Chapter 18

String, Dom and Caitlin were all given green battle dress uniforms and told to wait in the commissary until after Bra'tac left the base. There were told to lay low and not tell anyone about the mini gate as that was above top secret. Sporting Star Gate Command patches and uniform the trio tried to stay out of the way in the top secret base.

As they made their way through the line at the commissary Dom made a note. "What's with all the blue gelatin?" he asked.

String shrugged. "Don't know."

Caitlin took a cup and placed it on her tray. "They have a wide verity of deserts here."

The trio soon made their way to the table and sat down to eat. Dom noticed all the men and women in uniform. "This is a fully operational base, String."

"I see that." he agreed.

Caitlin asked, "I wonder what I am doing now?"

String assured. "Living your best life."

"Heck, I'm dead." Dom soured.

"We are going to change that." String told him. String then gave a nod to SG-2 as the men walked by. "Marines' team." he noted.

Dom stated. "Now there are some tough boys."

Caitlin stated. "I think Jack said they have twenty two teams."

"He did." String agreed. He then heard the voice of a whiny man who seemed to just complain. He looked up at the line and spied a dark haired man with a receding hairline wearing blue battle dress standing in line.

"I am allergic to all citrus." he declared. He spoke to the enlisted stocking the buffet. "Could you not put oranges so close to the other food?" He then grabbed an apple and made his way to the tables leaving the eye rolling enlisted man behind. He spotted three new faces and decided to make himself into a pest as he waited for his not so secret crush to return for whatever top secret mission she was on. He sat down at the table with Dom, String and Caitlin. "I'm Dr. Rodney McKay. You a new team?" he asked but he found no team patch.

String asked, "Why are you sitting with us?"

"I never seen you before. You going on the Atlantis expedition?" he asked curious. The expedition was still in the development phase.

"Atlantis?" String asked.

"Yes, the new expedition Just got the address." he mentioned. "I've been recruited to help put it together."

"Um…" String looked at his friends who shrugged.

"You are?" he asked.

"Stringfellow Hawke." he stated.

Rodney mentioned. "You got a horrible first name too, huh. Rodney is actually my middle name." he told him.

"You don't say." he glared at the scientist.

"And you guys are?" he asked wondering what team.

"I'm Dom Santini and this Caitlin O'Shannessy." the older man stated.

"You guys contract too?" he asked. "I'm contract. I'm waiting for my girlfriend to return. She's off world. She's SG-1." he bragged.

Caitlin cocked an eye and asked, "Who is your girlfriend?"

"Sam Carter." he beamed. For in Rodney's mind she was his ideal. Oh, how he fantasized about Sam. A teenage dream and nothing more.

String barked. "You're kidding!" There was no way he could envision Sam with such a whiney man.

Dom asked. "You sure she's your girlfriend?"

"We haven't really dated but she's only one here on my intellect." he told them. "So, what team are you guys?"

String stated, "We're SG-Airwolf."

Rodney asked. "Is that new code name or something?"

"Get!" String barked.

Rodney asked a bit dumfounded. "You want me to leave?"

"Yes!" String told him.

"Fine." he stood up with a pout. "I'll go sit by myself then." He stood pouting a bit.

Caitlin gave in. "You can sit with us."

String gave her a look.

She excused. "He's a friend of Sam's."

He rolled his eyes.

Rodney sat back down joyful. "Sam and I go way back. How do you know Sam?"

"We go way back." String barked.

He paused and looked at the handsome pilot. "You and she?" he wondered.

String was ever so annoyed with Rodney. He let him think the worst. "Maybe."

"Oh…" he seemed rather down. "Maybe we can share her?" he offered.

"No!" String barked.

"Oh…" he pinched his lips wondering if perhaps his false claims were about to catch up with him.

Walter entered the commissary. He walked directly over to the table. "General Hammond wants to speak to you and your crew, Mr. Hawke."

"Be right there." he gave a nod. He was glad to leave McKay behind.

"You too, Dr. McKay." Walter told him.

"I'll be right there." Rodney perked up.

Briefing Room, SGC

String led his crew into the briefing room with Rodney tailing behind them. On the walk down, Rodney tried to make a pass at Caitlin and she nearly slapped him annoyed. He was quickly becoming a pest for Airwolf's top crew.

Caitlin looked at Rodney as they entered the briefing room. "How does Sam put up with you?" she barked.

Rodney pondered and replied rather literal. "Rather well."

"Oh' my god." she shook her head. She noticed two more men were sitting in the briefing room. Bra'tac of the Jaffa and another man she had yet to meet. He looked rather human but wore a tan tunic and trousers. He had graying hair and a balding crown. He was clean shaven and seemed most curious.

Hammond stood at the head of the table. "Have a seat!" he offered.

String, Dom, Caitlin and Rodney all took a seat.

"First," Hammond started, "The information I am about to disclose is above classified. Need to know only. Walter and KITT have not been able to lock onto the mini gate. We have attempted to dial it a number of times."

Rodney asked, "Mini Gate?"

"The information you are about to receive, Dr. McKay cannot be shared with anyone else in this base or outside." Hammond stated.

Jacob Carter asked, "Is Sam alright, George?"

"She's fine, Jacob." he assured.

String asked, "Your name Jacob Carter?"

"It is. Who are you?" he asked. He too noticed a lack of SG team patch.

"I'm Stringfellow Hawke. I'm a friend of Sam's. She said her father's name was Jacob." he informed.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Hawke. I'm Sam's father." He looked to Hammond. "What is going on, George?"

"SG-1 went on a dial out that was supposed to have been a humanitarian mission. Instead, they ended up in a Mojave desert. A much smaller Star Gate was discovered in a cave. It's a repeat of 1969. But this time, they ended up in 1984. We thought we could use the mini gate to lock onto the larger gate and use it as a doorway to connect to two different time frames. Stringfellow Hawke, Dominic Santini and Caitlin O'Shannessy are all from 1984 and came through the gate last night. We have yet to be able to send them back. Dr. McKay will be assisting is in trying to reestablish contact with the mini gate. I have also sent a request for assistance to the Asgard. In the meantime, String and his crew will be filling in for SG-1. We still have a number of issues to deal with. Including the global amnesia."

Jacob asked. "What global amnesia?"

Hammond asked, "Think back to 1984. Do you recall a man in a red suit flying around like superman and busting criminals in the news?"

He shook his head. "No."

Rodney asked. "What man in a red suit?" He too did not recall.

Hammond stated. "Back in the 1980's there was an unknown alien influence. Aliens gave a high school teacher a nano infused red suit and told him to go fight crime. He did! He became famous and then those aliens took the suit away and gave the whole planet amnesia."

"Nano infused." Rodney stated surprised. "I don't remember anything like that."

"No one does." Hammond stated.

"Could it have been the Replicators?" he wondered.

Bra'tac cast doubt. "I don't think the Replicators have that ability. Perhaps, a rogue group of Ancients? Or maybe even a rogue group of Ascended."

String asked. "What are Replicators?"

Hammond stated. "You and your team will be given full disclosure, Major Hawke."

"I'm not a Major." he shook his head. "Furthest I went was Captain in Nam."

"You're a Major now." Hammond stated. "Colonel Santini." he looked at Dom. "I am reactivating both your military service."

Dom grinned. "This mean I outrank, String."

"It certainly does." Hammond agreed.

Caitlin stated. "I was a cop. I was never in the military."

"You will be a contractor, Miss O'Shannessy." Hammond told her. "Until we can reestablish contact with the mini gate and SG-1, you four will have to do. Dr. McKay will be taking over Major Carter's job. Bra'tac, Jacob and Selmak will assist whenever they can. You will have access to all of Major Carter's and Dr. Jackson's research." He looked about the concerned faces. "I know this is sudden but you guys are our best bet."

String stated, "Just tell us what you need us to do."