The oppressive heat of P3X-120 slammed into Captain Eva Daniels the moment she stepped through the stargate. The air felt thick, clinging to her skin like a wet blanket, and the sky overhead burned a vibrant, reddish-orange, casting long shadows over the rocky terrain. Jagged cliffs and crumbling ruins stretched as far as the eye could see, remnants of a once-thriving Ancient colony, now forgotten by all but the ghosts of history.

Daniels exhaled slowly, her eyes sweeping across the barren landscape, searching for any hint of movement. The mission briefing had made it clear: P3X-120 was a volatile world, both politically and geologically. Recent seismic shifts had made the planet unstable, and whispers of mercenaries and scavengers prowling its ruins in search of Ancient tech to trade on the black market added another layer of danger. Yet, even that paled in comparison to the looming threat that the Kha'zir could be present.

The rest of Task Force Orion emerged from the gate, their weapons immediately at the ready. Gleaming in the planet's harsh light, their gear seemed to absorb the weight of the situation. Sergeant Major Maddox, always the first to take action, dropped into a crouch, his pulse rifle sweeping the cliffs in tight, practiced arcs. His face was unreadable beneath the visor, but his posture radiated a coiled tension, ready to strike at the first sign of trouble.

“Clear for now,” he grunted, though there was a tension in his voice that said he didn’t expect it to stay that way.

Lieutenant Zara Reilly followed, her hand gripping her scanner, already waving it over the crumbled stone at her feet. “High levels of radiation,” she muttered. “Definitely Ancient in origin. The energy signatures are faint, but they’re still active.”

Daniels glanced back at the stargate, its ring still shimmering faintly as the residual energy dissipated. The silence that followed was unnerving. The gate had closed, but the sense of being watched hadn’t left her.

“Stay sharp,” Daniels ordered, adjusting her grip on her sidearm. “We’re not alone here.”

Corporal Fox Nguyen had already melted into the shadows, his light steps barely audible as he moved along the ridge, keeping watch over the team. His ability to disappear into the terrain, no matter how sparse or exposed, was something that never failed to impress Daniels. He had an instinct for danger, one that had saved their lives more than once.

“We expecting trouble?” Fox’s voice crackled through her earpiece, his tone light but vigilant.

Daniels smirked. “Always.”

Major Valeria Kane was the last to step through, her expression hardening as she took in the desolate landscape. Her role as the team’s strategist and diplomat had prepared her for the political challenges they might face, but here, in this barren wasteland, it was clear that diplomacy wasn’t going to be their first priority.

“Not much of a welcoming party,” Kane said dryly, her eyes narrowing at the ruins in the distance.

Daniels adjusted her visor, activating the heads-up display. The terrain map flickered to life, overlaying a grid over the planet’s surface. Their objective lay several kilometers to the east, deep within the crumbling ruins of an Ancient facility. If the rumors were true, the facility might contain the first clue to the Ancient’s Forgotten Arsenal…the fabled cache of weapons that the Kha'zir were seeking. If they could get there first, they might stand a chance of stopping the Kha'zir before their invasion reached critical mass.

TFO-1’s mission was simple: find the facility, secure any remaining technology, and return to Earth with whatever intel they could gather. But nothing about this planet felt simple.

“Reilly,” Daniels called over her shoulder. “What’s the likelihood that this place is going to collapse on us?”

Reilly glanced up from her scanner, her brow furrowed as she reviewed the data. “The tectonic activity has spiked in the last few weeks, but we should be safe for now. Just... don’t go jumping around on anything fragile.”

Daniels nodded, her gaze lingering on the distant ruins. “Let’s move. Stay in formation. We don’t know what’s waiting for us out there.”

The team fanned out, moving in perfect sync, their movements fluid yet cautious. Weapons were at the ready, eyes scanning every shadow, every crevice. The rocky ground beneath their boots crunched in rhythmic echoes, the jagged terrain offering no comfort. The wind, cold and biting, shrieked through the cliffs like a ghostly warning, carrying with it the faint, distant wail of a world long lost to time. Each step seemed to resonate with an unspoken weight, the chilling realization settling in: they were walking on the bones of an ancient empire that had once commanded the stars, and now, only the ruins remained.

The trek to the ruins was longer than anticipated, the path treacherous. Deep fissures split the ground, evidence of the planet’s imminent collapse. Some were small, only a few feet wide, easily avoidable. Others gaped like hungry maws, disappearing into blackness that seemed endless, as if the planet itself was swallowing all who dared venture across its decaying surface. A wrong step could send anyone plunging into the abyss below, and the team had to carefully navigate the shifting terrain, their senses on high alert for both environmental dangers and unseen enemies.

It wasn’t long before the first grim discovery made them halt. A body lay at the edge of a crevice, half-draped over the jagged rocks. The tattered remains of a scavenger’s gear clung to its decayed form, the bones picked clean by time and predators. The corpse’s empty eye sockets seemed to stare at the team, a silent warning of the dangers that lay ahead. The hands were outstretched, fingers frozen in a claw-like grip, as if the dead man had tried to drag himself back to safety before succumbing to his wounds. or perhaps something worse.

Further along, they found more bodies. Some were little more than skeletal remains, their bones splintered and crushed, victims of the planet's violent tremors. Others were fresher, flesh still clinging to their bones, but twisted in unnatural ways. These weren’t deaths by misfortune alone. Some had been riddled with bullet holes, their weapons discarded nearby, long emptied of ammunition. The scent of death clung to the air, thick and pungent, as though the planet itself reeked of the mercenaries’ final moments. Armor plates were scattered across the ground, tarnished and cracked, evidence of desperate struggles. It was clear they had met their end trying to loot whatever treasures remained hidden in the ruins.

As the team pressed on, the ruins came into view, their silhouettes jagged and crumbling against the darkening sky. What had once been a majestic, towering structure was now a skeletal reminder of its former glory. Spires that had likely pierced the heavens were shattered and hollow, their fragments scattered like debris from some cosmic war. Strange symbols, remnants of the Ancient civilization, adorned the crumbling walls. Though faded, they were still visible beneath layers of dust and grime, their meaning long lost to time.

The closer they got to the ruins, the heavier the air became, as if the very atmosphere grew denser, more oppressive with each step. It pressed against their chests, making it harder to breathe, as though the ruins themselves were resisting their approach. The once-grand architecture loomed ahead like a monolith of decay, a tombstone for an empire that had collapsed beneath its own weight.

As they neared the entrance, they stumbled upon another grim sight. Three more bodies, mercenaries by the looks of them, were slumped against the ruins' walls. One had his skull caved in, likely from a fall or a piece of falling debris. Another had a gaping hole in his chest, the dried blood still staining his armor, while the last had been decapitated, his head resting disturbingly close to his lifeless body. Whatever had killed these scavengers had done so with brutal efficiency.

Sergeant Major Maddox knelt down beside the nearest corpse, his visor scanning for any clues. “Looks like they weren't the first to try their luck here," he muttered, his voice low and tense. "And they sure as hell won’t be the last."

As they approached the ruins, the air seemed to grow thicker, more oppressive. The remnants of what had once been a grand structure loomed before them, its spires broken and crumbling, covered in layers of dust and debris. Strange symbols… Ancient script, were still visible, though faded, on the crumbled walls.

Daniels reached out and ran her fingers over one of the symbols, feeling the grooves beneath her fingertips. These ruins had been abandoned for millennia, but something about the energy here felt... recent.

“This place shouldn’t still be standing,” Reilly murmured, her eyes wide as she scanned the walls. “Not after all this time.”

Daniels’ gut twisted. “Something’s keeping it together.”

Maddox, ever the pragmatist, tightened his grip on his rifle. “Could be a trap.”

Fox’s voice came through the comms, calm but urgent. “Movement, northeast. Could be scavengers, but we’re not the only ones interested in this place.”

Daniels’ stomach dropped. “Kha'zir?”

“Can’t confirm yet, but they’re moving fast.”

“Everyone stay low,” Daniels ordered, motioning for her team to take cover among the ruins. “Fox, can you get a visual?”

A moment of silence passed before Fox’s voice came through again, low and tense. “Got eyes. Three…no, four targets. Not Kha'zir. Definitely human. Mercenaries by the looks of it. Armed to the teeth.”

Daniels swore under her breath. Mercenaries were bad enough, but mercenaries looking for Ancient tech? That could complicate things in ways they couldn’t afford.

“What are they after?” Kane asked, her hand hovering near her sidearm.

“Same thing we are,” Daniels replied. “We need to move fast.”

She glanced at Reilly. “Find us a way inside.”

Reilly’s fingers flew over her scanner, the screen lighting up with a map of the structure. “There’s a breach in the southeast wall. Looks like part of the facility collapsed a few hundred years ago. We can get in through there, but we’ll have to move fast.”

Daniels nodded. “Maddox, take point. Kane, cover our flank. Let’s go.”

The team moved swiftly, darting through the ruins toward the breach in the wall. As they neared the entrance, the sound of gunfire echoed from the north, mercenaries engaging someone, or something. The Kha'zir? Other scavengers? Daniels couldn’t be sure, but they didn’t have time to find out.

The breach in the wall was narrow…far too narrow for comfort. Jagged edges of crumbled stone jutted inward, creating a tight squeeze barely wide enough for them to slip through one by one. Daniels approached first, running her gloved hand over the rough surface. Dust crumbled under her touch, but the wall remained solid. She glanced at the others, then at the breach, calculating the risks. The mission brief hadn't mentioned anything about easy entrances.

Sergeant Major Maddox stood nearby, his towering frame rigid and alert, pulse rifle resting against his chest. Daniels caught his eye and instantly knew what she had to do. There was no way Maddox, built like a tank, would fit through the breach, not without causing a collapse or losing precious time.

"You're staying out here," she ordered, her tone firm but low, so the rest of the team wouldn’t hear. Maddox opened his mouth to protest, but she cut him off with a sharp look. "You and Fox. Guard the entrance. We can’t afford to get boxed in if something…or someone, decides to come up behind us."

Maddox grimaced but nodded, his jaw tight. He understood the logic, even if he didn't like it. Daniels knew that leaving him behind was a tough call, but there wasn’t another option. Maddox’s bulk would have slowed them down, and she needed someone strong to cover their backs. Fox, with his steady aim and quiet demeanor, was the perfect companion for Maddox.

"Copy that," Maddox said, adjusting his stance and positioning himself beside the breach, his rifle now angled toward the cliffs. Fox silently moved to his side, his sniper rifle at the ready, eyes scanning the horizon for any sign of movement.

Satisfied with the arrangement, Daniels signaled for the rest of the team to follow her through. She ducked into the breach first, squeezing her body through the tight gap. The jagged stones scraped against her armor, and she had to twist her body to avoid getting stuck. Once inside, she inhaled sharply, the air was cooler, though it carried a strange metallic tang that made her skin prickle. The ruins hummed with a faint but unmistakable energy.

One by one, the rest of the team followed her lead, each soldier having to maneuver carefully through the breach. Daniels glanced back one last time before disappearing fully inside, catching Maddox’s gaze. His visor glinted in the dim light, a silent promise that he’d hold the line at their backs, no matter what.

Inside, the air was oppressive, and the deeper they ventured, the more the ruins seemed to stir. Ancient consoles lined the walls, their surfaces covered in dust and grime, yet occasionally flickers of light would spark from within them. Faint holographic displays blinked in and out of existence, as if they were sensing the presence of life for the first time in millennia. Each step seemed to pull the team further into the past, into a place that had once been alive with purpose and power, now crumbling yet not quite dead.

Daniels motioned for silence, the weight of the ruins pressing down on them as they delved deeper. She couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched, though by what, or whom…she wasn’t sure.

“This place is active,” Reilly whispered, her voice filled with awe. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Neither had Daniels. Whatever power had been dormant in these ruins for millennia was waking up, and it wasn’t clear if that was a good thing or not.

They descended deeper into the facility, moving cautiously, every corner and corridor potentially hiding something dangerous. The further they went, the more the air seemed to hum with anticipation, like the planet itself was holding its breath.

And then, they found it.

At the heart of the facility, beyond a set of heavy stone doors covered in Ancient symbols, lay a vast chamber, its walls lined with rows of towering columns. At the center of the room stood a large pedestal, and on it rested a single, glowing device, pulsing with the unmistakable energy of Ancient technology.

Daniels’ breath caught in her throat. This was it. The first clue to the Forgotten Arsenal.

The breach in the wall trembled as distant echoes of gunfire reached inside, the heavy thuds of Maddox’s pulse rifle marking the beginning of a fierce firefight. Daniels, crouched behind a crumbled pedestal, grimaced as the chaos outside unfolded. She had known leaving Maddox and Fox to guard the entrance might lead to this, but now, with mercenaries closing in, they were in for a battle.

“Captain, we’ve got incoming! Multiple hostiles,” Maddox’s voice crackled over the comms. His breathing was calm, but Daniels could hear the intensity behind his words. “They found us.”

“Hold them off, Maddox!” Daniels ordered, her voice tight. She turned to Reilly and Kane, who were huddled beside her near the glowing Ancient device. “We need more time.”

Outside, the air was alive with gunfire. Maddox and Fox had taken cover behind the jagged ruins just outside the breach. Maddox, with his pulse rifle in full auto, rained down suppressive fire, pinning the advancing mercenaries behind the rocks and shattered columns. Fox, positioned higher on a ridge, picked off enemies with deadly precision, each shot echoing like a whisper in the storm.

But the mercenaries were relentless. More of them appeared over the ridge, their mismatched armor gleaming under the harsh light of the planet’s atmosphere. They spread out, firing in short, controlled bursts, trying to flank Maddox and Fox’s position. Maddox saw the movement and adjusted, his pulse rifle switching to controlled bursts, keeping them at bay.

“They’re pushing up! We need support!” Maddox barked into the comms as he ducked behind a pillar, narrowly avoiding a hail of bullets. Sparks flew as rounds ricocheted off the ancient stone.

Inside the ruins, Daniels was aware they didn’t have much time. The Ancient device in front of them was pulsing with energy, its hum growing louder with every passing second. Reilly’s fingers danced across her portable scanner, her brow furrowed in concentration.

“Captain,” Reilly stammered, her voice strained with urgency. “This thing is destabilizing fast. It’s some kind of power core, but the containment field is failing. If we don’t do something, it’s going to blow.”

Daniels clenched her jaw, glancing back toward the breach. She could hear the gunfire intensifying, Maddox and Fox locked in a brutal exchange with the mercenaries outside. They wouldn’t be able to hold out much longer. She had to make a decision, fast.

“Kane,” Daniels barked, turning to the communications officer. “Get us an evac! We’re going to need to get out of here, and quick.”

Kane was already on it, her fingers flying over her wrist comms as she commanded the rover to initiate the gate sequence. "I’ve got the rover dialing the gate for immediate return to the SGC," she reported, her voice tense but steady. "Seismic activity is spiking. This whole place is going to collapse if that device goes critical."

Inside the crumbling ruins, Kane kept her focus sharp, fingers flying over her wrist comms as she adjusted the rover’s remote systems from a distance. The faint sound of the stargate dialing echoed through her earpiece, a mechanical hum that seemed too far away to offer immediate comfort. The chevrons were locking into place with a metallic clang, one by one, but they were still deep within the heart of the collapsing structure.

"Gate's almost ready!" Kane shouted, her voice rising over the groaning walls and the increasingly violent tremors. Her eyes darted between the flickering display on her wrist and the glowing device that pulsed ominously just feet away. Each vibration from the failing structure seemed to resonate with the unstable energy of the Ancient tech, as though the planet itself was about to tear apart beneath them.

"We’re cutting it close!" Kane warned, her fingers moving frantically as she synchronized the dialing sequence. The air around them vibrated with a mix of raw power and crumbling debris, the hum of the device growing louder with every second. "But we’re not staying here to find out what happens when this thing blows!"

Daniels’ mind raced. “Reilly, how do we shut it down?”

Reilly shook her head, frustration etched across her face. “I don’t know if we can. This tech is way beyond anything I’ve ever seen. It wasn’t designed to shut off…it’s a power source, but it’s destabilizing.”

A loud explosion boomed from outside, shaking the ruins and sending dust cascading from the ceiling. Daniels swore under her breath. Maddox and Fox were out there, fighting for their lives, and she didn’t have time for doubts.

Outside, Maddox gritted his teeth as an explosion sent a shower of debris into the air. One of the mercenaries had launched a grenade, and the blast had taken out a chunk of the ruins near their position. He could feel the heat of the blast even through his armor, but he didn’t falter. Fox’s rifle barked again, taking down another mercenary as they tried to push forward.

“They’re closing in!” Maddox growled into the comms. He ducked low and fired a burst from his pulse rifle, catching one of the mercenaries in the chest and sending them sprawling.

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“Keep them off us a little longer!” Daniels ordered through the comms, her voice strained.

“We’re running out of ammo here, Cap,” Fox’s voice cut in, calm but tense. “We can’t hold them forever.”

Daniels turned to Reilly, her heart pounding. The device was now glowing so brightly it hurt to look at. The air around it was vibrating with energy, the very atmosphere humming with an almost deafening resonance. They were running out of time.

“Reilly, anything?” Daniels demanded.

Reilly’s fingers frantically tapped on her scanner, her eyes wide with desperation. “It’s… it’s too late, Captain. I can’t stabilize it. We need to get out of here, now.”

Daniels didn’t hesitate. “Kane, get the gate ready. We’re pulling out.”

Kane nodded, her fingers moving swiftly over her wrist comms as she sent the order to the rover. “We’re on the way,” she said, her voice calm despite the tremors shaking the ground beneath them.

A moment later, the AI built into the rover responded, its synthetic voice steady amid the chaos. "Acknowledged. Gate activation will begin upon your approach. All systems are ready."

Kane breathed a small sigh of relief, knowing there was no extraction team, only the rover and the gate. "We’re set," she called to Daniels, glancing back at the glowing device. "The rover will dial the gate as soon as we’re close enough. We just need to survive the trip."

“Maddox, Fox!” Daniels called through the comms, her voice commanding. “Fall back to the breach. We’re getting out of here.”

Maddox fired one last burst, his pulse rifle spitting out a stream of suppressive fire before he began retreating toward the breach. Fox, calm and precise, covered him with well-placed shots from his vantage point, each round forcing the advancing mercenaries to duck for cover.

As they neared the breach, Maddox moved swiftly, reaching it first. Without hesitation, he turned and dropped into position, his rifle trained on the enemy, laying down a wall of fire to keep the mercenaries pinned. Fox slid into position beside him, taking a knee and continuing to pick off targets with deadly precision.

“They’re closing in fast!” Maddox barked into the comms, his voice tight with urgency.

Fox’s visor glinted as he scanned the horizon. “We’ll hold them here,” he muttered, steadying his aim.

They had one job now, cover the breach and ensure the rest of the team could make it out from inside the ruins.

The gunfire outside intensified, but Maddox and Fox held their ground, ready to give Daniels and the others the precious seconds they needed to escape.

Daniels grabbed Reilly and Kane, pulling them toward the exit. The ground beneath them rumbled violently as the ancient structure began to collapse. Rocks and debris rained down from the ceiling, filling the air with dust and choking the light.

“Move, move, move!” Daniels shouted as they raced for the breach, the device behind them pulsing faster, brighter, its hum now a deafening roar.

The team burst through the breach, the ground shaking beneath their feet as they sprinted toward the stargate. Behind them, the ruins began to cave in, massive chunks of stone tumbling down as the Ancient device reached critical mass.

“Maddox, cover our six!” Daniels ordered, her breath ragged as they ran.

Maddox didn’t need to be told twice. He spun around, firing at the mercenaries who were still in pursuit, the flashes from his pulse rifle lighting up the crumbling ruins.

As they neared the stargate, the ground trembled beneath their feet, but Kane’s wrist comm crackled to life. The AI-controlled rover reported in its steady, synthetic voice, "Initiating gate activation. Stand by."

Daniels glanced ahead just in time to see the stargate spring to life. The chevrons began locking in rapid succession, each one glowing with a familiar blue light. A moment later, the wormhole erupted from the gate with a powerful whoosh, stabilizing into the shimmering event horizon just as the team arrived.

“We’ve got it!” Kane shouted, her voice tinged with relief. The roar of the gate drowned out the distant rumble of the collapsing ruins behind them, but there was no time to celebrate.

Daniels gave a quick nod, but something nagged at her as she glanced back at the ruins, now shrouded in dust and debris. The device had overloaded, but the way it reacted still didn’t sit right. It felt unfinished, like they had only delayed something far worse.

“Everyone through, now!” Daniels ordered, her voice cutting through the chaos. They had escaped, but whatever they had unleashed might still be waiting to strike.

"Get to the gate!" Kane shouted, her voice barely audible over the roar of destruction.

They sprinted across the rocky terrain, the stargate just ahead, its massive ring standing like a silent sentinel against the chaos. Behind them, the ruins of the Ancient facility crumbled, consumed by the energy of the device.

"Send the rover through!" Daniels shouted as they neared the gate, the swirling blue vortex already shimmering before them.

Reilly quickly relayed the command, her fingers tapping the controls on her wrist comm. The rover responded instantly, rolling toward the gate and disappearing into the event horizon in a flash of light.

Daniels paused for a moment, scanning the area around them as the dust and debris from the collapsing ruins swirled in the air. The ground trembled beneath them, the ominous rumble of aftershocks echoing through the canyon.

"Hold position," Daniels ordered, her eyes narrowing as she assessed the situation. "We need to make sure the way’s clear before we move through."

Kane and Reilly quickly took up defensive stances, weapons raised and scanning the horizon for any signs of the mercenaries. Daniels remained tense, every sense on high alert. The gate was active, their escape route open, but the danger wasn’t over yet.

As the gate shimmered behind them, its energy rippling through the air, Daniels and her team watched in horror as the second shockwave tore through the ruins. The ground split open with a deafening crack, sending jagged fissures racing toward the mercenaries who had been closing in on their position.

The blast hit with brutal force. A wall of energy surged through the canyon, catching the mercenaries off guard. They screamed as the wave tore them apart, some were thrown into the air like ragdolls, limbs twisted in unnatural angles, while others were consumed by the collapsing ground beneath them. Blood sprayed across the rocks as bodies were crushed and vaporized, their forms disintegrating under the raw power of the shockwave. The ruins, once looming and ancient, crumbled into a storm of dust and debris, erasing everything in its path.

Daniels gritted her teeth, the sight of the carnage turning her stomach, but there was no time to dwell on it. The ground beneath her feet shuddered violently, and a low, ominous rumble echoed through the air. She knew a third blast was imminent…and if they didn’t act now, they’d be caught in it, just like the mercenaries.

"We’re not waiting for the next one!" Daniels shouted, turning to her team. "Move! Through the gate…now!"

Without hesitation, Kane, Reilly, and Maddox bolted for the event horizon. The gate shimmered in front of them, offering the only path to safety as the world around them threatened to tear itself apart. Reilly was the first through, disappearing into the wormhole with Kane close behind. Maddox followed, keeping his rifle raised and his eyes on the ruins, ready to cover them until the last moment.

Daniels spared one last glance at the devastated landscape, her heart heavy with the knowledge that they might never return to this planet. The Ancient device had unleashed something far worse than they had anticipated. If the planet survived, there would be time to assess the damage. But right now, their priority was survival.

She ran toward the gate, the rumbling growing louder as another tremor shook the ground. Just as she reached the event horizon, she gave a final command oner the coms. "Shut it down behind us!"

As she stepped through, the wormhole collapsed with a roar, sealing them off from the chaos. The team emerged on the other side, the gate closing behind them, leaving the unstable planet and its terrible secret far behind.

Daniels let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. They were safe…for now. But the question lingered in her mind: if the planet survived, what had they truly unleashed?

Daniels pulled off her helmet, her chest heaving as she looked at her team. They had made it. Barely.

"Mission complete," Maddox muttered, wiping the sweat from his brow.

But Daniels wasn’t so sure. She glanced at Reilly, who was still clutching her scanner, her face pale.

"What did you find?" Daniels asked, her voice low.

Reilly hesitated, her eyes flickering to the data on her screen. "That wasn’t just a power source, Captain. It was a beacon."

Daniels felt the bottom drop out of her stomach. "A beacon for what?"

Reilly looked up, her expression grim. "The Kha'zir. We just woke them up."

The air in the gate room seemed to freeze as Reilly’s words hung in the air.

"We just woke them up."

Captain Daniels felt her heart skip a beat. The Kha'zir. It wasn’t just that they had stumbled upon some forgotten Ancient device, they had triggered something far more dangerous, something that had been dormant, waiting. The Kha'zir now knew exactly where they were.

General Milner stormed into the gate room, her eyes sharp as she took in the dust-covered, battle-weary team. “Report, Captain.”

Daniels stood, wiping the sweat and dust from her face. "We found the Ancient facility, General. But we weren’t the only ones, mercenaries were there too, likely after the same technology. We engaged and neutralized them, but the device inside wasn’t what we thought. It’s a beacon."

Milner’s brow furrowed deeply. "A beacon? For the Kha'zir?"

Reilly stepped forward, her voice still shaky but controlled. "It’s worse than we thought. The device wasn’t just signaling them…it was amplifying some kind of bio-energy field. I don’t have all the details yet, but from what I could gather, the Kha'zir have been using these beacons across different parts of the galaxy to map out key locations. This one was dormant… until we activated it."

Milner’s expression hardened. “So we just broadcasted our location to the enemy.”

Daniels nodded, her stomach churning. "We have to assume they’re on their way."

Milner’s jaw clenched. "Then we don’t have time to waste. Debrief in ten. Captain, gather your team in the conference room. We need to assess what’s coming and how soon."

As the general left, Daniels turned to the rest of TFO-1. Maddox had already begun stripping off his gear, his face grim but unreadable. Fox looked like he hadn’t broken a sweat, but Daniels could tell he was more on edge than usual. Kane was busy wiping dust off her uniform, her thoughts clearly elsewhere, and Reilly was still clutching her scanner like it was the only thing tethering her to reality.

"Alright," Daniels said, forcing herself to sound steady. "Ten minutes. Get cleaned up, and then we head for debrief."

Maddox grunted, but said nothing, heading straight for the showers. Kane followed, muttering something under her breath. Fox simply gave Daniels a nod, his expression unreadable, and moved off in silence.

Daniels felt the weight of the mission pressing down on her more heavily than ever. They had survived P3X-120, but at what cost? The Kha'zir were no longer some distant threat, they were now heading directly for Earth, and TFO-1 was responsible for waking them.

"Captain," Reilly’s voice pulled her from her thoughts.

Daniels turned to find Reilly standing beside her, her brow furrowed with concern. "There’s something else. The readings I got from the beacon… it wasn’t just meant to wake the Kha'zir. I think it’s connected to something bigger. I need more time to analyze the data, but it’s almost as if the beacon was just one part of a network."

Daniels frowned. "A network of beacons?"

Reilly nodded. "If I’m right, there could be dozens of these devices scattered across the galaxy…maybe hundreds. Each one broadcasting information back to the Kha'zir, feeding them data on planetary systems, populations, resources… and defenses."

Daniels felt her chest tighten. "So they’re not just coming for us, they’re mapping out everything."

Reilly nodded grimly. "They’re preparing for a full-scale invasion."

Daniels exhaled slowly, the gravity of the situation sinking in. "Okay. You keep digging into the data. We need to know everything we can about this network."

Reilly nodded, her expression determined. "I’ll get started right away."

As Reilly headed off to analyze her findings, Daniels allowed herself a brief moment to collect her thoughts. The Kha'zir had always been a looming threat, but now that threat was tangible, real. They were coming for Earth, and they were coming soon.

After a few minutes, she made her way to the conference room where her team was already gathering. Maddox leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his face set in a permanent scowl. Fox sat at the table, staring off into the distance, while Kane tapped away on a tablet, her brow furrowed as she reviewed mission data.

General Milner entered the room moments later, her expression as hard as steel. She wasted no time, tapping a command into the wall console. A holographic display of the galaxy appeared, with several flashing red markers indicating known Kha'zir activity.

"We don’t have much time," Milner began, her voice cold and authoritative. "Based on the information from your mission, we have to assume the Kha'zir are already mobilizing in response to the beacon you activated."

Daniels sat forward, her mind racing. "Do we know how long we have?"

Milner’s jaw tightened. "Best guess? Days, maybe less. The Kha'zir have been moving faster than anticipated. They’ve already taken out several outposts along the rim, and intelligence suggests their ships are capable of interstellar travel far beyond what we’ve seen before. The moment that beacon activated, we painted a target on Earth."

Daniels shared a glance with her team. Days. They had days before the Kha'zir arrived, and that wasn’t nearly enough time to prepare for what was coming.

"What about the other beacons?" Kane asked, her voice calm but measured. "If Reilly’s theory is correct and these beacons are part of a larger network, we need to find and shut them down before the Kha'zir can coordinate their attack."

Milner nodded. "That’s the plan. TFO-1 will be leading the search for the remaining beacons. We’ve identified several likely locations based on Ancient activity, but we’ll need you on the ground to confirm and disable them."

The General paused, her gaze steady as she continued. "In addition, I’ve activated Task Forces TFO-2 through TFO-10. They’re already being deployed to other priority sites, all working to eliminate the remaining beacons. This is a coordinated effort, and failure isn’t an option. Each team will be engaging independently, but the mission remains the same, locate, confirm, and neutralize. We need to shut these things down before they cause any more damage."

Daniels exchanged a glance with her team, the weight of the mission sinking in. It wasn’t just them out there…every Task Force was engaged in a race against time.

Daniels felt the weight of the task settle over her. Shutting down the beacons was their best chance at stalling the Kha'zir, but they were running out of time.

"We’ll need to move fast," Daniels said. "If the Kha'zir are already mobilizing, we have to assume they’ll be protecting these locations."

"That’s why you won’t be going in alone," Milner replied, her eyes narrowing with determination. "We’ve called in reinforcements. The Free Jaffa, the Tok’ra, and every ally we can muster are mobilizing. Each of them will be deploying their own task forces to assist. But make no mistake, it’s going to be a race against time. They’ll do their part, but you and all of the Task Force Orion remain our best shot at reaching those beacons before the Kha'zir get to them."

Daniels nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. Allies were joining the fight, but the clock was ticking, and failure wasn’t an option.

Maddox grunted. "So we’re the tip of the spear again."

Milner’s gaze softened slightly. "I wouldn’t trust anyone else with the job."

Daniels nodded, her resolve hardening. "When do we move?"

"Within the hour," Milner said, turning back to the holographic map. "First target is an Ancient facility on P4X-219. Intelligence suggests there’s another beacon there, and if it’s active, we need to shut it down before the Kha'zir can use it."

Daniels stood, her team following suit. They had faced impossible odds before, but this felt different. The Kha'zir weren’t like any enemy they had faced. They were relentless, adaptable, and terrifyingly efficient.

But TFO-1 had a job to do. And they weren’t going down without a fight.

"Let’s gear up," Daniels ordered, her voice steady. "We’ve got a galaxy to save."

The next hour passed in a blur of activity. Task Force Orion prepped for their mission with the efficiency of a seasoned team, each member lost in their own pre-battle rituals. There was little conversation, only the muted sound of gear being checked, weapons readied, and systems calibrated. Everyone knew the stakes. Each of them had faced life-or-death situations before, but this was different. The Kha'zir were a new kind of enemy, one that didn’t just destroy…it consumed, leaving nothing behind but twisted versions of the life it had overtaken.

Captain Daniels stood in front of her locker, staring down at the tactical gear that had become second nature to her over the years. As she strapped on her vest and clipped her sidearm to her hip, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something bigger was at play. The beacon on P3X-120 had been just the tip of the iceberg, there were more out there, each one signaling their doom. And now they were running a race against time, trying to dismantle the Kha'zir’s network before the invasion reached Earth.

"You ready for this?" Maddox’s voice broke her thoughts as he approached, pulling on his own gear with the same practiced ease.

Daniels nodded, tightening the straps on her vest. "As ready as we’ll ever be."

Maddox grunted, his eyes narrowing. "Feels like a suicide mission, doesn’t it?"

Daniels gave him a wry smile. "When has that ever stopped us?"

He smirked, a rare expression of humor cracking through his usual stoic exterior. "Fair point."

They finished gearing up in silence, the tension hanging over them like a storm cloud. Daniels cast a glance around the room, checking in on the rest of her team. Fox was sitting on a bench, adjusting his rifle with his usual calm precision. Kane was at her terminal, likely sending a final round of data up to Command. And Reilly was already lost in her tablet, reviewing the last-minute intel they’d gathered on P4X-219.

"Alright, listen up!" Daniels called, stepping into the center of the room. "This isn’t like the last mission. We know the Kha'zir are coming, and we have to assume they’re already on P4X-219, guarding the beacon. Our job is to get in, shut it down, and get out before things go sideways."

"Assuming they’re not already waiting for us at the gate," Fox added, his voice neutral but edged with that ever-present sense of caution.

Daniels nodded. "Exactly. That’s why we’re going in fast, but we stay controlled. We don’t know what we’re walking into, but if we can take them by surprise, we might just have a chance."

"What do we know about P4X-219?" Kane asked, finally standing up and joining the group.

"Ancient facility, much like the last one," Reilly explained, glancing up from her tablet. "The satellites placed across the gate system over the last two hundred years are giving us a detailed view. It’s located in a mountainous region, high altitude. That’ll give us some natural cover, but it’s also going to make extraction tricky. The satellite data is picking up high-energy signatures, there’s a strong chance the beacon is already active."

She paused, her eyes scanning the tablet as more information streamed in from the network of satellites the SGC had launched over the centuries. "We’ve got eyes on hundreds of worlds, but this one’s lighting up like a beacon itself. We need to move fast."

"So we’ve got a ticking clock," Maddox grumbled.

"More or less," Reilly replied, glancing at Daniels. "We need to be prepared for heavy resistance, especially if the Kha'zir know we’re coming."

Daniels inhaled deeply, letting the weight of the mission settle into her bones. "You all know what’s at stake. This isn’t just about Earth anymore. If we don’t shut these beacons down, we’re looking at a galaxy-wide extinction event. We’re the first line of defense, and probably the last."

Her team nodded, the gravity of the situation reflected in their hardened expressions. They’d been through hell together before, and they knew they were about to go through it again.

"Alright, let’s move out," Daniels ordered. "Fox, you take point when we hit the ground. Maddox, you’re on rear guard. Reilly, stay close to me, we’ll need your tech expertise to disable the beacon. Kane, coordinate extraction with Command once we’re in."

They filed out of the locker room, their footsteps heavy as they made their way to the gate room. The hum of the stargate grew louder as they approached, its shimmering blue surface already active, waiting to transport them across the galaxy.

General Milner was waiting for them by the gate, her arms crossed, her face set in stone. "This is it," she said, her voice low. "You get in, you shut it down, and you get out. We’ll be ready for evac the moment you signal."

Daniels nodded. "Understood, General."

Milner’s gaze lingered on Daniels for a moment, something unspoken passing between them. Finally, she spoke, her tone softening ever so slightly. "Good luck out there. And stay alive."

Daniels gave her a small nod, then turned to face the stargate. The swirling vortex seemed almost peaceful, belying the chaos that awaited them on the other side. She took a deep breath, then stepped forward, leading her team through the gate.

As the familiar rush of cold enveloped them, Daniels mentally braced for whatever lay ahead. P4X-219 was their next battleground, but it wouldn’t be the last. The Kha'zir were coming, and Task Force Orion would be there to meet them, head-on, no matter the cost.

----------------------------------------

The instant they emerged on the other side, Daniels knew something was wrong. The first thing she noticed was the wind, howling and biting, as if it had been waiting for them. The air was thin, the cold seeping into their bones even through their tactical suits. They stood on the edge of a massive mountain range, jagged peaks rising into the sky like the teeth of a long-forgotten beast.

But it wasn’t the weather that set her on edge…it was the silence. No movement, no sign of life. The gate deactivated behind them with a dull hum, leaving only the whistling wind and the distant rumble of shifting rocks.

Daniels’ instincts kicked in, and she turned to Kane, her voice low but firm. "Kane, get the AI-controlled rover ready. I want it primed to dial the gate at a moment’s notice, either for a quick extraction or to contact the SGC for reinforcements if things go sideways."

Kane nodded, already tapping commands into her wrist comm. "On it, Captain. The rover will be ready to go."

Fox was already in motion, scanning the perimeter, his rifle raised and his senses sharp. "No immediate contact," he reported, his voice clipped. "But this place is too quiet."

Daniels nodded, her eyes scanning the horizon. The Ancient facility they were here to find was supposed to be nestled deep in the mountains, hidden within the rock. But from where they stood, it was hard to tell where the facility ended and the landscape began.

"Keep your eyes peeled," Daniels muttered. "We don’t know what we’re walking into."

Reilly was already at her scanner, frowning as she took in the readings. "Energy signatures are spiking, just like on P3X-120. Whatever’s powering the beacon, it’s active."

"How far?" Maddox asked, his voice gruff as he shouldered his weapon.

"About two klicks northeast," Reilly replied, pointing toward a ridge in the distance. "It’s buried deep, but it’s definitely there."

Daniels nodded. "Alright, let’s move out. Stay low and keep tight. We don’t know who, or what, might be watching."

The team fell into formation, moving swiftly and quietly across the rocky terrain. The cold wind cut through them, but they pressed on, their focus unwavering. Every step brought them closer to the Ancient facility, and every step heightened the tension in the air.

As they neared the ridge, Fox raised a fist, signaling the team to halt. He crouched low, scanning the horizon through his scope.

"What do you see?" Daniels asked, moving up beside him.

"Tracks," Fox said, his voice low. "Recent. Heavy boots. Could be mercenaries, or worse."

Daniels clenched her jaw. "Kha'zir?"

"Can’t say for sure," Fox replied, lowering his scope. "But whoever they are, they’re ahead of us."

Daniels motioned for the team to regroup. "We move fast and quiet. No unnecessary noise, no mistakes."

They moved out again, following Fox’s lead as he tracked the footsteps through the snow and rock. The facility was close now, she could feel it. The energy in the air was growing stronger, humming with the same faint vibration they had felt on P3X-120.

And then, they saw it.

The entrance to the Ancient facility was carved into the side of the mountain, almost invisible against the jagged rock. Massive stone doors stood half-open, the space beyond them bathed in a faint, eerie glow.

But what caught Daniels' attention wasn’t the doors…it was the bodies.

Scattered in the snow, just outside the entrance, lay the remains of several mercenaries. Their weapons were still clutched in their hands, but their bodies were twisted and broken, as if they’d been torn apart by something... not human.

"Kha'zir," Maddox growled, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the carnage.

Daniels knelt beside one of the bodies, her stomach turning as she examined the wounds. The flesh was shredded, metal fused with bone, a clear sign of Kha'zir hybrid technology. They had arrived.

"We’re not alone," Daniels whispered, standing slowly. "They’re here. And they’ve already started."

The team exchanged grim looks, each of them knowing what this meant. The Kha'zir weren’t just guarding the beacon…they were using it.

Daniels took a deep breath, steadying herself. "We move in fast, disable the beacon, and get out before they have time to regroup. Stay alert, this is where it gets dangerous."

And with that, Task Force Orion stepped through the gates of the Ancient facility, into the heart of the enemy.