Stargate Revealed: Power & Politics, Part 21
by Livi2Jack
Summary: Politics never end. The battle for Earth rages on through intrigue. Ailing, Jack is sent on a mission.
Rating: T
Pairings: Jack/Other or None
Category: Action/Adventure, Drama, Humor, Mystery, Point Of View, Other
Related SG-1 Episode(s): 703 Fragile Balance, 817 Reckoning, Part 2, 901 Origin
Related Atlantis Episode(s): 201 The Siege, Part 3
Featured Characters: Jack O'Neill, MiniJack, Samantha Carter, Daniel Jackson, Teal'c, Hammond, and Hayes.
Author's Note: Spoilers for Season 9+.Jack's new job.
Feedback is requested.
Chapter 21: Countermeasures
"I can't find her." Jack sat in the Ancient Chair device down in Antarctica. Images formed and reformed of various ships in the solar system. "She's supposed to be on the Medship. Carter, do you know which one is the Medship? I can't tell."
"Jack, um, she's not on the Medship."
"What?"
"No."
"Good. That's good. She's up and around then." Jack slowed the images in front of him.
"No, sir." The Commonwealth Colonel stepped up to the Chair.
"No, sir?" Jack asked softly.
"Jack, she's missing." Daniel began speaking softly to his friend. "She never made it to the Medship. They've been calling us looking for her. We've contacted all the Earth vessels as well. She's not here. I'm sorry."
"What happened," Jack asked sadly?
"We aren't sure, but we think the transport was intercepted, by Ba'al. That's all I know."
The Commonwealth Colonel assumed a kneeling position. "I have failed My Lady and you, My Lord General. I am not fit to be your security chief. Please, send me to the prison barge. My shame is intolerable before your honored self."
"Oh for crying out loud. Get up. I don't want to hear this." Jack sat up and then stood up. "Where do we think he put her?"
"Didn't I just say, all I know?" Daniel offered gently for a change. "I'm really sorry."
Jack hesitated and walked off to the bathroom. No one followed. He needed his space.
"This information is indeed disturbing, Captain." Teal'c reviewed the data images and interviewed several prisoners from the surface.
The 'Enterprise' orbited one of the Free Jaffa planets that shared the surface between humans and the Jaffa who controlled it. On this world, the Jaffa kept the human population enslaved as they had been under the Goa'uld. The Jaffa weren't supposed to do it anymore. By treaty with the Tau'ri or Earth, the Free Jaffa Nation had a policy of not enslaving humans and working out differences and claims on the various planets. However, the galaxy is vast and control decentralized. More than a few in the new Jaffa government did not consider such situations a priority or even a problem. So on this shabby world out on the rim of the galaxy, abuses continued.
And out here on the rim, the remaining System Lords continued to prey on the Jaffa. The defeat of the Goa'uld Empire left a shortage of Goa'uld symbiotes. The Jaffa were bio-engineered humans who depended on the Goa'uld larva for their immune systems. The Jaffa carried and incubated the Goa'uld larva called prim'tah. Now the Jaffa had overthrown their masters and were free. They were no longer under Goa'uld control. And the Goa'uld were an endangered species as a result. No one really minded that fact, except the Goa'uld.
Such was the hatred the Jaffa had for their former masters, that any maturing symbiote was destroyed the moment it reached maturity before it could take a host. Then if no other symbiote could be procured, the Jaffa was issued Tretonin. Tretonin distilled the element that a symbiote used to sustain a Jaffa's immune system. Without a symbiote or Tretonin, a Jaffa would die in hours for lack of an immune system. Tretonin was an interim solution. The Tok'ra, the Nox, the Asgaard, and the humans of the Tau'ri all conducted research to find a way to reverse that dependence. Until then, the Jaffa were the targets of Goa'uld harvesting operations.
"So, Teal'c, you realize there are too many humans to just evacuate them?" The Captain paused to be certain that fact was understood by the whole Jaffa delegation. "And you understand that even if we did evacuate them later, this bunch would just steal some more humans and start it up again?" The delegation shifted uncomfortably. Rak'nor nodded and the rest followed.
"Indeed." Teal'c frowned. "We must do something to remedy this situation. What did you have in mind?"
"Well, our Intelligence Service tells us that there are only a few dozen Jaffa controlling the planet and the factories. We intend to kill them. Then, the Jaffa High Council can send others to administer the Jaffa side of the situation per the treaty. If we find out they are abusing the situation, we expect the High Council to take prompt action." Captain Jack had delivered Lady Anna's message. Teal'c understood it came from her. At the meeting with Master Bra'tac at the SGC last week, Lady Anna had made it clear; she spoke for all this galaxy's humans. She would act. Her message was direct. The High Council had better clean up its act and enforce the treaty.
"Understood." Teal'c didn't like the new human ability to enforce its will on the Jaffa collective. For all his friendship with the Tau'ri, they weren't really a threat to the Jaffa, yet. All that had changed the day Lady Anna appeared at Earth three and a half months ago. These advanced humans, the Jaffa called Hak'taur, were formidable in every way. He had never seen such technology before. They were most impressive. Worse, these humans were angry.
"My Lord Captain," the First Officer interrupted as a hologram. "The enemy has entered the system and are on final approach to the planet."
"Thank you, Number One. Maintain position and begin the battle plan. O'Neill out." Captain Jack turned to Teal'c. Maybe this was the time he needed before his friend saw what the real capabilities were. "Guys, would you give us a minute here?" The other Jaffa nodded and exited the conference room. "Teal'c, I know this is weird for both of us. But c'mon, you know me. Do you really believe I would do something to well, you know?"
Teal'c took a moment to consider the question. "Perhaps not to me or my family. But, your loyalties are to them, not Earth. I find this fact disturbing, and that uniform more so." Teal'c was never talkative. Saying that much said volumes. Jack understood. And he didn't back down.
"T, I have to do this. I don't have any other choice if I want a real life. And this life with the Commonwealth, in this body, as a clone will last three times as long as my original life. I'm a clone. I know that. On Earth, I'm a fifty-four year old man trapped in an eighteen-year old body. I can't live like that. Here, I am a fifty-four year old man. I'm valued as an experienced military officer, period. The way things are, I have no future on Earth. That doesn't mean I would ever do anything to hurt my own people or you. I am what I am. I realize you don't think I am who I say I am, but I know who I am. IAM a Jack O'Neill." Jack held out his hand to his friend and prayed Teal'c would take it.
Teal'c hesitated and then whole-heartedly took the arm and clasped his friend firmly.
"We have made a mistake." Heads bobbed and voices murmured their agreement. "We have completely underestimated the circumstances. And now we have an angry hoard at our throats." The speaker addressed the entire assembly of notable persons. "Events have overtaken us. We must make amends before the situation has no remedy." The speaker stepped down from the podium. The chairman of the assembly called for a vote.
"I see we have to take action. So be it. But let it be understood that this is not the time for rash adventures. We must choose our moment. We are not strong enough yet. But that time is coming. They have shown themselves capable of great and terrible deeds. Let no one mitigate this disaster." The meeting adjourned in a flash of bright lights. Only one remained. And he sat there shaking his head in desperate disagreement. Nothing could be done. Nothing.
With a heavy heart, Thor took his place in command on the Asgaard vessel, 'Daniel Jackson,' also named for a member of SG-1. He had to institute the deception. The only hope was that someone could bring sense to the Council before it was too late. And he had to find O'Neill.
"Ok, I need options." President Hayes finished watching the replay of the battle's end. "I need to decide how we are going to play this one. I have to make a speech to the American public and the world ASAP. What we present in the speech must indicate we had this battle under control and played a pivotal role because of the Stargate Program. The opposition and other powers are going to point fingers trying to say we brought this danger upon Earth. I want it clearly understood that is not the case. The only reason we are all here to day is because the American taxpayer solely funded the Stargate Program and the building of intergalactic class ships. And they will reap the rewards for that investment. But make it unequivocal that we shall not give an inch regarding our freedom and way of life. Get the media primed. Jerry, that's your department." The White House Chief of Staff nodded and contacted the president's speech writer to start the speech.
"What we actually plan is another matter. We have internal domestic issues. We have foreign policy problems on this planet. And now we have interstellar issues. Somehow, we have to keep things together here and stabilize the situation in our favor. I need to know various scenarios to keep us independent. We have to solve immediate issues regarding the Commonwealth, as in today and tomorrow."
"We have to dance for our lives here. I want to know my options for making the Commonwealth dance to our tune. For example, if Lady Anna announces that Earth belongs to her, what are our responses? What can we expect from the other nations? And how do we handle our constituents to support our decisions and manage the internal opposition? The same applies if she just wants a treaty. What are we willing to consider? Why should we agree to a treaty? Are we willing to fight her and how and for how long? What are the various methods and what are the objectives to achieve in that fight?"
"Making her presence here too expensive and unpleasant is a bargaining tool. She needs the cooperation of local authorities. We have to use that to our advantage. And we have to consider that just because we are small and she is large, it doesn't mean we can't make her perform to our demands. Look at what that mullah down in Basra just did to us. I want estimates about how our people will react to a Somalia response. They turned their country into a disaster to make us go away. It worked. Other thoughts?"
"We have to consider that most people may not believe any of this really happened." The Secretary of Homeland Security stated. "The average person may never be convinced this was real or wasn't staged in Hollywood. Our opponents, other nations, and the Lady herself can exploit that disbelief. We have to prepare a media campaign to address these possibilities pronto." The HomeSec pointed his pen at the SecDef. "And we have to close ranks on this. The cabinet, the people on the Hill, and the Party have to stand solid. Whichever way we go, everyone goes together. And we have to reach out to the other side for whoever will support us firmly. They have to comprehend completely that the United States has to appear to be a unit. The public has to have confidence in its leadership. Otherwise, the impeachment hearings will start next week."
"I agree, Mr. President." The SecDef was a team player after all. "We can not be seen cooperating with her. If we do, someone else will take up the fight against her and us. They will have the popular support. The most important issue in front of us now is what is best for America. After that is decided, we can consider the responses of our allies and our opponents on this planet.
"I think we just discovered that we cannot rely on our off world allies anymore." The Secretary of State spat out. "The Jaffa don't care. The Tok'ra can't help in a battle. The Nox won't. The Asgaard behaved like cowards and shirked their responsibilities towards us. We also have to consider that allying ourselves with the Commonwealth will just set the Asgaard against us. Lady Anna attacked an Asgaard vessel. We don't even know if a state of war exists between those two alien groups."
"Sir," General Hammond began thoughtfully. "We have another problem that is political. Lady Anna has Harry Maybourne working covert ops for her. If she has him, she has others. Obviously, that woman has set up her network here or she could not have accomplished so much so quickly. I can get a paper together indicating what resources we can bring to bear from off world. We have to hit her from as many fronts as possible. Maybe the Tok'ra or the Jaffa will help us off world in more covert special operations. Don't count them out so quickly." Hammond looked piercingly at the SecState.
"Good point. As to the attack on the Asgaard vessel, we don't know it wasn't an accident." Peter Soames, the SecState stared at the SecDef. "And it was just one ship. Maybe we can broker a deal between them. It's a point for consideration." Mr. Soames looked thoughtful. "We also have to prepare ourselves for the reality that we do have to conduct interstellar diplomacy. The Commonwealth has provided an Embassy to us in their Capital. I believe they want dialogue. If SG-1's reports are to be believed, they are inherently peaceful. They don't want to start a war here and incur losses on either side. No, the Lady has shown that she prefers a peaceful and profitable association. That company she has here can be nationalized and bankrupted. We have leverage, Mr. President."
"I see how we can do that, Mr. President." The Secretary of Health and Human Services joined the discussion. "Beg, borrow, or bribe the media. We are going to become the most environmentally friendly administration ever. The 'Earth First!' organization will have nothing on us. By default, all her offers to mankind are immoral, illegal, or fattening. Let her fight the environmental impact reports, FDA requirements, and just plain old superstition and fear of anything new. All alone, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) should keep her chest high in lawsuits. Chances are her stuff is more than OK. However, proving that it is may be nearly impossible even for her. Lady Anna's staff will spend all their time defending her enterprises. Even the Lady cannot prove she is clean if the populace does not want to believe it. We will fight her all the way. I am certain we'll get more goodies that way."
"I think every Department has agencies to slow her operations to a crawl." The Secretary of Commerce stopped doodling on his pad. "the Economic Development Administration (EDA), the International Trade Administration (ITA), the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) can put up endless roadblocks, especially the Patent and Trademark Organization (PTO). Her companies will want to patent that lovely advanced technology. We can work with our counterparts all over the world to make certain her patents are rejected and time runs out on Patent Pending protections. Let any Earth enterprise seize the opportunities."
"Yes, and there are all the existing lawsuits for the terrorists she apprehended, er, abducted, sir." The Attorney General grinned. "I have had inquiries from my counterparts all over the world concerning the filing of lawsuits here. I think we should look into suing her all over the world." He paused and smirked. "I'll have my people investigate how to sue her on her world. General Hammond, can we get Landry to investigate her operations on other worlds? We should find a way to sue her on allied or worlds unrelated where she has economic activities." Hammond made notes while nodding. "For that matter, we should try to compete against her directly where we can."
"We know about her list of demands." General Maynard began slowly. "I've said it before and I'll say it again. We have to listen closely to exactly what she says. She says what she means and means what she says, EXACTLY. I don't think there is an immediate threat of invasion." Maynard looked at the SecDef considering his phrasing. "However, we have to consider that she has placed a defensive net around the entire planet. That could be a hostile move. Put together with the outer system forts and robotic devices, we can assume she thinks of those items as her leverage."
"So, blame all natural disasters on her interference with the solar system." The Secretary of Energy curled his lip. "All those defensive installation she put around the Earth do interfere with the propagation of sunlight and solar wind," the Secretary of Energy declared with a wink and a nod. "Fund research to indicate her objects cause climate changes on Earth. I don't give a rat's ass if they really do or do not. All those energy cannons, they dumped enough energy to heat up the Earth by a degree or two. We find those two degrees in the weather data and pin it on her."
"Right now, we have a good idea what she wants. How do we to make her accept what we want?" The SecState chimed in. "We should put her in a position where she feels that the lives of her personnel are constantly threatened and she has to buy off their safety."
"What about O'Neill?" The SecDef just couldn't stand the situation. "He is Commonwealth now for all intents and purposes. What do we do with him?"
"At the moment, nothing." President Hayes raised tired eyes at the SecDef. That man hated O'Neill on a personal level. The President fleetingly wondered why. "Lady Anna has made a point of telling him she has never lied to the guy. He believes it to be true if you consider that she doesn't tell him everything, which can be misleading. Like Francis says, General O'Neill has to listen carefully. In which case, he is a valuable conduit to her true intentions at some level." Hayes gestured with his hands to say probably. "We need access to her. We are such small potatoes that there is no way we would have this opportunity except for General O'Neill. I just have to be sure that if I pull the plug, he is still loyal enough to come home or not cooperate with her. Next consideration."
"You'll have no cause to worry about Jack, Mr. President." Hammond stated firmly. "I'll get O'Neill to lean on her for disclosure of their purposes and maintenance of the space based devices. We have to get our people up there where they can get at those things or at least the controls to those things." Hammond made more notes. "And I would let the other nations know how O'Neill is doing a great job representing us on a face to face basis with the ruler of billions on twenty-four planets. Such access is unprecedented. And we have an American General on her personal staff."
"Sir, we have to consider that no matter what the Commonwealth offers, however benign, the populace may never accept it." The Secretary of Homeland Security opined. "People just don't act on their best interests. This truth repeats itself time and time again. Look at retirement accounts. The government gives people every reason to save using them, and it's only a small percentage that will. It's the same thing with home ownership and a raft of other social policy incentives. People don't know what's good for them."
"So even if Lady Anna offers us all sorts of wonderful possibilities, medicines, and devices," Secretary of the Treasury sighed, "most people will perceive her as the devil incarnate and oppose her and anyone in league with her." While looking at the SecDef, he continued. "We have an immediate leadership issue."
"Long-term, there is great upside potential in front of us but the downside is war." The Attorney General was a long time advisor to the President. He knew how to campaign and reach the masses. "In the short-term, we know other nations will try to grab what they can. Lady Anna will try to play us off each other and try to make us compete against one another. If we do not cooperate at all, the Lady will just show her preference for another country, say China or Russia. We have to remain the preeminent power on this planet. And O'Neill has to see to it that she continues to deal with Earth through America. There will be discontent. And we may have to be prepared for an Earth-based war in the near future."
"There's no money for another war," the Secretary of the Treasury answered him. "And we have to deal with the unrest we have. If we have to grind ourselves to dust to get rid of her, we have to have the public behind us. And we all know the average citizen doesn't want his way of life disrupted."
"I'm telling you straight. Financially, we are on the brink of collapse. We need positions to respond to the current monetary situation. With that $17 Trillion IPO of her company's stock, she sucked so much money out of the world economy that there is a cash shortage and a worldwide deflation. She has destabilized the entire world's economy. I recommend we threaten to start an inflation that could wipe out her position here. We should try to undermine her company."
"Lady Anna used Earth capital to grow her company. She has to be forced to invest off world monies. As it is, she can just walk away without damage to her own interests. Inflation would be painful for all of us. Earth investors who bought her stock would pay the price, as would we all. But it is an option to play. It happened in 1974 when OPEC tried to hijack us with high oil prices. We pay less now adjusted for inflation than we did before they started their play. And we need positions to address the possibility of a worldwide depression worse than the Great Depression. We have to have a plan for the aftermath."
"Ok, I've heard enough to let you all get going. I need to work on that speech. Mr. Secretary," Hayes indicated the Secretary of State. "You field the calls from the other nations. I have a feeling the missing leaders will be returned shortly. And Jerry, get the press ready to go up to her flagship. I want coverage of that event. Show the people I am in charge and we have nothing to fear from these folks up there. The only way this government will survive is if it looks like we have things handled." With that, Hayes got up and left for the VIP room and a shower.
"Captain, we have the enemy fleet targeted by the drone platforms. Plan B is begun." Jack's First Officer was efficient. Captain Jack of the Commonwealth Starship 'Enterprise' nodded in approval. "On screen, Captain."
The screen was a large console in the center of the bridge. Above it played the holographic images of the solar system and the two fleets. The bridge crew worked quietly and professionally. Teal'c noticed the extraordinary performance of this crew. Something was different from the other crews he had visited during his three-month stay in the Commonwealth. And then he realized what it was. They were serving a Jack O'Neill. It didn't matter that he was the clone. They knew it was O'Neill's consciousness in command. Everyone moved smartly. There was an air of pride. Even the youngest looking crewmember looked at Captain O'Neill with awe in his eyes.
"It's a small force, My Lord Captain. We count two Ha'tak class vessels and another five Al'kesh. They are not expecting too much resistance." The First Officer consulted the plot. "Captain, I believe the Jaffa on the planet have a Ha'tak and two Al'kesh. Shall we contact them? Their ships are reaching orbit to fight the enemy fleet."
"Wait until the enemy is between us and the Jaffa. Then we shall reveal ourselves. Hold it steady." Jack concentrated on the plot. Red enemy ship icons moved to meet Blue Jaffa ship icons. The green ones were Commonwealth. The gold dots represented automated drone platforms deployed, while big purple cannons represented energy cannon emplacements. Various orange squares indicated sensor drones. Flashing indicated passive status. Solid represented active. The inner system comprised three planets and an asteroid field. The outer system contained two gas giants. The sun was slightly larger than the Earth sun and had a smaller satellite sun of no consequence orbiting it.
"It would seem they are entering the trap, O'Neill." Teal'c looked on with approval.
"It just doesn't feel right, T. It's too direct, even for an arrogant Goa'uld." Jack addressed his Sr. Tac Officer. "Are any of those ships of the newer Wannabe designs?"
"Yes, Captain. One Ha'tak and one Al'kesh are of the new designs."
"Right. Now you see I just don't understand why the Wannabes would take part in a symbiote harvesting operation. The fewer the Goa'uld, the better off they are. It gives them more power proportionately in that alliance." Jack rubbed the back of his neck in a typical O'Neill gesture. Teal'c noticed.
"Indeed. You have a point."
"There has to be something else going on. Activate the remote sensor platforms on the other side of the small sun and search above and below the plane of the ecliptic." The bridge crew waited silently as the commands traveled by the FTL drones to the sensor net. The plot of the red icons marched inexorably towards the blue icons of the defending Jaffa.
"My Lord, we have detected some kind of remote sensor platform by our sensor net. We have never encountered such a device. It is transmitting out past the heliosphere. The heliosphere is designated to be where the Sun's magnetic field and particles from the Solar Wind continue to dominate. The surface where the Solar Wind drops below the speed of sound is called the termination shock. We believe the receiver of that information is somewhere in that region.
"I knew that." Jack made a face indicating he didn't to Teal'c.
"Indeed. What is your point?"
"That someone out there is watching what is about to happen. And by using hyperdrives, they are within striking range of this battle."
After the battle, General Jack commed the Medship to hear it for himself. Lady Anna was missing presumed to have been intercepted by Ba'al. If that were true, Jack had an immediate problem. Being separated from her for even a few hours was debilitating. Because of the particle tags, Jack and Anna were compelled to be in proximity in order to function. As time wore on, he lost concentration and judgment. She had been gone for several hours and he was suffering. Something had to be done. So the doctors on the Medship invited him up for a consultation.
"I don't understand, Doc." Jack's simple statement belied the turmoil in his mind. This was too much. He rubbed his eyes wishing he had slept more in the past four days.
"My Lord General," began the Commonwealth General Medical Officer. "We have a way to neutralize the tags. However, the effects of the tags are not so easy to change. The process changed your body at the cellular level. Now, your brain has completed additional neural pathways that create..."
"Ack! Carter! Just tell him to get to the bottom line." Jack frowned, stood up, and started to pace. This news was awful.
"Sir, what he's saying is that your body has changed. The particles were the delivery system for new instructions to your brain. It's hardwired now, sir." Carter kept a professional demeanor even though she was seething in anger. "Thor changed you and these folks are not sure how to change you back. They are guessing that a trip through the Sarcophagus would have an effect. But they are not sure whether the effect would erase the problem or make it permanent."
"You've got to be kidding, right?" Jack spun around to look at the doctors who were nodding in agreement. "I can't live without her and she is missing?"
"My Lord General, it may be that now this is a learned behavior and is more natural than forced. People's brains learn and change every day." The Chief Doctor crossed his arms over his chest and took a deep breath. "We also speculate that two other factors are involved. One factor is that you are a man. The tags delivered the instructions and activated the brain through the sense of smell. A woman's sense of smell works differently from a man's. So your reaction is differently inscribed than Lady Anna's. And two, the DNA marker Thor put in you may be interfering as well or may be the whole cause. We don't know. I'm sorry but that's all we've got so far. We have only had a week to work on this problem."
"Jack, we know that Thor wanted this to happen. So, maybe he can undo it?" Daniel huffed and threw out his arms in frustration. Then he rubbed the back of his neck and turned away in distress.
"He's not answering his phone again." Carter snorted in disgust. "I believe he is afraid."
"And he damn well should be." Jack spat out.
"Well, what about the Sarcophagus? Maybe it will work. It cures just about everything else." Daniel was grasping at straws.
"It's not that simple, Dr. Jackson. As you know, the Sarcophagus cannot repair most brain damage. If the subject is shot in the head, then he cannot be recovered. The tag's mechanism affects the brain, just like brain damage. None of us understand how that mechanism works. The problem may require something so fundamental that even the Asgaard cannot fix it. And..." the Doctor paused again to take stock. "And we don't know if General O'Neill should go through the thing again without his very life at stake. He's been through the Sarcophagus so many times that he could begin to lose himself from the sheer number of trips in it."
"That is true, Jack," reminded Daniel. "The unrestricted use of the Sarcophagus is what makes the Goa'uld as bad as they are. Then they pass their evil along through genetic memory further compounding the problem. It is why the Tok'ra will not use the Sarcophagus."
"Are you saying even one more trip is a risk?" Jack was losing it. That bastard Ba'al had tortured and killed him so many times three years ago that even Jack had lost count of his trips through the Sarcophagus. But he knew it was a really big number. Only a few dozen trips were enough to change someone's soul.
"Yes, My Lord General. Our scans indicate that you already exhibit the effects of too much time in the Sarcophagus. My recommendation is that you give us more time or you find Thor."
"Oh, when I get my hands around his scrawny little neck," Jack held out his hands in a strangulation gesture. His face was angry. And then he made himself relax. "So, now what? I mean, what do I do? I can't function like this."
The Doctor felt badly for this man. He didn't deserve such treatment. "My Lord General, you should think carefully before using the device again."
"That is just not acceptable," announced Carter. "He has his own life to live. You have to do something." The Doctor's compassionate eyes missed nothing. This woman was very loyal to the Lord General. Maybe she was more loyal than was professional. Ah, this was another unfortunate complication.
"Well, as I said, there is the Sarcophagus. But I strongly recommend against it until you have talked to Thor and gotten no satisfaction." The Doctor thought for another moment. "I can give you a sedative so you can sleep, but that's all right now."
"I'll try almost anything at this point. It's just so frustrating to be controlled like this." Jack turned to his team. "I don't care what it takes. You find Thor and make him undo this. I have to get some shut-eye. Oh, this time I am going to say something to that no good scrawny little grey..." and Jack got the shot then, wandered off to a biobed muttering to himself.
"Have we finished the mopping up operations?" Admiral Zay turned to his Commodore for the report. The Commodore told him they were very sure that the system was secured. "Fine, continue active sensor sweeps. And rotate the patrols more frequently. I want everyone, who has been up more than 24 hours, to get some sleep. No exceptions. And you can tell the Lord General he is the first in line."
"My Lord Admiral," the Commodore hesitated. "Lord O'Neill is on the Medship, now. The doctors tell us he has been sedated so he can sleep. Shouldn't you tell him?"
"Make another sweep of the system. Then contact Princess Ellen at the Capital. Our instructions are to bring Lord O'Neill to her if anything happened to Lady Anna. Let him sleep for a total of six hours. I want him thinking clearly when she talks to him." Admiral Zay wondered how they would get O'Neill to cooperate. He was such an unpredictable man.
"Yes, Admiral. And we have extended the invitation to the American President to come to the ship for the victory ceremony. He has accepted. But, he wants to arrive in his own ship and bring his own news media. We are allowing it unless you object." The Commodore knew Zay didn't care but it was a courtesy.
"Be sure you sweep it for deceptions. Those ignorant savages could rig it to explode. Better yet, be sure we have our suppression devices installed before it docks. And put a few cloaked security personnel on board just in case." Zay sighed and ended the communication. The Admiral knew about the President's cabinet meeting at the SGC.
The Admiral was pissed.
"So T, you want to make the announcement to the Jaffa commander?" Captain Jack was feeling generous at the moment. Teal'c had genuinely reaffirmed their friendship. Mini-Jack knew diplomacy would be better for that relationship.
"Indeed."
"Open a channel to the defending Jaffa commander." The screen filled with the angry arrogant face of the Ha'tak command officer.
When he saw Teal'c standing on the bridge he screamed, "SHOLVAH!"
"Kree, Jaffa. If you know who I am, then you know enough to fear me." Teal'c paused with satisfaction. "Join with us in battle and submit to the Jaffa High Council. And we shall let you live."
"We do not fight with traitors and slaves."
"So be it. You will die. And your deaths will be meaningless." Teal'c turned away. But a noise of a staff blast firing startled the 'Enterprise' bridge crew. The Jaffa commander toppled forward, dead. Another Jaffa stepped up.
"Shel kek nem ron! We die free, brother. What is your plan?"
"You have made the correct choice. Be warned. This force is not the only force in the system. There are others much farther out. We must unite to destroy this portion before the others can arrive." Then Teal'c laid out the strategy and indicated O'Neill. The defending Jaffa startled. He knew the reputation of O'Neill. But the commander was confused. O'Neill was supposed to be older. Teal'c saw the fearful reaction and felt satisfaction. The battle would be a good fight.
"Commence Plan 'B'," commanded Captain Jack. Dozens of micro-missiles launched from containers pre-positioned near the planet. But the Ha'taks did not explode in five minutes. They exploded on contact. The force shook the 'Enterprise' and the ships of the defending Jaffa. The Al'kesh on the attack approach veered off trying to run for it. Energy cannon from other launch platforms took them out as they passed by. The remaining Death Gliders tried to make kamikaze runs on the Ha'taks. In minutes, none were left. The defending Jaffa commander contacted O'Neill.
"We surrender."
In Earth's solar system, the Commonwealth fleet continued to sweep the system. The enormous base ship, the 'O'Neill,' was large enough to have its own Stargate and served as the Admiral's flagship. Admiral Zay wanted to meet with Jack before the trip. The Lord General had to be prepared. Too much was at stake. Any more chaos and there would be civil war. Lady Anna had staged a coup d'etat yesterday. The king was retired to a monastery, effectively exiled. Lady Anna became the Regent. Now, she was lost. To calm the populace, the General had to be sent to the Capital with all haste. If he did not appear soon, the people would riot. Admiral Zay sighed heavily. It was well known what Lord O'Neill thought about that kind of appearance. He hated it. So Zay went to order Jack in person.
Standing at the Gate, Admiral Zay welcomed O'Neill and dismissed everyone but Jack, Daniel, Carter, and Jack's Commonwealth security team. In a few short words, Zay informed them that they had to go back to the Capital for the appearances and a meeting with the Royal Matriarch, Princess Ellen. She had given strict orders to send Jack along. No one disobeyed a clan Matriarch let alone the head of the Royal Clan. Zay was a member of that clan and so had the duty of obeying her. Jack strenuously objected. He felt his place was here in Earth's solar system. But Zay was having none of it.
"My Lord General, we are reminded of your loyalty and honor this day. Yet, we must insist. Our Matriarch requires the assistance of Lady Anna's Earth Force Advisor." Jack frowned and began to protest. With a wave, Zay cut him off. "The decision is made. No arguments, General." Admiral Zay gestured to the Gate.
"But I am in no condition to do this, Admiral. She has been gone so long I am not fit for duty." Jack sighed and rubbed his nose. He had a splitting headache. "Admiral, information from the Chair told me the Asgaard are looking for the two of us. Maybe she is with them. They were searching for us the whole time. They must have found her and soon they will find me. Then they will just take me. So it's pointless to send me to the Capital."
"Yes, and that's not all," Daniel insisted. "It seems they have been tracking Jack and Lady Anna for some purpose. We don't know why, but we can guess. The tags come from them. And now we know Thor ordered it."
"What for?" Admiral Zay was all ears for this now.
"Sir, I didn't put this in my report when I came back because it was so embarrassing. You remember that meeting Lady Anna and I had with the little guy two weeks ago? Well, I reported that he scanned her and got all excited about her being more advanced than I. You remember that part?" Zay nodded. "Well, he put her in a beam that held her fixed and they were running around all excited yammering at each other. She didn't like it and complained. I wrote all that." Jack took a deep breath.
"What didn't you write, General?" Admiral Zay used a disappointed voice.
"You remember the part where Thor said that Anna gave them a temporary solution to their cloning problem?" Zay nodded trying to remember the entire report. It was an appalling first contact with an alien species. "Since finding her put off the inevitable for a long while, Thor said they were very grateful to me. I wrote about all that." Jack frowned and paused uncomfortably. Admiral Zay nodded wondering when this lower-level functionary would get to the point. "And that's when he offered her to me as a reward." Jack looked down ill at ease. "I refused of course."
"What do you mean, Thor offered her to you as a reward?" The Lady's cousin asked evenly. What this old man said could not be possible.
"Just what it sounds like. He said something about me not having procreated and that my DNA would be lost." Jack shuffled and mumbled. Then he bit the bullet and continued. "He wanted to give her to me for my mate. She was stuck in that beam and never heard any of this. I swear."
"And you didn't think this was worth mentioning this whole time?" What could that barbarian have been thinking not to report something this important? "Are you insane," Zay growled?"
"Like I said it was personal and embarrassing and I thought it was settled when I refused." Jack knew he was in trouble.
"Are you sure, she doesn't know?" The Admiral rubbed his hand across his tired eyes. 'Well, well, everyone including the Lord General was out for power. No surprise there,' Zay inwardly sneered. 'This uncouth lout from a primitive backwater planet thought he could marry a royal lady, the Regent of the entire Commonwealth. The man had no sense of shame in addition to his unbridled lust for power. This whole Lord General bit really had gone to that murderer's head. O'Neill belonged in a zoo not a palace.'
"I'm sure, well, reasonably sure, she doesn't know."
"Um, if I may sirs," Daniel interjected. Raising two fingers of each hand in the quotation gesture, Daniel continued. "If Thor could 'arrange' to 'give' her to Jack, then isn't it possible he 'arranged' for Jack to be 'given' to her? I mean if he could manipulate her why not him?" Daniel used two hands to motion one side to the other. "After all, if he wanted them to mate, then why not alter Jack's mind to accept her or not want to mention any of this? Thor could have given Jack a suggestion not to talk about it. Or, Jack may not be able to remember what really happened in total."
"Thanks for trying, Daniel. But I should have reported this part." Jack stood tall and erect, waiting for his medicine.
"Oh c'mon Jack, you were messed with too. Just look at the way you two are so goofy over each other. It's not normal. I kept telling you that. And so did General Hammond." Daniel stuck up for his friend. "The doctors say it is a hard-wired behavior now. It's like brain damage that can't be undone."
"Did you?" The Lady's very royal family member asked coldly.
"What?"
"You know. Did you and she, well you know?"
"Know what, sir?"
"Did you do it?"
"NO! Of course not." Jack was really embarrassed. "See this is why I didn't want to say anything, sir."
"No, that's not why you didn't want to say anything, Jack. I just told you. Thor didn't want you to say anything." Daniel corrected them. "If you had reported this, you would never have been allowed in her presence. He couldn't risk that. So he arranged it so you strongly felt you wouldn't want to mention it."
"Are you sure," Jack asked doubtfully?
"Am I sure that Thor didn't want you to mention it or am I sure that you would not have been allowed in her presence?" Daniel countered.
"Both, I think. I get confused."
Jack tried his dumb act. It had gotten him out of jams before. Just by the look from the Commonwealth Fleet Lord, it wasn't working. Admiral Zay, First Fleet Lord of the Commonwealth Admiralty, Duke of half a planet, cousin of the King and the Regent, a man whose heritage could be traced back four thousand years, drew himself up to his fully outraged royal stature and commanded Jack to go through the Gate. The Security Forces made it plain, Jack was going. He went.
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