Colonel Mayborne improved drastically overnight. Dr. Frasier wished she could claim credit for his quick recovery, but the truth was that Lantash had done all the work. It would not be as easy to treat the man's depression over the upcoming days. He was preoccupied with some concern which he would not reveal.
After the departure of Pell and Dohl, the Gate room was ominously silent.
The briefing convened at 09:00. Janet, Martouf, and Harry entered the conference room as a trio; Janet recognized Colonel Davis, the liason officer from the Joint Chiefs. There was an unfamiliar Lieutenant Colonel whom Janet guessed must be of Mayborne's collegues from the NID. The members of SG-3, Sergeant Harriman, and the General filled out the room.
The unfamiliar officer rose. "Colonel Mayborne," he said with a salacious grin, "I'm glad to see you're free of the Goa'uld, though I do wish the circumstances were different."
Mayborne simply nodded to his collegue. His expression was that of a war zone refugee.
The officer's smile faded awkwardly. "Sir."
Janet wondered if the less-senior officer had had some unpleasant role in Mayborne's interrogation.
General Hammond approached. "Colonel, we are delighted you are able to join us today. Please feel free, if you are too tired or need to leave at any time, we'll understand."
"Thank you General," Mayborne said dryly. He glanced at Lantash, and made his way to a seat.
"Martouf--Lantash, this is Lieutenant Colonel Brevard of the NID, a collegue of Colonel Mayborne's," Hammond introduced.
The Lieutenant Colonel shook Lantash's hand.
"Colonel Brevard, this is Martouf, host to Lantash, of the Tok'Ra."
Janet chuckled inwardly as Brevard blinked. Though she herself found the Goa'uld unnerving, the officers of the NID were exceedingly paranoid about them. This was probably only the second living member of the species Brevard had ever met, after the inert one which had occupied Mayborne.
"A pleasure to meet you," said Martouf, with a glance to the General. His voice was entirely human. Janet suspected the Tok'Ra had been forewarned of the likely biases of the visiting representatives.
"And this is Colonel Davis, liason to the Joint Chiefs of Staff."
Colonel Davis was considerably more poised. "Martouf. I understand in the past you've helped us in the field. It is an honor," he said.
The briefing began with a review. Brevard outlined the scant findings of the NID about this particular Goa'uld. Janet related events in the infirmary. Sergeant Harriman and Colonel Makepeace of SG-3 showed the videotapes from the two MALPs. Martouf shared what the Tok'Ra knew of the shipyard, which he said belonged to a Goa'uld called "Thoth".
"What about sending a bomb to this site?" suggested Brevard. "It is a legitimate military target, after all."
"That is true," said the General. "But we don't know whether there are any human inhabitants on that planet, or whether an explosion on its surface would have much effect. Lantash?"
"If so, they are few," said the Tok'Ra, an element of the alien edging into Martouf's voice. "But it would be futile to send a weapon of destruction there without delivering it to orbit. The best you could hope, with your technology, would be to destroy the Stargate--a minor inconvenience, for a planet serving so many ships."
"What if we..." the Lieutenant Colonel urged.
"Sir," interrupted Lantash. Though he spoke softly, his timbre was as dark and terrifying as that of any Systemlord. "We have attacked that site on numerous occasions. All activity is in orbit, and it is well-shielded. I seriously doubt that you would do more than waste your resources with a military action there."
"We have succeeded at many things the Tok'Ra thought were impossible," countered Brevard.
"And killed many innocents, Tok'Ra and human alike." There was a pale glow in the Tok'Ra's eyes.
"Gentlemen," interrupted Hammond. He glared at Brevard, "We are all friends here."
Brevard squirmed.
"Brevard," Mayborne murmured, lifting an eyebrow. Technically Mayborne was on medical leave and unable to give orders--not to mention being out-ranked by the General--but the Lieutenant Colonel settled solidly into his chair.
"General, if SG-1 tries to return, that Gate may be their only way home," murmured Harriman.
Hammond nodded. "The shipyard can wait. Our focus should be upon stopping the damage this Goa'uld can do to us, and if possible, retrieving SG-1. We need to find her before she reveals our military capacities to the Systemlords," the General said. "Lantash, can your people assist us in locating Dr. Coleman?"
"I believe our council will approve," Lantash said.
"Colonel Makepeace?"
"SG-3 is ready to go wherever you send us sir. We can't follow SG-1's footsteps, so we'll work with whatever the Tok'Ra can give us."
Makepeace and Lantash--Martouf exchanged nods. Janet could tell they'd be conferring later.
"Harriman, see if you can code a message to Bra'tac, find out if he's heard anything."
"Will do, sir."
"Any more thoughts, people, on who this Goa'uld might be?" Hammond added.
"The Ancient Systemlords were all accounted for in our recent Census," said Lantash, "which you recall enabled our joint action to find and destroy Setesh on your world. I do not believe this new Goa'uld is of consequence."
"I disagree," Mayborne said darkly. Perhaps because he had said so little during the meeting, his words brought the conversation to a momentary silence.
"How so?" coaxed Hammond.
"Memories. Images. Hathor, and another woman who I think may have been his queen. An effete, cat-like young man that fits Colonel O'Neill's description of Ra, from his first mission. I think this Goa'uld wasn't a commoner."
"I will check our records to see if there is someone we have overlooked," said Martouf.
"Major Carter used a Tok'Ra device to enhance her memories of Jolinar," Janet suggested.
"It is too soon," said Lantash.
The General spoke into the silence. "If we've exhausted our theories about who and where this Goa'uld is, we should move on to what she--or he--knows about us. For security reasons I'll have to limit the remainder of this meeting to the Colonels."
"Sir," Janet said, "What about SG-1?"
"I'm certain finding Dr. Coleman is the quickest way to reach them," Hammond said. "We have no choice but to trust they'll survive until we do."
"Yes sir."
There was nothing more to be said. Dr. Frasier, Harriman, the Marines of SG-3, and Martouf-Lantash rose politely, and left the officers to their discussion.
But Janet knew, for George Hammond to pursue a Goa'uld over rescuing one of the teams, Mayborne must have known a disastrous secret, for which the escaped creature must be silenced.
She sighed. If the worst occured--Daniel's nightmare of a Goa'uld attack on Earth by ship--at least Earth would have the assistance of the Asgard.
| Back to Fan Fiction | Next page silent | Turn the Page |
