Still no news: No message from SG-1; no sighting of Thor's ship; nothing to indicate the battle raging high above the ionosphere. The quietness was eerie. It was unsettling to know that despite the long range sensors, early warning systems and military intel they could be so blind to the danger. The realisation of just how vulnerable that Earth had become was chilling.
General Hammond was on the telephone in his private office. "I realise that Mr President" he was saying coolly "but a cloaked Asgard ship is invisible to our sensors, we have no means of tracking it."
There was a pause as Hammond listened patiently to the reply.
"I certainly do agree that it is a serious concern."
Another pause.
"We have tried, but we can only assume that they have not received our messages or are not in a position to reply."
Silence.
"SG-1 are my best people Mr President"
The General's brow twitched in annoyance.
"We have no means of beaming additional troops on board and even if we were able…"
Yet another pause.
"No, I do not agree that it is our recklessness has endangered the security of Earth and I am quite willing to…"
He stopped abruptly, apparently cut off mid flow. The seconds ticked by as he listened. Finally losing patience he cut in; "Mr President, if you feel better placed than me to co-ordinate the SGC's response then you are more than welcome to come and do so. However, unless you intend to relieve me of my command, I suggest that you let me continue to do my job."
With a dull thud General Hammond placed the handset firmly back in the cradle and stood for a moment with his hand still on the receiver. There would be hell to pay later, but that – for the moment - was the least of his concerns. He took a minute to compose himself and then hurried out of the office to where Major Davis was waiting outside. The Major looked at him quizzically.
"The President has been updated." General Hammond said shortly. Davis gave a brief nod and fell into step beside the General as they headed briskly back to the control room. "Thank you sir. No change so far. Every strike force we have is armed and ready to go immediately that they receive the signal."
"Thank you Major" the General replied turning the corner and taking the steps into the control room two at a time. He headed over to the gate technician.
"Still no communication of any kind?" He asked. The man shook his head. "No sir and NORAD's still reporting no sign of the alien ship." Hammond grimaced. Surely something had to happen soon, unless the silence itself was significant. Could 'techno bugs' launch an invasion unnoticed? Had they made a mistake is assuming that they would get warning as the ship landed? He scanned the room and caught sight of Daniel standing oddly vacant in the sea of activity.
The morphine was beginning to wear off and the pain was increasing beyond tolerable levels. Daniel took a deep breath and wrapped his arms round his torso willing the pain to go away – or at least for the accompanying nausea to subside. He shut his eyes and swallowed hard and hoped he hadn't ripped his stitches.
"Dr Jackson, are you all right?"
Daniel turned to the General and tried to smile "I will be". He winced – hell, his stomach hurt.
"Why don't you go back to the infirmary" the General said kindly "I promise I will notify you with any news."
Daniel tried again to smile. "General, I know there is no reason for me to be here, but I… just feel I should be here." He faltered, "actually, that's not true, I feel like I should be up there."
"Now you know what I feel like most of the time." General Hammond said quietly.
That was the problem with promotion in the military. The higher up you went, the less you actually did and the more likely you were to be sending other people to their deaths. It never got any easier but, he reasoned, perhaps he had got better at putting the concern to one side and focussing on the needs of the moment. Daniel, who was more likely to be among the worried-about than the worriers, had not had the need nor the opportunity to learn how to deal with the challenges of those left behind. Hammond could well-understand why he had to be here at all costs, to be anywhere else would feel like betrayal of his friends. Yet he looked so ill Hammond was sorely tempted to order him back to the infirmary.
"They aren't beaten yet son" he said consolingly, placing a hand firmly but gently on Daniel's shoulder "just remember that."
Daniel nodded gratefully as Hammond turned away to consider the ideas of a member of the science team who was spouting something about looking for anomalies in the weather patterns as a way of tracing a large ship.
Daniel took a shuddery breath and tried hard to focus.