A/N: Ok, you were lucky. When I started writing this fanfic, this was the second chapter (or so) which I had in mind. It kinda exploded outwards because I trailed off the original path.
Reviews are welcome!
Chapter 26 –Dr. Weir?
"Carter?" O'Neill asked as he knocked on the door of her lab.
"Yes?" Carter answered, sounding a bit annoyed by the interruption.
"What-cha doing?"
"I'm working on understanding how Minos' device works." Carter said with a small sigh.
"Which one of them?"
"The device that upgrades the usual Goa'uld transporter to a transporter which almost equals the Asgard ones, sir. It's really interesting how he managed to override the safety measures of the transporters. And of course, how he managed to compensate for the uncertainty of the size of the objects in the transporter."
"Aha. I understand."
"Really?"
"No." O'Neill said with a devious grin.
"Sir, if I can figure out how this transporter works, and of course the technology surrounding it, then we may be able to use it for greater good. We can even use it to transport people and goods on earth, sir."
"So no more annoying long flights?" O'Neill said jokingly.
"Exactly, sir. Think of the consequences of all the current methods of transportation being replaced by those transporters. I mean, it would still be more convenient to use current transportation methods for short distances, but for long distances it would reduce the travelling time to only a couple of seconds."
"Wouldn't the energy requirements be enormous?"
"Yeah, that would be the only disadvantage, I guess. But I'm sure we can figure a way around that. I mean, with all the naquadah we have now, we can build a serious lot of naquadah reactors."
"So you're gonna be busy for a while?" O'Neill asked jokingly.
'Unauthorized offworld activation!' sounded through the speakers.
"Looks like we're both gonna be busy, sir."
Carter and O'Neill walked to the control room together, where Hammond, Daniel and Teal'c were already waiting.
"Who is it?" Hammond asked to the sergeant in control of the gate.
"We received Minos' IDC, sir."
"Open the iris."
The iris opened, and a few second later Minos came walking through. He appeared normal, but something felt not right. Maybe it was the way he looked, a bit ragged and tired, or maybe grim, but maybe it was nothing.
"Minos, welcome. What brings you here?" Hammond asked when he greeted Minos.
"General Hammond, I'd like to invite you to an important meeting."
"What meeting?" Hammond asked, as he walked with Minos to the conference room, followed by SG-1.
"I'm hosting an important meeting for several advanced races in this galaxy. The Tok'ra will be there, as well as the Asgard. Since we're allies I'd like to invite you too."
"What's the meeting about?" Hammond asked, his curiosity piqued by Minos' language.
"The future, and what it will bring."
"You're holding a meeting about the future?" O'Neill asked incredulously.
"Yep. I'm not spoilering until the meeting, so you might as well refrain from asking in that direction."
"So what do you want us to do?" Hammond asked.
"First of all sent out either a delegation or come in person to the meeting, and second of all tell all advanced civilizations you are friends with to come too. The more planets and people, the better and the more chance to succeed."
"For what to succeed?" Daniel asked.
"Still not spoilering." Minos said. "I've already invited the Tok'ra and the Asgard. If you know any friendly, advanced civilizations I might not they are welcome too. Except for the Goa'uld, of course."
"So you want us to invite only advanced civilizations to your conference?" Hammond asked.
"Yes. I'm guessing that you, as a space-exploring race, have made at least some allies at some point in time. I would like as many planets as possible to come to the conference."
"When will it be?" Hammond asked.
"In two days. That's exactly fifty-one hours from now." Minos said after a second of pause to calculate it.
"I'll send the message to my superiors." Hammond said. "Is there anything else you want us to do besides contact our allies?"
"No. Well apart from being there when the conference starts, on time of course. But I must go now. I'm afraid I have a really awful lot of things to do."
"All-right."
"Oh, and by the way, I was requested that SG-1 partake in the discussions. So it would be nice if you'd come. But I must go now. Goodbye." Minos said.
"Ok, we'll come." O'Neill said. "Bye Minos."
"Can we go, General?" Daniel asked.
"As far as I'm concerned, yes. And I don't think the NID can interfere with this one, so most likely you can go."
"Thanks, General." O'Neill said as they all watched Minos go through the gate. He turned around on the last moment, and raised his hand in a greeting.
"Who do you think requested us at the conference?" O'Neill asked when they were all in the mess hall, eating.
"I'm not sure. It could be the Asgard, I mean, they seem to 'like' you." Daniel answered.
"Yeah, that'd be possible. And the Tok'ra, I mean Jacob, could have requested us for Sam." O'Neill said.
"Well, that's if my dad comes. I'm not so sure about that. I'd rather expect the high-council to show up." Sam said.
"And who of the Asgard do you think would come?" Daniel asked.
"I'm hoping Thor. But probably someone of their High-council too."
"It would be favourable if both Jacob Carter and Thor showed up." Teal'c said.
"Yeah, that's true. Though I think Minos has invited more than just the Asgard and the Tok'ra. I mean, there are enough advanced races out there, even if you disregard the Goa'uld." Carter said.
"Like the Nox?" O'Neill suggested.
"Yeah, exactly." Carter answered. "But I think I should go now. I still have a lot of work to do around the device Minos left behind."
"Bye, Carter."
Sam left for her lab and only minutes after Daniel leaves too. Teal'c needed to train the new recruits again, thus leaving only O'Neill behind, ready to enslave himself to the almighty gods of paperwork again.
Two days later, SG-1 is in the conference room, together with two diplomats from the IOA and Washington, Mr Woolsey and Doctor Weir.
"SG-1, I'd like you to meet Doctor Weir. She's a diplomat and she'll accompany you to Avalon for the conference. And of course, you all know mister Woolsey."
"Pleasure to meet you." Weir said.
"Now, I'll brief you in short on the conference, and who we guess you'll encounter." Hammond said.
"Minos, the Ancient who organises the conference, is the first one. He looks like a kid, but he's really a lot older than that. He's hard to describe really, because we don't know him for that long. But as far as we can tell he's honest. He sometimes acts the age he is, and sometimes acts the age he looks. Since we don't exactly know what the conference is all about, we don't know what he wants from us and what he'll do or how he'll act."
"So he's unpredictable?" Dr. Weir asked.
"If I may, Sir. Minos is a tad bit unpredictable at times. But he'll do anything he deems important enough, and he does care about others. He's just a bit random." O'Neill answered.
"So he's a bit unpredictable, but nice?" Weir asked for confirmation.
"Exactly. Next up are the Asgard. The Asgard are technologically the second most advanced race in two galaxies we've encountered so far. They are guided by logic, and do not really show their emotions. But they have been sympathetic towards us, and they are in our debts for the help we gave against the Replicators. We don't exactly know what that'll mean because we don't know what the conference is about. The Asgard do not tend to interfere in the business of less-advanced societies but they still protect several of them from the Goa'uld. They are the 'culture-bringing' type. They don't interfere, but they guide civilizations. Though they will act if something serious threatens a civilization, like an invasion by another civilization.
Next up are the Tok'ra. The Tok'ra are essentially the same race as the Goa'uld, but their ideologies are the exact opposite. The Tok'ra fight a guerrilla war against the System Lords, and they are sympathetic towards all human-based societies, though most of them do regard most societies as 'primitive'. The Tok'ra are essentially the same as the Asgard, they don't interfere with the more primitive societies than the Asgard, but they do protect them."
Hammond stopped his monologue for a short pause. Dr. Weir used the time to ask a question.
"So, General, if I understand you correct, both the Asgard and the Tok'ra usually don't interfere, but they are sympathetic to us?"
"Exactly. We have an alliance with both of them, and they are the only ones, except for Minos of course, of which we know that they will be at the convention."
"Can we guess which other races there will be at the conference?" Dr. Weir asked.
"Yes, at least for a small part. Minos is an Ancient, so he'll probably be familiar with the Nox. My guess is that they'll be there too, though I'm not sure. From all four great races of long ago, the Nox live the most secluded. They have only one planet, and they don't interfere with anything. The only time we've seen a Nox outside their planet, was with the Triad from the Tollan. One of them served as impartial judge.
Those are the races that will be most likely to show up on the conference, but there may be others. I trust Minos, and his capabilities as an Ancient to keep everyone safe, whatever dangers there may be."
"General, If I may, what exactly is our goal here?" Dr. Weir asked.
"To be honest with you, I don't know. Minos didn't want to say anything about what the conference is, or why it is held. Our main goal is to protect Earth's interests. If there is anything we can do for our allies it's a bonus, of course, but Earth has a priority. I, and with me the rest of the governments, trust in all of you to carry out that mission."
"The IOA has agrees with your goals, General Hammond." Woolsey informed. "But I am unsure why SG-1 is required to come."
"Minos specifically requested one or all of them to come to the conference, Mr. Woosley. That's probably because he knows them better that you or me, or Dr. Weir for that part." Hammond answered.
"Then I am done. You may proceed with your mission. I see no immediate or important problems with your goals." Woolsey said.
"With that settled, I want you to report to the gate room in fifteen minutes. No weapons, but for the rest the usual gear. I don't think it would be appreciated if you come in carrying a lot of weapons, so we leave them at home. Dismissed." Hammond said.
SG-1 and Doctor Weir stood in the gate-room ten minutes later, waiting for the gate to dial. Dr. Weir shuddered softly at the sight of it.
"First time through the gate?" Carter asked.
"Yes. I only learned of its existence a month ago. It's all quite amazing when you think about it. Your molecules and atoms being broken down completely, and then sent through subspace to the other gate."
The gate finished spinning, and the usual blue-white 'kawoosh' came out. Dr. Weir stepped back, surprised by the sudden outburst.
"Don't worry. It's a breeze." O'Neill said as he stepped through.
Weir stood at in front of the vertical puddle of blue 'liquid'. She slowly put her hand in, and then stepped through.
"Was a breeze, wasn't it?" O'Neill asked on the other side.
"Yes. It certainly was. It's still amazing." Weir said, holding her hand above her eyes to shield herself from the bright sunlight on Avalon.
"Greetings." Tarin said, standing near the DHD, waiting for new arrivals. "I will escort you to the grand hall."
"Thanks Tarin." O'Neill said as Tarin led the way towards the main hall.