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United Nations Headquarters, New York City
After a very brief photocall the Chair Operators were led backstage to sit with SG-1 while Dr. Strom of the IOA prepared to give his address. A large TV mounted on the wall transmitted the live feed of the room where Strom would shortly begin his speech.
"Why did he have to say 'M. Rodney McKay'. Who's ever called me that? Everyone's going to say 'What does the M stand for? Oh it stands for Meredith! That's an unusual name for a guy!' I've spent years getting people to call me Rodney and it's just been undo-"
"McKay!" John warned, "A little perspective please? It's your name, big deal. You've just been hailed as a hero on worldwide TV. That is what people will remember."
"Do you realise the hell I endured as a child?"
"You didn't have it as bad as me!" Jeannie piped up suddenly, "I had to deal with your movie and my own-"
"Aw c'mon!" Jack said loudly, "It's bad enough with these two," he waved a hand at John and Dave, "without you two starting...I'm so glad I'm an only child."
"Agreed," Daniel added.
"Try being one of seven," sighed Carson.
"Fine, okay. It's just a name," Rodney conceded before looking at Jeannie, "Isn't that right Roddenberry?"
"Oh don't you even-"
Teal'c stood up suddenly, "I may feel the need to leave this room."
Noticing Teal'c's mood, the siblings quietened down, and not a moment too soon as Dr. Strom appeared on-screen, walking towards the podium, the representatives of the IOA – Woolsey included – stood behind him.
"Ladies and Gentleman, thank you for your patience. The purpose of this briefing is to impart more information about the Wraith, and about Earth's history of space exploration through the Stargate Programme.
"My name is Dr. Carl Strom. I am a Political Scientist to trade but for the past several years I have been head of an organisation called the International Oversight Advisory. We are an independent organisation and it is our job to oversee the work of all Earth citizens working away from our planet.
"I am joined by the senior representatives of the IOA: Richard P. Woolsey representing the United States, Russel Chapman representing the United Kingdom, Shen Xiaoyi representing the People's Republic of China, Jean LaPierre representing France, and representing Russia, Dr Oleg Anosov.
"Our body has existed since 2005 and it was set up to oversee all offworld operations carried out on Earth's behalf. The IOA was set up a year after the signing of the Gate Alliance Treaty by the 28 spacefaring countries of Earth. As Secretary-General Park has advised, this Treaty has the full backing of the United Nations. Prior to the formation of the IOA and the signing of the Gate Alliance Treaty, Earth's offworld operations were conducted in a slightly different manner, and were influenced by only a few nations."
For the next few minutes, Strom outlined the history of the Stargate programme, starting from Professor Langford's initial discovery, through to Daniel Jackson's involvement in getting the Stargate operational, and on to 2003 when the USA and Russia had briefed the UN Security Council about the programme. He made reference to the first 'aliens' encountered by Earth being human, before outlining the role of Stargate Command and IOA in the wider Stargate Programme. After that he discussed Atlantis, the BC-304 fleet and Destiny, before discussing Earth's allies and foes, and Earth's history with the Wraith.
"Earth has managed to make a great amount of allies, primarily in the Milky Way and Pegasus Galaxies. We count the following as our most important allies – The Athosians, The Free Jaffa Nation, The Hebridians, The Langarans, The New Satedan Republic, The Orbanians, The Tok'ra and The Travellers. Most importantly we are known as the Fifth Race of an important intergalactic alliance featuring the Ancients, the Nox, the Furlings and the Asgard.
"However, as we are already painfully aware, we have also encountered hostile aliens, among them the Goa'uld who were for several millenia the dominant power in the Milky Way, but have been decimated following encounters with Earth, the Jaffa and the Tok'ra; The Lucian Alliance who we have had several small battles with, but who do not have the ability to threaten Earth in any meaningful way; The Replicators who were a technological creation of various origins and are now 'extinct'; The Ori, who directly threatened the galaxy in the past, but who are now also extinct; and finally the Wraith who have for several years now been the biggest threat we face.
"The Wraith, and there is no easy way of telling you all this news, feed on people. They are specialised killers, specialised in that they can only consume people. There is a sizeable human population in the Pegasus Galaxy, but the Wraith are aware there are far more humans right here on Earth. They feed by removing certain enzymes from the human body and replacing them with an enzyme from the Wraith's physiology which then causes the symptoms of sudden ageing. At present we are unable to reverse this process, though we are already redoubling our efforts to find a cure given recent events.
"Although we no longer have a presence in the Pegasus Galaxy, we regularly send ships from our BC-304 fleet there to keep an eye on the Wraith and firmly believed there was no way for them to get to Earth unaided. Unfortunately it appears that our information was incomplete. We did not learn that they had this ability until the Wraith were on our doorstep.
"Defeating the Wraith is the IOA's top priority and we're currently exploring any and all options available to us to stop the Wraith once and for all. As soon the UN has voted on the motions that we have tabled, we will be able to update you with details of our strategy – a strategy that will ensure that what we have all witnessed in the past 24 hours never happens again.
"At this moment that is all the information I have to impart to you, however we will be overseeing the release of thousands of pages of Stargate Programme documentation that will contain far more information in the coming days. On behalf of the IOA I would like to thank you for your attention this afternoon."
That signalled the end of Strom's speech, and he quickly left the lectern, followed by the rest of the IOA reps. As they left the press room, Daniel stood up abruptly.
"Daniel? Going somewhere?" Jack asked.
"Yes...The Secretary-General had a request for me."
As if on cue Under-Secretary-General Battle appeared, "Dr. Jackson, if you'd like to follow me."
"Certainly, and if I could ask the rest of SG-1 to follow me?" Daniel motioned to his team, "Change of plans – you're all up now."
The whole of SG-1, past and present, walked to the Press room, and Daniel motioned for them to stand off to the side while he stood at the lectern, eyeing the world media.
In the waiting room the remaining chair operators eyed the press feed with caution, wondering what Daniel would say.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, if I could have your attention please," Daniel began.
"My name is Dr. Daniel Jackson and I'm speaking to you all today at Secretary-General Park and President Robins request. I do not have a speech prepared, but I hope you'll all join me for just a few minutes.
"I've been asked to speak as the longest-serving civilian at Stargate Command.
"Prior to Dr Strom's speech, you will likely never have heard of me. Back in 1994 I was an up and coming archaeologist. I concentrated my studies on Ancient Egypt and I published papers in a number of journals. However that year I had a sort-of epiphany, and I theorised that the Egyptian pyramids were actually landing pads for alien spacecraft.
"Needless to say it did not take long for me to get all but laughed out of academia...But I was convinced I was right. One day however, when my personal resolve was at it's lowest, when yet another audience walked out on me, Catherine Langford offered me a job. I owned nothing but some old battered suitcases and my crazy theory on Egyptian aliens, but she took a chance on me, and on that crazy theory.
"I worked with her team, and in a short space of time we made sense of the symbols on the Stargate. Once we'd unlocked the key to the symbols, everything else fell into place, and we began our exploration of the galaxy in earnest.
"I won't tell you that we've never made mistakes. I won't tell you that we've always done the best thing, or the right thing, and I won't tell you that I've always appreciated the fact that the Stargate's been kept under-wraps for so long, but I will tell you this.
"The things I've been able to do, and the wondrous things I've seen...Despite everything that has happened this last day...I cannot take it back, and nor should we. We have all lost people today. We are all hurting, but claiming our place in the stars is integral to who we are as a people, as a society. It is what makes us human.
"There are human beings all over this galaxy, all of them with a connection to this planet, and to each and every one of us. Going into space and testing our limits is in my opinion exactly where we should be aiming to go. We can't allow ourselves to be scared back into a box. We owe it to ourselves to embrace this opportunity with all our heart.
"Had we not seized the opportunities the Stargate has given us, I fully believe we would have been destroyed by now. Instead we've defended ourselves, and defended others using the knowledge we have gained. We have learnt more about the origin of our species than we could have dreamt of. We've seem planets so bizarre, so dazzling that they cannot be described in words, and encountered alien races so peaceful and so beautiful that they will make your heart glad.
"In private our countries have all worked together in harmony, pulling us all together as a global community like never before, and when you're up there, on one of our home-made spaceships, looking down on this planet...There are no borders.
"There is only us.
"The past of this planet, the past of this species, is truly wondrous. Our journey as a species is utterly amazing in ways you won't believe – at least not until the relevant papers are published. Until I began to work for the Stargate Programme, I often despaired at my fellow man.
"Today, having endured what we have, and still standing here now, at the United Nations, I couldn't be more proud, and I am absolutely certain that we will not only rebuild our planet, but that we'll make it better. We will honour our dead by building a planet they will be proud of. And we already have our retribution for their deaths – the entire Wraith fleet that came to kill us was destroyed.
"Our dead's deaths have been avenged.
"We will also stop the rest of the Wraith, just as we stopped the Goa'uld. Just as we stopped the Replicators in three separate galaxies, and just as we stopped the Ori across even more galaxies than that.
"But we also need to look to the future. We need to get out there and do ourselves proud. By learning, and by teaching, and by keeping our eyes open to all the possibilities that now lie before us.
"Our allies are amazing in their diversity. I know some people will be unduly wary of them, but our allies, as listed by Dr. Strom are peoples we have known for years, and are people that I am happy to count among my friends. In fact I will have the great honour of introducing you to a couple of them in just a few seconds.
"For now, I would like to introduce you to my exploration team, the very first one to be commissioned, both past and present: SG-1 of Stargate Command."
John and the rest of the operators watched as a secondary feed panned to the media, giving Daniel a very warm applause, even a few of those that had been less impressed were clapping their hands, clearly impressed by Daniel earnest words.
Daniel beckoned for SG-1 to join him onstage.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I'd like to introduce you to the current leader of SG-1 Colonel Cameron Mitchell of the United States Air Force."
Cameron joined Daniel next to the lectern and shook his hand before moving to the side.
"Cameron is a decorated fighter pilot who has been SG1's team lead since 2005. He was preceded by Colonel Samantha O'Neill Ph.D, also of the Air Force."
Sam gave the crowd a self-conscious smile, and nodded in their direction, before taking a few steps back to stand next to Cameron.
"Sam was in command of SG-1 between 2004 and 2005, and is one of Earth's leading astrophysicists, once described by the original leader of SG-1 as one of America's great natural resources," Daniel turned round to see that his comment had had the desired effect as Sam was now looking suitably embarrassed.
"And now I can welcome the original leader of SG-1 back up here, Major General Jack O'Neill, who commanded SG-1 between 1997 and 2004."
Jack walked back onstage, enveloping Daniel in a hug and whispered "Thank you Spacemonkey," in his ear.
Daniel chuckled a little at the comment before continuing with his speech, knowing that what he was about to do would go down in history as one of Earth's watershed moments.
"General O'Neill, Colonel O'Neill – and yes they are married – and myself were three of the four original members of SG-1, and I remain a member of SG-1 to this day, but there are other members of our team who are not military, nor strictly civilian..."
Daniel took a quick look around the room, and was somewhat relieved when he spotted Robins standing behind Teal'c and Vala. She nodded in approval, realising what Daniel was about to do.
"So without further ado, it is the greatest honour to welcome the rest of SG-1 up here. Firstly I would like you all to meet Teal'c."
Teal'c walked up to join Daniel, sporting a Vancouver Canucks beanie, which he promptly removed, revealing Apophis' seal on his forehead. After shaking hands with Daniel and exchanging a knowing look, Teal'c joined Jack, Sam and Cam behind Daniel.
"Teal'c is not from Earth," Daniel stated, gauging the crowd's stunned reaction, "He is from a planet called Chulak, and is not only a member of SG-1, but is the ambassador of the Free Jaffa Nation to Earth. I first met Teal'c back in 1997, when he saved not only my life, but dozens more on one of our earliest missions. Over the years he has helped lead his people, the Jaffa, to freedom from the Goa'uld, and the Jaffa are one of our most important allies."
"Next I'd like to introduce you to Vala Mal Doran," Daniel smiled, beckoning Vala to the stage and praying she'd behave herself.
"Hello!" she said quietly and nervously, waving a little, before joining the rest of her team.
Daniel smiled a smile of relief as Vala decided to be sensible, before continuing, "Vala, like Teal'c, is not from Earth. In fact she's not certain which planet she's originally from. Like a lot of people out there, she and her family moved from planet to planet quite regularly. Vala has been with SG-1 since 2006 and helped us to a decisive victory over the Ori.
"There is another former member of SG-1 but he's not currently on Earth. That member is Jonas Quinn of Langara who was a member of SG-1 from 2002 to 2003."
Daniel was silent for a few seconds, reading the reactions of the press which ranged from surprise to incredulity.
"Now I gather when you all think of aliens, you don't think of them as looking anything like us. But a lot of our friends offworld look like they could be your next door neighbours, and there is a reason for that – humans are everywhere.
"Vala had never visited Earth, or even heard of it prior to 2004 – but she's human. Jonas is also human, and Teal'c is Jaffa – a race directly descended from humans."
"Most of our allies are human, or descended from humans. Some others look far different. But I am convinced we are all far more similar than we are dissimilar. Details of what SG-1 and the other exploratory teams have achieved over the last fifteen years will prove that to you, and we only need to look to our allies the Hebridians - who are comprised of two totally different species - to realise that no matter where you go, people are people. Even our allies that are a different species to us share our basic humanity.
"I know I've talked for longer than you were expecting, but I'm hoping that this has given you a little taste of the more human side of what we've all been doing these past several years. I won't be taking questions at this point as there will be other speakers, but I would like to sincerely thank you for your time."
With that, Daniel brought his winding speech to a close, and joined SG-1. Together they posed for photographs, arms around each others shoulders in a show of complete unity as a myriad of camera flashes bombarded them.
Battle walked up to the lectern to inform the press of the rest of the day's schedule as SG-1 filed off, and he made sure to shake each of their hands as they left, before starting the run-down of the schedule.
SG-1 arrived back in the waiting room to a round of applause from the chair operators.
"Dr Jackson, that was some speech...The press liked that a lot more than either Strom's or Park's," John smiled.
"It was a very impressive speech," Teal'c intoned, a small smile on his features.
"You're an alien?" Dave said in shock.
"Indeed!" Vala responded on his behalf, "We're very alieny."
The group would not get a chance to relax however as one group after another was led off to stand alongside their prospective Presidents and Prime Ministers as one by one each nation of the world had its say on the day's events – the only no-show being North Korea.
After all was said and done, Secretary-General Park announced a global week of mourning, and Landry advised the chair operators and SGC staff to take a few days leave to "try and get back to normal".
But they each knew that was going to be far easier said than done.