SGA FIC: Dog Tags

[x_erikah_x]

DOG TAGS
By ErikaHK

Title: Dog Tags
Chapter: 1/9
Word count: ~1.450
Rating: PG13 (some language and graphic violent scenes)
Characters: mainly John Sheppard, but also features some Rodney McKay near the end, with appearances of Evan Lorne, Ronon Dex, Teyla Emmagan and Elizabeth Weir.
Genre: Drama, Angst, H/C, Gen

Spoilers: for Sunday and Phantoms
Disclaimer: Stargate and all related characters are the property of MGM Television Entertainment. Not done for profit, just for fun.

Summary: After a team fails to return from a mission, Sheppard goes to find out why and ends up alone lost on an unknown planet with no means to return home. Shep Whump. Set in Season 3 somewhere after Sunday.

Thanks lauriel01 for the beta!

Chapters will be posted twice a week, most probably on Wednesdays and Sundays.

DOG TAGS

Chapter 1

John Sheppard was sitting at the Conference Room table drumming his fingers while he waited. He looked at his watch and uncomfortably shifted on his seat as his impatience grew. Rodney was late again. He was ready to tap his earpiece to call him when the scientist stormed into the room and threw himself in the chair beside him. John eyed him with irritation and Rodney smiled apologetically. John simply glared. Rodney’s smile quickly faded and the physicist looked away embarrassed. John had clearly stated the nature of the meeting when he called him to the conference room. A team had gone missing and still Rodney decided to ignore the meaning of the word ‘immediately’. John puffed loudly and straightened in his chair, looking around.

Everyone called was now present in the Conference Room with Dr. Weir at the head. To her right were seated John, Rodney and Ronon, and to her left were Major Lorne, Teyla and Colonel Caldwell.

“Captain Clark’s team have failed to return on schedule and are not responding to any hails. They were on MX0-832 on a standard recon mission and were supposed to return four hours ago.” Elizabeth started. “The MALP showed no signs of the team near the stargate, but showed a large concentration of life forms that weren’t present earlier.” She looked at John and nodded, acknowledging him to continue. “Colonel.”

“The life forms are spread in a pattern that suggests a military camp has been set up.” He turned to face the screen on the wall of the room that showed several small dots spread on an area of the map. Some were concentrated in the center with a few around the edges moving in a square pattern. “We detected thirty life forms, ten of which are guarding the limits of the camp.” He pointed at the dots circling around. “The MALP also detected encrypted radio activity below our usual frequencies that were delivered to Dr. McKay for decoding.” John quirked the corner of his lip and turned to the scientist.

Rodney took a beat to realize all eyes were set on him. “Yes, yes. I was able to crack that signal pretty easily; it wasn’t that sophisticated.” His tone was condescending. “And it confirms the suspicion of a military camp. They talk about prisoner transfers and testing some kind of power source, but it doesn’t elaborate.”

“So I’m to assume that our men are being held captive.” Colonel Caldwell spoke.

“Looks like it.” John wasn’t happy with it. Actually he was pissed. It hadn’t been a month since the last time the Capt. had encountered hostiles. “These guys don’t use Genii codes or frequencies, but obviously have enough technological ability to build radios and power sources.” He continued. “Everything indicates that there is another military power in the Pegasus Galaxy.”

“Great!” Rodney said rolling his eyes. “I bet they will be hostile too.”

“Let’s not assume anything at this point.” Elizabeth said. “We could have been invading a claimed territory without knowing.”

“I don’t think so. The first MALP we sent didn’t show anything on site, and now all of a sudden they show up and our guys disappear. It’s too much of a coincidence.” John said.

“I agree.” Colonel Caldwell declared, leaning on the table. “You also said they are not responding to hails. I think that makes it pretty clear.”

“What do you suggest then, Colonel? We can’t simply attack them.” Rodney turned to Elizabeth. “Can we?”

“No we can’t. We need more solid proof first.” Elizabeth straightened and folded her hands on the table. “If they were captured, the captors must have their radios. We’ll try to speak to them directly and offer a negotiation.”

“And if that doesn’t work?” Caldwell asked.

“If that doesn’t work, I’ll send Sheppard’s team along with several marines to search for them and get them back.” She said firmly looking at each one with a firm gaze. As they all nodded in agreement she finalized the meeting by getting up.

John accompanied her, unable to hide the slight smirk on his face, and followed her to the Control Room. Everyone quietly observed as she ordered the technician to dial. The stargate kawooshed and she walked to the open comm.

“This is Dr. Elizabeth Weir of the Atlantis Expedition. If someone can hear this, please pick up the radio and respond by pressing the button to the side of the device.”

They all waited a few moments until a male voice came through.

“This is Valen, military commander of the Zenin people. Are you the leader of the men that carried this?” Valen had a deep voice and a strange accent.

“Yes, what happened to them?”

“We have claimed this world as our own. All that occupied it were captured.” Valen spoke firmly.

“It is not our intention to interfere on your own affairs; we just want our people back. We are peaceful explorers.”

“They resisted prison. I have three dead soldiers.”

“I’m really sorry about that, but if we can put this misunderstanding aside, I’m sure we can work out an arrangement that will benefit both of our people.” She walked to the balcony overlooking the Gate Room and stared at the active device.

“This is beyond negotiation. They are sentenced to death.” With that the transmission was cut and the ‘gate shut down.

She turned and everyone stared at each other.

“I guess this means they are hostiles.” Colonel Caldwell said.

“Colonel Sheppard, prepare to go through the gate to get our men back.” Elizabeth spoke softly. “I want to do this with minimal casualties on both sides. We don’t need another conflict.”

John nodded and left the Control Room with the rest of his team. This was just what they needed. Another bunch of bad guys.

…

The camp wasn’t far from the ‘gate. A five minute flight and another ten of walking in the sparse forest was enough to have the sentries on the scope. John studied the camp carefully through his binoculars, looking for a safe entry point to find the missing team. Fortunately they still had their transmitter signals online and could be detected by the puddle jumper’s sensors.

John watched them long enough to identify a weak spot in their camp surveillance. The time to strike was coming and he signaled the marines to assume their positions. They all approached slowly, and silently waited for the right moment to attack.

He mentally calculated the distance the sentries were furtherest apart.

Three, two, one, go.

They got up and moved from all flanks as one single unit, each heading for their targets and firing. He made his way, taking down one armed soldier before he even knew the camp was under attack. Ronon was next to John and was even quicker, taking the other two companions with one shot and one strike from his fist.

They followed the path that led to the camp as the alarm was sounded. The shooting became louder as he got closer to the tents spread throughout the clearing. Enemy soldiers ran towards them from inside, firing hand held guns similar to their own nine millimeter weapons, but slightly bigger and heavier. John quickly dived for cover behind a tree trunk, firing a few times from his concealment. He glanced at Ronon and Teyla, also firing from their positions. John asked for cover fire and proceeded ahead, running low.

“Just a few meters to the right. You see?” Rodney’s voice explained coming from the puddle jumper.

He approached the location indicated through the radio, tracking the hostiles from the corner of his eyes as he hid again, providing cover for his two alien team mates. He took out two more soldiers just as Ronon and Teyla started to cover for him again. John ran towards the only concrete building of the camp, at the far side next to a ravine. The door had a strong chain and lock. He peeked inside through a small opening and saw Captain Clark’s team lying unconscious.

“Hey! Captain Clark! Wake up!” There was no response. “Damn!” John swore under his breath. He carried C4 with him, but couldn’t use it unless the occupants of the cell got away from the door. He decided to go look around the building to find another point of entry when a big explosion took him off the ground.

He fell and slid his way down the muddy ravine until he banged his head hard against the corner of a stone. For a brief moment, John saw a bright flash of light and heard a deafening explosion, then he lost consciousness.

…

TBC…

( Chapter 2 )