Yu Got, Yu Got, Yu Got What I Need!

Posted on Sat Mar 2nd, 2019 @ 9:17pm by Major Jacob Asher & Master Sergeant Jamal Hassan & Technical Sergeant Anthony Mantelli & Captain Caleb Johnson & Staff Sergeant Jeremiah Corvus & Civillian Shae & Civillian Dr. Jessica Andrews

Mission: A Brand New Day
Location: Hen Da Ye Huihe (Very Big And Round)
Timeline: The Morning After "And Now For Something Completely Harebrained"

[Outside of town in the woods]

Hassan, Mantelli, O'Connor, and Corvus had slept fairly well, considering. Mantelli and Hassan had eaten earlier and while Hassan was on watch, Tony was observing the town from the view of the UAV using the military grade tablet. O'Connor and Corvus we eating MREs. Shae was...

"Sooo, Crow," Ree said. "You got a thing for the Doc? I mean, she's hot, sure, but kinda bitchy if you ask me. A very tiny, little, evil, vindictive, nasty part of myself that I don't like to think about was kinda hoping the Major was gonna shoot her. Just saying."

Jeremy was a bit out of sorts. His Pepsi was warm and flat and one of the worst things ever to happen. He was forced, once again, to sleep with his boots on. He hated sleeping with his boots on. Sheesh, he hated sleeping with socks on, much less his boots. Then he woke up to nothing better to eat than MRE and, by luck of the draw he got the chicken alfredo. NOTHING was worse than chicken alfredo and did the other three know that? Of course they did. Cause they only smiled when he asked to trade. He didn't even get the cheese and crackers, that could at least make it tolerable. Chicken alfredo, in slept in boots and the 'shelf stable bread' with 'peanut butter type product'. Warm Pepsi.

So was he Mr. Morning Cheerfulness this morning? Sure as sure not.

"Oh, holy grail!" he muttered shaking his head. "I do not have a...a...THING for Doctor Andrews!" he said, knowing it was a lie and lying was a sin. "I mean, she's gorgeous and...there's that other voice of hers that's like...I don't know, a mom? Kinda makes you feel a little bit safe and warm? But then there's the one in control all the time and she's not very nice. But gorgeous. And, do you hear her speak? Like...like Harpsichord's Lyre. But no...I don't...aw c'mon, one of you has to want to trade the dessert! I'll throw in...I don't know, a bag of jerky when we get back?"

"He means 'yes'," the familiar voice of Shae as she approached the group. She had been nearby all night but not entirely with the team, often going off on her own to track the patrols to ensure that the team or their supplies weren't discovered. Having just passed through part of the town on one of these little scouting ventures, she stopped at a food cart and purchased some steamed buns for breakfast. As she drew near, she smelled the most awful scent coming from Corvus' food pouch and it stopped her dead in her tracks.

"What is that awful smell?!" Shae declared, then pure sadistic curiosity drew her closer to Corvus to investigate. "You're actually eating that?! Is this some sort of cruel punishment?" she asked, and then taking pity on him, she set a brown paper package in his lap, containing several pork buns freshly steamed and ready to eat. "Here, I will share with you, just get rid of... uhg, whatever that is!"

"Hoolies, woman! How frikken bipolar are you? Yesterday you're calling me a monster for trying to apologize for my own ignorance and prejudice and now, today you..." he stopped, the smell wafting up to him. "What are these?" He peered into the package, catching more of the scent. "These smell...and I do NOT have a thing for Jessica...Missus...dangit! Doctor Andres! That would be wrong. That would be...my gosh," he said taking a small bite of a pork bun, then a bigger one, consuming nearly half in one go. "You guys have gotta try these," he said, offering the package to the other four. "Ish li' dimshum." And no, his eyes didn't dart for fear that Mama Edith might appear from the morning mist and revoke his Dining Facility privileges for talking with his mouth full.

Shae chuckled. "Just because I don't like you doesn't mean I can't take pity on you for this cruel and unusual punishment. Besides, I planned on sharing anyway, that's why I brought so many," she said, finding a place to take a seat and opening a second package with more buns. "These have soup in them and they're so good."

"Really?" Jeremy said, looking down the way she'd come from. "And you said it was a vendor down there? Do they take American dollars? I still have some Afghani or a few Euros."

Shae blinked at Corvus. "You're on another world and these people won't know any better than I what any of those currencies are," she pointed out, then picked up a soup bun and offered it to him. "I have a little money left, so if you're still hungry after all this, I can take you up there to buy more."

"Really?" Jeremy said, brightening, "That would be..." he caught the look from Hassan and remembered they were supposed to be low profile, waiting in the wings and above all, apparently, not interacting with the locals so they weren't discovered. "No, this will be fine," he said, setting about enjoying the soup bun, but also looking to see if there were still some of the pork buns left over. "Remind me when we get back to introduce you to peanut butter. Dogs love it. Real peanut butter, not this 'product' crap. I wouldn't feed this crap to my worst enemy." Still, he glanced down the tracks wondering what the civilization on an alien world would be like. "What kind of currency do they use here?" he asked.

"It's called qián," Shae said, reaching into a pouch at her waist and pulling out some coins. They were of various sizes, all well worn and with a square void in the center, and the different sizes had different symbols. "It's used on several different worlds I trade with. So what is peanut butter?" she said as she handed him the coins, then continued eating her own breakfast.

"It's the product of smashing and blending peanuts, which are actually a legume," Jeremy said, "and its really good, if you get the good stuff. Hey, these look Japanese?" he asked O'Connor, unsure. "I've only passed through Okinawa so I've never really saw their currency, but doesn't it?"

Ree could see that if she took too many, Shae would have to spend more of her own coin to get more, so she politely took just one.

"Thank you, Ma'am," she said, and tasted the one she selected. "Mmmm! So good! Actually, I think I know where to get something a lot like this in Colorado Springs! I, uh, well, if you wanna hang out and they'll let you off base, I can take you. Or, from the way the Major acts around you, I bet you can get him to take you. Or both, you know, at different times, if you want to get away from the men's club that is the US military, despite recent improvements. Hey, I'm not complaining! Until recently, I wouldn't even be allowed to do this job. Women weren't supposed to be in combat...until they realized a) they didn't have enough troops without us and b) female soldiers were going to end up knee deep in any shooting war no matter where they were stationed."

"'Men's club'? Oh, because your fighters are all men? It is not too different here; men cannot birth babies, nor can they nurse newly born children, nor do they know how to raise the next generation of warriors. Women are expected to do this, and on many worlds they are expected to do so much more; they are the true protectors of the home, keeping the family safe while the men are away, and as such they are often expected to be the match of any man, not just so she can protect her home from invaders but also so that she can teach her children how to fight. Some women forsake the home and they are allowed onto the battlefield, but not many choose that life."

"That's a good point, though, about needing currency or trade goods. Andrews is supposed to be as brilliant as she is..." Jeremy trailed off, watching the forest to stop what he was about to say, and save himself some more ribbing. Somehow he expected it to look vastly different from home. But, only in the ways of being more Asian in resemblance. As he said, he wasn't stationed in Japan so the closest he got to the 'Asian' experience was Afghanistan. "We don't have any of the local money, nothing we can barter or trade. How the hell were we supposed to pose as merchants? I mean, if we had talked about that yester-...the day before...then we could have better prepared to be merchants." The entire incident from yesterday still weighed on his mind. She was so beautiful but...that was becoming apparent it was only skin deep. Below the attractive package? He wasn't sure he wanted to go there, but definitely some rot going on. "We should bring that up to the Major, if we're gonna keep gallivanting around to different cultural places, we'll need barter. If for nothing more than getting in good with some of the locals." His thoughts of Afghanistan were still forefront in his mind. They'd do things like buy food or tea from local merchants, not because they really wanted it (and after awhile there would be some merchants they would want to return to) but because it showed respect for them. It showed they weren't just oppressors. They would talk, then, about normal things - weather, their children, the unfairness of government actions, who was planning to drive a car bomb at the base.

Jeremy imagined the same would be here. "How would we go about getting currency for the local systems? I mean if we had things to sell, Shae could help there, but we need to find things, right?"

"Well," Ree said. "Maybe if we scouted first, brought just a few things as examples, and came back with more once we've piqued local interest, that might work. I just don't want to be sneaking around with, in addition to my medical gear, a bunch of pots and pans and tools and other crap."

"Who else is gonna carry it?" Jeremy asked, still piqued over the lack of courtesy in trading this morning but also jovially, "You are, after all, the only woman on the team." Oh yeah, he was sure he was gonna pay for that comment. Probably for some time to come.

"Crow," Ree said. "Bite my ass so I can accuse you of inappropriate physical contact."

"Sergeant, I begin making physical contact with you, you won't have nothing to complain about," Jeremy said with the usual full alpha male bravado bullcrap.

"Crow," Ree said. "Every boyfriend or hook up I've had since I was in high school said the same thing. Most of them were full of crap." Ree turned to Shae. "Hey, Ma'am, what's the name of this planet, anyway?"

Shae chuckled with amusement at the exchange between the two medics; she liked O'Connor, she had a fire in her!

"Oh, ano... Hen Da Ye Huihe. It is very funny because it basically means 'very big and round'," the shifter replied with amusement. "And what you said about trade is a good idea for some worlds, those that are already familiar with travel through the gate. Not all worlds know what the Chappai'ai can do, so they do not have the means of trading outside their world. We could probably still barter on those worlds, but it probably wouldn't be for currency, items for items, but that could still be useful."

[Governor Lei Fang's property]

Jake had also gotten a pretty good night's sleep, considering he'd slept with one eye open. He'd declined the three different bedwarmers he'd been offered, two female, and when he'd turned down those two, whoever was in charge sent him a boy, then the boy and one of the girls, then the boy and both of the girls, and after that Jake was pretty sure everyone thought he was a eunuch. He'd seen Jessica at breakfast. They hadn't talked much since the night before. They couldn't be sure who was listening. Jake took a moment to check in with his team and then there was a knock on the door of his quarters, then the door opened. A servant came in.

"Mai ja Ah Sha," she said. She motioned with her hand to follow, so he did.

Out in the hallway, he found Jessica, apparently also being summoned. "Irina," Jake said, remembering to use her alias. "I hope you slept well. We both need to bring our A game this morning."

The Jake and his Tok'Ra team member were escorted to the courtyard when a group of what Jake assumed were Oshu's Zhanshi. But...they were in rough shape, almost slovenly. They were clearly soldiers, but it appeared as though the chain of command might be falling apart here and that whoever was supervising them, their equivalent to a US military NCO, was just phoning in his or her job, if they were doing it at all. Some of them looked, and smelled, like their personal grooming was going by the by as well. This did not bode well. Lord Yu was supposed to be a powerful System Lord, and Oshu a fearsome First Prime, yet these Zhanshi looked as though they just didn't give a damn anymore. Just how far gone was Lord Yu, and how firm was Oshu's hold on the reins.

"May jah Ah sha," the leader of the group of Zhanshi said. "I am to escort you to our Lord and and Master, the Great Yu-huang Shang-ti, and his loyal First Prime, the great Zhanshi and General, Oshu. If you and your companion would please follow us."

Jake nodded, then keyed his mike. "Sierra Gulf One Three, Sierra Gulf One Niner."

"Sierra Gulf One Niner, Sierra Gulf One Three, go." Hassan's voice came back.

"Jamal, we're being escorted to Lord Yu's ship," Jake said, quietly. "Something isn't right here. I don't think we're going to be double crossed exactly, just...somethings not right. I think maybe Lord Yu and this Oshu may not have things as under control as we've been led to believe. Notify me immediately if Sierra Gulf One Two catches up to you. Oh, and be ready to move on short notice. Things may get sporty real fast around here."

"Copy that," Hassan replied. "Sierra Gulf One Three, out."

"Okay, Irina," Jake said. "Let's go meet Yu."

Jess nodded. "I expect him to betray us when all is said and done."

"I don't think Yu is making decisions at all anymore...and I don't think Oshu has very good control of his troops," Jake said. "See their gear? Armor, weapons? In disrepair. Their formation? Sloppy. Their personal grooming? Shameful. Does this seem like a well disciplined army to you?"

Jessica thought a moment. "No... It might be interesting to know who is the true system lord here, Jake. I think we should play along. For now, flatter with pleasantries." She forgot to add the part about slashing all the system lords' throats in their sleep. Jessica would do that. "Find out who's the power behind the throne."

"I agree," Jake said. "In part because 'playing along' is the whole point of this mission. To evaluate Lord Yu or the power behind his throne and if we think they can help us, attempt to gain their aid in joining their alliance against Ba'al. We're not here to kill anyone today, Irina," Jake continued to use Jessica's cover name for now. "Except in immediate self-defense. If this doesn't go our way, I want, if at all possible, to be able to walk out of here calmly. I absolutely want to avoid having to become the featured players in a running firefight all the way back to the gate."

Jake broke off when he began to see the palace in front of him with what had to be Yu's mothership, his...ha'tak, set up as his palace. When Jake considered that he controlled large amounts of territory and probably had a fleet of these...ha'tak, the air force officer was even more impressed. The only thing that gave him hope was that with ships like these, it clearly wasn't fear of the Tau'ri that kept the System Lords away from Earth. It had to be either internal power struggles, an outside threat...or perhaps both?

"How many of these things do you think he has?" Jake asked Jessica. "What about the other System Lords? They've got to have a at least several each if they're controlling multiple systems. Sure, they can get around by gate, but that's not a very effective way to invade. Assuming most of the gates are the same size, you could only really march infantry through a gate, and then only...4...6 abreast? We're missing something, but I just don't understand enough about what's going on here to know what...except that something besides each other is occupying some of their forces. And if can tie the System Lords up, I don't know if I want to meet it or I should be scared to death of it. Maybe both?"

"It takes months to move a force by these motherships, But there's a risk to the Goa'uld loosing worlds to rebellion by moving a fleet. Without a mothership, a planet's undefended, so if they send troops by stargate, the only thing they can loose is Jaffa footsoldiers." Jessica noted. "So each system lord has a choice. Use their Ha'taks and risk loosing one world for another, or use the Jaffa and assault their enemies through the stargate. In this kind of war, they can win as much as they can loose. If the Jaffa were to truly turn on them, they'd be finished in a week, which is why they need them to believe they're gods."

"Yeah..." Jake said. But he still felt like he was missing something. They entered the ship and Jake saw more signed of the breakdown in discipline he'd been seeing already. But then they came to a set of doors with four very sharp...Zhanshi, Lei Fang had called them. The leader of these better equipped soldiers with better maintained weapons and armor had a nasty interchange with the leader of the Zhanshi who had escorted Jake and Jessica here. The better equipped Zhanshi seemed to win the argument, but it was a close thing and for a moment Jake thought a fight was going to breakout between the sharp soldiers and the slovenly ones. The slovenly soldiers sloppily withdrew and the sharper Zhanshi gestured for Jake and Jessica to come forward and go through the doors into what turned out to be a kind of throne chamber. An older, Chinese looking man, both in physical appearance and style of dress, was sitting on a throne...muttering to himself. It sounded like he was muttering in something similar to Chinese...maybe more than one dialect at a time. He was making hand gestures as he talked, and seemed at times to be having both sides of a conversation...either with himself or with imaginary people.

(Where are dragon? What have you done with dragon, dragon are to guard the gate! Dragon must guard gate! Dragon... ) Lord Yu babbled on.

Jake looked around. There were more of the very sharp, well put together Zhanshi in the room. Yu's personal guards? Or at least Oshu's personal troops? Standing to the right of Lord Yu was a powerfully build Chinese man in Lord Yu's military uniform. He held a staff weapon in his hand and had one of those pistols with the unpronounceable name...Jake seemed to remember reading that the original SGC called them Zat Guns for short.

"Halt!" The man standing to Yu's right said. "Bow before the Great and Powerful Lord Yu-huang Shang-Ti! Oldest of the System Lords!"

This has to Oshu, Jake thought. My God! Yu's completely gone! How long has this farce been going on?

Jake looked at Oshu. "Normally, I'd do that for a world leader. But something tells me...Oshu? It is Oshu, right? Something tells me the Great and Powerful Lord Yu hasn't been leading anything for a very long time."

Oshu looked as though he was going to protest...but stopped. "I rule in my master's voice. What you would say to him, you may say to me."

(Sunzi! Sunzi, come read to me, I wish to see your brilliant,) Lord Yu interjected in whatever was left of his commanding tone.

"A moment, Master," Oshu said. "We have guests. I must attend to business." Oshu tried to motion the two members of SG-1 away from the throne to a part of the room where they would have some privacy, not only from Lord Yu, but also from the other soldiers in the room. But Yu noticed Jessica.

"What do you want?" the old man said suspiciously.

Jessica thought a moment then spoke. "To know our enemy, and to know ourselves, my lord." She noted. She was hoping she'd earn some kinship with the old man, due to her experience with Salara, Elders enjoyed nostalgia and Yu would be no exception.

Yu's eyes seemed to focus for a moment, but whatever clarity the quote evoked was soon gone.

Jake shook his head. "He's gone Jessica. He's gone." Jake looked at Oshu. "And I'm thinking you're not far behind."

"No," Oshu said. "I am not. I have lost the respect of most of my Zhanshi. They will turn on me any day now. It is inevitable. My world is one where strength rules and weakness dies."

"If I had a solution to your current dilemma, what would have to offer in return?" Jake said.

Oshu looked at Jake suspiciously. "What would you want?"

Jake turned to Jessica. "You're on. Tell the man what we want."

"Ba'al has become an inconvenience. I represent a group of parties that would like to see him.... neutralized." Jessica noted in Irina's cold voice. "The groups that I represent have sent me to ask what it would take for us to address this problem?"

Oshu narrowed his eyes. "How can I possibly help with that? I will have completely lost control of all but the most loyal of my Zhanshi within days if not hours, and then the other System Lords will order my death for deceiving them about my master's health and fitness to rule! You ask the impossible."

Jake was getting really antsy. That...whatever it was that his fellow operators used to call his 'spider sense' was telling him trouble was coming, fast.

"Do better, Oshu," Jake said. "Give the lady and I something to work with. Je---Irina, you have about two minutes and then we are leaving. Make sure Oshu here understands. If he can figure out how to help us, I'll get both him and what's left of Lord Yu out of here and I'll arrange for Lord Yu to be comfortable and cared for until he passes, with as much of his dignity intact as possible. But you two better work it out fast. Don't ask me how I know, but I'm telling you, I know this house of cards is about to get knocked down, hard. I know it in my bones."

"You're only delaying the inevitable, and you know it. I think we all know who is really in charge." Jessica mentioned. "Right now you are the only thing keeping Ba'al at bay, imagine if Ba'al becomes your new god. Riches to rags in a day. Consider it." She turned "We're done here."

"Oshu admitted he's in charge, Irina," Jake said. "And he's admitted he's not going to be much longer. He knows that when he falls, his beloved Lord Yu dies next, but that it won't be pretty. Frankly, I don't see a way where Yu's death is going to be pretty, but, like I said, we can make it as comfortable as possible and let him live out his remaining days with as much dignity as possible. If you have something for us, Oshu."

"I have already told you!" Oshu said. "Camulus and Amaterasu will order me killed for my deception, even though they have accepted it all this time. What can I possibly..."

"Enough!" Jake said. "Here's my offer. We will get you and...Yu out of here. We'll take you back to the SGC, where you will surrender. We will take you both into custody and work out some arrangement for your master's medical care through his final days. You have my word, as far as I can make that go, that he will be well treated. You will explain everything that we've missed for the last two Earth decades. You will answer any and all questions we ask you without reservation, and, if necessary, you will help us figure out how to approach Camulus and Amaterasu. That's the deal..."

There was an explosion, followed by several more, that shook Yu's ha'tak. Alarms started to go off, and the sound of staff weapons being fired in the corridors outside could be heard.

"Status report!" Oshu shouted.

"General!" cried one of the Zhanshi who was checking a console. "We have been betrayed. Most planetary defenses have been disabled and our troops are turning on each other. Ba'al's forces are in orbit and in the skies above the town and palace! Sir..."

"God DAMMIT!" Jake said. "That tears it! Decide now, Oshu, and if you and these poor bastards come with you, we'll take them in, too. But now this offer leaves with me and I'm leaving now!"

Oshu hesitated, then relented. "Agreed. Anyone that wishes to come with me, we are leaving now. You two, if you are joining us, see to Lord Yu. Do not fall behind!"

Jake nodded. He keyed his mike. "Sierra Gulf One Three, Sierra Gulf One Niner, as I'm sure you can tell, we need to get the Hell out of here! Now! What's the status of Sierra Gulf One Deuce?"

"Sierra Gulf One...ah fuck it. No sign of Deuce, but it looks like a low rent invasion from outer space movie out here!"

"Roger that," Jake said. Fuck! Where the Hell was Caleb? "Alright. You and your group link up with us, but send O'Connor to the gate. Tell her to get it open, phone home, and tell them we're coming in hot. Heavy SF presence and medical in the gate room. We're bringing guests and one of them can't move very fast."

"Copy that,"

"Okay, folks," Jake said. He walked over to the door. "Open it," he said to a guard. The guard complied and tossed one frag grenade, then another, then two smokers. "MOVE!" he shouted and led out into the corridor, laying down cover fire so the others could follow him out.

Oshu and his Zhanshi followed Jake out, also laying down cover fire.

"Jessica, God Dammit! Move, NOW!" he shouted.

Jess drew her sniper rifle. "I've got you covered."

Jake moved and fired. Oshu and Jessica moved with him. When Oshu's loyal Zhanshi took over rear cover from Jake, he moved to the front and started leading the group out. Several grenades and two full magazines later, they were outside...where all Hell was breaking loose.

Back at the campsite, Hassan started barking orders. "O'Connor! Haul ass to the gate, get it open and--"

"I heard, Sarge!" O'Connor said as she readjusted her gear to make her as light as she could be while still being able to defend herself. "What if there are snakes coming through the gate?"

"Then you hunker down and wait for us!" Hassan said. "You do not, I repeat DO NOT do anything stupid. Am I clear Staff Sergeant O'Connor?"

"Crystal, Master Sergeant!" Ree said as she finished shedding gear. Maybe Corvus could figure out how to carry some of that extra stuff. He was a lot bigger than her. "I'm gone!" And with that, she was gone, as though she was never there, the faint sounds of her boots on the ground fading as she got farther away.

"Tony," Hassan said. "I lead, Tony, stay near me so I know where to go, then Shae. Corvus, bring up the rear. Everyone, listen close. There is some bad shit going down here, no doubt about that. But we have a job to do and it doesn't include stopping to save anyone but the Major, the Doctor, and whoever they're trying to extract. Anything else will just get you killed and all the rest of us and won't make a damn bit of difference here. We good on that?"

"Copy that, Jamal," Tony said.

Hassan gave Corvus a hard look. "I said are we good on that, Staff Sergeant?"

Still trying to pick up the gear that O'Connor shed, knowing some of it contained valuable medical supplies that they might need with the battle raging, Corvus didn't stop just to talk. "Yes, Sergeant, heard you. Priorities are the team and VIPs." He picked up the last dropped bag and thanked whoever designed the molle system. It added to the weight of his own gear, but that couldn't be helped right now. If he had time to go through some of them, maybe, but there wasn't. "On you, Sergeant," he said to Jamal.

"Shae?" Hassan said to the Kitsune. "I know that seems harsh, but that's how it's gotta be. We good?"

"Not a problem," Shae said, lifting her bow and grabbing a handful of arrows for rapid access.

"Alright," Jamal said, moving out with Tony and Corvus following. "Let's get this shit done."

Overhead, Death Gliders dueled each other, while other's strafed Yu's troops on the ground or targeted his ha'tak, joined in this last endeavor by Goa'uld bombers. The sounds of staff weapon fire and fighting troops could be heard and in some cases the quartet moved quickly passed the fighting. As much as possible they tried to avoid firing on anyone. They didn't want to attract any undue attention.

A strange calm settled over Shae followed the Tau'ri into battle; this was obviously a risk she had wanted to avoid, but there was something about battle that made her feel alive, and just knowing that she was helping the survival of the team just made that feeling 'more'. Against her enemy, she was cold and detached and her aim with her bow was ruthless and true, and even took a hint of pleasure at feeling her enemy die when she ripped out arrows to retrieve them; in her mind, she knew the Jaffa were slaves, but for each one dead meant one less Primta that could go on to take over another innocent person.

While moving out, Jeremy tried to keep his focus on the job they were there to do. Sergeant Hassan was leading them to the Major and...Doctor Andrews. Not to mention some others. He didn't know who they were and didn't care, they had a mission to carry out and very clear orders. The orders were very clear. No doubt about that. Except...the fighting was in the same area where Shae indicated a village. Full of people he didn't know and were, presumably, allied with a 'system lord' that would kill all of Earth and subjugate everyone else. They would be the enemy in a heartbeat if told to be so. People...like the food vendor who made the delicious dim sum rolls they had just a little bit ago.

People who were, like the people he met in Afghanistan, nominally in thrall with the Taliban leadership but were so in the same way he followed the Seattle Seahawks...because it was expected and there were repercussions if they didn't. For him and the football team it was ribbing and grief. For the people living under these regimes, it was life or death. Or the life or death of their child, parent, loved one. They didn't support the regimes out of love for what they were doing but out of fear of what they would do. Was it the same here?

The food cart vendor, was he really a bad person who would have t hem killed on sight? Or was he a person doing what he must to survive? He tried not to think of these things as they were making their way, as he followed Sergeant Hassan but...

"Shae, that village you came from," he hissed as he jogged a bit to catch up to her, the weight of his gear and that which he picked up from O'Connor weighing on him enough to cause a bit of heavy breathing as he did. "Is it safe from the fighting?" He whispered, not wanting Jamal to think he was contemplating disobeying orders. He just had to know.

"Yu's Jaffa only patrol the borders, although many of the people within the village are trained warriors and more than capable of fending off human attackers," Shae replied without halting or slowing with her defense of the team. "However, they are only human and are defenseless against Jaffa staff weapons, especially those from the aerial attack."

"But they're safe from the fighting, right?" he asked, almost desperate. "The villagers?"

There was a knot forming in Shae's gut; Yu's Jaffa were turning on one another and Death Gliders roared above them raining down death, of course the villagers weren't safe! And yet Shae made a conscious decision to spare him that truth.

"Yeah, they should be okay," Shae lied, hesitating to take another shot. In that moment of chaos and hesitation, a stray bolt of energy from a staff weapon not even aimed at them grazed Shae's leg, causing her arrow to go astray as she cried out in pain and fell to a knee. Maybe this was what she got for lying to the medic?

It wasn't an informed decision or even organized thoughts as Corvus stepped in front of the downed alien woman, bringing his rifle up and firing a three round burst. The attacker fell, sure not to rise again. Jeremy stepped back and grabbed Shae under the shoulder and pulled her up, wrapping his arm under her shoulders. "Can you walk or do I need to carry you?" he asked as he started dragging her along, after Jamal and Tony, keeping his rifle trained ahead of him and looking for more attackers.

"I'm alright," Shae said once he'd helped her back to her feet. "Just caught me by surprise," she tried to brush it off, but even with just a graze it burned fiercely. Ignoring the screaming of the raw nerves, she managed to take enough steps on her own to prove that she didn't need help, and once Corvus let go of her she continued to follow Jamal and Tony as well.

Death Gliders were either dueling or strafing. Groups of Zhanshi were fighting each other or looting or pillaging...or other things Jake couldn't allow himself to think about at the moment. He took a moment to regroup. They'd lost a lot of the loyal Zhanshi fighting their way through the corridors. These guys seemed to have a very dim view of the idea of fighting from cover and mostly just stood and fought...and died. Jake saw an opening, but a disloyal Zhanshi had seen them and was trying to hit them with precision fire from his staff weapon. They were penned in at the entrance to the ha'tak and there were more disloyal Zhanshi coming down the corridor.

"Jessica!" Jake shouted. He pointed at the guy penning them in. "Punch that asshole's ticket, on three! One! Two!" Jake peered around the corner and opened fire. The disloyal Zhanshi sought cover like Jake thought he would, and Jake held fire. When the disloyal Zhanshi came into view again to fire, Jake yelled "THREE! Take him out now!"

Jessica took cover near a bush and got the Zhanshi into her sights. All his efforts to focus his fire with a very poor weapon, the Ma'Tok staff, was about to destroy the traitor. She had to be accurate. Breath in, breath out. She checked the wind around her and even Salara helped her mind focus on where the bullet was going to go. A shot rang out. She heard the Major say 'Three'

The shot traveled through the air, towards the Zhanshi and the next thing anyone knew, the 7.62mm Round entered through one ear and out the other. She focused on covering the Loyal Zhanshi, and they were amazed that the traitor was taken out from seven to eight hundred meters away. "Major, sight my marks!!!" Snipers usually worked in pairs. The sniper and the scout. Jess could surely pick out her targets and take them out, but snipers were more effective with a partner scanning the scene.

Jake called out a target and Jess took him out. Jake spotted another, drew it's fire, and Jess took that one out.

"Major, we have to go now," Jessica said. "Ba'al's next move will be to dial the gate to one of his worlds and bring in reinforcements."

Jake nodded. "Let's go! Oshu, we move now. You and your Zhanshi can fire longer without recharging your weapons, so you lay down as much fire as you can as we go. Take out anything that looks threatening. I'll conserve my fire for stuff that gets past you. Jess, you're our designated markswoman. Precision fire on the move. Let's go!"

Jake led the group alongside the most direct route back to the stargate and hoped Hassan would figure out which way he was going.

Meanwhile, Hassan, Tony, Shae, and Corvus were moving towards Jake. Now and then Hassan shot some Zhanshi. He had no idea what side any of them were on, and frankly he didn't give a damn. "Talk to me Mantelli!"

"We're close!" Tony said. "He's coming down that path ahead, pretty fast and...oh boy. In addition to our intended guests, some of which are not going to make it to attend the party, he's bringing party crashers."

"Damn," Hassan said. "Okay, Crow, Shae, north side of the path, Tony with me. Crow, Shae, kindly angle your fire, which will commence after the major and his group pass us by, in such a way as not to shoot me and tony? We'll do the same for you. Split now, nail'em when the major passes!"

Tony and Hassan set up on their side of the road, and let Shae and Corvus set up on theirs.

Having been given his orders, Jeremy tore butt to the side of the road to get set up but, it was a bad morning and it was only getting worse. He wanted more of the dim sum buns but that wasn't going to happen for a while. "I don't know, Sergeant," he said into their radio, "sounds like an awful good way to set up a promotional opportunity." He dug himself in and down, letting his pack cover as much of him as it could in the high grass, but allowing himself a good sightline to fire once his teammates and guests were clear.

The order had been easy enough to understand, so Shae stuck with Corvus, and when he used his pack as a barrier to protect him, she took a knee beside him and hunkered as low as she could in the grass. This was definitely not what she agreed to, these people were going to get her killed! Or maybe not... These Tau'ri were intelligent and resourceful, and their weapons, though loud, were hell-a effective!

Meanwhile, O'Connor was almost at the gate when almost plowed into Captain Caleb Johnson! "SIR!" She said, startled. "Crap. Uh, I don't have a lot of time, so here's the deal..."

She ran it all down for him and then concluded with. "So I guess I should get the gate open before Ba'al dials in or we're kinda fucked, sir! You wouldn't, you know, want to cover my ass, would you? I'm sure somebody's soldiers are going to think to come to the gate any minute now."

Having been given a special assignment of sorts, Caleb had been MIA since everyone got here. While all the fun was going on, Caleb had been off doing things... Because, reasons and people. After hearing what sounded like a live action recreation of independence day, he headed for the gate. After getting caught-up, he gave the Staff Sergeant a nod "Get it done O'Connor." and went about dropping his MK12 SPR onto the ground and then hauling his M107 with a 4.5-27x56 FFP Vortex Razor HD Gen II with a H59 reticle. Popping the bipod, onto the ground he went. Four magazines loaded with Hornady A-MAX 750r 50BMG match grade ammo laid on the ground next to him. As soon as he ran dry, he'd be switching to his MK12. His eyes shifted to a pelican box that he had left behind containing a Milkor-M32A1 and about 20 rounds of high-explosive 40mm grenades with it. In a crappy Russian accent, Caleb said "Now have big fucking gun, bitches. Time for party with boom boom jungle music."

O'Connor didn't wait but instead tore ass across the open space to the gate. She made it to the gate and after a moment's hesitation, started dialing home.

Captain, please don't let me get killed out here! she thought to herself.

Meanwhile, farther down the road, Jake and Jessica, along with Oshu, who was down to one loyal Zhanshi and was helping him carry Lord Yu, came running through the choke point, disloyal Zhanshi hot on their heels.

"NOW" Hassan yelled and he and Tony popped up and unloaded on the enemy Zhanshi.

As soon as Shae heard the order, she remained low, her bow at the ready; she was at the point where she had to conserve arrows, so she focused on picking off those that made it through the others' cover fire.

As soon as he spotted targets, Jeremy began firing, this time the music going through his head was something isn't right here, infidel, we shouldn't let you go-o-o-o, and now you're right outside yeah, show me, how you want to be, tell me, infidel, cause I need to know-ow-ow-ow, my shootings, killing you, I will confess, but I still believe, when I'm shooting you, I'm doing fine, give me a sigh-igh-ight...shoot you, infidel, one more ti-i-i-ime

He fired off several bursts and, while scanning the field noticed something else. An elderly Asian appearing man who looked to be on about his last breath, being dragged along - 'carried' - in a manner that was most inefficient and was only hurting him. By the manner of dress, the richness of robes and accoutrements, Jeremy guessed this guy was really important. Perhaps even the First Prime the Major was here to try to talk to, in order to get to the system lord.

And he was open, exposed to fire as well as being dragged along. "Can of a biscuit," he swore. "Cover me!" he yelled as he sprang forward, running as fast as he could toward their VIP, weaving as he ran to be less of a target.

"What are you-" Shae started to say, but then she saw what, or rather who, Corvus was running towards. Without any further hesitation, Shae let loose her arrows, doing everything she could to ensure the medic made it through, until she reached into her quiver and realized she was grabbing her last handful of arrows; if she ran out, she would be useless, so again she held back, picking off foes only if they posed an immediate danger.

The loyal Zhanshi helping Oshu with Lord Yu took several staff weapon blasts in the back...and two hit Lord Yu! Oshu tried to gently lower his master to the ground but stumbled and fell. He could tell that his master was dying, and felt deep shame. He had failed his master. Oshu closed his eyes and gently touched his master's face and leaned in and placed a kiss on the old man's forehead. When he opened his eyes, they were filled with blind rage. As he rose and turned to face his master's betrayers, a sound came from him letting them know that he would be his master's wrath! He charged into the next wave of Zhanshi, firing his staff weapon as he went. He was hit several times, but he kept going.

Jake cursed. He saw Corvus and dragged Lord Yu over to him. "Do what you can for him, but do it fast! This whole mission just went to Hell. I don't intend to cap that off by letting any of you die here!"

"Nobody's dying here today, Major," Jeremy said as he dropped to his knees next to the old man. He was still breathing, sort of, and it wasn't agonal yet, that was good. Free of froth or blood, another good sign. The skin was dry and pallid - not a good sign. He reached into the pouch at his right hip with automatic practiced ease and withdrew the automated BP cuff, then stuck an oxymiter on the old man's finger. He threw himself over the old man while some stray gun fire hit around him, he wasn't sure, but he could have been strafed. He was feeling too much adrenalin to know for sure.

"CAN OF A BISCUIT!" he swore, loudly, as he started reading numbers. The wounds to his back were severe but...didn't Andrews tell him that the Goa'uld were capable of regenerating the host body? This one may be old, but it appeared it was still trying to fight. All they had to do was keep the host alive long enough to let the Goa'uld do it's job and this person could very well survive. He dropped his back and brought out a rather large, thick needle which he immediately jabbed into the old man's chest, through two of the ribs.

There was the sound of grenades going off and more automatic weapons fire, and then the shooting stopped.

"That's the last of those assholes," Hassan said. "But we don't have the rounds to do that again."

"Understood," Jake said. "Jeremiah, you have thirty more seconds to get him stabilized. If you can't move him by then, he's dead anyway and I can't let the team go with him."

"With all due respect, Major," Jeremy said as he worked to pack the back wounds, "back off and let me do my darned job!!" He did a quick tape job then let the old man fall back to his back. "Hold this," he said, shoving out a pack of O- whole for whoever was closest and ready to take it. In the meantime, he was prepping to find a vein one handed until, he didn't know who, but someone took the blood pack. "Hoolies," he muttered, "dry as the dustbowl and stringy as grandma's chickens." It took a few tries, but he finally got the backflow showing he hit a vein.

Jake saw Shae then. He looked at her concerned. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," Shae said in a dry tone, watching over Corvus as he did his thing, her bow ever at the ready. Her leg hurt, and a lot more than she was letting anyone see, and if she left her bow too slack then her hands started to shake. Thankfully, this fine tremor of pain hadn't affected any of her shots, but it was getting worse, right along with her waning wits, because she just wanted to run back through the gate to Lethuan, but she couldn't leave them now.

"Give me," Jeremy said, taking the blood pack back and hanging it from an ring sewn into his blouse's shoulder. He locked his comm channel open, refixed his pack and tightened the straps. "Here," he tossed his rifle to Shae to carry for him because, well, because it was dead weight. With a grunt he lifted the man into a fireman's carry, got to his feet and then settled the old man across his shoulders. He was light, too light and, Jeremy could tell his breathing was becoming worse. They didn't have a lot of time. "Which way to the Stargate?" he asked, looking around wildly.

Having reoriented himself, Jeremy looked at the Major, "Cover me best you guys can," then, without waiting, he took off, running as hard and fast as he could while carrying the weight of the gear and the patient.

"Go," Jake said. He sighed. Caleb, you'd better fucking be here! "Shae, this is going to be really, really undignified, and I'm sorry about this. But you're too damned slow with that leg. Please don't hate me."

Jake grabbed Shae and unceremoniously flung her over his shoulder and started running towards the gate with Hassan and Tony providing rear security, trying really, really hard not to laugh.

"Wha- What are you doing?! Iie, stop!" Shae said, and then suddenly she was hoisted up and bent over his shoulder, and it took everything she had not to yelp in pain from being grabbed like this, not to mention hold onto her bow and what was left of her arrows! For a split second she was tempted to stab him in the backside with one of her arrows, but then she saw that they were being pursued and for a moment she forgot her English. "Motto hayaku!"

And here we go... Exhaling slowly, Caleb locked on to the hitchhikers in tow. The M107 recoiled as .50 BMG rounds flew out of the suppressed rifle's barrel. One Jaffa down, then another. Sending the .50 rounds while they were stacked up like sardines meant that Caleb was getting a one-two EKIA's per round. Ten rounds had been turned into a pile of spent brass. Fresh mag loaded and side charging handle racked. "And we say..." Caleb squeezed the trigger and yet another round dropped another enemy "Bye bye!". Turning a few of them into nothing but a spray of pink mist.Finally, Caleb had run the .50 drier than his grandma's cooch. A frag grenade pin was pulled and the weapon turned on it's side, frag grenade placed underneath it in a non-visible way. Holding the lever down until someone moved the M107A1 he was about to leave behind.

Coming up to the Stargate, Jeremy put on a burst of speed before coming to a stop and dropping to his knees. He didn't need the alarms to know that there was a problem. He put the old man on the ground and took only a moment to arm sweat away from his forehead. "O...con...nor," he gasped out, out of breath and nearly spent as well. "...need...you...res...cue....breath..." he managed to get out while still positioning the old man.

staying alive...staying alive...stay-ay-ay-ay-in alive! he sang to himself while beginning chest compressions. The snap of the sternum came too soon and too easily but the small blips on the oxymeter told him that blood was pumping, at least.

They would not come all this way only to lose their link to Sum Yung Guy, or whatever the heck his name was. "...breathe..." he said, leaning back, still trying to get his own breath, but now he just let the sweat pour down his face.

"Holy Hell!" O'Conner said. She slung her carbine and yanked out her GDO and sent the code. She got the countersign. "We're good!" She helped Corvus with Yu.

Jeremy finally noticed the gate was activated and, picking up the man, decided to risk that there was still enough time and oxygen. "...come...on" he said to O'Connor and then jumped through the Gate.

"Medical emergency!" he shouted, taking the man to the sled off to the side of the room. He expended what breath he had on shouting but that was okay, there was plenty of people here to do the breathing. He put the old man on the gurney then straddled him. "A...E...D..." he gasped, doing another round of compressions.

A medical team arrived and took over from Jeremy, shooing him away so they could work. They got the host's heart working again and worked to stabilizing him.

Jake jumped through the gate next and set Shae down as gracefully as possible and then stood there trying to catch his breath. "Hold...the...gate...Jamal...Hassan...holding...gate...for Caleb..." He looked at the med team. "Guy is a Goa'uld. He's gone though. Lost his marbles. He's senile. Both the host and the snake, too, I think. The old reports from the old SGC say that Goa'ulds try to jump hosts when their host is injured. Take precautions--"

"We've read the files, Major," a Nurse said. "We've got everything under control."

Jake shrugged

Jessica continued to give accurate cover fire for the team. Picking off the Jaffa until She ran out of ammo and simply stepped backwards into the gate.

Picking up his MK12 SPR, Caleb moved towards that crate with his M32A1-MSGL in it. Taking a couple cover shots with his MK12 SPR as he moved, he slid as if stealing a base into the large pelican box. Popping the bipod on his MK12 atop it, Caleb began to engage targets at the 250M range. Flicking the selector switch to auto, things started to get colorful real quick. Caleb needed to buy himself a window and that's what he did. The sound of bullets tearing through flesh and the spray pattern was enough to make most people hurl. Having created his window, Caleb quickly slung his MK12 across his back via a 2-point sling. His hands moved to pop the lid on the pelican box open and grab his M31A1-MSGL. "Time to blow shit up." free hand grabbing the bandolier loaded with M433 HEDP (high explosive dual purpose) rounds. Slinging it over his left shoulder, Caleb turned as he began to start taking fire again.

Caleb began to launch HEDP's at the Jaffa, thankfully they were all beyond the 25m zone and the grenades had plenty of time to arm. Moving backwards towards the gate, Caleb was making a statement. Boom, boom, boom, grenades detonated rapidly and soon enough Caleb was moved through the portal. "Fuck that planet." Caleb muttered, walking down the ramp and into the embarkation room.

Jake turned to Shae. "I'm really sorry about that, but you weren't going to be able to move fast enough on that leg. Speaking of which...Lieutenant? Shae, go with the nurse and get that leg fixed up. You can tell me how angry you are at me later, and I won't care, because you're here to be angry at me and not dead or a host."

"That is a fair point, but just so you know, I almost stabbed you in the butt," Shae replied without any hard feelings, then hobbled along after the nurse to get patched up.

Jeremy watched as the patient was wheeled away, Shae hobbling off after them. With great concentration, and still some difficulty, he undid the waist strap and then the shoulder straps to his pack and the excess gear, letting it crash to the floor of the embarkation room. Then, standing for just a moment, eyes closed and chest heaving as he tried to regulate his own labored breathing, he followed suit. "I'm...just...gonna...stay...here...a...mom..." head cradled on his pack, he curled up and was asleep in less than a moment, his hand on his sidearm to keep some control of it. His last conscious thoughts were that, he'd rest for a moment, then get up and get back through the Gate to help get his team home.

Jake stood a moment and let the adrenaline rush subside. As he came down, he began to realize the enormity of the clusterfuck they'd just survived. Things were going to be different from here on out. He swore that silently to himself, with absolute confidence that once Nathan Wolf read his after action report, his commanding officer and trusted mentor would get to work right away making sure that things were done differently going forward. Nate had inherited this command from someone else and this course of action had been that general's idea. Now that Nate was in charge...yeah. This kind of shit would be left in the rear view mirror. Jake was absolutely sure of that.