The Best-Laid Plans – Chapter 3

Author's Notes – Thanks for the reviews. Randallsbaby, this one is for you.

Disclaimer – Refer to Chapter 1

Camille Wray and Colonel Telford walked to the Observation Deck. Once they were there, Telford said, "Do you know what's going on? Young usually doesn't change the schedule like that, and he usually doesn't leave that bitch's side."

The woman who had formerly been employed with the International Oversight Authority in her position on Icarus shook her head exasperatedly. "They don't tell me anything. After Roberson was told he had been taken off the schedule, he came to me, but I didn't know either. Young has the group of people he relies on for counsel, and they all universally hate my guts. In fact, most of the ship hates my guts except for the few that worked for the IOA on Icarus. It's been lovely being here, and I mean that in all sarcasm." She looked out the window at the colors which were a result of the faster than light drive of the ship. "I regret ever coming into space. Are you sure we haven't been forgotten at home?"

Placing his hand on her shoulder in support, Telford shook his head. "No, you haven't. We have our best people…." His voice trailed off as he saw Colonel Young approaching them at a brisk pace. "Hello, Colonel. I think we need to talk."

Everett grimly smiled at him. "Yes, we do." He gazed at Camille. "Privately."

"All right." Telford nodded at Camille and went down the corridor with Young. When they got to the room that Mr. Brody had set up as a bar, Ev motioned for Telford to sit down, took out a bottle of alcohol, and poured each of them a glass. "You're allowing alcohol on board now?"

Shrugging his shoulders, the other man replied, "Doubt I could stop it if I wanted to."

"So, your command of this ship is as solid as ever?"

"I'm doing my best to make it work."

"Hmm." He takes a small sip of the liquid while Everett takes a much larger one. "Why did I connect with Rush?"

"Oh, we'll get to that. We need to clear the air a little bit." He noticed that Telford had finished his glass and took the bottle back out. "Have another."

The colonel put his hand on the top of his glass. "I'm on duty. You're on duty."

"Yes, and we're both a billion light years away from the nearest disciplinary hearing, so what? You afraid of what you might say?"

Young smiled smugly at Telford who laughed. "I don't have anything to hide from you or anyone else."

"Is that so?"

"I could have brought you up on charges for assaulting a fellow officer. You should just thank me and let it go."

'Oh, I think we both know that you don't want the details of that little incident getting out. In fact…." A look of disgust appeared on Everett's face. "I really don't think you want President Hayes to find out that you assaulted his pregnant goddaughter. But I can make that happen."

Telford's eyes darkened with anger. "That bitch you call a wife deserved everything she got."

Breathing to control his own anger, Ev then smiled at him icily. "But I'm here, right. That's what's killing you, isn't it? Because this was supposed to be your prize, your reward for all that hard work - an entire year living with those criminals, thieves, murderers, pretending to be one of them. I mean, that's gotta take its toll."

"I'm not doing this again."

He stood up and started to walk away, but stopped when Young continued talking. "The man I used to know would not let thirty-seven people die to cover his own ass, so what changed? What happened to you, David?"

Telford looked at him for a long moment, as if considering whether to open up to his colleague. Eventually, however, he turned away. "Thanks for the drink."

He left the room, and Everett picked up his radio. "Scott, please make sure that Colonel Telford is assigned quarters." After he heard the quiet acknowledgement, he sat there for a moment considering what the next step was going to have to be, and then left the room to go back to the Communications Room.

Meanwhile, the baby shower had continued in the Mess. Melissa finished opening the presents and then Linda and Chloe led the group in several games. While this was going on, Adam Brody and Dale Volker, who were two of the other scientists on the ship, walked into the Mess and headed for the table where Missy was sitting. They sat down with her, and Brody greeted her, "Good morning, Dr. Young."

Melissa smiled warmly at them, "Good morning, Mr. Brody. Good morning, Dr. Volker. What can I do for you?"

"Well, we were wondering." He pointed to Volker. "Your husband has been back and forth all morning using the communications stones, and we were wondering if everything was all right."

She thought for a moment before answering as she knew that Everett would probably not want all of the details of this getting out, but also knowing that his philosophy since being on the ship had been to be as upright as he could about what was going on. "There has been some concern about Colonel Telford, and Everett is just trying to find out what's going on. As soon as he finds out something concrete, I'm sure he'll let everyone know."

Turning to Volker, Brody said, "I told you she wouldn't put us off. She and Young have been good about keeping everyone in the loop." He looked back over at Missy. "I appreciate you telling us, Dr. Young. Are you going to be in the Control Room later?"

"Yes, as soon as the shower is over, I was planning to come in there for a couple of hours before lying down." She stroked her stomach. "TJ said I shouldn't be on my feet for very long."

Brody grinned. "It's always good to follow the doctor's advice. Talk with you later." Volker also said farewell, and the two men left the Mess.

Once the party was over a little while later, Melissa was sitting at the table with TJ, Chloe, Mac, and Eli. Chloe noticed the tears in her eyes, and asked, "What's wrong, Melissa?"

Missy shook her head ruefully as she touched her belly. "I'm about to have two babies. What makes me think we can raise them here?"

Patting her shoulder in support, TJ responded, "You are going to be fine, Melissa. There are 70 people on this ship that are just as excited about the babies." She motioned to the slings that Missy had been given. "And I'll bet a ration that the colonel will be wearing one of the babies as often as you will."

Eli and Mac reassured her too with Mac saying, "You're forgetting something, Melissa. There's gonna be babies coming after yours. I think things will be fine." He motioned to the trucks. "And I'm looking forward to the pool I'm going to set up in a couple of years as to which kid will win their truck race."

Laughing, Melissa said, "So, you're gonna teach them about gambling early, are you?"

"Well…" He grinned at her.

She grinned and gave them a look of gratitude. "Thanks guys. I appreciate it." Missy motioned to the pile of gifts. "Can you help me get this back to my quarters?"

Everyone agreed, picked up the various gifts, and left the Mess. As they were walking down the hallway, they ran into Everett and Corporal Marsden. Melissa's eyes lit up when she saw her husband. "Hi, sweetheart."

Ev came up to her and gave her a hug and kiss. "Hi, honey. How did the shower go?"

"It went well." She motioned to the pile of gifts.

Corporal Marsden then warmly smiled at her and said, "Hello, Missy. You're looking good."

Gazing at both of them curiously and surprised at the young man's familiarity, Missy asked, "Corporal?"

"Nope," said Ev. "It's General O'Neill. Stones."

Her eyes lighting up once more, she reached out and gave O'Neill a hug. "Hi, Jack. How are you?"

"Doing fine," said O'Neill. "I was hoping to get to see you. Your sisters are badgering my office daily about what we're doing to get you guys home."

Missy chuckled. "How did they take hearing about the SGC?"

"They took it pretty well. Your dad always taught you girls to expect the unexpected. I think that helped. They especially want to see those babies." He motioned to her stomach. "Patti has asked to be put on stand-by for when you go into labor. She wants to be available to assist your medic."

"That's great. I know TJ will appreciate it. Tell them I said hi and tell them Everett is taking care of me."

"I will, honey." He turned to Everett and told him, "Ok, let's go see what the deal with Telford is." They nodded farewell to the others, and each group went in a different direction.

The group that Melissa was with reached her quarters a few minutes later. They put the gifts away and then left to go in different directions. Melissa and Eli went to the Control Room where Brody and Volker were also working. For about thirty minutes, they all worked at various consoles. She was about to ask Eli for some help with a math equation when they all heard Everett over the radio asking for Brody. He replied, "Yes, Colonel?"

"Please cut life support to the quarters that Colonel Telford is in."

Everyone in the Control Room gasped, and Brody gazed at Missy inquisitively. She gave him an "I don't know" look, but then said, "I trust that Everett knows what he's doing and that whatever this is has to do with the safety of the ship."

The other men looked at her solemnly as Brody said, "That's what I wanted to hear." He turned the air off to that part of the ship.

As they waited impatiently to hear the outcome, Eli said, "He has to be bluffing." The sounds they heard over the radio also included Camille Wray's voice yelling for the life support to be turned back on. Finally, the Colonel told Brody to turn the air back on, and everyone sighed in relief.

Once the room was full of air again, Ev went in and gave Telford CPR. He was able to revive him and watched as his eyes opened, and he started coughing. Bending down beside him, he asked, "David, David, what is it? What's going to happen?"

Telford's eyes blinked several times, and he looked around the room confusedly like he had just awoken from a long sleep. He recognized the man speaking to him and finally realized what he needed to say. "It's the Lucian Alliance. They're coming. They're going to attack the Destiny."

The other man's eyes widened in horror as he listened to the information Telford gave him. Once he finished, Everett told Scott and Greer to take him to the infirmary and headed for the Control Room to tell them what had happened and what they needed to prepare for. When he got there he touched his wife's arm in greeting, softly smiling at her, before addressing everyone. "We are about to face a threat with many implications. The Lucian Alliance has found another Icarus-type planet and is working, as of now, to be able to dial the ninth chevron. If they succeed, and they more than likely will if they have Dr. Rush, their next step will be to come through our gate. That's when we'll need to be ready to stop them."

"Understood, Colonel," said Brody. "What do you need us to do?

"Start working on the best ways to isolate the gate room from the rest of the ship. I'm going to report on the location of the Lucian Alliance to Homeworld Command, and when I come back, we'll have a ship-wide meeting in the Mess."

"All right."

Everett left to go to the Communications Room while the others began the work he had asked them to do. About thirty minutes later, he returned and had the crew congregate in the Mess. Once everyone was there, he started telling everyone what had happened and what Homeworld Command was going to do to help them. As he finished, he said, "In the best case scenario, Earth forces take the launch point intact and we gain a supply line from home. The worst case scenario is that our forces don't make it before the attack is launched, in which case we'll have to deal with them on our end. In that event, all non-military personnel will be ordered back to your quarters where you will remain until the situation has been resolved. Make no mistake: this will be dealt with swiftly and decisively. Thank you. That is all." Everyone got up to leave the Mess either to head for their assigned tasks or to go back to their quarters. Walking to where his wife was sitting, he offered a hand to help her up and then said, "I really wish I could tell you to go to our quarters and stay there."

Touching his cheek gently, Missy grinned and winked at him. "And why aren't you trying?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "I said something to Mr. Brody about them possibly having to do without you, and he told me you had become as knowledgeable as Rush about the Alteran language and technology—that we would have more of a chance of success with you in there."

Melissa took his hands in hers. "I'll be okay, Ev. Remember, I have my stool in there. I can sit if I need to."

"I know." He motioned to the door. "Go on. I'll check on you in a little while."

His wife nodded, and left the Mess to go to the Control Room. Before the Colonel could leave, he was approached by Camille Wray who said, "This intelligence was based on the info of someone who had been brainwashed by the Lucian Alliance? Are we really going to trust him?"

Rolling his eyes, Ev replied, "Camille, I thought Colonel Telford was one of your good buddies." He saw the exasperated look she gave him. "No, I don't totally trust him, but we need to prepare for this as there is a good chance the intel is good. He is going to be watched."

Camille started at him for a long moment before nodding and leaving the Mess. He left the Mess as well knowing that their best chance of victory would be the preparations that they would be completing over the next few hours and wondering what the end result of those preparations would be.