And Now for Something Completely Harebrained

Posted on Mon Feb 25th, 2019 @ 2:40am by Major Jacob Asher & Staff Sergeant Jeremiah Corvus & Civillian Shae & Civillian Dr. Jessica Andrews & Master Sergeant Jamal Hassan & Technical Sergeant Anthony Mantelli
Edited on on Mon Feb 25th, 2019 @ 3:23am

Mission: A Brand New Day
Location: Planet Hen Da Ye Huihe (Very Big And Round)
Timeline: Current

Jake stood at the foot of the ramp leading up to the Stargate with Shae, Hassan, and Mantelli and waited for the others to show up. He'd helped Shae get herself geared up and it seemed she felt pretty comfortable. She seemed to understand the comms pretty well after only a little instruction. He put his attraction to and affection for the young woman out of his mind for the moment, both in order to focus on the job in front of him and because he knew it made her uncomfortable. He figured he'd give her a little time to figure out her own feelings and just be present as her friend and team leader.

Shae was in her regular clothes of threadbare woolen garments and fur pelts; since the place they were going was nowhere near as cold as Lethuan, she had left many of the extra layers behind in her room, but she still wore the cloak so she could draw up the cowl to hide her hair, which was braided back and tucked away. Now, she was simply trying to figure out where to hide all the new gear she had been given, a device for communication over distance, a new GDO to open the iris, and a really nice combat knife that put her blades to shame; Asher had even suggested that later she could try to learn to use the Tau'ri weapons, or even a 'modern' bow, but for now she was content with her familiar bow.

"The people on other worlds will not know what your weapons are, and your clothing will be quite strange to them as well, so it would be best to try to conceal it. I asked your 'qua-ter-master' person if he can find some cloaks, I believe I see them here," Shae said as she approached the wheeled machine loaded with supplies.

"Good idea," Jake said. He situated his weapons so he could get to them easily under the provided cloak and then put on the cloak. "How do I look?" he asked Shae, a smile in his voice. "Am I the height of fashion?"

"You look like you're hiding a second person under your cloak, and you do look very tall," Shae answered bluntly.

Jake laughed. "That sounds about right." he said. He turned to Mantelli. "Tell the control room to dial it up, then you send the MALP through while we're waiting for the others."

Mantelli nodded then called the control room on his comm. The gate started moving and Jake led Shae off of the ramp and far enough away from the gate that they wouldn't be vaporized by the wormhole effect.

When the gate was open, Tony guided the MALP through. It was night on the other side of the gate. The night vision camera didn't pick anything of any note up.

Jake keyed his mike and called the control room. "Launch the UAV mounted on the MALP. Try to stay high enough that it won't be heard. It's night time over there, so if they don't hear it, they may not see it either. Get me thermals for the surrounding area." Jake turned to Shae. "The place where we'll find the governor, how large a settlement is it? Village? Town? City?"

Jeremy came to the Gate room on a light jog, having showered and redressed for duty. It was weird, that as he jogged down the halls with a full pack and full gear, people just moved out of the way and continued on their business. Even on other military bases, someone dressed like him and running would have caused some notice, at the very least. But not here.

He felt slightly better after their last, and final, mission brief but there were still issues that he had to consider. But, coming into the room, he came to a complete stop. On his 'grand tour' he got to go to the control room and look down on the room, with the Stargate deactivated and the Iris closed. Now, the Iris was open and the Gate was active and it was....beautiful.

He slowly walked forward, his eyes only on the Gate. The center was aglow with...he didn't know what it was. The closest he could come to thinking about it was like someone had found a way to pour moonlight into a dish and then turn it on its side. The glow of it light the room, but he still felt it should be reflective, or maybe it was and all it reflected was just the purest, most noblest part of whoever stood before it. His family was agnostic, for the most part, but standing here, at the bottom of the ramp and looking at the Stargate, he could almost believe it was the benevolent, loving eye of God. He bowed his head for a moment, ripping his gaze away from the mesmerizing ripple effect and worried. "Am I worthy?" he whispered to himself. For the first time, the normal pre-mission nerves flared into full on knotted stomach.

He hoped he wouldn't puke from the majesty and mystery of what he was about to do.

Drawn like a moth to a flame ... or any redblooded American male to Andrews ... Jeremy continue up the ramp. If his CO or anyone else said anything to him, he was deaf to their voices at the moment. Here was proof of the majesty of the universe, the indomitable will of the mind that thousands of years ago, tens of thousands maybe, someone was able to create this technology. A self contained, stable wormhole directed as desired. His stomach knotted tighter as he came within a step of the liquid moonlight that was the Gate and he stopped, raising one hand and, quickly removing his glove and stowing it in a chest pouch, he reached out, wanting to savor and know that first moment. That singular, can never do over again moment where he touched the divine. He felt excitement, trepidation, fear, wonder and, for a moment, he felt himself suffused with noble purpose as he slowly reached forward toward the Gate, wanting only to know that moment when he became one with the universe.

Jessica got a wicked grin and walked up behind Jeremy as he moved towards the gate, she reached her head near his ear. "From this moment. You will never... ever be the same again. But that's not a bad thing... Jeremiah Corvus." She grinned and pushed him into the gate. "Last one there is a dirty fox." She chuckled as she took the plunge.

Meanwhile Shae and Jake were observing the feed from the MALP and UAV on a tablet, which quite thoroughly held Shae's attention. "It is a trade town, so it is quite large. Here, you can see the light of the lanterns," Shae pointed out on the video from the UAV. Then she noticed Jessica push Jeremy into the event horizon of the gate. "Oh my! Jessica, he does not know what is on the other side, what if he is hurt!" Shae called out.

To be honest, Jake was a little jealous, but that's not why he spoke up. "Shae, two things. One, Corvus is, all evidence to the contrary, a trained professional. My government has spent a lot of money preparing him for a really dangerous job. At this point, he can either do that job, or he can't. Here's where we're going to find out." Jake looked at Tony and Jamal. "Go through and make sure those two don't get killed." Then he keyed his mike. "Send Captain Johnson through as soon as he gets here."

"Sir, Captain Johnson has been stood down. There's something else they want him to take care of. They're advising Sergeant Hassan lead back up. They're sending O'Connor to join you."

Jake frowned then looked over his shoulder and saw that Staff Sergeant Rhiannon O'Connor was suited was, in fact, going to join them. "Sergeant. Well, grab a cloak and go join the guys and Doctor Andrews," Jake said. He looked at Shae. "Well, let's go. After you."

"I guess you're right," Shae said with a shrug, then grabbed a couple of the cloaks from the supplies to give to Jess and Corvus on the other side. Well accustomed to gate travel, she strode right through without a moment's hesitation.

Jake stepped through the gate. He still had the tablet that controlled the UAV with him. When he got through, he called everyone over to him and motioned them to huddle over the tablet.

"Okay, Caleb is being given something else to do," Jake said. "Jamal, that leaves you, Tony, Jeremiah, and Ree to haul our asses out of the fire. You good with that?"

Jamal nodded. "Yessir," he said. "I could do it with just Tony and Ree if you want to take Corvus with you."

"No, keep him. I want to see how he handles a covert rescue before I take him into something like this," Jake said. "Besides, Corvus has a huge crush on the Doc, so I know he'll be willing to do something really stupid to rescue her, and in the process, me as well. Okay, this looks like the trading town. It's fairly large, as you can see. That, which I don't need to even use this thing to point out, because we can see it from here, is what I'm assuming is Shang Ti's ship. Shae, can you tell from these images which building is the governor's residence? It's night time so I assume he'll be there."

"I don't..." Jeremy said to the person standing next to him and was so very glad it was night. But, that didn't mean his glowing red face wasn't still visible. "I don't have a crush on the doctor." He said, then gave a glare to the Major that proved looks couldn't kill...no matter how much effort you put into it. "Oh, holy grail, I'm going to enjoy this. Major," he called out, making sure he can get their attention while pulling into one of the large pouches on his waist. "I need you and Andrews over here, pronto." Then closing his eyes he added, "Sir."

"Oh, I just know I'm going to love this," Jake said. "Whatcha got for me, Sergeant."

Ree tried really hard not to snicker. She'd help Corvus set this up, but she never thought she'd be here to see it! Sometimes she loved her job!

Jessica walked over and folded her arms. "Hmm?" She gave a hum of attention.

"Our encounter with Shae last night...the...well, y'know what happened, but it got me thinking after you announced your plan. I thought there's a more foolproof way to help track you." He held up a couple syringes. "RFID locators. The UAV has a signal receptor that's good to within a meter through 30 foot of rock. In short, Major, we can microchip you."

Shae looked up from the tablet, having glanced at it in an attempt to answer Asher's question, but then Corvus began spouting some gibberish she couldn't understand and he was holding some needles, big big needles, not like the small and relatively painless needle he had used to draw her blood.

"I have decided that I do not like the look of those pokey things," Shae stated, then returned her attention to the tablet. "Here, I recognize this street; it was hard to identify from so high, but I think this is the governor's residence. I can escort you there and make an introduction, but you're on your own after that," she said, handing the tablet back to Asher, showing him the street.

"That was our arrangement, Shae," Asher said. "And I mean to keep my end of it. Just remember to use that GDO so they'll open the iris for you and don't go through until you get the response that tells you it's open."

"I understand," Shae replied.

"Now, Sergeant," Jake said. "I assume you are about to take great pleasure in stabbing me in the ass with one of those?"

"At least then you'll finally have a reason to call me a pain in the ass." he said around one of the needles as he pre ripped an antiseptic swab. "Sir," he added after a deliberately delayed pause. "So go ahead, drop trou and lean against the cart."

"Be thankful I didn't have red beans and rice for dinner, Sergeant," Jake said, following instructions. "Or this would be as unpleasant for you as it is going to be for me."

Ree discretely leaned over to sneak a peek while Jeremiah did his work. Not bad. Not bad at all. Sucks that he's an officer. Oh, well...

After giving the bare cheek a good swab, Jeremy, noticing Ree leaning over tapped next to his bodycam, drawing attention right to it and hoping it was an universal a signal as he thought it was. "Okay, Major you're going to feel a little...oh to heck with that..." right as he jabbed the syringe into the fleshy part of the glute. Depressing the plunger that released the RFID chip as well as a gel that would harden around it, keeping it in place for the duration of their mission, he then pulled the syringe out and automatically looked for the sharps container in the same pouch. "In my medical opinion," Jeremy said, not sure if he was pushing the boundaries of his luck or if he was still feeling the adrenaline high from coming through the Gate, "You could use laying off the red beans and rice for a bit and maybe lay off skipping the leg day for a bit."

Ree, being quick on the uptake, got the whole thing on camera.

"Ouch!" Jake said. "Your bedside manner could use a little work, Crow Boy." Jake pulled up his pants.

Next it was Jessica's turn. Ree did her shot. If she didn't get to feel up the Major's ass, then Jeremiah didn't get to fondle the Doc's buttocks.

"Okay, Doc," Ree said, after the injection was done. "All set."

"You're having way too much fun with this. You do realize that I can find you with or without your tags."

*If I stay silent, maybe she'll forget about tagging me.* Salara chimed in.

'Don't give her ideas, find the device in my person and remove it please.'

"Okay," Jake said, picking up the tablet. "Gather round one more time. We're going to march to this point. We'll dump our packs, load up with what we can carry, and conceal our packs. Jessica, Shae, and I will proceed to the governor's house. Jamal, you and everyone else will wait here. When they move us, you will adjust position accordingly and start planning how to get us out if we aren't out in...Jessica? How long should we give Shang Ti to agree with us and let us go before Hassan and the others come charging in for the rescue?"

Jessica spoke. "Now, one last important detail. This is a goa'uld world, and I have a cover identity just for when I need to snoop around here. I am known as Irina here, and my occupation is a mercenary who works for the highest bidder, usually for the system lords. But in reality, Irina's purpose is to stoke rivalries between rival lords. I'm going to approach Shang Ti on contract with the Major here as an intermediary. Now, you stand by, tour the markets, and don't cause any trouble. Remember, you're merchants."

"STOP!" Jake said. "You've had ample opportunity to tell us all of this, and you didn't. I am not sending everyone in there with no exit strategy. If you want, mercenaries, I'll be your army of one, to quote the dog soldiers, but Hassan and the rest of the team are going to stay out here, because while you may enjoy getting in over your head with no back up plan, I don't and, oh yeah, I'm in charge!"

Jake settled himself down.

"Look," he said. "I'm happy to listen to whatever you have to say, but you have to share with me before you start giving out orders. You're not flying solo anymore. You're part of a team, a team that has a leader that isn't you. A team with a leader that wants and needs all of your advice, but the ultimate responsibility for deciding what we do is mine. Are we clear, Doctor Andrews?"

"I believe you've spoken loud enough for everyone to hear, Major." Jessica mentioned.

While the Major was ensuring the efficacy of the chain of command, something extremely important on a mission like this where failing to follow a singular command chain could, and has, cost lives, Jeremy did what he was supposed to do. No operator would go into the field with untested equipment or gear. Murphy, being the bas-person of questionable parentage that he was, was always omnipresent and counting on 'should work' wasn't good enough for them. He took out his tablet from it's cargo pocket and connected the tracking program with the UAV. The geekboys at the base told him he should be able to get a clear connection to the UAVs onboard wireless servers for up to a mile, depending on terrain. Here, this close, it was an easy connect.

He glanced over the data, checked the GPS indicator was functioning and...

"Ah, holy grail!" he muttered. "Major," he said, stepping forward carefully, looking around him and then back at the display. "We seem to have a problem with the locators. One seems to working well the other..."

He stopped and looked at the ground. Squatting he picked up a small device, not larger than a grain of sand with a pulsating red glow. "Is right here."

Jake shook his head. "Really? Okay. Well, if we lose track of you then, that's on you. In the interests of team cohesion, I'll give you 30 seconds to convince me your plan is better, and lower risk, than mine, you know, the one we came up with yesterday that you didn't object to at the time."

"Good day, Major." She began walking towards the gate and began dialing an address for the Tok'Ra homeworld.

"There is a reason I don't reveal everything. I have my secrets too, major. I am fighting these enemies too, and I am fighting for Earth. I am operating on the same need-to-know basis you run on. I've spent the last four years fighting this enemy, if necessary, I will find other allies than the Tau'ri to save your world for you. I didn't give you technology for space ships because I don't want Earth building an empire to take the the Goa'uld's place. I didn't give you all the gate addresses I know of because I don't want the air force sending nukes to every gate on the gate network. Good day, Major. I hope we meet under better cicumstances." She pushed the center orb.

"Fuck you, Doctor," Jake said. "I have absolute need to know if you're going to be on this team. If we have to abort this mission and go back through the gate empty handed, the General will kick you off of this team and every other team. You were warned. You were told very clearly that if you wanted to work with us, you would have to obey my orders. So start obeying them. One of those orders was to either do things my way to give me a good reason to change my mind. Do that, or hand over your GDO. And I mean now."

Jake raised his carbine and pointed it at Jessica. Hassan and Mantelli moved so they wouldn't hit Jake or each other and did the same. After a moment, so did O'Connor.

"I gave you and order, Doctor," Jake said. "Obey it or hand over your GDO. If you don't, we'll take from you because if you won't follow orders, you're a threat and I can't let you back through that gate."

Everyone held still for a moment.

"Jessica," Jake said. "Don't be a stubborn idiot. You're part of a team. That team is supposed to work together. You're not a solo operation anymore. We're here to support not just you, but each other. We came up with a plan yesterday. You didn't object. Today you objected in a totally unacceptable manner, and still, despite your gross insubordination, I'm giving you a chance to explain your plan to me in a way that makes sense to me. Think it over, but think it over quickly. Are you part of the team? Or are you our enemy? You can't have it both ways."

"Very well Major, what do you want to do first?" She shut down the gate. It wasn't over, she was letting the Major make his own mistakes.

During the standoff, Jeremy, confused and angry at the same time moved himself, but he moved to block Shae so stray gunfire would have to hit him before it came to her. "What the hell are you two doing?" he said, angry enough that the word just slipped out unbidden. "Is this the way we're supposed to work? Pointing guns at each other!? Didn't we learn already how bad that was yesterday? Major..." he shook his head, not sure how to not be insubordinate and continue his thought. "She's not military and won't respond to strict protocol." He turned to the doctor. "No matter how good you are, you're not good enough otherwise you wouldn't have stayed here this long. You came to us because you need us, we need you. Nobody asked for all your secrets, nobody asked for all the tech and sure as hell ain't nobody wanting to nuke all the gates!"

"Now, this is my first time on an alien world and the both of you are ruining the experience by acting like spoiled brats! We check our prima donna attitudes now and remember that the only 'I' in team is found in the A-HOLE!" He glared at both of them, shaking his head. "To think I looked up to both of you," he finally muttered, turning away and gathering his gear. This was the planet he would die on and it would come because egos were clashing.

"And yeah, Major, I'll submit myself for disciplinary after we're done here, assuming any of us survive ourselves."

"Eh," Jake said. "You're not wrong. Okay, Doctor, will you please explain your plan to me so I can support it? I would like very much for us to work together on this. If you have a better plan, I'm happy to hear it. But we don't know each other well enough yet for me to risk everyone's lives on a plan you didn't bother to share with me until after we'd closed the subject. So, I'll hear you out. I promised you a little while ago that I'd do that and like I told Shae here, I keep my promises to my friends and my teammates. If you'll be at least my teammate, if not my friend, though I hope one day you'll be that, too, I'll keep my promise to you. But I can't read your mind. I can't hear you out if you won't talk to me. So please, Jessica, talk to me. Share your idea and let's work together to come to an arrangement that works for both of us."

Shae had been about ready to toss them her GDO and dial back to Lethuan, and probably would have if the tall Medic hadn't advocated for cooperation. 'Well at least someone here has some sense!' she thought to herself, and was relieved that Jake was willing to give Jess a chance to explain her plan. However, Jess had already proven herself to be Tok'Ra through and through by springing her plan on them at the last minute, and though Shae worked with the Tok'Ra from time to time, she really didn't like they way they operated, they were far too willing to use people in a way that made them uncomfortably similar to the Goa'ulds, which was why she had never joined them in any formal or permanent capacity.

"Everyone, shut up! I think I heard something..." Shae said quite suddenly, ripping her hood off and allowing her ears to shift back to their original vulpine state to improve her hearing. Her ears stood tall and swiveled to catch every little sound. "Remember those patrols I warned you about? I'm pretty sure I hear heavy boots and armor, so it's fairly likely that a patrol is on its way through. If we're going to do this, then we need to do it now before they come close enough to see us."

"You heard the lady," Jake said. He looked at Jessica. "We march to the point I indicated outside of the town. We ditch whatever we don't need and conceal it. Then we decide what to do next. That's the best you're going to get at the moment. Shae, lead the way. Tony, Ree, guide the MALP into those big bushes over there and cover it up, then catch up. Let's go. Shae, then me, then Jessica, then Corvus, then Hassan. No more bullshit please. It's go time. Your show, Shae. Lead the way."

"Right," Shae replied, then started down the path. The path was well worn and easy to follow in the moonlight, especially with her eyes, and she maintained a cautious pace, glancing back to ensure that she was being followed. She stopped when she came to a fence post enclosing some farmland and surrounded some high grass that should provide adequate cover for their gear. One by one they filed in behind her and she gestured for them to remain low while she listened for the patrol. She could just barely see them passing through in the dark, and once she could no longer hear them, she issued a sigh of relief and shifted her ears so she could draw her hood back up. "Okay, I believe we are good to proceed now," Shae said. "The walk past the farmland should be ample for the two of you to work out a plan that satisfies you both," she said with a hint of disgust in Jess' direction, then she dropped the cloaks she had been carrying and started walking, not waiting for them to finish unburdening themselves of their gear.

"Safe journey, Little Fox," Jake said softly. He was immediately embarrassed because he realized her hearing was probably a lot better than his and she might have heard him use a term of endearment before they'd really gotten to know each other. Then he shrugged. Nothing he could do about it now. Jake took off his cloak, then his pack. He transferred what he could carry comfortable on his person and then hid the rest with the other packs. The others did the same and were soon ready to move. The only remaining question was who was moving where?

"Okay, Doctor," Jake said. "Moment of truth. I am uncomfortable playing all of our cards at once by walking the whole team in there and having us all disarmed. My way, more than half the team keeps their weapons and can take action to retrieve us if things go badly. You're way, as far as I can tell, we're completely and truly rogered if things go sideways. If I'm missing something, explain and do it right now, or we do things my way. Start talking."

Jessica sighed. "I've had a few aliases. One's I've used in the past to stir up discontent with the system's lords. I could use one to meet with Shang Ti and make the introductions more smooth. I'd prefer to go under an alias in case I may get recognized by Shang Ti's first prime. One of my covers was a mercenary I've previously used to cause trouble for Ba'al."

"Well," Jake said. "Shae is on her way to introduce us to the governor now. But let's catch up to her and tell her to use your alias. I'll go in as your hired gun, for now. Jamal, you, Tony, Corvus, and O'Connor set up here. Tony, use the UAV to keep track of...well...me, since the doctor somehow shat out her RFID locator. If we're not back in, say...eight hours, or if we call for help, come get us if you can, otherwise unass this area, hightail it back to the gate, report in, and let the General decide what to do next. Alright, Doctor, let's go catch up to Shae."

The two of them jogged and caught up to Shae. "Jessica wants you to use a different name for her when you introduce her. So introduce Jess as Irina, and let her figure out how to explain me. As I promised, once the introduction is over, you are free to return to the SGC. You're free to go wherever you want, but I would consider it a favor if you returned to the SGC."

[Team B]

"He wasn't serious?" Jeremy asked the others after they'd been waiting ten minutes. "About leaving them behind?" The cut across every bit of training and experience he had. Team members were not left behind. Their entire existence in AF specops was to go in and get people out, not take a leisurely stroll and then leave others in danger. "I mean, I keep getting conflicting information around here, but surely that was meant to be a joke, right?"

"The major has a sense of humor," Tony said. "But he's not kidding about that. He doesn't want us to commit suicide trying to get them out."

"We're not going to leave them behind," Jamal said. "But getting ourselves killed trying to effect a high risk rescue with little chance of success won't help them. If we can get them out, we will. If not, Corvus and I will stay here and monitor the situation, while Tony, you and Ree head back to the gate and report in, and ask for reinforcements."

"Copy that," Ree said. Tony said the same.

"Copy, Sergeant," Corvus said even as he frowned. "I've got a lot to learn here," he muttered to himself as he sat back and stared up at the night sky, seeing stars that he'd never seen before and, he was pretty sure, there was a stellar nursery close enough to this planet that he'd be able to see it with his naked eyes. If that was the case, he intended to break out the binoculars. He smiled to himself. He was on another FRIKKEN PLANET! And right up there, in the dark firmament, was the proof of it. Normally he'd try to catch some shut eye with downtime like this, dozing just enough to get rest but not so much to be oblivious in case of attack. But...he wanted to just stare at the sky and soak in the alienness. Maybe, if he were lucky, there would be meteors as well. Or he'd see Haley's comet from a different angle. Who knew? "I never want to get used to this."

[Team A]

"Very well," Shae said, then without another word she led them into the town. The streets were narrow and by now most of the shops were closed, but there was one vendor still open, a noodle shop, and the owner made Shae smile with his persistent calls to tempt them over to his stand. She carried on, although the scents wafting out were certainly tempting!They finally made it to the governor's residence, and after ringing the bell they were let in by a guard. Bowing to the man, Shae exchanged some words with him, the language reminiscent of Earth Mandarin, and after a moment they were allowed in.

"His speech like this... Ano, Jess called it 'Engrish'?" Shae said softly to Jake as they passed through a gardened courtyard. "Sorry, English, his English is not very good, he comprehends what he hears better than what he speaks," Shae cautioned him. "If there is trouble, I can translate."

"Alright," Jake said. "Just a little longer, and you're gone, okay?"

The manservant led the three travelers to the governor's living room, for lack of a better term. The governor knelt in front of a low table and was eating from various small pots and dishes. The manservant approached the governor, who looked up. He smiled when he saw Shae.

(Shae, my dear,) the Governor said in pseudo-Mandarin. (What brings you to my home so late in the evening? Probably not an irrepressible urge to take me up on my standing offer, I assume? No? Ah well then. State your business.)

(Perhaps one day,) Shae said to him with a smile, letting the sweet old man hold onto his dream a little longer. (These are my friends, Irina and Asher Jacob, they wish to speak with the Honorable Lord Yu-huang Shang Ti and it was my hope that you would request an audience on their behalf,) she explained to the governor, gesturing to each of her companions as she introduced them.

The governor frowned. (You make no small request, girl,) he said. (Lord Yu is...changeable at the moment. One never knows how he might react, and if he were to become displeased with anything your friends say or do...well...they may not be the only ones to bear the blame. Things...life is...manageable with Lord Yu in his current state, as long as one does not attract his attention or that of First Prime. Poor, put upon Oshu, feh! He has his hands full, forcing him to leave those of us that he considers loyal, or at least not dangerous, to ourselves. So why should I risk attracting the attention of either of these...great personages?)

Shae nodded as she thought about his response and how to answer it, but in the end she looked back at Jake. "I have told him who you are and made the request, but he wants to know why he should put himself at risk. I am not sure how to answer, perhaps you should?" Shae said to Jake.

Jessica finally spoke as Irina and in mandarin. (Because I am acquainted with certain parties that may find it advantageous for their needs for certain parties to meet an untimely demise. I'm sure Lord Yu-huang Shang Ti knows that the enemy of my enemy is my friend. I can arrange for this to happen.)

For the sake of Jake's comprehension, Shae quickly translated Jess' words to him in a hushed tone.

(How dare you speak to Lei Fang, high born servant of the great Lord Yu unbidden? And in such gibberish? Did you learn our language from drunkards and simpletons?) The governor narrowed his eyes at Irina and Jake and then turned to Shae (What trouble have you brought into my home, girl? Feh. A conversation for a another time. Now...for you,...whatever your unpronounceable name is, and your rent boy, whatever his name is...Ah Sha Jaike...let us say that Lord Yu, that is to say Oshu, wanted certain entities removed from the field of play. You believe that you can do so? What would you want in return? And, more important to me, what can you offer me to speak on your behalf with my Lord and Master?)

Jake said nothing, but prepared himself. This negotiation could get ugly very quickly.

After rapidly translating the governor's words for Jake, Shae dropped to her knees and bowed low to show her respect. (I meant no disrespect, and I am sure it was not Irina's intent either,) Shae said quickly. She cast a glance towards Jake. "Please, I don't want to say the wrong thing, please," she said quietly to Jake in the hopes that he had something to sway the governor.

Jake knelt down and put a calming hand on Shae's shoulder. "It's okay. No matter what happens, it's okay. Trust me, and we'll get through this...it just may look a little...uncertain for a bit. I need you to interpret for me. Can you do that?"

Shae nodded.

Jake smiled warmly at Shae then rose to speak to the governor. "Governor Lei," Jake was familiar enough with Mandarin that he could pick out the man's name and pronounce it. "Let's us not treat each other as simpletons and children. Lord Yu has enemies. My friend and I are offering help him eliminate those enemies. What do you care the price we offer Lord Yu? Ah, perhaps you are...concerned that either our price will be too high or that our skills will be lacking. Our price is simple. The support of Lord Yu and his forces until our mutual enemies are defeated, or until such a time as our...arrangement no longer suits either or both parties."

Jake waited as Shae translated that, and then, before Lei Fang could reply, Jake went on.

"As to our competence in the matter of actually eliminating Lord Yu's enemies," Jake removed his cloak, displaying his USAF combat uniform and gear and weapons. "I'm Major Jacob Daniel Asher of the Tau'Ri. As you may have heard, we know a thing or to about dealing with Gods."

Lei Fang's jaw dropped when he finished hearing what Shae was saying. (Tau'ri?!? But...this is wonderful!! My master will be so pleased to know of the return of the Tau'ri I am sure to be rewarded! That in and of itself is enough to make this worth my while! Shae! Quickly, girl, interpret! Tell Ah Sha I will have him and that illiterate woman escorted to Lord Yu's palace in the morning! Hurry, girl, before they leave.)

Shae chuckled at his eagerness aftering hearing that he was dealing with the Tau'ri, but the fact still remained that the Tau'ri were the enemy of the gods.

(Dearest Lei Fang, your reward would be for their capture, for the Tau'ri are the enemy of the gods. But they wish to change this, they wish to help, which is why they have come seeking your help, because they would surely be attacked if they attempted to approach Lord Yu's stronghold on their own,) Shae said to the governor, then quickly turned her attention to Jake to translate both the governor's words and her own.

Lei Fang pretended to consider Shae's words as he silently cursed the meddlesome girl. If this Ah Sha and...whatever her name was weren't already suspicious of a double cross, they would be now. How to play the angles...He would leave them their weapons! If they killed a few of his guards, they could be replaced, but if he could walk them willingly into Oshu's hands, the First Prime of Lord Yu would surely reward him. Surely Oshu's Zhanshi would be able to handle the Tau'ri? Oshu was the First Prime of Lord Yu, not preening Ra or Apophis! And if he couldn't...well...would that be so great a loss?

(As a gesture of good faith,) Lei Fang said. (You may keep your weaponry. You are correct that my Lord and Master would reward me handsomely for the capture of a Tau'ri, but Lord Yu would grant me much greater favor if I were to bring him an ally, one that is not Goa'uld. Take my offer of an introduction or decline it. If you accept it, you may rest here tonight, and, after morning meal, I will have you escorted to the palace. Decline it, and I will give you one hour before I notify Oshu and his Zhanshi. Whatever your decision, make it now.)

Shae hesitated in translating Lei Fang's words to Jake. There was an edge to his eagerness that she did not trust, but she was trying to dismiss that as her general distrust of everyone; this man had been so sweet and generous with her in the past, he reminded her of her grandfather, surely he would not be intent on betraying them!

"He says we can rest here tonight and after the morning meal we will go to Lord Yu's palace and he will make an introduction. If we do not want his help, he is still duty bound to inform Lord Yu's First Prime of our presence, but he will give us the courtesy of an hour to escape," Shae stated, but then with a note of unease she continued, "And he said as a gesture of good faith, we could keep our weapons." But dare she voice her concerns?

"Thank you, Shae," Jake said. "Thank the governor and ask him to give us a moment to discuss his extremely generous offer."

Shae nodded, then relayed Jake's message with a polite bow; perhaps she need not express her doubts, Jake seemed more than capable of picking up on the potential danger just fine.

"Just a little bit longer, Shae, and then you can go like I promised," Jake said. "D--Irina, I am inclined to believe this...fine gentleman is going to turn on us the minute he thinks it serves his purposes better than working with us, but I'm hoping you and I can get ourselves out of this mess if things go south, and if not, Hassan and the others, maybe Caleb if he's freed up by then, can save our bacon." Jake hid a smile when he saw Shae's nose twitch at the mention of bacon. "So I'm going to accept his offer. I need you with me on this because I don't know Lord Yu or Oshu and I only have a faint grasp of the political situation. So, I'll have your back, if you'll have mine."

Bacon? Shae wondered what bacon had to do with any of this...

Jessica responded. "Accept it, but do not commit to anything else. Our focus is Ba'al for now, nothing more... nothing less." She wanted to say more, not here.

With the decision made, Shae looked to Jake for approval, and with his nod she began to speak to the governor once more. (Honorable Lei Fang, we graciously accept your offer,) she said, and with one more polite bow, their business was concluded, at least for the night.

"I'll come find you in a bit, Irina," Jake said. "Don't stray too far. Shae? A word?" Jake stepped into a hallway with Shae and spoke softly. He couldn't be sure no one actually spoke his language here. "One second, Shae," Jake used his radio to call Hassan and tell him and the others to hunker down for the night. "Alright. You held up your end of the bargain. You got us where we were going, you made the introductions. Now I'll keep my end of the deal. If you want to head back to the SGC now, you are free to go."

"I'm not so sure that's a good idea now," Shae said, then rubbed her forehead with a sigh. "I don't want to believe he would betray us, he has been so kind to me... A few years back I saved his granddaughter, and anytime I've visited this town for supplies since then, we've shared meals and long talks over tea. I thought he was a good person," Shae continued somberly. "It would not sit well on my conscience if I left you knowing Lei Fang intended to turn you over to Lord Yu, but I still cannot attend the meeting; perhaps I will meet up with the other half of your team and provide assistance should this endeavor turn sour."

Jake grinned. "Brave woman," he said. "But don't worry too much. If he does turn me over to Yu or Oshu, they'll find pretty quickly I'm more trouble than I'm work if you try to keep me in a cage." He keyed his mike again. "Hassan, Shae is going to rendezvous with you." Hassan acknowledged. "Okay then, I, uh, I guess that's that. If things start to go bad, make sure to give Hassan, or Caleb if he's able to catch up to us, all of the information they need to pull off a rescue if they think it's advisable to do so. And look out for yourself. I'm still looking forward to showing you around Colorado Springs."

"Brave? Oh, I am fairly certain that it's not courage that compels me to stay, but madness," Shae said with a wry grin. "And if we do make it back to your world alive, I will hold you to that offer," she added as she turned and walked away.