Stargate Revealed: Power & Politics, Part 15
by Livi2Jack
Summary: Disappearances, assassins,Lady Anna has her say. Teal'c is diverted. Jack's Clone finds answers he never expected.
Rating: T
Category: Action/Adventure, Drama, Humor, Mystery, Point Of View, Other
Related SG-1 Episode(s): 703 Fragile Balance, 817 Reckoning, Part 2, 901 Avalon, Part 1, 902 Avalon, Part 2
Related Atlantis Episode(s): 201 The Siege, Part 3
Featured Characters: Jack O'Neill, Jack's Clone, Samantha Carter, Daniel Jackson, Teal'c, Hammond, and President Hayes.
Author's Note: Spoilers for Season 9+. (a little tongue in cheek here folks.)
Feedback is requested.
Chapter 15 Enough Is Enough
"What the hell just happened, Ma'am?"
Covered in gore from several bodies, Jack stood over Carter lying on the White House floor in a pool of her own blood. Carter was down. Shot by the assassin as she tried to stop him. Lady Anna had a big bump on the back of her head from collapsing after saving Carter with a hand device. She held an ice pack to soothe the hurt. Jack was in no mood for evasion. He had just killed an ashrak assassin in the White House Red Room.
"I don't know, General. I remember taking your hand to reposition the healing device over her and then I passed out. Did they lower the force field, yet?"
Anna sat down unsteadily. An attendant brought a chair for her. Medics lifted Lt. Col. Carter on to the gurney. Another medic tried again to examine Lady Anna's head injury. She fended him off again.
"Thank you, I'll see my own doctor as soon as they lower the force field." She leaned back with a bout of nausea.
"Well, something happened. That thing you gave me shot out a really bright light. Then Carter stopped bleeding and looked a whole lot better. Even the wound closed. She's conscious now." Jack watched them strap her to the gurney. "But she's not fine." Jack twirled around watching the people running around. "Daniel, go find whoever controls the damn force field and get it turned off. YOU!" Jack pointed to a Marine sentry. "You take him and get that force field shut off. That's an order, Marine." The Marine looked doubtful at the general covered in blood and gore, then saluted and marched off with Daniel.
"General, please, take off that jacket. It makes me sick to look at it and smell it."
Lady Anna was about to puke. The smells were getting to her. At death, bodies release their muscles and therefore the contents of their innards. There were plenty of dead bodies in the White House just then.
"I have to be moved elsewhere. I can't stand the smells." She tried to rise and move away. Her attendant caught her as she swayed. She was covered in Carter's blood too.
"Wow, is she hurt?" Emmett Bregman walked up to O'Neill as Lady Anna was helped away. "Look at all that blood all over her. She can stand?" O'Neill took one look at the newsman and called over another Marine Sentry.
"Get him out of here." Jack stalked off to check on the President. Somehow that force field had to come down.
"So, now what?" The President wondered aloud. "Every time she comes, we look incompetent and I wanted to tell her she was not ready to take on the Goa'uld fleet." Hayes sat at his desk in the Oval Office. "How is she doing anyway?"
"She bumped her head. The smells are too much for her with all the bodies piled up. She wants the force field lowered sot he bodies can be transferred to the ship and then taken to a sarcophagus." Hammond looked out the window. "I am not so sure I want to let her out." He glanced over to the SecDef to read his reaction.
"No, that would be a mistake. As soon as we get the all clear, let her go. We don't need her any more upset at us than she is." Hayes paced the floor. "Ideas anyone?"
"We can't call the Asgaard. We can call the Jaffa. But they can't reach K'tau through the Stargate either. Even if they go by ship, the Asgaard device won't work for them. And she says they have guards in the Temple." Hammond picked up a pad and wrote the following: 'So unless we want to start a firefight in there, I would suggest that we send someone to Dakara, go by ship, and have them use zats at the Temple.' He handed it to the President. Hayes considered it. She obviously had the place under surveillance and would hear them. Maybe this was a better approach. Do it in writing. Hayes scrawled back 'ok.'
"Master Teal'c." Princess Ellen called him to her chair by the fireplace. Teal'c walked over to the Matriarch of the Royal Clan. "The broadcast has worked. Our thanks and gratitude to you and O'Neill." Teal'c bowed in acknowledgement. The old woman sighed deeply. "We have need of your services again."
"Indeed?" Teal'c waited patiently. These were a most interesting people.
"We have need of your command experience. Our commanders have trained but are still new. The arrests have left holes in our command team. We would be grateful if you would transfer to the fleet far from Earth. There is a special task we want to accomplish before the Goa'uld arrive there." The effort seemed to exhaust the old woman.
"There is a fleet approaching Earth? What has transpired?" Teal'c became alarmed.
"Lady Anna has laid a trap. She has lured the bulk of the remaining Goa'uld capital ships from their convoy duties and planetary patrol activities. This lack of protection offers a great opportunity." The Princess let the thought percolate in Teal'c's mind.
"You want to create a diversion inside their core territories to split their forces during an attack. A bold plan, yet, I have to wonder if I may be needed yet on Earth." Teal'c considered the possibilities. "How much of the forces will Earth face and with what shall we use against them?"
"They have sent forty Ha'tak class vessels and at least one mothership along with supporting Al'kesh bombers. This force represents a significant part of their fleet at this point. You would face a severely reduced force protecting the most important depots and some of the new shipyards. We believe their production facilities are vulnerable as they never have been before. Currently, keels have been laid for another fifty Ha'tak vessels. We have let the work proceed. If we strike now, the supplies will be destroyed. The result is that we shall gain several more months to prepare." Princess Ellen observed him considering. "It will teach them a lesson about wandering off out of their own territories."
"You have been aware of these plans for sometime. Why tell me today? Why not ask me to help plan this engagement? No. I must return to the Tau'ri. If the Goa'uld will attack Earth, my place is there." He bowed. "I request permission to return." The Princess waived her hand in dismissal. Teal'c left with his Jaffa escort. But they never made it to the Stargate.
Former Vice-President Robert Kinsey stared in disbelief at the Television News. Again? He just shook his head. How was it possible that the assassins screwed up again? On the other hand, the President looked like a fool to let this happen twice in one week. It wouldn't help his re-election bid. Kinsey thought about it and how the situation could help him. He would promote an investigation to find out what was wrong with security in this country. The Senate would jump at the chance to make Hayes look like an incompetent.
"Yes, what?" Kinsey called back, his eyes still glued to the news.
"Dear, there are some people here to see you. It sounded important." Mrs. Kinsey stood expectantly by the door. "They insist you come immediately. It looks official." She was whispering the last part.
"Oh alright." Kinsey padded to the entrance hall. Looking these characters over, he decided they were officially unofficial. "This had better be good. I'm a busy man."
"Correction. You WERE a busy man." And the closest one took out a zat and shot him and his wife.
The President of China stirred his tea. The Politburo meeting went late and the dinner even later. At his age, it was not so easy to sleep after eating late meals. The reflux in his throat made him sleep nearly sitting up. His wife had stopped sleeping with him long ago. He rarely saw her anyway. Entering his home to call it a day, a bright light came and went. The President went.
"Jack, there you are."
That soft sweet voice he wanted to hear hovered near him. The warm trade winds blowing on shore ruffled his bushy brown hair. He just reached out and caught her arm. Pulling her beside him he simply took what he wanted. The kiss was long and leisurely. She responded. His other hand clasped her head from behind holding her to his mouth. She didn't resist.
He stopped and pushed her away a little so he could see her. Two hands, he kept two hands firmly on her upper arms not letting her move. She said nothing. Quietly, her hungry eyes passed over his face. He pulled her in again. And took his time with a more languorous kiss. She was hot. He was crazy. They were in public. He didn't care.
"Jack, um, um, please um...enough." Looking around, she noted that no one was too close. But still it was in public. "I can't think."
"Concentration slip away? Good." He looked at her backlit from the tiki torches. It was good to have her off balance for once. "Where have you been?"
"Where eagles fly." She gazed solemnly at his face, searching for something. "I am sorry you can't be with the one you love."
"Then, love the one you're with." In one motion, Jack gathered her up and walked to the open entrance of the building. He wasn't letting go this time. Remembering a song from his past, he just hummed the tune to the Stephen Stills song, thinking about the lyrics all the way up to the room.
And if you can't be with the one you love, honey
Love the one you're with.
The King of the oil rich country sat in conference with a western ambassador. "Your Majesty, we have every intention of..." A bright light came and went. The two men seated in the room disappeared.
"Um, Jack, they are ready for you both. Where is Lady Anna?" Daniel approached General O'Neill in his office day cabin on board the 'Daniel Jackson.' The aliens apparently had ships named after each of SG-1.
"I don't get it." The silver haired general finished tying his tie. The aliens kept his clothes ready at all times. He had to admit they took very good care of him. "How could it happen twice?"
"I don't know. I thought we had all sorts of new security devices." Daniel pushed his glasses up his nose. He looked in the mirror and adjusted his tie. "And, we have the naquadah detectors?"
"Supposed to. Where is she?" Jack picked up his hat. He checked his image. A big bruise formed to the right over his sculpted cheekbone. One thing going for these aliens, they sure did treat him right. He had a new uniform exactly tailored to him ready and waiting. The old bloody mess of the last one was sent down to the forensics team on the planet.
"She came back here to clean up. But her staff said she's gone."
"Force field off?" Jack put his hat under his arm per military protocol. Daniel nodded. Jack spoke a command softly and reappeared in the Oval Office with Daniel. Jack saluted the President. "Where is she, sir?"
"I don't know." President Hayes could not believe he was getting used to all the people popping in and out. "We paged her and were told she's not ready. So, back to where we were. Have a seat General O'Neill." Hayes didn't call him Jack anymore. Jack noticed.
"Prime Minister, we have word from the Americans. The Goa'uld are on their way to attack Earth. The Commonwealth says it is prepared to defend us but we don't..." A bright light delivered a man, who took the other two.
"What?" Jack,JR.asked softly. The woman in his arms stirred slightly. He got no reply. She just put her nose to his side and lay quietly. He could tell she was awake and thinking about something. "You never answer a straight question. Why not?"
"Mmmm. Most questions answer themselves." She rolled over to get up. He pulled her back. She did not resist. He rolled over too. Looking down at her he couldn't think. He just wanted her again. She closed her eyes.
"Open your eyes. I want to see you. Open them," the young tousled haired man demanded. Slowly the small woman in his arms gave him a half-lidded view. "All the way. Look at me." She did. He made love to her again looking in her eyes.
A man stood at the foot of President Mikhailov's desk. He activated a device on his wrist. The beam of light came and went. Just another example of poor Earth security the man decided.
Anna got up. She went to the bathroom. Her lover slept on while she washed. Finishing, Anna walked out to look at his sleeping form. He was magnificent with his high cheekbone, bushy soft brown hair, and generous mouth. This young buck would be even better looking in twenty years. That Jack had a maturity and easy presence which was so much sexier. Anna had seen the pictures. She snorted a laugh. Well, maybe if she survived she would come back, maybe not. Gathering up her things she dressed quickly. Anna checked her uniform in the mirror and adjusted the insignia. The warm tropical breeze blew through the balcony doors. Anna stopped to look out at the starry night sky. The sound of the waves breaking on the shore caught her attention. Anna sighed and turned to go. Jack was awake and watching her.
"Who are you, lady?" He stuffed his hands behind his head and watched her with his deep-set brown eyes. She just smiled sadly back at him. "I want to know." She was beautiful and exciting, but she was something else.
"No. You don't." Anna walked to the door. Jack leapt up and grabbed her firmly. She just looked down at his grip and gave him a stern look that said let go. He didn't. She set her face to a hard stare. His practiced eyes searched her for answers. Then, he realized she was wearing a uniform. Jack did not recognize it.
"Who sent you, the Air Force or the Russians? Who?" He tightened his grip. She became very sad. She was sad, so very, very sad. He saw her change. He felt her change.
"Answer me." But she neither resisted nor complained. Anna didn't answer either. "You are too knowing. You are too composed. Who trained you? For whom do you work? And don't tell me you are a stewardess. I've never seen that uniform." She looked straight up at him with the saddest eyes he ever knew. "What do you want with me?"
"I got what I wanted from you." Anna spoke so very softly. "And you got what you wanted from me."
"No. I am not nearly done with you." He tightened his grip and held her fast.
"Do you want to hurt me?" She asked so sadly. "Is that what you want, Jack?" He got confused. What was he doing? He had never acted out like this. Something about her brought out the pure driven animal in him.
"What is your game?" He snarled softly, with a dangerous glint in his eyes. She patiently gazed back at him, waiting. "Who ARE you?" He shook her slightly.
"Don't ask questions when you really don't want the answers." Anna made herself relax and looked away to the wall. He was close to being disintegrated. She had to keep her cool or the automated systems would activate. "Loosen up a little." He did. She sighed a deep breath. Much more and this would get ugly.
"I'm waiting." All of his instincts were on high alert. "It was no accident you kept showing up wherever I went."
"No. It wasn't an accident, Jack." Anna gave him a small rueful smile. "Satisfied?"
"Not really, you need to tell me what you want with me."
"I just got what I really wanted from you. There is nothing else."
"What?"
He was getting angry. She was doing to him what he did to women. No, not possible, there was much more she wasn't saying. "I don't buy it. You wanted something else. You could get this from any man."
"I don't want any man. I want Jack O'Neill."
"What?"
"General O'Neill, are you still with us?" President Hayes called the distracted man back from his reverie. Turning to the group he stated the obvious. "We need to focus here. Now, how do we send the message to Thor?"
"We don't know, sir. Our people got to Dakara. But that's all we know." General Maynard cast a doubtful glance at O'Neill. O'Neill was really losing it. "The Daedalus can only use the ring transporter now that Hermiod is on ice. General O'Neill, can you do anything to get her to reconsider?"
"I doubt it. She is adamant that the Asgaard are not such good guys. But I can try. It won't work though. She is too sure she is right on this score." Jack rubbed his hand on the short silver hairs at the nape of his neck. "In my opinion, we need to be getting the Chair refilled ASAP."
"We've been told that won't happen until you are in the chair, guarded by her people. They aren't taking any chances." Hayes looked at O'Neill. He was becoming more distracted as the meeting progressed. "General, in my opinion, you are not fit for duty. I am relieving you of command and sending you for medical observation. Someone else with the Ancient gene will be sent to the Antarctic base in your place. Until the tag or whatever is causing this is finished, you are not to take part in this situation. I'm sorry, but you have been thoroughly compromised."
Jack's face became a mask. "Sir, you have assigned me to Lady Anna's staff. Are you saying that you are revoking that status? Because I report to her until you do.
He started to rise and seemed confused how to exit. The other men just watched in concern. Hammond rose to escort him out. But Lady Anna's hologram appeared before them.
"Well, My Lords, do not let me stir you up to such a sudden flood of mutiny."
Her look was enough to make every man stand up in her presence. They were uncomfortable with the situation. But she was in her element. Then, Lady Anna sarcastically spoke to O'Neill.
"I know you have sent messengers to Thor. They who have done this deed are honorable. What private griefs they have made them do it. They are wise and honorable. And will, no doubt, give you reasons." She saw the hard looks and angry stares.
To the other officials she added, "give me audience, gentlemen. Those that will hear me speak, let them stay. Those that will not are best let to depart. Hear me that you may understand my message. Believe me for my honor and have respect for me that you may believe. Consider my words and open your minds that you may better judge my words and actions."
She surveyed the sorry scene in the shabby office. The angry looks spoke volumes.
"I see. If you don't want him, then I formally request his assistance." It was clear she would take him with her no matter what.
"Ma'am, he's all yours." Hayes had lost his patience. "Obviously, we can't stop you. But you should know that our goodwill has reached its limit."
"Sir, mine has long since passed." She turned to O'Neill. He seemed doubtful. "There is but one mind in all these men, and it is bent against O'Neill. My Lord General, you are not immortal. Look about you. Security gives way to conspiracy. I pray that God defend you. My heart laments that virtue cannot live amid such as they."
In righteous indignation, Lady Anna turned to the men in the room.
"I have a man's mind, but a woman's might. How hard it is for a woman to keep still! So I shall speak my mind. You do injury to one to whom you should give thanks. My Lords, it were better that we spoke today and let our alliance be combined. Better even that we ourselves became friends, our means stretched, and that we sat together in counsel. We should have been in discussions of covert matters and finding answers to the coming perils."
"Ma'am, you already risked all our lives without even consulting us. You committed us to this action and took away our protectors. What right do you have to make these decisions for us?" Hayes was angry too. "You are only going to get yourself killed and us along with you."
"Fear of your own death stinks even up here in the heavens." Lady Anna curled her upper lip in contempt. "Sir, in his fear a coward dies many times BEFORE his death. The brave only die once. But, I have died twice and O'Neill many more times than that. We fear life without honor not death. If it be for the general good, then put honor in one eye and death in the other. And I will look on both indifferently. Truly, I love the name of honor more than I fear death." She turned to the rest of the company with the full force of her presence. "Of all the wonders and terrors I have seen in this galaxy, it seems strange that men should fear death. It will come when it will come."
"Ma'am, these are fine words. But words will not protect us. We must send word to the Asgaard." President Hayes appealed to her. "Under the Protected Planets Treaty, they are pledged to protect us from the Goa'uld."
"In exchange for what? They are your masters. Even now they are Earth's Overlords. You must ask their permission to live. They take what they want as it pleases them, doling out their favors as misers with their gold." Lady Anna looked at them like imbeciles. "You ask why I have done what I have done? I answer you not that I loved you less but that I loved freedom more."
"The human race must end its childhood and stand together this day. We must live or die by our own means. For being dependent on other races and their good graces, we are nothing but children or worse, their servants, even their slaves."
"Who is here so base that would be a slave? If any, speak; for him have I offended. Who is here so rude that would not be free? If any, speak; for him have I offended. Who is here so vile that will not love his people? If any, speak; for him have I offended. Then none I have offended for you would do as I have done were you able with your own powers."
"For I have neither wit, nor words, nor worth, nor action, nor utterance, nor the power of speech, to stir men's blood. I only speak right on. I tell you that which you yourselves do know. It is better that the enemy seeks us. They waste their means, weary their soldiers, and wear themselves down. The journey here was long. Their plans longer in the making. While we, lying still, have the advantage. For we are rested. Our defenses are constructed and in our own territory where supplies are plentiful. Even better, our minds and warriors are fresh and thinking sharply."
Lady Anna whirled around on O'Neill. "These warnings of imminent evils have them on their knees begging you to stay home and appeal to your overlords for protection. Tonight, the dice are cast. If it be my fate to die, I die with honor. The heavens will blaze with the fury of our cause. And if necessary, I shall die in that furnace of battle. Those who cower and crawl beneath these stars fearing to go and fight are begging for the crumbs of benevolence from their betters. When beggars die, there are no comets seen; but the heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes and heroes. Men such as these cannot understand what is at stake. Nor can they see the endless possibilities from our success."
"I fear I wrong the honorable men here whose plots and cabals have silenced O'Neill. I do fear it." To the men of that room, Lady Anna addressed herself for the last time. "I could be well moved, if I were as you. For you would pray and grovel to the Asgaard. If I could pray to move them, then such prayers would move me. But I am constant as the northern star, of whose true fixed quality there is no comparison in the firmament. The skies are painted with unnumbered sparks. They are all fire and every one does shine. In all the heavens, there is only one that holds its place. It is I."
Lady Anna spoke more softly with determination. "The world is furnished well with men. And men are flesh and blood, and apprehensive. Yet in their number I do know but one man that unassailable holds his rank in honor, unshakable in courage, unmovable in purpose, and that is he." She pointed with an outstretched arm at O'Neill. "You will know. Even in this moment, I was constant, and constant do remain to hold him as honorable. For his honor you will never understand." To Jack she sadly smiled and said,
"My Lord O'Neill, we shall not walk and peep about to find ourselves dishonorable graves. Men at some time are the masters of their fates. The fault is not in fate, but in ourselves, that we are underlings. Some men are never satisfied while they see a man greater than themselves. Therefore they are very dangerous. I would rather tell you what is to be feared than what I fear." Lady Anna sneered at their cowardice. "I would rather be a dog, and bay the moon, than be someone with a long life and a dishonorable grave."
Sources: ARTIST: Stephen Stills
TITLE: Love the One You're With,
Shakespeare: Julius Ceasar paraphrased.
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. 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.
