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Chapter 2
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Jack knew that this day was inevitable ever since he had joined the military. He had never been that good at taking orders.
Colonel Jack O'Neill was facing court martial.
"I'm sorry," General Hammond had told him, looking sincerely apologetic. "But you're not under the influence of any alien substances, viruses, mind-control devices or anything. I had Doctor Fraser check you out twice."
"Well, I know that," Jack said with a roll of his eyes.
Hammond looked grave. "I'm afraid, I cannot prevent a court martial in these circumstances. You tried to access the gate without orders. You tried to dial the co-ordinates I specifically ordered to be locked out of the system."
"I was trying to prove that it was the Aschen homeworld!" Jack burst out.
"You then tried to reach the Volian homeworld carrying an arsenal of machine guns on you."
"I was trying to get Carter back. If half of the armoury had to come with me to do that, then so be it." Jack shrugged.
"You specifically disobeyed my orders." Hammond shook his head. "I can't get you out of this."
Jack gave a wry smile. "I bet Kinsey is looking forward to it."
"Senator Kinsey is currently preparing to travel to the Volian homeworld to discuss the alliance."
"He's a pompous bastard and he's playing dice with the lives of everybody on this planet," Jack said angrily. "And I hope you tell him I said that."
--
Daniel stared at the piece of paper in his hand. "I'm being transferred," he said blankly. "Out of the SGC."
"For what reason?" asked Teal'c.
"It says that I have no business being on a front line team since I'm merely an archaeologist." Daniel slammed the paper down on the table in front of him, making several of his artefacts rattle. He suddenly noticed that Teal'c was also carrying a slip of paper of his own.
Teal'c inclined his head. "I have been informed of a desire that I should return to my homeworld."
Daniel blinked. "Why?"
"It does not say."
There was an awkward silence. Daniel stared down at his piece of paper. He had never had that much of a rapport with Teal'c.
"I wish Jack didn't lock us up in our rooms before trying to rescue Sam," Daniel said.
"If he hadn't, then it in all likelihood, we would also be in cells awaiting sentencing," Teal'c pointed out.
"But I'm a civilian and you're… well you're an alien."
Teal'c raised an eyebrow.
Daniel had to admit that he had a point. It was likely that Kinsey would have found some way to prosecute them. Especially since the Stargate seemed to be well on its way of becoming public knowledge. The president was already planning a speech about it on the day the alliance with the Aschen was made formal.
"Still," Daniel said quietly. "We should have helped. We should help."
--
"I'll never give you co-ordinates to anything," Sam snapped. She was beginning to lose her patience. For the past eight hours, she had been sitting at a conference table, under bright lights, with no food, water or rest. To make matters worse, the Aschen weren't doing something as simple – and probably they'd consider it primitive, she thought sourly – as torture.
She could easily stand torture. God knows that Goa'uld did it to SG-1 enough times. Mental, or physical torture was easy to withstand if you had strength of character.
However, right now, Sam was simply becoming more and more pissed off.
For eight hours, Borren had simply sat there and asked the same question over and over again.
She watched as he opened his mouth again.
"Please provide us with a gate address to a habitable world."
"No," she said shortly. "You can torture me, but I won't give you anything."
Borren sighed, the first sign in the entire eight hours that he was finding this even the slightest bit tedious. "Such means are beneath the Aschen Federation. We do not employ such tactics except in the most dire of situations."
"No, but obviously you have nothing against the systematic eradication of an entire civilisation."
"That was necessary. We have no need to explain our actions to you." Borren sat back and folded his hands neatly in his lap. "You have told us of your enemy the Goa'uld. We can take care of them for you."
"I'm sure you can." Sam had a sudden thought. "If you are so set on an alliance with Earth, then why do you need co-ordinates from me at all?"
She wasn't sure, but Sam thought that she could detect a subtle stiffening of Borren's body. "That does not concern you."
--
No matter what anybody else said, Senator Kinsey knew that he was no fool.
He gave a slight smile. "I'm afraid we cannot provide you with any more gate co-ordinates. That was a gesture of good faith on our behalf."
It was unspoken, but it was apparent that Ambassador Mollem understood him perfectly.
Mollem inclined his head slightly. "We will see about a gesture of good faith of our own."