Chief sat idly in one of Cheyenne's specialized VIP rooms, awaiting the word from either the general or his new CO. It was going to be interesting, having to answer to a singular Earth military for a while, especially since he and Cortana had basically just aligned themselves with the SGC. It was out of necessity, Chief felt the need to remind himself. The moment he could go back home with Cortana, they would. Still, it seemed as though the Goa'uld and their slave troops, the Jaffa, were the biggest problem that the SGC was facing currently. He had the files Cortana had pulled out and was slowly working through to give him a summary, as well as one folder with data regarding their work here as given by the general.

It was interesting and concerning to say the least. Aside from the Stargate Program and the Goa'uld never existing in the first place, at least from his recollection of early 2000's declassified programs, there was the factor of the Gate being the first item they used to make contact with other planets and subsequent human populations. Cortana had a right feeling about the Goa'uld too, they were very much like the Covenant, except in one regard. They didn't act as Prophets for a Great Journey. They acted as the Gods themselves for enslaved human populations. Enslaved Jaffa.

He heard the door open and looked up, closing the folder. Approaching him was Teal'c, the Jaffa turned soldier for the SGC. Chief stood up, hearing the groan of the heavily-reinforced bedframe as his weight was removed from it. The man before him was strong, well-built and resembling a Spartan in every regard except the gene engineering and the fact he had a symbiote from a Goa'uld in him. John tensed.

"Master Chief is what we should call you, correct?" The man had a face like it was carved from stone.

Chief nodded, "Yeah."

"You have my thanks for ensuring our safe return." Teal'c added, as blank a stare as he could give, while extending his hand. Reluctantly, the Spartan extended his hand too, to which the Jaffa grabbed him by the forearm and nodded. The Spartan nodded back and their little special handshake was over. Teal'c continued, "I understand you are in the same situation as I was upon my first arrival and that general Hammond assigned you to SG-1."

"Yeah. He figured it best to keep me around and under watch, understandably enough." The Spartan responded, "I never expected him to assign me to one of his teams, though."

"General Hammond makes decisions generally based in facts. I trust he elected to bring you into the fold of SG-1 for that same reasoning. Your armaments will be returned shortly, should you wish for them." Teal'c explained, then he stopped and raised a brow, "May I inquire something?"

Chief nodded, "Depends on if I can answer it right now. But go ahead."

"You spoke of saving Earth. I would presume not this one, since we are currently as safe as the Stargate allows us to be."

"Have experience with the fact?" Chief raised a brow. Teal'c nodded

"Indeed." He spoke, "We have had two experiences of extradimensional travelers, though some of the details of it elude me, to some degree. I believe major Carter would be best fit to tell you about the device utilized for such visits." and he stepped toward the door. He looked over to the Spartan yet again, then said "Once more, you have my thanks for ensuring our safety. We shall hopefully meet again soon, when our next mission comes."

John nodded to Teal'c, sitting himself back down on the reinforced bed as the Jaffa stepped out, finally easing himself after the alien had left with its host. He held some regard for Teal'c, considering the poor bastard was hauling a Goa'uld larva in him, but he also harbored some concern regarding him and his symbiote. If that thing was really... Eh, he squelched the thoughts.

"Extradimensional? Now, that I gotta see..." Cortana finally piped up, "Major's probably going to want to talk to us next, then the colonel and probably doc Jackson. Let's keep playing nice."

"Mhm." He responded, mind wandering.

"This place grows more and more interesting by the day." The AI remarked.

"Cortana." Chief remembered something.

"Hmm?"

"Rampancy?"

The AI's face appeared yet again on a window on Chief's HUD. She was smiling, "Done and dusted, apparently. Whatever occurred aboard the Mantle's Approach fixed it. I know it may seem too good to be true, John, but I ran several diagnostics upon our arrival through the Stargate, whilst also analyzing data. That's the way I found out most of my runtime is back. A small bit is now devoted to the rest of the SGC's archive, while the rest is just basic diagnostics again."

He wanted to be happy, hearing that, especially after the amount of times she'd split herself, but something still felt off.

"Don't worry, John... It's me."

"I know."

He knew it was her. She acted unchanged now. Except for those little bits of fluttering John felt in his mind while the AI was working, she was Cortana. He was glad to have her back to 100% and able to work. It just brought the question of how. How they wound up on that planet, how she wound up fixed after the Composer blew and how they were still alive and... In another dimension nonetheless.

"We both want some answers... Wanna ask the general and colonel if we can pop by that planet again?" She suggested, "Maybe we'll find something to hint at our drop-off."

He nodded, then stood up again as the door opened. The blonde-haired genius known as Samantha Carter stepped inside, a smile on her face. Chief did not resist the urge to salute this time, snapping a clean, crisp salute. The woman saluted back promptly, then said "At ease, Chief, you don't need to do that for me. Colonel's probably gonna say the same when he comes by."

"Understood, ma'am." Chief nodded, posture still ramrod straight.

"I must say, it's quite amazing to stand face-to-face with yet another interdimensional traveler. In the past, we met ourselves from two separate realms here in the SGC, plus some friends we thought lost along the way." The girl started, sitting herself down on one of the two reinforced chairs by the table. She motioned to the chair opposite of her, then added, rather warmly, "I never thought I'd see the day we'd have titanium-reinforced chair and bedframes in the base. That armor never comes off, does it?"

"No, ma'am." Chief answered, sitting himself down on the chair opposite of her.

"Right." She hummed, then set a pen and clipboard with paper down on the table, "Don't mind me asking some questions, do you? I've... Got to formulate some idea of where you're from, even if you can't tell us everything."

Chief nodded, "Go ahead."

"Okay..." Carter breathed in, then exhaled, "First things first, Chief, I have questions regarding the defense of your Earth. What kind of threats does your version of humanity face that it warranted such a... Heavy set of armor. What's that, reinforced Steel, tungsten... Titanium?"

"Classified." Chief responded.

"Ah," Carter paused, "Alright... So...?"

"An alien ship had entered orbit above Earth. The defense fleet couldn't do much to scratch it and so they sent me in."

"Just you, Chief? When your Earth has an entire warfleet?" The woman raised a brow, "That's... uh..."

"It was an ancient warship. Heavily shielded, armed with a weapon that was powerful enough to wipe an entire city." Chief explained, "They gave me a way in so I could destroy it from the inside, with a Nuke. Otherwise, it was almost unbeatable"

"Huh..." Carter stared on, both dumbfound and attentive with writing the information, "And... What year did this take place in, in your universe? 1999, 2000, 2001?"

"2557."

"Wow, okay, that's..." Carter paused again, trying to compose herself as her eyes grew wide, "It's incredible. We've had travelers through the Mirror before, but never someone who travelled through time as well. This must be some new device we've yet to discover." and she looked to him again, "This could be the biggest ancient technological finding yet... Chief, are you sure?"

He nodded. Carter's surprise turned into determination.

"... We should probably suggest a mission back to P3X-991, then. If there's some sort of artifact or device we missed, we could find out exactly what happened." Carter started, then paused, "But wait, the Goa'uld presence there... That would be considered a danger unless we went in with an extra SG team..." and she looked upon Chief yet again, "I'll... have to make some calculations about this, if you'll give me some time, Chief. Maybe, tell colonel O'Neill about this, see if he can't get us a mission back to the planet."

"Of course, ma'am." He answered calmly. She nodded, stood up and bid goodbye to the Chief and left the room.

"I like her." Cortana quipped, "Smart and driven."

"Remind you of anyone?" Chief quipped, leaning forward.

"Aww. Thanks, John." Cortana smiled wryly.

He hummed, listening in as another pair of boots walked to the door and a hand turned the knob a few minutes later. The Spartan stood up and watched the glasses-wearing young man walk in, with the colonel at the door. The latter waved at the Chief, then said "Hey there." to which the Spartan saluted again. O'Neill rolled his eyes, then murmured, "For cryin' out-loud... At ease." and he saluted too, quickly.

"Chief, it's uh... Nice to finally meet you in person." Daniel started, "I'm doctor Daniel Jackson."

"And you met me already, Jack O'Neill, colonel, hi." Jack nodded, approaching him.

"Huh. Both of them came for a visit together... Color me surprised." Cortana murmured.

"I do think Carter asked all the questions she could've asked out of you, considering the whole 'classified' shtick. She told us a few things as well, including the time you came from and the alien ship thing." The colonel began explaining, "And I understand that general Hammond put you on my team for the time being, just to keep you out of the hands of the Pentagon. I presume it's because of your armor and the rest of your kit, so I won't ask. What I do wanna ask is the name of your faction."

"Sir?" The Spartan raised a brow.

"Yeah. We need some kind of name to help... Confirm one of Carter's other theories. Ya mind?" He raised a brow.

"Sir, no, sir. I'm from the UNSC. United Nations Space Command, military arm of the United Earth Government." He responded promptly.

Daniel looked at the Chief, then asked "The Earth unified in your world?"

"Yeah. Purposes of defense and ensuring human unity, if I recall correctly. We had another World War beforehand and we fought against two insurrection movements in the Sol System. Neo-Communist and Neo-Fascist upstarts who based themselves in the Jovian Moons and the Rainforests. The latter were the site of the eponymous Rainforest Wars, between the UN, the Koslovics or neo-communists and the Frieden, the Fascists."

"Huh..." Jack looked to the processing Daniel, "Whaddaya make of that one?"

"I'm... Amazed, honestly. Two 20th-century hardline extremist ideologies reborn and fighting against each-other and a democratic one in the 22nd Century? It's... It's as if World War II was replayed with advancements in technology that could outright lead to the death of mankind. That and no alliance between the pseudo-Allies and the Communists..." Daniel responded, "And to think it caused the UN to... Well, become a genuine federation of sorts?"

"It's interesting, I'll give it that." Jack remarked, crossing his arms, "Listen, Chief. Carter stopped me and told me she'd wanna pop on by P3X-991 again, to see if we can find whatever threw you on it. I agree, but there's the matter of the Goa'uld folk there. Since you're part of my team, I figure I should ask if you're up for the job of going through the Gate again."

"If it means getting info about possibly returning home..." John nodded.

"Alright, good... I'll have your guns sent to your room so you can uh... Do whatever you wanna do with'em. Preventative maintenance and whatnot. If you need ammo for them, I'll toss a req form your way as well, considering that you're using 7,62 NATO standard for the Rifle." Jack nodded, "And I'll go talk to Hammond, see if I can't get him to send us out to the planet."

"Sir." John nodded, "Thanks, sir."

"Alright." Jack patted John on the shoulder and felt the pinprick of electricity from his armor, "Ouch. See you in the Gate Room, Chief. Daniel, c'mon."

"But, Jack, I didn't get to-"

"C'mon. Let's let the big guy get his bearings... You can ask whatever you want when we're gonna be on the planet." Jack responded. Daniel, although seemingly disappointed by his CO's interference, nodded. The two bid quick goodbyes to the Chief, leaving him alone for the time being. Within the hour, the Spartans weapons had been delivered to the room and John was already disassembling and cleaning them thoroughly.

"So, what have you made of our new addition to the ranks?" Hammond asked the members of SG-1, all of whom were with him in his office.

O'Neill stepped up first and said "Sir, the Chief seems to be as confused as the rest of us in regards to his arrival here."

"Indeed." Teal'c nodded, "He seems to be lost."

"And what he told us about his world and time... It's strange. The United Nations Space Command and UEG... It's inspiring, if not frightening to think about." Daniel was next to speak.

"But I think he's leaving several details out." Carter voiced as a follow-up, "Which is understandable, he doesn't really trust us yet."

"I see..." Hammond sighed, "I let the people at the Pentagon know about him, orders from up above, but the President agreed with my decision to keep him with SG-1 for the time being. The UNSC, his people. If they show up to find the man, we are to open immediate talks with them. If they are indeed humans from an alternate universe, perhaps one where the Stargate was never discovered, or never made, then we can only assume they advanced to explore space through different means than ours and thus, that they're slightly more advanced in the shipbuilding factor."

"With that in mind," The General continued, "I am reviewing your suggestion of deploying back onto P3X-991 for the sake of discovering what exactly sent the Chief tumbling into our universe and time. For the time being, I'm not sure how safe it is to send an entire team over through, especially with a newly-recovered asset. Have we had him checked for any possible Goa'uld symbiote or other such issues?"

"I couldn't sense him as a host, sir." Carter responded. "If anything, he seemed quite the opposite. Fully human."

"If a seven-foot-tall soldier in armor heavy enough to be like that of a tank's can be considered human." Jack remarked, grinning, "I think he'll be good for the team for... As long as he hangs around."

"Major Carter is right. The Master Chief shows no signs of bearing a symbiote. We would have felt it." Teal'c joined in, "And yes, I believe so too, O'Neill. He would be of great assistance to us in combat. One added weapon would reduce the risk of our second visit to the planet ahead, if not others as well. The Goa'uld presence on P3X-991 will probably be on alert..."

"We can also take SG-10 if need be, sir. They'll be carrying enough armament to keep the Gate secure while we go snooping around." Jack finished off, "Hopefully, we find what got the Chief to jump universes... Speaking of..." He looked to Daniel and Carter, "Haven't you two tried to figure out if it was that Mirror thing? The one we've had two encounters from already?"

"We've been running the numbers, colonel and..." Carter shrugged, "It can only transport us across dimensions. At least, so far, that's what it did. Never once were we sent back in time by it, or has it sent anyone back in time to us. Plus, travel through it is highly based on location, meaning Chief should've dropped in Area 51... That and it needs the remote to work, so... Maybe, this means we can discover some new technology?"

"It also means it can't have been the mirror..." Jack sighed, then asked rhetorically "Well, who said things are ever gonna be easy for us?"

"Very well." The general nodded, "One of you can tell the Chief that the mission is a-go. Briefing is tomorrow morning at 1100 hours. Dismissed."

The team left the office in a calm and orderly fashion, while the General stood there, pondering the next best course of action. The Chief had come from an alternate reality and defended his team. He offered his rifle in exchange for the chance of going home. He had to respect the man's desires to go home, of course. Any human would wanna return to their reality if they found out the kind of mess they were in.

He sighed, arranging his uniform and picking up the phone just as it rang. The Pentagon and Area 51 were gonna be on his ass about this the rest of the Chief's stay in the Cheyenne base, about wanting to see the armor, the kit and weaponry. The assault rifle and pistol the Chief had used standard Earth ammo to some degree. Gunpowder, high-caliber bullets and such.

Still, some of the advanced computing on the weapons, including the more-than-rudimentary computer showing ammo count and the compass were interesting enough to warrant study. Some of the processing power in those chips severely outdid any computer chip built even by Raytheon and other major stakes in the electronics and military industries.

He sighed as he listened in on the words of a CO from Area 51, citing a few reports and clarifying the Chief was already part of a strike team before the phone was hung up by the guy from the base. He rolled his eyes, going onto paperwork to sign the Chief up officially into the SGC's roster and assign him into SG-1. Provided, the man would need to sign the assignment papers, but officially, the Chief was an SG-1 member, through and through. He was also one of Hammond's men now and may he be damned if he was gonna give one of their own, even under threat...

... The next day had been an activity-filled one. SG-1 had assembled, geared and ready to go, at exactly 1100 hours as per request. The last one to arrive in the briefing room was the Chief himself. Entering the room, the Spartan now had both of his firearms attached to his armor via magnetic locking systems that Carter seemed all the more intent on studying when they returned, provided he agreed.

The man was an imposing figure in the heavy armor alone. The firearms added to it severely, at least so Hammond could tell from the reactions of SG-10. The briefing began when the General said "Everyone, please be seated." and turned to Jack, "As SG-1 already knows and has, hopefully, filled SG-10 in, you will be deploying to P3X-991 on a scouting mission. I have also set up the objectives for this operation. Your main objective will be to provide intelligence regarding to Goa'uld troop disposition in the area. Secondary objectives include the discovery and perhaps the acquirement of the technology used to bring the newest member of SG-1 into the fold on the alien planet."

The general looked around and said "We can also be sure that the Goa'uld have already formed a perimeter around the Stargate, expecting you to try and go through again. That is the reason we will be also be deploying some form of countermeasure, smoke grenades and fragmentation grenades, to assist in your entrance. If the situation turns too hot, your direct orders are a full withdrawal through the Stargate as soon as possible."

"We got enough smokes, sir?" The Colonel asked.

Hammond nodded, "We will be launching them through the gate here. M203 grenades will be used. SG-10 will provide."

"We got enough of them, colonel." The major leading SG-10 noted, smiling, "Our grenadiers are more than keen to launch a few already."

"Thanks." Jack quipped, "Well, it's settled, then. Looks like we're going in a little hot, Chief."

"Not a problem, sir." The Spartan nodded.

"We'll leave a delay of ten seconds between the launch of the grenades and you going through the gate, colonel." Hammond explained, "To ensure maximum smoke dissipation and allow you to safely travel through without the risk of the 40-mike fragmentation going off at the wrong time." as the Spartan sat there, pondering certain ideas. He hummed as his thoughts went to the safety of the team.

"Sir, permission to take point." Chief remarked.

The colonel looked to him and raised a brow "Why're you offering yourself up, Chief?"

"My armor has shields, sir. I can take at least one shot from the Goa'uld's weapons if any of'em live to fire at us when we're through." The Spartan explained.

Carter looked to him, "You didn't mention the shields."

"Ma'am, you didn't ask and, with all due respect, there's a lot of things I won't mention just yet. This is out of necessity, since I figure the less risk posed to your strike teams, the better chance of us getting out of there alive." The Spartan explained. The crew exchanged a few looks as the Chief pondered his own reasoning for throwing himself in the line of fire to save unknowns. They were human, they were trying to help him as well and they were fighting an alien race hell-bent on enslaving them all.

That was reason enough for him.

Jack sighed, then said "Alright, but let the record show I don't like sending our newest recruit into the grinder first."

"That's it, then. Everyone, to the embarkation room." Hammond ordered. He called out "Chief, stay for a minute."

The Spartan turned to face the general just as the rest of the teams piled out. The general placed a hand on the Chief's shoulders, seeing his hair stand on-end from the energy coursing through it. The shield, the man assumed. He shook off the feeling, then said "Are you sure you want to risk yourself? You are part of the SGC as much as the rest of them right now, son. And we'd hate to lose a new recruit over a mistake."

Chief didn't even think, he simply spoke "I'm sure, sir."

Hammond smiled at the boy, then patted him on the shoulder and said "Alright, then. Go join the others, Chief. And do make sure to come back alive, too."

"Yessir." The Spartan nodded, before stepping off and descending via stairwell and walking through the open bulkhead doors into the embarkation chamber. He caught sight of two infantrymen wielding M16 assault rifles with the M203 underbarrel grenade launchers already firing their payload into the blue vortex. Six smoke grenades, three each, followed by 6 more frag grenades with a timed-by-flight fuse.

Chief joined SG-1 in the lineup as the gate's central vortex whirred, with Jack looking to him and asking "You sure about the pointman thing, Chief? We can duck and weave out of the line of fire if need be."

He nodded again, "The General asked me the same thing, sir. I'm okay."

"Well, alright then." Jack nodded, before checking his wristwatch. "5... 4... 3... 2..."

"Godspeed, SG-1 and SG-10. Be careful." The general said through the intercom.

"1 and 0." O'Neill nodded, "Lead the way, Chief."

John stared at the Vortex as he stepped onto the metal platform, which had been newly-repaired. His thoughts drifted to home for a moment as he drew his MA5. Cortana appeared and said "Here we go again." with a smile on her face. Chief didn't share her enthusiasm, sighing deeply. He took to a running pace, hearing the boots following behind him just as he entered, head-first, into the wormhole, feeling his entire body 'vanish', dematerialize.

... Once more unto the breach, it was.