Stargate Hastings
Chapter Fifteen: Joseph Hammond
Earth, The Stamford estate.
Joseph Hammond was a patriot but like many of his countrymen, he also had an affinity for his ancestral homeland. He had considered his visit with Queen Victoria, to be one of the greatest honours of his life and one that he would tell his grandson Joseph Hammond all about, when he returned home to Texas. He had named his first born son George, because he had never cared for the name Joseph himself. He had hoped his son would do the same and make George the name passed down, for generations to come.
He had always liked the sound of the name George Hammond, it was a good, strong name. His son however, had wanted to honour his father. So he had named his first child for him but he would work on his grandson and get his way in the end. It had been hard since his wife had passed, some five years ago. She was his soulmate and the mother of his three children, a part of his life he could never replace and would never wish to. He had thrown himself into politics fully upon her death and accepted the position of one of his countries ambassadors, when he had completed his second term as a senator.
He had still wanted to serve his country but had found that he was not morally deprived enough, for the position. There was nothing he could do about the state of American politics but there was however, something he could do about the way the rest of the world, viewed the country he loved. So when he had been offered the position of special ambassador, to the British empire. He had willingly taken the position, even though officially the title he had been given, did not actually exist. He would usually be suspicious of anything of a secretive nature, especially where those of power were concerned but the letter he had been shown, by President Chester Alan Arthur had been more than enough to convince him, of the positions importance.
The letter had spoken of something, that would change the world for all its people and that the British empire, invites the United states of America to send an unofficial representative, to be sent at their earliest convenience. The letter had been vague but it was sent by Queen Victoria herself and even the president of the United states, knew that you did not refuse a personal request, from the head of the British empire. No, you heard her out and if you did not like what you heard. Then you would politely decline her offer or rebut any false assertions, she may have made but you did not just flat out refuse her.
His meeting with her royal highness, while being an experience he would never forget. Was also as enlightening, as being locked in one of her darkest dungeons. She had spent most of their meeting, talking about himself and had asked him why he did not follow his commanding officers orders and open fire on the men, that had turned out to be friendly troops. He knew it was common knowledge, that the incident had occurred but the last thing he was expecting, was for Queen Victoria to show an interest in his military career. When he had finally decided, that he had been more than courteous. He had asked her majesty the reason he was actually here and what was so important that the United states of America, had been asked to send an ambassador and more importantly, one sent unofficially.
That was when she had informed him, that his true destination would be the Stamford estate and that he would be staying there, for the rest of his time on these shores. Even for an American where everything was always built bigger, to make up for the fact that they were still a young nation and did not have the history of their European cousins, the mansion he was now approaching was very impressive. It did not have the aesthetic beauty of Buckingham palace or even its size but there was something very imposing about the building. It looked like it was built to withstand a siege and could repel anything thrown at it.
Waiting for him at the entrance was a very large man, dressed in a butlers uniform. The man looked far too young to hold such a position but he performed his duties, as competently as those at the palace, had theirs. The man informed him, that his Lord was expecting him and that he was waiting for him, in his private dining room.
They passed through a very impressive entrance hall, that he was quite simply fascinated by. The young man escorting him, had told him that he would gladly give him the full tour but his Lord was waiting for them and that he was eager to get started. They then passed through an equally impressive dining room and finally into a corridor, that was obviously used by the servants. It was the last place he was expecting to find a Lords private dining room but then what did he know about what Lords did or did not do.
The young man opened the door they had arrived at and gestured for Joseph to enter. Waiting inside was a man sat in a wheelchair. Her highness had not warned him, that the man he was going to see was a cripple. Joseph had no problem with that, why would he. He would have liked to have had forewarning, so he would not look shocked by the revelation, as he did now though. The man was smiling up from his chair as he said, "I see Victoria did not warn you about my condition. She really has become quite mischievous just lately".
"No she did not I am afraid. She told me nothing at all about why I am actually here sir. I was hoping that you would be able to help me with that, Lord Hastings?". Joseph Hammond asked him in his toned down Texan accent.
"Tell me Mr Hammond. Did you feel like you were being interviewed for a position, when you were with her?". Richard asked him. He already knew it had been. While he had already had Joseph Hammond thoroughly vetted and believed he was the perfect man for the job. Her royal highness however, needed to meet the man and if he had not passed that interview, the man would not be stood before him now. Instead Richard Hastings would be before her, pleading the mans case.
The question took Joseph by surprise. It had been a strange audience with Queen Victoria but he had just assumed, that was how a Queen was. He had never met one before and had heard that all British aristocrats, had a certain eccentricity about them. "It was a strange meeting for sure sir but I have never met a Queen before, so I had no frame of reference to judge it by".
Richard liked the man before he had even met him but he was certain now. He was not your average man, American or otherwise. He was not loud for the sake of it, as you would expect of a former politician. He was calm, measured and for someone who had been waiting for an explanation, about why he had travelled across an ocean. He could be considered a patient man as well. "You passed the interview of course and now it is our turn, to be interviewed by you". Richard looked to Jacob, who had greeted and escorted him here, then said to Joseph, "Could you step across to this side of the room please?".
He did as he was asked and a few minutes later, there was a stone box were a wall once was. Lord Hastings entered first and then turned around, so that he was facing the exit of the carriage. There was enough room for one more passenger, so when Lord Hastings said, "Jacob will recall the carriage and join us, please join me?". Joseph entered still not knowing why he was here but he was certain he was about to find out.
Richard knew he could not manipulate this man, the way he had his friend. Even with James if he had not been his friend, it would never have worked. If he could manipulate this man, then he would not be the man for the position. He needed a man who could not be used in that way, a man who had the strength to lead. He would remain in control of the overall operation but he needed a man to actually build a command structure, for future off world operations and then to take that command.
The fact he was an American, who many would see as Britain's rival, enemy even. Was the only reason his uncle Robert, would not be taking the command. That is if he would take it, even if he was offered it. With an American in command of the operation, it would bring the Americans in with their rapidly growing military and reduce the chance of the other nations, thinking that Britain wanted to use their new technological superiority, to conquer the whole world, when they were eventually let in on the secret.
As the stone elevator came to a stop, Richard said to him, "You were wondering why you were here. Well I think it would be best if I just showed you". Then headed towards the command level of the gate room.
When Joseph saw the guns that were pointing down into a hall comparable in size, to the one he was looking forward to exploring further. He realised immediately that they were more advanced and probably far more deadly, than anything that his country had. Because he was thinking about the implications of the advancements in weaponry, that the British had obviously been making in secret. He did not register that there was a huge iron structure down in the hall, that they were all pointing in the direction of or the huge circular alien device, that it framed.
Richard noticed him looking at the guns and realised that he was going over the implications of the advanced firepower on show. So he decided to draw his attention away from the guns and onto the object they were aimed at. "The Stargate is quite a sight is it not?".
What the hell is a Stargate, Joseph Hammond thought to himself and then his eyes focused on what could be the only thing, that he could have meant by Stargate. "What is that?". He asked in a dumbfounded way, while keeping his eyes fixed on the Stargate. There was a round steel door that was closed over the centre of the stone looking circle, that made him feel uncomfortable. If they needed a door to block that thing, what was it they were afraid to let in? He thought to himself.
"I just told you, it is a Stargate and that is why you are here Joseph Hammond. I am sure that you have noticed, that you are not actually an ambassador and that is because you are not. We intend to run regular operations to other worlds through that device and we want you to command those operations. I will still be in overall command of the programme but you would be in command of this facility and all off world operations. That will include the forming of specialised teams, some for first contact purposes or geological surveys, others for reconnaissance and military purposes. Teams that can deal with all the eventualities, that we could come across out there".
Joseph could not believe what he was hearing, if not for the firepower being aimed at the dam thing, he would be rolling around on the floor, laughing his head off. "You want me to take command of what?". He asked still not completely taking in, what he had just been told.
"I thought it would be a lot to take in all at once, so I had them hold off on a mission that we had been planning, until your arrival. Once you see the Stargate in action, I am sure that you will understand its importance. Not just to our two nations but to the people of this entire world". When his people had gone through the royal families collection of ancient artefacts, it had been something that they had found in Wales, in what was believed to be, the Merlin's home for a time. They had found a book made of paper, that looked as good as a book only a few years old. What the paper was made of had caught their attention but it was what was in that book, that had really piqued their interest.
They had found a Stargate address and a detailed description of a place of great knowledge. It told of four advanced races, that came together to share their knowledge of the universe. When they read that Merlin claimed that Ra, had claimed the planet for himself but had since abandoned it. They had almost dismissed the story but they could not ignore that it was indeed a Stargate address. With Ra supposedly having abandoned it, that was if Merlin was to be believed. He did not know how Merlin could know such a thing, if it was even really king Arthur's Merlin. It was a prime planet to scout out.
When Jacob entered the command level, Richard asked him, "Is your brother ready to go Jacob?".
"Yes sir, he is waiting in the gate room". Jacob replied. Martin was Jacob's younger brother, he had a completely different build to his elder brother and was far more suited to this part of any mission. Jacob was itching to get started and start exploring through the gate but he did not begrudge his brother getting to go through first, he had worked hard to be chosen for this mission.
"Good, then please ask our friend to stand by?". Jacob acknowledged his orders and set off to get everyone ready, for the activation of the Stargate. Something that Richard Hastings, believed would never get old. He then put a megaphone to his mouth and ordered the men in the gate room to open the shield door. When they had carried out his order, he indicated to Jacob that they were ready.
The look on Joseph Hammond's face was one of amazement, as the ring with the symbols on started to spin. He almost jumped in shock, when the first Chevron locked in place. When the final one locked in place and the Stargate activated, he did jump back in shock. "What the hell is going on here Lord Hastings. I have never seen anything like this, what kind of magic am I seeing here?". He exclaimed.
The mans reaction was understandable, he had given him little warning for what he was about to witness. "You are about to witness a very brave man, travel to another world Mr Hammond". He then looked down into the gate room and nodded his head to Martin Turner, to let him know the mission was a go.
Joseph watched the man step into the pool of energy and simply did not know what to say. Several seconds later, he heard the man whose brother had just entered the shimmering pool of energy. "We are receiving sir". The man was holding a metal box in his hand, that was making a clicking sound. That Joseph quickly identified as Morse code. "He as made it to the other side... Zero resistance met... There is a problem sir, he is reporting that the pedestal is not there... He as found an hole in the floor where the pedestal would have been sir... As far as he can tell, the rest of the structure he is in, is secure for now sir but he has no way of way of activating the Stargate. He is standing by sir".
Richard was not worried about the young man on the other side of the gateway. When the Stargate had first been delivered, the first thing they had tested, was if the Stargate could be activated without the pedestal. It was for this very reason, that they had gone through the rigorous process of trial an error. They knew that they could not guarantee that the gate on the other side, would have a working pedestal or even as in this case, be there at all. So they had painstakingly tested the Stargate and found that if they put a small charge through the gate, the spinning ring would move freely and when the correct symbol was in line with the chosen chevron. A higher voltage charge, would be sent into that chevron and it would lock in place. They would then just have to repeat the process six more times.
"Tell him to continue his mission and that we will be coming to retrieve him in three hours". Jacob sent the orders to his brother and not long after that, the Stargate shutdown, leaving only a normal hole in the centre of the circular device.
Joseph could not understand what he had just witnessed. He had truly just seen a communication between earth and another world but every sane thought in his head, told him that was impossible. Before he could start asking questions, that his brain had not even come up with yet. Richard said to him, "I will answer questions you may have but it would be best if you just observed for now. I do not believe my nephew is in any danger, however he does require our aid".
"Yes of course, I will try to stay out of everyone's way Lord Hastings". Joseph replied, he knew the importance of a military operation and how people who have no business being there, could get in the way.
"Please call me Richard, I only use my title in public". He then turned to Jacob and said, "Have word sent to Bishop and have him bought up to speed on the situation here. He will know what is needed and Jacob, have Steven report to take over your duties. I am sure your brother will appreciate the help, spinning that thing". Before Jacob could leave, he added, "And have the head of our construction department report here as well, it sounds like there may be some structural integrity issues with the site". Jacob left to carry out his orders, with a just noticeable, spring to his step.
Richard then turned to Joseph and asked, "We have a little time before people begin arriving, if you have any questions?".
"Am I really here or am I back home in my bed dreaming all this sir?". It was a joke but he honestly believed, that was indeed a viable explanation, for all of this.
"You are definitely awake Mr Hammond but the real question is. Are you up for the challenge, of being this bases commanding officer. Please do not give your answer now, observe the people who will be under your command and make your decision then. You will at least have a better understanding of what we do here and hope to achieve. For the betterment of all mankind". Once this operation was complete and their man returned safely, he would inform him of mankind's brethren among the stars. Texas was a Confederate state during the civil war but Joseph had been a champion for all of the peoples rights in America, whilst he was a senator and he was certain the man would be appalled. That an alien race kept them as slaves.
"I think you have me confused with a different Joseph Hammond, I have little to no command experience. What little I do have, was merely when I took command, when my superiors had fallen. You would be better getting a man with more experience Lord... excuse me Richard".
"The only person who has any experience of this type of command, is frankly too busy to give the job his full attention and because of his condition, he could not do the job justice, even if he did have the time".
He knew that Richard was talking about himself, when he spoke those words. It would do no harm to observe, in fact he had a duty to report what he could, to his President but thinking back, he had seemed quite taken aback by the whole thing, so probably already knew about all of this. Yes he would keep an open mind and at least learn what the British, had gotten the rest of the world in to.
