A new SG-1 team has been formed by General Samantha Carter, who now leads Stargate Command. Join Colonel Malachy Hughes as he and his team step through the Gate to explore the galaxy. They'll meet new friends, old enemies and discover what it truly...
She set aside the file she'd been reading as Oliver stepped into the room. "How can I help you, Dr. Kain?"
"I'm here to assist with the search for SG-1."
"Sit down, Doctor." She waited until Oliver was seated. "I'm sorry to inform you of this, but we are not actively searching for SG-1."
"What? How can you leave them out there!"
She sighed. "It isn't by choice. We received orders from the IOA. SG-1 has been declared M.I.A. and their codes have been locked out of the system. I'm sorry but if they're going to get home they'll have to figure out a way to do it on their own."
"I can't believe you would go along with this!"
"I don't have a choice, Dr. Kain. It is either I comply or they replace me. At least if I remain in command I can assist them if the chance presents itself."
He sank in his chair. "That makes sense."
"Look, I know you're worried about your sister, but Captain Kain is extremely capable and partnered with Colonel Hughes and Dr. Walsh, they'll find a way back to us. I have all the faith in the world in those three."
He smiled. "Thanks, I think I needed to hear that. I know Lee and she won't give up."
"None of them will. If you'd like to stay for a bit, you're more than welcome. I'm sure some of the researchers would love to pick your brain about some of the Ancient technology."
"I appreciate that. I'd love to stay."
"I'll have someone escort you to one of the guest rooms."
He stood. "I'd like to remain until they return, if that's possible. I've already spoken to Dr. Myers about it and he's cleared me to remain for as long as it takes to get them home."
"Of course, we're happy to have you."
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Lorcan stood at the head of the table and waited until everyone was seated. "Thank you all for coming."
Amais scowled at him. "Where is Nesrin? What is this meeting about?"
"Nesrin isn't here. I'm the one who called this meeting."
Amais rose. "You called us here under false pretenses! What is the meaning of this?"
"Sit down and I'll explain." He waited until she sank back into her seat before he continued. "Nesrin has grown out of control. She hungers for more power and she will sacrifice all of us to obtain what she craves. We can't allow her to continue to lead us down a path that only ends in our destruction."
"You're talking about mutiny," Keziah said.
"I'm talking about survival. How many of us have lost those we care about to her madness?"
"You're bitter about Xanth, I think you should take a step back and not allow your emotions to cloud your judgment," Lev told him.
"This has nothing to do with emotions! This has to do with survival! She is killing the Alliance at a steady pace. She is obsessed with defeating SG-1 and finding a way to get to Atlantis in the Pegasus galaxy. If we don't stop her we will all end up dead!"
Amais stood. "I won't be a part of this nonsense." She looked around the table at the rest of the Seconds. "If you have any brains you won't be either. Nesrin does not forgive those who defy her."
The doors were torn open and Nesrin glided gracefully into the room. "Well, hello there everyone." She gasped and placed a hand to her chest. "Dear me, did we have a meeting scheduled for today?" She clicked her tongue and wagged a finger at them. "Tsk, tsk, starting without me, shame on you."
"There is no meeting, Nesrin. Lorcan called this gathering—" Amais began, she didn't get to finish because Nesrin spoke over her.
"Oh, I know why he called this meeting." She pinned Lorcan with a cold gaze, empty of emotion. "Do you think I'm a fool?"
"No, Nesrin, never," he replied in a voice that trembled slightly.
"You say that, yet here you are plotting behind my back. Just like your brother."
"My brother was loyal to the Alliance!"
"No one is loyal when money is involved. How much have you been paid to sow dissent among my people? What were you given to help SG-1 escape?"
He laughed. "No one gave me a damn thing. I gladly set them free. Someone needs to take you down before you get us all killed! You may have begun your quest to pull the Alliance together as a great leader but now you're nothing but a bitch in search of power and revenge and we won't follow you anymore."
"Speak for yourself, I—"
Once again, Nesrin didn't allow Amais to speak. "It's a shame that you've done this, Lorcan, because now everyone in this room is suspect."
Amais made a small sound but a look from Nesrin silenced her.
"I won't let you sow dissension among my people." She whipped her arm up.
Lorcan choked and clutched at the knife protruding from his throat. He fell and remained still.
"Such a shame, he had the makings of a good officer. Now that we've gotten the preliminaries out of the way, we'll move on to the cleansing." She placed a small device in the center of the table. "I suppose this will teach me to give you all so much freedom of choice. Have a lovely day, at least, what's left of it for you." She turned and stepped out of the room.
Before the others could move, the doors shut.
Amais was the first to make a dash for the door. "She's locked us in. How do we get out?"
Lev stood. "Move." When she stepped aside he fired his weapon at the door. The door absorbed the discharge from the weapon and he cursed. "She shielded the doors. We're trapped."
Amais eyed the device. "And that?"
Keziah shook her head. "It's a Rulpien grenade. During the first explosion it will release a flammable gas that will be ignited during the secondary explosion. We'll be cooked alive. I've seen the aftermath of this weapon and it isn't pleasant."
Amais sent Lorcan a glare. "This is that bastard's fault and he got the easy way out."
Lev bent and took a closer look at Lorcan. "Doubt that, he's still alive. That woman knows her way around a knife." Lorcan's hand lifted an inch or two from the floor before it fell. Lev shook his head. "I'm sure he'll welcome death no matter what form it takes at this point."
"Well then my only consoling thought will be that he'll die as painfully as we will," Amais snarled.
The grenade exploded. They choked and gasped as the gas was released. There was a pause, a brief moment when they all went silent. In that moment the secondary incendiary device detonated and the gas went up in a whoosh of flames.
The room was filled with the sound of screams and pounding on the door.
Nesrin stepped away from the doors with a small smile on her lips. It was satisfying to rid oneself of dead weight.
