Disclaimer: All recognizable Harry Potter characters, places, etc. belong to JK Rowling. The recognizable Stargate characters, place, etc. belong to MGM, Scifi and the creators Jonathan Glassner and Brad Wright. Dialogue borrowed from the episode 'Prodigy.'
A/N: This is the third story in my New Life series a crossover with Stargate. The story goes AU from the books right before the Final Battle. I would like to thank my old beta raindroproses for all of their help.
Checking the supply requests from the infirmary, General George Hammond signed off on the additions that had been made, knowing that Dr. Fraiser had already provided sufficient evidence for the requests. Pulling out another form for review, his concentration was broken by a knock at the door.
"Enter."
The door opened revealing the presence of his second in command, Colonel Jack O'Neill, "Sir, do you have a moment? I have something I'd like to talk to you about."
Already placing aside his paperwork, Hammond gave the man his full attention. "Sit down." Following his command, Jack took a seat. "What is this about, Jack?"
"I'd like to talk to you about Dr. Granger."
Resisting the urge to sigh at the choice of topic, Hammond's tone turned cautious. "If you're here to tell me about her assault against Dr. Hamilton, I am already well aware of her actions." He had, in fact, been forced to listen to the man's rant that she should be fired. "She will be reprimanded."
Jack shifted in his chair. "That's not want I wanted to discuss, General. I believe she should be on a team."
Taken aback by the subject, Hammond replied, "Explain."
"Look, I know that it is an unusual request, but she's not like the other science geeks around here. She keeps a cool head in a crisis, has the presence of mind to stay out of danger and not go seeking it, which is more than Daniel is likely to do. Putting her on a team would be a much better use of her skills," Jack concluded.
He wasn't sure how to respond to Jack's observations. "I'm sure you are aware that this it is highly unusual to have a civilian be placed on a SG team. I know that you have Dr. Jackson, but I'm not sure how my superiors would react to placing another untrained civilian on a regular team."
As he finished speaking, Hammond watched as a smile spread across Jack's face. "Well, what about another first contact team?"
oOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
5 days earlier
"Come in." Jack could just make out the sound of Hammond's voice through the door and entered at the command.
Not even looking around, he began his complaint, "General, I'd like to talk to you about this mission upon which we're about to embark. It seems a bit ridiculous, doesn't it?" Finally looking around, he stopped and stared once he caught sight of another officer in the room.
Breaking the silence, Hammond made a gesture toward the stranger. "Have you met General Ryan?"
"Hello, Colonel," said the aforementioned General, standing to shake his hand.
Despite his confusion, Jack still managed to keep a respectful tone while he shook the man's hand. "The General Ryan? Chief of Staff?"
"That's right," confirmed the General.
Sending a pointed look at Hammond, Jack asked, "Shouldn't there have been a memo or something?"
Ignoring the look he was sending, Hammond sent one right back. "You were off-world."
"Ah, yes. So, ah, what brings you to our little secret base, sir?" Jack asked guardedly. He was really hoping that the NID wasn't up to something and had Washington convinced they should shut down the program again.
"That would be the ridiculous mission you just mentioned," replied General Ryan with a trace of amusement in his voice.
"Of course," responded Jack dryly.
Probably in an effort to keep him from saying anything more, Hammond explained, "I'm proposing that M4C-862 become a permanent research station. I'd like you to make an assessment."
Of course they wanted him to make an assessment; it's not like he had anything better to do. Trying to show his displeasure, but not openly disobey his superior, Jack put on his usual clueless act. "The General Ryan?"
There was no reaction from General Ryan as he continued on with the discussion. "I've read a lot about you, Colonel, in General Hammond's reports."
Cautious, Jack replied noncommitally, "Yes, sir?"
"Thus far we like your work."
Noticing the subtle warning in his words, Jack responded, "Thank you, sir. I like yours. Your Air Force. The Air Force. I love the Air Force."
Cutting him off, Hammond asked, "Anything else, Colonel?"
"No sir..." he replied without thinking, then remembered, "Well, actually, I'd like to know how Daniel and Carter got out of this very important mission?"
"Dr. Jackson is off-world with SG-11. Major Carter's giving a lecture at the Air Force academy in Theoretical Astrophysics. If you'd care to take her place?" trailed off Hammond.
Jack knew not to push his superior anymore and relented with a sigh. "No."
"Then you're dismissed."
He was already making a hasty exit. "Thank you, sir. Sirs...Both of you."
Great, now he would be stuck with babysitting duty. Striding down the corridors, he went looking for Teal'c. Maybe the big guy would be up for a game of ping-pong before they had to leave.
oOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
Setting down the box of mineral samples she had collected, Hermione placed her hands at the small of her back and stretched. For the past couple weeks, she had been substituting for Dr. Palmer, the geologist who had fallen down an embankment and broken both his ankles. She had already been on M4C-862 for a month excavating a tomb site when the accident occurred. Due to the fact that Dr. Palmer's assistant was on maternity leave, Hermione had stepped into the role of collecting rock samples for further testing to be done back at the SGC, owing to her similar experience in excavation. It was important to have the geologic survey completed before the final decision was made about making the moon a scientific research station.
Arching her back, she once more she took in the breath taking view above. The moon they were on was orbited a ringed gas giant which dominated the sky above. Its swirling purples and reds were mesmerizing to her eyes. Never in her wildest dreams would she have ever imagined she would one day see something like this.
It was indescribable.
Oh God, and walking through the gate for the first time had been equally as unbelievable. It was indescribable... and walking through the gate for the first time had been equally as unbelievable.
Now thoroughly limber, she entered the enclosure the scientists were using as a lab to finish typing up the notes she had taken on the samples collected. The shift change was due to occur in a few hours, and Hermione needed to make sure all her notes were in order before the guards went back to Earth.
Hearing the sound of voices approaching, Hermione looked up, only to quickly duck back down to her work, hoping to avoid the arguing scientists. The past weeks had left her with a new found respect for the soldiers who had to continuously put up with the civilian scientists in the program during any off-world missions. The scientists, in their zeal for discovery, were completely clueless of the possible dangers the unknown environment held. Not only that, but they also had some of the biggest over-inflated egos she had ever encountered.
"Oh, no!" Alarmed, she looked up to see Dr. Lee staring at a microscope with a look of dismay.
Dr. Hamilton stopped his lecture mid-word and looked at his colleague for an explanation as to the interruption. "What's wrong now?"
Gesturing at the piece of equipment, Dr. Lee replied, "It's the electron microscope. It's broken down."
"What do you mean, it's broken?" Dr. Hamilton demanded, pushing aside Dr. Lee to look into the instrument himself, "What did you do?"
"I haven't done anything," protested Dr. Lee. "It just stopped working."
Finishing her notes, Hermione took the chance to slip out of the lab. Listening to the continued bickering was sure to leave her with a headache. Dr. Hamilton had been picking fights with anyone around for the past two weeks over the tiniest thing. The wanker was suppose to be in charge of the civilian scientists, but she had made it abundantly clear that she would not report to the idiot after he had nearly killed them all. The ensuing argument had left her hoping the man didn't have a problem with his blood pressure, since she wasn't sure he could have gotten any redder if he tried.
Soft sciences. Hah.
Spotting Major Griff, the head of the security team, she made her way over to turn in her report to be filed back at the SGC. The Major was a tall man about four years older than herself, who had been commanding an SG team for almost a year now. She had gotten to know his team pretty well in the last few weeks in her quest to avoid the other scientists. They were just so irritating, and condescending in their attitudes toward herself and the guards.
Well, not Dr. Lee.
She had tried to play nice and respect their intelligence, but she had little restraint when it came to dealing with those who refused to listen to anyone's opinions except their own or were too cowardly to voice their own. Just because she didn't have a degree in physics didn't mean she should be ignored or dismissed.
The Major greeted her with a warm smile. "Morning, ma'am."
"Good morning, Major. Anything going on?"
oOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
"Nothing, ma'am," Griff replied with a chuckle.
"Of course not," Dr. Granger said with a hint of exasperation in her tone.
He couldn't disagree. This assignment had been boring from day one.
He and his team had been stuck with babysitting duty for going on three weeks now, during which nothing had happened, leaving them all stir-crazy. It didn't help that the scientists were being their usual annoying selves. Well, not all the scientists; Dr. Granger had been surprisingly pleasant company. Unlike the others, she didn't complain about camping outside, and was actually cautions of the group's personal safety. She had been stuck here longer than his team having to deal with the group; he could sympathize with her.
"I have the completed report for you to file at the SGC when you get back." She handed over a disk. "The samples are boxed and cataloged over on the table." He followed her gaze to the box sitting on the outdoor work table.
"Do you need an escort for another survey? The next team isn't due for another hour, doctor."
Dr. Granger shook her head. "No, I think that I will wait for the shift change to head out. I'm almost done exploring that valley to the west. There seems to be no indication that the area is still volcanically active, but Dr. Palmer will still need to double check."
"When do you think that they will let you come back to Earth?" He asked curiously.
As Griff watched, she scrunched up her nose in thought. "Probably another two weeks."
Trying to lighten the mood, Griff said, "Well, just remember that despite how much you may want, you can't kill Dr. Hamilton."
She laughed. "I promise."
"And no maiming either," he teased.
"Do I have to?"
"Yes." Cracking a grin at the doctor, he continued, "And don't forget that once you're back home again, you promised Willis that you would meet us for drinks." Normally, they didn't invite outsiders to their team night, but an exception had been made for Granger. After watching her verbally eviscerate that jackass Dr. Hamilton, they had thought a celebration was in order. Honestly, you would think a man that brilliant would see the need to stay away from the gas canisters before lighting up the cigarettes he had smuggled through the gate. Thank God, Granger had found him before he could blow them all sky high and had confiscated the rest of his stash. The only problem being that his ensuing withdrawal had left the doctor even more volatile.
"Yes, sir." She gave a mock salute. Shaking his head at her antics, his attention was captured by the approach of a scowling Dr. Hamilton. Also spotting the scientist, Granger's laugh faltered and her posture became rigid. She spoke under her breath, "Did I forget to mention that the electron microscope broke down?"
Griff sent her a glare. "No. You forgot, ma'am."
Dr. Granger gave him an apologetic look. "Sorry."