Doing research on BlackOps!Jack

Doing research for BlackOps!Jack (tentatively titled The Sky Below) I'm absolutely appalled by the kinds of accidents they have in the military. I suppose it's because what they're doing is so dangerous, one screw-up costs you your life. In one description this Combat Search And Rescue book casually mentions, "[x] # parajumpers' died when their chutes didn't open" or "two aircraft collided during the mission, killing pilot and crew."

wildernessguru says 'oh yeah, sure, that sort of thing happens all the time.' I think Daniel would have a problem with this.


"Jack, it's one thing if they died fighting Goa'uld, but this...."

"They were fighting the Goa'uld."

"They got hit by a UAV! We lost control of it, and it came down on Jeffries and Holvac."

"Daniel..."

"It's just so senseless and stupid."

"Daniel." Jack finally had his attention and held it. "That's how things are. A lot of people die from shit like that, in the field and in training. Get used to it."

"I can't get used to it, Jack. I won't."

"Fine. Then don't. But that's attrition and it's a fact of life in the military." Jack sighted down his gun. "You and I could just as easily die from being hit by, oh, a falling tree as a bullet. Or... a staff blast," he amended.

Daniel gave him a funny look as he reloaded. "Is that supposed to reassure me?"

"Yeah?"

"I can't believe it worked." Daniel snapped the clip in place. "So.. a Stargate could fall on us?"

Jack shrugged. "Or a DHD blow up in our faces."

"Pyramid collapses from a blast to a load-bearing wall...."

"Malfunctioning Zat," Jack added. "I've thought of that one a few times. They don't jam, so what can go wrong with them?"

"It's amazing we're still alive, considering."

Jack smiled slowly. "Now you're talking."