Ace In The Hole
Chapter 59
"The Vanguard Orbital defence stations are intended to be Earth's primary defensive line Sir, not! a flight of fancy" O'Neill can no longer hold the annoyance from his voice.
"The need for a network of orbital airbases smacks of Air force arrogance, like the lunar base, its nothing more than an expensive gimmick something to showcase to the public"
"Mr Wallis, the vanguard project was approved by your predecessor a little over two months ago" Colonel Davis says whilst shuffling though a pile of papers before handing a memo to the newly elected high Councillor.
"Be that as it may, I have it under good authority that the actual benefits provided by these stations would be negligible, there are no proven statistical rewards from having our fighter screen based in orbit as opposed to on the ground utilizing already established military bases, bases that I might add can be operated at a fraction of the cost"
"With all due respect, but that is a load of crap Sir!" The Councillor looks visibly stunned and annoyed at O'Neill's outburst but there is also the glimmer of a triumphant smile tugging upon his lips.
"Sir, I believe Commander O'Neill means to point out that the response time is a fraction of what it will be if our forces are forced to remain stuck on the ground" Davis says trying to quickly smooth over any ruffled feathers from O'Neills outburst.
"As the newly elected head of the Tau'ri High Council it is within my powers to send proposals like this back to committee for review so long as they have not passed the 90 day final cool off deadline" He breaks into an annoying smile "The defense of the planet is in our hands gentlemen, but I will not waste hard earned tax dollars on an elaborate stunt"
"Stunt?!" Colonel Davis asks annoyed at the choice of words
"$104 billion dollars obviously does not buy much nowadays" Wallis quips causing the two Councillors either side of him to smirk and nod in agreement.
"As you know sir, the Guardian networks high costs were incurred before we had access to the advanced construction facilities that we now possess"
"Then am I correct in saying that we now currently have in our possession an advanced network of defensive satellites sat in high Earth orbit, a network that in the words of Commander Carter, I quote" he picks up a memo with obvious glee "The multi-weapon Guardian defense satellite system proposed by Dr Felger should be pushed through as soon as humanly possible, it can be easily modified and adapted, components are designed to be easily swapped out and changed as newer improved designs for more powerful and advanced weapons and defensive technologies come online later, this could truly be the game changer we were hoping for"
"The Guardian Satellites are a marvel of construction Sir, in fact they are currently in the process of upgrading them to the new 's configuration as we speak, the original rail-gun armaments are being swapped out for Tollan Ion Cannons, but the Guardians were meant the last orbital line of defense" Davis sighs annoyed at the condescending looks he is receiving from the council members sat across from them.
"Fleet, Vanguard's, Guardians three lines of defense as it were" O'Neill adds with a nod to Davis
"All I see is yet more evidence that the Vanguard Stations are nothing more than a vanity project, with the fleet growing daily and a fully armed defensive network I fail to see their merits" he holds up his hand effectively signalling an end to the arguments "the matter for now is closed for discussion, I'm afraid that it is going back to committee for further evaluation"
Wallis shuffles his papers and sighs "The Tollan problem?" Wallis says glancing back down at his notes.
"I wouldn't exactly call one and half billion survivors of an all out attack a problem" O'Neill glares "The Tollan may have been arrogant, self-righteous, know it alls but they were still allies, we have a duty to assist these people anyway we can"
"Assist the people that tried to destroy this world" the Russian councillor sat on Wallis's right says with a glare.
"With all due respect sir, you will find that it was Anubis that was to blame, he was forcing the Tollan's to develop weapons capable of passing our Iris, Weapons that are now currently being used by the Aschen"
"Weapons that the Tollan claim are being used by the Aschen Colonel Davis, We only have word of the Tollan to validate that"
Davis sighs at the councillors words "Unless the council give permission to conduct reconnaissance of the Aschen controlled systems we can neither confirm or deny the Tollan's claims"
"Until the Aschen threaten Earth or its holding directly, this council will not authorize any actions that could be construed as aggressive, we will not be responsible for inciting a conflict between our two worlds Colonel, until I see solid evidence proving that the Aschen have left their local group of worlds our ships will maintain a safe distance away from their borders" O'Neill merely shakes his head in disgust.
"Lastly, it has come to the attention of the council that we are at risk of loosing direct control of the Ancient vessel, known as Destiny?"
"Sir?" Davis is clearly confused
"Is it true that our people in Pegasus are planing a mission to recover the vessel?"
"Firstly Sir, the people in Pegasus are no longer as you put it, our people" Davis frowns
"Semantics" Wallis shrugs
"What exactly do you mean by that?" O'Neill glares.
"Its been decided by a unanimous vote that the residents of Atlantis will be granted full membership to the Tau'ri Alliance just like every sovereign nation on Earth" Wallis says pompously with the two counsellors either side merely nodding in agreement.
"Sir?, Atlantis was given independence to govern its own affairs and has been doing so for over a year now, I seriously doubt that they will look to kindly upon that... offer" Davis says glancing at O'Neill for support.
"They still require Earth's support!" Vladimir Petroyev barks.
"I wouldn't be so sure about that" O'Neill shrugs.
"With all due respect Mr Wallis, our task force withdrew from Pegasus a little over two months ago and apart from being initially annoyed at not being consulted, they have since made no request for its return" Davis says merely pointing out the facts.
"I doubt they will even need em soon" O'Neill shrugs once more causing all three councillors brows to crease in confusion before catching onto O'Neill' meaning simultaneously.
"If you are referring to the ancient ship yards currently in their possession then that is just another reason that the Lantians must be encouraged to join the Alliance"
"And by encouraged you mean pressured" O'Neill glares.
"Persuaded that it is in their best interests to work with us and not against us, we are after all children of Earth are we not?"
"Mr Wallis, what you are suggesting could quite easily escalate into something nasty" Davis says shocked at the implications.
"Are you suggesting that our own people on Atlantis could take up arms against us?"
"Sir, it was your predecessors hope..."
"I'm well aware of Richard Woolseys..."
"It was your predecessors hope" Davis snaps cutting Wallis off "That the people of Pegasus could at some point in the future become our greatest allies, that by working together, yet remaining independent of each other we would accomplish so much more, the problems in Pegasus are best solved by those living in Pegasus" Davis can't help the bitter sweet smile he gets from recalling Woolseys impassioned speech advocating Atlantis' independence.
"The future is here and upon us now Colonel" Wallis smiles but no humour reaches his eyes "To that end, Colonel Davis it is the will of the Tau'ri high council that you travel to Atlantis, firstly to formally recall all military personnel currently stationed there to active duty, then you are to order Colonel Sheppard to expedite the assimilation of the Lantians into the Tau'ri Alliance"
Davis and O'Neill merely stare at each other slightly stunned at the events swiftly unfolding, what had started as a budgetary evaluation session has quickly become something a lot more sinister.
"On a side bar Colonel, we would like it made clear to those concerned that Destiny belongs to Earth" Petroyev barks "if a rescue is to be mounted it will be from Earth"
"Though I have to admit I have serious doubts of the validity of this hyperslip technology they claim to have discovered" the remaining as yet silent French councillor pipes up with a smirk.
"As Supreme Commander of Earth's military I would like formal confirmation of these orders before I proceed Sir" O'Neill stands angrily.
"As you wish" Wallis hands him a pad with a sickening smile.
"Son of a bitch!"
"I'm guessing that the meeting did not go well?" Landry says with a sigh as Jack storms back into his Pentagon office.
"I never thought that I would actually miss Woolsey, but he was a god send compared to this schmuck and his band of schmucky sycophants" Jack rubs his face in his hands frustratedly.
"How bad can it be?" Landry laughs but his laughter is short lived when he sees the look on O'Neills face.
"Sir" Davis comes into O'Neills office quickly handing him the pad whilst respectfully acknowledging General Landry's presence with an informal nod "The orders are authentic Sir"
"Son of a..." O'Neill skims the pad across the room violently smashing it against the wall.
"What the hells going on?" Hank barks "Jack?" O'Neill sighs and looks at Hank apologetically.
"You better sit down, you need to know before you head back to the SGC" Landry's stomach drops upon hearing the weary ominous tone.
"This is all Daniels fault" Jack growls before taking another slug of his beer
"How so O'Neill?" Teal'c says cocking his head slightly
"He was our man on the inside, it was his job to head off all this kinda crap"
"Daniel didn't really have much choice sir" Sam says with a shrug "The Nox insisted he was the only one they would allow"
"As one of the great races, Daniel Jackson is the most qualified person on your world to act as Earth's first formal ambassador to the Nox" Teal'c says with an enigmatic smile.
"You would say that" O'Neill says snidely humour twinkling in his eyes.
"I must admit to be asked to be the Jaffa's ambassador was most gratifying" he says as a small smile begins tugging at the corner of his lips.
"When do you leave?"
"I must return to Chulak in the morning and I am due on the Nox home world two days later" Teal'c smile falters slightly sensing O'Neills frustration "If you require me to stay?"
"No, an invitation from the Nox is important" O'Neill looks earnest "You need to do this, the Jaffa need you to do this" Teal'c merely nods in acknowledgement.
"So what's the plan Sir?"
"Nothing comes to mind so far" O'Neill shrugs "I say we just get drunk" he takes another slug of beer before he realises Carter and Teal'c are still waiting intently.
"We are under orders to stay well away from the Aschen and the Tollans"
"We can't abandon them Sir"
"I don't intend to abandon them Carter, same as I don't intend in allowing the Aschen to terrorise their little corner of the galaxy"
"And what of Atlantis?" Teal'c says guessing O'Neills biggest dilemma
"That is a more complicated matter"
"I can tell you now Sir, Teyla is possibly the most strong willed person I have ever met, she will see this as an insult to her leadership and their right to self determination as a whole, as for Sheppard" she glances at O'Neill but no more words need to be said on that thought.
"He'll fight hard and dirty just like we would to keep his people safe and free" O'Neill sighs
"If we try to force them back into the fold I have no doubts what so ever, it will get nasty"
"Did your leaders not learn from your own wars for independence"
"Looks like they missed those particular lessons T"
"Then there is the question of the cities" Carter says merely voicing her inner thoughts.
"Does not your council know that both Atlantis and Avalon are alive" Teal'c says in surprise.
"I didn't exactly hide the fact" O'Neill shrugs
"It was kept out of all official reports Sir" Carter grins.
"Do you not think that Dr Weir could be ordered to return Avalon to Pegasus if things as you say go badly?"
"It's possible" O'Neill shrugs "But I doubt it, I'm guessing that there was bickering between rival cities back in the day"
"You mean the Ancients?" Carter surmises "I guess that would make sense people fall out time to time but in the end there has to be someone looking at the long term bigger picture"
"A guiding hand" Teal'c says sagely
"Precisely" Carter shrugs "So Sir, what is the plan Sir?"
"Carter?" O'Neill says wide eyed and innocent "Who says I have a plan?"
"I'm sorry Sir, but we know you to well" She shrugs with a smile.
"If you must know" he smiles slyly "Thanks in part to General Hammonds amazing foresight there was one other useful little asset that was omitted from the official records" Carter and Teal'c frown but jump at the sound of someone else entering the room.
"By little, I'm guessing he means me"