Title: Be Prepared

Chapter 2: Gatelag…

By ellymelly

Disclaimer: It has been brought to my attention that I don't own anything – so, uh, I don't...

Sequel to 'So Oops'. Atlantis gets some visitors but regrettably no coffee.

Rodney entered the gate room at a light jog just in time to see the gate shut down and some suspiciously earth like figures lingering by the event horizon. It looked like they had ransacked Area 7, not to mention the corner store.

"Are they?" started Rodney, forgetting to finish his sentence.

"I'm as surprised as you." Replied Dr. Weir as they lent forward on the railing of the balcony, trying to get a better view of the gateroom.

"Dr. Weir." The voice came from her headset. Elizabeth tapped it and sent a glance around the area below looking for the location of the caller. She soon found the friendly hand of Dr. Jackson waving back up.

"Good to see you Dr. Jackson."

"General O'Neil sends his regards – and wow." She could tell by the pause in his voice that Daniel was temporarily distracted by the enormity of Atlantis, "This is quite something."

"So I've been told. Come on up."

Mckay – distracted as usual, had his nose as far as it would go over the balcony. "You don't suppose they brought coffee do you?"

Eilzabeth couldn't believe that Mckay was more interested in coffee than the unexpected arrival of fellow earthlings but indulged him all the same. "If Dr. Jackson's here then I believe it's a safe bet."

Daniel came up the stairs in leaps and bounds heading straight towards them with only the occasional quick, distracted look. Quite an accomplishment for someone who was about to have their head explode.

"Dr. Weir." greeted Daniel, extending his hand.

"Dr. Jackson," she said, shaking it firmly, "what brings you to this corner of the universe?"

"Jack didn't tell you?"

"He was brief."

"Ah." Said Daniel, far from surprised, "And who's this?"

"Dr. Mckay, Dr. Rodney Mckay." Rodney advanced into the conversation, also shaking his hand as was the Earth tradition.

"You were in Antarctica?"

"Briefly."

"You try to kill Jack?"

"No, that was Dr. Beckett."

"Ah." Daniel remarked in understanding.

"I think a briefing is in order gentlemen."

"You have no idea." Replied Dr. Jackson, allowing his eyes to linger on the writing around the walls.

As Elizabeth, Rodney and Daniel approached the briefing room, its walls slid open at multiple sections like a giant slat window. Daniel took a hesitant step backwards and reassessed the situation before him. The looks that Dr. Weir and Mckay gave him finally convincing him that it was safe and they continued.

There were already a significant number of people in the briefing room; among them were Dr.'s Zelenka and Beckett. Ford and Sheppard were at one end debating something about Teyla who was two seats away rolling her eyes at them. Colonel Samantha Carter was playing with her laptop – Rodney instantly straightened at the sight of her, his mouth falling open. Next to her was an earth Major who looked remotely like Dr. Who and beside him a spare seat.

Elizabeth bent down, lowing herself to Mckay's ear level before whispering, "Rodney, you're mouth's open."

Rodney snapped out of it just before Carter noticed their presence in the room. She smiled at him – he nearly died on the spot.

Daniel went into the general noise of the briefing room to greet those people he didn't know whilst Carter rose from her seat and moved toward Weir and Mckay.

"Dr.'s Weir, Mckay." She said, shaking their hands in turn with Mckay still in too much shock to speak.

Meanwhile, Ford and Sheppard were in their little corner staring shamelessly at the blonde Colonel.

"Who's that with Mckay?"

"I presume," said Sheppard, shifting slightly for a better view, "it's the one we've all heard so much about, what was her name?"

"For once Mckay was right."

"I'm inclined to agree."

Daniel, who was over meeting new friends, found himself chatting to a presently calm – soon to be anxious, Beckett.

"Dr. Beckett I presume. I met you briefly in Antarctica."

"It was 'n accident…"

And so the crowd mingled for a few minutes before getting settled. There was still that spare seat next to the Major who turned out to be Joshua Summerville. Elizabeth rose in an attempt to get things underway.

"So, let's start at the beginning shall we?"

"Hold on," Daniel interrupted, "we're missing one."

"Dr. Jackson?"

"Just give him a second."

The room went silent. Mckay looked down at his watch then back at the seat expectantly. Daniel did his best to hold the attention of the room. A few odd looks later the chair vanished in light and was replaced with a far superior version with a Roswell grey alien perched on top. The Atlantis personnel gasped.

"Greetings." Began the modestly sized creature, "I am Thor; Supreme Commander of the Asgard Fleet." Most of the room was in too much shock to reply.

"He's with me." Grinned Daniel.

"So basically," said John, finally beginning to understand, "what you're saying is that there's this huge honkin' Atlantian warship just sitting out there ready for the taking."

"You could put it that way –" Daniel stuttered a little as he did when correcting superiors, "I wouldn't"

"It's not quite that simple as Dr. Jackson is well aware." Carter made sure that Daniel got the last little bit before continuing. "We believe that this ship is out there and, as Dr. Jackson has said, we have a fair idea as to where it is but, and I stress but – we have no idea what condition it is in or its exact location in space. This would make it impossibly hard to find with a puddle jumper."

"I'm taking a wild guess," said Mckay, not resisting the urge to jump in, "but does that explain our Asgard friend?"

Thor, positive that the earthling's tone was a cultural difference rather than an insult, continued.

"You are correct Dr. Mckay." Mckay, still not used to the alien presence, seemed a little taken aback. 'I have brought my ship in the hope that we can locate this vessel and bring it back to Atlantis. My ship is also equipped to repair most damage, enough at least, to make it flight worthy. Dr. Jackson is here to help translate and Colonel Carter to interface some of the new Earth/Asgard Technologies.

Carter and Daniel beamed at Thor whilst Mckay looked more than a little hurt. Once again it seemed like Carter was his replacement. Carter smiled at Mckay. On the bright side they would be spending a lot more time together and so the past insult was forgot.

Four hours into the briefing and the initial energy had worn off. Daniel, convinced he was suffering from gatelag, shot discrete glances around in search of the coffee pot. He didn't have to wait long as one of the staff entered with a tray of mugs and pot of what he prayed was coffee. The tray was set down directly in front of him, presumably by design. He waited a diplomatic few lines before helping himself.

Mckay watched this action intently – he himself was refraining for the obvious reasons.

Daniel went to take a sip but hesitated with the much inches from his face. He sniffed it but wrinkled his nose at the unpleasant smell setting the suspicious liquid back on the desk. Mckay – satisfied, returned his attention back to the conversation.

Carter noticed that Daniel hadn't bothered about the coaster and slid one in under his 'coffee' before giving him a cautionary glance.

"So are we all in agreement then? The mission is to take place in six hours."

"That is most satisfactory Dr. Weir. I shall contact you in five and a half hours."

Daniel waved. "Bye."

Rodney secretly wondered why Thor sounded suspiciously like Dr. Jackson.

"There's got to be a catch."

"What do you mean John?" said Elizabeth, looking at him curiously.

"Well, there's never just a huge piece of highly advanced technology just waiting to be taken with no opposition."

Mckay looked at Sheppard and then motioned to the space around him. Weir smirked.

"Okay, there's usually a catch."

You may not believe me, but I swear, and you can apply to the testimony of Hypercaz, that this was written long before the Auroa episode!