Porter was staring at Sakai, utterly confused by what he had just heard. He couldn't believe what Sakai had just said.
"Doctor Sakai, are you seriously suggesting that we send one of our spacecraft explore, for a few months, a planet located somewhere far away in our galaxy and for which we have no idea of what happened to its stargate, based on a chest containing dark stones, discovered with a dead corpse that belonged to a person who had probably been executed and who was holding a parchment?"
"That is correct, Mister Porter," the Japanese calmly confirmed.
"May I remind you we can't afford this kind of adventurous mission? It's been out of scope for years."
Porter glanced around the table. When his eyes met Harrigan's, he continued, "General Harrigan, I thought you would have been the first to restrain such an idea. Should I remind you that the program's budget has been reduced?"
"It won't be necessary, Porter. The IOA has been doing it very well over the past decade. So are Mister Marlowe and his colleagues... No offense, Kyle."
"I'm not offended, General Harrigan," Marlowe teased to lower the tension in the air.
Kyle Marlowe, the man in thethree-piece suit, looked like a business executive. His glasses were reinforcing the picture. He had the delicate mission to follow up the budget regarding the Stargate Program, for the US Air Force. Despite his role, he was very appreciated by his partners, both civilians and military people, because he really cared about the program.
The military people also liked him for another reason: Kyle understood what it meant to be a soldier, he had a few family members in the armed forces, starting with his wife. Besides, he had always demonstrated positive thinking. People knew they could count on him when they would face an issue: Kyle would look for compromises instead of stubbornly refusing every possible option to keep his. This attitude made him not react negatively to Akira Sakai's proposal.
Wayland supported Sakai, "Maybe it could be a great opportunity to reboost the program?"
Porter and Ballester looked hard at Wayland. The woman stayed strong.
"The majority of our missions have been limited to space surveillance and maintaining relationships with our partners for years. I'm not saying that this isn't challenging, but when was the last time we made a fundamental discovery?"
"A long time ago..." Colby whispered, making Porter look at him. "I agree with Doctor Wayland, Mister Porter. We're not proposing you a wacky mission..."
The colonel stopped, realizing the proposition was actually a bit wacky. His SGC fellows glanced at him, a little embarrassed. Colby cleared his throat. "Well, the mission is somehow atypical. But not less atypical than our decision to use the stargate in the nineties, which led to all the SG teams' missions, then, send an expedition to Atlantis, in the Pegasus galaxy. We had no idea of what was in store for us, but we did it."
"And see what happened," Porter objected. "The Goa'uld, the Wraith, the Replicators, the Ori. Not to mention the Destiny's crew-"
"That we eventually found," Colby interjected. Porter raised an eyebrow. The colonel admitted, "There have been indeed some undesirable side effects, but also many remarkable discoveries. Naquadah, trinium, the highly advanced and peaceful civilizations who enabled us go beyond our expectations."
The scientists, the military, and Marlowe nodded approvingly. Porter raised an eyebrow again, but he looked like he was okay with the last part of the Air Force colonel's speech. Ballester remained neutral.
Sakai added, "Think about the many possibilities this mineral will allow. Budget will no longer be a matter of concern compared to the gains. We should seize any new opportunity that turns up. Our spaceships go on a three-month surveillance tour. Let's use the next one planned for a tour, for a primary reconnaissance. It will take dedicated scientists and equipment."
Sakai joined his hands, as if he was going to pray. "Please give humankind a chance, Mister Porter, Mrs. Ballester."
The Japanese kept on staring at the two people, not ready to give up. His SG-1 peer nodded approvingly. The others glanced at each other and at the two IOA people, who remained silent for a moment.
Porter eventually shrugged and acknowledged, "In theory, the stones seem to allow many possibilities. In practice, we won't be able to do everything we'd like. The program is still top secret."
"Why don't we disclose it?" Patterson suggested.
The audience stared at the Marine as if he had said something crazy.
"I mean, to the countries that still don't know," Patterson calmly completed.
Porter shook his head, resigned. "It's not that simple, lieutenant."
"Probably. However, it could be helpful, just saying," the officer responded with a quick glance around the table.
The other officers smiled. Ballester moved to Porter to mutter her thoughts. Her words seemed to make him less defiant, as he said, "There are pros and cons, indeed. I can't deny I'm interested in these stones. The final decision doesn't belong to us, though."
Porter pointed to himself and Ballester. He continued, "We can submit this project to the IOA and Homeworld Command. I'd like to raise your attention, though. You'll need a strong speech as I'm not sure the audience will be as excited as you are, Doctor Sakai."
"As a matter of fact," Marlowe expressed, raising his right hand, "We're lucky that the Head of Homeworld Command has both scientific and military background. I think you could use that for the scientific arguments, Doctor Sakai, Doctor Wayland."
Akira's face glowed suddenly. "Of course! Thank you for reminding me, Mister Marlowe!"
Sakai's SG-3 colleagues, Colby, and Wayland chuckled very discreetly. Nobody else noticed.
"You can trust me, I'll prepare a heck of a convincing argument," Sakai said, more serious, to Porter.
"Well, be my guest, doctor."
Porter looked at the others. "If you don't have any other remark, I suggest we end this meeting. When you're ready, tell me and Mrs. Ballester and I will organize a meeting with Washington."
The audience nodded. Porter stood up and requested a private conversation with Harrigan. The brigadier general motioned him to his office. Galvez met Marlowe at the snack cart. Both took a cup of coffee and started discussing about a football game. Colby went to the bay window. The two Marines stayed in their seats and chatted. Ballester grabbed the stones on the table and approached the three scientists. She asked them if she could see the other stones. Sakai invited her to follow him and his colleagues. On their way out of the briefing room, Sakai started to share with Ballester his ideas about the future meeting at Washington.
"We could bring a few of these at the presentation to the IOA and Homeworld Command. We could use the video. I suggest that we hand out a shorter version of the report, to be quick and efficient..."
Colby, who had been looking, through the bay window, down at the gate room, turned, amused, hearing Sakai's ideas. He kept on looking at the group's leaving the room. Once the group's gone, he went back to his seat. He turned to McKinson and Patterson, who had also been looking at the group.
"Just asking, is Akira still hoping he'll meet her someday?" the colonel jokingly said.
McKinson and Patterson glanced at each other, amused. They answered in unison, "He is, sir!"