NORAD Tracks Santa
By Teri


Ending #6: Santa's Sleigh?

The other endings not quite right yet? How about this one? Another possible ending . . .

Daniel was looking for Jack. He just had to talk to him about the memo he found. It just couldn't be what it seemed to be, could it?

Jack wasn't in his office and he wasn't in the Mess hall. He wasn't in the gym and he wasn't in Sam's lab. Daniel wasn't ready to give up so he started asking around. Walter finally told Daniel that he had seen the Colonel down in Sgt. Siler's workshop.

Daniel went down to the workshop. He went in, but didn't see any sign of Jack or Sly. He turned around to leave, but noticed something on the counter. He saw the word "SLEIGH". Well, given the last memo he read in Jack's office less than an hour before, Daniel felt compelled to read this one as well. He moved closer and picked it up and it read:

TO: Col. J. O'Neill

FROM: MSgt. S. Siler

DATE: December 23, 2002

RE: Technical Data on Santa's Sleigh

Question:
Does NORAD have any statistics on Santa's sleigh?

Answer:
NORAD can confirm that Santa's sleigh is a versatile, all weather, multi-purpose, vertical short-take-off and landing vehicle. It is capable of traveling vast distances without refueling and is deployed, as far as we know, only on Christmas Eve (and briefly for a test flight about a month before Christmas).

Sleigh Technical Data
Designer & Builder: K. Kringle & Elves, Inc.
Probable First Flight: Dec. 24, 343 A.D.
Home Base: North Pole
Length: 75 cc (candy canes)/150 lp (lollipops)
Width: 40 cc/80 lp
Height: 55 cc/110 lp
Weight at takeoff: 75,000 gd (gumdrops)
Passenger weight at takeoff: Santa Claus 260 pounds
Weight of gifts at takeoff: 60,000 tons
Weight at landing: 80,000 gd (ice & snow accumulation)
Passenger weight at landing: 1,260 pounds
Propulsion: Nine (9) rp (reindeer power)
Armament: Antlers (purely defensive)
Fuel: Hay, oats, carrots, and occasional sugar cookies (for reindeer)
Emissions: Classified
Climbing speed: One "T" (Twinkle of an eye)
Max speed: Faster than starlight
Shielding: None
Note: Length, width and height are without reindeer.

Question:
Can this technology be used in other applications beneficial to the SGC?

Answer:
At this time, no. While the climbing speed of one (1) "T" would certainly be beneficial as we work on the finalizing plans for the X-302(soon to be F-302) and the X-303 (which is to be Christened "The Prometheus"); however the nine (9) rp needed to generate this speed is not feasible at this time. While K. Kringle & Elves, Inc. is willing to assist us in generating this power, it does not appear as though this energy source can operate without an oxygen based atmosphere. If this problem could be dealt with, there is still an issue regarding the vulnerability of the power source. Major Carter has proposed some sort of rigged space suit, but this again has proven to be problematic. The issue is currently under investigation.

Daniel stopped reading. He couldn't believe it. Was this for real or was Sly in on the joke? He couldn't help himself. He had to keep reading.

Question:
Can any technology acquired by the SGC be used to help the Big Guy?

Answer
K. Kringle & Elves, Inc. was very interested in modifying and incorporating ring transporter technology in their distribution system. I have been working on modifying a new pro-type sleigh . . .

Daniel was stopped from reading by the sound of someone clearing his throat behind him. "Dr. Jackson?"

Daniel turned around to face Sgt. Siler.

"What are you doing in my workshop, Sir?"

"Um, I was, ah, looking for Jack. I, ah, heard that he was down here?" Daniel was embarrassed at being caught, but was grateful that as of yet the other man hadn't asked him why he was reading a confidential memo. "Have you seen him?"

"No, Sir, I haven't. Perhaps he is in the mess hall, I heard they were serving cake today,"

"Thanks," Daniel smiled and turned to hurry out of the lab.

"Ah, Dr. Jackson?" Sgt. Siler called to him.

"Hmm, oh, yeah?" Daniel turned around to face Sly again.

"My memo?" He gestured to the "Sleigh Memo" still in Daniel's hand.

"Oh, ah sorry." Daniel looked at the memo in his hand. He hadn't realized he hadn't put it down, but he still didn't want to give it up. He still had so many questions.

Sgt. Siler sigh coming to a decision, "did you have any questions?" he glanced at the memo.

Daniel looked at him and said, "just one, is this for real?"

"Dr. Jackson, you know I can't tell you that, but let me ask you a question?"

Daniel nodded, but was disappointed at the lack of an answer.

"Do you really think we would waste time down here writing gag memos?"

Daniel just looked at him as if trying to decide something.

"If that is all, sir, I need to get back to work, I have a prototype I am working on currently." With that Sly turned around, walked to a door at the back of the lab, he punched in his code 1225, and the door slid open revealing a sleek red sleigh. Sly turned with a smile to see the stunned look on Daniel's face. "Now, I really need to get back to work." He stopped for a moment, then added as an after thought, "Dr. Jackson, if anyone found out you were down here when I opened this door, I could get into a lot of trouble. I really need to ask you, for my sake, to let this matter drop." With that he walked through the door and closed it behind him.

Daniel just walked away in shock. The SGC was building Santa's sleigh?

Sly meanwhile sat down at his work bench as Walter approached.

"That should give him something to think about and hopefully he won't start asking everyone about Santa," Walter concluded.

"Yeah, but I'll bet he will start researching Santa," Sly decided.

"That's part of the plan," Walter told him.

"Who's plan?"

"The Colonel. He wants Dr. Jackson curious enough to start researching so he will have an excuse to let him in on the whole thing. Anyway, you did well." Walter handed him a candy-cane and left Sly alone, because Sly really did have a lot of work left on the Sleigh for it to be ready in time.

Remember to feed the Reindeer, Sleigh Power needs Fuel!

MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HOLIDAYS, SAFE NEW YEAR

Teri 12/23/08

NB: Much of the Sleigh technical data was taken directly from this year's NORAD tracking website.