Notes: Switching gears here a bit. Started some more live actionish writing. Although, I've still managed to avert assigning any names (except pre-established characters) hopefully it doesn't detract from the story at all. If it does... well... maybe fix that in the second edition, along with making the Federation shoot first
Chapter 3
****
I took one more glance around the room. It still seemed odd, the optical HUD inside the helmet was disorienting. I’m usually bad with names, but now I just look at someone and the IFF identifies their name, rank, operating number, and displays the information next to them. The storm troopers were going over the weapons crates, the Officers were mulling about doing last minute check lists, pretending the storm trooper armor didn’t bother them at all. The science team was doing its best to go over its equipment, but wasn’t used to the armor. I guess it makes sense to issue storm trooper armor to everyone when going into an unknown galaxy, especially when all that is known is that someone was fleeing a plague of galactic proportions. All that aside I still count myself lucky to be here. It’s not every archeology grad that gets their first job with an Imperial science team on a top secret project, though it probably helped to have been on the original team that discovered the ancient city beneath Coruscant.
A single electronic beep signaled an imminent PA message. “All Pioneer team members, make your final checks and prepare to disembark”
***
The commander stepped away from the transmitter and turned to address the systems operator.
“Do it.”
“Yes, sir.” The operator swiftly replied as he turned to his control console.
Soon, the base alarm was sounding as the great device came to life, its inner ring turning to align the coordinate symbols in the proper order. The ring paused briefly as it locked the coordinates, one by one, into its internal mechanisms. As it locked the final symbol into place there was a loud rushing sound as a burst of shimmering energy exploded from the device settling into a flat water-like surface filling the inside of the ring.
The commander turned his attention from the view screen to the communications officer, “Activate the probe, retrieve live video feed.”
“Sir, the room looks the same as it did the last two times. Apparently no one has discovered the ‘cloaking’ device, nor does the droid report any changes in its vicinity since we sent either object through.”
The commander turned once again to his transmitter. “Pioneer team, you are go for launch.” “And good luck,” the commander added under his breath.
***
“Ok people, this is it. Storm Team Alpha will proceed through the gate first and secure the immediate area. Once we give the all clear signal, the remaining Storm teams except for Gamma will then follow. Gamma will go through once all equipment and science personnel are through. See you on the other side.” At that, five troopers approached the ring, with only the slightest hesitation, they stepped through. After a few moments the rest of Pioneer Team received clearance to proceed, the Imperial personnel and equipment began filing through the ring’s water-like event horizon.
*****
“Sir… SIR!”
O’neill snapped out of his trance, “Yes… What is it Carter?”
“Sir, with our increasing consumption of naquadah and trinium it won’t be long before our current sources are unable to meet demand.”
“I’m well aware of that Carter, as a matter of fact I just spent all night on the phone with various government big wigs who were telling me how ‘imperative’ it is that we secure more off-world mining sites.”
“Well, sir, if Dr. Felger’s matter conversion chamber works like he says, those problems will be over.”
“Yes… Felger… Remind me again, why haven’t I fired him yet?”
“Because he hasn’t messed up since the Avenger incident. And this new design of his may actually work, you see it uses a...”
“Carter!… I don’t need the details, just make sure he doesn’t blackout the base… again.”
“Yes sir.”
At that moment the bases’ alarms went off and the PA system crackled to life, “General O’neill to the control room. General O’niell, please report to the control room immediately.”
“Now if you’ll excuse me, Carter, they’re playing my song.”
*****
“So what happened here?”
The fusion cutting torch ignited with a pop and a hiss as the trooper began cutting through another security door.
“Don’t know, the science team’s working on it. Fortunately a lot of this stuff was built to last for a long time, so they’ve got the droids pouring over all the computer cores and documents they can find.”
They completed cutting out a section of the door, and peered into the dark corridor beyond. The eerie green hue of the night vision illuminated the hallway. Blankets, trash, and other miscellaneous debris littered the hallway. Slumped against the tunnel wall laid a raggedly clothed skeleton with a large hole in the back of its skull, a sidearm laid in the bony fingers of its right hand.
“Looks like another suicide, get some droids in here to go through this stuff for relevant information and clean this mess up. Alright, let’s check the rest of this section and call it a day.”
****
“What’s going on sergeant?” Jack asked as he entered the command center.
“Sir, we’ve received a priority transmission over the hard line, all US military bases are ordered to go into immediate lockdown and to be at full alert. As of 1300, we are at DEFCON 1.”
“Ok, cancel all outbound gate traffic, recall offworld teams on reconnaissance missions and then dial up the Alpha site and let them know they could be expecting company. And somebody get the pentagon on the horn and find out what the hell’s going on.”
“Yes sir. Initializing dialing program.” The gate operator replied as the inner ring of the Stargate began to turn.
“Chevron one encoded, chevron one engaged.”
Daniel Jackson walked into the room with Teal’c behind him, “Jack, what’s going on?”
“Chevron two encoded, chevron two engaged.”
Jack looked at Daniel in response to Daniel’s inquiry, “Don’t know, but apparently we’re at war.”
“Chevron three encoded, chevron three engaged.”
Teal’c regarded O’neill with a puzzled look, “What nation of this world would pose enough threat to warrant such widespread military response?”
“Chevron four encoded, chevron four engaged.”
“Well just because we’re at DEFCON 1 doesn’t mean we’re expecting an all out war, it could just be a response to some event that threatens national security.” came Daniel’s response.
“Chevron five encoded, chevron five engaged.”
“What’s up?” asked Samantha as she entered the room.
“Your nation has gone to its highest state of military readiness.” Teal’c informed her.
“Chevron six encoded, chevron six engaged.”
“Sir!”a young lieutenant snapped a salute to O’neill, “We are unable to reach the pentagon, and no other base seems to know any more than we do.”
“Keep trying lieutenant, someone has to know something.” O’neill replied as he gave a dismissive salute.
“Yes sir.”
“Chevron seven encoded, chevron seven loc… chevron seven will not engage.”
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(yeah... I'm doing what the pros do and make it up as I go along, covering up mistakes with future revelations so I can say "see, i didn't mess up, you were just impatient!")
