CHAPTER 42 – STRAIGHT TO THE TOP
He had held her for a long while at the top of that mountain and when the sun had started to tilt it's way down toward the horizen, he had prodded her slightly into action. The air had begun to cool and their bodies, still minus clothing, would chill fast at the top of the mountain. They laughingly made their way down, content to hold hands as new lovers do, stopping occasionally to take photos. When they reached the jumpers, John made sure she was safely in her own and watched her lift off and aim the craft in the direction of Atlantis, before turning towards his own. There on the ground, he saw a lone flower that had fallen out of the posy she had taken up the mountain, in memory of Ben.
He picked up the flower, twirling it experimentally in his hands. Then, as if making a decision, he tossed the flower high into the air and watched it come spiralling down.
"Don't worry Ben. I'll take care of your girl. I kinda get the feeling that you've passed the reins to me now. She's a keeper, is our Nicole. Rest in peace, Ben."
And he swore he felt a small breeze waft past his cheek as though someone or something had given him his blessing, and he was able to smile and make his own way back to Atlantis.
Nicole was not waiting for him in the jumper bay as he assumed she would be, and heading straight to the control room, he saw her standing up at the window, appearing to be deep in discussion with someone. He took the control room stairs two at time, wondering who had put that serious look on her face.
General O'Neill was on video link, and when John walked in the General raised an eyebrow in John's direction.
"Ah, Sheppard. So glad you could join us. I've just been filling Nicole in on a little visit that is about to come your way. One, which I might add, just doesn't sit quite right."
Raising an eyebrow of his own, he looked back at the General after noting briefly that Sam had stood back a little with a serious look on her face.
"Ok, so I'm thinking that the news is not particularly good, considering the lack of eagerness I am seeing on the faces here. Who can we expect, and when? Sir." This last was added somewhat in haste. John had a habit of simply forgetting that superior officers were to be addressed accordingly. In Atlantis, a more casual air seemed to have been adopted most of the time and John had to remember that when back on earth, General's in particular, deserved to be addressed with more respect.
"Oh... we're talking about two IOA officials, accompanying a certain important person. I'll give you a hint, Sheppard... four star general ring any bells?"
"Ding, ding...they're ringing, but for whom General?" John's response was dry.
"Funny, Sheppard. Actually? That was funny. No, really... can't guess?"
"General O'Neill... sir. I could take a few guesses, and I'm thinking that perhaps you like to play this sort of game? But me sir, with all due respect, not so much. So, no – I prefer not to guess."
The General huffed a breath and Sam tried unsuccessfully to smother a grin. They weren't so different, these two men. Both slightly irreverent, with inherently dry humour and each one more than a match for the other.
"Ok, spoilsport. Does the Director of the NSA ring any bells? Hmmm?"
"Ding, ding, General. And that's an affirmative. Why are they coming here? Do we know?"
"We, Colonel Sheppard, know why they're coming. You, on the other hand? Are about to find out. Apparantly the director wants to visit the mining planet of P67T23 – currently producing high levels of trelium, which as you know is proving to be a high grade weapons mineral. Weapons... Colonel. Does that set any alarm bells ringing?"
"Ding, ding, General. Once again we have a winner. So... your spidey senses telling you that perhaps, we might have some more players on the board, coming to pay us a little visit?"
Nicole had been following the conversation closely, and she interupted now. "Not just players General... this one? He's the top of the chain. It fits."
General O'Neill sat up straighter in his chair, a few hundred light years away on earth. Jest had been replaced by a calm seriousness. "You're sure, Nicole?"
"I'd take it to the bank, General. This guy, NSA? He's the one. The top. Access to everything he needs. Highest ranking security agent in the USA, commander of Cyber Command and chief of Central Security Service – what is the mandate for this agency? To prescribe security regulations covering operating practices, including the transmission, handling, and distribution of signals intelligence and communications security material within and among the elements under control of the Director of the National Security Agency, and exercise the necessary supervisory control to ensure compliance with the regulations. Now General... tell me? Does THAT ring a bell?"
"Ding, ding..." he replied a little dryly. "Damn it, Nicole... how do you do that? Make those connections that fast? I can't follow the speed your brain works."
Nicole chuckled. "Don't worry General... there's not many who can keep up with me when I'm on a roll."
Sam cut in. "Jack, what do we do?"
"Your call Sam. I'd suggest standing back and letting the visit happen exactly as planned. There's still around 10 days left before the deadline runs out. We don't want to tip the scales before then. I'm thinking we'll have all the players and a complete pyramid in a matter of days, and the mines are being laid in place as we speak. We can't pull the plug too soon, or they won't all go down. If you think you can pull it off, have them visit and not tip them off? Do it, and that'll keep everything moving on schedule."
Sam nodded and she heard John huff a breath.
"So we take them to P67T23 and let them see the mining operations. We know they're looking at some sort of weapons deal that is about to go down in 10-14 days. Does the supply of weapons grade mineral have anything to do with this deal? What about the na'aquita in the milky way galaxy? That's a little closer to home, and we know the supply of that is regular and already being channelled to earth for ships like the Prometheus. Why do they need to look into the Trelium?"
"Na'aquita mining has become a little more difficult of late. We are restricted in what we can take back to earth and if we continue the way we are going, then that supply will be cut off. They have been testing the properties of Trelium at Area 51, and it appears that it possesses a stronger weapons grade than that of Na'aquita."
John's reply was derisive. "So for all their self important and supercilious words, they will do no differently than those in power now. Exactly what most of the superpowers have done with earth's resources... pretty much stripped them bare. And that appears to be a bone of contention for this rogue group that has been formed. They want to shut down the space programmes, but they want the minerals found in space? Not sure I follow their rationale – or am I missing something?"
"They want to strip the resources out here bare, then shut it down. Permanently. Nothing goes in and nothing goes out. What sort of society would you compare this to Sheppard? Given what you know of this group to date?"
It was Nicole who answered. Her keen mind already filling in the blanks.
"Imperialistic society, General Succinctly put... It is the state policy, practice, or advocacy of extending power and dominion, especially by direct territorial acquisition or by gaining political and economic control of other areas. Because it always involves the use of power, whether military force or some subtler form, imperialism has often been considered morally reprehensible, and something we have always been firmly opposed to in the good old US of A. Rather a shock to find that the man at the top of the pyramid would support such a social and political structure."
"That's certainly not a world we want to live in. So let them come, boys and girls. Show them your galaxy or at least your little corner of it. Make them see what it is they are attempting to shut down. Then? We shut them down."
"Ding, ding..." muttered John, earning a sharp glance from the General.
There was definitely one person in that control room who would surely suffer under the dictatorial ruling of an imperialistic government.