The cold formal briefing room was filled with the anxious faces of those
who cared. Cared about the fate of Colonel O'Neill, Major Carter, Daniel
Jackson and Teal'c. Crowded from wall to wall were those who knew the SGC's
foremost team in some capacity. Worked with them, walked past them, talked
to them, ate with them, yelled at them, hated them. But as always they
never knew what they had till it was gone. And so after eight years of
service together they would soon hear what would be the fate of SG-1, who's
presence they had infinitely taken for granted. Until now.
The door opened and in walked General Hammond. The room took on an unnatural, tense hush as he strode face down to the window. There he stood, staring at one of mans biggest discoveries and curses, the Stargate. It was with a heavy heart and a pained expression he turned around, faced the room and began,
"It has been 72 hours since SG-1 was due back from P3X 804. Keeping with Air Force protocol I have made the proper arrangements and SG-1 has now been declared officially "Missing in Action" he paused for a moment before continuing over the rising whispers, "I must also add that the numerous requests to return to P3X 804 have been denied."
"But Sir! With all do respect." began Colonel Makepeace over the angry voices filling the room
"Denied Colonel. Directly from the President." Hammond interrupted, his Texan accent faltering slightly as he continued. "There will be no search and rescue teams going after SG-1 and their next of kins will be informed in approximately 36 hours. The situation has been assessed and this is the final conclusion. We have sent through two MALPs only to lose their position and visual data after initial contact. We have also made several attempts to contact SG-1 and failed. The landscape has remained the same, no fluctuations in temperature or stability. There is no sign of SG-1, their equipments or the MALPs on that planet nor is there any indication of a struggle and I will not risk any more teams or resources of the SGC. It must therefore be presumed that SG-1 have been killed in action or taken prisoner, in which case, any recovery missions would not only be useless, but dangerous. In 36 hours, SG-1's code and the gate address will also be deleted from the computer. Until then, we will continue to receive basic data transmissions from the MALPs. For those who wish to attend, a memorial service will be held in approximately 48 hours if SG-1 do not return. Dismissed." And with those final words, turned around and returned to the window, staring blankly.
He stood there for several minutes before a quiet voice interrupted his fleeting, mourning thoughts.
"Sir, we can't let them go like this!" Doctor Fraiser said, her eyes shining with tears. "They could still be alive, they could be hurt, waiting or lost. Please sir, send a team."
"They could be many things Doctor, but after 36 hours, they will not be returning home. It's the risk they take every time they walk through that gate," he said in a monotonous voice reeking of set protocol and bitterness.
"Yes Sir"
And he was alone, hopelessly alone. He moved towards the long desk he had sat at many a time with SG-1, planning, laughing, and fighting during their briefings. Listening to the details of their boring, lacklustre routine missions, their humorous and exciting stories of discovery, and their fearsome and exhilarating stories of capture and escape. He sat down with his head in his hands, hoping that this would become one of those stories, which they would all share together before SG-1's time was up. How could the Stargate, which had brought them all together, pull them so unmercifully apart?
The door opened and in walked General Hammond. The room took on an unnatural, tense hush as he strode face down to the window. There he stood, staring at one of mans biggest discoveries and curses, the Stargate. It was with a heavy heart and a pained expression he turned around, faced the room and began,
"It has been 72 hours since SG-1 was due back from P3X 804. Keeping with Air Force protocol I have made the proper arrangements and SG-1 has now been declared officially "Missing in Action" he paused for a moment before continuing over the rising whispers, "I must also add that the numerous requests to return to P3X 804 have been denied."
"But Sir! With all do respect." began Colonel Makepeace over the angry voices filling the room
"Denied Colonel. Directly from the President." Hammond interrupted, his Texan accent faltering slightly as he continued. "There will be no search and rescue teams going after SG-1 and their next of kins will be informed in approximately 36 hours. The situation has been assessed and this is the final conclusion. We have sent through two MALPs only to lose their position and visual data after initial contact. We have also made several attempts to contact SG-1 and failed. The landscape has remained the same, no fluctuations in temperature or stability. There is no sign of SG-1, their equipments or the MALPs on that planet nor is there any indication of a struggle and I will not risk any more teams or resources of the SGC. It must therefore be presumed that SG-1 have been killed in action or taken prisoner, in which case, any recovery missions would not only be useless, but dangerous. In 36 hours, SG-1's code and the gate address will also be deleted from the computer. Until then, we will continue to receive basic data transmissions from the MALPs. For those who wish to attend, a memorial service will be held in approximately 48 hours if SG-1 do not return. Dismissed." And with those final words, turned around and returned to the window, staring blankly.
He stood there for several minutes before a quiet voice interrupted his fleeting, mourning thoughts.
"Sir, we can't let them go like this!" Doctor Fraiser said, her eyes shining with tears. "They could still be alive, they could be hurt, waiting or lost. Please sir, send a team."
"They could be many things Doctor, but after 36 hours, they will not be returning home. It's the risk they take every time they walk through that gate," he said in a monotonous voice reeking of set protocol and bitterness.
"Yes Sir"
And he was alone, hopelessly alone. He moved towards the long desk he had sat at many a time with SG-1, planning, laughing, and fighting during their briefings. Listening to the details of their boring, lacklustre routine missions, their humorous and exciting stories of discovery, and their fearsome and exhilarating stories of capture and escape. He sat down with his head in his hands, hoping that this would become one of those stories, which they would all share together before SG-1's time was up. How could the Stargate, which had brought them all together, pull them so unmercifully apart?
