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Post by Harbinger on Aug 25, 2013 18:46:21 GMT
It seemed just like another normal day at Stargate Command, Walter was running another gate diagnostic. Apart from off world missions and the odd dignitary coming through, stargate activity was on the quiet side. Had been for a while.
"Anything new, Walter?" Walter smiled as he recognised the voice. Jack had returned as base commander a few days ago and they were all getting used to having him around again.
"No Sir, same as yesterday,"
"And still the paper stack grows higher," Jack said with amusement. Still, it was good to be back in this place. It remained quiet for a few more hours before the gate started, chevrons lighting up as they locked in place.
Walter's finger hit the tannoy button, "Unscheduled gate activation!" This was sent out throughout the base and it wasn't long before personnel came to their stations. Walter activated the iris before the chevrons completed their dialling sequence. |
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Post by Anteyra on Aug 25, 2013 19:20:09 GMT
At the Cheyenne Library just a couple of miles away from the mountain complex, a woman rushed in and immediately went over to the information desk. "Excuse me. Do you have any books on Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs?" She was out of breath and her long brown hair was slightly dishevelled after having run in to the building on what appeared to be an important mission.
The young man behind the desk shook his head. "I'm sorry, but the last book was just checked out."
She sighed heavily. "No... you have got to be joking!"
"I'm afraid not. It was literally just checked out by another customer."
In her frustration she thumped the desk with her fist before running her hand down her face. What was she going to do now?
-----
After a few seconds of the alarms being activated, Colonel Samantha Carter walked into the control room. "What's going on?" She asked, looking between Walter, Jack and the gate, whose inner ring was steadily spinning round and various chevrons lighting up.
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Post by Harbinger on Aug 25, 2013 19:47:43 GMT
"Easy," the man replied frowning for the sake of the wooden counter, "But if it helps, he's literally going out the building now," he gestured with his pen towards the revolving doors. Sure enough Daniel was leaving the building, holding a couple of books and a satchel bag that hung from his left shoulder.
"No idea," Jack replied nonchalantly and consequently looked at Walter who was tapping various keys but shook his head. After the final chevron flashed and locked in place, the stargate sounded loudly in a great 'kawoosh' before all went relatively quiet.
"Anything?"
"No Sir, we are not receiving any incoming iris codes, but there is some kind of strange energy coming through,"
"What kind of energy?"
"I'm not sure, Sir,"
It was soon apparent however why it was coming through. The iris itself was creaking and starting to retract.
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Post by Anteyra on Aug 25, 2013 19:51:31 GMT
Jack looked at Walter. "Walter?"
The technician shook his head. "It's not me sir!" He replied. "Controls are not responding!"
Jack leaned forward to speak into the mic, "All hands, ready your weapons!" And immediately the airmen in the gate room took up their positions, their P90s raised and ready to shoot if anything tried to come through.
---
She turned her head to look at where he was pointing and ran out after the man. "Hey! Excuse me! Sir!" She called out as she tried to catch up with him.
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Post by Harbinger on Aug 25, 2013 20:15:50 GMT
The iris continued to shift, creak and retract into where it dormantly lay, revealing the entirety of the vortex behind. Moments seemed to pass before something through. What did come through made at least Jack tilt his head.
Two figures came through, clearly in a rush and they looked like they had seen better years. They did not seem to pay much attention to the armed men but were look behind them, clearly expecting another to came through. That person didn't take long to arrive, a man on a bay-black horse. After a few moments the vortex closed as the rider struggled to control the animal he was riding. The other men moved to help, grabbing the creature's reins.
However, it was not the manner in which the three had arrived though it did raise its own questions but rather it was what they were wearing that caught their eye. It was now that Mitchell and Teal'c showed up and Cameron gave a low whistle.
"Daniel's going to enjoy this when he finds out," Mitchell said, breaking the air as he gazed on the battle worn individuals. Even the horse looked exhausted, and dust stuck to its body. the airmen readjusted their grip, awaiting orders. The rider seemed to be the leader, his helmet was far grander with a bold red cut bristle-like plume.
"Romans... I wonder what they want," Sam said.
"Not to come, see and conquer I hope," Jack muttered before deciding to chance this meeting and moved to join them with Sam, Cam and Teal'c in tow.
He nearly missed the voice calling out to him before he made any wonder at it. Daniel slowed and turned seeing the woman trying to catch him up, "Yes?" he returned simply but kindly as she reached him.
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Post by Anteyra on Aug 25, 2013 20:22:53 GMT
"Hi." The woman said as se managed to catch up with him. "I'm really sorry to bother you, I normally wouldn't, but these aren't normal conditions. I'm told you just checked out the last book they had on Egyptian hieroglyphs?"
-----
Jack headed down to the gate room. "What the hell do you think you're doing!?" He was not happy that these people had come through without an invitation, and by disabling the iris somehow... and that worried him. "You are not authorised to be here! Especially uninvited!"
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Post by Harbinger on Aug 25, 2013 20:43:57 GMT
"Hi," he returned before she spoke again. "Yes, I did. Using it for a thesis I'm currently working on," he replied, though he didn't go into detail. "I'm guessing you're wanting it too, hm?"
The two legionnaires moved to protect their leader but the man spoke in his native tongue before dismounting, landing heavily on the metal ramp. He patted the short neck, letting his horse know that he had done good. He moved past his two men, handing one who was missing his helmet the reins.
"From that I can be assured you're in charge," the man's voice was deeply accented and he sounded tired but he continued. "What I am doing is saving the last of my command." The two with him glanced at each, their expression clearly ones who had recently seen vast amounts of blood shed. "My men died on orders to get here. We did not have time to send a message beforehand. If time was available, you would have received prior notice,"
"I am Prefect Lucius Vorenus, commander of the 13th and 17th legions and I request audience with you. I have my orders, Sir. I am duty bound to carry them out. We need your help, My world, they need your help,"
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Post by Anteyra on Aug 25, 2013 20:49:33 GMT
She slowly nodded her head. "I have a pretty big presentation I need to give tomorrow, hoping to get my P.H.D in Archaeology. I would never normally ask to take another person's book, but I really need it. This has been a dream of mine."
-----
"I don't care who you are. We have the iris in place for a reason. To try and stop intruders like you. So you will tell us where the hell you have just come from and we will send you right back!" Jack's mood was definitely not happy. |
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Post by Harbinger on Aug 25, 2013 21:23:17 GMT
"Ah," Daniel didn't have much time to spare either but he did want to help her out. He didn't like getting in the way of another person's education. So he compromised, "Look, ah, I don't have much time either but if your notes are all portable, we can share the book. As it happens, I'm knowledgeable in Archaeology as well,"
Vorenus' face soured and dark eyes looked back in desperation and anger. He removed his helmet, a bloodied cut on his temple, his blonde hair damp with sweat and dust. "I don't care who you are either but I have my orders. We were told by those on Cimmeria we would find help here and my orders are to try and get it."
"Cimmeria? You know the people there?"
Lucius' eyes glanced to the blonde haired woman and nodded, "Correct, and I hope that for the sake of the men who fought and died trying to reach you, that is the case. Most of my legions were killed in the initial attack. We fought tooth and nail to get here! And you want to send us back to death? You condemn my world to annihilation if you don't help us."
"Detain us if you see fit, but we did not come to harm you. We came in desperate need of human aid,"
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Post by Anteyra on Aug 25, 2013 21:34:51 GMT
"All my stuff is back in my house, and there's quite a bit of it." It was her way of saying it wasn't portable. She bit her lip, trying to think of some way to resolve the situation.
---
"I only help those who don't force their way onto my planet, those who ask nicely before coming. Guards! Disarm them and take them to the holding cells." He turned and left the gate room.
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Post by Harbinger on Aug 25, 2013 22:04:29 GMT
"Or I could come to yours?" From what he knew, the Stargate had been pretty quiet and SG-1 had stayed on Earth for most of it.
Vorenus watched Jack leave, his stance relaxing, pain flickering across a battle-worn face. The rest of SG1 moved back as the men came to take their weapons from them. the two with him reacted instinctively.
"Stand down, we're on their world now," he sighed, turning to give a reassuring nod to his men before he and they removed their sword belts and removed anything else they carried of a weaponry nature. One of the airmen moved to take the horse. "Look after Brutus," the airman glanced at Vorenus before the three Romans moved.
Vorenus paused when they went to pass Sam and the other, "Your iris, what we did, it's not permanent. It'll be of use to you soon," with that he allowed himself to be taken away hoping that Jack would come to see reason.
"I thought Romans and Vikings didn't get along," Cameron remarked, staring as the airman led the horse down the ramp pst them.
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Post by Anteyra on Aug 25, 2013 22:34:34 GMT
"You've gotta remember, that's only here on Earth. Obviously on other planets they do get along." Colonel Carter shrugged her shoulders as she watched the men being escorted away. She looked at the remaining men in the gate room. "Remain prepared. At least until the Iris is working again." She sighed and left.
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"If it's not too much out of your way. I just have to get the presentation finished before tomorrow." She stopped and quickly remember her manners. "My name's Taryn. Taryn Donovan."
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Post by Harbinger on Aug 25, 2013 22:43:56 GMT
"Still, we ought to see if he is telling the truth, that he knows the people of Cimmeria," he replied, "It's gonna be one mighty interesting debriefing later on."
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They were shown to a room with barely much in it save for what passed for bunks. Vorenus sat down, dumping his helmet on the bed before his head went into his hands. He had failed.
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"No, it's not out of my way, I don't mind," he replied, smiling slightly as he adjusted his hold on his books, "Daniel Jackson. I have to get back to work, they'll be expecting me soon but I should be free tonight. This is my number, let me know where you're at and I'll be there," he awkwardly managed to find a scrap of paper and write his number down.
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Post by Anteyra on Aug 26, 2013 6:43:49 GMT
She took the paper from him and nodded her head. "Thank you." She smiled softly.
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Jack returned to his office and sat down at his desk, going through the pile of paperwork.
Cam sighed a little bit. "Only with permission from General O'Neill though, and I got a sneaky feeling he's not going to allow anyone to talk to them right now."
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Post by Harbinger on Aug 26, 2013 7:17:59 GMT
"No problem," he nodded, smiled and put his pen away, "I'll, ah, catch you later then Miss Donovan," he said, he had to get back to the SGC. He knew he would at least be able to skim through the book pretty quickly there before getting to hers.
-------
Mitchell eye rolled and growled slightly with boyish disappointment, "Where's Jackson when you need him?" They were all really good friends and there wasn't nothing that they wouldn't do for each other but Jackson shared something of a brotherly connection with O'Neill that no one else would really get.
----
"You think they will talk to you, Sir?"
Lucius looked to his man who was stood by the door and gave a wane smile, "We did break the door down, I think we might be here for a while,"
"We couldn't help that,"
"I know, but I understand this O'Neill's anger."
"You did what you could, Sir. We can't ask any more of you,"
Vorenus nodded but it was hollow, he would still have those lives, their blood on his hands.
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Post by Anteyra on Aug 26, 2013 7:40:41 GMT
Sam shrugged slightly. "Well, it is his day off. He might be a while."
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Taryn nodded her head. "Till later, Mr Jackson." And watched him head off. She glanced at the piece of paper before tucking it into the pocket of her denim jacket and then headed back inside the library. There was one other book she needed to have a look for, plus she had left her bag at the enquiry desk.
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Post by Harbinger on Aug 26, 2013 7:46:48 GMT
"You tell him that," he grinned before rolling his shoulders, "Let's hit the Mess, I'm starved," Mitchell proclaimed, glancing at the gate whose Iris was still open before he moved to leave the gate room.
Teal'c smiled before glancing to Sam and then followed in his usual way of silence when energy did not need to be used on words.
---
Daniel headed on back to the SGC. Yes, it was his day off but most of all his notes were in his little room. He liked it in there and found he even worked better in there. So, it wasn't too long before he was taking the lift down to the sub-levels. He bumped into Walter.
"Hey Dr. Jackson, you missed all the fun earlier,"
"Err, fun?"
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Post by Anteyra on Aug 26, 2013 7:50:44 GMT
Sam laughed a little bit, she knew just how much of a work-a-holic Daniel Jackson was. He barely ever took a day off. "Has anyone seen Vala?" She queried as she followed her two teammates out of the gate room and towards the commissary.
Walter nodded his head. "The iris was disabled by some sort of power surge from off world, and then three people came through, one on horseback, dressed in clothing reminiscent of Ancient Roman times."
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Post by Harbinger on Aug 26, 2013 7:54:01 GMT
Teal'c glanced back at Sam before thinking and shaking his head slightly, "I have not,"
"Me neither, she better not be raising another treasure scheme though," Cameron piped up as they wove their way to the commissary.
--
"Disabled? by Romans?" he queried and Walter nodded seeing Jackson was getting more and more curious, "What did they want?"
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Post by Anteyra on Aug 26, 2013 7:56:56 GMT
"I don't know." He said and walked off back towards the control room, leaving Daniel behind him.
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Post by Harbinger on Aug 26, 2013 8:00:58 GMT
Daniel frowned, how could the man not know. He shook his head and went to find the one person he knew he could badger. He tapped on the door before entering, "Hey Jack"
"I thought this was your day off Daniel?" the man was dealing with paperwork and Daniel winced, knowing the two didn't really get on.
"I heard we got visitors,"
"I'd hardly call them that. They broke the iris,"
Daniel blinked, "How?"
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Post by Anteyra on Aug 26, 2013 8:04:25 GMT
"I'm not sure." The General replied, putting his pen down on the desk, and then folded his hands together. "And before you ask... No... you can't."
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Post by Harbinger on Aug 26, 2013 8:09:04 GMT
Daniel frowned, "But Romans, Jack. Romans!" he sighed, once Jack's mind was made up, it was usually never moved, "Did you at least find out why they came?"
"They wanted "help". Why do these people have funny ways of asking for help?" Jack muttered.
"Maybe they had no choice,"
"They chose to break the iris,"
"Jack..."
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Post by Anteyra on Aug 26, 2013 8:13:05 GMT
"No Daniel! They pose a security risk to Earth if they can disable to iris like that. besides, we didn't cause the problem. We're also sticking our noses in where they don't belong when other matters have arisen like this. So this time, I'm not sticking our noses in, it has nothing to do with us."
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Post by Harbinger on Aug 26, 2013 8:19:20 GMT
"Okay", he replied airily, "But if they were attacked, that attacker might want universal domination. Which would make it a problem," Daniel continued, always one to look at bigger pictures. "Have fun with your paper pile," he smiled before he moved to leave the office to get to his own office to pick up his papers.
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Post by Anteyra on Aug 26, 2013 8:20:58 GMT
Jack sighed. "Wait!"
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Post by Harbinger on Aug 26, 2013 8:22:13 GMT
"Yes Jack?" Daniel paused, readjusting his hold of his couple of books as he looked back at his friend.
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Post by Anteyra on Aug 26, 2013 8:29:21 GMT
Jack sighed again. Why was it that the Archaeologist in front of his was always able to persuade him one way or another? "You take Carter with you, see if she can find out how the hell they disabled our Iris so we can prevent it from happening again in the future."
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Post by Harbinger on Aug 26, 2013 8:34:27 GMT
He smiled, glad he could at least get Jack to open his mind a little bit. "Okay, Jack." he nodded before leaving. He dumped his stuff in his office before going to find Sam leaving Jack to shake his head before frowning at his paperwork for the umpteenth time. Daniel eventually found the team who were now plus one rather excitable Vala.
"Hey guys," he greeted, "Sam, Jack wants us to speak to the Romans, about how they disabled the iris," he smiled slightly.
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Post by Anteyra on Aug 26, 2013 8:36:25 GMT
"Daniel?" Sam looked surprised to see him, as did the others. "I thought it was you're day off, what are you doing here?"
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