Opening Pandora's Box Part 2

Posted on Mon Aug 22nd, 2022 @ 2:58pm by Lieutenant Colonel Jonathon Raynor & 1st Lieutenant Josephine Keller & 1st Lieutenant James McCoy & Master Sergeant Ezekiel Chambers & Lieutenant Ralph Brennan & Scarlett Hayes Dr. & Major Alexander Preston & Captain Jason Tahana & Major Amy Carter

Mission: The Rise of the Valkyrie
3311 words - 6.6 OF Standard Post Measure

/// ON ///

~~~ Continued ~~~

The rush of coolness came over them as they went through the event horizon and found themselves stepping out on the other side of the galaxy. With the M416 raised, Colonel Raynor was first to step through and quickly scanned the area as he looked around. The jungle was similar to what he had trained in during his SERE training but had its own differences. Rays of light broke through the brush and tree limbs above them as they heard the fluctuating event horizon behind them. As the teams spread out around him, he heard in his ear piece from the General. "SG Field Leader, we will keep the gate open for a few minutes till you give us the all clear."

"Roger that, Command," Raynor replied in his ear as he made his way down the stone steps and went back to scanning the area with his weapon and eyes.

Carter had come through the gate okay, it was an experience like no other for her, but it was exhilarating, well worth the wait. Moving forward she raised her rifle and took a knee facing backwards. The world looked just like some places on Earth she'd visited but she was now focused on defence, not wonder; though that was still very much there.

With that, the stargate flickered still alive behind them but the nature sounds started to pick up once again as the surrounding wildlife got used to the active event horizon.
The nsects, birds like creatures were the first to be noticed by the new arrivals. The trees and brush was somewhat thicker off to the sides but a worn down grown over trail away from the gate was before them. There was no doubt it wasn't as active as they had hoped.

The colonel took a deep breath and felt the bead of sweat start to build across his forehead. "Secure the area. Doc, check that dialing device and make sure we can dial back home."

“Yes Sir” Scarlett nodded and headed over to the DHD. She didn’t want to dial out again so she checked the DHD dialing mechanism using her PADD. She was new to the gate tech but somehow it came naturally to her. Scarlett looked towards Raynor. “DHD looking good Colonel” She had to admit the heat was already too much, the humid air was proving too humid for comfort.

Moving off to the left of the group, Jason scanned the area ahead of him, “left flank clear, no contacts.”

A few paces behind the Captain the Major leveled his weapon and swept across the field looking for movement. "Tabarnak..." he muttered as he looked about. The sight was just close enough to some of the places he'd run around in the woods after the conflict. Patting the Captain and nodding to the Sergeant as he came through, Major Preston moved towards the Colonel where he stood.

Ezekiel's trip through the gate was a little rough, stepping through the event horizon and being sent a long way across the galaxy was jarring. If it hadn't been for some other rough landings in his life, he might have lost his stomach contents but he managed to hold it together. Now that they were on the other side, he had his eyes open. His first move was to check the M.A.L.P. that had been sent through, and the F.R.E.D. that had gone through with SG 1 that was loaded with gear, supplies and ammunition should they need it.

"The Jafa ain't exactly the type to hide in the woods," Zek said more to himself. "Colonel, we should set up a defensive perimeter and start scouting further out. If we get into a fight, we're going to want to know the terrain to maneuver should we need it."

Sergeant Chambers was correct of course, that was part of the reason why they had come in such force. Someone would be guarding the gate, there was plenty of cover around the gate but also a lot of open ground.

"Not so sure about the hiding in the woods part" Major Carter said "But I would think that by now they would have attacked. They didn't hang around long when they attacked Earth." She glanced back to see her team take positions near hers.

Josephine came through the gate and immediately felt horrible. She dropped her pack as she stumbled off the stairs and fell to her knees as she puked on the grass.

James stepped through the gate his eyes peering all around as he checked the surrounding jungle. So intent was his gaze was that he nearly stepped into the woman that was on her knees losing her lunch. "Apologies." he muttered as he side stepped her at the last moment. He continued to check for a location which would allow him to setup some cover and wondered if he should have brought his ghillie. "Interesting place to put a gateway to another world, out in the middle of the sticks."

Ezekiel sighed inwardly as more people started arriving, they they were bringing in civilians to a potential combat zone had the hair on the back of his neck standing up. He turned his eyes back to the forest and the path that lead up to the Stargate. It wasn't overgrown with vegetation and seemed fairly smooth, which meant it was being used. The gate wasn't forgotten about, but it looked like it was mostly used by people on foot.

The stone wasn't covered in moss, which meant it too was being taken care of. "The path is well worn, no over growth which means it's being used regularly. I don't know that it's been used by Jaffa, seems like it would be wider."

Scarlett looked towards Ezekiel. “If it was Jaffa, there’d most likely be Goa’uld in which case the Gate would most likely be guarded. So going on that assumption, I’d say perhaps this planet has a native population, or frequent visitors.”

"If the boys and girls of SG-1 and 2 don't mind," Alexander said as he approached the Colonel, "SG-2 can push to the treeline and sweep. Drone said we're clear, but we aren't going to know until we reach out and actually touch the trees. Most of us are packing some close in guns, and I have a feeling the Master Sergeant is handy with that LMG. If you don't mind covering us?"

The air force officer in charge looked over at his canadian counter part and took in the site and the major's suggestion before responding with a nodd in agreement. "Take lead, Major. We should be getting a bird's eye view from the drone any time. SG-3, Get a perimeter set up around the gate. Once secure and data is in, we will expand our search.



Josephine washed her mouth out and got to her feet as the others spoke. She was not sure why she had just felt so horrible when she came through the gate. She picked up her pack and shifted to check around behind the gate.

Brennan was next through the mighty blue portal. Chucked through the wormhole like a child's toy, he landed in the dirt. He rolled like a stone, gathering no moss as he tried to gain his footing. He landed face-first into... wetness. Warm wetness. On his hands and knees he scrambled to find the rifle which has been swung over his shoulder in the one-man-melee. Then, with less warning than a Tyson right-hook, the navy officer was hit with the pungent smell of... butyric acid... vomit.

"Ahhh... horseshit," Brennan spat. The officer and gentleman felt his stomach rumble, his eyes water, and his abdomen convulse. The lightning fast trip mixed with a horrific landing had mixed like a cup of vinegar and a pint of milk left in the desert planet's sun. His stomach contents splashed against the dirt in a murky jet until Brennan was less at a place called vertigo and more at a place he could desire. Reeling himself in like a shark on the hook, he wet his shemagh with water from his canteen and patted down his face. Now, MK18 rifle at the ready, he needed a second to work out which way was up before he stopped stumbling around like a giraffe cub. "Well, that was a hell of a thing. Anyone got a wet one? I've got chunks in my moustache. Dammit."

The colonel looked back at some of the newer faces coming through before almost laughing at the image of the naval lieutenant stumble. "Yeah," the colonel walked up to the man as he pulled out a small pack out of one of his pockets. "Wouldn't want you to mess up that purt mustache just yet. Besides, I remember the first time I walked."

Ralph took the wipe and cleaned himself up. The humidity shook the frosty feeling right out of him as he immediately felt himself beginning to perspire. "Thanks, Colonel. Looks like a few of us are having a hard time. Nothing quite like spewing on someone else's spew. Reminds me of my college days. Is, uh, traversal through the gate meant to be, uh, cold?"

“It has various effects on people” Scarlett offered a polite smile as she walked over by Raynor. “Don’t ask me how I know that because I don’t know.” She shrugged her shoulders.

"I guess we're witnessing that right now," Brennan asked, having a quick breather once he cleaned himself up. He managed a smile. "First time for you too? You seem to have handled it well."

Scarlett nodded. “I guess the ride wasn’t as bad for me.” She shrugged her shoulders.

"Well, that makes one of us." Brennan laughed. He looked over to a couple of junior members of the team who had been put on infantry duty, "Giles, Reginald, let's get ourselves a perimeter on the gate. Stay frosty."

------[SG-2 Break Off]------

"Okay kids, lets push up to those trees and do a sweep," the Major said as he approached Jason and Ezekiel. "Chambers, take lead, I'll poke in the middle, and Tahana cover the rear. Lets keep a three meter pacing and don't go too quick. And," he paused as he set for a more controlled burst, "try not to shoot everything on sight. Remember we are here to make some friends." He started the slow and careful move towards the trees himself.

"Yes, sir. I will identify and confirm targets before turning them into mushy bits," Zek said with a firm nod.

He held up the SAW to his shoulder and started to move forward through the woods. Now that they were moving away from the group, he was getting a better sense of the woods around them. The earthy smell, the birds over head and just the feel of the forest floor under his boots was a good feeling. He was alert to everything around hims, including his steps and trying to move as silently as possible.

Jacen smirked, “Trust the Texan to carry a big gun” he said, keeping his rifle down as he took the rear position, occasionally turning around to check their 6. For the most part, Jacen hoped this was going to be a milk run, but experience had taught him that things were never that easy.

It was odd to the Major the lack of immediate resistance. The area was well travelled, it would make sense for there to be someone to keep an eye on the gate as a whole. He scanned around, looking at the team around him, before leaning over to check the treeline for any obvious signs of traps. Flicking his radio when no signs of strings or otherwise noticeable detection devices popped out, he called back to the others. "Best I can tell there isn't anyone here, no one is watching the gate. It feels a little odd to me Colonel."

“Maybe whoever is here doesn’t use the gate” Jason suggested, “you’d think there’d be more tracks or something”



------[Gate area SG-1 & Break Off]------

Scanning the area as Giles and Reginald guarded the gate, the members of this expedition found themselves acclimatizing to what seemed like a very terrestrial climate on a decidedly alien world. Though many had observed, by the manicured state of the gate area, that it was a zone currently used by someone, in some way, the place still seemed eerily untamed, wild and uninhabited.

Brennan scanned the area still as the teams dispersed to take up their duties. As he took a few initial radio reports from the other teams to pass along to Colonel Raynor, he noticed a bird flying above the canopy. Following by another, and another. Eventually, a flock gilded noisily overhead. Home or away, that was rarely a good sign.

He tapped his radio toggle, "Colonel, heads up, we've got animal movement. Nothing reported in so far, but something tells me we're not alone."

Scarlett had noticed the flight of the birds, was it as simple as animal movement in the undergrowth, or did they have enemy company?

"Keep an eye out people. But that could easily be anything," the colonel called out as he looked up to also see the quadcopter high up in the air automatically overing over them and started to lower.

The humming of the propellers spinning could be heard as it lowered from the sky. Some of them watched as the aerial drone automatically came down and landed on the MALP. "Got to love technology," John replied as he smirked before looking over at Major Carter. "Alright, Carter, you and SG3 secure and protect the Stargate. report in to me every fifteen minutes. Once Eagle Eye is charged, send it right back up."

Carter had acknowledged the order and moved away, she had given instructions to her team to secure the gate, with only a four of them they took up points at each corner of gate. For the most part she only expected look outs not a one person army! She took a knee and used the sight mounted on her rifle to survey the distant hills, all clear but she kept her vigilance. The hills were tall enough and far enough away that they could be hiding a whole army for all she knew!

They had brought a few small quadcopters with cameras that she could access through the battlefield tablet she carried. "Put a drone up please" she requested over the radio and someone in the drone team throw one up. Carter 'painted' the target of the top of the hills and the tiny drone flashed off in that direction and climbed! As she had suspected it was all clear. There were multiple drones so she felt happy keeping this one in a wide orbit around the gate.

He watched as she took charge of her team before looking out at the rest of the group. "Alright kiddos, let's go a field trip to the ruins. Major, Preston, you and your team take point."

With a quick click of his mouth, the Major nodded as he spun his rifle towards the path that lead the way to the ruins themselves. "Aww Colonel, you know how to make a man giddy," he said with a chuckle as he pushed forward with his team. The group moved their way through the jungle as the sun beat down on them. The shade of the tall bushes and trees helped with the heat, but the bugs were starting to annoy him, as John walked along behind the team before them. The brush was thick here and there as the trail started to fade and was now starting to become overgrown with weeds and grass. Some started to pull out a couple machete's to help remove some of the brush. As they did, they started to notice some lesser trees and what looked like stone structures through the trees.

"Yeah, I don't think anyone has been down this path in a while," he spoke out loud as he called up ahead. "What's it look like?"

"Rough," came back the Major from a ways ahead. "It shows all the halmarks of this having been once an important road, but it's been forgotten. It also feels so antiquetated, you'd think there would be some kind of actual road network but it looks like there is just a dirt path." From where he'd stopped he let the C8 slump against his chest and pulled up his binoculars to get a better look. "Not a pyramid, some kind of other stucture. Like someone said 'Make me a sci-fi castle.' I think Star Trek in the 60's had the same set designer."

"A temple of some sort?" Ralph speculated. He brought his radio closer to his mouth, putting a call through to the team that had scouted ahead, now just out of visual range due to the dense foliage. "SG3, anything to report up ahead?"

Carter head the static burst over the comms, it had happened a few times in the last few minutes and she had called a halt to their search while she tried a few different ways of establishing contact but was getting nothing but static.

He got nothing back but static. Brennan waited for a moment. Nothing came in. He and Raynor exchanged a worried look and Brennan repeated his call. It was a moment that seemed to last forever. He grabbed the tablet that displayed readouts and footage from the drones that had come through the gate with them.

Amy heard it rather than saw it, it was like a whisper. Engine noise but like someone had turned down the sound rather than it being far away. "Take cover" she called dropping down behind a half ruined wall. It didn't matter, whatever it was had fired a series of rapid blue pulses that had bypassed the protection the wall should have offered and she had passed out in that instant.

“SG3 is negative on coms,” Brennan reported as he caught up with the Colonel. He began scanning his screen for anything that might clue him into their situation from the air. "Drone's not detecting anything. It's getting closer to SG3's location."

Looking over at the naval officer, he wasn't sure what had happened to his men at the stargate. But took in a deep breath and tapped his radio as he pulled out the small tablet to see the read out of the drone. It was now in the are again and he took in the read out before taking it off of auto flight. "SG3 Niner, this is SG1 Leader, report in."

There was a long silence before he tried again with no response.

"There seems to be movement coming from the opposite side of the stargate but seems to be no sign of the..."

A moment later, Brennan heard stunned yelps, as though the air was blown from the lungs of the personnel around him. Before he could even raise his weapon, he too was hit with a searing pain that brought him to his knees. Crashing to the deck, he found his face in the dirt, helpless to surrender to the darkness that overtook his mind. The last thing he heard was a member of another team calling over the radio to all hands.

"All teams, contact! Get the hell out of there!"

"Take cover!" Raynor ordered as he took position behind the ancient stone wall but before he could get up to look, he was zapped at the same time as the rest of his people. All of the SG team members fell down all around...