CiC Meets SGC

By Michael Weyer

Apologies again for the long delay between updates. Hope this makes up for it.

Mac strode into the command center, all business. "What's our status?" she asked without preamble.

Landry motioned to a screen. "The Prometheus is inbound, ready to make visual contact, Madame President. We hope we'll be able to get a better read on the situation there."

Allen nodded as she walked around the room. "How will we handle the situation if it comes down to a battle?"

"We have our strategies," Landry said in a cool tone.

Allen raised an eyebrow. "And would these…strategies…be recognizable to rest of the Armed Forces?"

Landry shrugged. "With respect, Madame, we fight battles they've never been trained for. For the Goa'uld, we've had to pretty much learn on the fly."

"In other words, you're inventing a new kind of combat," Allen observed. "Well, that's notable."

She tapped her fingers on the table and fought the urge to openly pace. "Has Vala given us any new information?"

Landry sighed. "With Vala, it's often hard to get a straight answer at all. She's also been a bit reluctant to share anything on Aphosis."

Allen nodded. "I need to make this clear, General. I am aware of the secrecy issue and I agree with it. But if it comes down to keeping this planet safe and letting the world know about the Stargate and aliens, I'm leaning toward the former. So if I have to tell every world leader to get whatever forces they have together, I will do it."

Landry had to be impressed by her resolve and how she seemed calm despite the circumstances. "I understand, Madame President but we've managed to keep it secret for a while yet."

Allen rubbed her chin. "You ever realize what an opportunity this presents, General?"

Landry frowned. "Ma'am?"

Allen motioned around. "This Gate, this place. It's all proof that we're not alone in the universe. Do you realize what this might mean if the world knew the truth? If they knew we faced common threats as well as common opportunities, it might be the thing to bring us together."

"Or tear us further apart," Landry stated. "Ma'am, I know you want to think the best of people but my job requires me to think the worst. Mass panic would ensue if people knew an alien fleet was on its way to destroy us. We'd also have to deal with the fallout politically and culturally. You've seen how crazy people can be with intelligent design, try telling them there's life on other planets. There'll be cults opening up around the world that will want to truly worship the Goa'uld. And I don't even want to think of the mess Congress would make of this."

Allen let out a long sigh. "I suppose you're right. Maybe we're just not ready for this yet."

"Not yet," Landry agreed. "But I hope we get to that point soon." The phone on his desk rang and he quickly picked it up. "Yes?" Listening, he nodded. "On screen then." He hung up and looked to Allen. "We have a broadcast from the Prometheus."

Allen turned as the signal came on. It took a moment for her to absorb that she was seeing a crystal clear shot from outer space. It took another to see the trio of pyramid-shaped ships and the dozens of fighters that were making their way toward the camera. Allen bit her lip to keep a gasp from bursting out at the sight.

Sitting nearby, Rod let out an "Oh, God." Landry was tight-lipped as if this was normal for him. Then again, Allen supposed it was.

"SGC," a crackling voice came over the loudspeaker. "We have visual of the fleet. Orders?"

"Maintain watch for now," Landry ordered. "Do not fire unless fired upon." Landry reached over to touch another button on the intercom. "Carter, any progress with that defensive system?"

"Our timetable is still 12 hours until it's workable, sir."

"We may not have 12 minutes, Carter. Make it fast." He hit another button. "Daniel, get Vala up here, hog tie her if you have to."

"I'd rather not, sir."

"Why not?"

"I'm afraid she'll actually like it."

"Just do your best, Dr. Jackson." He clicked it off and looked back at Allen. "The Prometheus can take the first shot whenever you order it, Madame President."

"Not until they're fired upon," Allen quickly said. "I don't want to be the one who starts this."

Kelly entered the room, her eyes facing the screen and her face going pale. "Oh my God."

Allen glanced at her. "Kelly, maybe you should go."

Swallowing, Kelly shook her head. "No. No. I…I need to stay." She somehow forced a weak smile. "Things go wrong…gotta have first hand knowledge to tell people. Right?" Allen gave her a smile back, only hers was more reassuring.

She watched as the fleet continued its path toward Earth, trying her utmost to suppress the fear that clutched at her heart. She and Rod exchanged a quick glance, each thinking of their children, in Washington with no idea what was coming. The Secret Service was keeping them at the White House, but they thought it was just a regular watch. They didn't know how much time they'd have when the shooting started to get them to safety. Even if they did, against a Goa'uld fleet, there was little chance any safety would be enough.

"The fleet is heading toward us," the captain of the Prometheus said. "We estimate four minutes until contact."

"General, is there any other help we can give them?" Allen quickly asked.

Landry shook his head. "Not at the moment, Madme President."

The first wave of fighters were sweeping toward the Prometheus. It appeared they were only yards away when it was really miles. On the one hand, it was terrifying but Allen also couldn't help be fascinated at the fact she was about to witness a war in space. Behind her, she could hear Kelly whispering a prayer under her breath. She glanced at Rod, wanting to hold him but this was a time the President had to take charge over the woman.

"Weapons are going hot, command," the ship's captain's voice broke in. "Awaiting to fire back."

Landry was about to open his mouth when a wide swath of bright light, almost totally white, suddenly blasted across the space between the ships. The Goa'uld fighters seemed to simply wink out of existence, there one minute, gone the next.

"What the hell!" Rod burst out.

There was a motion, as if the camera on the Prometheus was shaking and a dark gray shape came overhead, situating itself between the ship and the fleet. The larger ships slowed down upon seeing it, the fighters swinging away.

"General?" Allen quickly demanded.

Landry seemed baffled too. "I don't know, ma'am."

There was a long pause as if the two ships were sizing each other up. Then, slowly but surely, the Goa'uld ships began to pull back. Before the amazed eyes of the humans, the pyramids turned and began to fly away.

"Ok," Kelly broke the silence. "What the hell just happened?"

"Just like the Cuban Missile Crisis," Allen intoned, her own voice a mixture of surprise and relief. "The other fellow just blinked."

There was a sudden flash of light and a figure appeared, calmly sitting in one of the chairs. Kelly couldn't help letting out a yelp as she saw what looked like a small gray-skinned, large-headed creature the size of a child. He glanced around and nodded toward Landy. "General Landy," it managed to speak despite having no mouth. "A pleasure to meet you at last."

The Secret Service agents behind Allen had pulled out their guns but Landry waved them back. "It's okay, it's okay!" He cleared his throat. "Madame President, allow me to introduce Thor."

The Asgard nodded to Allen. "President Allen. It is a pleasure to meet you as well. I am Thor of the Asgard."

Allen was doing her best to keep her eyes from going too wide. Reading about these beings was one thing but being in the actual presence of them was something far more dramatic. "Um..hello. I…is that your ship there?"

Thor nodded his large head. "Yes, it is. It was just completed and we were going on a…shakedown cruise I believe is the term…when we heard of what was happening."

"Heard from who?" Landry asked.

"General O'Neill," Thor answered. "Did he not tell you of our conversation?"

"Must have slipped his mind," Landry dryly answered.

"Yes, he does have that difficulty," Thor said, seeming not to notice the sarcasm. He turned to Allen. "While we of the Asgard are still recovering and rebuilding, we have not forgotten our alliance with the people of Earth. We have made it known to Apophis that we shall be ready to defend this planet to the best of our ability. I believe our message has gotten across."

"I'd say so," Allen agreed as she watched the Goa'uld ships vanish into the distance. She turned to Thor and let out a long sigh. "Thank you. I…thank you so much."

"It was our honor and pleasure," Thor intoned. "I look forward to us working together again in the future, President Allen." He nodded to Landry. "Give my best to Captain Carter and Daniel Jackson." With that, he vanished in a flash.

Rod blinked slowly as he looked to his wife. "Well, that was…interesting."

There was a rush of footsteps as Daniel burst in, dragging Vala behind him. "All right, we…" He paused as he saw everyone looking at the blank screen. "What's going on?"

"It appears the Asgard have taken care of things," Allen intoned.

"Thor says hi," Rod managed to say lightly.

"Thor was here?" Daniels' face fell. "Dammit."

"You wanted to see him?"

"No. I was hoping I could talk him into taking Vala away."

She glared at him. "You know, you're starting to give the impression you don't like my company, Daniel."

Daniel stared at her. "So smart and yet…"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

SG-1 were lined up by the elevators as Allen and her party made their way out. She shook hands with each, giving them a good smile. "It was an honor to meet you all," she said. "I only wish the rest of the country can know of all the good you do. For now, be assured funding will continue and the Stargate has my full backing."

"Thank you, Madame President," Landry stated. "I hope your next visit won't be as dramatic."

Allen nodded. "You think we've seen the last of this Apophis?"

Carter shook her head. "He's been beaten back before and come back for more. He'll wait a while but now that we know he's out there, we can be more ready for him."

Allen smiled. "I'm sure you can handle it." With a final nod, she entered inside, the elevator doors closing.

As soon as she could, Kelly checked her cell phone, going through the long list of text messages. "We've got the Vice-President, every media outlet and a dozen people from the Hill all wondering where the President has been."

Allen let out a sigh. "You think you have problems? I have to convince my mother nothing weird happened."

"Honey, I think you can handle that," Rod said.

"I can't lie to her, Rod. You know that by now."

"True," her husband admitted.

Kelly licked her lips. "Um, ma'am? Do you mind if I took a sick day tomorrow?"

Allen and Rod stared at her in surprise. "Kelly, you never take sick days," Allen said. "Hell, you had the flu and you never took sick days!"

The blonde brushed her hair back. "Yes, I know but I plan on getting very, very drunk when I get home and I really don't perform well with a hangover."

Allen hid a smile. "Fine, you've got the day off." She put her hand in Rod's and sighed deeply. "The kids are going to be acting like it's normal, maybe even blowing us off. None of them aware we came within a heartbeat of never seeing them again."

Rod squeezed her hand. "This morning I was the master of all I surveyed. This evening, I went to bed knowing I was only one small voice in a great chorus. But it was a good day."

Allen looked impressed. "Who said that? Keats? Hemmingway? Shakespeare?"

"Old 'Star Trek' episode," Rod replied which made his wife laugh as they headed back to the suddenly sedate life of Washington.

I know some might be annoyed it ended somewhat anti-climactically but consider all the CiC eps where big crises where defused before it got violent. Sorry it took so long to wrap this up but considering this was only going to be a one-chapter drabble, I had to do some planning. Thanks so much for all the great comments that helped this grow and I hope you enjoyed it very much.