The delegates in the room stared. They couldn't help themselves. They all knew – intellectually – that aliens existed, and some of them had even known since before that week, but none of them were actually prepared to meet and speak with one. Or in this case, three.
Thor had kept out of the way of the politicians while they'd been on the base. More because he didn't see any reason to mingle with them when there was absolutely nothing he could do to help them than out of any antisocial behavior. He'd lost his ship and the diplomats would ask for help or hope when he had none of either to give them. When the danger that was – had been, actually – Anubis was gone, Thor had used the communications equipment on the Tok'ra ship to call his people. It wasn't a direct call, because the Tok'ra didn't exactly have access to the Asgard communications lines any more than most of the humans did, so it had taken the other Asgard a while to get the message and know it was safe now to make an appearance.
And they had.
Two warships were now in high orbit above the planet. Both were cloaked against the Tau'ri satellites and any other searching devices, but the commanders of these ships had to make their presence known to the SGC because they were unable to lock onto anything in the entire area any longer and couldn't simply transport themselves down to the planet like they once might have.
Now the three Asgard – Thor and two others – were standing at the head of the conference table in the briefing room, well aware of the stares of those humans in the room but trying to act as if they were stared at all the time.
"We are pleased at your survival," one of the Asgard – a ship commander who Thor had introduced as Galapagos – said. "Our people were concerned that Anubis would destroy your planet and we would lose all the time spent forming our allegiance with your people."
Hammond frowned, thinking that they could have at least pretended to be concerned for more than just time lost, but Hayes smiled. He was far more of a politician than Hammond was and there was no way something as simple as a group of little green (well, greenish-gray) men could throw him out of politician mode with so many of his peers in the room.
"We thank you for your concern."
"We are curious, however, about the weapon that was used to repel the attack of the Jaffa Death Gliders."
"Curious?" Hayes repeated.
"Such a weapon is far more advanced than any other device on your planet," the other Asgard said. This one was named Kela. "We are curious if you plan to continue using the weapon…"
"Only if another threat to our planet shows itself," Hayes said, looking at the others in the room. They had, after all, already started to discuss the weapon.
"A weapon such as the Ancient's weapon is almost certain to be misused by a race as violent as yours," Galapagos pointed out.
"What would you have us do?" the Soviet Ambassador asked, scowling like a thunderstorm as if he already knew the answer he was going to get. And maybe he did.
"We feel you should turn it over to our people," Kela said. "For your own peace of mind."
"That weapon is all we have to protect ourselves if another one of these system lords decide to come calling," the British Prime Minister pointed out.
"We protect your planet," Galapagos said. "You have no need to-"
"You did a great job this time," the French ambassador said, sarcastically. Since his was the only country that had actually been attacked by the Death Gliders no one in the room could blame him for being angry.
"This time was a mistake," Kela said. "We were unprepared for the advanced technology that Anubis carried on his warship. It will not happen again."
"No," said the Chinese ambassador. "It won't. Because next time we will have this weapon ready to go before anyone has a chance to attack us."
Hammond looked at Thor.
"Do you agree with them?" he asked.
The Asgard hesitated.
"No. I do not. While I agree that such a powerful weapon will undoubtedly cause your people much grief without any accord to how it will be managed and maintained, I know your people well enough to know that any argument we might make will not convince you to part with the Ancient weapon now that you have it."
"Covetness is not wholly a human trait," Kela pointed out. "But it can be a deadly one."
"We have to protect ourselves," the Soviet Ambassador snapped.
"You will assuredly destroy yourselves."
"Why don't you let us worry about that?" Hayes asked, still trying to be diplomatic, but failing. "We appreciate the advice, but this weapon is on our planet, and it's our responsibility to figure out how to deal with it – or what to do with it – on our own."
Thor nodded. He had already said he'd expected that much, after all.
"We will leave you to your discussions, then. Congratulations once more on your victory."
He had to get started building a new ship, after all.
"Thank you, Thor," Hammond said, giving the Asgard a slight bow. "I hope you will return again soon."
But not too soon.
"Thank you, General Hammond."
With that, all three Asgard vanished from the room.
There was a lengthy pause, but then one of the diplomats spoke up.
"They do have a point, you know…"
All of them agreed, whether they actually nodded their heads or not.
"We can form an international committee," suggested the king of one of the smaller Arabian countries – a man who had been mostly silent from the very beginning, but was more than willing to put his own ideas forth if they were good ones. "A group to oversee this weapon – and to be ready in case of another attack."
There were assorted nods.
"Your people are most familiar with it," the British Prime Minister told Hayes. "Perhaps General Hammond here could be in charge of this committee?"
There was no denying that several of those in the room trusted Hammond far more than they did most other American generals. They wouldn't leave the committee strictly to the Americans, of course, but in the aftermath of this attack, they all knew that Hammond and his people would be very high in the esteem of the public, and they were all willing to capitalize on that popularity in their own countries – which meant pushing forward a new committee that would be responsible for guarding the Earth from another attack like the one they'd just survived.
Hayes was surprised by the suggestion, but hid it well.
"It's a fine notion," he said, smiling. "But we'll have to find someone else to run it. I already have plans for General Hammond."
Weir and George were the only two who actually were looking towards Robert Kinsey at that moment and were the only two who saw him scowl.
"We can come up with something, though, I'm sure," Hayes assured them, sitting down at the table. "Let's talk about it for a minute."
Hayes already had his own plans on how best to use Hammond's soon to be plentiful positive publicity.