STARGATE SG-1: Operation Checkmate
Summary: When General O'Neill is incapacitated, Carter finds herself in over her head as a helpless puppet to a mad man...
Season: 8
Pairing: Jack/Sam (suggested)
Spoilers: New Order, Lockdown.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters in Stargate SG-1. Please don't sue me!
Author's Note: OK, so... chapter 3. A lot of people in reviews have been commenting on the fact that there have been a lot of cliff hangers in this story and in 'Twinkle Twinkle'. Just to let you all know, there'll be a lot more in both stories! How else am I gonna keep you all keen to read?!? Anyway, R&R as always. Thanx. Enjoy!
WARNING: Strong Language!
Operation Checkmate: Chapter 3 – Rank and File
Sam sat nervously by the window on the plane wondering how the hell she was going to manage any of what 'he' was asking of her. She had to admit, no matter how much it pained her, he was right. It was going to be so much easier to get into the Pentagon than the NID.
For one thing, the Pentagon was her old stomping ground; she knew it just as well as she knew the SGC. Plus, she had a certain degree of clearance there.
Also, when it came to the NID, they were naturally suspicious of everyone – especially their own people. The chances of her getting in there, finding the files on a computer and e-mailing them out without drawing attention to herself was pretty much impossible. There was no way anyone would turn a blind eye to her there. But the Pentagon was different.
She deemed it best to leave the NID for later. Her main priority was the Pentagon files at the moment.
She dug into her bag and found a single, slightly crumpled piece of paper with the SGC letter head on the top of it. She always kept a few handy, in case of emergencies. Of course, by emergencies, she was generally thinking about times when she may need to fax some bright idea to her lab assistants when she was off base. It happened more often than people realised! But in this instance, she was using it to aid a mad man obtain whatever it was he was after.
She paused for moment her pen hovering over the paper.
At last, she began to write:
On behalf of the SGC, Lt. Colonel Carter requests the following personnel files to be provided for possible candidacy as a member of SG-1:
Lieutenant Reiss Havers
Lieutenant Tony Madison
Captain Ian Beck
Captain John Carmichael
Captain Adam Taut
Signed: Samantha Carter (Lt Col USAF)
She read over her note before folding it and placing it back in her bag for safe keeping.
It didn't matter that she wasn't in uniform, she thought to herself. Enough people knew her there and could vouch for her identity if push came to shove.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we will shortly be landing at Regan National Airport, Washington DC. We hope you have had a pleasant flight with American Airline and we look forward to you flying with us in the future. During the descent, please ensure your seat is in the upright position and your food tray is folded away. Thank you."
As the flight attendant went through the usual speech, the plane descended through the clouds and Washington stretched out bellow them.
Sam's stomach fluttered slightly as nerves began to build. She couldn't believe she was going through with this.
"Well, well! Lookey what the cat dragged in!"
Sam smiled as she heard the familiar Texan drawl of her former colleague Michael Lambert. It was such a welcome sound – for several reasons. Firstly, she had been hoping he would still be working at the Archives (in the past he had always granted her a certain amount of levity regarding the files, mainly because she was a General's daughter and could easily make his life hard, but he also had a little bit of a crush on her if she remembered correctly). Secondly, the familiarity of his greeting reminded her of her life before this creep had snuck in. she almost forgot what she was really there for.
"Lambert," she said coolly and professionally, but with a hint of flirtation that seemed to contradict the formal greeting.
"So, you finally decide to kick in the star travel and shack up with me, eh?" Lambert teased, leaning against the desk that stood between the two old friends.
Sam rolled her eyes, remembering exactly how their almost ritual banter always played out. She looked him straight in the eye with a look of playful superiority on her face.
"You really have never heard of Court Martial, have you Captain?" she said – her usual response that effectively shut down the conversation.
Lambert's shoulders sagged slightly. He feigned frustration in his defeat before straightening himself up again, ready to actually be professional.
"Alright then, Major. What can I do for you?"
Sam smiled again. Clearly, he wasn't up to date, despite working in the Filing and Archiving Department!
"Actually, I was promoted last month. Lieutenant Colonel," she informed him.
Lambert's eyes grew wider at the news.
"Sam, that's great! Congratulations. I heard O'Neill got the run of the SGC, but I had no idea! So, you got a command now or what?"
Sam nodded. "SG-1," she said plainly. Her stomach gave a sudden jolt as she spotted an opening to bring her reason for being there to the forefront.
"That's why I'm here, actually," she said, reaching into her bag and pulling out the letter she had drafted on the plane. She handed him the note.
Lambert quickly scanned over the letter.
"This come a little last minute?" he questioned.
"Yeah. General O'Neill gave me the list of candidates the day before his heart attack. I doubt he would have put the memo through to you yet."
Lambert nodded, but creased his forehead; clearly he wasn't wholly convinced of something.
"You know I need the base commander's authorisation to release personnel documents," he said, being as serious as Sam had ever seen him.
"I know that," she cooed, stepping right up to the desk. "But it's not like you haven't bent a few rules for me in the past." She hated having to use her 'charms' on him like this, but she really was at her wits end – not that she would let that fact show.
Lambert looked uncomfortable for a moment, making Sam regret digging up that part of their history. They had both been in trouble for just that in the past.
"OK, how about this," Sam piped up, fearing he was about to flatly turn down her request – she couldn't let that happen. He was her only chance to keep the transaction even remotely legal. Without him, she would have to steal them herself. She hoped it would never come to that.
"I'm only in town for today and I really need to get those files sorted out as soon as possible. So the second I touch down in Colorado, I'm gonna call General Crawford and tell him all about this. He'll then find the memo O'Neill sent me and he can then fax you his authorisation."
Lambert stood and thought for a moment. Sam could tell she was beginning to get through to him – his expression told her that much. He looked undecided. Like he was carefully considering everything involved (including his career prospects if he was found out).
"I can make it an order, if it makes you feel any better," Sam coaxed further. The comment sounded playful enough, but was meant in all seriousness and in sheer desperation.
Lambert smiled at last and disappeared into the archives behind him to find the requested files.
As soon as he was out of sight, Sam breathed a heavy sigh of relief. She began to anxiously pace the few feet of floor in front of her, barely even conscious of the fact that she was moving at all.
She could hardly believe she had gotten away with it. The way Lambert had looked at her – like he knew what she was doing was less than above board – lead her to wonder if he knew what was going on.
But part of her had hoped he had figured something out. That way, she might have been able to tell him everything. She might have had an ally!
Her thoughts were interrupted as he returned with a stack of files.
"Right. You're robbing me blind here – as usual!" he quipped, placing the files on the desk in front of him.
Sam came to the desk once more, trying her hardest to control the tremor in her hands enough to allow her to sign the release form on them. All the time she could feel his querying eyes burning into her. It was unsettling to say the least. She took her time in signing, giving her enough time to gather her nerves together behind her cool military façade. Finally, she looked up.
"What?" she asked innocently, seeing his worried expression.
Lambert observed her for a moment. "Are you alright?" he asked genuinely.
Sam faltered for a second. It wasn't often he showed such genuine concern – he was too carefree for that. She so wanted to tell him then. Just pour out everything that had happened in the last week.
As soon as words tried to escape her mouth, all she heard in her mind were 'his' words, threatening – promising even – that Jack would be killed if she told anyone else. All she could do was look surprised at his question.
"What do you mean?" she asked, trying to keep her tone light and unwavering.
Lambert looked at her strangely for a second, trying to work out how best to phrase his concerns behind her actions.
"I don't know," he said carefully. "You just seem a little... anxious."
Sam smiled – she hoped it was reassuring.
"I'm just under a little pressure at the moment. You know, with the new command and now with O'Neill's attack, it'll take a little time to get used to the new guy. You know how it is."
Lambert nodded and smiled sympathetically at her.
"OK," he conceded, thankfully satisfied with her answer. "Just be sure to get Crawford to fax that authorisation as soon as possible."
Sam nodded her thanks and turned to leave.
"Oh, and Colonel?" he called after her.
Sam turned back to face him, fearing he would pry something further from her.
"Take it easy, OK?" he said.
Sam smiled – really smiled. "I'll do my best," she said and left.
As soon as she was out on the street again, she found the nearest wall to lean against before her knees had a chance to buckle beneath her. She was exhausted. All the day's pretence was getting the better of her. And to make it worse, it was all for the sake of a mad man. She was actually helping some crazy criminal bastard to fulfil his goals!
NO! It wasn't for him! It was for Jack! This was the only thing she could do to keep him alive!
Or that's what she was trying to tell herself anyway. Somehow, it didn't seem to ring true to her. No matter how she painted it, she was bending over backwards for the maniac.
Sam sighed heavily, pushing as many of her thoughts as she could to the back of her mind. But one thing stayed heavily in the forefront.
This was only the beginning. She still had the NID files to procure and god knows what else he had in store for her!
Author's Note: OK, so such a big cliff hanger as I've done in the past. But be warned, there will be more (and they will be worse!). Well, that's it for now folks! Please don't forget to review and I'll see y'all in chapter 4. Have a nice day now!
(PS: Sorry if some of the plot details seem a little far fetched – I was desperate!)