"No, they only send one Assault Squad," Jik replies.

"Their ship is in orbit, though. We can salvage the windriders... and, look, their leader is still alive."

He walks over to where one of the attackers is moving.

Kyle emerged from his bush and went over to look at the downed Grognard. He wondered how come they were so similar to the Furlings and wanted a closer look.

"Well, capturing someone who attacked us alive is good; they can be questioned. So let's try to get those vehicles ready and see if we can use them to get us all back. It seems like all of the rest of us would be barely a feather compared to a grognard or a furling... and we only have two of those to move.

Kyle, can you start questioning the commander? I'd really like to hear his side of the story too, here. Though I'm not sure what reason he could give for attempting to attack us completely unprovoked."

"OK, I can try," said Kyle, wondering if they had any language in common. He mustered up what he had gained so far of Jinx's language as a starting point and took a knee beside the Grognard.

"Hello, I'm Kyle of the Tauri. Who are you?"

When Jik moves over to the Grognard leader, you get an impressive lesson in intimidation. As the leader stumbles to his feet, Jik calmly blasts the leader's weapon. It was clearly too large for anyone else to use.

Then, as the leader stands up, Jik stares him down even though he's looking up at someone who is nearly 20 feet taller!

Coleman, Jason, and Karen gather up the three undamaged flyers finding them surprisingly light considering their oversize.

"The Grognards did not attack you, Colonel--they attacked me," Jik responds. "We are ancient enemies."

He then shows Coleman how to shrink the flyers so that they are Human-size.

"I am Zor Baz'Nak'Drim," the Grognard leader answers in what is clearly Rapa Nui. "Why do you not kill them? They are ENEMY!" he then directs  his attention to Yagafafamar.

"I have never met their species before now," Yagafafamar responds, "so how can we be enemies? In any case, Zor Baz, you and I are not the same species. I do not know how this is possible, but we are not the same species however much alike we may appear."

"We have detected your ship in orbit. It has been neutralized."
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:35, Tue 21 Mar 2023.

"What is the reason for your emnity?" Kyle asked.

"And why do you assume anyone else might share it?"

"Well the blast I took to my chest seems to be speaking to me; and it is saying that I was attacked, even if they were really after you.

Good questions, as usual, Kyle.

I really think we need to go back to the Furling village and sort this out. Perhaps someone there knows something that none of us do. Will you come along peacefully Zor? If so then we can talk while we travel."

"They have been attacking us ever since they developed this slide drive of theirs." Baz answers. "It disrupts subspace and damages our ships! They deny it, of course, but they do not stop!"

"You have captured me. Anything less than accompanying you would not be honorable!"

"In any case, I wish to meet these Grognards-who-are-not-Grognards."


The flyers give all the appearance of having been made from extruded shiny aluminum... until they shrink/stretch. Then it's more like some sort of plastic or mylar... except those substances don't do that, either.

As it turns out, the flyers have all sorts of 'safety/autopilot' features that make it impossible to screw up. Shrunk down to Human size means neither Yafa nor Baz can't ride them now, but neither of them object to walking the distance back to the Furling base.

There seems to be only minimal interest in the Grognard until you remember that the Furlings do not express emotion visually. Then you realize it's more like New Year's Eve excitement! Even roles get crossed!

Kyle pondered this answer.

"So, you claim that their 'slide drive' disrupts operation of your own ships? Could you maybe work out some kind of zoning... so that you operate in parts of space where they aren't sliding? Would that solve your issues?"

 Once things calm down enough Lizzy will try her new scanner on Coleman to see what else she can do for his wounds.

"It disrupts subspace and damages our ships wherever they are!" Baz replies. "It is one reason we do not use it ourselves."

For the first time, the Grognard seems to realize he's not talking to a Ra'avi.

"You are not the Enemy! Who are you? What are you?"



Lizzie has  no problem using her new bioscanner on Coleman to restore the rest of his Vitality and that one Wound point. He'll still feel a bit sore for awhile, but there's no penalty to any of his actions.


As it turns out, none of the Furlings have any clue about the Grognards. There is nothing in their records/memories of another species that looks like them, nor of any breakaway group. The only 'redeeming' fact  is that the Grognards are from another galaxy.

Kyle grinned.

"I told you. My name is Kyle and I'm from the Tauri. We are human beings and come from a planet we call Earth."

"Wow, that is shockingly better, Doc. Thanks!"

Coleman listens to the conversation that Kyle is having with the Grognard, but doesn't interfere; Kyle is a much better talker than he is.

It does occur to him, however, that, after some inspection, both Jik and Baz were able to tell that the Furling was not a Grognard. Thus far Coleman, at least, hadn't been able to differentiate. So Coleman asks Jik about it; "Jik, after a bit of examination, you were able to tell that the Furling weren't actually Grognards. How could you tell? To me, at least, they appear physically to be the same species. Is there something readily different to those more familiar with the Grognard?"

"It would probably not have been obvious in our galaxy because there are physical differences between individuals," Jik answers.

"Once I knew the Furlings were not Grognards, it became obvious. Well, to me."

"The Furlings are taller and a bit stockier, their features are a bit more angular, and there is a... ponderous stoicism to them. Whereas the Grognards appear to be more fluid in their actions and movements."

"It would seem obvious that the two species are related somehow, but that is not a guarantee. There is such a thing as parallel evolution, though my species has not yet encountered it."

"I suppose there are other minor differences... placement of the eyes, nose and cheek bones. The ears seem to be larger and set back a bit farther. And, of course, there's those hats the Furlings wear. Never saw Grognards do that."

"Ah, interesting. The hats are a sort of caste thing for the Furlings; each hat designates a sort of broad classification of job which that Furling follows. As for parallel evolution, I think Humans have seen it in non-sentient species on our own planet. But I don't think we've encountered it in sentient species. Doc Liz probably knows more about that than I do.

So... I know with any story there are always three sides; what is your side of this whole slip drive thing that the Grognard is claiming?"

 Lizzy was loving the new alien scanner, she was going to master it and keep it, it was a gift from an alien after all.

" You are very welcome LTC, this scanner is absolutely amazing, think 1960's Star Trek medical devices, this thing is so cool, amazing and help me save a lot of lives."

" The Math of how this drive works as it is completely separate from anything does not work at all. "


Jackie frowns as she scratches her hair.

"As your Carter just said," Jik replies to Coleman, "the mathematics do not support their claim."

"And yet our ships  still get damaged!" Baz retorts.

"Perhaps it is the design of your ships that is the true problem," answers Jik.

Baz seems about to reply with another angry insult when he suddenly stops and gets a speculative look on  his face.

"Gr'afendi trezaktum kobriastopi. Yahvahza!"

Jik also stops abruptly.

"Intersection. Polyquadronometric zunak. Planogrammic proto-inversion digisection," Jik 'translates'.

"That would mean... YOU are not the enemy! The enemy comes from subspace itself! We must use this information to find the source! And destroy it!" Baz looks around at everyone speculatively.

"YOU! You are mighty warriors! You will be my Strike Team! Commander Jik! With your  permission, we will use the Jerano and follow this slip-slide to its source! Are you with me?"


It was a bit difficult for Carter to follow the higher mathematics but she powered through them--it was like the obverse of hyperspace. If the math followed through... and she couldn't see any reason it wouldn't... then this 'incursion' could spread to hyperspace as well!

He'd already seen many strange things since joining the SGC but becoming part of this Grognard mixed-species Strike Team would definitely take the cake!

The sudden about-face by Commander Baz didn't sit well with him but he could see how the volatile nature  of the Grognard's could do that. Part of him didn't trust the situation while another part of him was desperately pleading inside for the Colonel to go along with it. Of course, Jason wasn't the one that had to make that call.

Based on the nod of her head and her shoulder shift indicating prep for combat, even Carter seemed to think it was necessary.

"You'll be coming with us, Kyle," he  informed the scientist. "It's tech stuff, so you might be needed. But don't worry, we got your six."

Coleman is a bit surprised by the turn of events. This conflict had been going on for a very long time, and suddenly just by talking for a couple of minutes everything had turned around entirely? That was... strange.

"Just to make sure I understand... you're asking us to act as a strike team to help solve this issue? Do you have any idea of the nature of the enemy that's creating the problem? Any theories?" Coleman turns to the Furlings to address them; "Do you guys have any comprehension of any of this? Any idea what this enemy that's causing problems could be?

Ideally, it'd be wise for us to check in with SGC before taking on this mission; would it be possible for us to do that before we depart on this next leg?"

"Of course! Grem'Zar's 7th  Tenet of War--strike while the iron's hot!" Baz answers.

"Yogsmarg's Corollary--too much planning can really frarg you up!"

"They may lose something in the translation, but I'm sure you get the meaning."


After a quick (1 hour) consultation of the Furlings, they agree the theory is sound though they are reluctant to 'sign off' on the consequences.


"You must understand that we are against battle/combat/violence in all forms. The Days of the Janik Fard are long behind us. We resolve conflicts peaceably," Yagafafamar passes on the Council's decision/thoughts. "But you are not us. You must follow your own Path of War. Remember: every journey begins with a single step that will always lead to consequences."


During that hour, the Furlings activate the 'double gate' so that you can contact Star Gate Command. General Hammond is even more flabbergasted than you, but agrees that there is not only an opportunity to gain allies and new technology, it could possibly be  a defense against the Goa'uld attacking Earth through hyperspace.

"As crazy as this is, Colonel Hendricks, SG-X2 is cleared for this mission," the General signs off on it.

Glad to have the clearance from the SGC, Coleman forges forward. "My command has given me the go ahead. And it sounds like the theory is sound; if both Jik and Baz can set aside their conflict to make agree that this mission is necessary, then let's get this done."

Coleman turns to the rest of the team; "We don't fully know what we're getting into here, so be ready for anything."

Kyle looked a bit confused.

"But if there are creatures there in subspace, are they causing problems deliberately or is it something inherent in their being... or unintended consequences of their actions?"

"It seems like that'll be impossible to know until we get there. But what you're implying by this is absolutely correct; we shouldn't go into this assuming that we have to kill anything. We need to investigate and find a solution, and that may mean making a treaty or some sort of negotiations, or helping come up with some technical solution."

 Lizzy listened and she also sent a report through the stargate from her laptop, she downloaded her notes to SGC while the wormhole was open.

" Well I think we should go and take a look and see what we can do to help, hopefully there isnt a fight but we will be ready for one. I hope it is a tech thing and we can help come to a solution. I am ready to go Sir." She had the alien scanner device safe, that was an amazing tool for her she wanted to make sure it didn't get damaged.