Chapter 4: Implications
One week later, 0800 hours, SGC Briefing Room
Major Robert Foster sauntered into the briefing room, arriving precisely on time for his 0800 debriefing with General O'Neill. The meeting had originally been scheduled for the previous evening, but something had come up suddenly leading the General to postpone it until this morning.
The first thing Foster noticed as he entered the familiar room was the absence of his teammates and the members of SG-1. As SG-1 had accompanied his team on their most recent mission to P65-992, its three members were required to also attend the mandatory post-mission debrief.
This in itself was not cause for concern to Foster. After all, there was always the chance that the others had been held up by something or other and were merely running late. What really heightened his concern was the fact that the room was not empty.
General O'Neill was standing by the door to his office in his dress blues, an outfit Foster knew the General only wore on base when absolutely required to. In addition, there were two unfamiliar men in black suits seated at the briefing table. Foster didn't need to ask who they were, he simply knew. Their demeanor and attire just screamed 'NID' at him. The two men were fully equipped with the essential tape recorders, microphones, legal pads, and file folders. Beside one of the men stood a video camera on a tripod, which was aimed at the chair on the opposite side of the table.
O'Neill noticed Foster's uneasiness immediately and sought to reassure the officer. "Major Foster...on time as usual. Please, take a seat," he motioned to the chair across from the men in black, the one with the camera pointed directly at it. O'Neill sat motionless at the head of the table, all of his usual mannerisms gone, and began the necessary introductions and explanations.
"Major Robert Foster...these men are Agents Dailey and Smith from the NID. They are conducting a preliminary investigation into the disappearance of a piece of alien technology from the SGC labs earlier this week. They are doing this under orders from the President himself, so please answer all of their questions thoroughly and to the best of your ability."
Foster was clearly confused by this information, and the situation he found himself in seemed more and more like a set-up. "With all due respect, General...I don't know anything about missing alien technology. As a team leader, I have very little to do with the artifacts and technology we find after bringing them back to the SGC. You would do better to ask Colonel Carter or one of the scientists in the labs."
O'Neill once again sought to assuage him, "We will Foster. Dailey and Smith here just have a couple of questions about your recent mission with SG-1 to P65-992. It seems the device disappeared from Colonel Carter's lab while you were off world. She reported it missing as soon as you all got back."
Foster was again perplexed, "I don't understand, sir. If the device was taken while I was off world, what information could I possibly offer that could help the NID's investigation?"
One of the agents answered, "Major, we believe you may have information vital to this investigation. Please, just bear with us. I promise it won't take long."
Foster nodded his consent reluctantly as the other agent at the table got up and moved to reposition and turn on the camera.
The agent still seated at the table turned on a tape recorder and began his interrogation. "This is Agent Martin Dailey of the NID. I am conducting an interview today with Major Robert Foster of the SGC. The date is February 2, 2005 and the time is 0817. The interview is being conducted in the briefing room of the SGC. Brigadier General Jack O'Neill, commander of the SGC, is also present. Conducting this interview with me is Agent Jarrod Smith of the NID."
Dailey started with his first question, "Major Foster, could please state your full name, rank, and position at the SGC for the record."
Foster stated succinctly, "Robert Markham Foster, Major in the United States Air Force. Currently, I am the commander of SG-6 here at Stargate Command."
"Thank you, Major. Now we are going to ask you a few questions about your recent mission to P65-992. Could you give a brief overview of the mission – what were the mission objectives, who were the people that were on the mission with you, what happened during the mission, etc.?"
"Okay...It was a basic two-day scientific mission. The planet was not on the Abydos cartouche and so we were very interested to see if the Goa'uld knew about the planet. It was determined that it was uninhabited from an earlier UAV survey. Initial soil and mineral surveys from the MALP showed that the planet could potentially be an untapped source of naquada. We decided to conduct the mission to do a more extensive mineral and horticultural survey. SG-1 was assigned to assist SG-6 in our research and to conduct an exploratory survey of the planet and the possible ruins of an ancient city."
Foster cleared his throat and reached for a nearby glass of water. He slowly took a sip and began his narrative again, "On the mission with me were the members of my team – Our geologist Captain Alice Carpenter, Lieutenant Fred McNiece, and our anthropologist Doctor James Douglas. Also on the mission were the three members of SG-1 – Lieutenant Colonel Sam Carter, Doctor Daniel Jackson, and Teal'c."
As Foster paused, Agent Dailey interrupted - "Good, Major. Now...what exactly happened during your mission from the time you left the SGC to the time you got back?"
Foster stared directly at the camera and continued, "Everyone met on time in the embarkation room, the address was dialed to P65-992, and the Gate activated. Carpenter and McNiece went through first with the FRED, followed by Douglas and Jackson who were deep in conversation with each other, then Teal'c. Finally, Colonel Carter and I went through."
"Did any of the team members seem agitated? Did any behave strangely?" Dailey inquired.
"Not really. I can't really say how SG-1 normally behaves before going through the Gate, since we don't usually go on missions together. But everything, and everyone, seemed to be normal."
"Continue," Dailey instructed.
The stony-faced Major took another sip of water and continued to give his report, "Once we got to the planet, we moved to set up a base camp. Both SG-6 and SG-1 worked to set up camp and get the equipment unpacked. Once that was done, Carpenter and McNiece went off to collect mineral, water, and plant samples in the designated areas. Douglas and I stayed at base camp, scouting the perimeter and watching the Gate for any activity."
Dailey stopped him and inquired with a curious tone to his voice, "And the members of SG-1?"
Foster shrugged slightly, "They went off to investigate the possible ruins of a nearby city. It was one of the reasons SG-1 had tagged along. Dr. Jackson had seen the UAV images of the planet and believed that there may have been a rather large city on the planet. Looked like a lot of rubble to me."
"So once SG-1 took off, did you have any contact with them?"
"Yes. Colonel Carter kept in regular radio contact with us, as did Carpenter and McNiece. They were all gone for about six hours and then they returned to camp just before sunset. We had dinner together and then set up watch shifts for the night."
"Could you tell us who had which shift?"
"Sure..." Foster replied hesitantly, not knowing where this line of questioning was headed. "Colonel Carter took first watch, Teal'c took second, I took third, Douglas took fourth, and Dr. Jackson took fifth. Captain Carpenter and Lieutenant McNiece did not have shifts."
"When did the first shift start and how long did it last?"
"It started about 2300 hours, SGC time, and lasted an hour and a half. Teal'c relieved Colonel Carter at 0030 and I relieved him at 0130. Douglas's shift was from 0300 to 0400. And Dr. Jackson's shift lasted from 0400 to 0530. By the time his shift ended, everyone was up except for Douglas."
"Including Colonel Carter?" Dailey asked pointedly.
For the first time during the interview, Foster got a hint at the real object of the interview. The NID had obviously singled Colonel Carter out. Foster suddenly realized that she was possibly the main target of the investigation. After all, the device they were investigating disappeared from her lab. But he refused to believe Carter could do anything illegal or that might jeopardize the SGC or Earth. Foster kept his tone steady and resolute as he responded, "Yes. The Colonel must have gotten up sometime during Dr. Jackson's shift because she was up before I was."
"And who assigned these shifts?"
"We all pretty much volunteered. The Colonel and I knew that Carpenter and McNiece had to get an early start the next day and had more work than the rest of us, so we decided to let them have a full night's sleep. Otherwise, we just all picked the shifts we wanted."
"Did you see Colonel Carter anytime during the night?"
"No, I didn't. She was sharing a tent with Carpenter and Dr. Jackson. The rest of us were in the other tents. Since our shifts didn't cross, I didn't see or hear any sign of her until I got up about 0530."
"Did you notice anything unusual about the Colonel's demeanor during the mission? Was she nervous or distracted in any way?"
Foster was getting tired and agitated at this line of questioning. He jumped to his superior officer's defense, "No! Look, I don't know what this is all about, but Colonel Carter is always professional. She works harder and does her job better than any other officer at the SGC."
Dailey smiled thinly and replied almost sarcastically, "I'm sure she does. I assure you Major Foster, no one is accusing the Colonel of acting unprofessionally. We just need to know more about her actions during your recent mission."
Foster turned to General O'Neill. He silently questioned the General on whether or not to proceed. O'Neill merely nodded at the Major, almost imperceptibly. With this reassurance, Foster spoke once more, "Well...the next day she and SG-1 went out to the ruins again and the Colonel kept in regular radio contact the whole time. Both SG-6 and SG-1 completed their surveys by nightfall and we decided to head back to the SGC on schedule. Nothing out of the ordinary happened and Colonel Carter behaved as any other officer would."
Dailey let out a small, but frustrated sigh, "I guess that concludes our questioning, Major. Thank you for your time."
Without waiting for Major Foster to leave the room, Agent Dailey turned to General O'Neill and demanded, "I believe it is time that we talk to SG-1, General. Could you please ask Dr. Jackson to be in the briefing room in thirty minutes?"
O'Neill nodded grimly as he rose to go to his office to call Daniel. Foster exited the room, wondering all the while why the General seemed so willing to go along with this investigation. He had expected O'Neill to staunchly defend his old team, especially when the main target was obviously Colonel Carter.
And yet he had said nothing the whole time. He didn't once jump to the defense of his former 2IC. It almost seemed as if the General believed that she was guilty. Foster could only hope as he walked down the hall that further investigation would reveal Carter's innocence.
0915 hours, General O'Neill's Office, SGC
Daniel burst through the door to his friend's office. "Jack, what the hell is going on? I have been trying the see you for over an hour. Walter told me you were in a meeting and that our debriefing had been cancelled until further notice."
Jack leaned back in his chair and sighed, "The debriefing for SG-1 and SG-6 had to be postponed because I had to attend a very sudden and important meeting. By the way, you must not have gotten the message...you're needed in the briefing room in about 15 minutes."
Daniel looked exasperated. "Not now, Jack. Sam's in trouble. We were in the commissary eating breakfast when a group of SFs came in and took her to a holding cell. Do you know what's going on?"
"Yes, Daniel, I do. I ordered Sergeant Johnson to confine Carter to a holding cell."
Daniel stared at Jack in utter disbelief. "What? Why would you do such a thing, Jack? What the hell is going on?"
"Daniel...the device from 496 disappeared two days ago when you were on the mission with SG-6. The surveillance tapes show the device simply vanishing from Carter's lab in a flash of white light. Her lab was locked and no one entered or left the lab in all the time you were gone. Carter reported it missing as soon as she got back."
"My god, Jack...that doesn't mean she had anything to do with it. How could she? She was on another planet at the time."
"I know. Makes the perfect alibi, though, doesn't it?" O'Neill sighed wearily.
Daniel looked at him, shocked. "You actually think she had anything to do with this?"
"I don't know, Daniel. Hell, I don't even know that you didn't have anything to do with it. After all, you were pretty eager to get rid of that thing too. All I know is that the burst of light looked surprisingly like an Asgard transporter beam. We know from when the Gate was taken that you need a locater device in order to beam something specific up. Who put a locater device on the weapon, Daniel? Who had the necessary access to do that?"
Daniel's eyes widened in amazement, "I can't believe this. You've already convicted her. So, what's the meeting in fifteen minutes about then? To see if I conspired with her to steal the weapon?"
Jack slammed his hands against his desk. "For crying out loud, Daniel! No, that's not what it is about. Look, it's out of my hands now. The President and the Joint Chiefs were not happy about this and demanded an immediate investigation. The President asked the NID to lead the investigation. They have been here since early this morning going over tapes and conducting interviews. They thought it best if I confined Carter before she suspected anything was up. I had no choice. I have to follow their directions explicitly."
Daniel scowled and glared at Jack accusingly, "So you are just going to let them crucify Sam? She's your friend, Jack. How many times has she defended you? Believed in you? Saved your life?"
"I know that Daniel," Jack snapped. "The President has ordered me himself to cooperate and I intend to do just that. However, I have no intention of letting Carter go down for this." He added in a hushed tone, "Even if she did have something to do with it."
O'Neill got up from behind his desk and walked over to Daniel. Putting his hand on Daniel's shoulder, he reassured his friend, "If Carter did have anything to do with this, I will do everything in my power to see that nothing happens to her. Believe me, Daniel."
Jack began guiding Daniel to the briefing room, "It's time for your interview. Just answer all of their questions, okay? Don't leave anything out – don't hold anything back. You won't be doing Carter any favors if you do."
0930 hours, SGC Briefing Room
Agent Dailey greeted Daniel Jackson and General O'Neill as they entered the room. "General O'Neill, thank you for getting Dr. Jackson here promptly. Dr. Jackson, please have a seat."
Daniel sat across from the two NID agents and glared at the video camera pointing directly at him.
"Please state your full name and position at the SGC for the record."
"Doctor Daniel Nicholas Jackson. I am a civilian archaeologist and linguist serving on SG-1."
"Alright, Dr. Jackson...let's start. How did you feel about the device recovered from PX7-496?"
"I believed it to be a very dangerous and destructive weapon. It destroyed the people of PX7-496, which left their planet completely uninhabited."
"How do you feel about its disappearance?"
Daniel shrugged. "I'm not sure, really. I guess it matters who took it. If it fell into the hands of someone who understands the dangers present in such a device, it might be a good thing that it's gone. On the other hand, if the person or people who took it wanted to find a way to use it, it could be a very bad thing."
"You wanted to take it back to the planet and destroy it, didn't you?"
Daniel did not bother denying it. "Yes, I did."
Agent Dailey stared unwaveringly at Daniel and pointedly asked, "Did you have anything to do with its disappearance, Dr. Jackson?"
"No. I did not," Daniel stated firmly.
"What about Colonel Carter?"
"What about her?" Daniel's brow furrowed in concern for his friend.
"Did she have anything to do with its disappearance?"
Daniel met the question with a moment of silence followed by a smug smirk, "Why don't you ask her?"
Dailey was not sidetracked by Daniel's evasion of the question. "How did Colonel Carter feel about the device?"
"About the same as I did. She felt it was very dangerous and that we should get rid of it. She was worried that if we continued to experiment on it that we ran the risk of what happened on PX7-496 happening on Earth."
Dailey decided to pursue another line of questioning. "Did anything unusual happen on your recent mission to P65-992?"
"Not that I can think of," Daniel replied in confusion.
"Did you see Colonel Carter anytime while you were on guard duty that night?"
Daniel suddenly looked very uncomfortable, as he realized why the NID agent was asking this particular question. He shifted slightly in his chair before replying, "Yes. I saw her about 0430."
"When she woke up?" Dailey asked, smiling knowingly – fully aware of the fact that he had cornered the archaeologist.
Through gritted teeth, Daniel responded, "No. Not exactly."
"Please explain, Dr. Jackson."
"Why is it important?"
O'Neill, who was getting frustrated with Daniel's attempts to avoid answering the Dailey's questions, stepped in and warned, "Daniel...just tell them what they want to know!"
Daniel turned to Jack with a look of incredulity and annoyance. Jack merely met Daniel's stare with one of his own – one that told the archaeologist that the time for playing games was over. Daniel sighed in exasperation and then finally, but still reluctantly, answered the question. "She didn't come from her tent. I was sitting by the fire, drinking coffee, when she walked up to me and sat down. She had been out walking."
Quickly, Dailey jumped on this disclosure. "Where? Where had she been walking?"
"She came from the direction of the Gate."
"This is very important, Dr. Jackson. Did you hear the Gate activate in the moments prior to Colonel Carter arriving in camp?"
"Yes."
"And why did you not notify Major Foster or one of the other officers of this?"
Daniel hesitated for a moment before replying, "Because I knew it was Sam."
Dailey smirked in triumph. "Oh really? How?"
"She told Teal'c and me earlier in the day that she had to go through the Gate that night on a mission. She said that she would leave after her guard duty shift and that she would return before my shift was over."
"What kind of mission?"
Daniel turned to look at Jack in confusion, seeking some form of backup from the General. "I don't know. Sam said that she couldn't tell us. She also said that we couldn't tell anyone on SG-6 about it. I just figured that Jack had asked her to go on some sort of secret errand or that she had something she needed to report back to him."
As Daniel revealed this information, he retained eye contact with Jack and watched as the General's face slowly became shadowed with disappointment.
"Do you know where she went when she went through the Stargate?"
"No. I was asleep at that time. I didn't see her leave."
"And Colonel Carter didn't tell you anything about where she had been or what she had been doing?"
"No, I asked and she told me again that she couldn't say. She said it was for my own good. After that, I took her at her word and didn't ask again."
"Thank you, Dr. Jackson. That concludes our interview."
Out in the hallway, Daniel pulled Jack to one side and whispered, "What's going on Jack? Didn't you tell Sam to go on some secret mission or errand?" His brow was furrowed in concern and confusion.
Jack appeared preoccupied and troubled. "No, Daniel. If Carter left P65-992 during your mission, it was her own doing. I had no knowledge of it."
1030 hours, SGC Briefing Room
"Hey T," General O'Neill greeted as Teal'c entered the briefing room.
Teal'c nodded his head and replied, "O'Neill." Although trying to betray no emotion, the Jaffa was visibly not happy to be there.
"T...these guys just want to ask you a few questions."
Without uttering a word or even acknowledging the presence of the two NID agents, Teal'c immediately took a seat across the table from them. He glared at the two men and nodded at them, informing them of his readiness to proceed.
"I'm Agent Dailey and this is Agent Smith of the NID. We're conducting a preliminary investigation into the disappearance of the weapon recovered from PX7-496. It vanished from Lieutenant Colonel Carter's lab while SG-1 and SG-6 were on their most recent mission together."
"I am aware," Teal'c replied.
"Teal'c...could you describe how Colonel Carter felt about the weapon?"
"I cannot. If you wish to know the answer to that question, I suggest you ask Colonel Carter."
Dailey appeared a bit irritated by Teal'c's refusal to provide an answer, but let it go. "Okay...what happened on your recent mission to P65-992?"
"SG-1 and SG-6 traveled to P65-992 through the Stargate. SG-1 conducted a survey of the ruins of an ancient city. SG-6 conducted scientific research on the soil, water, vegetation, and minerals of the planet. We returned to Earth after two days."
"Did anything unusual happen?"
"No."
"Did anyone act nervous or worried about something?"
"No," Teal'c answered yet again.
"What about the night you spent there? You relieved Colonel Carter after her watch?"
"Indeed."
"Did she retire for the night after you relieved her?"
Getting no response, Dailey continued to prod, "Please answer the question."
When Teal'c continued to remain silent, O'Neill stepped in, "Teal'c...you need to answer the question. Please."
"She did not."
"Where did she go?" Dailey resumed his questioning.
"She proceeded to the Stargate."
"Did she tell you where she was going?"
"She did not."
Agent Dailey appeared frustrated and disappointed. He needed more information to make a case against Carter. It looked as though he wasn't going to get what he needed, at least not from Teal'c. All of the sudden, his partner, Agent Smith, had an idea and interrupted the interview.
"Teal'c, do you know where she went?" Smith inquired.
Teal'c stared into the camera and made no sound. Again, O'Neill was forced to chastise his friend, "T..."
"I do indeed."
"Where did she go?" Dailey's enthusiasm was once again high.
"I do not feel comfortable answering this question," Teal'c protested, trying to protect his friend and comrade.
Dailey warned him, "You will be arrested and charged with impeding a federal investigation if you do not."
General O'Neill stepped in to soothe over the NID agent's ruffled feathers. It would be no good to him if Teal'c landed in hot water along with Carter. "T...you aren't helping her by withholding information. You're only going to get yourself into trouble and you know she wouldn't want that. Just tell them the truth."
Teal'c looked at O'Neill and thought for a moment. He then nodded at him, acquiescing to his friend's request. "Colonel Carter dialed the coordinates for K'Tau."
As soon as Teal'c voiced his answer, looks of triumph appeared simultaneously on the faces of the two NID agents. As they continued to smile at each other in congratulations, neither agent noticed the General bow his head, attempting to hide the growing distress he was feeling.
1200 hours, SGC Briefing Room
"Good afternoon, Colonel Carter. Let's go ahead and get started, shall we?" Agent Smith turned on the camcorder and pressed the record button on the tape recorder on the table.
Agent Dailey immediately began his questioning with, "Where is the weapon from PX7-496?"
Shocked at his abruptness, Sam answered his question humbly and truthfully, "I don't know. It was locked in my lab. When I returned from my mission to P65-992, it was gone. I reported this immediately to General O'Neill."
"Of course you're right, Colonel. We have the security tapes from your lab and the hallway outside it. No one entered or exited it after you left on your mission. The tapes from inside your lab show the device being enveloped in a bright flash of light and disappearing. What do you think happened to it?"
Carter's gaze remained cool, her tone dispassionate, "I really have no idea. Maybe it had a transportation device built into it. Maybe some aliens beamed it up. Maybe it was your former colleagues with the Trust? How should I know? I was on P65-992 at the time."
Dailey scoffed. "Were you really, Colonel Carter? This is just a preliminary investigation, but I will remind you that you are expected to tell the whole truth."
Carter reacted immediately and appropriately, as one would who had just been insulted. "What are you implying?"
"We know you did not stay the whole time on P65-992 during your mission. We have already talked to Teal'c and Dr. Jackson. Would you mind telling me what planet you went to on the night you were on P65-992?"
Sam answered him with silence.
"I will ask again, Colonel, where is the device from PX7-496? What planet did you travel to once you reached P65-992?"
Sam's voice rose as her anger and determination grew, "I will repeat this very slowly so you can understand. I did not take the device. I do not know where it is!"
"What about my other question, Colonel?"
Sam smiled cunningly and shrugged, "I prefer not to answer. It was a personal matter that I needed to take care of. It's really none of your business."
Dailey continue to press on. "Without the knowledge or consent of your Commanding Officer? Why did you need to go to K'Tau, Colonel? Did you need to contact the Asgard to help you with your plan to steal military technology from the U.S. Air Force?"
At the mention of K'Tau, Sam could not conceal a brief look of surprise passing over her face. It was quickly removed and masked with an expression of indifference and resentment.
Dailey, however, did not miss the Colonel's reaction, no matter how brief it had been. He explained, "Teal'c followed you, Colonel. He saw you dial the sequence for K'Tau. We know you went to contact the Asgard. It would be better for you if you would just admit your role in this incident."
Silence.
Dailey's voice grew colder, "You will have to answer these questions sometime. The government will go easier on you if you confess now."
Sam aimed her cold, blue eyes directly at Dailey. She stared solely at the agent before her, as if he were the only person in the room with her. She refused to seek out the comfort of the man whom she knew was witnessing this scene in discomfort and anguish – her friend, her CO. She was in this alone, and that was the way she wanted it to be – the way it had to be.
She did not answer Dailey's question, but simply demanded, "When do I get to see a lawyer?" All the while she never once blinked, her eyes burning into those of her interrogator.
TBC
