Chapter 4: Call to Action
It was the same with every person connected to Stargate Command when they were on base, where everything around them shouted "Military!" and the ugly gray walls surrounded a body and kind of closed him – or her -- in. Not a tiny ray of sunshine ever penetrated the fortress-like structure hundreds of feet underground. It kind of weighed on a person. Oh, sometimes the other stuff – the research, the mounds of paperwork, the day-to-day procedures – kept them busy, too busy to think. Then there were the fun times – the jokes about the food in the commissary, the games of ping-pong accompanied by cheers or cat calls as the spirit moved, the work-out times in the gym where a bit of one-upmanship sometimes prevailed -- but the tension of waiting for the next siren, the next urgent call to action was always there, just below the surface. Such was the case, especially, for SG-1.
The team had been thoroughly briefed about what to expect on their next mission, although none of them knew when it would happen. That would depend on a complicated series of events coming together. And so, they slept in their quarters – Daniel and Sam were careful to keep with protocol – and they dreamed restless dreams, BDUs and weapons close at hand.
Several nights later, at about 0300 hours, the call came through. Within 10 minutes, the quintet was alert and ready, adrenaline pumping through their veins, waiting for the metallic whoosh! of the 'gate to stabilize. "I love you," Sam silently mouthed to Daniel. He returned the sentiment.
General Landry blessed them with a gruff but heartfelt "Godspeed, people," and then SG-1 disappeared through the ring.