Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of the Stargate Universe or those of the Highlander universe those belong to other entities whom I would beseech to look favorably on this humble work of mine. The concepts involved in these two separate television shows do not belong to me either. The story I have written however does. This story may not be posted on any pay site or in any way shape or form make any profit for anyone (I know I'm not making a thing from it)

Authors Note: well here we go again I have said I would make some sense about who was who but alas and alack not happening unless you know the highlander universe. Well it seems my muse will not let me just write a simple story 'but you know that is not what you wanted anyway'. Oh shut up anyway here is the next installment. Written during work no less and then at home when I was quite drunk but I think it makes sense I think any way lol.

Review Response:

Village Mystic… you are quite right in fact anyone who wishes to point out my typos I would gladly edit them so the story is more readable. My spelling must be horrible even with the checker. But thank you for the support it is people like you who make me want to write more. Well as to the Earth based religion I'm throwing a little of my own in here but I figure it should work after all Danny's love of ancient cultures could lead him down that path and since he knows most old and named god's are aliens what better than simply the male and female archetypes. You have to believe in something even if it is a confirmed belief in nothing.

Cattibrie393. …And oh how much that twist is haunting me to try to find a way around what has already been set as cannon. I thank you for you support please read on I hope to entertain you further.

To every one who has reviewed before … I have not forgotten the lessons you have helped me learn and thank you.

And now…. Da da da dum……

Stargate

Secrets

Section Five

1954 winter

Sara Carter Looked down at the 5 yr old boy that fate had thrown in to her life. He was the son of her friend Jane Gurshaw whose death was still too fresh in Sams mind. Her instinct told her to leave the boy in the care of others. Her heart told her many things most of witch were contradictory. Her Honor however left her with only one choice. The Deaths of Jane and Mark were her fault. She knew she should have moved on sooner. Her teacher had taught her that rule quite early. She owed little Jacob far more than she could repay but she vowed she would do her best…

Twp days before

Sara had just been to visit her friend Jane and her husband Mark in there home in the Catskill Mountains of New York. The home was a beautiful place nestled in between two gentle sloped mountains. There was a stream that ran steadily onward from the spring located farther up the valley. Mark had invested a lot of time and money in the place and Jane just adored it. It was close enough to the town to be easy to get to work but far enough out to offer the kind of privacy they desired. Sarah stopped at the small restaurant in town that she loved to eat at and ordered lunch. A nurse's salary was not that much but it offered her the chance to indulge every now and then without looking too suspicious. When she had eaten and was getting back in to her car she noticed the cobalt cloth covered binder marked ward 2 nurse training and realized she had left without fulfilling the purpose of the visit to Jane's. Jane would need the manual for the testing they were both to take at the hospital where both she and Jane worked. Jane would not be happy if she did not pass her recertification so Sara pointed the car back in the direction of Jane's house. As she approached she felt the buzz of another immortal. She pulled up to the house and carefully got out of the car with one hand on the hilt of her Irish broadsword she had skillfully hidden under her winter parka and walked up to the house.

The front door was open letting in the harsh winter air. As she entered the house she almost tripped over the body of Mark. She choked back a curse as she made her way carefully to the back of the house where the family room was. She entered just in time to see her best friend run through with a sword. It was just then that she saw the immortal she had felt earlier. He was the same height as her with dark hair and eyes. He looked Asian probably Polynesian.

"Hello Sarah these belong to you?" the man laughed maniacally " oops too bad. Guess it's your turn now " he pulled his blade out of Jane and rushed at Sara.

"aaaaahhhhhh!" a blood curdling battle cry ripped from Sarah's lips as she charged to meet the other immortal's blade. Spark flew as their blades met.

"You came back too soon. I wasn't going to challenge you yet Sarah." He said as he stepped backwards. "I'm not finished wrecking havoc in your life."

" You bastard! Then never did anything to you!" Sarah lunged forward. "I don't even know who the hell you are. Care….clash to shing introduce yourself! Before I kill you!" sam was on the offensive now. This man had badly underestimated her fighting capability.

"My name is shoji" the man retreated further from Sarah. " You killed my entire family with your research. Every one I ever knew in my mortal life." He again engaged Sarah's blade with his own.

"My research has killed more than I ever though it would." Sarah quickly blocked Shoji's attack and turned his blade aside. She gave him an opening and he took it stabbing her in the gut as her blade came to rest on his neck. "Mind explaining yourself before I decide to kill you?"

"Nagasaki, your research on the weapons that were dropped on my family and myself. For that I will hunt you down to the ends of the earth. I will!" he began to withdraw his blade from her stomach.

"I'm sorry" Sarah looked him in the eye as she drew her blade back and cut through his neck sending his head to the floor.

Sarah awoke to the smell of smoke and the sound of crying. Picking up her sword she stood and cleaned it off on Shoji's clothing. It was then that she saw little Jacob standing over his mothers body crying. Sarah looked around the room and saw the fire beginning to spread along the edge of the room. The quickening must have set something on fire. She grabbed Jacob and ran out of the house. She turned to see the flames coming out of the windows. Sarah Quickly placed the swords in a compartment under the rear seat of the car. Then she got in and quickly drove to a secluded spot off the road to Jane's house. She grabbed the spare clothing she kept under the back seat and stepped in to the surrounding forest to change. After she got back in to the car she looked at her watch 30 minuets had passed since the fires start. She could hear the fire engine heading for the house. Sarah drove to the sheriff's station and turned over Jacob in to their custody explaining that she had come over to her friend's house as the fire was starting and Jacob was the only one she could find. She gave the obligatory statements and went home for the night. After a methodical and mechanical cleanup of her car and the destruction of her bloodied clothing she cleaned her sword and placed it back in her coat sheath. She forced herself to eat a little and then cried herself to sleep.

Over the next day it was announced that an unknown person had broken in to the house and killed Jane and Mark Gurshaw for an unknown reason but did not manage to get away when the fire started. The cause of the fire was attributed to cooking grease being left on the stove after the victims had been killed. The reports said that the killer was so busy killing his last victim that he failed to notice when the house caught fire and trapped him inside. Sarah being the one named in Jane and Mark's will to be guardian of Jacob should anything happen to them was awarded custody.

It would take years of counseling for Jacob and a few name changes for Sarah before Jacob Carter would become the man he was at the turn of the new millennium. For many years Sarah would be Jacobs mother. Then when the need arose she became aunt Grace as the identity of Sarah had outlived its usefulness. Aunt Grace would watch over Jacob through his college years and on into the military. Then when it was again time for an identity change Grace Gardener became Samantha Carter daughter of Jacob carter. Jacob had grown up and married and had a son named Mark. Sam didn't understand why it had all worked out that way but her secret was known and safe with Jacob and his new family. Of course paperwork was forged by the pound and they moved several times but that was normal for a military man.

Day 4 0200hrs

Duncan Macloud of the clan Macloud was standing in the seacuver private airfield main office waiting. He had been waiting for half an hour and it was not helping his mood. No one was flying where he wanted to go. They were not even flying close. Because of the early hour finding a plane to charter was near to impossible. Duncan returned to his car and began to drive he would stop at the next airfield he came across. And try there but he could not just sit there and do nothing.

Day 4 1200hrs

"Joseph Dawson?" The man in the Air force Colonel's uniform asked.

"Yes I am Joseph Dawson. What is this all about?" Joe was playing dumb at this point.

" I will ask the questions Mr. Dawson. I am Colonel Connely. Lets get right to the point here Mr. Dawson. You were monitored trying to get information about the Cheyenne Mountain Complex in a les than legal means." He watched Joe. " Are you aware that there are serious penalties for Treason in this country Mr. Dawson."

" Look you punk kid I was serving this country before you were whipping your own ass. Don't you try to threaten me with that bullshit? Why don't you just tell me what you want?" Dawson said annoyed at this mans demeanor.

"What I want Mr. Dawson is to know why you tried to access restricted data about Cheyenne Mountain." The colonel was impassive.

" Tell you what you do me one favor and I will spill everything ok?" Joe knew this needed to end now and would not go well for him if he were his own counsel. He needed to play what he hoped was an ace.

"And what would that be Mr. Dawson?" this was interesting thought Colonel Connely.

"Get a message to Dr. Adam Pierson at the Cheyenne Mountain Complex that Joe Dawson is in your custody. When I get a reply from him then I will tell you what you want to know." Joes said

"And what makes you think I will even entertain the possibility of doing as you want?"

"Because you will not get a word out of me until you do and you and I both know that could be bad." Joe bluffed.

"Alright Mr. Dawson we will send a message." With that the colonel got up and left the room.

Day 4 1230 hrs

"Sir" An airman stuck his head in General O'Neill's office.

"Yes Airman?" Jack was trying to put together the pieces of the puzzle but things just did not seem to fit. Ah hell he needed a break anyway. " What is it?"

"Sir our counter intelligence division for the complex picked up a man hacking in to the base security. They have him in custody but the thing is he agreed to cooperate if they would send a message out here to a Dr.Pierson." The airman said matter of factly.

"Thank you airman. That will be all" Jack picked up his phone. "Get me the head of counter intelligence this is General Jack O'Neill." He waited for a response "Yes I will hold."

Just then Siler came in "sir, the Jacob Carter is requesting to come through the gate."

Jack was starting to get a headache. "Yes this is O'Neill. You're holding someone who is asking for Dr. Pierson? Yes well you can send him to me I want him sent to Cheyenne mountain complex… I don't care what you think Colonel do it the orders will be through shortly." Jack slammed the phone down. " Sorry Siler what were you saying?" Jack got a replay from Siler "ah yes this should be enlightening. Tell him to come on in and show him in here" as Siler left Jack began to think he may just get some answers today.

Now if he could only get Daniel to get his but off base and out to P 37428

Day 4 1300hrs

"Well Mr. Dawson we just got a reply from Cheyenne Mountain" care to guess what that was?"

Joe sat there with an annoyed look on his face. If he could only bluff long enough help would come he was sure even if it was a lawyer.

"Not talking I see Take him back to the holding cell and strip him of all contraband Items." Connely said.

Two MPs escorted Joe none to kindly back to a processing room.

Colonel Connely could hear Joe's shouts of protest at the treatment he was given. All his possessions were taken away even his prosthetic legs. He was given a one-piece jump suite to wear and left in a cell.

Colonel Connely just sat at his desk with a look of satisfaction on his face. In his mind he was the US government. You either did what he wanted or you were sorry.

Day 4 1500hrs

"Colonel Connely." A SF Sergeant approached his desk and saluted. " I have orders to take in to my custody one Joseph Dawson for transport to Cheyenne Mountain Complex."

'Damn they were quick' thought Connely " Mr Dawson is still in interrogation Sergeant you will have to wait another two hours." Connely said authoritatively.

"Sir My Orders State Immediately. Sir!" the Sergeant insisted.

"Sergeant you can have him in two hours. Dismissed!"

"Sir Yes Sir." With that the Sergeant turned on his heal and went directly to the nearest base phone down the hall.

'Now, ' Connely thought 'time to get some answers.' He quickly walked down the hall to the cell holding Joe Dawson.

"You and you" he pointed at two MPs "bring him and follow me."

Joe was escorted via a wheelchair to which he was securely tied down to into the same interrogation room he was in before. He was tired physically and mentally. He was also very pissed off.

"Now then Mr. Dawson are you going to cooperate?" Colonel Connely said in a neutral tone.

"Fuck You!" Joe was pissed he had been humiliated over the last hour but he kept silent once he was in the cell.

"I guess not" Connely leaned forward "look if you don't cooperate I will make your life a living hell"

"Are you Deaf? FUCK YOU!" Joe spat.

Just then the door burst open and Colonel Connely was hoisted physically out of his seat.

"What the hell is going on here!" Connely yelled

"Id say its Karma" Joe said with a smile

"Colonel Connely you are under arrest for disobeying a direct order of the President of the United States. You have the right to remain silent anything…." The MP continued as they hauled the colonel kicking and cursing out of the room and down the hall to a nice clean cell.

MP's returned with Joe's personal items plus his prosthesis. "Sir while I can give you most of your personal items back I cannot give you your keys or wallet." One said.

"Thank you officer." Joe said acidly.

"Sir Colonel Connely stands charged with a serious crime and I apologize for your treatment. I was only following his orders unaware that he had no authority to give them." The MP said apologetically.

" Well you will understand then why I am still upset." Joe said as he got to his feet.

With all his clothing and personal items now back where they should be minus his keys and wallet they walked out of the interrogation room and in to the hall.

"Sir I am Sergeant Anthony Rogers USMC I have been ordered to escort you to Cheyenne Mountain where you will be interviewed by General Jack O'Niell. Before we begin is there anything you need? Medications? Something to eat?"

"A meal and some sleep would be nice but I don't suppose your orders allow for that?" Joe asked.

"On the contrary sir, my orders are now quite clear. As far as making you comfortable I am simply to inform my superiors of the situation. I am to make you as comfortable as reasonably required and that means that if you require rest you get it how about a steak dinner?" the sergeant replied

"Well we don't need to milk uncle sugar that much just a decent meal will be ok. I have the feeling I may still be in trouble." Joe was much happier at the professionalism of this marine. "Am I to understand that my transfer is a Presidential Order?" Joe asked as the were walking to the exit?

"Yes sir. Since the Colonel didn't want to obey the first set of orders we gave him someone pulled a few strings." They stopped before the doors out of the building. " Sir I must ask you not to attempt to flee my custody as it would make me quite upset to have to haul you immediately to the General in restraints."

"Don't worry sergeant if you don't act like that asshole we just left behind then I will go peaceful like." Joe told him levelly.

They continued out the doors and to a waiting van climbed in and they were on their way to what Joe hoped was a good meal before he was sent up the river.

Day 4 1600hrs

Daniel Jackson had been in his office/lab for nearly eight hours when he looked up to see General O'Neill in his doorway.

"Danny I distinctly remember telling you to get your gear together and go." Jack was not happy. " And yes I know you sent me several updates on progress here but I need you out there."

" I know Jack I just finished up here." Danny said contritely. " I've done all I can with what I have here so its time to see what Dr. Pierson has come up with."

Jack sighed " just be in the gate room in 20 min ok?" with Daniels nod he turned and left.

Day 4 1730hrs Planet solar time 1230hrs

Daniel stepped out of the gate on to P 37428 and was escorted to where Sam was finishing her rounds.

"Hi Daniel welcome back to P 37428 How was your time off?" Sam asked cheerfully

" It was good, did you make any progress? " he asked

" Don't know yet Dr. Pierson should be reporting his findings soon. Why don't you go see what he has found out and then meet me for and early dinner?" Sam motioned him over to where Adam was working with his notes.

"Sure things Sam, talk to you in a bit then." With that Daniel walked over to the table Adam had setup his equipment on and sat down next to him.

"Hello Daniel what brings you to this part of the Galaxy?" Adam asked looking up from his work as Daniel sat down.

"Well to be honest Sam wants me to se what progress you have made." Daniel looked over some of Adams translation notes. " Wow so far combined with what I have it looks like we have made quite a bit of progress." Daniel began to sort through the data collected and separate it inserting the data he had come up with at his lab.

"What we have here so far is the tale of how the ancients built a space station or orbital space colony around a world of clouds. In fact it is refered to many times as the city in the clouds." Adam began. "The planet has 12 moons one of which is the home of the elementals or those who worship the elements. There is much reference to the colony being a waypoint for space faring vessels. It seems this station is the ancients attempt to make a peaceful meeting place for races that had space faring capability."

"So this could be like the ancients equivalent of the fictional Babylon 5?" Daniel asked

"Well in a manner of speaking yes. But I wouldn't hold me to that just yet till we get a second opinion." Adam said. " However I do at this point have rubbings of the entire wall so we don't need to conduct this here we could do it back at your base."

"That might not be a bad idea but I want to check something out first." Daniel brought out the pendant that he found near the wall on the first visit. "I found this" he held up the pendant " look familiar?"

" Yes actually I have one just like it" Adam answered.

" Well I noticed a depression in the text that did not translate to a letter so I thought I would fit this in and see what happened" Daniel began to scan the wall.

"Wait I know where it is its in the section that describes the planet." Adam walked a few paces down the wall and motioned for Daniel to come over. "Here it is, " he said pointing at the small depression in the stone.

Daniel placed the pendant in to the spot Adam had indicated and waited. It took a moment but finally he noticed the change along the length of the wall characters began to light up they began to form gate address symbols about 2 feet high. Daniel and Adam both began to quickly write them down. Once they had them Daniel waited a few moments and then removed the pendant placing it back in the pocked he had originally taken it out of.

"Well I think we are done here lets tell Sam" Adam Said as he began to pack up.

"I'll do it" Daniel said and headed off to find Sam.

Samantha Carter was just finishing up another round of paperwork on one of her projects when Daniel entered her tent. " Uh Sam? We are done."

" Well that is good news I just checked in with Jack he was getting impatient to have us all back at the SGC." Sam called for an Airman. "Inform all sections we will be leaving in 2 hours." She turned to Daniel and asked him about the translation.

"Not only do we still have translating to do but we got a good bit done. We also have a gate address but until we get the translation finished we should wait before going to it." Daniel had learned some caution since he started at the SGC. Where before he would have argued they go right away now he knew better. A few deaths and a few injuries had taught him the hard way to gather his intelligence first then take action.

"Sam I understand you and Adam sort of a demonstration earlier on." Daniel pause for a moment." Well although the teams here and anyone working directly with you has been informed I would suggest you not do that again. We don't want the NID involved." Daniel said with concern

"Your right I really wasn't thinking about that. In fact I better tell Adam about them so he is at least prepared. Time for me to eat a little crow." With that Sam wandered off to find Adam. This left Daniel wondering what exactly she was talking about.

Day 4 1230hrs

Jacob poked his head in to Jacks office. "Can I come in?"

"Yes Mr. President yes he has… the situation is well in hand sir. Yes sir…Thank you Sir " Jack hung up the phone. "Sure Jacob have a seat. I suspect you have come here due to recent events. So? … "Jack looked at Jacob with one of his 'care to tell me what the hell is up?' looks.

"Yes I have." Jake said in a very serious way. " I don't want to be doing this to tell you the truth but I cannot refuse her anything she asks." Jacob looked at Jack hard for a moment sizing him up. Finally coming to a decision began to speak again. "What I am about to tell you has been a secret kept by me and others in my family for almost 50years. I have been asked to reveal this to you by the one I am honor bound to keep this secret for." Jack looked like he was about to say something then looked at Jacob and shut up. "This secret has been kept out of love. When I was 5 years old my parents were killed by an immortal hell bent on revenge against the person you know as Samantha Carter. He killed my mother and father and then tried to kill Sam. My parent's only crime was that they were friends of Sam and she cared about them. Since Sam, she called herself Sarah then was in my parents will as their chosen legal guardian if anything should happen to them she was granted custody. She raised me until I was 18 and then went through a change of identity, as immortals are prone to do in these latter centuries. This involved much forging of documents and falsifying of records. She became my Aunt Grace. When I was old enough to have a daughter that was in her twenties we falsified her paperwork again and claimed she had lived for several years at a special school for genius level students for a few years and then she came back in to my life this time as Samantha Carter My daughter. The rest is as we say history. " Jacob sat back quietly and waited for the inevitable.

" Her background has been triple and quadruple checked they talked to people who claim she went to that school. And you are telling me she didn't? What about the family photos?" Jack parried.

"Faked falsified and paid off handsomely." Jack smiled

"You would need more money that Bill Gates to finance a cover story like that!" jack guffawed

"She does"

"……." Jack slumped in his chair. It made at least some sense and was definitely possible.

"Jack now you know some of it will you give her the chance to tell you the rest?" Jacob looked pleadingly. "Jack. You know she love you. And you know I love her but as a mother and in some ways a daughter. Please don't hurt her. There is nothing of mine I would not give to see that that does not happen and nothing I would spare or hold back if it ever does." Jacob looked at Jack half pleading half threatening slowly shifting between the two.

"I know." Jack need not say any more for in that one phrase was conveyed all the feelings and emotions he could not say outright. Part of him wanted to cry and wither dry and turn to dust in longing for what he knew could never be. Another part wanted to throw every thing he had worked for away and take her to some place no one would deny then the chance to be together.

"Thank you Jack. I think im done here" Jacob stood and waited for jack to confirm this session was over. With Jack 's nod he left and headed for the gate room.

Jack stood and walked after him " Jacob. She will be back soon can you wait?"

"Yes I can wait, got any coffee?" Jacob smiled.

" Sure. Hope Selmak doesn't mind." Jack steered him towards the chow hall.

" Not this time Jack she says she will get by."

Day 4 1900hrs

"SG's 1,3 and 9 Returning" Siler called out over the base speakers. "Gate Room Personnel Report to your stations" Siler watched as personnel from all departments surged in to the gate room to assist as needed. General O'Neill and Jacob/Selmak were present as well.

"Ok Campers how did everything go?" Jack said in his usual cheerful voice.

"Well sir may I suggest a briefing in an hour?" came carters reply.

"Sounds good to me in fact make it two I think someone has some things to talk to you about." Jack nodded at Jacob.

Day 4 2200 hrs

Amanda was beginning to think that this was the most accident-prone base on the planet. She had counted a total of 24 individuals enter or leave the base parking lot in some form of support or cast. Most of them dressed in Special Forces uniforms. She just could not figure out what so many Special Forces personnel could be doing to be injured working on deep space radar telemetry. It was going to be a long night too. For the one person she had not seen come out was Daniel. Why would a military base need an archeologist and linguist? She was getting tired but her immortal stamina would let her last at least another 12 hours and if Daniel had not come back by then she would get some sleep and start again.

Day 4 2100hrs

Jack, Sam, Daniel, Teal'c, and Adam sat in the briefing room.

"Ok Now that we are all her and Jacob has returned to the Tok'ra lets get this party started. Whose first?" Jack looked around.

"Well uhm." Both Daniel and Adam Said at the same time.

"Sorry why don't you…" they continued in stereo.

"Sam how about you go first?" Jack gave Daniel and Adam his patented when im not happy things start getting shot at stare. Needles to say. It didn't work.

"Ok, Well sir for once everything went routine no unusual occurrences. Daniel informed me they accomplished their task.

"Well that's good" Jack looked at Daniel. " Daniel why don't you go ahead."

"Well basically jack what we have is a completed rubbing of the wall and more translation both completed and needing to be completed. We also have a gate address." Daniel sneezed and whipped his nose. " mwah we whan do do now…"

" I think what Daniel is trying to say is that what we need to do now is finish the translation and see where that gets us. Now that we have the basics it should not take too long to do. We do know a few things right now. The space station is referred to as the city in the clouds and the planet it orbits has twelve moons one of witch is inhabited by someone called the elementals or a better translation would be those who worship the elements. " Adam finished.

" Ok so we are closer to the goal than before. This is a good thing." Jack looked to Carter " what do you suggest as a next step?"

"Well sir I think we should follow Adams suggestion and finish the translation."

"I agree" Jack made his decisions " Daniel and Adam I want you to work on that translation tomorrow. NOT tonight. I want you on base but in bed understood?"

"But Jack!.."Daniel began.

Jack gave a warning twitch of his finger and a shushing sound.

"Ok fine" Daniel huffed

Adam nodded his compliance. He was old enough to know when he needed sleep and this was one of those times.

"Carter I believe you are scheduled to do some gate maintenance? " at her not he added " Tomorrow"

"Ok people dismissed. Uh Dr. Pierson I need to speak with you a moment before you go." Jack motioned for him to stay seated.

"What do you know about a Joseph Dawson?" Jack asked

"Well I know he is a nosey old fool who has a heart of gold and is easily pushed about by the local moralistic boy scout I call friend." Adam said half to himself. " Why what has he done?"

"It appears he was trying to hack into the base computers."

"Crap Joe. I assure you General he was only concerned for me in fact its mostly my fault I should have sent word I was ok. See I left a note to those in seacouver that I was going to Colorado and that I might visit NORAD. So they are probably concerned about me." Adam looked a little contrite.

"Well we will see about that when he gets here. It seems he has gotten in to a bit of trouble and one of our over zealous colonels in the anti intelligence division crossed the line. Don't worry the man will be spending the next 50 years in a prison if I have anything to do with it. " Jack smiled at the last part. " Mr. Dawson will be arriving tomorrow morning at about 10 am. We will sort it out then."

Adam nodded " thank you general I see that you have taken great care to make sure he is kept safe even from your own bad apples. Will that be all? " At Jacks nod he gathered his notes and left the briefing room.

End Day 4 2200hrs

Day 5 0800hrs

General George Hammond made his way down the multiple levels in NORAD to the beginnings of the SGC. He kept trying to put the puzzle together but just didn't have enough pieces. On one hand there was the potential for a spy in the SGC. Not just any spy either but one working for an off world enemy. Then even if that was not the case the system lords were gearing up to attack earth again it was just a matter of time. He hoped jack knew what he was doing bringing in a new linguist at this time. There was one other element he didn't like and that was the unknown element of which Jack had not informed him. All of these thoughts and more passed through the mind of General Hammond as he made his way through multiple security check points and down many levels until he at last came to the command level.

"General Hammond Sir." Jack was there to greet him at the lift "what brings you by our humble abode?"

"General O'Niell good to see you again. How are things?" George asked enjoying the subtle look of chastisement on Jack's face.

"All is well sir." Jack said shortly

"Well then I think we need to chat in private for a few moments then."

"Yes sir I believe you know the way?" Jack quipped

They walked swiftly to Jack's office and closed the door.

" Jack let me get to the point of my visit As the director of home world security it is my job to observe how you are doing things and this is just one of many routine inspections to come in the future. I am not here because you have done anything wrong or out of the ordinary so please continue as if I was not here" George had slipped in to his easygoing Texan mode.

"Well I'm glad that's all there is ive got enough on my plate here lately. I will be a pleasure having you around for a bin General Hammond." Can we assign you the VIP suite?" Jack grinned at George.

"Sure that will be just fine. I wont keep you any longer Jack I know you are a busy man so I will go get settled in and wander back by here in about an hour. Hopefully you will be able to fill me in on what is on the schedule at that time?"

"Sounds like a plan sir" Jack and George shook hands and left Jacks office going separate ways.