Symbiosis

Posted on Fri Oct 28th, 2022 @ 2:38am by Lieutenant Ralph Brennan & Lieutenant Colonel Jonathon Raynor & Master Sergeant Ezekiel Chambers & Staff Sergeant Nathaniel Wolf & Thayara & Scarlett Hayes Dr. & Major Alexander Preston & Major Amy Carter & Sienna/Arldana (Hayes)

Mission: The Rise of the Valkyrie
Location: Valkyrie Outpost
3172 words - 6.3 OF Standard Post Measure

~~~ Previously ~~~

"What about Tok'ra?" John asked looking down at Thayara but then rolled his eyes and looked at the lead guard. "Nevermind, wanna translate sense you won't let us have our translators and knocked out Xena, warrior princess there. At least she was willing to answer." The guard looked at him and glared at him for a moment before her eyes flashed bright.

"Oh shit... you are Goa'uld."

"I am not, and from what this man is saying, neither is he. He says he is Tok'ra," she responded and sighed. "Why did you come here?"

"To look for allies, as stated earlier," the colonel answered again, being more cautious with his words and body language. "And you say you are not Goa'uld, but your eyes glowed. Tall tell signs of being a snake head. So... Tok'ra. They are the same as them aren't they?"

"Indeed, but Tok'ra translates as rebels. But they do things covertly, and not seeking allies. We are not Tok'ra."

Annoyance colouring his tone with the back and forth that was going no where, Alexander stepped from where he'd slunked to, and more towards the group themselves. "Listen, I like a good manège as much as the next, but can we get to the point? We aren't Goa'uld, you aren't Goa'uld, he's not Goa'uld. So, we all have a singular enemy, that being the Goa'uld. We were told there were a group of Valkyries here that might be good allies." He looked to John and shrugged. There was a time and a place for a clear leadership structure, and a time to step up and let a leader get out of a round about conversation. "If you're not them, then we are wasting time, ours and yours."

Scarlett approached the colonel's side giving the woman on the other side of the group a curious look. “If he’s Tok’ra” She looked to the man they’d tossed in earlier, “but you aren’t Goa’uld, then just who are you? Are you enemies, or are you allies of those who fight for freedom from the Goa’uld?”

The woman looked at Scarlett and her eyes lit up one more time. "We are the Valkyrie."

~~~ And Now ~~~

The group, that were not knocked out, were surprised as to this new information. The jaffa soldiers that had captured were either working for or with the group that they had been sent to find by the Asgardian Ambassador to Earth called Frigg. Were they set up by the Asgard? If so, they had some answers coming to them by, not only the governments of Earth, but Raynor himself. The things that they had helped them with over the years, one would have thought that the Asgard wouldn't be willing to ruin what little alliance they were able to build over the decade. But the woman had glowing eyes, deep messed up voice and barked orders like the Goa'uld...

"... so as you can see, Carter..." John tried to explain to those that had woken up from the Valkyrie stun weapons. "... they are Valkyrie. The very group we were sent to come and meet."

Before the group, now Colonel Raynor had agreed to keep the group calm and peaceful while the head Valkyrie discussed it with the others of her group. In return, she agreed to leave the translator for the group to use to talk to the other group they were together with. As for their equipment and weapons, they were to leave it behind the force field and two guards left at the entrance to the room. It was a way to show that the group were being tested for trust and ability to listen.

"But her glowing eyes and voice... It's hard to shake that if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck..." the colonel faded out as he looked around the group. "... What does everyone else think? Any ideas?"

Scarlett had been feeling pretty nervous about the prospect of ever facing a host, now here she was face to face with a lot of hosts. “I never thought I’d actually say this, but they don’t seem like Goa’uld. No one has come to forcefully take any of us to be hosts, which is what the Goa’uld would do. Perhaps we should actually take them at their word, if they truly are the Valkyrie then we need to prove we can be trusted.” She paused. “I’d like to request permission to talk to their leader.”

"If the Doc goes, mind if I tag along, mon colonel?" Sergent Chef Nathan Wolf asked. "I'm a hyperpolyglot. Been working on my Goa'uld. Be nice to hear the Doc and their leader converse. Besides," Nate grinned. "I'm pretty handy in a scrape, even without my weapons." Nate hadn't been with the SGC very long, and this was his first mission with SG-3. He didn't know any of them well. He hadn't even had a chance to really get a good look and listen to the Goa'uld language. Now was a good a time to start. Nate was American, but had joined the Foreign Legion young. He was, of course, fluent in English (and French, and a number of other languages), but throwing in 'Frenchisms' like 'mon colonel' here and there when working with partner forces amused him.

"Perhaps in showing our support and having as many of us attend, we can show our interest in co-operation?" Brennan suggested. "There's nothing that suggests having a symbiont has to be a co-morbidity factor for evil. The Goa'uld are a sample size of one. Do you have anything in mind to discuss with them, Doctor?"

Scarlett looked towards Brennan. “To be honest I’m not sure what I’m going to say yet, I’ll wing it and see how it goes. It’s always worked for me before. Unless anyone else has any better ideas?”

"I mean, a plan wouldn't be terrible," Brennan smiled. "We need to make a good impression. What do we say to an alien power? How do we appeal to these people to show them we're not just a new kid stirring trouble in their sandbox?"

Kicking at a loose stone, Major Preston looked over at the Colonel. "If we are going to be having cooperation, SG-2 can hang back with the gear and play damsel for you." It wasn't his idea of a great time, but when you looked at the composition of the other two teams, they had the kinds of people who got to pick up on information, and study things. SG-2 was a team of hot shots with enough special forces backgrounds to ensure they could fight their way out buck naked and covered in syrup. "Though if they'd be happy to let us get a look at how all these tunnels are made, we'd be more than happy to get a good study of them and give you a report later. I promise I'll even have the Marines lick it if you want to know which flavour of crayon they're closest too," he shot the pair on his team a quick wink. It was Air Force cockiness, but it did highlight a much more important point under it all - if you knew how something was build you knew how to tear it down.

"Nonsense sir, I've already tasted it and it's nothing like the green crayons I love," Chambers shrugged. "I also do make a gorgeous damsel, just look at this face. Maybe this pretty little thing can rescue me," He said, motioning to Thayara with a wink. "I am, after all, a modern man."

Thayaras head was pounding as she looked up at the man who winked at her. The translator was trying to make sense of his words, but they still seemed strange. "You do not seem like a damsel..." she started to comment.

“Might I make a suggestion?” Sienna stepped up alongside Scarlett, up until now she’d been pretty quiet. “These Valkyrie, need to know that they can trust you, as much as you need to know you can trust them. I suggest you just be honest. Let them see you at face value.”

Scarlett offered the woman a nod and a smile. “You have a point there, besides I’m a hopeless liar anyway!” She smiled before turning and walking over to the forcefield, looking at the closest guard. “I want to speak with your leader.”

The guard looked down at the woman, his weapon at the ready. He clenched it the grip of the staff weapon, bothered by the audacity of such a request. He huffed. Then gave a dismissive chuckle. "Why?"

“Why not?” Scarlett offered a pretty unemotional glance at the guard. “Your people want to know more about who we are, I’m willing to answer questions. I also have some of my own.”

The guard raised an eyebrow. "What is it exactly you want to 'know', perhaps more importantly, what is it you can tell us?"

Scarlett folded her arms. “I asked to speak with the woman who came to talk to us, you can take me to her. I’m not going to stand here and banter through a forcefield.” She offered a smile. “Of course if you’re not interested in learning more about those who could be possible allies...”

"Are all your people so demanding?" the other guard spoke up before shaking his head. "You were given a chance to stay together with your devices to speak to one another. Then told to wait while the counsel discusses your people. Yet you have no patience?"

"They have a point," the colonel finally spoke up in agreement with waiting. "if they wanted to kill us, we'd be dead by now."

In the shadows, someone had been watching proceedings. The figure moved across the corridor that linked the holding cells and pulled the two guards aside. A hushed conversation ensued, that elicited curiosity not just from the members of the Stargate Program, but from nearby cells. A curt nod or two later and the guards moved back to the containment field. "I assume this woman is your leader?"

"Must know that saying of 'I am woman, hear me roar'," John remarked as he stepped up and patted Scarlet on the shoulder. "Let me try this leadership thingy real quick. Don't worry, you will get your chance at asking all the questions you want." The colonel remarked as he spoke to his civilian member.

Scarlett smiled and nodded. “Of course Sir, sorry Sir.” With that she stood back.

"I'm the leader, at least for most of them. Xena and Ares over there," the colonel shrugged off as he pointed at those not part of his group.

"That is not Ares... our scouts have reported him on Ark'ha. He claimed the planet during Ba'al's conquest of the system lords, shortly before his fall at the hands of the Tau'ri," one guard explained before nodding in respect to the newest arrival. "Ares is still there as he continues to collect the little leftover worlds and jaffa from those that had been defeated."

"Well we figured there maybe a vacuum effect," John spoke up. "I'm the leader. So what is the verdict?"

"It has been decided that you will receive audience with our leadership," The guard told the group. "You are permitted to bring anyone you wish. No weapons; they are to remain here."

Brennan moved closer to Raynor, the guard was waiting for a decision, and this time was key. "Colonel, recommend we leave at least one team behind to keep an eye on things-- especially our equipment, as Major Preston has suggested. Then, we put a diplomatic team together so Scarlet can have a word to the Valkyrie's leadership."

"Too many chiefs," John muttered to himself before he stood up and started for the door. "Alrighty kiddos, let's go meet out hosts, shall we? Xena, warrior princess, you wanna join us?"

Thayara had made it to her feet and realized the voice was speaking to her. She glanced aside looking for this Xena person. "I am Thayara, not Xena." she said with a little confusion. "But Yes I will join. I must understand what is going on here." she said with distrusting eyes at their hosts who had snakes in thier heads.

At some point during the discussion Amy had woken up. Whatever they had stunned her with had really done a number on her. She was groggy and have dry mouth like never before. She had also awoken with half her face covered in dark dust. To say she was less than impressed would have been an understatement of biblical proportions. She had kept her council as she hydrated and eat a energy bar. Glaring daggers at the people who had stunned her... twice!

After it was settled, Colonel Raynor, Thayara, and his teams followed their escorts through the crystalized tunnels. The construction was simple yet complex in its own way. Through the corridors, the group watched as groups rushed carrying supplies from one area to what one would assume was their way to their exit. But all it looked to be was another corridor which rounded a corner.

After rounding another corner of their own, the group walked into a large round room where a long triangular table sat with a couple chairs spread apart. Around it stood or sat a total of nine members. At the head, an attractive young woman stood at the head, with similar armor on as the rest, but a cloak wrapped around her as well. As they entered, John noticed that the ones standing weren't actually there. They looked real, but were holograms. This perked his interest but didn't speak up just yet.

"Counsel, here are those that call themselves the Tau'ri. Their leader offered to bring the female Jaffa scout before they arrived to this planet," One guard spoke as they took their positions guarding the counsel from the outsiders.

"Hey, Lieutenant Colonel Jonathon Raynor. Thanks for meeting with us." John started off as he took a step up to the table.

"You are their leader?" a dark skinned man asked next to the head.

"That would be me."

"And the Jaffa?"

The Colonel looked over his shoulder to Thayara and thought to himself. It was not as though she wasn't a threat but he also didn't see her as a threat. So he turned and looked over at the group. "She ain't mine, but she don't seem like a threat."

"Then why is she here and why are you all here."

This was where the colonel paused and looked over at Scarlett. "Here is your chance, but I'll chime in as needed.

Scarlett nodded. “We are first and foremost explorers, but at the same time we’re looking for allies against the Goa’uld. They attacked our world..Earth, some years ago. On a more personal note I was hoping to find the Tok’ra, given the fact that my mother was a host for a short time, I somehow possess some of the memories, and maybe knowledge of her symbiont. I just can’t directly access it, except for the brief flashes I sometimes get.” She paused for a moment to consider her words. “If the Tau’ri were a threat to you, I think you’d know it. We could be a powerful ally.”

"Let us not get ahead of ourselves. You claim to be explorers, yet you arrived armed," A member of the council said to the woman who spoke for the Tau'ri, "Explain yourself."

Scarlett nodded. “With all due respect, would you walk into an unknown situation unarmed? This is our first venture through the Stargate, we didn’t know what we’d find. Have our weapons been used? Has anyone here been harmed?” Scarlett smiled warmly. “We didn’t even know you were going to be here.”

"Fair," The councillor replied. "You mentioned your world was attacked by the Goa'uld. You are obviously enemies of the Goa'uld. What exactly have the Tau'ri done to make an enemy of those wretched serpents?"

“We defended ourselves against them, not specifically us but those who first encountered the Goa’uld.” Scarlett smiled. “They found themselves faced with those who wouldn’t bow to their control.”

"It would seem that we share a history, then," The Councillor said. She tilted her head, "How many times have you encountered the Goa'uld in battle?"

Scarlett looked towards Raynor, she was going to let him answer this one.

"How do I explain this," John spoke to himself mostly as he tried to think about this. But that feeling of unsureness didn't last long as he looked up to the hosts before them. "Several seasons ago, the Goa'uld armada, under the command of Lord Ba'al, arrived over our planet. We didn't know of them, of the stargate, or even of other humans on other planets until shortly before their arrival. He clammed he wanted peace and to meet our leaders, only to shortly bombard our planet from orbit. But we had found a strong weapon left behind by an ancient people, several thousands of years prior, and we used it. We barely survived the assault."

"You are the the people the destroyed over half of the Goa'uld fleet," One of the male counsel member spoke up almost in shock. "We have heard of this assault, and in return, lost brothers and sisters still under their control in that battle."

"I'm sorry, but they did come to kill and to take over our people and planet. What would you have us do? Lay down our arms and just die?"

"Of course not," the male counsel member replied and looked at the group. "But we know of the assault. Our connections don't go that deep but we know of it. We know of noone that doesn't know of the great revival."

"Evidently that would show our worth as allies," Brennan spoke.

The council considered that, as the did everything, for a moment. A moment later, the leader's ear was taken by a young woman who had hurried toward the leader and whispered something into her ear. A look of concern washed over her face.

"Everything alright?" Brennan asked.

"Our sensor systems have detected a Goa'uld troop transport in orbit of this world," The lead councillor said, "They are already deploying Jaffa strike teams on the surface only a few miles from here. It is clear they intend to capture this base in an assault."

"We need to get everyone... and everything out of here." Another member of the council said.

The council muttered amongst themselves, no doubt there was debate on whether to stay or go, though the Valkyrie's council was clearly in favour of making a departure now. Suddenly, the entire room shook. Dust dropped from the ceiling, along with a smattering of debris. The Goa'uld were now closer than anyone thought.

OFF