Change in Command
Jul. 22nd, 2011 11:23 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
stringertheoryTitle: Change in Command
Rating: PG
Fandom: Stargate SG-1
Characters: Jack O'Neill, Teal'c, Daniel Jackson, Samantha Carter
Word Count: 6563
Categories: friendship, action/adventure
Spoilers/Warnings: Set sometime during S3 or S4. No spoilers.
Summary: Written for the![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
sg1friendathon. "Jack, Teal'c. Jack uses Teal'c experiences as a general (AKA First Prime) to solve a problem."
Note: Extra special thank you tofignewton for her awesome beta on this one.
“Let me get this straight: we're going to a planet we know the Goa'uld are flying toward to rescue people who don't want to be rescued and who don't even like us all that much?”
Jack gazed around the Gate room at his team. Teal'c stared back stoically, Carter looked to Daniel, and Daniel frowned.
“Why?” Jack asked.
“SG-7 thinks we might have better luck with the Kundamen,” Daniel said.
“No, I mean why are we bothering?”
“Because it took us four long and tedious months to establish a strong trade relationship with the Kundamen and it was SG-10's capture on P3Y-249 that might have given the Goa'uld intelligence about their existence.” Daniel paused to give Jack a stern look. “And they're good people.”
“So we're half clean-up crew, half good samaritans,” Jack said. “I can live with that.”
“Any reason why we were chosen in particular?” Carter asked curiously.
“Exactly,” Jack added. “I know we pull off as many as six impossible things before breakfast every day, but this is a bit much, don't you think?”
“Ah, actually, we were chosen because of Teal'c.” Daniel, fighting to straighten the strap of his pack where it had twisted across his shoulder, nodded at Teal'c. Carter, taking pity on him, stepped over to help.
“Teal'c?” Jack asked. He glanced over to where Teal'c stood at the foot of the ramp, waiting patiently for the Gate to start spinning. “Have a thing for tall, dark, and silent, do they?”
“It has something to do with how they came to be free of the Goa'uld in the first place,” Daniel advised. He stood placidly while Carter untangled the problematic strap and reclipped his pack to his vest. “SG-7 said the Kundamen have a reverence for Jaffa, which was part of the problem in trying to convince them to evacuate. They don't believe that a Jaffa would harm them.”
“I'm assuming this is because they don't know any better,” said Jack.
Daniel started to answer, but Teal'c's voice cut off his response.
“The people of P2C-911 were protected by the First Prime of Mafdet.”
Jack looked at Teal'c in surprise. “Read the mission report, buddy?”
“I have not,” Teal'c replied. Without turning fully to the others, he tilted his head to better see them, his chin rising slightly in the look Jack had come to recognize as pride. “The legend of the Ken'tari is well known among the Jaffa.”
“'Ken'tari'—'lost ones,’” Daniel translated.
“The Goa'uld dismiss it as lies and rumors, angered by the thought that such an action against the gods could have gone undetected and unpunished. But the Jaffa breathe it still, the story of the First Prime who defied and betrayed his god without the god knowing of or being able to prove the treachery.”
There was the faintest hint of a smile on Teal'c's face, and Jack added another mental tick mark for the Jaffa under his ongoing tally of 'us versus the Goa'uld.'
With a cresting whir and heavy thunk, the Gate spun to life. As the first chevron locked into place, Daniel looked past Jack to Teal'c.
“According to Kundamen legend, they were brought to the planet when their people were still young.”
Teal'c nodded. “The Jaffa legend states that Ja'lo knew the gods to be imperfect, having witnessed their errors and misjudgments and ignorance during his many years in Mafdet's service, and he had grown weary of Mafdet's savagery.”
“That makes sense,” Daniel muttered. At the others' looks, he explained. “Mafdet was the Ancient Egyptian deification of legal justice and execution.”
“When Ja'lo found the Ken'tari on a planet Mafdet greatly desired, he determined to remove them without his master's knowledge, for they were a new people, young and with many children. So he led them through the Chappa'ai to another world, one free from the Goa'uld, where they could live their lives in peace. Ja'lo then turned over their original home to Mafdet, who enjoyed its mineral wealth and knew not of the slaves she had lost. But Ja'lo remembered, and carried the tale of his defiance in secret until the end of his days.”
Sergeant Harriman reported a lock on the sixth chevron, and everyone performed a quick double-check of their equipment. Jack followed the spin of the Gate as the last symbol—the one for home—locked into place and the wormhole opened. Then he turned his attention back to Teal'c.
“When Ja'lo knew that his time was short,” Teal'c continued, “he passed the story on to his son, who in turn passed it on to his. In this way, whispers of the gods' fallibility came to all Jaffa. Those who believe in the Goa'uld scorn its truth, but those who doubt find strength and encouragement therein.” Something softened slightly in Teal'c's face, even as he stood a bit straighter. “It is one of the first lessons Master Bra'tac imparted to me.”
Jack stared at Teal'c for a moment. He turned to find the other half of his team doing the same, Daniel and Carter having stepped forward a bit to better see Teal'c as he spoke. They looked suitably impressed, and Jack could nearly see the wheels turning in Daniel's head as he weighed and dissected and cataloged the story for further study and reference. Jack raised his eyebrows and jerked his head toward Teal'c.
“He weaves a good yarn.”
“We've been working on it,” Daniel mumbled, still looking at Teal'c as if here were a particularly fascinating and informative artifact.
Jack sighed and pulled his cap down tighter on his head. He led the way up to the edge of the ramp. He stopped there, the rest of the team falling into line on either side of him. He frowned at the Gate.
“So, basically,” he said, “we have—how long, Carter?”
Carter glanced his way. “According to the Tok'ra report, Heru'ur's forces should arrive at the planet within the next 24-36 hours, sir.”
“About a day, then, to convince these people that the Jaffa aren't the good guys and that they have to leave?”
Daniel nodded. “Yeah, that's about it.”
“Goody,” Jack sighed. “All right, campers. Let's get this show on the road.”
They stepped through the Gate and came out the other side facing a large, gently rolling plain. Behind the Gate stood a large forest, one arm of which stretched right up to the dais the Gate was set in. There, at the treeline, stood the welcome committee.
The group was composed of three men and one woman, all of average size and build, though with that way of holding themselves that spoke of a strenuous physical lifestyle. They were dressed in a mixture of animal skins and fabric, and a long knife was slung at the waist of each. Two of their number also had a bow and quiver strapped to their backs. They came forward as Jack led the others down the steps from the Gate. They seemed a bit cool in their welcome, if polite enough, but Jack caught the light that came to their eyes upon seeing Teal'c. And though they addressed their welcome to the team as a whole, it was Teal'c to whom they directed their shallow bows. Teal'c seemed completely unperturbed by the extra attention, maintaining as stoic and solemn a demeanor as Jack had ever seen him wear.
Jack made the necessary introductions, the welcome committee did the same, and then they were led to the village. To Jack's surprise, they did not follow the clearly marked path that led off to their left, skirting the trees. Instead, their guides took them directly through the forest, easily finding their way even without obvious signposts.
“Is there some reason you don't use the path?” Daniel asked.
“We do use it,” the largest man, who had introduced himself as Aeblin, replied. “But only if we are traveling in large numbers, or with carts, which cannot go through the forest. The path takes the long way to the village, but it is the easiest way for those with burdens or in large groups to travel.”
With that, he fell quiet again, and they completed their journey in silence. About half an hour after leaving the Gate, the group emerged from the trees and into the village. It was set in an open area, surrounded on all sides by the forest. The path they had left behind reappeared at the far end of the village to their left, accompanied by a wide but shallow stream. Wooden structures of varying sizes but similar design filled the area, and the place smelled of wood smoke, sap, and freshly baked bread. The people going about their daily tasks passed them without a glance, clearly used to visitors from the SGC. But every other person or so would catch a hitch in their stride or slow to a standstill when they caught sight of the emblem on Teal'c's forehead.
The other Kundamen of their party dispersed, and Aeblin led them to a central area where several people milled around a large and dormant fire pit. At one side, on low wooden benches, sat three men and two women. They glanced up as the group approached. Aeblin stepped over and murmured something to one of the men, then bowed his head and trotted off in the direction of the forest. The man he had spoken to motioned for Jack and the team to take the empty bench to his right.
“Come,” he said, “please sit.”
Jack lowered himself to the bench, masking a wince as his knee protested a bit. Daniel sat next to him, ready to play diplomat as needed, and Carter and Teal'c took their places at the far end. Jack turned back to their host, a man who looked to be about his age.
“You must be Rastom,” he said.
The man nodded. “I am.”
“I'm Colonel Jack O'Neill.” Jack pointed down the line. “This is Dr. Daniel Jackson, Major Samantha Carter, and Teal'c.”
Rastom nodded to each in turn, his eyes lingering on Teal'c before returning to Jack. “I am pleased to meet you,” he replied. “You have come to speak with us as your SG-7 did, yes?”
“Yeah,” Jack said, “you see, we don't think you quite understand just how much trouble Heru'ur is going to cause you when his Jaffa get here.”
“The Jaffa harm no one,” Rastom said with a frown. “They are protectors and guardians. If they are coming here, they will be welcome.”
“We understand that you hold Jaffa in high esteem because of your history,” Daniel said, “but your history doesn't tell the entire story. In fact, what happened to your people is a rarity. Jaffa are soldiers. That's what they do. And the Jaffa that are on their way are not like the one who helped your people thousands of years ago. These Jaffa are being sent to conquer this world and enslave anyone they find here.”
From the expression on Rastom's face, Jack knew Daniel's words weren't getting through. He bit back an oath. Why were people always too stubborn to accept the truth even when it was staring them down? He felt his frustration grow as all their tactics failed to break through the Kundamen's steadfast belief. Daniel's diplomatic routine failed spectacularly. Carter attempted to reason with them and explain exactly what the Jaffa could do with Goa'uld weaponry, but to no avail. After nearly an hour, it was clear they were making no headway. Jack was about to scrub the mission and leave the people to their fate when Teal'c spoke up. Not only Rastom and his contingent, but everyone around the pit fell silent as they became aware of who was speaking.
“Hear me,” Teal'c began, his voice low and powerful. “The Jaffa are not saviors or protectors. They kill and enslave entire races, they burn entire worlds to the ground at the whim of their gods. They are trained to show no mercy and give their enemy no quarter. When the Jaffa arrive on this planet, they will take your women and children and they will kill anyone who stands in their way.” He stared Rastom down. “If you stay, your people will be destroyed.”
Jack could see Rastom waver. The rest of the crowd shared worried, uncertain glances.
“But you are Jaffa,” said a woman beside Rastom, “and you are here to save us.”
“I have turned my back on the Goa'uld and fight against them,” Teal'c said, “but I am the only one to do so and live.”
“There are other Jaffa who believe as Teal'c does, who think that the Goa'uld are not gods,” Daniel advised the gathering Kundamen, “but there are few of them, and they would be killed if they ever admitted to or acted on their beliefs.”
“The vast majority of the Jaffa believe completely in the power of their god. They will kill you without question.”
Murmurs and glances passed around the circle. Many looked worried now, though there were still a few who clearly did not believe the Jaffa capable of such vile acts. Jack looked to Rastom, who was in deep discussion with the other four of his group. Jack knew that, despite the misgivings of the others, it would be Rastom's decision that would determine their next steps.
“You have to take your people through the Gate,” Sam said. “That's the only way they'll be safe.”
Rastom turned back to them, raking a look down their line until his gaze settled on Teal'c again. He studied Teal'c with a small frown on his face, clearly working through everything he had been told. Slowly, the noise around the pit faded into silence. After a long moment, his chin came up.
“We believe you,” he said simply.
“Hallelujah,” Jack said under his breath. He stood, and the rest of the team followed suit. “Carter, head back to the Gate and let Hammond know that we're going to begin moving these people to the Beta Site—”
“We will not leave.”
Jack stared at Rastom in disbelief. “I beg your pardon?”
“We believe you, but we will not leave.”
Jack couldn't believe his ears. He checked in with his team: Daniel was pinching the bridge of his nose, Carter's eyebrows were in danger of getting caught in her hairline, and even Teal'c looked confused. Shaking his head, he turned back to Rastom.
“You won't leave,” he repeated, carefully enunciating each word.
“Even if the Jaffa are what you claim, we will not give up our home, our world to their invasion.” Rastom stood, raising himself to his full height and looking Teal'c in the face. “We will fight them.”
“You will lose,” Teal'c said.
“Then we will die, but we will not run.”
“Always with the heroic death crap,” Jack muttered. He shook his head and rubbed the back of his neck. Stepping around Daniel and Carter, he put a hand on Teal'c's shoulder. “Teal'c, buddy, Heru'ur and his cronies are going to be breathing down our necks soon. And you know from experience that evac takes a while. Why don't you try to impress upon these good people the urgency of our situation?”
“I will try, O'Neill.” Teal'c walked over to Rastom and loomed for all he was worth. “Have your people any training in the ways of combat?”
“No,” Rastom replied.
“Do they possess any weapons for the making of war?”
“No—”
“Do you have sufficient numbers to battle a fleet that will bring hundreds, perhaps thousands of Jaffa warriors to your planet?”
“No.”
“Then you will die,” Teal'c said bluntly. “The Jaffa who are coming have done nothing but train for battle since they were children. They will use their greater skill and numbers to completely destroy you. You must leave this place and rebuild your village on a safe planet. If you stay here, your people will be erased from existence. There are no other options.”
A ripple of unease went through the crowd. For a moment, Jack thought that Teal'c had finally gotten through to them. He saw the determined glint in Rastom's eye a fraction of a second before the man shook his head.
“We fight!” came a voice from the spectators.
“We cannot leave our home!” cried another.
“We will not leave!”
Rastom held up his hands, and a hush descended again. “My people will fight, with or without your help, though we ask for it.” He placed a hand on Teal'c's shoulder. “Please help us.”
Teal'c frowned over his shoulder at Jack. Carter looked at him expectantly. Daniel gave him a pointed look.
“Jack...” Daniel began.
Jack rubbed a hand over his face and waved for Teal'c to join them. He took another quick look around at the assembled Kundamen, then at the faces of his team. He sighed.
“Teal'c, you think you can lead these people?”
Teal'c raised an eyebrow. “I believe so.”
“Teal'c, sir?” Carter asked.
“They need someone to lead them, Carter, and they sure as hell don't listen to me.”
Carter nodded in understanding. “Right.”
“Wait—we aren't seriously considering taking on a Goa'uld ha'tak, are we?” Daniel asked.
“It is unlikely that the ha'tak will land first,” Teal'c advised. “A scout ship will be sent ahead to determine the value of the planet and whether the Goa'uld need personally intervene.”
“So we'll be fighting a small contingent?” Sam asked.
“Do you think we could win?” Jack asked Teal'c.
“I do not know.” Teal'c surveyed the crowd critically. “It appears that there are enough Kundamen to mount a successful surprise attack. Victory will depend on how well we use the available resources and how many troops Heru'ur sends for the initial survey.”
“Yeah, see, I'm not so fond of that last variable.”
Rastom appeared at Teal'c's elbow. “Will you help us?”
Teal'c looked to Jack. Jack thought about it for a moment, weighing his options, then gave a 'go ahead' gesture. Daniel and Carter shared an uncertain glance and Teal'c nodded.
“We will help you,” he told Rastom.
“Tell us what to do.”
“I need you to gather all those who are able to fight,” Teal'c advised, “as well as any weapons you may have.” Rastom barked an order, and three men darted away, weaving through the crowds. Teal'c pointed toward the stream. “Is that path the only marked way to the village?”
“Yes,” Rastom answered.
“Heru'ur's forces will most likely land near the Gate or ring troops to the same area. They will then follow the path to the village.” Teal'c turned back to the team. “Daniel Jackson, Major Carter, scout the area along the path. Look for any place where we could mount an ambush of the patrols.”
Daniel accepted the shift in command with ease, nodding once and heading in the direction of the path. Carter hesitated, however, eyes darting to Jack for his subtle nod before she followed after Daniel. Remembering their orders, Jack called out and stopped them just beyond the circle. Leaving Teal'c to give the Kundamen further instructions, Jack joined them.
“Call home and let them know the situation, will you?” he said in an undertone. “And radio us if Hammond orders us to get our asses back home.”
“Yes, sir,” Carter answered.
She and Daniel shared a look, then jogged off, dodging those Kundamen drawn from the stream by the growing crowd. Jack watched them go with concern and a bit of resignation. He was pulled from his thoughts by Teal'c's voice.
“Colonel O'Neill, I will require your assistance in preparing the Kundamen for battle.”
“Of course.”
The men Rastom had sent off returned, others following behind, all laden with clubs, axes, and other such violent accoutrements. The group was ragtag at best, but all had a defiant and determined set to their jaws that Jack recognized and respected. Rastom, who had also disappeared, strode back through the group, adorned with his own set of weaponry. Teal'c's eye wandered over those people at the edges of the crowd.
“Is there a place where those who cannot fight may hide?” he asked.
“There is a natural cavern in a bend in the river,” Rastom said, pointing deeper into the forest. “The opening is small and easily concealed.”
“And the river will hide their tracks,” Jack said. He shared a look with Teal'c.
“Send all who will go immediately. Tell them to take only what they must, and to carry as much food as they are able.” Teal'c's expression hardly changed, but Jack knew him well enough to recognize the grimness there. “We do not know how long this will last.”
Rastom gestured, and one of their number peeled off. Teal'c then turned his attention to the weapons on display.
“What skills do your people have with weapons?” he asked.
“We are skilled with knife and axe, and well trained at hunting traps,” Rastom answered. “We are also skilled archers.”
“How skilled?”
Rastom frowned at Jack, seemingly affronted. “We are excellent marksmen. A Kundamen never misses.”
“Yeah, well they also say elephants never forget, but I'll bel—”
Jack startled and jumped backward as a pot hanging over the fire pit—and less than a foot away from his leg—shattered. He fell into a crouch and had his gun in his hands before the last shard went still. As he scoured the area for the perceived threat, somewhat confused at everyone else's lack of concern, a tall woman stepped out of the crowd. Her face was still and proud, though a bit of smugness showed in the slight curve of her lips. She stared at him as he straightened, releasing the death grip he had on the stock of his gun.
“A Kundamen never misses,” she said.
Rastom allowed himself a small smile. “Nolna is our best archer,” he advised.
“Is she now?” Jack said. He stared at the remains of the pot, and at the arrow buried in the side of one of the houses a few meters away. “I believe it.”
“She is often sought after as a partner for our harvest games,” Rastom said. He elaborated further when Jack and Teal'c threw him questioning looks. “We celebrate at every harvest with food and sport. The young ones who have gone on their first hunt give demonstrations of their skills, while those who are seasoned compete in various games. Many of these competitions involve two or more people partnering to complete tests of skill together.” He smiled proudly, pointedly glancing down at the debris at Jack's feet. “The practice has made us very good at hunting,” he said with a wide smile.
At that moment, Carter jogged up.
“Major Carter,” Teal'c greeted her.
Jack looked around. “Carter, where's Daniel?”
“I sent him on, sir,” she replied, giving Jack a look. He nodded in understanding. She had sent him to the Gate. “We found a ravine about ten to fifteen minutes away,” she advised Teal'c. “The stream flows through it and no doubt created it. The ravine is long, but not too deep, and wide enough to allow coverage from both sides. It also narrows at both ends, so that only one or two people can get through at a time.”
Nolna nodded. “We know of this place. It is good for fishing.”
Jack perked up, but Sam cut across him before he could say anything.
“The stream doesn't appear to be too deep there, but it is pretty fast-moving.” She glanced between Teal'c and Jack. “Could provide another obstacle for the Jaffa.”
Teal'c was frowning. Suddenly he knelt, sweeping aside leaves and such to create a clear patch of dirt. He waved Rastom down and pointed. “Rastom, could you draw a map of the area between the village and the Gate?”
Rastom looked a little confused, as did the other Kundamen, but Carter knelt beside Teal'c to help.
“Look,” she said kindly, “I'll start it.” With quick, sure strokes, she filled in a rough rendering of what she had seen of the area so far. She started with the Gate and the plain, drew in the bit of forest between there and the village, and added what she knew of the path from the village to the ravine. As she drew, Rastom begin to nod, understanding dawning. Once Carter had completed all she could, he shifted over, filling in much of the rest.
“The stream turns away from the path here,” he said, pointing to a spot not far from the opening of the ravine. “The path continues along the edge of the forest until it reaches the Gate.”
Teal'c studied the map. “Major Carter, how much C4 do we possess?”
“I have two in my vest and about ten in my pack, why?”
“Ten, Carter?” Jack asked in surprise.
She smiled guiltily and gave a shrug. “It's the Goa'uld, sir.”
“Good thinking.”
“Yes, sir.”
“From what you saw of the ravine, do you believe it would be possible to block both ends?”
“With C4?”
“Yes.”
Carter nodded. “Yeah, I think so. Like I said, the ends are pretty narrow, so it wouldn't take much of a blast to bring down the walls there.”
“What are you thinking, T?” Jack asked.
“The Jaffa will not bother searching the forest when there is a clear trail to lead them to people. They will head straight for the village.”
“And you think we can ambush them in the ravine?” Carter asked.
“I believe so.” Teal'c drew a finger down the path in the dirt and into the ravine Carter had drawn. “The Jaffa will not bother to go around the ravine; they are too arrogant to believe the Kundamen could pose any threat. Once they are within the ravine, Major Carter can detonate the C4, blocking any escape routes. Then we will assault them from above.”
“The sides of the ravine are slightly concave,” Carter reported, “so the top lip will provide extra cover and make it difficult for the Jaffa to return fire.”
“Major Carter—”
“Return to the ravine and set the C4?” she asked with a small grin.
Teal'c inclined his head. “Indeed.”
“On it.” Rising to her feet, she hustled off.
Teal'c rose as well and once again surveyed his troops. Turning to Rastom first, he asked for an assessment of each person's skills. The Kundamen were honest and succinct in their answers, which gave Jack hope in their prospects. The better a leader understood his people, the better he could put them to use. Teal'c quickly separated the group based on skill sets, experience, and tasks.
Jack was impressed by Teal'c's leadership. Teal'c followed so willingly, it was easy to forget that he had been leading vast armies longer than Jack had been alive. But that experience was clearly on display as he prepared the Kundamen for their first battle.
Normally, Teal'c maintained an attentive, dutiful air, but ever since Jack had handed over the reins of the mission to him, that had changed. Here was the First Prime of Apophis they had only briefly glimpsed in that prison on Chulak. Everything in Teal'c's demeanor commanded respect and obedience, and the Kundamen answered appropriately, listening intently to his words and following his instructions without hesitation. He advised them of the weak points in Jaffa armor, explained how to set up along the ravine ridge in order to create a web of cross-fire, and taught them a few simple signals that they would use to communicate across the ravine. By the time Jack's radio crackled to life, the hunters and farmers had begun to look like a real fighting force. He just hoped to hell they would perform like one, too.
“Uh, Jack?”
Jack clicked his radio. “Yeah, Daniel.”
“We have a problem.”
Jack frowned at how winded Daniel sounded. “Hammond?”
“Ah, no. The Jaffa are already here.”
“What?”
“I'm lucky they didn't see me,” came Daniel's reply. “I was rounding the final bend leading up to the Gate when I caught sight of a Jaffa over a low rise. I ducked into the trees and moved closer to get a better look. They're already here.”
“Did you see how many?”
“Looks to be about thirty or forty.”
Jack shared a worried glance with Teal'c. “'Looks'?” Jack asked.
“Yeah, I'm following them. They're heading your way.”
“Daniel...”
“I'll be careful. Going to radio silence.”
Jack sighed and tapped his radio again. “Carter, you get that?”
“Yes, sir,” she replied.
“What happened to our 24-36 hour window?” Jack asked peevishly.
“That was always a rough estimate, sir.” She sounded slightly exasperated, but Jack chalked it up to having to set the C4 all by herself. “The Tok'ra intelligence wasn't very detailed.”
“Yeah, well, next time we're going to calculate on a curve when we get intelligence from the Tok'ra.”
“Yes, sir.” She definitely sounded exasperated now. “I'm about halfway done here.”
“Hold tight, Carter. We'll be there soon.”
Jack looked at Teal'c, who gave him a small nod and gathered the Kundamen for their march to the ravine. Carter was just finishing up with the C4 when they arrived. Covering the last block, she scrambled up the hill to join them.
“We're ready to go,” she said, and Jack was amused to find that she directed this proclamation entirely at Teal'c.
Teal'c divided the forces in half and sent one group, led by Nolna, to the other side of the divide. Carter joined them. He and Jack stayed with the other group. While they waited, Teal'c walked among the Kundamen, calming frayed nerves with his mere presence. Having made a final pass, he settled into place beside Jack. Jack found Carter across the ravine. She looked about as concerned as he felt, but she motioned an 'all clear' that, strangely, soothed him a little. They had surprise on their side, a couple of well-trained Air Force officers, a frighteningly good Jaffa warrior, and a few dozen very determined locals: they could do this. He glanced around, noticing how the Kundamen alternated between watching the ravine opening and watching Teal'c, who was being careful to keep his expression calm.
Suddenly, a noise broke through the quiet. It came from the trees near the entrance to the ravine and sounded very similar to a bird call, if nothing like any bird Jack had ever come across before. Had he not been listening for the tromp of boots and the clank of armor, he probably would have missed it, or at the very least dismissed it as nothing more than local fauna. But the sound was a bit too structured, a bit too convenient to have been just random birdsong. If anything, it sounded eerily like a signal. Jack looked over at Teal'c in confusion, only to find Teal'c on alert.
“What was that?” he whispered.
“I believe that was Daniel Jackson telling us that the Jaffa patrol is almost here.”
Jack stared at him in disbelief. “Our Daniel Jackson?”
“The same.”
“Where the hell did Daniel learn that?”
“I taught him,” Teal'c replied, looking rather pleased, “at his request. He proved to be an apt pupil.”
“Go, Daniel,” Jack breathed. “I guess it's just another language to him, huh?”
“Indeed.” The call came again, slightly different this time, and Teal'c shifted. “We should prepare ourselves, O'Neill.”
Teal'c motioned across to Carter, who passed the command to make ready down the line. Jack readied his gun and from his right he could hear the creaks of bowstrings being drawn. He flicked his eyes over to Teal'c, who was staring at the ravine opening with an intensity that he was sure would have stopped the Jaffa dead in their tracks if they had been able to see it.
“Think this will work?” Jack asked.
“I do,” Teal'c replied with a raised eyebrow. “I would not have suggested it otherwise.”
Jack gave a half smile as Jaffa appeared at the end of the ravine. He tensed in anticipation and felt the others do the same. “I hope you're right,” he said, and took aim.
Jack held his breath as the patrol filed into the ravine, the sound of their passage amplified by the close walls. When the last Jaffa cleared the entrance, the strange bird call sounded again, and Teal'c gave the signal to the others that told them to brace themselves. He had prepared the Kundamen as best he could for their first experience with C4. Then he motioned to Carter. A few seconds later, both ends of the ravine exploded. Jack felt his respect for the Kundamen grow when he saw that they flinched, but held their ground and their silence. A split second later, they followed the command to fire.
The creak and swish and twang of archers at work filled the air, punctuated by the crack of gunfire. Blocked in at all sides and under siege from unseen and unexpected attackers, the Jaffa quickly suffered many losses. But even as their comrades fell all around them, those who remained standing stubbornly continued to fight, firing wildly up at the ridges. Only when a few were left did a cry rise from the ravine. The call was in Goa'uld, but it caused Teal'c to immediately raise his fist and bark an order for the Kundamen to cease fire. A few seconds later, Jack could once again hear the stream gurgling away below them. Six Jaffa stood in the ravine. The rest of the patrol was dead.
Though most of the Kundamen were a little shaken, there had been no major injuries on their side. One man had received a face full of rock and sand when a staff blast nipped the ridge near where he was kneeling, and another had a nasty burn where a blast hadn't quite missed his leg, but those were the only casualties. While part of the group helped strip the Jaffa of their weapons, the others split up and began to clear the way out of the ravine.
Two hours later, the surviving Jaffa were gathered at the Gate near their ship. They were, by Teal'c's account, the higher ranking members of the patrol. Teal'c addressed them.
“You will return to your master,” he said in a voice that booked no argument. “You will tell him that this planet is a barren land, harboring nothing but wild beasts. You were attacked while scouting and lost most of your patrol. The rest of you were barely able to escape with your lives. You saw no signs of civilization and nothing of worth or value. You will tell your master this, and you will make him believe, because if you return here again, you will all die.”
The leader glared at Teal'c with the typical resentful spite, but Jack also spied fear in his gaze and a glimmer of grudging respect, which was new. Jack let himself hope that their ploy might actually be successful. As the Kundamen herded the Jaffa back onto their ship, he turned to Teal'c.
“Think they'll tell?”
A muscle tightened in Teal'c's jaw. “Not unless they wish to die for failing to capture a primitive world and losing almost an entire patrol in the process,” he replied.
“So we're good, then?”
“I believe so.” Teal'c said, arching an eyebrow contemplatively as a thought occurred to him. “There is always the possibility that Heru'ur will kill them for their failure anyway, based on the story of attack by wild beasts, but that story, at least, will keep him away from this planet.” His lips twitched in the faintest hint of a smirk. “It is rumored that Heru'ur has little love for the animals of the galaxy.”
Jack threw him a look. “Good thinking.”
Teal'c tilted his head in acknowledgment of the praise. The Kundamen backed toward them, putting distance between themselves and the Jaffa ship as it rumbled to life. Jack kept his hands tight on his gun until the ship was high in the sky and fading from view. Everyone had fallen quiet while the ship took off, but when it became a mere speck against the clouds, the Kundamen burst into cheers and song. They streamed toward Teal'c, and Jack sidestepped out of the way. Walking over to the rest of his team, he checked his watch.
“Daniel? Dial home, will you? We're almost at our check-in time.” He followed Daniel over to the DHD, Carter joining him, to watch the celebrations from afar.
“Think the Jaffa will really stay away?” Carter quietly asked.
“If Teal'c gave you that speech, wouldn't you?” Jack joked.
Carter grinned. “Well, if I knew Teal'c was waiting for me, I wouldn't have come in the first place,” she returned.
“Teal'c seems to think they'll stick to the story,” Jack said. “That's good enough for me.”
“What are we going to tell General Hammond?” Daniel asked as he dialed.
“'Teal'c told them to leave and never come back, sir'?” Jack offered. Daniel and Carter gave him a look. “What? It's the truth.”
“You can tell him that, sir,” Carter replied with a smile.
Jack glanced over to where Teal'c was still accepting praise from the Kundamen. He humbly bowed his head, smiling softly, as individuals patted him on his broad shoulders or pushed forward to grasp his arm in camaraderie. Many still clutched staff weapons, and they held them calmly, comfortably, confidently. Teal'c said something that had the crowd dropping their heads shyly, even as they broke out in proud grins. Jack felt his own mouth curving in response.
“We tell him what happened,” Jack said, pride giving an edge to his voice. “Teal'c took command and saved these people. And he did a damn good job of it.”
Teal'c looked up at him then and met his gaze. Jack gave him a nod. Teal'c returned it with a quirk of his eyebrow and the smallest upturn of his lips.
Rating: PG
Fandom: Stargate SG-1
Characters: Jack O'Neill, Teal'c, Daniel Jackson, Samantha Carter
Word Count: 6563
Categories: friendship, action/adventure
Spoilers/Warnings: Set sometime during S3 or S4. No spoilers.
Summary: Written for the
sg1friendathon. "Jack, Teal'c. Jack uses Teal'c experiences as a general (AKA First Prime) to solve a problem."Note: Extra special thank you to
fignewton for her awesome beta on this one.“Let me get this straight: we're going to a planet we know the Goa'uld are flying toward to rescue people who don't want to be rescued and who don't even like us all that much?”
Jack gazed around the Gate room at his team. Teal'c stared back stoically, Carter looked to Daniel, and Daniel frowned.
“Why?” Jack asked.
“SG-7 thinks we might have better luck with the Kundamen,” Daniel said.
“No, I mean why are we bothering?”
“Because it took us four long and tedious months to establish a strong trade relationship with the Kundamen and it was SG-10's capture on P3Y-249 that might have given the Goa'uld intelligence about their existence.” Daniel paused to give Jack a stern look. “And they're good people.”
“So we're half clean-up crew, half good samaritans,” Jack said. “I can live with that.”
“Any reason why we were chosen in particular?” Carter asked curiously.
“Exactly,” Jack added. “I know we pull off as many as six impossible things before breakfast every day, but this is a bit much, don't you think?”
“Ah, actually, we were chosen because of Teal'c.” Daniel, fighting to straighten the strap of his pack where it had twisted across his shoulder, nodded at Teal'c. Carter, taking pity on him, stepped over to help.
“Teal'c?” Jack asked. He glanced over to where Teal'c stood at the foot of the ramp, waiting patiently for the Gate to start spinning. “Have a thing for tall, dark, and silent, do they?”
“It has something to do with how they came to be free of the Goa'uld in the first place,” Daniel advised. He stood placidly while Carter untangled the problematic strap and reclipped his pack to his vest. “SG-7 said the Kundamen have a reverence for Jaffa, which was part of the problem in trying to convince them to evacuate. They don't believe that a Jaffa would harm them.”
“I'm assuming this is because they don't know any better,” said Jack.
Daniel started to answer, but Teal'c's voice cut off his response.
“The people of P2C-911 were protected by the First Prime of Mafdet.”
Jack looked at Teal'c in surprise. “Read the mission report, buddy?”
“I have not,” Teal'c replied. Without turning fully to the others, he tilted his head to better see them, his chin rising slightly in the look Jack had come to recognize as pride. “The legend of the Ken'tari is well known among the Jaffa.”
“'Ken'tari'—'lost ones,’” Daniel translated.
“The Goa'uld dismiss it as lies and rumors, angered by the thought that such an action against the gods could have gone undetected and unpunished. But the Jaffa breathe it still, the story of the First Prime who defied and betrayed his god without the god knowing of or being able to prove the treachery.”
There was the faintest hint of a smile on Teal'c's face, and Jack added another mental tick mark for the Jaffa under his ongoing tally of 'us versus the Goa'uld.'
With a cresting whir and heavy thunk, the Gate spun to life. As the first chevron locked into place, Daniel looked past Jack to Teal'c.
“According to Kundamen legend, they were brought to the planet when their people were still young.”
Teal'c nodded. “The Jaffa legend states that Ja'lo knew the gods to be imperfect, having witnessed their errors and misjudgments and ignorance during his many years in Mafdet's service, and he had grown weary of Mafdet's savagery.”
“That makes sense,” Daniel muttered. At the others' looks, he explained. “Mafdet was the Ancient Egyptian deification of legal justice and execution.”
“When Ja'lo found the Ken'tari on a planet Mafdet greatly desired, he determined to remove them without his master's knowledge, for they were a new people, young and with many children. So he led them through the Chappa'ai to another world, one free from the Goa'uld, where they could live their lives in peace. Ja'lo then turned over their original home to Mafdet, who enjoyed its mineral wealth and knew not of the slaves she had lost. But Ja'lo remembered, and carried the tale of his defiance in secret until the end of his days.”
Sergeant Harriman reported a lock on the sixth chevron, and everyone performed a quick double-check of their equipment. Jack followed the spin of the Gate as the last symbol—the one for home—locked into place and the wormhole opened. Then he turned his attention back to Teal'c.
“When Ja'lo knew that his time was short,” Teal'c continued, “he passed the story on to his son, who in turn passed it on to his. In this way, whispers of the gods' fallibility came to all Jaffa. Those who believe in the Goa'uld scorn its truth, but those who doubt find strength and encouragement therein.” Something softened slightly in Teal'c's face, even as he stood a bit straighter. “It is one of the first lessons Master Bra'tac imparted to me.”
Jack stared at Teal'c for a moment. He turned to find the other half of his team doing the same, Daniel and Carter having stepped forward a bit to better see Teal'c as he spoke. They looked suitably impressed, and Jack could nearly see the wheels turning in Daniel's head as he weighed and dissected and cataloged the story for further study and reference. Jack raised his eyebrows and jerked his head toward Teal'c.
“He weaves a good yarn.”
“We've been working on it,” Daniel mumbled, still looking at Teal'c as if here were a particularly fascinating and informative artifact.
Jack sighed and pulled his cap down tighter on his head. He led the way up to the edge of the ramp. He stopped there, the rest of the team falling into line on either side of him. He frowned at the Gate.
“So, basically,” he said, “we have—how long, Carter?”
Carter glanced his way. “According to the Tok'ra report, Heru'ur's forces should arrive at the planet within the next 24-36 hours, sir.”
“About a day, then, to convince these people that the Jaffa aren't the good guys and that they have to leave?”
Daniel nodded. “Yeah, that's about it.”
“Goody,” Jack sighed. “All right, campers. Let's get this show on the road.”
They stepped through the Gate and came out the other side facing a large, gently rolling plain. Behind the Gate stood a large forest, one arm of which stretched right up to the dais the Gate was set in. There, at the treeline, stood the welcome committee.
The group was composed of three men and one woman, all of average size and build, though with that way of holding themselves that spoke of a strenuous physical lifestyle. They were dressed in a mixture of animal skins and fabric, and a long knife was slung at the waist of each. Two of their number also had a bow and quiver strapped to their backs. They came forward as Jack led the others down the steps from the Gate. They seemed a bit cool in their welcome, if polite enough, but Jack caught the light that came to their eyes upon seeing Teal'c. And though they addressed their welcome to the team as a whole, it was Teal'c to whom they directed their shallow bows. Teal'c seemed completely unperturbed by the extra attention, maintaining as stoic and solemn a demeanor as Jack had ever seen him wear.
Jack made the necessary introductions, the welcome committee did the same, and then they were led to the village. To Jack's surprise, they did not follow the clearly marked path that led off to their left, skirting the trees. Instead, their guides took them directly through the forest, easily finding their way even without obvious signposts.
“Is there some reason you don't use the path?” Daniel asked.
“We do use it,” the largest man, who had introduced himself as Aeblin, replied. “But only if we are traveling in large numbers, or with carts, which cannot go through the forest. The path takes the long way to the village, but it is the easiest way for those with burdens or in large groups to travel.”
With that, he fell quiet again, and they completed their journey in silence. About half an hour after leaving the Gate, the group emerged from the trees and into the village. It was set in an open area, surrounded on all sides by the forest. The path they had left behind reappeared at the far end of the village to their left, accompanied by a wide but shallow stream. Wooden structures of varying sizes but similar design filled the area, and the place smelled of wood smoke, sap, and freshly baked bread. The people going about their daily tasks passed them without a glance, clearly used to visitors from the SGC. But every other person or so would catch a hitch in their stride or slow to a standstill when they caught sight of the emblem on Teal'c's forehead.
The other Kundamen of their party dispersed, and Aeblin led them to a central area where several people milled around a large and dormant fire pit. At one side, on low wooden benches, sat three men and two women. They glanced up as the group approached. Aeblin stepped over and murmured something to one of the men, then bowed his head and trotted off in the direction of the forest. The man he had spoken to motioned for Jack and the team to take the empty bench to his right.
“Come,” he said, “please sit.”
Jack lowered himself to the bench, masking a wince as his knee protested a bit. Daniel sat next to him, ready to play diplomat as needed, and Carter and Teal'c took their places at the far end. Jack turned back to their host, a man who looked to be about his age.
“You must be Rastom,” he said.
The man nodded. “I am.”
“I'm Colonel Jack O'Neill.” Jack pointed down the line. “This is Dr. Daniel Jackson, Major Samantha Carter, and Teal'c.”
Rastom nodded to each in turn, his eyes lingering on Teal'c before returning to Jack. “I am pleased to meet you,” he replied. “You have come to speak with us as your SG-7 did, yes?”
“Yeah,” Jack said, “you see, we don't think you quite understand just how much trouble Heru'ur is going to cause you when his Jaffa get here.”
“The Jaffa harm no one,” Rastom said with a frown. “They are protectors and guardians. If they are coming here, they will be welcome.”
“We understand that you hold Jaffa in high esteem because of your history,” Daniel said, “but your history doesn't tell the entire story. In fact, what happened to your people is a rarity. Jaffa are soldiers. That's what they do. And the Jaffa that are on their way are not like the one who helped your people thousands of years ago. These Jaffa are being sent to conquer this world and enslave anyone they find here.”
From the expression on Rastom's face, Jack knew Daniel's words weren't getting through. He bit back an oath. Why were people always too stubborn to accept the truth even when it was staring them down? He felt his frustration grow as all their tactics failed to break through the Kundamen's steadfast belief. Daniel's diplomatic routine failed spectacularly. Carter attempted to reason with them and explain exactly what the Jaffa could do with Goa'uld weaponry, but to no avail. After nearly an hour, it was clear they were making no headway. Jack was about to scrub the mission and leave the people to their fate when Teal'c spoke up. Not only Rastom and his contingent, but everyone around the pit fell silent as they became aware of who was speaking.
“Hear me,” Teal'c began, his voice low and powerful. “The Jaffa are not saviors or protectors. They kill and enslave entire races, they burn entire worlds to the ground at the whim of their gods. They are trained to show no mercy and give their enemy no quarter. When the Jaffa arrive on this planet, they will take your women and children and they will kill anyone who stands in their way.” He stared Rastom down. “If you stay, your people will be destroyed.”
Jack could see Rastom waver. The rest of the crowd shared worried, uncertain glances.
“But you are Jaffa,” said a woman beside Rastom, “and you are here to save us.”
“I have turned my back on the Goa'uld and fight against them,” Teal'c said, “but I am the only one to do so and live.”
“There are other Jaffa who believe as Teal'c does, who think that the Goa'uld are not gods,” Daniel advised the gathering Kundamen, “but there are few of them, and they would be killed if they ever admitted to or acted on their beliefs.”
“The vast majority of the Jaffa believe completely in the power of their god. They will kill you without question.”
Murmurs and glances passed around the circle. Many looked worried now, though there were still a few who clearly did not believe the Jaffa capable of such vile acts. Jack looked to Rastom, who was in deep discussion with the other four of his group. Jack knew that, despite the misgivings of the others, it would be Rastom's decision that would determine their next steps.
“You have to take your people through the Gate,” Sam said. “That's the only way they'll be safe.”
Rastom turned back to them, raking a look down their line until his gaze settled on Teal'c again. He studied Teal'c with a small frown on his face, clearly working through everything he had been told. Slowly, the noise around the pit faded into silence. After a long moment, his chin came up.
“We believe you,” he said simply.
“Hallelujah,” Jack said under his breath. He stood, and the rest of the team followed suit. “Carter, head back to the Gate and let Hammond know that we're going to begin moving these people to the Beta Site—”
“We will not leave.”
Jack stared at Rastom in disbelief. “I beg your pardon?”
“We believe you, but we will not leave.”
Jack couldn't believe his ears. He checked in with his team: Daniel was pinching the bridge of his nose, Carter's eyebrows were in danger of getting caught in her hairline, and even Teal'c looked confused. Shaking his head, he turned back to Rastom.
“You won't leave,” he repeated, carefully enunciating each word.
“Even if the Jaffa are what you claim, we will not give up our home, our world to their invasion.” Rastom stood, raising himself to his full height and looking Teal'c in the face. “We will fight them.”
“You will lose,” Teal'c said.
“Then we will die, but we will not run.”
“Always with the heroic death crap,” Jack muttered. He shook his head and rubbed the back of his neck. Stepping around Daniel and Carter, he put a hand on Teal'c's shoulder. “Teal'c, buddy, Heru'ur and his cronies are going to be breathing down our necks soon. And you know from experience that evac takes a while. Why don't you try to impress upon these good people the urgency of our situation?”
“I will try, O'Neill.” Teal'c walked over to Rastom and loomed for all he was worth. “Have your people any training in the ways of combat?”
“No,” Rastom replied.
“Do they possess any weapons for the making of war?”
“No—”
“Do you have sufficient numbers to battle a fleet that will bring hundreds, perhaps thousands of Jaffa warriors to your planet?”
“No.”
“Then you will die,” Teal'c said bluntly. “The Jaffa who are coming have done nothing but train for battle since they were children. They will use their greater skill and numbers to completely destroy you. You must leave this place and rebuild your village on a safe planet. If you stay here, your people will be erased from existence. There are no other options.”
A ripple of unease went through the crowd. For a moment, Jack thought that Teal'c had finally gotten through to them. He saw the determined glint in Rastom's eye a fraction of a second before the man shook his head.
“We fight!” came a voice from the spectators.
“We cannot leave our home!” cried another.
“We will not leave!”
Rastom held up his hands, and a hush descended again. “My people will fight, with or without your help, though we ask for it.” He placed a hand on Teal'c's shoulder. “Please help us.”
Teal'c frowned over his shoulder at Jack. Carter looked at him expectantly. Daniel gave him a pointed look.
“Jack...” Daniel began.
Jack rubbed a hand over his face and waved for Teal'c to join them. He took another quick look around at the assembled Kundamen, then at the faces of his team. He sighed.
“Teal'c, you think you can lead these people?”
Teal'c raised an eyebrow. “I believe so.”
“Teal'c, sir?” Carter asked.
“They need someone to lead them, Carter, and they sure as hell don't listen to me.”
Carter nodded in understanding. “Right.”
“Wait—we aren't seriously considering taking on a Goa'uld ha'tak, are we?” Daniel asked.
“It is unlikely that the ha'tak will land first,” Teal'c advised. “A scout ship will be sent ahead to determine the value of the planet and whether the Goa'uld need personally intervene.”
“So we'll be fighting a small contingent?” Sam asked.
“Do you think we could win?” Jack asked Teal'c.
“I do not know.” Teal'c surveyed the crowd critically. “It appears that there are enough Kundamen to mount a successful surprise attack. Victory will depend on how well we use the available resources and how many troops Heru'ur sends for the initial survey.”
“Yeah, see, I'm not so fond of that last variable.”
Rastom appeared at Teal'c's elbow. “Will you help us?”
Teal'c looked to Jack. Jack thought about it for a moment, weighing his options, then gave a 'go ahead' gesture. Daniel and Carter shared an uncertain glance and Teal'c nodded.
“We will help you,” he told Rastom.
“Tell us what to do.”
“I need you to gather all those who are able to fight,” Teal'c advised, “as well as any weapons you may have.” Rastom barked an order, and three men darted away, weaving through the crowds. Teal'c pointed toward the stream. “Is that path the only marked way to the village?”
“Yes,” Rastom answered.
“Heru'ur's forces will most likely land near the Gate or ring troops to the same area. They will then follow the path to the village.” Teal'c turned back to the team. “Daniel Jackson, Major Carter, scout the area along the path. Look for any place where we could mount an ambush of the patrols.”
Daniel accepted the shift in command with ease, nodding once and heading in the direction of the path. Carter hesitated, however, eyes darting to Jack for his subtle nod before she followed after Daniel. Remembering their orders, Jack called out and stopped them just beyond the circle. Leaving Teal'c to give the Kundamen further instructions, Jack joined them.
“Call home and let them know the situation, will you?” he said in an undertone. “And radio us if Hammond orders us to get our asses back home.”
“Yes, sir,” Carter answered.
She and Daniel shared a look, then jogged off, dodging those Kundamen drawn from the stream by the growing crowd. Jack watched them go with concern and a bit of resignation. He was pulled from his thoughts by Teal'c's voice.
“Colonel O'Neill, I will require your assistance in preparing the Kundamen for battle.”
“Of course.”
The men Rastom had sent off returned, others following behind, all laden with clubs, axes, and other such violent accoutrements. The group was ragtag at best, but all had a defiant and determined set to their jaws that Jack recognized and respected. Rastom, who had also disappeared, strode back through the group, adorned with his own set of weaponry. Teal'c's eye wandered over those people at the edges of the crowd.
“Is there a place where those who cannot fight may hide?” he asked.
“There is a natural cavern in a bend in the river,” Rastom said, pointing deeper into the forest. “The opening is small and easily concealed.”
“And the river will hide their tracks,” Jack said. He shared a look with Teal'c.
“Send all who will go immediately. Tell them to take only what they must, and to carry as much food as they are able.” Teal'c's expression hardly changed, but Jack knew him well enough to recognize the grimness there. “We do not know how long this will last.”
Rastom gestured, and one of their number peeled off. Teal'c then turned his attention to the weapons on display.
“What skills do your people have with weapons?” he asked.
“We are skilled with knife and axe, and well trained at hunting traps,” Rastom answered. “We are also skilled archers.”
“How skilled?”
Rastom frowned at Jack, seemingly affronted. “We are excellent marksmen. A Kundamen never misses.”
“Yeah, well they also say elephants never forget, but I'll bel—”
Jack startled and jumped backward as a pot hanging over the fire pit—and less than a foot away from his leg—shattered. He fell into a crouch and had his gun in his hands before the last shard went still. As he scoured the area for the perceived threat, somewhat confused at everyone else's lack of concern, a tall woman stepped out of the crowd. Her face was still and proud, though a bit of smugness showed in the slight curve of her lips. She stared at him as he straightened, releasing the death grip he had on the stock of his gun.
“A Kundamen never misses,” she said.
Rastom allowed himself a small smile. “Nolna is our best archer,” he advised.
“Is she now?” Jack said. He stared at the remains of the pot, and at the arrow buried in the side of one of the houses a few meters away. “I believe it.”
“She is often sought after as a partner for our harvest games,” Rastom said. He elaborated further when Jack and Teal'c threw him questioning looks. “We celebrate at every harvest with food and sport. The young ones who have gone on their first hunt give demonstrations of their skills, while those who are seasoned compete in various games. Many of these competitions involve two or more people partnering to complete tests of skill together.” He smiled proudly, pointedly glancing down at the debris at Jack's feet. “The practice has made us very good at hunting,” he said with a wide smile.
At that moment, Carter jogged up.
“Major Carter,” Teal'c greeted her.
Jack looked around. “Carter, where's Daniel?”
“I sent him on, sir,” she replied, giving Jack a look. He nodded in understanding. She had sent him to the Gate. “We found a ravine about ten to fifteen minutes away,” she advised Teal'c. “The stream flows through it and no doubt created it. The ravine is long, but not too deep, and wide enough to allow coverage from both sides. It also narrows at both ends, so that only one or two people can get through at a time.”
Nolna nodded. “We know of this place. It is good for fishing.”
Jack perked up, but Sam cut across him before he could say anything.
“The stream doesn't appear to be too deep there, but it is pretty fast-moving.” She glanced between Teal'c and Jack. “Could provide another obstacle for the Jaffa.”
Teal'c was frowning. Suddenly he knelt, sweeping aside leaves and such to create a clear patch of dirt. He waved Rastom down and pointed. “Rastom, could you draw a map of the area between the village and the Gate?”
Rastom looked a little confused, as did the other Kundamen, but Carter knelt beside Teal'c to help.
“Look,” she said kindly, “I'll start it.” With quick, sure strokes, she filled in a rough rendering of what she had seen of the area so far. She started with the Gate and the plain, drew in the bit of forest between there and the village, and added what she knew of the path from the village to the ravine. As she drew, Rastom begin to nod, understanding dawning. Once Carter had completed all she could, he shifted over, filling in much of the rest.
“The stream turns away from the path here,” he said, pointing to a spot not far from the opening of the ravine. “The path continues along the edge of the forest until it reaches the Gate.”
Teal'c studied the map. “Major Carter, how much C4 do we possess?”
“I have two in my vest and about ten in my pack, why?”
“Ten, Carter?” Jack asked in surprise.
She smiled guiltily and gave a shrug. “It's the Goa'uld, sir.”
“Good thinking.”
“Yes, sir.”
“From what you saw of the ravine, do you believe it would be possible to block both ends?”
“With C4?”
“Yes.”
Carter nodded. “Yeah, I think so. Like I said, the ends are pretty narrow, so it wouldn't take much of a blast to bring down the walls there.”
“What are you thinking, T?” Jack asked.
“The Jaffa will not bother searching the forest when there is a clear trail to lead them to people. They will head straight for the village.”
“And you think we can ambush them in the ravine?” Carter asked.
“I believe so.” Teal'c drew a finger down the path in the dirt and into the ravine Carter had drawn. “The Jaffa will not bother to go around the ravine; they are too arrogant to believe the Kundamen could pose any threat. Once they are within the ravine, Major Carter can detonate the C4, blocking any escape routes. Then we will assault them from above.”
“The sides of the ravine are slightly concave,” Carter reported, “so the top lip will provide extra cover and make it difficult for the Jaffa to return fire.”
“Major Carter—”
“Return to the ravine and set the C4?” she asked with a small grin.
Teal'c inclined his head. “Indeed.”
“On it.” Rising to her feet, she hustled off.
Teal'c rose as well and once again surveyed his troops. Turning to Rastom first, he asked for an assessment of each person's skills. The Kundamen were honest and succinct in their answers, which gave Jack hope in their prospects. The better a leader understood his people, the better he could put them to use. Teal'c quickly separated the group based on skill sets, experience, and tasks.
Jack was impressed by Teal'c's leadership. Teal'c followed so willingly, it was easy to forget that he had been leading vast armies longer than Jack had been alive. But that experience was clearly on display as he prepared the Kundamen for their first battle.
Normally, Teal'c maintained an attentive, dutiful air, but ever since Jack had handed over the reins of the mission to him, that had changed. Here was the First Prime of Apophis they had only briefly glimpsed in that prison on Chulak. Everything in Teal'c's demeanor commanded respect and obedience, and the Kundamen answered appropriately, listening intently to his words and following his instructions without hesitation. He advised them of the weak points in Jaffa armor, explained how to set up along the ravine ridge in order to create a web of cross-fire, and taught them a few simple signals that they would use to communicate across the ravine. By the time Jack's radio crackled to life, the hunters and farmers had begun to look like a real fighting force. He just hoped to hell they would perform like one, too.
“Uh, Jack?”
Jack clicked his radio. “Yeah, Daniel.”
“We have a problem.”
Jack frowned at how winded Daniel sounded. “Hammond?”
“Ah, no. The Jaffa are already here.”
“What?”
“I'm lucky they didn't see me,” came Daniel's reply. “I was rounding the final bend leading up to the Gate when I caught sight of a Jaffa over a low rise. I ducked into the trees and moved closer to get a better look. They're already here.”
“Did you see how many?”
“Looks to be about thirty or forty.”
Jack shared a worried glance with Teal'c. “'Looks'?” Jack asked.
“Yeah, I'm following them. They're heading your way.”
“Daniel...”
“I'll be careful. Going to radio silence.”
Jack sighed and tapped his radio again. “Carter, you get that?”
“Yes, sir,” she replied.
“What happened to our 24-36 hour window?” Jack asked peevishly.
“That was always a rough estimate, sir.” She sounded slightly exasperated, but Jack chalked it up to having to set the C4 all by herself. “The Tok'ra intelligence wasn't very detailed.”
“Yeah, well, next time we're going to calculate on a curve when we get intelligence from the Tok'ra.”
“Yes, sir.” She definitely sounded exasperated now. “I'm about halfway done here.”
“Hold tight, Carter. We'll be there soon.”
Jack looked at Teal'c, who gave him a small nod and gathered the Kundamen for their march to the ravine. Carter was just finishing up with the C4 when they arrived. Covering the last block, she scrambled up the hill to join them.
“We're ready to go,” she said, and Jack was amused to find that she directed this proclamation entirely at Teal'c.
Teal'c divided the forces in half and sent one group, led by Nolna, to the other side of the divide. Carter joined them. He and Jack stayed with the other group. While they waited, Teal'c walked among the Kundamen, calming frayed nerves with his mere presence. Having made a final pass, he settled into place beside Jack. Jack found Carter across the ravine. She looked about as concerned as he felt, but she motioned an 'all clear' that, strangely, soothed him a little. They had surprise on their side, a couple of well-trained Air Force officers, a frighteningly good Jaffa warrior, and a few dozen very determined locals: they could do this. He glanced around, noticing how the Kundamen alternated between watching the ravine opening and watching Teal'c, who was being careful to keep his expression calm.
Suddenly, a noise broke through the quiet. It came from the trees near the entrance to the ravine and sounded very similar to a bird call, if nothing like any bird Jack had ever come across before. Had he not been listening for the tromp of boots and the clank of armor, he probably would have missed it, or at the very least dismissed it as nothing more than local fauna. But the sound was a bit too structured, a bit too convenient to have been just random birdsong. If anything, it sounded eerily like a signal. Jack looked over at Teal'c in confusion, only to find Teal'c on alert.
“What was that?” he whispered.
“I believe that was Daniel Jackson telling us that the Jaffa patrol is almost here.”
Jack stared at him in disbelief. “Our Daniel Jackson?”
“The same.”
“Where the hell did Daniel learn that?”
“I taught him,” Teal'c replied, looking rather pleased, “at his request. He proved to be an apt pupil.”
“Go, Daniel,” Jack breathed. “I guess it's just another language to him, huh?”
“Indeed.” The call came again, slightly different this time, and Teal'c shifted. “We should prepare ourselves, O'Neill.”
Teal'c motioned across to Carter, who passed the command to make ready down the line. Jack readied his gun and from his right he could hear the creaks of bowstrings being drawn. He flicked his eyes over to Teal'c, who was staring at the ravine opening with an intensity that he was sure would have stopped the Jaffa dead in their tracks if they had been able to see it.
“Think this will work?” Jack asked.
“I do,” Teal'c replied with a raised eyebrow. “I would not have suggested it otherwise.”
Jack gave a half smile as Jaffa appeared at the end of the ravine. He tensed in anticipation and felt the others do the same. “I hope you're right,” he said, and took aim.
Jack held his breath as the patrol filed into the ravine, the sound of their passage amplified by the close walls. When the last Jaffa cleared the entrance, the strange bird call sounded again, and Teal'c gave the signal to the others that told them to brace themselves. He had prepared the Kundamen as best he could for their first experience with C4. Then he motioned to Carter. A few seconds later, both ends of the ravine exploded. Jack felt his respect for the Kundamen grow when he saw that they flinched, but held their ground and their silence. A split second later, they followed the command to fire.
The creak and swish and twang of archers at work filled the air, punctuated by the crack of gunfire. Blocked in at all sides and under siege from unseen and unexpected attackers, the Jaffa quickly suffered many losses. But even as their comrades fell all around them, those who remained standing stubbornly continued to fight, firing wildly up at the ridges. Only when a few were left did a cry rise from the ravine. The call was in Goa'uld, but it caused Teal'c to immediately raise his fist and bark an order for the Kundamen to cease fire. A few seconds later, Jack could once again hear the stream gurgling away below them. Six Jaffa stood in the ravine. The rest of the patrol was dead.
Though most of the Kundamen were a little shaken, there had been no major injuries on their side. One man had received a face full of rock and sand when a staff blast nipped the ridge near where he was kneeling, and another had a nasty burn where a blast hadn't quite missed his leg, but those were the only casualties. While part of the group helped strip the Jaffa of their weapons, the others split up and began to clear the way out of the ravine.
Two hours later, the surviving Jaffa were gathered at the Gate near their ship. They were, by Teal'c's account, the higher ranking members of the patrol. Teal'c addressed them.
“You will return to your master,” he said in a voice that booked no argument. “You will tell him that this planet is a barren land, harboring nothing but wild beasts. You were attacked while scouting and lost most of your patrol. The rest of you were barely able to escape with your lives. You saw no signs of civilization and nothing of worth or value. You will tell your master this, and you will make him believe, because if you return here again, you will all die.”
The leader glared at Teal'c with the typical resentful spite, but Jack also spied fear in his gaze and a glimmer of grudging respect, which was new. Jack let himself hope that their ploy might actually be successful. As the Kundamen herded the Jaffa back onto their ship, he turned to Teal'c.
“Think they'll tell?”
A muscle tightened in Teal'c's jaw. “Not unless they wish to die for failing to capture a primitive world and losing almost an entire patrol in the process,” he replied.
“So we're good, then?”
“I believe so.” Teal'c said, arching an eyebrow contemplatively as a thought occurred to him. “There is always the possibility that Heru'ur will kill them for their failure anyway, based on the story of attack by wild beasts, but that story, at least, will keep him away from this planet.” His lips twitched in the faintest hint of a smirk. “It is rumored that Heru'ur has little love for the animals of the galaxy.”
Jack threw him a look. “Good thinking.”
Teal'c tilted his head in acknowledgment of the praise. The Kundamen backed toward them, putting distance between themselves and the Jaffa ship as it rumbled to life. Jack kept his hands tight on his gun until the ship was high in the sky and fading from view. Everyone had fallen quiet while the ship took off, but when it became a mere speck against the clouds, the Kundamen burst into cheers and song. They streamed toward Teal'c, and Jack sidestepped out of the way. Walking over to the rest of his team, he checked his watch.
“Daniel? Dial home, will you? We're almost at our check-in time.” He followed Daniel over to the DHD, Carter joining him, to watch the celebrations from afar.
“Think the Jaffa will really stay away?” Carter quietly asked.
“If Teal'c gave you that speech, wouldn't you?” Jack joked.
Carter grinned. “Well, if I knew Teal'c was waiting for me, I wouldn't have come in the first place,” she returned.
“Teal'c seems to think they'll stick to the story,” Jack said. “That's good enough for me.”
“What are we going to tell General Hammond?” Daniel asked as he dialed.
“'Teal'c told them to leave and never come back, sir'?” Jack offered. Daniel and Carter gave him a look. “What? It's the truth.”
“You can tell him that, sir,” Carter replied with a smile.
Jack glanced over to where Teal'c was still accepting praise from the Kundamen. He humbly bowed his head, smiling softly, as individuals patted him on his broad shoulders or pushed forward to grasp his arm in camaraderie. Many still clutched staff weapons, and they held them calmly, comfortably, confidently. Teal'c said something that had the crowd dropping their heads shyly, even as they broke out in proud grins. Jack felt his own mouth curving in response.
“We tell him what happened,” Jack said, pride giving an edge to his voice. “Teal'c took command and saved these people. And he did a damn good job of it.”
Teal'c looked up at him then and met his gaze. Jack gave him a nod. Teal'c returned it with a quirk of his eyebrow and the smallest upturn of his lips.