Stargate Revealed: Politics and Power 7
by livi2jack
Summary: Jack is back. In charge and kicking butt. Lady Anna has assassins after her and stays on Earth to lure her foes. Plots within Plots. Everyone has an agenda.
Rating: T
Category: Action/Adventure, Drama, Humor, Mystery, Holiday, Point Of View, Romance, Angst, Other
Season: SG-1 Season Nine
Related SG-1 Episode(s): 720 Inauguration, 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, Cameron Mitchell, Hank Landry, George Hammond, Steven Caldwell
Holiday: Thanksgiving
Author Notes: Spoilers thru Season 9.
Feedback is requested.
Chapter 7- Fishing
"Yes, Jack, what's up?" Daniel listened intently as Jack phoned in his new location with The Lady.
The talk around the SGC's briefing table stopped for a moment. Heads swiveled around to watch Daniel. Sam took the opportunity to get more coffee. She needed to stand a bit. Tension was high. The news from Bra'tac wasn't good. Too much had happened the past two days. And all of it involved the advanced human aliens called the Commonwealth. More specifically, all the trouble centered on their military leader. Having Lady Anna come here with assassins on her ass just made the day even more special. And now Bra'tac told them she was kicking Jaffa butt all around the galaxy. Not to mention the fact that she was leading Jack a merry chase.
"General Landry, he wants to speak with you." Daniel handed the Commonwealth provided cell phone to Hank Landry, the new C.O. of Stargate Command. After SG-1 spent three months with Commonwealth forces, Lady Anna had generously provided security equipment. SG-1's funky new cell phones were part of the security precautions. Daniel noticed the substitution the day before. Lady Anna's security people neglected to tell them of the switch. Why, no one knew.
Daniel pushed his glasses back up his nose and stood up for some coffee too. By gesture, he offered some more to Teal'c. He knew Bra'tac wouldn't touch it. He eyed Mitchell for a moment and shrugged. Cam Mitchell, the new leader of SG-1 leaned back in his chair and rubbed his eyes with both hands. It had been a long day, and a rotten holiday. Landry was grunting ok every so often in to the phone. Then he briefed O'Neill about the goings on with the Jaffa.
"Yeah, Master Bra'tac wants to meet with her as soon as possible," Landry paused. "So tell her he sits on the High Council. I don't know. Maybe tomorrow. Ok. Thanks, Jack. Will do." Landry hung up. "Seems like you folks are going on a little road trip after all."
"I thought that deal was off." Cam Mitchell could only imagine the trouble they'd have with the Lady on the road. It was a nightmare. He shook his head. "Sir, where we going now?"
"Can't tell you without activating one of these." He reached into his pocket and placed a jammer on the table. The light came on. "Fishing." He had a puckish look on his face. Sam, Daniel, and Teal'c groaned. Cam looked confused. And Bra'tac was lost, looking at Teal'c for an answer. Teal'c gave him his disgusted scary face, eyes wide and lips jutting out with the corners down. Teal'c hated fishing.
"Explain to me this place, called 'Fishing,' Teal'c." Bra'tac was tired.
"It is not a where it is a what." Teal'c replied. "O'Neill likes to try to catch fish. It is what he likes to do." Bra'tac was really lost now. "He is not successful."
"That's the General, for you. We have a crisis and he wants us to go fishing with him." Sam sneered. "Sir, did he tell you why?"
"Seems he invited someone important to go with him and he needs back up. You all leave at 0900 tomorrow and bring groceries. Take some chocolate, if you get my drift." Landry stood up. "Master Bra'tac, we have prepared your room on the V.I.P. level. Teal'c would you show Master Bra'tac the way?" Teal'c nodded. The meeting broke up.
Landry gestured to Mitchell to come with him. They walked into his office and shut the door. "Colonel, I want you to organize your back up teams. Take SGs Three, Ten, Eleven and some extra enlisted personnel. Go tonight and set up a perimeter around O'Neill's cabin. Don't tell them where they are going. No calls in or out except to O'Neill, Caldwell, or me. Use one of the Commonwealth cell phones to tell O'Neill when you are in position but do not approach the cabin. We don't know what gizmos she's got around there. Take Zats and Intars along with the usual ordnance." The Intars were the replicated SGC weapons Apophis used to train human troops to go up against SG units. Although they looked like P-90's and 9 mil pistols, they were non-lethal and really hurt.
"Use the transporter on the Daedalus to get there. Speak to Col. Caldwell in person, alone. Brief him. Tell Col. Caldwell to periodically sweep the area with the Asgaard sensors for any intruders. Use infrared heat sensors as well.
It's hunting season, so use your judgment. If so much as a chipmunk moves, I want you to zat it. But use deadly force if you must. I'll have Walter alert the authorities nearby. I want you on Tok'ra communicators. Bring an extra two for O'Neill and his guest. And take a few extra jammers. Do not, repeat do not approach the cabin tonight. He thinks she has it booby-trapped. Oh, and break out the snow gear. It's cold in Northern Minnesota this time of year."
Landry wasn't kidding. It was cold that night at Jack's cabin up in the Northwoods. After leaving the White House dinner, Jack and Anna transported first to her Embassy in Washington, and then at Jack's insistence to his cabin in Minnesota. Jack wanted to check on it because he probably wasn't going to be there again for a long while. And because he wanted to assert himself with The Lady. If she wanted his protection, she had to bend a little.
"Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home." Jack half-joked to Anna as she entered the cabin. She turned to him with a genuine smile. "Well, it's my home away from home. I mean I keep the apartment in Washington, but this is where I come to fish. I know it's not what you are used to, but..." Anna put her hand on his arm to stop him there.
"I am honored you would receive me in the sanctity of your home, Jack. Thank you. It's lovely. We used to," she stopped and paused. "I used to have a place like this many years ago for the same reason." Anna smiled a regretful smile. "This reminds me of it. Happy memories, Jack."
He cocked his head trying to see if she meant it. She did. Again she surprised him. Every time he thought he had her pegged, she did it again. Here was a new Anna.
"We, ma'am?" Jack was curious. She had never mentioned her personal life.
"It's Anna. Ok? We are in private, Jack." She turned to look around. It was a place just like she pictured it would be. She had read his file and knew something about him. "The 'we' was a long time ago. He's dead now." Anna moved further into the room and looked into the fireplace. Jack decided to change the subject.
"Ok, right, I'll build us a fire." Jack went to the kindling box and began to light the fire. Once he had it started, the next step was going to the woodpile outside. Hmm, maybe better ask her first.
"Anna, you didn't maybe sorta booby-trap anything around here, did you?" He made a circular motion with his hand to refer to around the cabin. She looked confused. "Booby-trap, um plant traps that go boom or something nasty like that did you? Because I need to go to the woodpile for some logs."
"I have sensors, Jack. There's nothing lethal unless someone opens fire. How far is the woodpile?"
"Sensors?" The fun never stopped with her. "What kind of sensors?"
"They detect people approaching and alert us. You and I are programmed in. Don't worry about it." Anna was very casual about it. "Go ahead if it is fairly close by." She stoked the fire some more. He gave her a doubtful look. "Go on, you'll be fine."
"We have to talk about this. I have some troops coming to stake out the woods around here. For your protection, I might add. And I would take it amiss if any of them were killed." He cocked his head at her waiting for more. You are such a control freak, woman, he silently thought.
"I see. The computer will identify them." Anna answered him in a matter of fact tone. She turned to stoke the fire some more. "They'll be fine."
"Computer? I don't have a computer here." Jack looked around the room.
"Yes you do." She added the last of the sticks. "We just ran out of sticks." Anna brushed her hands together to clean them a little. Then she stood up. "What?" He looked at her like she was nuts. Then he got it.
"Ack, of course we do." Jack frowned. "Any other surprises?"
"Like what?" Anna gestured to the sofa. "May I sit down, please?"
"Sure go ahead. Make yourself at home. Why not?" Jack went outside for the wood. He found the woodpile, grabbed a few logs and clomped back in. "You know, you should have asked me first. May I booby-trap your home, Jack? That works. Try it some time." He threw a log in the fireplace and went out again. Jack gathered some split wood. It was really cold. So he stomped back in and out for more. No point in having to go outside again after they settled in for the night.
Anna watched him banging around. He piled up the wood.The blaze was going good now.
So like a man, she thought. You do something nice to protect them and the world comes to an end. I should have seen it coming. Anna stood up to warm her hands. Memories came flooding back. It had been so long since she had done anything like this. It seemed as though it happened in a different lifetime, to another person. Her eyes misted up. She really missed him if she let herself think about it. Looking into the flames, she saw the images in her mind from better days.
Jack stood back watching her. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever met. Standing there by the fire with the light from the flames flickering on her face she was somehow softer. She contemplated something sad. It was obvious. He stood there wondering, why she would let him see all this. People like her kept their emotions in check by force of habit. She wasn't hiding them. In fact, she never did with me. Now why was that? Jack walked over and warmed his hands too.
"Feeling warmer, Anna?" Jack asked softly. He had no idea what to say to her. Here she was. Alone. With him. And, what? He blanked. Anna looked up at him and smiled. Then she looked back at the fire. Anna kept remembering. Then she sighed and turned to him. Her eyes drew him in. Time stood still.
"Jack, where's the bathroom?"
That brought him back to reality. He pointed and mumbled "this way' to her. Flipping on the light he left feeling uncomfortable. Oops, maybe I should have shown her how to work the plumbing? He heard the water running and grinned. Of course she had things under control.
Jack realized it had been just over three months since he was here. Back then he thought he would return the next weekend.
Ok, pal, there's probably some stuff to throw out in the refrigerator, he thought. Phew! Oh yeah. Definitely.
He got out a plastic garbage bag and emptied stuff out quickly. Crap, I have to go outside again. Jack walked to the back door, thought it over and pitched it out the door. It's colder than the refrigerator out there. Let's see how good her sensors are? Bears or no bears, he fleetingly wondered? He reached back in the fridge and got two beers. He opened his and drank. Oops, maybe she didn't drink beer. Tea. Do I have any tea? I have some coffee. Sam likes tea. Where was it? And sugar. No milk. Ah, a can of condensed milk. Excellent. Jack pawed through the cupboards and came up with a canister of sugar and some tea bags. Great. Where's the kettle? Jack fumbled through the pots, clattering some on the floor as they fell out of the cabinets. He bent over to pick them up, saying to himself, smooth fella, real smooth. Then he heard the giggle.
"Oh my, let me?" Anna knelt down to pick up the pots and lids all over the floor.
"Here now, you shouldn't be doing that." Jack took her arm and tried to help her up. They stood there for a long moment. Neither one moved. Each just stood there half-looking at the other. Jack still held her by the arm. She let him. And...
"Awkward." Anna smiled.
"Getting that way." Jack replied. He took a long moment to look at her. She looked back sweetly. He saw no objections. "No pressure." Jack paused. He held her gently. She didn't pull away. He was at his most charming self. "Anna, I've been thinking for a long time about this." She searched his face. "Would you?" Anna looked up at him, thought about it for a long while. "Please?" She smiled at him and sighed.
"Seventy-four."
"Ah. Seventy-four. That's good. No really? Seventy-four years old? You look great!" He chuckled. "Coulda fooled me. In fact, you did fool me."
"Who won the bet?" Anna smirked.
"Teal'c."
"Indeed."
Unfortunately, the President never came to such an understanding with Lady Anna. There was no personal connection. He never really saw her as anything but the representative of a great power who had designs on Earth. He was looking for deception and aggression. He saw what his biases taught him to perceive. Looking for the trees he didn't see the forest.
"I don't like it, George." President Hayes was truly frustrated. "She should have been more forthcoming. I asked her straight out five simple questions and got an evasion to each one. What's she hiding?" President Hayes still sat in the Red Room after his conference with Lady Anna that Thanksgiving evening.
"Mr. President, if I may," offered the Secretary of State, Peter Soames? "I think she did tell us most of it anyway. Sir, some cultures speak indirectly to be polite. This culture values correctness of manners so much, perhaps she is adhering to some standard we don't understand. After all, she has shown us her goodwill in a variety of directions. And she has been a straight shooter from the get go. So maybe we are the ones missing something?"
"Ok, I asked her why Earth? So she said that she was here to make a gesture to O'Neill's people for helping her with the war planning and undermining her opposition. I got that loud and clear. But she didn't answer why she is staging her defense here. Couldn't pin her down." Hayes was frustrated.
"Sir, I never heard you ask her about why she is staging her defense here. No, really. You asked her what she wanted with us. I heard her tell you. She wants to keep her promise to protect and advance Earth while her problems are sorted out at home. She offered her reassurances about her intentions. And then she asked to work with 'local authorities' to make her plans more effective." The Secretary of State paused to see if he made sense to them. "Think about it in the whole context, sir. She asked for our help to plan a war her people could accept and you sent the military experts. It worked. So she just asked you to do it again. This time here for her. She wants to team up."
Hayes and Hammond considered his explanation for a moment. "Ok, I suppose it makes sense. But that's pretty indirect."
"Sir, General Maynard said it in our planning meeting. We have to listen very carefully this time. He also said she means what she says and says what she means. So let's pick this apart." Soames waited for them to think about it some more.
"I asked her what would happen to Earth if she dies here. And what reprisals we could expect." Hayes thought about her answer. "She said something about being the only one in the government to who is willing to protect Earth and promote our development. Now how is that an answer? Oh, and said if she died, and this was the threat, that her heirs would not do it. There was something about how she is providing some funding."
"I see. Not exactly the answer you wanted? Hmm." Soames thought about it. "She was talking about appropriations?" He thought some more. "Well, she had just answered your question about what she was doing here. The answer involved protection and development. Maybe that is how she understood the question. She thinks her policies would be dismantled and the funding cut off as a reprisal?"
"You would think she would answer that one seriously." Hayes was put out. "I am not concerned about financing. I want to know what kind of casualties we would take. Would they destroy whole cities or take revenge on large scale. Or if her government falls, what will the other side do to us for helping her? I don't care if the funds are cut off. That's just a process of negotiation."
"But these are inherently peaceful people who can't make themselves take revenge on the folks who torched a whole planet. Their whole war strategy is to make the enemy cease and desist while they build DEFENSIVE capabilities and destroy stuff not people. They don't even want casualties in battles. Why would she think we would assume wide scale death would occur?" The Secretary thought some more. "Did you ask her specifically about casualties?"
"No, no I didn't. I assumed she would understand. I guess she didn't." Hayes was starting to see the problem.
"I never heard you ask what her opposition would do to us or if they could manage a coup d'etat. I don't think the word revenge came into it." Soames pressed the point.
"But I did ask that woman for a best case/worst case scenario. I got nowhere with that. The Lady's response was to ask if I could survive my own political opposition." He reacted with a snort of frustration. "Then she offered some more technology as bait. It was a non sequitor. She just made a speech that she didn't want to destabilize us. Then, Lady Anna said she didn't want to piss off General O'Neill. And that's another thing, what is going on with those two?"
"I think I see where you are going, Mr. Secretary." Hammond had been thinking hard. "She thought you were asking her about your own political survival. So she offered her help with more gifts of technology. At least that would be a best guess."
"And when you asked her for what was in it for us, she thought you meant more equipment. You know, she could have been talking about something else, or frankly just evading the answer. I just think she didn't understand it as you meant it." Secretary Soames opined.
"Aw c'mon, she can be very direct herself. Just look at how she came on like a ton of bricks about how she wasn't going to hide and would do as she pleased." Hammond shook his head. "I think you should just ask her for clarification. All this guessing isn't getting us anywhere."
"You may be right. George, did you ask O'Neill about their relationship?" Hayes narrowed his eyes with suspicion. They were all thinking the same thing. "She acts like he is Julius Caesar to her Cleopatra. I told her there were others more qualified for this task. We have way better folks to run her security. She just said that she trusted him. I don't believe that woman cannot see O'Neill for what he is. And I don't believe she trusts anyone that much."
"I asked him, sir. O'Neill denies it. But he did go so far as to tell me that they are on a first name basis." Hammond shrugged. "I know O'Neill. If he said there's nothing, there's nothing."
"Of course, that doesn't mean there's nothing from her side." Hayes was perplexed. "And it was very heavy handed to insist that he doesn't have to reveal her secrets. She can't expect to control that."
"Maybe sir. But she does have security concerns. And she went so far as to offer him command of her forces here. These people she's got with her probably are what she terms her "Personal Guard." It's quite a gesture. You wanted her to address our concerns about what she was doing, and she responded. She put one of our own incharge. Pretty dramatic, how could you ask for more than that?" The Secretary paused. Heads were nodding on that one.
"Ok, I see your point. It was an extreme gesture, if she really does it. I get the feeling she is playing us. But, she does have it for O'Neill." President Hayes rubbed his eyes. It had been two awful days. And he was hurting from last night's attack. "I just don't think she would give up control."
"Well sir, I can't speak to that. As for the rest, maybe we said something to set her off. It could just be cultural. Let's get Dr. Jackson to ask her for another meeting or at least some clarification." Secretary Soames shrugged and waited.
"Ok, maybe we just had another misunderstanding. She did offer to take an Air Force General into her confidence and even put him in charge, if you believe it. It makes sense it would be O'Neill at this point. But I want to know what happens here if she dies or is horribly wounded with our general in charge." He thought for a moment and got frustrated. "I still say there is much more going on. Tell O'Neill to get it out of her one way or another." Hayes stood up. "Thank you all for giving up your holiday for this."
In the Northwoods of Minnesota, the hunter in the bright orange jacket lowered his binoculars. Game had been scarce this season. But he had some in his sights now. The lights to the cabin just came on across the pond. He could see activity over there. Humph. Disgusting. Well, time to go home. It was cold out here anyway. The hunter moved off to his lodgings. Picking up the phone in his rental cabin, he dialed.
"Bagged some game today. Yeah, the out of this world kinda stuff." He listened. "Happy Thanksgiving to you, too. God Bless America."
It was really late at Stargate Command in Colorado. The last two days had been draining for SG-1. It was one thing to be home on Earth. It was another to know that trouble followed them through the wormhole. Trouble had a name, Lady Anna.
"Hey, Sam. Wait up." Daniel called to her as she made her way to her lab. "You ok?"
"Sure, Daniel. Why not?" She kept walking. "We're going fishing, right?" She spat it out in a sarcastic tone.
"Well, I agree it's really cold and all, but I don't think he really means fishing as in fishing." He was trying to jolly her." Daniel stopped with the look Sam gave him. She turned on him and gave him a look like he was some kind of idiot. "It makes sense, Sam. Where else would he go? Strategically, he knows the area like the back of his hand."
"You a military strategist now, Daniel?" Sam picked up the pace. "Sorry, I didn't mean it like that." She turned the corner and took out her security pass card. Daniel reached out to stop her hand from swiping the card reader.
"It's not like that and you know it." He gave her a knowing look. She swiped the card and walked into her lab without answering. "Why else would he tell us and then, ask for us as back up? Answer me that one?"
"I don't know what you mean. Now, I have a report to finish before we go on this wild goose chase." She looked at him and willed him out the door.
"Ok, see you tomorrow, Sam." Daniel took a last look and walked out.
In Jack's cabin, the kettle whistled. The pipes rattled in protest. A log popped and crackled loudly in the fireplace. And the phone rang. Who said it was peaceful in the countryside? Jack fumbled for the phone as he reached for a potholder for the kettle.
"WHAT?" He shifted the phone to his left hand and poured the boiling water on the tea. "Oh, hi George. Yep. She's here." Jack listened and poured more water into the teapot up to the rim. He watched it steep. "Understood. Sure thing. Oh, and George, Teal'c won the pool. Seventy-four. Uh huh. Bye." He smirked to himself.
And George thought she was over 100 yrs old. Ha! The Commonwealth humans lived way longer than 200 years, some closer to 300. By their standards, she was just a kid.
Jack poured two mugs and carried them over to the sofa. He rifled some VHS tapes looking for something to play. Anna came from her room and sat down. "Very nice, Jack. Thanks. She picked up her mug and looked at it. Then she sniffed it. The food on this world had such interesting odors. She put it down again.
"What?" Jack looked at her replacing the mug. "You worried about it?" He was a little offended.
"Worried about what?" He nodded to the cup. She frowned. "Oh no. I just want it to cool off a little first." He gave a weak smile. She picked up the cup and blew on it then took several long swallows. Anna raised an eyebrow at him. He was satisfied. "Look, Jack, just, well just don't. Ok?" He went back to his mug.
"Right. Anna, I have to know. Why do you trust me so much?" He sat back next to her. She looked away. "I don't get it. Why would someone like you be hanging out with a guy like me?" Anna didn't look at him. She studied the far wall.
"Someone like me, Jack?" Anna looked down at what he was holding. "What do you have there?" She pointed at the VHS tape in his hand. Everything on this world was so big and bulky. She held out her hand to touch it. He let her handle it.
"It's a recording of a TV show. TV. It's entertainment. Anyway, don't change the subject." He held his hand out for the tape back. She returned it gently not answering. "You do a lot of that. Not answering questions, why do you do it?"
"Most questions answer themselves." Anna sipped from her mug. "The least said the less trouble is caused."
"Well, you should know that around here, it freaks people out. That phone call just now? It was from the White House." Jack threw the tape on the table disgustedly. "They think you are hiding something terrible. And they are all worked up about it."
"I'm hiding all sorts of terrible things. Which one in particular 'freaks them out' as you say?" She leaned back waiting for an explosion.
'I just wanted one night of freedom, she thought. Just one. Was it so much to ask? Guess it was,' she told herself.
"I think it's safe to say the one about reprisals. You didn't answer that one. Why not?" He waited. He had learned the last three months she took her time to respond to him. She looked thoughtful but still said nothing. "Oh for crying out loud, Anna, you have to throw us a bone here."
"I would never authorize a reprisal on you, Jack. Don't you know me better than that? No matter what happens, I would never do anything to hurt you or your people. That question was so insulting. They look at me and see some kind of monster, some kind of homicidal maniac out for genocide. What did you put in your reports?" She looked down and then away. "A person like me," she repeated back to him. "Is that what you see, Jack?"
He studied her. "Wow, did this get out of hand. You thought they meant you? No, they meant others from your people. The President and his pals are afraid of what will happen if you die here and the King gets pissed at us. Or, if your enemies come to power, what will they do to us for helping you?" He put down his mug. "The folks in the White House think we are looking at taking major casualties. They are thinking someone will take out a few cities in revenge, kill our leaders, or worse, invade us. They think you are hiding the truth."
"Oh. I never thought about it like that." She was revolted. "I don't think anyone would think of doing something like that. We don't, we don't think like that. You just spent three months watching me try to force my people to fight back against pure evil. And you know it's not working all that well." Anna took a breath. "The reason people are trying to kill me is very specific to me only. No one believes your people can do much about it one way or the other. Well, except for me that is."
"I told you from the moment we met, Jack, don't you remember? I told you we would never try to take your world from you. I can't begin to imagine the death count from an invasion or wiping out cities. The whole idea is sick." Anna was really amazed. And then the question hit her. "Would your people have done that to us if you had died on our world? Like the time with the Mayor, during the assassination attempt on me? If I had not been able to shield you, and you had died then, would your government have tried to take vengeance on my people, indiscriminately?" She was appalled at the idea. "And what if your President came to visit and that happened? What would you do? Send a naquadah bomb through the Gate?"
She's getting really upset. Aw crap, now we have a situation.
"No, of course not. You're right. It was insulting." Jack reached into his pocket and dialed Hammond back. The exchange lasted a few minutes.
It all just got to her at that moment. Anna got up to give him some privacy and went into the spare bedroom he prepared for her. She sat down on the bed. The woman shut the door. She needed some privacy too. Lying there in the dark, she lost it. For seven horrible years, she had held it together.
Right now, this moment, her own people had assassins out to kill her. And these primitives thought she was some kind of monster to boot. O'Neill came really close to killing me back at the embassy. Well, at least that issue was settled with him.
But the situation was just too much and she was too tired. Looking around the cabin reminded her of her husband and kids. They used to go off together to get away from all the protocol and relax in a setting like this. They were dead. If she didn't figure something out, she would join them soon enough. Tonight, it just was too much.
Jack finished the call and looked around. She was gone somewhere. He got up to look in the kitchen. Nope. He walked down the hall and saw her door was shut. Uh oh. He could hear her in there. Raising his hand to knock, he hesitated. No, she would be shamed if he saw her like that. It must be really bad if she lost it here.
Then he got it. She was scared to death. And she didn't dare show anyone, especially not her own people. A leader has to show only strength. They would feed her to the wolves if they saw her crack even a little bit. She was right.
Most questions answered themselves.
Jack padded softly back to the kitchen and pulled out another beer. He went into the living room and popped in a tape. She'd be out when she was ready. He wouldn't embarrass her by going in there. Jack settled in for a long wait. He'd talk to Daniel about it in the morning.
Daniel finished packing for his field trip in the morning. The sergeant-at-arms came to tell him that General Landry wanted to see him.
"Come in Dr. Jackson." General Landry was ready to pack it in for the night. I wanted to ask you to do something tomorrow." He eyed Daniel for the correct reaction. Daniel was focused. "I want you to report here at 0700 for transport." He had a stone face. Daniel gave him a questioning look back. "You should probably bring the groceries General O'Neill requested so they can be ready when the team arrives after breakfast."
The two men recognized that they had an understanding. Daniel had to get in there first and alone. Some diplomatic issues needed finesse.
"Oh and the President wants you to spend some quality time with the Lady. Seems he didn't like the answers he got yesterday. Try to find out what the cultural issues were and smooth them out in private. Might be a good idea to do it before the rest of the team comes, in private. Here's the list."
Daniel took the envelope and nodded back. "I understand. I'll do my best, sir. Thank you. Thank you very much." He half-smiled and went out. The new C.O. was a good guy. Nice to know, thought Daniel. No sense in ruffling already very ruffled feathers.
In the cold Northwoods, it was cold. The SG teams went about setting a perimeter around Jack's cabin. Maybe she had defenses. Maybe they weren't enough. And maybe no one wanted to admit hers were better.
"Damn, its cold out here. Didn't I say let's go to a beach with warm water, white sand, and pretty girls in string bikinis? But no, we have to do it the hard way." Lt. Col. Cameron Mitchell surveyed the deployment of the SG teams around Major General O'Neill's rustic cabin. Northern Minnesota in late autumn was the dead of winter any place else. Around the area, tents were pitched. But no fires were permitted. Night vision goggles would not react well with the extra light. 'This had better be worth it,' Cam grumbled to himself. Instead he rode herd on the captain assigned to assist him.
"Can't they pitch a tent any better than that?" He pulled out his special cell phone and dialed O'Neill.
"What?" O'Neill was tired.
"We are in position, sir. The perimeter has been established." Cam listened a moment longer. "Yes, sir, I have two Tok'ra communicators for you. Yes, sir. Unarmed. I'll knock softly."
Great. This had to be the most awful, lousy, miserable Thanksgiving ever for the record books. Even arguing with the old folks at Grandma's was preferable.
Cam picked up the gear and the box of chocolates from General Landry. Diplomacy was a bitch tonight.
In the cold of cyberspace, the chatter was up after yesterday's assault on the American General. Conspiracy boards were brimming with theories. Going around the mill one could find any subject from monster alien babies to Anna's actual demands from the first trip. Culling through this cesspool were careful listeners. If you knew where to look, important traffic could be spotted. There were some folks very interested in that traffic from both sides of the law.
Other more careful groups manipulated the whack jobs. They ponied up on the transmissions with their own messages to stir up the situation. The civil unrest around the globe made the situation ripe for political aspirations to simmer to a boil. Some groups were throwing gasoline on the fire. The real issue was control of the Stargate. Obviously, there were many entities, who wanted that control. They were willing to do just about anything to get it.
The CIA analysts worked through the night, ferreting out the connections between groups. Signals analysts knew their job was imperative. The patterns that could be seen were troubling. A whole lot of people were working to the old maxim "the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Maybe too many groups played that old chestnut.
The CIA Director worked late at Headquarters in Langley, VA. The CIA had assets chasing down that traffic. Hopefully, some leads would break soon. Pouring into the information pool were the activities of certain White Supremacist groups. All the hate groups really had it for O'Neill. But they were frothing at the mouth about the Lady. Seems that list of hers with the call for inter-marriage had them apoplectic. If he had to guess, one of those nuts would act on his own. The question was where? More likely it would be wherever O'Neill was tonight.
Anna heard the knock at the door. It startled her from her reverie. She sat up and mentally shook herself. It would not do to be seen like this. Quietly, she went to the bathroom to wash her face. Some cold water would help the eyes.
'How embarrassing.'
Looking at the fixtures she remembered going to a world where she learned about cannon balls and went for a ride in a prototype motor vehicle. The people there were so grateful for the medicines her ship brought. She gave them antibiotics that alone would save tens of thousands of lives each year. It was a good mission. She made that planet an ally. In another decade, those folks might come close to this world's development level, half the time it would have taken. But that was before all the troubles. She heard Jack close the door
It must be an aide. Time to be social again.
Coming around the corner, Anna saw the TV. On it were moving pictures in only two dimensions. It had sound and apparently was funny. She could hear the recorded laughter of the audience. She went up to the machine and looked behind it. There were cords and a plug of some kind. It was a huge machine for such small space. It was loud and so Anna asked it to lower the volume. It didn't recognize her commands. Maybe they used another term. She tried again. It didn't work. She looked around for console icons to see if she could reset it. Nothing recognizable caught her eye. Jack walked in to see her examining the television. It was really amusing to watch her talking to the TV. He let her go on for a moment.
"Need some help?" Jack sat down on the sofa.
"Jack, I think it is broken. It cannot lower the volume. I am sorry to tell you it is malfunctioning. The picture has no color and cannot project." Anna saw his grin. "Oh, you think this is funny, do you?"
"C'mere. I'll show you." He proceeded to show her the remote control and the buttons on the set. "This is a classic 'I Love Lucy.' You'll love it. It's the time she works in a chocolate factory." Anna watched the antics quietly until the conveyor belt cranked up.
"Lucy and Ethel can't keep up the pace packing chocolates fast enough. So they eat them, stuff them, throw them and get caught." Anna couldn't stop laughing. It was truly a funny program. "Well, at least I know you have a sense of humor. There's hope for you, yet." Jack pulled out the box of chocolates. "Here, General Landry sent it to you with his compliments."
"Jack, really, thank you. I mean it. Thank you for everything." Anna accepted the box and began the ritual of unwrapping the chocolates. Lifting the top, the perfume of the candy hit her nose. Anna closed her eyes enjoying the odor. "The foods on this world have such wonderful smells." Anna brought the box up to smell it more fully. Jack watched her with pleasure. Anna offered him first and then dived in.
'Oh yeah,' he thought. 'That'll improve her mood. Some caffeine, a dose of sugar, and TV. Works like a charm with all the aliens. After the sugar high, she'll crash and go to sleep. Funny how most of them never figured out sugar. Oh, they usually had honey, but even that was scarce.'
"Hungry, I take it?" She nodded with her mouth full. He finished his beer, remembering the old saying that candy was dandy but liquor was quicker. "You want one of these?" He offered innocently. She looked at the bottle and held out her hand. He gave it to her watching her sniff it. She nodded.
'Might as well try it,' Anna thought. 'He seems to like it well enough.'
"Ah, beer. A refreshing substitute for food. We're kinda low on food at the moment but I told Landry to send groceries in the morning." He offered her a glass with the bottle. She looked at how he drank it and refused the glass.
"Ugh. That's awful." Anna nearly spat it out after one swig. Then she thought it over and downed it. "Reminds me of something I had on a planet where the people also ate fermented fish paste. I tried the paste and had to wash it down fast. Then I threw up all day. Got another?"
"You're ok, Anna. Sure. So tell me about that planet. Why were you there?" He went and got two more beers.
"I was looking for primitives who could teach us how to fight. Didn't matter what they used. We looked it over and adapted whatever they had. If all these people put their energy into something besides killing each other, more human societies would be where we are." She shrugged and drank some more. "Of course you can't tell them that. They'd kill you." She started to laugh at her own joke.
"You only had one beer. Are you sure you want to drink that?" Jack watched her getting tipsy. She's a lightweight, like Daniel. Two beers and Daniel was drunk. She is also a smaller person. Oh well, liquor is quicker. The President said get it out of her one way or another.
He watched her finish it. Jack just sipped at his own. It was surreal. Here was one of the most powerful people in the galaxy getting drunk on his sofa in Minnesota.
'One of these days, I should write my memoirs,' Jack thought to himself. 'If only people knew the most powerful weapons in the universe were patience, sugar, and beer.'
"Oh look, Jack. We have a nibble. Looks like we might catch something on this fishing trip." She pointed to the table top. Jack just gaped. Suddenly, his coffee table was a Commonwealth computer console. And there was someone creeping up to the cabin with a rifle at ten o'clock at night. "This should be fun." He just looked at her. She had to be drunk making that comment.
"Fun? You call this fun?" He got up to get his zat from the cabin storage. Then he checked that the chamber of his pistol was loaded. Picking up the Tok'ra communicator, Jack intoned, "Colonel, this is base. We have a bogey. I say again. We have a bogey north side by the tree line. Over." He waited.
"We got it. Out." Mitchell signaled the troops to flank the intruder. The game was afoot.
"Get down." She just looked at him. "Get down, now, please, ma'am?" She got down. "Now stay there and don't make trouble."
She was astonished. "He can't do anything to us with that. He is already inside the perimeter and now the weapon doesn't work."
"Of course it doesn't." He rolled his eyes. He should have guessed that. "But he could have something worse. What's wrong with you?" Jack hissed at her.
"I'm trying to help. Jack, do you want the force field on? Kill him or capture him?"
"No, I don't want to kill him, Lady. I want to capture him!" Jack called on the communicator.
"Computer, turn off the force field." She watched the screen.
"This is base," he spoke softly to the communicator. "The force field is off. Over."
"Copy that base. In position." Mitchell gave the signal. An airman used a zat and the man went down. "Base, we're clear."
"Do you see anymore, ma'am?" Anna shook her head, no. "Colonel Mitchell, get Caldwell to scan the area." Jack watched the men secure the prisoner. Then, Jack got the all clear. "Don't ever disobey me again. If you do, you are on your own."
"I apologize. Of course you are correct." She took something off her tunic. "Here." She handed him a small device. "Give this to one of your men and have him scan the prisoner." He looked at with curiosity.
"It determines if any isotopes are present from any other world." She sat down and looked at him with patience. "And, we might learn a few other things as well." Jack called Mitchell to get the device. A little while later, Cam returned with it.
"Get what you wanted?" She nodded. Anna played with the console and motioned to Jack to read it. It had all the man's particulars, right down to his DNA structure.
"Impressive," said Mitchell. He and Jack exchanged concerned looks. With those capabilities, no one had any privacy anymore.
Anna rose and formally thanked him. "I offer your world so much more. Why don't your people want to believe me? Why don't you believe, Jack?"
Jack sincerely wished Daniel were here now. How do you explain 'Big Brother' to an alien? "Ma'am, you scare the hell out of us. Mitchell, explain 'Big Brother' to her." Jack went outside for a breather. The cold night air was bracing. He looked up at the stars, wondering how many he had been to.
A new day dawned over the Kremlin. Russian President Mikhailov rolled up to his desk with satisfaction. The riots in the rest of the world had not come to Moscow. The Russian people were a sensible people. If they had survived WWII, communism, and perestroika, they could handle aliens, too. His aide entered with his morning's first cup of tea. She knew how to make it right. With the good strong hot tea was a side of cherry preserves in a little painted dish together with the traditional small spoon. His morning ritual never varied.
The first order of business was to make a determination of the night's dispatches. With the alien on Earth, that topic was a priority. 'Well, well, seems they are having trouble handling the little Lady. She told them a thing or two.' He read a nearly verbatim account of the president's meeting with Lady Anna. It helped to rely on HumInt and not technology where she was concerned. Those Americans had no clue about conducting real diplomacy or real intelligence operations. To her face, they practically called her a mass murderer bent on Earth's destruction. They actually asked her what kind of reprisals she would make if something happened to her?
'Bozhe moi! My God! They were hysterical amateurs.'
Then they wanted her to run and hide on some miserable car ride to nowhere? They were absolutely out of their minds. 'Good for her,' he thought. 'Somebody should tell them.' And she said she wanted to meet with world leaders to discuss Earth's advancement in science. He made a decision.
"Have our foreign office construct a beautiful invitation to Lady Anna. Send a lovely gift. Request her to visit here at her earliest convenience. Make sure our Ambassador in Washington delivers it himself to her Ambassador at their Embassy. Don't even bother to go through the Americans. We can let them know, later. I want it done today before the close of business." After what they just put her through the last two days, he was certain she would come. After all, the Russian people were a civilized people.
The President of China went through the latest dispatches. On the top of the pile was the most urgent. He opened it with his aide politely standing by. He was a man of small gestures. But today's mail caused him to cough slightly. He couldn't believe his eyes.
The Americans accused the lady alien of plotting reprisals on Earth for that debacle at the White House the night before. Then they had the audacity to try to take her deep into their interior by car for interrogation. She gave them an earful and disappeared into thin air with her running dog of an Air Force General.
The President considered this news and re-read the report. Then he made a decision.
"Have the Foreign Ministry make the most sincere invitation to Lady Anna to come to the Chinese people. Offer to her a most exquisite gift to show our respect. Have our Ambassador in Washington take it himself to her Ambassador at their embassy. Do not even bother to talk to the Americans. They have brought shame to the peoples of this world. Get it done today. And make sure it is the most beautiful invitation ever offered.
After being treated like that, he would make a reprisal on those foolish Americans.
A few hours later, the Queen of England sat down for her early morning briefing. She opened the dispatch box delivered each day. The P.M. wanted her to receive the alien. This afternoon, he would be making a speech to quell the riots that still were rampant all over Britain and the Commonwealth. The destruction of property was staggering. Something had to be done. On top she found the most important dispatch. Reading it made her gasp.
The Americans accused the alien woman, Lady Anna, a royal lady, of plotting genocide right to her face. They were hysterical with fear over the previous night's catastrophe. Didn't they have eyes and ears. They actually thought that intelligent and obviously cultured noble woman would indiscriminately make reprisals on their citizens. She offered them more gifts as a show of good intentions. But they weren't satisfied. She asked for a continuation of that Air Force General's assistance. They pretended they didn't understand her. She offered to include him with her officers and her staff. They were reluctant. Some of them even harbored doubts about the propriety of the association between the two of them.
Too, too horrible. He looked old enough to be her grandfather. They even disparaged him point blank after her praise of his efforts. They called him a Julius Caesar to her Cleopatra. Perfectly awful behavior, these Americans should be ashamed.
The Lady asked to make a world tour. She wanted to make a pilgrimage to the Temple Mount. The President refused her. Well, with all the turmoil that was understandable. Then they offered to let her tour America by car with only a small motley escort. They wanted to take her somewhere in the middle of nowhere. For what purpose, Her Majesty couldn't fathom. The alien obviously had her space ship somewhere. Why would she want to go by car? Then she asked to meet with other world leaders. They objected on the pretext she would be a target for terrorists. She must know how to deal with that better than they. Then she told them which way was up and about time too.
In short, they showed her that she simply was not welcome on Earth. But the way that group talked to her was simply dreadful. Finally, she lost patience with them and vanished into thin air, with her favorite Air Force General in tow.
'Good for her. He obviously knows how to deal with an important person. At least she would still talk to him. Humph, We would have left too!' Her Majesty thought it over. I should knight the dear man. It was an opportunity not to be missed. The P.M. was right for a change.
"Inform the Prime Minister that I wish to invite Lady Anna to Buckingham Palace at her earliest convenience. Have our Ambassador in Washington deliver the invitation himself to her Ambassador. Have him send a small gift to show her our respect. We have heard she favors chocolates." Her aide bowed and made the call.
In the morning, Daniel knocked on Jack's front door. No one answered. Mitchell assured him they were in there. It had been a busy night. The man arrested trying to kill Jack was part of some hate group. Nothing more serious, so he was turned over to local authorities with a raft of charges to keep him locked up for years. With another glace over to Mitchell, Daniel decided to risk it and go in. It was really cold outside this morning.
With groceries in hand, Daniel stepped inside. The place was a disaster. There were beer bottles everywhere. The sofa was angled to face the fireplace up close. Candy wrappings were all over the floor. The TV was on but blank. A tape must have run out. Tapes were strewn all over the floor. Crushed popcorn on the carpet came out of a nasty looking basket. Napkins, well, wads of tissue with butter wipings cascaded over the furniture and decorated the floor. Mugs of something sat on the mantle. He tiptoed into the kitchen.
Same old Jack with an empty refrigerator except for the beer. An empty bottle of tequila lay helplessly in the sink. The cabinet doors were mostly open. No glasses. They must be around. Some party here last night. He was almost afraid to go any farther.
Daniel emptied the groceries and used the bag to clean up the tissue, some of the popcorn, the beer bottles and the candy wrappers. He wasn't ready for the smashed popcorn. Reaching for the mugs past the sofa, he saw her. She was out cold huddled under a blanket. She must have been freezing last night and pulled the sofa close to the fire. He relaxed. She must have passed out fully clothed. Modesty was not an issue anymore.
A more cheerful Daniel set about making breakfast and cleaning up. Not even the clanking of the empty bottles woke anyone up. He got the coffee brewing and the table set for three. Then Daniel went in to wake up Jack. That was a sorry sight. A grown man in sweat pants and an Air Force sweat shirt huddled in a fetal position with no covers. He must have passed out on the bed. Daniel sighed a sigh of relief. No fishing today. Let them sleep in. Daniel backed out of Jack's room to continue his household ministrations. He built the fire up again. Anna never moved. Then Daniel got some coffee,. After washing out a mug, he sat down to read. Instead, in the warmth of the cabin, he fell asleep too.
Many others were busy that November morning. Captain Amos, commander of Lady Anna's yacht the 'Benjamin' boarded the ship he had to meet inside the Wormhole Junction. His paper notes were specific. After tagging the unknown "pirates," he was to proceed into the wormhole to meet secretly with a ship waiting to meet the 'Benjamin.' There he would receive further instructions. Captain Amos was Lady Anna's devoted cousin. He knew the succession was at stake and that assassins were after her. Whatever it took to prevent such a disaster, he was willing to do.
Once on board the ship, he entered a private audience with his contacts. The presence of the persons before him scared him to the depths of his soul. This must be truly important or they would not be here in person. Amos stood at attention, ready to receive his next assignment.
"You have done well, Captain Amos." Lady Janelle regarded him approvingly. "You bring honor to the clan. The raiders were marked?"
He nodded, unable to speak. Here was Lady Janelle, the closest confidante to Lady Anna. She was effectively second in command regarding clan matters for Lady Anna. But the fear he felt looking at the man beside her was indescribable. His clan Elder sat there watching the proceedings.
"Good. Now we have another task for you. But, it may not be as simple. In fact, it may test your loyalty to the clan. How say you?"
"I am My Lady's servant. I serve our people and the clan with my honor." It was a stock phrase. It was what anyone would have said. But here and now, he meant it.
"We thought so. We want you to go to Cestius Three where you left Lady Anna in hiding. We want you to marry her there. Afterwards, you will present yourselves to the public as married. Understood?" The Elder gave him a piercing look. Amos was confused. "Yes, you heard us correctly," said Lady Janelle.
"I don't understand. What does this accomplish?" Amos was really stunned.
"It will make the other clans act in haste. Your lives will be in danger, but we can give you support. Let them show themselves. By coming against you, they will reveal themselves. You will do this for the clan." The Elder spoke with finality.
"I serve with honor. But, will I really be married? To her?" Amos was unnerved.
As much as he honored Lady Anna, he was extremely inferior to her in status. And she was inferior to everyone morally. Lady Anna had violated the Commandment not to kill. She had done it personally. She had commanded others to do it. And she systematically planned to conduct a great war that would cause untold numbers of dead. That was why she was still unmarried after seven years of widowhood. No one would marry her. Even though she held the key to the Succession, marriage with her was unthinkable. And yet his Elder commanded him to do it.
"She serves with honor. Treat her so. It is time for you to marry anyway." The Elder was piqued that Amos questioned him. "Later, if you two insist, you may give her a divorce. But I warn you, you must marry this woman for real. You cannot dishonor her. Any children must be acknowledged. The question of the Succession must be answered and soon. We shall uncover what we need to find in the meantime. And you will do your duty. Now, go back to your ship and take it to Cestius Three." Amos bowed and left in shock.
The Elder turned to Lady Janelle. "How did you do it?"
"It was a simple plan. Anna came up with the idea of the double as a decoy. Switching the notes was obvious. I know how she would do this. So I gave the double our notes. Once she was on board and Anna was off, we gave Amos our note by an attendant. He never actually saw Anna again. And we discovered her back up plan. She might not have gotten off the ship to travel by Stargate. So we sent the so-called pirates of Jor to get her for sure if she were still on board. She wasn't. Now, they will be eliminated." Lady Janelle sighed. "Well, if Anna dies on Earth, no one will ever know. We just say that she was the double. Either way, civil war is averted." Lady Janelle rose and bowed to the Elder. "Please tell Nana I have served with honor." Janelle left.
The Elder sat for a while alone. 'Yes, and that is what we shall say at your funeral, Janelle. She served with honor. No one would know. And Amos will never know he married the double. Our house will continue. There will be no war. And then I shall deal with Nana.'
DISCLAIMER: "Stargate SG-1" and "Stargate Atlantis" and their 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 against this or any other story in the universe. 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.
