"Far be it for me to point this out," Gavan said, "but you did not tell the Jaffa to return here."

"And it does appear that the term orak'tar only refers to the Varana... the gator-folk. It's unlikely that a Jaffa would ever refer to the form his deity took--as in the Xel--as an orak'tar."

"All of us except Freyda can pass as Jaffa. It is only our clothing that makes us different, but not all Jaffa dress the same, either."

"We need to follow after them... just give them enough time to inform the others before we show. Don't give them too much time to think about it."

"Freyda will have to remain out of sight, well behind us. Perhaps Rajip can stay with her as a guard. I'm thinking, though, that Rajip may have to be the sniper Kaspar is indicating. If the Jaffa don't go along, Vasandra can raise an arm and point at one of them--presumably the disagreeable one--and Rajip can kill him. Too bad his rifle isn't silenced, though. That would make the Jaffa's death appear... well, magical."

Rajip remained silent while listening to the discussion and keeping watch through his sniper scope.
At the sudden change in the Major's demeanor and speech, his ears perk up. "Yessir", is his only reply back over the comm. Then after the conversation dies down a bit, he clicks the comm again and says, "Uh, sir? I'm acting as a sniper, now. I'm actually a scout and tracker. To be clear, their hearts are gonna explode. Not their heads."

(OOC: And, my luck with dice rollers.... y'all better duck!" Does a sniper scope ad anything?)

'They went back to their patrol around the pyramid.' Hilda answered Gavan. 'I wonder why did they did not go straight back to their camp, but they are Jaffa.' she decided. 'We can follow them to their camp when they come back around.'

Rajip keys his mic. "I like the idea of staying here and telling them to come here", he says from his hidden position in the treeline. "Here, we have the element of surprise.... and cover. Over."

"If my geography is accurate, we are on the opposite side of the ha'tak from where their camp is," Gavan replies to Hilda. "It would have taken them just as long to go back the way they came as it would to continue on."

"Remember, they were given a task. Just because you confronted them was hardly enough reason to abandon that task, especially since the new task you gave them could be done at the same time."

"That's my guess, anyway."

"Not to disagree with you, Rajip, but we wouldn't have much of a surprise since they now know that Hilda is here, with, presumably, her goddess."

"In any case, how do you propose we tell them to come here? Without actually going there and telling them?"

'Uh, já.' Hilda acknowledged to Gavan. 'I suppose they would have to keep walking around it...' she mused sheepishly.

'I made no plans, so they would be expecting me to come to them. But I never told them my "goddess" was here. Anyway, let us go toward them. We can still call them out of their camp and into a place of our choosing.'

Rajip keys his mic, again. "If we stay here, two more will surely come back on patrol" he says. "Hilda can tell them her Goddess demands they retrieve the others. We don't have to go anywhere. Over."

In reply to Rajip Mojdar (msg # 931):

"Actually, Hilda, you gave them very specific instructions to bring all the Jaffa back here." Kaspar says, looking off to where the Jaffa had gone - and almost sounding normal. He even manages a small smile.

"I told you your performance as an 'Important Jaffa' was quite good. Better than you thought, I think." he added, still looking off in the distance,

"Remember that Jaffa are servants to petty tyrants - just to survive they must learn to anticipate the needs of their masters, without their masters actually saying anything, or suffer punishments. You told those Jaffa to go tell the others that your Goddess would meet with them, and then you just stood there!"

"Very impressive."

"I'm quite sure that, to them, that silent, haughty attitude you presented said to them 'now go and bring them back to me, to meet my Goddess!' - all without saying a single word."

"Also, I believe that what the American - sorry - what Rajip is trying to say is that, at their camp, the Jaffa have control of the terrain. They have been there long enough know the lay of the land, they have identified all approaches, they have selected defensive positions, they know where they can run, and where they cannot. Here, for them, that is not so much the case. Not so much for us, either, but at least we have taken some time to look over the lay and have chosen a few good fields of fire."

"What it boils down to is that as Team Leader, my job is come up with a Strategy - I've said we will either recruit these Jaffa or kill them all; that is my strategy. Sergeant Mojdar is the Team Tactical Officer - it is his job to determine how to make my strategy happen. And he has decided that here is where we make that happen. So here ... it ... will ... happen."

"This does not mean that we do not want your input, your suggestions and concerns - of course we do! But when the decision finally has to be made, he or I will make it." Kaspar finally turns to face Hilda, "I really do appreciate how this must chafe with your desire for action, Hilda. I really do. But this is the way that Terran militaries operate, and, for good or ill, I am ultimately a Tau'ri soldier."

"So. Everyone find a hidey hole - except Hilda and Vasandra. As I said earlier, Hilda, you're the front man in this caper, you have to be out there and visible. Vasandra, as our Goa'uld, you have to be visible, too, but it shouldn't be seen as unusual behavior for you to be off to the side, in the shade of the trees. Freyda and Asherrra - you two just stay as far back as you can and try to follow along, for now. If you think of something to help, use the radio - quietly."

"Rajip, Gavan and myself will take cover to provide fire support for Hilda and Vasandra's positions, in case things fall apart. Sergeant, you will follow the order I have already given - once this wanna-be leader of the Jaffa is identified you will keep your aim on him and if he shows the least resistance to joining with us, you will drop him immediately. Your call, do not wait for a shoot order. However, cancel my follow-up order to keep killing Jaffa - let's see if the big-mouths death changes anybody's mind about following our orders."

"Gavan, I understand and appreciate your cultures concerns about getting involved with other peoples fights, but if all the Jaffa start shooting at us, I expect you to contribute to our defense, cultural imperatives or no. In fact, I am ordering you to assist in a defense. That should free you of any culpability."

Frowning at the praise, Hilda wasn't sure whether to be impressed with her performance or not. Maybe she was a better skald than she knew. 'I was only angry to be talking with them. And I just didn't want to speak with them any more.' she admitted.

'Okay, if you say they will come back, then this place is best. When you go into hiding, I will hide your prints and wait for the ettins with my goddess.' Hilda accepted.

After a moment's thought and poetic inspiration, she announced 'I shall be Hildr Eriksdóttir, Third Prime – then I do not need metal in my brow – and best scout and shieldmaiden of,' she turned to Vasandra, offering 'Maybe Lady Angrboða, She Who Offers Sorrow, and the mother of monsters. She is of the Jötunn, the giants, who I think are an old clan of the Goa'uld we fought long ago... This body is of the myrkálfar, the dark elves... We came from the Iron Wood of Járnviðr to claim this world and its cat people and this ha'tak... Is this tale good?'

In reply to Hilda (msg # 933):

"I like it. Vasandra, that work for you?" Kaspar asks.

"Sure, that works for me," Vasandra answered. "What should I be doing? I can't see a goddess just standing around. If this was my abode, then I would need a throne, of course, but this is just wilderness."

"Should I claim to be from the Cat-folk city? That would give justification to Asherrra's presence."

"How about if I start using my zats to clear away some of these shattered trees from around the ha'tak? Hilda could always say that I find the broken trees 'unsightly'."

'We have no chariot for you, but it is no matter. Gods must walk like mortals, and they do not sit on logs. You and I will do the talking to them.'

'Yes, you could say Asherrra is your thrall, or slave, if she wishes to stand with us. You would appear to have power over the First Ones.'

'If you wish, my goddess.' Hilda offered impishly in mock deference.

In reply to Hilda (msg # 936):

Rajip keys his mic again to reply to Kaspar, "Copy that. Over." is all he says.


I really hope they don't force me to shoot, he thinks to himself, I'd hate to slaughter a group of soldiers when they're as brainwashed as goa''uld can be.


Rajip continues to watch through his sniper scope, ready to alert the others as soon as anyone comes into view.

After about 15 minutes, a half dozen Jaffa come into view. They are making not attempt at stealth, but do seem to be approaching rather cautiously.

"We waited, but you did not come," one of them says as he steps forward. "Perhaps we misunderstood you... that you wished us to return here."

"The others remain on guard at the entrance to the ha'tak. If there is no more slime-god to worry about, then there are the orak'tar still within. We would need to enter that way to defeat them."

'Indeed, you are here now.' Hilda declared, not needing feign annoyance, and heading off any questions about who'd failed to arrange to meet with who.

She gazed over the Jaffa troop, appraising their strength, as she heard the report. She was wondering which one was Mogar, if not the one talking now. It would be good to identify the leader first in case he caused trouble. Then Rajip could shoot him down when he did. 'This is good forethought. Who shall I tell the goddess is responsible for this?' Once she had that, she could begin formal introductions and the singing of praises.

In reply to Hilda (msg # 939):

"Jaffa approaching from the East", Rajip says over the comm as the six jaffa come into view. He levels his site on the one in the lead and follows until they stop. Once he sees which one addresses Hilda, he trains his site on him and moves his finger along side the trigger of his SR 25 MK11 sniper rifle. "Let's hope the sound suppressor keeps the shot quiet enough to make the others think it's magic." He whispers to himself, hoping he doesn't actually have to shoot anyone.

"It was Mogar that suggested some of them stay and guard the entrance to the ha'tak... in case the orak'tar came out," replied the Jaffa.

"Do you wish for one of us to return and get the others?"

In reply to StarMaster (msg # 941):

OOC: Kaspar Radoslaw Gorski rolled 5 ((1)) using 1d20+4 for a Surveillance skill check.


Kaspar, from his hidden vantage point, grabs for his mini-binoculars so that he can better maintain a better surveillance on the Jaffa - then realizes he's left the small viewing glasses back at he SGC.

With an inward sigh, Kaspar attempts to watch each Jaffa carefully - watching for any sign of deception or deceit.

OOC: Kaspar Radoslaw Gorski rolled 6 ((1)) using 1d20+5 for a Sense Motive skill check.
The frigging dice roller is rigged! I swear! Two friggin 1's in a row! C'mon! ^_^

'No. Let them remain on guard.' So, this Mogar did not deign to come. Maybe he did not wish to lead after all? Regardless, she knew Rajip and Kaspar would have picked this other Jaffa as a target in Mogar's place.

'Know that I am Hildr Eriksdóttir, Third Prime of the Shield Maidens, and I am your leader now.' Then, speaking loudly and boldly as Jaffa did, Hilda gave them their new orders. 'Now bow before Lady Angrboða of the Jötunn, She Who Offers Sorrow! Kree!'

In reply to Hilda (msg # 943):

*Here we go...* Kaspar thought to himself, carefully bringing up the P90 dangling at his chest and releasing the safety.

*If they're going to balk, now's the time.*

And then that distracting, double-thinking worm of doubt crept into his thoughts,

*Wait ... if we're all looking over there ... who's watching the other approach?*

Kaspar glances over towards the other side of the ha'tak, opposite the direction from which these Jaffa came. Just to see if those Jaffa who, supposedly, had stayed behind to watch the cargo door on the other side might be coming from that direction ...

*One of four such doors ... and each door is located in the middle of each side of the ha'tak ... so, why does that one need to be guarded more than any of the others...*

*Oh, crap...*

OOC: you want I should have the dice roller roll me another 1 for a Spot check? ^_^

Rajip watched the speaking jaffa, carefully, for any 'tell' that he plans on anything but following Hilda's orders. A small insect buzzes around his ear, then lightly lands on his camouflaged hat and crawls down onto his left ear . The sniper ignores the tiny annoyance and sets his sight on the jaffa's face. Partly to watch his target's eyes and partly to erase any of his facial features at the first hint of trouble.

(ooc: Sense Motive check 13:57, Today: Rajip Mojdar rolled 8 using 1d20+2 ((6)).)

In reply to Rajip Mojdar (msg # 945):

OOC: While we wait for the Jaffa to respond to Hilda's instructions...
19:30, 5/27/2017: Kaspar Radoslaw Gorski rolled a Spot Skill check of 17 using 1d20+4 ((13+4)), to spot any Jaffa sneaking up from the other side of the Ha'tak.

Hey, look Ma! No roll of 1! ^_^

Vasandra took Hilda's loud commands as her cue, and she stepped out from behind a tree where the Jaffa couldn't see her, and then began walking forward.

The underbrush and the debris from the crushed trees concealed her approach until the last moment. And then, like a goddess, she appeared!

For the moment, she chose to say nothing. It was a given... or it should have been... that she spoke the Goa'uld and Jaffa languages. And she did, of course. But she'd wait to see what any of the Jaffa had to say.

She gave them a cold stare, as if to say 'Just who do you think you are?' and 'Of what use are you to me?'.

The Major hadn't actually formulated any sort of plan that went beyond this encounter, just nebulous suggestions.

On cue, Hilda dropped to her knee (a good habit before a woman) and bowed her head to Vasandra the frost giant Angrboða. Though it took her eyes off the treacherous Jaffa, it was necessary to convince them that Vasandra was a Goa'uld. Hilda could only trust her companions would slay the Jaffa if they took advantage, before they blew her up with staff weapons.

Neither Kaspar nor Rajip spot any other Jaffa approaching from the other side of the Ha'tak.

Jaffa are not known for nor encouraged to engage in 'innovative' thinking. Only the free Jaffa do that out of survival.

When Vasandra steps out, all the Jaffa drop to one knee and bow their heads.