From the same co-ordinates? Sam asked. You mean the same gate? Thats impossible I was in earshot of the Stargate for at least an hour before we came here and the only time it activated was when another team came back.
Oh really? Ayodhya said a mite sceptically. Well, we do have some conflicting information then, dont we. I dont suppose that you have any ideas how this contradiction can be resolved?
Youre the one who says that they came from the same place, Jack pointed out. How to you know -
Of course, Sam said suddenly. You said that the coordinates were the same for both arrivals you mean the coordinates on the gate, dont you?
Thats correct, the Admiral said. He frowned and then his eyes glowed. I think I see where youre going Captain, please continue.
Well those coordinates dont specify a particular gate, explained Sam. They refer to the location of the gate, and not all that precisely. Basically they track the position of stars and when theyre dialled they open up the primary gate in the vicinity of that star. But if theres more than one gate active you remember how we wound up in Antarctica, Colonel?
Yeah, Jack said, shivering slightly at the memory. So theres another gate in the solar system and someones using it? Little green men from Mars.
Theres another stargate on Earth, Sam reminded him. The gate from Antarctica was shipped back to the States for more study
Jack frowned. Aw crap. You think someones using it to run their own project behind our backs?
Lets face it, Jack, Daniel reminded him. There are more than a few people in the government who want us to take a more aggressive stance in obtaining alien technologies. If some of them got hold of the other gate
This is all very entertaining, Ayodhya pointed out, but even if I take your word for this, which the Angrezi may not, theres no actual proof. And Im not about to screw up the negotiations with the Padishah who takes attacks on his soldiers rather personally by letting the closest thing he has to culprits just walk away.
Yeah, youre a real prince, Jack snorted.
Yes, its one of my titles, the Goauld confirmed. Beyond that, Im a politician, Colonel. Surely as a soldier youre used to being screwed over by that profession. Unless of course you have any ideas of how to prove this theory of Captain Carters?
Tealc frowned suspiciously at Ayodhya. If you can determine past uses of the stargate then can you not check for departing wormholes? he asked.
Ayodhya nodded, smirking slightly. I wondered whether any of you would think of that. Yes, my people can run such a check and we have. All the activity since your arrival can be accounted for our own activities in the exercise bringing the 33rd Heinessen through to simulate a Jaffa attack and so forth. So unless whoever came through from Earth had a ship waiting for them, theyll still be on that island. Now if only I had a way of finding them
So you want us to hand them over to save our own skins? Jack asked, in disbelief.
The question isnt whether or not I want them handed over, Colonel, Ayodhya explained reasonably. Then he grinned wickedly. The question is whether you want to be released enough that youre willing to hand them over to, as you put it, save your skins.
There was an uncomfortable silence as SG-1 looked at each other.
So youre a goauld, Jack said. Hows that working out for you?
Very well thank you.
Do you have a name of your own or should I call you that snake inside the Admiral?
My name is Nekhrun, Colonel, the Goauld replied in a booming voice. I am sure that your son can tell you all about me.
My son! exclaimed Jack, rising to his feet, face red with anger.
Nekhrun frowned, apparently surprised. Yes, your son Doctor Daniel Jacks Son. I can only presume that he favours his mother
Its a different Jack, Sam inserted quickly, in the not entirely unreasonable fear that her commander would do or say something regretable uh, Daniels father that is. Not Colonel ONeill.
For the first time the Goauld looked slightly disconcerted. Really? He muttered something that only Tealc could make out So much for my highly paid support staff. and then shrugged. Nonetheless
Nekhrun, right, Jack agreed. Is that ringing any bells for you, Daniel, Tealc?
Hes an obscure part of Egyptian mythology, Daniel said hesitantly after a moment in which Tealc remained silent. A god of darkness. The few references that have been found suggest that he rebelled against Ra and later that Ra tried to excise him from history. If I recall correctly he was the god of bats too and had the ears and wings of a bat.
Nekhrun smirked viciously and ran one fingertip along the curve of his right ear. Im in disguise, he explained. As for being a rebel god well thats about half-right, which isnt bad after all this time. No great surprise that the Sholva over there doesnt remember me the Goauld only like stories about how their enemies are crushed, if they could get away with it they wouldnt let anyone know about Anubis either. Dumb fucks. Stuff like that always causes trouble when it gets out.
Half right? Jack asked sarcastically. So youre not a rebel?
Im sure that this will break your heart, Colonel, Nekhrun chuckled. But Im not actually a god, Im just an egotistical parasitic snake wrapped around someone elses spinal cord.
I, uh, knew that already, Jack replied.
As do I. Though I would not have expected to hear one of the Falso Gods admit to it, Tealc added.
That would be where the whole excised from history came from, explained Nekhrun.
Sam leant forwards. So youre a Tokra? she asked hopefully.
Nekhruns smile dropped off his face. That bunch of wimps, whuppsies and big girls blouses? he sneered. Not a chance in hell. Theyve been against Ra for about five thousand years, Captain Carter, and what exactly have they accomplished? Not a thing. Youre the ones who offed Ra, not that bunch of losers. No, no. Im in this for myself Im just smart enough to know that solid alliances work better, and are more fun, than simply using people.
The Tokra dont use people! Sam protested.
Hah! Nekhrun sneered. When the Tokra get rooted out by the Goauld do they stop to help the people theyve been sheltering with? Hell no! They run away like kicked puppies and sacrifice their human pawns to protect themselves. Utterly worthless as allies. I wouldnt join them on a bet.
You didnt kill Ra either though, Daniel pointed out. However little the Tokra have accomplished, what have you done against the System Lords?
The Goauld raised one eyebrow. You dont think Im going to spill all my plans to you now, do you? Please, wait until Ive locked you up in an easily escaped deathtrap first, we have to abide by the courtesies of the situation. He shook his head. However, if you dont mind having the obvious pointed out to you, the Confederacy of Free Systems is an interstellar polity with a total population larger than that of Earth or of any individual System Lords entire domain and unlike Earth or the Goaulds slaves, most of my people arent peasent farmers. And the Confederacy has military might sufficient to hold every one of our systems against anything less than a concerted effort by multiple System Lords. Thats what Ive accomplished, Doctor Jackson. The only reason that I didnt dethrone Ra years ago was that doing so would very likely unite the other major System Lords against me and Im not ready for that. How does that compare to the scanty resources of the Tokra, would you say?
Big honking spaceships win, Jack conceded. But it still looks like youre just another Goauld making a power play.
I object to the just another Goauld remark, responded Nekrun, although the rest of it is quite correct. This is a power play, Colonel. Whats wrong with that.
Let me guess, this Confederacy isnt a democracy, is it?
No Colonel, it isnt. There are some democratic politics at low levels but its more of a - he hesitated. Well, Im no political theorist, but I suppose that the answer would be that its a constitutional monarchy and no, Im not the monarch with a feudal gentry and a rather complicated senate stuck between the two. Its worked quite well for the last couple of hundred years.
There was a knock on the door and a moment later it slid open to reveal von Pinn, leading a small group of soldiers carrying trays of food. Your pardon, Admiral, but the meal you ordered is ready and there is a message from the Padishahs Minister of Foreign Affairs.
You know, Nekhrun said thoughtfully. Id respect the man more if his office didnt sound like he was responsible for covering up for the Padishah diddling the locals on state visits to other planets. Alright, what does he have to say?
Von Pinn cleared his throat after what looked rather like a snicker to Jack. Stripped of the colourful language, he wants to know when the Angrezi military police will be able to take possession of the malefactors responsible for the incidents that interupted the exercise yesterday. Apparently the trial is going to be quite public.
Oh the joy, the Admiral growed. The idiots probably advertsing it planet wide. What a fucking circus.
Well the Padishah hasnt left the capital since his state visit to Heinessen last year, von Pinn pointed out. Possibly he hasnt had any diddling to cover up for.
Nekhrun paused. Please dont throw my words back at me, Lieutenant. Not when there are outsiders around. If nothing else, they wont know which one of us youre sassing. He sighed heavily. I suppose I can talk to him while our guests are eating. Please excuse me, he added to SG-1. Im just going to go talk to the Minister of sigh Foreign Affairs. I would rather face a thousand deaths, I really would.
Is the Minister of Foreign Affairs really that bad? Jack asked von Pinn, once the Admiral had left the room.
Von Pinn considered the question thoughtfully and then nodded his head vigorously. One of the major reasons that the Padishah has been so enthusiastic about joining the Confederacy is that he wont have to deal with another generation of oh, the Ministerial positions on Angrezi are hereditary another generation of that family handling his Foreign Affairs. Of course, the general idiocy is only to be expected: the mans trying to protect his familys political influence and its not like there had been any Foreign Affairs between the Padishahs illustrious predecessors uniting Angrezi and first contact with the Confederacy. At least Lord Nekhrun is hosted by Admiral Ayodhya this time, not his usual host. Among the Ministers little faults is that hes a raving bigot who refused to believe that she could possibly be anyone of importance.
He has a female host? Jack asked.
I dont know all the details, von Pinn confessed, Ive only served with Lord Nekhrun twice before, but I gather that he customarily selects his hosts from a particular family and only shares with outsiders like Admiral Ayodhya when service to the Confederacy requires it, which isnt more than a fifth or so of the time. His current host is a very sweet lady whos been with him for a couple of generations. Youll probably meet her if you dont wind up in prison. He gestured towards the table were the meal had been laid out. Please, help yourselves.
Jack shrugged. Sure. Why dont you join us.
The lieutenant hesitated, Ah, that might -
Please, Daniel asked. It would feel very rude to eat while you didnt. He gestured to one of the seats. The Admiral said that the Confederacy was a couple of hundred years old, and I was wondering
D for Drakensis
You're only young once, but immaturity is forever.
Oh really? Ayodhya said a mite sceptically. Well, we do have some conflicting information then, dont we. I dont suppose that you have any ideas how this contradiction can be resolved?
Youre the one who says that they came from the same place, Jack pointed out. How to you know -
Of course, Sam said suddenly. You said that the coordinates were the same for both arrivals you mean the coordinates on the gate, dont you?
Thats correct, the Admiral said. He frowned and then his eyes glowed. I think I see where youre going Captain, please continue.
Well those coordinates dont specify a particular gate, explained Sam. They refer to the location of the gate, and not all that precisely. Basically they track the position of stars and when theyre dialled they open up the primary gate in the vicinity of that star. But if theres more than one gate active you remember how we wound up in Antarctica, Colonel?
Yeah, Jack said, shivering slightly at the memory. So theres another gate in the solar system and someones using it? Little green men from Mars.
Theres another stargate on Earth, Sam reminded him. The gate from Antarctica was shipped back to the States for more study
Jack frowned. Aw crap. You think someones using it to run their own project behind our backs?
Lets face it, Jack, Daniel reminded him. There are more than a few people in the government who want us to take a more aggressive stance in obtaining alien technologies. If some of them got hold of the other gate
This is all very entertaining, Ayodhya pointed out, but even if I take your word for this, which the Angrezi may not, theres no actual proof. And Im not about to screw up the negotiations with the Padishah who takes attacks on his soldiers rather personally by letting the closest thing he has to culprits just walk away.
Yeah, youre a real prince, Jack snorted.
Yes, its one of my titles, the Goauld confirmed. Beyond that, Im a politician, Colonel. Surely as a soldier youre used to being screwed over by that profession. Unless of course you have any ideas of how to prove this theory of Captain Carters?
Tealc frowned suspiciously at Ayodhya. If you can determine past uses of the stargate then can you not check for departing wormholes? he asked.
Ayodhya nodded, smirking slightly. I wondered whether any of you would think of that. Yes, my people can run such a check and we have. All the activity since your arrival can be accounted for our own activities in the exercise bringing the 33rd Heinessen through to simulate a Jaffa attack and so forth. So unless whoever came through from Earth had a ship waiting for them, theyll still be on that island. Now if only I had a way of finding them
So you want us to hand them over to save our own skins? Jack asked, in disbelief.
The question isnt whether or not I want them handed over, Colonel, Ayodhya explained reasonably. Then he grinned wickedly. The question is whether you want to be released enough that youre willing to hand them over to, as you put it, save your skins.
There was an uncomfortable silence as SG-1 looked at each other.
So youre a goauld, Jack said. Hows that working out for you?
Very well thank you.
Do you have a name of your own or should I call you that snake inside the Admiral?
My name is Nekhrun, Colonel, the Goauld replied in a booming voice. I am sure that your son can tell you all about me.
My son! exclaimed Jack, rising to his feet, face red with anger.
Nekhrun frowned, apparently surprised. Yes, your son Doctor Daniel Jacks Son. I can only presume that he favours his mother
Its a different Jack, Sam inserted quickly, in the not entirely unreasonable fear that her commander would do or say something regretable uh, Daniels father that is. Not Colonel ONeill.
For the first time the Goauld looked slightly disconcerted. Really? He muttered something that only Tealc could make out So much for my highly paid support staff. and then shrugged. Nonetheless
Nekhrun, right, Jack agreed. Is that ringing any bells for you, Daniel, Tealc?
Hes an obscure part of Egyptian mythology, Daniel said hesitantly after a moment in which Tealc remained silent. A god of darkness. The few references that have been found suggest that he rebelled against Ra and later that Ra tried to excise him from history. If I recall correctly he was the god of bats too and had the ears and wings of a bat.
Nekhrun smirked viciously and ran one fingertip along the curve of his right ear. Im in disguise, he explained. As for being a rebel god well thats about half-right, which isnt bad after all this time. No great surprise that the Sholva over there doesnt remember me the Goauld only like stories about how their enemies are crushed, if they could get away with it they wouldnt let anyone know about Anubis either. Dumb fucks. Stuff like that always causes trouble when it gets out.
Half right? Jack asked sarcastically. So youre not a rebel?
Im sure that this will break your heart, Colonel, Nekhrun chuckled. But Im not actually a god, Im just an egotistical parasitic snake wrapped around someone elses spinal cord.
I, uh, knew that already, Jack replied.
As do I. Though I would not have expected to hear one of the Falso Gods admit to it, Tealc added.
That would be where the whole excised from history came from, explained Nekhrun.
Sam leant forwards. So youre a Tokra? she asked hopefully.
Nekhruns smile dropped off his face. That bunch of wimps, whuppsies and big girls blouses? he sneered. Not a chance in hell. Theyve been against Ra for about five thousand years, Captain Carter, and what exactly have they accomplished? Not a thing. Youre the ones who offed Ra, not that bunch of losers. No, no. Im in this for myself Im just smart enough to know that solid alliances work better, and are more fun, than simply using people.
The Tokra dont use people! Sam protested.
Hah! Nekhrun sneered. When the Tokra get rooted out by the Goauld do they stop to help the people theyve been sheltering with? Hell no! They run away like kicked puppies and sacrifice their human pawns to protect themselves. Utterly worthless as allies. I wouldnt join them on a bet.
You didnt kill Ra either though, Daniel pointed out. However little the Tokra have accomplished, what have you done against the System Lords?
The Goauld raised one eyebrow. You dont think Im going to spill all my plans to you now, do you? Please, wait until Ive locked you up in an easily escaped deathtrap first, we have to abide by the courtesies of the situation. He shook his head. However, if you dont mind having the obvious pointed out to you, the Confederacy of Free Systems is an interstellar polity with a total population larger than that of Earth or of any individual System Lords entire domain and unlike Earth or the Goaulds slaves, most of my people arent peasent farmers. And the Confederacy has military might sufficient to hold every one of our systems against anything less than a concerted effort by multiple System Lords. Thats what Ive accomplished, Doctor Jackson. The only reason that I didnt dethrone Ra years ago was that doing so would very likely unite the other major System Lords against me and Im not ready for that. How does that compare to the scanty resources of the Tokra, would you say?
Big honking spaceships win, Jack conceded. But it still looks like youre just another Goauld making a power play.
I object to the just another Goauld remark, responded Nekrun, although the rest of it is quite correct. This is a power play, Colonel. Whats wrong with that.
Let me guess, this Confederacy isnt a democracy, is it?
No Colonel, it isnt. There are some democratic politics at low levels but its more of a - he hesitated. Well, Im no political theorist, but I suppose that the answer would be that its a constitutional monarchy and no, Im not the monarch with a feudal gentry and a rather complicated senate stuck between the two. Its worked quite well for the last couple of hundred years.
There was a knock on the door and a moment later it slid open to reveal von Pinn, leading a small group of soldiers carrying trays of food. Your pardon, Admiral, but the meal you ordered is ready and there is a message from the Padishahs Minister of Foreign Affairs.
You know, Nekhrun said thoughtfully. Id respect the man more if his office didnt sound like he was responsible for covering up for the Padishah diddling the locals on state visits to other planets. Alright, what does he have to say?
Von Pinn cleared his throat after what looked rather like a snicker to Jack. Stripped of the colourful language, he wants to know when the Angrezi military police will be able to take possession of the malefactors responsible for the incidents that interupted the exercise yesterday. Apparently the trial is going to be quite public.
Oh the joy, the Admiral growed. The idiots probably advertsing it planet wide. What a fucking circus.
Well the Padishah hasnt left the capital since his state visit to Heinessen last year, von Pinn pointed out. Possibly he hasnt had any diddling to cover up for.
Nekhrun paused. Please dont throw my words back at me, Lieutenant. Not when there are outsiders around. If nothing else, they wont know which one of us youre sassing. He sighed heavily. I suppose I can talk to him while our guests are eating. Please excuse me, he added to SG-1. Im just going to go talk to the Minister of sigh Foreign Affairs. I would rather face a thousand deaths, I really would.
Is the Minister of Foreign Affairs really that bad? Jack asked von Pinn, once the Admiral had left the room.
Von Pinn considered the question thoughtfully and then nodded his head vigorously. One of the major reasons that the Padishah has been so enthusiastic about joining the Confederacy is that he wont have to deal with another generation of oh, the Ministerial positions on Angrezi are hereditary another generation of that family handling his Foreign Affairs. Of course, the general idiocy is only to be expected: the mans trying to protect his familys political influence and its not like there had been any Foreign Affairs between the Padishahs illustrious predecessors uniting Angrezi and first contact with the Confederacy. At least Lord Nekhrun is hosted by Admiral Ayodhya this time, not his usual host. Among the Ministers little faults is that hes a raving bigot who refused to believe that she could possibly be anyone of importance.
He has a female host? Jack asked.
I dont know all the details, von Pinn confessed, Ive only served with Lord Nekhrun twice before, but I gather that he customarily selects his hosts from a particular family and only shares with outsiders like Admiral Ayodhya when service to the Confederacy requires it, which isnt more than a fifth or so of the time. His current host is a very sweet lady whos been with him for a couple of generations. Youll probably meet her if you dont wind up in prison. He gestured towards the table were the meal had been laid out. Please, help yourselves.
Jack shrugged. Sure. Why dont you join us.
The lieutenant hesitated, Ah, that might -
Please, Daniel asked. It would feel very rude to eat while you didnt. He gestured to one of the seats. The Admiral said that the Confederacy was a couple of hundred years old, and I was wondering
D for Drakensis
You're only young once, but immaturity is forever.