Antarctica was the youngest continent, at least with regards to humanity setting foot upon its surface for exploration. It is widely considered to be so difficult to live there that one might as well be on an alien world. Earth recorded its lowest temperature there; negative eighty nine degrees Celsius, it is essentially a frozen desert with very little precipitation.
Yet in the summer, over four thousand scientists of many different nationalities and different research interests call it home, with the number dwindling to one thousand during the winter. In addition, the place was now even home to a number of families, predominantly from Argentina, with children attending special schools that are set up in the living stations.
Harry found it a true testament to the human spirit of exploration, as he stared at McMurdo Station from the top of Observation Hill. It was Antarctica's largest community, science station, and it even included a harbour, three airfields, a heliport and over one hundred buildings for housing the population.
What was not so common knowledge was that McMurdo was also a staging area for the F302s assigned to the Sol patrol. Ever since then, anyone who worked at the station had to sign a non-disclosure agreement. Of course, only four dozen people knew the real score of what those strange looking planes were used for. The rest were told that they were top secret recon planes along the lines of the old SR71 Blackbird and that was usually enough to satisfy most people.
It was a little iffy with regards to the Antarctic Treaty, but it was really the only place to land and service the F302s in a relatively isolated area besides Area 51 and Tranquility Base on Luna. It also allowed the F302s to quickly respond to defend from attack on any incoming vector.
He shivered at a sudden cold gust and gave a mental instruction to his chromesuit and it snaked over his head and materialized the headpiece.
"Cold here, isn't it?"
He glanced to his left where Hermione stood, also observing the bustle of the Antarctic community.
"I've been to colder places," Harry grinned at her. "Though obviously always from within the comfort of the type of suit you're wearing…and you wear it well."
"Thanks," she also had her headpiece activated, so it was difficult to see her face, but he could feel the effect of his compliment. "Hard to imagine actually living here. I guess I've been spoiled by living in that island paradise of yours for too long."
"I can see why you've jumped on this opportunity," he nodded. "Though I am surprised that you didn't explore through the Stargate yourself, there was plenty of opportunity for it."
"I guess I felt that one whole new planet to explore was overwhelming enough without adding a whole Galaxy full of new ones," she chuckled. "Though don't get me wrong, it was very tempting…but I felt I needed to learn more, and be able to protect myself without using my powers too overtly."
"And can you?"
"With Apollonia's help and instruction I got the hang of it." Her head tilted slightly and a few small black igneous stones rose into the air and began to orbit around her in a complex dance.
"And not even a hand gesture, I'm impressed," grinned Harry, and soon stones under his own control joined hers and started chasing each other trying to knock each other out of the air…this was one of the classic control exercises that the Alterans who possessed a significant talent in Telekinesis did to keep their minds 'in shape' so to speak.
"Are you two having fun?"
Harry turned around and smiled at his wife who had appeared out of seemingly nowhere. Hermione was baffled that he was still successfully battling her stones despite the fact that his main attention was now on Apollonia. Guess it was just another one of those things that set him apart from the rank and file metaphysic.
"Indeed," he grinned. "Is everything ready?"
Apollonia nodded and he gestured for Hermione to precede him, both women vanished as they walked forward. He paused and stared at the town for another moment and followed in the same footsteps as his wife and…well…he really didn't know what to call his and Hermione's relationship anymore…girlfriend – that didn't have the gravitas of the truth…concubine – too demeaning…consort?
Perhaps. The three of them had consummated their feelings together the day after their arrival on Earth at Apollonia's urging. It was a wonderful experience to say the least.
He stepped forwards and emerged into the airlock of the now heavily modified and cloaked cargo ship obtained from Osiris a few years ago. The inner door opened to reveal the interior; the gaudy gold had been replaced with more practical Terran silvers and greys, with extra systems and their displays fitted all around the forward cockpit compartment.
Aiyana was seated in the pilot seat and doing the last part of her pre-flight, whilst Hermione took the co-pilot seat and looked to be doing a good job of doing a systems check and Apollonia was checking over the special cargo, the fruits of her very hard labours these past few months. Harry turned to SG1 who was kitted in standard recon gear and patiently waiting for the ship to get underway. Well, there was one exception.
"Is this going to take much longer?" Jack sighed and got a somewhat mock-severe look on his face. "I'm missing The Simpsons you know."
"Forgot to set your VCR again Jack?" Harry grinned.
"We've had to make extensive modification to several key systems of this vessel, Colonel," Aiyana said, her tone making it clear what she thought of the Goa'uld ship, "so that it would be capable of this mission. I should think your experience with the X301 would make you appreciate all the time we are taking to make sure there are no complications."
"Oh, yeah…uh, thanks," Jack looked quite uncomfortable under the weight of the Alterans' stare.
"All systems are a go on my side," reported Hermione.
"Very well," nodded Aiyana. "Engine start sequence in progress…"
A sharp whine began to slowly build in the compartment, building up until it dulled down to a deep artificial rumbling sound that was consistent.
"Engines are online," nodded the Alteran in satisfaction and manipulated the red bee-eye controls and the ship shook slightly as it pushed itself into the air to hover invisibly at ten meters off the ground.
"Better get underway, we're kicking up a lot of snow," Jack squinted through the cockpit windows. Aiyana only nodded and the ship's nose turned and began to move south-south east at a relatively sedate pace of 300kph increasing altitude to four hundred meters.
"So where did you say the Outpost would be?" Daniel asked eagerly.
"The Stargate we used during my time was found only eighty kilometres from McMurdo," explained Aiyana. "Factoring glacial shift and my knowledge of where the Outpost was in relation to the where we kept that Gate, we were able to estimate the Outpost's position twenty five point three kilometres south-west from that position."
"That puts its position well onto the main ice shelf," deduced Sam.
"Yes, most likely at a depth of a mile or more," nodded Hermione.
"You're telling me we're gonna drill through that much ice in…oh, less than…" Jack trailed off, looking sceptical.
"…five minutes," Aiyana said.
"If a Gatebuilder says they can do a thing, O'Neill, I would take them at their word," Teal'C raised an eyebrow at Jack, with his hands clasped firmly behind his back. Jack just shrugged, clearly not wanting to go further in the direction the conversation was going. Ten minutes later the ship sped over the last of the great ice hills and mountains, and now there was a flat glacier almost as far as the eye could see in all directions.
"Well, this certainly looks like a good place to have a city, at least with regard to the flat terrain, so we're definitely on track," Harry mused.
"Bring the modified active sensors online," Aiyana instructed. Hermione nodded and turned her chair to a modified section of the cockpit where a holographic screen and keyboard interface flared to life. Her fingers dipped into the flat orange holographs and began to 'type' at a rapid rate.
"Molecular scan engaged, depth one hundred meters…four hundred…eight…twelve…still reading only ice and impurities…"
"Are you using a ground penetrating sensor of sorts for this?" asked Sam curiously.
"Yes," nodded Apollonia. "It's actually an Asgard sensor modified with some Alteran principles that will allow it to catalogue the matter despite the sheer amount of ice in the way."
"Sixteen hundred meters," reported Hermione, staring at the holoscreen with fascination. "Still nothing…though I know Geo-palaeontologists would kill for the readings I'm getting."
"I doubt they'd need to do that," Harry's mouth twitched. "When the full expedition team arrives they'll have plenty of time to study the ice that deep up close."
"Wait a second," Hermione suddenly squinted intently at the holo. "I've a reading on an alloy at eighteen hundred meters down."
"What kind?" asked Aiyana intently.
"Carbon, trinium, naquadah, and samarium."
"That's the support lattices of the Outpost all right," nodded Aiyana. "Bearing?"
"Two one three, two kilometres."
"We have arrived over the spot, have you managed to locate the Ring Transporter yet?"
"Still looking, I'm only reading two thirds of the Outpost intact…the rest might've been destroyed by the glacier's shift."
"That is likely," agreed Aiyana. "If the Rings are gone we'll just have to begin drilling until we can use the Asgard transporters."
"Hold it…got it!" cried Hermione in triumph. "I've got a lock. Transferring coordinates."
Aiyana fiddled with the controls, bringing the ship slowly into a hover in a new position but also at a much lower altitude, only fifty meters above the ice. "Now here comes the iffy part. To use the beam drill I've built into this ships' Ring transporter we have to drop the cloak."
"Whoah," temporized Jack holding his hands up. "Antarctica has a number of privately funded research satellites over it, how are we sure they're not gonna pick up on us. They can't focus on McMurdo, without getting thrown in jail, out here…"
"We can't be sure," said Aiyana levelly. "The beam drill is not something that you can render undetectable with EM containment measures; it's too powerful. Our only chance is to do it quick and hope none of those satellites spot us. There is nothing really interesting here to direct their attention, anyway."
"Beam drill is charged, Ring doors open," reported Hermione.
"Decloaking…firing drill." The ship rocked slightly and a deep cadence of energy resounded through the compartment. Harry could feel it through his feet and soon torrents of steam started to pour upwards and blanked out the forward viewports.
"The beam has reached one hundred meters…two…three…four…five…" Hermione said staring at her screen. The five minutes ticked by so slowly. Harry tapped his feet impatiently…finally, "Reaching eighteen hundred…now!"
"Beam drill off." Aiyana turned her pilot seat. "After you SG1."
"You heard the lady, folks," Jack led the way into the after cargo compartment and the four stepped into the Rings. Harry pressed the sequence into the controls and a moment later the characteristic screaming noise heralded the thick obsidian Rings shooting out of the floor and surrounding SG1; a flash of light, and the Rings retreated into the floor again.
"Cloaking systems reactivated."
"Alpha, this is Sierra Golf One, we are in the Outpost, beginning sweep."
"Understood," said Aiyana keying the com. "There shouldn't be anything down there, but be careful. You are in the central chamber, which is the strongest part of the Outpost, it should be structurally sound but don't touch anything until I've inspected it. The place might need reinforcing before it is safe to work in."
"Roger that."
Finally after ten minutes of waiting the all clear came through from Jack. Teal'C transported back up to keep someone at the controls of the ship, after which Harry, Apollonia (with her special container) and Aiyana stepped into the Transporter. The Rings surrounded them and after a flash, they retreated.
They had appeared in a nearly endless perfectly round shaft of ice, in front of them was an irregular gap that emerged into the Outpost. The air inside was cold and stale, but the walls, encrusted randomly in ice was typical of Alteran 'Romanesque' architecture; columns and geometric shapes were everywhere.
They even passed an emergency Stasis chamber embedded in one of the columns, which looked like it was to be used by the commander of the Outpost; since it was so close to the room beyond it…that housed the familiar ornate marble Control Chair.
Jack, Sam and Daniel had gathered here and the latter two were looking around in amazement; clearly walking around in an actual Alteran facility that was so close to home was something special. Daniel looked like he was in heaven as he seemingly buzzed around the walls with Alteran writing on, eagerly trying to interpret the extremely old dialect of the language that must be on the walls. Harry gave a brief glance at the writing and managed to read every odd word, he was not as fluent in the written form of Aiyana's dialect of Alteran as he wished to be.
"Amazing," said Sam, shaking her head. "That after so much time this place is in such a good relative condition…you guys sure knew how to build a place to last."
Aiyana accepted the compliment with a bow of her head, but her attention was riveted to her hand scanner that she was using to survey the structure of the Outpost around them. "Hmmm, the Outpost is structurally sound for the moment, but any excavations and defrosting will have to be done after I install some antigrav and structural supports. You can power it up." The last she directed to Apollonia, who nodded and opened the plastic case she had brought with her.
She pulled out of the support foam a brand new Zero-Point Subspace Power Module that was coloured in orange-green and about a foot in length. She brought it over to one side of the marble platform the Control Chair was mounted on and kneeled, waving her hand over a specific section. A fifteen centimetre circular section suddenly popped open and another Module – this one depleted and dead - rose out of the recess.
Apollonia carefully pulled it out and handed it over to Sam. "For you, Major, have fun." Sam's eyes widened and eagerly accepted it, placing it in her backpack. Apollonia carefully manoeuvred the fresh Module into place and after inspecting it pushed down…the Module lit with an inner glow and sank into place.
"Harry," prompted Aiyana.
He nodded and stepped onto the platform and sat on the Control Chair, which instantly lit up in a blue glow, sensing that one of its 'creators' sat in it. A moment later even the transparent sections on the platform also lit up.
"Excellent…you have full access to the Outpost's systems," said Aiyana, slightly wistfully.
"Uh, why didn't you do it, umm, I mean…you're the Alteran here," Daniel asked awkwardly.
"When my brethren left millions of years ago, they wanted to make sure that none of the infected Alterans – despite us giving our word that we would not do so - would be tempted to try and follow them, so not only did they not tell us where they went, but they locked us out of the Outpost' systems."
"Harsh," commented Jack.
"But prudent, and it was a decision I myself supported," said Aiyana.
Any further conversation was interrupted when a giant hologram appeared in the air over the Control Chair.
"That's the Solar system," Sam looked up with fascination at the real-time graphic representation of Sol. "We can see Tranquility, the Asgard base on Mars, their ships in orbit, even Apollo and Odyssey doing their shakedown runs around Jupiter."
"Okay, I'm going to try and bring up the current location of Atlantis," Harry said and closed his eyes - concentrating.
"That's its name?" Daniel's eyes looked like they wanted to pop out. "The Lost City of the Alterans, its Plato's mythical sunken city? Atlantis?"
"Yes," nodded Hermione. "I've been doing some research about it, and I think that one of the Alterans who came back to Earth ten thousand years ago may have told it to him."
"You forget Dr Jackson that Alterans can live a long, long time if we wish it," grinned Aiyana, seeing the archaeologist's astonishment. "I've no doubt that some of them may have decided to guide our second evolution through the millennia."
The hologram changed to show the gigantic form of the Milky Way galaxy over their heads. "Getting there," commented Harry. "I'm having to break through some pretty interesting security lockouts…they're almost like tests and puzzles to make sure I am worthy."
The hologram zoomed out again to show the entire local group of galaxies.
"Well, they definitely left the Milky Way, that is at least confirmation of that," said Hermione. "There's Ida, Andromeda…" Then a dwarf galaxy flashed with a highlight and a course was projected from the Milky Way to…
"Pegasus?" frowned Jack.
"Three million light years," breathed Sam in awe at that distance.
The Pegasus Galaxy grew in size until it dominated the air above them…finally a single star was highlighted and Alteran text appeared next to it, with an eight symbol Gate address.
"Whew, got it," said Harry, opening his eyes and looking above him. "Well, there's no way Terran ships can make that journey at the moment. We'd need to install Intergalactic Hyperdrives in them, and even then a journey there would take three weeks."
"What about the Achilles and Briseus?" asked Sam.
"Four days give or take a few hours," he replied.
"Stargate?" asked Jack.
"Opening an intergalactic wormhole takes a huge amount of power, sir," Sam explained. "We'd need at least one of the new Mark 3 matrix fusion reactors we used in the Apollo and Odyssey powering the Gate to even make the connection…keeping it open for a reasonable amount of time…" she shook her head.
"Relax Major," said Apollonia, and gestured into the plastic case; inside was three more Power modules. "One of these will power the Earth Stargate for Intergalactic connections easily for years…the remaining two will be needed for Atlantis itself."
"Also since this Outpost is now powered up fully, it can be used as a last line of defence if Earth is ever attacked," explained Aiyana. "Underneath us is an entire silo full of Alteran Drone missiles."
"You mean those squid like things, that ignores shields completely and goes straight through them," said Jack with a silly grin.
"Yes, Jack," nodded Harry indulgently.
"Yes!" he grinned pumping his fist.
"Then let's get the expedition team down here, shall we?"
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SGC Gateroom, Earth
"Unscheduled off-world activation. General Hammond, Ambassador Potter to the Control Room."
Harry rushed down the circular staircase in Hammond's wake directly from the Briefing Room; where they had been reviewing candidates for the Atlantis Expedition – when Sergeant Walter had called over the PA. As usual, the Precog called it out a minute before the Gate actually did anything.
The event horizon exploded in a waterlike surge of energy and settled down; the shield activated and the Iris closed, whilst SF troops charged into the Gateroom, training PR8s and P90s on the Stargate.
"It's SG1 IDC, sir. Code Red. Audio coming in," reported Walter, working at his controls.
"On speaker," ordered Hammond.
"Close quarters withdrawal. It's going to get ugly." Jack's harassed voice came through the speakers with the characteristic sound of staff blasts and the whine of plasma fire from PR8s.
"Acknowledged, Colonel. We'll be ready, just give us the word," said Hammond speaking into the mounted microphone. He switched channels to the Gateroom PA, addressing the soldiers. "Watch your friendlies. Safeties off. Clean targets. Clean backgrounds."
"Teal'c! Let's go. Base, this is it! We're on our way."
"Lower Gate defences," ordered the General.
The red glow of the shield vanished and the iris slid open…just in time, moments later Daniel, Sam and Jack appeared running through the event horizon and down the ramp. Following them was the orange plasma of staff blasts that spent themselves against the perimeter shields protecting the Control room.
"Teal'c's right behind us!" shouted Sam, diving for cover on the side of ramp.
A moment later Teal'C appeared at a run as well, but with him came a Jaffa. The enemy Jaffa was riddled with plasma and bullet fire in short order, but managed to get a shot off before crumpling in a heap on the ramp. The Stargate defenses engaged and the shield flared a few times as more staff blasts hit it, but soon enough the wormhole disengaged.
"Clear!" Hammond barked and everyone safetied their weapons.
Harry let out a sigh of relief, but his eyes widened as he saw that Teal'C was standing with his back to everyone facing the gate and smoke curled around his body. The stoic warrior toppled backward like a huge tree that had finally been cut down and crashed against the ramp. Harry saw the staff wound directly over Teal'C's abdomen and Apparated on the spot into the Gate room.
"Med team, get in there!"
Harry knelt next to the prone Teal'C and with a gesture, Vanished the clothes from his torso. Janet and her team arrived on the scene and she gasped at the wound. That last staff blast had hit Teal'C in the worst spot a Jaffa could be wounded…the symbiote pouch. It was a forgone conclusion that the larval Goa'uld was dead already. But it was now releasing its toxic lifeblood as it died.
"Dammit!" cursed Harry. He held his hand over the pouch and Summoned the dead larva out of Teal'C, including as much of its toxic blood as possible.
It was an odd, macabre sight; a small ruined Goa'uld parasite, with its purple blood hovering in globules above Harry's hand. He absentmindedly vanished all of it with a thought as Janet attached medical sensors to Teal'C.
"What's the toxicity?" asked Harry urgently.
"Three cc's managed to get into his system before you pulled the parasite out," said Janet looking at the medical laptop computer readouts.
"Shit!" Harry's mind raced as he pondered a solution, Teal'C had no immune system for him to energize. He could heal the staff wound no problem but that poison was the crux of the matter. He had an idea but it was a shot in the dark. No choice, the situation was desperate. "Give me a scalpel." He held his hand out to Janet. Dr Frasier internally balked at having an amateur help her patient, but this amateur had in a few seconds done more than she could've imagined possible. She sighed and pulled out a scalpel out of her portable medkit.
Harry took it and swiftly without even hesitating made a deep incision directly under Teal'C's chest bone. Blood immediately started to pour out of Teal'C but Harry halted it with a carefully controlled constant telekinetic push against the wound. He brought all his concentration to bear on his next act and Summoned the poison itself from within the bloodstream.
After three seconds which to Harry felt like an eternity the blood held back on Teal'C's chest turned purple. He pulled his hand away and there was the three cc's hovering in mid-air. It was vanished again and Harry placed his hands into direct contact with Teal'C's head and the wound.
Harry gasped and his back arched as he worked on an atomic level to repair the wounds. The incision and staff wound started to visibly pulse with white light and a few moments later the wounds were gone.
He slumped back onto the ramp, allowing Janet to do her thing. "C'mon, we have to get him in antibiotic isolation stat!" she called to her team as they secured Teal'C on a stretcher and carried him away.
Harry felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Thanks," said Jack seriously.
"He's not out of the woods yet," Harry shook his head. "He needs a new symbiote, and that guy is gonna be no help." They watched as another med team carried away the dead Jaffa that had shot Teal'C. The Jaffa was riddled with plasma burns all over; there was no way his symbiote would've survived. "Help me up." Jack grabbed Harry's arm, pulled him up and steadied him on his feet.
"We need to contact Selmak."
"Why?"
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Briefing Room 1, SGC, Earth
"Colonel O'Neill planted my radio in the underbrush away from our position and began broadcasting to create a distraction. The Jaffa fell for this diversion and half of them left the temple. We engaged the rest and escaped," reported Sam to General Hammond.
"Were you able to ascertain who these Jaffa were loyal to?" asked the General.
"Their forehead tattoos were of various System Lords but the majority bore the symbol of Ba'al," Daniel spoke up next.
"Ba'al?" the General frowned. "I thought we killed him when we rescued Colonel O'Neill with the Prometheus."
"The bastard seemingly managed to snake his way out before we destroyed his weapon complex," Jack said forbiddingly.
"His empire has expanded further and faster than anyone could have expected. Which shouldn't be a surprise to us since he now controls the combined forces of the United Alliance of the System Lords. Something they had to do out of necessity to combat Anubis, until we removed him, at least temporarily, from domination."
At that point Harry and Jacob Carter entered the room and Sam got up to hug her father in greeting. Harry stood at an empty spot of the table, with Jacob in his Tok'ra brown leather uniform taking a seat next to him. Dr Frasier was summoned and soon she arrived looking quite harried.
"How is Teal'C doing?" asked Harry.
"Unconscious and stable for the moment," said Janet with a tired sigh. "But that's going to change, even in a sterile environment, without a symbiote, Teal'C is going to get progressively worse. The natural bacteria in his digestive system that would normally help him digest food is going to slowly cause him to get infection, there's also no way we can give him totally bacteria free food. And keeping him on a drip is not ideal."
"Well, I've called Jacob here for a possible solution to this," Harry said, and then his head dipped and his eyes flashed white. "Greetings," said Egeria. "You remember this?" Jacob placed a vial of a luminescent purple substance on the table.
"What's that?" asked Jack with a frown.
"It's Tretonin, sir," Sam said with an air of realization.
"Whoa, that's ground Goa'uld, isn't it?"
"It's a little more refined than that, Jack," Jacob said. "But yes, it's derived from Goa'uld symbiotes."
"It supplanted the immune systems of the Pangarans, why couldn't it do the same for the Jaffa?" Sam frowned at Janet, clearly wondering why they didn't think of this earlier.
"I've considered it," Janet reported, "it won't work. The sample I studied was designed to take the place of a human immune system. It wouldn't even work now for an Earth-born Terran."
"Egeria and I have since refined it specifically for Jaffa physiology," explained Jacob.
"The Tok'ra have been looking forward to an end of the Jaffa's dependence for centuries," Egeria gestured to the vial. "We've been working on this Tretonin variant ever since I was rescued from the Pangarans. But with Harry's help we've taken it even further."
Jacob stood from his chair and picked up a larger plastic sterile container and opened it, turning so everyone could see what was inside.
"It looks like a…small, silver gray…something," Jack trailed off. "Nevermind."
"What you are seeing," grinned Egeria, "is a biosynthetic device specifically designed to fit inside a Jaffa's symbiote pouch and uses a liquid naquadah cell to power a very small synthesizer that creates Tretonin and releases it into the Jaffa's body as needed."
"You're joking!" said Janet in astonishment.
"Fortunately, I am not, Dr Frasier," replied Egeria. "There is a problem, however. While I am confident in the Tretonin Synthesizer's (TS) performance, the Tretonin variant it creates has not been tested."
"But even if it does work, I mean, Teal'C and any Jaffa we help in this same manner will become dependant on the Tretonin as the Pangarans," Janet objected.
"It will take a generation of genetic research to reverse the root cause of the Jaffa's dependence on symbiotes. We will solve that problem eventually, but at least Teal'C will be alive," said Jacob.
"If I knew for a fact that this is what Teal'C wanted…" sighed Janet shaking her head.
"Janet, this is the first significant step that could lead to freedom from Goa'uld oppression for all Jaffa. That's something Teal'C would want more than anything," pleaded Sam.
"Do it," ordered Hammond.
"Yes, sir," relented Janet.
"Teal'C without Junior. That's a concept."
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SGC Infirmary
Harry entered the room and spied Teal'C lying rather stiffly in his assigned bed in the Infirmary.
"Ambassador Potter." The Jaffa tried to sit up but Harry waved him down to not bother.
"Relax Teal'C, rest," said Harry intently. "It took a bit of trial and error to get your Tretonin Synthesizer calibrated to give the correct dosage, until we're sure there's no residual infection and the device is working properly, you'll have to stay under observation."
Teal'C visibly backed down into his bed. "You and Egeria have given my people more than you can know on this day. We can never repay this debt."
"You can repay it by making sure that when your people's freedom is gained, that they know what to do with it," Harry's face turned to a grin, but then he spied four small pots of green jello with three empty and a fourth with a spoon still in it.
"I never knew you liked jello?"
"O'Neill. I believe his offer of colored gelatin was his attempt to celebrate that fact that I no longer need a Goa'uld within me."
"That's Jack, for you, he's thoughtful that way," chuckled Harry.
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He sighed as he entered his quarters in the SGC. It had been a long, long day. The brief drama with Teal'C losing his symbiote punctuated a period that was filled with looking at file after file of personnel who could be assigned to the Atlantis Expedition. It wasn't an easy thing – finding people who would want to go to another Galaxy if offered was sort of hard to do – it wasn't like they could ask this question in the Psych evaluations, especially of those who still had to receive clearance.
Another big question was who could be trusted to lead the Expedition. Aiyana was the first and obvious name to pop up, but she had politely declined, preferring to step into the 'Advisor/Ambassador/Soldier' role for Atlantis, the one he himself occupied in the SGC. General Hammond had even suggested that Harry take it, but he declined as well, stating that until Anubis and the majority of the Goa'uld had been thrown down from power, he would remain in the Milky Way (besides if he was desperately needed to help out, he could simply Gate to Atlantis) That meant the leader would have to be a Terran.
But what type of person should it be? Military, Scientist, Civilian diplomat. Ideally, all of the above. Someone who could open a whole new frontier for exploration.
He had barely put down the case carrying a dozen of the files he had yet to review, when his left hand was seized by another and pulled, jerking him towards his bed. The next thing he felt was that he was sandwiched between two nude, deliciously curvy bodies. Hands clawed at his Alteran robes and in short order he was divested of them.
His wife captured his face between her hands and their lips met; passion and love shot through him with the feel of their joined lips and competing tongues. Her body melted into his and from behind he felt Hermione's lips moving down his neck and soon she also wrapped herself around him. The feeling of them encapsulating him was enough to drive all rational thought away and surrender to the experience.
He was pushed again, and fell on the bed, joined moments later by wife and consort. Apollonia smiled wickedly and pulled Hermione under him, whose legs parted and locked around him. A distant part of his mind wondered how they could be so ready so quickly – when he realized they had obviously warmed each other up before this without him. He would make them pay for that.
He felt Hermione's wet heat surround him, and she mewled in pleasure. She bucked her hips into him, meeting each thrust, but reached ecstasy halfway before he was even close to achieving his own. He grabbed her legs, easily pulling them away from his waist and pushed them forward, almost folding her in half and continued. Soon she was absolutely gone, lost to it, practically screaming. Her clenching finally did him in, and groaned as he felt the release within her.
He withdrew and fell back.
Finally after a time, without speaking but signaling with their minds, he moved to Apollonia's left and Hermione took the right. They each held down an arm and a leg. His lips found his wife's again, as his right hand began to sensually explore the beautiful territory he knew so well all over again, finding the right spots, Hermione mirroring the actions on the other side.
Apollonia was soon a quivering moaning mass, shifting, desperately trying to find release and fulfillment from the merciless teasing and pleasuring. In the union, their minds built on and mirrored their passion and love, raising it to delirious heights that couldn't be described in words.
He eventually decided that his wife had been punished enough and he plunged himself into her abruptly, causing her to cry out in surprise and then moaning in pleasure as his thrusting pounded into her.
When he collapsed after spending himself again, only then did he wonder if they had thought to put up Silencing fields. They had all been rather vocal.
The thought was driven away when Hermione straddled him.
It was going to be a long, long night.
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Stargate Control Room
Harry entered the hub of the SGC blearily sipping on a mug of coffee and was rather surprised to see Daniel normally occupying the spot that the duty Sergeant controlling the Gate would occupy. Sergeant Davis was sitting at the diagnostic station and occasionally giving the archeologist a gimlet eye.
Daniel was squinting at what seemed to be the Stargate activity logs.
"Dr Jackson?"
"Hmm, oh, morning Ambassador," he said distractedly and continued his steady perusal.
"What you looking for?"
"I dunno."
"What?"
"I mean, lately I've been getting this feeling that I've forgotten something important…I've been hearing screams of suffering in my mind, and all I know is that it has something to do with an incoming wormhole somehow," explained Daniel.
"You're thinking this has something to do during the time when you were Ascended?"
"Yeah, but so far nothing I've seen here has jogged my memory."
Jack entered the room, clearly having just come from breakfast in the cafeteria. "Still nothing?" he asked nonchalantly.
"Well, I've broadened myself to any Gate activity including outgoing wormholes and unauthorized activations. Still have no idea what I'm looking for," sighed Daniel
"Maybe if you stop thinking about it it'll come to you." Daniel gave Jack an incredulous look. "Take a break. Fraiser says that Teal'C's been cleared for active duty, his TS thing checked out."
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Briefing Room 1, SGC
It wasn't long before Daniel called for a Briefing to discuss some new memories that had surfaced from his time as an Ascended. He had joined Teal'C in one of his Kel'No'Reem meditation sessions and seemingly managed to recover the reason why he had been hearing those screams.
"I saw Bratac and Rya'c in some form of prison labor camp. They were being worked extremely hard, and it almost looked like the Goa'uld version of a Russian gulag. There was also a Ha'tak under construction in the distance…"
"Interesting," murmured Harry. "That you can remember this from when you were ascended is amazing. I thought that Oma had put a permanent block on those parts of your memories."
"Well it seems that's not the case," Daniel retorted.
"Dr Jackson, do you have any sense of time from when this event occurred?" Hammond queried seriously. This question startled Daniel considerably.
"So you believe me?" he said in astonishment.
"The things I've heard sitting in this chair?" Hammond said with irony and amusement.
"If this happened before you retook Terran form, then Bratac and Rya'c could've been imprisoned and under torture for months already," Sam deduced, getting back to the point.
"That is why we must act immediately," rumbled Teal'C.
"Daniel, you said you thought all this had to do with Gate records. Perhaps you innately knew to look for a location."
"I've been through those records upside-down and backwards, I still haven't found anything," Daniel's shoulders slumped and his face was a picture of frustration.
"Teal'C, is there anything familiar about the planet Daniel described?" Harry said.
"There is not. General Hammond, I request that we send for Rak'nor immediately."
"Do it."
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Daniel's Office, SGC, Earth
Rak'nor stared at the rather crudely drawn map Daniel had made of the labor camp. Harry wondered why the person who was in effect the third in command of the Jaffa Rebellion (at least the faction of it that was supported by Earth) had not informed them of Bratac and Rya'c capture sooner. Then again if he put himself in their shoes, if any member of the SGC was captured they would try anything within their power to effect a rescue…and only call on allies if it was really necessary.
"Any of this familiar to you? A planet with two moons, a naqahdah refinery with some sort of antigravity dry dock nearby, with a mothership under construction?"
"I know the planet of which you describe. Erebus," said Rak'nor to Daniel.
"According to Greek mythology, Erebus is a place where condemned souls pass as soon as they die."
"Then it is aptly named. The planet is used for the construction of Ha'tak vessels and the purification of the naquadah to build them. Only Jaffa prisoner labor is used, it is only they can stand the intense heat and toxic gases of the blast furnaces fed by underground volcanic systems. Eventually even the Jaffa succumbs."
"I am aware of such places. Where Jaffa prisoners of war unwilling to serve a new Goa'uld master are taken to be worked to death," Teal'C said his posture stiff and expression dark. Harry could tell he was worrying about his son.
"Which would make it the perfect place to recruit rebels but something must have gone wrong," mused Daniel.
"The planet was recently taken by Ba'al."
"Which makes it a prime target for a raid by Earth, especially if we want to bring Ba'al down a peg to keep him from dominating over the rest," Harry stated.
"An attack from space is fraught with danger, while there are no Ha'tak guarding it directly, powerful sensors keep a watch over it, any incursion by a ship would be detected by Ba'al's sector fleet. The Stargate is also impenetrable."
"How so?" Harry could practically hear Teal'C jaws grinding together in frustration.
"There is a force field much like yours that blocks the Erebus Stargate, making attack or rescue through it impossible."
"Someone must get through it somehow," retorted Daniel.
"We believe a signal must be used to power down the force field, but we have no way of knowing what that signal is," Rak'nor explained.
Any further conversation was useless, as suddenly Daniel was moving out the door of his office with an impressive turn of speed and was gone. Harry could have sworn the man had Apparated accidentally for a moment.
"I think it would be good idea to follow," he grinned.
They found Daniel in the Stargate Control Room, standing rather impatiently behind Sam who was sitting at the Dialing Computer and tapping away at the keys.
"I was there. I saw the whole thing happen. Nothing I could do but just watch. Powerless to interfere," he said bitterly.
"As an ascended you were forbidden to interfere," Harry tried to placate him.
Daniel shrugged it off shaking his head, clearly he didn't want to let go of his guilt. "Come on, it has to be there!" he said insistently to Sam.
"Just give me a minute." She replied more gently than Harry would've thought.
"I knew it had something to do with Gate records, I just never thought of checking the Alpha Site Gate records," Daniel remonstrated himself.
"Here," said Sam, pointing to an event log displayed on the thin plasma screen, "a coded energy signal was received and recorded through the Alpha Site Gate three months ago. It was analyzed but no one was able to determine its origin or its purpose."
"That is the force field deactivation code I saw Bratac send right before he was captured," Daniel said with dead certainty.
"Are you sure?" Sam asked despite Daniel's tone.
"I am sure," he repeated, even more firmly, if that was possible.
"I can synthesize this energy signature. If it is the deactivation code I can get us through the Gate."
"And I can provide details of the defenses and the lay of the land."
"Then what are we waiting for? They're not having a picnic out there."
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Erebus
The Jaffa of Ba'al guarding the Stargate turned as the Alteran device began locking in coordinates for an incoming subspace path. Their weapons were trained automatically on it, but they soon relaxed as the orange force field came online and surrounded the Gate. However, they were completely surprised when it suddenly came down and a shock grenade slurped through. Bright light, sound and energy overwhelmed the nervous systems of the Jaffa column, causing all of them to slump into unconsciousness.
SG1, SG3, Harry and Rak'nor appeared, PR8s and Staff weapons trained and ready to fire, sweeping the clearing around the Gate.
"Clear," called Sam, when it apparent that the shock grenade had done its job.
"Okay. So. That happened. SG-3, secure these guys," he pointed to the insensate Jaffa littering the area, "Then establish a perimeter. Daniel…" Jack gestured the archeologist to lead the way.
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Daniel led them through a forest and then turned abruptly east for a mile and finally stopped at the base of a steep ridge. He used rudimentary military gestures to tell them that the labor camp was on the other side of it.
Jack gave much more accurate gestures and the teams spread out to form a firing line and began to climb the ridge, falling to prone against the lip of it, to prevent their silhouettes from being spotted against the sky.
The labor camp was a horrible affair; motley tents for the workers, choking fumes, and harsh taskmasters brandishing whips that routinely lashed out at the Jaffa prisoners. The camp was in a deep artificial valley created by open cast mining of the Naquadah, with guard positions in towers with a clear view of anyone trying to escape the perimeter.
Jack studied the place through binoculars taking note of everything; guard positions, numbers, sight lines, areas of cover and so on.
"No sign of Bra'tac. Wait a minute, I've got Rya'c," Sam reported, squinting her eyes.
"Nice to have such good vision," commented Jack idly.
"I can Infiltrate easily," suggested Harry, ignoring the byplay. "I can find Bratac, Rya'c and sow a little insurrection from within."
"Rak'nor and I will accompany you," insisted Teal'C. Harry nodded; it could easily be worked around.
"The numbers will not be in your favour, not to mention the guard towers," countered Sam.
"That's why we need a distraction when it all goes down," mused Jack. "A big distraction." His eyes gestured to the Ha'tak that was under construction within the dry dock.
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Erebus Labour Camp
In the evening - Harry, Teal'C and Rak'nor penetrated the perimeter under Disillusionment and Phasing; the latter provided by Tollan made gauntlets that he handed out to both Jaffa. It provided a nice cover for his use of metaphysics as well – for Rak'nor did not know of it.
They had observed the tent that Rya'c had retreated to when the day's back breaking labour had ended and headed for it. The whole experience was rather startling for Rak'nor; at one point the Camp Commander - an albino Jaffa – had came out of a tent after heaping abuse on one of the prisoners, and walked straight through the surprised 3IC of the Jaffa Rebellion.
Entering Rya'c's tent made Harry wince at the poor conditions inside; the beds were no more than crudely cobbled together wooden poles with hay on top and thin blankets, chamberpots were filled with body waste, and only added to the pervasive smell from the volcanic furnaces that permeated the entire area.
Bratac was lying on one cot, clearly exhausted, and stained by soot, judging by his laboured breathing – his age clearly wasn't helping his survival in this place. Rya'c, on the other hand, though tired, still seemed to have some life in him, as he sat on his bed holding his head in his hands.
Harry gestured to his companions to de-phase themselves and secure the lip of the tent to shield them from view outside.
When that was done, Harry willed a Silence sphere over the tent and dropped the Disillusionment.
"Rya'c," Teal'C said softly, causing Rya'c to nearly jump in surprise off his bed. The young Jaffa was immediately enveloped in a strong hug by his father.
"Father! I am sorry. Master Bra'tac said that you would come but I did not believe."
"How is he?" Teal'C stepped away from his son, to kneel next to the bed of his old mentor.
"He still lives but—I fear not for long. The he'shak commanding this camp is merciless and forces him to work much more than the others."
"Tek'ma'te," said Bratac weakly, grasping Teal'C's arm, "old friend. Rak'nor. Ambassador…seeing you brings an old man hope."
"Master Bratac," nodded Harry respectfully. "I have brought something that should help." His hand rose to show a triangular silver device on his palm that was actually the Alteran version of the Goa'uld Healing hand device. It glowed white and he placed it on the Jaffa Leader's chest – Harry aided matters by adding his own powers by placing his free hand on Bratac's forehead.
Gasping, Teal'C mentor jerked suddenly and sat up, looking as if his fatigue had just been instantly washed away.
"Amazing," said Bratac in quiet astonishment, staring at his own hands and flexing them.
"Your energy levels are quite high at the moment, but it will settle down to normal after ten minutes, so don't let it fool you," explained Harry, standing up.
"I assume you have a plan of escape?" Bratac stood and had to lean on Teal'C for a moment to regain his balance with the head rush.
"Indeed," nodded Teal'C with a grin on his face that looked like the proverbial cat.
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Rya'c emerged from the tent the next morning. The plan his father and the Tau'ri had made to liberate the camp was bold in its simplicity, yet also very clever. His own part would be to spread word to the various prisoners as subtly as possible; so that they would be ready to take the weapons from the fallen guards.
With shovel in hand he slowly went about the daily toil of mining naquadah, speaking brief words to any prisoner he happened to be working next to, and for them to spread the word to any others.
It was when the albino commander started to make his rounds that he zeroed in on Rya'c.
"You!" spat the commmander. "Where is that accursed leader of shol'va? Finally died has he?"
Rya'c would on any other day have meekly continued to shovel dirt and taken the verbal barb and insult. But this was not such a day. He turned to face the he'shak and snarled defiantly, "He still lives, and on this day, you will die…it's a pity it cannot be by Bratac's hand."
The prisoners within the general vicinity stopped working and turned to the scene.
"You dare speak to me that way, shol'va! You who's cursed by the wearer of horns!" roared the commander. He turned to the guards and was about to order them to take Rya'c for a swift execution by staff weapon…
It was at that moment that the roar of an explosion echoed over the area…all eyes turned to the Ha'tak encased within the anti-gravity platform; the emitters on one side flickered and died. The mothership tilted catastrophically and it crashed against the ground; the incomplete hull shattered and broke into large sections, but the view was quickly obscured by the dust and debris kicked up from the impact.
The Camp Commander turned back to Rya'c his face promising murder and massacre. It was his last act as his head abruptly swiveled far more than nature ever intended. He simply collapsed in a boneless heap on the floor, dead instantly with his neck broken. The surprised guards on either side of their dead commander were flung into air high, higher, flying further and further until…they disappeared into the far horizon.
"TAKE THEM NOW!"
Rya'c turned to the shout, to see Bratac emerging from his tent with Teal'C and Rak'nor, PR7s and Staff Weapon blasts screaming out into the morning air. They were joined by echoing shots, that came from the far edge of the mine…their targets became soon apparent as the Jaffa guards manning the watch towers tumbled out of them; their torso's ruined to shreds.
The prisoners were quick to answer the call of battle and grabbed the dead guards weapons, felling more guards and allowing others weapons. There would never be enough for everybody, and so hand to hand melee's erupted as the prisoners in some cases overwhelmed guards with sheer numbers.
Rya'c saw a PR7 seemingly materialize out of nowhere in front of him and accepted it gratefully from the Tau'ri Ambassador – who had been keeping an invisible watch over him the entire time. Just in time it seemed, because a guard brought his weapon to bear on a prisoner fighting another guard as they wrestled for control over a staff weapon. Rya'c brought the weapon up in the 'guard position' as he had been instructed by the elite Tau'ri warriors or 'Seals' as they had called themselves, and swiftly felled two guards with quick three shot bursts.
More shots echoed throughout the open cast mine, and ruined more guards and in one case cut the guard completely in half. Rya'c was astonished at the sheer power of the Tau'ri long range weapon for a moment. The whine of a Tau'ri weapon erupted next to him, and he whirled to see a guard slumping dead to the ground, who had been about to fire a staff at him.
"Thank you, Ambassador!" Rya'c said sheepishly, shooting a guard that had been pinning down a knot of prisoners.
"You're welcome!" came the shout back in answer from behind.
"FREEDOM!"
The shout came from Teal'C as the last guard died.
"FREEDOM!" the prisoners answered.
"FREEDOM!"
"FREEDOM!"
SGC Gate Room
Bratac sat on a stretcher, a wound he had sustained on his forehead during the fighting being tended to by Dr Frasier. SG1, Harry, Rya'c and Rak'nor emerged from the event horizon and were greeted by a smiling General Hammond.
"Welcome back."
"The camp has been liberated, Sir. All the prisoners relocated to the Alpha Site," reported Jack.
"They are all anxious to join the rebellion, and see hope for the first time," Rak'nor stated.
"Then my mission has been a success. Hammond of Texas, I find myself once more in your debt," Bratac said humbly.
"I think it is Doctor Jackson you owe on this one," the General nodded towards Daniel.
"Indeed," Teal'C bowed his head gratefully to his friend. Daniel, stunned and humbled as well, could only bow his head in response.
Antarctica, Earth
There were many ways for Harry to get to the Alteran Outpost. He could take the newly repaired MEV; he could ask the patrolling Destroyer in orbit for a beam up; he could even Apparate himself there or create a Translocator (the fancy technospeak for Portkey), but because he had to escort two relative rookies of the Stargate Program to the Outpost, they had to take the 'normal' way. 'Normal' in this case being a synonym for loud, slow, and uncomfortable.
Which was why he was in the co-pilot seat of a dark blue Bell helicopter, modified to work in the frigid temperatures of the Continent, and capable of seating four – flying at just over three hundred kilometers per hour over the icy landscape. He was also in the RAF issue arctic gear, with his Air Commodore lapels nicely on display.
In the rear seat, Harry could see the newly minted and fully briefed leader of the Atlantis Expedition, looking rather pensively over the frozen wastes.
Her name was Brigadier General Katherine Theron.
Short brown hair framed her face, which looked like a distinct blend of Northern European features married with perhaps a bit of Asian around the cheeks, dark eyes peered with an experience and age that belied her youthful looking face – the dreams of many women were answered with the Great Leap; for she was actually in her late forties, but looked like she had just come out of College. She had a tall, slim build, her legs struggling to fit into the narrow seating space of the helicopter.
"Penny for your thoughts, General?" Harry asked into the heavy headphones that allowed the occupants of a helicopter to talk to each other over the deafening noise.
"It'll cost a lot more than that, Commodore," she retorted wryly, her eyes still taking in the landscape – it was her first visit after all.
"I don't doubt it," said Harry. "It's not everyday that you're asked to lead Earth into a new Galaxy."
"Certainly different from my usual duties," she nodded. General Theron; was one of the few women – you could count the others on one hand – who had risen to flag rank in the South African Armed Forces. She had initially enlisted as a green Private in the Army – causing a great scandal. A woman in the Army, impossible. However, her circumstances in life smoothed things out somewhat – orphaned at a young age, growing up in State run Boarding schools, truly excellent academic scores and physical prowess. A sympathetic recruiter and someone who had an eye on talent and not on gender, did the rest.
It was clear within the first five years, when she had gained the rank of Corporal working as a Radio Operator in the Border Wars, that was she was being wasted in the enlisted ranks. Three years later she was Second Lieutenant Theron, and in charge of all the Comms in an entire sector of the South African border with Angola.
She had found a taste for the sciences in Officer School, and continued with her studies. Harry honestly wondered if she was perhaps 'smarter' than he was, because anyone with ten degrees, three Masters, and a Doctorate to their name had to have some serious grey matter in their heads, and this was before the Great Leap.
By the time she reached her Colonelcy, the South African government changed hands out of the lunacy that was institutionalized racial segregation and into the hands of its people. She survived the political storm and reorganization of the South African Defense force, to eventually attain a flag rank four years afterwards. She had sharpened her teeth in numerous peacekeeping assignments on the African continent since – which unlike the UN concept of it – actually involved active combat, suppression of fighting and preventing mindless slaughter
.
More recently, she had been assigned to the STO and had spent half a year at Area 51 and a brief two month tour in Tranquility before Harry had plucked her out for the Atlantis Expedition.
Harry turned to their pilot for a moment and wondered what it took to 'want' to be an Air Force Helicopter pilot on Antarctica. Oh, he knew all about the flavored service history of Major John Sheppard – he made a point to study the file of anybody who was going to fly him in any 'terrestrial' craft. But why would you accept what was clearly military 'exile' in Antarctica? His skills would've fetched a six figure salary in the private sector, but he still eked out his existence here for some reason.
"So what are you qualified in, Major?" Harry wondered.
"Apache, Black Hawk, Cobra, Osprey," the man rattled off in quick succession, neither sounding humble nor boasting about it.
"That's a lot of training for the Antarctic."
"It was the one continent I never set foot on," Sheppard's rough handsome features twisted slightly in a grin, his eyes hidden behind a pair of dark aviators' glasses.
"I'm finding it to be a less than pleasant experience; it's too cold here," said Theron flatly, "though it has its charm."
"I kinda like it here," admitted Sheppard.
"You like it here?" Theron asked somewhat astonished.
"Yes, Ma'am, be there in ten minutes, Ma'am."
Their tranquil flight was interrupted when a voice broke through on the emergency channel, clearly broadcasting from the Outpost.
"All inbound craft we have a rogue drone that could seek a target on its own. Land immediately and shut down your engines. This is not a drill. I repeat…"
"Too late," snapped Sheppard and immediately threw the helicopter into evasive maneuvers. Harry grabbed a hold of a handle above his head to brace himself against the sudden Gs and could see a thin yellow streak in the distance rapidly closing on them.
"Fuck, when I said they could experiment, I didn't mean to fire a bloody drone!" cursed Harry.
The drone weapon failed to get an initial lock and zipped past the chopper, coming back around, only for Sheppard to bank in another direction relative to its heading, forcing it to overshoot twice. But the drone would not be fooled forever.
"Break right!" ordered Harry, noticing the weapon homing in on their port side. Sheppard instead pushed the chopper left. "I said right!"
"I'll get to that, sir!" Sheppard strained out as he only now banked right. The drone missed again as it shot off to the left. "Shit, I lost it, I can't see it!"
"It passed into our blind spot," Theron said tightly.
"Pull up! Pull up!" snapped Harry, seeing that Sheppard was diving the chopper to the deck, and cutting it close, clearly trying a maneuver kill on the drone, and unbelievably it seemed to work…the drone shot into the hill of snow, disappearing from view.
"Land, land!" ordered Harry hurriedly. Sheppard flared the chopper, using the main rotors to slow dramatically, before simply dropping the Collective – which controlled altitude - with his right hand. The helicopter practically dumped itself onto the hard snow; Harry felt as if his stomach wanted to spill out of his mouth. "Shut it down!" Sheppard pulled the emergency engine levers from the upper control panel, which promptly whined to a stop, whilst the rotors kept spinning under their own momentum – which was rapidly being lost.
"Sir, that wasn't a…" began Sheppard clearly at a loss, for no missile in his experience could have such a high endurance nor was that smart in adapting to evasive maneuvers. Harry had not had a chance yet to fully brief the pilot on…well anything, Sheppard had his clearance, but that was it.
"Wait for it," interrupted Harry, the drone had not exploded yet, meaning it was still on their tail, it would simply phase itself through anything to get to its target.
And in that moment it burst out of the snow and sped with lethal finality to their chopper, clearly attracted by the heat bloom of the craft against the cold environment, and with subspace sensors giving terminal guidance.
"Get out!" shouted Sheppard.
Harry reacted in an instant – grabbing hold of both Theron and Sheppard, and Apparated out of the helicopter. After the horrible squeezing sensation of the narrow subspace path, all three reappeared five hundred meters away and abruptly fell on their behinds in chilling cold snow.
Sitting up, Harry stared at the yellow streak that bore down on the helicopter and was given another surprise when the squid shaped missile – two seconds from impact – abruptly died, and simply fell to the earth and skidded on the snow to a stop barely a meter from the chopper.
"That was different," said Sheppard, standing up, completely stained in snow.
Theron shook her head, "Getting shot at in a helicopter?"
"No Ma'am, never met anyone who could Leap, let alone take passengers…and the never-ending missile."
"Major, this is just the tip of the iceberg," grinned Harry.
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Alteran Outpost, Antarctica
A dome had been constructed over the deep shaft that had been drilled in the ice – shielding it from view and serving as a means to control who was able to enter the Outpost itself. A section of octagonal composite segments had been shattered thanks to the rogue drone – but provision had been made for this eventuality, and already spares were being moved by technicians to be installed.
Harry led Theron and Sheppard towards the rugged construction lift that spanned the height of the ice shaft, and after a final clearance check, they were allowed to descend.
Finally, after a lengthy ride the elevator slammed to a stop, and its gates lifted to allow them access to the Outpost – which was positively brimming with activity; engineers, checking and reinforcing structural integrity whilst studying the Alteran construction; scientists, examining the various systems in the Outpost and studying the ice itself at this depth; archeologists, translating the various writings on the wall; and finally a strong military security presence.
Harry was sure that even during the height of the Alteran civilization that the place had never seen so many people in it at once.
"Amazing," said Theron, her eyes seeming to take in everything at once. Sheppard just looked confused. "And they're all going to be under my command?"
Harry merely tilted his head in acknowledgement. "We've brought the Expedition here so they can familiarize themselves with the Outpost's systems, it's the closest thing we have to anything truly Alteran. And it will prepare them and you for the City."
Daniel, clad in a rather stylish North Face arctic jacket, approached them with an excited bustle; he looked like the proverbial kid in the candy store, and had a gleam in his eyes.
"Harry."
"Daniel, hope that wasn't you firing off a rogue drone?"
"No, wasn't me. How did you manage to er…"
"Keep our asses from being blown out of the sky? The exceptional flying of Major John Sheppard," he gestured to the Major. "Oh, and this is General Katherine Theron."
"Ah, pleasure," grinned Daniel, lightly shaking the General's hand. "You wouldn't happen to need a chief archeologist…"
"Daniel," interrupted Harry mock sternly, "Jack nixed the idea, as did Hammond."
"Oh well, had to try," sighed Daniel severely. "Aiyana is through there."
Harry turned to Sheppard, "Be careful, and don't touch anything, you haven't received your briefing yet, Major. Understood?"
"Yes sir," nodded Sheppard.
Harry, Daniel and Theron walked off deeper into the Outpost.
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Major John Sheppard had been to every corner of the Earth, had seen all a manner of people, both good and bad. Usually he was the one fighting the latter. He had also seen every kind of man made structure on the planet – and was also involved occasionally in blowing them up.
But he had never even conceived that this could exist and survive under more than a mile of ice. The architecture was almost Roman – but not quite.
He passed a duo of scientists that was carrying the missile that had sought to kill him and two flag officers just half an hour ago. It didn't resemble a missile so much as it resembled a sea creature and there was no nozzles, no exhausts, it defied everything he knew a missile should be.
A very excited voice in what looked to be the central room of this strange ruin under the ice, rose over the din at that moment, and what it said instantly caught John's attention.
"The second I shut my eyes, I could see you see, I felt power I've never had before, I had it dancing across the sky... it was magical, it really was. They're lucky, I don't know where it came from I just tried to concentrate and the drone shut itself down."
The voice had a distinct and deep Scottish brogue, and John saw that the owner was standing next to an ornate marble chair mounted on slightly raised platform and was eagerly gesticulating the drone missile's course relative to his chopper to another scientist.
"So you were the one," accused John, walking up the Scot with what he hoped was his best 'intimidating' face – usually reserved for facing off bad guys.
"Me?" The Scot looked like a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming car.
"You were the one that fired that thing at me." John narrowed his eyes at the Scot – who had a range of emotions cross his bubbly face, before it settled on earnest honesty.
"Look we're doing research. Working with technology that's light years beyond us and we make mistakes. I'm incredibly, incredibly sorry."
What could one say to that sort of apology? John felt his ire extinguished at the honesty he was sensing.
"Well, next time be a little more careful, okay?"
"That's what I said."
"What the heck was that thing anyway?" John asked curiously.
"You mean the drone?" John nodded. "The weapon the Alteran's built to defend this Outpost."
"The who?" John blinked in confusion. Alterans?
The Scot replied in astonishment, "You do have security clearance to be here?"
"Yeah, yeah, Commodore Potter just gave it to me."
"Then you don't even know about the Stargate," the Scot said, shaking his head now in disbelief.
John felt his irritation grow again, "The what?"
It was this moment that John would remember as when the big wide world no longer seemed that big, and that all its problems were rather small – it was both humbling and terrifying.
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Harry, Apollonia, Hermione, Aiyana, Daniel and Dr McKay (now assigned to the Atlantis Expedition) was barely fifteen minutes into their tour of the Outpost with General Theron, when a wide eyed Dr Beckett came running up to them. "You've got to see this, Aiyana! Come look!"
They looked at each other for a moment and followed the Atlantis expedition's Chief Medical Practitioner, who led them back to the main Control Chair room – where lo and behold, Major John Sheppard was seated in the Chair with it fully activated around him.
What were the odds of that? Whilst theoretically, any Terran could now get on the Control Chair and use it, the mental capacity to truly wield the full power of it was still rare. Most would require a lot of training before they would even be able to turn the thing on, let alone fire live drones.
"Who is this?" asked Aiyana levelly.
"John Sheppard," answered Harry shortly and turned to the man in question – who was seated dead still in the chair, as if any little movement would set off the drones in the silos below them. "I said don't touch anything."
"I, I, I just sat down," stammered Sheppard.
"Major, think about where we are in the Solar System," said McKay intently. Immediately above their heads a large hologram bloomed into existence, with slowly revolving planets and a star burning brightly.
"Did I do that?" asked Sheppard with a frown.
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General Theron, after an exhaustive few hours was finally introduced to her new command, and was walking Harry back to the elevator.
"So what do you think of them all?" asked Harry with a grin.
"Let me put it this way," said Theron heavily, "when you said you had assembled the best, I had no idea you went to this extent." She shook her head in near disbelief. "My new Chief Metaphysicist for instance, she's the co-founder of the Delphi Academies, attained two Doctorates in the time it took me to get my first degree way back when."
"Don't tell me you're intimidated by Hermione?" Harry frowned.
"Of course not," said Theron stoically. "I'm their leader; I have to the set the example to follow. Setting that, with such a collection of geniuses under one roof though, will be a distinct challenge."
"You're up to it, General, hence why the STO selected you."
"Based on your and General Hammond's recommendation," she said pointedly.
"You caught my eye," said Harry simply. "And the work you did at A51 spoke for itself." That work of course, was the recent improvement in Naquadah Matrix Fusion Reactor, which allowed the Mark 3 units powering Apollo and Odyssey to be built. The Mark 3 allowed for an almost two hundred percent improvement in Hyperspace speed, more powerful shields, faster charge times for weapons and increased power in said weapons. Theron had figured out a way past the design flaw in the Mark 3, which in simulations would lead to a cascading overload, and probably wipe a sizable portion of the US off the map, should the reactor ever be powered up.
"Yes well," she acceded to the implied praise and stopped at the elevator. "I wanted to ask you if you could perhaps have a word with Sheppard."
"Why?"
"From what I saw, he controlled that Chair as if it was an extension of his hand, it comes naturally to him," Theron said. "He did in a moment what others have to do with concentration and training, he would definitely be an asset in any Alteran environment and as such will be valuable to the Expedition."
"You mean you asked and he turned you down?" Harry asked incredulously.
"Not turned down, he said he needed some time to think about it."
"You could have just ordered him?" Harry remarked cheekily. "He's under STO jurisdiction now that he's been briefed."
"I don't want anyone under my command who doesn't want to be there," retorted Theron.
"All right, I'll see what I can do to encourage his decision."
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Harry was back in the co-pilot seat of the chopper and watched as Sheppard performed the pre-flight. He felt a bit irritated that he had to travel in the blasted thing again. But then, as Theron said, Sheppard would be a definite asset to the Expedition.
"Are you seriously considering not going?" said Harry, deciding that being blunt would be the best approach here.
"All due respect, Sir, we were just attacked by an alien missile. Then I found out that I can control said alien technology because, well, I'm partially an alien myself, heck, we all are in a distant fashion. Then there's this Stargate thing, and these expeditions to other Galaxies."
"You know this isn't about you Sheppard," said Harry pointedly. "It's much bigger than that."
"Right now, at this very second, whether I decide to go on this mission or not seems to be about me." The Chopper's engines started up and the rotors began to slowly rotate. Sheppard placed his earphones on, forcing Harry to do the same.
"Let me ask you something," Harry continued, "why did you become a pilot?"
"I think people who don't want to fly are crazy."
"And I think people who wouldn't want to go out there, through the Stargate, are equally as bloody idiotic," Harry barbed. "If you can't give me a yes, by the time we reach McMurdo…well, then you can stay and continue to freeze your arse off down here being a glorified ferry."
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SGC, Earth
The SGC had always been a place of bustling activity, which literally never slept, due to the fact that the rest of the Galaxy hardly observed Earth's diurnal cycle. But now a sort of organized chaos was present throughout the corridors. The Atlantis Expedition was about to leave.
The Expedition members were quite distinctive. Since they were walking into the pure unknown of another Galaxy, Harry had donated the use of chromesuits to every member. Of course, not all of them were enthused wearing such a 'revealing' piece of equipment, mostly due to the ingrained shame of body. Not that anyone had anything to be ashamed about; they had not only been selected on the basis of being a genius. There were also fitness requirements for members to meet, and anyone not measuring up had a few months ago, quickly been sent on a boot camp of sorts.
Also filling the halls were the equipment crates mounted on AG pads. They were bringing along a mile long list of things, catering to every eventuality that the top minds in the STO could think of and then some. However, there was only so much a person could carry, as such; the majority of the equipment for the Expedition was now on board the Briseus, which was hopefully, already in the vicinity of wherever Atlantis was.
Harry would initially be accompanying the Expedition, just in case any unforeseen problems arose with the city itself that Aiyana couldn't handle.
He grinned at the amount of languages he was hearing being spoken by the Expedition members. The SGC had mainly American personnel due to its location, but this was the second truly multinational STO command, the first being Tranquillity.
"I don't under ... Does anyone else here speak the language these guy's are speaking?" A young dark skinned Force Recon Marine, with the name FORD on his chromesuit's chest called to anyone in the din.
Harry grinned and walked past into the very crowded Gate Room. It was dominated by the one hundred and thirty four strong, STO SpecOps Force that was being assigned to the Expedition. They made for quite an intimidating sight in chromesuits and PR8 AW systems. Their commander was from the SAS, and if possible looked even more forbidding, like a lion among wolves.
At just under two meters tall, with a face that looked like it was just a few scars short of being a Mad-Eye Moody look a like. Colonel Henry MacTavish looked like he could eat barbells for breakfast, and his eyes shone with a frightful intelligence. The man could also boast numerous military successes against the Goa'uld – in one instance defeating a First Prime in hand to hand combat.
"Commodore," saluted MacTavish casually in acknowledgement of Harry's presence.
"Colonel, everything ready?"
"We're all squared away, Sir. Merely give the word."
Harry smiled and nodded, but his eyes caught an uncomfortable looking Major Sheppard passing them.
"Commodore," saluted Sheppard and continued his ambling walk.
"Gonna have trouble with that one," declared MacTavish. "He may be a Gulf and Afghani veteran, but he's completely green in off-world ops. Not to mention finding a spot for him to slot into one of my teams. Teamwork is everything in SpecOps."
"Then let him find people he can work with, and build a team with them," advised Harry.
"Aye," nodded MacTavish. "Just hope the blighter will follow orders. He had noble intentions in Afghanistan trying to save those three blokes, but that dinna count fer nothing if you're only going to get more good men killed in the process."
Aiyana and Dr McKay approached at this point. "Okay, we've got one of the ZPMs connected to the SGC grid," said McKay in satisfaction, rubbing his hands together. "We should be good to go."
General Theron entered the Gate Room and a sudden hush fell on everyone, even the scientists; clearly she had made her impression on both scientific and military spheres of the Expedition in the few months she had been in command. A way was cleared for her and she moved up the embarkation ramp to address her command.
She cut a beautiful figure in the chromesuit; with command red chrome strips ringing her shoulders, a single star on her lapel for her rank.
"We are about to try and make a connection," she began. "Thanks to the ZPM now installed in the SGC, we can take our time. But we will not amble through. We want maximum use out of the ZPMs. So if we are able to achieve a stable wormhole, we'll send in the MALP probe, check for viability and go. Everything in one shot."
"Every one of you accepted the offer for this mission and you represent numerous countries. You are the world's best and brightest and in light of the adventure we are about to embark on. You are also the bravest. I hope we will return having discovered a whole new realm for humanity to explore but as all of you know. There are no guarantees in the great unknown out there. I'd like to offer you all one last chance to withdraw your participation."
Harry looked around and not a soul moved or wavered.
Theron smiled in satisfaction, walking off the ramp and said to the Control room, "Dial the Gate!"
The Gate immediately sprang to life and the inner ring began spinning.
Harry followed Theron into the Control Room, where SG1, Generals Hammond and Thompson were observing the proceedings.
"Chevron Four encoded," declared Walter to the room.
"Nice," grinned Jack.
"Thank you," said Theron primly.
"Chevron Five encoded."
"Chevron Six encoded."
"Here we go," mumbled McKay, having walked in a few moments earlier.
The seventh Chevron…locked and the Gate's inner ring continued to spin to its final position.
"Chevron eight…is locked."
With the familiar unstable waterlike vortex of energy, the Gate erupted into life and settled into the stable vertical pool of the event horizon. The Gate room and the adjoining corridors filled with the Expedition members, erupted into spontaneous applause and cheers.
"Send the MALP," ordered Theron.
The Mk.2 MALP which now worked with directional Gravity systems, hovered itself up the ramp and disappeared into the event horizon.
After a few very long seconds, Walter reported, "Receiving Telemetry."
Harry stared at the video feed, and saw only pitch darkness.
"Lidar indicates a large room," said McKay, standing over Walter.
"Switching to Night Vision."
"It's structurally intact," declared Daniel in excitement, staring at the green tinted video feed of a large 'embarkation/reception hall' definitely constructed by the Alterans.
"Sensors state there's Oxygen, no measurable toxins. We have viable Life-support," reported McKay, nodding at Theron.
"General Theron, you have a go," said the Chairman of the STO.
"Thank you, Sir," Theron saluted and walked out, Harry following closely in her wake. Soon enough, everyone was formed up into the order with which they would enter the subspace path.
General Theron would be first, Aiyana, Harry, and MacTavish and some of his men hot on her heels. When the initial room and those immediately beyond were secured, the signal would be sent back for the main Expedition to enter. Hopefully, Briseus would be already there waiting and they would be able to establish radio contact.
Theron stopped a step away from the event horizon, briefly touching the event horizon, this would in actuality be only her second trip through the Gate, the first being to the Alpha Site and her other journeys had been by ship. She let out a breath and stepped through, disappearing with a wet slurp.
Harry felt the surge of anticipation and happiness from Aiyana, he placed a hand on her shoulder and grinned at her, she smiled in pure joy in return and with that, they stepped through the event horizon.
She was coming home.
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