CHAPTER 56

EPISODE---------FULL ALERT

Jack left the grocery store and headed home wishing to sit down, cook his quick meal, drink a beer and watch a episode of the Simpsons, or more. Another long day of nothing to do after that. Maybe sleep, maybe go fishing. He wasn't really thinking much about it. Pulling into his driveway, he got out, pulled the two cases of Heineken beer from the extended cab section behind the passenger seat and a bag of groceries. He had returned the General a couple days ago after having some fun with it. Several speeding tickets and a few moving violations went home with the car though. Ford wasn't surprised at the speeding tickets seeing as he already had a few dozen himself, but the moving violations pushed the limit. Bad enough no insurance company would take him, but thankfully Sam still had hers. After closing the door he walked up his small sidewalk finding his door ajar.

Oh, wonderful. I'm getting robbed. And no one around to be a witness if I have to start shooting. Great.

He set the groceries down with the beer, took his sunglasses off and pulled his .32 cal from behind his back and going in slowly, he looked toward his bedroom hearing nothing and seeing as the doors to the kitchen were closed and he heard movement in the living room, he went toward it slowly leaving the front door open. Who he saw just about made him open fire. Kinsey was standing there holding a empty bottle of his scotch and a slightly filled glass. He was wearing a blue suit like pants and jacket with a blue checked button up shirt and black shoes. He held the bottle up seeing him.

"Bad news. You're out of scotch." he said setting the bottle down and sitting in a chair like he owned the place.

"Well, had I known you were coming, I would have hid the good stuff." Jack said lowering the gun slightly.

Should I call my friend Andy or Ford? Probably both, definitely both. Should find out if Ford wants in on the poker night. Wait, he'd take everything me and my friends have. Then again, he might not and we could win big money. Hmmm. Decisions, decisions.

Kinsey chuckled as he made himself comfy in the chair.

"If you would have known I was coming. I doubt I would have made it through the door." he said taking a sip.

Jack reached down picking the portable phone off the coffee table in front of the couch.

"Who are you calling?"

"The local sheriff is a friend of mine." Jack said punching in the number.

"Hah. I may be a disgrace, but I'm not wanted for any crimes." he said putting the glass down beside him.

"Breaking and entering?" Jack said casually as he put the phone to his ear.

"Jack?" he said holding up both hands.

"Shh! It's ringing." he said waving the gun at him.

Kinsey sighed and looked over to his right seeing the phone base station. He reached over and unplugged it cutting Jack off then held it up for Jack to see.

"Now you can listen to what I have to say."

Jack gritted his teeth a moment then dropped the phone on the table with a sigh as he reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. It made a noise as he opened it and punched in the number again.

"Oh for god's sake." Kinsey sake with a exasperated sigh. "You need to start trusting me Jack."

"Umm. No, I really don't." he said putting the phone to his ear. Doubt I ever could if God above said to either.

"Yes, you really need to."

Jack ignored him.

"The fate of the planet depends on it."

"And yet, even Ford wouldn't believe that one."

"He's a menace and…." he said with anger.

"Shh!!! It's ringing again." Jack said pointing the gun at him.
Kinsey sighed audibly muttering to himself.

"Hello?"

"Andy, it's Jack."

"Hey, what's up?" a happy voice said through the cell.

Kinsey held his arms open.

"Jack? Hello?"

"We still on for this Friday's poker night?"

"Yeah, we're still on."

"Good. I'll bring the beer. Maybe a friend too. Rich friend."

"Right. Sounds cool. See you then."

"See you then."

Jack started punching in another number after he hung up.

"Who are you calling now?" he asked sarcastically.

"Oh, another friend. One who really wants to see you." he said suggestively.

"Jack, this is very important. He doesn't need to be here. He'll complicate things."

"Probably." Jack said smiling as the phone rang. "But he deservers to be here. Mostly so I don't get chewed out, and such. Maybe worse."

He waited and after a couple of rings, he got the answering machine.

"Hello, this is the Carter residence…should we just say our first names with?" Ford's voice said on the machine.

"Nah." she said.

"Okay, well then, unless you're a certain person we know…" he said.

"Or someone who doesn't know what a answering machine is…"she said.

"You should know the routine. Bye." they both said.

Jack hung up and grimaced with a scowl. So he tried Ford's cell phone next knowing he always left it on.

Ford and Carter were outside tending to the yard. Weeds had grown up in the flowerbeds while they had been busy at the base lately. They'd been at it for a couple of hours now, but enjoying every minute of it.

"It looks a lot better than before."

"Especially with the new flowers you got me." she said walking over and placing a arm around him. Her smile became infectious.

"I'd buy all the flowers in the world if it made you smile."

"I know you would. Oh, your cell is ringing." she said taking her gloves off.
"Huh? You're right. Bummer. I hope it isn't a call to come to work." he said taking his glove off and pulling it from his pocket. "Hello?"

"Hey Ford." a not so happy voice said.

"Jack?" he said surprised.

"Yeah. It's me."

"Everything okay?" he said hearing a bit of anger in the voice.

"Oh, just dandy." Jack said with a tone that said otherwise.

"Dandy huh?" Ford said trying not to laugh and failing.

Carter laughed at hearing it as well.

"What's up?" Ford asked with a tone that he knew something was wrong.

"I need some help with something over here. Can you come over?" he said with a slight order tone.

"I think so. Need Sam?"

"No. Just you. It's very important." he stated emphasizing the word very.

"Okay, I'll be there soon." Ford said hanging up. "He wants me for something. Just me. Didn't say why. And he wasn't happy."

"Well, you better go see what it is then. I'll have something whipped up by the time you get back."

"But I was going to cook."

"You keep cooking, I'll never be able to try out what you taught me."

"Good point." he said giving her a quick kiss.

"Mmmm. Just hurry back. More than a nice meal will be ready then." she said being seductive as her hands traced across his chest.

"Oh, that's not fair." he whined. "Now I don't want to go."

"Gives you something to look forward to when you get back." she said giving him a deeply passionate kiss. As she broke off. "Oh, I think I heard the phone in the house ring."

"So?"

"Before yours went off."

"Uh oh." they both said.

"That must have been him." she said, then started laughing.

He realized why quickly and laughed as well.

"He's on his way."

"Wonderful." Kinsey said sarcastically as he threw his hands into the air. "I'm being dead serious here Jack. The fate of the world is in your hands right now."

"Maybe. But you'll wait till he gets here so we can both hear what nonsense you're going to spill." Jack said sitting down on the couch. "Don't get up. I'll shoot you saying I was defending myself from an intruder. All things considered, it is true."

About fifteen minutes later they both heard a car pull up outside quickly and a door close, slam actually. From the sound of it, it was the new General Lee, Jack figured. Considering where Jack lived, Jack was a surprise Ford didn't have the cops on his tail.

Ford walked up seeing the front door open and groceries sitting outside.

Oh Jack. No wonder you have me cook at the base. You eat all the wrong foods at home. And drinks. Must have called me over to cook for him, possibly. But why the anger, unless he got robbed and wants me to investigate first. Would explain the open door and his tone. Could also be the answering machine message too.

He quickly got his gun out, took the safety off, and walked in slowly knowing something was wrong.

"Jack?" he asked quietly, looking behind the front door.

"Right here." a voice grumbled.

Ford spun around finding Jack standing in the hallway to his living room with a gun in hand, not pointed at him. He lowered the gun but didn't put it away as Jack flinched.

"Sorry. I hope you're not planning to shoot yourself."

"No." he said with a tone that suggested Ford said the stupidest thing possible.

"Then this better be important. I was in the middle of something."

"What'd I do, catch you two in the middle of sex?"

"What? No, no, um, no. We were, um…" he said waving a hand. "We were working outside planting flowers and such."

"Right." he said not believing a word. "I liked your message on the answering machine. Very nice, not."

"Oh, you noticed we did that then." he said trying not to smile and laugh.

"That wasn't funny. Remove it."

"We didn't think you'd actually call, and we planned on changing it anyway. We were just…clowning around that day." he said biting his tongue.

"Right." he said not believing a word, again.

"Anyway, what's going on and what's with the gun?" he asked quickly hoping not to burst out laughing. "Your house being robbed? No that can't be otherwise you would have told me to shut up sooner. And I doubt it was to talk about the answering machine."

"Uninvited guest showed up. Not being robbed though, unless you call my scotch being finished off that." he said gesturing over his shoulder. "We are going to hear him out and then decided what to do. Understand Major?"

"Um, I guess. Who…" Ford started saying when he realized who it was by the order tone. "Kinsey is here isn't he?"

"Yes." Jack said holding his hand out as Ford took a menacing step forward. "We are going to hear him out. Got that Major?"

"Fine." Ford said a little reluctantly. Took him a minute to say it though.

"Put the gun away first, or give it here. I don't trust you holding it with him around."

"Jack. I wouldn't…"

"You ever want to come to work again?"

"Ouch." he said wounded.

"Believe me, I'm tempted as well. But they might put some idiot in charge that would screw the planet in less than a day so I'm keeping myself restrained on that notice only."

He did put it away, reluctantly, and followed Jack into the living room. Kinsey just sat there and did little else.

"Okay Kinsey. We are listening, but," Jack said as he sat down on the couch and waved the gun at him. "But, if it sounds, even sounds like you're yanking my chain. I'll let him at you, I won't care and will probably make popcorn and tape it for prosperity. A lot of people at the SGC would pay to see it too."

Ford stood next to the couch crossing his arms. Little else he could do seeing as he was ordered to wait. But he gave the meanest and most menacing stare he could. Kinsey flinched but talked anyway while trying to avoid the gaze.

"Fine. Here it is. You want to take down the Trust. I want to help you."

Ford shook his head as he growled out. "This had better be good Kinsey. I got an itchy finger and somewhere else I'd really rather be or should be actually."

"Wait, don't you, you know, work for them?" Jack asked confused. "As he said, this better be good. I had some Simpson's to watch."

"After I was forced to resigned as Vice President, my relationship with the organization, changed." Kinsey said after a sigh.

"Meaning you were no longer useful so they kicked you out on your ass…" Jack said getting the picture.

"I wonder if they did it literally." Ford said with still narrowed eyes.

"I would have like to seen that." Jack said glancing up at him a moment.

"Crude, but yes." Kinsey said begrudgingly.

"Why didn't they just shoot you?" Jack asked.

"Probably wanted me to do it. Killing him would make me look bad and ruin it for me to stay working at the SGC." Ford said nodding with a grimace. "Would almost be worth it."

"It's possible, but unlikely." Kinsey said slowly as he tried not to think about how Ford might harm him, kill him actually.

The look he was getting alone was as bad as the look women gave.

"But believe me, they considered it, but…surprisingly they requested a meeting a few days ago. Now I suggested a nice public venue." he said with a wave of his hand.

"Nice idea. Kept you safe and in the public eye so they couldn't do anything." Jack stated.

"Yes. There, they made me a very….interesting offer." he said moving forward the edge of the chair.

Jack waved his gun telling him to keep going.

"In exchange for a large cash payment, the Trust want me to arrange a meeting with General Miraslov Kiselev, the Russian Defense Minister."

"I'll be damned." Ford said closing his eyes as he looked at the ceiling.

"It's the truth Mr. Carter." he said with a small sneer.

"No. That's the problem. It makes perfect sense." Ford said begrudgingly. "Absolutely wonderful. And I was looking forward to shooting you."

"It does?" Jack asked confused. "Want to fill me in here?"

"Go after the Russians. Make them take the gate from us and the Trust can pull all the strings. They have almost unlimited financing, somehow."

"But don't they already have connections with the Russian military?" Jack asked. "Wouldn't they have already tried that?"

"This is no ordinary connection. Kiselev exercises authority over all of Russia's armed forces, including their nuclear arsenal." Kinsey pointed out.

"We won't toss a nuke through the gate on a Goa'uld controlled planet, or a Jaffa planet, but the Russian's might do so to save Earth. If they can get the gate back." Ford stated. "We know the Russians don't have the money to keep a program like we can, so they'd have little trouble with nuking planets to save this one."

"Okay, starting to make sense. So, you presently know this guy? Maybe a good friend?" Jack asked.

Kinsey sat back chuckling. "Nah. After the fall of communism, he was one of a number of officers assigned to pursue, secret talks with the West aimed at military cooperation. He was a hard liner even then. His country was falling apart but he came at us as though we were the one with the disadvantage. He and I developed a…….mutual respect."

"Right." Ford said with a scoffing tone.

"So, what does the Trust want with him?" Jack asked looking at his watch.

"They wouldn't give me any specifics, but as Major Carter here pointed out, they know we entered into a deal with the Russians for control of the gate. They also know there is a growing sentiment in Moscow about us not keeping up with our bargain with the gate."

"Just like I figured." Ford stated begrudgingly.

"Exactly. It's ambitious, even for the Trust. But from what I hear, after you all put a crimp in their little plan to use the symbiont poisoning to wipe out the Goa'uld. There has been a change in attitude. They particularly didn't like those computer chips being taken back either."

"Good. Glad to disappoint them." Ford said with a sly smile.

"They have decided they don't want to stay in the shadows and bide their time. They want to make a direct grab for power." he said clenching his fist.

"Fortunately for you, it makes complete sense." Ford said putting his hands into his pockets.

"So, you just decided to come tell us this?"

"Yes. I came to you, specifically you Jack."

"Right. You always struck me as the hero type." Jack said with a hidden mock tone.

Kinsey got up holding the empty glass as he walked over to the fireplace and then back to the chair. His frustration was building and was evident in his voice.

"You both, hell the whole SGC may question my methods…but everything I did was for God and country. For the Trust to ally themselves with a foreign power against the United States of America…..well that's just something I can't condone."

"How patriotic." Ford muttered.

"My job was to protect America whatever…."

"Please, spare me the diatribe. They kicked you when you were down, and you want revenge." Jack stated casually as he interrupted Kinsey. "It's as simply as that."

"My motives are irrelevant. The truth is the Trust have become a threat to the sovereignty of this nation. Now, what are you going to do about it?"

"Still want to shoot him?"

"Yes. But he's right. We have to stop the Trust. They are worse than he is right now." Ford grumbled out hoping he wasn't going to regret this. "The Russians get the gate back, we loose our jobs and then shortly after the planet gets invaded by the Goa'uld and other worse things such as…."

"I get the picture." Jack said standing up. "Let's go Kinsey."

"Hey Jack…" Ford said putting arm around him and pulling him away.

"You want to do what?" Jack asked a few moments later.

"You heard me."

Jack looked back at Kinsey, then looked at Ford smiling.

"Alright. If you're swearing on her…"

"Totally. Besides, they might be watching him." Ford stated.

"Good point. I'll call everyone and then be right behind you."

"Come along Kinsey. You get a rare treat." Ford said waving a hand for him to move.

"What does that mean?" he asked sarcastically.

"You're riding in my car to the mountain."

Fear was in his eyes quickly.

"I know how you drive mister…"

"I will carry you there screaming and kicking if I have to. And tape you to the hood, take a choice. Seat or hood?"

A couple of hours later they were in the briefing room discussing what Kinsey told them. Jack had Kinsey placed in a room on the base, but with seriously restricted access to anything and absolutely no access to any food cooked by Ford. Jack sat at the head, as always, Daniel and Teal'c on his right while Carter and Ford were on his left. At the moment, Jack was lightly tapping his fingers on the table as they talked.

"What would happen if the Trust managed to actually convince the Russians to back out of our deal?" Carter asked.

"Well that would be a problem. Technically, the gate is only here on loan as part of the deal." Daniel stated. "If the Russians decide they want it back, things could get sticky."

"Is it possible Kinsey is simply lying?" Teal'c asked.

"That is always possible." Jack stated holding finger up. "But doubtful."

"Like Jack said. Unfortunately, everything he said makes sense, as much as I don't want to believe it." Ford said with a sigh. "We both heard it and were sorely tempted to shoot him."

"Did he ask either of you for anything in return?" she said looking at Jack then at Ford. More at him seeing as he really wanted Kinsey dead.

"Protection." Jack said.

"If you're wondering if he asked protection from me, no." Ford said. "I wouldn't have granted that anyway."

She raised her eyebrows in surprise as did Daniel and Teal'c.

"Interesting." Daniel said.

"Probably thought he'd be pushing it." Ford stated. "Or knew I wouldn't grant it anyway."

"Well, it would make sense. If he doesn't cooperate the Trust will kill him. Here, he only has to avoid Ford. Not an easy task, but possible."

"Thanks for the reminder Daniel."

Daniel smiled lightly at Fords small glare.

"Wait, maybe he should cooperate. This could be our chance to get somebody on the inside. Infiltrate the organization." Carter stated after a thought.

"Now that is the best idea I have heard in a long time." Jack said. "Come along Major, you can help me convince him. Tortuously maybe."

"Excellent." Ford said rubbing his hands together as he got up and left with a wicked smile. "Maybe he'll try to escape and I'll have a legitimate excuse…."

"He's enjoying this. Like savoring the moment." Daniel said watching them leave. "What do you think Sam?"

"About wanting Kinsey dead?" she asked to which Daniel nodded. "Normally, I would condone this idea of his, as to just going out and killing someone, but seeing as Kinsey has tried to kill him and threatened my life as well, I told him to go for it. Thankfully Kinsey is the only one he's after in that regard. There's a few other people he's mentioned he wants to see dead, but no determination to go do it. Besides, most of the base wants Kinsey dead too."

"You think he'd kill Kinsey in cold blood?"

"Considering some of his….really personal past he has told me, I'd bet on it." she said with a hint of sadness.

"He's told you about his personal past? And not us?"

"Trust me Daniel, under that hard and loving exterior we all see, and other things, is a man who has trouble dealing with many of the things he has done to protect his country that broke many rules and regulations. Things I promised never to repeat. And I don't even have the full story."

"That bad?"

"Some of them, yeah." she said sadly. "He didn't give me a lot of details though, but enough."

"Can you give us a hint?" Daniel asked as they got up.

"Bad enough he didn't give all the information on what he had done, in the other universe, to our government when he gave them part of his service folders. If they knew everything he was ordered to do, they'd probably execute him. He broke the Geneva Convention treaty quite a few times, under orders. And a few other treaties."

"Ouch."

"Want to hear something funny though?"

"Sure."

"Kinsey was brought here, in the General Lee."

"I don't…"
"Ford made sure he kept the car at over a hundred all the way up to the gate." she said with a laugh. "Police followed until he mentioned it was a serious National Security thing and they reluctantly backed off."

"I'm surprised he didn't have a heart attack." Daniel said chuckling.

"He almost did."

"You want me to wear a wire?!" Kinsey said pacing the room after Jack came in and told him. Ford stood near the door.

"That's the deal." Jack said smiling with his arms crossed.

"I…..I am not a spy!"

"Think of it this way, if you don't do what they want, they'll kill ya. If you don't do what we want, I'll let him." he said nodding his head at Ford.

"What?! Stargate Command doesn't do that sort of thing!"

"We're under new management." Jack said smiling.

"Take it or….well. Personally, you better take it. Then I can personally get you, and the Trust." Ford said smiling as well. "Though you'll get….some protection and I can take out some pent up aggression on them instead of you since I know they won't come willingly. You'll just go to prison or somewhere about as dark if I'm lucky, but on the bright side, for you at least, I won't be laying into you."

"Better them than you. Especially with your driving. Fine, let's get this over with." Kinsey growled out.

A few short hours later they were in a modified truck for surveillance missions. Looked like a old version of a ice cream truck or FedEx vehicle, but painted blue. Daniel and Carter were in the back with the monitoring equipment along with Kinsey. K-9 was also in the back with them. Ford was up front being the driver, other than because there wasn't enough room in the back, but also because they didn't trust Ford to not do something to Kinsey, if Kinsey tried anything. Teal'c and several airmen, fully kitted up for a assault, were in a black armored Ford Suburban.

"Okay, let's test it out." Carter said activating the hidden micro camera inside Kinsey's lapel. On the small screen, it showed Carter's face as she adjusted the camera. "How's it looking?"

"We've got picture." Daniel said turning away from the screen.

Kinsey was seated in front of her without his coat on as she continued to work on the hidden camera. She backed off and grabbed something else off the small shelf.

"Let's have your belt."

"Why?" he asked with a small whine.

"Because you'll be wearing this one instead." she said as he stood up removing his. "This one has a hidden GPS locator in the buckle. It will allow us to track your movements."

"When we are done, I want that back." he said grumbling as he put the new one on.

Carter rolled her eyes almost wishing Ford had shot him earlier as she tossed his belt onto the small shelf. Or that he had the heart attack in the car ride. Kinsey's attitude had been repulsive the whole ride, though he spoke little.

"They've arranged to meet you at a remote location. My guess is that they will make you leave your car, and they'll drive you to the second location where the meeting will take place. Now we'll have to hang back a far distance as to not arouse suspicion, but we will be monitoring the conversations by means of the listening device we've fitted into the collar of your shirt." she said as he finished looping the belt and sat back down again.

"We've got a strike team with us. They will be ready to move in at the first sign of trouble. Now in the event that something does go wrong, I suggest that we come up with a pre-established signal, preferably a code word that will let us know you're in trouble."

"How about something simple, like help." he said being smart.

"I was thinking about something less obvious, like…red."

"Whatever." he said with a sigh as he slapped his legs.

"Don't be to direct fishing for information. Let them do the talking." she said as he shook his head quickly and got up.

"Get out of my way." he said smartly as he pushed past her roughly and stormed out of the vehicle. "I know what to do."

After the door closed and he drove off.

"Ford?"

"Yes Sam?" he said opening the panel the rest of the way that joined the compartment to the cab.

"You should have just shot him. Or jettisoned him out of the General."

"What did he do?" he said turning around to see in the back.

"It's what he didn't do." Daniel said.

"What?" he asked as he got upset thinking Kinsey did something….more than rude.

"He was pushy, literally, arrogant and being a smart ass." she said tapping off fingers.

"Literally?"

"He pushed me out of the way to get out before I could move."

"He's dead. I don't care anymore. I'll shoot him with the others."

"Good." they both said as Ford started the vehicle.

Kinsey was leaning against the hood of his car, a dark blue Chrysler sedan, as he waited. He was parked on a dirt road between several Maple trees that were growing along the road. Wheat fields grew around the rest of the area as far as the eye could see, other than a tree here and there. He rolled up the sleeve on his blue sports jacket to look at the time as a vehicle drove up. It was a dark car made by Chevy.

"You're late." he said walking over the vehicle as a man got out and pulled something black from his pocket and opened the back door behind the passenger seat.

"You're kidding, right?" Kinsey said mentally rolling his eyes.

"Afraid not." the man said slipping the blindfold over his eyes and helping him into the back seat. Once inside they took off down the road.

"He's on the move." Carter said through the CB as Ford started driving.

"Understood." Teal'c said starting his vehicle and following.

"So how long is this sightseeing trip going to last?" Kinsey asked.

"We'll let you know." Jennings said. He was the man that helped Kinsey into the vehicle.

"Hey, isn't that the guy we encountered on Osiris's ship?" Daniel asked.

"Yeah, that's him." Carter stated seeing him on the screen.

"It isn't the black guy is it?" Ford asked.

"No. Not him." Carter said.

The car turned off the main highway taking a left onto a dirt road.

"They've turned off the main road." Daniel said into his head mike.

The car continued on and took another turn, Carter kept telling Ford when he had to make a turn as well. It came around a corner to park in front of a nice Victorian type mansion. The driver got out and walked to the front door as Jennings got out and helped Kinsey over into the house.

"They've stopped." Daniel said.

"Do I keep going?" Ford asked reluctantly.

"No. Stop up here and we'll wait." she said. "If we had the General here, then we could go in, but this thing isn't built for speed."

On the screen, it showed Kinsey being helped out of the car and lead to the double doors. Once inside they took the blindfold off. Several people were in the room. There was a table with a chessboard built into it, in the table. Four nice oak chairs around it, one of which Kinsey was leaning on. Animal head trophies lined the walls as well as some pictures. To Kinsey's right was stairs leading to the second floor. At the bottom of the stairs, a doorway lead to the right and forward.

"Bob….good to see you again." a older man with slightly graying hair said from the small mini bar that was just off to the left of the stair case. "Sorry about the blindfold."

Kinsey looked around as Jennings closed the door. A unknown Chinese man sat in a leather chair, which was bigger than him, smoking a cigar.

"Can we get you anything to drink?"

"What are you having?" he asked trying to look comfortable.

"Vodka and tonic." the man at the bar said holding his up.

"In that case I'll have a scotch, no ice." Kinsey said. Jennings nodded and walked over to get it.

"We're glad you finally agreed to a private meeting." a man said walking down the stairs in casual clothes with his hands in his pockets. "We thought that you might be…holding a grudge against us."

"You mean because you abandoned me at the moment I needed you most?" he said smartly.

"You were a liability Bob. An embarrassment." someone said on the screen that Daniel and Carter were watching. Jennings came over and set the drink on the table then walked over standing next to the cigar guy.

"I think you've got that backwards. I was only forced to resign as Vice President, because they found out about my relationship with you." he said leaning on the chair. His confidence had completely returned along with his arrogance. "That ass Ford had information I never knew could be brought to light. Information I'm still trying to find out how he obtained, some of which was down right impossible to have. And I'm betting that bitch Carter was in on it."

"Bitch?" she said with raised eyebrows.

"Oh that's it. I'm leaving now." Ford said after hearing that. He started the vehicle. "I'm going to drive this truck right into the house and…."

"Wait. You can get him in a few moments." Carter said. "As much as he's pushed my last button, we need the whole group. Remember, this vehicles doesn't have speed."

"Unfortunately." he grumbled as he muttered something about cloaking technology under his breath. "Should have brought the General with anyway."

"Too loud." she said.

"Either way, you were no longer useful to us." the man at the bar said. Kinsey looked at them all.

"You would have done the same."

Kinsey scoffed at that.

"Maybe. But when I cut someone loose, I don't go back to them groveling for favors." he said being sarcastic.

"You say what's on your mind. I'll give you that." the man with the cigar said.

"Under normal circumstances, I'd be worried about ending up.." Kinsey said gesturing at the walls. "Wind up like trophies on your wall."

He reached over and grabbed his glass.

"But you've already made it clear that you need me, so I don't have anything to worry about, do I?" he said taking a drink.

The men looked at each other.

Inside the truck they started having trouble as static was heard.

"We're losing video." Carter said trying to find out the problem. "K-9. What's going on?"
"We are being jammed at the source Mistress. Sensors detect an unusual energy source near the mansion."

"It's true, we do need you. But not in the way you think." came through the audio.

"What are you talking about?"

"Show him." the Chinese guy said. Jennings grabbed a metal box and place it on the table, opened it and turned it for him to see.

Static came through the audio as they tried to listen.

"This, is why we need you Bob."

"Wha….what the hell is going on here?" he asked in fear as he saw what was inside.

"K-9, can you detect anything?"

"Unknown energy signature is coming from above the house Mistress."

"You mean the upstairs?"

"No Mistress. Above the house. Estimated height at fifty feet."

"Above?!" they all said.

"Hang on!" Ford said flooring it.

"Teal'c! We're going in!" she said through the CB as she grabbed the table with her other hand.

Carter and Daniel tried to re-establish the signal, but not even K-9 could get anything either. Teal'c pulled the vehicle up, after easily passing the one with the other teams members. The car Kinsey was brought in was missing and the front door was open. Ford was out and inside at the same time as Teal'c. The other airmen started searching the house and Daniel and Carter came in with K-9.

"K-9, start scanning."

"Yes Mistress."

"They beamed out." Daniel said picking the smoking cigar up.

"Assessment is correct Doctor Jackson." K-9 stated. "No other life forms detected Mistress."

"This is insane." Ford said putting his weapon away. "I'll call in a team to search the place anyway."

Carter nodded as she put her weapon away as well. She could tell from his smile and nod as he looked her over that he approved of the armored leather jacket, like his, she wore instead of the armored vest like everyone else. Seeing as they could do little else, they all went back to base leaving the other crew to clean up. K-9 scanned around, but never found any traces of anything other than evidence of transporter use.

Back at the base, they sat around the briefing table, which thankfully the chairs were comfortable otherwise the day in and day out routine of doing so would become very hectic and painful. Same seating arrangement as usual.

"K-9 scanned the area and the signature we have for the Al'kesh we were on, that the Prometheus beamed us off, is the same one Jack." Ford said. "He detected it cloaked above the house Kinsey was beamed out of."

"If it's now somewhere in orbit, SSN hasn't picked them up and K-9 hasn't been able to locate them through various satellites he's interfaced with." Carter said. "I'm willing to bet they are still hiding up there with the cloak engaged."

"If not in space, hidden somewhere on Earth with the cloak." Ford said.

"What about the locator beacons?" Daniel asked.

"We are currently running a search through the N.S.A. satellite system. But all they would have to do to avoid detection is change the locator frequency." she said. "K-9 is checking on that as well but with the odds he predicted…. ."

Jack stopped writing in a file and put the cap back on his pen.

"Well, the Pentagon has been apprised of the situation. They're launching Prometheus in four hours. Teal'c, you're going with them as is Major Carter. There's a C-17 waiting for you both at Peterson."

"Understood." Teal'c said getting up.

"I have a basic idea of why you want me to go, but enlighten me." Ford said standing.

"If they find the Al'kesh, you can beam over and play Captain Kirk." he said smiling.

"What?" Ford asked really confused.

"I thought he was a Star Trek fan?" Jack said looking at Carter as he gestured at Ford.

"He is sir and so am I, but I don't get it either."

"Same here." Daniel stated.

"You go over, play the hero, damage you coat like Kirk who always got his shirt ripped off, burned or whatever. Then you come home and well…."

"Oh." they both said.

"Okay. That's, not funny Jack." Ford said with a strange look as he left.

"I thought it was." Jack said shrugging. "So, any other thoughts?"

"I have an idea of how to help K-9 along sir. I've been going over the last sensor logs that the Prometheus got of the Al'kesh when they were engaged. There were a few small anomalies emanating from the ship before it decloaked. It didn't register because we didn't know to look for them, but I can create a program that would key the sensors to look for those particular readings."

"I was just going to suggest that." he said making it sound like it was his idea.

"So we can detect a cloaked ship?" Daniel asked.

"It's not that simple. These anomalies are very difficult to detect. It may have been just a fluke that we detected them the first time. The effect is also created by certain forms of cosmic radiation, but it might improve the odds."

"So instead of maybe a million to one?" Jack asked with a hand gesture.

"Um…K-9 could give an exact answer, but with the odds you said, I'd say, ten thousand to one."

"Improvement." Daniel said agreeing.

"Yeah." Jack said nodding at him.

"I'll need a few hours, maybe less with K-9 helping, to get the program done."

"Fine." Jack said waving her away.

She closed her folder and walked off quickly. Daniel looked around the room, seeing as Jack never said anything to him about doing something. Jack had went back to filling out whatever paper was in front of him. Daniel picked his folder up and started to get out of his seat.

"I have to pick my dry cleaning up."

"You're on a flight to Moscow in half an hour." Jack said making Daniel sit down.

"I am?" Daniel asked holding his hands together on the table.

"Yes, you are." Jack said as he stopped writing and looked up at Daniel seriously. "Colonel Chekov's people will meet you there. Will you please try to find out what the hell is going on? And if you get the chance, try and hook up with this…General Kiselev."

"Jack, they know we are on to them. They may just abort the mission." he stated.

"No, the way Kinsey was talking, it sounds like they were onto a big score here. And Ford thinks something is up. And you know he hates Kinsey so Kinsey must be right for the Major not to shoot him right out."

"And what if he won't cooperate with them?"

"Kinsey will do what's best for Kinsey."

"Yeah…" Daniel said rolling his eyes as he got up and left.

Jack sat back in the chair, ran his hands over his face and through his hair, short though it was and sighed.

Carter was in her office starting the program with K-9 as Ford walked in with his coat on.

"Came to give you something and get something in return." he said as she stood up.

"And that would be?"

"This." he said giving her a kiss.

"Hmm. I like that." she said after he backed off an inch, a good minute later.

"That was what I came for. This is for you. Just keep it in your pocket or on you at all times till I get off the ship." he said sliding something into her pants pocket. "Just in case the other thing that I think might be happening happens. Don't lose it."

He gave her another quick kiss and hug then walked out leaving her wondering what was going on in his head. She pulled a small rectangular back box out that didn't open.

"K-9, what is this?"

"A locator beacon Mistress. A similar device was built into my construction as well."

"A locator beacon?" she wondered aloud with confusion. "Why would he want to beam me up to the ship?"

She pocket it again and forgot about it as she concentrated on creating that program.

Three hours later, the Prometheus was in orbit getting ready to check the different sectors. Teal'c was pacing in front of the commander of the vessel, well the command chair and the two computer consoles anyway. Ford was standing in the back looking at the different systems and glass panels. He kept muttering to himself about different things and the systems. Mostly what he thought should be replaced and stuff along those lines. Nobody really heard him though, or if they did, didn't pay him any attention.

"Sir, Colonel Carter's program is complete and has been downloaded. It is currently operational and ready to go." a woman in the seat off to the right of the command chair said.
"Alright, begin search pattern Alpha."

"Yes sir."

Down in Moscow, Daniel was inside a military building heading for a high ranking officials office, that he was directed to after arriving. Daniel had a dark blue suit on with a black tie. Nothing else was being carried, except his passport and a few items in his pocket. Walking down a hallway and passing many other officers, he arrived at the place the directions told to him to go. He walked into a office that looked like just about any officers office. Desk, fan, filing cabinet, window, small space, that sort of thing. Knocking as he walked in, a woman turned around.

"Hi, uh, I'm here to see Captain Vornokov." he said looking confused. He was pretty sure he was lost.

"There is no Captain Vornokov here." the Russian woman said turning back to the filing cabinet she was working in.

Red, shoulder length hair that laid flat against her head, almost pale complexion but a pretty face. Somewhat of a short woman, just about an inch or two under Daniel's height. She had a long light green skirt on with a long light green button up shirt. The tie was forest green. She was Russian military of some sort.

"Oh, um, that's strange. The guy down the hall…" he said pointing back the way he came. She walked over and stopped him.

"I am Captain Vornokova. Daria Vornokova." she said shaking his hand. "You must be Daniel Jackson."

"Yeah, I'm sorry, I was told I would be meeting Colonel Chekov's right hand man." he said sheepishly as he put his hands into his pockets. "So naturally I assumed…

"For my part I excepted a drab, pasty faced, middle aged academic. I to am pleasantly surprised." she said walking back to her work.

"Well, your English is excellent." he said walking in more as she stood behind another desk.

"Thank you." she said in Russian.

"And how is your Russian?" she asked in English.

"Although I don't get the opportunity to practice much. I'm conversational. I suppose I can get by." he said in Russian.

She looked at him, either in shock, surprise or…jealousy, he wasn't sure. It almost looked like she didn't understand most if any of what he said.

"Okay," she said putting a folder down. "We'll stick to your language then."

Daniel almost rolled his eyes as she walked from behind the desk and stood before him with her hands behind her back.

"I will be your guide. Whatever it is you want to do, while in Moscow, you will ask me first and I will take care of it. If you desire to meet with anyone, I will arrange it for you." she said as he nodded. "If you go out on your own, I cannot protect you. If you lie to me or attempt to mislead me, I will not protect you."

"Okay." he said smiling lightly.

"Have you eaten a proper lunch?"

"I had something on the plane." he said wishing he had something that Ford had made yesterday that survived to today.

"Then the answer is no. Good." she said turning away to go get her coat off the back of a chair. "I know a restaurant around the corner that serves the best Salo in Moscow."

"Oh, I'm not a big fan of Salo." he said hoping she would take him somewhere else.

"Don't worry." she said putting the coat on. "You will acquire a taste."

He looked back as she walked out and followed reluctantly. Once this was over, he was going to be glad to be back at the SGC where a real cook was working.

Back at the SGC, airmen were walking through the hallways faster as the alarms went off. But the alarms were different, not the alarms for off world traveler inbound. These were alarms they didn't want to hear. Jack came around one corner heading for the gate control room as Carter came running up.

"Sir, what's going on?" Carter asked.

"The Russians just went to a heighten state of alert."

"Why?" she asked really confused as to why a war might start between the two countries.

"That's what we're trying to find out." Jack said as they entered the Gate Control Room. "The President has called a meeting with the Joint Chiefs. We're at Def-Con 3."

She stopped short of going into the Control room as Jack walked in. Several people passed her and Jack as the base got prepared for the new alert status. Feeling the object in her pants pocket again, she wondered if this is what Ford was talking about before he left as she followed Jack in.

Daniel told the Captain he wanted to see General Miraslov Kiselev after they finished eating. At the moment, they were headed to his location as she drove a Russian military jeep down a paved road. Along the road was lots of forest and weeds. Why this General liked to stay in this sort of area, Daniel didn't know or think about much.

"So, where exactly are we going?"

"You wish to meet with General Kiselev, no?" she said shifting gears.

He nodded.

"That is where we are going."

"You must be pretty well connected to be able to get me to see him so quickly."

She shrugged.

"What do you know about him?"

"General Miraslov Kiselev, graduated with a gold medal from the Malinovskity Tank Academy. Received the Hero of Russia medal for his distinguished leadership in Chechnya. Commanded the Carpathian District Military Iron Division, then commanded the 14th army in the Transcasusus Military District. He was the head of the General Staff Academy for five years before being appointed to his present position."

"So you've heard of him." Daniel said as she gave his a small smile.

"Kiselev is suspicious of American global influence and highly critical of what he calls, NATO expansion plans." she said turning a corner. "You may not receive a very warm welcome."

As they came around the corner, several armed military men pointed guns at them and had the road blocked off with a military troop transport truck. She stopped and got out quickly, buttoned her jacket and walked over to the commanding officer as Daniel stood outside the jeep. She saluted him before speaking.

"Colonel." she said in Russian.

"Is that the American that wishes to see General Kiselev?" he asked in Russian.

"He is." she said, still in Russian.

"He is to be held for questioning." he said still in his native language. "Take him."

Two soldiers that were standing by Daniel held their guns closer to him as they took him into custody.

"What's going on?" Daniel asked as he was being lead away.

"I don't know." she said then turned back to the Colonel. In Russian, "Sir, may I ask what this is about?"

He said no and walked away.

"Don't worry Daniel. I will find out what's happening." she yelled to him as he was loaded into the back of the truck.

Walter walked up to the open door to Jack's office seeing him on the phone.

"Yeah, alright." Jack said holding a hand up at him. "Okay, get back to me when you know something. Yeah."

He hung up the phone as Walter talked.

"Sir, Colonel Chekov is here to see you."

"Send him in." Jack said shaking his head slightly as the Colonel and his aide walked up.

"General." Chekov said walking in. His aide stayed outside.

"Colonel. I'm hoping you can shed some light on the situation here." Jack said as the Colonel sat down. "We can't seem to get a straight answer from your government."

"Well, the information coming out of Moscow is, guarded at best." he said making a small gesture with his hand. "But, my sources in the Kremlin are telling me that the Russian military is increasing its alert status because it thinks that the American Administration has been compromised."

Jack blinked in confusion not having a clue as to why that was the thought.

Daniel was in a nice house with large checked windows over a couple dozen feet behind him in another room and off to his left as well. He was sitting at a large oval like table with six chairs. They were the same reddish color as the table. His coat was draped across the back of it as he waited to find out why he was taken. A couple of Russian guards stood behind him against the doorway into and out of the room. The house was definitely one someone lived in. Pictures and other items only placed in a fine house such as this were on the walls or in glass cases or on cabinets. Probably the Colonel's, he figured. He glanced around the room thinking as the door opened and the Colonel walked in.

"Doctor Jackson. Sorry to keep you waiting." the Colonel said walking over to stand next to him at the table as a doctor walked up standing on his right.

"No problem." he said dryly. "You want to tell what's going on?"

"All in good time doctor. Please, roll up your sleeve. We need a sample of your blood."

Daniel looked at the doctor holding a blood draw kit then back at the Colonel.

"You're kidding?"

"Either you can cooperate or we will take it by force."

Daniel looked back at the guard behind him and sighed. Rolling up the sleeve on his right arm, reluctantly, he shook his head.

"Is this a normal part of your interrogation procedure?"

"It depends on what you need to know. In this case it will answer a very specific question." the Colonel said watching as the doctor worked.

"What question? Ow."

The doctor pulled the needle out and looked at the Colonel as Daniel held a cotton ball over the sore spot.

"Have it analyzed immediately." the Colonel said in Russian. The doctor nodded and left quickly.

"Why do you wish to see General Kiselev?"

"It's complicated." Daniel said really wishing he was back at the SGC. He looked down at his arm as the man talked.

"Surely you can explain it to me."

"I'd rather explain it to General Kiselev."

"That's not going to happen." the Colonel said with conviction. Daniel then looked at him. "You see, earlier today, we managed to uncovered a plot to take the General's life. We managed to capture the assassin before he could make his move."

The colonel walked over and grabbed a remote from the top of a VCR. He pushed play and the TV at the end of the table came on. Kinsey was seated in a chair, in a cell, in green prison clothes and handcuffed. He was currently looking at the camera.

"I believe you know him."

"Kinsey?" Daniel said confused and surprised.

"Robert Kinsey. Former Vice President of the United States."

"And why would Kinsey want to kill General Kiselev?" Daniel asked skeptically.

"I'm afraid, Mr. Kinsey, isn't exactly himself these days." he said pushing play.

"By stopping me you have only delayed the inevitable." Kinsey said with a Goa'uld voice as his eyes flashed. "Your world is doomed."

"Now you begin to appreciate the gravity of the situation." the Colonel said seeing the worried look in Daniels face.

Oh no. How……well, Ford would probably call it poetic justice. But how?

"How could Kinsey have become a Goa'uld?" Chekov said standing inside a room with General O'Neill.

Carter was sitting at a computer working nearby. The room they were in had computers lining the walls for the slightly circle shaped room. Mostly the computers were for observing things in the outside world to keep them apprised of its going's on. Like the current situation about Russia upping its military status. A map of the world was on a glass screen giving data to them as it came in. Other people were at other stations working around them. Chekov's aide stood behind him next to the wall.

"Five bucks says that Carter has a theory." Jack said pointing at her. She got up walking to them as she spoke and placed her hands behind her back.

"As a matter of fact, I do." she said.

"Huh?" Jack said holding his hand out to the Colonel. Chekov ignored it as he listened to Carter.

"According to Tok'ra intelligence, the Trust launched two poison attacks against Goa'uld occupied worlds after we took the gate back."

Jack nodded as he put his hands into his pockets.

"Which means that they had to leave the relatively save confines of the solar system and head out into the galaxy. Where they ran the risk of being killed or…captured."

"What are you suggesting?" Chekov asked as he thought.

"Any Goa'uld who got their hands on them, would have discovered pretty quickly that they belonged to a top secret organization, with high level connections with some of the most powerful governments on this planet. Including the SGC, Area 51 and the Ancient outpost in Antarctica."

"My god." Chekov said understanding. "You think that they have been taken as host and sent back to Earth?"

"It's a distinct possibility. They could have brought dozen possibly hundred of symbionts back with them. By now, the entire Trust could be taken over."

"But why would the Goa'uld want to assassinate General Kiselev?" Chekov asked confused.

"We don't know for sure if that's the plan, but if Carter's right, Kinsey might have been trying to get a snake into Kiselev's head." Jack said.

She nodded. "Exactly. From Kiselev, it's one step up to the Presidency of Russia."

"How do we know he didn't succeed?"

"Kinsey never met up with the General. He was arrested before he had the chance." she said.

"Well, my government believes that it is the American Administration that has been infiltrated by the Goa'uld…"

"Oh here we go." Jack replied smartly as he turned away.

"And they are insisting that everyone in key positions, including the President, must submit for testing." Chekov said forcefully as he looked at Jack. They stared at each other for a few seconds.

"Not going to happen."

"Then, we have a problem."

Jack looked at Carter and she was as lost as them.

"Thank you for getting me out of there." Daniel said as they entered the Captain's office.

"It wasn't easy." she said walking over and sitting behind her desk. "Even after your blood test came back negative, they still wanted to hold you."

Daniel sat across from her and sank into the chair.

"Not a lot of trust and goodwill to spare I guess. Listen, I need to talk to the Goa'uld."

She shook her head as he leaned forward.

"You have to get me in to see Kinsey."

"Impossible."

"If we are ever going to find out what's going on here, we have to question him." Daniel said forcefully.

"He is being questioned, by Russian Military Intelligence." she said leaning onto her desk.

"Yes, and he's feeding them a pack of lies! He's telling them that the American Administration has been infiltrated because he wants to force a confrontation!"

"To what end?"

"I don't know. That's why we need to talk to him." he said trying to make a point.

She muttered something in Russian that surprised Daniel.

"Language." he said knowing the words she said.

She looked up at him through her eyelashes.

"Daria, please."

She sighed and started to get up.

"I'll see what I can do. In the meantime, stay here."

He sat back as she left the room.

Back at the SGC, the light on the wall continued to glow with the number three on the Def-Con meter. Walter walked in as Jack was looking over some papers coming from a fax machine.

"Sir, we just received a message. As of 09:12, the Chinese Military have joined the Russians in a highly elevated state of alert."

Jack stared at Walter before speaking.

"Naturally." he muttered more loudly than he should have. Walter walked away as Colonel Chekov walked up.

"General. I have been talking to my contacts in the Kremlin. They tell me that President Mihailov is not happy with the current situation, but is under considerable pressure from his military advisors."

"And of course, Kiselev is running the show?" Jack said with a sigh.

"Da."

"Any idea how we can keep this from going to total forces." Jack said as he walked over to the big screen monitor.

"Yes, I have many friends in the General staff. If I can convince enough of them to make a united stand against escalation, it could give our President sufficient leverage to considered other options."

"And, if Kiselev finds out you're going around him, it could make things worse." Jack stated.

"At this point, I don't believe we have much choice."

Jack weighed his options.

"Right. Go ahead then."

Kinsey was sitting in his cell, still handcuffed, fuming as the cell door opened and the Captain along with Daniel walked in.

"Thank you. We will call you when we need you." she said in Russian to the guard.

Daniel walked over slowly and stood in front of the Goa'uld infested Kinsey and gave him a strange look. The Captain stayed standing near the door.

"So, what should I call you?"

"You are unworthy to speak my name." the Goa'uld in Kinsey said with a prissy tone.

"Well, I guess you work for the System Lords, am I right?" Daniel said pacing. "You can't be working for Ba'al, he's busy conquering the rest of the galaxy. He's too busy to be bothering with Earth. Got to hand it to you though, your territories are falling one by one, your troops are in full retreat and yet you still find time to come and try to destroy little old us. The question is, why?"

Kinsey said nothing and barely looked at him and if he did, it was in contempt.

"Captain Vornakova thinks it's a petty revenge thing for all the trouble we have caused you over the years." he said glancing back at her momentarily. "Sort of a last ditch effort to take us out before Ba'al finishes you off. I told her that the System Lords aren't that pathetic, are they?"

"You are the one who is pathetic. You will die never knowing are true purpose."

"So there is a hidden agenda?"

Kinsey looked away.

"We're making progress now aren't we." Daniel said looking at her again. "If only Ford was here to help though."

"Who?" she asked seeing Kinsey flinch slightly.

"A friend with gifted talents."

"Yeah, alright, keep me posted." Jack said into the phone.

He hung up as Colonel Chekov walked into his office. Jack got up and walked around his desk to the Colonel.

"Well the Chinese aren't backing down and gosh, golly, wouldn't you know it, we are picking up increased chatter inside Russia."

"I'm still waiting to hear from my contacts in Moscow." Chekov said shrugging.

"And I just talked to the Joint Chiefs." Jack said leaving his office with them following. "We are going to Def-Con 2."

"Now we have put our heads together and came up with a dozen reasons why you want to wipe us out." Daniel said as he paced in front of Kinsey. "Most important, you know about the Ancient weapon we possess. I'm sure that the System Lords think that if we can wipe ourselves out, they can just step right in and take it. But what I don't understand is you. Why are you so willing to allow yourself to be sacrificed?"

"I assure you. I have no intention of dying on this miserable planet." the Goa'uld in Kinsey said smiling.

"You're in the Russian Military Defense Headquarters. It's a primary target. If you start a nuclear war, you're going to die along with the rest of us."

Kinsey smiled slightly but said nothing.

"Unless there is something I'm missing."

"You should return to your homes, and say goodbye to your loved ones. Your gods have deemed you unworthy and the hour of reckoning is at hand."

"Air Force Space Command has put all its missiles wings on alert." Walter said reading from a recently received paper. Jack was down in the other command center dealing with Earthly based problems. "The first B2 left Whiteman at 09:40. FLSATCOM sent out an emergency action message. Nine of our missile submarines are out at sea and the rest are preparing for an immediate sortie. The President and his team are on their way to Andrews where the National Airborne Command post is awaiting their arrival."

Jack walked over to Chekov as Walter stopped. They way the Russian Colonel looked wasn't inspiring confidence.

"General Kiselev found out we were trying to rally a support against him." Chekov said sadly as he held papers in his hand. "He's already arrested several officers on trumped up charges. I'm afraid Doctor Jackson is in danger."

"Come on. I mean, next to slaughtering innocents, gloating is what you guys are all about." Daniel said walking behind him. "It's killing you just sitting there not talking about your brilliant plan."

Kinsey shrugged with a small chuckle but said nothing. The Captain's beeper went off and she grabbed it.

"We have to get out of here. Now!"

"Why? What is it?"

"They are coming for us."

"Who?"

"Step aside! We are under orders from General Kiselev!" a voice in Russian said outside the door as she looked through the small window.

"You are too late!" Kinsey said standing up.

Daniel put a arm on his shoulder and stood behind him as the door opened and the Captain backed away. She and the two officers that entered started yelling at each other in Russian as Daniel pulled a small black box out of his coat. As the two men aimed their weapons.

"Sorry guys. Got to go." Daniel said pushing the button.

They instantly vanished and beamed up to the Prometheus, on the bridge. Teal'c aimed a zat at Kinsey as Daniel moved away from him. A couple of guards stood nearby with zat's at ready as well. Kinsey turned and looked around in shock.

"What is the meaning of this? What is….you!"

"Yes. Me." Ford said sweetly, then decked him into a wall, hard. "That was for the bitch comment."

Kinsey bounced off the wall and slid to the floor as the Commander came over shaking Daniel hand.

"Doctor."

"Hey." he said shaking the hand and looking confused as to why Ford wasn't being yelled at. He figured on some level he was being allowed, or something. "Any luck finding the Al'kesh?"

"None." Teal'c said as Ford hauled the Goa'uld to his feet.

"Please try something, I so wish to kill you. Bet you wish you were in a different body. Now I have an even better reason for getting rid of you. I know Kinsey is in there, somewhere, so hear this, what's happening to you, I'd call it poetic justice for all the trouble you've caused." Ford said then shoved him against the wall.

Kinsey sneered as he spit blood in Ford's face.

"Major. That's enough. I said once only would I allow it." the commander said as Ford got ready to put his fist through him.

Ford backed off cleaning his face with a handkerchief.

"Now, we need to find the Al'kesh. You're going to help." the commander said.

"I think not." Kinsey said rubbing his split lip and spitting out a tooth.

"If you do not cooperate. I will kill you where you stand." Teal'c said.

"Don't you've realized what you have done. The Russians already suspect that the American's have been compromised by the Goa'uld. As far as they know, you've helped me escape. You've done more to convince them than I ever could." Kinsey said laughing at them.

"I am so sorely tempted to shoot him." Ford said placing a hand on his working revolver.

"Wait." Daniel said turning him away. "We need to learn about where the Al'kesh is and maybe we can convince the Russians to back down seeing as we have him up here, maybe."

Down in the SGC, the room was abuzz with activity. Jack walked into the room startling everyone with bad news.

"Listen up people. I just got word. The Russians have gone to a their full military state of preparedness. As of this moment, we are at Def-Con 1."

Jack left quickly as the alarm sounded telling everyone on the base that they went to Def-Con 1. Colonel Chekov covered his face with a hand as he leaned over thinking.

Carter was really worried as she looked down at K-9.

"You are all fools. The Russians will no doubt believe that you rescued me in an attempt to hide evidence of infiltration by the Goa'uld. You have no choice but to return me, immediately."

Daniel and Ford turned back around with a look that they both thought something was up.

"Why does he want to go back, like it's very important he is there?" Ford muttered.

"I don't know. That's something I haven't figured out. Why would you want to go back if you're trying to start a nuclear war?"

Kinsey said nothing as he looked away.

"He has a way out." the commander of the ship said.

"He knows someone on the inside. Someone who can protect him." Daniel realized.

"Exactly! There's no Goa'uld in our government, but the Russians probably have one in theirs." Ford said. Kinsey looked up suddenly. "It can't be the President, but someone just as high."

"General Kiselev! No wonder it was impossible for me to see him. I might have found him out." Daniel exclaimed.

Kinsey said nothing and looked at them with a poker face.

"How?" Daniel asked.

"I have nothing to say to you."

"Fine. We'll continue this later. Have him escorted to the brig. You're not doing it Major." the commander said as he gestured two guards to take Kinsey away.

Teal'c lowered the zat gun as Kinsey left the bridge.

"Good work Daniel, now all we have to do is convince the Russians that they have a Goa'uld in their military." Ford said pulling his gun.

"What are you doing Major Carter?"

"Once I know for sure Kinsey is in the brig, I'll put it away. Until then, I know….the strength that comes with being a host, or in my case a partner. He might try and make a break for it. When he does, I'm going to kill him. Justifiable then." he said giving the gun a twirl before pointing it at the ceiling.

"Indeed." Teal'c said keeping his zat ready.

"All our navel forces have been deployed and we have some pretty big birds in the air right now." Jack said as he and Colonel Chekov walked down through the corridors. "Radio chatter suggest that both your people and the Chinese have alerted their missile regiments."

"They're posturing. Kiselev knows that even if he launches a effective first strike against your land based forces, your sea bases missile systems are already in position to retaliate with extreme retribution." Chekov said hoping that would be the case making everyone back down.

"Yeah, that's only if he doesn't completely loose his mind. And I'm not discounting that possibility." Jack said glaring at him.

"As acting Commander and Chief of the Russian Armed Forces, President Milhailov is our only hope of reeling him in." Chekov said strongly.

"But we can't get through to him! He's not even talking calls from the White House anymore!"

"He is now convinced that the Goa'uld control the American Administration!"

Jack sighed as they kept walking.

"Look, I know a few people on his personal staff."

Jack stopped and turned to him as Chekov made gestures with his hands as he talked.

"I may be able to get a direct line, but if we do make contact, we will only have a few minutes to convince him that General Kiselev has been mislead by the Goa'uld! Now, right now, I don't see how we are going to do that."

Jack didn't know what to say or do, so he walked away with the Colonel following.

Up in space, the cloaked Al'kesh was moving closer to the Prometheus as it followed them from behind.

"We are in position." the Goa'uld infested Jennings said into the com link. He was flying the ship.

"Have they detected our presence?" another Goa'uld voice said through the line.

"No."

"Very well. Destroy the ship."

"They have superior shields. If we do not succeed with the first salvo, we will be at a disadvantage."

"So long as he remains in their hands, he is a liability. We have no choice."

"Understood."

Behind the Prometheus, the Al'kesh decloaked and made a pass at them firing several blast into the back and side of the ship. Inside the ship, the corridor that the guards were taking to put Kinsey away, exploded with showers of sparks. On the bridge, several panels in the ceiling sparked.

"What the hell was that?" the commander said from his chair.

"We are under attack! What do you think?!" Ford said moving from a burning panel as a airmen rushed up to put the fire out. He pointed out the window. "Look, there's the ship!"

"Battle stations!" the commander yelled.

Down in the corridor, Kinsey shoved one guard into the wall as the other fell to the ground. He grabbed the nine from the disorientated guard he slammed into and shot him in the chest three times. As the other guard got up pulling his gun, he was instantly shot as well.

"Shields up!"

"Shields are down forty percent! We've lost starboard engines!" she said.

"Transfer power to port engines. Give me evasive maneuvers!" the commander yelled. "Bring all weapon batteries online!"

"Bridge, this is Sergeant Larson." a weak voice said through the com.

"Go ahead." the commander said.

"The prisoner has escaped."

"Not for long." Ford said rushing out with Teal'c and Daniel on his heels. "See, I told you people!"

"He will be headed for the ring room." Teal'c yelled.

"Right. Good call Teal'c!"

"Please tell me you have something." Jack said with a begging hint in his voice as he entered the Carter's lab.

Only the Colonel was there though along with K-9. Papers were strewn all about the table she worked on, a lot of them.

"Yes sir. I think I do." she said getting out of her chair. "I've been going over everything we know about General Kiselev, and I found this."

She handed over a folder with a picture in it and some info.

"Colonel Ruslan Chernovshev, he was Kivelev's Chief of Staff, his right hand man. Three years ago, he was involved in a plot to sell a captured symbiont to the Trust, then operating in the rogue N.I.D."

They both just kept looking at her waiting for the point.

"That means that the Trust had a direct connection to Kiselev. They didn't need Kinsey. He was just a pretext to justify this confrontation by making them think that we had been compromised." she said semi excited.

"If Kiselev had access to the Trust, he might have been compromised as well." Chekov stated.

"Exactly." she said pointing at him then picking a photo up and handing it over. "This is a picture of General Kiselev taken three years ago."

The picture showed a late forties to early fifties aged man in a Russian General uniform. He had big glasses on and short hair like Jack.

"And this, was taken less than three weeks ago during a speech at the General Staff Academy." she said handing a different photo over.

It was the same man, same uniform, but no glasses, a hat on, and looking much older. He was reading something at the podium.

"Notice the difference?"

"Glasses?" Jack said after a few glances.

"May I see that?"

Jack handed the photo's to Chekov.

"We know that symbionts have healing powers. They can cure the human body of any number of physical shortcomings. Including eyesight. The symbiont that Ford once had made it possible for him to have children again."

"Impressive." Chekov said.

"That's it though?" Jack asked. "Did it occur to you that he might be wearing contacts?"

"Sir, it's not a lot to go on, but it's all I've got." she said trying not to sound put down.

"What about laser surgery?"

"Sir…"

"No, wait. Colonel Carter is right. General Kiselev suffered from glaucoma. His vision was extremely poor. There is no possibility that he could have read from a prepared statement without his glasses." Chekov said seeing she had figured out what no one else noticed.

"That means he has a Goa'uld. I think he has been all along." she stated.

"Excellent work Carter. Let's hope it's enough to save our asses." he said patting her on the arm and leaving with Chekov.

Ford walked, at a fast pace through the corridors as the other two started catching up.

"Wait Ford, we…" Daniel said when several bullets hit Ford. He dropped back against the wall as a couple more hit him and Kinsey ran off.

"That son of a bitch! He actually hit me!" Ford said grabbing the side of his head which was bleeding.

He got off the wall running again, much faster and screamed Kinsey's name. Slipping through a closing doorway quickly he found Kinsey moving into the ring transport. Kinsey wasn't quick enough to pull his gun up as Ford quickly hammered off his revolver. The rings came down taking him away as he fired.

"Dammit!!!"

Daniel and Teal'c entered the room seeing Ford toss his gun aside, in anger as he grabbed the com on the wall. There was blood on the floor, not much but enough to tell Kinsey did get hit, possibly several times.

"Bridge, this is Major Carter! Kinsey just beamed off the ship! Blow that damned Al'kesh straight to hell! That's an order!"

"You aren't the senior…"

"Daniel, Kinsey and the Trust know to much. They get away, they'll come back with a fleet of ships. Kinsey knows the Ancient weapon doesn't work." Ford said pushing past them on his way to the bridge.

"Did you kill him Major Carter?"

"I hope so, but I don't know. The rings came down as I fired. I do know I hit him more than once."

"You're still bleeding."

"I've noticed Daniel. I haven't had time to wipe it off and it should quit soon anyway." he said walking away quickly after retrieving his gun. He still never wiped it off as he walked to the bridge.

"We've almost got it sir. Standby." Walter said as he worked on a computer in the room where everything was still taking place.

Jack and the Russian Colonel were seated near a mike that was suppose to be allowing them to talk to the President of Russia. Walter and a few others were making the contact possible through a secure line. Jack pointed at Chekov thinking something.

"How do we know that Mikhailov hasn't been taken?"

"We don't. But at this point, we have nothing to lose." Chekov said shrugging.

"Right."

"We've got it sir. You're on." Walter said.

"Mr. President, can you hear me?"

"Colonel Chekov. This is highly irregular." the Russian President said over the line.

"Yes sir, but these are highly unusual circumstances."

"Agreed. Is General O'Neill there with you?"

"I'm here Mr. President."

"It's good to speak with you again, though at the moment, I cannot trust anything you say."

"Yeah, about that. It's true there has been a Goa'uld infiltration, but it's not on our side." Jack said pausing. "It's on yours."

There was a long pause and Chekov looked between the mike and Jack thinking the President might have hung up.

"What is it exactly that you are saying?" came through the line.

"Let me put it to you this way sir. The last time you saw General Kiselev, was he wearing his glasses?"

"Shields are holding sir. Forty percent and steady." the lady said as the ship rocked under another attack. The three came back onto the bridge as sparks flew from a few areas.

"I thought I ordered the destruction of that ship." Ford said glaring at the commander.

"Your personal vendetta…"

"I'm thinking about the planet! Not seeing him dead to justify my problems!"

"You don't have the authority…"

"I'm the third ranking officer for the SGC, unofficially. Kinsey knows that the Ancient weapon doesn't work at all because of no power! If he gets away and tells the rest of the Goa'uld…"

"You've made your point Major. Lieutenant fire all batteries!"

Over on the Al'kesh, Jennings was at the helm and turned hearing the ring transporter being used. Kinsey was leaning against the wall holding a gun still. He had blood coming from a gun shot wound to his lower left side, right upper leg, left arm and wrist.

"I'm pleased you were able to use your diversion to free yourself. Unfortunately, your host didn't do as well." Jennings said seeing the bleeding man.

"You think I'm a fool. You tried to destroy the ship, because you thought I would tell them information about you." Kinsey said shooting him in the chest several times as they guy started to talk.

He walked over and took the hand device off Jennings. As he did, the ship shook from impacts. Moments later the other three Goa'uld infested people came out wondering what was going on. But Kinsey wasn't there.

Carter looked back from the fax machine she was working as Chekov and Jack continued talking to the Russian President. She felt the object in her pocket again hoping it didn't have to be used.

"We are sending you the relevant documents now Mr. President. It shows proof of General Kiselev's prior relationship with the Trust. I have a list of General's that should support you if you decided to go against General Kiselev." Chekov said.

"I'm not sure what to make of all of this."

"Well,….you could start by trusting us." Jack said.

"And if you have been compromised by the Goa'uld, I would be standing down my forces with the Americans in position to launch an immediate attack."

"Sir, we both know that neither side can right out win with a first strike. That's the point. The Goa'uld don't want a winner. They want us to destroy each other."

"Why?"

"Their goal is to get their hands on the Ancient weapon in Antarctica." Chekov said.

"Sir, N.P.I.C. is reporting visuals from Russian missile site 537. Silo doors are open. Evidence of a fire fight on the ground." Walter said turning to them as he held a radio head set.

"Oh, my god." Chekov said shaking his head. "Kiselev is trying to launch without authorization."

"Mr. President, you are about to loose control of your own forces. You have to do something about it, right now." Jack stated. All they heard was static.

"What happened?" he said turning to his men.

"We lost the connection." Walter said.

"Damn." Jack muttered as he rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"Sir, the Al'kesh is no longer making evasive maneuvers. We have a clear shot." the lady said as the other ship took three hits.

"Hold your fire. Stand by. I want…"

"Blow it up. Right now it doesn't matter if they are all dead or if the ship can't move. We can't risk them sending a message to anyone." Ford said.

"Agreed." the commander said.

"They're powering weapons." she said suddenly.

"Take them out!" the commander said.

The Al'kesh came flying toward them as the Prometheus sent a full barrage at them. It never had a chance as its shields were overwhelmed. It exploded into space dust under the rest of the impacts. Everyone shielded their eyes as a blinding flash was seen and the force of the explosion shook the ship.

"Target destroyed."

"Yes! Finally!" Ford said yelling a little too loud. "I will put in my report that the crew did an excellent job and receive commendations."

"Glad to hear it Major. Lieutenant, set a course back to Earth. Let's take this bird home. Major, I suggest you head to the infirmary or at least to the head."

"What for?"

"Unless you're still bleeding, which doesn't look to be the case, you should get cleaned up instead of dripping it on the floor."

Everyone at the SGC was doing there jobs the best they could. But it was starting to get to everyone knowing what was happening outside and not being able to stop it. Also they were not completely sure of what was completely going on as of yet. Jack just stayed sitting in his chair waiting. Chekov stood watching and waiting. Jack suddenly stood up and looked at his watch.

"Get me Washington." Jack ordered. Everyone in the room looked at him.

"General! Wait!" Chekov said loudly as he walked over.

"We are out of time Colonel."

"Please wait." Chekov said almost pleading.

Walter and Carter turned back to the computer as new information came in.

"Sir, N.P.I.C. is reporting new visuals at 537. The silo doors are closing." Walter said smiling.

"Russian bombers are turning around and returning to base." Carter said listening in on the line in her ear. "They are standing down."

Chekov sighed with relief as he left the room. Many other people sighed as well. Jack didn't really look it, but inside he was ready to scream for joy that the world just averted total destruction again. If he could contact the Goa'uld by phone, he'd yell, "In your face!!"

The Prometheus landed back in its bay, but beamed the SG-1 team back home first. A couple of hours later.

"We just barely managed to avert going to war while you three were joy riding in the Prometheus."

"Joy riding Jack? The ship was taking a pounding. My hair almost caught fire." Daniel said. "And Russia was not any fun."

"I did try to warn you that you were a bit close Daniel." Ford said from his seat at the briefing table. "I know I got singed as well."

"I'm just glad to be back home."

"Indeed." Teal'c said.

"Avert a war. World War Three almost happened, all because the Goa'uld got into politics. Sad. No wonder they have a dictatorship rule, cuts out the middle man." Ford said shaking his head.

"Very." Jack said agreeing. "If it wasn't for Carter here, this base might be the only thing left of America, if that."

"Sorry to tell you this, but Russia has two nukes aimed at this place. Found that out while checking on things down here, while I was on the ship. Before Daniel beamed up." Ford said.

"How did you know? Or were you guessing when you gave me this?" Carter said pulling the small box out.

"Guessing mostly." he said glancing at it. "Rather be safe than sorry."

"Is that a locator beacon?" Jack said taking it off the table.

"Yeah. I have one, or had one." Daniel said. "When I was in Russia."

"You were going to beam her out of here if the war started? What about me?" Jack asked looking offended. Whether he really was, Ford couldn't tell at the moment. No one could.

"I wasn't sure Jack and prayed that there would be no world war. Mostly, if it started to happen, K-9 was to park beside you and you'd both come up together. If not, just him if he couldn't get to you or he'd beam up with Sam if she was somehow incapacitated or so busy not to push the button herself. I wasn't taking any chances. Sorry."

"Hmm. Okay then. Oh, I heard that you tried to take command of the ship."

"He had a valid point Jack." Daniel said remembering the scene.

"Indeed. Kinsey did in fact know that the Ancient weapon was not functional." Teal'c said.

"Kinsey's dead. That's what's important here along with those Trust that were on board. I know I got to shoot him though and I hit him a couple of times. Five actually seeing as two of my bullets were found in the bulkhead." Ford said sitting back and placing his hands behind his head. "But it's finally over. I can relax and not worry about anyone coming after me or Sam, or anyone else."

"Or the rest of you." he said a few moments later.

"Now that's the second best news I've heard all day. Let's go eat people. The Major is BBQ for us. My house." Jack said quickly as he instantly ran off before anyone could say anything.

"What? Wait! Come back here! I didn't agree to that. I have plans!" he yelled.

The other three laughed lightly, at him, as they got up giving him compliments and asking he do it.

"All right, fine. You guys all win." Ford said throwing his hands up in mock surrender. "I'll cook. I'll cook."

The CITIZEN JOE episode never happened in this universe. For those who don't know what I mean, the episode that involved a barber seeing the last seven years of the SGC and Jack seeing the barber work for seven years. As fun as the episode really was, it didn't have a purpose for this story in my opinion.