Reaching for the Stars - A Stargate Quest
Cold Trail – Part 3
- Location
- Germany
Cold Trail – Part 3
Even though no one had tried to kill him yet, as far as John Yi was concerned, it was still so much worse than Abydos. For one, Chulak was cold. And wet. Especially this night, which had seen a constant light drizzle drenching everyone to the bone. He had grown up in Arizona. Even though Abydos was yet harsher than the summers back in Quarzsite, it was quite a bit more comfortable than sitting in the forest and waiting for your boots to fill with cold water.
The other thing was how much more Jaffa there were on Chulak. On Abydos, there had been fifty or so in total. And half of them had been spread out all over the mines, meaning that even during the most terrifying minutes of his life, the SG teams hadn't been outnumbered by more than two to one. Now though, he was counting at least two hundred. And he had not much better to do while sitting under that tree than either counting the Jaffa he was ordered to keep an eye on or thinking about the cold and wet, so counting Jaffa it was.
But the worst thing had to be that he was in charge again. Captain Ferreti had been the first to leave effective range, his last report being that SG-2 had successfully crossed the road and reached the northern forest. He had to repeat himself thrice before Yi had fully understood him. Forwarding the report to Major O'Neill had still worked, but the next radio contact with SG-1 was just static and some indistinct sounds. At least the Major had sounded calm and relaxed. They were probably combing the eastern forests right now. Or maybe they were even on the way back already. They had lost contact hours ago.
So, it was just one sergeant, four specialists and two-hundred-ten Jaffa. And counting. At least Yi thought so. It was difficult to be certain, what with the distance and darkness. The night vision gear made it easy to see the Jaffa, but not in enough detail to really tell them apart. Most though were outside and not moving much, either standing guard on the edges of their camp or sitting in the damp grass and meditating for some reason. If they stayed like that until the officers were back, he would have counted himself lucky.
Awareness DC 2 / DC 4: (1 +1 -1 +0) + 1 (Yi's Awareness) = 2 => partial success
There was movement in the camp though. Between the three large pavilions that marked roughly the center of the enemies' position, Jaffa began to form into ranks. Even with the magnification and the light amplification, it was hard to make out what was happening through the rain and the light of the campfires interfering. "Movement. Get the others," the sergeant whispered to the specialist at his side, neither quiet knowing what the Jaffa would do, nor what orders he would give his team. Retreating sounded like a good idea and yet the words didn't make it past his lips.
While the other soldier moved, Yi kept a close eye on what was happening. Three figures came out of the pavilions, but he couldn't see them clearly. They had to be important though as each one had a servant rushing to their side to cover them from the rain with umbrellas. It took a moment longer for the Jaffa to fully form up into their orderly formation. One section in front and one in the back, each four ranks wide and three ranks deep with an officer walking to the side of the unit. He watched as they beat the buts of their staff weapons into the mud once, then began to march in lockstep.
(-1 +0 +1 +1) = 1 => Yes
Stealth: (-1 +1 +1 +1) + 2 (Yi's Stealth) + 4 (Total Darkness) = 8
Jaffa: (0 -1 +0 +0) + 4 (Leader Awareness) = 3
Like ghosts.
Stealth: (-1 +1 +1 +1) + 2 (Yi's Stealth) + 4 (Total Darkness) = 8
Jaffa: (0 -1 +0 +0) + 4 (Leader Awareness) = 3
Like ghosts.
He was not sure what he should do. Stay in place? Follow that group? They looked quite important, but the much larger Jaffa camp was a much greater threat right now, especially since they could cut off the retreat routes of SG-1 and SG-2. They were out of the camp before he had decided what to do. And yet in the soft, damp earth, they would leave footprints so clear that they would be child's play to follow them.
When the specialists arrived, he still hadn't decided. They crept up in full combat gear to him, making nary a sound in the process. Their Delta Force instructor would have berated them for it, but Yi knew that the mean was secretly rather pleased with their progress. "Ready, sergeant," McGee reported quietly as they came to a rest before him, and they sure looked the part. As his gaze went over them, each one nodded in turn, affirming her report.
Could he really hesitate now? Would O'Neill or Ferretti hesitate? Would Walt have done so? The specialists looked at him with complete confidence and suddenly he could only think about 'how' not 'if'. "Two sections, escorting three VIPs," he told them. "Observation only. Single file. I take point. McGee, Haney, Davis, Apgar. Questions?" They had none and so SG-3 began to move without another second wasted.
Giving the camp a wide berth before sweeping east, they marched through the forest, eyes and rifles pointed in every direction in case of any Jaffa patrol being nearby. There were none though. They weren't patrolling that much in the day and in the dead of night, the torches they carried for light would have been easy to spot with the SG teams night visions gear. Unless they were marching right into an ambush, nobody would be getting a drop on them, and it didn't seem as if the moving sections were planning to set up something either.
The sergeant briefly had considered the chance that he was falling for a trap, but the Jaffa were not moving deeper into the forest. When they finally came upon the two sections trail, it was leading south-east and thus out of the woods about as directly as you could. It took SG-3 a while to catch up to them and he made sure to lead his team in parallel to the tracks instead of right where the Jaffa had walked. Just in case. The caution was unnecessary though as after about half an hour on their tracks, he could clearly see their torches lighting up the forest.
Not long after, the trees gave way to shrubbery, then fields. It was getting risky. They weren't that far from the next village and the patrols by Yi's reckoning. Faint lights were shining somewhere behind the small hills. By now, the sergeant was committed and didn't like the idea of going back without learning more about what they were doing. One hill. Just the one. Creeping through the chest high wheat, they made it all the way to the remnants of a stone wall at the top of the hill, giving them a good vantage point to spy on the Jaffa.
Awareness DC 2: (1 +0 +1 -1) + 1 (Yi's Awareness) = 2
They had halted in the valley and now that they had fanned out a bit, Yi could finally identify the three figures under the umbrellas. He cursed. Quietly, but heartily. Still wearing the same silky robes as on Abydos, the thin body of Apepi was easy to recognize. And beside him, their hands bound before them, a man and a woman in Air Force fatigues that looked as if they had been torn apart and badly sewed together again.
The other lights moved closer and while Yi was still staring at the two abducted soldiers he had been sent to Chulak for, specialist Apgar spoke up next to him. "Two more sections approaching, sir. No helmets on the quad leaders and everyone wears a cloak. Not a patrol. One civilian or VIP with them."
Quietly, the sergeant cursed some more and instinctively checked the sights on his XM5 rifle while doing so. Just in case. The entire team mirrored his actions. Suddenly he no longer felt so silly for going for the biggest rifle in the armoury. When he was done, he thumbed his radio. "This is Sergeant Yi of SG-3. We got two of the targets and four sections of hostiles." Only static answered him.
While they watched, the other Jaffa walked up to the group they had trailed and took up position opposite of them. It looked like a stand-off, not a meeting of allies. Apepi didn't move out from between his guards, instead greeting his opposite from afar. He swept his arms around, gesturing grandly, while hiding behind Jaffa. The other leader had taken of his cloak and taken a few steps forward, clearly a bit braver than Apophis servant.
"Sir?" Beside him, McGee had braced her LMG on the stone wall. "Orders?"
That was a good question. What could they really do? Nothing? Take on nearly fifty Jaffa and what was likely two Goa'uld? "Hold fire," he said at last, and he could feel the entire team stiffen at his words.
(1 +0 +1 +0) – 2 (Badly Outnumbered) = 0 => Maybe?
They were outnumbered ten to one. They couldn't do anything. He could just watch as they brought the two Air Force soldiers forward, forcing them to kneel in between the two groups. The newly arrived Goa'uld went towards them, inspecting both while still talking with Apepi. Yi was still wondering what they might be doing when the aliens had apparently reached some kind of agreement.
Two of the hooded Jaffa stepped up and cut the ropes holding the woman's hands, but holding her down instead. Another two stepped behind their leader, gripping his arms for some reason. And then Yi was suddenly sure that the man was a Goa'uld. His neck bulged and something worm-like tore through his skin from the inside. The man suddenly began to struggle, though the Jaffa held him tight, and the blond woman tried and failed the same.
(1 +0 +1 +1) – 2 (Still A Bad Idea) = 1 => Do something!
The alien parasite was snapping it's needle like teeth. Yi could clearly see it through his guns scope. He just knew that the thing was savouring this. It could have moved already. It just stat there, basking in the rain as these people were struggling with all their might and yet failing to get away from it. It was tiny thing. Feeble without the hulking warriors acting as it's muscles. Even now, it was their bodies that shielded it from harm. It would have been easy to fight just two worms. The sergeant knew it was insane to fight fifty Jaffa. And yet he pulled the trigger.
Shoot: (1 +0 +1 +1) + 3 (Yi's Combat) – 2 (Cover) – 4 (Tiny Target) = 0
Glancing hit. Goa'uld wounded.
Glancing hit. Goa'uld wounded.
Through his sights, he could see the ugly thing rear its head back as the bullet grazed it's body. He could even faintly hear the thing screeching despite the distance. It squirmed and thrashed as it fell from its former hosts body. And as both Jaffa and SG-3 sprang into action, there was only chaos.
AN: The dice think Yi should do more heroics. Unfortunately, it's getting really late for me, so you will have to wait until tomorrow for the fight.
- Location
- Lake Wobegon
- Pronouns
- He/Him/His
Here's hoping someone on the other two teams heard that shot and can leg it over here before things get too hairy.
And Yi should have more faith in himself, he's doing splendidly.
EDIT: note to self - invest in better comms, either through procurement or, if we can obtain a Goa'uld communication device, research.
And Yi should have more faith in himself, he's doing splendidly.
EDIT: note to self - invest in better comms, either through procurement or, if we can obtain a Goa'uld communication device, research.
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- Location
- an unseen void
- Pronouns
- Any
I believe in Yi. I might not believe in his chances, but I believe in him, and also in his XM5.
- Location
- Germany
Procure is a bust there. Handheld radios have their limits and between distance, terrain and weather, this was too much for them.
Goa'uld tech is a different matter if you can get some.
- Location
- an unseen void
- Pronouns
- Any
Bigger vehicles would have stronger radios sometimes too, right? Less relevant for stealth situations like this than for exploring further from gates and coordinating wider area operations.
- Location
- Lake Wobegon
- Pronouns
- He/Him/His
A UAV could work as a signal-booster too, I believe. And that is one of the procurement options. But it's no long-term solution, given that the available UAVs are man-portable and would have extremely limited fuel.
Weatherballon areosats. Cheap as hell and can be deployed by a brainless private throwing a box through a stargate.
Edit: for giggles they look like UFOs.
Edit 2 or we make it with solar cell fabric and add some batteries and electric propellers to it so it can station keep and slowly maneuver.
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- Location
- Outside the Box
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Using the chart on this page, and if I understand FATE dice correctly, it looks like it was only a 5/81 chance for Yi to roll a 3 or 4. Meaning there was only a 6.17% chance of even getting a glancing hit on this shot. (And only a 1/81 chance, or 1.23% chance to get a +1 result total.) We might have gotten really unlucky with two of the Air Force soldiers being captured at the same time we split our teams up, but Yi brought that luck back by succeeding on the stealth checks and getting this shot.
Well this is less of a mess than it might have been. Hopefully that last bit of luck holds.
- Location
- Germany
They do. There's also some bigger units that can still be lugged around by infantry, but you wouldn't want to carry one of those on a stealth mission due to weight concerns.
FullNothingness
Mostly DHMO.
Maybe we could get a bigger unit set up to use as a central communication node? Simply dump it somewhere out of the way and communicate through it? Not a perfect solution but I think that should be technically feasible.
- Location
- Germany
I'll trawl military / prepper / militia YouTube for answers over the weekend. Pretty sure there's no publicly known standard procedure for this kind of setup in the US military. Though I'm glad to hear opinions from anyone with deeper knowledge on the matter.
radio relays are a thing. you just need to be smart with placement
- Location
- Sweden
Will we get a classic 'who did the Goa'uld sliter into and impersonate when the good guys won' scenario perhaps! 
Havnt been following the discussion between chapters, but there were options to expand the gateroom into a whole hangar right?
If so I can't wait for AG-armored division to roll onto some Goa'uld freaks. Hähä.
Havnt been following the discussion between chapters, but there were options to expand the gateroom into a whole hangar right?
If so I can't wait for AG-armored division to roll onto some Goa'uld freaks. Hähä.
- Location
- Germany
1. Possibly. The Goa'uld is wounded though, so it's not in the best condition to leap into people's face. The XM5 wasn't exactly designed as a stun weapon.Will we get a classic 'who did the Goa'uld sliter into and impersonate when the good guys won' scenario perhaps!
Havnt been following the discussion between chapters, but there were options to expand the gateroom into a whole hangar right?
If so I can't wait for AG-armored division to roll onto some Goa'uld freaks. Hähä.
2. Yes. Drawing up plans for that will happen after this mission concludes.
SakSak
Unbound
- Location
- The Cold Wastes of the North
Regarding radios, you can substantially increase the range by use of wire antennas. Popular with older radios, like the AN/PRC 77 from late 60s. You have a lightweight spool of relatively thin wire of about 20m in length, and then use a tree branch up high or something to act as a tower and anchor both ends of the wire to the ground (you can tie the wire around a rock and throw that for example, to get the height needed, and then just pull the wire over the tree branch as needed). Depending on how you set up the wire, you get some minor directionality to the signal, as well as a moderate boost to range due to a better antenna and greater height from ground. And if you're already carrying 14 pounds / 6 kilos of radio on your back, a little bit of wire to go along with it isn't a big hindrance.
Of course, you then either need to leave the radio where it is, or use about 15 minutes to set it up every time you want to talk and then disassemble the setup to get moving again.
I can't think of any reason for why that wouldn't also work with a more modern system, since this is just a pure antenna setup.
What would SG be using at this time for heavier radios? Googling, something like the backpack portable (about 8 pounds / 3.5 kilos according to google) SINCGARS should be well available based on timeline, since we are in the mid 90s. Was there something even more modern available to American forces at this time?
Of course, you then either need to leave the radio where it is, or use about 15 minutes to set it up every time you want to talk and then disassemble the setup to get moving again.
I can't think of any reason for why that wouldn't also work with a more modern system, since this is just a pure antenna setup.
What would SG be using at this time for heavier radios? Googling, something like the backpack portable (about 8 pounds / 3.5 kilos according to google) SINCGARS should be well available based on timeline, since we are in the mid 90s. Was there something even more modern available to American forces at this time?
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We could likely devlop a backpack radio as a research action. Could even give it an option to be dropped off to act as a signal repeater or listening post.
- Location
- Lake Wobegon
- Pronouns
- He/Him/His
We're in 2020 at least, since the Space Force was only formed in December 2019.
SakSak
Unbound
- Location
- The Cold Wastes of the North
I don't think we're quite far ahead?
Presuming canon happened before we took over, we took reigns of the program 2 years after the events of the original Stargate movie, which I think takes place around 94-96, ish?
From the first post:
""This device is called a Stargate. It was found in 1943 during an archaeological dig in Egypt and brought to the US, where it was seized by the US army. It was analysed on and off for decades until it was successfully activated the first time as part of Air Force project 'Lodestone' two years ago. We established a connection to another Stargate on an alien planet called Abydos and under orders of Major General West, a reconnaissance team was sent.""
- Location
- an unseen void
- Pronouns
- Any
It is generally but inspecifically the modern day.
But like, we have XM5s. Tech is very clearly current.
But like, we have XM5s. Tech is very clearly current.
SakSak
Unbound
- Location
- The Cold Wastes of the North