《Stargate: Legacy of the Gate》 Beyond the Gate "Beyond the Gate" It was 2007 when Catherine Anne MacGregor¡¯s life took a turn she could never have predicted. A RAAF officer, she was living a life of steady stability after a somewhat chaotic adolescence. Her tall frame and platinum blonde hair still earned her the occasional awkward nickname, but she had long outgrown the goofy, wide-eyed teenager who had once been too tall for her own good. Then, one night, a knock on her door would change everything. At first, Cate assumed it was some kind of prank. She had just returned to her small house on the outskirts of Newcastle after a routine assignment, when she opened the door to find a woman in military fatigues standing before her. The woman was striking¡ªalmost as tall as Cate herself, sharp features with an intensity in her eyes that spoke of secrets kept under lock and key; and another blonde. Her twin brother would have fun with that. "I''m Lieutenant Colonel Samantha Carter," the woman introduced herself, her American accent was clear and authoritative. "I need to talk to you about something very important, something only a select few know about." Cate blinked, crossing her arms. ¡°Is this some kind of joke?¡± Colonel Carter didn¡¯t smile. "It¡¯s not a joke, Flight Lieutenant MacGregor. I¡¯m here to offer you a choice. A chance to be part of something bigger than anything you¡¯ve ever imagined." A cold shiver of disbelief ran through Cate, but her curiosity got the better of her. She listened as Carter explained, in cryptic yet compelling detail, the existence of the Stargate Program. Cate''s mind struggled to process it all¡ªthe concept of ancient alien technology, intergalactic travel, secret military operations¡ªbut when Carter mentioned the USS Daedalus, the massive starship floating somewhere in orbit, Cate¡¯s scepticism faltered. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Before she could even ask another question, Carter did something she couldn¡¯t have anticipated. She gestured toward the door, and a sudden burst of light engulfed the room. Cate felt her body lurch, as if gravity itself had vanished. In the blink of an eye, she was standing on a massive ship in the middle of deep space, staring out of a viewing window at the stars and the blue orb of Earth below, her jaw hanging open. ¡°Welcome to the Daedalus,¡± Carter said, as if the sight should have been entirely normal. ¡°There¡¯s a lot for you to learn, but we¡¯ve got time.¡± Cate¡¯s transition from a seasoned F/A18 pilot to an interstellar officer was nothing short of extraordinary. She spent years training with the best, first as part of the F-302 program¡ªwhere she discovered her true calling as a fighter pilot in the defence of Earth¡ªand later, as an integral member of SG-4, a black ops team that worked beyond the reach of most people¡¯s imaginations. Her mind, once full of doubts about the world beyond the stars, now raced with the unyielding purpose of a soldier who understood that the universe was full of threats. The gates were open, and the team she led was tasked with protecting Earth from them. By 2017, Cate stood at the helm of SG-4 as its commanding officer. The black ops team was as elite as it came, a blend of strategic minds and deadly force. It was her responsibility now to lead them through the most dangerous missions, the ones that didn¡¯t make headlines or even official reports. Every mission was a gamble, but she had come to trust her team, just as they trusted her. Her team, a group of veterans and specialists, respected her for more than just her skills¡ªshe had earned their trust through countless life-and-death situations, each one bringing them closer together. They followed her orders without question, knowing that Cate would do whatever it took to protect them. On a mission to P3X-817, a planet infested with Lucian Alliance sympathisers, Cate stood on the desolate surface, her team scattered around her as they prepared to enter a hidden facility. As she looked at the jagged landscape, she couldn¡¯t help but marvel at how far she had come¡ªfrom the awkward young woman in the RAAF to the hardened leader in the most secretive military program the world had ever known. ¡°Ready, Commander?¡± Major Troy asked, his voice steady as he checked his weapon. Cate gave a tight smile. ¡°Always. Let¡¯s move out.¡± With the familiar sound of boots hitting the dirt, SG-4 moved forward into the unknown. The Stargate, once an anomaly, had become her reality. Her destiny was no longer a matter of flight patterns and military drills¡ªit was about protecting her world from threats that were as old as time itself. The teenager who had once struggled to find her place now stood at the forefront of a battle that would determine the future of humanity. And as they disappeared into the darkness of the unknown, Cate MacGregor couldn¡¯t help but think that her journey, which had started with a knock on the door, was far from over. There were more gates to open. More worlds to explore. And she would be there every step of the way. To The Stars Cate MacGregor had a long journey ahead of her before becoming the commanding officer of SG-4. Her selection into the heady world of the Stargate Program was just the beginning. There were endless months of training, and let¡¯s not forget the medical tests. While the SGC was still under U.S. Air Force authority (by proxy of the IOA), every new candidate had to endure a rigorous screening process to ensure they weren¡¯t¡­ well, an alien posing as human. Apparently, that had happened more than once. It was during these tests that Cate¡¯s high ATA gene expression was discovered. "Quite high, actually," Dr. Lam had told her, flipping through a tablet. "On a scale close to General Sheppard¡¯s and just a smidgen below General O¡¯Neill¡¯s." Cate had blinked at the revelation, then grinned. "So, I am an alien?" Lam had barely cracked a smile. "We¡¯ve had weirder." Cate froze. "You¡¯re joking, right?" A long pause. "No." "Bloody hell," Cate muttered. "And here I thought the weirdest part of this gig would be the American coffee."
After the tests came the deluge of study. Cate found herself drowning in mission reports and alien race profiles, her desk stacked with documents that rivalled her entire RAAF flight manuals. The names of alien species were the worst. ¡°Who writes these things? Tolkien?¡± she muttered to the trainee next to her, earning a stifled laugh. Cate¡¯s sarcastic running commentary quickly became a highlight of the otherwise gruelling lessons. Their no-nonsense instructor, Colonel Masters, wasn¡¯t amused. ¡°Is there a problem, Flight Lieutenant?¡± he asked, glaring down at her. Cate didn¡¯t miss a beat. ¡°Just wondering if we get a decoder ring for all these alien names, sir.¡± A few more laughs echoed around the room, but Masters¡¯ piercing stare silenced them. ¡°I suggest you focus on the material, MacGregor.¡± Cate leaned over to her neighbour, whispering, ¡°Focus? Mate, I¡¯m trying not to laugh at the fact someone called a snake god ¡®Apophis.¡¯ Sounds like a brand of shampoo.¡±
The real excitement began when Cate was finally checked out for F-302 training. It was late 2007, nearing winter, when she found herself at a secret base in the Nevada desert, staring at the sleek, alien-inspired fighter plane. Beside her stood Captain Brendan Jones, her instructor, who exuded all the charm of a boot camp drill sergeant. ¡°Right, ¡®Flight Lieutenant,¡¯¡± Jones drawled, making air quotes with his fingers. ¡°Think you can handle this, or should we start with a paper plane?¡± Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. Cate raised an eyebrow. ¡°Paper planes might be more your speed, Captain. But I¡¯ll give this a go.¡± Jones scowled. ¡°You think you¡¯re funny?¡± ¡°Not really,¡± she replied with a grin. ¡°You¡¯re just an easy target.¡± The sarcasm did nothing to endear her to Jones, who made it his mission to knock her down a peg. Cate, however, had her own plan. During the first few flight sessions, she intentionally fumbled through manoeuvres, letting Jones believe she was barely competent. ¡°MacGregor, that¡¯s the third time you¡¯ve overshot your trajectory!¡± Jones bellowed over the comms. ¡°Are you trying to map a scenic route?¡± ¡°Sorry, sir,¡± Cate replied innocently. ¡°I just wanted to make sure I didn¡¯t miss the view.¡± Jones¡¯ frustration was palpable, but Cate held back her true skills until it was time for the final combat simulations. That¡¯s when the real fun began.
Cate had a wealth of experience to draw from. She had served with the 121st Fighter Squadron ANG on F-16s during Operation Enduring Freedom over Afghanistan, earning two unit citations. Additionally, she had completed a six-month exchange with the US Navy''s Top Gun School as an instructor. Despite her impressive background, she chose to hold back during the initial training sessions, letting Jones believe she was just an average pilot. Flashbacks of her time in Afghanistan occasionally surfaced, particularly the harrowing incident when her squadron was accused of a blue-on-blue error that resulted in the deaths of several English soldiers. The investigation had been lengthy and gruelling, but they were eventually cleared of any wrongdoing. The experience had shaken Cate deeply, leaving a lasting impact on her.
The desert sun cast long shadows as Cate¡¯s F-302 taxied smoothly along the tarmac. Jones raised an eyebrow from the rear cockpit, momentarily impressed by her steady take-off. ¡°Not bad,¡± he muttered, almost begrudgingly. Cate smiled, her voice calm over the comms. ¡°Thanks, Brendan. Try not to faint.¡± Once airborne, the simulated combat drills began. Her first opponent, an F-16, made it almost too easy, executing predictable manoeuvres that Cate countered with textbook precision. She locked on quickly, the simulation registering her first kill. ¡°Target neutralized,¡± the system intoned. ¡°Don¡¯t get cocky,¡± Jones warned. ¡°It only gets harder from here.¡± He wasn¡¯t wrong. The second F-16 pilot upped the ante, employing evasive manoeuvres that tested Cate¡¯s reflexes. The two aircraft twisted and turned in a dizzying aerial ballet, each trying to outwit the other. Cate pushed the F-302 to its limits, skimming the desert floor and climbing sharply to evade counterattacks. Finally, she outflanked her opponent, locking on and scoring her second kill. Jones exhaled sharply. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll admit, that was decent.¡± ¡°Just decent?¡± Cate teased. ¡°Hang on to your helmet, Captain. We¡¯ve got one more.¡± The final opponent wasn¡¯t just any pilot¡ªit was Colonel Lillian Radovic, one of the Air Force¡¯s finest, with 16 confirmed kills in the F-302. Cate¡¯s grip tightened on the controls as Radovic¡¯s F-16 appeared on the radar. ¡°She¡¯s not going to go easy on you,¡± Jones said. ¡°Radovic¡¯s a legend for a reason.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Cate replied, a determined edge in her voice. ¡°Neither am I.¡± The ensuing dogfight was nothing short of spectacular. Radovic was relentless, her manoeuvres sharp and unpredictable. Cate matched her move for move, her instincts and training kicking into high gear. The two aircraft danced through the sky, trading the advantage back and forth. The onboard computer blared a warning: ¡°Terrain. Pull up. Pull up.¡± ¡°MacGregor!¡± Jones shouted. ¡°Listen to the damn computer!¡± ¡°Relax, Brendan,¡± Cate said, her voice steady. ¡°I¡¯ve got this.¡± Radovic¡¯s F-16 dived sharply, attempting to force Cate into a no-win scenario. Cate followed, ignoring the blaring alarms as she closed the gap. At the last possible moment, she pulled back hard on the stick, sending the F-302 into a steep climb. The G-forces pressed Jones into his seat as Cate executed a perfect roll, coming out above Radovic. ¡°Target acquired.¡± Cate fired, the simulation registering her third and final kill. Jones let out a breath he hadn¡¯t realized he was holding. ¡°You¡¯re insane,¡± he muttered. Cate grinned, easing off the throttle. ¡°Maybe. But I¡¯m also undefeated.¡± Back on the tarmac, Radovic approached Cate with a nod of respect. ¡°Impressive flying, Flight Lieutenant. You¡¯ve got talent.¡± ¡°Thank you, ma¡¯am,¡± Cate replied, genuinely honoured by the praise. Jones, meanwhile, climbed out of the cockpit looking pale. Cate couldn¡¯t resist. ¡°Oh, Brendan,¡± she said sweetly, ¡°you¡¯ve got a bit of colour in your face. I thought Marines didn¡¯t scare easy.¡± Jones glared at her but couldn¡¯t suppress the hint of a smile. ¡°Just get your report, MacGregor.¡± Cate winked. ¡°Looking forward to it, Captain.¡±
The report Jones submitted later was glowing, despite his earlier frustration. ¡°Exceptional flight instincts,¡± it read. ¡°Superior combat skills. Highly recommended for interstellar assignments.¡± Cate skimmed the document, her eyebrows rising at the praise. ¡°Brendan,¡± she said with mock surprise. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you cared.¡± Jones muttered, ¡°Don¡¯t push your luck, MacGregor.¡± Cate grinned. ¡°Oh, I wouldn¡¯t dream of it.¡± If they thought she had an ego, they were dead wrong. Cate had simply found her purpose in life and she wasn¡¯t about to squander it. Into the fire Into the Fire: In early January 2008, after a week¡¯s leave back home in Sydney to spend New Year¡¯s with her parents, her brother Ben, and his family, Cate was back at the SGC. It had been difficult for her not to reveal what she was doing; to the family, it was just another exchange posting. The problem was, all four MacGregors served their country: William, a Rear Admiral with the Navy and commander of the Naval Air Station at Nowra; her mother Anne, a Captain (medical) at the same base; and Ben, a Captain with the Army¡¯s 4th Battalion, Commando regiment. At the airport, it felt strange: more so when the old man said to her, ¡°Keep your head down, Kiddo, and don¡¯t do anything stupid.¡± That wasn¡¯t like him at all, and the look in his eye almost said, I know what you¡¯re doing. Cate couldn¡¯t shake the feeling. All the way back to the States, she had this weird sense that something was going on. After all, Dad¡¯s security clearance was right up there. Could he know? Settling in her assigned quarters, she finally let the memory fade. They told her she¡¯d be waiting a day or two before being given her posting, so she spent some time in the gym and binged on some TV, old episodes of Star Trek, just for a laugh. If only they knew. The next day, she was called in to see the now Colonel Carter, who Cate already knew was a member of SG-1. That was something of a buzz for her, as by now she almost knew every mission of theirs by heart. Sam was forthright but friendly; sometimes a little too cheerful, smiling a lot when Cate thought it was inappropriate. The rumour was that many of the new pilots coming through were going to the Odyssey as replacements after its battle with the Ori. That was her expectation. Instead, Colonel Carter told her she was going first to the Alpha Site to work up a new squadron, with Cate in command: the 56th Attack Squadron. They were, in fact, a former U.S. Navy squadron, the ¡®Buzzards.¡¯ After no less than three weeks, they were to join nuship UNS (United Nations Ship) Invincible, the third ship of the new DD-100 Endurance class of destroyers. From what Cate had read, they were a formidable weapons platform, and the lead ship, Endurance, had already been blooded in battle. The young woman stood before the Stargate, dark blue tote bags at her feet. She paced back and forth like a lioness in a cage. Above her in the control room, Master Sergeant Walter Harriman waited for the confirmation from the Alpha Site. Down in the gate room, where Cate paced, the puddle of the event horizon swirled within the inner ring of the Stargate, behind the iris.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°She looks like she needs to be somewhere in a hurry,¡± Walter said to his companion without taking his eyes off his monitor. ¡°Oh, I can¡¯t argue with you on that, Walter.¡± The dark-haired woman beside him replied. ¡°I¡¯ve tried to speak with her a couple of times¡­¡± Vala began. ¡°¡­she seemed evasive. I think that¡¯s the right word. I mean, it isn¡¯t as if she¡¯s hiding something.¡± She paused, looking for words in her head. At that point, Sam Carter walked in. ¡°She hasn¡¯t left yet?¡± Sam asked. ¡°Er, ah, no, ma¡¯am.¡± Walter replied. ¡°We¡¯re waiting for the Alpha Site¡¯s confirmation.¡± Sam dropped a file on the desk in front of Vala. ¡°I heard what you said. It seems our new girl Cate does have a little secret.¡± Vala opened the file and began to read. Down in the Gate Room, Cate¡¯s face took on a slight scowl. There was something going on in her mind; a darkness seemed to overcome her. An interview in the fourth year of her service with the Air Force came back to her. Someone from an agency called ASIS had wanted Cate to work for them, assuring her she¡¯d retain both her rank and status in the Air Force. The man was very convincing, saying she¡¯d be serving her country far more than she could imagine. That was three years of her life she could never get back. Yes, she¡¯d learned new skills, becoming highly proficient in several forms of martial arts and fluent in several languages. But towards the end of those three years, she became entangled in a botched joint mission with the CIA. Cate was to infiltrate North Korea as a Russian Air Force pilot, there to train North Korean pilots, and obtain files on several double agents the CIA and ASIS desperately wanted. The trouble was, her CIA contact was a double agent herself. Cate spent three months in a North Korean prison before she managed to escape. Three months of torture; she had the whip scars on her back as a token of North Korea¡¯s goodwill. Her mind cleared as she spun around to face the glass above and the three faces looking down on her. ¡°Are we there yet?¡± she demanded to know. Vala pushed the file aside, her brow furrowed. ¡°So, she¡¯s a spy then? Is that good or bad? Should we be worried?¡± Sam paused; her expression unreadable as she leaned on the console. Walter glanced up from his monitor, hesitation in his voice as he added, ¡°Colonel, do you think she¡¯s a security risk?¡± The question hung in the air for a moment, heavy with unspoken concerns. Sam didn¡¯t answer immediately, her eyes drifting to the gate room below where Cate stood, pacing with restless energy. Finally, Sam straightened and spoke with quiet conviction. ¡°No, she¡¯s not a security risk.¡± She glanced again at Cate, a faint smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. ¡°But give her a few years¡­ and she¡¯s going to be one hell of an SG team leader.¡± ¡°Ma¡¯am, we have confirmation,¡± Walter interrupted. ¡°Open the iris, Walter,¡± Sam told him, then looked down at Vala. ¡°Was. For our sake, let¡¯s hope that is all behind her now.¡± The Rookie The Rookie: As the Stargate¡¯s iris slid open with a low metallic hum, Cate turned to glance up at the control room. She offered a quick smile and a salute of thanks to Walter and Sam, her acknowledgment precise and professional. She didn¡¯t notice Vala standing further back, arms folded, and lips pursed in mock indignation. ¡°She just ignores me?¡± Vala muttered dramatically to Sam, who smirked but said nothing. Cate hoisted her tote bags and strode forward. She barely registered the swirling event horizon ahead, her thoughts already fixed on the task awaiting her at the Alpha Site.
The journey through the wormhole was as disorienting as she remembered. The kaleidoscopic whirl of light and energy enveloped her, each molecule of her being deconstructed, hurled across the cosmos, and reassembled in a heartbeat. When her boots touched the grated platform on the Alpha Site¡¯s gate room floor, Cate steadied herself, forcing the nausea to subside. She glanced around; the once-modest facility had grown into a sprawling, fortified base. The Stargate now resided deep underground, protected by layers of reinforced concrete and steel. The base commander, Colonel Michelle Bixby, greeted Cate just beyond the gate room. Bixby¡¯s demeanour was crisp but welcoming. Cate remembered her from her prior visit to the Alpha Site: a no-nonsense officer with a reputation for keeping things running smoothly. She also knew Bixby was a former helicopter pilot, an army aviator who had earned her stripes flying Blackhawks and Apaches. ¡°Squadron Leader MacGregor,¡± Bixby said, offering a firm handshake. ¡°Welcome back.¡± Cate blinked, caught off guard by the rank. ¡°Ma¡¯am?¡± Bixby¡¯s eyes twinkled with amusement. ¡°Oh, didn¡¯t they tell you? Congratulations, you¡¯ve been promoted. The Australian Defence Attach¨¦ in Washington sent the confirmation through this morning. It¡¯s official.¡± Cate felt a swell of pride and a flicker of nervous energy. ¡°Thank you, ma¡¯am.¡± She snapped a salute, though it wasn¡¯t strictly necessary. Bixby returned it with a small smile.
After being shown her quarters¡ªspartan but functional, situated conveniently near the pilot¡¯s ready room¡ªCate settled in quickly. She took her evening meal there, savouring a moment of quiet, then hit the showers before turning in early. By 0500, she was seated at her desk, poring over the personnel files of her new squadron. The 56th Attack Squadron was a multinational group of fourteen pilots, representing Stargate member nations. While she would get to know them all, six stood out for immediate focus: Cate¡¯s own call sign, ¡°Taipan,¡± reflected her precision and lethality in the cockpit.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
Over the next two weeks, Cate implemented her training regimen. Classroom sessions were met with groans from the more experienced pilots, but Cate insisted on laying a solid foundation. Beyond technical skills, she focused on team cohesion. She arranged bonding activities¡ªsome traditional, others not. A cricket match baffled many of her multinational crew but proved effective in building camaraderie. Simulator training on the new F-302D¡ªa clipped-wing, single-seater variant¡ªconsumed countless hours. Bianchi struggled with formation flying and complex manoeuvres, but Cate¡¯s patient guidance and Dusty¡¯s mentorship gradually brought him up to speed. By the end of the second week, the young ensign¡¯s progress was evident. The final phase of training involved combat simulations against the Alpha Site¡¯s aggressor squadron, flying older F-302A models. The exercises tested the squadron¡¯s mettle, sharpening their skills for real-world scenarios.
Midweek, the Lucian Alliance launched a surprise attack. The Alpha Site¡¯s sensors detected a Hat¡¯ak-class mothership entering orbit, deploying waves of Death Gliders. Cate¡¯s squadron scrambled to intercept. Dividing her pilots into three flights of four, she held one in reserve while two joined the Alpha Site¡¯s defenders. The ensuing battle erupted into a maelstrom of chaos. Gliders darted like angry hornets, diving and weaving in unpredictable patterns as they peppered the skies with lethal bursts of energy fire. Cate gripped her controls tightly, her voice calm but firm over the comms. "Buzzards, keep it tight! Viking, take Angel and push left to cut off their flank. Dusty, cover our six!" A cacophony of acknowledgments followed. "On it, Taipan!" McClaren''s clipped tone carried determination, while Angel''s steadier voice chimed in, "Rolling to intercept." Cate twisted her F-302D into a sharp climb, narrowly avoiding a burst of plasma fire. "Nugget! Watch your spacing! You''re too close to Batman," she barked, eyes darting across her instruments. "Sorry, ma''am! Adjusting now!" Bianchi¡¯s panicked reply betrayed his inexperience, but Cate had no time to coddle him. Instead, she looped behind a pair of gliders targeting Ghost and unleashed a stream of railgun fire, shredding one and forcing the other into a hasty retreat. Kalowski''s voice cut through the chaos, a mix of adrenaline and humour. "Batman here¡ªjust took out two bogeys. Guess that makes me the Caped Crusader of the skies!" "Focus, Batman!" Cate snapped, though a faint smile tugged at her lips. The skirmish raged on, the defenders gradually gaining the upper hand through sheer coordination. The base¡¯s AC-402 gunships swooped in low, their heavy cannons shredding any gliders that ventured too close to the ground. Viking¡¯s calm voice provided updates. "Angel and I have cleared the left flank. Moving to regroup." "Copy that," Cate replied, her gaze darting to the tactical display. "Buzzards, form up for a counterstrike. Let¡¯s push them back!" As the gliders began to falter, retreating toward the Hat¡¯ak, Cate felt a surge of relief tempered by grim determination. They had held the line¡ªfor now. Cate¡¯s leadership shone as the comms buzzed with rapid orders. "Buzzards, tighten up formation! Viking, take Angel and cut off their flank!" she commanded, her voice firm yet calm amidst the chaos. Acknowledgments followed swiftly, punctuated by the roar of engines and the crackle of energy fire. Cate rolled her F-302D into a sharp dive, chasing a glider as Dusty¡¯s voice crackled, "On their tail, Taipan! Marking targets now!" Every move she made directed the battle, her split-second decisions turning potential disaster into tactical advantage. The base¡¯s AC-402 gunships provided vital support, preventing the mothership from closing in. Cate and Kalowski each achieved ace status, downing multiple enemy gliders. However, victory came at a steep cost. The loss of three Buzzards and four Alpha Site pilots hit the squadron hard. Cate felt each name like a punch to the gut as the reports came in. Dusty¡¯s voice cracked over the comms as he confirmed Viking and Angel were safe, but the emptiness in his tone mirrored her own. In the debriefing room, silence reigned as the weight of their sacrifices settled over the surviving pilots. Cate clenched her fists, her voice steady but strained as she addressed them. "We lost good people today," she said, locking eyes with each pilot. "But they won¡¯t be forgotten. They were part of this family, and we fight to honour them. For now, we grieve. Tomorrow, we rebuild." As the battle ended, Colonel Bixby addressed the survivors. ¡°This wasn¡¯t a full assault. They were testing our defences. We¡¯ll be ready when they come back.¡± Cate¡¯s squadron emerged bloodied but stronger. The loss weighed heavily, but they had proven themselves in their first true trial. For Cate, it was a sombre reminder of the stakes they faced. The Buzzards were ready for war¡ªbut at a cost none of them would ever forget. Welcome to the Invincible Welcome to the Invincible: The Mighty ¡®I¡¯ wasn¡¯t known for punctuality, and this time was no exception. Arriving a day and a half late to the Alpha Site, she carried the scars of two skirmishes with Lucian Alliance Hat¡¯aks. For much of her journey, the Invincible had the convoy of her sister ship the Endurance and the Daedalus as company. The battles had been gritty, with pulses of energy fire and evasive manoeuvres, leading to unavoidable delays. But when the dark grey silhouette of the ship finally entered orbit over PX9-U47, her arrival sent a ripple of relief through the base. Cate stood with her squadron near the runway, the noon sun glinting off the F-302s lined up behind them. She¡¯d already given her team a final briefing and thanked Colonel Bixby for her hospitality. The two women exchanged a firm handshake before embracing briefly. ¡°When you¡¯re back,¡± Bixby said with a grin, ¡°we¡¯ll hit Foreston and grab some beers. The locals make a damn good brew.¡± Cate smiled, feeling a pang of affection for the base. ¡°I¡¯ll hold you to that, ma¡¯am.¡± Bixby¡¯s expression sobered. ¡°We¡¯ll miss you, MacGregor. Fly safe out there.¡± ¡°Always,¡± Cate replied before turning to her squadron. ¡°Buzzards, mount up! It¡¯s time to fly.¡± Twelve F-302s roared to life in unison, their engines kicking up a swirling cloud of dust as they taxied down the runway. One by one, the jets climbed into the sky, forming an arrowhead formation as they punched through the atmosphere. The dark expanse of space unfolded before them, and the chatter over the radio began almost immediately.
¡°Holy crap, would you look at that thing?¡± Ensign Bianchi¡¯s voice crackled, awe dripping from every word. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ massive!¡± ¡°Bianchi, focus,¡± Ramirez muttered, though her own voice betrayed a hint of wonder. ¡°But yeah¡­ wow.¡± ¡°It¡¯s like a sea-going carrier had a baby with a warship,¡± Kalowski quipped. ¡°All those guns¡­ It¡¯s beautiful.¡± Cate smirked but maintained her professionalism. ¡°Buzzards, tighten up the chatter. We¡¯re on approach. Dusty, take us in.¡± Dusty¡¯s voice cut in, sharp and steady. ¡°Copy Taipan. Baseline, this is Buzzard Actual. Requesting landing instructions.¡± The reply came immediately, smooth and practiced. ¡°Buzzard Actual, Baseline here. We are ready to receive. Standard carrier ops. Approach astern, follow the lights. One-minute intervals between landings.¡± ¡°Copy that, Baseline,¡± Dusty replied. ¡°You heard them, team. Let¡¯s make it clean.¡± As they closed in, the Invincible came into sharper focus. Similar in design to the Daedalus-class ships but three-quarters of the length, her lines were sleek yet bristling with weaponry. The engines were boxed together in a compact cluster, and the open-ended hangars at the front and rear gave her a unique, utilitarian appearance. Her dark grey hull gleamed faintly against the starlight, a silent promise of power and resilience.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.
One by one, the F-302s landed, guided by precise signals from the deck crew. Inside the hangar, the atmosphere was electric. As Cate climbed out of her cockpit, she was met with a wave of applause from the gathered personnel. ¡°Welcome aboard, Buzzards!¡± a booming voice called out. A stocky man with greying sandy hair strode forward, his hands on his hips and a wide grin splitting his weathered face. ¡°First Sergeant Daniel Piper US Air Force. Call me ¡®Boss Dog¡¯ if you want to make my day. I¡¯m the Crew Chief, and this is my house.¡± Cate extended her hand, smiling. ¡°Squadron Leader Cate MacGregor. Thanks for the warm welcome, Boss Dog.¡± Piper shook her hand firmly. ¡°We¡¯ve been hearing about you, Taipan. Hell of a show you put on at the Alpha Site. My crew¡¯s got your backs now, you can count on that.¡± ¡°Good to know,¡± Cate replied, meeting his steady gaze. She glanced around at the faces of the deck crew, men and women, all professionals in their craft. ¡°Our birds will need some patching as you can see.¡± Her hand rested on the angled sides of the 302, where a shot from a Death Glider had burnt several panels. The older man scanned her craft with a seasoned engineer¡¯s eye. ¡°By the time you get back here, ma¡¯am, they¡¯ll be as good as new.¡± Dusty wandered over, and Cate introduced him. The two men shook hands firmly. The hangar buzzed with activity as the Buzzards exchanged handshakes and back slaps with the deck crew and other pilots. Piper approached Cate with a serious expression. ¡°There¡¯s a debrief in the pilot¡¯s ready room. Follow me, please.¡±
The ready room was a hum of voices, pilots murmuring amongst themselves as they reviewed tactical displays. Commander Helen McFearson, tall and commanding, stood at the front. Her blonde hair hung loosely, as if she had just washed it. Yet she radiated poise and authority. ¡°Attention!¡± Piper called out as Cate and her squadron entered. McFearson¡¯s gaze was sharp as she took in the newcomers. ¡°Welcome aboard,¡± she began, her voice firm. ¡°I¡¯m Commander Helen McFearson, your CAG. Let¡¯s get to it.¡± Cate and her pilots took their seats as McFearson launched into a detailed briefing. She covered the ship¡¯s recent battles, their tactics, and the upcoming mission. She also addressed the mental strain of combat. ¡°I understand you¡¯ve faced losses,¡± McFearson said, her tone softening. ¡°It¡¯s never easy. But we must stay focused, stay strong.¡± Cate¡¯s exterior was cast iron, but McFearson, nearly ten years older, could see through her facade. ¡°Squadron Leader MacGregor, how¡¯s your team holding up?¡± Cate¡¯s reply was steady. ¡°We¡¯re ready for whatever comes next, ma¡¯am.¡± McFearson¡¯s eyes held a knowing look. ¡°Good to hear. Remember, my door is always open.¡± With the debrief concluded, the pilots were shown to their quarters. Cate¡¯s cabin was small but functional, with a neatly made bed and a desk. She quickly showered and changed into her day wear: two-tone blue camouflage, shirt, and cargo pants. After settling in, the Buzzards gathered in the ship¡¯s caf¨¦ for a meal. The camaraderie was palpable as they shared stories and laughter, a brief respite from the tension of their duties. In reality, they could have been dining in the wardroom, but all of them agreed they felt more comfortable among the crew. Still, they couldn¡¯t avoid it altogether; McFearson had sent Cate a message when she was changing that they were expected in the wardroom at 1600 hours. In the wardroom at the appointed hour, Captain Richard Hudson RN addressed the gathered pilots. His British accent carried the authority of years spent in command. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, your reputation precedes you. The Buzzards distinguished themselves at the Alpha Site, and I expect the same level of performance here. Commander McFearson will remain CAG, but Squadron Leader MacGregor, you¡¯ll be her XO. First mission briefing is at 0800. Questions?¡± The room remained silent. Hudson¡¯s eyes met Cate¡¯s briefly before he nodded. ¡°Dismissed.¡± That evening, the central hangar bay was transformed into a ceremonial space. The Buzzards stood in dress blues as the crew and officers gathered. Cate received the Distinguished Flying Cross for her bravery and leadership, Dusty was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, and Kalowski the Navy Cross. Each squadron member received commendations, but it was Kalowski¡¯s speech that resonated most. ¡°This medal doesn¡¯t belong to me alone,¡± Kalowski began, his voice thick with emotion. ¡°It belongs to every one of you. We fought together, we bled together, and we won together. That¡¯s what makes us a team.¡± He paused, looking around at his fellow pilots and the deck crew. ¡°When we were out there, facing the enemy, it wasn¡¯t just about individual bravery. It was about trust. Trust in each other, trust in our training, and trust in our leaders. Every manoeuvre, every shot fired, every decision made¡ªit was all part of a collective effort. And that¡¯s why we¡¯re standing here today.¡± Kalowski¡¯s eyes glistened as he continued. ¡°I remember a moment during the battle when things looked bleak. We were outnumbered, outgunned, and the odds were against us. But then I heard your voices over the comms, steady and unwavering. It reminded me that we were not alone. We had each other¡¯s backs, and that gave me the strength to push through.¡± He took a deep breath, his voice growing stronger. ¡°This medal is a symbol of our unity, our resilience, and our unwavering spirit. It¡¯s a reminder that no matter how tough the fight, we can overcome anything as long as we stand together. So, this is for all of us¡ªfor the sacrifices we made, the battle we fought, and the victory we achieved. Here¡¯s to the Buzzards!¡± The applause that followed was thunderous. Cate stood among her squadron, pride and determination mingling as one thought echoed in her mind: This is only the beginning. ‘I’m not GI Jane’ I¡¯m not GI Jane: The Decision The 0800 briefing from Captain Hudson was concise but left an air of tension in the room. "Ladies and gentlemen," he began, standing at the head of the table with a tablet in hand. "We¡¯ve lost contact with the Gamma Site. Three days and no response. General Carter has ordered a recon mission. No boots on the ground until we¡¯ve confirmed the area is secure." "What¡¯s the situation, sir?" Cate asked, leaning forward. Her tone was professional, but her expression betrayed concern. "The last MALP transmission showed nothing unusual near the Stargate," Hudson replied. "But it¡¯s limited in scope. The Gamma Site¡¯s importance to both Stargate Command and the IOA cannot be overstated. We¡¯re sending four F-302s from VFA-56 to sweep a twenty-mile radius. Top cover will be provided by VAQ-131. If the area checks out, we¡¯ll deploy a ground combat team via A/C-402B. Any questions?" Commander Helen McFearson, the Air Wing CAG, nodded toward Cate. "Squadron leader, your pilots ready for this?" "Absolutely, ma¡¯am," Cate replied with quiet confidence. "We¡¯ll sweep it clean." Hudson dismissed the group with a nod. "Brief your teams. We¡¯re wheels up in four hours. Dismissed."
Back at the squadron¡¯s ready room, Cate pulled her team together. "All right, listen up," she said, pulling up a holographic map of P8C-66R. "Our mission is straightforward: a grid sweep around the Gamma Site. Stay sharp. We¡¯re looking for anything unusual¡ªscorch marks, debris, you name it. Angel, Spock, you¡¯ll cover the southern grid. Batman, Dusty, you¡¯ve got the north." "And you, boss?" Dusty asked, his tone light but his eyes focused. "I¡¯ll be on overwatch," Cate said. "Any questions?" "What¡¯s the plan if we spot trouble?" Angel asked, her voice steady despite the tension. "Call it in and break off," Cate replied. "We¡¯re recon, not combat. Clear?" A chorus of "Yes, ma¡¯am" followed. Cate allowed herself a small smile. "Good. Let¡¯s suit up."
As the Invincible approached P8C-66R, the pilots climbed into their cockpits. The comms buzzed with chatter as the squadron ran through preflight checks. "Spock, your landing gear¡¯s hanging," Batman teased. "Or is that just your style?" "Don¡¯t be jealous of my flair," Spock retorted. "Ready on your mark, Lead." Cate¡¯s voice cut through the banter. "Focus up, team. Launch in thirty." The countdown ticked away, and one by one, the 302s shot out of the hangar, streaking toward the planet below. The HUDs lit up as the fighters entered their grid patterns. "Angel here, nothing on the southern pass," her calm voice reported. "North is clear," Batman added. "Just a lot of empty sand." "Hold up," Spock interjected. "I¡¯ve got something. Flattened area near the main bunker. Looks like¡­ landing gear impressions. Al¡¯kesh, maybe?" Cate frowned, studying the data. "Copy that. Dusty, get a closer scan. Everyone else, hold position."
With the area declared secure, the ground teams deployed. Captain Hudson addressed the marines over comms. "Remember your training. We¡¯re looking for survivors, signs of a struggle, or anything out of place." This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. "Understood, sir," Oberstabsfeldwebel Karl Brechman replied. "Team, fan out. Standard search pattern." Hours passed, the silence on the comms stretching thin. Finally, Brechman¡¯s voice crackled through. "Captain, the facility is¡­ empty. No personnel, no equipment. Just traces of a firefight. No bodies." "Go over it again," Hudson ordered, his tone grim. "Be thorough." After another hour, one marine¡¯s voice broke the tension. "Found something. A torn leather cuff. Looks Lucian Alliance." Back aboard the Invincible, Cate and Elle examined the fragment. "Lucian Alliance," Elle muttered, tracing the jagged edge. "This just got a lot more complicated." Hudson¡¯s voice interrupted. "We¡¯ve contacted the SGC. General Carter has intel from Lucian rebels. They suspect the Alliance took the scientists for their particle beam weapon research." Cate¡¯s jaw tightened. "And the destination?" "PH6-88J," Hudson said. "Planet¡¯s back under Alliance control. Expect resistance."
The Invincible emerged from hyperspace, and the alarms sounded immediately. "Unidentified vessel, closing fast!" the tactical officer shouted. "Battle stations!" Hudson barked. The enemy ship loomed into view, its dark grey plating and sleek lines an ominous sight. Fighters poured from its hangars, engaging the Invincible¡¯s air wing. "Falcon, Scotty, keep them off our six!" Cate commanded, weaving through a barrage of enemy fire. "Easier said than done, boss!" Scotty replied, his fighter narrowly avoiding a missile. The bridge shook as the Invincible took a direct hit. Hudson was thrown from his station, blood streaking his face. Elle, who had been overseeing operations in the hangar, rushed toward the bridge, navigating the damaged corridors. Smoke and chaos filled the air as she passed injured crew being tended to by medics. The explosive reverberations were felt throughout the ship. The Mighty ¡®I¡¯ shook it off, but she had been hurt. A message was passed down to the hangar bay to McFearson, it wasn¡¯t what she wanted to hear. When Elle arrived at the bridge, she took in the scene¡ªsparks flying from consoles, Hudson barely conscious. Her voice cut through the chaos. "Medical team to the bridge, now!" Minutes later, she addressed the senior staff. "I¡¯m assuming command.¡± That was logical, apart from Lieutenant Colonel Jeffries, the Marines commander, Elle was the next ranked officer on the ship. She pipped her coms. ¡°Cate, you¡¯re now CAG. Hold the line." Cate¡¯s reply crackled over comms. "Understood. Switching priorities." There were a few stragglers. The Buzzards made short work of a few before half a dozen or so, left the combat area, headed for who knew where. An excited voice was heard in every pilot¡¯s headset. ¡°I got two, two!¡± That was Bianchi, the Squadron¡¯s ¡®Nugget¡¯. Cate was still in the mood for retribution, she would have to save it for later. The score reflected her training of the Squadron. Twenty-seven confirmed kills, to just three of their own damaged. Every pilot of 56 and 131 had accounted for at least one bandit, Kalowski again leading the score with four. To Cate¡¯s credit, she was going to paint another kill silhouette under her cockpit and one shared. ¡°Good job boys and girls. Nugget, we¡¯ll have Cookie make pizza just for you.¡± She quipped. ¡°Let¡¯s go home kids.¡± The battle raged for an hour, the Invincible trading blow for blow. Finally, the enemy ship¡¯s systems faltered. "That was the last shot ma¡¯am, sensors indicate her main power module has shut down." the tactical officer reported. Elle exhaled, then turned to Cate, who by now was on the bridge, submitting her report. "Prepare boarding teams. We need answers." Cate hesitated. "Are you addressing me, Commander? I¡¯m a pilot, not a soldier." "Your file says otherwise," Elle countered. "We need you." ¡°It says spook, spy, and all-round idiot. This isn¡¯t my thing, with all due respect, ma¡¯am.¡± Cate dug her heels in. Too many times, she had gone out with all good intentions, and too many times bad intelligence had let her down. Elle took the younger woman aside, her tone softening. ¡°Listen, MacGregor, we have 130 people missing. Yes, the ship has any number of leaders who could take this on. I read your file three times over when you joined us.¡± She drew a breath. ¡°You had a success rate of ninety-two percent. No one blames you for the mistakes made on the other eight percent.¡± Cate¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°It¡¯s not about blame, Elle. It¡¯s about trust. I trust my team in the air. On the ground, it¡¯s different.¡± Elle¡¯s expression softened further. ¡°I get it, Cate. But right now, we need someone who can think on their feet, someone who can adapt. That¡¯s you. I¡¯m not asking you to be perfect. I¡¯m asking you to lead.¡± Cate looked away, the weight of the decision pressing down on her. Finally, she nodded. ¡°Alright, Elle. I¡¯ll do it. But you¡¯d better have my back out there.¡± Elle smiled, relief washing over her face. ¡°Always, Cate. Always.¡±
Cate took a deep breath, steeling herself for what was to come. She headed to the hangar bay, where the combat teams were assembling. The atmosphere was charged with anticipation and determination. "Listen up!" Cate called out, her voice carrying over the noise. "We¡¯re heading into a hot zone. Stay sharp and watch each other¡¯s backs. Captain Thompson," she nodded to the British Royal Marine, "you¡¯ll be my second in command." Captain Thompson, a tall, imposing figure with a calm demeanour, stepped forward. "Understood, Squadron Leader." Cate turned to the two A/C-402B pilots. "Lieutenants, we need a clean insertion. Find us a secure spot on the top decking behind the bridge. We¡¯ll clamp onto the hull and cut our way in." "Roger that, ma¡¯am," one of the pilots replied, giving a crisp salute. The teams mounted up, forty marines in total, a mixture of nationalities including a few Aussie commandos. The tension was palpable as the 402s lifted off, heading towards the Alliance ship.
The 402s approached the enemy vessel, scanning for an appropriate entry point. "There," the pilot pointed out, "top decking behind the bridge. Looks like our best bet." "Copy that," Cate replied. "Prepare to clamp onto the hull." The 402s settled down, clamping onto the hull with a solid thud. The circular hatch in the rear cargo floor created a seal, and plasma torches began cutting through the metal. "Ready, team?" Cate asked, her voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through her veins. "Ready!" came the unified response. The hatch gave way, and the boarding teams dropped down into the enemy ship. They were met with immediate resistance, plasma bolts flying. Two marines fell within the first few minutes, their losses a heavy blow to the team¡¯s morale. "Push forward!" Cate shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos. "We¡¯re almost there!" The battle was fierce, with the marines fighting desperately to secure the ship. After 35 gruelling minutes, the ship was finally subdued. Cate surveyed the damage, her face grim. "Seven dead. Was it worth it?" Engineers who had accompanied the team declared the ship unsalvageable. "We need to plant charges," one of them said. Cate nodded, her mind already on the next steps. "Set the charges. We¡¯ve got prisoners and intel to secure." With twenty-seven prisoners, including the ship¡¯s executive officer, and valuable intel recovered, the teams returned to the Invincible. Cate watched the destruction of the Alliance ship through a viewport on her way to the bridge. The sight of the explosion brought back memories of a terrible mission a few years ago when she was with ASIS, a mission where there were unnecessary casualties. She asked herself, "Is this the future? More death and destruction?" The weight of leadership pressed heavily on her shoulders, but she resolved to see this through¡ªno matter the cost. The Battle for Vegema: PH6-88J, known to its people as Vegema, bore the scars of centuries of domination. Once a jewel in the Goa''uld¡¯s dominion, it suffered under Zafri, a minor lord serving Cronus. When Cronus fell, the Vegema were briefly free¡ªonly to fall under Ba¡¯al¡¯s grasp. Even after the Goa''uld¡¯s defeat, their suffering continued. The Ori, and later the Lucian Alliance, exploited the power vacuum. Briefly aligned with the Free Jaffa, the Vegema found hope, but it was fleeting. When Stargate Command turned its attention to the Destiny project, the Alliance swept in once more, forcing Stargate Command to respond with overwhelming force to liberate the planet. Now, Vegema was under threat again, its people trapped between their fledgling spacefaring ambitions and the Alliance¡¯s iron grip. A Fragile Respite The Invincible hung in orbit, her battered hull a testament to two brutal engagements with the Lucian Alliance. Repairs were underway, with engineers swarming over her decks, patching systems, and tending to their wounded pride. In a rare stroke of fortune, reinforcements arrived; Odyssey, Daedalus and Chekov, the Invincible¡¯s sister ship, their sleek forms emerging from hyperspace like avenging angels. Along with them came fresh personnel, including SG-2, 4, and 11. As additional engineers assisted the repairs, Captain Hudson was transferred to Daedalus¡¯ infirmary, his condition stable but critical. Elle, determined to maintain their momentum, met with Colonels Christian Di Palma and Ellis Kirby, with Captain Vidmar Kovacs, aboard Odyssey. The quartet, all veteran pilots, agreed on a decisive strategy: air superiority first. With General Landry¡¯s blessing, the plan unfolded; targeted strikes to cripple the Alliance¡¯s defences, minimizing civilian casualties. Meanwhile, sweeps revealed troubling intelligence. The Alliance had co-opted hidden Vegema technology, once shielded from the Goa''uld¡¯s grasp. Though primitive by Earth standards, the Vegema¡¯s nuclear missiles and supersonic fighters were now in Alliance hands, augmenting their defences. The battle would not be easily won. Dawn of the Offensive In the predawn darkness of Vegema¡¯s main continent, Plaxia, Alliance radar bunkers sprang to life. Technicians scrambled as alarms blared, their screens lighting up with incoming contacts. ¡°Incoming! Multiple bogeys; eighty-plus signatures!¡± shouted a frazzled radar operator. Commander Tirn, an Alliance officer overseeing planetary defences, strode into the bunker, his boots echoing on the metal floor. ¡°Activate all squadrons! Scramble fighters now! And get me telemetry on those ships!¡± Another officer interjected, ¡°Sir, these aren¡¯t Vegema craft. Their speed and formation suggest Earth ships.¡± Tirn¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°So, they¡¯ve come to play saviours again. Fine. Deploy ground-based SAMs and keep our fighters tight. They¡¯ll pay for every inch.¡± As orders were relayed, Vegema airbases roared to life. Alliance pilots sprinted to their commandeered fighters, engines screaming to readiness. Radar operators tracked the incoming waves, plotting intercept courses. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. First Blood Onboard Invincible, Cate checked her systems as her Buzzards ascended into position. ¡°Alright, Buzzards. Top cover until the first wave is through. Keep your eyes sharp.¡± From Odyssey¡¯s squadrons, the first strike teams peeled away, diving toward Alliance airfields. Bombs fell with precision, erupting into towering fireballs. Three key airfields were destroyed within minutes, their runways rendered useless. ¡°Buzzards, we¡¯ve got bandits six o¡¯clock!¡± called Captain Mark ¡°Batman¡± Kalowski, his tone sharp. Alliance fighters, cobbled together from Vegema¡¯s fleet, surged into the fray. Their pilots, skilled but hampered by outdated craft, fought with desperation. A savage dogfight erupted as Odyssey¡¯s squadrons engaged, the sky alight with tracers and explosions. Cate¡¯s Buzzards dove to intercept, their sleek F-302s outmanoeuvring the Alliance fighters. ¡°Kalowski, you¡¯re on my wing. We¡¯re taking these guys head-on.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got your six, MacGregor,¡± he replied, his voice steady. ¡°Ghost, Viking, cover our flanks!¡± Cate ordered, her voice cutting through the comms. ¡°Roger that, Taipan,¡± replied 1st Lt. Juliette ¡°Ghost¡± Ramirez, her A-10 experience evident in her precise manoeuvres. ¡°Copy, Taipan. Viking on it,¡± added Lt. Anders ¡°Viking¡± McClaren, his F/A-18 and Tornado background making him a formidable force. The Buzzards tore through the enemy formation, their missiles finding targets with deadly precision. Within minutes, six Alliance fighters were downed. Odyssey¡¯s pilots, though valiant, weren¡¯t unscathed¡ªone pilot ejected after taking a critical hit. ¡°Buzzards, regroup! We¡¯ve still got a mission to complete,¡± Cate commanded, her tone leaving no room for argument. As the Buzzards regrouped, the Thunderbolts from Chekov, led by Major Elanor Davis, took over as top cover. ¡°Thunderbolts, keep the skies clear. Let¡¯s show the Buzzards how it¡¯s done,¡± Davis ordered, a hint of rivalry in her voice. ¡°Roger that, Major,¡± came the confident reply from her squadron. Cate couldn¡¯t resist a retort. ¡°Just try not to get in our way, Davis. We¡¯ve got a mission to complete.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, MacGregor. We¡¯ll clean up your mess,¡± Elanor shot back, her tone playful yet competitive. Turning the Tide The battle raged for hours, a brutal back-and-forth that tested every pilot¡¯s skill and endurance. By the final phase, Earth¡¯s forces had gained the upper hand, striking Alliance radar and missile installations with precision. Cate¡¯s wing, now flying freelance, hunted targets of opportunity¡ªtrains, gun emplacements, and mobile SAMs. ¡°Angel, Nugget, stay sharp. We¡¯re going in low,¡± Cate instructed. ¡°Roger, Taipan,¡± replied Lt. Ariel ¡°Angel¡± Speckman, her resilience shining through as she threw her 302 around. ¡°Got it, Taipan,¡± echoed Ensign Francis ¡°Nugget¡± Bianchi, his nerves evident but determination unwavering. It was during one such sweep that disaster struck. Flying low over a rural sector, Cate¡¯s 302 took a hit from an unseen shoulder-launched missile. Warning lights flared as her systems failed. ¡°Damn it!¡± she shouted, wrestling with the controls. ¡°MacGregor, punch out!¡± Kalowski¡¯s voice crackled over the comm. With no other option, Cate ejected, her parachute deploying just in time. She landed roughly in a grain field, the tall stalks swallowing her from view. As she surveyed her surroundings, her frustration boiled over. ¡°Rookie mistake, MacGregor. Rookie mistake,¡± she muttered, kicking a nearby stalk in irritation. Rescue Mission Back in the skies, Major Elanor Davis quickly assessed the situation. ¡°Thunderbolts, we¡¯ve got a downed pilot. I want a CAP over the area where MacGregor bailed. Lightning, Boxer and Talon, you¡¯re with me.¡± ¡°Roger that, Major,¡± came the unified response. As they flew over the area, Elanor contacted Lt. Commander Neville ¡°Dusty¡± Dixon had returned to the Invincible. ¡°Dusty, we¡¯ve got eyes on MacGregor¡¯s last known position. We¡¯ll get her back, no matter the cost.¡± ¡°Thanks, Davis. Cate will go to ground. She¡¯ll only be found when the timing is right,¡± Dusty replied, his voice filled with gratitude and determination. Her knew her past and he knew how capable the Australian woman was. Did he have something for her? That was a hard question to answer, she¡¯d be a difficult woman to love. Reflections Dusty stood on the bridge with Elle, his gaze fixed on the smouldering remains of the Alliance ship, still visible through the viewport. Despite their victory, the cost weighed heavily on them. Turning, Elle gave the order to retrieve Cate. Meanwhile, Cate sat in the grain field, her helmet off and her hair dishevelled. She sighed, staring at the distant smoke trails of the ongoing battle. Memories of a past mission, one that ended in unnecessary loss, surfaced unbidden. ¡°You¡¯re bloody cursed, MacGregor,¡± she whispered to herself. ¡°Absolutely cursed.¡± The sound of rustling grain stalks interrupted her thoughts. Rescue was on its way, or was it capture? The Underground: The rustle of the grain stalks to her left made Cate turn sharply, instincts kicking in. The tall, golden plants were similar to wheat but stood unusually high. "Ssshhh!" came a hushed voice. Peering through the dense stalks, she spotted two children¡ªa girl around ten and a boy of similar age¡ªbeckoning her toward them. The distant bark of harsh male voices to the east sent a surge of urgency through her. Without hesitation, Cate crouched and scurried over to the children, prepared to whisper her thanks, but the girl swiftly held a single finger to her lips. Universal sign: Silence. They moved swiftly, weaving through the field in a zigzag pattern designed to throw off any pursuers. Five minutes later, they arrived at a small depression shielded by thick shrubbery. The girl crouched and pulled away the foliage, revealing a collection of equipment neatly tucked away¡ªCate¡¯s ready pack, her emergency survival kit, an M4 rifle, and an additional pack. They had retrieved everything from her downed 302¡¯s emergency compartment. Cate blinked. ¡°How did you¡ª?¡± ¡°We saw you come down. We knew the soldiers would be looking for your things,¡± the girl explained matter-of-factly. Before Cate could ask more, a rustling from the opposite side of the brush made her tense. A young man emerged¡ªsandy-haired, dressed in the same gear as her, though far more weathered and patched. He grinned, boyish enthusiasm lighting up his face. ¡°I saw you bail out. Hell of a fight you put up before they clipped you.¡± Cate sized him up, noting his lean build and the casual confidence in his stance. He extended a hand. ¡°James Doolittle.¡± Cate arched a brow. ¡°Doolittle? As in Jimmy Doolittle?¡± The young man¡¯s grin turned a bit shy. ¡°Yeah. He was my great-great-uncle.¡± Cate was about to reply when James abruptly handed her an old-fashioned pair of binoculars. ¡°I rigged your 302¡¯s self-destruct before they could get their hands on it.¡± Cate lifted the binoculars, scanning the horizon. About a kilometre and a half northeast, in a shallow ravine, she spotted her downed fighter. Several figures were moving toward it. Just as they neared, a massive explosion tore through the wreckage, sending a plume of fire and debris skyward. When the dust settled, bodies were strewn across the landscape. Cate exhaled sharply. ¡°Damn.¡± From above, the distant roar of engines drew her attention. A squadron of F-302s circled the area, one flying particularly low. The flash of lightning insignia on its tail confirmed it¡ªChekov¡¯s Thunderbolts. Relief flooded her. She reached for her emergency beacon, but James swiftly snatched it away. ¡°Sorry, but the Alliance can track that too.¡± He stuffed it back into her pack. Cate adjusted, grabbing her personal ready pack and motioning for James and the girl¡ªwho introduced herself as Allowyn¡ªto carry the remaining supplies. As they moved southwest through the fields, Cate discreetly reached into her pack, pulling out a compact mirror. She angled it toward the sun and flashed it three times. ___________________________________________________________________________ Above in F-302-127 Lt. JG Travis Riddick, patrolling in his fighter, caught the triple glint from below. His heart pounded. It was the signal they¡¯d been waiting for. Instinctively, he tilted his aircraft left, then right, twice, acknowledging receipt. He refrained from immediate radio contact¡ªif the Alliance was listening, they couldn''t afford to tip their hand. When his shift ended, Riddick returned to his ship, where he debriefed Captain Kovacs. ¡°Sir, I saw the signal,¡± he reported. ¡°Three flashes, clear as day. I confirmed with a tilt response.¡± The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. Kovacs leaned forward, his expression grave yet hopeful. ¡°You¡¯re sure?¡± ¡°Positive, sir.¡± A slow nod. ¡°Good work, Lieutenant.¡± Kovacs turned to an awaiting officer. ¡°Pass it along to Commander McFearson. Her girl is alive.¡± ___________________________________________________________________________ A Moment of Reflection A signals officer hurried up to Elle, handing her a freshly decrypted note from the Chekov. She scanned it quickly¡ªconfirmation from Captain Kovacs. A broad smile spread across her face. Cate was alive. Within minutes, the news spread like wildfire through the Invincible. The reaction was immediate. Cheers echoed through the corridors, whoops and yells from every deck. Pilots clapped each other on the back, engineers let out triumphant shouts, even the most battle-hardened officers grinned at the news. For the first time since Cate went down, there was hope. Eventually, the excitement began to settle, replaced by quiet determination. The mission wasn¡¯t over. Cate was still out there. Elle walked slowly down one of the Invincible¡¯s long passageways, her hands loosely clasped behind her back. The hum of the ship, the occasional echo of boots on metal, accompanied her steps. In her head, a melody played¡ªAve Maria, soft and distant, as though carried on a breeze from another time, another place. She wasn¡¯t sure where she was going at first, only that something was pulling her forward. It wasn¡¯t until she reached the chapel doors that she understood. Inside, the lighting was dim, a quiet sanctuary amidst the steel and circuitry of the warship. The faint scent of aged wood and candle wax lingered in the air, though the flames had long since been replaced with soft electric light. Elle paused just inside, letting her eyes adjust. She wasn¡¯t alone. A single figure sat in the front pew, his head bowed, elbows on his knees, hands loosely clasped. Dusty. She approached slowly, her boots barely making a sound against the deck plating. When she reached the pew, she turned slightly and spoke, her voice gentle. "Mind if I join you?" Dusty lifted his head, surprised, then gave a small, tired smile. "Yeah. Sure, Commander." Elle slid into the pew beside him, settling in. For a while, neither of them spoke. The silence wasn¡¯t uncomfortable. It was filled with something else¡ªthoughts, prayers, maybe even unspoken fears. Finally, Elle broke the stillness. "It¡¯s good news. We know where she is now." Dusty let out a breath, rubbing his hands together. "Yeah. Yeah, it is." His voice was rough, like he¡¯d been holding something in too long. "I just... I wish we could go in now. Get her out. But we can¡¯t rush it. Not yet." "We will," Elle assured him. "And Cate can take care of herself. She¡¯s tough. You saw how she handled those bogeys before she went down." Dusty gave a soft chuckle, shaking his head. "Yeah. She¡¯s a hell of a pilot." He hesitated, then added quietly, "She didn¡¯t deserve this." Elle turned slightly, watching him. "No, she didn¡¯t." A pause. "You care about her." Another pause. ¡°A lot?¡± Dusty tensed slightly but covered it quickly. "God, no¡ªCommander, I barely know her." He said it too fast, too stiffly. Elle smiled faintly. "You¡¯re a terrible liar, Dixon." Dusty exhaled through his nose, shaking his head. He didn¡¯t argue, but he didn¡¯t confirm it either. Instead, he leaned back against the pew, staring at the altar ahead, lost in thought. Elle let it go, shifting the conversation instead. "We still have a mission ahead. Cate¡¯s just one piece of it. We have to find the missing scientists, the Gamma team... there are a lot of people counting on us." Dusty nodded slowly. "I know." A comfortable silence settled between them again. After a while, Elle lowered her head, clasping her hands together in her lap. Dusty did the same. They didn¡¯t say anything, didn¡¯t need to. They just sat there, in the quiet glow of the chapel, lost in their own thoughts¡ªpraying, hoping. Waiting. ___________________________________________________________________________ The Underground After nearly an hour of trudging through relentless heat¡ªCate estimating the temperature at least 35¡ãC¡ªshe finally asked, ¡°How much further?¡± ¡°Not far,¡± Allowyn chirped. ¡°Maybe another hour.¡± Cate sighed, wiping sweat from her brow. She was still in her G-suit, which felt like wearing an oven. James, whose own flight suit had been destroyed when his 302 was lost, had already cut the sleeves off his makeshift attire. Cate found a small clearing among some bushes and turned to the group. ¡°I need to change. Don¡¯t peek, boys.¡± James chuckled, turning away with exaggerated innocence. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t dream of it.¡± Ally stayed to help Cate and gasped when she saw the scars on her back¡ªraised, whip-like marks. ¡°What happened to you?¡± the girl whispered. Cate hesitated before sighing. ¡°Long story. If we have time, I¡¯ll tell you.¡± Feeling more comfortable in her desert-cam BDUs, Cate adjusted her sidearm and handed the M4 to James. The group pressed on, eventually arriving at what remained of a farmhouse. The main building was a burned-out husk, but the barn was still intact. The children led them inside, past stacks of tools and old equipment. Cate was about to ask what next when Pharam, the boy, approached a hulking old threshing machine. With a heave, he lifted a concealed panel at its base, revealing a hidden passage. A metal staircase descended into darkness, lit by caged wall lamps that looked like something out of the 1960s. ¡°Oh wow,¡± Cate breathed, exchanging a look with James. The tunnel stretched straight at first before winding in unexpected directions. The only sound was their footsteps, but gradually, a distant hum reached them¡ªvoices, machinery. They emerged into a massive underground space, part bunker, part factory. Teenagers¡ªsome no older than fifteen¡ªworked on weaponry, assembling rifles, grenades, shoulder-mounted launchers. Cate''s stomach turned. Had one of them shot her down? ¡°Did one of you fire on my 302?¡± she asked cautiously. A boy shook his head. ¡°No. The Alliance stole our technology. They¡¯re lazy and corrupt. They take, but they don¡¯t build.¡± Another child scoffed, ¡°They¡¯re worse than rats. At least rats don¡¯t burn your home and kill your family.¡± Cate listened as they spoke of their origins¡ªdescendants of people taken from Earth two thousand years ago, specifically from a place called Wales. Their ancestors had resisted their Goa¡¯uld oppressor, Morrigan, and had built these tunnels in secret over 1,500 years ago. James frowned. ¡°And you never fought back?¡± ¡°We always fight back,¡± a girl replied, her voice tinged with steel. ¡°But we never had the numbers.¡± Cate¡¯s heart clenched. ¡°Where are your parents?¡± Silence. They passed through another chamber, this one humming with radio transmissions and strategic plotting. At the centre of it all stood a young woman, tall, with golden hair pinned back. Her presence radiated authority, her eyes sharp and intelligent. She turned, meeting Cate¡¯s gaze. ¡°My name is Allienna,¡± she announced, her voice carrying weight beyond her years. ¡°Daughter of Morrigan.¡± Cate¡¯s breath caught. The room fell silent. This just got a hell of a lot more complicated. The Underground – Part 2: They passed through another chamber, this one humming with radio transmissions and strategic plotting. At the centre of it all stood a young woman¡ªtall, with golden hair pinned back. Her presence radiated authority, her eyes sharp and intelligent. She turned, meeting Cate¡¯s gaze. ¡°My name is Allienna,¡± she announced, her voice carrying weight beyond her years. ¡°Daughter of Morrigan.¡± Cate¡¯s breath caught. The room fell silent. This just got a hell of a lot more complicated. ________________________________________________________________________ The rifle in James¡¯ hands came up faster than Cate could react. Her training screamed at her to do the same, but something made her hesitate. A feeling¡ªodd, unshakable. Not quite certainty, not quite instinct, but something deeper. This girl¡ªno, this Goa¡¯uld¡ªdidn¡¯t radiate the suffocating presence she¡¯d always been warned about. No arrogance, no cruelty. Just¡­ stillness. ¡°Easy, Jimbo. Easy.¡± Cate pushed the barrel of his weapon down with her left hand, her voice measured. ¡°You¡¯d best start talking fast¡­ Allienna?¡± Cate¡¯s voice faltered slightly. Every protocol in her head told her to strike first. Yet, that feeling remained. The endless SGC briefings, the footage of possessed hosts, all the nightmare fuel that came with fighting the Goa¡¯uld¡ªit didn¡¯t match this. Allienna stepped forward, and James immediately shifted, angling himself between her and Cate. A protective move, a damn good one, but Cate caught his sleeve before he could go further. ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± she said, quietly but firmly. James¡¯ jaw clenched. ¡°You sure?¡± ¡°Yes, I am.¡± To seal the deal, Cate took another step forward and extended her hand. If she was wrong, she¡¯d know soon enough. Allienna¡¯s hands clasped around hers¡ªwarm, steady, deliberate. Not the overpowering grip of a parasite-infested being lording over a host. ¡°Come, sit. You must be in need of food and drink.¡± Her accent was smooth, precise¡ªEnglish? Something close. Again, that strange dissonance. The voice of a queen, but the dress of a simple country girl. A wave of her hand, and behind her, a table came into view, cluttered with maps and military reports. And chairs¡ªsturdy, mismatched, taken from different homes. Some wooden, others metal, all well-worn but functional. Cate took it all in. The quiet murmur of voices beyond the chamber, the scent of aged paper and something faintly herbal in the air. The tension in James¡¯ shoulders hadn¡¯t eased, but he followed as Cate moved toward the table. James pulled out a plain steel chair, his movements stiff. Cate chose a wooden chair, its pastel green paint chipped from years of use. She sat. And the real conversation began. ________________________________________________________________________ By the look in James¡¯ eyes, Cate could tell he was hooked. Smitten. And sinking fast. The conversation cantered around introductions, Allienna making the admission that she was not Goa¡¯uld, though she was host to a symbiote¡ªone she called a Tok¡¯ra. Cate vaguely recalled the Tok¡¯ra from her SGC briefings before she was let loose on the fleet. Unlike their parasitic cousins, the Tok¡¯ra had spent millennia working to bring down the Goa¡¯uld. And when Earth got involved, the fight had finally turned in their favour. ¡°We could not have eliminated the System Lords and their lackeys without the help of Earth,¡± Allienna said, leaning forward slightly. ¡°And everyone knows that. Including the Alliance.¡± James¡¯ smile went from charming to ridiculous. Cate shook her head. ¡°That left a vacuum,¡± she said. ¡°Didn¡¯t take much for them to step in, did it?¡± It wasn¡¯t really a question. Allienna nodded, sighing. ¡°I suppose it was inevitable. The galaxy was still reeling from the Ori incursion¡ªweak, vulnerable. The Alliance seized the moment because they never truly opposed the Ori. They faked allegiance, bided their time, and when the Ori fell, they were in the perfect position to take over.¡± Cate pushed aside a plate of ridiculously sweet biscuits, her patience fraying. ¡°Look, Allienna, I¡¯m sorry, but James and I need to find a way to contact our ship. We need to get back, if that¡¯s even possible.¡± Allienna held up a hand, her posture as composed as a monarch calling for order. ¡°It is in hand, Commander. Even as we speak, your people are being contacted.¡± Cate and James exchanged a glance. How? The planet was crawling with Alliance forces. Their flights over the surface during the first phase of the attacks had confirmed it¡ªradio transmissions were being monitored. ________________________________________________________________________ ¡°Try it again!¡± Elle¡¯s patience had been stretched to its limit. Normally calm under pressure, the loss of even one person from her ship cut deep. She¡¯d been in contact with Vidmar Kovacs on the Chekov¡ªthey weren¡¯t having any better luck. They could locate Cate and James¡¯ personal signals, but something was jamming their ability to beam them aboard. Every attempt had failed. ¡°Ma¡¯am.¡± The quiet voice belonged to Major Mike Bailey. Elle turned, irritation plain on her face. ¡°What is it, Bailey?¡± Bailey swallowed. He¡¯d served with Stargate Command since his days as a second lieutenant and had been on Daedalus¡¯ commissioning crew. He knew better than to waste her time. ¡°Back when I was on Daedalus under Colonel Caldwell, we were trying to extract SG-1 from a planet under Ba¡¯al¡¯s control. He had some kind of beaming jammer. Could the Alliance have gotten hold of that tech?¡±This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. Elle stared at him for half a second before making a sound of pure frustration. ¡°For Christ¡¯s sake, why didn¡¯t you say so an hour ago?¡± Bailey had the good sense not to answer. Elle snapped her comm on. ¡°Novak!¡± Two decks below, Lindsey Novak nearly jumped as Elle¡¯s voice crackled through the speakers. ¡°Uh¡ªyes, Commander, I¡¯m here,¡± she replied, her nervousness evident. ¡°Can we scan for Goa¡¯uld tech? The Alliance is jamming our beaming systems, and we¡¯ve got two people stuck down there.¡± Novak exhaled. ¡°We can, Commander. It¡¯ll take a little time, but we can.¡± A junior officer looked up from her console. ¡°Commander, all four ships just received an encrypted transmission.¡± Elle snapped around. ¡°Decrypt it.¡± A moment later, the officer read aloud. ¡°MacGregor and Doolittle safe in hand. Do not attempt rescue. Wait until you are contacted again.¡± She paused. ¡°It¡¯s signed Colonel Cameron Mitchell.¡± Elle barely had time to process it before her comm activated again. ¡°Commander McFearson.¡± The voice of Colonel Vincent di Palma of the Daedalus filled the bridge. ¡°Did you receive the same transmission?¡± ¡°I did,¡± Elle confirmed. ¡°The encryption code matches the latest update¡ªonly someone from Earth would know it.¡± There was a pause. ¡°So, we wait,¡± Di Palma said reluctantly. ¡°For now.¡± ________________________________________________________________________ Twenty kilometres northwest of the city, a flat ledge jutted over a rocky valley, offering a commanding view of the landscape below. A dozen teenagers, heavily armed and clad in uniforms reminiscent of the US Marine Woodland Combat Utility Uniform, stood guard. Among them, five adults¡ªdistinct in their US Army Multicam gear¡ªwere packing up equipment into two rugged cases. ¡°Think they got it, Sam?¡± Colonel Cameron Mitchell asked, eyeing the subspace communications array with a healthy dose of scepticism. Technology had never been his best friend¡ªat least, not until it had been tested a thousand times over. Sam Carter glanced at the field station¡¯s display, the faintest of satisfied smiles crossing her face. ¡°The received ping was clear, so yes.¡± This was only the second time the portable station had been deployed, its coded messages nearly impossible for enemy forces to intercept. The tech still had its flaws¡ªclunky, temperamental¡ªbut it worked. ¡°We should move,¡± Vala Mal Doran murmured, standing near the outcrop¡¯s edge, her sharp eyes fixed on the movements below. A teenage girl, no older than sixteen, stood beside her, rifle at the ready. ¡°They¡¯re returning to their base,¡± she said. ¡°We should have a window before the next patrol.¡± ¡°Just the same, Vala,¡± Daniel Jackson said from where he crouched behind Mitchell, folding up the antenna, ¡°I¡¯d feel better if you stepped back.¡± Vala sighed dramatically but did as he suggested, while Sam stretched with a slight groan. ¡°I don¡¯t trust anything the Alliance does. Routine patrols aren¡¯t always routine. Sometimes they just want to see if they can catch someone off guard.¡± ¡°I concur, Colonel Carter.¡± Teal¡¯c¡¯s deep voice rumbled as he scanned the horizon, his massive frame shifting slightly. His eyes narrowed. ¡°We think we can predict what they will¡ª¡± Gunfire erupted. The first burst of automatic fire came from the east, cutting through Teal¡¯c¡¯s words like a blade. A sharp cry followed¡ªa young fighter went down hard, clutching his thigh as blood darkened the fabric beneath his hands. ¡°Contact left!¡± Mitchell shouted. ¡°Move! Move, move!¡± The ledge exploded into chaos. The teenagers scattered, returning fire in disciplined bursts, their training evident despite their age. Daniel was already moving toward the injured boy, dropping to his knees beside him. ¡°You¡¯re gonna be okay,¡± he said, pressing his hand against the wound. The kid¡¯s face was pale, his breath coming in quick, uneven gasps. More rounds ricocheted off the rocks, kicking up dust. Vala fired three quick shots from her sidearm before ducking behind cover. ¡°I hate when they shoot first,¡± she muttered. Teal¡¯c was already in position, his staff weapon sending searing bolts of plasma toward the attackers. ¡°We must withdraw,¡± he said, calm as ever despite the hail of bullets around them. ¡°Agreed,¡± Carter called out, swapping her rifle to full auto and laying down covering fire. ¡°We can¡¯t stay here!¡± Mitchell grabbed one of the cases, throwing it over his shoulder. ¡°Daniel, we gotta go!¡± ¡°Working on it!¡± Daniel growled, ripping a field dressing from his vest and securing it around the wounded kid¡¯s leg. ¡°We need a minute!¡± ¡°We don¡¯t have a minute!¡± Mitchell snapped back. More bullets whipped overhead. Another teenager returned fire, shouting something in a language Mitchell didn¡¯t recognise. Carter¡¯s earpiece crackled to life. ¡°They¡¯re flanking from the right!¡± One of the scouts had spotted movement through the trees. Mitchell clenched his jaw. ¡°That¡¯s it¡ªfall back into the trees! Teal¡¯c, cover our retreat!¡± The Jaffa warrior unleashed another round of staff fire, forcing the enemy to take cover as the group scrambled away from the ledge. Daniel hauled the injured fighter to his feet, supporting most of his weight. ¡°They¡¯re shifting position¡ªmove now!¡± Carter ordered. Vala fired one last shot before turning on her heel. ¡°I liked that spot. Shame we had to leave.¡± The team melted into the forest, the sounds of gunfire fading as they moved swiftly between the trees, disappearing into the shadows. ________________________________________________________________________ Back in the underground chamber, Allienna¡¯s gaze remained steady. ¡°You must be patient. There is someone you need to meet.¡± Another door opened. SG-1 stepped into the chamber. Cate and James froze. Cate¡¯s voice was barely above a whisper. ¡°How?¡± Mitchell offered her a knowing grin. ¡°Long story.¡± Teal¡¯c inclined his head. ¡°You will not be returning to your ships any time soon.¡± James frowned. ¡°Why?¡± Daniel adjusted his glasses. ¡°Because we need your help.¡± Cate exhaled. ¡°What kind of help?¡± Teal¡¯c¡¯s response was simple. ¡°To train an army.¡± ________________________________________________________________________ It will go down in history as the longest moment in which Cate had kept her mouth shut. She was looking at SG-1 incredulously, they were dusty, sweaty and she had caught a glimpse of a group of teenagers dressed for battle moving in another section beyond the door. Finally, she began to work her jaw. ¡°Colonel Carter, James and I have been here just over an hour, in that time we¡¯ve been told where to go, what to do and when to do it. As individuals, we know nothing about this world, other than it¡¯s been held by the Lucian Alliance and they most likely have the people from the Gamma site captive.¡± She stood abruptly. ¡°We find ourselves surrounded by kids, led by a young woman¡­¡± Her blue eyes met those of Allienna¡¯s, ¡°¡­who isn¡¯t much older than this little army. We¡¯re told we can¡¯t go back to our ships and now you want us to train an army?¡± Her face was reddening somewhat, on Cate that looked ridiculous. Sam started to speak; she was cut off as Cate carried on. For some reason beyond military protocol, she allowed her to continue. Even Cam held back. Teal¡¯c merely raised an eyebrow, Vala sat as if she was listening in to some juicy gossip. While Daniel disappeared somewhere into the greater chamber. James was looking everywhere else possible. ¡°To begin with Colonels, with all due respect, we¡¯re pilots, not soldiers and damn it! Could we please know just a little about this world and why we¡¯re doing this!¡± Her rage cooled, she sat down with a force, the wooden chair squeaked loudly. You could hear the sigh, just before Samantha answered her. ¡°Very well then.¡± Sam started by introductions, she was aware that, that courtesy should have come much earlier. ¡°SG-1 was tasked a week ago to seek out rebel elements of the Lucian Alliance, those opposing the current regime. We met one contact to begin with, he told us to come here to meet another four.¡± Her face saddened as she looked down. Cam picked up the end of Sam¡¯s story. ¡°We came by cloaked Tel¡¯tak, courtesy of Bra¡¯tac; he dropped us off west of the city, we made our way to where we were to meet our contacts at night, a house just on the outskirts. By the time we got there, the place had been torched and there was no sign of anyone.¡± He twisted his neck left and right, relieving a little arthritis. ¡°We thought about it for ten minutes, then decided to leave. Our rendezvous with Bra¡¯tac wasn¡¯t for twenty-four hours, so we figured we¡¯d do some scouting.¡± Vala wanted some of the action then. ¡°That didn¡¯t work out well did it Cameron?¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Teal¡¯c chipped in. Sam Carter took the conversation up again. ¡°We had only just left where the house stood, we started heading east. I think it was only about fifty metres when we heard shouts. We turned and saw men with flashlights and dogs heading our way, they were close. We started to run, we knew the edge of the forest was a good 100 metres further. We passed the last house in the block when Allienna appeared with some of her soldiers.¡± Sam emphasised the word, it meant something. ¡°They guided us into another burnt out house, although there was more of it standing; we heard a click, part of the floor opened and here we were.¡± ¡°Well, that explains how and why you¡¯re here Colonel. But I still would like to know more about you¡­¡± She turned again to Allienna. ¡°¡­and this world of kids. Are there any adults? We asked before and was met with silence. The young woman bowed her head, then looked up again, when she spoke, it was in that strange alien voice of the Goa¡¯uld and Tok¡¯ra. A voice that so far Cate had only heard by watching video recordings made by the SGC. She told her own story, how her mother Morrigan feared her child would be taken from her, a child fathered not by another Goa¡¯uld, but by a mere ordinary man she fell in love with. They knew what Allenna¡¯s fate would be and kept her hidden for as long as possible. Then she heard of Earth¡¯s exposure to the Goa¡¯uld via Apophis. Morrigan and her lover soon festered an idea, they would take the child to Earth, find suitable foster parents to raise her and when the time came, she knew her daughter would take up the sword figuratively speaking, to oppose the Goa¡¯uld. At this juncture James spoke up. ¡°We were instructed on all the System Lords back in the SGC, Morrigan was one of them, I don¡¯t understand how she could want her daughter to oppose those, who she was one of?¡± Cate wanted to know the answer to that question. It made no sense to her. ¡°What you say is true. My mother has been a System Lord for centuries and a terrible monster she was. That was until a year before Earth opened their Stargate, my mother felt a change in her, she didn¡¯t know what it was. At first, she panicked, but then she accepted it and just like Egeria before her, she turned on the Goa¡¯uld. I have to say this, she walks a fine line now; for while the old System Lords are gone, there will be new ones to take their place.¡± Allienna told them about the people here, how she came to them wanting to help rid their world of the Alliance tyranny. A question Cate wanted to know earlier, where were the adults of this world. Those who didn¡¯t oppose the Alliance, at least openly, lived. But their lives were as virtual slaves. Vegema was rich in Trinium, gold and platinum, all highly valuable and all needed to build ships. The adults worked the mines; those under sixteen, they told their enslavers they had sent away. This was the status quo and now it was up to the children to create that army to dislodge the Alliance and rid this world of them. Cate let out a sharp breath, shaking her head in disbelief. ¡°So let me get this straight¡ªyou¡¯ve got a planet full of enslaved adults, and the only ones fighting back are kids?¡± Her voice held a hard edge, frustration boiling just beneath the surface. ¡°And you expect us to train them?¡± James exhaled, rubbing a hand over his face as he absorbed the enormity of what Allienna had just revealed. ¡°How many fighters do you actually have? What kind of training do they even have?¡± His voice was calmer, but tense. ¡°If you want to take on the Lucian Alliance, it¡¯s not just about numbers. You need strategy, supply lines, intelligence... Do you have that?¡± Cate crossed her arms, her expression unreadable as she studied the young woman before her. ¡°This isn¡¯t just about fighting, is it?¡± she muttered. ¡°It¡¯s about survival.¡± Choices Choices: Recruit School. Cate and James had accepted the reality¡ªthey wouldn¡¯t be getting back to their respective ships anytime soon. Instead, they found themselves assigned accommodations, which turned out to be quite the surprise. Space was in short supply, and the rooms, once designed for perhaps two adults, now housed anywhere between four and six people. ¡°This is sector 12b.¡± the youngster told Cate and James, as if it meant something important. ¡°Everyone of us is assigned to accommodation sectors, so we know where everyone is. If you¡¯re not on duty, please remain within your sector.¡± The girl was no more than eleven and here she was ordering a pair of adults about. ¡°Wow!¡± James exclaimed, his ever-present smile, broad across his face. ¡°I¡¯d hate to marry her, could you imagine how bossy she¡¯s gonna be when she gets older?¡± Turning her head slightly, blonde hair falling from her shoulder, reminded Cate she needed to get it cut soon. ¡°Nothing wrong with bossy in a woman!¡± She quipped. ¡°How else are we going to keep you men in line?¡± All James could do was just stare at her as if she had two heads. It did make him grin a little wider. ¡°This is a joke, right?¡± James had muttered when they first walked into their respective rooms. That was thirty minutes ago. Cate had given him a knowing smirk. ¡°Welcome to the chaos.¡± The Aussie saw things a little differently. ¡°Think of it this way Jimbo, this will give you and insight to your future. Or turn you off ever wanting to have kids.¡± Her laughter was infectious. What followed was an absolute rollercoaster of a situation¡ªtwo seasoned military officers thrown into a dormitory with a group of energetic, disciplined, but undeniably youthful recruits. Cate¡¯s new quarters placed her with three teenage girls¡ªtwo fourteen-year-olds and a sixteen-year-old. From the start the three girls glued themselves to the much older woman. Whether it was her seemingly youthful looks, Cate couldn¡¯t answer to that. These three simply adopted her as a big sister from the start and treated her as much. The first shock was when fourteen-year-old Wynn casually wondered into the bathroom and began chatting with Cate nonchalantly while she was having a shower. As if it was nothing out of the ordinary. The sweetest thing though was their never-ending curiosity about her. Wanting to know everything, from where she grew up, her schooling and most importantly, her boyfriends. ¡°You are just so beautiful.¡± Said Tyra, the other fourteen-year-old. ¡°Surely you had a lot of boyfriends. Or at least a lot of boys wanting to be with you.¡± Cate looked at each girl one by one. They were all sitting on the floor cross legged, she¡¯d only been with them an hour. ¡°Well¡­¡± She started awkwardly. ¡°¡­not really. I was one those kids we call geeks back on Earth. You know, ever since I was much younger than you three, I wanted to know everything. I had to read, study computers and science.¡± The girls sat there wide eyed. ¡°I never really had much time for boys. Although there was one¡­¡± No, she wasn¡¯t about to bring that memory back. ¡°Aww, come on Cate, you can tell us.¡± Morena demanded, more like a six-year-old than the sixteen years she carried. Biting her bottom lip a little, then sucking in her breath, Cate did tell them. They way she told them served as a warning, don¡¯t fall for the first boy that melts your heart, because often as she found out as an eighteen-year-old cadet at the academy, they will try to take advantage of you. The three girls much to her surprise, understood. James, on the other hand, found himself bunking with three fifteen-year-old boys and another sixteen-year-old. If Cate felt a little odd being a big sister to three teens, how would she have felt being addressed as Aunty? As in James¡¯ case, he was now the official dorm uncle¡ªnot just for 11/12b, but for the whole section. He wasn¡¯t sure whether to be happy or embarrassed about that. After lights-out, the boys settled into their bunks, but as expected, no one was actually going to sleep just yet. James could hear the hushed whispers between them¡ªsomething about an upcoming training session, some rivalry between dorms, and then a long discussion on whose turn it was to steal extra rations from the kitchens. He chuckled. ¡°Y¡¯know, if you boys spent half as much effort on learning tactics as you do on plotting snack heists, you¡¯d be running this place.¡± The nearest bunk creaked as Daryn, the oldest of the group, rolled onto his side. ¡°That¡¯s tactics, Uncle James. Gotta keep the troops fed.¡± ¡°Oh-Ho, so now I¡¯m Uncle James, huh?¡± ¡°It was that or Grandpa,¡± one of the younger ones piped up from across the room. James groaned. ¡°I¡¯m twenty-eight. Twenty-eight! That is not old.¡± There was some muffled laughter, but the conversation shifted gears soon enough. ¡°Hey, Uncle James,¡± said Eron, the most talkative of the bunch. ¡°What¡¯s Earth music like? Is it true you got millions of songs? Like... more than we could listen to in a lifetime?¡± ¡°Something like that.¡± James sat up a little. ¡°We got music from every part of the world, every culture, every style you can imagine. But me? I¡¯m a country boy.¡± ¡°Country?¡± Daryn sounded sceptical. ¡°Like, farming songs?¡± ¡°Not just farming¡ªthough, yeah, sometimes farming. It¡¯s about life, love, loss¡­ and sometimes, drinking beer on a tailgate.¡± That earned a round of confused looks. James sighed. ¡°Alright, lemme think. Ah! Boot Scootin¡¯ Boogie¡ªnow that¡¯s a classic.¡± ¡°Boot what?¡± ¡°Boogie. Boot Scootin¡¯ Boogie.¡± ¡°Is that some kind of Earth combat manoeuvre?¡± James laughed so hard he nearly fell off his bunk. ¡°No, but that¡¯s the best thing I¡¯ve heard all day. It¡¯s a song. A damn good one. Back home, they play it in bars and honky-tonks, and people get up and dance in these perfectly timed steps¡ªline dancing, we call it.¡± The silence that followed was almost reverent. ¡°You have choreographed bar fights?¡± Eron asked, utterly fascinated. James shook his head, grinning. ¡°Not fights, dancing.¡± Daryn frowned. ¡°But bars are where you drink and brawl, right?¡± ¡°Only in the bad ones,¡± James admitted. ¡°The good ones? You grab a partner, you two-step across the floor, and if you do it right, maybe she gives you her number at the end of the night.¡± That got a round of intrigued murmurs. ¡°So, this¡­ Boot Scootin¡¯ Boogie song,¡± said one of the younger boys. ¡°It¡¯s about this dancing?¡± This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. ¡°Well¡­ kinda. It¡¯s about blowing off steam after a long work week. Work hard, play hard.¡± James tapped the side of his bunk thoughtfully. ¡°Y¡¯know, I¡¯m gonna teach you boys some of these songs. If we¡¯re stuck together for a while, you might as well learn how to properly cut loose.¡± There was a pause. ¡°Does it involve yelling?¡± James smirked. ¡°Some of ¡¯em do.¡± That got an enthusiastic response, and just like that, the boys had a new reason to stay up too late learning about Earth¡¯s finest country music. James wasn¡¯t sure how much they¡¯d actually take to it, but if he had any say in it, by the time he got back to Earth, there¡¯d be a group of Vegemahan recruits singing Neon Moon under alien stars. But despite the initial shock, the recruits turned out to be easy to work with. These Vegemahan kids had already been instilled with a deep sense of discipline under Allienna¡¯s tutelage. __________________________________________________________________________ Revelation: Cate started spending a lot of time with the young woman. During one of their late-night discussions, Allienna shared pieces of her past¡ªhow she had been almost twelve when arrangements were finally made to get her out. ¡°Morrigan found a family in Britain,¡± Allienna explained, her voice tinged with both fondness and amusement. ¡°They didn¡¯t need much convincing to take me in. Of course, they had no idea who I really was. Morrigan spun this whole story about her being an illegal migrant from Georgia and she needed her English born daughter to stay, while she sorted out her life back home. Complete with an accent, mind you.¡± Cate laughed. ¡°She put that much effort into it?¡± ¡°Oh, it gets better. She and her partner even forged documents, snuck into a government office, and had me officially registered as a British citizen. Alexandra Armstrong, born and raised.¡± Cate raised an eyebrow. ¡°They went to all that trouble when they could have just contacted Stargate Command?¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Allienna grinned. ¡°But Morrigan always had a flair for the dramatic.¡± The story continued¡ªhow Allienna had made her way through the British military system, getting into Sandhurst, training as a helicopter pilot, and ensuring she caught the eye of the Stargate Program¡¯s talent scouts. She had even managed to manipulate her assignment, steering it away from Atlantis and toward an SG team instead. Cate shook her head. ¡°You¡¯ve got nerve, I¡¯ll give you that.¡± ¡°It worked.¡± Allienna shrugged. ¡°For a while, anyway. Until PW7-25H.¡± The conversation took a more sombre turn as Allienna recounted the mission that led to her being listed as MIA. But Cate didn¡¯t push¡ªsome wounds took longer to heal than others. She figured it for herself though, the girl must have made her way back home, her mother¡¯s home. ¡°One day you must tell me about the Tok¡¯ra, all I know is from the SGC manuals.¡± ¡°Oh, I will, I will.¡± Allienna assured her. ___________________________________________________________________________ Partners: In the following days, priorities became clear. Gathering intelligence was at the top of the list. One evening, Cate sat in a quiet corner of the common room, running through a handwritten log of numbers. James sat down beside her, nodding toward the page. ¡°You reading yourself a bedtime story?¡± ¡°Just trying to make sense of it all,¡± Cate replied, rubbing her temple. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s see. Number of fifteen to sixteen-year-olds? Three thousand, five hundred.¡± James let out a low whistle. ¡°That¡¯s a hell of a lot of teenagers.¡± Cate continued, ¡°Total number of kids in the refuge? Ten thousand, four hundred and seventy-nine.¡± James leaned back. ¡°And we¡¯re supposed to train them all?¡± ¡°No, but we need to know what we¡¯re working with.¡± Cate flipped the page. ¡°The underground network is massive. I swear, I¡¯ve gotten lost in it three times already.¡± ¡°You? Lost?¡± James smirked. ¡°I refuse to believe it.¡± Cate shot him a glare before reading aloud. ¡°It¡¯s the size of the city above. Some of the tunnels even use old underground rail systems. Allienna says they could shelter up to twenty thousand people if necessary.¡± ¡°Damn.¡± James frowned. ¡°And how many enemy forces are in the area?¡± ¡°Alliance personnel?¡± Cate tapped her finger against the page. ¡°Estimates put them around twenty-five to thirty thousand.¡± James exhaled. ¡°We¡¯re outnumbered.¡± ¡°No kidding.¡± Cate flipped to another section of notes. ¡°The population of Plaxia before the last invasion was nine hundred thousand. Two-thirds either fled or were killed. Many of the younger kids were sent to settlements on Bardika or Avilion¡­ erm, they¡¯re across the ocean to the west.¡± James shook his head. ¡°War never changes.¡± Cate didn¡¯t respond right away. She just continued reading. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s talk weapons. We¡¯ve got two thousand three hundred assault rifles, four thousand automatic pistols, eight hundred and fifty light machine guns¡­¡± ¡°Hold up,¡± James interrupted. ¡°We¡¯re actually listing these off like we¡¯re checking a grocery list?¡± Cate smirked. ¡°Want to take turns?¡± James rolled his eyes. ¡°Fine. Heavy machine guns, about two hundred and twenty. And apparently, we¡¯ve got enough grenades, and mortar rounds to make even the Marines nervous.¡± Cate nodded. ¡°Artillery and armour are available, but we¡¯re not focusing on that just yet.¡± James set the notes aside. ¡°So, what¡¯s next?¡± ¡°Assessment of the recruits.¡± Cate sighed. ¡°And finding leaders among them.¡± ¡°That should be interesting.¡± James grinned. ¡°Teenagers, leadership positions, and live ammunition. What could possibly go wrong?¡± ___________________________________________________________________________ And so it begins: The training began, with SG-1 assisting for three days before having to depart. At the end of the first week, another message was sent to the ships, assuring them of the safety of Cate and James¡ªthis time, it was Cate who sent the transmission. After ten days, the Invincible¡¯s senior scientist, Lindsey Novak, managed to hack the Alliance beaming jammer, allowing for more direct assistance. Additional training support came from the ship¡¯s Marine and SF components, though the age of their new recruits was the biggest surprise. By the end of six weeks, Cate, James, and several officers now on hand believed that some of the recruit classes were ready to strike a blow against the Alliance. None of the adults wanted this. Discussions at length were held, many arguing how wrong it was to send children into potential death. While Cate and James had already grappled with this issue when they first arrived, it was ultimately the kids themselves who demonstrated their readiness and the necessity of their involvement. Cate was reminded of her great-grandfather, Alexander¡ªwho had faked his age to enlist in the Great War at barely fourteen years old. Another dilemma the Tau''ri faced was the argument aboard the three remaining ships regarding the use of orbital bombardment. The Daedalus had departed with SG-1 to garner support from the Free Jaffa, leaving the debate to unfold among the remaining crews. Elle was at the centre of it, vehemently opposing the tactic. ¡°You cannot guarantee collateral damage will be kept to a minimum!¡± Elle shouted, standing toe-to-toe with Colonel Di Palma. ¡°The last time someone tried this, residual radiation lasted for decades!¡± Colonel Di Palma folded his arms. ¡°We¡¯re not talking about glassing the entire damn planet, Commander.¡± ¡°We shouldn¡¯t be glassing anything! This isn¡¯t a video game¡­these are people!¡± Captain Kovacs pinched the bridge of his nose. ¡°Elle¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t ¡®Elle¡¯ me, Captain! You want to tell me what a directed naquadah-enhanced payload does to an urban centre? Because I can tell you!¡± Di Palma sighed. ¡°Commander¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t take orders from you!¡± Elle snapped. ¡°Either of you, actually! So don¡¯t ¡®Commander¡¯ me either!¡± The room fell silent. A few officers exchanged glances, some trying to suppress grins. Kovacs cleared his throat. ¡°Okay, first off, that¡¯s not how the chain of command works¡ª¡± ¡°And second,¡± Di Palma added, ¡°while you may be an insubordinate pain in the ass, you do have a point.¡± Elle blinked. ¡°Wait. What?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll revisit the bombardment strategy. Limited strikes, strictly non-populated areas,¡± Kovacs said, throwing a smirk at Di Palma. ¡°Or at least, we¡¯ll try not to give you an aneurysm.¡± Elle huffed. ¡°That¡¯s all I ask.¡± __________________________________________________________________________ In an Alliance command post miles away in one of the wealthier parts of the city, officers gathered around a tactical display. ¡°The Tau''ri are coming,¡± one stated grimly. ¡°We know that for certain, all these small attacks here and there, point to them.¡± The Kommandant nodded. ¡°And we¡¯re sending the entire battalion north to intercept them.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no way they can hold Plaxia,¡± another officer said. ¡°Not without substantial reinforcements, how many can they land? Three hundred, five hundred at most. Their ships are not built for infantry operations.¡± ¡°They¡¯re desperate, to save face. They told the Vegema they would protect them, ha!¡± Another laughed in scorn. ¡°And desperate enemies make mistakes.¡± A young woman in uniform sitting at a desk turned in her chair, removing the headphones she wore. Clearing her throat, she drew the attention of the gathered officers. ¡°Sirs, the train is about to depart. They will make good time according to the yard master.¡± ¡°Very good Dantel, send them my best wishes will you.¡± The senior officer told her, then returned his gaze to the maps. __________________________________________________________________________ The big show: The mission was set. Cate and a small team¡ªincluding a squad of Marines¡ªdescended from the cave an hour before dawn, moving through the rugged terrain under the cover of darkness. The valley was cold, the autumn air sharp against their skin, and the damp earth muted their footsteps. The looming winter would soon blanket the hills in snow, but for now, the forest was a mix of dying leaves and skeletal branches, casting long shadows in the moonlight. Captain Warren Caruso of the 4th Australian Regiment kept a wary eye on the treetops as he moved, checking his watch frequently. Cate and James did the same. Time was tight. Loose stones tumbled down the slope as they crept forward, someone catching themselves with a muffled curse. The sound of an owl echoed through the trees, making one of the younger recruits flinch. The bridge loomed ahead, stretching 400 metres across the valley. It was their target. Caruso signalled his Marines to fan out, taking up guard positions. Two squads of young fighters, their breath visible in the cold air, advanced with their explosives. Cate and James followed, watching as the recruits moved quickly but carefully, placing charges every ten metres along the bridge¡¯s span. Some worked their way across the top, others climbed beneath the structure, securing the detonators to the supports. The tension was suffocating. They were nearly at the far end when Caruso¡¯s urgent voice crackled through Cate¡¯s radio. ¡°Taipan, train¡¯s ahead of schedule! You¡¯ve got maybe three minutes!¡± Cate¡¯s pulse spiked. ¡°Move! Now! Get those last charges set!¡± Panic flickered across some faces. A few recruits hesitated. ¡°Go! Now!¡± Morena¡¯s voice cut through the fear, she urged her friends on. ¡°You¡¯ve got this!¡± That was all it took. The last few charges were secured in a frantic rush. The train was now just 200 metres away, its headlamp a growing beacon in the night. Steam hissed; iron wheels thundered against the tracks. ¡°Fall back!¡± Cate shouted to those behind her. Subtlety was abandoned. They sprinted, hearts pounding, scrambling over rocks and dirt as the train roared closer. James grabbed a recruit who had frozen in terror, dragging him forward. The bridge trembled as the first cars rolled onto it. But Cate, Morena, and Tyra had no time to make it back. They were trapped on the northern side. Still under the iron and steel of the bridge. James turned, scanning desperately for Cate as the train roared passed his position. ¡°Cate!¡± he shouted, his voice lost in the chaos. The first explosion detonated. The world went white-hot. The shockwave tore through the valley. A split-second later, the bridge erupted in a chain reaction of fiery blasts, the supports crumbling as steel and concrete buckled. The locomotive surged forward for an instant, then pitched violently as the structure gave way beneath it. One by one, the cars behind it followed, tumbling into the cold river below, their cargo of Alliance troops lost to the depths. The last carriage hovered on the southern end, balancing for a moment. Shouts of Alliance soldiers, trying to scramble free could be heard, even over the cacophony of destruction. Those shouts turned into screams as that ill-fated carriage followed the rest of the train. Smoke and fire filled the night sky. To be continued¡­ Missing in action At the heart of the Lucian Alliance¡¯s command HQ in the occupied city of Plaxia, Kommandant Wen Horgfells seethes with rage. A large, broad-shouldered man with a salt-and-pepper crew cut and a partial beard, his fury radiates through the room as he glares at his subordinates. The news has just arrived; disastrous news. The Tey River Bridge has been destroyed, along with the battalion train carrying over a thousand troops. The fate of the soldiers remains unknown. His voice is a growl of barely contained fury. ¡°Who was guarding that bridge?¡± A Kolonel stiffens under his gaze. ¡°No one, sir.¡± Horgfells¡¯ eyes narrow. ¡°Why?¡± A beat of silence. Then the Kolonel swallows hard. ¡°The bridge fell under my jurisdiction.¡± The crack of a gunshot shatters the tension. The Kolonel crumples to the floor, lifeless. Horgfells lowers his weapon with a sneer. ¡°Not anymore.¡± The room is deathly silent. Every officer present stares, unmoving; except one. Mahjor Linel Rohtad stands rigid, her face pale, hands trembling at her sides. Horgfells rounds on her. ¡°It¡¯s yours now.¡± His voice drops to a deadly whisper. ¡°Find out who did this. Find out if any of those one thousand men and women survived.¡± The last words erupt in a roar as his fist slams against the table, sending papers flying. One officer jumps. Another turns away, his face contorted in barely suppressed terror. A third wets himself. Without another word, Horgfells storms from the room, leaving behind only silence and the lingering scent of gunpowder.
Reflections: Thirty metres below and slightly to the north of where Horgfells stood lay a vast, abandoned underground rail station and tunnels. The electric railway, built over a hundred years ago, had fallen into disuse as more and more people took to the roads in their fancy m/cs. An abbreviation for motorcarriage; just like on Earth, though the people of Vegema had never shortened it to motor car, instead going even further. Tunnelling had been part of their way of life long before the first Goa¡¯uld arrived. When Cronus took this world, he made his presence felt, seizing the humans of Vegema as hosts. Yet no matter how much he suppressed them; he never broke their spirit. Enough of them remained visible on the surface to keep up the illusion of submission, but neither Cronus nor those who followed ever suspected what was happening beneath their feet. In a large common room within the underground network, a place where people gathered to relax when not working, only one man sat at this late hour. James had come here every night for the past three days, always taking the same spot on the same sofa, staring at nothing. Because for six weeks before that, this had been their place; the spot where he and the woman who had stolen his heart would sit and talk. James had never been much of a talker. Growing up on a vast Midwestern farm, his world had been one of wide-open fields, long days of work, and the quiet company of animals. His schooling had been a chore, requiring him to stay with his grandmother because his parents¡¯ home was too far from town. He had learned early on that words weren¡¯t always necessary. But Cate; Cate had changed that. That golden-haired Australian had drawn him out in ways he never imagined. With her, words had come easily. He had told her about his childhood, about the way he¡¯d always felt out of place in a town school, how he found solace on horseback, riding for miles through open country. She had laughed and told him she understood. That she had been the same way. And when he had asked her about home, she had spoken of the vast Outback, of red dirt roads and endless skies, of a country just as wild and untamed as his own. She could sing, too. God, could she sing. He had once joked that if the Australian Air Force hadn¡¯t snapped her up, Nashville would have. And Cate had just laughed, shaking her head. ¡°Nah,¡± she had said. ¡°The world doesn¡¯t need another country singer. Besides, I like what I do.¡± He swallowed hard against the lump rising in his throat. The world had felt smaller, quieter, without her in it. And as much as he wanted to believe she was alive; he was losing faith. A voice behind him broke his thoughts. ¡°We¡¯ll find her, James.¡± He barely turned his head. He didn¡¯t have to look to know it was Allienna. ¡°I¡¯ve given up hope,¡± he admitted, his voice rough. ¡°We would have seen her walk through that door¡­¡± His thumb jerked toward the opening behind them. ¡°¡­by now, if she was still alive.¡± Allienna stepped forward and settled beside him, her presence as steady as ever. James didn¡¯t know how she did it. Every day, she turned up in a spotless uniform, its woodland camouflage pattern resembling that of the US Marines. Every day, she went out on the surface, fighting, running recon, taking risks. And yet, she still showed up here, composed, determined. She placed a hand on his knee, grounding him. ¡°Before the Alliance showed up at the river two nights ago; presumably to start their own search for survivors or whoever was responsible; we spent twenty-four hours combing as much of the site as possible.¡± She tapped her bottom lip with a pen, considering her next words carefully. ¡°All the wreckage and bodies we found were on the eastern, seaward side of the bridge, James. Cate, Morena, and Tyra were last seen on the far northwest bridge pier, just before the charges went off.¡± James sat up straighter, his brow furrowing. ¡°And?¡± Allienna held his gaze. ¡°That portion of the bridge is still intact.¡± For a moment, he just stared at her, his brain struggling to process what she was implying. ¡°So, you¡¯re saying¡­¡± The words formed in his mind, but he couldn¡¯t force them past his lips. ¡°There¡¯s hope, James.¡± Allienna¡¯s voice was calm, but there was steel beneath it. ¡°If they jumped, they might be trapped on the other side with no way to cross. When you and Major Coren had to pull out, there was no time for a full search. Catherine would have known that.¡± James exhaled sharply, the tension in his chest shifting; just a little. Allienna stood, pulling her dark hair back into a tight ponytail. James had seen that gesture before. It meant she was about to do something reckless. ¡°I have to go,¡± she said, her voice lighter now. ¡°I¡¯ll be back in a few hours.¡± She paused, then added, ¡°But know this, James; we will find her.¡± And then, as silently as she had come, she was gone.
P3C-249: The settlement around the Stargate was a bustling hub of construction and activity. Jaffa warriors, engineers from Earth, and representatives from dozens of allied worlds moved through the developing city, working together to build what was rapidly being called ¡®New Dakara.¡¯ Traditional Jaffa homes stood alongside ultra-modern structures, a testament to the Federation¡¯s growing connections across the galaxy. In the midst of this, at the heart of what would become the Federated Free Jaffa Parliament, a heated debate raged.
Inside the Council Chamber: Amid the sounds of hammering, machinery, and distant voices, fifteen figures sat around a heavy wooden table. Twelve were Jaffa, dressed in various traditional and modernized warrior attire, while the other three were outsiders; Colonel Cameron Mitchell, Dr. Daniel Jackson, and Teal¡¯c. The visitors were not alone in their argument; the legendary Bra¡¯tac sat beside them, lending his presence and authority to their cause. They were here to secure military support for Plaxia; troops and ships to aid in the resistance against the enemy. Two days of negotiations had yielded little progress. ¡°This is madness,¡± scoffed Lord Vih¡¯lak, a broad-shouldered warrior with deep scars lining his face. ¡°We have shed enough blood in wars that were not our own. We must focus on our people.¡± ¡°The war against the Goa¡¯uld was not merely your own, and yet we all bled together,¡± Teal¡¯c countered, his deep voice carrying through the chamber. ¡°The Federation of Free Jaffa must be more than isolated worlds clinging to survival. We must be a force for justice.¡± Bra¡¯tac leaned forward, tapping his fingers against the table. ¡°If we turn our backs now, we may find no allies left when we are in need.¡± ¡°Aye, well, you¡¯re assuming they¡¯ll come to your aid,¡± Cam interjected. ¡°Problem is that only works if you set the precedent first.¡± He looked around at the seated Jaffa. ¡°Plaxia needs help. Your fleet has been growing, your warriors are trained. Two ships, a few thousand troops; you can afford that.¡± A murmur ran through the council. Jenna of the Hak¡¯tyl, one of the few women present and the interim President of the council, exchanged glances with Solacia of Chulak. Jenna tapped her fingers on the table. ¡°The question is not whether we can¡­it is whether we should.¡± Solacia nodded. ¡°We are still rebuilding. Not all of our people wish to fight again so soon.¡± Daniel, quiet until now, adjusted his glasses and leaned forward. ¡°You all know what¡¯s happening in the galaxy. The void left by the System Lords is being filled; by criminal syndicates, rogue Goa¡¯uld, warlords with no sense of honour. If the Free Jaffa do not step up, someone else will. And you might not like who that is.¡± The murmurs grew louder. At the far end of the table, Lord Kar¡¯lon, who had remained silent, finally spoke. ¡°There are already¡­ dealings in place,¡± he said carefully. Cam narrowed his eyes. ¡°Deals with who, exactly?¡±Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Bra¡¯tac¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°The Lucian Alliance.¡± A heavy silence fell over the table. Mitchell exhaled, rubbing his temples. ¡°Oh great. Now I definitely have a migraine.¡± Jenna sighed and stood, lifting a ceremonial staff. ¡°We shall reconvene after a recess.¡± Cam blinked. ¡°That¡¯s the fifteenth adjournment.¡± Daniel sighed. ¡°Welcome to Jaffa politics.¡± Teal¡¯c nodded. ¡°Indeed.¡±
Meanwhile, in the Marketplace: Unbeknownst to the debating men, another strategy was being deployed. Colonel Samantha Carter and Vala Mal Doran strolled through the marketplace, passing stalls filled with spices, fabrics, and various Jaffa relics. They weren¡¯t just shopping; this was reconnaissance. Jaffa society had always revolved around strong warrior traditions, but their domestic structures placed immense respect on the role of matriarchs. And here, in the bustling market, the wives of the councilmen could be found. Vala adjusted the belt of her tunic. ¡°So, remind me again how this plan doesn¡¯t involve me getting stabbed?¡± Sam smirked. ¡°Because we¡¯re just talking.¡± ¡°Yes, well, last time I ¡®just talked¡¯ to the wife of an important Jaffa, I nearly ended up married to his brother!¡± They approached a group of Jaffa women inspecting bolts of fabric. One of them; Jenna¡¯s sister, Kyla; glanced at them. ¡°You are the Tau¡¯ri women?¡± Sam nodded. ¡°That¡¯s us.¡± Kyla studied them carefully, then gestured for them to follow. She led them to a quieter corner of the market. ¡°I know why you are here.¡± Vala grinned. ¡°Wonderful! That saves time.¡± Kyla¡¯s lips twitched, but she remained serious. ¡°My sister is under great pressure. Many fear another war. They do not wish to send our young men to die.¡± Sam met her gaze. ¡°We understand that. But the war isn¡¯t just coming; it¡¯s here. And Plaxia needs help.¡± Kyla frowned. ¡°Why should we interfere?¡± Vala shrugged. ¡°Because if the Free Jaffa show their strength and lead now, your sons and daughters may not have to fight alone later. And besides¡­¡± She gestured vaguely. ¡°Men take forever to decide anything. We figured we¡¯d have better luck with you.¡± Kyla¡¯s mouth quirked into a smirk. ¡°You are bold.¡± Sam offered a small smile. ¡°We¡¯re honest.¡± Kyla exchanged a glance with the other women. A moment later, she turned back to them. ¡°I will speak to Jenna.¡±
The Verdict?: Later, SG-1 walked toward the Stargate. Cam massaged his temples. ¡°I swear, if I have to sit through one more Jaffa recess, I¡¯m going to start throwing things.¡± Daniel adjusted his glasses. ¡°It was tedious. And typical of a Jaffa day.¡± Teal¡¯c simply said, ¡°Indeed.¡± Sam and Vala fell into step beside them. ¡°So how¡¯d it go?¡± Cam asked. Sam smiled. ¡°We spent too much.¡± Vala grinned. ¡°Oh yes, entirely too much.¡± Daniel frowned. ¡°Spent too much of what?¡± Vala simply winked, while Sam smirked knowingly. As they disappeared through the gate, the council chamber behind them remained in session; because this time, Jenna and Solacia had new voices whispering in their ears. The tides were shifting.
The River: Three days ago, just before dawn, a mighty series of perfectly timed explosions ripped a good three-quarters of the Tey River bridge apart, sending a fully laden troop train into the icy, deep waters below. At late autumn, the snows had already fallen on the Apaxien (pronounced Ap¡¯ashen) mountains, ninety miles due west of the coast. That mountain range, running the entire spine of the eastern coast of Plaxia, at times soared to 32,000 feet above sea level; the way the Earthlings measured things. Most of the year, the rivers that ran to the sea, even those in the upper north, were cold, but a hardy person could swim in some of them. But at this time of year? A few minutes in the water, and you were dead. Hypothermia, they called it on Earth. Darlen Tesk knew cold. He was born on Imdemia, a frigid world within the Lucian Alliance. Where Tesk was raised; the wastelands of the centre-west; a warm summer¡¯s day barely reached 12¡ãC. His father used to tell stories of the ¡®heatwave of 997¡¯, when temperatures climbed to 16¡ãC for an entire week. Their year stretched across fourteen long months, with Urgur (winter) consuming nine of them. Troal (the melt) barely lasted two, Rentapio (summer) a mere one, and Crexot¡¯a (autumn) another two. Imdemia, apparently, wasn¡¯t always like this. Over two thousand years ago, it had been a standard galactic backwater; Earth-like, uninhabited except for some exotic fauna. Then came Kel, a minor Goa¡¯uld with an overabundance of ambition. He liked to tinker, fancied himself a master of terraforming. He was not. When his experiments went sideways, he was left with a planet barely habitable for human life. Worse, the human slaves he¡¯d brought with him far outnumbered his Jaffa. When they revolted, Kel didn¡¯t stand a chance. The humans won. But at a cost; the Goa¡¯uld¡¯s ships still held most of the technology and knowledge. When the dust settled, the four remaining Hat¡¯aks sat grounded, their purpose long since eroded. The people of Imdemia adapted, warred, and eventually one dominant faction rose. They were one of the first to join the Lucian Alliance. That was Darlen¡¯s history. But right now, history didn¡¯t matter. Survival did. He was a section leader, in Earth terms, a Sergeant. Sitting in the second carriage back from the locomotive tender, he had no real reason for choosing that spot. First and second platoons had been assigned there, so he sat with them. All the way north, through the yard and into the canyon leading to the bridge, he¡¯d felt uneasy. Couldn¡¯t put his finger on why. "Something¡¯s off." He shifted in his seat, gaze flicking over his troops. Most were dozing. A few murmured quietly, too tired or resigned to the endless movements of war. Thoughts crowded his mind. "We¡¯ve got no air cover. No ships. Just a train. A bloody train. What century is this?" His lips curled in a grimace as he looked out the window. The tracks stretched ahead into the cold morning haze, the bridge barely visible in the distance. "Why use the railway at all? We never used it before. Why now?" He adjusted his rifle in his lap, exhaling slowly. "Maybe I¡¯m just paranoid. Maybe¡­ " The world exploded. The first blast didn¡¯t register as sound; only pressure. A violent shudder ran through the train, rattling teeth and bones. Then, a second explosion rocked the car, and suddenly, everything lurched sideways. Darlen barely had time to react before the carriage beneath him tipped, metal groaning as it snapped free. A hollow, stomach-churning moment of weightlessness. "Oh, shit." Glass shattered. Wood splintered. The river came up to meet them. For one heart-stopping instant, he saw his own reflection in the icy water below; wide eyes, mouth half-open, frozen in time. Then the impact. Darkness. Cold. Silence.
Survival: The carriage hit the water intact, a steel coffin for the 115 men and women inside. Darlen had already smashed his window, his rifle stock still clutched in one numb hand. He had just enough time; just enough space; to slip free. The shock of the water nearly stopped his heart. "Move, damn it, move!" The current dragged at him. He kicked. Fought. His limbs felt sluggish, but survival screamed at him to keep going. The train was sinking, pulling everything with it. He was barely a man of average strength, but on Imdemia, survival was a skill learned young. He kicked harder, gasping as he surfaced, coughing up river water. Above, the bridge was still collapsing. The first explosions had been precise, controlled; whoever set them had known exactly what they were doing. But the last detonations... those were something else. The entire structure tore apart, twisted metal and shattered stone raining down into the canyon. Then came the worst part. The bodies. His fellow soldiers, barely recognisable, dragged under, flung against the rocks, crushed beneath falling debris. "A thousand men and women. Gone. Just like that." A wave of heat rolled over the water, stealing what little warmth he had left. Molten metal; sections of bridge, train parts; glowed red-hot before vanishing beneath the surface, heating the water in pockets. "If I don¡¯t get out now, I never will." He forced his body forward, arms screaming in protest. The nearest support pier loomed ahead. If he could just get behind it, maybe¡­ His fingers found rough stone. He pulled himself up, wedging his body into a corner beneath an overhanging support beam. Clasped his hands over his head. And waited. Waited as the last explosions finished their work. Waited as the final carriages plunged into the river. Waited as the sounds of death and destruction faded into eerie silence. By the time it was over, his face was wet with more than just river water. His uniform was burnt in places, smouldering. But he was alive.
At midday, Darlen sat hunched over a small fire on a ridge east of the bridge. He¡¯d stripped off his wet clothes earlier, drying them as best he could in the weak sunlight. His hands shook slightly as he rubbed warmth back into his fingers. "Survive first. Think later." His mind was already running through his options. The river was too wide to cross here; he¡¯d need to head east or west to find a better spot. Maybe another bridge, if one existed. A sound snapped him out of his thoughts. Voices, across the river. He peered through the scrub. Soldiers. Not his. "Well. That complicates things." He settled lower into the underbrush, tugging a blanket over himself. "Wait until nightfall. Move when they¡¯re not looking." The day passed in a blur of exhaustion. He didn¡¯t remember falling asleep. Only that when he woke, the sky had darkened, and across the river, campfires flickered in the gloom. Gathering his things, he crept north. The riverbank turned rocky, cover growing sparse. It didn¡¯t matter; the canyon walls obscured the enemy¡¯s view. Then he heard it. Voices. Not from across the river. From below. Warm air brushed against his arm. He turned. A crevice in the rock, barely two metres long, no more than a handspan across. And definitely; impossibly; coming from within, the unmistakable sound of people talking. The Plan: A week had passed, then two. Brazenly personnel were beamed back and forth to the ships, as it appeared after a little testing, the Alliance were unaware that their beaming jammer was dysfunctional. The Daedalus had returned with SG-1, they in turn had met with Allienna and her growing group of young commanders and those assigned to her from Earth. In orbit above Vegema now, was the Invincible, Chekov and Daedalus. Of course, the air wing of the Invincible knew of Cate¡¯s disappearance, Dusty, like James down on the planet, was having daily worry sessions, but hopeful for Cate¡¯s return. Dusty though for strictly professional reasons, she was his CO. At least that¡¯s what he told himself. A new meeting was convened for 1300 hours Zulu time, all the ship¡¯s clocks were set to Central Mountain Time USA, essentially the time at the SGC. It gave people a routine by not having to jump around all over the place with time changes. The meeting was scheduled to be held in the Wardroom of the Invincible, ship¡¯s commanders and landing force officers. ¡°How much longer are we to stay here Colonel?¡± Chris Di Palma of the Odyssey asked. This was going to be a very weird conversation Cam thought to himself. Like an echo chamber. Almost like a private Colonel¡¯s club. ¡®Screw it.¡¯ Cam thought. Everyone in this room was a Major or above, and Cam knew practically all of them reasonably well. As for Di Palma; he¡¯d known the man for at least twenty years, even went to the same Staff course. ¡°Well Chris, according to the SGC, the blockade will remain in place until either Horgfells surrenders, or we are in a position to launch the invasion.¡± Straight up, that was how Cam worked. A few grumbles around the table, men and women looked at each other, studied the laptop in front of them, or sipped on their coffee. Lieutenant Colonel Jeffries, the Invincible¡¯s marine commander made a few quick notes, then looked up at Cam, then across to Teal¡¯c. ¡°We won¡¯t be in any position to put boots on the ground until we get some serious back up. Anymore word on the Free Jaffa?¡± The big former Jaffa stood. All heads turned in his direction. ¡°The Council deliberates as they always do. Old ways are hard to change. But I believe some progress was made, was it not Daniel Jackson?¡± Doctor Jackson wiped his glasses; he appeared distracted by something. ¡°What, erm, oh, you¡¯re talking to me Teal¡¯c? Well, um, yes there was some progress made. You¡¯d really have to check with Sam.¡± Passing the buck, that always worked well in most situations. It was Elle¡¯s turn this time, and Cam was starting to get a kinked neck. ¡°And Sam is where now?¡± She had wondered why the Colonel wasn¡¯t at this meeting. ¡°Colonel Carter is in conference with Allienna I believe.¡± Teal¡¯c intoned deeply.
The Debate: Sam paced back and forth, arms crossed, her expression tight with frustration. ¡°I don¡¯t like it, Allienna. It¡¯s dangerous and reckless. Have you really thought this through?¡± Allienna, standing tall with her hands resting on the edge of the large map table, barely flinched. ¡°Of course, I have. Every step, every contingency.¡± Her tone was calm, measured¡ªbut unyielding. ¡°Then explain to me how faking a cave-in to sneak out 150 prisoners from a mine patrolled by 200 hardened Lucian Alliance troops isn¡¯t reckless.¡± Sam stopped pacing and faced her directly. ¡°If they figure out what we¡¯re doing before we get them out, it won¡¯t just be a failed rescue. It¡¯ll be a slaughter.¡± ¡°The patrols are predictable,¡± Allienna countered. ¡°The mine entrance is watched, but the tunnels? They don¡¯t have the manpower to monitor them all.¡± She pointed to a schematic. ¡°We¡¯ve already tunnelled into the lowest shaft without being detected. We just need to trigger a controlled collapse in one of the upper chambers, diverting their forces to what they think is an emergency. That gives us the opening we need.¡± Vala, lounging against the table with her arms folded, scoffed. ¡°Right. Because Lucian thugs are famous for their concern over worker safety. What if they don¡¯t take the bait?¡± ¡°They will,¡± one of the Marine officers cut in¡ªMajor Kendrick, a battle-hardened commander from the Invincible¡¯s landing force. ¡°We¡¯ve seen it before. When an incident like this happens, they send in half their damn company to ¡®restore order.¡¯ That¡¯s our window.¡± Sam wasn¡¯t convinced. ¡°And what about the other half? The ones still watching the mine?¡± ¡°They won¡¯t be watching for an escape from underground,¡± Allienna said. ¡°They¡¯re stationed at the entrance, the work areas, and the supply routes. The shaft we¡¯re using doesn¡¯t even appear on their old mine records.¡± ¡°Fine, say you get the prisoners out,¡± Sam shot back. ¡°Then what? The moment they realise what¡¯s happened, those two hundred veterans are going to be on us in force. And they¡¯ll be pissed.¡± ¡°We exfiltrate north into the hills,¡± Major Ellis, another Marine officer, spoke up. ¡°We¡¯ve already got three fallback routes planned. We won¡¯t be staying to fight. We¡¯ll be moving fast, and we¡¯ll have the terrain on our side.¡± Vala rolled her eyes. ¡°Oh yes, running for our lives through the mountains with 150 exhausted prisoners¡ªwhat could possibly go wrong?¡± ¡°I get it,¡± Allienna said, finally showing some frustration. ¡°This isn¡¯t a perfect plan. But waiting isn¡¯t a perfect plan either. Every day we sit here, those people are being worked to death. And if the Alliance catches wind of what we¡¯re doing, there won¡¯t be a rescue mission left to argue about.¡± Sam exhaled, rubbing her temple. ¡°You have too much faith in this plan.¡± ¡°And you don¡¯t have enough faith in me,¡± Allienna said, her voice quiet but firm. That stung, and Sam knew it. The room fell silent for a moment. Sam looked around. The Marines were backing Allienna. Even Captain Robyn ¡®Bobbie¡¯ Jessop, who had been silent so far, looked hesitant but not opposed. She arrived not long after Cate¡¯s disappearance, to fill her place. A cool, calm infantry officer, highly skilled in tactics. ¡°Alright,¡± she said at last. ¡°We do it your way. But I want contingencies in place¡ªextraction points, backup signals, diversionary tactics. If anything goes wrong, we pull out before this turns into a massacre.¡± Allienna gave a small nod. ¡°Agreed.¡± Vala threw up her hands. ¡°Fine, fine, but I reserve the right to say ¡®I told you so¡¯ when this inevitably goes sideways.¡± Sam sighed, knowing that this wasn¡¯t over¡ªbut for now, the decision had been made. The mission was on. To be continued. The Mine The Mine: 3 days ago- Caruso signalled his Marines to fan out, taking up guard positions. Two squads of young fighters, their breath visible in the cold air, advanced with their explosives. Cate and James followed, watching as the recruits moved quickly but carefully, placing charges every ten metres along the bridge¡¯s span. Some worked their way across the top, others climbed beneath the structure, securing the detonators to the supports. The tension was suffocating. They were nearly at the far end when Caruso¡¯s urgent voice crackled through Cate¡¯s radio. ¡°Taipan, train¡¯s ahead of schedule! You¡¯ve got maybe three minutes!¡± Cate¡¯s pulse spiked. ¡°Move! Now! Get those last charges set!¡± Panic flickered across some faces. A few recruits hesitated. ¡°Go! Now!¡± Morena¡¯s voice cut through the fear, she urged her friends on. ¡°You¡¯ve got this!¡± That was all it took. The last few charges were secured in a frantic rush. The train was now just 200 metres away, its headlamp a growing beacon in the night. Steam hissed; iron wheels thundered against the tracks. ¡°Fall back!¡± Cate shouted to those behind her. Subtlety was abandoned. They sprinted, hearts pounding, scrambling over rocks and dirt as the train roared closer. James grabbed a recruit who had frozen in terror, dragging him forward. The bridge trembled as the first cars rolled onto it. But Cate, Morena, and Tyra had no time to make it back. They were trapped on the northern side. Still under the iron and steel of the bridge. James turned, scanning desperately for Cate as the train roared passed his position. ¡°Cate!¡± he shouted, his voice lost in the chaos. The first explosion detonated. The world went white-hot. The shockwave tore through the valley. A split-second later, the bridge erupted in a chain reaction of fiery blasts, the supports crumbling as steel and concrete buckled. The locomotive surged forward for an instant, then pitched violently as the structure gave way beneath it. One by one, the cars behind it followed, tumbling into the cold river below, their cargo of Alliance troops lost to the depths. The last carriage hovered on the southern end, balancing for a moment. Shouts of Alliance soldiers, trying to scramble free could be heard, even over the cacophony of destruction. Those shouts turned into screams as that ill-fated carriage followed the rest of the train.
Morena had set her last charge, beneath a cross beam of the bridge, she called loudly, ¡°Done!¡± and began to scramble down to join Cate on top of the concrete support column. They were at the furthest northern end of the structure, the last one still above the water. ¡°Come on Tyra, hurry it up!¡± The Australian¡¯s voice reaching the fourteen-year old¡¯s ears quite sharply. In the distance the ominous sound of a heavy steam locomotive quickly approaching, startled Cate enough to ask herself. ¡°Should it be that loud, so far away?¡± ¡°On my way.¡± The small voice from above replied. The kid was hanging upside down, like a bat, her legs hooked over a service pipe, yellow wires in her mouth. She secured the remote, a motion sensor in essence, plugged the leads in, then she swung herself loose, making a backflip to land on her feet, beside the other two. Despite the darkness, you knew she was grinning from ear to ear. ¡°Show off!¡± Morena told her as she laughed. Two days out from her seventeenth birthday, nothing was going to worry her. A tremble beneath her feet and Caruso¡¯s message brought the fear of death to her mind, if she reached out, she could feel his cold black hand. ¡°Fall back!¡± She yelled over her radio. Immediately the awareness struck her, the three of them were trapped. It took only a second for Cate to take stock of their plight. They had tether lines secured to one another on the way across, for precaution. Apparently in the centre of the river the current was too swift for even the hardiest of swimmers and it varied in depth up to thirty-five metres deep in parts. Another wasted second, Morena was already clipped to Cate¡¯s line, it took a blink of an eye to secure Tyra to the older girl. ¡°We¡¯re going to jump.¡± She said calmly. Morena¡¯s hand trembled in Cate¡¯s grasp. The smaller, younger hand of Tyra¡¯s was warm and strong, she nodded, as did the older girl. They were afraid, all three of them. Only seconds remained as they three as one leaped from the pylon, going feet first into the icy waters, ten metres below them. Another wasted second. To say it was difficult with boots, fully clothed in kit suited for winter, and a backpack that still weighed a hefty ten kilos even after losing the C4 packs and detonators. (Two rifles were left behind, neither Cate nor Tyra thought to grab those, Morena had her free hand firmly grasped around hers.) Not to mention accessories like Cate¡¯s side arm, a Zat, water canteens, and vest pouches full of whatever won¡¯t fit in the backpack. The three of them must have gone down at least 3 metres, and there was a sense of calm panic once in the water, they surfaced again quickly, Cate turning to get her bearings. They landed about 5 metres out from the bridge if measured in a straight line, and as the first charges went off, she yelled out again, ¡®Down!¡± and then physically pushing the girls heads under the water. There was enough light in the clear water, they were now facing upstream and close to the shoreline where the current was weakest. Even beneath the cold water, they could feel the first blasts and then a shock wave as the last three carriages hit the water. Without barely kicking, they were propelled ahead further to a point where Cate thought she could see light¡­ the rising sun? Whatever¡­ she tugged on the line, dragging the girls with her. They could see the light coming from under a rocky shelf, a cavern perhaps? If they didn¡¯t surface soon, they¡¯d drown or die of hypothermia. With a burst of air from their lungs, Cate and her two young companions came up in a small round pool. The light they saw was coming through a fissure in the ceiling of a cave, or was it a mine? She couldn¡¯t tell from where they were. It was difficult at first to climb up, they did however have some help as another shockwave from the bridge¡¯s destruction and that of the train, lifted the water level up for a moment, about a metre. Form there they basically slid across to a flattened floor. With the light they had, Cate see now what it was, the very end of a mine shaft, probably where they dumped tailings into the river. And it was warm. She told them both to strip off. Tyra went to remove her backpack and let out a cry. Cate looked and found she had dislocated her left shoulder. ¡°I can fix it if you can stand the pain.¡± She told her. To which Tyra replied. ¡°I¡¯m a woman now, of course I can stand the pain.¡± Meaning she had passed puberty now. Cate laid her against her own pack, placed Morena¡¯s pack under the arm and told the kid to close her eyes. Morena asks what can she do? Cate tells her to hold Tyra¡¯s other arm (she didn¡¯t want the girl lashing out at her.) She takes hold of the forearm and bicep, then with a gentle downward force, she pulls and locks the shoulder back into place. All Tyra did was grit her teeth. But the tears streaming down her cheeks told the story. After letting the younger girl rest for a while, Cate gently undressed her after she found a thermal blanket from one of the packs. These packs were quite special. After years of fighting either the Goa¡¯uld, Lucian Alliance and others, just in this galaxy, the SGC had found that missions though planned for at least 24 hours, often went over. They had a spare set of clothes, including underwear and socks. Toiletries, a thermal blanket, enough energy bars and MREs to see them through. First aid kit, compass, Swiss Army knife and even fishing line. The only thing they didn¡¯t and couldn¡¯t have was a spare pair of boots. Everything in the pack was sealed in vacuform plastic. ¡°We¡¯ll wait until sunset, at least we¡¯ll know when that is, and look for a way out.¡± They all had flashlights, and one set of spare batteries. ¡°We¡¯ll use only one flashlight at a time, but hopefully the battery life won¡¯t be a problem.¡± ¡°This used to be an old plwm mine.¡± Morena spoke up as they finished dressing Tyra and dry clothes. Then she realised what she said. ¡°Lead, lead mine. According to my father, Cronus shut it down before I was born, so I guess about twenty years ago.¡± The funny thing Cate fund with the Vegemahan women, there was zero modesty between themselves. By the time the last words were out of Morena¡¯s mouth, she was stark naked. Not for long though. She continued. ¡°It wasn¡¯t out of concern for our people of course, no t was for his own Jaffa. The way we were mining and processing it, it was toxic to them and probably him to.¡± She even half smiled. ¡°Do you know, when I think about him, compared to the Alliance, he didn¡¯t treat our people too badly. He built a whole new way of mining, not only lead but other minerals; built several dams and improved our electric.¡± Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. Cate wasn¡¯t used to this level of exposure, even among her own gender. She turned her back as she dressed, which brought a giggle from the two girls. ¡°Would you have him back?¡± She asked. ¡°No.¡± They both replied. After that they took stock of their situation Going back in the water was out of the question. They were dry and warm in here and had only to wait for their boots to dry. Cate¡¯s being made of Gortex wouldn¡¯t take long and the girl¡¯s boots were of a similar construction. ¡°Wait a minute.¡± She face palmed herself. ¡°Morena did you say lead? I wasn¡¯t paying full attention.¡± ¡°Yes, I did, why?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± The older women told her and to herself she knew the answer as to why she hadn¡¯t been beamed away. Not that she would have wanted it. All three of them talked one at a time, sometimes all three at once, which would result in giggles. Cate was happy, very happy despite the gravity of the situation. She just hoped her crewmates on the Invincible weren¡¯t worrying too much about her, or James, or Sam for that matter. Then they planned. As far as the girls knew, there was a small wooden bridge about 20 or 30 kilometres west of the Tey bridge, over what they called the narrows. A limestone gorge just 10 metres across, not the 400 of the Tey. At least they thought it was still there. With the ongoing guerilla war with the Alliance, anything could happen. The other choice was the Delta, where the river met the sea. It dropped to low tidal flats in some places, and you could walk across. That was 60 kilometres east. ¡°So, it will be west then. Hopefully these tunnels will be straight forward.¡± Cate said, before they decided to rest until nightfall. Just a few metres above, a young fair-haired man, perhaps no more than twenty-two or three, cocked his ear to the ground. Three women, one older definitely and definitely Tauri by the sound of her accent. He had heard enough to realise they were in one of the many mine sites that dotted this land, and they were partially trapped, forced to go west. ¡°Bitches!¡± He spat. ¡°And when you exit that tunnel, you will wish you had gotten lost. You will pay for what you did.¡± The young man set off; he had some inkling where to go.
Do or Die It was on everyone¡¯s mind; three days had passed since the ¡®big show¡¯ as they were calling t now. The day they blew up a train and the day the lost one of their most valuable team members. Yet there was hope. Twenty-four hours ago, Sam had been in contact with McFearson on the Invincible; they had found some vision from one of the marines body cameras, he had been facing north when the urgent recall was enacted, despite the smoke and fire, the camera managed to capture a very brief shot of three figures jumping into the river. Further evidence was at hand. When Elle was notified of Cate¡¯s possible disappearance, the ship was scanning the area of the Tey Bridge for locator chips, that little subcutaneous transmitter, that every member of the Stargate Program has under their skin. ¡°Anything Elle, did your scans find anything at all?¡± A worried Carter asked of her colleague Commander McFearson. The radio crackled for a moment, Sam thought they were going to lose contact. Then the reply came back loud and clear. ¡°At around zero five hundred this morning just before sunrise, we did another scan after the fires and explosions had settled, Sam.¡± The other Australian told her. Elle¡¯s voice was more refined, a little more cultured than Cate¡¯s. Sam was getting impatient, the time lag between the ship and the surface was starting to wear her down. ¡°Yes?¡± She said eagerly. More crackling. ¡°My technicians had a positive contact of Cate¡¯s transmitter. It was so brief they almost missed it. We then tracked it on screen in real time. Sam, Cate is alive, the beacon was about one hundred and twenty metres west of the bridge. It was moving when we lost the signal. My science officer believes the beacon is being blocked, by what we don¡¯t know.¡± There was more. ¡°The Alliance troops have left; they appeared to have recovered as many dead as they could. We tracked them back to their base. I¡¯ll have Major Ovcharenko and SG-4 down there shortly.¡± There was another disruption in the signal, Sam looked to the north from the plateau SG-1 stood on, there was lightning, and the sky was rapidly darkening with storm clouds. The transmission continued. ¡°¡­can find them, they can. McFearson out.¡± When they returned to the bunker, Sam passed on all she had been told. That simple message had the effect of lifting everyone¡¯s spirits. Especially James. He had returned to the Chekov and his squadron; he needed to get away from the underground atmosphere and the memory of the past six weeks. He flew two CAP missions and on the second he and his wingman took down an Al-Kesh that was attempting to leave the planet. What he didn¡¯t realise was value that had to the allied cause. On board that ship was Horgfells¡¯ adjutant, Senior Kolonel Chulai Uson, she was trying to either get back to Lucia and convince the Alliance leaders to send reinforcements or at least get a sub space message to them. She was also Horgfells lover. This was going to cut deep. ¡°Ahem!¡± Cam cleared his throat, quite loudly. He was watching with great amusement, as was Teal¡¯c and Daniel; young Lieutenant Doolittle hugging Sam Carter after she gave him the news. Vala simply smiled. James immediately stepped back, ramrod straight, looking like a cadet who had just hugged his drill instructor by mistake. ¡°I am so sorry, Colonel,¡± he stammered, his face rapidly turning a shade of crimson usually reserved for malfunctioning naquadah reactors. Sam, still caught off guard, blinked at him. ¡°Uh¡­ it¡¯s fine, Lieutenant.¡± ¡°Won¡¯t happen again, ma¡¯am!¡± James added hurriedly, snapping off a salute so sharp it could¡¯ve sliced through a bulkhead. Cam, still smirking, rocked back on his heels. ¡°Wow. That was something. I mean, I knew you flyboys were affectionate, but¡­¡± ¡°Sir, I was overcome with¡­uh¡­¡± James searched for the right words, his brain stalling like an engine flameout. ¡°Professional enthusiasm?¡± Vala tilted her head. ¡°That¡¯s what we¡¯re calling it now?¡± Teal¡¯c raised an eyebrow in what could only be described as amused judgment. ¡°It was¡­ quite the embrace.¡± ¡°Thank you, Teal¡¯c,¡± James muttered, rubbing his temples. Daniel adjusted his glasses, biting back a grin. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Lieutenant. I¡¯m sure the regulations are very clear on¡ªwhat was it again?¡ª¡®tactile displays of unrestrained elation¡¯?¡± James groaned. Cam clapped him on the back. ¡°Well, just be glad Jack wasn¡¯t here. He¡¯d have had a field day.¡± James nodded rapidly. ¡°Understood, sir. Very much understood.¡± Sam, finally recovering, just shook her head with an exasperated but amused smile. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s move on before this gets written into an official report.¡± Vala perked up. ¡°Oh, but imagine the mission log! ¡®Lieutenant Doolittle, in a moment of professional enthusiasm, tackled Colonel Carter in front of approximately thirty witnesses¡­¡± ¡°Vala,¡± Sam warned, but she was grinning now too. James, now officially mortified, sighed. ¡°I¡¯ll¡­ just be over there.¡± And with that, he retreated at a speed usually reserved for emergency evac drills. That was the strange thing Allienna found with humans, their need to openly display such levels of affection. To her, that was always something private. ¡°Are we done?¡± Three words, that¡¯s all it took for reality to bring the Tau¡¯ri visitors back to the here and now. ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re done.¡± Cameron told her, shaking his head. To reach the tunnel entrance, there were twelve vehicles, not unlike the armoured personnel carriers James had seen for years, living around and near military bases most of his life. In the vast sprawling complex that was simply known as the ¡®Underground¡¯, they utilised the many old railway subways. And that was something else that intrigued James, and Cameron as well. For while the Vegemahan had invented their own internal combustion engine over a hundred years ago, they never used any form of fossil fuel. From the start they had a ready source of hydrogen, tapped from the microbes in the rocks that over millions of years had formed massive pockets of the gas. There were accidents in the beginning, but over time they had perfected the usage of it so well, from what he had been told, it made Earth¡¯s use of fossil fuels seem so primitive. The Marines were going to be transported first, they would exit the subway at an old station just two kilometres south of the Alliance camp. The silver mine entrance was within the camp grounds. Once in position, the APCs would return and take the rescue group, SG-1 and Allienna¡¯s squad. It would be a much smaller group of course. The plan was to take the rescued men and women to another underground base, much further to the west, where they could recuperate and recover. James had been democratically voted as Allie¡¯s number two. He thought that was sweet.
The Silver Mine Assault: The plan was set, and every moving part was now in motion. Allienna and her team, armed with nothing more than light weapons and a determination forged through hardship, navigated the final stretch of their tunnel. The air grew thicker as they closed in on the mine, the scent of damp earth mixing with sweat and the faint metallic tang of silver dust. They had spent weeks digging this passage, clawing through stone with tools far from ideal, but now they had their opening. "Charges are in place," one of her soldiers whispered, voice barely audible over the low hum of tension. Allienna nodded, her fingers tightening around her rifle. The explosives were set along the tunnel wall near the entrance to the mine, strategically placed to bring down enough rock and debris to create chaos but not collapse the entire structure. She gave the signal, and one of her fighters activated the detonator. A deep, thunderous boom ripped through the underground, shaking the earth beneath their feet. Dust and debris erupted through the narrow passage as the entrance to the mine collapsed in a cloud of choking dirt and falling stone. Inside the camp, panic ensued. The garrison of two hundred Alliance troops was thrown into confusion. Shouts filled the air as commanders barked orders, scrambling to assess the damage. Some ran toward the collapsed mine entrance, others rushed for weapons, unsure if this was sabotage or an accident. That was when the first mortar round hit. The Marines, positioned to the south, opened with a barrage that sent plumes of fire and dirt skyward. The dull thump-thump-thump of heavy machine gun fire followed, cutting through the scrambling Alliance soldiers. It was chaos¡­just as planned. SG-1, led by Colonel Cameron Mitchell, moved into position. Sam Carter and Teal¡¯c flanked the right side of the camp, while Daniel Jackson and Vala Mal Doran took the left. Their objective was to create a diversion, drawing Alliance troops away from the mine entrance to give Allienna''s team the cover they needed. "Let''s light it up," Cam muttered, signalling to his team. Sam aimed her P90 at an approaching group of Alliance soldiers, unleashing a burst of fire. Teal''c followed with his staff weapon, discharging lethal energy blasts that sent the enemy scattering. On the opposite side, Daniel and Vala exchanged quick, precise shots, taking down several guards before they could react. The enemy had no time to regroup. As they scrambled for cover, the second phase of the assault began. "Go!" Allienna hissed. She led the charge through the now-exposed tunnel, emerging into the far end of the mine where the prisoners¡ªmen and women barely more than skin and bone¡ªstood in stunned silence. "We''re getting you out!" she shouted. Some moved sluggishly, eyes wide with disbelief. Others reacted instantly, grasping the hands of their comrades and pulling them toward the escape route. Then came the first real test of their mission. An Alliance patrol, cut off from the main force and likely unaware of the full battle unfolding outside, stumbled upon them. The young rebels barely had time to raise their weapons before the Alliance troops opened fire. Allienna dove for cover behind a stack of ore crates, returning fire as one of her men fell beside her, a clean shot through the chest. "Move! Get them out!" James Doolittle, acting as her second, surged forward, taking down an Alliance soldier with a well-placed burst from his rifle. Two more of the young Vegemahan fighters flanked the patrol, cutting them down before they could call for reinforcements. "Keep moving!" James urged. The evacuees pushed forward, some leaning on others for support, some barely able to stand. But not all of them made it. The weakest among them¡ªthe ones too malnourished to run, too exhausted to even stand¡ªcollapsed along the way. Some were carried, but eleven were lost. Allienna clenched her jaw, rage bubbling beneath her grief. SG-1 maintained their defensive positions, covering the escape. Sam relayed tactical updates to the team, while Teal¡¯c and Cameron provided suppressing fire. Daniel and Vala guided stragglers towards the extraction point, ensuring no one was left behind. The Marines kept up the assault, holding the Alliance troops at bay long enough for the rescue team to slip away into the hills. Once the signal was given, the Marine commanders ordered a withdrawal, leaving the burning camp and its disoriented defenders in their wake. The mission was a success. But it didn¡¯t feel like a victory. As the refugees were loaded into the waiting vehicles, James looked over at Allienna. Her face was set, unreadable. "We did all we could," he said. She exhaled sharply. "It wasn''t enough." James didn''t have an answer for that. As they drove into the night, the weight of their losses hung over them like the cold wind howling through the mountains. Wolves, bats, and other lovely things The silence of the mine pressed heavily upon Cate, Morena, and Tyra as they walked along that first narrow passage. Twice now since leaving the entry point, they had to contend with spiders in the first instance, then in a large cross section, a colony of bats. The passage smelled of damp stone, rusted metal, and something stale¡­an old, lifeless scent that clung to the air like a ghost of the mine¡¯s past. The walls, rough-hewn by hand, bore the scars of chisels and picks, their uneven surfaces slick with condensation. Occasional veins of lead and silver glinted dully in the beam of her flashlight. She was checking her watch frequently, after six hours rest, they walked on for another three hours. Cate exhaled slowly, flexing her hands as she took in their surroundings. They couldn¡¯t stop now. They had to move forward, she felt surely, they were going in circles, hadn¡¯t they passed this way before? Hours later, as the two girls finally succumbed to exhaustion, Cate remained awake, sitting against the cold stone wall. The dim glow from another fissure barely touched the darkness, but it was enough to cast long shadows. Cate ran a hand down her face, shaking her head at herself. That light was from the full moon, he must have been laughing at her. ¡°Bloody hell, MacGregor,¡± she muttered under her breath. ¡°You really screwed this one up.¡± Her voice was barely above a whisper, but in the oppressive silence, it might as well have been a shout. She looked at the two sleeping girls, her expression softening with guilt. ¡°You got them into this mess. Now you better get them out.¡± She sighed, rubbing the heel of her palm over tired eyes. The weight of command, of responsibility, had never felt heavier. She was supposed to lead them to safety, not get them trapped in an abandoned mine with no obvious way out. But self-recrimination wouldn¡¯t get them anywhere. Tomorrow, they¡¯d move on. They had eaten meagrely, choosing to save their rations as much as possible. Cate settled down, sleep though did not come easily. ___________________________________________________________________________ Meanwhile, Darlen¡¯s journey wasn¡¯t as straight forward as he thought. He heard the older woman mention something about twenty to thirty kilometres, he was familiar with that measurement, having been schooled in all things Tau¡¯ri in his training. What he didn¡¯t reckon on was his path through the wilderness was fraught with danger. As he moved westward, the icy wind cut through his tattered clothing, and the uneven ground threatened to send him tumbling at every step. He was navigating a steep incline up the virtual side of a mountain when a low growl stopped him in his tracks. Wolves. He fired a warning shot, the sound echoed loudly through the hills. ¡°No, not hills Darlen, these are the mountains we see from our camp in the city.¡± He had started talking to himself a few hours ago. But at least the wolves had scampered, for now. They would most likely track him; it¡¯s what wolves did. It was getting cold. In the year he had been on this rock, the change of seasons amazed him. One day it was warm, it might only be mid-autumn, and then the next day it would be snowing. He had to find shelter and build a fire, otherwise he¡¯d freeze to death and that simply wasn¡¯t in his plans. Climbing higher, he could feel the hunters behind him, they were wary now. At least, near the peak as best as he could figure, he found a shallow cave. ¡°Wake up man!¡± He told himself again. ¡°You damn well grew up in colder conditions than this! You¡¯re getting soft!¡± The night was hard, Darlen couldn¡¯t find sleep easily and when he did, it was a continuous nightmare of the events at the bridge. At one point he woke in a lather of sweat, a feeling of drowning under the weight of a rail carriage. He saw the faces of everyone in that coffin that had sealed their fate. He wondered if Command would be recovering the dead for a proper decent soldiers burial. Before sunrise he was rummaging through his pack for something to eat. Unlike his enemy, the Tau¡¯ri, his belongings weren¡¯t protected all that well from the water. He found one package of biscuits out of four that was dry. It wouldn¡¯t sustain him for long; but then he didn¡¯t expect to be on this journey long. Another day and whether or not he found those women, he¡¯d be close to getting back to the city. He tried to shake off the thoughts of hunger, but there was really no guarantee how far this path would lead directly back to Plaxia. He¡¯d have to hunt. For the fifth time he took his rifle apart, dried and oiled it from his kit; that at least was dry, as was his ammunition. He had twenty rounds; it would have to do. Darlen checked the sights one more time¡­his hands were shaking, a cold snow laced wind blow across the opening of his little cave. He swore he could hear a wolf howling. When he left the security of that dark hole in the rock, he was quite taken aback when he saw how dark it had become. Storm clouds, almost black, swirled around the snow-capped mountains, lightning and thunder shook the ground, Darlen had to steady himself, the drop over the side of the path was perhaps a thousand feet to a gorge below. He hefted his pack, slung the rifle over his shoulder, then began his journey down the other side. An hour later he was back in the relative safety of the woods, it was still cold, but at least it wasn¡¯t snowing. Then he heard it again, that howling of wolves. ¡°Damn it!¡± He knew in the back of his mind they¡¯d be back, and those nineteen bullets suddenly became the most precious thing he ever had. He slid the bolt back silently, slipping the first round into the chamber from the magazine. He prayed to Chenesa the One God that he didn¡¯t have to use all his rounds, then berated himself for even thinking there was a god at all. His Lucian Alliance masters had gone out their way to prove to people like him, worshipping Gods of any kind was for primitives like the Tau¡¯ri. The deep growls of the wolves drew closer, in the dim light their eyes glowed, their dark coats shimmering from low moon of the early morning. Darlen back himself into a thicket of thin scraggly trees that lined the river, the roar of the water five metres below, he could smell their fetid breath. The lead wolf snarled, stepping closer. Darlen held his ground, his breath fogging in the air, waiting for the inevitable lunge. He curled his finger around the trigger and began to squeeze. A thought occurred to him, while he might take one down, the rest would be on him before he loosed another round. What he would give right now for one of those automatic weapons his enemy used. A sudden gust of wind stirred the trees, and in that brief distraction, Darlen took his chance. He slung his rifle, turned, and ran, feet pounding against the frozen earth, parallel to the river. The wolves pursued, their snarls growing louder. He barely saw the muddy slope directly ahead before he was already sliding, losing his footing entirely. The world tilted as he tumbled, grasping wildly for anything to stop his fall. The river¡¯s roar grew louder¡­too loud. At the last second, his fingers found a thick tree root jutting from the hillside. He clung to it, his body dangling over the rushing water below. He looked above, the faces of the wolves looking down at him, saliva dripping from their tooth filled jaws. His heart hammered as he tried to pull himself up, the cracking of the branch filling him with the heat of fear. The wolves had been above him, watching, but unwilling to risk reaching for him. Muttering a curse, Darlen looked for options, the branch cracked again, he dipped a little closer to the rushing water below. For a moment he thought of just letting go; then he saw it, a dark hole in the side of the rock wall, there was a small ledge, maybe, just maybe he could make it. He jerked on the branch just a little, the next thing he knew, he was swinging in an arc towards the face of the rocks, in some strange act of fate, he missed slamming against the sharp limestone and landed hard on the ledge. The wind knocked out of his lungs; he had to grapple quickly to not fall backwards. Then suddenly he lurched forward as he over compensated. His head slammed into a wooded upright that seemed to be part of some man-made construction. Beneath the Mountain Darlen¡¯s last clear memory before his journey was the sound of distant voices echoing through the tunnels. Was that three days ago? He had pressed himself against the rock, barely daring to breathe, straining to make sense of the murmured words drifting from somewhere in his head. He didn¡¯t know who they were¡ªAlliance survivors? Stragglers from a resistance cell? His aching body had refused to go any further. The moment he had let himself rest; exhaustion had claimed him. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Now, he was alone. Awake again. He sucked in a sharp breath, reaching for his head, where blood had dried sticky and stiff along his temple. His fingers found the wound¡ªsplit skin, a swollen lump, and a pounding ache that sent sharp spikes of pain through his skull. He needed to stop the bleeding. Tearing a strip from his already ragged sleeve, he tied the fabric around his forehead, hissing through his teeth as he tightened the knot. His hands were unsteady, his limbs sluggish, but he had no choice. He needed to move. His flashlight was dimming¡­he had maybe an hour before it died completely. Checking his rifle, he pushed himself upright, biting back a groan. The tunnel stretched ahead, twisting out of sight. He had no real sense of direction anymore, but he wasn¡¯t dead yet. That was something. Twice he had to duck to avoid colonies of bats. Further along he faced a curtain of spider web totally blocking his way. He lost what might have been precious hours finding a way around it. He had slipped into a cold and freezing stream and his mood wasn¡¯t improving. Gritting his teeth, Darlen pressed on.
The Cavern The tunnels felt endless. Cate, Morena, and Tyra had been walking for what seemed like hours, winding their way through passage after passage, often doubling back when they hit dead ends. The darkness was oppressive, the air cold and damp. Their flashlight beams cut through the gloom, revealing rough walls and uneven ground, but little else except one small side cavern littered with tiny bones and poo. The bones were from the bats, but none of the girls dared think what kind of predator would live down here, feeding on bats. They moved on quickly. Morena sighed. ¡°Are you sure we aren¡¯t going in circles?¡± ¡°No,¡± Cate admitted. Tyra groaned. ¡°Perfect.¡± The air grew colder as they pressed on. Then, without warning, the tunnel widened, opening into an enormous cavern. All three women stopped in their tracks. The space was breathtaking. Stalactites, long and sharp, hung from the high ceiling, while stalagmites rose from the ground like jagged spires. A slow-moving river, dark and glassy, cut through the cavern¡¯s centre, reflecting the dim glow of their lights. The soft trickle of water echoed around them. Cate had seen caves before; her parents had taken her and Ben to the Jenolan Caves west of Sydney once¡­but this was bigger. More beautiful. The way the light danced off the rock formations made it hard to take it all in. Morena let out a breath. ¡°This is incredible¡­¡± ¡°Not the word I¡¯d use,¡± Tyra muttered. ¡°Where the hell do we go from here?¡± Across the river, three openings loomed. One was a natural tunnel, its mouth uneven and wild. The other two were unmistakably man-made¡­smooth, symmetrical, carved by tools rather than time. They followed their path downward. Three well-placed, flattened rocks formed a makeshift stepping bridge across the water. The air changed instantly; the dryness from before was gone, replaced by a fresher, almost crisp humidity. To their right, a small waterfall cascaded down the rock, its spray catching in the beams of their torches, forming a faint rainbow. Cate studied them. ¡°Well. We¡¯ve got a choice.¡± Morena eyed the first tunnel. ¡°That one¡¯s out. It¡¯s part of the cave.¡± ¡°That leaves the other two.¡± Cate reached into her pocket and pulled out a fifty-cent piece. Morena tilted her head. ¡°What is that?¡± ¡°A coin. Back home.¡± Cate held it up. ¡°Heads, we go left. Tails, we go right.¡± Morena smirked. ¡°You¡¯re flipping a coin to decide our fate?¡± Cate shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s as good a method as any.¡± Morena grinned. ¡°Alright. I call heads.¡± Cate flicked the coin. It spun in the air before landing neatly in her palm. Heads. ¡°The left tunnel it is.¡± With a final glance at the vast cavern, they crossed the river and disappeared into the darkness.
Darlen wasn¡¯t sure how long he had been walking. His flashlight had finally died, leaving him in near-total darkness. He moved carefully, one hand trailing along the rough stone wall, his footsteps slow but steady. Time blurred. At some point, exhaustion overtook him again, and he slumped against the wall, letting his eyes close. It wasn¡¯t long before he woke with a start. Voices. Close. His pulse quickened. Forcing himself up, he followed the sound, moving carefully, keeping his rifle at the ready. The voices grew clearer, bouncing off the tunnel walls. All he had was the darkness and the voices. He traced the wall with his free hand, like a blind man. Then he rounded the final bend; and there they were. Three women. All in mismatched military clothing, standing before a sealed metal door. ¡°It¡¯s welded shut,¡± A tall blonde obviously the leader, she seemed¡­older. Muttered, running a hand over the seam. Darlen stepped forward, raising his rifle. His voice was hoarse but firm. ¡°Drop your weapons. And your packs.¡± They spun toward him. Tyra¡¯s hands curled into fists. Morena¡¯s eyes widened. Cate, however, studied him. She saw what he probably didn¡¯t even realise about himself. He was barely standing. He was weak. His hands trembled slightly, his breath uneven. He looked like a man who had already lost, even as he held them at gunpoint. Cate made her decision. She unclipped her pack and let it drop. Morena followed suit. Then, reluctantly, Tyra. And then, Darlen collapsed.
He woke to warmth. A fire crackled softly, contained within a ring of rocks. The cold of the tunnels still clung to him, but the heat was a welcome relief. And then he smelled it. Food. He shifted slightly, his head still pounding. Cate was seated nearby, working on something in her hands. Morena knelt beside the fire, stirring the contents of a ration pack. Tyra sat a short distance away, watching him with guarded eyes. He groaned. ¡°I¡¯m not dead?¡± Morena smirked. ¡°No. We figured you¡¯d be more useful alive.¡± She handed him a steaming MRE. ¡°Here. Eat.¡± Darlen hesitated, then took it. He lifted a spoonful, the scent hitting him¡­curried rice and sausages. Simple, but right now, it was the best thing he had ever tasted. He took a bite, closing his eyes briefly as the warmth spread through him. ¡°¡­You have beautiful eyes,¡± he murmured absently. Morena blinked, startled. A faint flush crept into her cheeks. Cate snorted. ¡°Alright, Romeo, eat first. Flirt later.¡± Darlen chuckled weakly and kept eating. After a moment, his expression grew more serious. ¡°What happens to me now?¡± Cate met his gaze. ¡°That depends. You were going to kill us, weren¡¯t you?¡± He hesitated. Then, quietly, ¡°Yes.¡± Tyra clenched her jaw. ¡°Why?¡± He knotted his brow. ¡°Because of the train.¡± His voice wavered. ¡°My friends¡ªmy squad. They all died.¡± Morena¡¯s expression softened. ¡°Horgfells killed my brother. He sent my parents to a labour camp.¡± Darlen swallowed hard. ¡°That¡¯s not what we were told. We were told Vegema slaughtered civilians.¡± Morena shook her head. ¡°That was a lie. Until your people came, we never even had a damned army.¡± Her face unreadable if anything it showed only sadness. ¡°We only used the Stargate for trade¡­¡± Silence stretched between them. Then, finally, Darlen spoke. ¡°¡­I want to believe you. I really do.¡± Cate nodded. ¡°Then prove it. Help us.¡± Darlen exhaled. Then, quietly, he nodded. ¡°I need to know more.¡±
He breathed slowly, staring at the fire as the last bite of curried rice and sausages settled in his stomach. Morena was watching him. He didn¡¯t dare meet her eyes again¡­he still wasn¡¯t sure why he had blurted that comment earlier. But he hadn¡¯t been lying. She told him everything, since the day the Alliance arrived and from his own knowledge, he knew in the end, everything she said was the truth. His heart and his mind were now working overtime, that the Alliance was just one big lie came as something of a shock, but when he strung all the pieces together, it made sense. Cate, meanwhile, had finished her work on a small device in her lap. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Darlen asked. ¡°Making a detonator,¡± Cate replied without looking up. Darlen¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°With what?¡± She held up a cell phone. ¡°¡­That¡¯s not going to work.¡± ¡°Not as a phone, obviously. But as a power source? Yeah, it¡¯ll do.¡± Cate smirked. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose the Goa¡¯uld gave your lot EMP shielding on these doors?¡± Darlen blinked, realising what she was about to do. ¡°Wait¡­you have explosives?¡± Tyra, still sitting near the fire, nodded. ¡°I had one pack left.¡± Cate turned and gave her a flat look. ¡°Yes, and you thought ¡®oh I¡¯ll just let it slip I still have some C4¡¯, didn¡¯t you?¡± Tyra shrugged. ¡°It wasn¡¯t relevant until now.¡± Cate muttered something under her breath, then turned back to her MacGyver rigged detonator. The young man had to test himself, he pushed up, wincing as his injuries protested. ¡°If you¡¯re going to do this,¡± he said, ¡°you¡¯d best get moving. It¡¯s snowing outside.¡± Morena frowned. ¡°Snow?¡± ¡°I saw it starting when I was back near the bridge tunnel. It¡¯ll only get worse.¡± Cate glanced at him. ¡°How do you know?¡± Darlen sighed. ¡°Because this region gets buried in late autumn, by the time winter is really here, this whole valley will be buried under snow. If we don¡¯t get out soon, we might not get out at all.¡± That was all the incentive they needed. Cate carefully set the C4 in a bead against the welded seam of the metal door, securing the wires. It wasn¡¯t pretty, but it would work. ¡°Alright,¡± she said, backing away. ¡°Everyone clear.¡± The others scrambled for cover behind a rock outcropping. Cate crouched down, holding the phone-turned-detonator. She took a breath. ¡°Fire in the hole.¡± She pressed the send button. A deafening blast echoed through the tunnels as the door burst apart, sending a shockwave of heat and dust down the passage. The cavern shook slightly, loose pebbles tumbling from the ceiling. As the dust settled, Cate peered through the smoke. The door was gone. Beyond it, a tunnel led upward. Fresh, icy air poured through the opening. Tyra grinned. ¡°That¡¯s our way out.¡± Darlen adjusted his rifle. ¡°Then let¡¯s go.¡± They moved quickly, leaving the fire behind as they pushed into the tunnel. It was hard going; at times Darlen couldn¡¯t keep up. He was still weak and to top things off, even though he had never noticed it, Cate told him his wrist was broken. Not badly, which is why it felt more numb than pain. Still, when he tested it, he soon felt the pain. What else could go wrong? They marched for two hours, all the while heading south-east. Soon they found a well-worn path along the river side, Morena now took the lead, Cate followed, then Darlen. Tyra watched him from the rear, she still didn¡¯t trust him. And ahead, just beyond the opening, the bridge loomed in the early dawn light, at the far eastern end, a dozen Alliance soldiers stood, arrayed as if they expected someone or something to cross, and they had dogs. Darlen exhaled. ¡°They¡¯re not just a patrol. They¡¯re expecting someone.¡± Cate tightened her grip on her rifle. Darlen set his jaw. ¡°I¡¯ll handle it.¡± Cate looked at him. ¡°Are you sure?¡± His eyes were hard and determined. ¡°Yes.¡± Aurora
  1. Aurora
The vast curve of Earth filled the forward viewscreen of the Chekov, a brilliant blue-and-white jewel suspended against the velvet black of space. The station-keeping thrusters of the new Endurance class destroyer, fired in tiny bursts as it maintained its orbit, giving SG-1 a rare moment of quiet observation. "I don¡¯t care how many times I see it," Vala murmured, her arms crossed over her chest, "it¡¯s still the most beautiful thing I¡¯ve ever laid eyes on." Daniel, standing beside her, smiled faintly. "Yeah," he said, his voice carrying that familiar note of quiet reverence. "Never gets old." Sam, positioned near the navigation console, glanced back at them. "It¡¯s different when you come back after a long time away. It always feels like a homecoming." Teal¡¯c inclined his head. "Indeed." A chime sounded through the bridge, and Captain Kovacs turned from his command chair. "SG-1, General Landry requests your immediate presence at Stargate Command." Mitchell clapped his hands together. "Well, folks, back to work. Let¡¯s not keep the boss waiting." Moments later, the familiar golden hue of an Asgard transporter engulfed them, and when it faded, they were suddenly standing in the middle of the SGC briefing room. The transition was abrupt enough that Walter Harriman nearly dropped the stack of red-and-green napkins he had been arranging on the conference table. "Oh!" he exclaimed, steadying himself against a chair. "Colonel Carter, you could warn a guy." General Hank Landry looked up from where he was adjusting a small Christmas wreath on the wall. He smiled at the sight of his returning team. "Welcome home, SG-1. Just in time to help us set up." Vala tilted her head. "A party? I do love a good party." Walter, still regaining his composure, gave her a wry look. "It¡¯s the SGC Christmas party. Less wild, more ¡®paperwork-approved social gathering with finger foods.¡¯ "Oh," she sighed dramatically. "Pass." Landry chuckled and turned to Sam. "Colonel Carter, Jack¡¯s looking for you. If you hurry, you¡¯ll catch him heading toward the base caf¨¦." Sam¡¯s eyebrows lifted slightly. "Thanks, sir. I¡¯ll track him down." As she exited, Landry¡¯s expression shifted to something more serious. "We need to talk about Vegema." Daniel folded his arms, already anticipating the discussion. "What¡¯s the latest?" ¡°You¡¯ll find out soon enough Doctor Jackson.¡± Hank told him. His expression as usual unreadable. Shrugging his shoulders, Daniel added some tinsel to the tree, then wandered off to find Teal¡¯c and Colonel Mitchell.
Meanwhile, in a secure communications room elsewhere in the base, Cameron Mitchell and Teal¡¯c were engaged in a video conference with Colonel Harry Parnell. The man on the screen was broad-shouldered with a roguish grin, the kind of officer who could fly anything with wings and still make it look easy. He had been one of Mitchell¡¯s wingmen back in his F-16 days, and now, he was the commanding officer of the Tau¡¯ri¡¯s newest warship: Aurora. "So, Cam, how soon can you get yourselves over to Arizona?" Parnell asked, leaning forward slightly. "That depends," Mitchell said. "How big of a deal is this new ride of yours?" Parnell scoffed. "Mitchell, it¡¯s a game-changer. She¡¯s got the punch of three Daedalus-class, but with an integrated drone complement, improved Asgard beam tech, and a hyperspace window generator that puts her in a league of her own. This ship¡¯s gonna turn the tide." Cam blinked. "Okay, I understood about half of that. Let¡¯s get real technical. Carter¡¯s not here, so now¡¯s the time." Parnell grinned. "Alright. Modular deployment through hangars, triple-redundant shield grid, secondary naqadria reactors for sustained fire of beam weapons, plus an expanded F-302 squadron bay with mag-cat launch assist. We¡¯re talking first-in, last-out capability." A slight knock on the door, Teal¡¯c opened it to find Daniel standing there. ¡°What have I missed?¡± He asked. ¡°I believe Colonel Mitchell is getting a lesson in science.¡± The big man had a knowing expression on his face. Not one that Daniel could read though. He went back to stand at Mitchell¡¯s side. Cam stared blankly. "...And in English?" Teal¡¯c raised an eyebrow. "He wishes to know if it is ¡®good.¡¯" Parnell laughed. "Hell yeah. You¡¯re gonna love it. And did I say she was huge?" Cam grinned. "No, you didn¡¯t.¡± He looked around at Daniel and Teal¡¯c. ¡°Then I guess we better get ourselves to Arizona." ¡°Indeed.¡± Teal¡¯c intoned deeply.
Sam walked side by side with General O¡¯Neill, she just wanted to hug him, feel his arms around her. And while it wasn¡¯t a secret, they were a couple, on the base it was always business. They¡¯d have their time. ¡°So, how is our girl doing Sam?¡± He asked as he held the caf¨¦ door open for her. Sam sighed. ¡°Great... if we can find her. As far as we know, she¡¯s alive and kicking.¡± Jack smirked. ¡°Sounds about right.¡± She glanced at him. ¡°How did you know Cate would make a great addition to the Stargate Program?¡± Jack leaned against the wall; arms crossed. ¡°I met her dad back in ¡®84. We were both on a joint services staff course in Nevada. Australia was still hoping to turn things around with their carriers, so they kept sending their best pilots to train with us. Will Hamilton was one of ¡®em. Hell of a pilot. One of the best I ever saw.¡± Sam nodded thoughtfully. ¡°Did you ever meet Cate back then?¡± ¡°Yeah, once. Doubt she¡¯d remember. She was just a little kid, running around the base, probably getting into trouble.¡± Jack chuckled. ¡°Like father, like daughter.¡± ¡°He was something of a handful then, would you say?¡± Sam was keen on learning more about Cate, she knew the selection process often fell back to her. It was the one job, apart from the joint command of SG-1 with Cam, she really enjoyed doing and wasn¡¯t about to hand it over. Jack was pensive for a moment, he said nothing for quite a while. He pulled a chair out for Sam and as soon as she was seated, he sat opposite her. ¡°This was his second staff course. A year earlier he was on a local course in Canberra. Will didn¡¯t get along too well with one of the lecturers, so badly, he decked him during a verbal exchange. His navy stood him down for six months to cool off.¡± ¡°Wow!¡± Sam was intrigued. If Will had been in US service, he¡¯d get more than a standing down. ¡°So, enough about the father. I¡¯m more interested in how the younger MacGregor is doing.¡± He leaned on one elbow, that old inquisitive look on his face Sam knew so well. It took about five seconds for Sam to gather her thoughts. ¡°Belligerent, she has little regard for authority. Head strong, reckless. She¡¯s devoted to the people she leads sir, but she doesn¡¯t hesitate to say what she thinks. In a few words, she is difficult.¡± There was another angle to this, Sam had to add. ¡°I couldn¡¯t think of anyone else I¡¯d choose to do those jobs most of us would baulk at.¡± ¡°I think what she is going through now Sam, is going to smooth over some of those rough edges. We¡¯ve made the right choice.¡± He wasn¡¯t asking for an opinion on that, his mind was made up. ¡°Within the next few months, I want her with Ovcharenko on SG-4, whether Cate wants it or not. Make it happen Sam.¡± Jack wasn¡¯t much different to their subject of conversation. Once his mind was made up, he was an immovable object. Sam leaned back in the chair, she mused over a few things that had been said. Knowing him all these years, she knew a lot of his assessment on Cate, was based on himself. Back in 97 when she first met him. She knew he was trying to be objective, and at the same time she knew it was hard for him not to draw on comparisons. ¡°We can only try sir.¡± ¡°Good.¡± He nodded sharply. ¡°Now Sam, I visited Dick Hudson down at the Academy Hospital, he¡¯s doing well, and you can relay that to his crew. But how is ¡®Legs¡¯ doing?¡± ¡°Legs?¡± Sam screwed her nose, what has he been drinking. She had to rub her forehead before she realised with a chuckle what Jack was talking about. ¡°You mean Elle? Where on Earth did Legs come from?¡± Now she was curious. The general gave her an innocent look. ¡°Ahem.¡± He cleared his throat and grinned. ¡°Elle was in Mitchell¡¯s squadron over Antarctica, that was her callsign. I mean you must have noticed.¡± ¡°Noticed what?¡± She thought some callsigns made no sense at all. Jack placed his hand over his forehead, in a typical face-palm moment. He sighed deeply before answering, a flush of heat filled his face for a moment. ¡°You¡¯d have to be a guy.¡± Then it struck her, Sam laughed heartily, now she knew. ¡°Well, yes sir I can see where that might have come from. In answer to your question, she¡¯s doing fine, and I wouldn¡¯t change a thing. The transition from Captain Hudson¡¯s command to Elle¡¯s was as smooth as you might expect. If you¡¯re thinking anyone needs replacing, I¡¯d have someone take over her role as CAG.¡±This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. ¡°That easy huh?¡± Jack already knew who he wanted. ¡°Yessir.¡± Sam told him, her mind following a similar track to his. ¡°Lily Radovic?¡± ¡°Give her a call.¡± He stopped for a second or two. ¡°Didn¡¯t MacGregor take Lily down during a training exercise?¡± ¡°She did sir. If it were live rounds, Colonel Radovic¡¯s F-16 would have been wallpaper in that valley. The gun camera film from Cate¡¯s 302 was¡­ interesting, as was the audio from the flight.¡± Her smile said she was laughing and the only reason she wasn¡¯t laughing aloud was because a few enlisted were wandering into the caf¨¦. Sam looked at her watch, it was 10:00 hours, ¡®Stand Easy¡¯ Jack leaned back in his chair. He thought for a moment they should change their decision. But then he said just barely above a whisper. ¡°Screw it, they can work it out for themselves.¡±
Arizona The roar of the C-130¡¯s engines was a constant backdrop as SG-1 and Jack O¡¯Neill settled in for the flight from Peterson Air Base to Luke AFB. The cargo bay¡¯s usual spartan accommodations did little to encourage conversation. Daniel and Teal¡¯c appeared to be asleep¡ªTeal¡¯c in his usual meditative state, Daniel slouched awkwardly against some cargo netting. Vala and Sam sat near one of the small porthole windows, chatting quietly. Up front, Cameron Mitchell and Jack O¡¯Neill had made their way into the cockpit. The pilot, a grizzled Air Force captain, glanced at Jack with a knowing smirk and offered, ¡°Care to take her for a spin, General?¡± Jack, never one to turn down a bit of nostalgia, slid into the seat with a practiced ease. ¡°Don¡¯t mind if I do.¡± Two and a half hours later, the plane touched down at Luke AFB. The team disembarked via the rear ramp, stepping out into the dry heat of Arizona. A black Humvee idled nearby, an Air Force Security Forces airman at the wheel. The drive took them off the main highway, skirting along a long security fence before they reached a heavily guarded checkpoint. After a brief exchange of credentials, the Humvee continued past a large hangar, cresting a small hill. What lay beyond made even the most seasoned members of SG-1 pause. Resting in a natural valley, the massive bulk of the Aurora stretched across the landscape like a steel titan. ¡°Holy¡ª¡± Cam whistled low. ¡°That is one big ship.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what she said,¡± Vala muttered. Jack ignored the comment, hands on his hips as he surveyed the vessel. Daniel narrowed his eyes at the name emblazoned across the hull. ¡°¡®UNS Aurora?¡¯ Since when do our ships have ¡®UNS¡¯ in front of them?¡± Jack exhaled. ¡°Since they became, you know, not just ours. Forty-plus nations built this thing, and more are signing on every day.¡± Daniel huffed. ¡°Didn¡¯t we build it?¡± Jack turned to him with a deadpan expression. ¡°Nope. We signed the checks. They built it.¡± Vala perked up. ¡°And ¡®Aurora¡¯ because¡­?¡± Jack shrugged. ¡°Honouring our own ancient origins.¡± A new voice cut in from their left. ¡°You¡¯ll want to follow me.¡± The speaker was a petite brunette in an Air Force flight suit. Despite her diminutive stature, she carried herself with absolute authority. ¡°First Lieutenant Candice Harper,¡± she introduced herself. ¡°Welcome to the Aurora. If you¡¯ll come with me, I¡¯ll take you across.¡± She turned sharply on her heel, leading them toward a long gangway that spanned the valley from its rim to the central superstructure of the ship. As they walked, she rattled off specifications in a crisp, no-nonsense tone. ¡°She¡¯s 1.4 kilometres long, 900 metres wide between the two outboard hangars, and stands at 20 metres in height¡ª20 levels in total. Thanks to recent advancements, our power generation space is half that of the Daedalus-class, freeing up room for expanded aircraft capacity and personnel. Rail guns have a higher loading speed, shielding is 50% stronger, and the four Asgard ION beams operate on independent power modules, preventing them from draining the main grid.¡± Cam leaned toward Jack, whispering, ¡°She¡¯s got a gorgeous bu...¡± Jack gave him a pointed look. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t.¡± Harper either didn¡¯t hear or chose to ignore them, leading the group through the ship¡¯s entrance and toward the transport system. The passageways had a strategic, methodical design, and Teal¡¯c noted the defensive positioning at every junction. ¡°Impressive,¡± the Jaffa rumbled. ¡°Any attempt at boarding would result in a kill zone at each intersection.¡± Harper gave a sharp nod. ¡°That was the idea.¡± They stepped into a transport pod, a human-engineered equivalent to Atlantis¡¯ systems. Harper explained, ¡°This is the travelator. Unlike its predecessor, it moves in all directions¡ªvertical, horizontal, and lateral.¡± The pod hummed as it took them down to one of the massive hangar bays. As the doors opened, Cam let out another appreciative whistle. The hangar stretched far beyond what they¡¯d seen in previous Earth-built ships. Rows of gleaming F-302E fighters lined the deck, their sleek profiles unmistakably designed for high-speed dogfighting. Near them, the bulkier F-302G models, purpose-built for electronic warfare, sat in neat formations. Cam¡¯s eyes widened with the excitement of a kid on Christmas morning. ¡°Oh, now we¡¯re talking.¡± Harper gestured toward the massive structure at the rear of the hangar deck. ¡°All primary engines are housed in a single large casing on the stern, allowing through-deck hangars like those found on the Endurance-class destroyers. Currently, she carries 90 F-302s and 20 A/C-402s, but her configuration is flexible.¡± As they stepped back into the travelator, Harper directed them toward the bridge. When they arrived, a stocky, balding redhead in an Air Force uniform was waiting, an easy smile on his face. ¡°Colonel Harry Parnell...Cam long time buddy.¡± he introduced himself, shaking Cam¡¯s hand with familiarity. ¡°Hope you all packed a toothbrush. We leave within the hour.¡± Mitchell grasped his old buddy''s hand with both of his. "Too long, we''ll talk soon." Jack sighed. ¡°You just love saying dramatic things like that, don¡¯t you?¡± That was at Parnell. Parnell grinned. ¡°Gotta keep up appearances General.¡±
Thirty minutes before departure, the USS Aurora stood bathed in the glow of floodlights, a monolithic titan poised for the stars. The valley that had hidden her construction now served as the launching ground for Earth''s most ambitious warship. Within the ship¡¯s command centre, Brigadier General Abe Ellis, former commander of the USS Apollo, awaited the final go-ahead. This was no ordinary vessel; it was Earth''s new flagship, the first of its class. By 2025, she would be one of four Aurora-class battle-carriers leading four fleets, each a testament to Earth¡¯s rising power among the stars. Each fleet would comprise an Aurora-class flagship (BB-320), two Daedalus-class battle-cruisers, four Endurance-class destroyers (DD-100), and up to eight newly designed frigates currently under construction. Supporting them, four multi-role ships could be converted from freight carriers to troop transports or hospital vessels as needed. Humanity was no longer merely defending itself¡ªit was waging a war on its own terms. As launch procedures commenced, the ship¡¯s massive vertical thrusters roared to life. Outside, the desert floor trembled. Dust plumes curled into the air as the Aurora lifted from its anchorage, a behemoth ascending with effortless grace. Ellis and Colonel Harry Parnell stood at the primary observation deck, overlooking the departure. Parnell, ever the easy-going veteran, watched with the same childlike awe as Cameron Mitchell. ¡°The Chekov will be our escort,¡± Ellis informed them, arms crossed. ¡°SG-1, your gear is already being beamed aboard.¡± At that exact moment, a yelp rang out through the comms. ¡°WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY BRA?!¡± Vala Mal Doran stormed into the bridge, waving a singed scrap of pink lace between her fingers. Behind her, a bespectacled civilian scientist¡ªwho couldn¡¯t have been older than twenty-five¡ªheld up his hands in defence. ¡°Technically, the quantum reassembly process¡­¡± ¡°You melted my Victoria¡¯s Secret!¡± The young scientist adjusted his thick-rimmed glasses. ¡°There are no refunds, but I will fix it.¡± The bridge burst into laughter as Vala muttered something in Goa¡¯uld about revenge. Meanwhile, Jack O¡¯Neill prepared to depart. The farewell was brief but not without meaning. He¡¯d leave in an older F-302B, a nod to how far they had come. He and SG-1 exchanged their usual quips, though there was something unspoken beneath it all. With a lazy salute, he climbed into the rear cockpit and was gone. Back on the bridge, Mitchell ran a hand through his hair, still overwhelmed by the scale of the ship. ¡°I can¡¯t get over how big this thing is,¡± he muttered. Teal¡¯c, standing with his usual composed demeanour, observed the tactical displays. ¡°While it is still smaller than a Ha¡¯tak, its space is used with greater efficiency. It would outgun a Goa¡¯uld vessel with ease.¡± Ellis and Parnell nodded in agreement. ¡°As of now,¡± Ellis stated, ¡°we¡¯re taking on 5,000 troops. Infantry, armour, commandos¡ªthe best from every Stargate Alliance partner nation.¡± The roster was impressive: British Royal Marine Commandos, US Army Rangers, Navy SEALs, Dutch Commandos, a Danish artillery battalion, a German armoured division, Australian Commandos, and more. They would be beamed aboard as the Aurora passed over each respective nation, picking up its warriors as she left Earth¡¯s atmosphere. The final moment before departure belonged to Ellis. The general activated the ship-wide PA system, his voice reverberating through bulkheads, corridors, and hangars. All across the ship, soldiers and officers paused in their preparations, eyes turning to screens mounted throughout the vessel. ¡°Many of you have faced the Lucian Alliance before,¡± Ellis began, his voice steady and deliberate. ¡°You¡¯ve seen the chaos they bring¡ªthe terror they spread. They are not an enemy we can ignore. They have designs on Earth, and if we allow them to gain more ground, they will come knocking at our doorstep.¡± The screens cut to real-time images from intelligence reports: planets left in ruin; entire cities razed by the Alliance¡¯s brutality. ¡°This war is far from home but make no mistake¡ªit is our war.¡± His gaze swept the bridge, landing on SG-1. ¡°And we will end it.¡± Across the ship, grim faces hardened with resolve. Soldiers finished checking weapons, sealing gear, and bracing for what lay ahead. Then, the first hail came in. A Jaffa emblem appeared on-screen. It was Bra¡¯tac. ¡°General Ellis,¡± the old warrior greeted, his eyes gleaming with approval. ¡°We stand with you.¡± Three Free Jaffa Hat¡¯aks flanked the Aurora, each carrying 1,000 Jaffa warriors. Mitchell leaned back in his chair; arms crossed with a smirk. ¡°Well, that¡¯ll help even the odds.¡± The ship accelerated, piercing the veil of Earth¡¯s atmosphere. The battle ahead awaited, but for the first time, the Lucian Alliance wasn¡¯t just facing a fight. They were facing the full strength of Earth¡¯s might.
The little bridge As the mighty warship and her escorts leave the solar system, heading toward Vegema at full speed, another pivotal moment unfolds elsewhere in the galaxy. The air was thick with tension as Darlen moved cautiously across the wooden bridge. The quiet thrum of his pulse was the only thing he could hear, every step feeling like a lifetime as the old timbers creaked underfoot. His breath came in shallow, controlled bursts, his mind racing through the plan he had constructed in desperation. The guards at the far side didn¡¯t immediately notice him, their attention on the distant river, the sound of the river¡¯s rush masking his approach. Darlen steadied himself, forced himself to focus. ¡°Casille Bracna, Lieutenant Vienten. It¡¯s Darlen.¡± His voice was hoarse but steady. ¡°I¡¯m the last survivor from the train disaster.¡± The response came swiftly, and not as he¡¯d hoped. The tall man with the scar on his face took a few steps forward, eyes narrowing, suspicion rising. ¡°Liar,¡± the guard spat. ¡°You¡¯re just trying to play us.¡± Darlen''s heart sank. But he didn¡¯t falter. He pressed on. ¡°I swear to you, it¡¯s me. Darlen. With the 47th, out of Plaxia.¡± The hesitation was brief, but it was enough. The guard squinted, then blinked, and recognition flickered. ¡°Wait¡­ Darlen? You¡¯re alive?¡± Darlen¡¯s chest tightened with relief, but it didn¡¯t last. He could feel the pressure rising, the remaining guards still suspicious, unsure. He was five meters away from them now, and that¡¯s when he noticed something¡ªsomething moving in the snow covered bushes behind the group. His eyes darted toward it, and before he could react, a voice called out, cutting through the tension like a knife. ¡°Drop your weapons!¡± The guards froze, turning to the sound, confusion flashing in their eyes. From the dense underbrush, James and his group of twenty young soldiers in white camouflage stepped into view, rifles raised in unison, their movements sharp and decisive. Darlen¡¯s breath caught in his throat as he felt some connect to the young man at the forefront, though he hadn¡¯t met him before. James¡¯s gaze locked on Darlen, but he didn''t wait for introductions. ¡°Now,¡± James barked. ¡°I said drop your weapons!¡± The guards, outgunned and outmanoeuvred, hesitated for only a moment before reluctantly lowering their rifles. The brute with the scar made a motion with one hand, resistance was futile, it was that or death. "Do as he says." The sound was a grunt, a very angry grunt. Cate, Morena, and Tyra, weapons drawn and alert, stepped out from behind the cover of the trees, emerging on the other side of the bridge. Darlen¡¯s heart hammered in his chest as he took in the sight of them, the relief almost overwhelming. He half smiled when he saw Morena had his own weapon in her hands. Cate¡¯s eyes found James across the bridge, the silent understanding between them palpable. It was a split-second connection¡ªno words were needed. With the situation diffused, James turned his attention to Darlen, his tone light but with a touch of surprise. ¡°Looks like you¡¯ve got backup, huh?¡± He glanced briefly at Cate. ¡°I¡¯ll leave it to you, Taipan.¡± Darlen, still shaken, nodded gratefully. ¡°Thanks,¡± he muttered. ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure how that was going to end.¡± Cate lowered her head as she approached him; the young man was much shorter than she was. ¡°Your courage will be rewarded Darlen, I¡¯ll see to it.¡±
Onboard the Invincible: A few hours late she was aboard the Invincible. Cate¡¯s feet barely touched the deck before she was greeted by the familiar hum of activity around her¡ªeverything was as it should be. But there was no hiding the emotion that bubbled to the surface as her squadron mates made their way toward her. Dusty, as always, was the first to step forward, his steady, unflinching presence bringing an instant sense of calm. He offered her a small, but sincere smile. ¡°Good to see you back in the skies, Taipan,¡± he said, his voice steady, though there was an underlying warmth in his words that she hadn¡¯t expected. Cate offered him a soft smile in return, feeling the weight of the past days lift for just a moment. ¡°Didn¡¯t think you¡¯d be happy to see me, Dusty,¡± she said with a quiet chuckle. ¡°I figured you¡¯d have taken over by now.¡± Dusty¡¯s grin faded into something more genuine, a flicker of respect. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t trade it for anything. But glad you¡¯re back where you belong.¡± His hand briefly rested on her shoulder in a gesture of camaraderie¡­no words needed. Behind him, the rest of the squadron gathered, each face a reflection of their shared experiences, and the silent bond forged in the heat of battle. ¡°Welcome back, Taipan,¡± Ghost said with a nod, her tone softer than Cate was used to hearing. Viking¡¯s acknowledgment was a brief, silent nod, but the unspoken respect between them said everything. Batman gave her a wide grin. ¡°You couldn¡¯t stay away for too long, huh?¡± Angel¡¯s eyes met Cate¡¯s, a silent understanding passing between them, as though they¡¯d both survived something that was never meant to be survived. Nugget¡¯s voice was the youngest and most eager. ¡°Good to see you, ma¡¯am!¡± he said, his words full of excitement and just a touch of awkwardness. Cate felt her chest tighten as the last few days seemed to rush over her all at once. They were all here¡ªher squadron, her family. There was no need for words. Her eyes shone with something deeper than gratitude as she scanned the group. ¡°Good to see you all, too,¡± she replied, her voice hoarse with emotion. As the squadron gathered around, the familiar sense of belonging settled over her like a protective shield. They were together again, and that made the weight of everything else seem just a little lighter. But even as they exchanged glances and brief smiles, Cate¡¯s mind wandered to the unknown ahead. The Aurora was still a long way off, and she had no idea what was coming next¡ªleast of all, what Cam had planned for her. Trust Chapter 15 Trust: The Aurora arrived in orbit, its massive form a testament to the Tau''ri¡¯s ever-growing influence in the galaxy. The ship¡¯s arrival had not gone unnoticed. From her position aboard the Invincible, Cate watched the display, arms folded across her chest. Whatever this was about, she doubted she was going to like it. A moment later, Cam¡¯s voice crackled over the comms. ¡°Cate, beam up. We need to talk.¡± A sigh escaped her lips, but she gave the signal to transport. The shimmering blue light enveloped her, and an instant later, she stood aboard the Aurora¡¯s bridge. Cam Mitchell was waiting for her, looking as casual as ever despite the urgency in his voice. ¡°I need you for something,¡± he said without preamble. ¡°When we locate the missing scientists and personnel from the Gamma Site, I want you to lead a team to get them out.¡± Cate¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°No.¡± Cam blinked. ¡°That¡¯s not really the answer I was expecting.¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s the one you¡¯re getting,¡± Cate shot back. ¡°I¡¯m done soldiering, Cam. I need to go back to the surface; make sure Darlen is treated fairly.¡± Cam studied her for a moment, then gave a slow nod. ¡°Alright. But we¡¯re not done talking about this.¡± A short time later, Cate beamed back down. The battlefield had quieted, but the scars of war still lingered in the air. She found Darlen being held under guard, though no one had mistreated him; yet. She wasn¡¯t about to take any chances. Before she could intervene, the shimmer of transport beams lit up the space nearby, and SG-1 materialized. Vala was the first to step forward, a wry smile on her lips. ¡°You always did have a knack for getting yourself into messes, darling,¡± she teased. Cate exhaled. ¡°Not now, Vala.¡± But Vala wasn¡¯t deterred. ¡°Actually, now is the perfect time. You¡¯re making a mistake, you know.¡± Teal¡¯c inclined his head. ¡°You have always fought for those who could not fight for themselves, Taipan. This is no different.¡± Cate clenched her jaw. She knew where this was going. It was Allienna¡¯s voice, quiet but firm, that finally broke through. ¡°You once told me that walking away is easy. It¡¯s staying and fighting that¡¯s hard.¡± Cate closed her eyes briefly, knowing she was losing this argument. When she opened them, her shoulders had dropped in resignation. ¡°Fine. But I pick my team.¡± Cam, who had beamed down alongside them, grinned. ¡°I expected nothing less.¡± She didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°James and Darlen are coming. Morena too.¡± Tyra, who had been hovering nearby, immediately bristled. ¡°What about me?¡± Cate sighed. ¡°Tyra¡ª¡± ¡°No! You don¡¯t get to cut me out of this,¡± Tyra snapped, stepping forward. ¡°I¡¯ve earned my place.¡± Cate hesitated. Every instinct told her to refuse, but looking at the fire in Tyra¡¯s eyes, she knew it was useless. She had already fought and bled beside them. Finally, with reluctance, she nodded. ¡°Alright. You¡¯re in.¡± Cam clapped his hands together. ¡°Great. I¡¯ll have four international SFs join you¡ªone each from Daedalus, Invincible, Chekov, and Aurora.¡±
The team stood in the half-light of the broken street, a circle of weary faces, each one struggling with the same question: how to locate the captives without getting themselves killed in the process. The weight of the mission was heavy on their shoulders, and with each passing minute, the pressure seemed to mount. Cate crossed her arms, her eyes scanning the dark horizon. "We need to get a clear picture of where they''re holding the captives," she said, her voice low but resolute. "But we can¡¯t afford to tip them off. We need eyes on the ground¡ªsomeone who can blend in." Cam shifted, leaning against a crumbling wall. "We¡¯ve got options. We could send a team to scout the perimeter, work our way in slowly. But that risks being spotted." He paused, rubbing his chin. "Maybe we can hack into their comms, see if we can get any intel that way." Samantha, standing beside him, frowned. "You know the comms are encrypted. We could spend hours trying to break through, and by then, they could have moved the captives." She glanced at Allienna, who had been quiet up to that point. Allienna was staring at the ground, arms crossed as she thought it over. "We could try the rooftops, move in from above. It¡¯d be risky, but it might give us a clearer view of what¡¯s going on inside." Cate shook her head. "That puts us too close. If we¡¯re spotted, we¡¯re compromised." There was a brief silence as the team weighed the options. The tension in the air grew thick, and no one seemed to have a solid solution. Every idea carried a risk, and none of them felt right. The frustration was palpable. Then Teal''c spoke, his calm voice breaking the silence. He had been standing off to the side, listening, not yet part of the discussion. ¡°I believe the solution is simple. We send Darlen.¡± The others froze, momentarily stunned by the suggestion. Cam¡¯s brow furrowed, incredulity seeping into his tone. "Darlen? You¡¯re serious? He¡¯s only just switched sides. Less than twenty-four hours ago, he was one of the enemy. We¡¯re supposed to trust him now?" Allienna shook her head, her voice sharp with scepticism. "We¡¯ve seen how unpredictable he is. How can we rely on him for something like this? He¡¯s a liability, Teal¡¯c." Samantha folded her arms, her eyes narrowing. "He doesn¡¯t exactly have the skills we need. He¡¯s not exactly the stealthiest type, especially after what just happened." Teal''c remained unfazed, his deep voice calm as ever. ¡°It is precisely because he was once the enemy that he is the best option. Darlen knows their movements, their habits. He knows how to slip into places unnoticed, how to gather intelligence without being detected. His recklessness may be what makes him the perfect candidate for this task.¡± Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. Cate, who had been pacing quietly, stopped for a moment, her gaze landing on Teal''c. The logic was there, but the risk was still palpable. Darlen had betrayed his allies¡ªjust the night before, he had been one of them, and now they were depending on him to infiltrate his own former group. It felt like walking on a razor¡¯s edge. "I don¡¯t like it," Cam muttered, his arms crossed. "He¡¯s too fresh from being one of them. We can¡¯t just overlook that." Cate took a long breath, thinking it over. She knew the others were right to be cautious, but the truth was, they didn¡¯t have many options. Darlen¡¯s unique position¡ªbeing a former member of their enemy¡¯s ranks¡ªcould give him access that none of them would have. "Teal''c¡¯s right," she said finally. "Darlen knows how to move in ways we don¡¯t. He knows their territory, their tactics. It¡¯s not just about stealth¡ªit¡¯s about what he can hear, what he can learn that we can¡¯t. We can¡¯t afford to turn down the chance." The silence that followed was heavy. No one was fully convinced, but after a moment of deliberation, Cam nodded reluctantly. "Alright, we give him a shot. But one mistake, and we pull out. No hesitation." Cate nodded, her expression hardening. "Understood. We¡¯ll move in once we know where the captives are. Everyone else, prepare for what comes next." She called him over; the young man had no idea what was about to hit him. ¡°Do you understand the importance and the danger that goes with this Darlen? He nodded slowly. They were going to trust him, a small tear dropped down one cheek. ¡°Thank you.¡± He told her quietly. As a group, they faded into the shadows once again, Allienna had a hide out under an older house that was built on limestone blocks, creating a huge cellar for the owners. This particular house had been unoccupied for at least three years, so she knew no one would bother them. Last minute preparations were made, they even gave the former Alliance soldier a side arm, much to Cam¡¯s disapproval. Darlen moved through the city with the agility of someone who knew its every crumbling alley and hidden corner. His boots hit the cracked pavement softly as he slipped from shadow to shadow, always keeping his head down, listening to the faint hum of the city around him. His mind was sharp, his senses on high alert, but the frustration gnawed at him. It was taking far longer than he expected. He paused near a pub, the low murmur of conversation spilling out into the street. He glanced through the grimy window, only to freeze when he spotted one of his old friends from the Alliance¡ªsomeone who knew him, someone who had worked beside him for years. Darlen¡¯s heart pounded as his instincts screamed at him to leave. With a quick shift, he ducked into a nearby alley, pressing himself against the wall, his breath shallow as the figure inside the pub passed by the window without noticing him. He swore under his breath. This was taking too long. His frustration simmered, and he knew it wasn¡¯t just the hours of waiting. His own past, his betrayal¡ªit was all creeping in. He wasn¡¯t even sure why he¡¯d been so desperate to come back to the others, to join the fight, but here he was. He had no choice now but to push forward. Back at the rendezvous point, Morena was already on edge. She paced back and forth, her fingers twitching as the minutes stretched into what felt like hours. She didn¡¯t doubt Darlen for a second. He wouldn¡¯t betray them. He was different now, wasn¡¯t he? But the longer he was gone, the heavier the weight on her chest became. Every shadow felt like it could be his captors bringing him back, and the thought that they might have caught him, that something might have gone wrong¡­ it gnawed at her. Then, as if struck by a sudden wave of realization, her heart gave an uncomfortable lurch. She was in love with him. Tears welled up in her eyes, blurring her vision. She quickly wiped them away, not wanting to show weakness, but there was no stopping it. How had it happened? When had she started to care so much? She shook her head as if that could shake the truth loose. Two hours passed, and Cam¡¯s frustration reached its peak. He slammed his fist against the wall. "I told you this was a bad idea. He¡¯s probably got himself caught, or worse, he¡¯s gone back to the enemy. What the hell were we thinking?" His voice was harsh, tinged with anger and worry. Cate stood in silence, her arms crossed, eyes distant. She didn¡¯t say a word as the tension mounted. Deep down, she had a gut feeling. Darlen had his reasons, and for some reason, she trusted him. He won¡¯t betray us, she thought, though the doubt was harder to silence with each passing minute. Allienna, her patience worn thin, finally looked at Cate. ¡°We can¡¯t keep waiting. We either move forward or we call it off.¡± Before Cate could respond, the sound of footsteps echoed in the distance. They all looked up as Darlen finally reappeared, his face drawn and tired but with that familiar grin. His eyes locked onto Cate for just a moment before he tossed a quick glance at the others. ¡°Close calls, near misses,¡± Darlen said, his voice laced with the kind of weariness that came from too much time spent in enemy territory. ¡°But I¡¯ve got the intel.¡± Cate¡¯s patience snapped. ¡°Yeah, yeah, we¡¯re all thrilled. But where are they being held?¡± Darlen¡¯s grin faded for a split second, his eyes narrowing as if he were just catching up. ¡°Oh yeah. The captives.¡± He rubbed the back of his neck and began relaying what he¡¯d overheard. ¡°There was a shift change at 2200 hours, that¡¯s in about an hour. The people I was listening to were in the Stag Inn. They had earlier shifts, so they were gossiping a bit. One of them mentioned how dreadful the Imperial Hotel was now. She remembered it before the Alliance took over, said she used to travel to Plaxia with her father. That was before she joined the Alliance.¡± He paused, his mind racing as he tried to bring the rest of the details together. Samantha raised an eyebrow, intrigued but uncertain. "How does this connect to the Gamma site captives?" Darlen¡¯s expression flickered back for a second. "She said she was starting to feel sorry for the ''Tau''ri''. That no one deserves to be treated the way they¡¯re treating them." He looked up, meeting their eyes one by one, and his tone shifted slightly, more serious. "I think that was a slip-up. She mentioned the captives without meaning to. That¡¯s where I heard it. The Imperial Hotel¡­Horgfells place of operation." Morena¡¯s breath hitched, but she didn¡¯t speak, her emotions still tangled, her mind focused on the crucial information. Cate looked at the others. "This is it. We move in after the shift change, but we need to be quick. We don¡¯t know how much time we have before they move the captives again."
Getting ready, tucked away beneath the old house Allienna used as a hideout, Cate¡¯s hands trembled as she fitted both wig and uniform. The only wig Allie could get on short notice was red¡­bright, almost garish, and the very shade Cate had worn when she was betrayed in North Korea. Her fingers shook as she adjusted the fit, and a flash of memory crept in, unbidden. That mission, the one where trust had been broken, where she¡¯d felt the cold sting of betrayal at the hands of someone, she¡¯d thought was an ally. The wig settled into place, but it didn¡¯t feel right. A wave of self-doubt hit her. Was this her fate again? To be a pawn in someone else¡¯s game, only to be discarded when the time was right? She shook the thoughts away, but the uncertainty lingered, a gnawing feeling in her gut. Get a grip, she told herself. This was different. Darlen wouldn¡¯t betray her. He couldn¡¯t. But someone else? The thought turned her blood cold. Her team was finishing up getting into stolen Alliance uniforms. Morena, James, and one marine were also in their new attire. The Alliance was so hated on Vegema that even the sight of those clothes caused alarm, the tension in the air nearly visible. Vala caught her eye, stepping forward with a playful smirk. ¡°Honestly, these uniforms are a crime against fashion,¡± she said, waving a hand in mock disgust as she examined the outfit. ¡°Who even thought that shade of brown was a good idea?¡± Cate couldn¡¯t help but chuckle despite herself. Vala had an uncanny way of defusing tension. Sam and Mitchell both nodded in approval. ¡°You five have got guts, I¡¯ll give you that,¡± Mitchell said, his grin wide. ¡°Just remember; keep your heads low, don¡¯t do anything stupid.¡± Cate clutched the false papers in her pocket, feeling the weight of them more than she wanted to. It wasn¡¯t the weight of the paper that bothered her¡ªit was how hastily they¡¯d been made. Would they pass muster if someone scrutinized them? The doubts returned, her hand brushing over the documents again. She wasn¡¯t worried about losing them. It was the risk that they wouldn¡¯t look convincing enough. Darlen interrupted her thoughts by breaking the silence, his voice low. ¡°You¡¯ve got the accent down. If you¡¯re trying to sound like a Gredian, scarily so ma¡¯am.¡± Cate blinked, a little taken aback. ¡°Gredian?¡± she asked. Darlen nodded. ¡°Yes. A race from the Lucian home world. Hated by nearly everyone. So much so, I can¡¯t think of a better choice for your cover.¡± He gave her a pointed look, a small grin playing at his lips. ¡°I¡¯m sure that accent will do the job. Even if it¡¯s a little¡­ unsettling.¡± Cate raised an eyebrow. ¡°Unsettling?¡± Teal¡¯c, who had been listening in, added his own thoughts. ¡°Indeed. Even the false gods were wary of the Gredian. Their ruthlessness is legendary.¡± Cate couldn¡¯t help but laugh a little, the tension easing just a fraction. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll take that as a compliment.¡± As she adjusted the last few details of her uniform, Darlen couldn¡¯t resist a grin. ¡°You sound just like them, Cate. I can barely keep a straight face.¡± Cate gave him a side-eye. ¡°You¡¯d better, or I might just make you wear a wig next time.¡± ¡°Not a chance,¡± Darlen replied with a chuckle, but his expression faltered for a moment. ¡°By the way, some of us aren¡¯t exactly thrilled about me being issued an M4.¡± He gave a slight nod toward the rifle slung across his back. ¡°I know I¡¯m not exactly new to weapons, but this¡­¡± He let out a small, uncertain grunt. Cate glanced at him, raising an eyebrow. ¡°You¡¯re telling me you don¡¯t like the M4?¡± Darlen shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s not that, it¡¯s just¡ª¡± he gestured to the weapon, ¡°¡ªthey don¡¯t exactly fit with the whole ¡®Alliance soldier¡¯ look, do they?¡± Cate suppressed a laugh. ¡°You¡¯re not wrong, but we make do with what we¡¯ve got.¡± Her team was ready now, and as they stepped out into the cold night air, they headed toward the hotel. No more time for second thoughts. They reached the hotel, and Cate stood tall as she approached the guards. Her voice was steady as she presented the false orders. ¡°The prisoners need to be moved to safety. An attack is imminent.¡± The guards exchanged wary glances but nodded. ¡°Understood, Mahjor.¡± Cate¡¯s heart pounded in her chest. The Allies had to expect something like this, but that didn¡¯t mean it would be easy. They had just enough time to get the 130 Gamma site prisoners out before everything went to hell. As they moved the prisoners through the hotel¡¯s back corridors, all hell did break loose. Gunshots rang out as the Alliance soldiers reacted. A firefight erupted, filling the air with the sound of weapons being fired and ricocheting off walls. Cate''s team did what they could to keep the prisoners moving, ushering them to safety with SG-1 and the marines hot on their heels. As the last of the prisoners reached safety, Cate¡¯s team was left exposed. Bullets flew, too close for comfort. It was then that Cate heard the comms crackle to life. ¡°We¡¯ve got your back, Cate!¡± Mitchell¡¯s voice came through clearly. ¡°Move, now!¡± Sam added, just as shots from an Alliance soldier landed dangerously near Cate¡¯s position. The team scrambled for cover, and within moments, SG-1 and the marines arrived, fighting back the Alliance forces to cover their retreat. They had reached an alley that ran parallel to the old Hotel, running north-south. One hundred metres ahead of them lay their refuge, a service entry to the sewerage that ran under the city. From there, a cross tunnel would lead them to the safety of their ¡®Underground¡¯. Cate glanced at Darlen; his face set in determination. Her eyes locked with his, and for a split second, doubt crept in¡­was this it? The moment she¡¯d feared? The moment he would turn on her? But then his gaze softened, the briefest hint of reassurance flickering in his eyes. She gave a small, almost imperceptible nod, and together they with the rest of the team behind them, they ran for it. The Gamma site captives were free again, Allienna¡¯s freedom fighters had proved their worth once more. They had gained a new ally in Darlen, one who would prove valuable in days to come. And Cate, well she just buried a demon that had been haunting her for quite some time. Endgame Endgame: Two weeks after the Gamma site personnel had been freed, Allienna¡¯s freedom fighters were at it again. This particular night was thick with tension as the dim light of flickering streetlights barely illuminated the hastily drawn messages that would soon be passed between the parents, the civilians, and the slave labour across the expanse of the city. Allienna had worked for days, drawing on every ounce of ingenuity and cunning to coordinate an evacuation that was as dangerous as it was necessary. Her messages, encrypted with military codes, had to get through without attracting the attention of the Alliance patrols. Early one evening, she hurried through the dark alleyways of the lower city with a small squad, her senses were on high alert. The weight of what was at stake hung over her¡ªif the enemy caught wind of the plan too soon, it would all be for nothing. ¡°Hurry up,¡± she muttered to herself, her hand pressing against the small pouch strapped to her chest, ensuring the messages were still intact. ¡°Just a little longer.¡± It was the hardest thing she had ever done in her life; leading these brave young people, who should instead be enjoying their last years as teenagers, before the responsibility of adulthood took over. She moved quickly, her body tense with every footstep, but the darkened streets were not as empty as they seemed. A rustle in the shadows. A soft click. Allienna froze, heart racing as a single soldier, eyes sharp, stepped from the darkness. The glint of his rifle reflected in the low light. He hadn¡¯t seen her yet. She didn¡¯t dare make a sound. She held her breath, praying he wouldn¡¯t notice the small movement of her chest, the tension in her body giving her away. The soldier took a step closer, his boots crunching against the gravel. Before he could spot her, a shot rang out¡ªa single, clean bullet striking him between the eyes. The three youngsters of her squad froze, eyes wide. They looked across the street to see smoke coming from the end of MacGregor¡¯s rifle. ¡°Go, Allie!¡± Cate¡¯s voice echoed through the night, low but urgent. ¡°Move, move!¡± Allienna and her team sprinted for cover, but in the chaos, another soldier appeared from around the corner. She didn¡¯t even have time to react as two shots rang out¡ªone in her stomach, another in her right thigh. The pain exploded across her body, and she staggered, nearly falling, but managed to steady herself against a wall. Two young girls who were behind her, reached her first. Fear and panic in their eyes. Her breath came in shallow gasps. She was losing blood fast. The symbiote inside her, typically a life-saving force, struggled to compensate, overwhelmed by the damage. ¡°Allie!¡± Cate¡¯s voice was filled with panic now, but she didn¡¯t hesitate¡ªinstinctively, she rushed to Allienna¡¯s side, kneeling down in front of her. ¡°Go join the others.¡± She quietly told the kids; they were both just fourteen. They hesitated. ¡°Go.¡± She said again, but not harshly. They moved off slowly, weapons drawn, eyes sharp. James arrived just moments after, his face pale as he knelt beside her. ¡°Allie¡­ stay with us.¡± His hand gently pressed against her wound, trying to staunch the bleeding, but the symbiote wasn¡¯t able to heal her fast enough. She was too injured, too far gone. Allienna¡¯s eyes flickered, her usual steely determination giving way to a rare vulnerability. She managed a pained smile, then whispered, ¡°We need to finish this... I can¡¯t stop now.¡± James felt his chest tighten as he looked at her, the weight of her words settling deep inside him. ¡°You¡¯re not stopping anything. We¡¯ll get you back to the ship. Stay with us, Allie.¡± Cate¡¯s voice was sharp, cutting through the chaos, she pipped her radio channel to the Invincible. ¡°Beam us up, now. All of us.¡± The familiar hum of the transporter took over as the world around them blurred, Cate and that small group were suddenly whisked away to the safety of the Invincible.
Elle had the good sense to have them appear in the ship¡¯s huge medical section. Allienna was triaged by a nurse, the ship¡¯s SNO in fact, Major Ruby Forster, a no-nonsense Scottish immigrant who had made the US Air Force her life. She gave the attending surgeon her assessment. Major Mike Jaworski wasted no time in putting Allienna¡¯s injuries into clear terms. ¡°The symbiote¡¯s working overtime,¡± he explained to James, his face grim. ¡°It¡¯ll heal her eventually, but for now, she needs more than the symbiote can provide. I¡¯m going to help that along.¡± Allienna lay unconscious, the pain still etched on her face despite the medical attention. James and Cate stood nearby, watching over her silently. The quiet urgency of the moment hung between them. James¡¯ hand hovered near Allienna¡¯s, his thoughts consumed by her condition¡ªand something deeper, something he hadn¡¯t been able to fully admit until now. Cate, recognizing the weight of the situation, gave James a final, understanding look. ¡°I¡¯ll leave you two alone,¡± she said softly, her voice quiet with the unspoken words between them. Without another word, Cate stepped away, moving toward the tactical command centre, she took Darlen, Morena and Tyra with her. It was time to prepare for the next phase of the battle. She knew James was ready for this moment, ready to take the mantle from Allienna. But for now, he needed this time. ¡°Will she be, okay?¡± Tyra asked fearfully. The older girl Morena placed her arm around her shoulder. Cate was staring out the window, looking intently at the planet below. Her head turned slowly, there was obvious moisture in her eyes. ¡°Yes kiddo, yes she will be.¡± The sudden realisation was on Cate, just how much these people needed their leader. Was James up to the task of filling those shoes? She hoped these last three months had given him the apprenticeship needed for him to do so. There was no one else right now; however, he wouldn¡¯t be walking that road alone.
The civilians had been evacuated, their escape routes carefully mapped out through the dead of night. The signal had been given, and with it, the storm would begin. They waited forty-eight hours, Lieutenant Colonel Hendrik Van Oostelan casually mentioned to General Blamey that today was the anniversary back home, of the start of the allies push back during the Battle of the Bulge. The coincidences didn¡¯t end there, it was winter, and it was damned cold. The old veteran merely shrugged saying. ¡°Make sure they all have extra socks.¡± The A/C402s roared into the skies, sleek and deadly, their engines cutting through the air with the precision of a well-practiced strike force. At the helm of the lead aircraft, Major Alex Briggs USMC surveyed the terrain below, eyes scanning for any movement as the rest of his squadron lined up behind him. "All targets locked," he said, his voice steady, betraying none of the tension that thrummed through the aircraft¡¯s systems. He keyed in the coordinates, sending them to the other 402s that had taken up position as AWACS, the silent sentinels watching for any sign of retaliation. The ground below was a patchwork of crumbling cityscape, dotted with Alliance artillery positions and missile emplacements. With the signal set, the first wave began. Missiles were launched from the A/C402s, their payloads striking with precision, wiping out the first of the artillery sites before the Alliance could respond. The ground shook from the force of the explosions, and the dust kicked up into the sky like a storm, covering the battlefield. "Targets destroyed," came the confirmation from Briggs as he and the others peeled away to regroup. They didn¡¯t give the Alliance much respite. No sooner had the 402s left the immediate area, their smaller brethren, the F302Gs; sleek, fast, and equipped with the advanced weaponry needed to cripple the enemy¡¯s radar and tracking systems. The space-version of the FA/18 Growler had been built for these exact missions, and many of the pilots from those squadrons were Growler veterans. As the F302Gs began their run, they cut through the atmosphere with the speed of a thunderstrike. Their mission was clear: take out the radar sites that the Alliance relied on to track incoming forces, blind their defences, and make way for the next assault. Missiles and precision-guided bombs tore through the air, striking radar towers and comms hubs, leaving the enemy scrambling for answers. Smoke was rising high, a striking contrast to the blanket of white that was now covering most everything. The Alliance, still reeling from the early losses, had made hasty repairs to their infrastructure. Four weeks had passed since the earlier attack on the Tey River bridge, their engineers making it serviceable in ten days, gave them a false confidence and that confidence was now shattered. They had expected an invasion from the north, reinforcing their northern battalions and pushing another division into reserve. Horgfells could not be dislodged from his gut feeling on the issue. The Tau¡¯ri ¡®would¡¯ attack from the North. Simply because as he told one of his advisors, it¡¯s what he would do. But he was so wrong. The Tau''ri forces came at them from all sides. Two battalions had been sent north, mobile infantry and light cavalry and a half battalion of artillery, 155mm howitzers. The Alliance didn¡¯t anticipate that the Tau¡¯ri had brought their own heavy artillery to the fight. Once those big guns roared to life, many Alliance commanders knew this was the beginning of the end. On the ground, in the midst of the chaos, James stood with Cate and the others, coordinating their efforts with the Tau¡¯ri¡¯s air support. Their goal was clear: disrupt the enemy¡¯s command structure and break their lines of communication, forcing them to fight blind. With SG-1 at their side and several senior command staff, they gave the young man their approval to declare war. He looked at them, sweat rolling down his face, despite the cold. The closeness of their bunker making the whole thing feel like a moment in one of the finest World War Two movies. He gave them a nod. "All units, prepare to engage," The ground forces had begun moving, and the tempo of the battle was escalating quickly. As the Alliance shifted their reserves and armoured battalion into defensive positions, they found themselves caught between two forces; their northern push was halted by Tau''ri firepower, and in every other corner, they were met with a fierce and determined allied army. The battle for Vegema had begun in earnest. The Alliance commanders, tracking their enemy¡¯s movements and hoping to press their advantage, soon realised their grave mistake. The armoured battalion they had sent north; intended to reinforce their hold on the city¡¯s northern flank¡­was now rendered useless. All they had faced were light infantry and big guns, more than capable of holding the line, leaving the battalion vulnerable and effectively wasted. They had already lost a third of their northern force The realisation hit Horgfells like a thunderclap. He ordered a hasty retreat, but the damage had already been done. The armoured battalion would have to race back to the city before the full weight of the Tau¡¯ri assault descended upon them. They turned on their heels, engines roaring, as they sped south to reinforce their positions. But it was too late. As the smoke and dust swirled in the air, obscuring the road ahead, the scene fell into an eerie silence. The rumble of tank tracks and engine noise gradually faded as the sun began to set, casting a long, blood-red shadow over the battlefield. A moment later, the ground trembled again¡ªbut not from the Alliance¡¯s retreat. Instead, the shrill scream of F302s cut through the air as they soared in low, their engines screeching in the wind. The F302s dove with deadly accuracy, their weapons raking across the exposed battalion, raining destruction down upon the tank column. The smoke and dust seemed to swell, swallowing the field whole in a thick blanket, just before the aircraft emerged from the haze, roaring low over a road littered with the charred remains of the Alliance¡¯s tanks. The battle had turned. The armoured battalion was no more.
The Price of War; As the F302s continued their relentless assault, the ground troops were on edge, moving quickly to adjust positions. The freed Vegema soldiers, still adjusting to the chaos, were all too aware of the youth of their new commanders. One soldier, a weathered veteran against the Alliance¡¯s earliest conquest campaigns of Vegema, caught his breath as he ducked behind a destroyed vehicle. He was a good bit older than most of the young squad leaders; one of them a barely sixteen-year-old who was giving orders like she¡¯d been doing it for decades. The veteran couldn¡¯t help but grumble under his breath as he wiped a smear of blood off his brow. It wasn¡¯t just the tactical decisions that irked him. It was the fact that, after all his years of service, he was now following the orders of kids who were barely out of school. The tension in the air was palpable, as sniper fire zipped by, the occasional crack echoing across the battlefield. The veteran winced, diving to the ground as a bullet ricocheted off the metal ruins of a nearby vehicle. His squad leader, a teenage girl, barked orders, guiding him to grab sandbags and fortify their position. "More sandbags! Now, move!" the squad leader shouted, her voice cutting through the air with startling authority. The veteran glanced at her, scowling, then at the pile of sandbags beside him. A brief wave of disbelief passed over him before he rolled his eyes and moved to grab them. This was getting absurd. He''d fought through too many battles, seen too many wars, to be sandbagging his position under the command of someone who looked like she should still be at home safely with her parents. Across the battlefield, Cate, who had been overseeing the action with a sharp eye, glanced over at James, who was standing beside her with a wry grin. She couldn¡¯t hold back her amusement. ¡°Guess we¡¯re not the only ones getting lessons today,¡± Cate said, nodding toward the veteran who was now scurrying to obey the teenager¡¯s orders. James smirked, his eyes tracking the scene. He¡¯d witnessed more than his share of strange sights but seeing an old soldier struggling under the orders of a squad leader with pimples and a mouthful of Cate¡¯s gum, was something else. ¡°Well, he¡¯ll have to get used to it,¡± James said, his voice full of dry amusement. ¡°These kids are the real deal. They might just be the hardest crew I¡¯ve ever worked with.¡± Cate chuckled. ¡°If he¡¯s lucky, he¡¯ll still be alive to complain about it.¡± She idly poked the tip of her tongue out to catch a snowflake. The veteran, now hauling sandbags into place with surprising speed, did his best to stay focused. But as the sniper fire intensified, and the landscape seemed to crackle with tension, his gaze kept flickering to the squad leader, directing everyone with cool precision. He shook his head, realising his current ¡®boss¡¯ was not much older than Klare, his daughter. That hit him hard, reminding him, that he¡¯d not seen Eirlys his wife and their only child for two years now. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. As he continued to fortify the position, he caught the sound of a faint chuckle from the direction of Cate and James. ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± the veteran grumbled, half to himself, before he realized they were watching him. Cate and James exchanged a knowing look, then turned back to the battlefield, still clearly amused. ¡°You¡¯ll get used to it,¡± James called out to the veteran, his voice light-hearted. ¡°This is what leadership looks like. And that kid? She might just be tougher than you think.¡± The veteran paused, looking back at his squad leader as she ducked down behind a pile of rubble, checking her rifle. A flicker of admiration passed through his eyes. Maybe these kids weren¡¯t just in charge by chance.
Later that day, just as the sun was setting low in the west, casting a surreal glow over the snowy landscape, the world seemed to slow. The ruined buildings, skeletal trees, and jagged ruins of the battlefield took on an eerie, almost tranquil beauty, dressed in the soft blanket of snow. Grumbles¡ªwho, much to his displeasure, had been unofficially dubbed by Cate¡ªfound himself sprawled out beside his gum-chewing nemesis for the day: Hanna Dewalt, the teenager who had only recently commanded him to haul sandbags. They had been given the task of taking out the Alliance sniper who¡¯d been wreaking havoc on their sector all day. Intel had pinpointed the sniper¡¯s position; St. David¡¯s bell tower, an elevated perch that gave their adversary an unbroken line of sight across the field. Hanna, still sharp and focused despite her youth, was perched behind him, spotting with uncanny precision. Her voice, steady and calm, crackled through the comms in his ear. "Wind speeds shifting, 3 o¡¯clock at 12 knots. Correction¡ªit''s coming in stronger now, 15 knots. Adjust your windage to 2.8 mils." Grumbles, a grizzled 35-year-old soldier with more than a few scars to prove it, reminded himself that for all her tactical brilliance, Hanna could easily be his daughter. Yet here she was, guiding him through the kill zone with the kind of poise and authority that he hadn¡¯t seen in commanders twice her age. He adjusted his aim, his hands steady despite the chill creeping into his bones. The McMillan TAC-50, the beautiful weapon supplied by their Tau''ri allies, felt like an extension of himself. His reticule hovered over the target; a solitary figure in white, hidden in the bell tower. ¡°Give me one more, Hanna,¡± he murmured, his focus locked in. ¡°2.8 mils, Grumbles. You¡¯re good.¡± The wind whipped around them, the faintest hint of snow beginning to fall once again as if the world itself were holding its breath. Grumbles exhaled slowly, feeling the pressure build as he squeezed the trigger. The shot rang out with a sharp crack, its force cutting through the air like a thunderclap. Grumbles didn¡¯t even need to watch the target fall; he knew the sniper would never know what hit him. The body slumped forward, its limbs limp, before it toppled 30 meters into the snow below. Grumbles let out a long breath, the adrenaline rushing through him, but it was swiftly replaced by a certain satisfaction. ¡°You got him,¡± Hanna said, her voice tinged with a note of approval. Grumbles, despite himself, grinned. ¡°Not bad for an old guy.¡± Hanna smiled in return. ¡°I¡¯ve had worse shooting partners.¡± He chuckled under his breath, grateful for the light-hearted moment. His hands still shaking slightly from the long-distance shot, but his pride couldn¡¯t help but swell. As he turned to pack up, he caught sight of Hanna again, eyes scanning the horizon. It wasn¡¯t often that a grizzled veteran like him could learn something from a kid. But today, he¡¯d done just that.
He was formerly Ensel Carmella of the 27th Plaxia rifle regiment, before that woman from Earth had given him the tag ¡®Grumbles¡¯. He laughed at it now, proudly wearing the name like a badge of honour. As night began to fall and there was a lull in the fighting, he was sent to rear for some rest. His hands trembled slightly as he wiped the sweat from his brow. He¡¯d just come from a makeshift med tent, where soldiers were being patched up after the brutal day of fighting. It was the closest thing to a moment of peace since the war had kicked off again. But as he moved through the refugee camp; an underground shelter in what was once part of the Metro System, where civilians huddled together in an uneasy semblance of safety¡­his mind couldn¡¯t shake the thought of his own family. He¡¯d fought to get through the chaos of Vegema, to survive the madness. But it hadn¡¯t been just for victory¡¯s sake. It had been for them. For Klare. For his wife. At the far end of the shelter, where once sleek silver trains would disappear down a long dark tunnel, a small group of civilians were gathered. His heart nearly stopped when he saw her. Klare. She was sitting next to a woman who could only be his darling wife Eirlys . He had memorised the picture of their faces before he¡¯d left; he¡¯d held onto it, hoping one day he¡¯d be able to make it back to them. But now, standing in the dim light of the refugee camp, they were real. Alive. His heart pounded, was he hallucinating? His brown eyes looked over the stained hundred-year-old cream-coloured tiles of the old station; there was still clearly visible an ad sign from just before the line closed down a few decades ago, something about the importance of brushing your teeth. Click! No, he was in the here and now. He looked their way again. He couldn¡¯t breathe for a moment, unsure if it was real. He wasn¡¯t certain he could allow himself to believe it after everything he¡¯d seen, but there they were. His daughter, her brown hair slightly longer than he remembered, a hesitant but warm smile on her face. Eirlys, looking weary but unharmed, her hands wrapped protectively around Klare¡¯s. He took a step forward, then another. His voice cracked as he spoke, disbelief creeping into his words. "Eirlys, Klare...?" The girl¡¯s head snapped up, her wide eyes locking onto his. The moment seemed to stretch in eternity. And then, just like that, she ran to him, collapsing into his arms. "Daddy!" she cried, her voice breaking, and the weight of that single word was enough to shatter the years of war that had kept him going. His arms tightened around her, and for a brief, fleeting moment, the world faded away, his wife slipped into the embrace. There was no war, no destruction, no bloodshed. Just Eirlys and Klare. Just the three of them.
Meanwhile, in the command post near the front lines, Cate and James sat near the comms station, exhaustion etched into their features. Across from them, SG-1¡ªCam, Sam, Daniel, and Teal¡¯c¡ªwatched them closely. It was Mitchell who spoke first, his Southern drawl subdued but still present. "So, how¡¯s Allienna holding up?" James glanced at Cate before answering, his voice steady despite the weariness in his eyes. "When we left, the ship¡¯s surgeon had just taken her into theatre. He assured us both she and the symbiote were okay." Cate nodded. "We won¡¯t know more until we check in again, but¡­ she¡¯s strong. She¡¯ll pull through." There was a quiet murmur of agreement before the conversation shifted to the ongoing battle, strategies, and the next steps. But even as the discussion continued, there was an unspoken understanding in the room. The war was far from over, but every life saved was a victory in itself.
Late that night, in the refugee camp, Hanna had been searching for three hours. The underground shelter was vast, packed with displaced civilians, and every face she passed only deepened the pit in her stomach. She was trying to convince herself that there was still hope when an elderly woman finally gave her the news¡ªher parents had died in the first weeks of the Alliance occupation. She sat down heavily on an old railway seat, the grief hitting her like a physical blow. She hadn¡¯t cried when the war began, hadn¡¯t cried when she¡¯d watched friends die around her. But now, the dam broke. Silent tears traced lines through the grime on her face. Ensel and his family passed by, their laughter quiet but warm in the otherwise solemn space. Eirlys noticed Hanna first, her joy faltering as she took in the younger woman¡¯s hunched posture. She touched Ensel¡¯s arm, nodding toward Hanna before stepping forward and sitting beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "What¡¯s wrong, sweety?" she asked gently. Hanna swallowed hard, her voice barely above a whisper. "They¡¯re gone. My parents¡­ they didn¡¯t make it." Eirlys didn¡¯t hesitate. She pulled Hanna into a firm, motherly embrace, holding her as the younger woman broke down completely. Ensel knelt in front of her, his large, calloused hand cupping the back of her head as he pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. "You¡¯ll never be alone Hanna," he murmured. "Not anymore." For a long moment, nothing more was said. Then, in the quiet, Klare¡¯s small voice piped up, hesitant but curious. "Do I have a sister now?" Both parents answered without hesitation. "Yes."
Welcome Mr Frost: By the time invasion was well under way at 0600, winter had well and truly arrived, the forces from the Aurora fleet land near Restuion, a seaside resort forty kilometres southeast of the city. At dawn the combined armies began beaming down or being dropped by waves of A/C402s. At one point amid the jumble of such a huge undertaking, the tension is momentarily broken by a quip from one of the soldiers: "This feels like that ''Longest Day'' movie." Another nods grimly, adding, "Yeah, this is just like D-Day." His Texan drawl echoing that of his great grandad who had served on that fateful Normandy shore. Snow falls heavily, blanketing the battlefield in white as troops disembark, their breath visible in the frigid air. The Tau''ri forces are clad in insulated combat gear, while the Lucian Alliance troops, ill-prepared for the extreme cold, wear mismatched layers scavenged from their surroundings. The icy conditions make movement treacherous, and visibility is reduced to a few hundred meters. It is bitterly cold, meteorologists aboard the Chekov measure temperatures at near minus 20 degrees Celsius on the battlefield. The initial battle erupts violently as the Tau''ri forces push forward. The Lucian Alliance troops scramble to respond, but they are caught completely off guard by the precision and coordination of the attack. Amidst the chaos, an intense duel unfolds between one of the Tau''ri''s Abrams tanks and a Lucian Alliance armoured vehicle that bears a striking resemblance to a 70s-era Russian T-62 tank. At around 0900 local time, the invading force was now fifteen kilometres from their departure. LAV-25s were moving in quickly, placing troops were needed and utilising their Bushmaster gun to good effect. At around 0916, one of the LAVs took a direct hit from a heavy gun, somewhere at the end of a crowded street. The familiar squeal of tank tracks alerted the allies. A radio call went out. ¡°Bravo niner, this is Tango five, we are pinned down by armour, I repeat we are pinned down by armour.¡± The young Lieutenant gave the coordinates; eight minutes later another set of tracks was heard coming from the opposite direction. Like two mechanical boxers they sized each other up. Then it began. As the two behemoths exchange fire, one of the SG teams watching from cover murmurs, "Did they actually copy Cold War tech?" The answer becomes clear as the Alliance tank fires wildly, its outdated targeting system no match for the Abrams¡¯ superior optics. A well-placed shot from the Tau''ri tank rips through the enemy armour, ending the duel in a fiery explosion. It was over in less than three minutes. The battle spills into the streets, where SG-1, SG-4, and Cate¡¯s team engage in brutal urban combat. They clear buildings, engaging in short-range firefights and close-quarters combat. The sounds of automatic bursts and staff blasts echo through the snow-covered ruins. At one point, an explosion sends debris flying as an Alliance officer attempts an ambush, only for Teal¡¯c to take him down with a well-placed staff blast. ¡°Indeed,¡± Teal¡¯c rumbles as the smouldering body hits the ground. Daniel, ducking behind cover, reloads his pistol. ¡°Remind me never to play paintball with you.¡± Bra¡¯tac¡¯s Jaffa fight alongside the Tau¡¯ri, their combat skills honed by years of resistance. Some wield Earth weapons, others traditional staff weapons, but all fight with precision and determination. Among them are female Jaffa, proving just as deadly in battle. Mitchell hurls a grenade through a shattered window. ¡°Y¡¯all might wanna duck!¡± A second later, a blast shakes the ground. ¡°Boom. Just like F-302 training sims¡ªexcept, you know, with actual stakes.¡± Meanwhile, Cate and her team fight their way through narrow alleyways, relying on cover fire from their allies as they push forward to their objective. The Lucian Alliance forces, though numerous, are faltering under the relentless pressure of the combined assault. James, pressed against a wall, glances at Cate. ¡°We¡¯re not getting paid extra for this, are we?¡± Cate smirks, firing a burst from her M4. ¡°You¡¯re getting paid?¡± ¡°Wait¡­what?¡± James ducks as a staff blast sizzles past his head. ¡°That was rhetorical, right?¡± The hunt for Horgfells begins when at around 1400 an intercepted enemy transmission reveals he has retreated to his Ha¡¯tak, planning to flee the planet. Cate¡¯s team later finds a captured Alliance soldier, who, under pressure, confirms that Horgfells is boarding a transport at a hidden airstrip. With no time to waste, they seize an APC and race toward the location, five kilometres away; they have no idea how much of a head start he has. As they smash through a fence at the southern end of the strip, they see the ship somewhere about centre. James gritted his teeth, knuckles white on the APC¡¯s controls as the Hat¡¯ak¡¯s landing struts began retracting. The massive ship was already lifting off, engines flaring against the cold blue sky. The only way in was the open Death Glider hangar, but the ramp leading to it was fast disappearing. ¡°We¡¯re not gonna make it!¡± Morena shouted over the comms. James¡¯ response was pure determination. ¡°Like hell we won¡¯t.¡± He floored it. The APC roared forward, its tires kicking up dust and debris as it hit the ramp at full speed. The incline was steep¡ªtoo steep¡ªbut James didn¡¯t let up. For a split second, the vehicle was airborne, suspended in gut-wrenching freefall as the Hat¡¯ak continued to ascend. Then, with a sickening crunch, they smashed down inside the hangar, skidding wildly across the deck. Sparks flew as metal screamed against metal. The APC bounced once, nearly flipping, but James wrestled it back under control. ¡°Everyone still alive?¡± Cate asked as she grabbed her rifle, already scanning for hostiles. A groan came from the back. ¡°Define ¡®alive,¡¯¡± someone muttered. The answer came in the form of incoming fire. Alliance soldiers, caught off guard by the audacity of their entrance, scrambled for cover¡ªbut Cate and her team were already moving. ¡°Out! Out! Go, go, go!¡± The firefight erupted, their spectacular landing giving them just enough chaos to seize the initiative. They had forced their way to the corridors, the sound of gunfire echoing through the metal halls. Cate and her team moved methodically, clearing rooms as they press forward. One of the special forces soldiers falls, but there¡¯s no time to grieve. They push on, knowing the stakes. ¡°Leave him.¡± She told James as he was about to give aid. The young man faltered, blinked once and then followed. The ship was large, they soon found that out, as several times they ended up back in the same position. ¡°We should just work our way up.¡± Darlen said, he among them was the only one who had been on one of these vessels, albeit briefly as cargo when his regiment was first brought to Vegema. That got a nod from all of them, Cate adding. ¡°And we should probably split up. I¡¯m fairly certain that we¡¯ve taken care of most of his guard.¡± ¡°The bastard normally has a retinue of about twenty, fifteen guards and five senior officers. I think we¡¯ve taken down about thirteen already.¡± Darlen told her. James chuckled low. The former Lucian soldier looked at him. ¡°What?¡± Darlen didn¡¯t understand Tau¡¯ri sometimes. ¡°You¡¯re counting them?¡± He asked. ¡°Yes and you should. It keeps the surprise factor to a minimum.¡± He couldn¡¯t see the humour, maybe he¡¯d learn. Cate divided them up. James was with her, Darlen and of course Morena and the two remaining SFs. ¡°Stay in radio contact. Do not, I repeat do not engage until you have back up. I don¡¯t want to lose anyone else, is that clear?¡± Collectively she was answered. ¡°Yes ma¡¯am.¡± Even from Morena. Cate¡¯s team split up quickly, each group moving in their own direction. As the sounds of gunfire echoed through the ship¡¯s halls, they cleared their sectors methodically, radioing in their progress. Mark and Ahmed, the two SFs called in. ¡°No time for back up ma¡¯am, two of them caught us unawares.¡± The Brit, Ahmed told her. Cate merely sighed. ¡°Very well, carry on.¡± She told them. Cate and James accounted for one more, then came up empty in their next immediate search area, except for one room. She took a quick look using her ever ready compact mirror. She saw a young woman in there looking terrified. The girl was dressed in the Alliance uniform, it didn¡¯t suit her. She was backed against the bulkhead, looking towards what could be another adjoined room. Cate give hand signals to James, they both drew Zats, remembering their training from Teal¡¯c. One shot stuns, two shots kill and three shots, well Cate kind of figured that one out for herself. Going each side of the door, James got the girl¡¯s attention, placing his finger to his lips. She understood and gave him a signal he understood. There was someone else in the room opposite her. He relayed that to Cate. Everything was practiced, snap decisions. James sprung across the gap between the door and the opposite bulkhead in the room, rolling and spinning, the Zat coming up quickly. It was only a fraction of a second, he saw a big man, an officer. He fired once; the freak just grinned evilly at him. He drew one of those small Alliance pistols, the chamber clicked, to James it was like watching a slow-motion video; behind him he could hear the young woman crying. He dropped the Zat, fumbling for his rifle which lay awkwardly beneath him¡­a crack rang out, a small round crimson circle blossomed on the man¡¯s forehead, he crumpled forward in a heap. James turned he head to the door, Cate stood there motionless, her M4 still aimed, smoke rising from the end of the barrel. ¡°Never trusted stuff we didn¡¯t make ourselves.¡± She said in that distinctive Australian country drawl. ¡°Jesus Christ!¡± James spat as he got up on his knees. Moving over to check on the girl. ¡°You, okay?¡± He asked her. His head turned around, his face hiding a touch of anger. ¡°You are a dangerous woman, Catherine MacGregor!¡± Cate merely smiled. ¡°Yeah, I have been told that once or twice before. ¡°We¡¯re clear over here,¡± James said into his mic, his voice low but tense. He helped the girl to her feet, Cate approached them. ¡°Who are you?¡± She asked gently, she could see she was afraid. Slowly she answered. ¡°Ma¡­Maryl Tuneska. I¡­ am grateful.¡± She said, measuring her words as if the language was difficult for her. ¡°Were you a part of the crew Maryl?¡± Cate gave a hand signal, taking in the surroundings to animate her words. The girl understood. She nodded. There was an issue Cate had been thinking about since the very second that APC bounced into the hangar. If they prevailed, who the hell was going to turn this tub around? ¡°Maryl, you wouldn¡¯t by any chance know how to fly this ship?¡± ¡°Fly?¡± She asked, not understanding the question. James cut in. ¡°Yes, up in the Pel¡¯tak.¡± He made a motion with his hands like someone driving a car. ¡°Pilot? Yes, yes, I do.¡± Her tears were subsiding, a grubby sleeve wiped the last drops away. With that settled Cate pinged her radio. ¡°Sergeants, how we doin?¡± There was a little less urgency in her tone now. ¡°Are we clear?¡± ¡°Confirmed. No sign of Horgfells in this section,¡± came one of the SFs over the radio, sounding frustrated. ¡°We¡¯ve checked everything.¡± ¡°Copy that,¡± Cate acknowledged, but her eyes narrowed, already plotting the next move. Where the hell is he? A crackle of static followed, and Darlen¡¯s voice cut through, the tone in his voice telling Cate they¡¯d found something. ¡°We¡¯ve got him,¡± Darlen¡¯s voice came over the comm, cool and calculated. Cate¡¯s pulse quickened, and she motioned for James to stay close. ¡°Location?¡± she barked. ¡°Pel¡¯tak. We¡¯ve got gunfire and Zat blasts, sounds like they¡¯re in a fight,¡± Darlen responded. Cate¡¯s fingers tightened around her weapon, she knew he was lying. Those gunshots were his and Morena¡¯s. ¡°Stay put,¡± she ordered, glancing at James, who was already stepping forward. ¡°No one engages without backup. Got it?¡± The static on the line seemed to buzz louder before Morena¡¯s voice came through, firm and resolute. ¡°Negative, ma¡¯am,¡± she said, cutting through the tension. ¡°This is our fight now.¡± Cate hesitated, her eyes flashing with the weight of Morena¡¯s words. She knew this was personal for both Darlen and Morena. They had every reason to want this confrontation. ¡°I said wait¡­¡± Cate started, but Morena interrupted, her voice resolute. ¡°No,¡± Morena¡¯s tone was final. ¡°This is our fight and it¡¯s bloody personal. We finish this, together Cate.¡± A beat of silence stretched over the comms. Cate let out a breath, her gaze flicking to James, who was already nodding. ¡°Copy that. Stay on comms,¡± Cate said finally. She knew better than to argue when it was personal. ¡°But be careful. No heroics. Understood?¡± ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am,¡± Morena¡¯s voice was now tempered with determination. With that, Cate motioned to James, and they turned and with Maryl in turn, they began the climb up to the Pel¡¯tak level. Morena and Darlen might just handle Horgfells alone. It would be their final confrontation; and Cate trusted them both to end it. The former Alliance section leader and the auburn-haired young woman had cornered Horgfells on the Pel¡¯tak, exchanging gunfire across the room. It reached a stalemate when Horgfells, realizing their weapons are empty, smirks and tosses aside his own. "An honourable death, then," he spat, drawing his ceremonial sword. A moment of panic sweeps over Darlen until he spots a fallen officer¡¯s blade and grabs it, while Morena unsheathes her long Vegema bayonet. The big man lunges without warning, grunting with the exertion. The duel begins, a deadly dance of steel and footwork. The polished floors reflect the flickering emergency lights, casting long shadows as they fight. Horgfells is a brute but skilled, forcing them back with heavy strikes. Darlen counters with speed, Morena with agility, their movements synchronized. The man was grossly overweight, they knew he¡¯d tire soon, they had only to keep him occupied. The tide turns though when Horgfells manages to land a savage blow to Darlen¡¯s left thigh, sending him collapsing to the floor. Morena screams out in fear as Horgfells advances for the killing stroke; until she reacts on instinct. With a desperate yell, she hurls her bayonet like a spear. It impales Horgfells through the chest. For a moment, he staggers, almost seeming to resist, before collapsing forward. Morena rushes to Darlen¡¯s side, sobbing. Her head then turns to the monster as he lay in his own blood. She crawls across the deck and kneels beside Horgfells as he takes his final breath, leaning in to whisper, "When you finally meet Shai ¡®tan, tell him Morena Cabrara sent you." ¡°Bitch!¡± He uttered as death took him. The war was over. Six days later, aboard the Invincible, Cate stands on the bridge, hands behind her back. If there was anything good to have come from this, it was two things. James was granted a full discharge and after some negotiation, installed as Earth¡¯s Ambassador to Vegema. Secondly a training program was to be set up as Earth agrees to train thirty young pilot cadets from Vegema, the first of many. Among them is Tyra. They watch Vegema shrinking in their view before the hyperspace jump, Cate turns to Tyra. "Four years is a long time to be away from home. You okay with that?" Tyra looks up at her, determination in her eyes. "Will I see you there? The Alpha Site?" Cate smiles faintly. "From time to time." Tyra nods. "Then four years will be worth it." As the stars stretch into infinity, the Invincible vanishes¡ªonward, to whatever awaits. And to Cate¡¯s destiny.