Sister Helena prayed Compline and got a good night's sleep. She set the alarm on her watch to wake her at 0430. The alarm sounded and Sister Helena woke, and after completing her morning hygiene routine, she grabbed her breviary and a spiritual reading book and went up to the base’s chapel to pray. After kneeling in silent prayer, she began:
“Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will proclaim your praise.” She prayed the Office of Readings and Lauds and then she meditated. It felt strange praying the Liturgy of the Hours by herself and without the other sisters, but she would need to get used to it as she would be on missions and would need to adapt her Rule to accommodate her new situation. After prayers, Sister Helena went to the commissary for breakfast. She found her team seated at a table together she got her breakfast, which consisted of scrambled eggs, a waffle, an orange, and coffee. She sat down next to Bjornson.
“God morgen, Sister,” the Norwegian said.
“Good morning, Oversersjant.”
“Sister, how did you sleep?” He asked.
“I slept well, thank you,” Sister Helena replied.
“Sister Helena, are you ready for the briefing?” Colonel Larkin asked gruffly.
“I think so, Colonel,” Sister Helena replied.
“You'll have to give up your report of your visions to us and the general.”
“I'm aware of that, Colonel. And I am ready.” He gave her a curt but respectful nod. At 0900 hours they convened in the conference room on Level 27. Sister Helena and Fairbairn sat on one side of the table while Colonel Larkin and Bjornson sat on the other. As soon as General Carter entered the room the four stood.
“At ease. Be seated,” said General Carter. The four sat and General Carter passed out file folders to the four. Then she stood at the head of the table. “Good morning. Twenty-five years ago, SG-1—of which I was a member at the time—went on a routine exploration of P4X-987. We found that the planet was made-up of medieval Christians from England. We found the people of P4X-987 were being terrorized by Sokar via one of his minions who was in the body of an Unas. He also had the help of the village’s religious leader named Cannon who terrorized his people, and SG-1 by using a Goa’uld orbital weapons satellite, which he controlled by a remote control ring. He even proclaimed us demons due to Teal’c Jaffa tattoo of Apophis and nearly killed him, but with the help of two very brave villagers, Simon and Mary, we defeated the Goa’uld investing the Unas and for a short time Cannon.”
“General, most of the civilizations the SGC has encountered have come from peoples that were taken from Earth by the Goa’uld millennia ago. Why and how was the group taken so late?” Fairbairn asked.
“Dr. Jackson theorized that Sokar took the ancestors of 987 through the stargate that was in Antarctica. The why is Sokar used them as potential hosts for himself or his underlings.” Fairbairn nodded.
“Before we departed, we took the control ring, and we told Simon and Mary to bury the gate to prevent another Goa’uld incursion. Things stayed that way until five days ago when Sister Helena contacted us with information regarding P4X-987. According to her the people of 987 have unburied their gate and they have asked for our assistance. They've contacted her with an ancient long range communication device that Sister Helena unknowingly had in her possession. At the same time Sister Helena was being was being contacted by 987, the Stargate would be activated from offworld for a short period.
“Could an open wormhole amplify the Long-Range Communication device's range?” Bjornson asked.
“It's possible. While we have gained significant knowledge on this piece of technology, there is still a lot we don't know.” General Carter turned to Sister Helena. “Sister Helena, can you give your team a summary of your communications with 987?”
“Yes, General,” Sister Helena replied. She stood and surveyed the room. General Carter, Fairbairn and Bjornson giving her looks of encouragement while Colonel Larkin gave her a straight face. Several weeks ago one night I received my first communication with P4X-987. A little girl called out to me asking for me to help them. She and the people of 987 looked downcast. I had other communications with the planet in which I learned about their culture. As General Carter mentioned, they practice an ancient form of Christianity that is not experienced the Reformation, the Councils of Trent, Vatican I or II, or the last thousand years of theological thought. I suspect that their form of Christianity has been tainted by Sokar. Perhaps they want me to help them restore their faith.
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“My second to last communication with 987 revealed an awful truth: the Goa’uld have returned to 987. I was shown a group of villagers who were being visited by a beautiful woman. But I noticed along with my young friend that her eyes glowed and for a brief time she had a flanged voice. However, the people were oblivious to who she really was.”
“Whoever this Goa’uld is might be using a form of Nish’ta to control her audience,” said Colonel Larkin.
“It's possible,” said General Carter.
Sister Helen was confused. “What's Nish’ta?”
“It's a biological agent employed by the Goa’uld is a form of mind control. The effects can be stopped by a Zat discharge,” said the general.
“I see,” Sister Helena replied. “In any case P4X-987 is under attack from a Goa’uld, be it Sokar or some harbinger for him.”
“Excuse me sister,” interrupted Colonel Larkin. “But Sokar is dead. SG-1 killed him time years ago.”
“Sister Helena blushed. “I beg your pardon, Colonel. I didn't know.”
“That's all right,” said Colonel Larkin. “So, what you're saying is we have a new Goa’uld threat to the galaxy.”
“I guess so,” Sister Helena said.
“Ever since the downfall of the System Lords we seen several Goa’uld who were former underlings to the System Lords attempt to fill the power vacuum and create a new Goa’uld empire,” General Carter said. “P4X-987 is an ideal location to establish a power base. Sokar chose 987 as it was far away from any Goa’uld world at the time.” Sister Helena nodded.
“Thank you, Sister. SG-24, your mission will be two-fold. Firstly, I want you to establish a long-term presence and build trust with the villagers. Secondly, to assess the situation with this new Goa’uld threat from the planet and to eliminate it. You will also need to protect the planet from current and other further Goa’uld exploitation. Sister Helena, your unique background and faith expression will be vital to this mission.”
“I'll do my best, General,” said Sister Helena.
“You’ve been given a special mission by the Bishop of Fargo. After consultation with the Holy See and the Prior General of your Order, you’re to assess the spiritual needs of P4X-987, determine the state of their liturgy, do any catechesis if necessary, and report your findings to the Holy See.”
“Understood, General. I look forward to the challenge of helping the people of 987 to heal and redeem themselves, just as I have tried to heal and rebuild my own life,” Sister Helena said. Her words sat uncomfortably with Colonel Larkin. He cast a weary glance at Sister Helena and clenched his jaw.
“Any Questions,” General Carter asked.
“Yes ma'am,” Colonel Larkin replied. “What about the local leadership, and how are we to protect the people of 987 from any Goa’uld incursions?”
“That's part of your mission— to assess and ensure that no Goa’uld technology remains in use and to assess what Ancient technology remains on the planet and prevent it from being falling into enemy hands. I will give you the control ring for the Goa’uld weapons platform and Sister Helena the Ancient Long Range Communications device. As for protecting the Stargate, our study of Ancient technologies on Atlantis allowed us to develop our own Gate Shield. It can be applied to the DHD and be controlled by remote control. When SG-1 visited the planet, the Stargate was 11 klicks from the village. You might consider, once gaining the trust of the villagers, to have it moved to a secure location.”
“Understood, General. This will be a challenge, but we're ready for it!” said Colonel Larkin.
“Good. Before you go, Sister Helena, will you please come here,” said General Carter. Sister Helena stood and went to her. General Carter handed Sister Helena a manila envelope. “These are your directives from the Holy See as well as your dispensations from your Order’s constitutions.” Then she pulled a small box from her coat pocket and motioned for Colonel Larkin to come forward. General Carter instructed Sister Helena to open the box. Inside contained three patches. The first was the emblem of the SGC, the second was the crest of her Order, and the third was the patch of her unit: SG-24. Colonel Larkin took them as she handed each one to them. He placed each patch in the appropriate place on her uniform.
“Sister Helena of the Cross, due to extraordinary circumstances I would like to formally welcome you to Stargate Command and SG 24. Congratulations!” Out of habit Sister Helena saluted both General Carter and Colonel Larkin. Both gave her handshakes. Colonel Larkins was brief but respectable. After handshakes from Fairbairn and Bjornson they turned to General Carter after she cleared her throat.
“SG-24, you have your mission. You'll depart in one hour. Dismissed.”
