A/N—Apologies if chapter 5 showed up twice. I was having difficulties posting it.

Disclaimer in chapter 1

6

Colonel Daniel Jackson tossed his pen down on the desk, rubbing tired eyes. SG-1's last few missions couldn't be termed "successful" by any means, and he was feeling the pressure. Not only from the military, but the President and Vice-President as well. While President Hayes was supportive of the Stargate Coalition, he tended to shunt the responsibility of its oversight to Robert Kinsey, who was less than enthusiastic about the SGC's mission and its use of government allocated funds.

Daniel wasn't looking forward to his scheduled meeting with Kinsey. He prided himself on his diplomatic abilities-it had been the reason he'd been chosen to lead SG-1-but Vice-President Kinsey tested every bit of tact Daniel possessed. The meeting was sure to give him a headache, and he popped a couple of pills in anticipation.

A knock on his door brought Daniel out of his musings. "Sir?" Charlie Kawalsky asked, poking his head into the office, "The Vice-President is here." It was more respect than the Major usually gave Kinsey. More respect than he deserved, Daniel thought, gathering notes and straightening his uniform. He'd wanted to stay in his BDUs as a subtle jab to the pompous politician, but the general had warned him, only this morning, that they couldn't afford to alienate Kinsey and to pull out all the stops. That included dress uniforms.

Daniel straightened his tie. "Ready, Kawalsky?"

Giving his CO a crooked grin, he replied, "Are we ever?"

Daniel's lips quirked into an ironic grin of his own. "What about Feretti and Fraiser?"

"Outside the conference room, waiting for you." They rounded a corner and came upon the rest of their team.

"Colonel."

"Colonel."

Daniel nodded at them, noticing they relaxed a fraction. It was comforting to know they had confidence in his ability to deal with Kinsey, but he wished for all their sakes so much wasn't riding on this meeting. "Shall we?" Daniel asked, pushing open the door to the conference room. The general was seated at the opposite end of the table from the Vice-President, and SG-1 quickly took their chairs around the table. Feretti and Kawalsky on the far side, Janet next to the general, leaving the only other seat for Daniel next to Kinsey.

Placing his files on the table, Daniel extended a hand towards the dignitary who was leaning back in his chair. "Mr. Vice-President," he said, hoping his smile seemed welcoming. Kinsey obviously wasn't in the mood for pleasantries, ignoring Daniel's out-stretched hand. He launched immediately into his concerns.

"Colonel Jackson, I've been looking over your reports and it's obvious to myself and my advisors that SG-1 has recently been causing more harm than good with your recent missions. The Tollan in particular could have been potential allies had you not botched things up."

Daniel felt his temper rising, and he clenched his fists in an effort to keep his tone moderate. "Sir, if you have read the report, you know it was a cultural misunderstanding, for which we and the Tollan have officially apologized to each other. They feel allowing less developed cultures access to technology they're not ready for, is a breach of their obligations as the technologically superior race. It wasn't mean as a slur to the people of Earth, only the truth as they see it."

"Oblige Noblesse?" Kinsey supplied.

"Something like that, yes. If the NID had stayed out of things, we'd probably still be on speaking terms with them. As it is, the Replicators move closer by the day, and other than guns, we have nothing with which to slow them down, much less stop them."

Not to be put off, Kinsey pointed out it was SG-1's interaction with Reese that had been the catalyst for the Replicators becoming a threat to the galaxy in the first place. He was working himself up into a real fury when Janet spoke.

"Mr. Vice-President, I'm sorry for interrupting, but I have to disagree that SG-1 is wholly to blame for every misstep. Granted there have been certain incidences where we didn't handle things in the most appropriate manner." Here she stopped for a breath and darted a glance at Daniel. "But for the most part we've done more good out there than harm."

Robert moved forward, leaning his forearms on the table. "You make a salient point, Major. . . ."

"Fraiser, sir."

"Fraiser. You're the xeno-biologist, right? I'm sure getting the chance to examine alien races has been fascinating for you." Janet's gaze traveled the room, uncertain.

"Yes, sir."

"So I'm sure you'd do anything, say anything to keep this program going. Am I right?"

Daniel watched Janet draw a breath. He'd worked with her long enough to know it was taking every ounce of restraint she possessed not to leap to her feet an throttle the man.

"With all due respect, sir, I think you've misunderstood what I'm trying. . ."

"What I'm trying to say Major is this mess isn't merely the realm of SG-1. They entire SGC is to blame for the predicament this great country of ours, indeed the world, now faces. If you hadn't mettled in extra-terrestrial affairs, we would still be safe from the scourge you've unleashed."

"That's ridiculous!" Daniel exploded. "The Replicators would be coming whether we were out there or not! At least now we know they're headed our way and maybe, just maybe we can come up with a solution before they start eating everything in sight! You shut us down and there's not a chance in Hell Earth will survive!"

"Colonel Jackson!" The general reprimanded sharply, "Stand down!"

"What was the point of this anyway?" Daniel was on his feet, extending a finger in Kinsey's direction. "He decided long before he got here he was going to shut us down!"

Kinsey leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers, a smug grin on his face. "That's where you're wrong, Colonel. I have every intention of letting you get us out of this mess. In fact, I insist you take charge of the situation. The fate of our planet is this command's responsibility." Kinsey stood, gathering reports Daniel knew he hadn't even cracked open. "And after the threat has passed," he said with menacing quiet, "You and I are going to have a conversation. Don't expect it to be a long one." With that, Vice-President Robert Kinsey swept from the conference room.