A/N: A number of people saw this coming. But I think I'll let the chapter speak for itself.

Chapter 32

Indian Springs Air Force Auxiliary Field; Codename: "Area 51"

June 10th, 1949

The facility was remote, that was for sure. Which made it ideal for what was occurring here. Three of the so-called gateships, and the entirety of the captured Goa'uld technologies, from Ma'tok staffs to the udajeet wrecks, were being systematically studied. Currently, they were keeping one Gateship intact as a reference. The other two were in various stages of very careful disassembly.

The Asgard ship was also present, what was left of it, anyways.

The "prototype" ma'tok rifle was also here, and variations were currently being created using alterations to the design to try to create one which functioned properly with improved accuracy. So far, they had had only limited success on that front, which was more than could be said for any other. They hadn't even been able to activate what Bra'tac had identified as a "kara kesh," the ornate pseudo-gauntlet that fired a shockwave. And they had no idea how the udajeets or gateships even functioned.

Doctor Bruce Matthews was the head scientist of the facility, and he was in a foul mood. They had spent months establishing this facility, and now they had been told they would largely be relocated to one of the offworld locations, Fort Roosevelt. About the only project that would remain here was the Asgard shipwreck, only because it was too large to move through the Stargate.

In addition, they were being ordered to cooperate with the captured Goa'uld scientist. Dr. Matthews didn't trust the man as far as he could throw him.

As the situation stood, though, he had little choice but to comply with these orders. A research facility was being established on Fort Roosevelt, and until that was completed, an estimated time of at least a month, research would continue apace here.

Currently, he was examining one of the dismantled ma'toc weapons under an electron microscope, and had already made several interesting discoveries of late. The circuitry was incredibly intricate, and incredibly small. No wonder their kludges had been iffy at best; various connections were not being properly reestablished.

Texas, Earth

June 15th-20th, 1949

Now this was interesting. Setesh had spoken to one of his newest recruits, and learned, rather surprisingly, that the man, a former Army corporal, had been involved in a top-secret project that proved these primitives had unearthed the chappa'ai and were using it actively. This interested him, as did the fact that they had access to Ra's old hoard of Alteran technology. If they could be manipulated, guided, perhaps Earth could serve a purpose. All he had to do was leverage himself in. And perhaps he could …

Entering his private sanctum, he extracted from a sealed drawer a small device, a personal trophy. Placing it in his ear, he waited patiently.

It would not be long, less than a day, before his patience was rewarded. The top leaders of the newly-formed TOTO, the ones who held the chappa'ai, were conversing.

Over the next few days, as his plan formed, he listened further. Finally, during one session, he waited until it seemed the conversation was winding down before speaking.

"Esteemed leaders, my name is Setesh. I know you have the Stargate. I have a proposition for you."

Area 52, Earth

June 21st, 1949

"So, one of these Goa'uld has been active on Earth for the last few thousand years?" Sheridan asked.

"Apparently. And somehow, he learned about what we were doing." Truman replied.

"What did you say his name was, again?" Samuel asked.

"Setesh."

"Fuck. Then I've had dealings with him before. That's the name the leader of a cult I ended up dismantling insisted on being called. I'm going to ask that I be his primary liaison." Samuel said.

"We'll take that under consideration. For now, we're working on the details of any cooperation with him. It's likely going to be a while."

Area 52, Earth

June 30th, 1949

"Setesh has agreed to transfer the Goa'uld technology in his possession to us. He will be transferred here, under heavy guard, for debriefing and to begin collaboration on certain projects. He cannot be allowed to roam freely and under no circumstances is to be allowed near the Stargate. Any attempt to escape is to be met with lethal force. He knows too much about Earth." Sheridan said. "Captain Marcus has been designated as our official initial liaison with him. Captain, once Setesh arrives later this week, your job will be to handle initial debrief. You are to learn everything you can. He implied he knew the locations of several valuable pieces of technology. Find out where these are. You are authorized to use any means short of outright torture. Hopefully, he'll be cooperative and such measures won't be necessary."

Samuel nodded. "I'll get the information, sir."

Area 52, Earth

July 5th, 1949

Setesh and his equipment had finally arrived, and the very thoroughly searched Goa'uld was in a foul mood as he was led into a small room with a table and two chairs, one occupied by a man who looked strangely familiar.

Samuel nodded at the guards. "Dismissed." He looked at Setesh as the guards left the room, then motioned to the other chair. "Please, have a seat."

Setesh sat down. "You look familiar. Have we met?"

Samuel smirked, standing up and walking around the table. "We have. You've changed hosts since last time, I notice."

"When did we meet?"

"1938. I busted your cult open. You nearly killed me. But I survived. And I'm not happy."

Setesh's eyes widened. "I killed you."

Samuel chuckled, resting a hand on Setesh's shoulder, leaning in to whisper in the Goa'uld's ear. "You're half right. What you did … the snake you put in my head died saving me from your kara kesh. But part of Nyarlathotep survived. His memories, his drive, his ambition. His desire to fucking kill you for your betrayal…" Samuel slammed Setesh's head into the table, pinning him down and leaning in close.

"Here's what's going to happen. You're going to tell us everything you know about Goa'uld technology on Earth. You're going to help us build an empire, crush Ra and the others. In return, you get your own little fiefdom back."

Setesh nodded as best he could. "I was already prepared to agree to such an arrangement. This heavy-handed approach is unnecessary."

Samuel nodded. "I know. I just want to make it clear: betray us and you die, painfully, at my hand." He released Setesh, who sat up slowly.

"Now, let's get down to business." Samuel said.

Area 52, Earth

July 6th, 1949

"The Stewart expedition," Ernest began, "was conducted in 1931. Near as we can tell, it excavated one of the sites Setesh indicated was a location containing certain artifacts of interest. Unfortunately, not only did every member of the original dig die within a year, the ship carrying the artifacts to the US sank off the coast of New Jersey. We need to find the wreck, recover what we can, and also return to the dig site and try to find anything they missed."

Sheridan nodded. "I see. We'll have to run that last part by the British for permission, but it shouldn't be too difficult to arrange to begin searching for the shipwreck. But first, is there anything of value among the contents?"

"Setesh mentioned that there are two canopic jars containing fellow Goa'uld Isis and Osiris in a form of stasis. There's a chance they could still be alive. And he mentioned that Isis is what he called a Goa'uld queen, essentially a female capable of reproduction. We are going to need a supply of Goa'uld symbionts eventually; the Jaffa can only house immature, larval symbionts, and without one, they die." Samuel said. "And we will need somewhere to contain the mature Goa'uld. We can't just kill them. Some kind of large aquarium would be ideal. I've already spoken with Nerus, and he provided information on ideal conditions for such an aquarium."

Sheridan's lips pursed as he thought. "I'll have to get that approved. But it's a good idea. Back to the issue at hand. Did Setesh mention anything else at the dig site?"

"He believes there may be an intact starship there, likely a tel'tak variant. We would have to speak with Osiris to confirm it."

Sheridan blinked. "A … starship? An intact Goa'uld starship? As in—"

"Capable of faster-than-light travel." Samuel said.

"Is there some reason you didn't lead with that?"

"Not really."

"Well, now we need to acquire it. An intact model for study would be invaluable."