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oeamTitle: Balance of Power, Chapters 2 and 3
Author: Alex (alex_cat_45@yahoo.com)
Fandom: Stargate
Type: FCGen
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters and do not profit from their use.
Warnings: None
Beta: Larian Elensar, Larry
Characters: SG-1, SGA, Jonathan O’Neill, various others
Archive: Alex’s Story Book, OEAM
Author’s Note: This is my second![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
scifibigbang story and it is again in the Stargate world.
Spoilers: For the series.
Summary: Jack’s clone grows up and comes to Cheyenne Mountain. There’s something strange going on out there; someone is blowing up planets!
~~~
Chapter Two
- Jack O’Neill’s office in the Pentagon, Washington, DC
“WHAT?” Jack nearly screamed into the phone. “How could that happen? Who did it?”
Jack had just talked with Col. Carter, who’d told him that not only had the Icarus base been attacked but that the entire planet had blown to bits. He was trying to get more information but so far, he knew more than the people he talked to.
He knew that the whole project was a bit iffy but to have the whole damn planet blow? Sheesh!
He wondered what Rush had done. He never was sure about any scientist types except for Sam and this Rush was a cagey one. He didn’t trust the other man’s motivations. But his mission had been to find where the wormhole opened with the ninth chevron. He was sure that’s what happened to those eighty people who went through the wormhole in those six minutes that Carter said it was open. Where the hell did they go? Who the hell blew up the planet? Why did he join the Air Force?
“Get me the SGC on the phone. I need to talk to General Landry,” he shouted to his assistant, who sighed and did as he asked. Just like he always did.
*
- Stargate Command, Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado
Nearly two thirds of the way across the country, Hank Landry answered his phone. He was a little surprised to hear from General O’Neill but then again, nothing could surprise the man who headed the SCG that much anymore.
“What can I do for you, General O’Neill?”
“I need someone to find out who blew up the Icarus base. Someone attacked just a few minutes ago and the whole planet blew up. Carter just managed to jump out on George Hammond before the explosion. She thinks the personnel might have gated out to wherever the ninth chevron goes.”
Landry was not surprised. The Pentagon had been putting pressure on the program to come up with more alien weapons technology and the IOA wanted more of any kind of technology and O’ Neill had come to be central figure in the two groups’ fight for power. They used him as a pushme-pullyou, more or less. Landry was glad that he mostly dealt with the military side of things. There were political games but nothing like those the IOA played with all its member countries, especially the Chinese and Russians.
“I can get SG-1 right on it. They have their new member so they’re back up to four.”
“Does he still look like a mini me?”
“Oh, yeah. Not quite so mini but from the stories I’ve heard, he’s just like you as a kid.” He paused and added, “Sir.”
“See if Rodney can come in to help with the problem of where the damn base personnel went. Oh and put Sheppard and Ronon Dex on this too. Aren’t they with SG-18?”
“Yes sir. You want Rodney there or here?” Landry had his fingers crossed that it would be anywhere but the SGC.
“There until he can link up with Carter. If anyone can figure this out, those two can. I kept telling everyone here that they should send Rodney to work on the Icarus project instead of Rush. Rodney is annoying but Rush is obsessed. They insisted that Rush is the foremost expert and unfortunately, Jackson agreed.”
“Consider it done, sir. I think Rodney is still on Atlantis but I’ll get in touch with him.”
“Tell Walter that my assistant still makes awful coffee.”
Landry smiled. “Will do, sir.” He knew better but the Chief would smile to hear it.
*
- Onboard the Atlantis
Somewhere in the Pacific Ocean, Rodney McKay was eating green Jell-O and wondering if there was cake left too. His workload had been light the last few days so he was doing some calculations on making ZPMs to power Earth cities. They weren’t there yet but they would be. Soon.
“Dr. McKay, sir, there’s a call for you from General Landry.” The young enlisted man looked scared to death of him.
“Tell him I’ll call back after lunch.”
“He said you’d say that and he said to bring the phone to you.”
Rodney rolled his eyes.
“He said ‘Now,’ sir, Dr. McKay, sir.”
“Oh, for goodness’ sake.”
The young man handed the cordless phone to McKay.
“You want me to what? But I can’t just-- yes, General Landry. I’ll be there as soon as possible.”
The young man held back a grin as Rodney handed him the phone.
“Where is Mr. Woolsey?”
“In his office, sir.”
Rodney didn’t want to leave, especially not to try to figure out what that crazy Nicholas Rush had done. He couldn’t understand why they’d chosen Rush over him to head the Ninth Chevron/Icarus Base project in the first place.
Okay. He could understand it but he didn’t have to like it. Everyone knew the only person in the universe almost as intelligent as he was, was Sam Carter… well, maybe his sister too but that was it. Okay, maybe Zelenka as a third but it would never do to tell him. Rush was way down on the list. Way down.
And now they wanted him to fix the mess?
“Mr. Woolsey? I--”
“General Landry already called me and your jumper leaves in about forty-five minutes. Go pack.”
*
Colonel Samantha Carter was winding her way back to Earth as quickly as possible. This was a disaster! Her ship had taken some damage but they’d not been the focus of the attack. The attack had been directed almost entirely on the small base. She suspected the use of the Stargate to dial the ninth chevron had been what made the unstable naquadah core of the planet blow though, not the hits from the invaders.
She poured herself another cup of coffee and stretched. This day had already seemed a month long. She wondered who did this. Were there enough of the Lucian Alliance left? They’d used Goa’uld ships so that was one vote for the Alliance. No one was even sure who had taken over leadership of the group since they’d finally ended the Ori incursion.
If only they knew where the ninth chevron went. Now they might never know.
~~~
Chapter Three
- Stargate Command, Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado
Jonathan O’Neill did not get much of a chance to orient himself before he and his team were thrown into the fire. Morning came with the news about the Icarus base being destroyed as well as the planet the base was located on, planet P4X-351.
Jonathan had not had time to catch up on all the mission reports so he knew little of the ninth chevron though he had read some of the Pegasus Galaxy and the Atlantis mission. He was surprised they hadn’t sent Daniel on that one. All that Ancient stuff was right up his alley.
SG-1 was seated around the conference table in the briefing room. General Landry entered the room.
“You already know, no doubt, that the Icarus base on planet P4X-351 was attacked and the entire planet blew when the naquadria core became unstable.”
Mitchell spoke. “I suppose we have no idea who did this.”
“Not yet. They were in Goa’uld ships but that doesn’t mean anything,” Landry answered. “Our first thought is that they could be the Lucian Alliance. After all, our Intel about where to find this planet came from them but I can’t see what they’d profit from blowing it up.”
“Maybe they really meant to gate to the ninth chevron destination,” Daniel added.
“The Lucian Alliance is all about power and profit so if it wouldn’t sell, they probably would have no interest in it.” Vala had been associated with the Alliance before she had hijacked the Prometheus and taken Daniel Jackson prisoner. That made her their resident expert.
Jonathan had read some about Vala and about the Lucian Alliance since he met her last night. Evidently they had sort of moved in when the Goa’uld ceased to be a power in the galaxy. They were a group of thieves and smugglers with no scruples whatsoever. They were a perfect fit for the power vacuum left by the Goa’uld.
Landry cleared his throat and they all quieted. “You and SG-18 will fly to the place where the planet was first, then you will try to contact the Lucian Alliance to see what they wanted or even if it was really them.”
“How will we get there?”
“You’ll be on the Daedalus.”
“Wouldn’t we be less conspicuous in an Al’Kesh?” Mitchell pondered.
“Maybe but we don’t have one at our disposal at this time. The one belonging to the Jaffa is the only one we have access to and it’s not available right now. The Daedalus will have to do for now. Perhaps Ms. Mal Doran can help us figure out how to procure something less ‘conspicuous’.”
“So Sheppard and Dex are coming with us? All of SG-18 or just them?”
“Emmagen and Lorne will be along as well. Wouldn’t want to break up the team.” Landry smiled. “And, no, before you ask. No McKay. He’ll be coming here to work with Col. Carter on figuring where those eighty people are.”
There was a group wide sigh of relief. McKay was brilliant but he was a pain in the butt in a way that no one else could compare.
SG-1 dispersed to get their gear ready. They’d beam up to the Daedalus in two hours and be on their way.
*
“So who is it, Jackson?” Cameron was curious what Daniel thought.
“Not the Lucian Alliance that I knew. They would have figured a way to steal everything first then killed everyone.”
“Yeah, that’s what I’m thinking too. But who? New bad guys?”
Daniel sighed. “I hope not. Every time we’ve rid ourselves of one dangerous enemy, another has popped up and I’m getting a little tired of fighting. I must be getting old.”
Mitchell clapped him on the back. “We all are, after these last few missions. We all are.”
*
Jonathan was packing his gear. He didn’t know much about the Lucian Alliance and the Ori but the enemies he had fought were bad enough. Surely none of them were worse than Goa’uld?
He hadn’t had time to reflect any on how odd it was to be back here and to actually not be Jack O’Neill. He had worried that it never would be possible but the new team members seemed to have no trouble treating him as a different person. Daniel was a little different but then he’d never had any respect for O’Neill’s rank in the first place. He’d considered O’Neill a friend and an equal in most ways though he did obey when he needed to. Most of the time.
This could be fun, in a totally strange sort of way.
He wondered if he’d get in trouble for downloading ‘The Simpsons’ when he got back. He smiled as he thought of Homer. Some things never changed at all.
*
Vala actually felt a sense of dread. She hated going against the Lucian Alliance and she hoped with all her heart that this was not their work. They were more dangerous in some ways than the Goa’uld. You knew the Goa’uld were evil and you knew you could never trust one of them at all. But the Alliance… they were humans and looked just like everyone else. They were capable of being your friend one minute and sticking a knife in your back the next.
On an entirely different note, the new boy was a clone! That was even weirder than all of Baal’s clones running around all over the galaxy. He did look like General O’Neill must have looked as a young man but why on earth would he want to come back here to work, when he had the whole earth to choose from?
She sometimes had nightmares about what would happen when SG-1 finally disbanded or when she got too old to be a member any more. Would they put her in a cell at Area 51 as they had some of the Goa’uld prisoners? Would Mitchell and Daniel still be her friends? Maybe she could hang out on Chulak with Muscles…
A knock on her door interrupted her thoughts. “Ready?” It was Cam. She nodded, hefted her pack and followed him.
They were aboard the Daedalus\ in just a few minutes and getting ready to go into hyper drive to make twenty some odd light year trip to the empty space where the Icarus base had been located only a few hours before.
~tbc~
Author: Alex (alex_cat_45@yahoo.com)
Fandom: Stargate
Type: FCGen
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters and do not profit from their use.
Warnings: None
Beta: Larian Elensar, Larry
Characters: SG-1, SGA, Jonathan O’Neill, various others
Archive: Alex’s Story Book, OEAM
Author’s Note: This is my second
scifibigbang story and it is again in the Stargate world. Spoilers: For the series.
Summary: Jack’s clone grows up and comes to Cheyenne Mountain. There’s something strange going on out there; someone is blowing up planets!
~~~
Chapter Two
- Jack O’Neill’s office in the Pentagon, Washington, DC
“WHAT?” Jack nearly screamed into the phone. “How could that happen? Who did it?”
Jack had just talked with Col. Carter, who’d told him that not only had the Icarus base been attacked but that the entire planet had blown to bits. He was trying to get more information but so far, he knew more than the people he talked to.
He knew that the whole project was a bit iffy but to have the whole damn planet blow? Sheesh!
He wondered what Rush had done. He never was sure about any scientist types except for Sam and this Rush was a cagey one. He didn’t trust the other man’s motivations. But his mission had been to find where the wormhole opened with the ninth chevron. He was sure that’s what happened to those eighty people who went through the wormhole in those six minutes that Carter said it was open. Where the hell did they go? Who the hell blew up the planet? Why did he join the Air Force?
“Get me the SGC on the phone. I need to talk to General Landry,” he shouted to his assistant, who sighed and did as he asked. Just like he always did.
*
- Stargate Command, Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado
Nearly two thirds of the way across the country, Hank Landry answered his phone. He was a little surprised to hear from General O’Neill but then again, nothing could surprise the man who headed the SCG that much anymore.
“What can I do for you, General O’Neill?”
“I need someone to find out who blew up the Icarus base. Someone attacked just a few minutes ago and the whole planet blew up. Carter just managed to jump out on George Hammond before the explosion. She thinks the personnel might have gated out to wherever the ninth chevron goes.”
Landry was not surprised. The Pentagon had been putting pressure on the program to come up with more alien weapons technology and the IOA wanted more of any kind of technology and O’ Neill had come to be central figure in the two groups’ fight for power. They used him as a pushme-pullyou, more or less. Landry was glad that he mostly dealt with the military side of things. There were political games but nothing like those the IOA played with all its member countries, especially the Chinese and Russians.
“I can get SG-1 right on it. They have their new member so they’re back up to four.”
“Does he still look like a mini me?”
“Oh, yeah. Not quite so mini but from the stories I’ve heard, he’s just like you as a kid.” He paused and added, “Sir.”
“See if Rodney can come in to help with the problem of where the damn base personnel went. Oh and put Sheppard and Ronon Dex on this too. Aren’t they with SG-18?”
“Yes sir. You want Rodney there or here?” Landry had his fingers crossed that it would be anywhere but the SGC.
“There until he can link up with Carter. If anyone can figure this out, those two can. I kept telling everyone here that they should send Rodney to work on the Icarus project instead of Rush. Rodney is annoying but Rush is obsessed. They insisted that Rush is the foremost expert and unfortunately, Jackson agreed.”
“Consider it done, sir. I think Rodney is still on Atlantis but I’ll get in touch with him.”
“Tell Walter that my assistant still makes awful coffee.”
Landry smiled. “Will do, sir.” He knew better but the Chief would smile to hear it.
*
- Onboard the Atlantis
Somewhere in the Pacific Ocean, Rodney McKay was eating green Jell-O and wondering if there was cake left too. His workload had been light the last few days so he was doing some calculations on making ZPMs to power Earth cities. They weren’t there yet but they would be. Soon.
“Dr. McKay, sir, there’s a call for you from General Landry.” The young enlisted man looked scared to death of him.
“Tell him I’ll call back after lunch.”
“He said you’d say that and he said to bring the phone to you.”
Rodney rolled his eyes.
“He said ‘Now,’ sir, Dr. McKay, sir.”
“Oh, for goodness’ sake.”
The young man handed the cordless phone to McKay.
“You want me to what? But I can’t just-- yes, General Landry. I’ll be there as soon as possible.”
The young man held back a grin as Rodney handed him the phone.
“Where is Mr. Woolsey?”
“In his office, sir.”
Rodney didn’t want to leave, especially not to try to figure out what that crazy Nicholas Rush had done. He couldn’t understand why they’d chosen Rush over him to head the Ninth Chevron/Icarus Base project in the first place.
Okay. He could understand it but he didn’t have to like it. Everyone knew the only person in the universe almost as intelligent as he was, was Sam Carter… well, maybe his sister too but that was it. Okay, maybe Zelenka as a third but it would never do to tell him. Rush was way down on the list. Way down.
And now they wanted him to fix the mess?
“Mr. Woolsey? I--”
“General Landry already called me and your jumper leaves in about forty-five minutes. Go pack.”
*
Colonel Samantha Carter was winding her way back to Earth as quickly as possible. This was a disaster! Her ship had taken some damage but they’d not been the focus of the attack. The attack had been directed almost entirely on the small base. She suspected the use of the Stargate to dial the ninth chevron had been what made the unstable naquadah core of the planet blow though, not the hits from the invaders.
She poured herself another cup of coffee and stretched. This day had already seemed a month long. She wondered who did this. Were there enough of the Lucian Alliance left? They’d used Goa’uld ships so that was one vote for the Alliance. No one was even sure who had taken over leadership of the group since they’d finally ended the Ori incursion.
If only they knew where the ninth chevron went. Now they might never know.
~~~
Chapter Three
- Stargate Command, Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado
Jonathan O’Neill did not get much of a chance to orient himself before he and his team were thrown into the fire. Morning came with the news about the Icarus base being destroyed as well as the planet the base was located on, planet P4X-351.
Jonathan had not had time to catch up on all the mission reports so he knew little of the ninth chevron though he had read some of the Pegasus Galaxy and the Atlantis mission. He was surprised they hadn’t sent Daniel on that one. All that Ancient stuff was right up his alley.
SG-1 was seated around the conference table in the briefing room. General Landry entered the room.
“You already know, no doubt, that the Icarus base on planet P4X-351 was attacked and the entire planet blew when the naquadria core became unstable.”
Mitchell spoke. “I suppose we have no idea who did this.”
“Not yet. They were in Goa’uld ships but that doesn’t mean anything,” Landry answered. “Our first thought is that they could be the Lucian Alliance. After all, our Intel about where to find this planet came from them but I can’t see what they’d profit from blowing it up.”
“Maybe they really meant to gate to the ninth chevron destination,” Daniel added.
“The Lucian Alliance is all about power and profit so if it wouldn’t sell, they probably would have no interest in it.” Vala had been associated with the Alliance before she had hijacked the Prometheus and taken Daniel Jackson prisoner. That made her their resident expert.
Jonathan had read some about Vala and about the Lucian Alliance since he met her last night. Evidently they had sort of moved in when the Goa’uld ceased to be a power in the galaxy. They were a group of thieves and smugglers with no scruples whatsoever. They were a perfect fit for the power vacuum left by the Goa’uld.
Landry cleared his throat and they all quieted. “You and SG-18 will fly to the place where the planet was first, then you will try to contact the Lucian Alliance to see what they wanted or even if it was really them.”
“How will we get there?”
“You’ll be on the Daedalus.”
“Wouldn’t we be less conspicuous in an Al’Kesh?” Mitchell pondered.
“Maybe but we don’t have one at our disposal at this time. The one belonging to the Jaffa is the only one we have access to and it’s not available right now. The Daedalus will have to do for now. Perhaps Ms. Mal Doran can help us figure out how to procure something less ‘conspicuous’.”
“So Sheppard and Dex are coming with us? All of SG-18 or just them?”
“Emmagen and Lorne will be along as well. Wouldn’t want to break up the team.” Landry smiled. “And, no, before you ask. No McKay. He’ll be coming here to work with Col. Carter on figuring where those eighty people are.”
There was a group wide sigh of relief. McKay was brilliant but he was a pain in the butt in a way that no one else could compare.
SG-1 dispersed to get their gear ready. They’d beam up to the Daedalus in two hours and be on their way.
*
“So who is it, Jackson?” Cameron was curious what Daniel thought.
“Not the Lucian Alliance that I knew. They would have figured a way to steal everything first then killed everyone.”
“Yeah, that’s what I’m thinking too. But who? New bad guys?”
Daniel sighed. “I hope not. Every time we’ve rid ourselves of one dangerous enemy, another has popped up and I’m getting a little tired of fighting. I must be getting old.”
Mitchell clapped him on the back. “We all are, after these last few missions. We all are.”
*
Jonathan was packing his gear. He didn’t know much about the Lucian Alliance and the Ori but the enemies he had fought were bad enough. Surely none of them were worse than Goa’uld?
He hadn’t had time to reflect any on how odd it was to be back here and to actually not be Jack O’Neill. He had worried that it never would be possible but the new team members seemed to have no trouble treating him as a different person. Daniel was a little different but then he’d never had any respect for O’Neill’s rank in the first place. He’d considered O’Neill a friend and an equal in most ways though he did obey when he needed to. Most of the time.
This could be fun, in a totally strange sort of way.
He wondered if he’d get in trouble for downloading ‘The Simpsons’ when he got back. He smiled as he thought of Homer. Some things never changed at all.
*
Vala actually felt a sense of dread. She hated going against the Lucian Alliance and she hoped with all her heart that this was not their work. They were more dangerous in some ways than the Goa’uld. You knew the Goa’uld were evil and you knew you could never trust one of them at all. But the Alliance… they were humans and looked just like everyone else. They were capable of being your friend one minute and sticking a knife in your back the next.
On an entirely different note, the new boy was a clone! That was even weirder than all of Baal’s clones running around all over the galaxy. He did look like General O’Neill must have looked as a young man but why on earth would he want to come back here to work, when he had the whole earth to choose from?
She sometimes had nightmares about what would happen when SG-1 finally disbanded or when she got too old to be a member any more. Would they put her in a cell at Area 51 as they had some of the Goa’uld prisoners? Would Mitchell and Daniel still be her friends? Maybe she could hang out on Chulak with Muscles…
A knock on her door interrupted her thoughts. “Ready?” It was Cam. She nodded, hefted her pack and followed him.
They were aboard the Daedalus\ in just a few minutes and getting ready to go into hyper drive to make twenty some odd light year trip to the empty space where the Icarus base had been located only a few hours before.
~tbc~
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