Sam climbed the spiral staircase up to the briefing room in the now deserted Cheyenne Mountain complex. With the stargate gone, the SGC had been temporarily disbanded until appropriate terms were reached with the I.O.A. to use their 'neutral' facility in Egypt. On top of that, there were still many ruffled feathers over how the I.O.A. had acquired the stargate.
Carter and Mitchell had returned to Earth and relayed their tale to the temporary U.S. representative in Egypt, who had listened intently, made no promises as to repercussions against the Chinese government, then quickly arranged them transportation back to the States. Both Colonels had been given temporary leave until their positions in the new offworld operation was determined.
Cam and Sam had spent the first week together, discussing their future and mourning their friends. Teal'c had remained on Dakara, assuming his new duties as First Prime. He was given a new symbiot and had his golden emblem of Apophis removed in a quick ceremony, with Mitchell and Carter in attendance, before they had to return to Earth. Teal'c wished them both well, adding that given current circumstances he didn't think he'd be visiting Earth again. Apparently he was taking Hailey and Vala's deaths hard, and in typical Jaffa fashion he placed blame squarely on the Chinese, and by extension all those who enabled their misdeeds…
After their week on Earth together, Cam went off to visit his family while Carter lost herself on the road, taking an extended vacation across the country, hopping from one national park to another, hotel to hotel, and in some cases campsite to campsite. She didn't feel like staying put for very long, as if moving from place to place would help her escape her emotions. Not only had they lost their teammates, but Jack had also disappeared offworld…and she had no way of finding him.
Truth be told, if she knew where he was she'd run off with him at the drop of a hat. She was as disgusted and disillusioned with her fellow Earthlings as Teal'c was. Cam still seemed optimistically hopeful, but she knew part of his demeanor was just for show. He was still simmering too, but he wasn't going to dwell on it.
Carter however was. She'd been around the block too many times to just pass this off. She'd always been fervently loyal to her country and her planet, but the harsh truth was that Earth, whom she'd fought and bled for on god knows how many times, had gone to the darkside.
Up until now she'd never let herself believe that. Sure, there were bound to be rotten eggs in every chicken coop, but lately it seemed everything that Earth did had some political, self-centered agenda to it. Gone were the days where they went out into the galaxy to explore and help people…now it was Earth that was victimizing others.
And she'd been a part of it. That's what galled her the most. She'd become one of them…up until Captain Stevenson had ran her head through the wood chipper. He'd inadvertently done her a favor, painful as it had been, and it sickened Sam at the very thought of where she'd be right now if he hadn't shoved her rationalizations back in her face.
And now she was stuck. She couldn't run off looking for O'Neill. She couldn't redeem herself within a stargate program that no longer existed. She couldn't do anything but play civy and wait for her hair to turn gray.
Two months into her cross country road trip, however, she did receive a phone call from her superiors. They hadn't said what for, but she'd been recalled from her leave and ordered to report to the old SGC for further orders.
When she arrived a lone guard stood waiting for her at the entrance. He escorted her into the base up until he got around to telling her where she was going, at which point she dismissed the Sergeant. She knew her way around the base better than anyone.
When Sam reached the top of the stairwell she noticed a large group of uniformed officers seated around the briefing room table…all of whom turned to look at her.
She cleared her voice. "Colonel Samantha Carter, reporting as ordered," she said, coming to a stop and saluting.
"Colonel," a tall man wearing a civilian suit said as he stood, acknowledging her salute with one of his own. "Welcome back," he said, pointing to the table's only empty chair.
Sam nodded, recognizing the man, but a bit confused by the salute. "Thank you, Mr. Vice President."
The VP continued standing until she'd seated herself, then lowered himself back into his chair at the opposite end of the table.
"Two weeks ago," he began without preamble, "the Beta site reported a contagion affecting all of their personnel. The planet was quarantined. Three days later, when we finally got a med team through the stargate," he said with frustration, "they were all dead."
Sam's eyes widened.
One of the Generals on her left tilted his head in her direction. "It was the Aschen."
"The Aschen?" Carter asked, blinking.
"We retrieved the small probe that delivered the bioweapon," the General continued. "It was the same type as used against Earth."
"Did they take the planet?" Sam asked.
"No, they didn't," the Vice President said. "Once the contagion ran its course, we reclaimed the Beta site. There's been no further sign of the Aschen."
Carter frowned, thinking. "Did they take anything?"
The Vice President looked at his Generals and raised an eyebrow.
"Not that we've found," General Higgins said grumpily.
Carter considered that, then nodded her head as she came to a conclusion. "It was a shark bump," she said meekly.
"I'm sorry," the Vice President said, "I'm not familiar with that terminology."
"Umm…it's sort of like prodding us for a reaction," Carter awkwardly explained. "They hit us then study our response, usually as a prelude to future action. Sharks have been known to do that before they attack divers."
"A shark bump…ok, I get it. So they'll hit us again? That's your conclusion, Colonel?"
"More of a guess, Mr. Vice President," Carter hedged. "But I'd say so."
"You can address him as 'sir,' Colonel," General Howard told her. "He's now the Commander in Chief of the military."
"Excuse me?" Carter asked, her jaw dropping.
The Vice President raised his hand to stop and further conversation. "In the event that the President is removed from office, the Vice President assumes the Presidency. The Congress can't remove Cornwallis without telling the public why, which would require revealing the stargate program. That's not something we're prepared to do, but we're not going to let treason go either. Unofficially I've taken control of the Presidential powers. Cornwallis will remain a figurehead, but with no decision making ability whatsoever."
Carter's eyes widened a bit further. "And he agreed to this?"
"Congress didn't give him a choice," the Vice President told her. "The military supported them, as did I. With no one following his orders, Cornwallis lost all control. Eventually he relented and agreed to play the role in order to maintain national security, but he's completely out of the loop."
"Wow…" Carter commented.
"So as far as we're concerned," Howard said, pointing at the VP, "he is the President."
Carter nodded. "Yes, sir."
"In light of this recent attack," the unofficial President continued, "the Congress and I have unanimously decided on a new course of action regarding offworld affairs…at least the portion of Congress with security clearance. That's why you're here."
Sam nodded, but didn't say anything.
"As of three days ago, we declared war on the Aschen."
Carter's breath caught in her throat. "Really?"
The CIC nodded. "The other nations reluctantly agreed on principle, but are only committed to the defense of Earth and their individual colonies. We, however, aren't just going to sit around waiting to get hit again. We're going on the offensive…when we're able to down the road. Normally a declaration of war by the congress would result in a massive shift of our country's economy towards war production…but that's not possible without breaking national security."
"To that end," he continued, "our military buildup is going to commence offworld. Since we no longer have exclusive control of the stargate, our offworld operations are going to be run out of a new Stargate Command located offworld. All transit to Earth, according to a recent I.O.A. edict, will come directly from one of Earth's colonies for security reasons. All offworld teams will have to gate to friendly territory before being allowed to return to Earth."
General Pervis leaned over towards Sam. "Since they've got the gate, the I.O.A. has been giving orders on everything."
"Yes they have," the VP said. "And we're not standing for it anymore. We're cutting all but the most basic ties with the I.O.A. We are no longer producing technology for them, nor supplying them with personnel. They will allow us limited travel through the stargate in order to prevent us from trying to bring another gate here, which I've been told is inadvisable because it wouldn't work anyway."
"It would override their gate because of the DHD," Carter offered. "But there's nothing to stop them from doing the same thing, at which point it becomes a programming war for dominance."
"Thus," the VP continued after a nod, "we are preparing to run all our offworld operations without the benefit of a planetary gate. We'll travel by ship if we have to, but we're finished with the I.O.A."
"Surprised?" Higgins asked when some of the color seemed to drain from Sam's face.
"Well…to be honest, yes, I am."
"You disapprove?" the General pressed.
"No…not at all. I just didn't expect it to happen given the political situation."
The VP leaned forward, putting his elbows on the table and starred Carter down. "We're done playing politics with the security of Earth. I know what it's like out there, Colonel. I know how vulnerable we really are and how stupidly we've handled past situations. We'd all be dead ten times over if not for you and your teammates…and most recently the intervention of the Jaffa."
Carter nodded. "Thank you, sir."
"No," the VP shook his head. "Thank you. You and the others at Stargate Command have been the voice of reason ever since the program was founded. It's been idiotic politicians and blowhard military brass that have caused most of the trouble," he said, catching a few glares from his current military brass. "We're done playing games. As of now, you are in full command of all our offworld operations."
"Me?" Carter asked, stunned.
The VP nodded. "With an immediate promotion to a Five Star General."
"What?" Sam gasped.
"We're at war," the VP insisted. "You're the most experienced officer we have. I would have liked to bring O'Neill back, but we haven't been able to track him down and we can't wait. You are in command of our war effort, General. As it is, you're also the only person remaining on Earth that has had personal contact with the Aschen. You saw them launch the first bioweapon at us through the stargate with no provocation whatsoever. You know what we're up against, and short of O'Neill I can't think of anyone better to protect our planet, and our country, from our offworld enemies."
"Are you sure?" Sam asked again, thinking she'd not heard right.
The VP smiled. "You don't remember me, do you?"
"Sir?" she asked, not catching his meaning.
"During the first year of operation here," he said, indicating the SGC. "There was a skirmish offworld. SG-5 was under Goa'uld attack and SG-1 and SG-3 was sent in as relief. You rescued a Major Kerry who'd received a staff blast in the chest," he said, pointing to the spot on his upper right pectoral muscle.
Carter's eyes widened again. "That was you?"
"Yes," Kerry said. "I never returned to active duty, and eventually made my way into politics because I knew how serious the threat we faced was, and how we couldn't trust the politicians to do anything right. Now that I'm the one calling the shots, with the congress in agreement out of fear of the Aschen, I'm giving you free reign to do what's needed, in your own way, with no interference from the I.O.A. or our own government."
Carter stared at him for a moment. "You've got to be joking."
"No, I'm dead serious," Kerry said, leaning back in his chair. "But there's more than just the threat the Aschen pose. We also have to consider the possibility of WWIII here on Earth…or more likely, out amongst our colonies."
"What do you mean?" Carter asked.
"Since we lost possession of the stargate, the other nations have become almost giddy with the promise of new lands to colonize. It's as if the clock was turned back to 1492 when the Americas were discovered and Europe set loose on a colonizing binge. The same thing is happening now, and I can see no way for us to stop it. When we had possession of the stargate they had to go behind our back to do it…now, there's no restrictions on them at all, and the I.O.A. is intent on playing kingpin and riding rough shot over everyone. A few of the rules they've set up include treating Earth as neutral ground, which everyone is honor-bound to protect, but they're 'giving' free passes to the individual countries to do whatever they want on their own colonies, which are being parceled out by the I.O.A. Any confrontations between nations are the business of no one else, so long as they keep their disputes away from Earth."
Carter's jaw dropped the lowest it'd go. "They're anticipating civil war?"
"So it would seem. Their focal point is on preserving Earth. As for everything else it's a free for all…with the one exception being they're forbidding claiming of worlds with indigenous populations. They don't want another incident with the Jaffa. Also, every nation has to petition the I.O.A. to be granted the rights to establish new colonies, as well as declare all offworld bases for public knowledge."
"How do they plan to enforce that?" Carter asked, thinking through the ramifications.
"Setting us at each other's throats," Kerry said candidly. "We've already denounced the I.O.A. treaty and made our intentions clear. We've sort of settled on a mutual disagreement while acknowledging that Earth needs to be protected. We have, however, pulled out of all 304 contracts with the other nations. They'll have to make their own spaceships from now on."
"So…" Carter said carefully. "You're telling me that since we can't stop this colonization push, our only option is to get out in front of it?"
"Bingo," he said, pointing a finger at her in congratulations.
"All the while fighting the Aschen and who knows who else?"
"I'm sure you see the intricacies of the problem we face…and the urgent need for genuine leadership," he underscored.
Sam nodded slowly, taking it all in. "I'll want Colonel Mitchell as my second in command."
"You needn't ask, Carter," Kerry said with some familiarity. "You're in command. You can have whoever you want. We'll supply you with as much equipment and resources as we can from Earth, but down the road you're going to have to rely on offworld resources."
"Meaning the establishment of more mining sites and setting up offworld factories and shipyards," Sam said, catching on quickly.
Kerry nodded, smiling. "I trust you can take it from here?"
"Yes, sir," she said formally.
Kerry pointed at the assembled staff. "These officers are at your disposal. They'll help you set up everything you need. Oh…one small side note, Carter. Is there any chance of getting Teal'c back?"
Sam cringed. "He's already been accepted as Bra'tac's First Prime. Knowing Teal'c he won't go back on that commitment."
"Our loss," Kerry said as he stood. "Cheyenne Mountain is yours until we can get an offworld SGC up and running. The Phoenix and Icarus are our only two operational warships. We have to leave at least one of them here at all times until the British 304 is ready for operation, which we're keeping, by the way. But you know as well as I do, that even if we had all four ships here in defense of Earth, that won't be enough against another Aschen assault."
"Assuming the Russians keep theirs here," Carter added, nodding. "The 304s will be more effective offworld until we can establish a proper defense of Earth."
"Yes, I forgot to mention that," Kerry added. "We're discussing the establishment of a network of defense satellites with the I.O.A., but even if they refuse to play ball we're going to work on the defenses ourselves. That will not be one of your responsibilities."
Carter nodded. She was getting everything away from Earth. Home defense would be allotted to someone else. While she hoped they got someone competent for the job, not having to defend Earth directly was a huge load off her shoulders…not that the job she'd just been given was going to be that easy. She was being given the front lines, while Earth would eventually, hopefully, become safe territory.
"Understood, sir."
Kerry walked around the table and stopped next to Carter, who stood to meet him. He shook her hand. "You have no idea how much safer I feel knowing that you'll be out there watching over our asses. Good luck. If there's anything that they can't get for you, feel free to call me, day or night."
"Thank you," Carter said as he released her hand.
"Have at it," Kerry said, waving them back to the table as he left the room. A pair of secret service guards stepped out of what used to be Landry's office to escort him back to the surface.
"Ok," Carter said, sitting back down and taking a long, deep breath. "Let's start with the basics. Do we have a proposed site for the new SGC?"
"Dr. Weir," one of the Asgard at the control consoles calmly called out to her, "the city's sensors are detecting a wave of incoming objects."
Elizabeth walked over behind the small alien. "What kind of objects?"
"Asteroids," it said evenly. "Some of which are quite large."
"How long?" she asked.
"Twelve minutes, thirty two seconds."
"Alert the Alterra. We need someone in the control chair."
"Done," another Asgard said, having already sent the message.
"Start powering up the city's weapons," Elizabeth ordered. "And sound general quarters."
One of the other six Asgard in the control room activated the city's general warning klaxon, tinged with slightly altered harmonics to indicate the general quarters status.
Out on Atlantis's number three pylon Sheppard and O'Neill were lazily hitting golf balls out into the ocean when the city's shield suddenly rose up over their heads. Below them the water receded as it was pushed down by the ventral shields as they too extended. Atlantis bobbed a bit with the increased buoyancy as a loud, four tone warning sounded on the city's exterior hull…the signal to return indoors.
"What's up?" O'Neill asked as Sheppard closed his eyes and concentrated.
"Come on," Sheppard said a moment later, grabbing their stash of golf balls and clubs. "They need us in the control chairs."
"Wraith I assume," O'Neill asked as he ran behind Sheppard, carrying his own set of clubs.
"They decided to hit a few balls our way," John said as they approached the nearest door to the city's interior. "We've got to knock them down before they get here."
"Tell me where to go," O'Neill said, completely serious for once in his life.
"I'll show you," Sheppard said as they darted inside.