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Family Feud

Ba’al had made certain repairs on his ship would allow him to move…although he would be most cautious in not allowing his ha’tak to take any hits during the battle he was about to engage in. His remaining ships, twenty-nine in total, moved ahead of him, and toward the ships that now answered to Apophis. He had only two ha’tak now, although the number of al’kesh he commanded was twice what Apophis had. He was certain that his fleet of gliders would far out number those of his foe as well. While he still fretted about the number of ships he’d lost, he was certain that not all of those ships were manned with Jaffa willing to die for the newly returned Goa’uld. If rebels controlled those ships, they would flee before allowing themselves to be fired upon. Of course, he would fire upon them immediately, and destroy them for their audacity…a lesson that all Jaffa needed to be taught.

"I want the first salvo of fire to take out the ships that deserted me," he commanded coldly.

"Yes, My Lord," the Jaffa replied. It had been a very interesting…and confusing...day, the young man reflected. Although actual thoughts of betrayal had yet to settle in his mind, he was certainly questioning the strength of the one he considered to be his ‘god’.

Watching as all of his ships moved slowly toward his enemy, Ba’al smiled grimly. He was not yet defeated. He had only to survive this battle. He would make his escape, and when he had rebuilt, he would return, and take all that was rightfully his. Including, and most importantly, Casey Jackson.

"It begins," Kali whispered. "Move this ha’tak to the back of my fleet. But tell those ships to be ready to attack on my order."

"Yes, My Lord," the Jaffa replied. "Which ships do you wish to attack…those of Ba’al, or of Apophis."

"Either one," Kali said, sneering slightly. "Or whichever one seems to be losing the most ships." The images of SG-1…broken, with no spirit to fight against Apophis flashed through her mind. The fear that she had seen in Daniel’s eyes prodded her. No doubt the Jaffa who had ‘returned’ to him would fight fearlessly for Apophis. And certainly any Goa’uld who dared to stand against him would suffer a similar fate as those prisoners. She would not become a captive of Apophis! "Fire only on Ba’al’s ships," she said, her voice low, and edged with fear.

From the pel’tak of her ship, Amaterasu watched as well. She noted that Kali was positioning her ships. She gave the orders that her ha’tak move to the back of her fleet, and pushed her remaining ships forward. No matter what else happened this day, Ba’al had to be destroyed. He had brought the Empire to ruin. Perhaps Apophis could rebuild it…perhaps not. But she was determined to destroy the Goa’uld who had dared to attack her in her own temple…using a ribbon device on her as if she were a mere slave!

It only took a moment to note that the ship Ba’al was on had been moved. Like she had done, he was putting himself at the back of his fleet. "Move my ships closer to those of Ba’al…but not so close that we might suffer attack from Apophis," she ordered.

Amaterasu continued to watch as ships began to move…all the combatants arranging their fleets in the most beneficial formations.

Oshu was watching as well. He frowned when he realized that Amaterasu was setting her ships in closer to the far side of Ba’al’s fleet. From her vantage point, she would be able to attack Ba’al’s ha’tak directly. Does he not see what is happening? the Jaffa wondered.

The one thing Oshu understood was that Ba’al had to be destroyed. Lord Yu had already determined that it was Ba’al who had brought the Goa’uld Empire to its knees. Whether it survived or not…Oshu wasn’t certain. He did know that if he wanted to continue to control the fleet of ships and Jaffa that belonged to Lord Yu, he had to make certain the old Goa’uld survived the day. He had already taken control of almost all of the Yu’s holdings, in spite of the protests from the Priests and the city administrators. It had been easy enough to convince his Master that those who held such positions were plotting against him…again. He simply must to protect his…Lord Yu’s…fleet!

The First Prime turned to the old Goa’uld. "My Lord, if you place your ships on the other side of Ba’al, we can make certain he does not escape. It will take a few minutes to move, and we must do so carefully, we don’t want to bring the attention of Apophis on ourselves."

Yu looked up at the only person he felt he could trust. His First Prime had always been loyal…had alerted him of the schemes and treachery of others who feigned fealty to him. Oshu had served him well for decades…his military might, and the number of planets he owned, had grown with Oshu leading his Jaffa. "Then do so."

"Yes, My Lord." Oshu didn’t even try to hide the smile of success from his lips.

Tuoni watched, a frown on his face. He had held SG-1 as prisoners. For little more than two hours. The blonde…a seer many claimed…had slit his throat as he attempted to take her. He still hadn't been able to determine just where she’d hidden the knife she’d used against him. To see Apophis display them as the captured slaves they were…his frown deepened. Not once had any of those faces reflected fear when he had captured them. No fear at all. They had, in fact, been most…irritating. Terror had been etched on each face as Apophis taunted them…made them fully aware that they were nothing…merely slaves who would survive only if they served him well. He shuddered slightly.

He had a mere half dozen al’kesh. Two ha’tak. Not more than fifty gliders. He was not about to lose any in a battle against a Goa’uld whose fleet was so large. His gaze moved from the ships controlled by Ba’al, to those of Apophis. No doubt the anger of Apophis was great. After all, Ba’al had taken the lion’s share of what had belonged to the more powerful Goa’uld.

"The others are moving," the First Prime said. "Your orders, My Lord?"

"See to it that we’re far enough away to avoid being hit. But if there is an opportunity, I want all ships to fire on the ha’tak where Ba’al is hiding. It is the one in the back of his fleet," Tuoni replied.

Self-preservation sent another thought scurrying across his brain. If he had to bend knee, it would be better than dying. "And let me know if Apophis signals. He will certainly decide where he wishes my ships to be during this battle."

Tuoni never recognized the fact that his own actions proved him little more than the ‘minor god’ that he’d always been perceived as being. He had neither the intelligence, nor the courage, to be more.

Morgan watched, her eyes narrowed with hatred. She turned to her lo’taur, a young woman who had served her well for nearly fifteen years. "See to it that my daughter is safe."

"Yes, My Lord," the lo’taur replied, bowing slightly.

"And tell her…" Morgan paused, fighting the tears that tried to form in her eyes.

It had been three years ago. Almost to the day. Ba’al had attacked one of her planets. A planet rich in naquadah. And a planet where her daughter had been sent to learn the intricacies of being a priestess for her mother. A beautiful young woman, not quite fourteen, Ba’al’s Jaffa had taken her prisoner.

Ba’al’ had seen the young woman among the newly arrived slaves, and within an hour of her being brought aboard his ha’tak, had brutally raped her. Upon learning who she was, he had sent the girl back to the planet, her unconscious body dropped at the door of the temple…a note pinned to the tattered remains of her gown.

The words had seared themselves into her brain. Her daughter, Morgana, had never recovered from the assault. She remained mute...never speaking. She was terrified to the point of screaming whenever any male was near. At seventeen, the young woman did nothing more than sit and stare at the walls. "Tell my daughter that the one who harmed her so gravely is about to die."

The Goa’uld turned to the Jaffa who awaited her orders. "Move us as close to Ba’al’s fleet as you can. When he begins firing on Apophis, you will fire on his ships. I want his ha’tak destroyed. Focus your fire on the pel’tak."

Pelops sat forward on his throne. "Well, it seems that finally something is going to happen."

The Jaffa serving as First Prime shifted nervously. "So it would seem, My Lord."

He’d been away far too long. Hidden among minor Goa’uld who moved freely on the planets that Zeus controlled. It had been a battle with Apophis that had seen him with little more than a damaged al’kesh and a handful of Jaffa. Knowing about the exiled System Lords, he had been determined to find them, and take what he wanted…what he needed…from them. Convinced of his own superiority, he had nearly made the fatal mistake of contacting Zeus with his demands. Just a mere hour on one of the planets that Zeus claimed had him hiding his identity from all around him. He had sworn his Jaffa to secrecy. Then, in a fit of desperation and sheer panic, had killed them all for fear of their betrayal. Releasing poison into the air of the al’kesh, he’d been forced to wait for weeks before attempting to ring back to the only home he had.

It had taken time, but he’d managed to ingratiate himself to a mid-ranking priest serving in one of the largest temples of Zeus. It hadn’t been difficult to skim a few gold coins from the coffers during his visits, taking food and wine and trinkets to the priest – items he had arranged to be charged to the temple accounts…a bit of trickery that appealed to his ego and his sense of humor – extolling the depth of loyalty the priest demonstrated to his god, declaring that Zeus would be much better served to put the man in place as his High Priest. No, it hadn’t been difficult, just time consuming. Decades had passed, he’d been forced to pretend to be his own son as time passed…taking a new host in order to do so…continuing the ‘friendship’ that had been so ‘precious’ to his ‘father’. The priest had been ecstatic that the gifts and flattery would continue in his old age.

When at last he’d stolen enough, daring to take several gold statues…with their inlaid jewels…from the temple on his final visit, Pelops had taken his al’kesh to a far-flung trading planet. It seemed that the Goa’uld in the galaxy of his birth had begun to battle one another. Rumors of Ra’s demise reached his ears, but he paid little attention to such a tale. Ra was the most powerful Goa’uld in existence. Death would not come easily to him. However, the fighting between the others meant that traders and pirates were able to sweep in and take control of ships too damaged to escape. Those Jaffa still on board were taken prisoner, and both ship and crew were sold to the highest bidder. Pelops had been able to bid well, and had purchased two al’kesh. He had battled with a minor System Lord on the very edges of the galaxy, a young upstart who called himself Horus, son of Osiris. Whether or not the Goa’uld truly was who he claimed to be, Pelops never learned. He had killed the young man, and immediately took all that had been under his control. It hadn’t been much. But it had been enough to allow him to move deeper into the galaxy, working his way back toward the planets he had called his own.

It had been a shock to learn that everything he had claimed had been taken by Apophis and by Cronos. He’d once been among the most powerful System Lords; now, the few ships he owned and two mostly worthless planets were all he had. He had started construction on a palace, and its accompanying temple, but neither were more than half finished at the moment.

"Maintain our distance. I want to see Ba’al destroyed. When that happens, we will return home. I have no intention of letting these so-called ‘System Lords’ turn on me," the Pelops said, his voice as cold as his eyes.

"It will be as you say, My Lord," the First Prime replied.

Several ships were on the periphery of the fleets gathered. Far enough away that they could easily escape if the battle moved too close to them. Keku grinned malevolently. "Well, Ba’al, it seems that you have angered one too many System Lords," he muttered.

"Do you wish to move closer, My Lord?" The First Prime asked.

"No! We will maintain our distance! Should Ba’al attempt to escape, and he will, we will be the ones to destroy him," Keku replied hotly.

"Yes, My Lord," the First Prime sighed.

Vanshu had conferred with Bra’tac and Teal’c, and decided that Apophis would have given an ‘offer’ to each of the System Lords who waited in tense silence. They would join him in his attack against Ba’al, or he would destroy them as well. Everything that had happened in the preceding hours had convinced those Goa’uld that they would never be able to stand against Apophis. Memories of his strength and control continued to haunt them as well. Knowing that they held planets and Jaffa that had once belonged to the more powerful System Lord also weighed heavily upon them. Several were convinced that to stand against Apophis would see his former Jaffa…somewhere within the ranks of their own warriors…turn against them

Pedram gave a grim smile when Daniel and Casey joined him on the pel’tak. Both looked the parts they were playing; Daniel was dressed in white linen pants and a white vest, with gold bands on his arms. The prerequisite gold choker was in place around his throat. Casey was wearing nothing more than a simple green gown that flowed to the floor, and plunged deeply…exposing a great deal of her cleavage. A strand of emeralds dropped down between her breasts. The color of the dress was almost the same as her eyes, and made her wide, nervous gaze all the more noticeable. "We begin," he said quietly.

Daniel nodded, and squeezed the slightly cool fingers that had reached for his hand. "It’s not real," he whispered.

Casey gave a short nod. Then settled on the step just below the throne where Pedram was sitting. "Is this okay?" she asked softly.

Bra’tac nodded. "Very good. Try to look as if you’ve been…assaulted." The older Jaffa turned to Daniel. "You must act as if you were forced to witness the act. You will be both angry and afraid of doing anything that would cause Apophis to punish Casey."

Daniel nodded his understanding. It didn’t take much imagining to put himself in that state of mind. He glanced at Casey. Her pale cheeks let him know her own imagination, and all that she had endured in the past, were filling her own memory with the images that would help her play the part she’d been assigned. That she had such memories poked at his heart; he ached to be able to hold her, if only for a few minutes.

Vanshu nodded. "Open communications. To all."

"Yes, My Lord," the Jaffa said immediately. Lo’teal glanced around to make certain everyone was in place. All those on the pel’tak were playing a role, and knew that the slightest mistake could be fatal. The tension in the air was palpable.

Reaching out, Vanshu ran his hand over Casey’s hair. A simple, yet intimate touch. He was certain it would enrage Ba’al all the more. "Ba’al, do you believe you are any match for me?"

Ba’al’s face suddenly filled the communication screen. He couldn’t miss seeing Casey sitting at the feet of Apophis, as that Goa’uld ran his fingers through those silken locks. Her nearly colorless cheeks told him all he needed to know. She had been…abused. The glow of anger in his own eyes was unmistakable. "I have more ships than you. I will defeat you easily," he challenged, a sneer on his lips.

"You have more ships than I? Do you believe that the others do not answer to me?" Vanshu asked, his expression one of amusement.

The face on the screen paled slightly. "They will not attack. Unless it is to bring a very permanent end to you," Ba’al snarled. "I am the greatest Goa’uld of the Empire. More powerful than any other in this galaxy!"

The Tok’ra noted that Ba’al had been careful not to declare himself the most powerful of all Goa’uld. Just those in the galaxy of their birth. He was, then, Vanshu thought, well aware of Zeus and Nergal – two Goa’uld who remained outside of the Empire by Ra’s order – and their individual strength. "You will learn that you are not the greatest Goa’uld. You are not the most powerful. And that lesson begins now," he said aloud. He gave the signal, and all the ships that answered to ‘Apophis’ began to fire on those of Ba’al.

Within seconds, Kali’s ships and those of Morgan were also firing at Ba’al. Yu’s ships hesitated for several long minutes, before entering the fray. Amaterasu, it seemed was determined to destroy Ba’al on her own…the lead ships of her fleet moved toward the ha’tak on which Ba’al was present. It seemed as if thousands of gliders were suddenly everywhere...although their number was merely in the hundreds...and all were firing upon one another, and any ship they happened to be near. Within seconds the first casualties were counted, and pieces of the one-man ships began fill space between the much larger vessels.

Ba’al felt a moment of absolute terror as the ships in front of him began to fire on his fleet. Before he was able to fully comprehend that all of the ships of the System Lords had joined the battle, half a dozen of the ships that he still claimed as his own moved toward those of Apophis. But rather than fire on that Goa’uld, they turned and began to fire on his ships.

"Back us away from the fleet," he commanded, his voice echoing with disbelief.

The Jaffa at the controls began to maneuver the ship, slowly moving it behind the two an’kesh.

The ship rocked around him as several missiles struck amidships. "Destroy the fool who dared fire on me!" Ba’al roared.

The armada Apophis now commanded was nearly as large as his own fleet. A result of the desertion of shol’va among my Jaffa, Ba’al thought furiously. Although the others had fleets half the size, or smaller, their added presence could possibly tip the balance of power against him.

The battle was fierce; gliders taking advantage of the fact that the ha’tak and an’kesh and al’kesh couldn’t maneuver as quickly; and they were disabling far too many weapons on the ships that still responded to his orders. His own gliders were unable to cause the same damage to his enemies, as they were tasked to skirmish against the gliders attacking him. The number of gliders that filled space around him was impressive, to say the least. It was most disheartening that his were certainly outnumbered. And being destroyed while he watched helplessly.

For nearly forty-five minutes the battle raged. The constant barrage of fire that filled space lit the vessels and the planet that spun slowly below them…the light produced from explosions as bright as a sun. The incessant attacks were taking a toll on Ba’al’s ships. One by one, the al’kesh and an’kesh he controlled began to show significant damage. It wouldn’t be long until those ships were destroyed. The only other ha’tak he claimed succumbed to the persistent attacks from Kali and Amaterasu and exploded in a most spectacular manner. Their al’kesh moved closer to his shrinking fleet.

On the surface of the planet Ba’al had hidden two al’kesh, nearly fifty gliders, and enough Jaffa to man those ships. He would escape to the surface, allow his enemies to destroy the ships around him, and when they were gone, he would escape to that far solar system which he had discovered among Ra’s maps so long ago. He would rebuild. And when he returned, his revenge would be swift and brutal.

"Continue to fire on those ships," he ordered. When the Jaffa were sufficiently focused on their tasks, he slipped out of the pel’tak and raced to the escape pod that waited nearby. He would be on the planet before any of the others were aware of his deception. Before closing the hatch of the pod, he activated the band that covered his arm from wrist to elbow. He keyed in a series of commands…the carefully memorized numbers that would create a ‘cover’ for his actions. The sheer amount of debris that would be created, and continued to accumulate, would prevent any of the ships monitoring the battle from noticing the single escape pod.

Three of the al’kesh fighting for Ba’al began to move away from the battle. There was little damage to the ships…a result of the fact that they weren’t firing on anyone, other than the occasional glider that dared come too close. When they were just above the planet, they pulled away quickly, and entered hyperdrive before any of the others could pursue them.

"Let them go," Vanshu said quietly. "No doubt they are Rebel Jaffa."

"No," Bra’tac said, shaking his head. "Not rebels. But surely Jaffa not willing to die for Ba’al."

"We let them go," Vanshu repeated.

There was little left of the fleet Ba’al had commanded. Most of the Jaffa had already fled in whatever tel’taks and gliders they could commandeer. None of the Goa’uld around them seemed interested in the small ships that headed into deep space. All focus was on the ha’tak Ba’al controlled.

Either the Jaffa on Ba’al’s ships were particularly lousy at operating the defense systems, or they weren’t trying to aim, they were merely shooting at anything close enough to be a target. The Rebel fleet had taken minimal damage, and that to just six of the ships at the very front of the battle. It almost seemed as if Ba’al’s Jaffa were willing to fire upon and destroy any ships that belonged to the System Lords gathered…but not on those who had been ‘fellow’ Jaffa.

The ha’tak where Ba’al had been was destroyed, the ship exploding into fragments, some no larger than a basketball. It appeared that there had been numerous detonations that had come from within the ha’tak itself.

"Most likely the work of Rebel Jaffa," Bra’tac said, the weight of the death of those men visible in his eyes.

"He did it himself. He wasn’t on it," Casey said softly.

"He destroyed his own ship?" Pedram said, his eyes wide.

"It doesn’t matter, not now," Vanshu said quietly. "How have the others fared?"

"There haven’t been many ships destroyed. Damage to all that were in the center of the battle, but all which remained at a distance are intact," the Jaffa at one of the scanners replied.

"This is when we decide whether Apophis will exact revenge, or let them go," Vanshu said.

Teal’c had joined those on the pel’tak, wearing the armor of a Serpent Guard, a skull cap hiding his hair. He was in radio communication with Jack, who was watching the battle from Aldwin’s quarters. He relayed the question to his CO.

"Teal’c, what would Apophis do?" Jack asked.

"He has not suffered serious damage to any of his ships. I believe he would turn his attention to those nearest him, and destroy them," Teal’c replied. He raised an eyebrow, a silent question to Bra’tac. The older Jaffa nodded in agreement.

"Would he give them any warning?"

"He would not."

"Okay. Hit those ships fast and hard. Then let Apophis explain that he’s not in much of a talking mood. We’ll see what happens," Jack said.

Again, Bra’tac nodded his agreement. Vanshu signaled his own consensus.

Amaterasu was still smiling, watching the wreckage of Ba’al’s ha’tak floating in an ever-expanding ring. When the ship rocked around her, she gasped in surprise. "Who is firing on us?"

"Apophis, My Lord," the shaken Jaffa replied.

The Goa’uld went pale, her mind began to race as she considered the situation in which she suddenly found herself. They had miscalculated, she and Kali. Apophis had returned abruptly, and most unexpectedly. He was just as strong upon return as he had been at his death. No doubt Apophis was furious at any Goa’uld who had taken what had belonged to him…and she was among that number. It seemed not to matter that many of his Jaffa had returned to him, stealing the ships of Ba’al to do so. In his anger, Apophis would destroy as many ships as he could, to leave those around him defenseless. He seeks revenge for what are…were…the customs of the Empire! she thought angrily...the irony of her anger lost on her.

In spite of her outrage at the turn of events, Amaterasu didn’t have enough ships to take on Apophis. Even though several of his al’kesh showed battle damage, they were still able to fire on her. "Move us away! Quickly! Quickly!"

A flash of light from a nearby ship…one of her own…lit the pel’tak for several long seconds. When the light faded, the ship had been completely disintegrated. She watched with growing trepidation as six more of her ships were also destroyed. What weaponry did Apophis possess that could so easily eradicate her ships?

"Take us away from here!" she shrieked, already calling up her personal shield.

It was only the fact that the lead ship in Apophis’ fleet had stopped firing that the ha’tak on which she stood, and two al’kesh beside it, hadn’t been destroyed. Nothing else remained of her fleet.

As soon as she was far enough from the planet, she ordered the ships into hyperdrive. One ha’tak. Two al’kesh. And not more than a dozen gliders. That was all that had been left to her. There was no doubt in her mind that Apophis was sending a message. Serve him…or die. She would not be leaving her home planet any time soon.

When Kali realized that Apophis had begun attacking his ‘allies’, she ordered her ships to withdraw. She didn’t expect a half dozen an’kesh to follow, firing with maddening precision on every ship she owned. "Return fire!" she ordered, her voice shaking. "Destroy those ships!"

The steady fire from the heavy bombers lit space around them…seemed to create paths on which she could have walked. The shields on the ships Apophis controlled were much stronger than those of her own ships. No, something is not right, she thought worriedly. It was an instant epiphany. Those ships had belonged to Ba’al! What technology had he discovered – and kept secret from his brothers and sisters – that prevented her Jaffa from being able to destroy the ships that continued to fire at her?

Her ships could do little damage to the an’kesh that fired upon her. "Take us from here, quickly! Jump to hyperspace!"

She lost two more ships before she was able to pull her fleet away from the very one-sided battle. Like Amaterasu, she had little left. Two ha’tak – one so badly damaged it was unable to reach hyperspace. She had no choice but to abandon it, there was no way to protect it. She had three al’kesh. Two were heavily damaged, although they were able to achieve hyperspace. Twenty gliders. She had little to call a fleet. And the number of Jaffa she had lost…

Ashoka was missing. So were half a dozen of her tel’tak. At least fifty gliders had disappeared, and almost all of them required two Jaffa. And it seemed that one of her al’kesh had simply vanished. It had been there…near the planet, and then it was gone. It was to this ship, she learned, that the majority of her Jaffa had escaped, while she was preoccupied with attacking Ba’al. She had less that five hundred Jaffa…barely enough to man the ships that she still held.

Betrayed, she whispered. She looked around her. The Jaffa continued to follow her orders. But for how long? If she managed to return to her home planet with all of the ships and Jaffa that remained in her control, she would be surprised. Like Amaterasu, Kali determined to return to her palace. And there she would remain. She had faithful servants and Jaffa there. She would be safe…in her palace.

As soon as Ba’al’s ha’tak had been destroyed, nearly half of Lord Yu’s fleet simply turned and moved away. The moment they had cleared the planet, each one of the ships had entered hyperspace.

Yu watched with almost detached interest as the ships vanished from sight.

"We must go after them," Oshu insisted. "Obviously Rebel Jaffa have taken control! We must destroy the rebels, and rescue those Jaffa who are loyal to you!"

The old Goa’uld shook his head. "We will return to the Jade Garden. The ships that remain will be enough to protect us there."

"But-" Oshu started, willing to argue with his Master, in order to maintain the fleet he had so carefully built.

"No, Oshu. It is over. There are very few loyal Jaffa. It is better to return home. And remain there. The Goa’uld Empire is no more. Never again will Goa’uld travel the stars and take what they want. We will never again strike fear in the hearts of humans. The Tau’ri will no doubt hunt us down; kill us if they can find us," Yu said wearily. "It is over."

Oshu shook his head. "But-"

"No, Oshu. You have been very loyal…the most faithful First Prime who has ever served me," Yu said quietly. "I would be pleased if you remain with me. But there will be no more battles. No more conquests. We will live peacefully in the Jade Garden."

Shocked at the turn of events…his own secret plans ruined in an instant…Oshu had no choice but to obey. He gave the order for Yu’s fleet to return to their home planet.

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