Ace In The Hole
Chapter 30
"I can't believe this is happening" Sheppard is pacing occasionally pausing too glare at Alex.
"Alex... can you not see that this is wrong" Daniel says diplomatically.
"I understand you are upset but.."
"But nothing Lieutenant... Like I said it stops now!" Sheppard barks causing Alex to finally explode.
"I don't think so!" Alex stands suddenly invading Sheppard's space much to the shock of Daniel and Lorne who merely stand open mouthed. "In less than six months I have done that which you have feared most... the SGC for all its damned high morals has failed to put one planets affairs in order... its own!"
"You are really pushing me Lieutenant!" Sheppard glares as they both size up to each other defiantly.
"Colonel... Lieutenant... lets cool it down a little shall we?" Daniel says calmly stepping between the two of them.
"Lexy... you must see how this will be seen if it comes out" Lorne says trying to reason with the suddenly angry Avatar.
"Without anyone on your world even realising I have used the Guardian networks weapons, sensors and beaming technology to make some... minor interventions on Earth... over 3000 illegal arms shipments have been intercepted, I've removed over 75 million of the estimated 120 million abandoned land mines worldwide, I've compromised the top 20 terrorist organisations worldwide to the point of their utter collapse... ended famine in sixteen countries, helped your law enforcement planet wide capture some of the most wanted criminals..." Alex drops back down on the sofa whilst never taking his eyes off Sheppard "Ended poverty in over 33 countries, stopped three assassination attempts... oh and prevented the Lucian Alliance from infiltrating your world!... Twice!"
"So you say" Sheppard grinds out rubbing his hand through his hair.
"You want proof!" Alex glares at Sheppard.
"Actually it would explain a few things... groups that have been fighting for years suddenly want to come to the negotiating table" Daniel says realisation finally dawning upon him "Al Qaeda's sudden worldwide collapse... even Iran and North Korea are finally pushing for peace"
"Look Colonel... I know you are trained to protect your world and look for possible threats but you must believe me when I say that I would never do anything to jeopardise your planet or people... I did that which needed to be done" Alex sighs "Without the actions that I have taken there was a 76% chance that upon disclosure the planet would tear it self apart... that is down to 17.3% and falling"
"You should not have done it without clearance..." Sheppard sighs glaring into Alex's eyes "How am I supposed to trust you?"
"Would you have agreed if you had been informed?"
"Probably not"
"That is why I didn't ask...sometimes the changes that need to happen make it terrifying to comprehend... your world needed a shake up and I guess yes I did play god a little... but someone had to and because of my interventions your world is finally beginning too pull together" Alex smiles broadly and instantly all outward signs of the anger that were there mere moments ago have vanished.
"Look... Alex" Sheppard sighs as he feels his anger ebb away "From now on... I want too know what you are up too... OK?... no more leaving us out of the loop... deal?"
"I guess that is acceptable... now that the majority of my work on Earth is complete anyway" Alex says with a distracted half smile.
"Oh wow" Daniel suddenly goes wide eyed.
"What?" Sheppard asks Daniel
"Earth has begun installing Guardian networks to protect allied worlds... Langara, Orban, Dakara, Chulak, Cimmeria they are even in the process of convincing the Hebridan's of the merits of installing the system" Daniel explains whilst looking at Alex apprehensively.
"The game!" Lorne suddenly says "Sheppard and McKaye's game you know" Lorne clicks his fingers trying desperately too remember "Geldar and Hallona!"
"Baden and Nola's world right" Sheppard says catching on.
"Lexy right now you are treating this like its that game and I understand I really do... even with the influx of the travellers there is still relatively few people in the city" Lorne sits next to him placing his hand on his "Look I know its tough but you can not micro manage things on this kind of scale... its affecting billions of peoples lives"
Alex looks at Lorne like he has suddenly grown two heads "I am Atlantis Evan... I am over 5million years old... I think I know by now what I can and can not do" Alex sighs "I have no intention of trying to as you say micro manage any world... Earth included... the Guardian network however gives me the opportunity to give these worlds a nudge in the right direction... but... if it makes you happier I will no longer take any major direct actions without your approval... deal?"
"Deal" Sheppard sighs "Now I suppose you better give us the run down on what Coolidge is up to"
The Jumper cloaks the instant it exits the gate, on board Rodney is busily tapping away on his trusty data pad "The first device is about twenty minutes away from the gate that a way" McKaye points right with a smile. "I am getting readings from three of the devices on this continent but it looks like there may be a problem with the others"
"How so" Asks Teyla from behind them.
"From the readings I am getting it looks like there has been some sort of seismic disruption that may have damaged them... could be anything earthquakes, volcano's until we take a look I can't be sure" McKaye looks up at Mitchell. "You sure you're OK flying?"
"I'm fine Doctor... United States test pilot here... remember" Cam grins at McKaye' obvious nervousness "Are you detecting anything here that could be hostile?"
"Any possible treasure?" Vala pipes up from next too Teyla causing Teal'c and Ronon too just grin.
"No treasure I'm afraid and as far as I can tell nothing hostile... well nothing except the wild life" Rodney grimaces again.
"You ain't afraid of a few spiders are you McKaye?" Cam just looks dead panned at him.
"Oh right I forgot... tough brave SG1... well when you see the size of a poolaroo's fangs be sure to remember you said that" McKaye merely returns his attention to his pad.
Less than fifteen minutes later Mitchell starts slowing his momentum looking for a place too set down, as far as the eye can see there is nothing but dense forest canopy.
"I can't see a place to set down... are you sure its around here McKaye... I don't see anything Ancienty" Mitchell is furiously scanning the tree cover looking for a break.
"Ancienty?... really?" McKaye just looks at the Colonel who just shrugs and grins "The device is somewhere below" Suddenly the Jumpers main console lets out a series of bleeps and less than 100 metres ahead a landing platform shimmers into existence.
"Where did that thing come from?"
"It was obviously camouflaged somehow... I'm guessing the Jumper detected the platform and sent out the signal to make it visible" McKaye is craning his neck looking at the platform as they approach.
The Jumper touches down gently and Ronon and Teal'c take point as the hatch on the rear lowers.
"Seriously" McKaye grumbles brushing past them both looking uncharacteristically brave "We are on a platform almost 100 feet above the forest floor what the hell could..."
Its is only Teyla's lightning reflexes that save McKaye from a nasty surprise, as he steps out of the Jumper a fully grown Poolaroo launches it self at his leg its fangs catching on his leg pocket tearing a long gash down the leg of his pants from knee too boot , the spider caught on the material rolls onto its back hissing furiously its legs flailing in the air trying to right it self, Ronon immediately pulls out his gun and stuns the almost 3foot wide arachnid.
"Jeez!" McKaye sputters "That thing nearly... did you see?" McKaye suddenly turns and hugs Teyla "Thanks"
"Rodney... I wish you would be a little more careful" Teyla grins.
"I forgot just how fast those bastards move" McKaye says trembling slightly but a small smile forming on his face that is until he looks at Mitchell "Colonel?"
"They have fangs the size of fricking steak knives... are they poisonous?" Mitchell is clearly unnerved.
"Yeh... but in humans its that weak it merely makes you drowsy for a few hours" McKaye says looking at the Colonels features carefully. "Are you scared of spiders or something... cause you don't look so good at the moment"
"Not scared as such... more like petrified of em" Mitchell visibly shudders "How in the hell are you not scared? You jump at your own shadow most the time" Mitchell is suddenly annoyed looking weak in front of everyone.
"Jeannie had a Tarantula when we were in high school... spiders have always fascinated me" McKaye beams looking slightly cocky at Mitchell's obvious discomfort.
"If it makes you feel better Mitchell I hate em as well" Ronon pipes up glaring at McKaye.
"Well yes we can't all be brave in the face of our eight legged friends can we" McKaye sing songs whilst heading out for the stairs visible at the edge of the platform.
The stairs lead to a walkway below the platform and it is only from below can the whole structure be seen, the platform is balanced on a single slender tube like tower that is almost 100 feet high, at its base a ring of bars radiate out like a cattle grid, as they look down movement on the forest floor catches their eyes.
"Look" Vala points to a clump of bushes close too the bars. "I see it" McKaye grins glancing at Mitchell who is sweating profusely.
A large Poolaroo slowly makes its way across the forest floor towards the base of the tower, it quickly squeezes between the bars into the darkness below... almost instantly there is a brief flash from below the grid and in seconds the smell of cooked chicken is drifting on the breeze.
"I suddenly fancy a K.F.C." McKaye grins as he heads towards the doorway in the tower at the end of the walk way.
"Funny McKaye" Cam grimaces "I would rather have Lemon chicken myself" Cam forces a smirk at McKayes glare as they both enter the Lantian transporter booth.
The control room is dimly lit but it was nothing Rodney wasn't expecting... thanks too Alex he already knew the whole lay out of the collector and he knew exactly what he was looking for with a few taps of the control console there is a small click of something unlocking which is almost instantly followed by part of the curved wall to their left sliding out of sight.
"Wow"
The room was suddenly bathed in the blue glow that is coming from the thousands of Darinar crystals lying in a circular trough running around another outer circular wall.
"Wow indeed" Teal'c smiles at Mitchell as he shrugs off his back pack.
"There's enough in just this one collector for every single person in the city and probably every single man at the SGC as well" McKaye beam's also shrugging his back pack off.
"Lets just take as many as we can... for now" Mitchell says shrugging his empty pack off and motioning for the rest too do the same.
"What about the damaged collectors?" McKaye says glancing at Mitchell whilst stuffing his empty pack with glowing crystals.
"There is enough here for now... we can sort out the damaged ones some other time... I just wanna get back to the city asap" Mitchell shudders.
"You know spiders are cool once you can get past the fear" McKaye smirks.
"It's the legs" sweat is once more forming on Cam's brow "Course the fangs didn't help much" Mitchell visibly trembles causing even Teal'c to chuckle.
"Who would have believed hey muscles?" Vala smiles at Cam's discomfort "Colonel unflappable freaked by a bug... wait until I tell Daniel" Vala laughs causing Mitchell to attempt a glare which just looks comical whilst he's trembling.
"That's it" Mitchell grabs his now bulging pack in a huff "Lets go home"