Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to review so far. I'm still learning my way around this system, so I haven't figured out how to individually respond to reviews yet. Aaack. But I am absolutely appreciative, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
----------------------------------------------------
"How'd he get onto the planet, Col.?" General Hammond asked, bewildered. The General, Col. O'Neill, Daniel and Teal'c stood watching Sgt. Miller on an SGC monitor screen. The Marine sat slumped against a wall, a livid white bandage bound around his upper arm.
"He won't tell us, General." Jack glared at the screen in disgust. "Have you located his commanding officer?"
"Not yet, but I've sent a formal query to the Marine Corps requesting more information." Hammond turned to the members of SG-1.
"Teal'c, you said this creature was totally impervious to bullets?"
"They seemed to have no affect, General Hammond." Teal'c's voice was grave. "The discharge from my staff weapon was only slightly more effective."
"And this Sgt. Miller recognized the creature?"
"It is my belief he did. He called it a monster and attempted to keep the creature from abducting Major Carter, even though he had no weapons." Teal'c looked at Jack. "Obviously, he was not successful."
"General, request permission to find this thing and blow it to hell." Jack leaned forward, itching to go.
"Request denied, Col." Hammond was firm. "You and Daniel and Teal'c have been looking for the better part of the last day and a half. Wherever this creature is hiding, our best bet is that young man in there."
A young aide entered the room. "The President is on the line, General."
The General left the room. The three remaining members of SG-1 looked at each other.
"We'll find her, Jack." Daniel said firmly.
Jack didn't react for a moment.
"Yeah." he said in a low tone, "we'll find her."
Teal'c was hanging around Daniel's office an hour or so later when they were all paged to the briefing room. Their first clue that something was off was when they all noticed that the blast doors were closed, effectively hiding the Stargate from view.
The second was the two people in the room with the General.
One was obviously a Marine Corps Col., tall and blond, wearing battle fatigues and looking capable but exhausted. The other was a smartly dressed Black man wearing no military insignia at all and carrying a briefcase.
The Marine stood their arrival, acknowledging the presence of the Air Force Col. Jack nodded to him in turn and looked a question at his General.
"Col. Tom Bering, this is Col. Jack O'Neill, Dr. Daniel Jackson, and Teal'c." The Col.'s eyes flickered over Teal'c for a moment, then he nodded to him as well. The General went on. "They, along with Major Samantha Carter, comprise the group we call SG-1. They are the ones who found your Sgt."
"We thank you for that." The other Col. said stiffly, wariness in every pore. "But I'm still not sure on what charges you're holding him on."
Jack opened his mouth, but Hammond beat him to the punch. "Right now we're simply interested in whatever knowledge he may have that can aid us in recovering our lost personnel."
An aid brought the young Sgt. in, nodded and left. The look of relief on the kid's face was acute, as if he had really believed he would never see his C.O. again.
The Col. stood and saluted his officer, who returned the salute.
"Sir, permission to report."
"Not yet soldier."
Jack and the young Marine spoke at once.
"But sir?"
"Now waitaminnit!"
Bering ignored them, "Not now, soldier!"
The kid straightened his posture. "Sir, yes SIR!"
Col. Bering turned to General Hammond. "I assure you, sir. Once I hear the Sergeant's report, any and all pertinent information will be forwarded to you."
"Just one minute, Col," Hammond ground out, "I order you"
"With all due respect, General." Bering cut in, "I answer only to the President." He looked at the Black man beside him expectantly.
The man with the briefcase spoke finally, standing to make his point.
"Actually, Col., the Sgt. is required and requested, by direct order of the President, to give his report in front of these good people."
"What?" Col. Bering spun around, shock evident.
Jack smiled. "Sweet."
"Gentlemen." General Hammond said firmly. "This is Mr. Black." The smartly dressed man looked at them all in turn. Hammond added, "He is the Special Liaison from the White House regarding this matter. He comes from the President and Joint Chiefs themselves."
"Please," Mr. Black indicated the briefing room table. "Have a seat, all of you."
They all sat down. Mr. Black stayed standing. He cleared his throat and raked the group with a hard, level glare.
"You all represent the two most top-secret projects that the government is funding at this time, unbeknownst to the American people. "
He pointed at Col. Bering. "Col. Bering, you run The Initiative, a top secret government project dedicated to harnessing the powers of the super-and-preternatural for the express purpose of furthering the safety and protection of the American people. You are tremendous fighters in the battle against the forces of darkness."
"What?" Jack O'Neill's mouth was hanging open. Daniel had a look of polite disbelief. Teal'c raised an eyebrow. Even Hammond looked nonplussed. Mr. Black swung around to address his next comments to the SG personnel.
"Meanwhile, you here at the SGC are in charge of first contact with alien species. You explore unknown galaxies and further our goals both of protection and technological growth in an intersteller context. You are the front line in our ongoing interstellar conflict."
Sgt. Miller and Col. Bering stared at the members of the SGC. Then the Col. burst out laughing.
"You guys chase little green men?"
"Gray." Daniel and Jack said in unison.
Jack went on "And excuse me, but, 'the forces of darkness'?"
Mr. Brown slapped the table, pulling all the focus back to himself.
"The President has decided that this mission obviously calls for cooperation between your two organizations. This mission is now a joint operation, with Col,'s Bering and O'Neill commanding and General Hammond coordinating. I am representing the White House in these matters, to make sure that both sides play fair." Mr. Black smiled
His smile was edged, reminding Jack of Jaws.
Jack made a mental note to rent that again. Excellent fucking movie.
Daniel shot him a look and he refocused.
"Now," Mr. Brown was saying. "We will hear the report of Sgt. Graham Miller."