An escort appeared at the Earthers' table. "If you come this way, we'll get you lunch," she said.
"Actually," Daniel said, "I was hoping Teal'c and I might get a chance to talk to Jack."
"Jack?" the Stander asked stiffly.
"Colonel O'Neill?"
"I'm afraid that is impossible at the moment...he is otherwise detained."
Daniel turned to look but couldn't see Jack through the press of those between them. He swallowed down his disappointment and joined the others on their way to lunch.
The food was hot, homemade, and nourishing. Daniel and Teal'c ate theirs quickly and asked their escort if they'd be allowed to see some more of the memorials while the others finished.
"I'll go with you," Janet called and, asking the general's leave, hurried after them. After a quick hike up the hill, they stood catching their breath before the statues of Jack and Sam. The likenesses were surprisingly good; the inscription was even more surprising. It went a long way towards explaining why the Standers used Earth time (Mountain Standard, they'd noted), called the Gate controls a DHD, and let Jack all but run their Council meetings.
It started with a quote:
We looked over the barren land of Eonal, and I swore
it wouldn't happen to another planet...not Earth, not any;
not while I was alive. I ordered Carter to find something,
anything to hit them with. She said, 'Yes, Sir,' like it
was something she could fit in between breakfast and lunch.
Then we went through the Gate to raise an army and drive
the Aschen out of the galaxy.
The quote was ascribed to Colonel O'Neill, Commander of the Stander Army and President of the Council of Worlds.
Daniel whistled when he read it.
Teal'c spoke first, "He didn't join their fight, Daniel Jackson. He started it."
"When he said colonel was the highest rank in their army, he wasn't joking," Janet said, her voice low and stunned.
Daniel shook his head in disbelief. "They said he was a hero, but I didn't realize they meant as in George Washington."
The rest of the inscription finished with these words: Colonel O'Neill and Major Carter from the planet Earth. His leadership, determination, and sacrifice taught us to Stand. As the developer and designer of the CAAD and Defense Web, she gave us the means to do so.
"Heady stuff," Janet commented. Below them they could see people filtering back into the Council Chambers. They hurried to join them.
Hot and sweaty from their quick trip up the hill, they pushed their way through milling Council Members hoping to catch Jack before the session started. Somewhat intimidated by what they'd just discovered, they approached his table almost hesitantly. When he saw them, a wide welcoming smile lessened the pain in his face a minute and relieved their worries. He motioned them over.
"Jack, we were hoping to talk to you at lunch but they said you were busy."
"Always, I'm afraid. But we'll have to work out a way to have a minute to catch up. I'm guessing the President's on a pretty tight schedule, but maybe you can stay the night?"
"Colonel," the old man he'd called George cut in, "tonight might not be the best night for a visit." Jack scowled at him, but he didn't back down. Aha, an aide then.
"Carter will have my hide if I don't at least try," he told him, and George shrugged in reply. Jack turned back to them and said, "See what you can arrange...even if it's just supper. But don't bring Kinsey-even the Danarians can't be expected to put up with him."
