4: Thundergate
by Chaos_eternus
It took them some time, but they were finally able to find an entrance to the vessel by feeling all around the outside of the ship, all the time wondering why they hadn't been spotted, or more likely, why they were being ignored.
The four SG teams entered the temple slowly and cautiously, fanning rapidly out around the edges of the vast entranceway they found themselves in. This was clearly a room meant to impress with its high vaulted ceiling, the gold and marble covering every surface and the statues of an unknown Goa'uld, there construction marking them as having come from all different cultures, Christian, Mayan, Egyptian, Incan and more.
The teams spoke not a word as they headed to the usual location for brigs on Goa'uld vessels, instead gesturing their orders with their hands, and communicating their worry with their eyes. They did not come across a single Unas, Jaffa or Goa'uld, and yet they saw numerous signs or their occupation. To Colonel O'Neill this just screamed trap, and the others saw it too, but they had no choice but to proceed grimly onwards.
Eventually they reached the brigs, and O'Neill found himself smiling. ‘RSG-1 was here, maybe this would be easy.' he thought as he watched Carter hot-wire the door locking mechanism with an eased that spoke of familiarity and all too much practise.
Gesturing at the other SG teams to watch the corridor, O'Neil strode into the cell, P-90 lowered but still firmly held, “First mission and you get captured, you guys really are trying to emulate us, SG-1 ain't you?”
Pierce stood up and walked towards SG-1, a glimmer of dark amusement in her eyes that send an instinctive shiver up the Colonels spine, “More than you know.”
“Excuse me?” The P-90 was no longer lowered, but it wasn't quite pointed at Pierce.
Then Carter and Teal'c stiffened and raised their guns, pointing them at Colonel Pierce and the shiver became a cold unwanted certainty.
“Sir,” Carter shouted, the tones strained tone of her voice grabbing O'Neill's attention like a kick to the balls, “She's a Host!”
Teal'c own shout of ‘O'Neil, she is a Goa'uld' was just unnecessary confirmation.
He pointed his P-90 straight at Pierce, but the glimmer of dark amusement, the tell tale lack of fear which spoke of knowing something you didn't held him at bay. Something still wasn't right, there was another shoe waiting to drop.
Then it came, as a flash of movement out of the corner of his eye made him turn around in time to see Zats raising in the hands of the RoyalSG team, ‘Oh shit… '
“Cover!” he shouted, diving out the cell door as the Zats began spitting their bolts of energy, Carter and Teal'c falling as if pole axed followed swiftly by Doctor Jackson.
Major Penhall dropped to the floor and glanced around the bottom of the cell door, quickly ducking back behind cover, cursing. He shot a quick assessing glance at O'Neill as he dived into cover and satisfied that he hadn't suffered any major injury, turned to his troops.
“Pierce has a hand device, the rest of the team appear to be nishta'd” mentally stifling an ‘I hope', he took a quick glance at the doorway, “Zats everyone, Pierson break out your blade!”
Adam Pierson cursed silently as he hefted the heavy modern blade he used for off-world missions, curse SG-5 for visiting just when he and the Highlander were sparring! Now he had a reputation as being an exceptional swordsman, and as well as being required for his linguistic ability, he was expected to dice and slice system lords with personal shields too. Damn Boy scouts, least he could leave his Ivanhoe back at base, he didn't want to lose that off-world, oh yeah, and at least they hadn't figured out he was immortal. That would, as the modern generation put it, suck.
“Quickly people! That clomping you here is far too many Jaffa heading our way for my liking.”
Pierce stepped through the doorway and Methos attacked, swinging his sword deftly at the former Colonel. The Goa'uld ducked, and attempted to grab the blade with his hand; Methos quickly shifted the blade and swung again as the rest of RSG-1 poured through the cell doors, quickly falling to Zat fire.
The clomping of the approaching Jaffa hoard grew louder as the fight between Methos and Pierce continued, O'Neill and Reynolds standing with knives at hand, waiting for a clear shot.
“SG teams this is SG-3.” the words blared through the radios, chilling the SG team-members to the bone “Our position overrun, engaged by seventy plus Unas, we are escaping through the gate, Good Luck! SG-3 Out.”
Pierce laughed, breaking off from the fight with Pierson as Jaffa poured into the area, surrounding the SG teams with overwhelming numbers.
“You cannot win! Surrender now and you will live long lives in service to your god, very long lives in fact; I have several servants in need of new hosts.”
O'Neill cursed as he looked over at the Jaffa surrounding him, there were far too many of them, and they appeared to be led by lesser Goa'ulds too, all of whom had their shields up. This was not good.
O'Neill glared around at all of the Goa'uld's and Jaffa again, he really didn't like being captured, but he did wonder if it was the host or the Goa'uld in charge in that female Goa'uld… O'Neill's train of thought derailed. He was wondering who was in charge? He wondered what his mind had spotted that his eyes appeared to have missed. He glanced casually around again, she caught his eye and he saw innocence and determination within. She flicked a casual hand gesture at the Jaffa behind her, and their staffs shifted slightly, pointing not at the SG-teams, but beyond them.
“You cannot win, put down your weapons or die.” the thing that controlled Colonel Pierce said, exasperated.
“Actually” Colonel O'Neill said, with the tones of someone imparting great wisdom, moving in front of the other SG teams where they could all clearly see him, “We can win.”
The Goa'uld snorted, amused, “Really, How?”
“Well” O'Neill said, gesturing frantically with his hands behind his back where Pierce couldn't see them, wondering all the while exactly what he thought he was doing and what he had been taking to take such a massive risk as this, “All it would take is an unexpected event, a curveball.”
Pierce looked at O'Neill, pity in his glowing eyes, “Really, you expect the Asgard to come riding to you rescue again, or a caped avenger perhaps?”
“No, but I'm willing to find out.” O'Neill hit the ground as the SG teams opened fire on the Goa'uld and the Jaffa beyond him with everything they had, quickly joined by the Jaffa of the unknown Goa'uld.
“Enerina! Kree!” Pierce shouted in shock, stepping backwards, his expression a mixture of sheer surprise, fear, contempt, wondering and in a deep corner of his eyes, a little respect.
Her expression one of fierce determination and regret, the unknown Goa'uld, whom O'Neill presumed was this ‘Enerina', raised her hand device and blasted a shockwave at Pierce over the heads of the SG teams. It was distraction enough for Pierson to act and the Goa'ulds head flew from his body.
“Fall back!” O'Neill shouted as the loyal Jaffa surged forward to retrieve their fallen master.
“Tau'ri! We must take the bridge! There is another ship at the gate with more Jaffa and Unas, we'll never get through.”
O'Neill looked her straight in the eyes and saw no deceit, so he nodded, wary and confused “Okay guys, we're taking this ship home!”
Glancing backwards, he made a simple gesture and Teal'c nodded just slightly, his gaze hardly leaving the Goa'ulds back.
The loyal Jaffa fell back through the corridors and headed quickly to the other Ha'tak. They knew the masters favourite Ha'tak was no place to be at this time. Not with 5 SG-teams, one of which was SG-1 and Enerina's shol'va Jaffa on-board. They would have to use the spare sarcophagus to revive him.
And hope someone else got the pleasure of telling their Lord that his favourite Ha'tak, the one he had carefully upgraded to be the best Ha'tak in any Goa'ulds armoury, was now in the hands of the Tau'ri, and that his daughter had turned Shol'va. They all slowed down as they headed for the Ha'tak, they were not looking forward to this, no, they were not looking forward to this at all .