DISCLAIMER AND AUTHOR'S NOTE: All StarGate SG-1 stuff is the legal property of MGM. No copyright infringement was intended in the writing of this fiction. This story cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Copies may be made for private use only and must include this copyright notice and disclaimer.
True Lies
By Kristjan Brezovnik
"Chevron 6 encoded," the Lieutenant reported. "Chevron... Oh, shit. Sir, I..."
"What is it, Lieutenant?" Hammond asked.
"Sir, I accidentally input the wrong symbol."
"What?" Hammond asked, confused, and looked at him. "Then why did the gate open?"
"I don't know, Sir."
"So this is not PX3904?"
"No, Sir."
Hammond immediately grabbed the speaker.
"SG-1, hold your position."
"Sir?" O'Neill asked, confused.
"The Lieutenant input the wrong symbol."
O'Neill looked at the gate and then back at the General.
"Then why did the gate open?"
"We don't know."
"Then we better send the probe through first," O'Neill said and went to the door.
"Yes." Hammond looked at the Lieutenant. "Send the probe through."
"Yes, Sir."
The probe slowly moved and then disappeared beyond the event horizon. Hammond looked at the map.
"The probe is through, Sir."
"Why isn't there any picture."
"Because it's dark, Sir."
"Turn on the light."
"General?" O'Neill asked as he and his team entered the control room.
"The probe is through."
"General," the Lieutenant and Jackson said in unison and Hammond and O'Neill looked at the screen.
"A Goa'uld ship," O'Neill said.
"What do we do now?" Jackson asked.
"Blow it up?" O'Neill suggested.
"Sir, we could use the chance and find out more about the Goa'uld ships," Carter suggested.
"And blow it up afterwards," O'Neill insisted.
"No, it's too dangerous," Hammond said.
"But, Sir, if they're on their way to some planet, we could save that planet by blowing up the ship," Jackson said.
"See?" O'Neill said.
Hammond hesitated.
"Teal'c," he said and turned to the Jaffa, "how much explosive would you need?"
Teal'c considered.
"Three strong charges would suffice if we could bring them to the right place unnoticed."
"Can you?"
Teal'c considered again.
"It is possible, but we would have to get rid of the guards."
Hammond thought again.
"Close the gate," he then ordered.
"Yes, Sir."
About an hour later, SG-1 was reconvened in the gate room.
"Open the gate," Hammond ordered.
"Yes, Sir," the Lieutenant said and started to input the symbols.
The gate opened and SG-1 waited for the probe to report back.
"SG-1, you may proceed," Hammond said when it did.
"Okay, let's go," O'Neill said and went to the gate.
The ship's gate room was dark, except for the light from the probe.
"Okay, everyone, be ready. Cameras on," O'Neill said and turned to the probe's camera. "Okay," he said. The probe moved and O'Neill turned to Teal'c. "Teal'c, can you find the door?"
Teal'c looked around carefully.
"There," he said and pointed in the right direction.
The team moved to the door and Teal'c looked for the right symbol.
"Okay, careful now," O'Neill said when the door opened.
Carter looked outside.
"All clear," she said and entered the hall, recording as she went.
The rest of the team followed her out and O'Neill took the lead. That section of the ship was mostly deserted and they had no trouble proceeding. Carter and Jackson recorded everything as they walked.
Suddenly they head yelling and they slowed down.
"Someone's coming," O'Neill announced a few moments later and they hid into a side corridor.
A few moments later, two Jaffa guards passed by. When they were gone, O'Neill looked around the corner.
"Okay, let's..."
"Wait," Teal'c said, listening carefully.
"What?" O'Neill asked.
"Wait here," Teal'c said and went closer to the source of yelling.
O'Neill glanced around the corner and then leaned back at the wall and waited.
Teal'c carefully moved on and listened. When he got close enough, he stopped and kept listening until the yelling stopped. Then he returned to the team.
"Well?" O'Neill asked, curious.
"This ship is under construction and it will be complete within a week."
"So? Let's blow it up."
"We are in Heru-ur's construction yards," Teal'c continued. "There are other ships under construction here."
"Damn," O'Neill swore and thought. "If we blow one up, would the explosion destroy other ships?"
"No, the ships are too far apart."
O'Neill thought.
"Can we get from ship to ship? With those transporter rings?"
"Yes."
"Can you operate them?"
"Yes."
"Then we better get back and get more explosive. And more people. We can return tomorrow."
"It would be better in one week," Teal'c said.
"Why?"
"The ships will be completely empty then."
"What? Why?"
"Heru-ur will come to the station then and take the ships for a test flight."
"How?"
"Remote control will be installed and Heru-ur will guide the ships from the base."
"How long is the test flight?"
"It depends on whether Heru-ur thinks some other Goa'uld may have sabotaged his ships."
"Oh."
"It lasts at least an hour. After that the ships stop, turn around and head back."
O'Neil thought.
"How many people are needed to fly a ship?" Jackson asked out of curiosity.
"One."
"Just one?" Carter asked, surprised.
"Yes. The Goa'uld fly their ships themselves."
"And the rest of the crew?" Jackson asked.
"Maintenance, guards, troops, pilots."
"Oh."
"Teal'c," O'Neill asked as he got an idea, "could you fly a ship like this one?"
Everyone looked at him, confused, and Teal'c thought.
"Theoretically, yes."
"And could we, theoretically speaking, hijack a ship like this?"
"What?" Carter and Jackson asked in unison.
"Think of it. Empty ship and we have its coordinates. And we have someone who knows how to fly it. Teal'c?"
"Theoretically, yes, but there is one problem."
"What?"
"All ships are equipped with a self-destruct device, which automatically explodes if there is any indication that the ship might be captured."
"Damn," O'Neill swore and thought. "What does this device look like?"
"It's a small box the size of a head."
"Where is it placed?"
"In the main engine room. It is attached to the main core."
"Is there any way to remove it?"
"None that I know of."
"Perhaps our scientists could find a way," Carter suggested.
"We have cameras," Jackson said and everyone looked at him. "We could record the device."
"Are they already installed?" Carter asked Teal'c.
"Yes. They are installed with the engine core."
"Good," O'Neill said. "Sam, you go with Teal'c to the engine room. Daniel and I will go to the bridge. We meet back at the gate room."
"Yes, Sir."
"Come on, Daniel."
Teal'c led Carter to the engine room and O'Neill led Jackson to the bridge.
They proceeded pretty fast as most of the workers were concentrated near engine room. They nearly ran into a couple of them when they wanted to enter the bridge, but they avoided them.
"Okay, they're gone," O'Neill said, looking around the corner, and turned back. "Let's go in."
They entered and Jackson carefully started to record every millimeter of the bridge.
"Holy..." O'Neill, who went to the window, said.
"What is it, Jack?" Jackson asked and glanced at him.
"This is huge," O'Neill said, still staring through the window.
Jackson stopped recording and went to the window.
"Oh my god," he said when he saw what O'Neill was looking at.
"Twenty-four ships," O'Neill said.
Jackson quickly recorded the view. O'Neill waited for a few moments and then glanced at him.
"Okay, that's enough. Record the rest of the bridge and then let's get out of here."
"Okay," Jackson said and returned to recording the bridge.
About one hour after O'Neil and Jackson got back to the gate room, Carter and Teal'c finally returned.
"It was about time," O'Neill said.
"Sorry, Sir," Carter said, "but it was pretty crowded there."
"Did you record everything?"
"Yes, Sir."
"Good. Now let's get back. Daniel."
Jackson dialed the coordinates.
"Sir, we need to talk," O'Neill said when they came to the briefing room.
"Of course. Did you succeed?"
"Well, we didn't blow up the ship, Sir."
"What? Why not?"
"Well, we had a better idea. Let me explain. That ship was one of twenty-four ships that will be completed in one week at Heru-ur's construction yards. Heru-ur will then personally take them for a test flight. They will be empty, no crew. So I thought we might hijack them."
"What?!" Hammond was astonished.
"Well, Sir, I asked Teal'c and we might have a chance, but there is one problem."
"What?"
"The self-destruct device on the main core."
"I see."
"We've recorded it, perhaps our experts can figure a way."
"Okay. Now, suppose they do figure a way, how do you suggest we proceed?"
O'Neill thought.
"Well, there are twenty-four ships and we have twelve SG teams. We could send two people to each ship."
"How?"
"Well, we go there through the gate and then to other ships with those transporter rings. Daniel and I recorded them so Teal'c could show us how to operate them. We should also have some sort of link so we can communicate from ship to ship."
"Yes."
"Well, we recorded the way to the engine room and to the bridge and also the controls. Teal'c said they are easy to operate. We remove the self-destruct devices and then wait until the ships dock again. Then we take over, blow up the construction yards and leave. Not on a direct course, of course."
"And where do you suggest we park the ships? Every telescope on Earth will spot them."
"And let's not forget the politicians," Carter said. "Remember what happened when they tried to take over?"
"Yeah, the first time the Earth nearly got destroyed and the second time it was Medrona," O'Neill said.
"And let's not forget what they tried to do with the Tollans."
"How about Alpha Site?" Jackson suggested.
"Yes!" O'Neill agreed. "We need to hold those ships top secret, only the SG teams and you would know about them. And the Alpha Site. The people there are scientists and military and they would know better than to go out conquering the universe with only a handful of ships and no way of building more of them."
"But we would still need personnel and equipment to study them," Hammond said.
"We have the ships. We divert all people and equipment from other research sites to Alpha Site and then make it look as though they have been attacked by the Goa'uld."
Hammond thought.
"We could also send a ship to Heliopolis and recover the stargate there," Jackson said.
"That's a good idea," Carter agreed.
"I'll have to think about it. Colonel O'Neill, I want you and your team to prepare a detailed plan, in case I decide to approve the mission. Captain Carter, get those records to the bomb experts. Teal'c, go with her."
"Yes, Sir."
"Dismissed."
Six days later, General Hammond summoned all SG teams.
"Ladies, Gentlemen, the mission is a go," he gave the news and the soldiers started to talk to each other, excited. "I have talked to the commanding officer of Alpha Site and he has agreed to the mission. I have sent them the recordings of what Teal'c taught you about flying those ships and their teams are already training. I believe you are now all familiar with Colonel O'Neill's plan?" The officers nodded. "Good. The mission begins in eighteen hours. You have until then to learn how to disarm the self-destruct devices. Dismissed."
Another day passed and all teams were learning how to disarm the self-destruct devices. Finally the time came and General Hammond ordered the gate opened again. The probe went through and when Hammond saw that the gate room was empty, he sent SG-1 in.
The room was dark as usually. The team quickly went to the door and Teal'c opened it. O'Neill looked through, but there was no one to be seen. He put on his link.
"All clear," he said into it and the probe went back. "Let's go."
The team moved out and inspected the ship, but there was no one there, so they returned to the gate room and Jackson dialed home.
"All clear," O'Neill said into his link when the gate opened and a few moments later the rest of the SG teams started to come through the door.
When all were through, he led them to the room with the transporter rings and then Teal'c started to transport pairs to other ships, always waiting until the pair reported all clear before sending over another pair.
"Good luck," O'Neill said before he and Jackson were transported off the ship.
"You too, Sir," Carter said.
On the other ship, O'Neill and Jackson went to the engine room.
"Okay, let's see if we can do that," O'Neill said as he kneeled beside the self-destruct device.
"I hope you know what you're doing, because I'm not too good at disarming bombs," Jackson said.
"I know what you mean." O'Neill took a deep breath as he prepared his tools. "Okay, here we go."
He carefully started to dismantle the device and Jackson assisted him.
"SG-4-2 complete," a voice reported about ten minutes later.
"Already?" Jackson asked, surprised.
"Bomb expert," O'Neill said and continued to dismantle the device.
"Oh."
"Okay, SG-1-1 complete," he reported a few minutes later, when he was done. "Come one, Daniel, let's go to the bridge."
They got up and started for the bridge.
"How many teams are still dismantling?" Jackson asked.
O'Neill thought.
"About twenty. I think. I think we're twenty-one." He touched his link. "Who is still dismantling?" he asked.
"SG-6-1."
"SG-11-2."
"SG-12-1 complete."
"Anyone else?" O'Neill asked when there was a pause, but no one responded. "Okay, take your time, guys."
They quickly reached the bridge and O'Neill went to the window.
"SG-11-2 complete."
"One more to go," O'Neill said as he looked out the window and recorded. "Things seem pretty quiet around here." He touched his link. "Does anyone see any unusual activity or any additional ships?"
There was no response.
"SG-6-1 complete."
"Report in when you get to the bridge."
Jackson joined him at the window.
"This looks as impressive as before," he said.
"Oh, yeah," O'Neill agreed.
Then they waited.
"SG-6-1 ready," the last team finally reported.
"Okay, all teams report in," O'Neill then ordered and the teams reported in. "Teal'c, you have the command," he said when all were ready.
"We wait until the ships return," Teal'c said.
"Oh, boy," O'Neill said. "This is gonna be a long hour."
"More," Jackson said. "We haven't started yet," he explained when O'Neill looked at him, confused.
"Oh, yeah. Damn."
The ships finally started to move and all teams observed the magnificent display. The ships slowly left their docks and turned around.
"Stand by," Teal'c warned a few moments before the ships moved into faster-than-light flight.
About an hour later, the ships came to a stop. Then they slowly turned and moved back into faster-than-light flight.
Another hour later, they returned back to the construction yards.
"Okay, everybody, be ready. Teal'c."
The ships slowly approached their docks and docked.
"Stand by," Teal'c said, observing his display. "On my mark, start inputting the symbols. First enter the new code. Then release the docking clamps, raise shields and fire. Make sure the symbols are accepted before entering new instructions." A couple of seconds passed. "Now."
Teal'c started to input the symbols.
"Code in place," he reported for the record. "Docking clamps released... Shields up... Firing."
The ships started to fire almost in unison.
"Wow," Carter said, staring out the window, recording the attack.
It was all over in a few minutes.
"Cease fire," Teal'c ordered and the ships stopped firing. "Engage reverse thrusters."
The ship slowly started to move out of their docks.
"Teal'c," O'Neill said over the link, "can you detect the stargate in all that mess?"
Teal'c lifted his eyebrows and scanned the debris.
"Yes."
"Do these ships have some sort of tractor beams?"
"Yes."
"Can you get a lock on the stargate?"
Teal'c checked his display.
"I would have to clear some debris."
"But you can?"
"Yes."
"Then do it. Oh, and don't forget to give us instructions."
Teal'c concentrated on his display and his ship slowly stopped and then started to move into the debris field. He fired his weapons, clearing away the debris.
"Come to a full stop," Teal'c ordered when other ships were far enough from the debris. "Then enter the coordinates for the first leg and go."
Other ships slowly stopped. They remained motionless for a few moments and then slowly started to turn. When they were all turned in the same direction, they left.
"Teal'c, can you also get the DHD?" Carter asked.
Teal'c lifted his eyebrows and scanned the debris.
"Yes," he said.
"Good. Oh, and also as much debris as possible."
"Why?" Teal'c asked, confused.
"For analysis."
About half an hour after the first twenty-three ships reached the first meeting point, the last ship came.
"SG-1-2 ready," Carter reported.
"Finally. And the gate?"
"In a cargo bay, together with the DHD."
"Good. Let's move on. Teal'c."
Teal'c issued new orders and the ships moved into faster-than-light flight again.
After several legs, when they were sure that they weren't pursued, they waited. O'Neill went to Teal'c's ship and then he and Teal'c went to the gate room and dialed Alpha Site. The gate opened and O'Neill input the code. A few moments later the first people started to come through.
"Welcome aboard, people," O'Neill greeted them and smiled when he saw how they looked around curiously.
A hundred and forty-four people came through with their equipment and Teal'c had to open the door because the gate room became full.
"I'm the last," one of them finally reported.
"Good. Who stays here?" O'Neill asked.
The newcomers looked at each other and then one of them spoke.
"My team," she said.
"Okay. Go to the bridge."
"Yes, Sir," the woman said and then she and her team left.
"Come, we'll get you to your ships now," O'Neill told the rest.
He and Teal'c took the lead and they went to the room where the transporter rings were. Teal'c then started to transport them over. O'Neill and his team were the last.
After another leg, all SG teams came to Teal'c ship and dialed home. When the gate closed behind them, the fleet moved on.
"Mission accomplished, Sir," O'Neill reported when he came through the gate.
"Very good. Go change and then immediately report to the briefing room."
"Yes, Sir."
About ten minutes later, all SG teams were in the briefing room.
"Colonel O'Neill?"
"Mission accomplished, Sir. We destroyed the base, but we managed to salvage the gate and the DHD."
"Really?" Hammond asked, excited.
"Yes, Sir. The ships are on their way to Alpha Site."
"Excellent. Captain Carter, I want you to have those records for Nulles as soon as possible."
"Yes, Sir."
Hammond looked at every member of his teams.
"Just to remind you, this is a top secret operation and you are not to discuss it with anyone, not even among yourselves. Is that clear?"
"Yes, Sir," came multiple answers.
"Good. I want your reports within the hour. And remember, one is internal, the other is for others. Dismissed."
The teams started to leave, but SG-1 remained behind.
"Sir, perhaps we should offer a couple of ships to the Tok'Ra," Jackson suggested when they were alone.
"What?"
"Well, in return they could help us understand the technology."
Hammond quickly thought the idea over.
"Maybe in the future, when we get to know them better. For now, we better leave things as they are."
"Sir, perhaps we should make another facility on Heliopolis," O'Neill suggested. "And I don't mean just to study that old castle, but also to study the ships."
"Why?" Hammond asked.
"Well, people know about Alpha Site, too many people, politicians."
"I see."
"We could send the ships there and recover the gate. And since everybody believes that that planet is now off the stargate chart, we should use some other planet as a cover. Hell, let's relocate the whole Alpha Site."
"What?"
"Well think about it. They have people and equipment. And we can use the Goa'uld ships to make it look as though they have been destroyed by the Goa'uld."
Hammond thought.
"Well, Sir, how about we make a new outpost?" Jackson suggested.
"A new outpost?"
"Yes, one specifically designed for starship research. We could land one of the ships there and make it look as if it crashed."
"I have a better idea," Carter said. "We could just drop the debris."
"What debris?" Hammond asked, confused.
"Well, I told Teal'c to also get as much of the debris from the station as possible. For analysis," she added when everybody, except Teal'c, looked at her, confused. "We could drop some of the big pieces and make it look as if there was something large there."
"I see. And where do you propose we build this new base?" Hammond asked.
"I don't know. We should check out the planets which we believe are uninhabited and where the stargate is in the desert, but near the moderate zone. We should use one of the planets from Jack's map and make sure it's as far as possible from the known Goa'uld territory and not too far from Earth."
"Good idea, but you're forgetting the politicians," O'Neill said.
"No, I'm not. We transport everything to the planet, build the base and then fake a Goa'uld attack and disable the gate for a while so everyone will think the gate has been destroyed."
"It will be pretty difficult to get that much equipment and personnel to the new base."
"We could use the other gate," O'Neill suggested.
"What?" Hammond asked. "Colonel, you do remember that Colonel Maybourne is there."
O'Neill grinned.
"Precisely. We have to make it look as if he was the one who requested the second gate to be used for that operation and that you only reluctantly agreed. Of course one of our teams should always be there to make sure the gate is only used for one destination. And we should fake the attack when we escort him there for inspection. And when they restore the gate, the new base should only have contact with Alpha Site."
"And let's not forget that the base should be self-sufficient. We will need a lot of spare parts," Carter said. "There should be a factory of some sort."
"Don't forget Heliopolis," Jackson said.
Hammond thought.
"I will have to think about it and discuss it with Alpha Site," he said thoughtfully and then looked at Carter. "When will the ships arrive to Alpha Site?"
"In about two weeks."
"Start preparing the plan and look for a suitable site."
"Yes, Sir."
"Oh, Sir," Carter said.
"Yes, Captain?"
Carter turned to Teal'c.
"Teal'c, is there a sarcophagus aboard each Goa'uld ship?" she asked.
"Yes," Teal'c said.
Carter turned back to Hammond.
"Sir, I think we should destroy the sarcophagi."
"Why?"
"Well, we know what they do to a person."
"They make him a cold son of a bitch," O'Neill said.
"Yes," Carter agreed. "Well, someone might use those sarcophagi to bring back dead soldiers. Those soldiers would eventually become ruthless killing machines."
"I see your point," Hammond said. "You will personally destroy them as soon as possible."
"Yes, Sir."
"Good. Anything else?" There wasn't. "Dismissed."
"I just can't wait to play Maybourne for a fool," O'Neill said as they left.
The End