Storytime with Rachel F Hundred

Chapter 26

‘Are you sure about this, Sam?’ Daniel wrinkled his nose nervously.

‘I’m sure.’ Sam said. She shivered. ‘I think the chair was meant to control the weapon just like it controls the drones in Antarctica. It’s still tied to it. I can…I can feel it inside my head.’

Jack looked back at her sharply. ‘Maybe you should get out of the chair, Carter.’

‘Yes, sir.’ Sam focused on deactivating the chair and stepped away from it hurriedly as it righted its position. She sighed in relief.

‘I’m going to take Mitchell and find Teal’c; bring him up to date so he can inform the Jaffa High Council about Ba’al’s interference.’ Jack said. ‘You two stay here and work out how we shut that weapon off.’ He pointed at the chair. ‘Do not touch that.’

‘So how are we supposed to find out how to disarm the weapon if we can’t use the chair?’ Daniel asked exasperatedly.

‘I don’t know, Daniel, but I don’t want to take the risk of Carter accidentally destroying all life in the galaxy.’ Jack said.

‘The General’s right, Daniel.’ Sam said crossing her arms protectively. She sighed. ‘Those schematics had to come from somewhere in this system, right?’

‘Right.’ Daniel agreed. ‘But without using the chair it will be like…like finding a needle in a haystack and what about finding out what’s going on with you?’

‘Try another way to get the info, Daniel.’ Jack’s eyes glanced toward Sam. ‘Sorry, Carter.’

‘I understand, sir.’ She said.

Jack ignored Daniel’s exasperated sigh as he picked up his stuff and made his way back out of the chamber. He clipped the P90 back on as he made his way down the passageway and back out into the Dakara sunlight.

Mitchell straightened from his position by the side of the passageway. ‘Sir.’

‘You’re with me, Mitchell.’ Jack said.

‘Sir?’ Mitchell looked back at the entrance before he took a couple of running steps to catch up with the General.

‘Do you know where this Council building is?’ Jack asked as he flung his baseball cap back on over his short crop of grey hair.

‘Yes, sir.’

‘Well, lead the way, Mitchell.’

‘Yes, sir.’ Mitchell was surprised at the pace the General was setting and he almost struggled to keep up.

Jack looked over at the younger officer and smiled at the well hidden curiosity; he knew Mitchell was too good an officer to let it get the better of him. He cleared his throat. ‘You’re probably wondering what’s going on?’

‘I’m a little curious, sir.’ Mitchell admitted.

‘We had a visit from the Tok’ra last night.’ Jack said.

‘The Tok’ra?’ Mitchell frowned. ‘I thought they had abandoned the alliance with us since the attack on the old Alpha site.’

‘Oh they have. Rule number eight, Mitchell; never trust a Tok’ra. They always have a hidden agenda.’ Jack sighed. ‘They told us the weapon on Dakara is still active probably down to Ba’al’s interference. Carter’s just confirmed it. We’re off to tell the Jaffa Council the good news.’

Mitchell grimaced. ‘Let’s hope they don’t kill the messengers, sir.’

‘Yes. Let’s.’ Jack muttered.

The Council session was breaking up and the leaders of the Jaffa were spilling out of the meeting chamber as they entered. Jack slowed down to a normal pace, his eyes searching for Teal’c. He saw him a moment later, almost at the same time that Teal’c caught sight of him across the crowded corridor. The two team-mates cut a swathe through the crowd to reach each other with no regard for anyone else.

‘O’Neill,’ Teal’c began urgently, ‘Colonel Carter…’

‘She’s OK, T.’ Jack said quickly realising the assumption the Jaffa had jumped to on seeing him. ‘She’s back with Daniel looking over the Ancient systems. Actually, that’s kind of what I need to talk to you about.’

‘O’Neill.’ Bra’tac greeted him with strong forearm clasp. ‘It is good to see you again.’

‘Always a pleasure, Bra’tac, but I need to talk to you and Teal’c on a matter of urgency.’ He glanced around at the interested looks they were garnering. ‘In private.’

‘Of course. This way.’ Bra’tac hid his own curiosity and led the way to an ante-chamber.

Jack paused at the entrance and turned to Mitchell. ‘Watch the door and make sure we’re not disturbed.’

‘Yes, sir.’

Jack joined the two Jaffa and closed the door. ‘Sorry for the melodrama,’ he waved a hand at them, ‘but we had a visit from the Tok’ra last night.’ He quickly filled them in on what Delek had told them; that they had received information that the Ancient weapon was not destroyed as they had been told.

Teal’c and Bra’tac exchanged a concerned look.

‘That is a serious charge.’ Bra’tac said.

‘It’s a serious problem.’ Jack said without any sign of his usual humour.

‘The Tok’ra are mistaken.’ Bra’tac insisted huffily. ‘I was present when the Council voted. The machine was to be destroyed.’

‘But you didn’t actually see it destroyed?’ Jack checked.

Bra’tac shook his head. ‘I did not. Only three of our Council members were tasked with overseeing the destruction of the weapon but…I cannot believe they would lie to the rest of the Council about this.’

‘I’m sorry, Bra’tac. I didn’t want to believe the Tok’ra either,’ Jack sighed, ‘which is why I got Carter to check.’ He held Bra’tac’s gaze. ‘The weapon is still active.’

‘Are you certain, O’Neill?’ Teal’c asked.

‘Teal’c, the chair in that Ancient chamber you guys found is hooked up to that damn weapon.’ Jack said pointing in the vague direction of the old monument. ‘Carter could tell it was working. She thought she was going to set the thing off.’

Teal’c’s jaw worked furiously as he assimilated the information. ‘Colonel Carter would not lie about this.’ He said to a devastated Bra’tac.

‘I know, old friend.’ Bra’tac admitted.

‘Listen, we think this was all Ba’al’s doing.’ Jack said waving his hand. ‘Who exactly said they witnessed the destruction of the machine?’

Bra’tac sighed. ‘Byn’c, Gerek and Cral’k.’

‘Cral’k.’ Jack repeated. ‘Cral’k as in the guy who tried to kill Carter Cral’k? Ba’al’s spy Cral’k?’ He motioned with his hand. ‘Isn’t it possible Cral’k was responsible for not following through on destroying the thing?’

‘You believe Cral’k was acting on Ba’al’s orders to defy the wishes of the Jaffa High Council.’ Bra’tac surmised.

‘I do.’ Jack said.

‘What of Byn’c and Gerek?’ Teal’c murmured.

‘I cannot believe Byn’c would have lied to the Council,’ Bra’tac said, ‘but Gerek…he has a chequered past, hmmm?’

‘He does?’

‘He was the First Prime of a minor System Lord in the service of Ba’al at the time of the rebellion.’ Teal’c confirmed.

‘Another Ba’al connection.’ Jack pointed out.

‘We should inform the Council immediately.’ Teal’c said.

‘I agree, old friend.’ Bra’tac said. ‘I will see to it. O’Neill, you will stay and speak of this to the Council.’ He swept out before Jack could reply.

The General turned to Teal’c ruefully. ‘I guess I’m staying.’

‘Indeed.’

Jack nodded. He poked his head around the door and ushered Mitchell inside.

‘Sir?’ Mitchell asked.

‘Bra’tac’s getting the Council together for a big pow-wow session which I’m guessing isn’t going to be very pleasant. I need you to head back to Colonel Carter let her know what’s going on and tell her that we definitely think Ba’al had something to do with the weapon not being destroyed; Cral’k was one of the few Jaffa with responsibility for destroying it.’ Jack said. ‘Tell her I’ll be staying here for the discussion and then I plan to head back to the SGC. Teal’c will update you guys on the outcome.’

Mitchell nodded. ‘Yes, sir.’

‘Dismissed.’ Jack confirmed and returned Mitchell’s salute.

The Air Force officer was half-way back out of the door when Jack called his name stopping him in his tracks.

‘Sir?’ Mitchell asked.

‘Remind Daniel and Carter that they are not to use that chair.’ Jack said firmly. ‘And Mitchell? Rule number nine is don’t trust Daniel and Carter not to touch something when I’ve explicitly told them not to.’

Mitchell nodded and left.

‘What’s the betting they use the chair?’ Jack sighed.

‘I will not take that bet, O’Neill.’

‘How do you think the Council will take all this?’ Jack asked perching on the shiny wooden table.

Teal’c’s eyebrow quirked upwards. ‘I do not believe the Council will be pleased.’ He scowled. ‘It is proving most difficult to rid ourselves of Ba’al’s influence.’

‘There is a permanent way to deal with Ba’al.’ Jack said almost lazily.

Teal’c met his eyes in complete understanding. ‘Indeed.’

Bra’tac swept into the room. ‘We are ready. You will come with us, O’Neill.’

Jack followed the Jaffa out of the ante-chamber and down the wide ornate corridor with its giant urns and imposing statues to the Council room. It was a circular space with two curved semi-circular tables behind which sat the various Council members. Bra’tac indicated for O’Neill to stand in the centre and took a seat. Teal’c chose to remain by Jack’s side and the General was pleased at the presence of his friend.

‘Bra’tac, what is the meaning of this?’ Gerek stated angrily. ‘It is forbidden for outsiders to address the Council.’

‘I believe an exception is needed on this occasion.’ Bra’tac insisted. ‘General O’Neill has vital information regarding our security here at Dakara.’

‘I would hear him speak.’ Ilyia, the only female Jaffa on the Council, spoke up.

‘As would I.’ Byn’c said.

Gerek waved a large hand and pursed his lips. ‘Very well. Let him speak.’

‘O’Neill.’ Bra’tac nodded at the Tau’ri General.

Jack found his mouth suddenly as dry as the Sahara as all the eyes of the Jaffa focused on him. ‘Hey. How are you all doing?’ He cleared his throat noisily and got to the purpose of his visit. ‘We received some information about our favourite Goa’uld, Ba’al…’

‘Where did this information come from?’ Byn’c asked.

‘The Tok’ra.’ Jack admitted.

There was a wave of muttering around the room.

‘Look,’ he said talking over them, ‘I’m not keen on them either but their information came from an operative in Ba’al’s inner circle so could we all move on from our mutual dislike of the snakes and get to the point?’

‘An excellent idea.’ Gerek said leaning back and steepling his fingers in front of him.

‘Ba’al arranged it so the Ancient weapon on Dakara was not destroyed.’ Jack said forcefully.

‘This can’t be true,’ gasped an elderly Jaffa.

‘Cral’k was entrusted with the destruction of the weapon, was he not?’ Teal’c asked.

‘As was Byn’c and Gerek.’ Ilyia said her green eyes flashing at the two Jaffa.

Gerek rose out of his seat angrily. ‘Are you accusing me of being an agent of Ba’al?’

‘I don’t think I said that.’ Jack turned to Teal’c. ‘Did I say that he was an agent of Ba’al because I don’t think I said that?’

‘Hasak!’ Gerek shouted.

‘Gerek.’ Bra’tac intervened. ‘There is no doubt that there are questions to be answered by you and Byn’c. You were tasked with Cral’k in overseeing that the weapon was destroyed.’

‘The weapon was destroyed.’ Gerek said. ‘I witnessed the explosion within the chamber holding the control table.’

‘Whatever you saw was a trick.’ Jack replied forcefully, stabbing a finger at him. ‘That weapon is still active.’

‘How do you know this?’ Byn’c demanded.

Teal’c answered. ‘The Ancient chamber where we found Colonel Carter after Cral’k’s attempt to kill her contains a chair that controls the weapon. Colonel Carter used the chair and verified the Tok’ra’s information to determine its veracity before the Tau’ri brought this to the attention of the Council.’

There was another outbreak of loud voices and a lot of comments being directed at the direction of the grey haired human standing in the centre of the room.

‘Hey!’ Jack yelled. ‘Ba’al didn’t allow this information to leak by accident. He’s trying to screw things up between us with this which is why we verified the intel before we informed you. Are you going to let him win?’

There was a moment of total silence.

‘O’Neill is right.’ Bra’tac said. ‘Ba’al knew this information would create dissent amongst us. We must unite and not allow him a victory here.’

Byn’c sighed. ‘Gerek and I were obviously tricked by Cral’k.’ He gestured. ‘I have no excuse. Cral’k offered to arrange everything and we allowed it. After Anubis’s attack,’ he sighed again heavily, ‘there was much to do.’

A disgruntled Gerek sat back down. ‘I also have no excuse to offer.’ His dark eyes glowered angrily.

Bra’tac patted Byn’c’s shoulder. ‘We can understand. The question is what we do now. The weapon is still active and must be destroyed.’

‘Must it?’ Gerek asked. He spread his hands out wide. ‘Is destroying the weapon the right thing to do?’

‘Oh, here we go.’ Jack muttered under his breath.

‘The weapon is too powerful…’ Bra’tac began.

‘And do we not need that power now?’ Gerek said thumping the table.

‘We have already made this decision, Gerek.’ Byn’c argued.

‘An emotional decision made in the turmoil of Anubis’s attack.’ Gerek insisted.

‘Didn’t you learn anything from that?’ Jack asked unable to keep quiet. ‘Anubis almost pressed the button that destroyed all life in the galaxy.’

‘Well,’ Gerek’s dark eyes were filled with hostility as they met Jack’s serious brown gaze, ‘we know what the Tau’ri would like us to do.’

‘Would we prefer to destroy a weapon that could take out all life in the galaxy? Yes, we would, I won’t deny that.’ Jack retorted. ‘But actually it makes no difference to us.’ He lifted a hand and smiled smugly. ‘We have a counter-measure.’ He watched in satisfaction as the Jaffa were shocked into silence by him for the second time.

Chapter 27

Mitchell entered the upper level of the Ancient chamber and searched for Sam. He couldn’t see her anywhere in the chamber. He patted Daniel’s shoulder. ‘Hey, Jackson. Where’s Sam?’

‘Over there.’ Daniel waved vaguely in the direction of the lower level.

Mitchell skipped down the stairs and looked around. He was about to yell at Daniel again when he caught sight of a pair of Air Force issue combat boots sticking out the bottom of a console. He crouched down beside the Colonel’s legs and tried to see what she was doing. Her body was half-way into a hole in the wall. ‘Sam? What are you doing?’

Her head rose a millimetre. ‘Hey, you’re back.’ She wiggled out of the work-space. ‘One of the consoles has a short I was fixing it.’ She said motioning back at the hole.

Mitchell nodded and reluctantly dragged his attention back to his orders. ‘General O’Neill has reported the visit of the Tok’ra and the status of the Ancient weapon to Bra’tac and Teal’c.’

‘How did they take it?’ Sam asked clambering to her feet.

Mitchell rose with her. ‘Bra’tac went off to organise an emergency Council session. Apparently Ba’al probably did have something to do with the weapon not being destroyed; Cral’k was involved.’ He paused as she made a face. ‘The General was planning to stay for the session and then head back to the SGC. Teal’c will update us on the outcome.’

‘OK.’ Sam nodded. ‘Anything else?’

‘Just that I should remind you and Daniel to stay away from the chair.’ Mitchell said with a smile.

‘Funny.’ Sam said dryly.

‘Can I do anything to help in here?’ Mitchell asked looking around.

‘You read Ancient?’ Sam asked already knowing the answer.

Mitchell shook his head. ‘You want me to go guard outside?’

‘Sorry,’ she said with an apologetic smile, ‘I know it’s not the most exciting duty.’

‘You and Daniel do your thing and Teal’c and I back you up. I get it.’ Mitchell said. ‘And it’s all good to me. Besides,’ he continued with a wicked grin, ‘on our last mission when I was doing guard duty I got zatted and knocked out; not exactly unexciting duty.’

‘That isn’t the norm.’ Sam retorted.

He gave a look of blatant disbelief.

‘Well, OK.’ Sam admitted. She gave a wicked smile of her own. ‘We are SG1 after all.’

‘Yes, ma’am.’ Mitchell agreed happily.

‘Check in every hour. I want an early warning if you get zatted again.’ Sam ordered as he gave her a salute and headed back up the stairs.

She sighed and headed over to Doctor Lee. ‘How’s it going Bill?’ The scientist was examining all the information they had been able to pinpoint on the unusual power source.

The small round man scratched his beard and gestured at his laptop screen. ‘I can’t understand this.’ He admitted. ‘My Ancient is a little rusty but if I’m reading this right I think there is some kind of an energy field being used to access sub-space in another dimension a bit like the technology you came across on P9X391.’ He shook his head. ‘How the ZPM produces the charge to access the dimension…’ he shrugged helplessly.

‘Keep at it, Bill.’ Sam said. ‘It sounds like it might be useful information.’

She checked in with the other scientists including Kyrel and Tolam who had rejoined them before she went upstairs to sit next to Daniel. ‘Anything?’

‘On why the Ancients came to Dakara, yes. On how we turn the weapon off, no.’ Daniel admitted. He gave a frustrated moan and leaned back in his chair to take his glasses off and rub his eyes furiously.

‘OK. Well, maybe this gives us a start.’ Sam said encouragingly. ‘Maybe if we understand more about the context of the weapon we’ll understand how it works.’

Daniel reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a ration bar. He opened it almost absent-mindedly as he waved back at the console. ‘OK. From everything we and the Atlantis team have been able to work out the Ancients built the city of Atlantis on Earth but they suffered from a plague and took Atlantis to the Pegasus galaxy to escape it. Ultimately they met the Wraith and they came back after losing the war with them. Eventually, most Ancients were able to ascend or left Earth.’

‘Right.’ Sam agreed.

Daniel took a bite of the bar and chewed enthusiastically before he waved back at the monitor. ‘This is where it gets interesting; we were wrong.’

‘Wrong?’ Sam’s brow creased in confusion.

‘Wrong.’ Daniel gestured sending a spray of crumbs across the room. ‘According to this, the Ancients didn’t even evolve on Earth.’

Sam stared at him. ‘But…’

‘They came from another part of the universe trying to escape some kind of religious crusade.’ He wrinkled his nose. ‘Something like the Inquisition.’

Sam sighed, her blue eyes rueful. ‘That would explain the lack of evolutionary evidence back on Earth for a race predating our own evolution.’

Daniel nodded and swallowed the mouthful of food he had taken while she spoke. ‘They didn’t even go to Earth first.’

‘They came here.’ Sam surmised.

‘And built this outpost and some Stargates which they call Astral portals.’ Daniel said waving a hand at the building around them. ‘They started to explore and realised the galaxy was fairly empty and lifeless. And that’s all I’ve got so far.’ He popped the rest of the ration bar in his mouth and chewed thoughtfully.

Sam patted his arm. ‘It’s more than we had a couple of hours ago.’

Daniel grimaced. His blue eyes snared hers. ‘You know how I told you about being in the diner talking to Oma and Anubis?’

‘I remember.’ Sam said quietly.

‘Anubis told me that the weapon was originally intended to seed life in the galaxy not to destroy it.’ He looked at her seriously. ‘Could he have been telling the truth?’

Sam considered it for a moment. ‘I guess.’ She shifted in her seat and gestured. ‘All life has an electrical current running through it; it helps keep cellular cohesion, transmits neural transmitters and generally keeps the body working. The way we think the weapon works is to send a disrupter wave through sub-space which, if set at the right frequency, will interrupt the electrical current.’

‘And the interruption is enough to cause everything to lose cohesion.’ Daniel concluded. ‘Like with the Replicators.’

‘Right. Now, theoretically, you could create a wave that somehow initiated or amplified the electrical current rather than disrupting it,’ Sam said, ‘but you would have to have all the building blocks that make up the chemistry of life already present.’

‘So you go out sprinkle the essential ingredients, zap it all with a giant microwave and a few millennia later you have intelligent life.’ Daniel muttered.

‘Well it’s not really a microwave but yes, you’ve got the general idea.’ Sam frowned. ‘If that is what the device was originally used for I think it was modified later to be used as a weapon.’

‘That would make sense when you think about.’ Daniel said crossing his arms.

‘How do you mean?’ Sam asked perplexed.

‘Say the Ancients came here first, created the machine and seeded life – maybe they even stayed here at Dakara a while – but then there was obviously some kind of disaster and the outpost got buried. They left, found Earth, built Atlantis, everything proceeds as we think it did. Only they get back and they’re worried about the Wraith following them…’

‘And they decide to use the machine as a weapon.’ Sam concluded. ‘If the Wraith did get to this galaxy and attack in the same kind of numbers that had overwhelmed them in the Pegasus galaxy, they would be able to destroy all of them easily in one go.’ She chewed her lip. ‘It’s possible that the Wraith would require a different disruptor setting to humans or Ancients even; our various evolutions happened in different galaxies and the weapon can be set very precisely.’

‘So the Ancients come back and build the city and monuments on the surface here.’ Daniel said. ‘And it could explain why they tunnelled back to this part of the lost buildings – they needed access to the control chair.’

‘It’s a great theory, Daniel,’ Sam said, ‘but…’

‘But it doesn’t help us find a way to destroy the machine. I know.’ Daniel sighed.

She patted his shoulder as she got up. ‘Keep at it. I’m going to help Bill with the power source.’

‘OK.’ Daniel was already leaning forward, his blue eyes returning to the text on the screen.

It was another three hours before Sam ordered the study team to take a break. They all spilled out into the warm Dakara sunlight for some air. The three SG1 team-mates automatically took up a guard position on the ground in front of the group of scientists who rested by the side of the mountain.

Sam turned her face up to the sun and breathed in deeply. The air in the chamber was a little stale and it was good to feel the breeze over her skin.

‘I’ve been meaning to ask you who was the Tok’ra who visited?’ Daniel asked curiously.

‘Delek.’

‘Oh.’ Daniel smirked. ‘Bet Jack was pleased.’

Sam gave a small smile. ‘I can’t say I was pleased to see him myself.’ She gestured with her canteen. ‘The Tok’ra never visit us without a hidden agenda.’

‘Rule number eight.’ Mitchell said sagely. ‘The General told me that that was rule number eight.’

Sam rolled her eyes. ‘Well, he was right. They were going to use us to get here so they could destroy the machine themselves.’

‘Nice,’ commented Mitchell.

‘What did Jack say when he found out?’ Daniel asked his eyes alight with interest.

‘He told Delek not to let the iris hit his ass on his way back through the gate.’ Sam grinned.

Mitchell hooted with laughter as Daniel chuckled.

‘Sounds like Jack.’ Daniel commented smiling. He rubbed his knees. ‘So the Tok’ra have a spy in Ba’al’s court.’

‘A compromised spy.’ Sam said. ‘There’s no way Ba’al didn’t leak the information on the weapon purposely. He was hoping to stir up the anti-Tau’ri feeling again.’

‘And using the Tok’ra as the messengers guaranteed him that the Jaffa would have reacted badly from the start.’ Daniel murmured.

‘Hopefully, the Jaffa will go for the idea that Ba’al interfered with the weapon being destroyed and we’re only reporting his meddling rather than tying to meddle ourselves in their decision.’ Sam said.

‘But we do want the weapon destroyed, right?’ Mitchell said.

‘Right,’ Sam agreed, ‘but we don’t want to make it appear to the Jaffa that we’re trying to dictate what they do.’ She sighed again. ‘We’re hoping the fact that we have a counter-measure will help convince them that we don’t really have an interest in the outcome of their decision.’ She found herself pinned by two sets of blue eyes.

Daniel found his voice first. ‘We have a counter-measure?’

‘Sure.’ Sam lowered her canteen from her lips. ‘Didn’t I mention that to you guys?’

They both shook their heads.

‘Oh.’ Sam gestured with the canteen. ‘Well, we have a counter-measure.’

‘How did we get a counter-measure?’ Mitchell asked bemused.

‘I…er…built this morning.’ Sam admitted.

‘You built it this morning?’ Daniel repeated. A worried look sparked in his eyes. ‘Sam…’

‘I designed it when we thought Anubis was going to push the button.’ Sam said defensively. ‘All I needed to do was refine and adjust it a little.’

‘Wow.’ Mitchell said. He took another sip of his water and suddenly clued into the way Daniel was frowning at Sam and the way she was avoiding the archaeologist’s gaze. He looked from one to the other as he screwed the top on his canteen. He wondered at the uneasy tension between his team-mates. He got to his feet. ‘I’ll go and…uh…check on the others.’ He motioned behind him and moved away.

‘Thanks, Cameron.’ Sam said absently.

‘Sam,’ Daniel began as soon as Mitchell took a couple of steps away from them.

‘Daniel, I’m fine.’

‘Sam, you’re the only one who can use the control chair and now you’re building counter-measures to Ancient technology in the space of a morning?’ Daniel argued. ‘Doesn’t that remind you of…?’

‘How the General acted when he had the Ancient repository downloaded into his head? Yes, I know, Daniel.’ Sam admitted grumpily.

‘So?’ Daniel pressed gesturing at her. ‘Shouldn’t we be calling the Asgard or something?’

‘Carolyn didn’t find anything wrong with me,’ Sam protested, ‘and I’m not speaking Ancient.’

‘Yet.’

‘Daniel, the General’s symptoms followed a regular pattern; he began to talk in Ancient, then he began to build things and he was always going to be able to use the chair in Antarctica because he has the gene.’

Sam recited the information so fluently that Daniel realised that she must have thought about it a lot herself. ‘Maybe we should stop looking for a way to switch the weapon off and start focusing on what activates the chair.’ He suggested.

‘I’m not the priority, Daniel.’

‘Says who?’ Daniel muttered.

Sam smiled. ‘I appreciate the thought and if I start talking in Ancient then believe me I’ll be the first back into that chair to find out what’s going on.’

‘Maybe we should use the chair anyway.’ Daniel said. ‘We’re not finding much on the weapon trawling piece by piece through the system.’

‘It’s tempting.’ Sam admitted hugging her knees to her.

‘You know not using the chair wasn’t really an order.’ Daniel mused. ‘More like a suggestion.’

‘Daniel…’

‘And Jack’s not coming back here.’ Daniel commented. ‘He’s going back to the SGC.’

Sam pondered it for a moment. ‘It would be a lot quicker.’

They looked at each other and both swiftly got to their feet.

Sam waved at the entrance as they passed the resting scientists and Mitchell. ‘We’re heading back in. You guys stay out here a while longer and rest up some more.’ She was gone before they could answer hurrying after Daniel down the passageway. They stood in front of the chair for a moment.

Sam crossed her arms over her chest. ‘I’m having second thoughts.’ She admitted. ‘Maybe this isn’t a good idea.’

‘Come on, what’s the worst that can happen?’ Daniel coaxed.

‘I wipe out all life in the galaxy.’ Sam said dryly.

‘OK, bad question.’ Daniel said. He gestured at the chair. ‘What if you only focus on switching the weapon off?’

‘Right.’ Sam took a step up to the chair.

‘Hey!’ Mitchell’s yell had them both turning guiltily towards the upper level. His blue eyes narrowed on them suspiciously remembering the ninth rule. ‘General O’Neill’s on his way down the path with Teal’c.’

Sam and Daniel exchanged a concerned look and quickly took the stairs to the upper level. They all made their way back outside just in time to greet their visitors.

Jack frowned as they all came to a halt outside the mountain. He took his baseball cap off and rubbed a hand through his damp sweaty hair. ‘Carter, Daniel. Any luck on finding a way to destroy the weapon?’

‘No, sir.’ Sam reported.

‘We’ve barely made a dent into the information in the system, Jack.’ Daniel added folding his arms. ‘It could take days, months even, before we find anything useful.’

‘I thought you might say that.’ Jack sighed.

‘What happened with the Council, sir?’ Sam asked.

‘The Council agreed to destroy the weapon, Colonel Carter.’ Teal’c answered.

‘That’s good news.’ Sam said.

‘Indeed.’ Teal’c said with satisfaction.

‘They’re going to blow the thing up. We just wanted to check you hadn’t found another way of doing it. I’ve been invited to stay and watch.’ Jack said cheerily. ‘Want to come?’

‘Thank you, sir but I have a lot to do here.’ Sam said with a smile.

‘Daniel?’ Jack asked. ‘I hear there’s going to be popcorn.’

‘Thanks but on balance I’d really rather not watch an Ancient artefact blown to a million pieces, Jack.’ Daniel said dryly.

Jack smirked at him and his brown eyes drifted to Mitchell. ‘How about you, Mitchell?’

‘Me?’ Mitchell asked.

‘Colonel, you don’t mind me borrowing the Colonel for a little while, do you?’ Jack asked his chocolate eyes gleaming at Sam with amusement.

Mitchell looked hopefully at her. ‘I mean if there’s going to be popcorn and all…’

She rolled her eyes. ‘Go. Have fun.’

Mitchell broke into a grin. ‘Thanks, Sam.’

‘Great.’ Jack slapped his cap back on. ‘We’ll see you all later.’ He looked back at Daniel and Sam. ‘And don’t use that chair; that’s an order.’ He smiled at their disgruntled expressions and gestured for Teal’c to lead the way to the weapon.

The Jaffa bowed to his two team-mates and led the General and Mitchell away from the mountain. It took them a little while to reach the Ancient temple that housed the weapon. The area was teeming with Jaffa.

Bra’tac hurried out to meet them. ‘The bomb is set. We should get to a safe distance.’

They took up a position a sensible distance away but with a good view of the front of the doorway leading to the inner chamber which held the control table. The rest of the Council stood beside them and behind them a significant number of Jaffa had gathered to watch.

‘So how are we going to blow up the weapon?’ Mitchell asked.

‘We will use a naquadah enhanced bomb, Colonel Mitchell.’ Teal’c responded. ‘It will destroy the control table from which the weapon can be accessed.’

‘Cool.’ Mitchell murmured.

Bra’tac pointed at the chamber suddenly. ‘It is time.’

The words had barely left his lips when the ground shook below their feet and a fiery ball exploded out of the mouth of the chamber.

‘Sweet.’ Jack commented when the fire died away. He was already moving forward, Teal’c, Bra’tac and Mitchell close at his heels. Jack waved his arms to dissipate the black billowing cloud of smoke as he stepped through into the chamber. The darkness was suffocating and he coughed trying to get his breath. He switched on the light on his P90 and swept it around the room. Mitchell followed his example. Their beams fell on the rectangular shape in the centre as more Jaffa entered bringing with them more light to examine the space.

Jack came to a sudden halt as the smoke drifted away; Teal’c came to stand one side of him; Mitchell, the other.

‘OK.’ Mitchell said. ‘This could be a problem.’

‘Ya think?’ Jack asked sarcastically.

Teal’c stared at the intact control table the bomb had failed to destroy and frowned. ‘Indeed.’

Chapter 28

Jack and Mitchell joined the Jaffa Council as they regrouped outside of the chamber.

‘OK,’ Jack said rubbing his hands together, ‘it’s time for plan B.’

‘You have a plan B, O’Neill?’ Bra’tac said hopefully.

‘Nope,’ Jack admitted, ‘but it’s time for one.’ The Jaffa looked at him bemused as Mitchell snickered and Teal’c’s brown eyes gleamed with reluctant humour.

‘We could try another bomb.’ Ilyia suggested.

‘This is a sign.’ Gerek said forcefully. ‘The weapon cannot be destroyed; we should simply accept it.’

‘There is always a way.’ Teal’c said quietly.

‘I have to admit, Teal’c, I do not see it.’ Bra’tac draped his cloak over his arm and turned to look back in the direction of the weapon. ‘I do not believe we have a bomb capable of destroying the weapon.’

‘Maybe we do not require a bomb.’ Teal’c said thoughtfully. ‘There may yet be information in the systems of the Ancient outpost that will allow us to destroy the weapon another way.’

‘If it can be done, Daniel and Carter will find a way to do it.’ Jack’s confidence in his two team-mates was evident.

Byn’c sighed. ‘It seems we have no other choice.’

The sound of footsteps approaching had all of them shifting to meet the messenger. The young Jaffa bowed deeply in front of Bra’tac.

‘Master Bra’tac, there are Tok’ra at the Stargate. They have asked for an audience.’

There were matching stunned faces in the gathered group and Jack’s expression darkened ominously.

‘Tok’ra?’ Gerek bristled. ‘What are they doing on Dakara?’

Bra’tac looked back at his fellow Council member. ‘I will go and find out.’ He gestured at the chamber. ‘I believe we are done here in any case. We will give the Tau’ri and our scientists working with them time to discover another way to destroy the weapon, hmmm?’

‘Agreed.’ Byn’c said.

‘Very well.’ Gerek said. He whirled away and strode off back in the direction of the Council building.

The rest of the Council followed at a more sedate pace leaving Bra’tac alone with Teal’c and the two Tau’ri visitors. There was no discussion as all of them turned towards the Stargate, Bra’tac leading the way. They could see the tableau a long time before they reached it; the Tok’ra stood in a circle of armed Jaffa just in front of the metal ring. Every Jaffa had a zat pointed at the Tok’ra and the two were sensibly standing perfectly still. Jack’s annoyance at the Tok’ra for showing up rose to new heights as he recognised one of them as Delek. Bra’tac instructed the guards to move aside and they stepped back. Delek and the other Tok’ra stayed still and waited for the small welcoming party to reach them.

‘Delek.’ Jack said dryly. ‘What a surprise.’

‘General O’Neill.’ Delek gave him a short nod of greeting. ‘General Hammond said we would find you here.’

Jack assimilated the news that Hammond had redirected the Tok’ra with well-hidden surprise. He turned instead to the Jaffa warriors by his side. ‘You remember Teal’c? And this is Master Bra’tac.’

To Jack’s surprise, Delek bowed in a show of respect.

‘Master Bra’tac.’ Delek said straightening. ‘This is Shannon.’ He gestured at the thin brown-haired man stood with him. ‘He was our operative stationed with Ba’al. He returned unexpectedly yesterday while I was meeting with you. He has vital intelligence for you and the Jaffa about Ba’al.’

Bra’tac shot Jack a questioning look and Jack shrugged; he was just as confused as the elderly Jaffa.

‘Perhaps we should adjourn this discussion to a more appropriate location.’ Bra’tac suggested. ‘Come.’ He ushered them away from the Stargate.

Delek walked beside Bra’tac; Mitchell fell into step with Shannon in the middle. Jack was happier with Teal’c by his side as they brought up the rear of the group. They allowed a little distance to grow between them and the others.

‘Do you think they truly bring intelligence on Ba’al, O’Neill?’ Teal’c asked in a low voice.

‘I don’t know, Teal’c.’ Jack said. ‘I don’t trust them. Their idea of an alliance always seemed to involve us getting shot at.’ He glanced at his friend. ‘What do you think?’

‘I think we should see whether the information they have is of value.’ Teal’c murmured clasping his hands behind his back.

They fell into a comfortable silence and followed the others into the Council building and through the wide corridors to the same ante-chamber they had used earlier.

Bra’tac sat down and pinned Delek with a hard stare. ‘You will forgive our caution, Delek, but it has been my experience that the Tok’ra rarely act without self-interest. What is this information you offer us?’

Delek shifted uncomfortably. ‘Ba’al is on his way to Dakara.’ He didn’t miss the looks of alarm exchanged by the Tau’ri and the Jaffa. ‘Ba’al has managed to retain a significant fleet of ships manned by Kull warriors and he has been hiding them in the far reaches of his dominion. It is a sizable enough force to challenge your defences here. We believe he intends to take back Dakara destabilising the Free Jaffa worlds and sowing seeds of doubt about the rebellion in those who are uncertain.’

‘If Ba’al were to attack Dakara, he would fail.’ Teal’c said forcefully.

‘Yes, he would.’ Jack said.

‘We believe if he took back Dakara then he would use the Ancient weapon on any planet that did not agree to fall under his rule.’ Delek continued.

‘And let me guess, we need to destroy the Ancient weapon ASAP.’ Jack drawled leaning back in his chair with a cynical glint in his eye.

Delek flushed. ‘I can understand how you might consider this information convenient…’

‘Ya think?’ Jack inserted.

‘But we are telling the truth.’ Delek insisted. ‘Your long range sensors will be able to verify the movement of Ba’al’s ships within the day.’

‘I do not understand.’ Bra’tac said. ‘Why would Ba’al attack when the Jaffa alliance with the Tau’ri is still strong?’

‘Perhaps he believed that his tactic of informing the Tau’ri that the Ancient weapon was active would have destroyed the alliance.’ Teal’c suggested.

‘No.’ Shannon spoke up for the first time and shook his head. ‘Ba’al has a spy on the Jaffa High Council; he knows that the Jaffa have not reacted the way that he had hoped to the Tau’ri bringing them the information about the weapon.

Teal’c stiffened and his dark eyes shot to the Tok’ra. ‘Cral’k was executed for his treason.’

‘Not Cral’k.’ Shannon said forcefully. ‘Another Jaffa. I never knew his name but I glimpsed his image once on the long-range communications device when he reported to Ba’al.’

‘You’d recognise him?’ Jack checked.

‘Yes. I believe so.’ Shannon agreed.

Jack looked at Teal’c. ‘How about we pay the Council a surprise visit?’

‘I agree, O’Neill.’ Teal’c said.

Bra’tac gestured at the Tok’ra. ‘Come.’

They all made their way out of room and down the hall to the Council chamber. Shannon was flanked by Teal’c and Bra’tac; Delek, Jack and Mitchell followed behind them.

Teal’c flung the doors of the chamber open and strode forward with Bra’tac, Shannon by their side. Jack hung back and gestured for the rest of them to do the same.

‘What is the meaning of this?’ Gerek demanded angrily as the Jaffa Council got to their feet at the violent interruption. ‘Who is this?’

Teal’c ignored him. ‘Who is the traitor who works with Ba’al?’ His words effectively silenced the room.

Shannon’s eyes passed over one Jaffa and then another. His eyes settled on one and he stabbed a finger in their direction. ‘Him.’

Bra’tac walked slowly toward the accused, his dark eyes wide with disappointment and disbelief. ‘Byn’c.’

Byn’c looked desperately for support from one side of the room and then the other. ‘You cannot believe this Tok’ra. I am not a spy.’ He threw his hands up. ‘I refuse to listen to these foundless accusations.’

‘You will stay.’ Bra’tac pulled out his zat and held it on Byn’c even as Teal’c brought his own weapon to bear.

‘Shol’var!’ Gerek spat at Byn’c. ‘We will execute you.’

‘We cannot.’ Teal’c interrupted. ‘At least, not yet.’ His eyes took in the rest of the stunned Council. ‘Ba’al is on his way with a formidable army of Kull warriors to Dakara. Byn’c may have useful information.’

‘I will tell you nothing.’ Byn’c blustered.

‘You will.’ Teal’c said threateningly. He took just one step in the old Jaffa’s direction. ‘Why does Ba’al advance on Dakara now?’ He demanded.

‘It is too late you will not be able to stop him.’ Byn’c said. ‘My Lord Ba’al will take back what is rightfully his.’

‘We will defend Dakara.’ Gerek said.

‘You will fail. Byn’c sneered. He cast a disparaging look at the gathered Tok’ra and Tau’ri watching the proceedings with interest. ‘You have already failed to defeat the one with whom he allies now.’

Bra’tac thrust the zat at him. ‘Of whom do you speak?’

Byn’c smiled. ‘The human form Replicator.’

Everyone in the Council chamber was paralysed with shock at Byn’c’s words and the elderly Jaffa used the moment to his advantage. He thrust one Jaffa out of his way and into Bra’tac’s path. He began to reach into his robes but Gerek’s large fist shot out and hit the side of his face shoving him back into open space where Teal’c was able to zat Byn’c without hitting anyone else. He fell to the floor writhing in agony but still attempting to reach into his robes. Bra’tac zatted him again and he lay still.

Gerek reached down and removed the object Byn’c had been reaching for. ‘It is a vial of something.’

‘May I see it?’ Delek asked.

Gerek handed it over to the Tok’ra.

Delek examined it closely and handed it to Bra’tac. ‘I believe it is Niquisa poison. If this vial was to break it would kill everyone in this room.’

‘I have heard of this.’ Bra’tac admitted. He looked down at Byn’c’s body and gestured at the Jaffa guards by the door. ‘Remove this from the Council chamber.’

There were a few minutes of chaos as the body was carried out and the Jaffa Council resumed their places with the Tok’ra and the Tau’ri still present.

‘Is it possible?’ Ilyia asked as soon as order had been re-established. ‘Could the human form Replicator that led them in battle against the Goa’uld still be alive?’

Jack shrugged unhappily. ‘I’ve learned over the last few years that anything is possible.’ He sighed. ‘It could be another one.’ He sincerely hoped that the human form Replicator wasn’t the twin of Carter. The facsimile of Sam had fooled them into helping her develop an immunity to the only effective weapon they had against the Replicators and she had coldly killed her creator without a second thought. Sam had blamed herself for the whole mess and her duplicate had done quite a number on her emotionally. The kidnapping of Daniel by the Replicator had only added to her guilt especially when she had destroyed the Replicators with the Ancient weapon and possibly killed her friend along with them. It had only been when Daniel had returned alive that Jack figured Sam had begun to find a measure of peace over the whole thing.

‘If Ba’al has allied with a human form Replicator, it was not a wise choice.’ Teal’c stated forcefully. ‘It will not hesitate to kill him.’

‘There’s no doubt that the Replicator’s using him.’ Jack agreed.

Teal’c’s brow lowered. ‘Did Daniel Jackson not report that the Replicator kidnapped him in order to find the Ancient weapon here at Dakara?’

‘But for what purpose?’ Gerek asked.

‘To destroy it.’ Teal’c said. ‘It was the only means by which she could be destroyed.’

”Course, she could figured out she could use it for another purpose.’ Mitchell said. He shifted a little as everyone turned to look at him curiously. ‘Inter-galactic domination. She could use the weapon to wipe out all other life in the galaxy.’

‘Ba’al would never agree to such a plan.’ Shannon argued. ‘He is not a fool.’

‘What if he doesn’t realise the Replicator knows the weapon is active?’ Jack retorted.

Gerek sighed. ‘The weapon must be destroyed before Ba’al and the Replicator get here.’ He said in agreement.

‘How?’ Ilyia asked. ‘We have tried to destroy it and we have not the means.’

‘You have tried to destroy the weapon already?’ Delek asked.

‘Yes.’ Bra’tac nodded. ‘Just before you arrived with a naquadah enhanced bomb. Unfortunately we were not successful.’

‘The weapon is made of an indestructible material.’ Teal’c confirmed.

Delek took a sharp intake of breath. ‘This is unfortunate.’

‘It is possible Daniel Jackson or Colonel Carter will discover the answer in the Ancient systems.’ Teal’c noted.

‘When will Ba’al arrive?’ Jack asked Shannon.

‘Within a day; two at the most.’ The operative replied.

‘Then we no longer have time to search for the information.’ Bra’tac said.

‘Sir, there’s still the control chair.’ Mitchell said to Jack.

The General sighed heavily. ‘Yes. There’s that.’

‘Of course, Colonel Carter told us she believed there was a way of accessing the weapon through the control chair.’ Delek stated.

‘It’s worth a try.’ Jack said. ‘Carter could either find a way to destroy it or a way of switching it off permanently.’

The Jaffa Council exchanged a series of looks before they nodded.

‘We are in agreement.’ Bra’tac said.

‘OK,’ Jack said, ‘we’ll head back to the Ancient chair and deal with the weapon.’

‘We will begin to plan the defence of Dakara.’ Bra’tac said.

‘I will join you as soon as the weapon is no longer a threat.’ Teal’c said.

‘We will join you.’ Jack corrected his friend gently. He held Bra’tac’s gaze. ‘The Tau’ri do everything we can to help you.’

‘As will the Tok’ra.’ Delek said stepping forward. ‘The weapon cannot be allowed to fall into the hands of either Ba’al or the Replicators.’

Jack noticed he wasn’t the only one who was startled by the Tok’ra’s offer.

Bra’tac nodded slowly at both the Tau’ri and the Tok’ra. ‘Our thanks to you both. Your support is greatly welcomed.’

Delek turned to Jack. ‘I will stay and help with the defence strategy.’

Jack nodded and slapped his cap over his grey hair. ‘Let’s go.’ He ordered Teal’c and Mitchell. He stopped suddenly at the door and turned back to the Jaffa Council and hovering Tok’ra. ‘If this is the same human form Replicator that led the battle against the Goa’uld before, you need to know she looks exactly like Colonel Carter. Unless you see the Colonel with another member of the SG1 team, you should treat her with suspicion.’

‘Understood, O’Neill.’ Bra’tac said.

Jack sighed. Ba’al, Carter’s Replicator double and the Tok’ra; it was turning into a really crappy day, he thought as he led his team out of the building.

Chapter 29

The journey back to the buried Ancient buildings was made in solemn silence. Jack left Mitchell outside to guard while he and Teal’c made their way inside. Daniel and Sam were the first people he saw; they sat together at the same station the archaeologist had been using when Jack had arrived with Sam earlier.

Sam immediately looked up at their entry. She got to her feet. ‘Is something wrong, sir?’ She asked worried at his serious expression.

Daniel frowned and he scanned Jack and Teal’c’s faces concerned. ‘What’s going on guys?’

‘There’ve been a few developments.’ Jack said taking off his cap and crumpling it in one hand. ‘Firstly, Ba’al is on his way here.’

Daniel blinked. ‘You’re kidding.’

‘He is not on this occasion, Daniel Jackson.’ Teal’c said clasping his hands behind his back.

‘He thinks his ploy with the weapon worked and we’re at each other’s throats,’ surmised Daniel folding his arms.

‘No,’ Jack contradicted him, ‘Byn’c already told him he’d failed with that plan.’

‘Byn’c?’ Daniel’s eyebrows shot up. ‘He’s a spy?’

Teal’c nodded grimly. ‘He was, Daniel Jackson.’

Daniel pushed his glasses up his nose as he assimilated the tense Teal’c had used. ‘I guess that explains why he was so keen to kill Cral’k. He probably thought Cral’k would reveal everything about him too.’

‘You may be correct.’ Teal’c admitted.

‘It doesn’t make sense.’ Sam said confused. ‘If Ba’al knows the alliance is holding, why is he attacking?’

‘Oh he has a new play-mate.’ Jack replied gesturing with his baseball cap.

‘Who?’ Daniel asked. ‘I thought all the major Goa’ulds were dead.’

Jack sighed knowing he couldn’t avoid telling them any longer. ‘Byn’c told us it was a human form Replicator before he was killed.’

Sam paled and Daniel rocked back as though he’d been hit.

‘Now, it’s possible it isn’t the one that looks like you.’ Jack began, his eyes on Sam’s tense face.

‘Sir,’ Sam cut in, ‘she was the only human form Replicator we were aware existed at the time we used the Ancient weapon to defeat the Replicators.’

‘Then how did she survive?’ Jack demanded.

‘I don’t know.’ Sam retorted not caring her tone was bordering on insubordination.

‘I might.’ Daniel admitted reluctantly. ‘She was in my head trying to get to all the knowledge I had in my subconscious about being ascended.’ He sighed. ‘It’s possible that she was able to save herself by ascending when the disruptor wave from the weapon hit.’

‘It’s possible.’ Sam said thoughtfully. ‘She would have had some warning from the initial destruction of the first few Replicators. Maybe it wasn’t enough time to use the cipher like they did with the version of the weapons we and the Asgard were able to build but it might have been enough time for her to ascend.’

‘Only the Others must have sent her back like me.’ Daniel murmured. He shook his head. ‘This is my fault.’

‘No it’s my fault.’ Sam argued. ‘She wouldn’t even exist if it wasn’t for me.’

‘This is no-one’s fault,’ Jack said forcefully, ‘and I need you both focused on finding a solution to this not blaming yourselves. Is that clear?’

‘Yes, sir.’ Sam said her tone overly formal in response to the sharp reprimand in the General’s.

‘It’s a shame you just blew up the Ancient weapon.’ Daniel commented with a sigh. ‘We could have used it to destroy her.’

Teal’c shifted almost as though he was embarrassed. ‘We did not blow the weapon up.’

‘You didn’t?’ Daniel checked confused. ‘We heard the explosion from here.’

‘The bomb did not impact the weapon at all.’ Teal’c informed them.

‘So we can still use it.’ Daniel said excitedly.

‘No,’ Sam shook her head, ‘not without knowing the frequency the weapon would need to be set to. No doubt she’s altered the frequency spectrum of the Replicators to be immune to it by now.’

‘Well, what about our counter-measure?’ Daniel protested gesturing at her. ‘Can’t we get one to all our allies?’

‘We only have the one I built and it will take time to build more.’ Sam pointed out.

‘The fact is, Daniel, we just can’t take the risk of the weapon falling into Ba’al’s hands or the Replicator’s.’ Jack said. ‘We have to destroy it.’

‘How will we destroy the Replicator?’ Daniel asked bemused.

‘We still have the disruptor technology.’ Sam answered before Jack could respond. ‘All we need is the right frequency setting.’

‘Have you discovered a way to destroy the weapon in the information from the Ancient systems?’ Teal’c asked.

Daniel shook his head. ‘We haven’t even found any information on the weapon. Since we thought you were blowing it up I’ve been concentrating on finding out why the control chair only responds to Sam…’

‘And I’ve been looking at the power source inter-dimensional technology with the rest of the science team.’ Sam completed.

‘So that’s a no?’ Jack summarised. He sighed and his brown eyes met Sam’s apologetically. ‘Carter, we need you to use the chair and discover a way to get rid of that weapon.’

Sam straightened. ‘Yes, sir.’

‘I thought you didn’t want us to use the chair.’ Daniel said.

‘If you have another idea, Daniel, I’m all ears otherwise we’re out of time and out of options. We’ll have to take the risk of Carter destroying the galaxy.’ Jack stared at the archaeologist who stepped back and waved them all down the stairs.

The rest of the science team had already stopped working during the discussion and they moved out of the way as the SG1 team made their way to the chair.

‘You can do this, Carter.’ Jack said reassuringly.

‘Yes, sir.’ Sam lowered herself into the chair.

‘Focus on switching off the weapon.’ Daniel coached as the chair swivelled and dipped.

Sam tried to focus her mind and had a sudden wave of sympathy for all the previous times she had encouraged the General to do the same when faced with Ancient technology; it certainly wasn’t as easy as it looked. A schematic suddenly projected into the air in front of the chair.

‘Daniel?’ Jack asked.

The archaeologist squinted up at the tightly written information. ‘OK, we have a problem.’

‘I don’t want to hear that.’ Jack said to him.

‘According to this the weapon cannot be destroyed exactly. They protected it with an impenetrable invisible force-shield that repelled everything. That’s probably why your bomb didn’t work. The force-shield is integrated into the weapon…’ Daniel frowned. ‘There’s a lot of technical detail here…something about the weapon pulling its energy from sub-space…’ he sighed and wrinkled his nose, ‘if I’m reading this right the only way to switch it off is to interrupt the energy flow between the weapon and its power source in sub-space.’

‘How do we do that?’ Jack asked.

‘They don’t say.’ Daniel said.

The schematic changed suddenly to the inter-dimension technology of the power source.

‘Sam?’ Daniel asked worriedly.

‘Sorry,’ Sam said, ‘I was just thinking…’

‘I know it’s practically an impossibility for you but maybe you shouldn’t do that while you’re in the chair, Carter.’ Jack said nervously.

‘No, it’s OK.’ Daniel said waving his hands at the projection, ‘I see where she’s going with this.’

‘You do?’ Jack asked.

‘Yes.’

Jack sighed impatiently. ‘You want to clue the rest of us in here, Daniel?’

‘Uh?’ Daniel looked over at his friend and saw Jack’s irritation at not knowing what was going on. ‘Well,’ he began, ‘if we can’t destroy it…’

‘We can try sending it somewhere else.’ Sam completed.

‘Send it somewhere else?’ Jack repeated.

‘I think we could send it to a different dimension, sir.’ Sam said.

‘Oh.’ Jack’s eyebrows shot up. He had thought he was incapable of being surprised anymore but he’d been wrong.

‘But you can’t do that.’ Bill said stepping forward. ‘I mean we can barely identify the fact that the technology is accessing another dimension let alone use it.’

‘But if Sam focuses on what she wants to do, the chair should help extrapolate the ‘how’ from what it knows from the system.’

‘That’s a big if.’ Bill said with a dismissive snort.

‘Is this safe, Colonel Carter?’ Teal’c asked. ‘Cannot the weapon still be used if it is in a different dimension?’

‘Good question, T.’ Jack said.

‘I guess it could be used,’ Sam admitted, ‘but it wouldn’t affect anything in this dimension and it’s possible that shifting it into a different dimension would be enough to interrupt the power source and shut it down.’ Her eager blue eyes returned to the General’s. ‘I know it sounds a bit whacky, sir.’

‘Well that’s never stopped us before.’ Jack quipped. He sobered. ‘You really think you can do this?’ He checked.

‘Yes, sir,’ Sam confirmed, ‘but we’re going to have to do this now. I think if we’re going to be successful, it’s going to take all the remaining power. We won’t have the ability to continue the study.’ Or find out what was happening to her, she thought worriedly.

Jack sighed and rubbed a hand through his grey hair. His brown eyes caught on hers. She knew the same thought had occurred to him and knew before he said the words what his decision would be; he was too good a military officer for it to be anything else – if he wasn’t she would never have fallen in love with him. ‘Do it.’ He said.

‘Wait!’ Daniel held up a finger. ‘Just wait.’ He told Sam. ‘Jack, could I have a word?’ He didn’t wait for an answer; he was already walking out. He stopped in the ruined first chamber and switched on a flashlight.

‘What’s going on, Daniel?’ Jack asked impatiently. ‘We don’t have time for this.’ He was certain he was about to get a lecture about the valuable information they were about to throw away by going ahead.

‘What about Sam?’ Daniel said bluntly.

‘What about Sam?’ Jack asked taken aback.

‘If we use the power up we can’t access the information in the Ancient systems any longer. We may lose our opportunity to understand what’s happening to her.’

‘You don’t think I know that, Daniel?’ Jack returned swiftly.

In the darkness, Daniel missed the flicker of anxiety across Jack’s face. ‘Jack, she’s building counter-measures for advanced alien technology in the space of a day; she can suddenly operate a chair that controls that technology but nobody else can.’ He gestured back at the chamber they had just left. ‘Does this in anyway sound familiar?’

‘It does,’ Jack admitted, ‘which is why I called the Asgard when Carolyn couldn’t find anything.’

‘So you have to…’ Daniel’s brain caught up with Jack’s words. ‘You called the Asgard?’

Jack nodded. It was the only thing that was helping him accept his decision might prevent them from understanding what was happening to Sam.

‘Oh well.’ Daniel stuttered and fidgeted with his glasses to cover his confusion.

‘We done here?’ Jack asked mildly.

‘Yeah.’ Daniel nodded and peered through the torch-light at the other man as he took a step back to the others. He had underestimated his friend, he realised. ‘Jack.’

Jack turned back to him.

‘She’ll be OK.’ Daniel said comfortingly.

Jack nodded jerkily. Six days and counting, he thought. He sighed. ‘Come on. We’ve got to send an Ancient weapon to another dimension.’

‘You’d rather blow it up wouldn’t you?’

‘Yep.’ Jack agreed as they made their way back down to the chair.

Sam looked at the pair questioningly.

‘OK, let’s try this.’ Jack said.

‘Yes, sir.’ Sam glanced at the interested scientists and cleared her throat. ‘Perhaps we ought to move everyone out, sir, as a precaution. I don’t know what will happen in here when the power gives out.’

Jack nodded and waved at the scientists. ‘Everybody out.’

There was another wait while everything was packed up and the scientists ushered outside to Mitchell’s protection. Teal’c and Daniel returned to the control chair.

Sam sighed at the sight of the three of them standing beside her. ‘You should all leave too.’

‘Teal’c and Daniel, outside.’ Jack ordered. He had no intention of leaving her alone.

Teal’c raised an eyebrow and simply adjusted his stance. His body language was clear; he wasn’t moving. Jack sighed and his gaze slid to Daniel who stared back at him stubbornly.

‘Right.’ Jack said softly.

‘Guys…’ Sam began.

‘We’re staying, Carter.’ Jack said firmly.

Sam nodded and swallowed around the lump in her throat. She closed her eyes on the image of her three team-mates. Her brow creased in concentration as she thought of the weapon; thought of the Ancient inter-dimensional technology and thought of moving the weapon into another dimension.

The ground began to shake.

Green static flowed over the consoles.

The Ancient weapon trembled as the green static travelled up from the ground and covered the control table, covered the outside of the temple where it resided. The Jaffa guarding it staggered away from it in shock and fear.

Sam’s fingers clenched in the hand controls of the chair and a sharp pain shot through her head. She ignored it and focused on the weapon, on achieving her goal.

The air crackled with electricity.

A shot of green power shot out from a console; Jack tackled Daniel and the two men hit the ground as it careened through the space where they had just been standing. Teal’c crouched as more bolts crackled through the air.

The sky thundered as the temple was covered by a green net of power sending the nearby Jaffa scurrying for safety.

Sam used the last of her strength. Outside, the Ancient weapon disappeared into another dimension with a sudden crack of thunder leaving a wide open space where the temple had once stood.

Inside the Ancient chamber, Jack lurched to his feet as the room shook ominously. He dodged a falling piece of roof and threw himself across an unconscious Sam. An instant later he felt Daniel joining him and then Teal’c, all of them protecting her, as the consoles around them exploded. Suddenly, the earth stilled and the chamber was plunged into darkness.

Chapter 30

Mitchell got back to his feet. He had ordered everyone up against the mountain wall and to keep low when the ground had begun to shake. He brushed the red dust of his green BDU pants and he peered into the entranceway back to the chamber. He clicked on his P90 light and shone it into the darkness. His heart sank at the closed-in tunnel; there was rubble blocking the way half-way down and clouds of dust still rising from the floor.

‘Damn.’ He muttered. He reached for his radio. ‘Colonel Carter. Come in.’

Nothing.

‘Sam, please respond.’

There was an eerie silence. The scientists hovered just behind him in muted anticipation.

‘General O’Neill. Please come in.’ Mitchell tried again.

More silence.

He took a deep breath. ‘Teal’c. Do you read me buddy?’

‘I read you, Colonel Mitchell.’

‘Yes!’ Mitchell punched the air before he radioed back, his voice vibrating with relief. ‘You guys OK?’

It was the General who responded. ‘Carter’s got a hell of a headache but we’re all OK.’

‘That’s good to hear, sir.’ Mitchell radioed back. ‘We have a small problem, General. The passageway from the chambers to the outside has suffered a cave in. We’re going to have to dig you out.’

‘Understood.’ Jack radioed back. ‘Keep us apprised of progress.’

‘Yes, sir.’ Mitchell said his mind already turning to the task of rescuing his team-mates. ‘Don’t go anywhere.’

‘Funny, Mitchell.’ Jack clicked off his radio and settled back against the side of the chair where he had ended up after they had untangled themselves and Sam had come to.

‘We’re trapped?’ Daniel repeated next to him.

‘Looks like it.’ Jack said. ‘Mitchell will get us out.’

‘I’m confident.’ Sam said thinly rubbing her forehead. She was curled up in the chair nursing her headache.

‘Me too.’ Daniel agreed cheerfully. They had been in worse situations.

‘As am I.’ Teal’c agreed from the other side of the chair.

There was a comfortable silence for a moment.

‘How much longer do you think we’re going to be stuck here?’ Jack asked.

A bright flash of light filled the chamber.

A disorientating moment later, Jack staggered as he re-materialised on the bridge of an Asgard ship. The first thing he checked for were his team-mates and his heartbeat settled as he saw Daniel, Teal’c and Sam.

‘Greetings, O’Neill.’ A high pitched voice informed him ahead of the appearance of its owner; a small thin grey alien with a large head and black eyes.

Jack grinned. ‘Thor. It’s good to see you buddy.’ He leaned down to shake the alien’s hand gently.

‘It’s good to see you again although I wish it were under better circumstances. I have bad news.’ Thor said.

‘About Colonel Carter?’ Jack asked in trepidation his brown eyes flickering to Sam’s startled blue ones.

‘No,’ Thor shook his head, ‘I will not know until I examine her what has happened to her physiology since the encounter you described with the Ascended being.’ His eyes blinked slowly at the human he considered a friend. ‘I was referring to the Replicators.’

‘Oh.’ Jack said. ‘That. Well, we know about that.’

Thor’s brow creased a little although it was difficult to tell. ‘You are already aware of the Replicator ship headed for Earth?’

Jack’s mouth gaped open. ‘No.’ He admitted in an outraged voice. ‘I was not aware. I was talking about the human form Replicator getting together with Ba’al.’

‘The human form Replicator has allied with Ba’al?’ Thor frowned. ‘That might explain why she has woken her brethren.’

‘Woken her brethren?’ Sam asked trying to ignore the pounding in her head.

‘Two days ago we picked up a signal from a remote part of our galaxy. When we investigated it our scout ship discovered a Replicator ship. We had not picked up its signal previously in that area of space. We believe the human form Replicator kept them hidden in our galaxy in an inactive state to ensure some of her brethren survived in the event that she was defeated in her battle against the Goa’uld.’

‘A sensible precaution.’ Teal’c noted.

‘Yeah, great.’ Jack said dryly. He pushed his hand through his hair. ‘We need to contact Earth.’

‘I have already informed General Hammond.’ Thor said. ‘He requested that I recover you from Dakara and bring you back to Earth with me where I will stay to assist you.’

‘I cannot leave Dakara.’ Teal’c said. ‘It is facing an imminent attack from Ba’al.’

‘That’s it!’ Daniel said fiercely. ‘That’s the plan!’

They all stared at him.

‘What?’ Jack asked finally wondering whether he wanted to hear the answer.

‘Ba’al was trying to break our alliance with the Jaffa apart – why?’ Daniel began pacing as he answered his own question. ‘Because he knew that we would help the Jaffa hold Dakara. He allied with the Replicator because she offered him an alternative way of ensuring we wouldn’t get involved. We’ll be busy defending ourselves against the Replicators while Ba’al attacks Dakara; the Jaffa will be without our assistance just as effectively as though Ba’al had broken our alliance.’ He stopped and whirled to face them.

Sam sighed. ‘The attack on Earth might help Ba’al but ultimately it’s personal for her.’

Jack’s brown eyes focused on the blonde Air Force officer and he felt a chill work its way down his spine at the total confidence she had spoken with. ‘Why?’

‘Because we defeated her.’ Teal’c commented thoughtfully.

Daniel pointed at the Jaffa. ‘He’s right. She’s furious that we defeated her.’ His blue eyes landed on Sam. ‘More than that she knows it was Sam who defeated her.’

‘How could she even know it was me at Dakara?’ Sam said desperately.

Daniel had a flash of memory; Sam behind a line of Jaffa, her P90 raised and spitting bullets at the approaching mechanical bugs her Replicator double had sent to take Dakara. ‘She knew you were there. She saw you through the other Replicators.’

‘How do you know that?’ Jack said.

‘I told you at the debriefing, Jack, I was inside her head; she was inside mine.’ Daniel sighed. ‘All she wants is to rule the galaxy and create more Replicators. I think she’s allied herself with Ba’al because it will weaken him and the Jaffa. Until her brethren get to this galaxy she doesn’t have an attack force herself. With us under attack, Ba’al and the Jaffa fighting each other, all she has to do is stand back and wait for her moment to take Dakara herself.’

‘OK,’ Jack said, ‘so we need to get back to Earth and start planning how we take her out once and for all.’ He looked over at Teal’c. ‘Sorry T.’

Teal’c inclined his head. ‘I will need to transport down. I must stay and help hold Dakara.’ He said. He clasped Jack’s forearm and held it for a moment. ‘I wish you well in your battle.’

‘Back at ya, Teal’c.’ Jack said.

Sam crossed over and gave the Jaffa a hug goodbye. Daniel did the same

Jack gestured at Thor. ‘I need to talk with the Jaffa Council too.’

‘I am ready, O’Neill.’ Thor said waving a thin hand.

Jack stepped into the holographic circle as Teal’c disappeared from the ship. Their sudden appearance inside the Jaffa Council chamber caused a great deal of shock and there was a moment of confused noise before the Jaffa settled down again.

‘Teal’c, O’Neill.’ Bra’tac nodded at them relieved. ‘We thought you were trapped after you had successfully destroyed the weapon.’

‘Well, we haven’t exactly destroyed it, we’ve moved it into another dimension and yes, we were stuck.’ Jack confirmed. ‘Fortunately, Thor, the Supreme Commander of the Asgard fleet came by and beamed us up.’

‘That is indeed fortunate.’ Bra’tac said trying to sound sanguine.

‘Unfortunately, his reason for stopping by isn’t good news.’ Jack said gesturing at them, his holographic image flickering. ‘There are Replicators on their way to Earth. We have to leave immediately. Obviously Ba’al and his little Replicator friend have come up with this as a way of dividing us as a force.’

‘The Jaffa can defend Dakara against Ba’al without the Tau’ri.’ Gerek growled across the table.

‘I’m sure you can,’ Jack agreed, ‘but Ba’al knew it would be more difficult for him if you had an ally.’ He sighed. ‘We don’t think they’ll be able to get to the weapon but there’s always a chance.’

‘The Tok’ra will continue to stay and help defend Dakara with the Jaffa.’ Delek said.

Jack nodded. ‘We’ll take care of the Replicator and make sure she doesn’t get to Dakara.’

‘We will miss you in the fight,’ Bra’tac said sagely, ‘but we each fight the enemy we know best, hmmm?’

Teal’c stepped forward turning to look at the holographic image of his friend. ‘If Ba’al or the Replicator succeeds in taking Dakara all that we have fought for will be lost.’ He pressed his lips together briefly. ‘Good luck, O’Neill.’ He raised a clenched fist across his chest in a traditional Jaffa salute.

‘Good luck to you too, T.’ Jack nodded at the gathered Jaffa and at the Tok’ra before he stepped out of the circle and his holographic image disappeared from the chamber.

‘Thor, we still have a team-mate and other people on Dakara, do you think…?’ Jack hadn’t finished his sentence before there was a flash and Mitchell appeared on the ship next to Daniel.

‘Woah,’ said Mitchell his head swivelling wildly as he tried to get his bearings.

‘The rest of your people have been transported to the cargo hold.’ Thor confirmed.

‘I’d better go down and explain things to them before they panic.’ Daniel said gesturing at the door. ‘Or start pressing buttons.’

Jack responded with an absent word of thanks as the archaeologist disappeared.

‘Wow.’ Mitchell said finally. ‘So this is…’

‘An Asgard ship.’ Sam supplied. ‘And this is Thor, Supreme Commander of the Asgard Fleet.’

‘Pleased to meet ya.’ Mitchell said with an awed smile.

‘Thor, this is the new member of SG1, Lieutenant Colonel Cameron Mitchell.’ Jack said introducing him properly.

‘I am also pleased to meet you.’ Thor said holding his hand out for Mitchell to shake.

‘Do you ever get used to that transportation thing?’ Mitchell asked Sam who smiled back at him sympathetically and brought him up to date on events.

‘Our journey to Earth will be short.’ Thor continued gesturing at Sam. ‘Perhaps I can use the time to examine you.’

Sam attempted a smile. ‘Thanks, Thor.’

‘This way.’ Thor led the way off the bridge and within minutes Sam found herself encased in an Asgard medical pod. Her other team-mates hovered anxiously by the monitor where Thor had positioned himself. They were joined by Daniel a few minutes later.

‘How are the geeks doing?’ Jack asked.

‘Thrilled to be on an Asgard ship.’ Daniel replied. ‘How’s Sam?’

‘My headache’s much better and my hearing is fine,’ retorted the military officer, annoyed that he had directed the question at Jack when she was lying right in front of him.

Daniel blushed. ‘Sorry, Sam.’

‘Interesting.’ Thor said.

‘What?’ Jack and Daniel asked at the same time.

Thor padded over to Sam and waved some kind of metal instrument over her. ‘I am detecting a much higher rate of synaptic activity than a normal human brain.’

‘Would this show up in her brain wave pattern?’ Jack asked thinking back to the results of Carolyn’s tests.

‘It is possible if the measuring instrument was not sensitive enough.’ Thor agreed. ‘Typically humans only use five to ten per cent of their brain; I am seeing twenty per cent coverage.’

‘Can you…uh…reset it?’ Sam asked hopefully.

‘I cannot.’ Thor said regretfully.

‘Is it harming her?’ Jack forced himself to ask the question.

‘I do not believe so. The ultimate effect is to make the brain operate at a higher rate of efficiency,’ Thor said, ‘but I have never come across this before. The Asgard were a young race when we came into contact with the Ancients. Much of their technology is still beyond even our understanding.’

‘Maybe it’s a good thing.’ Daniel suggested. ‘Maybe it speeds up your thinking and that’s why you were able to build the counter-measure.’

‘Maybe.’ Sam said noncommittally. ‘Will someone give me a hand out, please?’

Mitchell assisted her before Jack could move and he swallowed his jealousy at the easy familiarity between Sam and the younger man reminding himself again that there was no need for it.

‘Thor,’ Sam said brushing off the front of her green jacket, ‘do you still have some of the inactive Replicator blocks?’

‘I do.’ Thor confirmed.

‘We should access the Replicator network again and see if we can determine the frequency we need to set the disruptor wave to.’ Sam suggested. ‘If there is only one Replicator ship, we should be able to destroy it using your ship before it can alter its frequency.’

‘I agree.’ The small alien said solemnly.

‘I’ll help.’ Daniel offered. ‘There may be something in my head from being in hers that might help.’

Jack and Mitchell headed out to find food and check in on the scientists while Sam, Thor and Daniel worked.

‘There!’ Daniel pointed at a section of data.

Thor isolated it on the screen. ‘It is the cipher.’ He gestured at them. ‘Please continue. I need to make some navigational changes. I will return shortly.’

‘Good work on identifying the cipher.’ Sam said. ‘It took us forever last time to isolate it.’

‘I recognised it.’ Daniel admitted.

‘You’ve never talked much about your experience with the Replicator.’ Sam commented.

Daniel looked across at the console at her. She had her eyes fixed to the Replicator blocks under a force field and her tone had been casual but he knew it was anything but a casual question. ‘I was worried it would upset you.’ He admitted folding his arms.

Sam looked up at him. ‘I’m sorry.’

‘Why are you sorry?’ Daniel asked. ‘It wasn’t your fault.’

‘Wasn’t it?’ Sam asked. ‘If I hadn’t betrayed Fifth, she wouldn’t even exist.’

‘From what I understand you were following orders, Sam.’ Daniel said gently. ‘If you think about it, it’s really all the Asgard’s fault.’

‘What?’ she asked taken aback.

‘Well, if they hadn’t trapped the Replicators with a time dilation device, the Replicators wouldn’t have evolved into the human form versions in our life time. You would never have met Fifth and this wouldn’t have happened.’

‘That’s an interesting theory.’ Sam said. ‘So you think I should blame the Asgard?’

‘I think you shouldn’t blame yourself.’ Daniel replied.

‘I’ll make you a deal.’ Sam suggested. ‘I won’t blame myself for her if you don’t blame yourself about her ascending and coming back.’

Daniel made a face but he nodded.

‘Do you remember any of it?’ Sam asked.

‘What?’

‘Well, if she was in your head digging out all the stuff you have buried about being ascended, don’t you remember any of it?’ Sam asked. ‘I mean you obviously remember being in her head.’

Daniel shook his head. ‘I don’t remember much.’ He sighed. ‘I think they buried it all again when I came back.’

‘But you remember being in her head?’ Sam checked.

‘I do.’ Daniel said. ‘Actually, there wasn’t any trick to it. All the Ancient knowledge did was remind me that because we were in this weird mental link I could influence what happened there as much as she could.’ He shook his head. ‘I was able to receive the same information as she was and because we were one mentally I could direct the Replicators through her link with them.’

‘You saved us.’ Sam said.

‘I couldn’t hold the Replicators for long. It was too much for my brain to handle.’ Daniel said sadly. ‘There were so many of them.’

‘If it hadn’t been for you holding them up for that moment, we wouldn’t have made it.’ Sam said.

The ship’s vibrations changed subtly.

‘We’re out of hyperspace.’ Sam said. ‘We’re home.’

The next thing both of them knew they were in the briefing room of the SGC with Jack, Mitchell and a very surprised General Landry.

‘It’s good to see you, Jack,’ Landry said recovering his composure quickly. His brown eyes moved from the General to the other three people who had just appeared in the briefing room. ‘And the rest of you. I take it Teal’c stayed on Dakara?’

‘Yes, sir.’ Jack waved at the team to sit and they took their places at the briefing table.

‘General Hammond got recalled to Washington.’ Landry explained seeing the unasked question in Jack’s eyes. ‘I’m afraid you’re stuck with me.’ He smiled taking the sting out of the words and waved at Jack. ‘I know you’re better equipped to handle this than I am so I’ll just try not to get in your way.’ He finished wryly.

Jack smiled but he didn’t dispute the remark. ‘Thor’s hiding his ship. He’s going to act as the cavalry once he finds the right setting for the disruptor weapon. What have we got here, sir?’

‘The base has been evacuated of all non-essential personnel.’ Landry said. ‘We’ve already sent as many people as possible to the Alpha site. Thor estimates another day before the Replicator ship arrives. Prometheus will be ready to launch in twelve hours; she’ll be the first line of defence. What’s the status of the Ancient weapon?’ He asked. ‘Were you successful in destroying it?’

‘Actually Carter moved it into a different dimension, sir.’ Jack corrected.

‘Into a different dimension?’ Landry repeated, his bushy eyebrows shooting up. He stared at Sam who tried to maintain a blasé expression. ‘Is it safe?’ He asked a little alarmed.

‘Yes, sir.’ Sam confirmed. ‘We shouldn’t require the counter-measure I built.’

Landry smiled at her. ‘You’ll be pleased to know it passed all your tests so although we don’t need it, I still consider it an outstanding achievement.’

Jack winked at her proudly. ‘I don’t know, sir, I’m thinking the moving the weapon into a different dimension may just top creating a counter-measure to it.’

‘I think I agree with you.’ Landry said with a smile.

Sam pursed her lips thoughtfully. ‘Sirs, I think I have an idea.’

‘Don’t keep us in suspense, Colonel.’ Landry ordered.

‘I think I could modify the counter-measure for the Ancient weapon to emit a series of static disruptor waves. It could act like an invisible iris destroying the Replicators as they try to come through the Stargate.’ Sam explained. ‘If I can create layers instead of one, the first could act to determine the required frequency…’

Landry waved his hand cutting off her explanation much to Jack’s amusement; it was usually him. ‘You can create a new counter-measure to the Replicators?’

‘I think so, sir.’

‘Go ahead and build it, Carter.’ Jack ordered. ‘Use anyone and anything you need.’

Sam nodded in confirmation. ‘Has there been any news from Dakara?’

‘Nothing yet.’ Landry said. ‘We think Ba’al and the Replicator will coordinate their attacks simultaneously.’

‘Makes sense, sir.’ Mitchell murmured.

‘Our orders, Jack, are to hold the mountain for as long as possible to give Thor a chance to modify his weapon so he can take out all the Replicators in one shot.’ Landry confirmed.

‘Understood, sir.’ Jack nodded. ‘Mitchell, as Carter will be busy having fun with her counter-measure,’ his eyes briefly flickered to hers and he was rewarded with a smile, ‘I’m going to need you to organise a…’

There was a flash of light that filled the briefing room and blinded everyone at the table for a moment.

Sam’s eyes snapped back to Jack; he was gone and a six-legged metal bug sat in his place.

Next: Storms, Chapters 31-35