Colonel John Sheppard was waiting impatiently in the gate room. He was usually calm and relaxed when meeting the new recruits but this time it was different. This time he was meeting the youngest female colonel in the USAF. She could single handily end any of the military personnel's' careers including his own and Caldwell's. He shuddered.
"Nervous John?" asked Elizabeth Weir, the leader of the exhibition.
"Yes just a bit." He admitted and then blushed. Seeing this Elizabeth asked, "Have you read her file?"
"Yes ma'am." He laughed slightly. Elizabeth was about to reply when the new recruits beamed into the gate room.
Looking around I was in total awe. I could see why Daniel would like to come here. I did a complete circle until my eyes rested on the tall, messy haired man and a tallish woman, who had dark hair like the man, in a red t-shirt. That must be Dr Weir and Colonel Sheppard I thought to myself. Deciding I had better say hello I walked forward and smiled. The man stood ramrod straight and looked at me.
"At ease colonel. Listen I just want to let you know that I'm not here to step on your toes or contradict any order that you will give. I'm also not reporting to anyone, I'm here because I want to be here. I will follow your orders as if I was a major. I will only pull rank if I feel the need. However I doubt that will happen." I smiled at him and he visibly relaxed before replying "Thank you colonel. May I introduce Doctor Elizabeth Weir, leader of the Atlantis expedition." I shook hands with the woman in the red t-shirt.
"It's an honour to meet you ma'am."
"Likewise colonel." I smiled and said "Both of you, please call me Laura and that goes for everyone on the base." Before either could reply Caldwell's stern voice shouted, "SHEPPARD!" John rolled his eyes and said, "Now what?" under his breath. A bit louder he said, "Yes colonel? What can I do for you?"
"What are all of these changes that you've made to the rules of this base?"
"Well sir, I thought a change might be in order. It also means we get a designated day off in accordance with Doctor Heightmeyer's recommendations."
"These were not authorised by me. As you are well aware they have to be signed by you, myself and Dr Weir before these can take affect. You have broken the chain of command yet again. I will not put up with this insubordination any longer." I saw colonel Sheppard stiffen. I made a split second decision to step in.
"Excuse me Colonel Caldwell. The changes were counter approved."
"Oh really? By who?"
"Me. I read them while I was in the infirmary, agreed to them and signed my name. Do you have a problem with that?" I glared at him. Daring him to say what he was thinking. He took the dare.
"Are you the lady who has been with Major Lorne while you were staying on the Daedalus?"
"Yes. Colonel Laura Turner." I turned to Sheppard and said "Could I have a quick word with you in your office colonel?"
"Yes ma'am." I turned back to Caldwell and said, "And for the record I was a civilian on the Daedalus so I haven't broken any regulations. Nice try though." I walked away from him and followed Sheppard to his office. I waited for him to sit before I spoke.
"Sorry about that sir. For the record I did read the changes and I do happen to agree with them. However I realise I may have overstepped the mark with Caldwell and I do apologise. It will never happen again. I will accept any punishment you give me." I stopped and waited.
Sheppard sat forward and placed his elbows on his desk thinking. He had another ally against Caldwell; it was no secret that he wanted Sheppard's job, and a pretty powerful ally at that. Finally he spoke, "Laura. I'm not going to punish you. In fact I want to say thank you for that. The man has a habit of trying to steal my job." She raised an eyebrow but said nothing; he ploughed on "Should you ever feel the need to do that again please do. Within reason of course."
"Of course. Like I said I will not pull rank unless I feel the need. Permission to speak freely sir?"
"Go ahead." It felt strange to him to have all this power over this person when she outranked him by a long way, it should be the other way around.
"I don't like him. Colonel Caldwell that is. I don't trust him. You, however, I trust. Please feel free to ask for my help with him I will gladly pull rank on him." she said. Sheppard looked up in surprise.
"Within reason." She added.
"Of course. There is one more thing I should mention…" she quickly interrupted him "If this about Major Lorne we are only friends and it will stay that way as long as I am in the military. No matter how I feel sir. Sorry for interrupting sir." He smiled and said, "Don't worry about it. What I was going to say was if you do like him, feel free to have a relationship if you wish as long as it doesn't cloud your judgement in the field. That particular regulation doesn't really apply here as no one really monitors it." He grinned wickedly before adding, "However do be discreet about it. Before you go could you sign this? It's the changes that you said you had signed already."
"Of course sir." She quickly signed her signature and left his office with a smile on her face. She headed for the gate room where old and new recruits were gathered.