A/N: Sorry guys, I didn't mean for so much time to pass between posts. I had the next chapter written before I posted the first one, I just had to type it, but I've been sick the last few days and have spent much of my time sleeping. But don't worry, the next chapter is written and will be up much quicker than this one was. And now on with the show…

Spoilers: 10.06 "200"

Chapter 1: The 10th Chevron -

"Jack!" Daniel exclaimed as he entered the briefing room. "What brings you to Colorado?"

"Actually, Dr. Jackson, General O'Neill is the reason I called this briefing." General Landry interjected as he stepped out of his office. "Have a seat SG1."

"This mission is classified." Jack began.

"Jack…" Daniel drew out the name as if talking to a child. "All our missions are classified."

"This one is completely off the record, Daniel." Jack explained. "It doesn't leave this room."

"Like mission 30185" Cam said.

Jack shot an annoyed look at the younger man. "You're not supposed to know about that Mitchell." He growled.

"I don't, Sir, not the details at least." Cam insisted.

"I need to know I can trust you on this." Jack admonished. "Vala…"

Vala looked offended. "What? You don't think I can keep a secret? I haven't told anyone that you and…" Vala stopped suddenly and looked embarrassed. "Oops."

Jack raised an eyebrow.

"Scouts honor, General." Vala said as she raised her right hand.

"Do you even know what that means?" Cam scoffed.

Vala shrugged. "I've heard Siler use it when promising something."

"Close enough." Jack rolled his eyes. He turned to Landry. "Hank is the room clear?"

"I had Siler, Walter, and Colonel Carter sweep it for every type of bug – terrestrial and non-terrestrial."

"Good. Carter?"

"The room is clean, Sir." Sam answered.

"Jack, what is so damn important that you're being so secretive?" Daniel demanded.

"You'll be going through the stargate to meet up with the Daedalus on its return from Atlantis." Jack began. "I've already sent word to Colonel Caldwell that he is to clear one of the F302 bays of personnel, stop briefly at a planet for you to pick something up and return without any personnel – or anyone outside of this room – knowing what it is you're bringing home."

"Jack…" Daniel said in annoyance.

"What are we collecting, O'Neill?" Teal'c interrupted.

"A stargate and DHD."

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

"Jack!" Daniel called as he hurried through the corridors of the SGC trying to catch up with his friend.

"Daniel." Jack acknowledged as the younger man finally caught up to him at the elevator.

"Jack, why…"

"Classified." Jack interrupted.

"But…"

"Classified."

"You're not…"

"Classified."

"You're…"

"Classified."

"…en…"

"Classified."

"…joying…"

"Classified."

"…this…"

"Classified."

"…aren't you?"

"Yep." Jack smiled as the elevator doors opened.

Daniel followed Jack into the elevator. "Classified reason for the mission aside, why all the secrecy about the mission?"

Jack rolled his eyes. "Is your memory going Space Monkey?"

"No."

"Don't you remember all the problems we had when there were two gates on Earth?" Jack asked. "Carter and I got lost in Antarctica, the NID, the Russians…"

"So you don't want people to know you're bringing another gate here and you don't want anyone to know why you're bringing another gate here." Daniel reiterated.

"Yeahsureyabetcha."

"You can't even tell your teammates and closest friends?"

"Nope."

"We'd try to talk you out of it wouldn't we?"

"Yep."

"Is it dangerous?"

"Depends on your definition of dangerous."

"Will people get hurt?"

"Not likely."

"Will cultures be disrupted?"

"Doubt it."

"Will you be leading the team?"

"Hardly." Jack scoffed.

"Has the team been assigned?"

"Yep."

"Is there room on the team?"

"Nope."

"Ja-ack…"

"Daniel…"

"So we're just expected to do this mission without knowing why?" Daniel demanded.

"You've worked for the military for 13 years now Daniel, I'd think you'd be used to it."

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Jack sighed as he left the depths of the mountain. He really did hate lying to his team, but couldn't see any way around it. Teal'c probably wouldn't say much, if anything, and Vala and Mitchell wouldn't have too many arguments. So really, less than half his team was a problem, but they would easily make up for the other three.

Taking a path just outside the entrance to Cheyenne, Jack wound his way up the mountain, stopping once he was a third of the way up. He stood and looked out over Colorado Springs, enjoying the peace, quiet, and solitude.

"General?" Jack turned to see a young Lieutenant approaching. "You wanted to see me sir?"

"Yes, Lieutenant, thank you for meeting me out here." Jack answered.

"One doesn't ignore a General's request, Sir, no matter how bizarre."

Jack smiled. "How are you liking the SGC, Lieutenant?"

"It's great, Sir. Everything I thought it would be and more."

"I have a new assignment for you Alexa." Jack dropped the formality.

"But…"

"I'm starting a new project, off the books, and it's in need of your…special skills." Jack interrupted.

"How off the books, Sir?"

"So off the books that no one outside of your team will know about it." Jack answered. "You technically won't even report to me, they just needed my assistance in getting it running."

"They?" Alexa asked.

"Not here."

"Something I don't understand, Sir." Alexa began. Jack raised an eyebrow in question. "How are you going to explain my transfer when this is so off the books?"

"Actually, I won't." Jack answered. "As far as the powers that be are concerned, you'll still be working at the SGC. However, you're going to be transferred to a new department…we're calling it the 10th Chevron."

"10th Chevron?" Alexa looked incredulous.

"Officially it will be similar to R&D, specifically in regards to research about the gate system."

"And you think people are going to believe that I'd willingly transfer from an SG team to a desk job?"

"That's where scuttlebutt comes in handy." Jack smiled. "Most everyone on base is aware of your…talents – unofficially of course. So we'll make sure they think you were chosen for the job because of those talents."

"That might actually work, Sir." Alexa smiled. "But where will we be working?"

"Most people aren't aware that there are more than 28 levels under Cheyenne Mountain." Jack smiled.