Avenger 2.0

General George Hammond was fuming with anger, wishing that his entire command consisted of military officers because then, when he shouted and gave orders, they would be listened to and complied with. He had never hated civilians as much as he currently did. And he was not even allowed to shout at them as he perhaps desired because they "aren't military and it's out of line". That was how it had been described to him nearer the beginning of the Stargate Programme and he had not liked it then. Just because they had no military training and they were intellectual scientist types did not mean that they should not do as he commanded. Most of them were fine, but there were a few that Hammond would gladly lose on a Goa'uld infested planet. Primarily one Doctor Jay Felger.

In theory it was easier to get rid of civilians over military personnel, however, inside the SGC it was actually easier to get an airman redeployed than fire a card-carrying member of Mensa.

Glancing up, Hammond saw Major Carter standing in the doorway. He waved her entrance.

"What's the update, Major?"

"We're still working on an anti-viral solution. We've been in regular contact with most of the off world teams." That would raise this month's electricity bill, Hammond thought glumly. "We have lost contact with both halves of SG-1, sir." The Jaffa rebellion talks had gone downhill and now Colonel O'Neill and Teal'c were stranded and under attack, meanwhile, Doctor Jackson and Lieutenant Carpenter were on the verge of drowning, along with the final evacuees from a flooding planet. Normally these circumstances were brought about by a Goa'uld trying to infiltrate the base or a team, usually SG-1, bringing home an alien virus. Never had there been such an impact on the entire SGC, or 'gate network, caused by a civilian. A civilian named Jay Felger.

"How long for the antiviral, Major, and, will it work?"

"We need to run some simulations, sir, but it's looking hopeful." He was about to dismiss her when the major continued. "Sir, about Fel-"

"Don't say his name, Major." Usually Hammond was a bit more laid back when it came to mistakes and apologies, Lord knew that he had given SG-1 enough passes before, but what the doctor had done was too far. Hammond was going to ensure that the good doctor found himself at Area 51 as soon as the mess he had created was fixed.

"Sir, we'll fix this."

"See you both do, because it will be the last thing he does here. Dismissed." Major Carter did not try and object further, leaving the room promptly and Hammond alone with his anger and stress.

SG – SG – SG

Attempting to see through the sheet of water in front of his eyes, Daniel could only just about make out the outline of someone approaching. "Nicola?" he yelled above the torrential down pour. His voice was already hoarse from the amount of shouting just to be heard over the rain. Never before had he experienced such weather. His entire body was soaking wet and he swore that he was soaked through to the bone and not in any way he had ever thought before. Daniel's skin was far passed wrinkled and his water proofs were simply proving useless against the force. His skin was going to be bruised from the pummelling. If he ever made it somewhere dry enough to look at it.

"Yeah, it's me," Nicola called back. Despite her proximity to him, both of them still needed to shout to be heard above the noise. It had been her turn to trek to the 'gate from their relative cover and Daniel hoped that she had good news.

"Well?"

"Been ordered to move to higher ground!"

"What?"

"You heard!"

"I never thought I'd die from drowning."

"Come on," she jostled his elbow. "Let's get these people organised." They shared a look of doom because it was all well and good trying to get to higher ground, but neither of them believed that there was enough higher ground for the remains of the planet's civilisation.

SG – SG – SG

"Sam! Wait up!" Janet called, running a few steps and falling into step beside her friend.

"Hey, Janet."

"Getting ready to head out?" Janet was well aware that Sam was heading to a planet in Ba'al's territory with only Felger as back up in an attempt to fix the Stargate problem. Understanding exactly why Sam had agreed to go, Janet still thought there was something odd with regards to her decision.

Sam nodded. "Hopefully this will work. Otherwise, there's so many still stranded."

"What was the last word from Daniel and Colonel O'Neill?"

"The colonel was still under attack and General Hammond ordered Nicola and Daniel to head to higher ground. The Stargate was about to be flooded."

Allowing a moment of concern at her friend who was literally about to be rained out, Janet then brought herself back to the moment. "I know that you have to leave soon, I was just wondering if you wouldn't mind me calling Daniella in and running her monthly tests without you." Sam stopped abruptly and Janet stopped a step ahead of her. "Is everything okay?"

"I'd rather that you waited for me to return."

"It's just the normal tests, Sam." Every month since Daniella had been born, a whole barrage of blood and genetic tests were performed on her. It was only ever a few vials of blood, barely anything in comparison to her body size. They were designed to look at her DNA and specific protein markers within her cells. So far there were no signs that being the daughter of a once Goa'ulded parent and the child of the next evolutionary step of mankind had any effect. Daniella's DNA showed no distinction to Colonel O'Neill's in the regions that Loki had seemed most interested in. They had still not identified what exactly made the colonel's DNA so special, but once they did they would be able to rule out Daniella having it. As for the protein markers left behind in Sam from Jolinar, none of them had shown themselves in Daniella either. "I've been speaking with a colleague, his name is Doctor Beckett, and he's getting closer to figuring out the exact coding that makes Colonel O'Neill so special. To Loki."

"I just don't feel comfortable not being present. I'll be home in a few days. Maximum."

"And if you're not?"

"Then we'll all have far worse problems than Daniella's blood tests," Sam stated before resuming her walk to the embarkation room. Janet appreciated Sam's viewpoint, as a mother, too, but Sam was not normally so driven to work and as protective over her daughter as she was now acting.