Chapter 149

Latira

Beyond the fertile farmlands around the capital of the world of Latira, a structure unlike any ever seen by the world's inhabitants was taking shape. After procuring the permission of the worlds belonging to the Pegasus Coalition of Planets, the Furling envoy to the galaxy tasked with emplacing the mammoth pyramids that functioned with the crystal skull technology had taken to his task with gusto. Standing before the pyramid he was constructing with his ascended abilities, Ithon brought the monolithic structure into being.

Unlike the Great Pyramid found on Earth at Giza, this pyramid was more reminiscent of those found in South America. Lacking the smooth sides of the traditional Goa'uld inspired pyramids, this one like others of Furling origin rose into the air in graduated steps. Dwarfing the structures that were used as Ha'tak landing platforms, these pyramids rested on a base five times larger than others at one thousand one hundred and fifty one and three quarters meters. Standing at a height of seven hundred and thirty three and a half meters they were also five times the Goa'uld's designed height.

At the base of the pyramid on all four sides was a triangular arch like doorway. Leading through this dramatic arch was a slightly wider than shoulder width passageway. Progressing fifteen meters into the body of the pyramid, this passageway led to a cavernous and hollow interior. The bottom of this cavern lay two hundred meters below the thin elevated walkways that took any who might follow its path to a platform above the center of the deep depression. At the center of this platform was a long pedestal where rested a single crystal skull.

Where one to look down into the pit laying around the elevated platform in the center of the pyramids interior, they would see a collection of stalagmite's measuring many meters in length rising from the floor. These stalagmites were not naturally occurring, having been purposely created for their function. When activated, the crystal skull gave off lepton radiation. As the lepton's passed through the stalagmite field they slowed, something not capable according to Tauri science several years earlier. With the lepton's slowed dramatically, anything within the pyramid passed out of phase. Residing in this out of phase plane of existence lay the Omeyocan.

These beings, comprised purely of energy, had one mission; protection of human life. Originally conceived to protect humanity from the Goa'uld, the Omeyocan now had a new task. Once active, the Omeyocan would protect humanity from the Wraith threat. Testing had revealed that Wraith sensor technology lacked the ability to detect the lepton field within the pyramid even with their most powerful sensors.

During their time in the lepton field with their Omeyocan guardians, humanity would be afforded the opportunity to learn. The basics of education would be covered, as well as lessons in morality that was highly valued by the Furling. Despite their primary function as protectors, the lessons taught by the Omeyocan would provide a base upon which humanity could build a brighter future. Once the remainder of pyramids was constructed throughout the galaxy humanity would have safe harbor. With humanity safely ensconced in the hands of the Omeyocan, the allied forces could bring about a decisive victory against their enemy.

Dar Eshkalon

Twenty seven minutes earlier, the Athena class vessels of two nations exited hyperspace and engaged their cloaks. Representing the American contingent of this operation was the Shiloh, carrying a twenty man strike force from the US Army's elite 1st Special Forces Group, Operational Detachment Delta otherwise known as Delta Force. The second vessel belonged to Great Britain. HMS Agincourt carried within her twenty men of the 22nd Special Air Service, sister unit to the American Delta Force.

Sensors aboard both the Shiloh and Agincourt detected a small fleet of six Ha'tak vessels at the edge of the solar system. This came as a rude shock to the Tauri ship crews. Having believed the traditionalist forces of the Jaffa lacked anything larger than an Al'kesh class vessel after the battle of the super gate, one valuable piece of intelligence had been uncovered without a single shot fired. Powerful subspace receivers detected communications emanating from the distant Jaffa fleet to an unknown receiving station several light years from the solar system. Highly suspicious by nature, the Tauri ship crews suspected another fleet might be at the other end of the conversation taking place. Based on deep space telemetry flowing into the sensors, it appeared that the unknown station communicating with the Ha'tak's at the edge of this solar system was three other Ha'tak class vessels.

The unexpected presence of the Ha'tak class vessels was a cause for concern. As briefed, this mission was supposed to take place quickly, applying a factor the Army called "force of violence", and without discovery until well after the fact. Ship to ship combat was not a mission factor that had been anticipated nor was it wanted. Like generations of warfighters before them, the assemblage of Tauri did like those from the past before a battle, and simply crossed their fingers and hoped for the best. Precautionary measures were being taken though, in the form of placing all 302 pilots on alert for a quick launch if needed.

On the bridge of each vessel, sensor operators powered the Asgard designed transport beam systems. Using the deployment schematic provided by each of the team's commanders, armed men intent on violence were dematerialized and beamed to the planets surface. First to go were the highly trained two man sniper/spotter teams. To the south and the west four Delta long gun teams appeared. To the north and east four sniper teams of the SAS appeared. All of the sniper teams wore their ghillie suits, allowing them to seamlessly blend into the forested edge of the Jaffa encampment. Unfolding the bipod legs on their custom built fifty caliber rifles, the sniper teams settled into their firing positions in anticipation of the assault teams arrival. From their firing positions, the sniper teams noted a collection of night time sentries scattered around the encampment with the aide of their night vision scopes. Fulfilling their role in the over watch position, these men would be among the first to deliver death to the enemies they currently faced.

Twenty five minutes of sniper over watch passed before the main assault forces of British and American operators appeared fifty meters from the darkened edge of the Jaffa camp in two man fighting elements. Dispersed at varying points of the compass, the encampment was now surrounded by highly trained special operators. Dressed in coal black night assault uniforms, these night vision equipped men shouldered their suppressed Heckler and Koch MP-7 submachine guns and began to silently advance to their first planned points of contact.

"This is long gun one. Enemy sentries are sticking close to their campfires, so assume their night vision is shot. Will advise if situation changes. Confirming long guns have compromise authority" crisply stated one of the snipers over the radio net.

"Roger, confirming compromise authority. All elements proceed with ingress now" said the reply over the radio net.

Snipers around the Jaffa encampment drew their rifles in tight to their shoulders while scanning their assigned sectors of fire. Beside them, spotters scanned the sectors of fire with their spotting scopes in an effort to find a target for their shooters. Around the camp, two man hunter killer teams of the most highly trained soldiers their governments could create stalked forward. Each footstep was silent, as the men inched forward in with weapons at the ready.

The encampment they approached was filled with heavy leather tents, much like those once used by the American Indians. Filling these tents were Jaffa warriors, some snoring loudly as they slumbered. Fires maintained by the less than alert sentries scattered throughout the camp crackled and snapped as the tendered flames gave off soothing warmth on this cold and dark night. Disregarding the most basic of military training, the sentries relaxed instead of standing vigilant in their protective duties.

Sniper team three watched as the two man Delta element in their field of fire advanced towards the first tent in their sector. In the amplified greenish glow of the high powered scope, the sniper noted the two Delta operators remove two objects from their tactical vests. These small objects were similar in size and shape to an everyday magic marker. Following the two men in his optics, the sniper saw as they pulled the safety pins of the objects they held in their hands before tossing these objects into two tents full of sleeping Jaffa.

Sailing through the open flaps full of sleeping Jaffa, the two metallic canisters quietly thudded on the grassy soil beneath the tents. With the safety pins removed, quick action release valves opened four seconds after the canisters landed. Opening fully, the release valves allowed both canisters contents of liquid nitrogen to escape in an instantly lethal cloud of expanding gas. In a deep sleep, the slumbering Jaffa within the tents took the incredibly cold vapor into their lungs. On contact, the icy vapor froze and crystallized the air sacks in the sleeping men's lungs. Jolting awake in a panic, the frozen lung tissue fractured, bringing an instant and horrific death to the now helpless victims. Around the periphery of the camp this event played out again and again.

Exiting a tent near the center of the encampment, one Jaffa was preparing to relieve a sentry as he had been ordered to do. Staff weapon in his hand, the young Jaffa warrior looked around. His senses tingled, screaming at him in the back of his mind that something was not right. In a fit of activity, the young Jaffa jerked his head left and right. Thirty meters away he saw two dark shadows moving from tent to tent through the encampment. Everything about the sight was wrong his training told him.

"Jaffa Kree" the warrior bellowed.

Three seconds after this thunderous warning resounded throughout the camp, a two ounce fifty caliber boat tailed slug ripped through his armors b.r.e.a.s.tplate. In a visceral display of the gruesome efficiency of a modern weapon of war, the slug exited through the rear of his armor, pulling with it b.r.e.a.s.tplate armor, bone, flesh, organs, and copious amounts of dark red arterial blood which splashed on tents to the now dead mans rear. Death was instantaneous, marked only by the echoing boom of the high caliber rifle in the distance as the now hollow chested man landed in a heap barely recognizable as a man any longer.

"All teams, go weapons hot" was the order over the tactical radio net.

In the minds of the operators now spread throughout the encampment it was as if a switch had been flipped. Instantly, the operators began to open up on targets of opportunity, letting loose volleys of 4.6 millimeter armor piercing rounds from their suppressed submachine guns. Moving on the balls of their feet, the men advanced deeper into the swarm of now waking men. Every two man team also carried an AA-12 automatic shotgun, mated with a thirty two round drum magazine. Ear splitting booms soon rang out around the camp. Knowing the situation now passing into uncontrollable bedlam, snipers began to eliminate all targets in their sectors of fire with ruthless efficiency.

Sergeant Major Gordon Peck was an eleven year veteran of the unit known as Delta. The scenario playing out before him was one he had seen several times over the course of his special operations career. Jaffa all around him and his wingman began to emerge from the collection of tents near the two man team. Brining his AA-12 to bear in full effect, Peck fired the near recoilless shotgun again and again, felling Jaffa all around him. To his left he heard a rustling of the grassy soil. Unfortunately, the Sergeant Major had stopped to reload his AA-12.

"Kel mal tak Tauri" yelled a voice to his left.

Had Peck spoken the Jaffa dialect of the Goa'uld spoken language being spoken, he would have known what was said. Knowing that the translation stated 'Destroy the people of Earth' it would have lessened his already black mood.

The human eye is attracted to movement. Peck noted movement to his left as a Jaffa warrior lunged at him. Neatly sidestepping the oncoming Jaffa, Peck found himself in a quandary. Needing to reload but not having the time to do so, and with his wingman engaged to his rear, the Sergeant Major knew he had fractions of a second to react. Instantly his gloved hands opened to drop the AA-12 they currently held. Instead of lowering his now free hand to the suppressed pistol secured to his right thigh, Peck's right hand reached behind him and grabbed the pommel of his intimidating Tracker knife which was mounted scout style across the small of his back.

The Jaffa, with blade in hand, lunged again at the black clad figure before him. Thrusting out with his right hand, the Jaffa warrior attempted to stab into the flesh of his attacker with a two bladed Jaffa fighting knife. In a show of situational awareness and dazzling speed, Peck turned ninety degrees on the balls of his feet. His knife barring arm lashing out at his attacker as the Jaffa blade sliced through the air where fractions of a second before Peck had been standing. The cold and black coated steel of the tracker knife made short work of the bicep of the attacking Jaffa. Driving his knee into the Jaffa's abdomen as he withdrew his blade, Peck then smashed his elbow into the bridge of the warrior's nose. Dazed from the assaultive fury, the Jaffa never felt the final and fatal strike as the blade pierced through the side of his neck and severed the spinal cord near the brain stem. Before Peck could congratulate himself on a job well done a vicious explosion from a Jaffa grenade engulfed the operator and his wingman in an inferno of light and heat. It was the last sensation they would ever know.

Aboard Shiloh the sensor operator noted a subspace transmission originating from one of the five Al'kesh within the Jaffa encampment. Quickly, the sensor operator verified that no Tauri troops were near the enemy vessel. Seconds later a single drone weapon exited the Shiloh's magazines and streaked towards the Al'kesh. Twenty seconds later the Goa'uld designed craft was reduced to a charred cinder. At the edge of the solar system sensors aboard the Shiloh and Agincourt detected the Jaffa fleet leaping into hyperspace.

For eight more minutes a fierce battle raged on in the encampment. Summoning ever ounce of their years long training, the operators slaughtered disoriented Jaffa in great numbers. Before the battle was over three more operators of the British Special Air Service would fall. In after action reviews by ground commanders the next day all would agree that while the information recovered was of high importance, the cost had simply been unacceptably high.