NaNoWriMo 2010 ... so far...

Hunter's Dilemma


Chapter 1 Prolog -- 6 years ago…

Captain Jonathan “Jack” O’Neil was walking slowly home from the bar, thinking hard on the last fight that he and his wife Sara had had… when he hears a woman cry out and the sounds of a struggle. As he moves towards the noise, he hears her scream… “SPARKY!” then louder “SPARKY” then with fear heavy in her tone, “SPARKY!!!!” never hearing a dog he moves quick and silent towards the struggle. He then hears a coarse male voice say, “Where’s your Sparky now Bitch?” and jumps into action.

He states loud and clear, “I’m right here,” as he rushes the man as he lunges for the woman, knocking him back before he can get his hands on her: then, he fakes left and turns right swinging his leg high into a high side kick that knocks the man flat unconscious. He bends down, pulls loose the attackers belt and ties him up with it while asking quietly, “Are you Ok Ma’am?” Slowly so he didn’t scare her any further he straitens up and moves closer to her; visually checking her out he sees several bruises and long scratches he asks softly, “Is there someone I can call for you? Do you want to go to the hospital?” At that same instant he heard running feet and a dog growling low, turning around and placing himself between the woman and whatever was approaching he sees, the Company C commander Lt. Colonel Jerimy Johnson running towards him baseball bat in hand with his big black akita, Sparky leading the way free of his leash and looking for blood.

Sparky leaps on top of the prisoner teeth exposed and growling low and mean in a very threatening /warning manner he growls into the now awake and terrified prisoners face as his owner demands harshly, “Captain O’Neil… Report!”

“I don’t know everything that went on Sir, only that she started screaming for Sparky, she sounded really scared. When I got closer I heard him threaten her... I stopped him from grabbing hold of her and took him down. I was about to call the MP’s when you came up. I’m not sure if she’s ok Sir, she’s got a lot of bruises a few scrapes and cuts, but she hasn’t spoken a word since I intervened.”

Colonel Johnson steps closer and asks gently, “Lt. Hunter, are you alright?”

Jack’s jaw dropped in astonishment, not believing what he’d just heard, that kid, she’s in the Air Force, she couldn’t be more than 12 or 14 he’d bet money on it. He asks confused, “Sir? She’s just a kid.”

“She may be just 16 Captain, but she is a member of this United States Air Force. Let’s get her to my place then we can talk.”

He moves closer and observes her for a moment noting that she was studying her attackers face intently, and then says, “Dee do you know that man?”

In a soft voice slightly hoarse from screaming she finally answers, “That’s what I was trying to figure out Sir, but honestly I don’t think I’ve ever seen him before. How/Why could he have followed me all the way from Virginia doing this and I have never seen him?”

At that moment the Colonel’s wife arrives bringing the MP’s with her stating, “Jerimy is she alright? I called the MP’s when you and Sparky ran out the door.”

The colonel says, “Mary… She’s ok. A bit scared and bruised but Captain O’Neil here came in the nick of time and saved the day.”

After the MP’s loaded him the car, with Sparky supervising the entire time then one of them walked over to the Colonel who was standing nearby while his wife mothered the young woman and said, “Sir we are going to have to get statements from everyone involved.”

“Very good Sergeant: Can you come by my home to get them? I think it would be easier on the Lieutenant if we didn’t traumatize her any more tonight by forcing her to go down to the Provosts Office.”

“No problem Sir, say in about an hour?”

“Thank you Sergeant. That will be fine.”

A little later at the Colonel’s house:

While listening to his wife Mary taking care of Hunter, the colonel seeing the confusion on the young captain’s face states quietly, “Go ahead Captain; I’m sure you have questions.”

“Sir, what the hell is going on? She is just a kid, how can she be in the Air Force? Who the hell was that man? And why the hell was she yelling for your dog?”

“She is 2nd Lt. Diana Hunter, she entered the Air Force by judicial order after her guardian, the Commonwealth of Virginia decided they didn’t care what she wanted to do, and they emancipated her at the tender age of 15. She CLEP’d enough college classes that she walked away after only one semester with two associates’ degrees and a bachelor’s degree in Network Security. Through all of the studying and test taking though she’d been having some problems, someone following her, making crank calls, breaking into her apartment: so she called the police, like any other woman would have. They couldn’t find any evidence and decided she was just a hysterical teenager. It all came to a head about 8 months ago; she was walking past an air force recruiter’s office near her home when someone tried to snatch her off the street. General Jacob Carter who had just stopped to talk to the officer in charge of that office thwarted the kidnap attempt. After saving her, he listened to her story, unlike the police he believed her, and then offered a possible solution to the lack of control she had over her life. Join the air force, learn self defense and help your country all at the same time. His own daughter had just gone to the academy the day before… he pulled some strings, got her background and education cleared then filed the papers to get the judicial appointment for her. She CLEP’d through the academy too. They weren’t going to let her through the academy so easily but she passed every test they put her through. Physical, knowledge, stress it didn’t matter, the girl was determined. I got her 4 months ago, a brand new brilliant 2nd Lt. with absolutely no experience. 3 months ago we figured out she had a stalker that had not only followed her from Virginia, but was tracking her here on base.”

“How’d this come about sir?”

“You remember the 4th of July picnic we had here?” When Jack nodded he continued, “, It was, I don’t know maybe 12:30 or so in the morning everyone had left and Sparky was out in the yard, he went all kinds of crazy barking, growling and finally jumping the gate frantic to get at something… I went to see what was going on… god knows rabies was bad and I didn’t want him mixing it up with a rabid coon or fox. I found him standing guard and being very protective over an unconscious young woman: That young woman. When she came around, I asked her what had happened. She’d gone out for a jog preparing for the all company marathon when someone jumped her in the dark; she thinks she might have screamed once before the lights went out, the next thing she knew she was waking up on the ground with Sparky and me standing over her. I figure she called out to Sparky tonight because she knew he’d respond if he could. I usually leave him out in the yard till 1am or so. I heard her out and finally decided on a plan to trap this freak. I arranged with the Provost to have MPs on her 24/7 in hopes of catching him… but he was onto that real quick, didn’t show the entire time they were with her. The Provost pulled them off of her 3 weeks ago; the attacks started up again right away. He called her cell, called her desk, called the company and even broke into her room at the B.O.Q. and left her a present that is, if a dead rat arranged pornographically on her bed qualifies as a present.

“How? Do you think that the person behind this is military?”

“I think that the man behind this has been in the military, either dishonorably discharged or possibly medically discharged. That piece of crap you captured tonight… he isn’t even a main player in this, he is just too stupid he has to be just a pawn.”

“I’ve got her scheduled to join your unit for hand-to-hand and unarmed training. Captain I know Special Forces is no place for a woman and there is no chance in hell that she’ll be assigned there…but I want her trained as well as any other member of your team, if not better.”

“Sir I’ve got no problem training her, but the men are going to give her a hard time though.”

“She’s been given nothing but a hard time by the members of each unit she’s worked with since joining and has never once complained. She knows how to handle it. She doesn’t expect special treatment because of her age or gender Captain; she just wants a fair shake.”

Jack nods his head in the direction of the doorway to warn the Colonel that the women were reentering the room. Jack ever considerate of the fairer sex, walks over and helps the young lady to a chair, then squats down beside it and asks gently, “How are you doing?”

She smiles, eyes glittering with unshed tears and says, “I’m fine sir, really. I think I gave myself most of these bruises and cuts trying to get away. Next time I won’t run. I swear I wasn’t near as afraid of him till I started running.”

The Colonel seeing the MP standing hesitantly in the doorway asks for his benefit, “Tell me what happened!”

“I was at the gym Sir working out, I got this real creepy feeling, something there or someone there was literally making my skin crawl. Since there were only 6 people there tonight I decided to finish my workout up by jogging back to the BOQ. I hadn’t even made it to the theater when I realized I was being followed. I was hoping to run into an MP patrol so I started running instead of jogging but so did they/or he. I panicked and started running crazy: for a while I couldn’t figure out where I was, I just kept pushing myself faster and faster then when I passed the park I realized where I was. I started down this street hoping I’d find Sparky still out in the yard. He’s helped me before, I hoped he would again. I was almost here too when the man jumped out in-front of me… Sir he couldn’t have been the man I was running from… no way he could have gotten around me; not the way I was running. He reached out to grab me and I started screaming for Sparky. He… He taunted me… Where’s your Sparky now he said… that’s when this man here jumped into it… He said he was Sparky, and took the man down with a fake out and a well placed side kick to the head. The rest you know.”

Looking over to the MP standing just inside the doorway taking notes he asks, “Did you get all that: Anything else Sergeant?”

“No sir… That was all I needed. I do suggest however that considering her bruises that she be taken to the hospital and checked out just as a precaution.















Chapter 2 Today…

General George S. Hammond was sitting in the conference room tapping his fingers impatiently while waiting for his best off world team to take their seats for this impromptu briefing. He knew his team and they were all going to have fits over these new presidential orders. Finally after they were all seated, “New orders from the President came down today… starting immediately all SG off world teams will consist of: A military leader, A scientific liaison, A linguistic expert, A strong military operative, and A bridge between all of the above that has also had the benefit of espionage training.”

Colonel Jack O’Neil protests, “Sir SG1 is fine as it is. We work as a well oiled machine throwing anyone else in will throw off the balance. Besides I think I qualify as espionage trained.”

“Protest as much as you like Jack… I did, and to no avail. The President is not going to change his mind on this new setup. In addition to a new team member for each of our 14 SG teams, there are also new and improved quarters and new equipment. Each team has a suite of rooms… private quarters situated around a large sitting/recreation room. Each team also has their own locker room… SG teams no longer share. What is SG1’s stays SG1’s… etc. Your new digs are level 29, section Alpha, suite One.”

Daniel asks while listening to Jack rant, “Sir, what do you know about our new team member?”

“She is very well trained, I am not at liberty to reveal what her most recent assignments have been, let’s just say they require a clearance that even you don’t have, or permission from that officer if they’ve been declassified.”

Jack goes off again, “Don’t have clearance; General my clearance is about as high as they go… What the hell is going on here? Who is this woman?”

At that precise moment he hears in a sweet soft slightly southern accented voice, “Well hello Sparky… remember me?”

He spins around in disbelief, “Dee!!!! My god! It’s you! Where’d you come from? Where’ve you been?”

While he’s rambling in two syllable sentences Daniel looks over at Sam and says, “You get the feeling they know each other?”

Sam replies with a huge grin, “I don’t know about him, but I know her.” Then looking over at the woman, “Hey Dee, how are things back in DC?”

She replies as Jack ushers her to a seat next to his, “Politically or for real? Weather sucks, crime is getting worse especially drug trafficking and murders. Politically it’s about the same, backbiting, two timing, murders and drug trafficking.”

Jack asks suddenly, “Did the marines see you come in?”

“Yeah a couple of them escorted me in from the tarmac… well from where I had to land my helicopter. Why?”

Jack says nothing but holds his hand up doing a count down 5, 4, 3, 2, as he hits 1 everyone hears pounding feet and the conference room door gets flung open and Major Robert Makepeace looks around identifying each person in the room then, spotting her (me) says, “I didn’t believe them… but I had to come find out for myself. I thought you were dead! How the hell did you get out of Kuwait? We saw the bombs hit, we went through the rubble.”

I look over to the General, “Sorry Sir… is it ok if Robert stays for the briefing? We’ve worked together before and there is some stuff he needs to know.”

The General almost out of patience nods and orders, “Major, take a seat!”

Robert Makepeace pulls a chair up close beside hers and waits impatiently for the briefing to continue.

“SG1 meet Lt. Colonel Diana Hunter. Colonel, you know Jack O’Neil the other members of SG1 are Major Samantha Carter, Doctor Daniel Jackson and Teal’C.”

Daniel in disbelief, “Sir she can’t be more than 20 years old? No offense Colonel.”

“I am in fact 29 years old Dr. Jackson. I have a Doctorate in Biology and a Bachelors in Physics and Ancient Languages as wells as a Masters in Network Security. I know 21 languages and almost as many sub-dialects. Age is not a factor.”

“Age equates experience in most areas of our society. What did you do graduate high school at 12?”

“I actually graduated high school at 14; CLEP’d 3 degrees at college by 14 1/2, and then did the equilivant at the Air Force Academy by 16. I’ve since gone back and added to and earned more but those listed are the most relevant for this briefing.”

Teal’C asks in his somber totally serious way, “Your young age precludes experience in the Tau’ri military. What are you qualifications that make you beneficial to this team?”

“Mr. Teal’C, My military training has been extensive as both of these men can testify. Sparky trained me in hand-to-hand when I was at my first posting. Later on I was added to the roster when Robert and his team of recon marines went through field and operations training. Right after I went to Desert Storm with those same marines. They thought I’d died there because the enemy dropped half a dozen bombs on the building that I’d had to take cover in. It took me 3 weeks to cross into safe territory. They shipped me to Germany then to Greece, then finally to Texas for more training with Delta Force Team 1. Then I went to Pensacola and trained with the Navy Seals, then I was … was…”

I look over to the General when he nods I continue quietly, “All of that was Top Secret and need to know…but what I am about to tell you, and I’ve been given special permission to do this by the president himself, can go no further than these walls… For the last 2 1/2 years I’ve been what is known in military circles as the Presidents Own. His special operative: If someone needed saving or capturing and using the Seals or Delta force would give it too much media… he’d call me in. Same goes for removal. In the last 912 days that’s 2 ½ years I’ve been on more than 500 different missions.”

Jack in shock asks hoarsely, “The Presidents Own, I thought that was a myth.”

“Not a myth. I can attest to that. It’s been very challenging work. When not overseas doing whatever, I’ve had the privilege of working up an expose on enemies to the state/country. The biggest of these is one Senator Kinsey; the same bastard that compromised me on my last mission making it impossible for me to continue in that position. The president showing his continued favor sent me here to help with the next big transition he has planned for this program.”

Teal’C, “I think that your diminutive stature would be a detriment to the team.”

“Actually my size allows for a lot of surprises. Almost all men can’t believe that I can take care of myself. They usually find out it’s just the opposite. I’ve been doing nothing but taking care of myself since I was 15; once in a while early on it required help, but not so much lately. Later on if you like we can work out.”

Jack and Robert both start protesting, “Dee, he’s got a Goa’uld symbiot inside him… it gives him unbelievable strength and speed.”

Looking sadly at both of them I say, “Size, age and biological extra’s aren’t everything gentlemen and we will just be sparring.”

Sam asks, “What plans does the President have for the SGC?”

“His plan for far in the future is to make the SGC a stand alone global organization free of the umbrella that the U.S. Air Force gives it. He wants it to become what it really is, a world protection agency. To that end he wants each team to be able to handle any… and I do mean any situation that they can end up in.” As the two men start speaking at once again I continue, “I know you’ve handled just about everything thrown at you already and remarkably well I might add, but think… now the Goa’uld know about us, they want to get here. The NID know about them, and they want control of this organization. They have an agenda gentlemen and it’s all of their own. They hid it behind the government and Kinsey but its way outside of anything they know about. But to top that a splinter cell of the NID that’s calls themselves ‘the Chosen’ and is 20 times worse are the ones calling the shots. They have their own agenda which I’ve not got a clue about I might add; and worldwide financial backing. I recently was able to interrupt an arms shipment of theirs, I don’t suppose you are missing 35 or 40 staff weapons and 20 zats are you?”

When no one answers, “I didn’t think so. I suspect they’ve found a way off world and are running their shipments across earth and back out to wherever it is they need them: To where they’ve got an off-world base.”

General Hammond in shocked disbelief asks, “40 Staff weapons? Are you sure?”

“Yes sir I am positive. After taking possession of these weapons I shipped them to my headquarters and checked them over carefully. When my mission was compromised I had them specially boxed and shipped here. They should arrive by special courier tomorrow.”

The General in utter shock asks, “Special Courier?”

“Yes sir, Special Courier, the 13 field operatives chosen to join the SGC.”

“Will security be tight enough on those crates? How are they arriving?”

“They’ll be flying in on a C130 that’s just them and the crates and a few extra things I’ve requested from the President so security should be fine; tighter than any other shipping method I could think of without bringing attention to the fact that they’re carrying stuff that shouldn’t be on Earth at all.”




























Chapter 3 Personal Interlude:

Jack sits down heavily beside the one woman he’d marry in a heartbeat without a second thought and pulls her into a hug against his side before asking quietly, “Tell me why Dee?”

“Because the bastard that haunted me my entire life is still out there. I figured if the Government made me disappear then maybe eventually I’d be allowed to actually have a life.”

“But it didn’t turn out that way?”

She shakes her head no then whispers, “He still turns up, even leaves me little presents. It’s like he’s courting me in some sick fashion. He made an appearance when I was Beirut I actually saw his shadow as he stalked me through the streets. I was so terrified that I forgot what I was there for and ended up running to my target for assistance instead of taking him out.”

“Your target?!”

“Yeah, I was there to take out what was thought to be a known terrorist turns out he wasn’t the terrorist after all it was his cousin Ari. He didn’t hesitate to help me either even knowing that I was probably there to kill him. Malaki became one of my best friends kind of like you and the guys. Don’t get me wrong he was trained and one of the best the Mossad ever made, but he wasn’t a terrorist. He also came very close to killing my stalker, closer than I ever have, but in the end it’s what got him killed. My stalker doesn’t like anyone getting close to me even if it’s just being a big brother.”

“He definitely needs killed. Has needed killing for 15 years Dee. Don’t let him keep you from living sweetheart, you deserve so much more than just an existence.”

“I know Jack but he isn’t the only thing that held me back from a long term relationship.”

Curiosity getting the better of him and a little jealousy hidden in his heart forced him to ask “Oh! And what was holding you back?”

“None of them were you Jack. They may have held a few of your qualities but none of them held a candle to you.”

He was shocked because he hadn’t realized that his feelings were returned but he doesn’t let it hold him back for long. He pulls her close and bends his head giving her a slow tender heartfelt kiss.

After holding each other and healing a lot of old soul deep wounds Jack whispers, “How are we going to handle this: Regulations and all that?”

“We are going to take each day at a time. My rank is Federal not military anymore and hasn’t been for a while, not since I became the Presidents agent. He is my only commander even though he’s placed me under the authority of General Hammond he still retains my position under his office so I think that so long as we work well together and don’t let personal get in the way of professional while in the field there won’t be an issue.”

“Good because I’d retire right now if it was the only way to keep you. I’m not letting you out of my life again Dee.”

“Me too Jack, we’ve let them keep us apart too long and I won’t have it any more.”

































Chapter 4
SNAKE IN THE GRASS

Jack sat down at the table with the guys knowing there was no way to avoid their questions this time at least not completely. Their question on the topic of one sort of former comrade were becoming more and more frantic and demanding and he just didn’t have any intel that he could share with them. When she disappeared from the SGC a little over a year ago it was suppose to be for a short time not this. He was the only one from their former unit that knew anything about her condition and whereabouts and had been playing hell getting permission to tell them anything let alone anything even near the true complete facts.

They sit waiting impatiently for him to start and he knows that no matter what he says it won’t be enough but continues anyway, “I haven’t found out anything new. She’s still with the military, her pay is auto-deposited to her bank and her last post of record was here at the SGC via the Pentagon as you well know.

They could all tell Jack wasn’t telling them everything he knew and that keeping the information to himself was killing him but they were worried and needed info.

Ferretti exclaims, “That’s all we’ve been able to find out for over a year now Colonel. I… we all hoped you with all your connections might be able to find out something new.”

“I... uh...”

At that exact moment the gate alarm sounds and the recording screams out interrupting and drowning him out “UNSCHEDULED OFF WORLD ACTIVATION!”

Kowalski states unnecessarily as they all head to the gate-room, “There are no teams off world right now.”

The marines and members of SG2 crowd the doorway to the gate-room as Jack enters the control room and joins the General.

General Hammond addresses Jack O’Neill, “Colonel we’ve just received a rather unorthodox message for you. It arrived under a top secret IDC code accompanied by the “Needs medical assistance tag.”

Jack responds, “For me Sir?”

“It appears to be addressed to you!”

“Let me see the message sir, maybe I’ll have and explanation after I’ve seen it.”

The General states, “Siler play the CD!”

Siler answers quickly, “Yes Sir!” To Jack he adds, “When we opened the iris the only thing that came through was a CD sir. It few in like a Frisbee then the wormhole collapsed.”

Music starts playing and slier explains, “ It’s a series of music clips strung together. It starts with ‘Jack and Diane’ then goes into ‘I’m a Warrior’ then into ‘Help’ followed by ‘Trouble’ followed by ‘Bullet’ then into ‘Who’s got my Back’ and ‘Signs’, ‘Call the Man’, ‘Weathered’, ‘Freedom Fighter’ and ‘I need a Hero’ it finally ends with ‘ Somebody’s Watching’.

They listen to the message for the 15th time before jack finally starts explaining, “The first clip, it’s the salutation, and yes it is addressed to me from Diana Hunter. What I’ve gleaned from the message is that She was on a recon mission, she was overran and most likely by Goa’uld, she’s been running from them ever since. It looks like they want to capture her which is giving her the chance to run. She was shot but at the point of sending this message was still free. She thinks Gamma Charlie is compromised as she was set up and it hints that there may be a mole here at the SGC.”

Their resident linguistics expert Daniel Jackson asks, “A previously set up code?”

Kowalski snorts loudly and Ferretti kicks him under the table in warning as Jack shoots them a hard look before explaining, “It’s not a code Daniel, but we’ve used song snippets as a means of communication before and its actually pretty simple if you listen to each of the chosen snips… I’m Jack, she’s Diane. The next snippet is a reminder that she is a fighter and that she is still fighting. The next one worries me, it’s ‘Holding out for a Hero’ means she needs help in a major way. ‘Signs’ leads me to think she’s laid some clues for us, but could also mean that she’s looked over all the facts at hand and determined nothing good. Either way it’s a warning. The next snippet ‘Who’s got my back’ adds to my concern here; she wouldn’t be asking if her people were trustworthy.”

General Hammond leans around Siler opens a compartment in chich there is a single black and red striped switch which he throws as he keys the base-wide microphone, “Until further notice Cheyenne Mountain is on total lock down and is on a total communication black out. When you are not on duty or getting your meals you are to remain in quarters anyone found out of bounds or in possession of or trying to contact anyone not within the base will be locked up no questions asked.” He then looks at Siler before adding, “Activate the scrambler it does no good to turn off the phones and data lines if they can still use cells. Oh and Slier situation Alpha Orange, code Zebra lock their computers out and scramble their IDC’s.”

Makepeace demands, “You said you didn’t know anything… Where was she posting out of? She hasn’t come through here in over a year. What’s her designation? Jack who’s she working for?”

General Hammond fields his questions by interrupting Jack, “She was the top operative at the Gamma Charlie site. The third base we set up off world. She was their equivalent to SG1. They do deep recon on worlds and do not, ever have contact with natives. She has unfortunately had a lot of run-ins with the Goa’uld.”

Kowalski demands, “How come we weren’t allowed to know about her whereabouts or about this new base?”

Hammond answers, “Presidential order; I wanted you all to know in case there was an encounter while off world. The President would only allow me to tell Colonel O’Neill and he was sworn to a very high level of secrecy. Don’t blame him for not giving you any details on her whereabouts.”

Jack states quietly, “She wanted you all to know, and it frustrated her to no end that she couldn’t even call and say hi.” He turns in frustration and demands, “General, when may we leave? It’s already been an hour since the message came in, she wouldn’t have risked sending for help if she didn’t really need it.”

The General thinks for a moment, “Colonel pick your team, you leave in 30.”

Jack stands keys the mic while stating team, “Makepeace ready your squad, Ferretti, Kowalski get the rest of SG2, Teal’C, Daniel, Carter, body armor and lots of extra ammo, someone bring the big first aid kit. We already know it’s a hot zone so, Carter prepare a MALP we need to find out before we go in if the gate is secure - or if we go through shooting.”





















Chapter 2


Jack was ready and in the gate room in less than 10 minutes, the others weren’t far behind him.

Sam was already there prepping the MALP she looked up at him when he arrived and says, “It’s ready to go Sir.”

The General states, “You have a go!”

O’Neill asks none to gently impatience clear in his stance and tone, “What’s it showing? Is the gate held by hostiles?”

Siler starts, “Temperature is a dry 82 degree it appears to be a few hours after their midday, ok here comes video, ‘HOLY CRAP’!!! Sir you have to see this, its… it’s a graveyard bodies everywhere.”

General Hammond after quickly reviewing the scene from every direction states blandly, “It’s a graveyard Colonel, with dead Jaffa everywhere. I’d say they recently held the gate but don’t any longer. You have a go! And Colonel…” when Jack looks back up at him, “Bring her home!”

Jack nods his affirmative even as he states, “Yes Sir General!”

He head up the ramps a very dangerous glint in his eye, giving orders while on the go knowing that no one will miss anything, “Makepeace when we get through I want you guys to hold the gate. Ferretti you and yours lay mines in a circular pattern around the gate. Kowalski you are with me. Teal’C you take point! Let’s Go… Move out!”

They step cautiously step out from the gate every move on full alert expecting to come under fire any second as they quickly and carefully take in the situation.

Daniel gasps at the scene before him. 25 Jaffa from 3 different system lords lay dead. He can’t stop himself from blurting, “How could one woman cause this much carnage? What’s she made of?!”

O’Neill looks over to his favorite archeologist and states mechanically and a bit coldly, “It took careful planning for her to take out those 25 Jaffa alone Daniel but she had to get word through to us. Dee… she hates killing Daniel but they didn’t give her any choice. I suppose she could have just sat back and let herself be captured but then that would have been worse.”

Daniel composes himself then looks around carefully noting something off about the bodies then states, “Jack we’re suppose to go this way.”

Jack glances over to Daniel and asks, “How’d you deduce that?”

Daniel points to the bodies laid out before them, “All of them have a hand pointed in this direction that’s too coincidental to not be a sign of some sort.”

Jack smiles at him, it doesn’t reach his eyes which were just too cold to imagine, “Good job Danny. Teal’C lets go. Radio silence!”

Using hand signals they move near silently thru the heavy forest and dense foliage while carefully looking for more signs from their missing comrade or her Jaffa attackers as the colonel keys his microphone every 10 minutes hoping and waiting for a reply.

The reply when it comes startles them all a decidedly female voice states quietly, “Sparky bandits 10 O Clock.”

Jack quickly motions for everyone to take cover and maintain their position. They listen carefully waiting for the moment when their presence would be discovered but it never came. After the patrol passed their position; Jack motions for Teal’C to trail them and then keys his mic while stating, “Time to come in from the cold Hunter. What’s your 20?”

They hear a cautious, “What’s the weather like Sparky?”

Jack smiles a grim smile that puts everyone a little on edge, “Well it was a little stormy for a bit buts it’s improving rabidly.”

Carter and Daniel Jackson look at him like he’s lost his mind when they hear back from that soft spoken female, “I need more than that Sparky.”

“Uncle George says come home that while its stormy outside he has the fire going and hot chocolate waiting.”

“Ok. I’m at your 3 O’ Clock at about 50 ft or so. Did you know that Jaffa never look up.”

Heads all twist around and look up towards the top of the ancient tree and sure enough if they look close they can make her out. Her camouflage was good so it wasn’t easy.

Jack smiles a true smile, “You’ve really got to show me how you do that, come on down now.”

“Yeah well that’s easier said than done. That patrol will be back in about 20 minutes give or take if they stick to their schedule so watch my 6. I can’t and scale this bad boy at the same time.”

Kowalski breaks silence suddenly, “Angel what your status?

They look over and see him looking through binoculars.

“Par for the course Cowboy… hole in my arm, hold in my side, singed a bit around the middle and my left legs a bit wonky so I’d say fair to middlin.”

Jack looks at Kowalski who was still watching her descent, “How bad is she really? She’d say she was fine if she was bleeding out and seeing triple.”

“Her leg looks really bad, her knee is definitely out. She’s cannibalized her T-shirt; part of it is around her middle, her arm and holding a splint to that leg. She looks pale and she’s moving really slow.”

They all stop breaking when she suddenly drops to the ground and scrambles for cover till they hear, “Patrol is back early; maintain cover no matter what happens!”

Jack grates out, “Angel…”

“Damn it Sparky you don’t know these boys or the terrain like I do so put a sock in it.”

With a heavy sign, “Alright Angel it’s your party how do want to do this?”

“Box them; we can’t let these boys get back, Grenades front and rear. These are Ba’al’s boys so they won’t play nice when they scramble spray them across the middle. Try to isolate one of them for questioning but don’t take chances. If they actually break and run let them go it’s not worth anyone’s life to follow them.”