Chapter 4

Jack had graduated from surly to utterly bored. Dinner with Daniel and Teal'c had devolved into a discussion on the finer points of cultural television viewing.

"Okay," Jack sighed, "let's go over it one more time."

Teal'c straightened and prepared his answer. "Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck are friends despite each other's attempts to inflict great harm by means of explosives and weapons."

"Correct," Jack confirmed. "It's that simple."

Teal'c frowned. "The two facts would seem to contradict one another, O'Neill. How is that entertaining? I consider you my friend, yet I do not wish to inflict harm on you as a means of personal enjoyment."

Daniel smiled. Teal'c had made a good point, but it was apparent Jack was having trouble getting the idea of cartoon entertainment across to the Jaffa. "Teal'c, it's like you and Jack boxing. You enjoy it as a sport; but to win, you have to punch Jack out, right?"

O'Neill shot a glance at Daniel. "Which he's never done," Jack said pointedly.

"Yet," Daniel retorted. He then went back to Teal'c. "So, in our culture, there are instances where we find it funny when cartoon characters use explosives to beat the bad guy."

"Deputy Dawg," Jack noted quickly.

"Don't complicate this, Jack," Daniel admonished with annoyance.

The frown on Teal'c's face deepened in further contemplation. "This may require further investigation."

Without another word, Teal'c stood from his seat and gave a slight bow in departure. Jack watched as the large man left the commissary. Daniel appeared confused.

"Since when did he start watching cartoons?"

Jack shrugged. "Since the soaps end at three and Bugs comes on Channel 27."

"And you had nothing to do with that?"

O'Neill struggled to answer without indicting himself. "I thought it would be a change of pace for him from All My Kids."

"He's watching soaps, too?" Daniel asked with incredulity.

"Hey, it beats the news networks," Jack said defensively.

Jack leaned forward and rested his chin in the palm of his hand. "I am so bored," he droned.

"Yeah," Daniel admitted. "It sure is quiet around here."

Looking to continue the conversation, Daniel said, "I talked to Sam yesterday."

Jack showed practically no emotion at all, yet inside he felt a stab of excitement at any news of Carter's life after the SGC. "Really? What's she up to these days?"

Daniel fiddled with his coffee mug, concentrating his fingers on the curve of the handle. "She took a temporary assignment out in California. Something to do with a new MALP design. Said she might even come back here to do some test runs through the gate."

O'Neill nodded. "That's terrific," he said quietly. "I'm glad it's working out for her."

Daniel hesitated, a silence forming, then said, "You would have known that if you'd just call her once in a while."

A surge of emotions swept through Jack. He tried to reel in the one that was the most diplomatic and decided on the sadness one. The anger he let abide, his mind reeling back to his earlier conversation with Hammond. "I don't think that would be such a good idea. I'm not going to make her feel guilty for leaving."

The archaeologist looked up at him. "Yeah, but maybe she needs to talk to you, Jack. I mean, she left because things got really rough for her. Everyone just let her go without a fight."

"It wasn't like we could force her to stay. She had a right to leave," he said as Hammond's words echoed in his mind.

"And it doesn't bother you how quickly that happened or how things have changed around here?"

"Daniel," Jack said with frustration, "this is the military. People come and go a lot. It's not like a dig where you stick around for years at a time until you find the rock you're looking for."

"So we just accept some paperwork and let the chips fall where they may?"

"If that's the way it all makes sense, then so be it."

"Jack, I'm not blaming you for Sam leaving," Daniel said, trying to ward off any hostility. "I know she chose to do that, but I just can't help feeling like we should have done more to be her friends. We owe her that much."

Jackson and O'Neill were paged over the base system to report to the briefing room. Daniel sat back, looking defeated at not having gotten his point across to O'Neill. Jack stood immediately, savoring the respite the page brought. It meant he would not have to pursue the topic any further with Daniel. The page meant business, and any business at that point was a good thing. The timing could not have been more perfect on a number of levels. Presently, it allowed an escape from the heavy conversation that was developing with Daniel.

The two traveled through the corridors, Daniel making small talk in lieu of continuing the conversation in the commissary. They took an elevator and made a series of turns until they were at the briefing room. Major General George Hammond, commanding officer of Stargate Command was seated at the head of the conference table. The Pentagon's liaison officer to the SGC, Major Davis, flanked him on the left, followed by Teal'c. Davis stood at attention when O'Neill approached, and the two exchanged a courteous nod.

"Davis, long time, no see," Jack said warmly.

"We've been busy at the Big House, sir. It's always a pleasure to make it back here, though," he said, sitting back down in his chair.

Jack took a seat on Hammond's right, and Daniel followed suit to Jack's left. "So, what's up?"

Hammond pushed manila folders toward Jack and Daniel. "Clearance issues, Colonel. As you may know, Major Carter has taken a temporary assignment to assist in a new MALP design. In order to complete the final testing stages, the MALP will need to go through the gate for structural integrity tests. Major Carter will be assigned to oversee that portion of the project."

"And what – the Pentagon is afraid she's forgotten her way around the SGC?"

Davis sighed. "Quite the contrary, sir. The fact is, Major Carter knows her way too well around the facility to be unescorted. She's assisting a civilian contractor who is overseeing the construction of the MALP and other equipment. The Pentagon is concerned that there's the potential for a security breech."

"Oh, c'mon," Jack argued, "we're talking about Carter here." He turned to Hammond. "Sir, this is nuts. There's no way Carter would compromise the SGC."

Hammond nodded and raised his hand slightly to tell Jack to relax. "Colonel, I don't honestly think that Major Carter is the issue here. It's her new boss that has the Pentagon's attention."

O'Neill looked down at the folder in front of him. Inside was the file for one Rachel Dekker, former Air Force officer and research team leader. Jack studied the picture a moment, noticing the distinct eyes and face that were sharp and intense. "Wow," he said.

"'Wow' is right, sir," Davis confirmed. "Rachel Dekker is tops in her field and then some. She's ex-Air Force and she's basically built a defense industry empire off the SGC. She's the reason the Pentagon is taking notice."

Daniel slid the picture out of his folder and held it up for a closer look. "So, what does all this have to do with Sam?"

Hammond opened another folder. "Major Carter and Doctor Dekker were assigned to the same research team at the Pentagon before the major joined the Stargate program, so they've known one another for quite a while. Doctor Dekker made several attempts to inquire about Major Carter's status here at the SGC, specifically after significant incidents."

Jack was intrigued. "Significant incidents? Can we be a little more, erm, specific, sir?"

Davis pushed what appeared to be a simple log sheet over to O'Neill. "These are dates of inquiry about Major Carter that were sent through various channels at the Pentagon. The inquiries pertained to medical status, psychological reviews and security clearances. All the inquiries coincide with reports filed concerning activities that directly impacted Major Carter's status at the SGC."

"Like?" Jack had a decent idea of where Davis was going with the explanation. It was hard to imagine the activities being benign ones. Things that concerned Carter had been generally significant and life-altering.

Hammond sat back in his chair. "Her experience with Jolinar was the first incident that received such an inquiry. Her father's capture, the fact that she was forced to kill Martouf – there are a dozen more events just like those that coincide with a request for status on Major Carter. The two most recent events were triggered by reports filed for the missions to P3X-324 and Beman."

Daniel looked concerned. "Why would someone keep tabs on Sam's bad days?"

"That's what the Pentagon and I would like to know, Doctor," Hammond answered.

Daniel looked through the report in front of him, skimming over Rachel Dekker's profile. "And we think Doctor Dekker is doing this for reason less than honest?"

Davis nodded. "We're pretty sure it has something to do with bringing Major Carter onto Prime Power's payroll."

"Prime Power?" Jack asked.

"That's Dekker's company and the same one that builds the MALPS. Prime is practically the sole contractor for the research equipment we use," Davis explained. "Because the Stargate program technically doesn't exist, the list of defense contractors used for equipment development is a very short one. Prime is at the top of the list with virtually no competition."

Daniel grimaced. "Gives a whole new meaning to 'all your eggs in one basket', doesn't it?"

"Unfortunately," Davis said, "that's the way it has to be. Mathematically speaking, whoever can develop the most stuff with the least amount of money in the shortest amount of time will win the contract. Prime blew the competition away hands down."

Jack continued to leaf through Dekker's profile. "So, how does Prime manage to get such a leg up on the other guys?"

"They're in-house everything," Davis continued. "Software, sims, equipment, manufacturing – Prime does it all. For a long time, we've suspected that Dekker had friends in high places who gave her a head's up on upcoming projects, but we could never pinpoint the sources. Right now, we're closer to finding that answer now that Major Carter has become involved."

It took a moment for the implication to dawn on Jack. When it finally hit home, he found the idea ludicrous. "Wait a minute – you want Carter to spy for you?"

Hammond closed the folder in front of him. "Jack, the security of this program and this base is the number one priority of the Pentagon. Rachel Dekker is potentially compromising that by networking information. The Pentagon feels, and I agree with them, that we should use any and every resource we have to ensure the integrity of the SGC."

O'Neill struggled to maintain his control. "Sir, with all due respect, using Carter as a mule a little over the top."

Teal'c stirred, looking contemplative. "I believe General Hammond may be right, O'Neill. Major Carter is trustworthy and may be a valuable asset to the investigation."

Jack shook his head in frustration, although he knew Teal'c was right.

"It's an unfortunate but necessary step, Colonel," Hammond countered. "Up to this point, this investigation hasn't had this good an opportunity to shore up the leaks surrounding the program."

"I understand that, sir, but I don't like it. It's using Carter."

Davis shrugged slightly. "That's pretty much the idea, Colonel. The Pentagon feels that Major Carter is solid, and we think she'll be willing to cooperate with us to plug these leaks before they can do serious damage to national security."

Daniel removed his glasses and set them gently on the table. "Yeah, but have you taken into consideration her relationship to Rachel Dekker? I mean, what if you were asked to spy on your friend? How objective could you be?"

Davis gave a sardonic smile. "We're aware that her friendship with Doctor Dekker is a wild card. We have no idea how that will play into this. However, my bosses seem to think it's an acceptable risk. Personally, sirs, I'm very confident that Major Carter will help us out here."

Jack could easily see the point of view of the Pentagon, but he also felt protective of his former 2IC. If Dekker was such a liability, why not shut her out of the picture completely and save the hassle of information leaks? O'Neill felt a pang of apprehension worming its way around his head. His instincts told him there was more to the story, though he doubted Davis would answer any questions with a straightforward approach. He decided to press the issue anyway.

"Why don't you guys just stop doing business with Prime and Dekker and everyone there?" Jack asked. "What's Dekker got that has you guys willing to play the cloak and dagger games?"

Davis adjusted his position in his chair. "Frankly, sir, it's not what we know. It's what we don't know that has us concerned. Security at Prime makes the SGC look like a walkthrough. We haven't been able to get anyone on the inside to find out what's been going on. Dekker picks her people personally, and only after extensive screening. In the research world, you don't apply to work at Prime. It comes looking for you."

"So, it's entirely possible that you'd be asking Carter to stick her neck out for something that isn't there, correct?" Jack tested.

"It's a possibility, yes, sir," Davis admitted. "However, we have enough substantiating evidence to believe that there's probably a lot more on the inside that could damage the program and make it public knowledge."

Daniel poked at the arm of his glasses in contemplation. "Like a giant cashflow to investors?"

"Or the lack of one, yes," Davis confirmed. "There's also the potential for technology to be prematurely released into industry. I don't think I have to list the other items that could be hazardous."

Hammond furrowed his brow. "Major, who else knows about Major Carter's affiliation to Dekker and Prime?"

"All the first stringers, sir. NID, NIS, CIA, NSA. If it has three letters, you can bet they're aware."

Davis looked at O'Neill, who was stretching his neck over the back of the chair. "Colonel, the Pentagon isn't asking you to lie, cheat or steal."

O'Neill sat up straight again. "Well, that's so comforting. Then what exactly do they want?"

"To put it simply, sir, don't stand in our way. Help us convince Major Carter of the importance of her role in this investigation."

Daniel grunted. "And friendships be damned?"

"If that's what it takes, Doctor Jackson," Davis replied. "I know that's not the answer you want to hear, but that's the platform we're operating on at the moment. The Pentagon feels that this situation is that critical."

Hammond paused a moment. The tension in the room was thick, hanging there like a fog. Then said calmly, "Gentlemen, I can't order you to cooperate in the investigation. However, nothing I have read or been told indicates that this is a witch hunt. The Pentagon's investigation into Prime Power is warranted, and I'm asking you to do what you can to see it through."

O'Neill glanced at Davis. "I don't suppose I have any time to think this over?"

The major's demeanor could not have been more sympathetic. "Unfortunately, no, sir. The clock is ticking with Major Carter already in California. They'll be arranging to come to the SGC for the tests within two weeks. We need to have at least our foot in the door by then."

Jack rubbed at his eyes with a thumb and forefinger, pinching the bridge of his nose in agitation. Davis and Hammond had left him with little choice. His mind played through the various angles of participating in the investigation. The conclusion was simple – the SGC had to remain secure from both public knowledge and from outside attacks. Davis was right, and O'Neill knew it. There were no other viable options but to be a part of the vanguard against Prime Power, if it was necessary at all. If Carter were to become a casualty of that defense without him being on board, then her fate would be out of his hands.

He looked at Daniel, who seemed less than eager to jump into the fray. He appeared to be deferring to Jack's better judgment. The act was neither comforting nor eliciting a feeling of confidence. The only comforting notion Jack could muster was that he, Daniel and Teal'c would be on the inside track of the investigation. If it were at all possible, they would be able to protect Carter from the political and military dogs pushing the paper that kept the SGC running.

Jack nodded solemnly. "Tell me what to do."