“Once in a while he makes these leaps, Lou,” Daniel commented. “We just go with it; it’s easier than arguing with him.”
Ferretti looked at them and Jack could hear it coming….
“Are you guys really…?”
They laughed. Jack held up both hands and waved his rings, one on each hand.
“His and hers,” he confirmed. He took one of the picture frames on his desk and turned it around. The three of them were entangled together and looking into the camera with smoke shooting from their impassioned eyes.
“Wow,” Ferretti said calmly. “How’d you get this to fly?”
“I held a trump card,” was all Jack would say.
Ferretti nodded and looked at his hands, twisting his cane. Jack could sense him fighting the old military, good ‘ol boy attitudes. “Daniel, I’m really sorry about Sha’re, I’ve wanted to tell you for a long time.”
“Thank you,” Daniel accepted, surprised at the topic.
“I…. was there anything different I could have done?” Ferretti asked, worried. “Was I at fault in any way? Just tell me, let me make amends. It’s really why I’m here.”
Shocked, Daniel leaned forward and touched Ferretti’s arm. “God, no, Lou, don’t think that! The only blame lies with Apophis, and we dealt with him. Let it go. I have, and if anyone needs to beat himself up over it, it’s me.”
Ferretti nodded and swallowed hard. “Okay, Daniel, thanks. Listen, I should be going,” he said, standing up.
“Lou, why don’t you come by our place tonight?” Jack said. “We’re having a dinner party for Col. Davis. Come by, meet him, meet our kids. We have Daniel’s daughter, Stacy, and I adopted my nieces and nephews when their mother died last summer. General Hammond will be there. He’s in charge of the Academy, now; he was here a while ago, he should be back on campus by now. I’m sure he’d like to see you, so stop in and say hi. But come over tonight. 1900. Daniel’s cooking, so bring an appetite.”
“Daniel cooks?” Ferretti asked.
“Daniel cooks,” Jack confirmed. Ferretti hesitated. “Do I need to make it an order?”
“No, sir,” Ferretti said, smiling and shaking his head. “Are you sure Col. Davis won’t mind?”
“He won’t mind,” Jack assured him. “He knows all about you; he has access to files I don’t have access to. He’s read every SGC report there is from day one. And you’re welcome here anytime, Lou, I had you put on my private admittance list at the front gate.”
Jack had SF escort Ferretti to the front door. The man seemed to be holding himself a little straighter when he left Jack’s office.
Sam and Daniel looked at Jack who scrubbed his jaw. “I know,” he said. “He fell a long way to climb up to this point.”
“He used to be a cocky devil,” Daniel commented. “Tortured the crap out of me when we first met. I remember he gave you and Kowalski a run for your money.”
“Let’s get him back to that point,” Jack said.
“I barely remember him,” Sam admitted. “We were only acquainted for a few days before his accident.”
Jack nodded. “He and Kowalski had my back before you, Daniel, and Teal’c. He’s family, Sam; I wish he had kept in touch. I’ll forward Lou’s file to Col. Belarus.”
He called Hammond and warned him to be on the lookout for a visitor. And bring a white for dinner, per Daniel. Jack and Sam were both kissed as Daniel left to hit the grocery store before heading for home and food prep.
“Are you sure about Ferretti and having him on the Europa?” Sam asked.
Jack shrugged. “No,” he admitted. “But I’d like to give him the chance. He has a lot of skills that are being wasted. He can comfort the wounded on board, just as well as he can on ground, and since it’s a science vessel, he doesn’t have the strict military guidelines for physical fitness. And another thing -Daniel is considering asking me to offer Ronnie a place to the unification council. He thinks she’d be good eyes and ears for me.”
Sam raised a brow. “That should be interesting,” she commented. “I’m not sure how the Jaffa and Tok’ra will take to her, but I think the Anunnaki and Langarans will be alright.”
Jack nodded thoughtfully. “I should probably talk with Inanna. I think she and Ronnie have met. Does Ronnie have family that security will need to consider?”
“Not that I’m aware of,” Sam said. “I think Daniel said they didn’t accept her change.”
“Alright, I’ll have Nick start a background check. If she’s going to be my eyes and ears, she’s going to need clearance.”
Sam smiled and walked around his desk to peck his cheek.
“What’s that for?” he asked.
“For accepting her. You’re not the man we met all those years ago. I like this Jack.”
Jack waved her away and she left his office with a grin. He picked up the phone and dialed, puffing his cheeks.
“Francis. We need to talk.”
It was difficult to persuade Maynard into accepting Jack’s latest recommendation. At least this one wouldn’t be on Earth, irritating the conservative masses with her unusual presence.
“Look, Jack, I’ll be honest,” Maynard said. “I question the stability of people who do this to themselves.”
“I understand,” Jack said. “Which is why I’m siccing Nick on her and then putting her into Inanna’s hands. She has the brains for the job. Besides; from what I understand, she wouldn’t have gotten the operation without serious psych tests. If there’s a hidden instability, it will out soon enough.”
“Is… she… fully female?” Maynard asked carefully.
“According to Daniel, yes she is. I’m not asking how he knows; knowing him, he’d have asked to see it all.”
Maynard puffed out the equivalent of Jack’s puff. “Alright, I don’t like it, but I’ll back you. I need information on this type of person.”
“I’ll have it sent to you,” Jack promised. “Thanks, Francis.”
He sent Paul a note to send Maynard all the information he could find on transsexuals. He got a return email almost a second later. “Transgendered. Sir.”
A new country had been accepted to HomeWorld Security. Switzerland. Jack was tickled to net the one country that never joined in with the rest of the boys and girls. Geneve Menetrey was waiting for him in the conference room, along with Jack’s current chief minister, Keir Ravenscroft, from Scotland, and Paul.
“Ms. Menetrey,” he held out his hand. “Jack O’Neill. I hope your trip went well.”
“It was fine, thank you, General.” She took his hand gracefully. Her accent was barely noticeable.
“Jack, please. Colonel, are there refreshments on the way?”
“Yes, sir,” Paul nodded, standing proud with his new rank. “It should be here shortly.”
Jack knew Paul would be irritated with himself over not having the coffee ready by the time their guests were present.
“I believe Colonel Davis was Major Davis the last time we spoke?” the lady asked.
“Yes, he was,” Jack nodded. “Today is his first day as Lt. Colonel.”
“Congratulations,” she said to Paul. He accepted.
“My superiors are impressed with your peace document,” she said, diving right into business. Jack could appreciate that, and sat forward, listening. “We are not sure of our place in the scheme of things, but Switzerland will stand on the side of peace. There is nothing in your document, that we can find, that hides another agenda. Can you confirm that the United States is indeed not guiding from behind the scenes?”
“Yes, I can,” Jack said. “Although I am a General in the United States Air Force, and that aspect is under command of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the President, HomeWorld Security is an international endeavor. By its treaty, the United States does not have control, and I can tell you that I won’t allow any one country to control this office.
“The peace document you are referring to, I believe, is an example of what we are aiming f
or with the unification of allied planets. It is not the HomeWorld Security Treaty. The unification peace treaty is what we are working toward. Earth is not yet qualified to join the unification. When certain countries put down their weapons and start concentrating on their people, then we will be in a position to recommend Earth’s inclusion. Not before. And that document was written by Dr. Jackson.”
She nodded thoughtfully. “And what would my place be?” she asked.
“Your place is to be the voice of Switzerland. The representatives will be kept informed with weekly reports delivered by the house leader,” Paul said, taking over the conversation. “The council will vote in the house leader, Gen. O’Neill has no say in the matter. Mr. Ravenscroft, here, is the house leader. His job is to hear the council and report to Gen. O’Neill. If Switzerland has a concern about something that HomeSec can deal with, you discuss it with Mr. Ravenscroft. It goes to committee, and if the committee feels it is appropriate for HomeSec to deal with, he will bring it to Gen. O’Neill’s attention. If he needs more information, he will call you in. So far, most of the concerns have been scientific. Diggers finding odds and ends of possible alien things. He sends that information to either Colonel Carter or Dr. Jackson, and one of their teams will deal with it.”
She was frowning as she followed him, but noted that the general had taken himself out of the center of attention.
“Unless we are under attack, this office is basically overseeing the production of ships which the SGC is currently using,” Paul said. “If and when the time comes that Earth can join the unification, then this council will have work. The rest of the world will need to acknowledge that this office will be the world leadership. City, state, country, the UN, and then HomeWorld Security. General O’Neill’s involvement with the unification council is separate from Earth’s involvement. At the request of the allies. This office has no part in the running of any other government body, it is extra-terrestrial only.”
“So, it is in our best interest to push harder for peace,” she said. She had been making notes on a pad in French. “How is the unification process going for the allies?”
“It’s going well,” Jack said, leaning back. “Last count had sixty-seven worlds lined up, with the council being led by nine. Three more joined recently.”
“Why the difference in numbers?” she asked.
“Most worlds have barely entered their industrial era,” he said. “They had been held back by the Goa’uld. Very few have space travel. Those advanced enough for space travel are the ones leading the council. An inner council and a general council. Most of the others are considered protected worlds. They need to meet certain requirements before joining the inner council.”
“Are you saying everyone with space travel are good guys?” she asked with a delicately raised eyebrow.
Jack shook his head. “No,” he said emphatically. “The inner council makes a judgment call on that. If there is a split that they are unable to reconcile, they come and visit me. Several worlds have already been denied for one reason or another. A couple I know personally. They nearly decimated their worlds after racial and religious wars. They still haven’t gotten their act together, so they have been denied entrance until they do. Earth is in that category.”
“So, what is it Switzerland will be doing?” she asked, slightly confused.
“Switzerland will have access to the naquadah in order to get ships built,” Paul said. “Switzerland will also be able to offer pilots for the gliders and personnel for the 303s, our motherships. Take part in the exploration of other worlds. Our pilots fly for Earth, not their country. The pilots are under the command of this office, and they fly in the protection of Earth, not in the defense of a particular country. Our pilots don’t wear country identification, they wear planetary identification. At the moment, our pilots are not needed, so they are on regular rotation with the military of their home countries. If we need them, Gen. O’Neill’s orders countermand anything their country tells them. Each of the countries have their own Yards from which our pilots will fly out of and rendezvous wherever orders take them. One of your military leaders will be accepted as the local commander in the Swiss Yard. The general will make that decision.
“Switzerland may offer scientists and military personnel to be considered for SGC teams. There are five teams in the process of being formed at this moment, and most teams have one technical person on board, a scientist of some kind, usually an anthropologist with an excellent background in linguistics. Dr. Jackson is in charge of the archaeologists, anthropologists, and linguists, Col. Carter has charge of the physicists, and General Landry will make the final decisions on anyone joining the SGC, not this office.”
Jack leaned forward again, steepling his fingers. “Ms. Menetrey, you will be working for Earth, not Switzerland,” he said. “You will be Switzerland’s representative, but Earth comes first. It’s a part-time job; you can keep another job to make the rent.”
She nodded thoughtfully. “I understand. Not to offend, but why is Scotland represented?” she asked, looking at Keir. “Scotland isn’t an official country, it is a state of the UK.”
“Correct,” Paul nodded. “Mr. Ravenscroft represents the United Kingdom of Great Britain as a whole, not Scotland. He just happens to be of Scottish descent. Scotland is not an independent country, but neither is England, for that matter. The United Kingdom as a whole is where their orders come from. From the United Kingdom Parliament. The PM volunteered him with the approval of parliament.”
She understood the point about the countries, but Paul was reiterating it for Jack’s benefit. Jack tended to forget who was an official country and who wasn’t. He couldn’t keep track of all the changes in official country status across the world.
Ms. Menetrey was looking at the copy of the unification peace treaty again. “We are impressed with this document,” she commented, tapping the paper. “There is nothing like it in history. Even the United Nations treaty falls short. It seems that with a few alterations to conform to individual countries, there is no reason why this treaty cannot be put to use on this planet.”
“Try telling that to the China or North Korea,” Jack snorted.
When Jack got home he yelled, “Stacy!” She came running down the stairs. “Give Switzerland a green pin, baby!”
“Woo-hoo!” she shouted and ran into his office.
“Switzerland? Are you kidding?” Daniel asked, poking his head out of the kitchen. Daniel was making dinner for the kids first. “They never pick sides.”
“We met with Ms. Menetrey this afternoon. Switzerland will give it a go on a trial basis. And they are quite taken with your treaty, by the way.”
Stacy came out and jumped at Jack. He caught her.
“Adda, did you know there are only seven purple pins on the board?” she asked. He thought about it.
“Only seven? Are you sure?” he asked.
“What’s purple for?” Daniel asked.
“Our major problem children,” Jack said. Stacy stayed glued to his torso as he walked into his office to look at the map. He counted. “She’s right. Only seven.”
“Lots of little countries without pins,” Daniel commented as he scanned the map.
“Little problem children,” Jack said. “These seven, North Korea, Pakistan, India, Japan, Iran, China, and Afghanistan. Japan and China may not be fighting at the moment, but I don’t like China’s human right’s history, and Japan I just don’t trust not to sell whatever we give them. The others are all fighting with some major weapons. Those little ones all have human rights issues, continual civil wars, among other things. None of them are major players, though. I think if it comes down to hard facts, we can get their continents to crack down on them. In fact, I’ll talk with the Arab delegates. Most of those countries are Islamic; maybe the larger countries can help. So, it looks like seven countries are our main concerns. Good job!” he declared, shaking Stacy. She giggled and hugged him. “We may get Earth in on the fun
and games yet!”
Jack paused. “I’ll have Paul talk to the Arabs,” he said, changing his mind.
“I have a phone conference with the Egyptian President in a few days, why don’t I talk with him?” Daniel suggested. “Most of those little countries are African; he may be more effective than someone on the other side of the desert.”
“Baba, ana ga’ana,” Stacy spouted at Daniel. He smiled at her.
“Stinker,” he commented, pleased, and pecked her head.
“What was that?” Jack asked. He hung Stacy backward and upside down.
“It’s Egyptian. She said she’s hungry,” Daniel told him. “Dinner will be done shortly.”
“What’s the baba part?” Jack asked him.
“Dad,” Daniel said.
Jack thought about it. “Aba…. baba… Coincidence?”
“That’s very good, Jack,” Daniel said, patting his head. “No, it isn’t a coincidence; they have the same root word.”
“Sounds like the Goa’uld version,” Jack commented. “An gi’na.”
Daniel turned back to him and then looked at the ceiling, raising his arms high. “Yes! There is a god!”
Jack rolled his eyes.
Sam got the baby washed and changed for her greeting of the guests’ appearance, while the rest of the kids hustled through their own dinner. Daniel was making tilapia for the adults’ dinner. He had offered to make it for the kids, too, but they turned their noses up at the unknown fish with the weird name. He made them hamburgers with mac and cheese and they were happy.
Jack was sitting at his desk, rubbing his eyes.
“If all the rest will concede to the treaty, I think I can talk the council into allowing Earth in,” he told Hayes over the phone. “We can annex China and North Korea. That means cutting off all import and export with them, Henry. No people in or out. It would be a complete, old fashioned, shunning. To hell with the economy, people can buy American. Let them try it; the Europa is currently touring the solar system with a bunch of geologists, she can be here in minutes. Soon enough to stop any retaliatory strikes that they send up. If we take steps with China and North Korea now, Pakistan, India, Japan, Iran, and Afghanistan may decide to behave themselves.”
The Anunnaki Unification, Book 2: A Staraget SG-1 Fan Fiction Story Page 33