Walter Harriman got up this Friday morning as if it was any other Friday. He looked across at his wife still asleep and smiled. Life for Harriman had gotten so much simpler with the disclosure of the Stargate. His wife was shocked to learn that he had been working on this program for so long and kept it secret from her. Being a military wife she had learned secrets came with the job, however, this was a major secret. Harriman had been one of the first to request a residence on Atlantis for his wife and daughter. It had taken time, but each had found their place. His wife was teaching elementary school children. His daughter was in middle school but had joined Atlantis Space Scouts, a group for girls and boys to study the skills that they would need in the future dealing with alien civilizations.
He dressed in his standard military uniform he wore when working the gateroom. He knew today's schedule and it was pretty slow. Multiple hops here and there by teams but nothing special. He liked these days, it meant he would get to hear more details from returning teams. Before leaving his quarters he checked in on his daughter Naomi. She was sound asleep in her bed.
Walking toward the nearest teleporter, he saw Davis, "Good morning Col. Davis!"
Davis replied, "Morning Master Chief!"
Harriman let Davis use the teleporter first, then he followed. He was quickly in the gateroom. He took his place at the gate controls and read over the night log. Looking for any anomalies. He saw SG-43 had returned earlier, apparently an injury from a fall, but nothing serious. He saw maintenance on some of the controls had been ordered, but nothing else. He sat back to relax, the next scheduled gate out would be in an hour when SG-24 would be heading to Remoc.
Checking over the sensors everything looked to be ok across Altera, no anomalies or anything else. The city population was over half a million residents now. Four hundred thousand humans, one hundred thousand Jaffa, and over thirty thousand Asgard. Harriman wondered about this, he knew the Asgard population had grown from the original five hundred to over fifty-thousand when they were in the time dilation field, but this was putting over half their population here, instead of their new homeworld. Something seemed off to him on this.
About this time Ginn walked in, "Hey Walter! I'm here to upgrade a few of the systems."
Harriman responded, "Anything that will shut down the gate or shield that I need to know about?"
"This is for the internal sensors to the city. We will be able to track symbiotes in people and match them with their host. If it changes without proper authorization we will know about it," replied Ginn.
"That would have come in handy many times in the past," replied Harriman.
"I bet it would have, from what I have read," replied Ginn.
"Are you now assigned to working on sensors?" asked Harriman.
"Eli and I are working on upgrades across all of Altera's computer systems. Eli is working on a new power distribution system that will be more efficient," replied Ginn.
"Well congratulations I hear you two had a pretty good date the other night," remarked Harriman.
"How would you know that?" asked Ginn.
"I know everything that goes on in this city," replied Harriman.
"Hey look Eli and I are taking it slow. Not rushing into anything," replied Ginn.
"Nothing wrong with that. I knew my wife two years before I built up the nerve to ask her out," replied Harriman.
Operations continued as normal, with no emergencies for a change. SG-24 departed for Remoc on time. Harriman was really hoping to get a chance to travel to Remoc and the new Tok'ra homeworld. How he wanted to show his wife and daughter those amazing new worlds. Just then the Stargate activated from off-world.
"Unscheduled off-world activation!", shouted Harriman.
"Reading Bregman's IDC," spoke Harriman, as he lowered the shield.
Ron Bregman exited the Stargate shouting, "That is more than I can handle!" The Stargate shutdown behind him.
"Everything OK, Sir?" asked Harriman.
"Yes just came from filming a Tok'ra implantation. It's a little unsettling," replied Bregman.
"Well Mr. Bregman, I would like to say the documentary you did on the Jaffa and Asgard were amazing. I'm sure this one on the Tok'ra will be just as impressive," spoke Harriman.
"Thank you! Is it Master Chief?" asked Bregman.
"Yes, sir! Master Cheif Harriman, but everyone calls me Walter," replied Harriman.
"Walter, I'd bet you would make a good story," replied Bregman.
"I don't know about that sir," replied Harriman.
Just then the stargate activated again.
"Unscheduled off-world activation!", shouted Harriman.
"Reading SG-22's IDC," spoke Harriman, as he lowered the shield.
Two soldiers came through carrying a third, followed by the team lead. Harriman noticed they were all covered in a green residue.
"Activating the containment shield!" shouted Harriman, "We will beam all four of you directly to the Medical Bay containment center for immediate treatment." Just as the cities sensors sounded for hazardous material in the gateroom.
Harriman beamed the four soldiers to medical containment. He alerted Dr. Keller. Then enacted containment cleanup protocols. About five minutes later sensors indicated the hazardous material was gone. That is when he noticed Bregman had been filming him the entire time.
"I was right you are a story," replied Bregman.
"No sir, just doing my job. This was nothing," replied Harriman.
"Walter what's going on?" asked Landry coming down the steps from his office.
"Two unscheduled off-world activations. The first one Mr. Bregman here came back early. The second was SG-22 with an injury, and they were contaminated with a substance deemed hazardous. We enacted the protocols and they are now in medical containment, and Dr. Keller is alerted," replied Harriman.
"Good work! I'll go down and see what their status is," replied Landry.
After coming back from a break, he found Ms. Armstrong waiting on him, "There you are Walter!"
"How can I help you Ms. Armstrong?" asked Harriman.
"It's Chloe," replied Armstrong.
"Yes Ms. Armstrong," replied Harriman.
"What am I going to do with you!" replied Armstrong.
"Tell me how I can help you?" asked Harriman.
"We are going to have a couple of VIP's beaming into the gateroom at 2 P.M. today. All traffic through the stargate is to be suspended for one hour before and one hour after. Commander O'Neill wants all teams to report to the Alpha site instead of returning here," spoke Armstrong.
"Must be someone very important," replied Harriman.
"Also full security protocols should be in place. Minimal staff present and guards at all exits. I will be here to take them to meet with Command O'Neill," replied Armstrong.
"Yes ma'am!" replied Harriman.
"How is Naomi liking the Space Scouts?" asked Armstrong.
"She loves it. She is wanting to know when she can go off-world," replied Harriman.
"We're working on that," replied Armstrong.
"Wait she may get to go off-world before I do?" asked Harriman.
"I'll see if I can get you off-world before then," winked Armstrong.
Two hours later Harriman activated the redirection protocol that would send any teams on to the Alpha site. A nice little feature that Col. Carter and Dr. McKay put together from their bridge to the Pegasus galaxy. Now all he had to do was wait. He wondered who it would be. None of the council members required this level of security. Had to be someone important. His train of thoughts was interrupted when he heard shouting from one of the exits.
"Let me pass! I need to get back to Pacifica!" shouted Lam.
Harriman stepped to the exit where Dr. Lam was, "Dr. Lam we have security protocols enacted you can not enter the gateroom at this time.
"I need to get back to Pacifica. There was a training accident. A soldier was injured during spacewalk training," replied Lam.
"Then you need to be beamed to Pacifica," replied Harriman.
"Yes and this Sargent won't let me pass," replied Lam.
"Doctor if you stay right there, I can beam you to Pacifica, and that won't be against security protocols," replied Harriman.
"Now that is helpful," replied Lam.
Harriman ran back to the controls, locked in on Dr. Lam, and beamed her to Pacifica. At 1:58 PM Armstrong appeared back in the gateroom.
"So who is this VIP?" asked Harriman.
"You'll see," replied Armstrong.
Two minutes later President Hayes beamed into the gateroom with six Secret Service Agents.
Harriman immediately snapped to attention and saluted the President.
"At ease Master Chief," replied Hayes.
"Mr. President it is good to see you again," replied Armstrong.
"The pleasure is all mine," replied Hayes, "Want to show me the way?"
"This way sir," replied Armstrong, offering him her arm, then leading him from the gateroom.
Harriman wondered what the President was meeting with Commander O'Neill about. Thirty minutes later, he could hear Armstrong and Hayes voices as they were walking back to the gateroom.
"I think I may try to find a place here when my term is over," replied Hayes.
"Really sir? What would you do here?" asked Armstrong.
"Well since politicians don't seem to be needed, I used to be a pretty good short-order cook," replied Hayes.
"Short order cook? Really?" asked Armstrong.
"Probably my best skill outside of politics," replied Hayes.
"Mr. President let me introduce you to Master Chief Harriman," spoke Armstrong.
"Sir it is an honor to meet you," replied Harriman.
"From what I have heard, the honor is all mine Master Chief. Keep up the good work your doing," replied Hayes.
"Thank you sir!" replied Harriman beaming.
Hayes gave a nod to one of his Secret Service, with that the President and his secret service were gone.
Harriman felt a little proud of getting such a compliment from President Hayes. Later that afternoon Volker appeared with a new device to install in the control room.
Volker explained, "This is a matter-energy reader. It will scan all who enter or exit the vicinity of the Stargate for any crystals that contain patterns for materialization. It will catalog the contents and sound an alert for any weapons or hazardous material."
"So one more alarm we can have," replied Harriman.
"Yes, sorry about that. Maybe I should work on a new control panel for here that controls all the different alarms. I'll bring that up with Dr. McKay," replied Volker.
"I speak to Commander Landry as well," replied Harriman, "Dale, you seem to be a bit down lately. Is everything OK?"
Volker taking a deep breath before answering, "Well it's been different with Adam becoming a Tok'ra. Before he met Freya, we would hang out often. Now that is he a Tok'ra and married to the queen, I never see him."
"Understand, there are plenty of others to hang out with. Tomorrow night Dr. Miller is having a large dinner with her famous Tofu Turkey," replied Harriman.
Volker shrugged, "I know she invited everyone from the science department."
"Hang out with us and have some fun!" exclaimed Harriman.
"I'll think about it," replied Volker, before leaving to head back to his office.
Harriman spent the next hour updating the documentation for the new scanner. He created the protocols he felt were right if the alarm sounded and forwarded them to Commander Landry for approval. He was making sure everything was in good order, when Dr. Lam beamed into the chamber.
"Dr. Lam was not expecting you back. I hope the injured soldier is doing better," spoke Harriman.
"He will survive, thanks to you for getting me back there quickly," replied Lam, "I wanted to thank you for helping me out."
"It was my pleasure ma'am. I would hope anyone here would do all in their power to help an injured soldier," replied Harriman.
"I'm off to dinner with my father. Take care," replied Lam, leaving the gateroom.
Thirty minutes later Armstrong came in directing several soldiers on placing the flags, and a podium.
"Is there something going on?" asked Harriman.
"Walter, a sudden surprise, we have a small ceremony that will be taking place here shortly. You should stay, it's not one you are going to want to miss," replied Armstrong.
The podium contained a banner he was not accustomed to seeing. Chairs were brought in on each side of the podium. Even a red carpet was placed. Harriman wondered first the President today and now this. He wondered what it would be. He did not need to wait long, before Command Landry and Commander Caldwell came in, followed by Colonels Carter, Sheppard, Davis, Ellis, and Emerson. Behind them came nearly every other soldier of rank in Altera, taking formation in front of the podium. Next came the Alliance council members, Thor, Freya, Bra'tac, Teyla, Doci, Hammond, and Woosley, taking seats on the other side of the podium.
Much to his surprise Camilia Wray came in leading Harriman's wife and daughter to the last two remaining seats next to Commander Caldwell. Now he was truly confused. Then he noticed Bregman bouncing around the room with a camera taking video of everything.
Finally, Commander O'Neill came in walking the red carpet to take a position at the podium.
O'Neill spoke, "At ease. You stand before me today representing the last of the United States Military force that is part of the Atlantis Alliance. After much discussions with the Pentagon and the President, you all have been given fully discharge from the United States Military. You will receive full pay at your rank. Unless you wish to transition to the Alliance Guard. The Alliance Guard is the official title for the new military order under the Alliance council. Things are going to change boys and girls."
Everyone applauded. O'Neill let them for about a minute, before motioning for them quiet down.
O'Neill continued, " You all know how much I love speeches, so I'll make this short. Master Chief Walter Harriman front and center."
Harriman confused walked down from the control booth walking the red carpet toward Commander O'Neill. As he passed in front of the officers they turned and saluted him.
O'Neill grinning, "Master Chief do you accept a transition to the Alliance Guard?"
Harriman stuttered, "Yes sir!"
"It is with great pride that my first order of business for the Alliance Guard, is the promotion of Master Chief Harriman, to Alliance Station Chief," spoke O'Neill, who turned to salute Harriman. Commander Landry came forward and presented him with new papers, and pinned a naquadah pin showing the Milky Way, then presented him with a new insignia of the stargate in gold with ten concentric circles making up the event horizon.
"Alliance Station Chief, tomorrow you are to report to duty as commander of the Altera Gateroom," spoke O'Neill, reaching out to shake Harriman's hand.
"Thank you, sir! It's an honor!" replied Harriman.
Naomi could no longer contain herself she came running up to her father jumping in his arms to give him a bit hug.
Over the next week, new regulations, uniforms, and protocols were released to all of the personnel of the Altera. Every scientist, doctor, and staff all received new ranks and positions.
Author's Note: Again reminding people this story is not abandoned. The next chapter is going to take a little more time to write, with life and work taking a significant chunk of time right now. I will have it out as soon as I can.