SG-1 stood at the foot of the ramp listening to Lt. Simmons call out each chevron as it locked into place, rechecking their equipment, their banter light. O'Neill was in an exceptionally good mood. If there was one thing Jack hated almost as much as the Goa'uld it was paperwork and for a week now, while Daniel examined and catalogued artifacts brought back by different teams and Carter tested several new pieces of equipment, the colonel had been stuck in his office catching up on reports. He had seriously been considering approaching the general and begging Hammond for a mission. God, how he hated paperwork!
Now there was an idea! If they could talk the Goa'uld into filing reports in triplicate on every activity, the bastards wouldn't have time to take a host, let alone attempt to dominate the universe. A mental image of Apophis seated behind a desk signing his name to stack after stack of reports, popped into his mind.
"Earth to Jack." The phrase he'd used so often to the man now speaking, caught his attention. "Okay now that you're back with us, I'll ask again...What's so funny?"
"Why would you ask that?"
"Because O'Neill, you had a....what is the appropriate saying...shit eating grin on your face." Teal'c supplied somberly.
"Where the hell did you hear that?!"
"Is that not the correct phrase? That is how you described Daniel Jackson when he first saw the ruins on PJ4276."
"Jack!" Daniel's tone was offended.
"Oh that's definately the correct phrase Teal'c." Carter chuckled. "And you did Daniel."
"Sam! You're not helping." Daniel tried to look indignant, failing miserably. "And that is really a stupid expression. I mean think about it; who would be grinning while-"
"I think the entire saying is 'grinning like a opossum eating shit." O'Neill had to laugh at the absurdity of the whole conversation.
"Are you saying I look like an-?"
"What is a posseum?"
"It's a rat on steriods." O'Neill answered Teal'c. "No Daniel I would never say you look like a opossum-"
"SG-1 you have a go." General Hammond announced. "Good luck people."
"You're much too cute." Jack finished, quickly ducking the playful punch thrown by his friend. "Let's go campers. We don't want to be late for the party.
The thought of going offworld, escaping the tedium of paperwork and wandering the halls of SGC while the rest of his team went about duties that interested them but left him wishing for a goa'uld attack (well almost) had Jack whistling happily as he entered the briefing room. But if Jack was in a good mood, Daniel was ecstatic at the prospect of making a second trip to PJ5X33. Jack wouldn't doubt that he'd circled the entire month on his calender.
Closer to its sun, the planet had a shorter seasonal rotation than earth. When SG-1 had first visited five months earlier, the nomadic people had just begun the journey to their winter camp. Surprised but unafraid, the large encampment had welcomed the visitors, inviting them to share their meals and offering shelter for the night. With Daniel translating, the chieftain, a round jovial little man, named Meelay, who looked to be at least a hundred years old, assured them they would be more than welcome to stay as long as they wished once the people returned for the summer.
Listening as Carter reiterated the test results of the few soil samples taken on their previous trip, Jack watched the youngest member of his team, his military training preventing his laughter at the anthropologist's obvious impatience.
"The soil shows strong naquada deposits sir." Carter reported. "A mining agreement would certainly be in order if we can reach an alliance with these people."
"Your opinion Dr. Jackson." General Hammond turned to Daniel, as he rocked back in his chair. He too had noticed Daniel's fidgeting and remembered with amusement the enthusiasm in his voice months ago when he'd reported the culture of PJ5X33 appeared to be a cross of Native American and Egyptian. It was such a strange mixture that he considered it well worth returning to the planet for further study. Several times in the past months, Daniel had managed to work the Apakians into conversations.
"Although we didn't spend that much time with the Apakians, they seem to be a very friendly people and would probably be open to an alliance...after all they did invite us back."
"But?" They had all heard the sudden hesitation in his voice. "There are great similiarities between the Apakians and the people of PXY887. They both live a simple life migrating with the seasons and like Tonane's people their weapons are bows and arrows and spears unlike Tonane's theirs are still made of wood and stone. The shelters the Apakians used were made of both animal skin and woven cloth as were their clothes."
"Your point being?" Jack urged. Daniel had a bad habit of expounding on every detail as he worked his way to the heart of the matter.
"My point being," Daniel sighed, "that although they may be open to an alliance, these people basically live off the land and may not be to thrilled with our damaging their world to extract the naquada. As we all know, Tonane's people didn't think it was such a great idea. Basically we know nothing about their culture and we know absolutely nothing about their religion. By introducing our mining techniques we could be doing serious harm to their natural development."
By the end of the briefing General Hammond had given them permission to take ten days with the Apakians, appeasing Daniel's worry that a mining contract wasn't a necessary part of the alliance.
