to a device he and Axerus had cobbled together. At his behest Cadmilis shaved a bit off the unknown element in the core of the extrauniversal Tau'ri device and planted it in the middle of the projector that they had built. At the press of a button Hefetus' device sent electricity into the shaving. The sensors indicated that a trace of particles was being emitted.
His new projector did what it was supposed to next. It channeled the particles through itself, tightly, and forced two streams out together. The streams were microscopic in size, granted, only visible through the sensors in the lab that he and Axerus were monitoring.
Hefetus watched eagerly as the two streams intersected. There was a spike in energy in the area detected by the sensors and the familiar pattern of a wormhole, microscopic in size, forming. But it didn't last a second before the effect disappeared without so much as a burst of light.
But a laugh of triumph nevertheless came from Hefetus. "I knew it!" he crowed.
"Lord?" Axerus asked.
Grinning, he faced his subordinates. "The element within and the particles it releases are the key to forming wormholes to other universes! The Stargate is not a vital component if you have enough power and enough of the element to create strong enough particle streams!" His eyes flashed gold with delight. "Take the element and run it through every device we have. I want to know its exact molecular makeup and how we might find or make more of it."
They did so.




A short time later Cadmilis was in his private chamber in the palace. A human woman of fair skin, slim build, and brown hair was brought before him, a favored slave he kept in an apartment in the city as far as his Jaffa and the other Goa'uld knew who was to grant him the pleasure that Goa'uld sometimes availed themselves up (Zeus being one of many). "Leave us," he ordered the Jaffa as the woman bowed before him, knowing they would withdraw to a suitable distance lest they incur his impressionable wrath.
When they were gone, she looked up. "I have received word that the alternate Tau'ri of Nural's host are going to attempt to recover their device very soon," she said to him.
"Kaetis, we are running out of time," Cadmilis replied in his unnatural bass. He took a data crystal out of his recorder as she approached. "I have everything our research has determined so far here. Hefetus has already unlocked the underlying secret of their technology. Today he created a microscopic wormhole using the element inside their device. In no time at all I suspect he will be capable of reproducing it on a larger scale."
"Then we are running out of time. I will warn the others immediately. Can you stall them?"
"I shall try," Cadmilis promised. "Now...." He lowered his head for a moment, and when he spoke again it was fully natural, a sign that the host was speaking. The host named Castox, who happily embraced Kaetis and planted a kiss on her lips. "My wife, it is good to see you again. I am sorry it has been so long..."
"It is okay, dear Castox." She smiled sadly at him and returned his kiss. "You and Cadmilis have work of great importance to us. I am honored I am allowed to help you."
The lovers kissed again, having barely-sufficent time for a short bit of privacy together before appearances and duty would bring them apart again.




Brownsville, Bowie, Universe Designate FHI-8


The training was over for the day and the two teams were enjoying dinner in the mess. Jack and Daniel were busy telling SPT-14 a story of one of their many missions - this one about the prison planet they were once trapped on - while Sam and Zaria discussed technology.
Mostly eating in quiet, Worf and Teal'c did not speak until their meals were mostly done. "Do you have a family?" Worf asked as he put his utensil down.
That was answered by a moment of silence. "I have a wife, Drey'auc, and our son Rya'c. And what of you, Worf? Have you and Jadzia Dax had children?"
Frowning, Worf grunted and answered, "We have not yet managed to," as if he were confessing to something horrible. "When I was younger I had a son, Alexander. He is currently serving in the Imperial Guard."
"What of his mother?"
"She was killed many years ago," Worf rumbled. "Her assassin soon joined her."
"By your hand, I am sure." Teal'c looked over to where their comrades were talking. "I cannot imagine it has always been easy to live and work with the Tau'ri. I find myself often confused by how they make decisions and how they live."
"When I was small, I was adopted by Human parents. My Klingon parents were among the slain caused by a treacherous Romulan assault on our colony world. Still..." Worf nodded stiffly. "It has not always been easy. Human ways do not always go well with a warrior heart."
"But yet, when they are pushed, I have found Humans - especially the Tau'ri - to be quite capable."
"That is true. I remember what it was like to serve on the Enterprise when I was young, during a... happier time. I remember feeling like we were warriors from the ancient sagas, that no enemy - no matter how great - could ever defeat us." Worf looked again to the Jaffa. "I sense that you are not entirely sure you will be successful."
"I am quite confident we will succeed in retrieving your device from the Olympians," Teal'c answered.
"That is not what I meant." The two warriors' eyes met. "You know how powerful the Goa'uld are compared to Earth in your universe and yet you serve with them in war."

"I believe the Tau'ri represent the best and only real chance for freedom the Jaffa have ever had. No matter what the end result, I will serve with them for that chance."
"The greater the odds, the sweeter the victory. If things were better I would have enjoyed helping you in that honorable goal."
:"The thought is appreciated."




Further away, Nate was leading Jack through the corridors toward the General's office, where they would give Thompson their final report on mission preperation. "Do you still have TVs these days?", Jack asked.
"Of course," Nate replied, "though most people go for holovid projectors now. Not too much difference, really, they can be made to act just like TVs. A flat image in mid-air, like a TV screen without a box attached." Nate looked to Jack. "But three dimensions gets you a better experience when watching football."
"Actually, I'm more interested in fishing," Jack answered. "Caught any really weird alien fish before?"
"Well, there was that time in '57, when we were rotated into CON-5 watching the Plymmie border, that I caught this big four-eyed fish that was pure yellow in color. About yeah big..." Nate spread his arms our about half-way from their natural extension.
"Oh come on, you've been to how many alien worlds and that's the best you can come up with?"
"What about you?"
Remaining quiet for a moment, Jack finally shrugged. "Well, I don't get to fish much off-world. But I don't live on other planets, I just visit them, then it's back through the Stargate. Do you realize how rare it is to get a place to shower off-Earth back home?"
"I don't want to know." Nate went up to the door labeled as General Thompson's office and knocked. "Well, this is your last night here, how are you planning on spending it?"
"Seeing if you have any good fishing networks."
From the other side of the door came Thompson's voice, okaying them to enter. They did so and saluted upon entry, which Thompson responded to with his own before telling them to be at ease. "General, I think our teams are as coordinated as they're going to get on short notice like this," Nate said.
"That's good to hear, because we're moving the operation up." Thompson looked to his side toward where Frank/Nural was standing. "Tell them what you told me."
The unnatural tone to the voice told them it was Nural speaking. "We have received news from the Council. Hefetus has discovered the principles of your technology. He has already created a miniature interuniversal wormhole in laboratory conditions. It is only a matter of time before he will be capable of fully implementing the technology. We must act now before Hefetus completes his work and can use the technology, which will surely get the attentions of the other System Lords."
"Oh crap," Jack muttered.
"Go to your teams and tell them to get as much rest as you can manage in the next few hours. We're moving up your departure." Thompson motioned to the clock. "You're going through the Gate at 0350, Colonel. I can't give you a moment later. We've literally run out of time on this one."

[Themightytom]

Wow you are a very prolific writer, and its always good stuff. You are really good about posting a readable amount on a regular basis whereas other writers will deliver a giant Tome once every two months or so.

Where IS stravo anyway?

Anyway great job steve

[Steve]

Brownsville, Bowie, Universe Designate FHI-8


There was only minutes to spare when Zaria arrived at the lab with an encased disc in hand. She was somewhat surprised to find Dr. Michaels present. "Doctor, you're up late?"
He turned to her and raised a cup of steaming coffee. "Yes, I am," he agreed. "But work takes precedence over sleep, particularly in this situation." He stood and gave Zaria the once over. She wasn't just in camo this time but was fully-armed, an MP-10 slung over her shoulder and a vest with pockets full of extra charge clips, grenades, and other equipment. "Still carrying knives?"
Michaels' remark caused the smiling Zaria to put her free hand on her upper hip where her knife belt was, a few throwing knives hanging from them. "I'm an excellent knife-thrower," she remarked with a giggle before walking up and giving the older man a hug. "It's been so great working with you, Doctor Michaels."
"The same toward you, my dear Zaria," he replied, smiling sadly. "You're a brilliant girl and far braver than I." He chuckled after making that remark.
Laughing in reply, Zaria handed him the disc. "My final notes, Doctor, and a letter to my family if the worst happens."
"Oh, my dear..." Michaels took the disc and held it gently. "Thank you for your trust, Zaria. I'll make sure everything is settled. Just... don't make it necessary, please?"
"I'll try not," she promised before giving the older man another hug. Looking back at him still, she made her way to the door and continued on to the Gate Room.

Micharls put the disc down beside his workstation and breathed a sigh. His attention turned back to the screen before him and the representation upon it, the simulations he'd been running the past day. A press of a button brought back up the full display, showing the sight of a ZPC, attached to a projector, emitting particle streams forward. Sighing, he returned back to work.




SPT-14, with Nate, Zaria, and Sakura, had already assembled in the Gate Room when the gate began spinning. "Chevron 1 locked," the gate control tech informed them.
"So where's SG-1?", Farrell asked.
Dalton chuckled, "Maybe they got lost."
Aside from smiles and chuckles, there was no reply. In a short time Sergeant Kurtman was reporting, "Chevron 5 locked."
The left door to the Gate Room opened and SG-1 stepped through. "Ah, Jack, didn't think you were going to make it," Nate remarked. "I figured you'd be trying to clean the armory out."
"No, as much as I'd have liked to." Jack cast a sideways glance at Daniel. "We just happened to get lost."
"So I'm a little used to the SGC and this place looks far too much like it," Daniel muttered in reply. "I didn't see you leading us the right way."
"Chevron 6 locked."
"So how'd you find your way?", Parker asked with a slight smirk.
"Major Carter asked for directions," Teal'c answered.
There was some chuckling and giggling. "Always falls on the girls to do that, doesn't it?", was Maya's amused response.
Jack and Daniel looked at each other and them to Sam, who was chuckling as well. "Chevron 7 locked, establishing wormhole."

The Stargate flared up and the wormhole formed following the customary, deadly "whoosh". It stablized and blue color washed over the room, highlighted by shifting hues of green and gold. "Carter, any theories on why it does that?" Jack asked as they stepped up toward the Gate.
"Must be something to do with the 'Zynski particles, or the fact that the wormhole pierces space and different universes," she answered. Carter was the first through the Gate, followed by Teal'c and Daniel.
Jack looked back at Nate. "Haven't had many trips through these, have you?"
"Honestly? This is the sixth," he answered.
"Sixth might as well be the hundredth. Each one's about the same." With that, Jack stepped through.
Nate followed. There was a sensation of cold and dislocation and he was back in the SGC. He kept moving forward as the rest of the team came out with him. "Colonel Mackensen, welcome back to the SGC," Hammond said from the control room.
"Thank you, General."
"I'll see you all in the conference room to go over the latest intel, you'll be leaving in one hour."




Brownsville, Bowie, Universe Designate FHI-8


Thompson was standing in the control room when Dr. Michaels and Commander Dax arrived. They turned to watch the Stargate activate. Within moments of it becoming active two figures emerged from the event horizon tugging their ZPC along with them, the one that had been sent earlier to the SGC in SRC-19. "Okay, that's it," Thompson remarked. "Sergeant, begin disconnecting the Stargate. Clear the gate room."
Michaels sighed. "It is a shame. I would have liked to have more time to study it."
"Actually, I've been meaning to ask..." Dax looked from the Gate to the two men. "Why not just pick up another Gate? Major Carter's notes indicate it's possible to use a Stargate in a different system than the one it was placed in."
"The President has ordered the Stargate Project to be shut down temporarily," Thompson answered. "Beyond that I can't tell you what's going on. So..."
"Sir, Planetary Command has picked up a signal from further in the system," one of the control room techs reported. "There's a ship out there. They're asking to speak to you and Commander Dax. And they have SPC-approved codes."
"Looks like your ride is here," Thompson said to the two. "Go get Mister York and the equipment he's brought along before you head up. And Doctor..." Thompson offered his hand. "Good luck."
"Thank you, Sir," Michaels answered, accepting the offered handshake.




P2G-893, Universe Designate SRC-19


The barren rocky landscape surrounding the Stargate was a hardly hospitable environment on an open sandy plain with little vegetation. SPT-14 and SG-1 were standing not too far from the Gate, each carrying a full combat load of equipment -including MP-10G rifles and SG-1's Zats - with Dalton carrying a portable clip charger and Farrell the IU radio. The Australian looked skyward, a hand over his eyes to block sunlight. "So... what's this... Tul'tak thing?"
"Tel'tak," Daniel answered for Farrell. "It's a Goa'uld cargo ship."
"But unlike most, the Tok'ra installed a cloaking device on this one," Sam added. "Are you familiar with that kind of technology?"
"An Emissions Cloaking System," Zaria answered. "At least, that's what they call it in the Alliance. Back in ST-3 we call them cloaking devices too."

There was a roar in the air above them. Everyone looked up in time to see the angular, vaguely-triangle-shaped Tel'tak waver into view and land nearby. The side door opened and Jacob Carter was there to greet them. "Just testing the cloaking device," he called out from the door before slipping inside to allow them to enter. "Olympos might not be the most foritified planet among the Goa'uld, but Zeus has a couple Ha'taks he can throw at us if he sees us coming."
Upon entry everyone started looking around at the particular design of the Goa'uld ships. The gold-sheened walls covered in hieroglyphs was one of the more unique things about it, the other being the lack of an obvious flight stick. "How do you fly it?" Tang asked after looking over the cockpit for several moments.
Returning to his seat, Jacob set his hands on the red half-globe pilot control. "It's not like flying a fighter jet, I can tell you that." At his hands the cargo vessel began to rise. "Re-activating cloak. I'll activate the hyperdrive as soon as we clear the atmosphere."
While the ship ascended the two teams took position in the rear. "Explosives?" Daniel asked upon looking over the containers in the cargo area.
"Not just any explosives," Zaria remarked, looking over the containers with her wrist scanner. "It's Guyverite-laced. Naquadah, I mean."

Jack looked toward the cockpit, Nate following the motion a half-moment later. "Jacob, anything you or Selmak would like to tell us?"
"Call it Plan B, Jack," was the reply, again with Jacob's normal voice. "If something happens and you don't make it, I'm going to use the ship and the explosives to destroy the whole area."
Daniel gave a horrified look to Jacob. "You're talking about killing thousands of people."
"More than that, Doctor," Zaria remarked coldly. "According to our scans of Olympos during SPT-14's first brief visit, the city has roughly ninety thousand people living in it."
"Ninety thousand..."
"Believe me when i tell you, Doctor Jackson, that this isn't what we want." Jacob looked back at them, his face solid from a stern expression. "But when it comes down to it, a hell of a lot more people are going to get killed if the Goa'uld gain the ability to use interuniversal wormholes."
"The man's right." Nate found a seat on one of the containers. "We all do what we have to do. Now, let's go over the operation one more time."




Olympos
Universe Designate SRC-19


Cadmilis and Hefetus were in the lab going over the latest scans of the element in the interuniversal device when the tromping of footsteps was heard from outside. They turned in time to see Jaffa enter, leading Zeus himself into the lab with Axerus behind him. The two lower-ranked Goa'uld bowed before their ruler, who looked about the room. "I hear you have deciphered this device, Hefetus," Zeus remarked, walking by the ZPC. "And that you are working on your own to mimic its power. How fare along are you?"
Nothing more had to be said. It was clear from the look on Axerus that she had gone to Zeus with news of the earlier test. Hefetus did not give her the slightest glare, certainly not under the eyes of his father and lord. He chose instead to roll with the development. "I have used a material within the device to successfully create a small wormhole."
"To other universes?"
"Possibly. The wormhole only lasted for the briefest of moments."
Nodding, Zeus added, "You did not see fit to tell me of this progress?" And it was clear from his tone that he was displeased. "You forced me to rely upon the loyalty of Axerus to be given any news on your investigation!"

"I did not want to come to you with empty theories, Lord Zeus, only with results. I needed time to investigate this substance within the Tau'ri device and verify my findings."
"Of course," Zeus answered, in a tone showing he wasn't convinced at all of his son's sincerity. "Well, I shall overlook this if you give me results soon."
"I am working intently upon this..."
"And, for the time being, I wish to have your new construction in my throne room," Zeus added. "This machine may prove useful when I meet with the others."
Cadmilis observed the conversation silently from his corner of the lab. He could see Hefetus was quite upset with another scheme having been thwarted and wondered if this would see Axerus leave the lab for a better post. Zeus could be generous with opportunities, after all...
"As for your other assistant..." Zeus leveled a gaze at him. "Feel welcome that I do not kill you now, Cadmilis."
"Lord?" That part of Cadmilis painfully aware of the risks began to tighten. Have we been betrayed he thought, to which his host gave only a sense of fear. "I... I do not understand."
Zeus looked to the Jaffa. "Bring the spy!"

Two more Jaffa entered the room at that bellowed command, each holding the arm of a slumped-over Kaetis, mostly unconscious. Cadmilis' expression turned sick. Levelling his gaze squarely at Cadmilis, Zeus began to speak again. "We caught her with a transmission device. She is a Tok'ra spy sent to seduce you, Cadmilis. I am most... disappointed."
Have I been betrayed? Cadmilis asked, while within him Castox was wailing in horror. "My Lord, I...."
"You should choose better next time. I will show you mercy only this once, Cadmilis." Zeus looked to the Jaffa. "Take her to the cells. We will question her further at my leisure." As Kaetis was dragged away Zeus moved his head to look at Axerus. "Bring the wormhole projector with you to my throne room. I may have use for it."
"Immediately, Lord Zeus," Axerus answered. She cast a wicked look at Hefetus before givnig the order to the Jaffa to find slaves for the laborous job ov moving it.
"My patience is not infinite, Hefetus. Discover the secrets of this technology and I will reward you greatly. Fail me, and I will find you a host even more grotesque than the one you have." With that final warning, answered as it was by an obedient head bow and a hidden scowl, Zeus departed.




Hyperspace


"Are we there yet?"
A chorus of groans came from those of the two teams sitting in the cargo area. Eyes turned to Maya, who returned it with a smirk. "Well, somebody has to ask."
"We're about to get neck-deep in Jaffa and Goa'uld and you have to ask 'Are we there yet'?", Daniel said in bemused reply.
"When I'm about to go and maybe get myself killed, I like to get it over with," she retorted.
Farrell spoke up. "While we're there, why don't we make sure of things and just blast the palace with some of these explosives?"
"Not unless you want to cause massive death and destruction." Zaria smacked her hand on one of the explosive containers. "Even one of these has enough Guyver..." She looked to Sam and caught herself. "...naquadah to be the equivalent of a small nuclear device. We're talking kilotonnage here, enough to flatten the city, kill a lot of people, and leave the rest badly wounded. It'd be like repeating the Hiroshima detonation."
At that Daniel looked up at Zaria and asked, "I find it a bit odd that an alien is using a big event in Human history and not your own. I mean, I don't want to sound..."
"Don't worry about it Doctor." Laughing lightly, Zaria went into an explaination. "I spent my young years on Earth in my universe and I've spent most of my life living with Humans, not Trill." The grin turned impish. "Besides, unlike Humans, Trill have never actually used an atomic weapon upon our own kind."
"Hrm, well, can't argue with that..."

The conversation continued in the background for Nate. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a photograph. Advanced image-crafting techniques and superior materials had prevented it from fading in the slightest. His eyes focused on the image of himself, younger and with the chevron insignia of a Corporal on his BDUs, and the sandy-haired youth in his lap.
"One of your adopted kids?"
Nate looked to his side and saw Jack standing beside him, moving to sit down on the container he was leaning against. "No. This is..." He caught himself and closed his eyes. "...was my son, George."
"I see..." Jack drew in a breath. "I lost a son too. His name was Charlie."
"Oh?" Nate turned toward Jack. "I'm sorry to hear that."
"He found my gun."
Hearing that, Nate nodded stiffly. Nothing else needed to be said and he certainly wouldn't ask for it. "George was out with friends. One of them had an older brother who'd just gotten out of boot. Kid was showing them his rifle and sidearm, showing off a bit. He was proud, of course, had a lot of right to be."
"Then his brother picked up the sidearm while the kid was firing his rifle's test shots off. He was a kid, he didn't know that the sidearm didn't have that setting." Drawing in a painful breath, Nate finished by saying, "He pointed the gun at George and pulled the trigger."

At that point there was little left to be said. Nate, however, continued. "I was supposed to be home then. I would've taken him somewhere that day, or I'd have been there, I know he'd still be alive if I'd just been home. If only I hadn't accepted that damn assignment..."
"I know the feeling. My ex-wife's forgiven me, but..." Jack sighed. "I'll probably never forgive myself."
"They always try to get you to, though. Mine stuck around long enough for us to raise the kids we adopted together, but about ten years ago, when I was back from the War, Sarah decided enough was enough. She went and found herself someone else."
Jack gave him an interested look. "Sarah huh?" He chuckled with amusement. "My ex's name is Sarah."
"Really?" Nate gave his own chuckle. "Well, I'll be damned. That's a big coincidence."
"Yes it is..."

Any further conversation was cut off when Selmak's voice echoed through the cargo ship. "We are approaching Olympos. Preparing to drop out of hyperspace."
Nate, Jack, and some of the others walked into the cockpit area and stared out the window as hyperspace faded from around them and was replaced by a starfield and a distant planet. "Engaging the cloak," Selmak said, running his hand over the control. "There are no ships in the area."
"That's good," Jack remarked.
"I will fly the ship into an orbit over the palace. According to our last communication, our agent inside should be ready for our arrival in the next ten minutes."
"Okay everyone, let's get ready," Nate called out. "One last quick check on the plan as we have it, and then we head down there and show these 'Gods' what we mere mortals can do."

[Mayabird]

"Are we there yet?"

Yay for updates!

[Steve]

Olympos
Universe Designate SRC-19


Cadmilis felt Castox's gut still wrenching and implored his host to be patient. Both knew what Kaetis was likely suffering through, though Castox had yet to calm enough to allow the facts of their situation - and their mission - to overcome his fears about Kaetis.
Both host and symbiote often shared affections for a mate, sometimes stretching across centuries if the symbiotes maintained a particular bond, but Cadmilis had generally not been one of those. He understood Castox's feelings if he did not fully share them, although he fairly admitted often that he had started to gain an affection for Kaetis that he'd rarely afforded the mates of prior hosts.
Castox, please calm yourself, Cadmilis pleaded inwardly, trying to walk a fine moral line by not fully taking over as the Goa'uld did while being forceful with his panicking host.
Cadmilis, I'm sorry.... but Kaetis! You know what Zeus will do to her!
I am fully aware, but fretting will not give us anything. We must proceed with our mission. Kaetis would fully understand.
Cadmilis knew he had only minutes to spare. Hefetus was expecting him back in the lab shortly and would become harshly suspicious if he did not return on time.

The ring room was through the next corridor, identifiable as a chamber by the guard of Jaffa outside the door and the ones further inside. Cadmilis had briefly considered bluffing his way past them to be present when he sent the go signal but had decided against it. He brought a Zat out from the folds of his white robes and a transmitter in the other hand. A press of his thumb prompted the transmission of the go signal.
There was the sound of the rings activating automatically to accept an incoming matter stream. The Jaffa at the door began to react when Cadmilis brought his Zat up and fired. A bolt struck both Jaffa and seized them with electric arcs, stunning them. He moved forward when a bright light came from the gate room, nearly blinding him even from the corridor and out of its immediate rays. With colors still in his eyes he raised the Zat and moved around the corner, firing it on the four Jaffa inside as they groped about blindly.
The rings activated again. They were packed nearly to capacity with eight figures, Jack leading the first wave with Teal'c, Sakura, Worf, and Squad 2 of SPT-14. "We're down," he remarked into the radio as the eight figures stepped off the rings. They fired up again and Nate appeared with Sam, Daniel, Major Parker, and Squad 1.
As the final ringing carrying Zaria and Captain Farrell commenced, Cadmilis was moving toward the two commanders. "Colonel O'Neill and..."
"Colonel Mackensen," Nate said for him.
"I am Cadmilis," he answered. "I am afraid that a change in plans is necessary."
"Oh, we're used to that," was Jack's reply.
"The ZPC device and the data are still in Hefetus' lab, but the wormhole projector device has been taken to Zeus' throne chamber," Cadmilis answered. "We will need to strike both before Zeus realizes what is going on. Excuse me..." He lowered his head. Inside Cadmilis relented to Castox's desire to come out and begin speaking. When his head raised again, Castox's expression belied his extreme worry and fear. "Please, if you can... my wife is my contact, she has been taken. I want to save her."

"That's not what we came here to do," Nate answered, "and I'm sure she knew the risks."
"Colonel...."
"We're losing time as it is. Colonel," Nate turned his head toward Jack, "can you take Major Azakusho, Worf, and Squad 2 with SG-1 and destroy that wormhole projector? I'll take the rest of my team and Dr. Herzela to the lab to deal with that end."
"Sounds like a plan to me. Lieutenant Colette?"
"Coming, sir." Maya nodded to Wilson, Calgar, and Valentino, who followed SG-1, Worf, and Sakura, all with their weapons at the ready.
"Colonel, please," Castox pleaded. "Give me a few moments at a computer terminal and I can find her."
"Listen, she had to have known the risks, and we simply don't have the time to play hero," Nate barked. "Now if we run into her on the way, fine, we'll save her. I don't like leaving people behind. But only if we're able to, understand?"
Swallowing, Castox lowered his head. Cadmilis was the one who replied "Yes, Colonel, Castox and I understand you completely."
"That's really starting to creep me out," Cyrzanski muttered lowly, earning him an elbow in the ribs from Zaria.
"Okay people, let's move out," Nate said, preventing Zaria from further remarking. "Parker, Reynolds, you take point, Tang and Cyrzanski at the rear."

The team moved down the halls, halting or moving forward as directed by Major Parker. The gold sheens of the walls offered little in the way of camoflauge and meant any encounters would be hostile.
They went down a level, following the Tok'ra-provided layout precisely, and Reynolds muttered, "There doesn't seem to be an awful lot of baddies around...."
He and Parker turned a corner and almost ran into a patrol of two Jaffa. They reacted with hesitation for a moment, giving Parker all the time he needed to bring up his MP-10 and squeeze off a pair of bursts. One went down immediately and the second was just beginning to raise his staff weapon when the streams of blue charges ripped through his armor and chest, wounding him fatally.
"You were saying, Corporal?"
They began moving on, guided by the maps on their helmet HUDs, when a loud alarm began to blare. "Guess someone heard us," Reynolds said.
"Eyes wide, let's move! Move!" As they continued along the last stretch, Nate keyed his helmet radio to Jack and asked, "Sitrep, O'Neill?"
The sound of particle blasts and Jaffa staff blasts came over the radio. "Oh, just up to our necks in Jaffa." There was a pause. "How about you?"
"Almost to the lab, we'll let you know when we get there." Nate cut the radio and turned as the sound of footsteps alerted him to Jaffa attacking from the rear. He turned ahd joined Tang and Cyrzanski in mowing down the four that came before they could get a shot off. "Everyone move! We've got to get going!"




Jack finished a spray of particle fire into the Jaffa ahead of them and, upon seeing the flashing light on his MP-10's small display, released the expended clip within and was shoving a new clip in as another group of Jaffa came down the far corner. Before he could bring the gun up, Sam and Sakura opened up with their weapons and scattered the Jaffa.
"They just keep coming!", Maya called out. "We've got to keep moving, find a better position!"
"According to the plans there is no such position in this area," Worf rumbled, firing a spray into a Jaffa who had just put a staff blast over Valentino's head. "I say we fight our way to the throne chamber!"
"Well, I know we can't just stand here." Jack's mind went to employing his helmet's neurolink. The device read the electrical patterns in his brain and popped up the map of the palace again, rotating it in the corner of his vision while the other corner displayed local life sign readings. "This way!", he called out, moving down the long path of the "T" and sending another burst of particle fire at the Jaffa approaching from that direction.
Behind them Valentino reached into his gear vest and pulled out metal discs that Jack recognized as multi-fused anti-personnel mines. He dropped them along behind him in sequence. A succession of explosions from behind was enough to confirm that their rear was covered for the moment.

The Jaffa were at their usual best; throwing themselves in waves. One particularly intelligent commander tried to lay a trap at the next T-section, setting up a crossfire, but the attempt was made moot by the employment of a flash grenade that blinded the Jaffa and left them to get mowed down by Jack, Sam, and Sakura.
They moved by a door they weren't particularly interested just as it opened. A female figure emerged and within a second of noticing her Jack knew they were in trouble.
The woman's eyes flashed and her hand came up. The hand device triggered and a wave of energy sent Jack, Sam, and Sakura flying.
The others began opening up on her right away, blue bursts of energy and the blasts from Teal'c's staff dissiptating against the gold of her energy shield. "Pathetic," her unnatural voice hissed before she sent another wave that knocked Maya, Wilson, and Teal'c down.
By that moment Jack and Sakura had recovered enough to begin pouring fire at the Goa'uld. To Jack's pleasant surprise, the golden field began to shimmer a little.
Suddenly it was gun. Multiple bursts of particle fire ripped through the Goa'uld before she could use her hand device again. Sam fired a burst into the back of her head and the figure collapsed, both host and symbiote fatally wounded.

"That was awesome," Jack murmured. "God I love these things." He put a hand on the MP-10 he was holding like he were petting it.
"Um, Sir?" Dalton was looking down to where a group of Jaffa were coming around the corner, the look on their eyes making clear they'd seen the Goa'uld woman fall. "I think we pissed them off."
The battle recommenced.




Parker and Reynolds barged into the lab with guns raised. They found a female standing over one of the stations and raised their weapons toward her.
Axerus had heard the intruders coming while overlooking Hefetus' work. The instant she saw them she raised her hand device and threw the two men to the floor. When Nate and Farrell entered behind them, they fired at her. The blue bursts failed against her personal energy shield. Zaria added to the fire and Cadmilis contributed with his Zat.
The shield began shimmering from effort but it did not come down. She sent them all flying, as she would Cyrzanski and Tang when they entered. Her other hand reached over to retrieve a Zat, which she used in rapid succession on the others as they tried to return fire, save Cadmilis. "Cadmilis, did you think we were stupid?" she remarked to her "colleague", walking toward him. Her hand device came up as she went to use it on him. "It wasn't difficult to realize you were working with the Tok'ra. The only reason Lord Zeus did not kill you immediately was to lure the Tok'ra and the Tau'ri here."
Cadmilis began to stand, remaining on all fours as Axerus used her hand device to begin restraining him, holding him there. Her foot kicked his Zat and knocked it out of reaching distance. "But now your usefulness has come to an end, Tok'ra." Axerus' eyes flashed and she began to dial the power up on her hand device to bring it toward fatal levels.
A burst of particle fire lashed out at her. Axerus turned in surprise and turned to see Zaria not fully unconscious, if partially paralyzed, having moved just enough to fire her weapon while still on the ground.
In that split second, Cadmilis reached into the robe and pulled out his own grenade. He reached forward, his hand penetrating Axerus' forceshield, and looked on at her just as she seemed to notice what he'd done.
Then the grenade went off.



Jack finished another clip off and switched charge clips, having only seconds to do so as it seemed every Jaffa in the city was converging on their position. Moving in any direction was becoming a slow, laborous process. "Mackensen, you there? We're having a little problem here, could use some help." There was no answer. "Mackensen?"
A grenade released by Worf flew over Jack's head and down the corridor on the approach to the throne room. It's detonation scarred the golden sheen of the walls and sent the Jaffa flying in every direction. "C'mon, let's go!"
The entire team rushed forward, firing as they went, struggling to keep the Jaffa from getting many shots through. So far they'd been lucky to avoid all but a few glancing hits that - thanks to the material of the Alliance BDUs and armor - only caused slightly painful burns, but they were starting to run low on charge clips and any relenting of fire gave the Jaffa morre time to return it.
They were getting close to the door when a Jaffa ahead of them came out. He managed to throw the object in his hand just before he could be hit. Jack barely had the time to recognize a Goa'uld stun grenade before it went off, filling the corridor with the same stun effect as Zats. Jack felt his body seize up and everything go black.