Chief gate technician Sargent Harriman sat in front of a terminal whose low resolution black and green map images belied their vast computing power. Radar data, subspace scanners, long-range communication feedback all found their way into the console and were processed at lighting speed by the solid-state hard drive.
Elsewhere in the room huge banks of commuter terminals lined the walls and hundreds of little red lights pulsed ominously. From the SGC control room it was possible to activate automated process on any part of the base. It was also possible to be patched into a huge array of military and civilian nerve centres all over the world. Several old fashioned black telephones provided direct lines to the Pentagon, to NATO and to NASA.
Even on an average day, the room would be busy, with scientists and technicians processing mission data whilst the automatic sensors remained constantly alert for the power surge that indicated an incoming wormhole. Before any team went off world the computers would process the MALP telemetry, monitoring air quality, radiation levels, EM fields and even the pollen count whilst submitting the often fuzzy digital images to facial recognition technology to identify any alien presence. Usually the room was filled with a buzz of conversation. Today, apart from the hum of the machines and the whir of the air conditioning it was all but silent as dozens of SGC operatives listened intently at ear pieces.
"Another possible sighting in the Adriatic" Sargent Harriman announced loudly. Janet and Daniel looked up; Daniel held his breath as he strained to listen. Janet bit her lip nervously and tightened her grip on Daniel's hand. But again it was a false alarm. Everyone breathed again and resumed their focus.
Disappointment and relief inter-mingled for Daniel; on the one hand a visual would remove some of the uncertainty. On the other hand, it would presumably trigger the order to launch all weapons and he would have to watch as the combined forces of Earth tried to obliterate the ship that provided his friends with their only chance of survival. What he really wanted beyond all else was for the SGC to receive some type of communication from SG-1; proof they were alive - ideally proof they had a plan - but with the ship still cloaked, that was impossible even to consider. He exchanged a rueful smile with Janet and shivered as the tingle of adrenaline washed over him again. "There's still time" Janet promised quietly.
"Dr Jackson?" General Hammond paced over to them an placed a hand on Daniel's shoulder. "I'd like you to assist Harriman in monitoring the communication feeds if you feel up to it. Your linguistic skills would be invaluable."
Daniel nodded "Of course sir." He stood up gingerly, noting with relief that the room didn't spin now that the pain was under control. It hurt, but it didn't take his breath away. "I'd like to do anything I can do to help."
Hammond waved him towards an empty chair next to Harriman. "Take that seat there." Daniel arranged himself so that he could lean against the desk in a way which supported his right side. Harriman acknowledged his presence with a nod without taking his eyes of the monitor. Daniel picked up the headset and pushed the earpiece into his ear. Now he could hear the chatter of several defence feeds at once, including one in Russian and one in Arabic. The controls in front of him enabled him to isolate any feed he liked or – if he chose to – scan other channels. The receiver had already been set up so that any message from SG-1's IDC or sent on an Asgard frequency would automatically be singled out and broadcast over all the others.
Satisfied that Daniel had a focus, Hammond strode hurriedly off. Major Davis whispered something to him quietly and the pair hurried urgently back up the stairs.
Eavesdropping into several different conversations at once was confusing, but Daniel welcomed the chance to occupy his thoughts. Of course only the US agencies were consciously looking out for an out of control space ship, but many countries anxious for their national security kept a paranoid eye to the skies, and – depending where Thor's ship entered the atmosphere - it was just possible that the first sighting would be made by a non-US source.
The fact that the conversations were in different languages actually made it easier for Daniel to differentiate between them and he flipped between thinking in Russian and Arabic with ease.
Beside him, Harriman was focussing on the US feeds. The minutes ticked by.
Daniel listened. Russia had noticed increased US activity and was suspicious. Their satellites had sent back images that revealed US mobilisation of the army and the navy. In response the Kremlin had given orders for mobilisations of their own. Iran too had got wind that something was going down in America. But despite increasing their surveillance neither reported nothing untoward in the sky.
Daniel was so absorbed that he jumped when Harriman announced loudly "We have a sighting."