Chapter 79: The Intervention Part 4
Secondary Mining Site, PZ-921, January 12th, 1999 (Earth Time)
Samantha Carter stared helplessly as the main shaft of the mine collapsed on her screen - and on the holoprojection in the middle of the command centre. "It's just the main shaft," she whispered. "As long as the mining tunnels hold… if the shockwave isn't too powerful…" The uppermost tunnels were fine so far. And below…
"That's a shockwave!" Entrapta cried out.
Screaming filled the communicator - the hostages inside the mines, Sam realised. As miners, they would know about cave-ins.
Her heart sank. Whether the Jaffa had planned this - she couldn't tell; the explosives had been improvised, after all - or had just gotten lucky, the shaft's collapse had struck the hardest on the lowest level; she could see the tunnels there shake on her screen. And those weren't tunnels made according to Earth's safety standards. Those were tunnels dug by slaves for a cruel master who didn't care how many of them died as long as he got his ore.
Sam saw a small side tunnel starting to cave in as the supports splintered and clenched her teeth. Her fingers flew over the keyboard as she zoomed in. "I need a structural scan!"
"On it!" Entrapta replied. "Uh-oh! That's not good - there's an unstable layer on that level. And the pressure…"
Another side tunnel was collapsing - no, collapsed. And that caused more shifts. More pressure. More tremors. This was a cascading cave-in.
The screams turned into coughing - the dust cloud caused by the collapse of the shaft must have reached the hostages. More, hoarse screaming.
"Everyone, into the tunnel! Run!"
That was Catra.
"The entire area is shifting - now tunnels upstairs are collapsing!" Entrapta yelled. "And that softer layer of rock is…"
It was giving way under pressure. Filling the tunnels beneath it. And that destabilised the more solid rock layers. At least there was no water in those layers.
"Move, damn it!"
"Everyone, into the tunnel!"
"Come on!"
Some of the hostages were starting to run. But not all of them - and a few were running in the wrong direction! They must be panicking.
"Get them out!"
"Come back!"
And some were… on their knees, praying? Sam shook her head and focused on her screen. There had to be something she could do, other than watch as the mine caved in one tunnel at a time. "How's the Tok'ra tunnel doing?"
"It's holding - the shock wasn't too strong at the start. But I don't think it will hold forever - the pressure from the collapsing tunnels is building up, and check that area there!"
A strand of hair whipped over Sam's keyboard, enlarging an area above the hostage tunnel. And that was… Sam paled.
"You need to get out!" she screamed into the communicator. "The whole area is going to cave in - including the evacuation tunnel!" Her friends were down there! The Colonel was down there!
"Oh, no!"
Sam froze for a moment. The entire area above the tunnel was shifting now.
"Adora!"
*****
"Adora!" Catra screamed at her love. Who had changed her sword into some huge support-beam-thing which she was using to
hold up the ceiling.
"Run!" Adora snapped. "Get out!"
"You can't hold up the entire damn mountain, you idiot!" Catra screamed - and dragged one of the kneeling idiots up and pushed him towards the tunnel. "Run!"
"Glimmer can get me out once everyone's safe! Ugh!"
Catra blinked through tears as she watched her love strain, then turned around. More soldiers, O'Neill at their head, were literally dragging the stumbling slaves out of the tunnel. She kicked another who was not fast enough, pushing the numbskull towards the tunnel.
The earth shook again - another tunnel collapsed. Dust and pebbles rained down from the trembling ceiling.
Catra coughed once - she needed to bring a breath filter if she was ever doing this again - and looked around. The dumb hostages were finally leaving. But…
"There are some who ran away!" Adora yelled. She was straining to hold up the ceiling, Catra could tell. But the idiot wouldn't leave while others were in danger.
"Glimmer!" she snapped into the communicator. "Can you get those who ran into the mine?"
"On it!"
Sparkles was on the job. Catra looked around. Most of the hostages were now in the tunnel - but they were too slow.
Another tremor, another tunnel gone. She could hear the rock grinding against each other, even over the yelling and screaming. And she could see cracks appearing in the smooth walls of the Tok'ra tunnel.
"How many are left?" she yelled.
"Sec… three… no, one, Glimmer got two. One is left!" Entrapta replied.
That would be an acceptable loss. But not for Adora.
"Where are they?" Catra asked.
"Glimmer got them!"
Finally! Catra rushed towards Adora. "Everyone's out of the mine!"
"But not out of the tunnel!"
Oh, for…! Catra clenched her teeth - the idiot was right. The evacuation tunnel might not withstand the collapse of this tunnel.
"Run!"
Never! Catra shook her head. "I'm not leaving you!"
"You can't do anything here," Adora pressed out through clenched teeth. Her knees trembled, buckling - no, she straightened with a grunt, pressing back against the ceiling. Rocks and more dust were now dropping steadily, and the ground was constantly shaking.
"I can be with you," Catra retorted.
The look she got from Adora was… both full of love and desperation.
Catra smiled back as best she could. "I'm not leaving you, you dummy!"
"Idiot!" Adora's next words were lost when she groaned. This time, she didn't manage to straighten - she was slowly giving ground.
Catra swallowed. "It's getting close here," she said into the communicator.
"Run!" Adonra snapped.
"I wouldn't make it out," Catra told her.
"No!"
A dust cloud filled the room - part of the main tunnel had collapsed. Catra coughed once more.
As did Adora. And she almost lost her footing, grunting again as she pushed back. This was…
Catra hissed. If she had to die here, then she would…
Glimmer appeared next to them. "Hands!"
Catra reached out, hugging her - and Adora.
A loud crack filled her ears, and the ground started to give, and someone screamed, and…
…she was on ground that didn't move, under the open sky, blinking, coughing, crying. Outside. Next to Adora. Alive.
*****
Fresh air. Jack O'Neill took a deep breath as soon as he reached the exit of the tunnel. And then another. And another. He might be in the best shape ever since Adora had healed him, but racing up a shaking, collapsing tunnel from the bottom of a mine to the surface would have left anyone panting.
"Adora and Catra are safe."
Anyone but Teal'c, Jack amended his thought. But the Jaffa was kind of cheating, with his alien body and symbiont.
But his friend was right - Jack could see the two - three, couldn't forget Glimmer - crazy girls on the ground in front of the bunker. Alive and healthy. Though they looked pretty… tired. Maybe exhausted. Adora was sitting on the ground, holding onto Catra in her lap, while Glimmer was lying on her back, arms and legs spread. She must have overdone it with the teleports, Jack realised.
He shook his head as he approached them, trying not to show how relieved he was. And how he wanted to scream at all of them so they would never do anything like that again. "We had a headstart, yet you beat us to the finishing line. Took a shortcut?"
"Did you just call Glimmer short? She's kind of sensitive about that," Catra shot back without releasing Adora or even looking at him.
"I am not!" Glimmer protested, also not looking at him.
"Glimmer!"
"Adora! Catra!"
"What were you thinking?"
Bow, Entrapta and Carter had arrived. Jack schooled his features as he turned to face them. Well, face Entrapta and Carter - Bow went straight past him to hug Glimmer. "I think we both know what they were thinking," Jack told Carter with a wry grin.
"Yes, sir."
"I think it's obvious that they wanted to save everyone," Entrapta said, her head cocked sideways as she looked at Jack. "And according to our data, they did."
"But it was a near thing," Martouf chimed in. He, too, wasn't out of breath at all. Damn snakey cheaters.
"Indeed. But they succeeded." Teal'c inclined his head.
"Our tunnel was close to collapsing in its entirety," Martouf pointed out. "The geological conditions were more dangerous than we anticipated."
"Yes!" Entrapta nodded. "We didn't take the different types of rocks in the mine into account. And we kind of missed that the Jaffa could use their own weapons as explosives."
Improvised explosives, but still. Jack nodded. "Yeah. Someone forgot to tell them that they aren't allowed to do that."
"Oh?" Entrapta blinked. "Who?"
"The Colonel's joking," Carter explained.
"Ah." Entrapta nodded again. "Is that his coping mechanism, as Daniel explained?"
Jack reminded himself to ask Daniel what exactly he was telling people about Jack. Some stuff was private. A lot of stuff, actually.
Carter glanced at him instead of answering.
He sighed. "A good joke can relieve tension. And we're all very tense here." And explanations ruined jokes.
"Ah, I see!" Entrapta nodded and made a note on her device or something.
"And yes, we'll have to address those things in a proper debriefing," Jack added. "So we can do better next time."
Carter winced. "Yes, sir."
Jack suppressed a sigh. Carter was blaming herself. Even though she wasn't to blame. Nobody was perfect, but she came pretty close. And she was a physicist, not a geologist. That they hadn't had a geologist on call - or called one - while preparing to storm a mine wasn't her fault. That was a failure of her commander. Meaning Jack. Sure, he was just a Colonel, but he had been involved in the planning from the start - and he had the ear of the Etherians. They would have listened to him.
"Well, we know we need to keep Adora on a leash," Catra commented. "Or she'll risk her life again. And get herself worshipped as a goddess."
Jack blinked. That was… Oh. He snorted as he saw the saved hostages stare at them - at Adora - from a distance, some craning their necks to keep looking even as soldiers guided them away to reunite them with their families. "Well, she just held up an entire mountain to save everyone," he said. "That's bound to make people mistake you for a god."
"Indeed. The mythology on Earth has similar deeds attributed to various deities, I believe," Teal'c commented. "And no false god would be able to equal this."
That almost sounded as if Teal'c was calling Adora a real goddess. But he would know better than that, wouldn't he?
Adora groaned and closed her eyes. "I am no goddess!"
Well, at least she knew it.
"And you aren't a Goa'uld," Catra added. "Anyway, mission accomplished. The hostages are saved, and the enemy was crushed - and it was their own fault."
Jack had to chuckle at that, and she grinned in return.
"They thought I was a Goa'uld, and they were willing to die to kill me." Adora shook her head as she got up, and Catra slid off her. "We didn't expect that kind of fanaticism."
"Heru'ur has some of the most loyal Jaffa amongst the System Lords," Teal'c said, "but I would not have expected such dedication. Things are, or at least were, different under Apophis."
Jack nodded. "Yeah. Let's hope this guy remains an exception. If we have to re-enact the War in the Pacific, things will get messy." Messier than they already were.
"At least his human slaves do not display any such loyalty," Teal'c pointed out.
That was a small consolation. Jack clapped his hands together. "Anyway, how about we move this to a nice, private debriefing room, once Glimmer and Bow come up for air?"
The two didn't even have the grace to blush. Kids these days. And now Catra was glancing at Adora as if this was a challenge or something. Was that how Hammond felt with SG-1?
"So…" Jack trailed off when he spotted a signals officer heading towards them.
"Sir! Ma'am!" the young man snapped. "We've received a radio transmission from the main mining site! The, ah, representative of the local population has requested a meeting with Supreme Commander Adora to discuss the planet's status."
Jack blinked. He hadn't been aware that the planet's population had a leader - they had been slaves until a few hours ago. And now they wanted to 'discuss the planet's status'? He would have expected them to keep their heads down and play it safe, not… He blinked.
And then he sighed. Of course!
"Daniel, what did you do?"
*****
Primary Mining Site, PZ-921, January 12th, 1999 (Earth Time)
The base at the primary mining site - the one Glimmer and Bow had taken without issue, Adora reminded herself - looked a lot like the one they had just left at the secondary site. As she stepped out of the shuttle, Adora could see soldiers putting up walls - both earthen and prefabricated steel - around the base area.
And the guards were as alert as the ones back at the other mine, she noted as they snapped to attention at her approach. Just different uniforms - American and British, here. Of course, there were still Jaffa scattered on the planet, but the ground troops had started to hunt them down.
"I thought we didn't salute in the field," Catra whispered, though a little too loud to be discreet, next to her.
Adora gripped her lover's hand a little tighter - and suppressed the urge to hold her tightly and scold her again for staying with her in the mine - and nodded at the soldiers.
"It's debatable if this still qualifies as in the field," Jack commented behind them. "Though I generally say that it counts until a PX opens in the base."
"PX?"
"A military store," he explained. "Where soldiers can buy goods and services. Like food and uniforms, for example."
"You make them pay for their food and uniforms?" Catra asked with a snort. "If we had done that in the Horde, we'd have had a rebellion on our hands. Well, a second one."
While Jack protested that it wasn't like that, Adora smiled even though she didn't like being reminded of that time. "Anyway," she said, "let's go see what the representative of the people here wants," she said, nodding at the aide waiting for them.
"And what Daniel did this time," Jack added under his breath as the officer led them towards a big tent.
"I am sure Daniel didn't do anything bad," Adora told him with a frown.
"Tell that to the generals," Jack retorted.
"Oh, I will." Adora nodded firmly. Daniel was smart and honest. She trusted him to do the right thing.
Jack blinked, then snorted. "Right. Forgot for a second that you can do that."
"Forgetting stuff is a sign of old age," Catra told him.
"Of course, you'd think I am old."
Martouf kept silent, Adora noted. Well, they might be thinking about where they would be using the tunnelling technology here.
The guards at the tent also stood at attention when Adora and the others arrived, and the aide opened the tent's entrance. "The Supreme Commander of the Alliance!" he announced.
Inside, Adora saw a few officers - Generals Bryce and Percival, and their aides - Daniel, who was smiling a little sheepishly at them, no, at Jack, and half a dozen people who were obviously locals judging by their clothes. All of them bowed, but they didn't fall to their knees.
"Sadiki, leader of the people of the planet," Daniel introduced the man in the middle of the group.
"For now," the man added. "We couldn't ask the other settlements, but ours is the largest."
"Which means that this is not a diplomatic meeting with the actual representative of the local population," the American general, Bryce, said with a frown.
"Sadiki represents the majority of the people here," Daniel retorted.
"It looks like he's trying to steal a march on the others and get himself installed as the leader before anyone else," Bryce shot back.
It sounded as if they were repeating an argument, Adora thought. She focused on Sadiki. He looked at her, though he wasn't quite meeting her eyes.
She smiled at him and the others. "Hello. I am She-Ra, Princess of Power. Please call me Adora." She transformed back as she said so. Catra snorted next to her, and Adora didn't have to glance at her lover to know she was rolling her eyes. But there was nothing wrong with being friendly, and she didn't want to tower over those people. "We have saved the hostages in the second mine," she added. "But the mine collapsed when the Jaffa hiding there blew up the main shaft."
"Oh." Sadiki, who had been staring at her, seemed surprised, then slowly nodded. "The mine is lost then?"
"We can't tell yet," Martouf cut in. "We need to scan the area and determine if it's safe to tunnel back down. If it is, we can open it quickly."
"You can do that?" Sadiki seemed surprised.
"We have advanced
technology," Daniel told him.
"And
magic," Catra added.
Right. Adora nodded. "Yes, I have restored magic to your planet. So, those of you who have the talent will be able to learn how to do magic."
"Magic…" Sadiki blinked.
"Yes." Catra grinned. "Also, she used the surplus magic power to turn the flooded site into fields and orchards. You might want to send people there to harvest the goods."
Adora suppressed a frown. Yes, Catra was right, and the locals would have to harvest the fields before it went all bad, but she didn't have to make it sound so… deity-like.
"I see." Sadiki bowed again, more deeply this time. As did the others. "We thank you for this. With Heru'ur's forces gone, we were not sure how to feed everyone - we have fields and farming villages, but not enough to supply everyone. We depended on food delivered by his Jaffa."
"Yep, that's one way to keep control of a population," Jack said.
"The Alliance can and will supply you with food and everything else you need," Bryce cut in.
Sadiki glanced at the general, then at Daniel, before he looked back at Adora. "Does that mean you will be taking over our world?" he asked, a bit hesitantly.
"What? No!" Adora shook her head. "It's your world! We came to liberate you, not to conquer you." They were the Alliance, not the Horde!
"Although in order to ensure that Heru'ur won't return, we'll have to station troops here," Percival added. "We will need bases for them."
"I see," Sadiki repeated himself. "And will you take control of the Stargate?"
"Only until you can safeguard it yourselves," Adora reassured him. They were here to save the people, not to take over.
Sadiki smiled. But Bryce was now openly scowling. And glaring at Daniel.
*****
Forward Base, Primary Mining Site, PZ-921, January 12th, 1999 (Earth Time)
"...and so, although this is merely a preliminary geological analysis, and experts in the field need to confirm it, it seems that while the lower parts of the mines have completely collapsed, the upper tunnels won't suffer the same fate. Not without further tectonic activity, natural or induced." Samantha Carter nodded as she finished her report.
"So, basically, if you want to mine more ore, you need to do a thorough geological check beforehand - some of the rock there is more like gravel," Entrapta added. "And that's not very stable. Although with the right technology, you can deal with that. We've got a few ideas on how to strengthen tunnels, but they require some testing."
"Thank you." General Percival nodded. "So, the Secondary Mining Site won't be operational for the foreseeable future - and not at all unless we invest considerable resources."
"Yes, sir." That was what Sam had just explained.
"Resources the local population cannot afford," General Bryce added, "and which wouldn't be justified by the expected return in ore production."
Sam noticed that General Percival glanced at his colleague with a peculiar expression. The British officer was a bit hard to read, but she didn't think he approved of Bryce's comment.
"That doesn't matter, though," Entrapta said. "The mine got destroyed because of us, so we need to fix it. That's how things work."
Sam had to suppress a smile at her friend's comment. It was a simple but, fundamentally, correct view of the morality of the situation.
Percival nodded, though Bryce scowled. "We are at war. Resources are limited. We can address this once the war's won," the American general said.
"We just need more data," Entrapta retorted with a slight frown. "And we've got the time for that."
"And this will result in useful experience for future operations," Sam pointed out. The Tok'ra tunnelling technology was a key component for assaults and invasions, after all. And Bryce knew that. So, what was going on?
"Indeed," Percival said. "Although we'll also require permission from the local government for such actions."
That was a surprise. Sam hadn't expected the local population to have a government already. Much less one that was apparently a potential obstacle for Alliance operations, at least if she interpreted Bryce's scowl correctly.
"Well, we can easily ask them." Entrapta beamed. "I doubt they will refuse our help - it won't cost them anything, after all."
"I wouldn't be so sure," Bryce scoffed.
Sam was missing something. She had been rushed into this briefing after arriving at the base here, and so she hadn't been able to talk to her team and her Etherian friends yet. And she had a gut feeling that she really needed to speak with the Colonel and Daniel about this.
As soon as she was dismissed by the generals.
*****
"So, you're hiding from Jack?" Catra asked while she dug through an MRE for the candy parts. She was lounging on a fold-out chair, which was surprisingly comfortable once you contorted yourself just right, especially since the design, unlike the more padded armchairs like those in the palace back in Bright Moon, allowed her tail to swish freely. Ah, chocolate! She pulled the bar out and dropped the rest - curry, which was meh - on the floor of the meeting room she had commandeered.
"I'm not really hiding," Daniel protested. "I'm just… catching up on my paperwork until Sadiki and his people return. Jack can easily find me."
Catra snorted. "Sure, sure."
"Besides, wouldn't that mean that you're hiding as well?" Daniel looked at her over the rim of his laptop.
She grinned back. "I'm not hiding. I told Adora I would get something to eat instead of trying to keep myself from clawing the colonialist generals." And she had done so loudly enough for at least one of them to overhear her.
Daniel smiled at that. "I see."
"You're not the only one who has issues with installing a 'protectorate'," Catra told him while she ripped the wrapping off the bar. As if she wouldn't realise what the result of such a policy would be.
"It's official Alliance policy that any bases require the agreement of the local government." Daniel deflected.
"Official Alliance policy you told the local government about." She bit the bar in half and chewed, savouring the taste. "A local government that was formed shortly after you made contact with the settlement here."
"In order to make an informed decision, you need to be informed." He looked at his screen instead of at her, but she could see his lips twist into a smile. "Everything I did was in line with official Alliance policies."
She swallowed, then snorted. "Yeah. And if not for the princesses backing that policy, you'd be in trouble with the leadership."
"That's speculation," he retorted.
"Well, good work," she told him, flashing her fangs.
He didn't reply, but she could see his smile grow larger.
But then the door to their room was opened, and Entrapta and Sam entered. "There he is! Just like the scan showed!" Entrapta said, beaming.
Daniel blinked. "You used your scanner to find me?"
"Ah, so you admit you were hiding!" Catra chuckled.
"You were hiding? We thought you were lost!" Entrapta said, blinking.
Catra doubted that Sam had believed that.
"I'm just working on my report." Daniel pointed at his laptop.
"And hiding from Jack," Catra added.
"So, it was you who organised the local government and told them how to approach the Alliance." Sam shook her head.
"All in line with official Alliance policy," Catra told her. "As agreed by all the big leaders back on Earth."
Daniel nodded. "Pretty much, yes." He didn't look as confident as before, though.
Sam sighed. "And what did the Colonel say about this?"
Daniel grimaced. "Ah, we weren't able to talk about it yet - he was called into a meeting."
Catra nodded. "And Daniel's been hiding here ever since."
Sam and Daniel both winced at that while Entrapta looked confused. "Why would you be hiding from Jack?"
Daniel smiled. "Ah, that's a bit complicated…"
Entrapta nodded encouragingly at him, and Catra chuckled. He wasn't going to get out of this.
*****
"Commander, we cannot just leave this world be! Apophis lost his task force here, Heru'ur lost the planet - both will want to find out what happened!"
Bryce had a good point there, Jack O'Neill admitted. Both of the two head snakes, and probably half their rivals once they heard of it, would send scouts, spies or even probing forces to this world to find out what happened and who held it. Of course, it was a point that was pretty obvious and so had been raised during the planning phase of this operation. And had been addressed as well.
Glimmer rolled her eyes. "We're aware of that, General. And we won't leave the system defenceless. But we don't need to control the planet to defend it. We can leave a task force in the system to destroy invaders."
"But that runs the risk of them detecting our presence and plans here!" Bryce objected. "That would jeopardise our entire war plans!"
"Holding the planet would not decrease that risk either - quite the contrary," Glimmer retorted.
"But even if we lock down space, that still leaves the Stargate! And the locals cannot defend it. We have to either defend it ourselves or remove it from the planet." Bryce wasn't giving ground there.
"Or give them the ability to prevent others from using it," Adora said. "A simple mechanism to keep it horizontal unless raised to be used would keep anyone from using it for an invasion - without having to place it in a foreign base."
A simple mechanism by Carter or Entrapta's standards, Jack mentally amended - but it was a good solution. Any invaders would be killed when they tried to step out of the gate and fell back into it. Of course, any peaceful visitors or explorers would suffer the same fate. But there was no perfect solution either way.
"That would still leave us committed to the system's defence, and without anything to show for it. It would be a pure drain of resources - resources needed for the war."
Jack wondered if Bryce was in someone's pocket. The man hadn't struck him as the type to care so much for the strategic implications of the operation that he was willing to argue with the Supreme Commander of the Alliance over it. Certainly not without backing from his own superiors. Civilian or military.
"It's going to take a task force from the fleet," Glimmer replied. "And nothing to show for it? As you said, they will be dealing with recon and probing attacks, perhaps even invasions, from the Goa'uld. Which means they'll reduce the enemies' forces."
"And draw their attention to this system, potentially weakening their control over other systems," Percival added.
"Although this will endanger this system," the German general, Müller, pointed out. "And the more forces the Goa'uld focus on it, the more of our forces will be needed to defend it. This could become a Verdun."
"No matter how many forces they send at us, we will defeat them! We cannot fail under the command of Your Divine Highness!"
Jack didn't bother to hide his grimace at Priest's outburst. The clone had kept silent so far, to jack's surprise, but it was obvious that he had overcome his shame or embarrassment for 'failing' Adora and was back to full confident fanaticism.
Adora winced. "Thank you, Priest." She nodded at the generals. "We were aware of this potential issue before we launched this mission, and there's no need to change our plans and contingencies for this. If it becomes too costly or impossible to hold the system, we'll pull out and leave the population with an underground network of tunnels to shelter and hide in and enough resources to survive for years if they do not want to evacuate through the Stargate."
"A very generous offer," Duchemin commented.
"Your Divine Highness provides for those in need."
"It's the least we can do if we fail in our duty to protect them," Glimmer said. She wasn't reacting to Priest's comment, Jack noted.
"But shouldn't we ask the people here to make an effort for their own protection as well?" Bryce asked. "Of course, we cannot expect them to provide an effective military force - they are barely out of the stone age, after all - but they could provide the war effort with the same resources that they mined for the Goa'uld. That shouldn't be too much to ask of them after we've bled for their freedom. And with modern technology and organisation, the output of their mines could surely be increased significantly."
Ah, that was his angle! Jack almost snorted as he wondered which mining corporations were ready to move in from Earth.
"Of course, we'll
ask them if they wish to sell their ore," Glimmer told him. "But that's, ultimately, their decision. If they wish to stop mining, then we will accept that - none of the ore mined here is crucial for our war effort."
"And why do you think they couldn't help us militarily?" Adora frowned. "They can learn how to fight just as anyone else can with the right training. If they wish to join our forces, we'll happily accept them."
Bryce blinked. "But… they come from a culture on the technological level of Ancient Egypt! How are they supposed to operate tanks and modern weapons when they have grown up using horses and spears?"
Glimmer glared at him. "My royal guards use spears. And my people use horses. All of them fought well against people in tanks and spaceships."
"It doesn't take a lot to teach people how to effectively use modern weapons. Like the Soviets found out when we taught the Mujahedin how to use Stingers," Jack cut in.
Bryce glared at him, but Adora nodded. "Yes. But it will be their decision. We are not here to take over but to save and support people. We aren't the Goa'uld," she added with a frown. "We will gladly accept any help, but we will not demand it."
"A policy which was set in the Alliance Charter," Glimmer pointed out. Under her breath, she added: "We've read up on your history."
And that was it. Jack liked Bryce's expression, but he knew that the man's backers would not give up so easily. And the Europeans might be more discreet, but they would also be salivating at the thought of getting access to the resources of entire planets.
And once they realised that the Etherians actually meant what they said about leaving such decisions to the locals, Sadiki and his people would be swamped with offers from corporations and politicians with vast experience in exploiting Third World countries.
Jack didn't think they would be more successful or luckier than the countries on Earth. Not even with Daniel's help. Which was something he still needed to discuss with his friend, he reminded himself.
*****
Adora kept smiling - confidently and friendly, she reminded herself, not like Glimmer baring her teeth - as they left the meeting room. She might disagree with General Bryce's opinions, but they were all on the same side here. Probably. While she had no doubt that they were all working to defeat the Goa'uld, she wasn't as sure that they all meant the same when they talked about 'winning the peace'.
"Ugh!" Glimmer said when they had turned two corners and were - presumably - out of earshot of the earth officers. Well, except for Jack, who was walking with them. "What were they thinking?"
"Is that a rhetorical question, or do you want an answer?" Jack asked with a snort.
Glimmer scoffed in return. "I know what they are thinking. It's 'Hey, those poor primitive people need our guidance. Let's take over their world for their own good! And for ours!'."
"You've studied Earth's history extensively," Jack commented.
"Please!" Glimmer snorted before Bow could say anything. "We heard it all a dozen times every day from your … pundits, I think is the name. Back when you all were panicking that we would do this to you. We couldn't have missed learning about your colonialism and neo-colonialism periods if we tried."
"Though I did study both in more detail than that," Bow added. "Since, well, Earth is, according to some people, still in the neo-colonialism era."
"Well, yeah, some people are opinionated about that," Jack replied. "But not really wrong." He sighed. "They'll try to swindle the people here, you know."
"We know," Glimmer told him. "They'll try to do the same thing they were afraid we'd do to them: Exploit them under the pretext of helping them."
"We need to warn Sadiki and his people of that," Adora added. "But, ultimately, we have to let them decide what they want."
"Even if they mess up and ruin their world?" Jack asked.
Adora nodded. "If we try to force our own ideas on them, we'd be no better than the Goa'uld." Or the First Ones.
"But we can offer them advice," Bow added.
"Yes!" Priest chimed in. "We shall teach them about your deeds and your wisdom, Your Divine Highness, so they, too, might benefit from your guidance!" He bowed in the middle of the hallway and added: "After asking for their permission, of course!"
"Of course," Adora replied, wincing. She couldn't prohibit the clones from talking to others - well, she could, but it would make her a hypocrite. And a dictator. But she really didn't want more people worshipping her.
"Well, you won't be the only ones," Jack told him. "You can bet that the missionaries from Earth will chomp at the bit to spread their faith - and they'll demand equal opportunities."
"As is fair," Priest replied. He turned to smile at her. "However, unlike them, Your Divine Highness's deeds and power are real, as anyone on this world can see when they visit the Divine Fields blessed with your divine power or when they work magic which was restored to their world by your will."
"I'm not a goddess," Adora told him. She wasn't. She was She-Ra, Princess of Power. A princess like other princesses. Mostly.
Priest bowed low but didn't agree. Which she had expected.
"You know, having a holy war on this world won't really help anyone," Jack said.
"If you need violence to spread your faith, you are following false gods," Priest retorted with a serene smile. Which looked like the smiles of the clones worshipping Horde Prime. Like Catra's when she had been… Adora pushed that painful memory away.
Jack narrowed his eyes. "Speaking of false gods, when your god tells you they're no god, shouldn't you listen to them?"
Adora drew a sharp breath, and she saw Glimmer and Bow tense up.
But Priest kept smiling. "Like when your god tells you to sacrifice your child?"
Jack stared at him. "That's not the same."
"Indeed, it is not." He bowed towards Adora. "Your Divine Highness, you would never demand such a thing from us to test us."
"Of course not!" Adora blurted out before she realised what she was doing.
"You lead by example. Your deeds speak for themselves, and we follow your guidance by our choice." Priest bowed again. "Your wish is our holy command, for we place our trust in your power and your wisdom and your honesty and benevolence."
Adora winced again.
And Jack looked annoyed.
But they had arrived at the room Catra had commandeered. And where the rest of their friends were supposed to be. So, Adora couldn't really continue this discussion.
She opened the door. "Hello!"
"Hey, Adora!" Catra jumped up from her chair and moved towards her, hips swaying, swishing in that distracting, sexy way of hers.
"...and so, you see, I had to explain all this, so… Oh, hello, Adora. Jack." Daniel blushed a little. "I was just, ah, explaining…"
"He was telling us why the generals were mad at him for doing the right thing." Entrapta nodded. "It's complicated," she added, "but he can explain it."
"So I've heard," Jack commented with a toothy smile.
Adora was about to frown at him - Daniel had done the right thing - but Catra hugged her, and that was even more distracting than her strut.
*****
"So, you decided to teach the locals all about interstellar politics in an afternoon.
Everything they need to know to make the best, most informed decisions about their future. Right, Daniel?"
The Colonel wasn't happy with their friend. Samantha Carter could understand why he was annoyed, but that didn't mean she agreed with him. Yes, Daniel had acted without orders - his explanation that he had merely followed the obvious logical conclusions drawn from the general goals of the mission was a paper-thin excuse. Some might, would even, argue that he had acted against orders when he had contacted the local settlement.
But this wasn't a Stargate mission. This was an Alliance operation. And the Supreme Commander of the Alliance, as well as the rest of the Etherians, obviously approved of Daniel's decision.
"Well, not everything. Obviously, that would have taken far too long to teach them. Even a general overview of the galactic politics was a challenge." Daniel smiled weakly. "But I did tell them about the basic stance and aims of the Alliance, yes. And that they did not owe anyone their allegiance, much less their support or property," he added in a firmer tone.
"And that was a good thing," Glimmer added with a nod. "We didn't come here to take over the planet. And it seems not everyone realised that we don't just mean outright conquest with that policy."
"That still leaves them at the mercy of our carpet baggers," the Colonel retorted. "Are you planning to stay here to ensure the locals won't sell off the mines for a handful of glass beads?"
"Well, I can't stay - but I left them a number of examples of more equitable contracts for resource extraction agreements." Daniel's smile turned more than a little smug right now.
"And our brothers staying here, defending the system against all enemies, will certainly do their utmost to ensure that the people are not taken advantage of, just as Your Divine Highness wishes! By offering advice and guidance, I mean."
Sam narrowed her eyes a little at Priest's declaration. No matter the clone's intentions, this didn't sound very reassuring to her. Quite the opposite, actually.
And her friends - except for Entrapta, who happily nodded in agreement, Catra, who grinned, and, weirdly, Daniel, who nodded - seemed to share her reservations.
"Remember that the people here are free to make their own decisions, for good or ill," Adora told him with a pained smile.
"Of course, Your Divine Highness. Anything else would be a betrayal of your ideals." And there came the deep bow the clones seemed so fond of. Sam couldn't help but be reminded - very uncomfortably - of the way the Goa'uld were worshipped.
The Colonel was pressing his lips together in a frown. "Well, seems that's settled then. Let's just hope no one will start a holy war once the other missionaries arrive."
"They would have to be allowed through the gate first," Catra said.
"I don't think the United Nations will refuse permission if the alien missionaries are allowed to visit already," the Colonel retorted. "Of course, if you advise the locals here not to let visitors through the gate…" He glanced at Daniel, then at Priest.
"That would set an unfair precedent," Priest replied at once. "While it is their decision, we would certainly counsel the people here against closing off their world, for it is in isolation where complacency and ignorance grow. Only in the free contest between ideas and ideals can you find true, tested guidance for your life!"
That was… surprisingly liberal for a zealot, Sam had to admit.
She wasn't surprised, though, not this time, that Daniel agreed enthusiastically. "Yes!"
"Yeah, sure. Especially if you have such contests on a world with 'divine fields' created by your 'goddess', huh?" The Colonel glared at the clone.
What did he mean? Ah, the effects of Adora's magic, Sam remembered. The clones apparently had named the fields.
Priest inclined his head with a smug smile. "Of course. The claims of false gods pale next to such proof."
Sam couldn't help thinking that the clone was not just talking about the Goa'uld here. But he wasn't wrong, she had to admit - faced with what could arguably be seen as actual miracles, especially by people who had been raised to worship the Goa'uld, any missionary from Earth would be fighting an uphill battle.
She wasn't looking forward to discovering how this would play out - here or on Earth. Not at all. No matter who 'won' in this 'contest of ideals', there would be some very unhappy zealots. And in her experience, no matter their origin, unhappy zealots were dangerous.
*****