Four days had passed, and the members of Capricorn One had undergone intensive medical scans and tests having been through so many realities, but came up clean, the few slight deviations being treated. Mary, who'd been almost forgotten since leaving the Kromagg outpost, with her tracing device removed, seemed relieved, and gladly and in great detail explained everything she could about the Kromaggs.
Xander, the tech heads, and several Capricans met and figured out the idea of orbital commerce via a Gate and using large-scale sliding similarly. Tests would include seeing how far out a Gate would have to be before being considered its own address, and if it would do so automatically.
The Caprican techs working over the craft with their superior materials and theoretical scientific knowledge had come a long way in less than a week, and the transcribed data provided to the SGC showed great promise along the lines of finally on a larger-unit basis make use of sliding technology.
Maybourne and Kinsey marched smugly into the AGC (Alternate-reality Gate Command) at Ventura like two men that had won the lottery.
"Gentlemen, we're here for the craft," Senator Kinsey smiled, "Please set your equipment aside and stand down." The four armed men with them made themselves noticeable.
"I'm afraid it's not property to which you are entitled," Alexander told him, and turned back with the obvious intent of continuing his discussion with others.
"Listen here, I don't care what the SGC thinks of you, it's not going to stop us," Kinsey half-sneered, half-smiled, "We'll be relocating the vessel to Area 52 for proper analysis."
"You're allowed to seize Allied property without proper protocol adherence as required by treaty?" a Caprican diplomat of middle rank asked Kinsey without expression, "After all, this is the registered property of the Ishite Trust of Caprica. It is merely on loan to the Caprican and American governments as a courtesy that benefits all who might be attacked by Kromaggs."
"You wait here…" the senator began, noticing that the ten extra men he'd brought to secure the exterior of the hangar were being marched inside by Jaffa, SGC airmen and Colonial Warriors.
"As I'm already here, that shouldn't be a problem, but I will be protesting your attempted robbery," the nondescript man continued, "And as a senator is a legislative and not executive position, I believe ordering military personnel in your governmental system will result in further difficulties for you."
Ten minutes later
"Sire Jonesi, I'm glad you showed up with our company papers," Alexander exhaled as Kinsey was forcibly ejected from the building, "And by only five minutes, at that."
"Well, I've had to deal with people like that before, and since he's not in my government I admit I rather enjoyed helping out."
"So, what was the final vote by the Council?" Alexander asked, "Since this is a bit different in practice from normal commerce and all…"
"Oh, the monied interests were quite happy at the thought of more markets and resources, Patriarch," the diplomat sighed, "And the Council itself liked the possibilities that it opens up as a possible way of outflanking the Cylons and attacking out of nowhere. So supporting your transit right-of-ways made sense. Especially if there's a chance of some world other than Caprica getting the Gate."
"They do realizing I'm trying to keep it fairly close to Caprica?" Alexander responded, drawing a smile from the diplomat.
"Yes, but the chance was enough for the Capricans to loosen some general trade restrictions and get around to repaying a few favors…"
"Okay, okay, more business and politics…please no more…" Alexander Harris sighed, waving him back. The diplomat smiled.
"You do realize that sooner or later you'll probably be in that world?" the diplomat smiled, shaking his head.
"Probably," the young man with millennia of memories conceded, "But until I can get my home situation in order, I'm really hoping to avoid it."
"Understandable, I suppose," the man replied, "And to be commended, even, but eventually you'll run out of people to delegate to…"
The Next Day
"Xander?" Willow called out, not yet seeing him on the balcony of their lodgings, "You here?"
"Out here, Wills!" he called into the house, continuing to lean on the stone railing. He smiled as she walked out and leaned into his side, liking the sound of comfort from her as he wrapped an arm around her snugly.
"I thought you'd be here, somewhere," she murmured with a smile, "Rough day?"
"Just getting things ready for heading home, and signing whatever Paul and his team need me to sign before we try for home," he quietly replied, reveling in the contact of holding her. He turned to embrace her fully against him, "How are things here? I miss anything?"
"Mm, not really, we're still doing all the Amazon exercises Joyce insists on, and we're practicing our healing and birthing related magics just in case."
"Good, 'cause nothing's gonna happen, and as weird as it will be for them, I want the whole family together again for when we all become one really, really, really big family."
"Yeah, that'll be nice," she agreed, "But I've been talking to Dawnie…"
"She plugging away at the Caprica idea?" he smiled, picturing Dawn-Patrol on full campaign.
"Yeah, and I think we might just do it," the red head nodded, looking thoughtful, "With our memories and skills, it seems the best place to raise our families, but not before the tech guys get the link home working. I don't wanna feel like we're abandoning 'em in Sunnydale. That wouldn't be fair."
"Yeah, know what ya mean," the young serious man responded, guiding her to a seat and pouring her some juice, "We're in the condition we are because we joined Buff and Giles against the vamps, so I wouldn't feel right unless we could make sure we can leave things right."
"Yeah," she said, scooting over to lean on him as they talked, "And Doyle told me to tell you the Capricans will be done with the first 'you-know-whats' by tonight, whatever that means."
"Just a surprise I'm hoping works out before we slide…"
"So, we goin' back soon?"
"Four days, the Professional Brains want us to hang on long enough for things to settle in, gear purchased and delivered…"
"They nervous?"
"A little, they're deciding to stay here and really do great work that will eventually benefit their worlds of origin, still feels off, but they still stand by their choices, and Bennish…"
"Which one?"
"Both, they just like submerging into the work and come up in comfort a couple hours a day."
Alexander awoke from a deep sleep by the sound of the phone ringing.
"Harris here…" he spoke into the phone.
"Al, this is O'Neill, we've just received word from our teams on ten of the worlds you visited, the Kromaggs have attacked…"
"What!" he shouted in response, "What about the Ishites?"
"Apparently we lucked out there, the three death gliders Bra'tac had us ship through the Gate blew up four transports and three manta ships, no survivors, and we're setting up batteries around our camps on others."
"Did you say ten…"
"Yeah, we had some down time, and decided to break in some new mixed teams, when ten of the fifteen are reporting contacts," O'Neill replied, sounding like he was hedging a bit.
"But…"
"Right now, a death glider, two vipers, and the Pacific Fleet forty miles west of San Francisco are in combat with what looks to be a dozen manta fighters, twenty manta ships with big guns, and another ten ships that make yours look like a bath toy."
"How we doing?" Alexander asked, hoping for some good news.
"We lost our superior-tech assets, and launched fighters are in close engagement, though we've lost three when they followed too close and disappeared behind their targets."
"You preparing to attack that base we discovered?"
"Giving it some thought…that's why I'm calling, any suggestions?"
"Not really, you're the fighters here, I've just brought them back to your doorstep…"
"None of that, we need you to focus, and we're sending transport over to pick you all up and get you ready for a quick slide home, just a bit early."
"Jack, I don't really want them foll—"
"Carter thinks if we send you through with parts and info, they won't have anything to trace, so we just open a portal to one of the ten that's safe, and you leave the timer when you jump home."
"That could work, thanks, but I don't feel right, I'll send the girls, and –"
"Sorry, kid, the President, Hammond and Council have made it clear you're to slide, we'd send you to Caprica, but don't want to risk interception between here and Colorado. And you need to be there for your family in case this lasts a while."
"Alright," Alexander replied, his need to protect his family winning out as he watched them come into the room, some bags packed already, "And I'm seeing the wives bringing in suitcases, so I'm guessing Joyce got a call?"
"Always call in the heavy air support, Al, just to make sure things go smoothly. The escort team to your first slide target should be pulling up outside any second now with al of the geared you'd requisitioned."
"Okay, and Jack? Thanks."
"Sure thing, just keep 'em safe…especially the little team members not here yet…"