SGC Laboratory 3

Sam Carter sat nursing a luke warm coffee. The hum of computers, of the air-con and the buzz of personnel tuned out as she concentrated on the small screen in front of her. She'd worked on this for weeks now and could feel it was close to completion. The systems were now talking to each other properly and the translation of raw data to workable charts and locations was working.

Kara had helped and was fitting in as if she'd always been here. She was a fast study and was already qualified on the F16, 15, 22 and in the past few weeks the 302. And apart from being a bit hotheaded in the cockpit and the firing range she was a likeable enough youngster.

She had mood swings though, but talking to Dr Lam and Teal'c seemed to help. Teal'c especially had helped her through. Being an Alien himself he had a unique outlook on Earth! Sam's one concern was that she'd burn out. There was still a lot floating under the surface that they didn't know. Starbuck had touched on the debacle of New Caprica, her incarceration by an enemy that couldn't die and the trauma of surviving. All a hell of a lot for a woman her age to deal with.

Peterson Air Force Base 25m Range

'At the target in front in your own time...GO ON!'

3 C8 assault rifles barked as the team practised and zeroed their personal weapons.

The SAS team, SG22 were getting into the swing of this duty quickly. They'd all been blown away by the operation and none of them had entirely believed the Stargate was actually real. Right up to the point that Daniel Jackson had shown them SG 11 returning from a mission.

Pete Phillips had listened and watched incredulously as the event horizon flared and the team had strode down the ramp. Four men dressed in green fatigues with black vests had exited and been met by General Landry. The incredulity had increased when Jackson had briefed them on the next part of the mission and the existence of a British SPACESHIP! At this point he'd laughed and shook his head. The briefing had lasted four hours!

Now they were almost six weeks into the work up and becoming integrated on the SGC team. Shady was his usual stoic self, taking it in his stride, Kirsty was also being very technical about things and had spent a great deal of time learning the languages of the different races as well as bugging Dr Lee about the systems the SGC used.

The only weak link was the Engineer Lieutenant, McBride. He'd been ill at ease with McBride's inclusion on the operation and was talking to the IOA rep from the UK after the team check zeroed their weapons. Need to check this guy out.

The firing ceased. A quick glance showed the three had dropped their rifles out of the aim and he could see the bolts locked to the rear.

'Anyone not finished? OK, detail unload!'

The drills were undertaken swiftly, even by Kirsty, a realtive newcomer to the weapon.

'OK, for inspection, PORT ARMS.'

Pete walked behind each of them, checking the chambers of the weapons and tapping them on the arm, uttering Ease springs as he did so. Ryan and Shady raced off to the targets to compare groupings and collect on bets. Kirsty hung back, pulling a packet of cigarettes from her smock pocket she swept a stray hair from her face and lit it.

'Like a couple of kids!'

Her lilting Scottish burr softly spoken. Pete grinned and accepted the proffered pack and lit his own with the zippo he'd bought in the Peterson PX.

'Yeah, they are. But I'd take the fuckers anywhere. Chris can be a bit of a sex pest but he's a damn good soldier. And Shady I've known for ages and he's solid.'

He stole a glance at the petite blonde beside him and grinned.

'I'm beginning to trust you too Sarge. Not so bad with the old gat and you seem to be able to resist Ryan's charms.'

Kirsty blushed and smiled, blowing a blue cloud. She rear slung her weapon and looked up at Pete.

'Why thank you kind sir! I'll take that as a compliment. You three aren't too bad yerselves. Despite being Taffs and a Sasanach!'

Phillips grinned back and gestured to the target they'd reached.

'Hmmm, did drop a round though, you owe me a fiver kiddo!'

SGC Ready Room

As the meetings and briefings continued upstairs, the technical stuff down the corridor, Starbuck sat by her locker. She'd spent an hour talking to the American President, the Prime Minister of a country called Britain who sounded like Baltar One reason not to trust the frakker and a small dapper gentleman from the United Nations. Apparently there were hundreds of nations on Earth and this UN represented most of them. Daniel had tried to explain but she'd switched off as usual.

The flying had blown the cobwebs away, Lorne was a pain in the ass but a good pilot. Like a quieter cross between Greg and Lee. She'd stopped thinking of them, it hit her. With all the fuss of the briefings, helping Col Carter with the Nav system and then the flying, her friends and family had retreated to the back of her mind.

A wave of guilt washed over her. Covering her face with her hands she sat forward resting her elbows on her knees. That had been weeks ago, now she was drained.

'Penny for them?'

She looked up and saw Sam Carter leaning against her own locker. Dressed in green BDUs, she looked tired. Starbuck smiled weakly.

'Realised that I'm getting used to being here. Its been weeks almost months and its like I've always been here ma'am.'

Sam pushed off her locker with a sigh and sat down before Starbuck.

'Its Sam. Please. And its good to see you settling in. I hope that you'll consider staying on after we find the fleet. But you're feeling guilty about neglecting their memory...No that makes it sound like they're dead. But you get my meaning? Its natural to get caught up I the moment Kara, and it won't be long now.'

Sam grinned as Starbucks head snapped up.

'I wanted you to be the first to know. We located the gas giant that you flew through. It must have been some kind of rift and that threw you into the path of the Hammond. But it means that I can pinpoint the planet and the fleet. We'll be leaving in the morning.'

Starbuck just sat. Staring at Carter wide eyed and gaping.

'You mean it? I'm going home?'

Carter grinned

'Yep. It'll take us two days in Hyperspace to get there.'

A tear appeared in her eye and Carter hugged her. It had taken time but now the tears came, to both women. Thoughts of home, the fleet, Lee, Sam, the old man flooded into her head. Frack you Leoben! Harbinger of doom? I'm leading them home!

'Um, ladies? General O'Neill would like to see you both? Final briefing in a half hour.'

They laughed at the uncomfortable looking young female Major stood in the door. Sam stood wiping an eye and opening her locker.

'Thanks Pat, we'll be right up.'

Thrace jumped up and opened her locker. A new found energy gripped her. The locker had the few personal belongings she'd carried with her. A picture of her and Sam, one of her, Zak and Lee and her dog tags and ring. She touched them one by one silently thanking the gods. Grinning she turned to Sam Carter.

'Which of these fancy uniforms should I wear then Sam?'

Carter turned and held up her blue Class A uniform and smiled,

'As its such a biggy these should do.'

Nodding Starbuck pulled out the uniform the SGC had provided. It fitted perfectly, although the skirt had been a surprise, and had pilots wings, captains bars and a set of medal ribbons representative of her 'service' with the USAF. By the time she'd finished dressing, with a bit of help, she looked every bit the USAF Captain she realised, with a jolt, she was becoming.

SGC Briefing Room

The room was filling up quickly Jack noted. The Atlantis team, SG1 and 3, the SAS boys and girl and a plethora of others. USAF, British Army and RAF uniforms mingled with the IOA suits and Atlantis uniforms. Daniel was busying himself with papers and the computer as Kara and Sam came up the stairs. He looked up, began to say something then dropped his pen as he saw Kara in USAF uniform. Jack chuckled then realised that the room had gone quiet. Captain Kara Thrace had made quite an impression on the SGC and was fitting in very nicely. She looked totally at home in the class As. Well at home right up to the point that the entire room began to applaud that is!

The applause brought Kara up short. What the frak? She stood blushing in a most un-Starbuck like manner in the middle of the people that were quickly becoming her extended family. Teal'c stood smiling at her, another stranger in a strange land, he'd helped her to cope with the culture shock.

The Tauri, the thirteenth, are good people Kara Thrace, they will welcome you. But to be part of them you must give of yourself also.

He inclined his head and nodded. The Atlantis guy, Wolsley, smiled at her as he clapped along. That had been interesting as well!

How will your compatriots will take to the possibility of being ruled by others?

And there at the head of the room the two Generals that had unflinchingly thrown themselves behind this insane plan of Carters. O'Neill and Landry both smiling and applauding.

We'll take you to them Captain, then you can bring them on home. I may even throw a party!

A loud AHEM from Jack cut the clapping and the meeting turned serious. People took seats and the two senior officers took the stand. Jack stepped out to the front and gestured to the group.

'As most of you know I hate cliché.'

Teal'c rumbled

'Indeed'

Laughter rippled around the room

'But I stand here before a group of great people. We've all worked hard at getting this plan worked out and crossing all the tees and dotting the eyes. Colonels Carter, Mitchell...Damn you Cameron (a grin at his replacement) and Sheppard. The British contingent. Sgt Benton, there will be hearts breaking across Colorado when you leave tomorrow. All of you have done your damnedest to get this off the ground. In possibly the shortest time ever, even for the SGC, we have taken Captain Thrace's appearance and the existence of the Colonials and come up with a plan. I commend you. All of you. But most of all Major Thrace.'

There was an intake of breath. Kara looked about at the team sat near her. Teal'c smiled, Carter grinned like a cheshire cat and Daniel patted her shoulder. Major?

'Its one of the perks of the job Starbuck. I'm recommending that you are commissioned into the USAF, honorarily for now, as a Major . That's if you'll have us?'

Jack smiled at the now teary Major Kara Thrace. It was a measure of the regard that they held her and all of the senior staff had agreed with him on it. Hell I'd have done it anyway!

'The way you have taken this situation and turned it around is an inspiration Kara,'

Carter stared at Jack, was this her Jack? God god he was getting soft! She smiled and a tear escaped down her cheek. This is why I love him, always surprises!

Kara smiled at Jack and stood. Another bone cracker of a salute.

'It'd be an honour sir.' Dunno how the old man will take it though!

Returning the salute in his usual, casual, style Jack turned to Hank Landry.

'General Landry will now detail the execution of the plan.'

Everyone sat straighter as the lights dimmed and the screen lit. Hank Landry noted the expectation, the professionalism and the energy of his audience. He smiled and began.

'As you all know, Major Thrace appeared in this area of space as the Hammond transited home. From here we have advanced to a point that we can locate the gas giant that she fell into. Colonel Carter has worked with the Major to extrapolate the information from the Viper nav computer. It appears that the Colonial Fleet is sitting here...'

The screen flashed to a pictorial version of the data from the Viper.

'The Puppis Constellation'

Jack smiled smugly,

'I told ya!'

Hank grimaced good naturedly and continued.

'Yes General, the Fleet should be here in orbit of this gas giant. It lies deep in uncharted territory. Not covered by the Asgard treaty or even explored by the Go'auld. The reasons are as yet unknown. SG5 are currently investigating this and we hope to have some idea by the time the mission returns.'

He took a sip from a glass of water and noted the silence in the room.

'It will, I am assured, take the task force two days to reach the area. The ships will drop out of Hyperspace short of the system and 302s will recon to ascertain the location and state of the fleet and any Cylon presence. From here it will fall to Major Thrace and Colonel Mitchell to make first contact with the Colonials. Colonel Sheppard will now discuss the task force constitution.'

Landry sat beside Jack in the front row as John Sheppard took the podium and clicked the screen to a new slide.

'Sirs, ladies.'

He began, a lopsided grin on his face,

'The Task Force is comprised of the USS George S Hammond, HMSS Ark Royal as the initial group. SG1 and 22 with SGA1 will embark with Mr Wolsey and Lt Col Davis. This group will be under the command of General O'Neill. The USS Apollo and PRCSS Sun Tzu with SG3 and SGA2 as the reserve under General Landry. Major Thrace will fly point with Colonel Mitchell in an F302 and make contact with the Colonial fleet.'

He paused and let the info sink in briefly.

'The reserve group will hold back until we can confirm that the situation is under control. Thereafter they will provide a rearguard group to cover the withdrawal of the fleet to a safer position so we can upgrade the Colonials drive systems, if compatible, under the expert tuition of Dr's McKay and Selenka.'

This drew a snort from Rodney McKay and a groan from Radek Selenka. Sheppard continued with a grimace at McKay.

The brief lasted a further hour. Arguments over diplomatic and scientific procedure continued well after it had finished. The teams withdrew and everyone got an early night. The mission was slated to depart at 1000 hours the following morning.

In her room Starbuck sat on her bed staring at her pictures of Sam, Lee and Zak and wondering where this craziness would take her next.