At 08:55, in dress blues and carrying her briefcase containing her reports, Sam announced herself to the sergeant at General Landry's door. "Go right in, Ma'am," she said, "they're ready for you now."

Sam stepped into the threshold of Landry's office. "Colonel Carter, reporting as ordered."

"Come in, Colonel," replied Landry motioning her in. At the same time a man seated in the visitor chair turned to her.

"Welcome home, Colonel Carter," said General Vidrine gravely.

"Thank you, sir," she replied. She tried not to worry at his grim expression. She reminded herself he always seemed to glare. But it was unusual for him to visit the SGC.

"Sit down, Colonel," Landry ordered genially. Sam took the second visitor chair.

"I won't beat around the bush, Colonel," Vidrine said in his usual gruff tone. "The Air Force is very unhappy with the situation."

Sam waited for the ton of bricks to fall on her.

"The IOA is being short sighted by pulling a military commander out of Atlantis, particularly one who performed so well. Unfortunately the Joint Chiefs acceded to demands for a civilian to again be placed in charge," Vidrine continued. "But let me be clear—you have not been 'relieved of command.' We brought you home to take on a new command."

By this time Sam's head was spinning. Before she had time to consider what this new command might be, Landry took up the explanation.

"You're going to command a special unit based out of the mountain," he said.

Sam wondered if that was code for "bury out of sight."

"This unit will capitalize on your outstanding scientific and military skills, Colonel. We're calling it SG-X," explained Vidrine. "You will be in charge of establishing offworld research and development facilities. After the Gamma site disaster, we recognize that we need to spread our resources more strategically."

Sam thought back to the incident of the "bugs" overrunning the Gamma site, leading to the self destruct taking it out. She shuddered inwardly, thinking of how she and SG1 barely escaped before literally being eaten alive.

"Your unit will evaluate prospective planet sites and coordinate their setup. You will maintain oversight of the bases, under the overall command of the SGC," Landry inserted. "Not only will travel to these bases be part of your duties, but we want you here, not locked away in the desert." Sam recognized the reference to her stint in charge of R&D at Area 51.

"If I might sirs, aren't planetary surveys the purview of regular SG teams?" Sam asked.

"Ordinarily yes," Landry answered. "And in fact the initial surveys will be done as usual. Your teams will do the subsequent evaluations, however, geared to the specific needs of the particular bases."

Sam noted the use of the terms "bases" and "teams."

"Bases, plural, sir?" asked Sam.

"We intend to establish three offworld bases that we will designate Delta, Epsilon and Gamma," said Vidrine. "Delta will be a shipyard, Epsilon a station for developing new weapons technology and Gamma will be a facility for examining life forms and technology to determine whether they are safe to study on Earth or whether they need to be brought to Earth at all."

"How's that sound to you, Colonel?" Landry asked with a twinkle in his eye.

Sam sorted through possible responses. "Shocked" and "overwhelmed" came to mind, but those would hardly do for an Air Force bird colonel. She took what she hoped was an unobtrusive breath.

"I appreciate your confidence in me, sirs. When do I get started?" she said.

Landry chuckled. "Once you've debriefed regarding Atlantis, you have a week's leave to get settled back home, but then we want you to begin choosing your core team." He stood. "Congratulations, Colonel Carter," he finished, reaching out to shake her hand.

Sam jumped to her feet. "Thank you, sir…sir," she replied, shaking hands with each General in turn.

Landry stood there looking very pleased with himself, Sam thought. Just then Sergeant Rogers entered the room.

"Excuse me General," she said, "but the committee members have arrived."

"Very well. Let's head to the briefing room," Landry sighed.

---

The debriefing was uneventful with the committee members behaving as if nothing unusual had happened. She did her best to impress upon them the threats Atlantis faced and her confidence in her team there. Except it wasn't her team anymore, Sam thought with a pang. Sam was proud of herself for maintaining her military bearing and not glaring at Woolsey.

Afterward, by habit, even after nearly a year away, Sam found herself walking to Daniel's office. He sat his lab table, engrossed in some document and she paused briefly in the doorway, suddenly uncertain about disturbing him. As if sensing her, he looked up owlishly.

"Hey, Sam. How'd it go?" he said, motioning for her to come in and sit down.

Then she noticed Teal'c sitting cross legged on the floor in the corner as if he had been meditating. He looked at her expectantly.

"Better than I thought it would," she said, sliding onto an empty stool across from Daniel. "The Air Force wants me for another command."

"See, I told you they know how valuable you are! What kind of command? I hope it's not too far away…though nothing could be farther than Atlantis…"

"Daniel Jackson. Allow Colonel Carter to answer," interjected Teal'c.

Daniel held up his hands in mock surrender. "Go ahead," he said.

Sam proceeded to explain what she knew. "So they're calling it SG-X," she finished.

I get a week's leave and then I have to start planning. I apparently get to pick my own core team."

Teal'c stood in one fluid motion. "I would like to request a position on your team, Colonel Carter," Teal'c said.

"It sounds right up my alley, Sam. Do you have room for me?" Daniel said at the same time.

"I was hoping you'd say that," Sam said with a smile. Then she frowned. "But what about SG-1?"

"Hey, it's a chance to work with you again and do some groundbreaking work—besides, SG-1 hasn't been the same since you've been gone," Daniel said.

"Indeed," Teal'c added.

"Mitchell probably won't be happy," Sam said slowly, "but I think I can swing it with the general." She grinned.

Author's note: Thanks to Skydiver for helpful suggestions. Any failings in this story are mine.