"Maybourne, to what do I owe the pleasure?"
The lower levels of the base were being prepared for the Treaty negotiations and colonel Maybourne could not have come at better time. General Hammond couldn't have agreed with the man even if it was a better time.
"I have here the order, which will allow me to take… Barbara… and her device with myself," answered the colonel as he set the order on the General's table. Hammond took time to read through the paper, he could not find any fault in the document. It was legal. Two options were remaining. Either he manages to persuade the President to rescind the order. Or…
"Barbara is not currently on the base," replied general Hammond as he put the order on his incoming tray. "Thor decided to relocate Barbara."
"What? How did you allow this to happen?" came out the uncontrolled outburst of the colonel. He schooled his expression back fast, but it was enough for general Hammond.
"You can't really order an alien with a flash transport not to do anything he doesn't want," General Hammond stood up from his chair.
"What about her device? If we could replicate such a device, that doesn't loose energy… Infinite energy!"
"Barbara had the device on herself when she was transported, so I cannot provide it to you," the general shot down that attempt to gain the device. The officers engaged in a stare contest, as both were unwilling to back down. Maybourne was cursing Makepeace as the colonel didn't tell him that the girl had up and vanished. Hammond built plans how to cancel the order that Maybourne passed onto him. He would not let NID to take Barbara.
A knock on the door had interrupted the contest and the heavy quiet that were in the office.
"Come in," ordered Hammond, as he slowly blinked at Maybourne. Through the door sauntered O'Neill, with a small file folder in his hands.
"General," greeted the SG-1 leader his commander as he walked to stand by colonel Maybourne. "Maybourne, what brings you here?"
"Nothing that we can help right now," came Hammond's reply as Maybourne opened his mouth to reply.
"You do understand that I am one of the nice guys," tried to point out colonel Maybourne. "And it is my job to organize the research of whatever technology coming through the Gate and try and develop new technology."
O'Neill looked between the two officers to try and get some context.
"He came for Barbara," Hammond clued in his second-in-command and the man did the understanding sigh before turning to Maybourne.
"Over my dead body," O'Neill looked back at Maybourne, who had the gall to look offended. Jack continued. "Barbara was teleported from the base just a few hours ago by Thor. Better luck next time."
Understanding that he won't get anything from the two SGC officers Maybourne glanced at Hammond and left the office.
"We will deal with the order, right?" O'Neill confirmed with the general.
"Yes, as soon as possible," agreed the man. "How are the preparations going?"
Other than that incident with colonel Maybourne the preparations on the base had no problems. And soon the day of negotiations had come.
O'Neill, Carter and Daniel joined General Hammond at the bottom of the gate ramp, ready to greet the Goa'uld, all dressed in their best uniform (Daniel in his suit). The Secretary of Defense was overlooking the event from the control Room.
The Gate soon was activated and through it walked Cronus, dressed in an armor with fur cape. He was followed by Nirrti and Yu. Each also dressed in clothes greatly inspired by their respective 'religion origins', Nirrti in traditional female Indian clothing while Yu in Chinese robes.
The Goa'ulds were quickly taken to their accommodations, to refresh, before convening again to in the Meeting room, especially prepared for the Negotiations. There was no indignation about the cameras, as the humans installed some hidden cameras a little bit more… hidden from the Goa'uld. There was a small alteration between Cronus and Teal'c. But even Barbara's notes could not have prevented that. The whole team knew about the bad history between the Former First Prime of Apophis and the System Lord Cronus and the whole team was resolved to minimize as much as possible the contact between the two.
And a few hours later Colonel O'Neill was waiting for the System Lords and Thor to start the negotiations officially. The System Lords entered the room following Daniel. As soon as they took their places around the table Thor flashed in.
Jack was basically browbeaten to hold his tongue as much as possible, to prevent possible early insult. So as soon as all the negotiators were present he sat down on his chair and allowed Thor to lead the negotiations for now.
"The Asgard High Council wishes you all greetings and thanks for this opportunity to negotiate for peace," greeted Thor the Goa'ulds.
"The Goa'uld System Lords are prepared to hear the Asgard proposal," Yu nodded at the Asgardian greeting.
The System Lords had immediately started shouting among themselves. O'Neill helplessly looked at the bickering trio of the Goa'ulds before looking at Thor, who was sitting serenely on his throne. The human caught the Asgardians eyes, motioning at the trio at which Thor only smiled a bit before turning back to observe the Goa'ulds. If they didn't stop soon O'Neill would just interrupt them. He was hyping himself for that event and was hopping that something would occur. Anything. Really.
It was his lucky day. Something did occur.
Another flash lit the meeting room leaving behind another humanoid person, standing between himself and Thor.
"Hi guys!"
It was not his lucky day.