Chapter 21
With Jon's larger frame and more mature body General Hammond decided now was a good time to bring him back into the Air Force. He would be working as a liaison between the Academy and the falconry program that the SGC was trying to establish off world. He needed to make Jon an officer but he didn't think giving him the rank of colonel was ideal in the situation due to the fact that Jon was not Jack…Or trying very hard not to be him anyways. He didn't wish to insult Jon by making him a new lieutenant either. He debated what rank would be best for Jon; something that would allow him to blend in with the rank and file. He settled on the rank of major. General Hammond had asked Jon to come to his office that morning.
Jon stood in the doorway in green BDU's and gently tapped, "Sir."
Hammond looked up from his work and gave a nod, "I'm glad you could come by so early."
"What did you want to see me about?" he asked him upon entering.
Hammond stood up from behind his desk and walked about clutching something in his hand. He told the young clone, "I am very impressed with how you handled yourself in the past. I would like to officially make you an officer in the US Air Force.
He gave a funny look, "You're gonna give me a commission?"
"I am," he assured him. "And officer base housing, Major O'Neill."
"Major?" he gasped. "But I'm not him. I just have his brain stuck in my head."
"I know," he agreed. "If you were him you would be a colonel." He then pinned the golden leaf to his collar and gave him a salute. "Major."
Jon saluted in return. It was automatic for him. He just naturally did so with no thought, "Sir." He then realized he did so just as Jack would.
Hammond then handed him a patch, "This is for you and falconry team."
"SGF?" he asked.
"Stargate Falconry." he gave a nod. "You will be heading that program, Major."
"Yes sir," he replied. He then winced for he didn't it again. He sounded just like Jack.
Hammond asked, "Something wrong?"
"No sir," he tried to explain. "It's just I sound just like him when I speak to you."
Hammond smirked, "So does every other airman here. Dismissed!"
"Sir," he gave a salute and left the office. As he walked down the hall to the commissary for breakfast he placed the new patch on his arm. He entered the commissary and soon found Sam sitting at a table with Janet chatting. He picked up a package of fruit loops, a cereal bow with a spoon and milk and made his way to the table. "Carter, Fraiser."
Sam looked upon him and gasped, "Hammond gave you a rank finally!"
Janet took notice, "Major O'Neill."
He removed the patch from his sleeve, "Check out the new patch for the falconry program." He placed the patch before them.
"Very cool," Sam grinned happy for him. "Things are finally coming together. You got a commission and are running the falconry program. Cassie and Jackie are both in the Academy and guess what?"
He asked, "What?"
"They are roommates," she grinned. "It was sheer luck! Cassie's old roommate was transferred."
"Cassie and Jackie are roommates in the Academy?" he asked.
"Isn't that great?" Sam cheered.
Jon wondered, "How is it great? They don't even know each other."
Janet assured, "They will become friends fast. Cassie is from another planet; Jackie was a host and Tok'ra spy. I think they have a few things in common."
Jon looked at Sam, "You know she really doesn't need a mother figure in her life now. She's an old woman in her head."
"I know that," Sam assured him.
He poured his cereal and noted, "Because you two are acting like a couple of soccer moms whose kids are on the same team."
Janet miffed, "We are not acting like a couple of soccer moms."
Jon smiled as he started to eat his cereal for they indeed were acting like soccer moms. Out of the corner of his eyes he spotted Jack walk into the commissary with Fred, Daniel and Teal'c. Jack gathered his cereal and came to the table next. He sat down next to Sam and looked across the table at Jon who had the exact same breakfast.
He made a face, "Can't you eat something else?"
"Can't you?" he rebutted and then placed a spoonful in his mouth.
Daniel sat down with a waffle and greeted, "Morning everyone."
"Morning," Janet greeted back.
Teal'c then sat down quietly with a tray full of food. He began to eat.
Then Fred took a seat right across from Jack and sitting next to Jon. His plate was loaded up with bacon, eggs, hash brown and toast.
Janet looked at his food and mentioned, "You're gonna give yourself a heart attack."
Fred looked back at her, "What?"
"You're eating a lot of fat and cholesterol," she warned him.
"I don't care," he shoved a fork full of eggs into his mouth and made sure she watched him eat.
Sam stated, "Guess what, sir?"
Fred asked, "You talking to me or your husband?"
"You," she stated annoyed.
"What?" he asked.
"Jackie is roommates with Janet's daughter Cassie," she cheered.
"Okay," he continued to eat unabated.
"Cassie is from another planet and you daughter was a host," she continued. "They have a lot in common."
"Can Cassie fly airplanes?" he asked.
"No," she replied.
"Then they have nothing in common," he told her.
"But she will learn in the Academy," Sam countered.
"Good for her," he sighed. "Maybe Jackie can teach her how to really fly afterwards."
"The Academy has a great program," she snorted.
"I'm sure they do," he smirked at her. He looked up and spotted Hammond march into the commissary with receipts in his hands and a stern look on his face. He stated, "I think we got incoming, Jack."
Jack looked back over his shoulder at Hammond's upset face. He winced, "That's not good."
"Colonels!" Hammond huffed. "What's all this from Field and Stream?"
Fred replied, "I lost all my gear when I came here."
"That voucher was for clothing," Hammond insisted.
Janet whispered to Sam, "What did they buy?"
She whispered back, "Fishing gear."
"Oh dear," she sighed.
Meanwhile
Though Jackie had been a licensed pilot in the thirties she was required to take the class in order to get a license in the new modern age. She sat in ground school with Cassie. Both women were dressed in green ABU's or Airman Battle Uniforms. In front of the class was Major Mitchell teaching the basics to his students. My how handsome that man was and many of the women in his class shared the same starry-eyed look. Jackie and Cassie were no exception. They both stared helplessly at the handsome instructor.
Life in the college was very structured. They rose at five in the morning and tended to their dorm room, followed by personal care and then breakfast. By seven in the morning the first class of the day had begun. Cassie's major was chemistry with a minor in math while Jackie's major was aeronautical engineering that focused on airplane design and aerodynamics with a minor in aeronautical engineering that focused more on rocketry and high orbital technology. Her major was in a field she was rather familiar with but she found her minor in rocketry more fascinating.
Most unfortunate for Cassie, she had picked up a nuisance in the college. Major Mitchell's nephew, Kyle Mitchell was destined to be the next great fighter pilot in the family. Cadet Mitchell also sat in the class. He was very handsome and had dark hair, blue eyes and muscular build. He looked much like his uncle and was rather popular.
As Major Mitchell finished his lecture Cassie noticed Jackie had not taken any notes at all. Instead she spent the time looking on rather dreamy at the handsome man.
Cassie offered, "Do you need to look at my notes?"
Jackie rose from her seat, "Nah, but thanks."
Cassie wondered, "Did you pay any attention to what he said?"
"Honestly?" she blushed. "No!"
"Then how are you going to pass ground school?" she asked her friend.
"I'm already a licensed pilot," she told her.
"Then why are you in this class?" she wondered gathering her books.
"So I can get licensed again," she sighed.
Cameron Mitchell called Jackie and his nephew to the front of the class, "Cadets Jackson and Mitchell. I can speak to you?"
Jackie replied, "Yes sir." She then spoke to Cassie, "I'll catch up with ya."
"Okay," she agreed and went to leave.
Kyle Mitchell watched as Cassie walked out of the room. Jackie noticed he was checking out her behind and she found it rather irritating. "See something interesting, Cadet?" she asked him.
"I was checking her out," he muttered.
"Oh," she gathered. "You like her but since you don't know how to act around her you act like an ass."
He snapped, "I do not." They got the front of the room to where Major Mitchell stood. "Major," he spoke softly to his uncle.
"Kyle, Jackie…I have some good news. The Dean has agreed to sponsor a racing team for the Academy. I know what Kyle can do. I trained him myself. Sam vouched for you, Jackie and I'm taking her on her word. I would like you two to be my two main pilots."
Kyle hopped at the chance, "Yes sir."
Jackie asked, "What kind of racing will we be doing?"
"Mainly pylon but some cross country. The Reno show is the biggie and I would like us to have a team in it. I am developing the program myself. You're major is aeronautical engineering and we kind of need that. We will be working with engineers to design and build the plane. It will go across a few departments. This is a huge development for the Academy." he told her.
She debated, "I'm not sure if I should. My father and I are getting back into it and that can be a conflict of interest."
The major squashed her fears, "Don't worry about it. There will be a team of engineers and we will have a team of pilots. Even if you choose not at actually race you can still be part of the program. You two I am extending a personal initiation to join."
"I'm in," he nephew eagerly stated.
"I'm not sure I will actually be racing the plane but I will be more than happy to help you establish the program." she offered.
Cameron was amazed at how articulated and mature Jackie could come across even for a cadet who has a history of being ahead of their peers. She was honest about her own racing plans and still offered to help develop the program. He found it rather refreshing for an eighteen year old for he had no idea how old she was mentally.
He smiled, "That sounds wonderful. Thank you for volunteering."
Jackie loved Jon with all her heart but like any human being she could find herself rather fond of others from a distance. She liked his looks, his demeanor and his good nature and naturally reacted.
"You're welcome," she stated nearly flirting.
Cameron was use to the fawning young women about him and knew to ignore it. He simply smiled and gave a nod, "Dismissed cadets."
As they walked out the door Cassie waited in the hall. She spotted Jackie and asked, "What was that about?"
"The Academy is starting a racing team," she informed. "We were asked to join."
Kyle stated rather cocky, "I'm going to be the pilot."
"He said they would have a number of pilots," she reminded him.
"He wouldn't have asked me if he didn't think I could do it," he assured her. He then continued on ahead grinning from ear-to-ear with visions of being a famous pilot dancing in his head.
"You're gonna be air racing for the Academy?" Cassie wondered.
She shook her head, "Probably not because my Dad wants to start up again. He's got the money set aside and just needs a hangar and shop." She then added, "And maybe a few sponsors."
As they walked the halls Cassie asked, "Where are you gonna buy the plane from?"
"Initially I wanted to build one but I'm thinking of just retrofitting and modifying a used plane." she admitted.
"I think you should build one if you can," she told her. "That will make it look cooler."
"I suppose I could do that," she agreed. "I would take a P-51 design and modify it. I can make it out of fiberglass so it will be much lighter. In air racing weight can drag ya down and it is speed and design that counts the most."
"If I don't make the cut for the Academy team can I join yours?" she jested.
"Heck ya!" she nodded. "I need all the help I can get. Jon's going to be working fulltime with the falconry programs. Dad is working fulltime in the SGC. He's kind of laying it on my shoulders," she admitted.
Cassie suggested, "Maybe we can get Sam to help since her workload has been cut back."
"We could do that," she grinned as they went to the next class.