Mission to M9-beta

[danieljackson]

"What do you mean, I can't go?" Daniel couldn't believe his ears. He was sitting in General Hammond's office who had just told him he couldn't go on the mission.
"I mean just that, Dr. Jackson," the General said calmly. "You're still recovering and still unable to see. Quite frankly, you would be a liability to the team. You're out. Colonel Mitchell will brief you on what they find when the team gets back. End of discussion."

It wasn't fair, Daniel was telling himself as he walked his way back to the lab, his hand slightly touching the wall as he walked to the elevators. He should be going, they were going to need a lingustics expert. "Shakarri can go," Hammond had said. "She can read hieroglyphs as well and shows promise as a good ally for our side." Daniel couldn't disagree with that but still...he wanted to go. Reading hieroglyphs was one thing, translation was another. One way or another, he was going to find a way to go on this mission.

A little later...
Mitchell was already doing his pre-mission briefing/peptalk. There was half a dozen soldiers with him and Shakarri. "The planet we are going to is M9 dash beta. The previous mission to it brought back the inscribed rock from a sort of small shrine in a wooded area. We're looking for anything in or around the area that can be connected to that find. The piece they brought back is missing something. It could be a liquid in a bottle like the one found in our piece or it could be something completely different, so keep your eyes open. According to the reports, the planet is inhabited by a race of humanoids who are similar to those living in the middle ages, but don't get cocky. They do have energy weapons at their disposal and are very territorial. Fortunately, the last team got out of there without confrontation. I would appreciate it very much if we can do the same." He turned off the screen behind him that had been showing pictures of the previous mission. "Any questions? No. Ok, gear up everyone. We leave in 10 minutes."

As the soldiers dispersed and suited up in their gear, one extra was suiting up with them. Careful to keep his hat low and follow along with the man in front of him, Daniel was sneaking in on the mission. He followed the sounds of the group, holding his weapon close against the borrowed combat outfit he was wearing.

"Chevron Seven encoded." The stargate popped to life, filling with the etherial blueish wormhole that resembled a sideways gleaming puddle of water. "Good luck," Hammond's voice came from the control room above them. The team moved forward and into the stargate.


Team Muses thus far: shakarri, sgmitchell

Comments

[shakarri.livejournal.com]

Shakarri had been listening intently to the briefing. She looked uncomfortable in the uniform, but she didn't complain, after all it would make her look more like them.

She was in the middle of the group, not really seeing the other soldiers around. Stopping at the wormhole a moment she closed her eyes and stepped through. She had trained to go through without falling on her face at least.

On the other side she knelt to help some of the others up resisting the urge to raspberry them because she could still pull off being graceful.

Turning as the last of them exited, she noticed Daniel there. She caught him making sure that no one noticed yet. "You should have stayed.." She kept her voice down so only he could hear her.

[stargatejackson.livejournal.com]

"Yeah right, and miss all the fun," Daniel said in a low tone, making like he was securing the area as best as he could without seeing. "...you going to give me away?"

[shakarri.livejournal.com]

"If tell then you would be mad." She turns him away from a tree glad no one else noticed yet.

"Mitchell be mad, but no tell. I keep eye on you as well as mission objective. Should be cookie walk."

[stargatejackson.livejournal.com]

Daniel smirked. "Cake walk...
Shhhh, better quit talking to me. I'll follow the sound of your footsteps." He fell in behind her as the team was waiting for Mitchell to give the signal to move out.

[sgmitchell.livejournal.com]

He wasn't entirely comfortable with the size of the group they were sending through the gate on a stealth mission, but the likelihood that even a regularly sized team would be found made precautions for conflict a necessary measure.

All the same, he still disliked the marines in general. They were a wild element he didn't particularly want to deal with. He had his suspicions about one or two of the soldiers' strange behaviors, as well. Unfortunately, there just wasn't time to hold up the mission to confirm them. Should they be confirmed later, he would deal with them then.

He glanced over his shoulder briefly, after stepping through the gate, giving the first time travelers a moment to gather their wits once more, before gesturing forward, and starting out toward the temple site.

[shakarri.livejournal.com]

Shakarri stayed in the middle of the group, figuring it would keep Daniel from getting lost.

The woods around them were mostly birch and aspen, which told her that if they were there later in the year it would be too cold for her liking. Though with it autumn, she smiled at the reds and golds around them. The crisp air was still warm enough.

She scanned the trees around them just to be on the safe side. She didn't like the idea of energy weapons.

[stargatejackson.livejournal.com]

Daniel followed close behind Shakarri, trying not to look as clumsy as he felt holding the gun in his hands and trying to look like he knew what he was doing. It felt like they were in the woods, he could hear the leaves crunching under his feet and it smelled like fall, that dry dusty smell that leaves make when they dry up under your feet.

The smell unfortunately was triggering his allergies to act up. He tried to keep it in but he couldn't get his handkerchief out in time...

*ACHOO!*

[sgmitchell.livejournal.com]

The sound might as well have crashed throughout the forest around them. At the lack of an immediate swarm of villagers, his chagrin manifested itself as an annoyed scowl. There was a reason why the General hadn't wanted the doctor to go with them on this mission, and it was one that he agreed with.

He gestured for the Lieutenant to walk on ahead, before falling back to where Shakarri and the would-be soldier Jackson were walking.

"You're making a habit of taking the doctor places he shouldn't be."

[shakarri.livejournal.com]

"I did not bring him. He followed." She bit her lip. "Sorry Daniel." She frowned as she continued walking with the others. "I will take responsibility." She chewed her lip.

"It is too late to send back anyway."

[stargatejackson.livejournal.com]

At first, Daniel tried to keep his head down after his sneeze, hoping no one had noticed.

But when he heard Mitchell, he knew he was busted for sure. He raised his head as he ruefully blew his nose on his handkerchief, his white eyes standing out under the green cap on his head.
"She's right, I sneaked in myself. Not your fault Shakarri..." He stuffed the handkerchief back into his pocket. "I had to come, I can't just sit back at SGC. If you find something that pertains to this," he gestured to his blindness. "I should be there." He really hoped Mitchell wasn't going to scrap the mission because of this, they'd put him under lock and key for sure if they went back to Stargate Command now. "I've come this far, I'm not going back now."

[sgmitchell.livejournal.com]

He would have turned back, but at this point it would have likely caused more problems and endangered more men than continuing onward.

"He's your responsibility, Shakarri. If he causes problems, gets any of my men hurt, or botches this mission, it's on both of you."

[shakarri.livejournal.com]

Shakarri nodded. "Understand." She offered her arm for him. "We will not botch mission." She chewed her lip a little, knowing she really didn't want to botch it.

[stargatejackson.livejournal.com]

Daniel was glad they weren't turning back...even though he was going to get it later for hijacking a mission like this. But that would be later.

He really didn't want to put it all on Shakarri and was reluctant to take her arm. But it did make moving through the woods a bit easier.

One of the men signaled that they were approaching a clearing up ahead and everyone halted to take up defensive positions to make sure the area was safe before proceeding. Daniel squatted down when Shakarri did behind a bush...

[ooc: couple possibilities - shrine is little but has bigger underground areas, like a crypt...guarded by natives is another idea...]

[sgmitchell.livejournal.com]

The liabilities on this mission were stacking up, and he had a feeling they were leading toward disaster. The other marines seemed to feel similarly, if their tense postures were any indication.

He joined another one of the marines to scout out the perimeter and the shrine. Fortunately, there were no villagers in the area--yet--but there seemed also very little Shrine to work with.

Either this would be a very quick trip, or a very frustrating one.

Cameron glanced over toward where the others were waiting, and gestured them toward the shrine with an 'all clear' signal.

[shakarri.livejournal.com]

Shakarri nodded as she helped Daniel up. Keeping close she led him to the temple. "Describe where you found the first box. I find and see if clue to other nearby." She kept her eyes open for trouble.

[stargatejackson.livejournal.com]

Daniel had given up his gun to one of the marines as he really didn't like carrying one anyway. He moved forward as Shakarri led him right up to the shrine...which was nothing more than a small stage with a pedestal in the middle, a big hole in it where they'd taken out the rock.

"I wasn't on the first trip, I was called in after they found it." He felt all around the pedestal with no success. "Look for something out of place...another inscription, a crack that might be a trap door....a keyhole..."

[shakarri.livejournal.com]

She was carefully reading the markings and after a moment she pressed a spot.

The ground gave away under her and she scrambled for a handhold. Catching the rim of the hole she cried out feeling her shoulder pop.

[stargatejackson.livejournal.com]

Daniel heard stone against stone opening and her yell and started moving towards her blindly reaching out. "Shakarri! You ok?"

[shakarri.livejournal.com]

"Stay back, don't need you falling in.. Her fingers started slipping and she whimpered trying to hold on.

She felt a hand wrap around her wrist and one of the soldiers pulled her up.

Sitting on the edge she held her arm fighting tears.