Ace In The Hole
Chapter 33
"Now this is cool" Sheppard is grinning like a mad man as Cadman hands him the new weapon.
"Over the past six weeks we have done extensive testing sir and to be honest we feel that this gives us the best of both worlds" Cadman takes the weapon from him and points at the target on the range firing a few rounds cleanly into the centre ring.
"As you can see the basic frame of the original P90 is still intact" Lt Weir says from behind them both "There is no loss of function and by switching to a Trinium Carbon composite instead of regular steel there is only a 0.7 ounce increase in weight overall" Cadman hands the modified P90 back to Sheppard.
He looks it over once more taking in every detail, it looks almost like the regular thing but with what look nothing more than minor aesthetic changes, the flat front now has a two barrels instead of one, the front of the weapon is slightly extended underneath the barrel sweeping up in a curve level with the ends of the two barrels arranged one on top of the other, The addition of an inconspicuous button and switch and the weapon looks and feels very basic.
"We were trying to keep it as basic as possible" Zalenka says as he pushes his glasses up with a knowing smile.
"The thumb button switches between regular kinetic and the new energy setting" Alex says pointing towards the relevant button, Sheppard quickly presses the button and the weapon lets out a quiet audible beep in reply.
"On switch over you will automatically be on stun setting as a safety precaution" Sheppard aims and fires the weapon at the target range, a blast of blue energy fires from the second barrel quickly dissipating upon hitting. "The switch on the side is used to change the setting... you have..." before Alex can continue Sheppard hits the switch and fires.
The blast is louder and more violent and blows a hole clean through the side of the barrel that he has targeted, Sheppard grins once more looking at the weapon like a man that is ever so slightly unhinged.
"As I was about to say that is the kill setting" Alex smiles before nodding to him expectantly, Sheppard frowns slightly confused as to what he is trying to say "The weapon has a third setting Colonel... Stun... Kill... and Destroy" Alex wiggles his eyebrows suggestively causing Sheppard's too widen in surprise.
Once more he hits the switch before he carefully takes aim and fires, this time the blast is all together different the pitch of the sound it makes the slight recoil he feels, there is a distinct smell of ozone left in the air and Sheppard is sure that he can almost feel the blast wave from 100ft away as the bolt of energy released not only destroys the barrel completely it also blows a one foot diameter hole in the breeze block wall behind it.
"Holy shit!" Sheppard almost drops the weapon in shock causing Cadman and Alex to laugh.
"Should be able to take out a Dart no problem eh Sir?" Cadman says with a grin.
"More like a frickin cruiser Captain" Sheppard says once more looking in wonder at the weapon in his hands although now a lot more carefully.
"Yes well... uses aside it has one more innovation" Zalenka says, as he comes from behind the protective wall only he had had the gumption to get safely behind "The weapon has a genetic lock built into it, we can make them lock out all unauthorised personnel... or more importantly unauthorised species"
"If the Wraith ever got their hands on one, the energy weapon part would be locked out to them... just like the Lantean tech is" Alex grins.
"Welcome back Sir" Lorne smiles at Woolsey as he steps through the gate. "How was the conference?"
"Like every IOA conference very tedious and far to long... but a hell of a lot has happened over the month I was back on Earth... and I need to meet with all the senior staff to bring them up to speed right away" Woolsey says removing his glasses to pinch the bridge of his nose.
"Colonel Sheppard and his team are available minus Dr McKaye that is" Lorne says walking with him up the stairs towards his office.
"What is wrong with Dr McKaye?"
"ZPM charg..."
"Sorry I forgot... he will be out of sync for another 6 weeks" Woolsey just shakes his head. "It is strange how these kind of occurrences have become so..."
"Ordinary?" Woolsey just nods at Lorne before heading towards his office.
"I would like you and Alex at the briefing also Colonel" Woolsey says over his shoulder.
"Yes sir... I will get right on to that Sir"
Less than an hour later they are all sat around the conference table waiting patiently as Woolsey is tapping away on his laptop.
"I guess we should get down to business... Alex?" Alex looks at Woolsey calmly and nods.
"Yes Mr Woolsey?"
"I believe that you had a heated debate with Dr Jackson on his last visit?"
"About?"
"The structure of the Lantian government" Woolsey elaborates looking at him but giving nothing away.
"Yes we had a few disagreements... he did not like the fact that career politicians did not exist in Lantian society"
"Well it seems that he passed on those findings in a report to the IOA and... well something kind of unexpected has happened" Woolsey indicates to the monitors on the wall.
{This is the nine o'clock news for the BBC with George Alagiah}
{Our main head lines tonight, China... After 63 years in power the ruling communist party says it is time for change}
{World leaders are said to have been left stunned by China's shock announcement yesterday that it is going to hand over full legislative powers to its citizens, with the countries ruling communist party merely holding on to the day to day running of the state for a transitional period... some political analysts are already condemning it as a ploy... others are convinced that it shows the way forward, here's Huw Edwards live from Beijing with the details}
"No career politicians and no party politics" Woolsey says staring at Alex "Randomly appointed ordinary citizens making and debating the laws for the people by the people... sound familiar?"
"You are kidding us?" Sheppard says.
"But Daniel only left eight weeks ago" Lorne says equally stunned.
"When Daniel recorded his findings with the IOA, the Chinese saw this as a viable way forward... with so much money pouring in, it was only a matter of time before the people began demanding more freedoms an undercurrent of tension had been building for decades... apparently Shen Xiaoyi saw this as the answer they were looking for"
"When are they looking to hand over power?"
"They already have... three weeks ago" Woolsey says.
"They changed their whole way of government in weeks!" Alex sits wide eyed as is everyone in the room with the exception of Ronon and Teyla.
"Any problems?" Sheppard asks warily.
"None" Woolsey shakes his head "In fact quite the opposite, at the first meeting of the newly elected congress... which was televised so all the people worldwide could see... a young school teacher from one of the northern provinces called for a vote on freeing Tibet"
"Kidding?"
"Troops were pulled out the very next day" Woolsey says with a smile "They have already laid down the frame work for a bill of rights or Charter of Freedoms as they have called it"
"And the communist party have just allowed all this?" Lorne is leaning forward on the table engrossed.
"What the west is calling True Democracy they are calling True Communism... the party is still running the country for now but it has to act within the laws laid down by the new congress..."
"How is this affecting us?" Sheppard says taking in the news finally.
"The west's stance has suddenly been shifted completely with the removal of Putin in Russia earlier in the year because of the corruption scandal and now the shift in government in China tensions on Earth are at an all time low and the feel good factor has kicked" Woolsey is almost smiling. "General O'Neill used this moment to put forward a proposal for a big overhauling of the IOA and its institutions"
"That sound's kind of big" Alex says taking it in his stride.
"It was... Nato and the IOA was officially dissolved three days ago" Woolsey sees the shock on everyone's faces before continuing "All nations previously involved have now signed up to the newly formed Tauri Alliance"
"Tauri Alliance?" Sheppard asks frowning slightly.
"They chose the name Tauri because it is what most of the milky way knows us as anyway... and it is neutral on Earth... it puts no one nation at an advantage" Sheppard nods in understanding before Woolsey continues "From now on its not the U.S.A.F. Apollo or the H.M.S Churchill its going to be the Tauri Vessel Apollo... the Tauri Vessel Churchill"
"Just a name change then?" Ronon grunts less than interested.
"Hardly... as of yesterday the Alliance took direct ownership and command of all of Earth's fleet, and also the employment of the crew Colonel Carter, Cadwell, Ellis, are no longer US airforce they are Tauri"
"Who?... how?... You're saying that just like that a new independent organisation has been set up... its been given sweeping powers... direct control of Earth's assets and not one government objected?" Sheppard asks slightly stunned at the changes and what they could mean for the current expedition.
Woolsey suddenly understands the Colonels concerns and smiles.
"The IOA was never meant to be permanent Colonel, Earth's forces the Tauri Fleet the SGC, Area51 R&D, Luna Base, Alpha, Beta, Delta and Gamma Sites will all be under the control of home world security"
"O'Neill?" Sheppard's eyes widen "But who does he answer to if the IOA has been dissolved?"
"Supreme Commander O'Neill will be answering to Me"
"What?"
"I have been elected to the position of High Councillor" Woolsey sighs "Each nation will supply a member too the new Tauri Council... I have been asked to lead it... and will be responsible for off world affairs" Woolsey says nervously and humbly.
"Congratulations Sir" Lorne says with an huge smile, all the faces around the room nod and smile in agreement with Lornes statement.
"Colonel Sheppard you don't look entirely happy with the news... Is something wrong?" Woolsey asks noting the Colonels less than thrilled appearance.
"Sorry... congratulations on the job an all... its just..." Sheppard shrugs unable to grasp what's in his head let alone vocalise his thoughts.
"You are concerned I cant do the job?"
"Course not" Sheppard sighs rubbing the back of his neck frustratedly. "It's just you finally get how important Atlantis is to this galaxy but once you are back on Earth and the that's your primary concern..."
"You think that I might recall the city at some point... redeploy assets away from Pegasus?" Woolsey asks finally understanding. "John" On the use of his first name Sheppard's eyes lock with his "Before I came to Atlantis I was a pen pushing bean counter who thought that you had to stay within the rules and not stick your neck out to far in case anyone came along to chop your head off" All those assembled grin. "Pegasus has changed me, Atlantis has changed me, but it is you that has changed me the most"
Sheppard sits slightly stunned not daring to look at anyone else in the room.
"Every single person in this city would follow you to hell and back, you command such loyalty, support and respect that it inspires each and everyone of us to do better go further try that little bit harder and what makes it even more impressive you do it all without trying or even realising... there isn't a man in this city my self included that wouldn't put their life on the line for you because they know with out a shadow of doubt that you would do the same for them"
Sheppard puts his hand over his chin hiding his mouth but his eyes are glistening as he nods tightly to Woolsey acknowledging his words.
"When they interviewed me it gave me an unparalleled opportunity, how often do you get the head's of the top 50 governments in a single room to negotiate with directly?... Colonel this is for you" Woolsey hands Sheppard an very official looking envelope.
Slowly Sheppard begins to read the contents and as he does his eyes get wider and wider before Ronon leans over thumping him on the shoulder impatiently.
"Is this for real?" Sheppard asks stunned at the implications, Woolsey just nod's and smiles.
"What is it Colonel?" Teyla asks looking nervous at Sheppard's still stunned expression.
"Atlantis has been given independence"