Disclaimer:
Stargate SG-1 and its characters are the property of Showtime/Viacom, MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, and Gekko Productions. I have written this story for entertainment purposes only and no money whatsoever has exchanged hands. No copyright infringement is intended. The original characters, situations, and story are mine.
Spoilers for; (in no particular order) Wormhole Xtreme (duh!), Rite of Passage, Prodigy. The Other Side, Shades of Gray, Matter of Time, Message in a Bottle, Summit, Last Stand, Fair Game.
General George Hammond was enjoying helping his grand-daughters surf on the internet one babysitting night, when he found it! The girls loved the television show 'Wormhole Xtreme'. A fact which he found extremely amusing based as it was on the secret project he worked in.
"What on earth!" – He couldn't believe what he was reading. It looked like a few more people would get to know that the Stargate was in fact real, if anyone took the article he had found, seriously.
'Wormhole Xtreme – Fact or Fiction'
The successful television show 'Wormhole Xtreme' is raking in the fans with their premise of a wonderful' gate' to other planets.
A doorway to many other worlds filled with aliens, friendly and hostile, as well as humans transplanted from Earth eons ago.
What anentertainingandimaginativeidea, you may think, but perhaps not!
There are reports that the 'Stargate' is in fact areal piece of alien technologythat our own government iskeeping secretfrom us!
Here is a question for you!
Why does NORADoperating out ofCheyenne Mountaincost tens of billions to operate every year?
Our security is of vital importance, butTENS of BILLIONS?
But is it all used by NORAD? There seems to be more people assigned to Cheyenne than are actually employed by NORAD.
Reports of anotherSECRET command deep in the bowels of the mountain,UNDERNEATH NORAD!
INTERESTED?
Watch this space for more information!
"What's wrong Granpa?" asked Tessa, the younger of the two.
"Hey, Cheyenne Mountain! Isn't that where you work, Granpa?" added her older sister Kayla.
"Yes, girls, it's OK. It's just when people spread silly stories, some people believe them, and it can make things a bit difficult sometimes.
"We know it's wrong to makeup stories, don't we Kayla?"
"Yes of course we do, we wouldn't do that! I think you need to tell this person that Granpa. Don't you?
"Yes, girls, I think I will. Hammond answered grimly, and then with a smile he added,
"Never mind that now, how about a story?"
"Ooh yes, Mummy's just bought the new Harry Potter." So for the next hour or so he tried to take the worry the article had caused him from his mind, and enjoy Harry Potter with his grand-daughters. Never the less he was happy to see his daughter and son-in-law come home, so that he was free to leave and do a little digging.
...
The next morning SG-1 came into the base expecting to go on a mission to P5D-X39. They were all relaxed after a couple of day's down-time, culminating in a team night of pizza, beer and movies at the Colonel's house. However one look at the grim face of their commander soon sobered them, and they sat quickly down at the conference table.
"What's up Sir? Bad news?", asked Colonel Jack O'Neill.
"Just something a little disturbing I found last night on the Internet," Hammond answered, motioning to the folders on the conference table before them.
"Never seen you as surfer, Sir!" quipped O'Neill. Hammond gave him a look, and he hurriedly picked up the folder and started to read through the computer printout; as did the others.
"This is indeed a little disturbing," offered Teal'c.
"Oh, come on Sir. Who's gonna believe this? When Wormhole Xtreme started, you said we could point to the program's publicity and over active imagination of it's' fans to cover any rumors."
"It's the fact that they mention the mountain specifically, Colonel; and that's not the most disturbing thing. I made a couple of calls last night, and Major Davis has traced the webpage to it's' source. This was sent out from a PC in the 'drop-in' computer room of the Air Force University at Maxwell Air Base."
"Maxwell!" exclaimed O'Neill.
"But anyone with access to the base could have used the 'drop-in'!" added Major Sam Carter. "It's going to be hard to actually discover who it was?"
"I agree," said the General; "but hopefully not too hard for SG-1."
"Us!" exclaimed Dr. Daniel Jackson. "Wouldn't Major Davis be better for this kind of investigation?" Jack was starting to look decidedly uncomfortable, Daniel noticed out of the corner of his eye.
"Yes Sir! Daniel's right. This really isn't a job for SG-1, surely?"
"We need to know exactly what who-ever-it-is knows, and sending in an investigation team would probably just send them into hiding. This isn't like the reporters we've dealt with in the past. This person or people want to remain anonymous. But we need to know how much they know; and whether they are just out to ensure nothing is kept from the general public, or if there is a hidden agenda!"
"You think Kinsey, or someone like him is behind this?" Jack asked grimly.
"Possibly."
"But Sir," exclaimed Sam. "Surely us being there is going to be just as obvious as Major Davis?"
"Not if you have a perfectly legitimate reason for being there. If Kinsey is behind it, I don't think he would be rattled enough to stop the operation; and of course if it's just an airman with an axe to grind, who has somehow stumbled on classified information, he wouldn't necessarily connect you to it."
"And what exactly is this 'perfectly legitimate reason', if I may ask, General," asked Jack.
"The academic year is nearing a close. As our premier team, you are going to vet candidates for possible inclusion in the program… the Deep Radar Telemetry Program for NORAD, of course! General Cutler, the base commander was pleased to grant this, when I spoke to him this morning. But he did make a request. Seems they would like you, Colonel, as a graduate of the University to participate in the Graduation Ceremony and make a speech." Daniel turned disbelieving eyes on the Colonel.
"You have a degree, Jack?"
"Of course he does, Dr. Jackson. It is an essential requirement before promotion to Colonel," the General answered sharply, before Jack could say a word. "Now SG-1, you ship out from Peterson at 1500 hours. Dismissed!", and the General collected his papers together and left the room into his office. Jack raised his head to face the stares of his team… well Daniel and Sam at least!
"What!... Oh for cryin' out loud; I do have some brains you know!"
"Of course, Sir," said Sam. "It's just… well I mean… you hate scientists, Sir."
"Carter, there are other subjects in the world besides science, you know!"
"Like…?" asked Daniel.
"Like… lots of things… Never mind. So I scraped through an education to get the promotion I wanted. What's the big deal? Now, I'm gonna get ready for this mission, and I suggest you do the same… Go home… Get packed… I'll arrange for transport to pick you up at 1330 hours... See you then." And Jack O'Neill practically ran from the briefing room leaving behind a stunned silence!
"What is he hiding?," said Sam in a puzzled tone. "It's like he's ashamed of his degree!"
"If O'Neill wished us to know, I am sure he would tell us," said Teal'c.
"Oh, come on, Teal'c. Jack's like a clam! What is so terrible?"
"That I do not know, Daniel Jackson, but it has no bearing on the matter at hand."
"Yeah, I know, but it's kind of intriguing, don't you think?"
"Indeed. However, I do not find it necessary to pry." With that Teal'c left the room leaving Daniel speaking to thin air!
"Well, I do!" he said.
"We can try and find out, Daniel," said Sam, "When we get to Maxwell; but we mustn't let it distract us from the main point of the visit."
"No, of course not. I'll concentrate on the job, Sam; but I've never seen Jack so uncomfortable… We must find out why! He always pretends that he has no brains at all, at least for academic learning."
"We will, Daniel, we will," Sam assured him.
...
Fifteen thirty hours found the team well into their flight to Maxwell Air Base. Daniel had tried to talk to Jack but he had been very withdrawn. Declaring he was overtired and needed to be fresh for meeting the General Cutler, Jack had pulled down his hat over his eyes and promptly gone to sleep!
"What's with him?" Daniel complained to Sam. "Jack doesn't do still! I've been on flights with him before and he usually fidgets all the way, or tries to get onto the flight deck to 'assist' the pilots!"
"I know, Daniel, but maybe he IS tired. We were very late last night, and travelling can be tiring."
"Tired my ass… He's avoiding talking to us."
"You may be right, but I don't really understand. What on earth can his degree be in, if he's so uncomfortable for anyone to know about it?"
"I don't know, but I'm sure as hell going to find out. He can be such an idiot!"
"Cassie asked me, when she was ill… you know the experiment with Nirrti…" he nodded. "She asked me why he always pretends to not really understand. She thinks he gets a lot more than he lets on."
"Why would anyone pretend to be dumb?, Daniel asked in a bewildered voice; "I mean, I can understand someone doing it at school, you get so much ribbing if they think you're a geek… but really! He's a full-grown adult in the military. Surely intelligence is considered an asset!"
"The Colonel is intelligent, just not academically! He's a brilliant tactician; we've both seen that in the field. But whenever I try to explain something scientific, his eyes glaze over. It's strange though, when I think about it. He must understand something of the science, because he understands astronomical terms. When we connected to P3W-451, he was the one who explained the black hole to General Hammond. He recognized it straight away. It didn't really strike me at the time; I was too busy thinking about what else was happening."
"I know what you mean; he never wants to hear my explanations either. And that's another thing how does he remember complicated astronomical terms, and yet gets simple things like people's names wrong? Maybe Cass is right… he does it on purpose. But I haven't a clue why he would!"
"Neither have I; but maybe we'll understand better when we find out more about his degree."
"Perhaps… though I wouldn't count on it. He said himself he just scraped through a degree to get his promotion. It probably hasn't any connection to who he really is. You'd think by now, after five years together as a team, we'd know what makes him tick, but sometimes I don't feel like I know him at all."
"Well let's hope Maxwell holds answers to more than one question."
...
On arrival at Maxwell, they were met by a fresh-faced young officer, who appeared in awe of Jack and Teal'c, and blushed whenever Sam spoke. Daniel found it hilarious, and murmured to Sam,
"Another young lieutenant with a little crush?" She nudged him in the ribs hard as Jack turned and glared at them, and the poor 2nd lieutenant turned scarlet, as he seemed to sense they were talking about him. He conducted them to General Cutlers Office, and after assuring them their luggage would be placed in their quarters, ushered them into the office, saluted, and fairly flew through the door as soon as the General dismissed him.
General Cutler, a well-built man in his early fifties, welcomed them warmly.
"It's so good for the graduates to meet seasoned officers, who can give them firsthand accounts of opportunities open to them after graduation." He said. "Now Major Carter, Doctor Jackson and Captain Murray perhaps you could accompany Lieutenant Corbin, and he will show you where you will be able to talk to the graduates. We've arranged informal gatherings for the next three days, and there is deep space radar equipment set up there to help with your explanations. Colonel, perhaps you will stay and we can discuss your part in the graduation ceremonies." Jack blushed faintly and after telling them he would see them later, gestured to them to leave. They joined the red-faced Lieutenant Corbin outside the office, and as he strode ahead with Teal'c, Daniel and Sam continued their conversation from the plane in soft undertones.
"He did it again, got all embarrassed!" said Daniel, "and did you see his reaction before, normally he would have enjoyed the joke?"
"I don't know, Daniel, Colonel O'Neill is usually very professional in a military setting. Though I must admit he did seem embarrassed in the office," Sam responded thoughtfully.
"Seem, nothing! I think this promises to be a very interesting few days. By the way, how are we going to handle these 'informal' gatherings? You are the only one of us who knows about deep-space telemetry, and how the equipment works."
"We'll discuss that tonight with the Colonel, but I think I'll have to field the technical questions. When we see what equipment they've set up, I can give you and Teal'c the basics of a particular one each and then you can hover around there and 'wing it'.
"Gee, thanks."
...
AN: This was actually the first story I ever wrote, and it was penned for an online zine way back in 2004. I had made up stories in my head for years but never summoned up the courage or the energy to write them down!
Feedback please, everyone; I need lots of feedback ~ criticism welcomed but no flames please!