CiC meets SGC

By Michael Weyer

Well, hadn't expected to continue but the reviews were so much, I thought I'd add on to it a bit. All comments are welcomed.

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Warren Keaton, Vice President of the United States, put down the large file. He looked up, his expression mixing shock and disbelief. "This…is for real, isn't it?"

James Gardner nodded. "I'm afraid it is."

Keaton rose and walked across his office to a side cabinet. He opened it up to pull out a large glass and a bottle of brandy. "Mr. Vice President, it's two in the afternoon," the White House Chief of Staff pointed out.

Keaton shook his head. "Jim, you just told me that we own a device that can travel to alien planets and we've been at war for years with a powerful alien race. I think some alcohol is called for."

Gardner was quiet before smiling softly. "Bridges and I almost emptied a whole bottle together when we were told about it."

Keaton poured the drink and downed it quickly. He licked his lips and shook his head. "This is just incredible…How the hell have you managed to keep this secret?"

"There have been some close calls," Gardner admitted. "But the checks and balances were set up before we came along. Hopefully, they'll keep going."

Keaton nodded as he put the bottle away. "Why didn't the President brief me on this herself?"

"She's busy today," Gardner stated.

"Oh, right," Keaton replied. "The meeting with that group in Colorado."

"Actually, that's a cover story," Gardner replied.

Keaton frowned before he got it. "She's going there?"

Gardner nodded. "She wanted to see it for herself. It was a surprise to me too but she insisted."

"Who's with her?"

"The First Gentleman and some Secret Service who have already been there with Bridges. And Kelly."

Keaton raised his eyebrows. "You're sending the White House Press Secretary to the most classified place in the country?"

Gardner held up his hands. "She shouldn't know but she was supposed to accompany the President on this trip and it would be too complicated to keep her out of the loop."

Keaton nodded. "So, I'm expected to keep this a secret from everyone?"

"Yes," Gardner confirmed. "I know it's not going to be easy but it has to be done."

Keaton let out a low whistle. "And here I've been spending two years regretting losing the election. If I had known about this…"

"Bridges said the same thing," Gardner stated. "And I highly suspect the President feels the same way."

Keaton sat down at his desk. "I hope she can handle this bunch at this Stargate mountain."

Gardner couldn't help smiling. "Actually, I was thinking they might have to handle her."

Keaton thought about it and nodded. "You're right."

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Kelly Ludlow wouldn't call herself the stereotype of a blonde. One didn't become the White House Press Secretary if they didn't have intelligence. Her looks no doubt helped but she was smart and fast and had gotten the respect of the cynical White House press corps with the way she handled things.

However, it had taken her the better part of a half hour to realize they were not taking an extremely long detour but rather weren't heading to the Cheyenne Women's League.

She licked her lips as she faced her long-time boss. "Ah, Madam President…where are we going?"

Allen was dressed in a dark blue suit as professional looking as possible. She was next to Rod, who was dressed in a dark navy suit of his own. Allen was flipping through some papers before her. "This is why I was reluctant to let you come along, Kelly."

Kelly frowned. "What do you mean?"

Allen sighed. "We're going to a military base at Cheyenne Mountain."

"NORAD?" Kelly shook her head. "Why would you want that kept so secret?"

Allen paused and then handed a file to her press secretary. Rod was turning to open a small cabinet at the side of the limo. Kelly opened the file and gazed at the information. She flipped through the papers and photos as her eyes widened more and more and her face went slack. She slowly looked up, her jaw open. "I…this…this can't be…"

Rod leaned forward to offer a glass of alcohol. "Here. This helps."

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General Hank Landry had been through a lot in his time as CMO of Stargate Command. However, this was his first visit from the Commander-in-Chief and he couldn't help but feel a little nervous.

It was partly due to the entire idea of meeting the President. But it was also because of who that President was. Although he considered himself a forward-thinking man, Landry still found it a bit off that a woman was commanding the entire United States military. He knew most of the "old guard" of the Pentagon were grumbling over taking orders from a female, especially one who had never been in the military. Landry supposed he'd be in the same boat if it weren't for the fact that running a gateway to other planets gave one a much more open mind.

He was in his best dress uniform, doing his best not to openly fuss with it. He gazed at the others around the table to make sure they were ready. Lt. Colonel Samantha Carter and Lt. Colonel Cameron Mitchell were both in their own dress uniforms. Daniel Jackson was wearing his best (if hastily ironed) suit and Teal'c was clad in a pair of dark jeans and shirt with his usual somber expression.

"All right, they're coming down," he announced to the others. "I need everyone on best behavior for this."

Mitchell frowned as he saw the glances in his direction. "What? She's already met O'Neill. That should prepare her for anything."

"He has a good point," Daniel said.

Landry sighed. "People. This is the first visit by the first female President, I want to make sure it goes well."

"We shall endeavor our best, General Landry," Teal'c intoned.

Landry nodded, knowing he could at least count on the Jaffa. Teal'c was always more ready to behave than others. It no doubt came from the fact he wasn't human.

There was a knock and everyone rose from the table as a soldier opened it. A pair of men in dark suits entered first to give a cursory look. Then President Mackenzie Allen walked in before the First Gentleman and a rather stunned looking Press Secretary.

"Madam President," Landry said, saluting. "I'm General Hank Landry, commanding officer of Stargate Command."

"At ease, General," Allen replied as she offered her hand. Landry shook it and motioned to the table. "Madam, this is SG-1, our top team. This is Lt. Colonel Cameron Mitchell, the field leader."

"Ma'am," Mitchell said as he shook the President's hand.

"And," Landry continued. "Lt. Colonel Samantha Carter. She's been instrumental in the science aspect of the operation."

"Madam President, it's an honor," Carter said as she shook the other woman's hand.

Landry nodded to Daniel. "Dr. Daniel Jackson, who helped crack how to use the Gate in the first place."

Daniel made a nervous smile as he shook her hand. "Easy there," Allen said with a warm smile of her own. She turned her gaze to the large black-skinned man behind the table. "And finally," Landry intoned. "This is Teal'c."

The man bowed his head respectively. "A pleasure to meet you, President Allen."

Allen did her best to hide her nervousness at shaking hands with a man from another planet. "Nice to meet you as well…Teal'c," she carefully pronounced.

She nodded to the people behind her. "This is my husband, Rod Calloway." Rod began to shake hands as Allen motioned to the woman beside him. "And my Press Secretary, Kelly Ludlow."

Kelly's eyes were fixed on the emblem on Teal'c's forehead and barely registered the President's words. Allen gave an apologetic smile. "She just found out in the limo."

Mitchell nodded. "Understood."

Everyone sat down as Allen turned toward the large window looking out into the Gate room. "So that's it," she murmured.

Landry nodded. "Yes, ma'am."

"Looks different up close," Rod intoned.

"That's a common reaction, sir," Landry stated.

Allen shook her head. "It's still a lot to take in."

"I know it is, Madam President," Landry stated. "We are happy about your visit, I have to say."

"Well, it has to be one of those 'I'm not really here' type of deals," Allen pointed out.

Landry smiled. "Don't worry, ma'am, your predecessors had plenty of those."

Allen nodded. "I'd like to say that, having read the files, I am very grateful to all of you for all you've done not just for this country but for the world. I only wish we could let the world know about it."

"So, we're not getting outed?" Mitchell dryly asked.

"I think the world still isn't quite ready to learn what kind of role we play in the universe," Allen replied. "Kelly can back me up to how the press would go nuts over this. Right, Kelly?"

She looked over to Kelly who was still staring dumbly at Teal'c's forehead. The Jaffa simply returned her look with the tiniest hint of a smile. "Kelly," Allen softly said, resisting the urge to nudge her.

Kelly blinked. "Oh! Oh, I'm so sorry, I, um, I…" She licked her lips, realizing the irony of someone in her position being at a loss for words.

"It takes some getting used to," Daniel told her in a reassuring voice.

"I'll take your word for it," Kelly softly replied.

Carter smiled. "As I said, it is good to meet you, ma'am."

"Thank you," Allen replied. "I take it you voted for me?"

Carter looked down. "Ah, actually, we were off-world at the time and it was a pretty hectic mission. I…never got a chance."

Allen glanced at Mitchell, who looked up as if trying to avoid the question. "I shouldn't even ask, should I?"

"That's usually a safe course of action with him," Daniel interjected.

Allen nodded as she looked to Landry. "General, I'm also going to want to discuss the Atlantis base."

"Atlantis?" Kelly suddenly piped up. 'Um, you mean, ah…the real Atlantis?"

"What do you think?" Rod asked her.

"I think I wish I'd brought that bottle with me from the limo," Kelly muttered.

Landry looked back to Allen. "So, Madam President, if you'd like, we can begin with a tour of the facilities and then we can------"

A loud alarm began to blare over the loudspeakers. Instinctively, the Secret Service agents moved around the President. SG-1 were on alert as well as a voice echoed. "Off-world activation."

Allen's attention was caught by a large metallic sheath closing over the Stargate. The symbols on the wheel were rotating quickly as a pack of soldiers rushed into the Gate room, rifles ready.

Landry was already moving, the rest of SG-1 behind him. Allen rose to follow, her bodyguards trailing behind her along with Rod. Kelly, not believing this was happening, rose to quickly follow.

Landry entered the command room and spoke. "Report."

"We're waiting for the recognition code," the technician replied as the Gate kept moving.

Allen looked to Landry. "General, is this some sort of demonstration on my behalf?"

The General shook his head. "No, Madam President, it's not."

The technician checked the information on his screen. "Sir, the code is…SG-1."

Landry glanced at the team, who seemed as startled as he was. He paused and nodded. "Open the iris."

The technician hit some commands the metallic sheath opened up. The final chevron locked in and with a blast, the Stargate came alive. Despite the briefings, Allen was unable to keep her jaw from dropping open at the sight of it up close. Kelly's eyes bugged out, Rod's close to hers and even the Secret Service agents seemed thrown.

The liquid gate shimmered until a figure stepped through. She was a strikingly beautiful woman with long black hair, clad in a black suit that accented ever curve of her shapely body. She had a mischievous smile on her face as she calmly strode down the ramp.

"Oh, joy," Mitchell intoned as Daniel let out a long groan. "It's Daniel's girlfriend."

Allen frowned as the team moved away to the stairs leading to the Gate room. She followed with her agents, leaving Rod and Kelly staring as the Stargate switched off.

The woman broadly grinned as she saw the team enter. "Ah, I love how you people are always ready to celebrate my arrival!"

"Vala, what are you doing here?" Daniel bit out.

The woman frowned. "What? I can't come by to see you again?" She sauntered forward, moving to Daniel, who appeared less than thrilled by her approach. "I at least expected a hello kiss."

"General, who is this?" Allen asked.

"This is Vala," Landry answered. "She's a…" He paused, trying to think of the right way to put it.

"Thief."

"Con artist."

"Impersonator of deities."

"Former Goa'uld host."

Landry nodded, satisfied that SG-1 had answered for him. "She has been a source of…aid to us from time to time."

Vala looked Allen over. "And who might you be?"

"Mackenzie Allen. President of the United States."

Vala's eyebrows rose high. "A female in charge of the biggest nation on this planet?" She smiled at Daniel. "My estimation of you people has just gone up a few notches."

"Vala, what are you doing here?" Daniel repeated, a little more intense this time.

The woman shrugged. "Well, partly the desire to spend hours upon hours in bed with you mixing together our sweaty bodies…"

Daniel grinded his teeth together as Mitchell and Carter did their bests to stifle smiles.

"But," the alien woman went on. "I also think that you might want to know that a renegade Goa'uld is planning on launching an attack that could cause quite a bit of death and destruction to your planet. Oh, and it'll be sometime within the next seventy-two hours."

She walked by them all, heading to the hallways. "Which way is that mess hall of yours? I am famished!"

They all watched her go as Mitchell leaned in toward Daniel. "For twenty bucks, I'll shoot her in the kneecaps."

Daniel shook his head with a tired expression. "No. Anything that much fun, I'd want to do myself."

Allen stared at each of them and the thought crossed her mind. THIS is what's saving this planet?

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Hope you enjoyed this one. I know some might question where this falls into Stargate timeline. My best guess is assume we go a bit AU after "Beachhead" with Vala getting a message to SG-1 about her survival earlier. Keep all the comments coming and I hope to update soon.