Harriman Nelson moved another slide into place; fascinating, the structure looked almost crystalline.

"Harri?"

He was almost positive that this could be considered a new species and not merely an offshoot.

"Harri?"

Could this change be attributed to depth or a temperature variation? More samples that's what he needed, you could never have too many samples.

"Harriman have you heard a word I've said?" Jiggs bellowed.

Nelson looked up from his slide and glared at his oldest friend. "Of course I heard you; you're apparently under the mistaken impression that during the repaint and retrofit of the Seaview, Lee, Chip and I are going to waste our time haring off into deep space to prove that there should be naval personnel on some Ancient floating city on an unnamed planet, because you're upset that Jack O'Neill has space ships and you don't." Nelson 'harumphed', "Madness", before turning back to his microscope and slipping another slide into place: definitely crystalline.

"But Harri," Jiggs almost whined, "it won't take that long, apparently those scientists have got Midway II almost up and running. The Hammond can take you to Midway and you can gate to Atlantis from there and gate all the way back; you'll be gone a week tops."

"Jiggs, where did you get this bee in your bonnet about the Navy being in space? We're submariners, we sail the oceans; we don't go flitting around the galaxy."

"Harri, if anyone knows about surviving in ships completely surrounded by a hostile environment, it's the Navy and especially the sailors who serve on submarines." Jiggs was in full on rant mode and he'd started pacing Nelson noted, he shook his head, this could go on for awhile.

"They never even asked us for our thoughts on the psychological impact of prolonged tours of duty on those ships of theirs; I mean for God's sake Harri, who knows more about long trips in close quarters than the submarine service? Who Harri? No one, that's who," Jiggs indignantly threw up his hand.

Nelson sighed; he was never going to get any work done unless he could get rid of Jiggs. He could try throwing his friend out but it probably wouldn't work and even if it did, he'd just come back; when Jiggs got an idea into his head he was like a bulldog with a bone although a rather amusing one. He leaned forward, chin in hand: "I think NASA would disagree with you there, Jiggs." He laughed, "Besides, we're sailors, not astronauts, let the flyboys have their fun. Not to mention the fact that we aren't even talking about a ship, we're talking about a base"

"It's a ship, a city sized ship, but a ship nonetheless and besides, it floats."

"Is the Navy responsible for anything that is remotely touching a sea or ocean on this planet and all others now?" Nelson tugged his ear and laughed, "Oh Jiggs", he stated fondly, shaking his head.

I doubt you'd find too many sailors who would be willing to trade places with your average astronaut anyway." Jiggs eyes lit up and Nelson mentally kicked himself; 'You walked right into that one Harriman."

"Morton. He jumped at the chance and his background in sub service made him uniquely qualified for that Venus mission that's one of the reasons he was chosen."

"And didn't that work out well?" Harri pointed out dryly.

"Dammit Harri," Jiggs kicked at the carpeting and looked almost exactly like a six year old boy being told he couldn't go to the big game; "Please?"

Nelson sighed again. Eh? What could it hurt? He couldn't spare much time but he couldn't say he was completely uninterested in seeing Atlantis. Obviously he wasn't privy to too much information involving the Stargate program but he had been asked about a few things through the years, usually items involving Rodney McKay where a second opinion was being sought.

'McKay', he frowned, the man was brilliant but a complete ass; he grinned, might be interesting to go just to yank his chain a bit, or a lot. He leaned back in his chair and gave his friend a softened version of his famous glare, "All right Jiggs, you win." Starke's eyes lit up but before he could say anything Nelson raised one finger, "a short visit and that's all and if there's nothing the Navy can bring to the table, I'll say so flat out."

"Sure, sure Harri, of course, but I know you, and I know you'll find something." Jiggs was positively beaming.

"Harumph."

XXXXXXX

"Why are you so excited that Nelson is being inflicted on us? Why!?" Rodney was at a complete loss. He would have expected Sheppard to be upset that a Navy Admiral was coming to visit, at the very least, tense. John Sheppard hated kowtowing to the Brass, even though he was a Lt. Colonel. In fact the only officers he seemed to tolerate well (and conversely who tolerated him) were General O'Neill, Colonel Carter and Colonel Caldwell (barely) but a three star Admiral had him acting giddy, and not just him; Rodney snuck a look at Major Lorne who also looked pretty pleased.

Sheppard spun around and held up two fingers; "Two words Rodney:"Flying. Sub ."

Lorne laughed and added: "A Yellow Flying Sub, shaped like a Manta Ray."

"I know right? How cool is that?" Sheppard crowed. "I would so love to fly her."

"She's a beauty all right. Not bad for a Navy guy, even if he is an Admiral." Lorne said in admiration.

Rodney stared at them aghast; "The man's supposed to be some sort of genius, even if it is in Marine Biology (Rodney shuddered slightly) but even I know Manta Ray's aren't yellow," he finished at high volume.

Sheppard and Lorne shared a look before John lifted and eyebrow in Rodney's direction; "Somebody is very cranky."

"Don't feed the scientists after midnight Sir." Lorne deadpanned.

"Good one Lorne."

"Thank you Sir."

Rodney gave them a death glare and stomped away, yelling over his shoulder: "Bite Me!"