AN: You know those stories that hit you at two o'clock in the morning? Yeah. It was either this or hop-scotch.
I actually have no idea where this came from, only that is did. After I thought of the idea, I read over the script for WoO, and discovered that Sam says the Tok'ra had been trying to contact Earth for three months, which I elected to make 92 days. When you add Major Griff's week, you get 99 days, and suddenly I had a title and a summary. And then I was really off to the races.
Spoilers: 100 Days (although really, all I did was shameless exploit the title and one of the lines), Window of Opportunity (but it's not what you think! Unless you've read my mind, of course).
Disclaimer: A limerick
There is this great show on TV,
Which is most entertaining to me.
Though I've written this story,
I own none of the glory,
Which means you get to read it for free.
Summary: We mourned their passing for ninety-nine days. And then we all got really confused.
................
Today
Mission Report: SG3, Major Griff reporting.
SG3's mission to P3X-187 has been extremely successful. The locals, who call themselves Verans, are eager to meet with other humans. In particular, their historians wish to speak with Dr. Jackson. The Verans are a pacific people, but they do have technology for agriculture, construction and medicine that I believe would benefit Earth, and they are willing to negotiate for trade. I was, in fact, going to recommend that SG1 be sent ASAP, until the morning when I attempted to dial Earth and got a busy signal.
After trying every fifteen minutes for five hours without success, I decided to dial the Alpha-site. This was successful, and my team passed safely through.
When I reached the Alpha-site, I realized that I was the ranking officer, as both Lieutenant Colonel Harris and Colonel MacTavish were on Earth for their monthly briefing with General Hammond and the Joint Chiefs. As such, I assumed command. For six more days, we attempted to dial home, and the wormhole refused to connect. Our science teams have been working around the clock, but have been unable to solve the dilemma. Also in those six days, we were joined by three other SG teams. To my knowledge, the only team that was off world that has not reported in here, is SG12, and as of this time, I have no idea what has happened to them. All of the other teams reported that they too were unable to establish a wormhole with Earth.
Today is day seven, and we have sent a message to the Tok'ra.
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Selmak rather enjoyed being human. To hear Anise go on about it, one would think that Freya's people had it the best: idyllic climate, pleasant life style, low mortgage rates. Even Lantash, bless his dear departed. . .soul?, had spoken for hours about the various joys that filled the days of Martouf's brethren. But Selmak knew she had it pretty good. Earth might have poverty and war, but its inhabitants had invented maple syrup, and that was good enough for her. Most of the time.
It was those few and far between times when Jacob's humanity reared its annoying head that made her want to throttle him. Metaphorically anyway. And this was one of those times. It wasn't that Selmak was unconcerned. In fact, she was very concerned. Samantha was, after all, sort of her daughter, and Earth was, after all, sort of important to the Tok'ra. But did he have to pace? Back and forth, back and forth; he was giving her motion sickness. Not to mention what he was doing to the rug. She was more than a bit tempted to make him eat it.
Luckily for both of them, the rug and her host that is; she could turn off her connection to his taste buds whenever she wanted to, the door to the High Council Chamber opened, and the Chair announced their presence. Selmak, who was, after all, almost human, wasted no time in beginning their report.
"This morning we received a communication from Earth's Alpha-site which told us that they had been unable to contact their home planet for six days." Selmak paused so that Jacob could get a word in edge wise. "I know you all know I have a personal stake in this, but in the spirit of our new alliance, I think we should extend as much help as we can, both in securing the Alpha-site and in trying to contact Earth."
There was a general murmur of consent in the council room.
"Your attempts to dial Earth were also unsuccessful?" High Councilor Persus asked. "And I assume you would like to take a ship first to the Alpha-site and then to Earth?"
Jacob nodded. Selmak exerted every ounce of will she possessed to make him stop wringing his hands. Were these people never still?
"Very well then," the High Councilor continued. "We cannot offer more than a few operatives and one ship, but you have our permission to go. We will continue to dial Earth from here."
"Thank you, High Councilor." Selmak responded when she realized that Jacob was too worked up to answer rationally. "We shall depart within the hour."
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Mission Report: Temporary SGC, Alpha-site. Major Griff reporting.
It is now day 10 and we are still unable to reach Earth. This morning, a Tok'ra ship landed, and General Carter and Selmak were on board, as were two other Tok'ra. General Carter has offered to take an SG team to Earth, while his compatriots remain here and assist the science teams. I have accepted his invitation, and decided, with the general's advice, that SG3 should be the team to go, with myself in command. I have placed Major Adams in command until I return, or a more superior officer arrives through the Stargate.
I have left orders that Earth is to be dialed hourly and that messages are to be sent to our other allies, particularly Master Bra'tac on Chulak.
To say that I am not nervous would be a lie, but I am confidant in the abilities of SG3 and the teams remaining here. If Earth needs to be retaken, we will retake it. I know SG1 is on Earth, and I am sure that they are doing everything they can. Still, I will feel better when we have arrived home and done a basic recon of the base.
............................
Selmak chafed at the delay. Literally. Jacob could feel her in the back of his neck. It was most unsettling, but as long as she stayed away from his central nervous system and his larynx, he didn't mind. He did pace a lot, after all.
[What is taking so long?] she asked plaintively. [Were they not expecting us?]
[Yes they were,] he replied. [But there are things that Major Griff has to do before he goes.]
[You mean paperwork.] She could never understand the human need to commit things that everybody already knew to paper. [Why can he not just tell Major Adams and we be on our way?]
[It's a military thing,] he said, shrugging.
[I have asked you not to do that.]
[Sorry. It's an old habit.]
[Well, break it! When your clavicles alter their alignment so abruptly, your spine contracts in a way that makes me very uncomfortable.]
[Maybe I'll take up discus. Or yoga! That's very in right now.] he said, flashing her a series of images.
[Don't. Even. Think. About. It.]
[Contractions? You must be really angry.]
[Can we go now?]
[Yes,] he said, smiling in spite of himself. [Here comes Major Griff now.]
Major Griff was a little beyond Selmak. For all she railed against Jacob's sarcasm and disregard for certain aspects of the way things were supposed to be, she could cope with him. She simply could not deal with Griff, so she happily stepped aside and let Jacob do it. They reached the top of the boarding ramp just as SG3 reached the base.
"Permission to come aboard, sir?" Griff asked.
[Is that ever denied?] Jacob ignored her. "Permission granted. Welcome aboard, Major."
And the SG3 marines snappily boarded the shuttle.
Jacob and Selmak took their seat at the control panel and began the pre-launch sequence as SG3 stowed their gear in the back. After the shuttle was airborne and had cleared the atmosphere, Major Griff came forward to sit in the co-pilot's chair.
"What is your plan, Major?"
"With your permission, sir, we'd like to Ring down on to Cheyenne Mountain, the emergency co-ordinates, not the regular ones. That way, we can see what's going on and infiltrate the SGC if we have to."
"Is that even possible? I thought the whole point of the SGC was that it was supposed to be uninfiltrateable." Jacob had the co-ordinates of Earth committed to memory, so he did not see the panel blink in protest when he entered them, and sent the ship into hyper drive.
"Well, Major Carter managed it twice, sir, so we know it can be done." Griff smiled, just a little bit. Which was kind of weird. "Besides, those Cold War types were all about back doors."
"True enough, Major, true enough," Jacob agreed. "You may as well get comfortable. This ship isn't exactly top of the line. It's going to be quite a trip."
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AN: I have just realized that I am about to embark on writing a story that does not involve a single major character. Also, I am in love with Selmak. She's just so much fun! And I think I invented a word.