TITLE: WHEN THE WORLD HALTS - Chapter 2
AUTHOR: WITEZON
PARING: S/J friendship/romance
RATING: PG-13 or R (depending on how you feel about swearing)
DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything but what my mind thinks up.
SUMMARY: JACK CENTRIC - What happens when the universe is at stake,
Hammond is missing, and everything rests on Colonel O'Neill's shoulders.
THE NEXT MORNING - O'NEILL'S QUARTERS
To say Quince and Davis were surprised when Major Carter opened the door doesn't do justice to their shocked expressions.
However, Quince quickly recovered, "Good Morning, Major. Is the General ready?"
Stepping back into the room, they followed her in and noticed her cot. Which was O'Neill's intention when he had asked her to answer the door. Davis looked relived when he saw it, Quince's eyes were speculative.
"Good Morning, Colonel, Major. The General is almost ready, he's..."
"Ready now." They all turned to see him behind them.
"Morning, troops. Let's go get some breakfast." Turning to Carter, "Major, go get SG-1. I want them at my table, and in particular, I want Teal'c to be seen with me as often as possible." At her nod, he turned to Quince and Davis, "Understood?"
Quince nodding in agreement, "Yes, sir. That's a good idea, so they'll get to know him and that realize that he's not an enemy."
Walking out his door, "Carter, lock up for me?" He glanced over his shoulder at Quince, "Colonel, Teal'c is also my friend. If I have to make him my personal bodyguard while he's here at the SGC, then I'll do it."
Seriously Quince answered, "Yes, sir. That's probably not a bad idea, General."
"Yeah."
They continued on in silence. Quince looked around and then asked teasingly, "So, General, is this going to be standard practice for every morning?"
"If it is or isn't, I wouldn't go there if I were you."
Grinning, "Yes, sir, General sir."
Davis watched Quince in trepidation, 'Please don't go there.' Quince poked again, "But, sir, the rumors..."
Turning around so Quince could see his eyes, "Have been around for years." He stepped closer to Quince, "Don't disrespect her or me. If I want to have an affair with her or marry her and have a dozen kids or just be friends with her I will." Staring him down, "Do you have any problems with that, Colonel?"
Seeing that O'Neill was very serious, "No, sir. I'm sorry, sir."
Slowly nodding, O'Neill turned back around and walked towards the Commissary with Quince and Davis quickly catching up with him.
At his breakfast table, all of SG-1 waited along with Ferretti and all the SG team commanders. After a quick breakfast, O'Neill asked Teal'c to accompany him to his office.
Sitting on the desk edge, O'Neill studied his friend. Sighing, he looked down, then back up at him. "Teal'c, you know you're my friend, my teammate, and my brother."
"As you are to me, O'Neill."
"I'm concerned about how the others, not normally part of the SGC, will treat you once we bring them in. I want you to receive the respect you deserve."
Bowing his head at O'Neill, "How are you planning to accomplish this?"
"I want you to be with me at all times. When I'm in meetings, I want you there so they become familiar with you. So you're seen as something other than an enemy Jaffa."
Nodding once, "And?"
Sighing, "And, there's a traitor somewhere in our ranks, Teal'c. I hate to ask this of you, but would you be my bodyguard?"
Tilting his head questioningly, "Why would I 'hate' to be your bodyguard, O'Neill? It is a great honor to be asked to protect you from harm. There is no other as qualified as I."
Studying him, O'Neill nodded, "Yeah, that's true. There are times when you will need to step out of the office..."
Staring back, "I understand, O'Neill. My honor will not be lessened. I have often stood guard over you."
With affection in his eyes, "I know, Teal'c. Thank you. I've always appreciated that."
Teal's bowed his head respectively, "What of SG-1?"
Nodding, O'Neill picked up his phone, "Lt Simmons, would you please send in Major Carter and Doctor Jackson. And, how long until the all the commanders will be here?"
Nodding as he listened, "Okay, give me a 30-minute advance notice. Thanks." He hung up.
Teal'c said into the silence, "You have come into what you do best, O'Neill. Why have they not made you the highest ranking General?"
Surprised, "How did you know that?" Then answering his own question, "People are talking."
Teal'c nodded.
Smirking, "Because then I would outrank everyone in all the services and that would make some of the other Generals very unhappy. These four stars make me the equivalent of the commanders of entire regions, but by giving me the title of Commander of Earth Forces, I can order everyone else to do what I want."
Studying Teal'c, "You're probably the only other person who has had this same responsibility."
"I think not, O'Neill, though close." "Ah."
"What else, O'Neill?"
"I've been given weapons-free authority. That means I can do whatever I want to protect Earth."
"That is good. You will not be hampered by politicians."
With a wicked grin, "Yeah, there is that."
"O'Neill, what of MajorCarter?"
Surprised, "What about her?"
Teal'c tilted his head at him and O'Neill sighed. "Okay, the rumors are already spreading throughout the base?"
At Teal'c's nod, he stood up and went to his chair, "One day, Teal'c, I'm going to throw her over my shoulder and run off this base with her."
A small smile crossed his eyes, "MajorCarter would also look forward to that day. Have you told her this yet?"
Leaning back in his chair, "Nope, but I should. But probably not when she's sleeping in my quarters."
"On the contrary, I believe that would be the best time, O'Neill."
Frowning, O'Neill thought about that until a knock sounded on his door. Teal'c went to answer it.
Stepping back, he let Carter and Daniel in the office.
"Hi kids. We need to talk before things really get busy around here."
"Jack, what's going on?" Daniel asked as he sat down.
O'Neill quickly brought them up-to-date on everything. "So, I'm going to need you guys to be my technical advisors. SG-1 won't be going out on live missions until we get a fourth or a fifth person on it. Major, I want some Special Ops or SEALs on it. But for right now, I need you to do some gate travel training of the first strike forces and also do your theoretical astrophysicist duties on the technology that will be coming."
Frowning, "Coming, sir?"
"Yeah, NID is giving us all their toys. I'll need you to inspect them and make sure they're not booby-trapped or anything."
They all stared at him, "We're also getting several scientists and technicians from Area 51 to beef up our technical staffs. I'll also need you to oversee that.
Turning to look at Teal'c, "Teal'c is in charge of my personal security."
He shrugged at their surprised looks, "Teal'c, I need you to find others you trust to be with me when you're on a mission or resting."
"It will be done, O'Neill." Daniel asked, "Okay, Jack, what do you need me for?"
"Well, Danny, I need you to be my linguist and cultural anthropologist. I'll need you to translate what we find, oversee the other translators, and explain what's happening from a cultural perspective. Or as best you can. I'll need you to also participate at meetings. The hardest thing is that I'm gonna need you to be my conscience, Daniel."
Daniel grinned sadly, "I can do all that, Jack. But do you really need a conscience for this?"
Frowning, "Daniel, you've always been my conscience. But just because I don't always follow what you recommend doesn't mean I don't listen and take into account what you say. The decision is always mine in the end, whether its SG-1 or the SGC or Earth."
Staring at him, Daniel finally asked, "Jack, how do live like that?"
"It is what warrior leaders do, DanielJackson." After a moment, "Whom would you trust more to make those decisions than O'Neill?"
Surprised, Daniel looked back at Jack, thinking hard. Jack was his best friend, had always brought him home, and made the best decisions he could. He didn't always agree with them, but that was the way it went.
Staring at Jack, "There's no one I would trust more than Jack."
With a small smile, echoed on Carter's and Teal'c faces, he said, "Thanks, Daniel. That means a lot to me."
RING
"O'Neill. Right, tell Colonel Quince I'll be in the Control Room and to get me from there."
Hanging up, "Okay, kids. Showtime. Carter, Daniel, get to the briefing room. Teal'c, you're with me."
30-MINUTES LATER - BRIEFING ROOM
"ATTENTION!"
O'Neill walked in, "At ease. Take a seat." Teal'c followed him in and stood behind his chair, with his most fearsome look on his face.
O'Neill looked over the new faces at the conference table. As he studied them, they studied him. They saw a four-star general, but one with an expression they couldn't quite place. They had read the information given to them, but it was very official and didn't tell the story about this General.
Finally, he spoke, "I am General Jack O'Neill, Commander of Earth Forces. You and your units have now joined Stargate Command to protect Earth. We are facing either subjugation of Earth for slavery or its annihilation. Its up to us to stop it."
He waited as they absorbed that little bit of information. Then they turned their attention to Teal'c.
"In case you haven't noticed, there is a man standing behind me. He's the one with the tattoo on his forehead. He is my friend, my teammate, and my brother. He's also in-charge of my personal security."
Pointing to the folders they all carried, "Each of you have signed multiple security forms and then been provided the information to read in your folders. I hope you have done that. Those folders are not to go above the 21st floor in this mountain. Do you understand?"
They all nodded. "Good, then you will have read about Apophis and his first prime. This is Teal'c."
Teal'c nodded at the officers around the table, most nodded back.
"General O'Neill?" This from the diminutive Japanese Medical Brigade Commander.
"Yes, Colonel Motuko?"
"Sir, from what I read, Teal'c is a Jaffa with a symbiotic relationship with a parasite. With the maturity of the parasite it then moves to a host, taking over and controlling the host for eternity? That is what we are fighting?"
"Yes. But when its in its lavrae stage in its pouch, such as Teal'c's, it can't control him. It does, however, provide him with enormous amounts of strength, increased hearing, sight, and smell. It also heals him in an extraordinary amount of time. Teal'c rarely needs medical attention for his injuries. The Jaffa are formidable warriors. The Go'ald knew they had created the perfect soldier using them. Don't ever underestimate them."
"General?" This from the British SAS General.
Yes, Brigadier Monthorten?"
"Some of the Jaffas, according to your reports, are trying to overthrow their parasitic gods. Can we count on them for help?"
O'Neill looked up to Teal'c, "Teal'c, can you answer that one?"
Nodding, "Brigadier, the free Jaffa will assist Earth forces. My master, Bra'tac, will be here soon to talk with the General of the Tau'ri O'Neill."
"Tau'ri?"
Seeing Daniel move in his chair, O'Neill answered, "I think I'll let Doctor Daniel Jackson of SG-1 explain that word. Sitting beside him is Major Samantha Carter, Commander of SG-1. Normally, along with Teal'c and myself, we are SG-1. I'm sure that somewhere in all the reports you've read is some mention of SG-1."
A few nodded as they had read about SG-1 and the times they had actually saved Earth from annihilation.
"Daniel?"
Standing up, "Thanks, Ja...General. Tau'ri is what all the other planets in the universe call Earth and people who live on Earth."
Monthorten asked, "Doctor Jackson, according to what I've been reading, these parasitic creatures used to live here on Earth, during pre-dynastic and dynastic Egypt. Why did they leave?"
Pushing his glasses back, "Because the Egyptians overthrew them, but it was only possible because there was a lot of fighting between the different Go'alds, which decimated their armies."
Jack broke in before it could turn into a college lecture, "Thank you, Daniel. Brigadier, we'll have further opportunities to discuss the whys later. Now..."
The Klaxons sounded, "INCOMING WORMHOLE. UNSCHEDULED TRAVELER ACTIVATION."
Looking at Quince and Carter, "Go. Close the iris." They raced from the room.
Jack stood up, as did the rest. "Ferretti, open the blast shields." He got up to do that. "Major, who are we expecting?"
"Its probably SG-10, sir, though they're about an hour early," he replied as he punched in the codes to authorize the opening.
As the barriers slowly slide back O'Neill spoke, "That is the Stargate. Our gateway to other worlds."
The Stargate stood there in all its glory. Lights flashing as the chevrons locked in, the rumble of the wheel turning, the chemical smoke swirling around the chevrons, and the flashing lights and sirens in the background. The SFs ran in readying their weapons.
Jack went over to the mike, "Colonel, status."
Quince answered, "General, we just received SG-10's GDO signal."
"Open the iris."
Jack gestured at the iris as it opened, "The iris is titanium alloy. We keep it closed when the wormhole activates to keep uninvited guests out."
The wormhole whooshed in, and the newly arrived personnel leaned backwards in automatic response. It stabilized and out walked SG-10.
"My god," came the startled whisper from several hardened commanders.
Jack hit the mike, "Welcome back, SG-10. Any injuries?"
Westmore looked up grinning, "Thanks, General. Only some bruises, but we've brought you a gift."
Grinning back, "Great, I love gifts. Give it to Carter and then get to the infirmary. Debriefing in 60."
He turned to Daniel, "Go help Carter, Daniel."
Nodding, he quickly left.
Stratten, the Canadian Forces Commander, "So that's the Stargate. Damn, that's impressive, sir."
Pulling his eyes from it, "General, according to the reports, this goes to planets that host human or Tau'ri like populations?"
"Yes, the Go'ald populated many different planets with humans to be used as slaves or hosts. So did the Asguard. They should be mentioned in your information. They also took humans from Earth and put them on secure planets to keep them as safe as they could from the Go'ald."
General Bradford from Australia spoke up, "General O'Neill, does that mean that the Asguard were trying to protect us for almost 10,000 years?"
"Yeah, well protect humanity, not necessarily Earth. To save our species."
Bradford, "But they're not like us, sir?"
Ferretti snorted, but covered it when everyone looked at him. "Sorry, sir."
Glaring at him, "What the Major means is, no. They are definitely not like us."
Monthorten asked, "Then why try to save our species, sir?"
O'Neill shrugged, "There was once an intergalactic agreement between four species to try and keep the universe free. You'll meet at least one, if not two, of them later today. The Asguard, the Nox, the Furlings, and the fourth are the Ancients who are builders the Stargates, but they've vanished without a trace."
"General, if I remember correctly from my readings, the Nox are a peace- loving race. Will they help us?"
"I don't know, we'll have to ask them."
Colonel Quince returned to the Conference Room. O'Neill returned to his seat, the others followed. As he started to talk he disappeared in a flash of light.
CONTINUED IN CHAP 3
THE NEXT MORNING - O'NEILL'S QUARTERS
To say Quince and Davis were surprised when Major Carter opened the door doesn't do justice to their shocked expressions.
However, Quince quickly recovered, "Good Morning, Major. Is the General ready?"
Stepping back into the room, they followed her in and noticed her cot. Which was O'Neill's intention when he had asked her to answer the door. Davis looked relived when he saw it, Quince's eyes were speculative.
"Good Morning, Colonel, Major. The General is almost ready, he's..."
"Ready now." They all turned to see him behind them.
"Morning, troops. Let's go get some breakfast." Turning to Carter, "Major, go get SG-1. I want them at my table, and in particular, I want Teal'c to be seen with me as often as possible." At her nod, he turned to Quince and Davis, "Understood?"
Quince nodding in agreement, "Yes, sir. That's a good idea, so they'll get to know him and that realize that he's not an enemy."
Walking out his door, "Carter, lock up for me?" He glanced over his shoulder at Quince, "Colonel, Teal'c is also my friend. If I have to make him my personal bodyguard while he's here at the SGC, then I'll do it."
Seriously Quince answered, "Yes, sir. That's probably not a bad idea, General."
"Yeah."
They continued on in silence. Quince looked around and then asked teasingly, "So, General, is this going to be standard practice for every morning?"
"If it is or isn't, I wouldn't go there if I were you."
Grinning, "Yes, sir, General sir."
Davis watched Quince in trepidation, 'Please don't go there.' Quince poked again, "But, sir, the rumors..."
Turning around so Quince could see his eyes, "Have been around for years." He stepped closer to Quince, "Don't disrespect her or me. If I want to have an affair with her or marry her and have a dozen kids or just be friends with her I will." Staring him down, "Do you have any problems with that, Colonel?"
Seeing that O'Neill was very serious, "No, sir. I'm sorry, sir."
Slowly nodding, O'Neill turned back around and walked towards the Commissary with Quince and Davis quickly catching up with him.
At his breakfast table, all of SG-1 waited along with Ferretti and all the SG team commanders. After a quick breakfast, O'Neill asked Teal'c to accompany him to his office.
Sitting on the desk edge, O'Neill studied his friend. Sighing, he looked down, then back up at him. "Teal'c, you know you're my friend, my teammate, and my brother."
"As you are to me, O'Neill."
"I'm concerned about how the others, not normally part of the SGC, will treat you once we bring them in. I want you to receive the respect you deserve."
Bowing his head at O'Neill, "How are you planning to accomplish this?"
"I want you to be with me at all times. When I'm in meetings, I want you there so they become familiar with you. So you're seen as something other than an enemy Jaffa."
Nodding once, "And?"
Sighing, "And, there's a traitor somewhere in our ranks, Teal'c. I hate to ask this of you, but would you be my bodyguard?"
Tilting his head questioningly, "Why would I 'hate' to be your bodyguard, O'Neill? It is a great honor to be asked to protect you from harm. There is no other as qualified as I."
Studying him, O'Neill nodded, "Yeah, that's true. There are times when you will need to step out of the office..."
Staring back, "I understand, O'Neill. My honor will not be lessened. I have often stood guard over you."
With affection in his eyes, "I know, Teal'c. Thank you. I've always appreciated that."
Teal's bowed his head respectively, "What of SG-1?"
Nodding, O'Neill picked up his phone, "Lt Simmons, would you please send in Major Carter and Doctor Jackson. And, how long until the all the commanders will be here?"
Nodding as he listened, "Okay, give me a 30-minute advance notice. Thanks." He hung up.
Teal'c said into the silence, "You have come into what you do best, O'Neill. Why have they not made you the highest ranking General?"
Surprised, "How did you know that?" Then answering his own question, "People are talking."
Teal'c nodded.
Smirking, "Because then I would outrank everyone in all the services and that would make some of the other Generals very unhappy. These four stars make me the equivalent of the commanders of entire regions, but by giving me the title of Commander of Earth Forces, I can order everyone else to do what I want."
Studying Teal'c, "You're probably the only other person who has had this same responsibility."
"I think not, O'Neill, though close." "Ah."
"What else, O'Neill?"
"I've been given weapons-free authority. That means I can do whatever I want to protect Earth."
"That is good. You will not be hampered by politicians."
With a wicked grin, "Yeah, there is that."
"O'Neill, what of MajorCarter?"
Surprised, "What about her?"
Teal'c tilted his head at him and O'Neill sighed. "Okay, the rumors are already spreading throughout the base?"
At Teal'c's nod, he stood up and went to his chair, "One day, Teal'c, I'm going to throw her over my shoulder and run off this base with her."
A small smile crossed his eyes, "MajorCarter would also look forward to that day. Have you told her this yet?"
Leaning back in his chair, "Nope, but I should. But probably not when she's sleeping in my quarters."
"On the contrary, I believe that would be the best time, O'Neill."
Frowning, O'Neill thought about that until a knock sounded on his door. Teal'c went to answer it.
Stepping back, he let Carter and Daniel in the office.
"Hi kids. We need to talk before things really get busy around here."
"Jack, what's going on?" Daniel asked as he sat down.
O'Neill quickly brought them up-to-date on everything. "So, I'm going to need you guys to be my technical advisors. SG-1 won't be going out on live missions until we get a fourth or a fifth person on it. Major, I want some Special Ops or SEALs on it. But for right now, I need you to do some gate travel training of the first strike forces and also do your theoretical astrophysicist duties on the technology that will be coming."
Frowning, "Coming, sir?"
"Yeah, NID is giving us all their toys. I'll need you to inspect them and make sure they're not booby-trapped or anything."
They all stared at him, "We're also getting several scientists and technicians from Area 51 to beef up our technical staffs. I'll also need you to oversee that.
Turning to look at Teal'c, "Teal'c is in charge of my personal security."
He shrugged at their surprised looks, "Teal'c, I need you to find others you trust to be with me when you're on a mission or resting."
"It will be done, O'Neill." Daniel asked, "Okay, Jack, what do you need me for?"
"Well, Danny, I need you to be my linguist and cultural anthropologist. I'll need you to translate what we find, oversee the other translators, and explain what's happening from a cultural perspective. Or as best you can. I'll need you to also participate at meetings. The hardest thing is that I'm gonna need you to be my conscience, Daniel."
Daniel grinned sadly, "I can do all that, Jack. But do you really need a conscience for this?"
Frowning, "Daniel, you've always been my conscience. But just because I don't always follow what you recommend doesn't mean I don't listen and take into account what you say. The decision is always mine in the end, whether its SG-1 or the SGC or Earth."
Staring at him, Daniel finally asked, "Jack, how do live like that?"
"It is what warrior leaders do, DanielJackson." After a moment, "Whom would you trust more to make those decisions than O'Neill?"
Surprised, Daniel looked back at Jack, thinking hard. Jack was his best friend, had always brought him home, and made the best decisions he could. He didn't always agree with them, but that was the way it went.
Staring at Jack, "There's no one I would trust more than Jack."
With a small smile, echoed on Carter's and Teal'c faces, he said, "Thanks, Daniel. That means a lot to me."
RING
"O'Neill. Right, tell Colonel Quince I'll be in the Control Room and to get me from there."
Hanging up, "Okay, kids. Showtime. Carter, Daniel, get to the briefing room. Teal'c, you're with me."
30-MINUTES LATER - BRIEFING ROOM
"ATTENTION!"
O'Neill walked in, "At ease. Take a seat." Teal'c followed him in and stood behind his chair, with his most fearsome look on his face.
O'Neill looked over the new faces at the conference table. As he studied them, they studied him. They saw a four-star general, but one with an expression they couldn't quite place. They had read the information given to them, but it was very official and didn't tell the story about this General.
Finally, he spoke, "I am General Jack O'Neill, Commander of Earth Forces. You and your units have now joined Stargate Command to protect Earth. We are facing either subjugation of Earth for slavery or its annihilation. Its up to us to stop it."
He waited as they absorbed that little bit of information. Then they turned their attention to Teal'c.
"In case you haven't noticed, there is a man standing behind me. He's the one with the tattoo on his forehead. He is my friend, my teammate, and my brother. He's also in-charge of my personal security."
Pointing to the folders they all carried, "Each of you have signed multiple security forms and then been provided the information to read in your folders. I hope you have done that. Those folders are not to go above the 21st floor in this mountain. Do you understand?"
They all nodded. "Good, then you will have read about Apophis and his first prime. This is Teal'c."
Teal'c nodded at the officers around the table, most nodded back.
"General O'Neill?" This from the diminutive Japanese Medical Brigade Commander.
"Yes, Colonel Motuko?"
"Sir, from what I read, Teal'c is a Jaffa with a symbiotic relationship with a parasite. With the maturity of the parasite it then moves to a host, taking over and controlling the host for eternity? That is what we are fighting?"
"Yes. But when its in its lavrae stage in its pouch, such as Teal'c's, it can't control him. It does, however, provide him with enormous amounts of strength, increased hearing, sight, and smell. It also heals him in an extraordinary amount of time. Teal'c rarely needs medical attention for his injuries. The Jaffa are formidable warriors. The Go'ald knew they had created the perfect soldier using them. Don't ever underestimate them."
"General?" This from the British SAS General.
Yes, Brigadier Monthorten?"
"Some of the Jaffas, according to your reports, are trying to overthrow their parasitic gods. Can we count on them for help?"
O'Neill looked up to Teal'c, "Teal'c, can you answer that one?"
Nodding, "Brigadier, the free Jaffa will assist Earth forces. My master, Bra'tac, will be here soon to talk with the General of the Tau'ri O'Neill."
"Tau'ri?"
Seeing Daniel move in his chair, O'Neill answered, "I think I'll let Doctor Daniel Jackson of SG-1 explain that word. Sitting beside him is Major Samantha Carter, Commander of SG-1. Normally, along with Teal'c and myself, we are SG-1. I'm sure that somewhere in all the reports you've read is some mention of SG-1."
A few nodded as they had read about SG-1 and the times they had actually saved Earth from annihilation.
"Daniel?"
Standing up, "Thanks, Ja...General. Tau'ri is what all the other planets in the universe call Earth and people who live on Earth."
Monthorten asked, "Doctor Jackson, according to what I've been reading, these parasitic creatures used to live here on Earth, during pre-dynastic and dynastic Egypt. Why did they leave?"
Pushing his glasses back, "Because the Egyptians overthrew them, but it was only possible because there was a lot of fighting between the different Go'alds, which decimated their armies."
Jack broke in before it could turn into a college lecture, "Thank you, Daniel. Brigadier, we'll have further opportunities to discuss the whys later. Now..."
The Klaxons sounded, "INCOMING WORMHOLE. UNSCHEDULED TRAVELER ACTIVATION."
Looking at Quince and Carter, "Go. Close the iris." They raced from the room.
Jack stood up, as did the rest. "Ferretti, open the blast shields." He got up to do that. "Major, who are we expecting?"
"Its probably SG-10, sir, though they're about an hour early," he replied as he punched in the codes to authorize the opening.
As the barriers slowly slide back O'Neill spoke, "That is the Stargate. Our gateway to other worlds."
The Stargate stood there in all its glory. Lights flashing as the chevrons locked in, the rumble of the wheel turning, the chemical smoke swirling around the chevrons, and the flashing lights and sirens in the background. The SFs ran in readying their weapons.
Jack went over to the mike, "Colonel, status."
Quince answered, "General, we just received SG-10's GDO signal."
"Open the iris."
Jack gestured at the iris as it opened, "The iris is titanium alloy. We keep it closed when the wormhole activates to keep uninvited guests out."
The wormhole whooshed in, and the newly arrived personnel leaned backwards in automatic response. It stabilized and out walked SG-10.
"My god," came the startled whisper from several hardened commanders.
Jack hit the mike, "Welcome back, SG-10. Any injuries?"
Westmore looked up grinning, "Thanks, General. Only some bruises, but we've brought you a gift."
Grinning back, "Great, I love gifts. Give it to Carter and then get to the infirmary. Debriefing in 60."
He turned to Daniel, "Go help Carter, Daniel."
Nodding, he quickly left.
Stratten, the Canadian Forces Commander, "So that's the Stargate. Damn, that's impressive, sir."
Pulling his eyes from it, "General, according to the reports, this goes to planets that host human or Tau'ri like populations?"
"Yes, the Go'ald populated many different planets with humans to be used as slaves or hosts. So did the Asguard. They should be mentioned in your information. They also took humans from Earth and put them on secure planets to keep them as safe as they could from the Go'ald."
General Bradford from Australia spoke up, "General O'Neill, does that mean that the Asguard were trying to protect us for almost 10,000 years?"
"Yeah, well protect humanity, not necessarily Earth. To save our species."
Bradford, "But they're not like us, sir?"
Ferretti snorted, but covered it when everyone looked at him. "Sorry, sir."
Glaring at him, "What the Major means is, no. They are definitely not like us."
Monthorten asked, "Then why try to save our species, sir?"
O'Neill shrugged, "There was once an intergalactic agreement between four species to try and keep the universe free. You'll meet at least one, if not two, of them later today. The Asguard, the Nox, the Furlings, and the fourth are the Ancients who are builders the Stargates, but they've vanished without a trace."
"General, if I remember correctly from my readings, the Nox are a peace- loving race. Will they help us?"
"I don't know, we'll have to ask them."
Colonel Quince returned to the Conference Room. O'Neill returned to his seat, the others followed. As he started to talk he disappeared in a flash of light.
CONTINUED IN CHAP 3