Title: All The Difference
Author: Knife Hand
Feedback: Constructive feedback appreciated, flames unappreciated
Spoilers: Has references to all Stargate series seasons. Buffy to the end of Season 3
Rating: MA
Disclaimer: Don't own SG1, Buffy or any other character from a recognised series.
Summary: SG1 gets some help from an unexpected source… The future.
" " denotes speech, ' ' denotes thought.
AN: Deviates from just after Learning Curve in season 3 (1999).
Dawn was sitting by the window of Giles' apartment, only half paying attention to conversation going on in the main room. Buffy and her current boyfriend Riley Finn, who had recently gone AWOL from the Initiative sat on the couch, while Willow and Oz sat on the other two chairs in the main room, each with a laptop in front of them, while the Watcher himself was puttering around in the kitchen making tea.
"That was all the information I was able to get." Riley said.
Dawn looked out the window, and something caught her eye. She watched for a second.
"Um… Giles! Two black Humvee's just pulled up outside." Dawn called. "Six people just got out and are heading this way."
Giles emerged from kitchen and the doorbell rang. Buffy got up and took a position in the middle of the room. Oz put down his laptop and moved over to one of the book cases where a crossbow was hidden. Dawn reached under her chair for the compact crossbow attached to the underside. Giles pulled a short sword from a stand by the door, which had both weapons and umbrellas.
Giles opened the door, stepping back to clear the lines of fire. His first impression was of a tall man in a military uniform and a smallish, dirty blonde haired woman in a long flowing dress, with more figures behind the. Then the man was walking into the apartment, followed closely by the woman and four more people.
"Hey G-Man. What's the Apocalypse?" The man said.
"Xander?" everyone except Riley exclaimed.
The Scooby gang were all clustered around the couch while Xander sat in one of the single chairs and Tara was in the other. Standing behind Xander were two female Marines, one a petite blonde Lieutenant while the other was a large Sergeant with a shaved head, both in stark contrast to the two who stood behind Tara.
One was male who looked like he belonged in a nineteen-twenties bank with his old fashioned parted hair and the little round spectacles. The other was a slightly overweight woman with a long ponytail of raven black hair. They were a Battle-Mage and a Warrior Witch who were among the best in the Order at combat magic and were extremely proficient with the pistols that were hidden under their clothes.
"Shall we get down to business?" Giles asked into the stunned silence.
"One thing first." Xander said, before turning to the Sergeant. "Mother?"
"Got them right here, Paladin." The big Marine said.
"Captain Riley Finn, you are hereby charged with desertion in the face of the enemy, gross insubordination and unauthorised distribution of Classified information." Xander said formally, as Mother handed Riley some papers. "You are being given the choice to be transferred to my command until the resolution of the current situation, in return for a commuted sentence, or face an immediate Court Martial."
"Xander!" Buffy yelled in shock.
"Commuted to what?" Riley asked.
"Eight to ten years and a Dishonourable Discharge." Xander replied.
"Very well. I accept the transfer." Riley said dejectly.
"Riley! You just accepted a minimum eight year jail term." Buffy said, astonished.
"Buffy." Xander cut in, his voice much more like the old Xander than the hard voice from a moment ago. "We did what we could for him. He was charged with Desertion in the face of the enemy. They execute you for that."
Buffy looked at Riley in confusion, and he nodded in confirmation.
"Bummer." Oz commented.
"Captain Finn, G-Man, please brief Lieutenant Gant on the current situation involving the Initiative." Xander ordered. "Fox, you can use the upstairs study. Oz, can you take Mother, War Mistress Mclay and her associates on a tour of the town highlights."
"Load out?" Mother asked.
"Yes, you can take your Maghook." Xander said with a sigh.
"You are as bad as Shane." Fox said from the stairs.
"Oh come on, Chickadee. I know you dig on yours as much as the Scarecrow. Come on, you are the only ones who can make the Harbour Bridge work." Mother replied.
"At least I didn't use one to stun a Killer Whale." Fox shot back.
"Hey, the bastard took my leg."
"Scoot, the pair of you." Xander put in. "Or do I have to tell Scarecrow about two weeks ago?"
"Alright we're going. You don't play fair Paladin." Mother said walking out the door as Fox finally ascended the stairs.
Xander shook his head at the departing Marines.
"Now I need hugs from my girls." Xander declared with a lopsided grin.
Even though she was the furthest away, Dawn was the first to crash into Xander, followed closely by Willow and finally, a few seconds later, a still confused and slightly angry Buffy first gave him a very light, for her, punch on the arm, before finally joining the group hug.
SG1 were sitting in the main briefing room with General Hammond and Major Paul Davis from the Pentagon.
"So the first foreign contingent teams will be arriving within the next Twenty-Four hours. One Australian team of Four, two British teams of Six and Two Russian teams of Four will consist of the first contingents. They are also sending teams to the Yard to join the Fleet. The British and Russians are getting a Valkyrie each and will have observer crew on the Prometheus and the Damocles." Major Davis explained.
"What units are the new SG Teams pulled from?" Jack asked.
"SAS for the Australians and British. Spetznaz for the Russians." Jack whistled softly at the response.
"What about the Australians in the Fleet?" Daniel asked.
"They sent twelve." Hammond said. "Six will be on the Prometheus and Damocles, One will be trained on the SA-43's, two will be trained as Pilot and RSO on the F-302's one will be the Pilot on the Joan of Arc and one is an Engineer assigned to the Slayer."
"That's eleven." Jack pointed out. "What about the Twelfth?"
"He has been assigned as Captain of the Carter." Major Davis said reluctantly.
"We're giving the Carter to the Aussies?" Jack exclaimed. "I mean no disrespect. They are good soldiers and great for a laugh, but still."
"I think Major Carter may know this particular Australian." Major Davis replied.
"What makes you think that?" Daniel said.
"When he was shown his new ship, and told its name he responded 'Carter is a beauty. And the ship's not bad either. By the way, tell the Prom Queen she still owes me a Twenty, in colour not Green, and a slab of VB.'" Hammond interjected. "His name is Commander Luke James."
Sam was completely red from embarrassment.
"I think there's a story here." Jack said with a grin.
Everyone sat looking at Sam, who had her head in her hands.
"All I'll say is don't make bets on Two Up while drunk." She said.
"Isn't that illegal in Australia?" Daniel asked.
"Not on January 26th." She replied.
"What's Two Up?" Jack asked, to which he got no response.
TBC…