The Star Gate Program (Hetalia/Stargate SG1 X-Over)

Author: Ashynarr

Summary: It was the discovery of the century. A devise older than human civilization, capable of transporting people across the galaxy in an instant. But things have a way of quickly becoming complicated, pushing America and others to their limits as they find themselves embroiled in galactic politics and intrigue throughout the stars.

Disclaimer: Hetalia's not mine. Stargate isn't mine.

Warning: Alterations of the Stargate timeline/canon and Hetalia canon

[Inspired by Stargate Reopened; I recommend reading it if you have the time.]

[Chapter 4]

~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~

Samantha Carter, owner of a shiny new PhD in astrophysics at the relatively young age of 30 and recipient of several well-earned awards and decorations for her military service (and definitely not because her father was a military officer, despite what rumors had abounded in military school), could only sit and gape with the other officers and scientists who were watching the footage with her.

They'd all known to some degree that there were experiments with the Ring in the past, but none of them had ever really thought about what they'd tried. None of them, she could guarantee then and there, had ever dared imagined that the first Giza Project had succeeded.

Gasoline, manpower, and perseverance. It was so utterly unlikely, and yet so perfectly representative of what the military could accomplish, of what people could accomplish, given the drive and patience to see it through.

There were several quite sharp inhalations around her when the suited scientist - Littlefield, wasn't it? - stepped through the vertical watery portal, disappearing into the unknown. There was no movement besides the long hose being pulled through the portal… at least, until the Ring shut off abruptly, leaving a cleanly severed hose and a flurry of concerned scientists to start yelling over each other as several moved towards the Ring, only one thinking in passing to stop the recording and end the footage.

There was a long stretch of silence in the meeting room, everyone too busy going over the footage in their minds and trying to think of something, anything, that could adequately convey their thoughts to the rest of the room.

Then someone snorted behind her in amusement, drawing attention from everyone in the room.

"Guy's got big balls, stepping through that portal without knowing what it does or where it goes." Colonel Jack O'Neill, ten years her senior and, if she recalled correctly, once part of the special ops, leaned back in his chair, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. "I'd shake hands with him if he was still around."

Sam had to admit, she would do the same if she could, if only because she wanted to know more about the man who gave his life for this project. More importantly though, that portal - if it was what she thought it was…

"Alright everyone, now that everyone's been brought up to speed, I have a few orders from higher up regarding the Giza Project." Colonel Jones - who couldn't have been any older than her - stood up, moving to the front and turning to look over them all. "The first is that research on the stone tablet is going to be put on temporary hiatus in favor of putting more manpower into organizing and reviewing all the data from the original Giza Project to see what we can use. Second…"

The officer paused, looking towards the side of the room where more of the scientists were sitting.

"...we are speeding up the testing schedule for the Ring, and preparing for our first Remote Vehicle mission through using the code the original project used to successfully activate it."

He looked back to the rest of the group. "You're all dismissed, but know that your orders and work schedules will all likely be affected by this. If this is what some of the higher ups believes it is, things just got much more interesting for us. Doctor Langford, if I could see you for a minute."

Sam stood with the others, too busy thinking of how the tests were going to have to be rearranged and also on whether that last comment confirmed her growing conviction that that portal was in fact a stable wormhole to pay attention to where she was walking. She knew she was going to have to sit down with some of the other scientists later to go over the data, but for now she navigated herself to the cafeteria, sitting down and instantly putting pen to paper, mind racing as she hastily scribbled down half-complete thoughts in the margins and backs of the sheets she'd been given-

"What're you working on there?"

She looked up as Jack sat down across from her, blinking as her flow was disrupted. "Just some thoughts, sir. I'm still finding what I just saw hard to believe."

"You're telling me." He took a bite out of the apple he'd brought with him, swallowing before continuing. "By the way, you're the one who's in charge of the computer here, right?"

"Yes, sir, Captain Samantha Carter." She offered a handshake.

He accepted, giving a firm shake before sitting back. "Colonel Jack O'Neill. Nice to meet you, Captain."

"Same to you, sir."

"So, what got you assigned to this place?"

"I have a doctorate in Astrophysics as well as experience with programming computers; even with how little we knew about the Ring when I was assigned, it was still assumed to be some form of off-world technology."

Jack quirked an eyebrow. "And because of your training, you were the best suited in the Air Force to deal with weird alien technology."

Sam smiled lightly. "Pretty much. What about you, sir?"

He shrugged nonchalantly. "Until we know more about that portal and whatever might be on the other side of it, I'm here to make sure nothing goes AWOL."

~0~0~

Alive.

That singular word made up her entire world, a focus to hold onto as what she'd known until then came down around her. It didn't matter that it'd been nearly fifty years since Ernest had gone through, or that there was still no information on where he'd gone, if anywhere, but-

He didn't die. The accident was made up.

Ernest is alive.

Catherine held herself together as she and Alfred excused themselves to an unoccupied room; even after he'd shut the door he didn't say anything, watching her carefully, waiting for her to make the first move. She took several deep breaths, forcing herself to calm down.

"He didn't die in an accident."

"No, it doesn't seem like it."

"My father- he knew I wouldn't give up on him if there was a chance-"

"And what could you have done?"

The question was asked calmly, startling her from the rant that was starting to build up inside of her. Alfred sighed, ducking his head and rubbing at his neck.

"Look, I don't know why your dad did what he did, but I don't think getting angry over this isn't going to help anyone right now."

"I know that- I just-" She couldn't imagine how exhausted she must look right now. "I've missed him so much, and to know there's even a chance he's alive…"

"I think I understand, Dr. Langford." Alfred smiled, teeth glimmering with a hundred unspoken secrets. "And I can assure you right now that if he is still alive then we will do everything in our power to make sure he returns home safe and sound."

Relief filled her - she hadn't even realized how nervous she'd been about that possibility until he'd brought it up. "I- Thank you."

"It's really nothing big- it's what we'd do for any brave man like him-"

"No, I meant for everything." She waved her hands around her. "Bringing the project back, providing funding, finding the old records, finding Ernest… I wouldn't have believed all of this possible a few years ago, but now…"

He laughed quietly. "Yeah, this has definitely been an interesting experience for both of us."

There was a brief lull in the conversation, both taking the moment to allow the changes of the past year to sink in. Catherine's finger tapped several times against the desk she was leaning against.

"Mr. Jones, there's something I've been wondering for a while."

Alfred's gaze rose to meet hers, seeming to already know what she would ask even before she did. "Yeah?"

"Who are you, really?"

Neither of their gazes flinched, allowing her to see the brief moment of - something - pass through them before it was covered with a grin.

"I'm just Alfred F. Jones, assistant to the President and Colonel in the US Air Force."

No Colonel has the air or authority you wield, she wanted to say. No assistant has the political ties and knowledge that you do, even at your age.

No one looks that much like their grandfather.

No one ages that slowly.

"You're an interesting person, Mr. Jones, I can say that much - more than you give yourself credit for."

He tilted his head in acknowledgement, grin unwavering. "I could say the same about you, Dr. Langford."

~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~

AN: And so, we truly get into the first arc of the story, and get the second of the core team into the story. For those who don't know – this is two years before Jack loses his son and his wife, so he doesn't have that hanging over his head yet. Also, it's unlikely for me to put any sort of romantic subplot into this, but I'll see as I get further into the verse.

In case you're curious, Catherine at some point remembered the Dr. Jones who would occasionally stop by the digs she and her father were at. Vaguely, but still.

Dr. Daniel Jackson will be coming along at some point in the relatively near future.

(Also, I actually have no more excuses for putting off watching the relevant episodes for the upcoming chapters. Sucks that I have two college projects that'll get in the way, but I will make time for the episodes none the less.)