"The Key to Byzantium" by Marcus Rowland, now complete

[sulien.livejournal.com]

Rec Category: Crossover (Stargate SG-1/Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
Pairing: Team, Scoobies, Illyria, Cordy
Category: crossover, action/adventure
Warning: PG for violence and language.  Spoilers for Stargate SG-1 through the beginning of season 7 and most of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Author on LJ: ffutures
Author's Website:  Author's profile on Twisting the Hellmouth and his fiction on The Crypt
Link:  "The Key to Byzantium" on Twisting the Hellmouth

Why This Must Be Read: This is one of the very best crossovers between Stargate SG-1 and Buffy the Vampire Slayer that I have read (and I've read a lot of them, crossover ho that I am).  Marcus Rowland is an adept storyteller who knows and loves both 'verses and it shows in this story through his insightful characterizations.  The story begins at a crime scene in the California desert where a mass grave has been discovered, which contains the bodies of men with tattoos on their foreheads and wearing chain mail.  A possible Foothold situation is called into the SGC and COL Jack O'Neill and company wind up investigating, which eventually, after some twists and turns, leads them to the Scoobies.  This isn't the usual crossover and the ending to it all is surprising, but very satisfying.  If you enjoy crossovers at all, I guarantee you'll love this one!  Edit to add: This story was completed as of July 21st.  Go, read and enjoy. :-)

Snippet of fic:

"Easy, Lieutenant," said Jack. "You want to take me some place quiet and explain why I'm here?"

"Follow me, Colonel." He led the way to a smaller tent with camouflage patterns, opened a foot-locker, and pulled out some cans. "You want a beer?"

"Maybe later. What's this about? What the hell are you doing calling in a Foothold? Come to that, how do you even know what a Foothold is?"

"Um.. To be honest, I think I may have jumped the gun, but I was told that it was better to be safe than sorry."

"Explain, Lieutenant."

"In oh-two I was attached to Homeland Security in Las Vegas. We got briefed on a lot of weird stuff, indicators of terrorist activity. One of them was pretty much what we found. An organised body of armed men wearing chain mail with tattoos on their foreheads. SOP for that is to call in a Foothold, whatever that means."

"What tattoos? Those guys were mummified corpses. Couldn't see anything on their heads."

"According to the crime scene experts, every one of those bodies had a tattoo. They're faded now, but show up pretty well with UV light."

"How did they find them so fast?"

"I remembered the instructions and asked them to look."

"Lieutenant, you didn't jump the gun." He pulled out his satellite phone, checked the signal strength, and speed-dialled the SGC. "This is Colonel O'Neill. I'm calling this in as a possible, repeat possible Foothold, no signs of current hostile activity but evidence that something went down here."

Comments

[bittybye2000.livejournal.com]

Thanks for recing this, I'd never in a million years look for a crossover fic unless it was Atlantis. I loved this one. The writer is fantastic.

[sulien.livejournal.com]

My pleasure! Marcus Rowland and Don Sample are two very excellent crossover authors. I believe Don Samples' "Misunderstandings" series was recced here over a year ago, but it is in the memories under Crossovers. That is another fun one with SG-1.

[whisper99.livejournal.com]

Is this one completed? I remember reading it waaaaaaaaaay back when it was still being written, then lost track of it.

[sulien.livejournal.com]

Yep, it was completed as of July 21st. :-D

[whisper99.livejournal.com]

Cool, thanks!

[frostfox.livejournal.com]

He's also a friend of mine in real life (whatever that is), we go to the same cons (Eastercon and Novacon mostly), nice chap, does very good RPG stuff too.
I've been waiting for this to get finished before reading it, thanks for the head's up.

FF

[sulien.livejournal.com]

My pleasure. :)