SGC
Cheyenne Mountain AS, CO
In the week since beginning the orientation, SGT Patrick Joyce and his fellow students had their intellectual underpinnings assaulted by the knowledge of what they were getting themselves into. Fortunately, like my most members of the US military, they had an uncanny ability to adapt to the new reality and get on with the job. For Joyce, an ample amount of adult maturity allowed him to put all the various existential questions aside until the proper time. A Jesuit education at Fordham was good, but this was a little beyond the normal and rational.
Who the hell knows when that will be?
It was apparent to the group that a goodly amount of planning developed through trial and error went into the training programs here at Stargate Command. They had spent the first five days being briefed on the basics of the Stargate and how travel was accomplished. This had involved seeing the gate in operation for the first time. For an inquisitive mind like Joyce, this was stunning.
Instant travel to other planets!
They had been given the weekend off. But with the amount of studying that was required, they didn't exactly hit the bars. They stayed in guest quarters and studied the required briefing materials. On Monday, the group would begin learning about some of the potential hostile threats in the universe. They would also be briefed on the current political alliances and various power struggles of alien races.
Alien races? We're not in Kansas anymore…"
Monday morning arrived soon enough. The class assembled at 0800 in the classroom with Lt. Col. Carter and Dr. Jackson, who had been their instructors the previous week. Both were extremely intelligent and open to the plethora of questions that were normal.
The class stood at attention as Carter and Jackson entered.
"As you were, please take your seats. As you are aware, we will be spending the next two weeks getting you up to speed on the various alien races that have been encountered during SGC operations. Just like the political climate here on Earth, we have allies, enemies and dozens of worlds that we maintain diplomatic relations with. Some of these alien cultures are far more advanced than ours. Some on the other hand, are no more than nomadic tribes of Stone Age peasants. You will be learning to deal with many types of cultures. Daniel?"
Dr. Jackson took over from there and spent the first part of the day mapping out the political and cultural roadmap in broad terms. In the afternoon, the class got its first exposure to an alien.
Into the classroom walked one of the largest men Joyce had ever seen. Well over 6 feet tall, he was a house.
"Gentlemen, allow me to introduce Teal'c. Teal'c is a Jaffa warrior. The Jaffa serve as the foot soldiers of the Goa'uld System Lords and carry larval Goa'ulds as a sort of incubator."
"It is a pleasure to meet you all," Teal'c said with a broad smile.
"Teal'c defected to Earth eight years ago and serves with Col. Carter and myself on SG-1, the lead exploration team. Teal'c will be working with you later in training on Goa'uld and Jaffa combat tactics."
Teal'c didn't seem offended by the wordless, shocked stares from the trainees. He actually appeared quite amused and used to it.
"I consider Earth my adopted home and have grown very fond of it and its people. I have seen extraordinary bravery from your fellow soldiers as they help liberate my people. I know in time I will come to value your service just as much." The noble simplicity of his words was actually touching to what was otherwise a tough group of operators.
Jackson broke the silence, "Thanks Teal'c, I'll see you later."
"My pleasure Daniel Jackson."
Meanwhile, in another part of the complex…
"We need to fix this situation and develop the capability before we have another tragedy!" The exasperation was apparent on BG O'Neill's face.
"Jack, I understand and I'm fighting for your proposal with all guns blazing." Major General George Hammond had a way with his subordinate few others could master. "Luckily, General Maynard agrees with the tenets of it as well." Hammond was referring to General Francis Maynard, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Maynard was a big supporter of the SGC and its mission. Unfortunately for Maynard, he was also juggling a wide open insurgency in Iraq, a continued Taliban presence in Eastern Afghanistan and a fractious NATO alliance. Iraq, in particular, was draining manpower and resources.
The proposal Hammond was referring to was one that had been in development for quite some time but had been formally put forth four months prior. It came out of an incident where SGC personnel were caught up in a large-scale firefight with Jaffa warriors on P3X-666 that cost lives of SGC troops, including Dr. (MAJ) Janet Frasier, the head of medical services at the SGC. The incident showed how outnumbered SGC personnel could become in short order. Quick mobilization of available SG teams was not the long term answer.
The proposal called for the creation of a Rapid Reaction Force (RRF) to be on 24-hour alert and ready to deploy through the Stargate when needed. The current proposal called for a battalion-sized force of three companies of 120 men each. One of the three companies would be on alert at all times. It was modeled on the setup used by the Army's 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, NC. Questions dogged the proposal, however:
Where do you find 300-500 troops who could keep their mouths shut?
How do we pay for it? Hiding the SGC's funding had become a bureaucratic version of Where's Waldo?
"Jack, if it helps, I'm telling you: this will happen. The President and I were discussing it last week. The devil is in the details as you know."
"I know General, but I'm dreading another battle where we're outgunned and outmanned. We're better than them in a fair fight. Hell, even at a serious disadvantage, I'll take these guys."
"Speaking of that, how's the new group? Proconti told me you were expanding the recruiting pool."
"Yes sir, we took a couple from the 820th Security Forces Group at Moody and a guy from the 10th Mountain. Carter and Daniel are raving about his intellect. I've got plans for him, I think.
Joyce's strange trip continues…