Act 2:
"Good Morning Captains, my name is Warrant Officer Naimh Kennedy." said a rather beautiful young woman who greeted the two Captains as they walked through the door. That dulcet, Irish voice sounded even more majestic without the tinny grain of the tannoy and now they could put an equally beautiful face to it; "I'd like to welcome you once again to Eboras."
"Good Morning Officer." Captain Turner said. This time he got in before his fellow Soldier; "Captain Turner, and this is erm…" He clicked his fingers as though trying to remember who Captain Wood was.
"Captain Wood." The other Captain butted in. He fixed his friend with a glare and cursed under his breath. That would have been his line.
"I know who you are, Captain," Officer Kennedy said with a smile; "If you'd like to follow me please." she gestured her hand down a long corridor.
"Off-duty though, it's Brandon." said Captain Turner.
"…and you can call me Jase! Off-duty I mean." chirped Captain Wood. He was playing catch-up.
"Brandon & Jase Hmm? Very well Captains, off-duty you can call me Officer Kennedy…for now." The Officer began her walk down the long corridor, smiling. The two Captains shot a puzzled look toward each other, and then swiftly followed.
"So how did you like the journey to Eboras?" Officer Kennedy enquired as they walked.
"Meh, it was nothing really." Jase answered, knowing full well she wouldn't believe him. It had been one of the best experiences of his entire life and his head was still spinning from it.
"It was awesome!" said Brandon, who was now striding alongside the Officer; "Do we really get to do this for a living?"
"Sure you do!" said Officer Kennedy, flashing him a grin this time; "Some people just get all the fun don't they?"
"How was your trip?" enquired Brandon.
"Well…I'm embarrassed to say that I fainted, I'm afraid." answered Officer Kennedy, blushing.
"Wow, that is embarrassing." he said, wishing he'd been there to help bring her round. Silently he was glad his own trip through the Stargate didn't make him pass out too as she'd have seen the whole thing. He remembered the first few moments after he stepped out onto Eboras and remembered how close he'd actually been to falling flat on his six.
Changing the subject, he asked the Officer; "So about this General Etherington, what's he like? Is he one of the good ones?"
"He's fine I suppose, although I haven't really dealt with him much just yet as we haven't officially begun operations." Officer Kennedy replied; "I've been here about a week or so myself. He doesn't seem the kind of General who'd give orders for the sake of it. He seems OK but like I say I haven't dealt with him much." Brandon had always liked to gain as much info - or even dirt - on his superiors as he could before he had to finally meet them so, at the very least, he knew how much he could get away with.
"Hang on," said Jase, who was lagging a little behind by now, "You said good morning to us just now…" he directed the question at Officer Kennedy, then looked at his watch, which displayed '14:23'.
"Yes?"
He waved his watch at her; "Well it's like nearly half past two." He never liked stating the time in military jargon as it always gave him a headache.
"We're on another planet you Moron." said Brandon looking back, who'd got his sly dig in just as Officer Kennedy opened her mouth to answer. She ducked her head down to disguise the giggle.
"Truth is…" she said as she said, looking back up as she managed to compose herself; "…we don't really have any idea exactly what time it is here. The days seem a little longer than they do back home. The suns have just risen however, so we figure it's in the morning sometime." She gestured her hand once again, this time out the window they were walking past. Brandon and Jase looked at each other once again puzzled; "suns?" they mouthed to each other and they followed Officer Kennedy's hand and gazed out the window. The view they had from the window made their jaws drop almost to the floor. According to the view, they were high up in a mountain range, large imposing golden mountains stretched out far and wide, encompassing a large clearing on the ground, which was at the foot of the mountain they were apparently situated. In the clearing itself, they could see what looked like an already established military training ground: Soldiers running in groups, a firing range on the left and on the right, a few dozen military tents and Barracks. In the distance, they could see the blue-green glow of a huge ocean. To the far right, more mountains and large scopes of tropical forest and specks of desert as far as the eye could see. They looked up into the sky and saw what looked like a small moon hovering in front of a giant red and orange planet. To the planets right, a bright sun shone proud. It was slightly larger than the sun they were able to see back home and, despite the fact it actually hurt their eyes to look, they could not tear them away. High up in the sky to the top-right of the massive planet sat a smaller, yet equally enthralling sun shining proud also.
"OK." said Brandon after a good while; "I definitely owe you £100 now." Jase said nothing, only smiling as he continued to look at the beautiful scene laid out in front of him. He said at last; "I think I'm going to like it here."
"Beautiful isn't it?" the Irish voice flowed gracefully back towards their ears.
"Yeah it is." Brandon was lost for words and that was all he could muster at this moment in time.
"Almost as lovely as Belfast!" Officer Kennedy quipped. She'd seen the view many times before; "We're almost there, gents." She turned and continued to walk and the Captains managed to break free of the hypnotic scene and followed her.
A few moments later, Officer Kennedy stopped in front of a door. On it, a sign displaying the words: 'Lt. Gen. Peter Etherington' and underneath, a Military design: a golden Sword crossed with its sheath. Above this was displayed a gold diamond-shaped emblem. She turned to look back at Brandon and Jase and smiled; "OK lads, he's inside. You ready?"
"Yes Officer, we're ready." said Brandon, Jase confirmed his readiness with a simple nod. The two Captains straightened themselves out and made sure their Berets were sitting properly on their heads. The casual jokiness that had up to now emanated from them both had by now all-but subsided. Now the true, proud, presentable soldiers hand-picked for this assignment stood in front of the door. Hands behind their backs ready to meet their new commander-in-chief. Their hearts skipped a beat or three as Officer Kennedy rapped on the door. From inside, a solid, assured male voice answered; "Come."
Officer Kennedy opened the door and walked inside. Brandon and Jase waited until she had fully entered the room before they proceeded to follow. The room looked very official and not unlike General Landry's own office back on Earth at the SGC, where they had just been not half an hour before. Military insignia and pictures adorned the walls and in the centre, stood a giant, polished oak desk. Behind it sat a large man, dressed in full General uniform, in his mid to late 50's by Brandon's estimation…thinning grey hair and lines around his eyes and face that showed not only his age, but also his experience. He looked up as the Warrant Officer and the two Captains entered his office and when the door was closed behind them, he rose to his feet. He was a good three inches over six-foot and his large arms and broad body spoke volumes about the type of man he was, still in very good shape despite his age. Brandon suddenly had the sinking feeling he would not be getting away with all that much during his time on Eboras.
The Imposing General saluted firmly as he rose to his feet and with the authority of a man who was simply not to be messed with. The Two Captains and the Warrant Officer saluted back, this time all three of them in unison.
"Welcome to Eboras." The General said, looking toward the two Captains; "My name is Major General Peter Etherington and I am your Commanding Officer on this Base." The Captains nodded their heads with understanding. Etherington then turned to Officer Kennedy; "Thank you Officer. That will be all."
Officer Kennedy saluted once again then turned back toward the door. She gave a glance toward Brandon and Jase which seemed to say 'good luck 'and flashed another little smile before she left the room. Brandon wondered for a split-second if that was a lucky escape or not. The moment the door closed shut, Etherington continued; "As you have no doubt been informed by General Landry back at the SGC already, you are here because our Government and our Military believe you are among the best and brightest soldiers we have." He began slowly walking round the table at which he was stood toward the two Captains; "You will be representing our Country. Therefore I expect you to show every ounce of the Integrity and Responsibility that brought you on this Assignment in the first place, every minute of every day during your time here, however long that may be." He paused as he looked directly into the eyes of the two young, slightly terrified Captains. He had stopped walking and was by now standing directly in front of them both; "Understood?"
"YES SIR!" the two Captains said once again in unison. They felt like they were back on the Parade Ground at Catterick Garrison.
"Good. So you two are…?" Etherington enquired first at Brandon.
"Captain Brandon Turner, 1st Yorkshire Regiment, SIR!"
"Captain Jason Wood, 1st Yorkshire Regiment also, SIR!"
Etherington nodded for a moment then continued his walk around the other side of his desk; "Now everyone back home including my fellow Generals may have many good things to say about you two but we have never met one another before now. This means you are yet to have done a single thing to impress me, and I am not easily impressed I can assure you. The slate is wiped clean. As far as I am concerned, you are back at square one. Is that understood?" Once again, the two Captains demonstrated their understanding in unison, just as before. "Good." He was now back behind his desk and sat down at his chair, his eyes still fixed at those of the two Captains in front of him. "At Ease, Soldiers." He said at last. Brandon and Jase eased out of their Military Stances and took their first real breaths of air since entering the Generals Office which now seemed like hours ago.
"Now I trust the two of you been informed of the details your Assignments, yes?" he turned to Jase; "Captain Wood, your Assignment?"
Jase appeared in thought for just a moment before answering; "We are to lead several teams of Soldiers through the Stargate to other planets and establish trade relations and friendships with the peoples of the Galaxy and wherever possible, recover technologies suitable for Defending Earth against any and all threats, SIR!"
"I see Landry briefed you well." Etherington smiled. Brandon was happy to see his new CO was at least capable of smiling. "That's correct Captain Wood. You are here to lead your teams trough the Stargate to other worlds." Etherington's eyes flicked toward Brandon before flicking back; "You, Captain Wood, will be assigned to lead GB2. Your team is in fact ready to be introduced to you now. Officer Kennedy will be waiting outside and will take you to the briefing room where they are waiting."
"Thank you, Sir." Jase replied as he saluted once again. He watched as the General rose back to his feet and returned the salute.
"You're Welcome, Dismissed." Etherington's hand raised up and gestured toward the door
With that, Jase dropped his salute and turned to Brandon. He smiled out the corner of his mouth to his fellow Soldier and best friend. He exited the room and closed the door behind him, leaving Brandon alone with Etherington.
"Captain Turner." Etherington continued, sitting back in his chair again. He looked down toward several pieces of paper scattered along the desk; "I'm going to assume you were told that you would also be commanding a unit. Am I right?"
"Yes Sir. General Brody informed me of this at Catterick before I left for the SGC. General Landry did so too. I must say I am very much looking forward to it."
"I thought so." Etherington appeared lost in thought as he replied. He looked up from his papers; "I'm sorry I have to be the one to inform you of this. I had hoped someone would have explained this to you back at the SGC. I'm afraid there has been a slight change of plan."
"Yes Sir?" Brandon enquired.
"The unit you will be joining is named GB1, our flagship team Captain."
"Thank You Sir!" Brandon's face lit up.
"But you will not be the Commanding Officer on this unit, I'm sorry." Etherington barely let Brandon's words escape his mouth. The smile on Brandon's face fell ever-so-slowly into a frown.
"Can I ask why Sir?" Brandon took several seconds before answering. He tried but failed to hide the disappointment in his face and his voice.
"GB1 is the front-line team as I have said. You have been selected as part of that team for your exceptional skills…the best in your Regiment so I'm told."
"Yes Sir. So why-"
"The decision was made that a team such as this requires leadership beyond the rank of Captain, I'm sorry." Etherington seemed sincere and sympathetic. A world away from the stern General Brandon had met a few minutes ago. The two men looked at each other for a moment before Etherington continued; "GB1's Commanding Officer will arrive here shortly. Find the commissary and have a drink or something. I will personally find you when the other members of your team are ready to meet you. I'm sorry you had to find out like this."
"Yes, Sir." Brandon replied with a sigh. He saluted the General then lowered his arm back down to his side. Had he been informed of this by General Brody back home, Brandon may have had something to say about the state of British Intelligence. Sure it would have been sarcastic enough for Brody to take offence yet cheeky enough to just let slide. Brandon decided to let it go for now, there wasn't anything he could do about it anyway. Once Etherington returned his salute with a simple smile and a nod, Brandon left the office in search of the commissary.