Don't you just hate it when a story takes on a life of its own? This started out one chapter, then two, then was supposed to be the last chapter... but now there are two or three more in the works. But I think it's getting to be a much better story, and I'm enjoying it. This is a transitional chapter. Hope you enjoy!
Chapter 3
Jack O'Neill looked around the assembly in the gate room, stopping at the amazed faces of his former teammates.
"As always, it's good to be back at the SGC," he began. "I'm sure you all have a lot of questions, so I'll start with an announcement concerning changes to the IOA and command structure."
Daniel thought Jack looked positively humbled watching his friend glance down at the podium before he continuing.
"At the request of the United States, and approval of the member nations of the IOA, there will now be a military presence within the leadership of the IOA. I'm sure I don't need to explain to anyone here what necessitated that change," Jack paused a beat. "Further, as senior officer for Homeworld Security, I have been given the honor to command the group in entirety. You all know that I have just been promoted to lieutenant general. However my current, brevetted, rank is now General of the Air Force for as long as I remain in this command."
Jack was interrupted suddenly by applause and hollering that he truly did not expect. Taken aback, he took a breath, smiled slightly, and waved down the noise.
"I'd like to introduce the newest members of the IOA: General Oleg Darshkevich, Russia, General Wei Mei Chung, China, General Steven McMillan, Canada, Admiral Arthur Lloyd, Australia, General Marc D'Albe, France, Admiral Ian Phillips, United Kingdom, and General Mitsuro Takei from Japan.
"During the next few days, you will all be instructors. This is going to be your chance to teach a general a thing or two. We're going to bring these gentlemen up to speed on all on-going operations, new technologies, weapons systems, comms systems, spacecraft and everything else they need to know about 'What's out there.'" He gestured with a wide circle of his arms.
"We'll be moving on to the Tango site in just a few days, so they don't have very long to get the basics. I know you'll all do well."
Jack took a step back, gesturing to the man closest to him. "Gentlemen, why don't you say a word or two to your cadre?"
At that point, Daniel's mind wandered off to his visits at Tango ("That's T for Training," he could hear Jack's voice in his mind). It was just built over the last two years on an uninhabited planet specifically as a training site for personnel who would be assigned to extraterrestrial missions. With the number of people needed increasing constantly, it was becoming difficult to train in secrecy anywhere on Earth. Shortly before General Hammond had retired, he and Jack had spent a long time in Washington getting the site's approval. It had worked out to be an ideal situation, not only for training SG teams, but those who were piloting 302's, the crews of the 303's and now the Daedalus class ships, and scientific teams had all benefited by being able to train together in a realistic environment.
Daniel suddenly realized his mind had wondered off, just as the last general finished his greeting, and Jack stepped forward to dismiss the gathering. He wanted to go talk to his friend, but both Jack and Landry left immediately, ushering the other generals out by the opposite blast door from where Daniel stood. There was no way to get through the crowd to get in a word with him. Daniel turned nervously to Sam and Teal'c.
"Well, that's rather unexpected," he remarked, fiddling with his glasses.
"Indeed," Teal'c replied.
"You would have thought he might have dropped a hint to his friends. Or just emailed us..." Sam said with a distracted look.
"Email?" Daniel asked. "Hello-o-o..."
That brought a smile to Sam. "You're right - I guess not."
"I kept meaning to get back to him - you know - after the whole prior thing..."
"I guess we've all been a little guilty of not keeping touch with him," Sam nodded back, ducking her head slightly.
"We have a meeting at 1100, do we not?" Teal'c asked. "Perhaps more will be revealed then."
"Yes," Daniel agreed, "Perhaps then."
In the meantime, Jack O'Neill and Hank Landry spent the next hour giving the "grand tour" of the SGC. When the tour ended, Jack left his team of generals with their assigned escorts to settle in their quarters, prepare for lunch and then their first training afterwards. Jack's schedule took him to the meeting with Landry and SG-1. It was supposed to be his final sign-off on the Tango site training scenarios that his former team had been working. Jack knew they would not be pleased with his assessment. But to him, it was worth any amount of listening to their complaining to be reunited with his former teammates.
Daniel noted as Jack breezed into the room that he was still in his much-loathed class-A's. Jack tossed a folder on the table, and smiled around at the group gathered round. He rubbed his hands together, and in his best Mr. Burns imitation greeted them with "We meet again!"
"Jack, congratulations," Daniel moved forward extending one hand for a shake and slapped Jack on the arm with the other. "You should have said something. We'd have sent cake."
"D'oh!" Jack replied. "But it was supposed to be a surprise!"
"That it was, sir," joined Carter, shaking his hand in congratulations also.
"A very pleasing turn of events," Teal'c added.
"Thank you all. Seriously, I wish you could have been there, but it wasn't exactly a normal promotion ceremony. All done in secret, very hush-hush..."
"No pomp and circumstance, just the way you like it," Daniel finished for him.
"Well...yeah."
Landry smirked at the exchange. "Shall we get down to business, then?"
"Hank, you're all work and no play," Jack complained but smiled, taking a seat at the head of the table. He glanced around at them all, giving the folder a wrap with his knuckles as he began.
"I hate to break it to you, but while these scenarios are fine for new recruits, we gotta remember this particular class is comprised of all general officers - these guys are going to be making calls on the big picture. We need scenarios that are big. Battle scenarios. The likes of the Ori invasion, or the Atlantis defense. Think about utilizing the Daedalus simulator, and let them see what it's like to coordinate an attack from space on a grand scale."
"Yes, sir," Carter said, wincing. I should have thought of that, written all over her face, Daniel thought.
"In fact, why don't you do just that? Start with the Ori invasion, and the Wraith attack on Atlantis. By the time we get to Tango they'll all be well-versed in what kind of firepower we have, and what the enemy can bring. I'm sure you can come up with some other scenarios for them."
"But Jack," Daniel interjected. "We only have a few days now. That's a lot to write."
Jack crossed his arms, leaned back in his chair and tilted his head. "You two have written doctoral dissertations! I'm sure you can write up a training scenario or two pretty easily."
Sam scowled at Daniel.
"Come on," Jack wheedled. "You know you'll enjoy it. Training brings out the thespian in you, Daniel."
"Thespian?"
Jack smirked back at his friend. "Why, Daniel! We have theatre in Washington. Besides, you know you love the chance to be sneaky."
Daniel opened and closed his mouth a couple times, then a slow smile spread across his face as ideas began to pop into his head. Oh, yeah...
Onuris strode into his throne room, not bothering to acknowledge the minion prostrate on the floor as he passed, pausing only briefly to brush aside his deep purple robe as he went to take his seat. He snapped his fingers, and the servant rose to one knee, still not daring to look up.
"My Lord," the man began, "Belt'ac has returned from his mission to Dakara and respectfully seeks audience."
Onuris was inwardly pleased, but did not allow his facial expression to convey it. If his Jaffa had returned, there must be good news. He would not dare return otherwise.
"Bring him," he commanded.
The servant backed from the room, never taking his eyes off the floor. He returned immediately with the Jaffa, remaining by the door while the Jaffa approached Onuris and knelt before him, keeping his face toward the floor just as the other had.
"Speak, what have you to report?"
"My Lord Onuris, the Tau'ri have formed a new leadership among their nations. They send a band of old men, seasoned generals of their forces, to train among the young ones on the planet Cairn. I am told that, in the past, these men led formidable legions."
"Generals," Onuris sniffed. "They seek to plot against us."
"There is more, my Lord. They are lead by the one called O'Neill, who has now been appointed Commander of all the Tau'ri forces."
"O'Neill," Onuris sneered, and allowed a grin to pass his face. This fact would annoy his host. He would torment him with it later.
"Yes, my Lord. And we have learned that they train in two weeks."
"So they will be assembled together, these leaders of the Tau'ri, on Cairn, in two weeks time."
"Yes, my Lord."
"Then an opportunity presents itself. We shall destroy them all together. Prepare the ha'tak! Assemble your forces and await my command!"
"Yes, My Lord," and the Jaffa saluted, fist to shoulder, and backed slowly from the room.
Onuris rose slowly, turning to look at himself in the large mirror he kept in the throne room. In the back of his mind, he heard his host whimpering at the Jaffa's news. 'Yes, O'Neill is now in command of all he Tau'ri,' he baited the host. 'You must enjoy that,' he taunted. The host whimpered back at him, 'If I were still on Earth, I would have put a stop to that-' Onuris angrily sent a bolt of pain to the host for daring to think he could have done something his god could not.
'Silence! But do not worry - we shall destroy him as well,' and the face of Robert Kinsey grinned back evilly from the mirror.
--TBC--
