Chapter 11

General Hammond raised a fist and knocked twice on the door.

"Yes, what is it now?" a muffled voice replied. Hammond knocked again.

"Come in!" Maybourne's impatience was clear eventhrough the heavy panels.

Silently, he opened the door then let it click shut. Behind the desk, Maybourne kept writing. Hammond watched, a dozen scenarios of revenge running through his mind. Everyone one of them would get him locked up for life.

"I told you I didn't want to be disturbed or I'll never get this finished! Apparently you can't follow-"

"Sorry to interrupt, Colonel."

Maybourne's head jerked up, his mouth open at the general's deep voice. It was a long moment before he recovered.

"Well, well. What a pleasant surprise, General," he said warily. "Can't imagine why you came all the way down here to the NID to see me…or how."

"Oh, I have my ways of getting things done, Colonel," Hammond replied, taking a seat in the chair opposite the desk. He'd left a trail of irate supervisors and lower-ranking officials from the front door of the NID clear to the guards at this floor's elevator. "I very much wanted to see you."

Elbows on the armrests, he linked his fingers across his belly and stretched out his legs. Hammond wondered how many bugs there were in the office. That the clock to his left, on the shelf facing him, was at an odd angle since Maybourne could not see it. It's center looked about the right size for a low-tech camera. He smiled, his eyes narrowing.

"I regret we missed seeing each other during your last visit to Colorado Springs," Hammond continued casually.

Maybourne watched him, wondering what the general was up to. He'd not counted on Hammond appearing in his office. "Yes, well, it was an interesting visit, none the less."

Hammond nodded his head. "So I heard. I believe you ran into a close friend of mine?" he asked pleasantly.

The colonel sat back in his seat. Surely Hammond wasn't stupid enough to pull anything right in the middle of NID HQ. But, really, what could the general to do? Hammond's hands were tied. Talking with a person, even if she were the general's girlfriend, was not a crime. The general was just blowing hot air. He smiled. No need to deny anything if Hammond knew about it. "Yes, seems I did at that."

Hammond's expression dimmed a shade. "Yes…?"

A show of rank, Maybourne thought with a smirk. Let him have it. The general was harmless- he sent O'Neil to do all the hard work and sat at his desk all day getting fat and writing his memoirs or planning a novel about little green men.

"Yes, sir."

His point made, Hammond nodded and cocked his head to one side. "I was in town to see- well, it's not really important who- and thought I'd take the opportunity to come by and congratulate you in person on your new assignment."

Hammond's smile was more of a grin now- that of a predator…and Maybourne was the prey.

"New assignment?" Maybourne asked, caught off guard. He suddenly realized he had greatly underestimated General George Hammond- a serious error. "I haven't heard … I'm sure you're mistaken, General."

"Oh, no, no mistake! Orders just came down. Volunteered to run them over myself."

Maybourne said nothing. This was not as he'd planned.

Giving Maybourne a chance to squirm, Hammond glanced around the office and paused on the ugly, plastic flowers at the desk's edge. He'd bet his snakeskin boots there was a microphone in it. He pursed his lips, disappointed. Harry could do better than that, surely.

Leaning closer to the fake flowers, he shifted in his seat and raised his voice a bit. "You know, Colonel, your reputation has spread far in the Air Force- and beyond! We want to make sure your skills are put to good use and your years of service are rewarded."

On the file cabinet to his right, there was a black notebook leaning against the wall. He peered at it closely. Damned if the patch wasn't visible- another camera. Hammond covered his laugh with a cough.

"We?" Maybourne asked.

"Yes, we," Hammond said, slowly pulling a paper from his jacket pocket. With more satisfaction than he'd felt for quite some time, he continued slowly. "Colonel, I'm sure you will be pleased to learn that you are now under my command."

Maybourne paled as Hammond slid the paper across the desk. He leaned forward. His name was at the top of the sheet- orders, signed by the Air Force Chief of Staff. At the bottom was the signature of the President.

"Welcome to SGC, Colonel," Hammond said, unashamedly enjoying the moment, his grin as wide as the Texas horizon.

For a long moment, there was silence in the office.

Maybourne leaned his arms on the desk, considering. "I'm not certain SGC fits with my career plans, sir."

Hammond nodded.

"I know exactly what you mean, Colonel. In fact, we suspected you might rather choose to retire," he said in his best counseling voice. He reached in his pocket for more papers. "Just in case, we have everything all ready to save you time."

Maybourne's mouth was open again.

Hammond reached past the plastic flowers and placed the retirement request forms beside the orders.

"I hope you don't choose to retire, Colonel, because I'm very much looking forward to having you under my authority." Hammond glanced at his watch. If he got away from DC by early afternoon, he could still catch Kathryn before she left work.

Maybourne drew a breath but did not speak.

"Got a special job all picked out for you," Hammond said.

Maybourne sat back in his chair. He wondered just how much of Jack O'Neil's maneuvering against him had actually been Hammond's doing.

Harmless, indeed!

"Well done, General," he said softly in admiration.

"Thank you. Do you need a pen?" Hammond asked, reaching into his jacket.

Maybourne smiled and picked up the pen on his desk. He studied the two papers, and then pushed the orders aside.

"Sign at the red tabs, initial at the green ones, Colonel."

Maybourne signed his name and initials in several places then lay down his pen. Hammond picked them up and flipped quickly through the papers.

"You missed one." The general folded the top sheets under the last page and placed it back on the desk. "I'm sure you understand the importance of a non-disclosure statement. It'd be a tragedy if someone lost their life due to a loose tongue."

Maybourne scratched his name at the bottom then shoved them across the desk. Hammond checked his signature.

"Colonel!" Hammond called over his shoulder as he stood.

The door opened and Jack O'Neil stepped inside, looking very confused. Hammond stood. "Please ask General Herrick to join us."

O'Neil cast a quick glance at Harry then stuck his head out the door. A moment later, a Brigadier General came in.

"General Herrick, this is Colonel Harry Maybourne. Instead of accepting his new assignment with SGC-" Hammond nearly laughed at the look on Jack's face- "he has opted for retirement, effective immediately."

Hammond gave General Herrick the papers Maybourne had just signed. He reached over and picked up the orders- damned if he wasn't going to have it framed! "Colonel Maybourne, the general is here at the request of the Air Force Chief of Staff to personally make sure everything goes smoothly. Colonel O'Neil, with my NCOIC, is here to assist you in clearing out your office."

"How thoughtful," Maybourne replied sarcastically.

"I'm just a nice guy, Harry." O'Neil answered, shrugging. "What can I say, other than have a nice life?"

Hammond faced Maybourne. "Mr. Maybourne, I would suggest you carefully consider your options. Some will be less wise than others."

"I imagine so," Maybourne answered dryly, "under the circumstances."

"You would find Colorado Springs not to your liking," Hammond continued, walking toward the door. "People there can be downright unfriendly."

"Understood, General." Maybourne cleared his throat. "And, sir… my apologies to you and Doctor Freeman."

Hammond did not tust himself to reply. When he reached the door, Maybourne spoke again.

"General, one more thing- don't hesitate to call if I can be of service. We still have a common enemy, sir."

After a moment, Hammond nodded, then stepped out into the hallway to CMSgt Juarez's side. O'Neil joined them.

"General, you mean Harry was assigned to us?" Jack asked, incredulous. His expression changed to one of awe. "Sir, did you make that happen?"

"I'll tell you all about it later. For now, I want you to get that office cleaned out and get it to Andrews and on a plane to the mountain by dark."

"Will do, sir. We're ready." Juarez patted the boxes marked 'Property of the United States Air Force' that were stacked in the hallway, then motioned to the waiting Marines. They each took a box and entered Maybourne's office.

"Be careful- the office is infested."

O'Neil grinned. "Should be interesting!"

"It will be, at that. Bring that ugly plant on the desk back, too. It'll be good for a laugh."

"Sir?"

"You'll see." Hammond looked at the shoebox Juarez was holding. "What's that for, Chief?"

Hector Juarez smiled slyly. "The colonel's personal effects, sir."

Hammond laughed. "I've got to make two meetings then catch a plane. Thank you, gentlemen. I"ll see you back at the mountain."

One problem solved and one more to go, Hammond thought as he strode briskly down the corridor. With all his heart, he hoped Kathryn would only listen to him.