Summary: Jack is up to his neck in intrigue and politics while trying to protect the Earth. Advanced humans came to Earth to find Jack and accidentally revealed the Stargate's existance to the world. Jack forges an uneasy alliance with the advanced humans who promise the world and offer an alliance against all comers. But they and everyone else have their own agenda. Jack finally returns to Earth. What will happen to Earth? Can Jack and Team succeed against a worthy opponent? And how?
Sequel to Stargate Revealed Series. A short Prologue is included to help new readers catch up and help continuing readers refresh their memory. P&P is nominated for a 2006 Stargate Fan Fiction Award
Sequel to: Stargate Revealed (2006 ISIS Award Winner Jack/Other, also Nominated for a 2006 Stargate Fan FictionAward)
Rating: T
Category: Action/Adventure, Drama, Humor, Mystery, Point Of View, Angst, Other
Pairings: Jack/Other
Season: SG-1 Season Nine
Related SG-1 Episode(s): 409 Scorched Earth, 505 Red Sky, 614 Smoke and Mirrors, 720 Inauguration, 810 Endgame, 816 Reckoning, Part 1, 817 Reckoning, Part 2, 818 Threads, 901 Avalon, Part 1
Related Atlantis Episode(s): 201 The Siege, Part 3
Featured Character(s): Jack O'Neill, Daniel Jackson, Samantha Carter, Teal'c, Mini-Jack, Cameron Mitchell,Hank Landry, George Hammond, President Hayes, Kinsey, Maybourne, and Harriman.
Author Notes: Politics & Power explores the consequences to Earth from the SGC's unbridled search for technology advancement and politician's lust for power. The story picks up from the first series but it is not necessary to read the first series. If you love mystery and action, this is for you.
Spoilers thru Season 9.
Feedback is requested.
DISCLAIMER: "Stargate SG-1" and "Stargate Atlantis"andtheir characters are the property of Sony Pictures, MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, Gekko Film Corp., Showtime/Viacom and USA Networks, Inc. This story is for entertainment purposes only and no money has exchanged hands. No copyright infringement is intended. The original characters, situations and story are the property of the author(s), and may not be republished or archived elsewhere without the author's permission.
Prologue
Jack leaned back in his chair contemplating the last three months. What a roller coaster ride it had been. Instead of sitting behind his desk in the Pentagon, Major General Jack O'Neill of the U.S. Air Force was sitting behind his desk in his office on board an alien space ship named 'O'Neill the Great.' Apparently, I am famous around this little corner of the universe, thought Jack.
As a result of Jack's actions recently, some aliens came calling in a fleet of huge ships. The Supreme Military Leader, Lady Anna wanted to find O'Neill and Earth, known to them as the Holy Mother Planet. Once she learned the location of Earth she arrived and opened a hail on all frequencies all over the globe. The message heard by one and all was, "...we come in peace, bearing greetings from the Star Commonwealth of Planets to Colonel Jack O'Neill, the Great of SG-1, Stargate Command of the United States Air Force, and to O'Neill's people of the Holy Mother Planet." The Stargate secret was revealed. Three months ago, Lady Anna came calling on Earth. Earth would never be the same.
They had a proposition for O'Neill. And he didn't like it.
The advanced human aliens of the Star Commonwealth of Planets had a short list of impossible demands and a short timetable for most of them. First and foremost, they demanded Jack. And this demand was not negotiable. Jack found a certain satisfaction in the adulation. Until the Commonwealth showed up, most folks on Earth had no idea what had been accomplished in outer space. SG-1 did save the planet more than a few times and the whole freaking galaxy just recently. After that hail, everyone found out. So, the Commonwealth arrived to offer Earth the unbelievable opportunity to advance more quickly. But nothing is for free. Their price was just weird. Some demands were dangerous. And they wanted to move quickly.
To the Commonwealth, Jack was the Hero of the Battle of Vorash. SG-1 destroyed Apophis at Vorash by blowing up that sun and later Apophis in the course of events that followed. Apophis had been the Goa'uld who torched an entire Commonwealth planet seven years ago. The humans of the Commonwealth formed the most advanced human society in the history of the galaxy. Naturally, the Goa'uld decided that was a threat and went after them. The Commonwealth wanted revenge and to learn to defend themselves. They knew O'Neill was responsible for Apophis' defeat. They wanted him to help. As the greatest hero of these aliens, Jack was very nearly worshipped.
Lady Anna was a master manipulator. She manipulated O'Neill and President Hayes until she got what she needed. Primarily, she wanted to trot out O'Neill before the masses and work the propaganda angle. Lady Anna didn't trust O'Neill. And he certainly didn't trust her. Jack was naturally suspicious about an alliance with Lady Anna. It didn't help that she was so powerful or that she had made outrageous demands of Earth. He hated being under her control and used for her propaganda. But others in the Commonwealth government became curious. One of the most important alien leaders met with O'Neill and decided to trust him.
After that meeting, Jack understood all their lives were at stake. The Goa'uld were about to complete their new fleet. Lady Anna was ordered to work with him and stop screwing around. From that point on, the Goa'uld and their henchmen were in big trouble. O'Neill started old fashioned commerce raiding against the Goa'uld to buy some time before the Goa'uld completed their new fleet. It worked. O'Neill was hailed as a hero again. But the reprieve was only temporary.
For the short term, General O'Neill decided the enemy of his enemy was his friend. The Lady achieved her objective. Now she needed his help again.
Chapter One: Devious Intrigue
"Carter! What are you doing here?" Major General Jack O'Neill looked up from his office desk console. Jack was surprised to see her. "Thought you were stuck back on the alien base."
"Good to see you too, sir." She grinned broadly. "I came to blow somepin' up. Been working on how to blow up a planet, sir." Lt. Colonel Samantha Carter was nearly gleeful. Trailing at her heals came the rest of the Team. "Brought some back up, sir." She pointed to Teal'c, Daniel, and Lt. Col. Cameron Mitchell.
"Yeah, the band is back together, sir." Cam Mitchell saluted and then grinned sharing her glee. "I get to add something cool to my resume now. Not as good as blowing up a sun, but I'll take it." He rocked back on his heels with his hands in his pockets. This trip was better than anything he could have imagined when he asked to be assigned to SG-1. For the past three months, the team was assigned as staff to General O'Neill. General O'Neill was assigned as staff to a newfound ally. The alien leader wanted to start a war with the bad guys, the Goa'uld. That was fine by Mitchell.
"It is good to see you are well, O'Neill." Teal'c had that self-satisfied smile. "I came to observe and to be of assistance. The Jaffa High Council awaits the results with interest."
"Are we sure this is a good idea?" Daniel pushed his glasses back up his nose and looked doubtful. "Jack, you are ok with this?"
"Sure, why not?" Jack looked around. It was just like old times, except for the new guy, Mitchell. "We've been in this situation before, except it's a planet. It's a dead planet. No one will miss it." The team gathered around his desk. His office on board the 'O'Neill' was large and well equipped. The Commonwealth aliens went to great lengths to please him. "Then I can go home. Since they insisted I stay through the entire term of my assignment, I might as well see the fireworks. And you all know how I love fireworks." The truth was Jack wanted to see this for himself.
"So, going home, sir?" Carter could not believe it. The alien leader, Lady Anna, kept the General in her personal control the entire three months. The General had finally come to terms with the Lady, but not without a few bumps in the road.
"Yes, Carter. I am. It's been swell, but I have to get on with my life. And, I have to go to a really big party." Jack frowned. "I'm supposed to be Director of Homeworld Security." His position at the Pentagon was temporarily filled. Or so he was told. Somehow, he had the feeling that he would not get it back. "There have been some new developments in the past two days. Everyone take a seat. Daniel, tell them."
"Yes, well, it seems there has been a power struggle among the aliens." He saw everyone look surprised. "Lady Anna has survived two attempted assassinations this week. And there have been other attempts as well."
"Why am I not surprised?" Mitchell interrupted. "Sorry. Go on Dr. Jackson."
"As you know, their society has been strained first by the destruction of one of their planets. Then their economy was thrown into turmoil from the loss of 3.2 billion people. Their society nearly collapsed. But they managed to hold it together for the past seven years." Daniel looked at Jack who was doodling. Daniel shook his head. Some things would never change. He waited until Jack focused.
"Many people resist change." Teal'c looked over at O'Neill doodling. He spoke louder. "The Commonwealth does not believe in killing. The Lady's people are so peaceful that they don't want to fight even to defend themselves."
Daniel spoke rapidly. "That's right. Conservative elements are making her programs more and more difficult to achieve. The religious faction is frothing at the mouth over the latest war reports, even though the body count is low. And now, she is the target for assassination."
"How does a society that hates killing, have people who want to kill her?" Mitchell was sarcastic. "They say they obey the Ten Commandments. Isn't there one about NOT KILLING? So how come they can try to kill her?"
"Nothing is perfect, Cam," Daniel replied. "A few of the opposition are fanatics. They think she is unredeemable having taken life. So hers is forfeit. An eye for an eye and all that."
"Fanatics don't always think logically to an outsider's perspective." Teal'c commented. "I have had that problem with the Jaffa."
"Well, it may also have something to do with the latest Ceremony of Penance." Carter looked around to blank stares. "What you didn't hear about it? Two weeks ago?" No reaction. "Hey, I heard about it and I was way out there in the boondocks on that secret base."
"Oy." Jack put it together. "Two months ago, one of the Commonwealth ships refused to fight during a battle. Basically, it's mutiny. Lady Anna exiled the whole crew for their Refusing Act. She said something about making penance. Because this time it cost them their own people."
"Act of Refusal, Jack." Daniel corrected him. "Yes, well, when something criminal happens, the perpetrator and his family must make a public apology with their entire clan leadership before the King or his representative. It's a big ceremony. But they also have to make compensation to the victims on a family-to-family basis. Many people are involved. Whole clans have to agree on compensation. The government levies additional fines. Then the perpetrators or in this case the crew that refused to fight is sent into exile for the rest of their lives."
"Sounds like it could get ugly. Some folks didn't like it and a whole clan or clans decided to take her down?" Mitchell got the idea. "Punish that many people, it has to go south. So what is she going to do?"
"She is turning over the military to Admiral Zay for a time. The war is in motion and going rather well. The King has approved our strategy. So, our guys are staying to consult and help as things develop." Jack frowned. "I don't like the fact our contractors and other personnel might be targets too. But the President is willing to risk it for the kind of results we are achieving."
"Our contractor personnel think that the commerce raiding by our ships is having the desired effect. The Goa'uld shipyards have stopped work from lack of supplies." Daniel spoke quickly. "Their few remaining capital ships are on convoy duty because of our raids. So they are not available to raid Commonwealth planets."
"And now, the Goa'uld and their friends the Wannabes have sent spies to figure out just how tough our alien friends really are. Lady Anna set the policy and the strategy. Admiral Zay can handle operations from here." Jack doodled some more. "She can take a break for a while."
"That's where this exercise comes in." Carter took her turn. "We caught a spy. We want to show him just how advanced the Commonwealth is and how angry they are. Then we give him a message to take home." She looked grim. "We take out a dead planet real time in front of him. Then give him the recording."
"Some message. But will they get it?" Mitchell was doubtful. "I mean, they could think it is a trick or that our folks would never really do it to them."
"That's where Teal'c comes in. Right T?" Jack looked over to the Jaffa.
"Indeed, O'Neill. This spy knows who I am and who O'Neill is. When he understands that we are working with the Commonwealth, he will also understand that the Asgaard are involved too. We shall make certain. His masters will take the threat seriously." Teal'c looked around the table. Heads were nodding.
"We shall inform him that any attempt to attack Commonwealth Planets or Earth will result in the destruction of his masters. It's a lesson we learned the hard way It's called Mutually Assured Destruction, or M.A.D. " Daniel continued. "As long as the bad guys believe we have the ability and the will to act, they should think better of acting out in the near term. Then we start a Cold War to suck up their resources and bleed them dry."
Carter sat back. "I've been looking at some pretty advanced weapons, sir. Their R&D must work triple shifts. They have the manufacturing capability. And they have plenty of resources. They could go at this for a very long time. I have seen some of their stockpiles." Carter really grinned this time. "Sir, from what I heard, they are willing to share."
"Yes, they already have." Daniel waited for the surprised reactions. He was not disappointed. "Yesterday, Jack took Lady Anna to Earth with a whole lot of presents." Eyebrows shot up. This was news. "Lady Anna is serious about helping us advance and brought a small down payment for all our help. And they think it is a holy matter that Earth be defended."
Cam retorted. "They really coughed up some equipment?" Daniel nodded. Cam grinned a nasty smile. "Well it's about freaking damn time. On the other hand, I have been with the fleet. These folks are babes in the woods when it comes to military action. For the moment, I wouldn't want them to mix it up with a really powerful System Lord. Hopefully, the Goa'uld are not stupid enough or crazy enough to try attacking us now."
"We have no choice. If the Goa'uld make their move, it's them or us. I choose us." General O'Neill leaned back and regarded the team. Whatever else happened, he knew he had the best of the best working for him.
"Sir, what does all this have to do with you going home?" Mitchell was curious. "I would think these folks would want you to stay if the Lady is stepping down."
"No, Cam. The Lady is temporarily taking a new position until the politics are handled." Jack doodled again. "She's the last of her line. The succession is at stake. So, the King wants to protect her by getting her off center stage."
"And?" Carter was curious now too. "Sir?"
Jack sighed. "She cut a deal with President Hayes." He looked up impassively. "She has been named Ambassador In Charge of Earth Development. She's coming with me…to Earth."
"That bitch! She survived?" Screamed Lord Joshua, assistant to the opposition leader in the Great Council. He focused his fury on his so-called ally, the Matriarch of the Bright Water Clan. She botched the job. And this was the fourth most powerful Matriarch in the Commonwealth.
"My Lord Joshua, you may not address me in such a disrespectful manner." Duchess Leah was in no mood to suffer this fool gladly. She turned a steady cool gaze at him. Her gaze had withered many a noble for lesser insults. "Of course, if you can not control yourself, I can excuse you from this meeting." Her quiet manner and hard look in her eyes said if he did, he was done for. She would get him removed from everything. If he was so stupid as to piss off a clan Matriarch, he was too stupid to live.
Lord Joshua caught himself and realized what she meant. He back peddled as fast as he could. "Your Grace, I would never address you in that manner. I meant my outburst to mean Lady Anna. Please, Your Grace, pardon my passionate nature." He bowed to her and waited for her to speak.
"You will remember yourself. And you will remember that Lady Anna is as royal as they come. She is the great-great-grand daughter of His Majesty the King. One day, she could become the Matriarch of the Royal Family. On that day, you will have reason to regret such outbursts." The Duchess saw him blanche at that thought. It was good to remind this cretin who he was not. "None of us can take lightly the assassination of a royal person."
"Yes, Your Grace. I humbly apologize if I seemed to overlook the implications of the assassination attempt. You are wise to remind me of my lapse in judgment. I would not want any royal person assassinated. It is unholy." He bowed again. "If I may, Your Grace, I would inquire what will become of the Lady now?"
"We do not know exactly. We do know His Majesty wishes to settle the clan disputes amicably. Lady Anna is the last of his line. He is concerned about ensuring her safety." The Duchess let that thought hang in the air between him. Let's see if this man could understand the opportunity. Otherwise he was of no further use to her. Ah, a dim light entered his eyes. So, he might continue to serve her purposes for a time. Her Grace lifted her glass to her lips never taking her eyes off her visitor.
"You aren't serious, dear? Running for office again?" Mrs. Robert Kinsey was shocked. Her husband, the former Vice-President and Senator, had resigned for "health reasons" last year. She never knew the true circumstances but she knew the excuse for what it was. And three months ago, she learned some alien creature had infected him all that time. Of course he was fine now, but it did explain the odd behavior for a few months.
"Now that I am healthy again, I see no reason not to return to public service, dear." Kinsey was tying his tie for the fourth time. "Oh for pity's sake, can you do this tonight? I am all thumbs." Kinsey was not a man to take things lying down, no siree. "I am going to work that crowd tonight and get on the ticket again. I had lunch with Senator Fisher on the Senate Appropriations Committee. He sees things my way. You'll see. We are going back to Washington where we belong."
"Stupid girl. I told you not to proceed without my permission. You brought this upon yourself." Princess Ellen, Matriarch of the Royal Family and its client clans was distraught. "What made you think that O'Neill's plan would be any more acceptable under current conditions?"
"Nana, please, I had to do something. And it has worked. We have bought months and months of time." Lady Anna was desperately trying to reason with her great-great-great-aunt. "Nana, hear me. For God's sake hear me. They were closer than we thought to completing their ships. Intelligence reported that last month several System Lords met together for the first time since O'Neill dealt them a great defeat. We could not wait. It was O'Neill's way or mine. We tried his first. And, Nana, it did work. And very few lost their lives." Lady Anna looked into Princess Ellen's sad old eyes. The Princess was over two hundred years old and not well. "Nana, I did what I had to do. I gladly accept the consequences to myself."
"My dear Girl, you will kill me with your recklessness. I can not protect you as you deserve." Ellen was angry. "The assassination attempts will not stop now. Everyone in the clan is at risk, even the King. Do you understand what you did?"
"I think so Nana. I still say I did the right thing. And you know it." Lady Anna held the old woman's hand. "Besides, you are smarter than any of them. I have faith in you."
"Fine. Go with your General. I hope he can protect you. I hope he will protect you. He is very irritated with you, Little One." Ellen spoke towards the fireplace. "You used him very badly you know."
"I think he will get over it. Besides, he is a greater hero than you know. I can sense him like no other, Nana. He is the One." Lady Anna smiled a reassuring smile at her beloved Nana. "Whatever else happens, protect him first?" Ellen looked at her, searched her face, and nodded. They had a deal.
"What do you suppose she really wants, sir?" George Hammond was in conference with President Henry Hayes. "She can't be serious about hiding out here."
"She says she is coming to honor their promise to help us advance." Hayes smiled a fox in the hen house smile. "Well, let's just say, I haven't viewed all the angles. But, apparently, she is willing to be very generous in the process." Hayes looked around the sitting area in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. "Lady Anna arrives in two days. I want her received with all the flourishes. The whole world will be watching. I want those vultures at the United Nations to eat crow."
General Francis Maynard, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs looked thoughtful. Maynard was certain there was much more to this situation with Lady Anna than she indicated. But that only meant the game was afoot. He didn't like it and he didn't trust her. It was more likely she was bringing her trouble with her.
"Why would an advanced alien race, even if they are human, and I am not convinced that they still are, why would they generously offer to do what no other advanced race has yet been willing to do?" General Maynard was deeply suspicious. "Why would they want to advance us? What's in it for them? And I don't think our assistance for the last three months is an equal trade based upon the gifts we just got. It's way too generous. It's like bait."
"Some bait. In one gesture, she gave us more technology than the Asgaard did in eleven years. I'm not complaining about the Asgaard shields, transporter technology, or the little fellow with us on the Daedelus. But, she just gave us serious security technology and medical know how. She cleaned up a Goa'uld incursion on Earth. And, she knocked out alien surveillance devices in our most sensitive facilities including the SGC." Hammond was a little annoyed the devices found their way in on his watch. "General Landry finally cleaned up the situation with help from Lady Anna's technicians."
"Beware of Greeks bearing gifts, and all that, eh General?" The White House Chief of Staff was a master games player, too. He managed to get this administration elected. He knew strategy. "So far, Lady Anna's strategy is not evident. Her motives are just too understandable. Assassins are after her and she needs to cool it some place out of the way. Remember, this woman is so bold she came here with a huge fleet to intimidate us, but brought no offensive weapons. The woman is a master manipulator."
"Remember, Jerry, last time she told the truth. She just forgot to tell us some of the details, some other major issues, or how bad the situation really was." Hammond snorted in disgust. "And she still has all her demands on the table. The only one she really got was O'Neill."
"Make no mistake everyone. She says what she means and means what she says. We just have to be smart enough to listen carefully this time." Maynard leaned forward. "I believe her. She wants a remote place to hang out for a while. But I like the old saying, keep your friends close and your enemies closer."
"I'll take that as your recommendation, Francis." Hayes stood up. So did the others. "While she is here, we could make a powerful ally. But make no mistake. It's your job to find out what else she wants and why. And how to stop her if we can." Hayes walked them to the door. "Francis, put General O'Neill on the job. He's got her number."
