Well aware that he had everyone's attention now, Jack looked at those assembled around him, and those who knew him well couldn't miss the pride in his expression.

"I can't tell you how impressed I am with you all. You took on a race of creatures – I won't say people because as far as I'm concerned the Wraith had no human in them – and you stood up to them. Not only that, but you defeated them. It took ingenuity, and courage, and most of all teamwork. None of you could have done it alone. Not the Jaffa for all their courage, or the scientists for all their smarts, or even the military with all their weapons. It took everything you all had, and I'm proud of you all."

Heads that had already been held high were even higher, and Melony couldn't help but be impressed by the speech. Jack wasn't someone you assumed to be eloquent like this, and it was obvious that he was beginning to pick up skills as a General that he hadn't needed as a Colonel.

He's right, though

I know.

"You Jaffa are heading home, now, I know," Jack continued, addressing the group assembled below him directly. "But know this; we could not have done this without your help. You were the ones brave enough to be the bait, with the courage to trust those you didn't know very well to pull you from the danger zone when it was time to leave. Atlantis would not be standing without your help, and I want you to know that you're always going to be welcomed here, and if you ever need anything from the people of the Tau'ri, all you need to do is ask. We'll be there for you like you were for us."

He drew himself to attention, and snapped a salute towards the Jaffa. An instant later, the rest of the military personnel in the room followed suit, and all of them saluted the Jaffa, while the scientists and visitors watched.

"Jaffa, kree!"

Talon's voice cut into the silence of the room, and the Jaffa snapped to attention as well, and three hundred clenched fists struck armored chests in a Jaffa salute as they returned the humans' acknowledgment.

Jack and the others finished their salute, and Jack took another step forward, this time looking at Kale and the rest of the Light Ones.

"You and your people have saved many lives," he said, addressing them all. "Including my own. I know that you only came here to help with the Wraith, but we'd like to keep in touch with your people, and like the Jaffa, you and your people are more than welcomed here in Atlantis – and beyond the Stargate, if you wish to come for a visit – and if there is ever anything that we can do for you, just ask."

Kale nodded for all of the Light Ones. They had already been given what they wanted most, interaction with the humans on their world – and now other worlds. There was nothing more the Light One could think of that they might need.

"Thank you, General."

Jack nodded. There was more that he wanted to say to the Light Ones, including an invitation for them to send an ambassador to the SGC – or Atlantis, which ever they preferred – but that wasn't anything that needed to be said in such a formal setting.

"That is all, people. Thank you."

It was a dismissal, but Melony wasn't finished with her Jaffa, and she gestured for Teal'c to assemble the Jaffa in the auditorium immediately. Her First Prime nodded his compliance with her silent order and moved down the staircase as the rest of the people broke into smaller groups, talking about what had been said, and slapping Duck's shoulder and back with various congratulations.

Melony walked over to Jack, who was waving Fraiser away irritably. He was on his feet and he wasn't ready to concede that he needed to go back to bed any time soon – and he probably didn't.

"Nice speech."

He smiled.

"Thanks." He watched as Teal'c moved towards the Jaffa and gestured for them to follow him, commanding immediate obedience from them without even trying. "I see you and Teal'c had that conversation…"

She nodded, turning to watch the Jaffa as well.

"He's the best choice."

"Yeah."

Of course he was.

"When are you leaving?"

"Early afternoon – McKay's been calculating for me, and that'll make it mid morning at our destination – which will give the Jaffa time to disperse and get quarters to stay in while they wait for transportation back to the worlds they came from."

"But you'll be back…"

"Of course. And will you be here?"

Jack shook his head.

"Hammond's going nuts, and is counting the days until I get back to take control of the SGC once more."

"And will come looking for you if you take too long getting back…"

"Exactly."

She smiled, well able to imagine Hammond doing just that.

"Did he help you with your speech?"

"You liked it, huh?"

"The promotions were well deserved – especially Sheppard – but why not Carter?"

"She just made Lieutenant Colonel," Jack told her. "I couldn't justify it."

"I wouldn't have minded a promotion…"

Jack snorted, knowing that she wasn't serious.

"You're already a system lord, Melony. The most powerful system lord ever – with more Jaffa under your control than anyone has ever had in history. Not to mention you're a goddess and you have access to technology that makes Carter and McKay both drool. You don't need a promotion."

She scowled.

"But for all that, you still outrank me…"

He smirked, and his eyes lit up with amusement.

"Isn't it great?"

She sniffed, and turned around, walking away with her nose in the air in mock aggravation, and Jack's chuckled followed her out of the room.

OOOOOOOO

She was still smiling, though, when she ran into Sheppard on her way to the auditorium. He was talking to Ford, who was obviously congratulating him on his promotion.

"Colonel Sheppard…"

John smiled, preening just a little.

"Colonel Mitchell…"

"Congratulations on your promotion, it's well deserved."

"Thank you."

"Now, go get your hair cut, and I mean today. You're a Colonel and there's no reason for you to run around looking like one of the Beatles."

Ford snickered, and Sheppard nodded.

"I'll do it right away, Colonel."

"Good."

You're so mean to him…

He's going to be the permanent commander of the Atlantis – and as such, he needs to set an example for his men. It's not like I'm telling him to shave his head or anything.

Talon snorted, and Melony nodded goodbye to the two men. Her Jaffa were waiting, after all, and they needed to know that they had a new First Prime, even though they probably already suspected it from the way Teal'c had been assuming that position for the past day or so.