Checkpoint Beta was the first checkpoint after the main gate, and this was where the small motorcade that consisted of a couple of escort vehicles and the limo that was holding President-elect Henry Hayes, and Vice President-elect Robert Kinsey pulled up and stopped.

"You're going to see that everything I've told you is completely true, Henry," Kinsey was saying as he stepped out of the car and gave the Marine that was holding his door a condescending look. Stupid jarheads always looked so serious.

Hayes scowled at Kinsey's back, then got out of the car, nodding politely to the Marine holding his door for him.

"Thank you, son."

"My pleasure, Sir." You normally didn't speak to the President – even the President-elect when you were on detail like this – but if he spoke to you, you had to reply. The Marine's mother had raised him right, after all.

"I'm not saying I don't believe you, Kinsey," Hayes said as they walked toward the checkpoint where they'd be ushered into the base that Henry Hayes had only just heard of a few days after he'd been elected President. "I just can't see George Hammond allowing things to be quite so lax as you make them seem."

"There's no discipline here," Kinsey said. "It's-"

He was interrupted when a Marine opened the door for them, and they stepped through, finding a small welcoming committee waiting for them. Hayes recognized George Hammond immediately, even though the two hadn't seen each other for a long time. He didn't actually know any of the others, but there was no mistaking that the huge black bald man standing close at hand had to be the alien Teal'c. Jaffa, his mind supplied.

He'd read some of the reports that had come from the SGC and had scanned through files of some of the personnel, so he wasn't completely at a loss with the others, either. The lovely blonde woman had to be Major Samantha O'Neill – formerly Carter – who was apparently one of the most brilliant people alive when it came to her field. She looked intelligent, he had to agree the moment he saw her. The man standing next to the Jaffa with the darker, longer hair wasn't in uniform and he was younger, so that had to be Daniel Jackson – who was also a genius, apparently, although in linguistics and ancient things.

The other man was in BDUs, and there was no doubt that this was Jack O'Neill. Colonel Jack O'Neill. Hayes had heard a lot about him – and not much of it was favorable. Of course, everything he'd heard was from Kinsey, who seemed to delight in talking shit about O'Neill, and Hayes wasn't all that fond of Kinsey, so he wasn't taking all he'd heard at face value. He'd read part of O'Neill's file, and everything he'd read – and Hayes wasn't stupid by any means – told him that O'Neill had saved the world more times than anyone else, and had done so at great risk to his own skin. That said a lot about a man as far as the President-elect was concerned.

Oh, and look at the dogs! A yellow lab was seated in perfect pose at the side of the Jaffa, watching everything that was going on around him with intelligent brown eyes that didn't seem to miss anything. Standing next to Colonel O'Neill was a black lab – who was bigger than any lab Hayes had ever seen – and he, too was watching his surroundings carefully, his tail idly wagging as the President-elect and his small party approached, more than ready to be friends, but definitely making sure that there wasn't going to be trouble.

"Mr. President," Hammond said as they entered the base proper. "Welcome to Stargate Command." He saluted, but Hayes didn't return it, instead putting his hand out with a warm smile.

"General Hammond, it's a pleasure to see you again."

Hammond's smile was just as warm as he shook hands.

"You, too, Sir." He turned to Kinsey, and the warm smile faded. Hayes knew from the slightly clouded look in George's eyes that he didn't think much of Kinsey, and the look the Vice President-elect gave the General told him the feeling was completely mutual. "Mr. Vice President."

"General."

Hammond didn't offer a salute and Kinsey didn't offer his hand.

"May I introduce you to some of my personnel, Sir?" Hammond said, turning back to Hayes, and gesturing to those with him.

"This is Colonel Jack O'Neill."

Hayes offered Jack his hand before O'Neill could offer to salute him, and Jack took it with a polite smile.

"I've heard a lot about you, Colonel O'Neill," Hayes said.

O'Neill tossed a look over at Kinsey, and then his brown eyes went back to Hayes.

"I'll bet you have, Sir."

If Hammond's glance at Kinsey had been clouded, Jack O'Neill's was a thunderstorm waiting to happen. There was absolutely no doubt that O'Neill couldn't stand being this close to Kinsey, and Hayes saw the instant reflection of that malice in Kinsey's eyes. These two men hated each other, that was certain.

"I've read about you, too, Colonel," Hayes said, smiling. He wondered what it was that they had against each other. "All of it impressive."

"Yes, Sir." Jack said – how do you reply to that? "Thank you."

"From what I've read, Colonel, I should be thanking you."

"Just doing my job, Sir." Jack told him. "Besides, I didn't do it alone." He turned to those with him, and Hammond stepped up to do more introductions.

"This is Major Samantha O'Neill, our resident Astrophysicist and Colonel O'Neill's second in command on SG-1."

Hayes took Sam's hand as well, smiling.

"It's a pleasure, Major."

"Thank you, Mr. President."

Oh yeah, she was beautiful and intelligent. Jack O'Neill was a lucky guy, Hayes decided. He caught a movement out of the corner of his eye and saw that Kinsey was moving forward to take Major O'Neill's hand as well, and saw the large black lab next to Colonel O'Neill move slightly until his large body was between the Vice President-elect and the Major. Hayes hid his smile, but it was obvious the dog didn't want Kinsey anywhere near her.

"This is Dr. Daniel Jackson."

"The linguist," Hayes said, holding his hand out to Jackson, who took it with a slightly nervous smile.

"Mr. President."

"And this," Hammond said, "Is Teal'c."

Hayes didn't offer his hand to the Jaffa, but he gave him a slight bow – he'd read up on that and apparently the Jaffa didn't shake hands, and Hayes was far too much of a diplomat to force his way on someone else. Especially someone who towered over him like Teal'c did.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Teal'c."

"The honor is mine."

The alien's voice was deep and gravelly, just as menacing as his looks, and Hayes was glad he was on their side.

"If you'll come with us, Mr. President," Hammond said, gesturing, "We'll give you the tour, first, and then answer any questions you might have."

"I have a million questions, George," Hayes said with a smile, walking over to stand between Hammond and Major O'Neill. He noticed that the big black lab didn't seem to have any problem with him standing near the Major and found himself feeling perversely pleased by that. As they started moving, he managed to hear the greeting between O'Neill and Kinsey, although he was certain he wasn't supposed to.

"Colonel O'Neill... killed anyone lately?"

"Senator Kinsey... taken any candy from babies?"

Oh yeah, this was definitely going to be interesting, Hayes decided.