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Confirming Carter Bk. 02 Daedalus Ch. 01

By: RibaldWriter



Col. Carter and her people have been busy, securing and exploring the city, and more importantly, making drones to replenish the cities defenses.

As our story opens, the starship Daedalus arrives at the Atlantian planet.

(-)

Confirming Carter Book Two Daedalus

Chapter One

Ten Days Later

Interior-Daedalus Bridge

0920 Hours

"Daedalus to Atlantis, request permission to dock on the East Pier."

"Negative, Daedalus." The Ops tech replied. "Move to five diameters out, maintain station keeping, and await further instructions."

"Please confirm Atlantis." Caldwell said, a look of irritation on his face. "Five diameters puts us outside the range of our Asgard beams, and we won't be able to transport personnel."

"Affirmative. Confirm five diameters, and await instructions."

"Atlantis shields are up, colonel." Marks said as he looked over his instruments. "Sir, there are separate shields in place over the outer piers, and the main shield is covering them. And I'm reading multiple ZPM's around the city. Three in the Central Tower, one each on the outer piers."

"So she's expecting a fight, and wants us to know that she's got power to burn." Caldwell muttered. "Do it, Marks. Five diameters, and maintain station keeping."

Interior-Kitchen

0930 Hours

"Now what?" Carter asked as she looked around the table. "Do we let him sit and stew, or bring him down and listen to what he has to say?"

She looked at Samuels. "You're on Andi. What's he going to do?"

"He won't engage us. He knows he can't get at us through the shields, we have him outgunned anyway. But he also knows we won't fire on him except as a last resort." Samuels said as she tabbed down through her files. "I need you to give me your impressions of him." She said, looking back and forth between Carter and Sheppard. "You've worked with him, tell me what you think of him. All I have are his files, and mission reports. I need human input before I can give you a read."

"He's stiff, strictly by the book running his command." Sheppard said. "But he's a good tactician, and knows when to step outside the box to win a fight."

"Third in his class at the Air Force Academy, so that's not surprising." Samuels said, nodding. "He rose quickly through the ranks. A combination of combat duty, good duty assignments, and political skills. Aside from the Goa'uld incident, there's not blemish on his record. If there's a complaint about him, it's that he's too perfect. He's got a godfather somewhere too, but I can't tell you who it is."

She turned to Carter. "Sam? You've dealt with him as equals. What do you think?"

"He's an honorable man, and he won't like this anymore than we do. But I think Landry had a reason for sending Caldwell, instead of Col. Ellis and the Apollo." She said, looking down the table at Sheppard. He nodded.

"Are you thinking Landry is sending us help?" He asked.

"Yeah. Ellis would have opened with an ultimatum." She said. She looked at Samuels. "You'll have to meet the man, Andi. Then tell me what you think." She turned to Sheppard. "Bring him down, but on an outer pier, away from the city, and walk him in."

Interior-Daedalus Bridge

0945 Hours

"Atlantis to Daedalus, reduce orbit to maximum beaming range. Transport Daedalus commander, unarmed, to coordinates provided, and resume station keeping at five diameters."

"Acknowledged Atlantis." Caldwell said. "Tell her we're on the way." 

He looked over at two people standing in front of the bridge windows. "Let's get this over with." He said as he stood up and headed for the door.

Exterior-Southwest Pier, Outer Marker

0950 Hours

The glare of an Asgard beam flared, then faded, and three people materialized. The marines snapped to, weapons trained on them. 

"Stand down." Sheppard said as he came out of the jumper parked nearby.

Caldwell looked around, noting the two jumpers hovering twenty meters away to either side of them. He ignored the marines.

Sheppard stepped over and held out his hand. "You're supposed to be unarmed, colonel."

"It's not loaded," Caldwell said as he unholstered his sidearm, and handed it to Sheppard. "I'm going to need it later."

Sheppard ejected the magazine, and dropped it in his pocket, then worked the slide. He handed it back to Caldwell, and grinned at the people next to him. "Welcome to Atlantis. She'll be glad to see you."

Interior-Living Room

0955 Hours

Sheppard parked the jumper just outside the doors of tower fifty-eight and led them inside. Two of the marines followed them into the elevator. They changed elevators on thirty-one, and when the doors opened, one of the marines stayed by the doors, the other followed them into the living room.

"Daniel!" Sam yelled, running over and throwing her arms around him. She looked over his shoulder, then held out her hand. "Vala, it's nice to see you again!"

She stepped back, and turned to Caldwell, holding out her hand. "Steven, it's good to see you. How was your trip?" She said with a smile.

Caldwell took her hand, taken aback by her warm greeting. "Uneventful, but crowded." He said. "I need to..."

"I'm sorry, Steven, but I want to make introductions first, then to speak to Daniel." She said.

She turned, taking Jackson's hand in hers, and led him over to the couch. "Daniel, I don't know if you met Jennifer Keller, Chief Medical Officer, on your last trip. Next to her is Andi Samuels, resident brain mechanic, and ambassador at large, and Teyla Emmagan." 

She let go of his hand and moved over to stand beside Tammy. "Daniel, Vala, This is Tammy Ford. My girlfriend." She said, turning and smiling warmly at her. "Everyone, this is Daniel Jackson, and Vala Mal Doran. They're family, so make them feel like it." 

"I'm also her nurse, don't let her fool you." Tammy said as she held out her hand. She glanced over at Caldwell, and nodded.

Caldwell nodded back, trying to hide the smirk on his face.

"Would someone get Col. Caldwell something to drink? I need to speak to Daniel." She said as she walked toward her office, still holding Tammy's hand.

Daniel followed her, signaling Vala to come along.

Interior-Office

1010 Hours

Tammy closed the door behind them as they went into the office, while Sam went behind her desk, picked up a pad and started writing quickly. "We weren't expecting you," She said as she looked up and handed the pad to Tammy. "So bear with us for a minute." 

Tammy looked at the pad, then looked over at Jackson.

"What can we expect from Caldwell, and why are you here?" She said in ancient. She smiled, then added, "She also wants you to know that we've made some corrections to your translations, and she'll show them to you later."

Jackson's mouth dropped open, and he just stared at her. He looked over at Carter. "How? I mean..."

"We'll explain everything later, Daniel. I promise. Right now, I just need you to answer the questions." Carter said, staring at him intently.

"Tell her, Daniel." Vala said quietly.

"Gen Landry sent me a message through Teal'c. He was on Earth, but returned to Chulak at Landry's request." Daniel said. "That was the day you resigned. I think he already suspected that the IOA would try to pull something. Caldwell contacted me nine days ago, we were on P43C972, investigating an ancient outpost. Landry's message said, 'Daedalus is picking up hitchhikers'. So when Caldwell called, we sent the SG team back through the gate, and went with him."

"This outpost, was it equipped to use a ZPM? I don't care if it has one." Carter asked, making notes on her laptop.

"Yes it is. It has ZPM's, but they're depleted." He said, glancing over at Tammy. She was typing on an ancient terminal as she listened.

"We have our gateway into the Milky Way galaxy. We don't need Earth now." Carter said, looking over at Tammy.

"You read, write, and speak ancient? How did you..."

"I learned it a couple of weeks ago, she only reads and writes it." She said, grinning over at Carter.

"Tell me about Caldwell." Carter said, cutting them off before they could get going. "We'll tell you about ancient girl later."

Vala laughed, and Tammy grinned at her.

"Ancient Girl. I like that." Vala said. "It sounds like one of Mitchell's comic book heroes."

"He has orders to demand your surrender, and take you if he can. Or kill you if he can't."

There was a silence, then Jackson continued. "He has a hundred and fifty marines and Special Forces onboard, and every hold is packed with weapons and ammunition."

"Get Sheppard...no, don't." She stood up and came around the desk. "There's no point in putting this off. Let's go talk to Caldwell."

Interior-Kitchen

1025 Hours

It took a few minutes to get everyone situated around the table. Carter was at her usual place at the head of the table, and Caldwell was at the other end, facing her. Everyone else was seated around the sides, Tammy and Andi on either side of the table, flanking Sam.

"What are your intentions, Steven." Carter asked, getting right to the point.

"My orders first," He said, taking an envelope from his pocket, and sliding it down the table.

Andi picked it up and opened it, pulled out a single sheet of paper and glanced at it, then sat it on the table in front of Carter.

"Don't touch it." She said, glancing at Caldwell.

"It's not poisoned." He said, beginning to look irritated.

Carter read the orders quickly, then looked up at him. "Like I said the first time, Steven. What are your intentions?"

Caldwell stood up and walked around the table. Sheppard stood up and drew his sidearm, and the two marines stepped into the room. Caldwell stopped when he was standing next to her, and drew his sidearm, offering it to her butt first.

"I'm surrendering my ship, and offering my services, colonel, in whatever capacity you might see fit." He said as she stood up and took his weapon, sitting it on the table. "I'd like to ask that any members of my crew that wish to return to Earth, be allowed to."

"That was about what I was expecting." Samuels said to no one in particular.

Carter held out her hand, and Caldwell took it. He glanced down when she didn't release it. "I accept your offer, Steven. And any members of your crew that wish to return to Earth are free to do so. We'll arrange a time as soon as we can." 

She let go of his hand, and sat back down. Caldwell returned to his seat, and Sheppard holstered his Glock, waved the marines out of the room and sat down. 

"This whole situation makes me want to vomit, colonel." Caldwell said. "I don't condone what you've done, but you can at least say you were acting in self defense. Asking me to kill a fellow officer...and a friend, is just too far over the line."

"That's how we felt, Steven. We are acting in self-defense. I'm glad you understand that." She smiled as she looked around the table. "But it's doctor, not colonel."

"Your highness," Samuels muttered, getting her a glare from Carter.

"Actually, no colonel." Caldwell said, leaning back in his chair. "Neither the Pentagon, nor the IOA have officially accepted your resignation yet. I don't know why the IOA hasn't, but I can tell you that the Pentagon has orders from the President not to."

He began to smile as he glanced over at Sheppard. "As soon as Dr. Keller declares you fit for duty, you would still be the legitimate commander of the Atlantis expedition. Col. Sheppard on the other hand, has been charged with mutiny, and I have orders to shoot him on sight."

"So they want to have their cake and eat it too. Typical." Samuels said. "The American government will support her if she resumes command?"

"I have no information on that Dr. Samuels. All I know is that Col. Carter is still on active duty. The orders you saw came from the IOA, not the Pentagon."

"This doesn't really change anything. We proceed as planned. Andi, I'll need to speak to you and Daniel privately when we're done here." Carter said. She looked down the table at Caldwell. "Have you been in contact with the Apollo, Steven?"

"No, Ellis is running silent, and has not responded to any of my attempts to contact him." He replied. "I'm pretty sure we can expect him in the next few days."

Carter nodded. "Jennifer..."

"Already on it. All I have to do is print it out and sign it." Keller said. "I'll need two witnesses, preferably someone not charged with a capital crime." She said, poking Sheppard in the ribs with her elbow.

"Steven, go back to the Daedalus." Carter told him. "We'll bring you down on the east pier. Once you've landed, beam all cargo and all but essential personnel off the ship, and prepare for inspection. Give us a couple of hours to get ready down here."

"Yes m..." Caldwell began, but stopped when he saw Carter's face clouding up.

"Don't call her ma'am." Keller said in a stage whisper. "It makes her feel old."

"It does not! Well, okay, maybe it does." Carter grinned. "But someone said I came across as a school marm, and that's what the word reminds me of. Colonel, doctor, Sam...just not that."

Caldwell stood up and moved toward the door, and Sheppard followed him. "We'll be ready for inspection thirty minutes after landing, colonel." He said.

Carter nodded, and he stepped out the door.

"John." She said quietly. "Drop him off where you picked him up, and make sure you're back inside the shield before you call Ops to approve beaming. Take your escort with you. All of them."

Sheppard nodded, and went out the door after Caldwell. They heard the elevator doors a moment later.

Carter turned back to the group still seated at the table. "Jennifer, get your paperwork together, and bring me anything you need me to sign. We'll transmit it when we return the Daedalus crew. Daniel, Andi, let's go into my office." She looked down the table at Vala as she stood up. "Tammy and Teyla, why don't you show Vala around, and see if you can find her a nice souvenir?"

Interior-Office

1050 Hours

"Tell us about that ancient outpost on P43C972, Daniel." Carter said as she leaned back in her chair. "Do you know the gate address?"

Jackson nodded, and Carter looked over at Samuels. Andi handed him a pad and a pen, and Jackson jotted down the symbols, and handed them back to her.

"Does it have shields? You might not know, if it doesn't have power. What kind of buildings does it have, and what kind of personnel are there?"

"It has a Pegasus style gate, the first one I've ever seen in the Milky Way galaxy, so it must have been a late addition. It's fairly large, more than thirty surface buildings, and a substructure underlying the central area, two hundred meters on a side, extending twelve stories down. There's no one there, Vala and I went in with an SG team. The planet is uninhabited." 

Jackson looked over at her. "You said something about a gateway into the Milky Way galaxy earlier, and that you didn't need Earth. What did you mean by that?"

"Andi?" Carter said.

"We have access to another Atlantis style city, Dr. Jackson."

"Daniel."

"Thank you, Daniel. I'm Andi." 

She brought up an image on her tablet, and turned it toward him. 

"This is Anchorage, on P34J439. The city is being used by a family with the ancient gene. Including their court, and assorted hangers on, there are fewer than a hundred of them, with another hundred constables that they use to keep the locals in line." 

"We're in the process of establishing relations with the local population, providing them with food, medicines, and tools. This is our second step in winning hearts and minds. The first step has already been taken by Col. Sheppard and his team, when they defended the locals against their oppressors in the central tower, the only part of the city being used."

She scrolled down through her notes.

"The cities ZPM is depleted, and the family no longer has use of the cities systems, drones, that they were using to control the populace. They are using edged and projectile weapons at the moment. Col. Sheppard also has good relations with the head of the ruling family, we confirmed that when we sent him back last week to inspect the city."

She brought up another image on the tablet, and handed it to him. "Scroll through those, and tell me what you think."

She sat back as he flipped through a dozen images

"These are production and manufacturing facilities. These are in that city? You've confirmed it?" He asked.

"Those are in Atlantis, but yes, we've confirmed that there are similar facilities in Anchorage. The group occupying the tower either had no use for, or forgot about the rest of the city over time. Much of city has been buried for several thousand years, but is in surprisingly good repair. Much better than I could have ever hoped for. I'd say space flight is out of the question, but the star drive works. That's how the ZPM got depleted."

"Part of my proposal to the IOA was to establish trade within the Pegasus galaxy, and export Pegasus products to the Milky Way, by way of Earth. That was going to be the main thrust of my operations." Carter said, leaning forward in her chair. "I gave them a full outline of that part of the plan. Thank god I didn't tell them anything about the rest of it."

"And you're going to negotiate with these people to use the production capacity of the city? How does the Milky Way outpost figure in?" Jackson asked.

"No, I'm going to evict them, and take the city. They're squatters anyway." Carter said lightly. "Then we're going to train the locals to help in repairing the city, then operate the equipment to mass produce ancient, Pegasus, and bootleg Earth products, and market them throughout the Pegasus and Milky Way galaxies. We're going to need your outpost for that."

"So you're going to trade one set of masters for another, uprooting these people and putting them to work in your factories..."

"Oh, get off your high horse Daniel! You see how people live in the Milky Way galaxy, and it's been worse here in Pegasus. Much worse." Carter said, her face coloring. "Show him the pictures, Andi. I'm talking about moving these people into the city, Daniel. Into crew quarters and apartments near where they'll be working, feeding them, training them, and trying to improve their quality of life."

She paused and took a breath. "I want to do something about how these people live, no one else seems to want to. I want to setup pools of doctors, teachers, engineers, people that can go out into both galaxies and help get these societies going, to improve the quality of life for everyone. Don't you think that they deserve electricity, clean water, access to medicine or a basic education?"

There were tears running down her cheeks now. 

"If you think that's so wrong, I'll call Sheppard and have him take you over and throw your ass through the gate right now, so you can maintain your high moral standards, and never accomplish goddamned thing."

"Sam." Andi said.

Andi stood up, opened the door and called out. "Tammy, I need you!"

"No, she's right." Jackson said, looking at Carter. "I didn't understand, because I underestimated you. I'm sorry about that. What do you want me to do?"

"You're going to need to wait for that answer, Daniel." She went around the desk and led Sam out from behind it.

Tammy came running through the door, and Andi stepped behind Carter, getting out of her way.

"Sam? Are you okay? Look at me." Tammy said, holding her arms gently as she examined her quickly.

"Fine..." Carter said softly, burying her head in her shoulder, crying freely now.

Tammy scooped her up, and went out the door. "Andi, take Daniel into the kitchen, Teyla, Jenn and Vala are in there. Explain to Daniel, then come talk to me." She disappeared around a corner.

"Come on, Daniel. We need to talk." Andi said, leading him out the door.


Confirming Carter Bk. 02 Daedalus Ch. 01



Interior-Kitchen

1115 Hours

"Jenn, would you get Daniel something to drink?" She said, handing her her tablet. "I have copies of some of Sam's notes on here in a folder named 'theplan'. Bring it up and show it to him, I'll be right back."

She turned and went down the hall and over to Sam's bedroom. Tammy and Sam were lying on the bed, and Andi knelt on the end of it, looking at them.

"She's fine," Tammy said, stroking Carter's hair and back gently. "She's upset that he would think something like that about her. We'll be out in a few minutes, I just want to let her calm down a little."

"I...I'm sorry, Andi." Sam said quietly, turning to look at her. "And thank you."

"I'll tell them you'll be with us in a bit, Sam." Andi said as she moved toward the door. She stopped and looked back. "You have nothing to be sorry about, Sam. I was proud of you. You did good."

When she got back to the kitchen, Andi went right to the cabinet and got a glass, filled it with ice, and got a coke from the fridge before she sat down. She saw that Jackson was scrolling through her tablet on the other side of the table.

"Sam's fine, and they'll be with us in a few minutes, Tammy just wants to let her calm down, then check her out." She said as she looked around the table. "How far have you gotten, Daniel?"

"I'm just skimming, but this is amazing." He said, looking up at her. "She's been begging the IOA to do something to improve quality of life since she took over here, and there are notes before that about wanting to setup electrical, sewer and water, and education systems in the Milky Way galaxy. They kept shooting her down, but she just kept coming back at them with new ideas." He shook his head, took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. "And I never even noticed."

"It's okay, Daniel." Vala said lightly, putting her hand on his shoulder. "Samantha knows you're clueless about anything except your silly old relics."

Andi and Jennifer burst out laughing, and Teyla smiled broadly. 

She turned to Jennifer. "Does that Tammy woman always move that quickly? I think she jumped over the table, but I'm not sure. I heard someone call, and she was gone."

Jennifer nodded. "It's not a good idea to get in Tammy's way if she thinks Sam is in trouble."

Daniel sat the tablet down and looked at Andi. "Tammy told you to explain. What did she mean?"

"Several things, I'll start with what just happened. Forgive me, I'll be going into shrink mode." She said, reaching out and taking the tablet. She changed screens, tabbed through till she found the notes she was looking for, then looked up at him. "You are part of a very small group of people, along with Teal'c, Mitchell, Vala, and a few others here on Atlantis that she considers friends, and who's opinions she values. Jack O'Neill used to be in that group, but Sam has emotionally distanced herself from him."

"That's understandable." He nodded.

"When you questioned her motives, implying that she was acting in her own self interest, and that's what you did, I was there, you tore at the basic foundation of your friendship. She expected you to understand her motives, her desire to do good, since you're one of her oldest friends. Now she's forced to examine that relationship, to try to discover if that underlying foundation is still secure."

"Our friendship is fine, Andi. Quit being so damned analytical." Carter said as she stepped into the room. She went over to the cabinet and took out two glasses, handing one to Tammy. "Daniel, I'm sorry. I didn't give you enough information. You..."

"No, Andi is right. I don't like having my face rubbed in it like that, but I should have asked questions instead of making accusations."

"I'm going to consider that kissing and making up. Give me that." Tammy said, taking the glass from Carter's hand. "Sit down, I'll get your drink."

She pushed her toward the chair, then got ice and two cokes, sitting them on the table in front of her. She stood behind Sam's chair, her hands massaging her shoulders gently.

"Vala and Daniel, are you going to be staying with us, or will you be returning to Earth, or the Milky Way?" She asked.

"I'd like to stay, I like it here." Vala said. "I've missed you Samantha. I've never felt that way about anyone before."

"I was planning on staying." Daniel said. "I've been wanting to explore this place for years, but Jack would never let me. And now there's two of them."

Carter reached up and took Tammy's hand, pulling her around so she could take her seat beside her. She let her get settled, then took her hand again.

"Are you Samantha's lover?" Vala asked Tammy.

"Vala!" Daniel said, glaring at her.

"Yes, Vala. She is." Carter smiled at her. She looked over at Tammy and said, "She's the most important person in the world to me."

"Good. Because she loves you very much." Vala said, looking around the kitchen. "I like her. Can we get something to eat? I'm starving."

"I'll take care of that." Andi said as she stood up. She looked over at Teyla. "Teyla, would you help me? I think some Athosian dishes might be just the thing to bring this family together."

Teyla smiled, standing up and pushing her chair under the table. "I would enjoy cooking with you, Andi. But you must promise to teach me how to make...Italian food? I am told it is most delicious."

"I have leftovers you can try." She turned and looked at Keller. "Jennifer, call Sheppard and tell him lunch is at thirteen hundred."

"You can explore all you want Daniel." Carter told him after Andi and Teyla had left. "But I'm going to need you to take a team to that Milky Way outpost at some point. There's no hurry, that won't be for a few months."

"We won't be able to get back without a ZPM." Jackson said.

"You'll be taking some with you." She told him, "And bringing the depleted ones back, so I can charge them up."

"Charge them up? You can do that?" Jackson asked, staring at her. "And while we're talking about how you can do things." He said, looking at Tammy. "You never told me how you can speak ancient. Your pronunciation is perfect, like you grew up speaking it." 

She looked at Carter, who grinned and motioned for her to proceed.

"We have a teaching machine, several actually. I used it to learn the ancient language when my ancient gene was activated recently." She paused, looking down at the table, then back up at him. "I used it again to learn how to use another machine to diagnose Sam, when she had an incident."

"We don't need to go into what that was." Keller said. "But while we're on the subject, you need to know that Sam is changing. None of the changes have been harmful yet, but the way they occur can be disabling for her, and frightening for the people around her. She also needs periodic stimulation to keep her hormone and endorphin levels in a certain range. If either falls below a threshold, her behavior will change, and she may go into shock. Do you understand so far?"

"Yes." Vala said, glancing at Carter.

Daniel nodded.

"If she collapses, exhibits unusual behavior, or does anything that causes you concern, The first words out of your mouth, as loud as you can say it, is Tammy, or Tammy, I need you. Then move out of the way so she can get to her."

"And she'll jump over the table like she did earlier?" Vala asked. "I want to see her do that again."

"Daniel, will you trade places with Vala? I like her." Tammy laughed, reaching around him to take her hand.

"Can we talk about what you've been doing here, and what else is going on?" He asked as he stood up and let Vala slide over into his chair. "Did you learn how to charge ZPM's from an ancient machine too?"

Carter and Tammy looked at each other, and Jennifer said, "I know, write it down." and started typing out notes on her tablet.

"I figured it out about a month before all this began. You can get details on my condition from Andi and Jennifer." Carter told him. "I refined, then combined McKay's Space Time Matter bridge research with everything else I could find, including swapping emails with his sister, Jeannie Miller. Who is much smarter, and much easier to get along with than her brother, let me tell you."

She took a sip of her drink. "I did one live test the day before I resigned, running this building off the bridge for several hours. Then, later in the evening the day I resigned, we charged the first ZPM. We've done four more since. So now we have one for each of the outer piers, and three for the Central Tower. We'll charge up more for Anchorage, and your outpost when we're ready to bring them online."

"The IOA doesn't know what we've done yet. I was going to give them fully charged ZPM's. I just wasn't going to tell them how I did it." She shook her head and she smiled at him. "Their own shortsightedness will cost them dearly. I'll never give them one now."

"We've also put everyone with the ancient gene through the teaching machine, so we have almost seven hundred people that understand ancient in the city." Tammy said, then leaned over and whispered something to Vala, making her grin.

Sam glared at her, then spoke to Daniel. "We have three hundred people going through the database, translating the manuals on all the machines we plan on using. We haven't figured out if we can safely use the teaching machine on someone without the gene, and I'm not willing to risk it unless I have too."

She turned to Keller. "Jenn, make sure John knows lunch is at thirteen hundred, have Ops extend the platform off the east pier and have Daedalus land there at fourteen hundred, and have all personnel and supplies offloaded by fifteen hundred. We'll begin inspections at seventeen hundred, I want everything off that platform before we begin."

She turned back to Daniel. "I'm glad you're staying. I've missed both of you. You'll be staying here with me. Well, not here, but in this building. We have an open suite on forty two, or if you want separate quarters, we can go down to forty-one."

"I'd like to stay with you, Daniel." Vala said. "I'll be good, I promise."

"Forty-two it is. I need to set you up with access codes for the elevator and the porter so you can get in and out. I'll be right back."

"If she gets on your nerves, Daniel, she can stay with me. I have a spare bedroom." Tammy said, smiling at Vala.

"Do you have room in your bed?" Vala asked.

Interior-Dr. Jackson's Suite

1225 Hours

After Carter coded the door for them, they went inside and looked around. Daniel stood at the door, gaping at the opulence of their surroundings, while Vala ran from room to room, with Tammy hot on her heels, laughing and giggling like a pairs of schoolgirls.

"This is a city view. Jennifer is across the hall, and she wanted the ocean view." Carter said as she led him across to the windows.

"Oh my god!" He breathed as he took in the view of the city. He had a clear view of the central section, and part of the north pier. 

"I'm sorry, but there's no balcony. I'll get someone to take you around in a jumper, or you can just explore from ground level. Do you still have your STID?"

He nodded, still looking out over the city.

"Good. If you get lost, or want to know how to get somewhere, just call the Ops Center, and they'll direct you. I'll get you both comms, we're back on the cities channels, we were using the unused upper bands for a few days. I guess I'll need to start wearing one again too. It's been so nice being out of touch though."

Vala came running up, throwing her arms around Daniel, laying her head against his back. "Come look at our bed, Daniel! It's huge!"

Daniel blushed, looking at Carter out of the corner of his eye.

"Good for you, Vala." She said. "I knew it was going to happen eventually, even if he didn't."

"Come look." Vala said, taking his hand and dragging him across the living room.

Tammy came up behind Sam and slipped her arms around her waist, laying her head on her shoulder. "I really like Vala. Is Daniel always such a stick in the mud?

"Yeah, but he's a really nice guy, smart as hell, and he's good in a fight now. You should have seen him when we first started."

"So, are you telling me all this cuz you want me to date him?" Tammy asked. "He's really not my type, and I think Vala could probably kick my ass if I tried."

"I would too, lover." Vala said from behind her, putting her hands on Tammy's hips, then sliding them up to cup her tits. "Just like Sam will kick my ass when I make a move on you!"

"Get your hands off her tits, Vala. Or I'll kick your ass right now!"

"Vala!" Daniel shouted from the bedroom. "You said you wanted to show me the bed! So come show it to me!"

"Ooooohhh, girlfriend! Sounds like he wants a test ride!" Tammy laughed, leaning her head back so she could see Vala.

"Be right back." Vala said, kissing her on the cheek. "This should only take a couple of minutes."

Interior-Dr. Samuels Suite

1310 Hours

Sounds of laugher filled Andi's kitchen as they sat around the table passing plates of food around. Jennifer had made Sheppard shower and change into casual Atlantian clothes, and had thrown his uniform into the cleaner in her suite.

"I passed your instructions on to Caldwell, and he agrees with your timetable." Sheppard was saying. "I don't know if he's mellowing, or if you're right, and he's up to something, but he didn't even bitch when I dropped him off at the end of the pier, backed off, and extended the shield before we let them beam him up."

"I don't know the man, but we spent five days with him, and he seemed genuinely angry every time you were mentioned." Daniel said around a mouthful of food. "Which happened several times a day, until he finally told his staff to just hold everything till the end of the day, and give it to him then."

"He wasn't angry at you Samantha." Vala said. "But what's being done to you. When he told us that he had been ordered to capture, or kill you, he was almost purple with rage. Part of it was knowing that if they're willing to do that to you, they'll be just as willing to do it to him. But I honestly think he likes you, or at least respects you."

"Excuse me, but this is a meal, not a business meeting." Andi said as she sat an empty dish on the counter and heaped a large portion of an Athosian offering from another onto her plate. "If you insist on talking business, please take it in the living room."

"Jennifer was right, Andi. This lasagna is wonderful." Teyla said, wiping her plate with a piece of bread. "Much better than what they call lasagna in the mess hall. I do not think they are the same thing." She held out her plate. "May I have some more please?"

"Is John your lover, Jennifer?" Vala asked, looking down the table at her.

"Vala!" Daniel said, rolling his eyes.

Vala turned and looked at him. "Well, she's been doting on him since they sat down, and I think they're doing something und...Owwww!" She stopped and looked under the table, then glared at Daniel.

"She says he's got a big one." Tammy whispered as she leaned over and speared a meatball from Vala's plate.

"Really?" She said, looking down the table at Sheppard. She turned and looked at Tammy. "I like medium ones myself. I'm not as sore the next morning."

Jennifer choked, and Teyla patted her on the back, while Sheppard looked back and forth between the women.

"Daniel is a wonderful lover, he's so imaginative! And he holds me after. I like that the best."

"Tammy is the best lover I've ever had." Carter said, looking at her, as she squeezed her hand. "The day I met her was the best day of my life."

"No it wasn't." Tammy said. "It was a terrible day for you. But I know what you mean, and I feel the same way."

"I don't think I ever really saw you happy, before today Sam." Daniel said quietly. "I'm happy for you, because you look so relaxed, comfortable, and just satisfied with life."

"I am Daniel. I think I've...how do they say it? Released my burden?" Carter said. "If not, I've at least accepted what's happening, but in a good way. I'm surrounded by people that I care about, and that care about me. We have a cause worth the effort, and very little standing in our way. Life is good."

"Well, put a little of that burden back in your pocket. I'm not ready for you to ascend on me yet." Tammy said quietly.

"I'm not going anywhere. I'm going to wait till you're ready to come with me."

She looked at Daniel. "Can we do that? Ascend together?"

"I saw a whole group ascend at the same time." Sheppard said. "Teyla was there, she saw it too."

"Yes, a group of more than twenty people ascended all at once." Teyla said, looking at John, then at Sam. "One of them, a most attractive young woman, wanted John to accompany her, so I think what you ask is possible."

"I think what's she's asking about is after." Jackson said. "And I don't know. I didn't do it on my own either time, and I never really got out from under Oma's shadow. The rules might be different if you do it on your own, naturally." He paused. "You're asking about pair bonding on the next plane of existence. I hope there is. It must be very lonely if there isn't."

Exterior-East Pier, Landing Platform

1400 Hours

The shield on the east pier retracted, and a section of the outer dock detached itself, and moved under it's own power away from the city, trailing thick cables behind it. When it was two miles out, it stopped, and stabilizer bars extended from three sides.

"Permission to dock granted, Daedalus." The Ops tech said quietly as he worked the controls on his station. "Landing platform is clear, awaiting your arrival."

"Acknowledge, Atlantis." Caldwell said. "Take us down, Marks. You think you can land us on that thing?"

"Yes sir. It's bigger than it looks, it's two hundred meters on a side." Marks said as he engaged the engines and started moving them into the atmosphere. "I'll put us down right in the middle. That will give us room to unload on all sides."

"Make it so." Caldwell said, leaning back in his chair.

Shortly after Daedalus had landed, Marks turned to Caldwell. "Colonel, the Ops Center is saying they want us to move to one end of the platform, and beam personnel and stores to opposite corners on the other end. They want at least a hundred and fifty meters between each."

"I expected that. She doesn't miss a trick, does she? Move us, Marks." Caldwell chuckled. "And ask them to advise when they would like us to offload. Pick your corners, and make sure you don't put anything in the water."

Interior-Kitchen

1440 Hours

Sheppard was seething as he stood at the floor to ceiling windows in the kitchen. Carter had refused to let him pilot a jumper in the offloading operation. She had ordered him to direct operations from the Ops Center, or from a window in her building. He chose her building because he had a clear view of the landing platform.

Daedalus had begun offloading, and materials were beginning to pile up in rows along one edge of the platform. On the same end of the platform, but directly opposite it, personnel were appearing. Two Atlantis jumpers were broadcasting orders by loudspeaker for them to form up by units, and await instructions. 

"Ops, this is Sheppard. Ask them how much longer they need."

"We just did, colonel. They say they're at 80 percent, and then need ten minutes on stores, three on personnel. We told them to advise as each completes."

"Copy. As soon as personnel are clear, bring in the jumpers to scan, then offload them. Keep me advised."

"Yes sir."

"John, Tammy and I are going to go down to thirty-one for a few minutes." Carter said as she got up from the table. "I'll have comms, but not be on. Page if you need me. We'll be back in fifteen."

"Okay." he said, not taking his eyes of the platform.

Interior-Floor One Thirty-One




Confirming Carter Bk. 02 Daedalus Ch. 01



1450 Hours

"It's a small, dark green pendant, maybe three inches long, and an inch and a half wide." Maybe a little bigger." Carter told Tammy. "There's a design down the center that lights up when it's powered. Look around, there has to be at least one in all this shit."

They were dumping boxes onto the floor and skimming through the piles. Tammy opened a small box and looked inside. She pulled out a small object and held it out to Carter.

"Is this it?" She asked, holding it out to her.

"That looks like the pictures I've seen. It must not be powered up." Carter said. "We need to go look at the database, and see what makes this lil sucker tick."

"I've got a box of 'em. Two, no, three layers of six, so eighteen." Tammy told her, holding up the box.

"Let's get upstairs. They're no use to us like this."

Interior-Kitchen

1505 Hours

"John."

Sheppard turned around and saw Carter holding a small object out to him.

He took it, and turned it over in his hand.

"This is one of those personal shields. We haven't had much luck with these."

"That's because no one bothered to read the manual. Tammy and I just did." Carter said. "We found a box of them. We're going to issue them to senior staff later."

"Put it on, under your shirt, it'll stick to your skin." She said. "No point in being obvious about it."

He opened two buttons on his shirt, held the pendant to his chest, then let it go. It started to glow, and stayed in place, so he buttoned his shirt back up.

"Test it, but go easy." He told her. "If it's working, you could hurt yourself."

Carter stepped back, and swung the flat of her hand against his upper arm. A pale green glow formed between her hand and his shirt. She tried poking him in the chest with her fingers with the same effect.

"Come over to the table." She said. "Put your hand out flat on it."

She picked up a spoon in her fist, and brought the blunt end down on the back of his hand. She did it several more times, increasing the force with every blow. She grinned up at him.

"So far so good." She said. "Run your finger over the center, where it's lit."

He opened the top button of his shirt, and moved his finger over the light. It went out, and the pendant fell into his hand.

Carter reached up, gripped his ear between her fingers and twisted.

"Ooowwww!"

"Okay, we can turn it on and off. And we know they work. I doubt if they'll stand up to a nuke, but anything less than that, and you should be okay." She said as she stepped over to the window.

Two jumpers were parked in front of a warehouse, and people were moving out of them, into the building. The jumpers lifted of, and were quickly replace by two more. On the platform, another jumper made a pass over the material stacked on the dock, then hovered, and crews attached cargo nets to hooks on the bottom. It lifted away, and was replaced by another. The platform was cleared in less than half a dozen more passes.

"Go talk to them, John." She said quietly as she watched. "The officers first, then the enlisted. Tell them what's happening, show them Landry's message, and Caldwell orders. Ask them to join us, but tell them we'll return them to Earth like we have everyone else if they don't."

Sheppard nodded, and started for the door.

"John?"

"Yes." He said as he stopped in the doorway.

"Don't forget to turn that thing on."

He smiled and nodded, then went to increase their forces.

Interior-Warehouse Sixty-Two

1525 Hours

"All officers form up at the far end of the building, on Col. Sheppard." Lt. Crown shouted, "Step lively, we have alot to get done, and not much time to get it done in!"

People broke away from the crowd milling around in the warehouse and jogged over to where Sheppard was sitting on a table by the open doors on the other end of the warehouse.

Crown turned to face the rest of the group. "Form up by units in columns of four, five meter spread between groups. Medical personnel will be around to check you, and water will be passed out in a few minutes. Stand easy, but stay with your unit."

"Form up by units." Sheppard told the approaching officers. He waited till they had all come up, and formed themselves into three groups. "Commanding officers follow me. Lorne."

He walked out of the warehouse and stood with his back to the door. Maj. Lorne and three officers followed him. 

"I'm John Sheppard, commander of the military detachment on Atlantis." He said as he shook hands with each man. "This is my second in command, Maj. Lorne." He looked at them for a moment, then said. "What are you doing here?"

One of the marines, a colonel, stepped forward and lifted the back of his shirt up, pulled out a folder wrapped in plastic, and handed it to him.

Sheppard took the folder and flipped through the documents quickly. He handed the folder to Lorne as he spoke.

"Do these orders cover all of you, or do you have separate orders?" He asked the other two. The other marine, a major, nodded. 

The special forces officer, another major said, "I have conflicting orders sir. My original orders from the Pentagon are to assist Atlantis personnel in securing the base. My men and I came from Earth, and gated out to be picked up by the Daedalus. I received orders two days ago from the IOA instructing me to remove you, Col. Carter and her senior staff, and return the base to IOA control."

Sheppard nodded, then stepped away from the group, looking over at Lorne.

"Lorne...shoot me." He said.

"Sir?" Lorne asked, staring at him.

"It's okay, Evan. Just do it."

Lorne nodded, drew his side arm, and fired a round at Sheppard's chest. A green field grew around Sheppard, then faded as the bullet ricocheted away with the loud whine.

He stepped back over to the group, looking passed them at their junior officers.

"Col. Carter and her staff are all equipped with personal shields like this one. We also outnumber you. Consider you mission for the IOA a failure. You should follow your original orders."

"That was my plan sir." The major said, trying not to smile.

"Here's what's going to happen. We're going to talk to your men, and offer them the choice of joining the Atlantis expedition, or being returned to Earth, at the earliest opportunity. You all have the same option." He looked at the three men. "You're all welcome to join us, but no one will be ordered or compelled to stay. We only want people that want to be here."

"I'm in." the special forces major said, reaching up and lifting his collar. He slipped a small memory card from a sleeve underneath it, and handed it to Sheppard.

Sheppard shook his head, looking over at Lorne. "Didn't we search any of these guys?"

"Only for weapons and electronics, sir." Lorne said with a shrug.

"Okay, get coveralls, slippers and pallets in here. We'll be bedding them down in here for the night. Show them Landry's message, make the offer, and move anyone that wants to return to Earth to another building. I'll be back, I need to update the colonel."

He looked at the major. "Is this coded or clear?"

"I don't know sir, I didn't look."

Sheppard nodded as he walked across the warehouse toward the jumpers.

Interior-Kitchen

1600 Hours

"Landry's under arrest by order of the IAO, so the Pentagon made it house arrest. There's a company of SEALS guarding him. It looks more like protective custody to me." Sheppard said as he read through a file.

He had copied the memory card and mailed the contents to the senior staff. They were all going through it, each of them going through a different section.

"There's a letter from the President here." Jennifer said. "File 25394b."

Everyone found and opened the file. Carter laughed as she read it. 

"He's ordering us to secure the city, proceed with our plan to establish trade in the Pegasus galaxy, and advise when we're ready to begin trade with the Milky Way, specifically, Earth." She said as she read though it.

"Are we going to tell them we don't work for them anymore?" Sheppard asked.

"Yes." Samuels said. "But we send them a gift first. Do you have an inventory of what was offloaded from Daedalus?"

"Looks like two million rounds of ammunition, shoulder fired missiles, claymores, a couple tons of C4. And something called a Zat'nik'tela. There's a thousand of those. We're still going through the manifests."

"They sent us Zats? This is like Christmas." Carter said. "I'll send Daniel and Vala over to check them later, just to make sure they haven't been doctored. If they turn out to be good, I want them distributed to senior staff, your officers and NCOs'. We'll decide on the rest later."

She looked over at Samuels. "What kind of gift?"

"Drones. And a ZPM." Andi said.

"No. No way am I giving them a ZPM, Andi." Carter said angrily. "Not after they sent people to KILL me! Think of something else."

"It has to be a ZPM, Sam. Or we won't get back what I want." Samuels said calmly.

"And what do they have that's worth a ZPM? And just say it, don't make me work for it."

"More ZPM's. We tell them we want their depleted ZPM's, and will trade five for one. We really only want three for one, but we need to give them some wiggle room."

"Sheppard?"

"I think it's smart. We build good will, and if they ever figure out that we can charge them, they'll want to try it. And they can't if they don't have any dead ones." He said. He looked over at Samuels. "Is that what you're thinking doc?"

Samuels nodded. "Mensa, huh? I'm glad you're on our side too, John." She looked over at Sam. "You had thirty, and used five. I need three more for Anchorage, plus the gift. As near as I can tell from the reports I've been through, They have at least ten depleted ones, maybe a few more, and two with a partial charge. One at the SCG, and one in Antarctica for the chair weapon."

"We need to get Daniel and a team into that outpost. If not today, then tomorrow. That's going to drain our manpower, because I'm going to want to staff it, and have people start going through it. I want that place locked down before someone at the SGC, or even worse, the IOA, sees a report on it." She looked between Carter and Sheppard. "I'd say thirty mixed troops and ten techs should do it. We can send less if we can find matching skills among your guys, John."

"Okay. I still don't like it, but when you put it that way, I can't say no." Carter said. "What if Daniel can't get back? What do we do then? We've stranded those people there."

"He'll be able to get back. That outpost is at the edge of the Milky Way, and it's considerably closer to Atlantis than Earth is. Dialing an eight-symbol address won't be a problem. We've already discussed that. He thinks there's shields too, but if there aren't, we can fix that."

"So you're talking about establishing trade with them now, and not waiting until we're setup here in Pegasus" Jennifer asked.

"On a very limited basis, at least with Earth." Samuels said. "The other part of Daniel's mission will be to reach out to Teal'c." She grinned at Carter. "Feel like having another old friend over for dinner?"

"I'd love that, but there's more. Let's hear it."

"The Jaffa are the largest, most organized group in the Milky Way. It just makes sense to reach out to them first. Teal'c is known and respected throughout their culture. The Sho'va that freed them from the Goa'uld. With a little help from the Ta'Ree."

"I know, I was there, remember?" Carter said wryly.

"Ahhhh, a little detail like that isn't going to escape my notice, I assure you." Andi grinned. "When he tells them that Samantha Carter of SG-1 needs their help, scouring the galaxy for ZPM's, and will soon begin trade with them from the Pegasus galaxy, his status may change from living legend, to...I don't know, What's better than living legend?"

"It doesn't matter." Carter said. She turned and looked at Tammy. "You've been quiet so far. What do you think?"

"Andi is making sense, to a point. But if we start trading stuff back and forth, they send to the Alpha site, not here. We don't need it anymore." Tammy said. "We found a dozen shield generators in a warehouse over on the north pier, which is why she's not worried about the outpost having shields. We can put one on the Alpha site gate just as easy." 

"I like that." Andi said, making a note on her tablet. "I'll get a team on that. Should take less than forty-eight hours. We don't have to staff it at first. We can put up a beacon that activates when the gate opens, broadcasting a warning signal back through the event horizon, and notifies us at the same time."

"I agree that we need to reach out to Teal'c, but I'm not so sure about welcoming the Jaffa into Pegasus with open arms." Tammy said as she looked around the table. "We're talking about a warrior culture, bred to fight. The Pegasus galaxy has enough problems without bringing in more. Granted, they won't be able to bring in ships, not at first. But even a small group of Jaffa is more than anyone here, except maybe the Genii or the Wraith, can handle."

"I hadn't considered that aspect, Tammy. But I think you may be right. Teal'c is well connected throughout the Milky Way, and even the IOA has to listen to him if they want to maintain peaceful relations with the Jaffa. So he can come and go as he pleases to Earth."

"I'm not using my friend as a messenger boy." Carter said.

"That's not what I'm suggesting. If he offered his services as an intermediary, to help resolve the difficulties between us and the IOA, I think they'd go for it. He is after all, familiar with all the parties involved, and the Jaffa are friendly with both sides, but neutral. If he happened to share something that someone tells him while he's there, well, that can't helped now, can it?"

"The Jaffa aren't friendly with us, Andi." Sheppard said, looking up from the file he was reading.

"They will be after Sam asks him if the High Council will make him ambassador to her court." Samuels said, looking at Carter.

"Change your title to Foreign Minister, intelligence services will fall under your purview. But for now, let's put the intrigue on the back burner." Carter said.

"John, tell Ops to have Caldwell offload the rest of his crew, and power down the ship. Have a jumper do a scan for life signs and active systems, then have Lorne seal it and post guards till everyone is off the platform, then pull them back. We'll do inspections tomorrow. If it blows up overnight, it's no big deal, it's outside the shield."

She rubbed her face with her hands, then looked at them again.

"Are you okay?" Andi asked. "You look a little worn."

"I'm fine, I just feel like I need a shower after this." Sam grinned, then looked at Sheppard again. "Put the crew up in the Central Tower, something nice. Post guards, and get them fed. We'll worry about who's staying or going tomorrow."

"We're already bedding them down in warehouses on the east pier, and have rations being distributed." Sheppard told her. "There's no need to move them right now."

She nodded, and looked back and forth between Tammy and Andi. "Who's cooking? I'm going to invite Caldwell over for dinner, and I have a taste for beef. I know that there's bunch of ribeyes down in the mess hall. I want corn on the cob, loaded baked potatoes, and green beans, with it. And texas toast. Find something nice for dessert, and send someone over to my old quarters, there's a case of a nice Merlot in my closet, have them bring it over."

"I have grills I can put over the burners." Tammy said. "I can do the steaks and the bread if Andi can do the starches and veggies. Same group that was at lunch, plus one?"

"Yeah, then we can move into the living room and talk business after we eat." She grinned at Andi.

She looked back at Sheppard. "Bring Caldwell here after you get everyone settled. Get him cleaned up, and would you put him in some decent clothes, please? That jumpsuit he runs around in is ridiculous." She smiled at him. "And would you mind putting him up for a few days? At least until we decide whether we're going to bring him in, or keep him at arms length?"

"I can do that." Sheppard grinned. "He's not a bad guy, and he's lightened up alot toward me since that Goa'uld thing."

"Then we're done." She said, standing up and moving toward the door. "I'd like dinner at nineteen hundred. I'm going to go down and spend some time with my guests. I have my comms, and will give it to Daniel, so he can call if we need anything."

Interior-Dr. Jackson's Suite

1720 Hours

"Daniel? Vala? Anyone home?" She called.

"Just a minute!" Valla called. 

She came out of the bedroom a moment later, wearing a long sleeved black sheath dress that clung to every curve. She posed, smiling broadly.

"What do you think? Isn't this just divine?" She asked. "I can't find any shoes that fit though, they're all too big!"

"No, go get a pair. And you look fantastic in that dress!" Sam said, watching Vala run into the other room.

"Is someone out there?" She heard Daniel say.

"Yes, Samantha is visiting." Vala said. "Now get dressed, and bring your shoes!"

She came running back a moment later, holding a pair of shiny black flats. She held them out and Sam took them, then waved her toward a chair.

Kneeling in front of Vala, she slipped the shoe onto her foot.

"See? It's too big!"

"Give it a second. Just watch."

"Wh...oh my!" Vala said as she watched the shoe begin to shrink around her foot, the sole thickening slightly. She dropped her foot, and slipped the other shoe on, watching gleefully as it molded itself to her foot as well.

"Hi, Sam." Daniel said as he came out of the bedroom. He was wearing a pair of loose black slacks, and a shiny green shirt. He had a pair of black cloth shoes in his hand. "Vala, I can't wear these. They're too big. Where are my other shoes, the ones I wore in today?"

"Yes you can! They shrink to fit, see?" She held out her foot, tipping it back and forth so he could see.

Daniel leaned against the back of the couch and slipped one of the shoes on. His eyes widened as it started contracting around his foot, then he shrugged and pulled the other one on.

"I need to go down to thirty-one." Sam said. "Would you like to go with me? I can show you some of the other floors too if you want."

She handed him her comm unit. "I told Tammy I'd give you that. It's on, so if you need to, you can call for help. I want to get you comms, that's why I want to go downstairs. But I'd like to show you something else first."

She led them out to the elevator, and they dropped to the ground floor. Sam led them outside to a small park. The ocean spread out before them as far as the eye could see, and off to one side, they could make out the platform with the Daedalus sitting on it.

"Tammy and I come down here sometimes. At night, the lights from the suites shine on the water. It's very romantic." She said, smiling wistfully.

She turned and faced them. "Why did Landry send you? Do you have any messages, or other information?" She walked over to a bench, and Vala came over to sit beside her.

"He didn't say much, and what he did say was very cryptic." Daniel told her, shaking his head. "He wanted me out of the Milky Way. I think he was afraid that someone would use me as a wedge against you. Both of us."

She nodded. "Sheppard got the orders the marines were given, they were sent as reinforcements. The special forces commander gave him a data chip loaded with plans and orders. There's even a letter from the President. It looks like the Americans are going to support us. Or they believe that I'll give them the city, or let them use it."

"What are you going to do?" He asked.

"Speed up some plans, put others on hold, but mostly proceed on the current schedule." She said, looking up at him. "I need you to take a team to your outpost tomorrow. We'll send ZPM's with you. Andi said that you felt you could get back if the station was powered?"




Confirming Carter Bk. 02 Daedalus Ch. 01



"Yes, dialing Pegasus won't be a problem." He answered. "But why so soon?"

"Andi's afraid that someone with the SGC or the IOA might see a report, and send someone. We want to get that station powered up, check and see if the shields work, and if not, get some installed. On both the station and the gate."

"We need to lock that station down, and get people working on the systems. We're talking about a crew of thirty or so, military and technical people. Sorry, but we don't have an archeologist that I know of, and I need you to come right back. Come to think of it, you really don't have to go, but there's something else I need you to do while you're there."

"I can learn more about the ancients here than I can there. Just have your people document and photograph everything. What's this other thing you need me to do?"

"Reach out to Teal'c, and invite him to dinner."

Daniel grinned. "You know, if you had asked me to guess, that would not have been one of my choices."

"Andi again, but I would like to see him." Carter told him. "She wants to have him act as an intermediary between us and the IOA. He'd be safe, he knows both parties, so it's a smart move. She also wants to broach the subject of trade with the Jaffa with him."

"She's right, the IOA would never touch him. And the Jaffa are the most organized group in that galaxy. I don't know what they have to trade, but it might be a smart move."

"She's looking for a foothold and an ally there. They are the best choice."

Daniel jumped, then reached in his pocket and pulled out Sam's comm unit. He held it out to her, but she shook her head. He put it on and said, "Hello?"

"Daniel? Where's Sam?" Tammy asked. "Is she okay? I haven't heard from her."

"She's fine Tammy. She's talking to Vala."

"Where are you? I'm in your suite."

"We're at a little park outside. Sam said you like to come here together. She's right you know, it is very romantic."

Sam smiled, wrapping her arms around herself, giving him an air hug.

There was a pause. then Tammy said, "Tell her everyone is here, and dinner is going to be a little early. So you need to head upstairs soon."

"We will, don't worry. She's having a good time, but she misses you. She's coming now, would you like to..."

"No, just come up soon." She said, and closed the channel.

"She said dinner is going to be early, and we need to head upstairs." He told Sam.

"That's fine. I'm sorry all I talked about was business." She turned to Vala. "I want to spend some time with you Vala. I've missed you so much." She said putting her arm around her and hugging her.

"There will be time, Samantha. You don't know what a relief it is to be in a clean, civilized place for a change, instead of some decrepit old ruins, no showers, and a slit trench to pee in."

"I remember." Sam laughed as she stood up. "And I don't miss that at all!"

Interior-Living Room

1810 Hours

Jennifer, John, Teyla and Caldwell were standing in the living room talking when Sam walked in with Daniel and Vala. Sam smiled as she walked over. 

"Don't you two look dashing." She said. 

Sheppard and Caldwell were both wearing loose black slacks and black cloth shoes. Sheppard had on a soft gray shirt with full sleeves, while Caldwell's was white.

"Steven is most handsome this evening." Teyla said. "This is much more becoming on him than his usual attire."

Jennifer was in her white wraparound dress again, and Teyla wore an identical one in blue. Both had delicate floral prints.

"Daniel, Vala, come join us, I need to steal John and Steven away from their ladies." 

She took both men by the arm, and led them toward the hall leading to the kitchen. 

"Would you gentlemen go take over the grilling duties please? Tammy and I need to dress for dinner, so we're not outshined by the competition!" She laughed. "Ask her to join me in the bedroom, if you'd be so kind?"

"Of course." Caldwell said, bowing slightly. Sheppard looked at him, then followed him into the kitchen.

Sam turned and ran lightly toward her bedroom. "Be with you soon." She called over her shoulder.

Tammy came into the bedroom, and saw her standing in front of the closet beside the bed. She went up and stood beside her as Sam slid clothes back and forth on the rail.

"Help me find something to wear. Everyone else looks so nice." Sam said as she looked at Tammy. She turned and stepped into her arms, kissing her lightly, then more hungrily. 

Tammy responded eagerly and they fell backwards onto the bed. Pawing at each others gowns, they rolled over, deeper into the bed, their hands roaming all over each other as they kissed.

"Oh, excuse me." Daniel said as he stepped into the room. He backpedaled quickly, then said. "Sheppard asked me to tell you that dinner will be ready in five minutes."

"Thank you, Daniel." Tammy laughed, pushing Sam away so she could get off the bed. "We'll be right out."

She rolled in the other direction across the bed, then got up and opened the other closet. "I found this the other day, and was going to show it to you, but we got sidetracked." She held up a short, sleeveless black dress. "I think you'd look fantastic in this."

"Oh, Tammy." Sam said as she came around the bed, taking it from her. "That's beautiful."

She looked at her. "What are you going to wear?"

Tammy reached into the closet and pulled something down. She held it in front of her as she went into the bathroom. "Get dressed and brush your hair, I'll be right out." She said as she closed the door behind her.

Sam pulled her gown over her head and tossed it on the bed. Her sports bra and panties followed. She slid the dress over her head, shaking and shimmying as she pulled it down over her body. She stepped over in front of the mirror on the inside of the closet door and made a few minor adjustments, then picked up a brush and ran it through her hair.

"You look lovely." She heard Tammy say behind her. She turned around, gasping when she saw her.

Tammy was wearing a pair of pleated black slacks, her upper body bare under a black vest. The vest was unbuttoned halfway and her breasts forced the sides of it apart. She'd slicked her hair back, and had on just a hint of lipstick.

"Wow! You look so...butch! I like it!" Sam said, going over and wrapping her arms around her. She leaned back, forcing her hips forward, grinding her crotch against Tammy's. "You wanna just tell everyone to come back in a couple hours, and we..."

"Huh uh." Tammy said, leaning forward to kiss her. Sam wrapped her arms around her neck, letting her tongue dart lightly into her mouth. Tammy drew away and smiled at her. "No, I want to go show off my woman. And show these people who wears the pants in this family!"

"Samantha?" Teyla called from the door. "John says you must to come to dinner now."

"We're com...we're on our way Teyla." Tammy said.

Interior-Kitchen

1830 Hours

"Oh...my...gawd!" Jennifer said as they walked into the room.

"Wow!" Sheppard and Caldwell said at the same time.

"Excuse me. I'm just going to shoot myself now." Andi said. "For god's sake! How am I suppose to compete with that?"

"I don't know, I think I look better than both of them." Vala said.

"I do...aarrrghh!" Daniel grunted.

"No, Daniel." Vala said lightly. "The proper answer is, 'Oh Vala, you're the most beautiful woman in the universe!'"

"Vala, be nice!" Sam laughed. "Let go of Daniel's ba...whatever you're squeezing."

Tammy came around and held her chair, and Sam slipped into it, smoothing her dress under her.

Caldwell sat a plate of steaks at one end of the table, and took a seat next to Teyla. Sheppard sat another plate at the other end, and took his place next to Jennifer. The seat at the foot of the table was empty.

"I'd like to thank everyone for coming tonight. Andi, Tammy, Steven, John, the food looks delicious. First, let me say that there are no ranks, no titles tonight. We're on a first name basis please. And in deference to Andi, no business at the dinner table."

Smiles and laughter greeted her remarks, and Andi beamed as she looked around.

Sam looked around the table. "We're taking the first steps in what I hope will be a productive journey. And pray that we all live up to each others expectations." She smiled at them happily. "John, Steven, if you'd pour the wine on your sides of the table please? Everyone else, grab a dish and start passing them around!"

Sheppard and Caldwell moved around the table pouring the wine, then left the bottles at the foot on each side. Jennifer and Teyla had been loading their plates while they were up, and when Caldwell sat down, he stared at his plate.

"Good lord!" He said, "There's more calories on this plate than I eat in a week!"

"A man in a position of authority needs to eat well, Steven." Teyla said as she scooped a spoonful of green beans onto his plate, then put a much smaller portion on her own, and passed the dish across the table to John.

"And a woman in a position of authority?" He asked.

"Must remain desirable enough to a attract a man in an equal, or greater a position, to secure her own."

"You have nothing to fear there Teyla." Caldwell said softly.

"Thank you, Steven." Teyla said, taking a bite of her steak. Her other hand was out of sight under the table.

Daniel launched into a story about an archeological dig on a remote world, but Vala and Sam kept throwing in comments about no showers, slit trenches, and the lack of toilet paper in SGC ration packs. He gave up, and Vala recounted the story of their first trip to Atlantis, and their encounter with the ascended ancient, Ganos Lal.

That made Teyla remark about Sheppard's penchant for attracting ascended women, which earned her a look and a kick under the table from Jennifer.

After a while, people began pushing their plates away and sitting back, rubbing their bellies in satisfaction. Sheppard and Caldwell were keeping everyone's wine glasses full, and a row of empty bottles was growing at the foot of the table.

Sam pushed back from the table and stood up. "Friends, that was a delightful meal. The best I can remember in quite a while." She said. "Let's adjourn to the living room where we can stretch out and relax. And if you don't mind, I'd like to save talk of business till the morning. Why spoil such a wonderful evening."

"Here, here." Caldwell said, smiling at Teyla.

Interior-Living Room

1945 Hours

"The report I read said that you're undergoing physical modifications. Strength, agility, hearing. You have a nose filter in too." Caldwell said. "How are you holding up? Nothing harmful? You're not in pain?"

"No, I have to wear ear plugs, and the nose filter sometimes, but nothing too bad." She said as she walked around and pulled the coffee table out away from him. "Get down on the floor. Which hand do you use?" She asked, kneeling on the other side, propping her elbow on the table, holding her hand up, fingers spread.

Caldwell knelt, putting his arm on the table, and gripping her hand. They worked at their grips for a moment, then she grinned. "Whenever you're ready."

He jerked his hand to the side suddenly, and her hand moved an inch toward the table. She looked at him steadily as she recovered, then pressed his arm down in one smooth, easy motion, showing no signs of strain. Caldwell grunted, fighting to keep from being pinned, but in less than thirty seconds, his hand touched the table.

"Not bad." She grinned at him. "You lasted longer than some of John's marines."

"Showoff." Tammy said as she came out of the kitchen. "Does anyone want more wine? Or maybe something stronger?" She handed Caldwell a bottle of wine. "Pass that around, I'll be back in a minute."

"Come up to the gym tomorrow Steven. You can workout and spar with us." Sam said as she sat on the floor, crossing her legs under her. "After weeks on that ship, it'll do you good to work up a sweat."

"I'd like that, Sam." Caldwell said, patting his stomach. "After that meal, I'm going to need a good workout."

"Samantha and Tammy are most vigorous when they exercise." Teyla said, holding out her hand and helping him to his feet. "Perhaps something less strenuous until you work up to their level. I would not advise sparring with them, however."

"We won't hurt him, Teyla." Tammy said as she came back into the room. She had a bottle of tequila in one hand, and a tray of glasses in the other. She sat the tray down and started pouring shots, moving from glass to glass.

She sat the bottle down and picked up two glasses, handing one to Sam. She lifted her glass in salute, and tossed it back. Holding out her hand, she smiled at Sam. 

"Dance with me." She said, helping her up, then leading her out into an open space as their hands came together. She looked at Teyla as she took her in her arms, leading as they began to dance slowly. "Why don't you show Steven the rest of the house, Teyla? He might enjoy some of the views."

"I'd like that." Caldwell said, tossing back a shot. He sat the glass down and picked up two more, offering one to Teyla. She shook her head as she took his arm.

"Thank you, no." She said. "I have had too much wine as it is. Let me show you the view of the city. It is very beautiful at night." She led him across the room, and they disappeared through a doorway.

Interior-Living Room

2100 Hours

The lights were dimmed, and a slow jazz tune was playing softly in the background. Sam had her arms draped loosely over Tammy's shoulders, while Tammy held her hips, guiding her through the steps of a samba. Jennifer and John were dancing in place, her arms around his neck as she kissed him passionately.

"Aren't you going to dance with Vala, Daniel?" Andi asked.

"I don't dance." Vala said. "Can we go home Daniel? I want to do that too. But I want to be lying down so I can be comfortable."

"Stay, Vala. Please?" Sam said, her forehead resting on Tammy's. "Tammy is a wonderful dancer. She can teach you if you want. It's fun."

She glanced around, then looked back at Vala.

"What happened to Steven? He was here a minute ago." She said.

"Teyla wanted to show him the view of the city." Andi said with a smile.

"The only room with a view of the city is th...ohhhhhh."

"Shut up and kiss me." Tammy whispered.

"Yes ma'am." Sam said, letting her lips brush over hers.

Interior-Bedroom

2120 Hours

"Aaaaahhhhh." Teyla moaned. She raised her head, staring down between her legs. "N...no one has every done it like this before, Steven! Ohhhhhh! Yesssssss!"

She had her hands on the back of his head as she rocked her hips up his face. Her thick bush scrubbed his face as his tongue lashed out, darting up inside her, then dragging up the length of her fur-lined slit. He was making loud sucking and slurping noises as he ate her out eagerly.

Her eyes rolled up in her head, and she gasped as her orgasm burst over her. He began licking her even more furiously, his hands sliding under her ass to lift her off the bed, drinking from her drooling pussy like it was a hairy goblet.

Teyla let go of his head, and pawed at his back and shoulders, trying to get him to move up over her.

"Please Steven! I need you in me!" She pleaded.

Caldwell raised up, forcing his pants down over his hips. They dropped down his legs, and down over his knees as he kneewalked forward, positioning himself between her widespread legs. Teyla reached down, wrapping her hand around him, gliding it up and down the length of his shaft. She fit the spongy knob between the lips of her pussy as he got close enough, then groaned and threw her legs around him as he plunged full length into her.

"Yeesssss! Take me, Steven!" She cried out happily, her eyes wide, staring up into his as her heels dug into his asscheeks, urging, then forcing him deeper inside her. She threw her arms around his neck, writhing under him, her hips arching up at his again and again.

"Ohhhh god! Noooooo." Caldwell grunted as he felt his balls tighten up, and the first hot load surged up the length of his cock.

"Yes, Steven! Yes! Fill me! Ohhhh...Ohhhh...yes!" She moaned as he filled her with his seed. 

His hips jerked as he thrust into her frantically, whimpering into her neck. His body spasmed and he stiffened, the full length of his shaft buried deep inside her.

"So good. Ohhhh, so so good, Steven." She whispered as she held him tightly again her. She stroked him gently. "Shhhh, rest. That's right. Let me feel you on me...in me...yes..."

She held him, caressing him and whispering to him until he caught his breath and raised up over her. She took his face in her hands and kissed him, then smiled. 

"Roll over, Steven." She said as she pushed him off to one side. 

Caldwell flopped over onto his back, and Teyla followed, stretching out beside him on the bed. 

She shrugged her dress off her shoulders, pushing it aside, then laid her head on his chest, turning her face down, kissing his skin gently. Her hand drifted between his legs, and she cupped his balls, smiling as she felt them beginning to swell slowly in her hand. She moved her hand up, wrapping her hand around the head of his cock, working it in her fingers, making him grunt and jerk. 

Moving slowly down the length of his body, she settled next to his leg, her head resting on his hip. She watched her hand work lazily over the limp snake of his prick, then purred as she felt it start to stiffen again under her fingers.

She slid over his leg, getting between them and stretching out, her face inches from his loins. She inhaled the heady perfume of their union, then lifted his cock, kissing it softly on the tip.

Caldwell moaned as she ran her tongue softly over him, licking up their combined juices.

He raised up on his elbows. "I'll last longer next time." He said as he looked down at her.

"Yes, you will." She said as she took him into her mouth, and began sucking lightly.

Interior-Living Room

2130 Hours

"Did you hear that?" Vala asked, looking around.

"Hear what?" Tammy asked, her hands moving slowly over Sam's hips as she moved her leg between hers and began rubbing it lightly up and down.

"Mmmmmmmm." Sam moaned, pressing herself harder against Tammy's firm thigh.

"No, that wasn't it, it was louder, and higher pitched." Vala said. "I think it came from over there." She pointed at the doorway beside the porter.

"It's the birds." Tammy said, her hands moving down to cup the cheeks of Sam's ass, lifting her higher on her leg. "They fly around the upper floors. That must have been their mating call you heard. Isn't that right, Andi."

"Um, yes...that could have been the well filled Athosian warbler. Their mating call can be quite loud. Or so I've heard." Andi said.

"If you say so." Vala said, sitting back on the couch with Daniel. "But I could have sworn that that was Teyla in the bedroom with Col. Caldwell."

Interior-Living Room

2150 Hours

"Make love to me." Sam whispered to Tammy as they danced. 

They were really just grinding against each other now, as they swayed to the music.

"I am." Tammy purred, her hands roaming over the firm cheeks of Sam's ass.

"Take me to bed." Sam said softly, her fingers playing with the buttons on Tammy's vest. She slipped the highest button in and out of it's hole, then left it loose, moving down to the next one.

"I want it as bad as you do." Tammy said, "But we have guests."

"They won't care."

Andi stood up from the couch. "Thank you for a wonderful evening, Sam. but I think I'm going home. There's a pipe downstairs with my name on it." She said. She turned to Vala and Daniel. "I have this nice little Athosian herb called Tuumpor that's very pleasant. Would you like to try it?"

"Maybe tomorrow?" Vala said as she pulled Daniel to his feet, then pulled him toward the porter. "Goodnight Samantha. We'll see you tomorrow." She pushed Jackson into the porter, and was all over him before the doors closed. A moment later, the doors opened, and Vala stepped out and led Daniel down the hall to the elevator.




Confirming Carter Bk. 02 Daedalus Ch. 01



"Should I?" Andi said, nodding at Sheppard and Keller. "They've been at it almost an hour. But then, so have you." She shook her head and walked toward the elevator.

"We'll take care of it." Tammy said as she released Sam, pushing her away gently. "Go get naked." She said softly as she opened the buttons on her vest. 

Sam ran into the bedroom and pulled her dress over her head. She gathered up her clothes from the bed and took them into the bathroom, stuffing them into the cleaner. She ran back into the bedroom, dove onto the bed, grabbed a pillow and hugged it to her. She slid her hand down between her body and the pillow, and started masturbating as she waited for Tammy.

Tammy walked over behind Sheppard, wrapping her arms around his waist, and pressing her breasts into his back.

"Take her home, John. And spend the night making slow, sweet love to her." She whispered in his ear. 

She ran her hand down over the front of his pants, squeezing the thick shaft of his cock. "Mmmmmm, she wasn't kidding. Sir John's packing a two handed broadsword."

Jennifer pulled away, looking at her over his shoulder. 

"Tammy..."

"Just telling him to go give you what you need Jenn, and getting him ready for you."

She stepped back, putting her hands on his shoulders. She pushed him toward the elevator.

"Go. We'll see you at breakfast in the morning. But feel free to sleep in." She told them.

She watched them walk to the elevator, then moved to the doorway next to the porter. She stepped inside and smiled as she saw Teyla straddling Caldwell, riding him slowly.

"We're going to bed Teyla." she said, leaning against the wall. "Stay the night. We'll see you in the morning."

Caldwell turned and looked at her, his eyes going wide when he saw her standing bare breasted by the door. He smiled, then turned back to Teyla, putting his hands on her hips and starting to stroke harder.

Teyla threw her head back, her hands coming up to cup her breasts, squeezing them against her chest. She started riding him faster, matching his pace. She rolled her head to the side and looked at Tammy.

"Th...thank you Ta...Tammy. Go...good...oh so good!" She moaned, collapsing on Caldwell, writhing wildly on top of him as she started to cum.

Tammy went back into the living room, slipping her vest off and letting it fall to the floor behind her as she stepped into the bedroom. She opened the button on her slacks, and they slipped down onto her hips as she walked. The zipper loosened, and as she approached the bed, they fell around her feet. She stepped out of them and slipped up into the bed, moving on her elbows and knees.

Her hand brushed Sam's leg, and she pushed it to one side, rolling her over onto her back. Sam pushed the pillow away as she felt Tammy moving between her legs. She reached down, wrapping her fingers in her hair as she pulled her face against her loins.

"Mmmmm, what took you so long?" She purred.

(-)

That's all for Chapter One. Please read Chapter Two for more of this story.

I hope you liked this episode. Please post a comment so I know if I'm the right track with this...



Confirming Carter Bk. 02 Daedalus Ch. 02



The senior staff recovers from the night before, and Caldwell is brought on board.

Andi begins selling Sam on her plans for a government, and gets support from the staff.

An old friend comes to dinner...and brings a friend with him...

(-)

Confirming Carter Book Two Daedalus

Chapter Two

Interior-Kitchen

0840 Hours

Sam and Tammy were sitting at the kitchen table when Vala stumbled in. She was wearing slippers and a short robe, but it was open in the front, and they could see hickeys and love bites all over her breasts, belly and neck.

She went right to the coffee pot, poured a cup and came over, taking a seat next to Tammy. She sat her cup down, and turned her head, burying her face in Tammy's shoulder.

"Poor baby." Tammy said, bringing her arm up around her back as she leaned over and gave her a peck on the cheek. "Hard night?"

Vala nodded into her shoulder.

"Was it hard all night?"

Vala nodded into her shoulder again.

"Did you have a good time?"

Vala nodded, then pulled away, and took a sip of her coffee.

She looked at Sam and Tammy.

"He's never been like that before! It was...amazing. I finally had to push him away and go sleep in another room." She said.

A few minutes later, Teyla came in. Her dress from the night before was only partially closed, and was belted loosely in the front. One breast was visible, and the nipple was swollen. There was a large, dark hickey off to one side of it. She sank into the chair across from Tammy, and her head dropped to the table with a thump.

"Hard night?" Tammy asked.

Teyla nodded, not looking up at them

"Coffee?" Vala asked.

Teyla held out her hand, and Vala slid her cup across the table. Teyla closed her hand around it, sat up, and took a sip.

"The man is insatiable. He would not let me rest!" She said, taking another sip of coffee. "He woke me twice to continue. I finally had to threaten him with bodily harm."

At that moment, Jennifer limped into the kitchen. She reached over and took the coffee cup out of Teyla's hand. She glared at Tammy as she took a sip.

"You bitch!" She said, handing the cup back to Teyla. "Don't you ever do that again!"

"That's mine." Vala said

"Hard night?" Tammy asked.

"Well, yeauuhhh. We didn't even get downstairs!" She said "He bent me over in the elevator and shoved that thing in me before I knew what was happening. I was still impaled when we got to my door. We did it on the floor the first time!"

"That's what you get for not wearing panties." Sam said.

"The first time?" Tammy said.

"And let me tell you! Me and him have very different ideas of what making slow, sweet love is!"

She winced as she sat down. "Owwww. I'm gonna walk funny for a week!"

Tammy reached across the table and took the cup from Teyla. She went over to the coffee pot and poured three fresh cups. She sat them on the table, then got one for herself, and refilled Sam's.

"How 'bout you?" She asked Sam.

"I feel wonderful! Thank you. And thank you for asking." Sam grinned.

Andi chose that moment to walk in. "Well! It's nice to hear that everyone had a good time last night!" She said brightly.

"Oh, shut up." Jennifer said.

Teyla put her head back on the table, and Vala just glared at her.

Interior-Kitchen

0930 Hours

Sheppard, Daniel, and Caldwell had joined them a few minutes apart. All three were seated at the foot of the table. 

By that time all the women had showered and changed, and were showing signs of recovery. Andi and Jennifer were wearing clothes from the closets in their suites, while Sam and Teyla were in Athosian gowns. Tammy had put her outfit from the night before back on, and the men kept sneaking glances at her.

Sam reached over and buttoned another button on her vest when she noticed Caldwell staring at her. Tammy opened it back up, along with the one under it. She leaned back in her chair, and put her arm over the back as she shifted slightly, turning toward the men, making the full swell her breasts stand out under the nearly open vest. 

"Slut." Sam muttered.

"And loving it!" Tammy said, turning her head and grinning at her. 

"Steven." Carter said, looking down the table at him. When he didn't reply, she raised her voice and said, "STEVEN!"

His head snapped around, and everyone laughed. Caldwell blushed.

"Yes, colonel?" He said.

"I know she's nice to look at, but we have business to discuss." She said lightly, smiling at him. "Were you serious when you offered your services? You're not jerking me off?"

"No, I was completely serious, colonel." He reached down, picked up his briefcase, and took his laptop out. "I offered to join you because I think you're being screwed." He said as he waited for it to boot up. "And because you're an excellent commanding officer. I've always admired the way your people respond to you, and we've worked well together in the past."

She nodded.

"I've also seen the video of your meeting with the IOA, and read your outline for your proposed department. You have some bold ideas in it, and I think it's time we stop just holding the line, and actually go out and try to get something done."

Heads were nodding around the table as he spoke.

"I'm glad to see that you're in much better shape than you led them to believe. And I have to ask, why did you lowball the numbers on your compensation package like that? You could have easily gotten eight or ten times what you asked for, if not more."

Vala stood up and went to the fridge, taking out a bottle of orange juice. She got a glass from the cabinet, then turned toward the table. "Anyone?" she asked, holding up her glass.

"Bring me one." Andi said. "I'll split it with you."

Vala took another glass from the cabinet and returned to the table. She filled her glass, then slid the bottle and the other glass over to Andi. She adjusted her chair, moving closer to Tammy, and her hand disappeared under the table as she picked up her juice and took a sip.

"We thought of that, but I looked at comparables in the civilian market, then pegged our numbers to that." Carter said. "And the show was to get me off the hook, and let me shift over to where I wanted to be. You can see where I landed."

Tammy coughed, then turned in her chair, moving closer to Vala. She looked down at her tablet, then looked down the table at Caldwell. "Our main concern was getting the plan in their hands. We had hoped that when they saw the numbers, that they would jump on it. The cost savings alone made it worthwhile."

"They think you're holding something back, that there was alot more that you weren't telling them. They've also been getting reports of unusually activity, missing equipment, and unauthorized power usage here in Atlantis, along with questionable behavior on your part. Most of those came from Dr. McKay."

"That sneaky little bastard." Carter muttered.

"They know you're doing something involving Space Time Matter bridges, which, I'm assuming, is where you got all the ZPM's for the city? And I thought Atlantis only used three. Our scans showed six."

He slid his laptop down the table to her. 

"That's a record of all research you've accessed over the last several months, along with copies of all your emails. Everyone you've had contact with regarding this has already been questioned by the IOA. Dr. Miller was detained briefly, until they determined that she was just answering questions that you sent her, not actively participating in your research."

"The outer piers each have their own power center. We never knew that because the city had never been completely explored or mapped. I found this building when I first came to Atlantis, I was doing a walking tour of the city. I've explored alot of it on my own time." Carter said as she scrolled through the files. She went through screen after screen, then pushed the laptop away.

She looked up at him. "We've never spent the time to explore the city like we should have. Part of that was because we made enemies, but a bigger part was because we were always putting out fires, and trying to recover from some idiotic human error. Most of which were the work of Dr. McKay. He was also against checking out anything but the central section of the city." 

Tammy stood up and moved around behind her. "I think this is a good time for a break." She said. "Sam, can I speak to you for a moment?"

Carter stood up, and Tammy took her hand, leading her out of the room.

Andi slid Caldwell's laptop back down the table too him. 

Daniel looked at Vala, and she smiled brightly at him as she took a drink of her juice.

Interior-Bedroom

1005 Hours

Tammy pulled Sam into the bedroom, then led her into the bathroom, closing the door behind them. She pushed her down onto the toilet and stepped in front of her as she opened her pants, letting them fall to the floor.

"Eat me!" She said as she put her hand behind her head and pulled her face between her legs. She lifted one leg and put it up on a stool as Sam's tongue darted out, lapping at the clean shaven lips of her pussy.

"Vala's been diddling me for the last ten minutes, and I just couldn't take it anymore!" She panted. She had both her hands on Sam's head, and was arching her hips up at her face.

Sam slid her hands up the back of Tammy's legs, and cupped her asscheeks, pulling her against her. Her tongue lashed up inside her, lapping at the spicy juices dripping from her. She drove her tongue rapidly in and out, grinding her nose into her clit.

Tammy grunted, and her legs started shaking. She pulled Sam's face higher in her sopping wet slit. "Suck it. Suck my clit, Sam! Oh god! Please! Make me cum!"

Sam looked up at her as she moved her mouth up, sucking her clit between her lips. She chewed on it lightly, letting her tongue slap back and forth across the tip.

Tammy shuddered, whimpering as her orgasm swelled over her. She stiffened, her legs shaking, then dropped to her knees in front of Sam, gasping for breath as she hugged her, panting harshly into her neck.

Sam held her as she recovered, whispering to her. Tammy hugged her, then drew back.

"Oh god, I'm sor..."

"Are you kidding?" Sam laughed. "That was just the kind of break I needed! What do you say we go back in there, and on the next break, you do me!"

"You got a deal." Tammy laughed, backing up and getting to her feet. "I guess I should change, huh? This outfit is a little distracting."

"You definitely got Steven's attention." Sam laughed. "But I have to admit, I was looking too. We're gonna have to go through all these suites though, and find more of those suits. I like that look on you!"

She got up, went over to the sink and washed her face while Tammy pulled her pants up, and buttoned her vest.

"Is that better?" Tammy asked, putting her hands in her pockets and slouching slightly.

"Open another one." Sam said, looking at her in the mirror. "Show a little cleavage, just not all of it!"

Interior-Kitchen

1025 Hours

"They did it." Vala said to Jennifer as they came back into the room.

"Good, I'm just wondering who did who." Jennifer said. 

Caldwell looked back and forth between them, his face coloring.

"Get used to it, Steven." Andi said. "But this is the only place you can expect this kind of behavior. We're at home here, so we feel free to say what we please. When we go out and deal with other people, it's strictly business. And not everyone will get as warm a reception as you did."

She looked over at Carter, then back at Caldwell. 

"You smirked when Sam introduced Tammy as her girlfriend. Apparently you believe the rumors about her. It doesn't matter. They've bonded very deeply, on an emotional level, which isn't surprising given what they've been through in a very short period of time. But Tammy is Sam's primary caregiver, and is the driving force behind what we've discovered to date. Without her, Sam would, most probably, be in the state we described to the IOA. She's also responsible for stimulating her when she needs it. That is a sexual process, and needs to be done several times a day." 

"You need to know that periodic stimulation is part of Sam's treatment, and is what makes it possible for her to function normally. We'll explain the medical part of it later if you'd like." She went on, telling him about calling for Tammy if he ever needed help if Sam was in trouble.

She looked around the table, and smiled. "I'm sorry, the psychiatrist in me comes out sometimes."

"No, please. Continue Dr. Samuels. I need to be aware of how things work around here if I'm going to fit in. And I have to admit," He said, glancing down the table at Teyla. "This has been the most interesting introduction to a new command that I've ever had."

"Andi, please. Once the decision has bee..."

"He's in. Read him in on everything." Carter said. She looked down the table at Sheppard.

"John?"

"Yes. He's not going to screw us. And we can use him." He looked over at Caldwell. "That came out wrong."

"I knew what you meant. So I call you sir now." Caldwell said.

"Teyla?" 

"Steven will deal honestly with you, and serve you well."

"Tammy?"

"Yesterday, I would have said no. But I've eaten with him, danced with him, and had a chance to talk to him. I think Teyla is right, he'll serve you well, and honorably." She looked at Teyla. "And I think he has an incentive to want to stay."

Teyla met her gaze, and nodded after a moment. She looked over at Caldwell. Then back at Tammy.

"Steven will serve us all well. You have my word." She said.

"Caldwell, Lord of the Admiralty." Samuels muttered, making notes on her tablet.

"Excuse me?" Caldwell said, looking at her.

"Ignore her. It's a little game she plays." Sam said.

Andi spun her tablet around, and slid it over to him.

He smiled as he looked at it.

"Let me see that." Sam said, holding out her hand for the tablet.

Caldwell handed it Vala, who passed it to Sam.

"Oh no, you are not doing this." She said as she looked at the tablet.

The note was a list of names and titles.

Col. Samantha Carter, Queen of Atlantis

Lady Tammy Ford, Consort

Sir John Sheppard, First Knight of the Realm, Commander of the Royal Forces

Lady Andi Samuels, Foreign Minister

Lady Jennifer Keller, Jester/Court Physician

Lord Daniel Jackson, Royal Advisor

Lady Vala Mal Doran, Royal Advisor/Adventurer

Ambassador Teyla Emmagan, Ambassador of the Athosian Peoples

Col. Steven Caldwell, Lord of the Admiralty

Carter slid the tablet down the table, and Teyla grabbed it. She looked over the list, then looked over at Andi. "What is a Lord of the Admiralty?"

"Something he's never going to be." Sam said. 

"The commander of the Royal Navy." Andi told Teyla.

Teyla nodded, then looked at Sam. "I already serve my people as an ambassador to Atlantis. Having such a title, officially, bestowed by the ruler of Atlantis, would do much to bring our peoples together."

"She has a point. The Genii would be much more likely to deal with us as an independent state, as opposed to representatives of Earth." Sheppard said. "They've always known that we didn't call the shots, but had to get approval for almost everything."

"The Traveler's would respond similarly. They do not trust your leaders on Earth, which is why they do not deal with you." Teyla said. "They are many, and if we could offer them safe havens, Atlantis and the other...I cannot recall the name." She said, looking at Andi.

"Anchorage."

"Yes, Anchorage. Many would wish to live there. Many already have the ancient gene, others could be tested to see if your treatment works on them as it does you. They are used to using and operating ancient equipment and devices. Would that not aid in the problem of not having enough people? Were you to offer them such a haven, they may give you ships for Steven's navy in return."

She paused, then added, "He would require a title, however, as the others have been given."

"Are you bargaining for him Teyla?" Tammy asked.

Teyla shook her head. "Merely assuring that he will be worthy of my station as ambassador. This is an important position, is it not?"

"Well filled Athosian warbler!" Vala laughed. "I get it now." She glared over at Andi. "You tried to trick me."

Daniel put his head in his hands, then looked at Caldwell. "Ignore her." He said, then turned to Carter. "I can't believe I'm saying this. But I think they're right." 

"Not you too, Daniel! Please, don't do this to me." She said softly.

"There may be no other way. Any other non-democratic form of government besides a monarchy, with you as it's self-appointed head, will be seen as a dictatorship. By the IOA and your people here on Atlantis."

He turned to Andi. "This is your idea, and you have a reason for it. I'd like to hear it."

"The monarchy is the easiest and most stable form of government for an emerging nation. Democracy takes too long, even when the population is ready, or used to it. We also don't have the population to support a democracy." She said. She tabbed down through her notes, wrote out a list on a pad and slid it over to Jennifer.

"Would you find these files in the database, and mail them to everyone please? They can go over them later."

"What makes a monarchy so attractive in our situation, is we live in a feudal culture. The bulk of governments, where they exist, are monarchies, or dictatorships, with a smattering of councils systems rounding it out. We are an exception to the norm. That puts us apart from the majority of the Pegasus galaxy, so we're viewed with suspicion by the leadership. Many of that group believe that we are actually a dictatorship, but hide behind our mask of democracy. And they're right."

"Now wait a minute." Sam said.

"Let her finish." Daniel and Tammy said at the same time. They grinned at each other.

"Parts of our homeworld have democratic governments, but most of it doesn't. Atlantis is governed by the military commander, you Sam, with the power of life and death over every one of us. Which makes it a benevolent dictatorship. It's true, that you were subject to a ruling body on Earth, appointed by various governments, but you had the option to ignore their edicts, and do as you see fit. As we have done recently."

She looked at Daniel. "Do you have anything to add? You can feel free to jump in at anytime."

"You're doing fine. But the history and psychology aside, why do you think this is the best choice?" He asked.

"It's what we need, and it's what the people want." Andi said simply.

"You've been talking to them?" Caldwell asked

"No, I've been listening to them. And this wasn't my idea. by the way." She said, then looked at Sam. "I was in the mess hall a few weeks ago, before I did all this to you, and the people at the next table were talking about it. They were quite animated, and by the time I left, there were twenty people involved in the discussion. I've been haunting the common areas since, and the two top topics are how happy they are that you're okay, and what kind of government you'll establish. Monarchy leads, democracy is a distant second."

"We missed our chance to do it right, now we'll have to put it to a vote. But we'd win, even without rigging it. I'd say an eighty/twenty split. Teyla said it best. You are much loved by your people."

"How did you miss your chance?" Daniel asked

"The night we took over, Sam told them what we had in mind, where she wants to take us. She told them that she had nothing to offer them but hard work, a place to live, and a dream to work toward. And more than nine hundred of them stayed, out of a little over eleven hundred. Because she gave them a choice, and she asked them to stay with her."

"We had a second meeting, after we had sent people home. That's where the window closed. If I had gotten her on board, we could have done it by acclimation, and they would have been happy about it. But she didn't want to hear about a monarchy, and I couldn't do it without her consent. She wouldn't have served."




Confirming Carter Bk. 02 Daedalus Ch. 02



"Why do you think a vote would be so heavy in her favor?" Sheppard asked.

"Because nine hundred people have exchanged thirteen thousand emails on the subject, and that's what most of them say. Don't you people read your email?"

"I have." Tammy said.

"Why didn't you say something?" Sam asked her "What do they say?"

"I didn't say anything because you didn't want to hear it. And I didn't want you to get mad at Andi." She looked over at Andi. "And they've been talking about it longer than a few weeks, Andi. I started hearing about it right after she took over. People were saying that she should tell the IOA to get bent, and run the city the way she wanted. They knew she rescued our people from the replicator homeworld, and stayed with us while we landed the city. She put her ass on the line with us when she didn't have too. People respect that."

"I told you that you saved us, and I meant all of us, not just my team. You were what we needed, when we needed it." Sheppard said. "You gave us someone to rally around, and you reached out and let us know that you needed us to be strong, that we'd be okay. How much did you sleep in those first weeks? You were in every department, and knew every name in less than a week."

"I can't believe what I'm hearing." Sam said.

"Why Samantha?" Vala asked. "People know you care about them, and know you'll do your best to take care of them. When we first met, you gave me a chance. Ba'al only knows Daniel and Mitchell didn't. In our time together, I began to think of you as the sister I would have wanted. The do gooder that I knew would have my back when I needed her. No one had ever made me feel that way before. That's why I've missed you so much."

"She really was happy when she heard we were coming here." Daniel said.

"I need some time to think." Sam said as she stood up and walked to the door. She stopped and looked at them.

"Steven, go talk to your crew. Tell them what's happening, and give them their options. John, put a team together and inspect the Daedalus. Distribute the stores, and put the new troops in separate barracks away from our people. Set up a separate mess for them, and tell them that we need to keep them segregated because we don't want the IOA or SGC to know what's happened. Do the same thing with your crew, Steven. If we hear from Earth, we're going to say we haven't seen you. And we're not sending any of those people home yet. Not until I know what Ellis and the Apollo are going to do, so isolate them too, away from the other two groups. I want to keep leaks to a minimum, so Daedalus is need to know."

She threw her head back, took a deep breath, and started again. 

"Daniel, get with Andi, and work out the details of what needs to be done on your outpost. I'd like to call it St. Louis, that was another gateway city, they filled up a continent going through there. Get with John and see who he can give up based on the skills you need. I'd like you to be ready to go in two hours."

"Tammy, take three ZPM's down to the power room, we can take care of that while Daniel and Andi are getting their team together. I'll work up a message for Teal'c while we're doing that."

"Vala, I'd like you to stay with me when Daniel goes to St. Louis. I don't want to be worrying about both of you."

"Jennifer, stay here, at least till Tammy gets back."

"I'll be in my office. Someone turn their eyes on."

She turned around and started down the hall. 

"Shit, I just talked myself into a job." They heard her say.

Interior-Kitchen

1245 Hours

It was less than an hour before Daniel and Andi had gotten their team together. They had settled on a smaller team because they found matching skills among Sheppard's men. Sam told them that Daniel would go through first with three marines as security, and Zelenka had shown one of them how to install the ZPM's, and given them a checklist on how to bring the system up. 

Andi and Daniel returned to Sam's suite, and found Sheppard and Caldwell at the foot of the table reviewing what they had completed. Radik Zelenka sat across from Caldwell, looking at his laptop. 

"Are you sure that thing will work, Dr. Zelenka?" Caldwell asked, pointing to a small device sitting between them on the table.

"Yes, yes. With what we learned from the ancient database, now that we can read it easily, installing the cloaking generator on the Daedalus will be no problem." Zelenka said, turning his laptop so they could see it. There was a pair of schematics on the screen. "We've successfully integrated ancient equipment into our systems before. And since their technology is so similar to the Asgard's, we'll actually have fewer modifications to make than usual. If there are no problems, we should have this installed in a day. But I'd like to have two, just to make sure."

"No problem, doc." Sheppard said, picking up the device and turning it in his hand. "Take your time and do it right. We need to know it's going to work when we need it."

He paused and looked at Zelenka. "Has she appointed you chief scientist yet?" He asked.

Zelenka nodded, and took the cloaking generator from Sheppard, sitting it carefully on the table.

Sheppard grinned down the table at Samuels. "What does that make him, doc? Royal wizard?" he asked her.

"I like that." Andi said, bringing up her list and making a note. "I was wondering where we were going to get one."

Tammy stepped into the room and filled a glass with ice, and took two cokes from the fridge. "She wants to talk to you Andi. Take these with you." She said as she sat them in front of her, then walked around the table and sat next to Vala.

Andi took the drinks and walked down the hall to Sam's office.

Interior-Office

1255 Hours

Andi handed Sam one of the cokes and the glass as she walked into the office. 

"Can I have this one?" She asked, holding up the other one. Sam nodded, and Andi popped the tab, took a sip, then sat it on a table beside her. She sat in a chair in the corner, and waited for Sam to speak.

Carter opened her coke and poured it as she leaned against the desk. She looked up at Samuels, but didn't say anything. She sat the drink on the desk, and dropped the can in a trash can, then pushed off the desk and stepped forward.

"You have three minutes to tell me why I should do this." Carter said as she started pacing back and forth in front of the desk. 

"It's the smart thing to do, it's what we need to do, your people want it, and you're the only one that can do the job." Samuels said, crossing her legs as she leaned back in her chair. "I'm done."

"That's it? That's all you're going to give me?" Carter asked. 

"You already heard from a room full of people giving you excellent reasons why you should do it. I can't make you want the job, Sam, but you've already got it, and I don't think you're going to quit. All we're really doing is changing the job title and adding a little to the job description."

She paused, looked at her tablet, then back up at Sam. "There are direct, and immediate benefits. A chance for improved relations with two powerful groups in Pegasus being the most important, one of which could come with manpower and ships. That alone should sell you on the idea. Improved standing with the rest of the societies in Pegasus, because we've broken off from Earth, are standing on our own, and are taking steps to grow and expand, without taking from them. We'll also improve our trade prospects through these first two items."

"Yeah, those are valid points. And like you said, we're just changing the job title. How involved do we have to make this?"

"The full monte for the first few months, maybe the first year. After that, we can scale it back. I was planning on modeling the government and the court after the Grand Duchy of Monaco. They keep the pageantry to a minimum, with a few state occasions every few years. Then our independence day, and your birthday, of course."

"What kind of occasions?" Sam asked, beginning to sense that Samuels was trying to slip something past her.

"The coronation of course. That has to be a big, high fallutin' affair, and Atlantis is perfect for it. Then there's funerals, royal weddings, royal births. But most of those are decades off."

"We'll need to make up a guest list for th..." Samuels continued, changing the subject.

"Back up a minute. Did you say royal births?" 

"Yes...you'll have to produce an heir. Preferably in the first, but no later than the second year." Samuels said, looking at her steadily. "And we won't be able to fake it."

Sam went over to the door and jerked it open. "TAMMY!" She yelled at the top of her lungs.

Tammy came running into the room, and when she saw that Sam was okay, she grinned and said, "You bellowed?"

"She...she wants...she said I hav..." Carter sputtered, unable to make herself say the words.

"I told her she has to produce an heir." Andi said, trying not to smile.

"Well, I was going to wait a year bef..."

"What? You too?" Sam said, staring at her incredulously.

She went back over to the door, opened her mouth, then closed it. She stormed out, walking quickly down the hall to the kitchen.

"Those two say that I hav...they want...I don't...I can't! I'm not marr..." She said in a rush, pointing down the hall.

Tammy and Andi came in a moment later.

"What's she trying to say, Tammy?" Vala asked. "She's not making any sense."

"I've never seen her like this. What the hell happened?" Sheppard asked.

"Nor I." Teyla added

"No, tell me you didn't." Daniel said, looking at Andi.

Andi nodded. "I told her that she'll have to produce an heir."

"She doesn't appear to be taking it very well." Vala said.

"Ya think?" Sam shouted at her. "I don't want to have a baby! I'm not married. I can't have a baby!"

Tammy went over to the freezer and took out a bottle, then went over to the cabinet and got a small glass. She filled the glass, took Sam by the arm and led her to her seat. When she was settled, she handed her the glass and said, "Here, drink this."

She tossed down the drink, then coughed, her eyes watering. She looked back at Tammy over her shoulder, and held the glass out. Tammy filled it, then got a glass for herself and sat down. She filled the glass, sat the bottle on the table and turned to Sam.

"There's no other way, Sam." Andi said softly as she took her seat. "We have to have an heir to ensure the line of succession. And I think I'm about to make matters worse. Your not being married works to our advantage. The occasion may arise, before your heir reaches maturity, where..."

"Noooooo..." Sam said, staring at her wide eyed. She looked at Tammy

"It won't mean anything Sam, it will be purely political." Tammy said, taking her hands in both of hers. 

"Couldn't you have waited?" Daniel asked. "At least until you had her committed to the idea?"

"No, I won't do that. She has to know up front. And she may not be committed to the idea, but she's accepted it." Samuels told him.

"You know that this is the only way we can make your plans come to fruition, Sam." Andi said. 

"She's right Daniel. With what everyone said earlier, it does makes the most sense." Sam said. "It's just going to take me a while to get my head around it is all."

She looked at Samuels. "Can I use a donor? Or do I actually have to..."

"It's your realm, you can do damn near anything you please." Samuels said. "And I have a donor in mind already if we go that way. We'll get good offspring."

"Using a donor lets us screen out bad matches, look for undesirable traits and defects." Jennifer said. "I'm not talking about doctoring the DNA, just picking and choosing which little swimmers we let into the pond. and I think we should go in vitro anyway."

"Do you have a time table for all this, Andi?" Caldwell asked. "It seems like you're putting the cart before the horse. I'm not completely sure that this is a done deal yet."

"Forty-five days after the last threat is removed, we declare our independence, and announce Sam's election as ruler, queen, we can work out the language later. The coronation would be sixty days after that." Andi told him. "I have an outline that I've been playing with, more to entertain myself than anything else. I'll forward it to you later if you'd like."

"Yes, please." He said. "My daughter is a wedding planner and...we talk sometimes."

"I'm thinking that last threat is the Apollo. You're in a better position to tell us what they might bring to bear against us, that you didn't have. And what else the IOA may have to throw at us. I'll want to get with you and John later on that."

She looked at Sam. "We have two months before we have to get serious, so you have half that to make your final decision. I'll start making plans based on the presumption that you're going to agree. I think we can table this until we know for sure that we're going to need it."

"That's the best idea I've heard in the last half hour." Carter looked around the table. "This does not leave this room. Is that understood?"

She stood up and looked down the table at Daniel. "Let's get you going. I want to know more about the latest addition to my domain."

Samuels smiled as she looked down at her tablet, making a note of the date and time.

Interior-Gateroom

1455 Hours

It was more than an hour and a half before they heard from Daniel. They had had trouble bringing the outpost's power up, but they finally figured out that a breaker panel had tripped. Once they reset it, systems began coming up all over the compound.

Daniel told them that it would be several hours before he would be able to return. Carter objected at first, until he told her that he had already contacted Teal'c while the marines were working on the power problem, and that he had agreed to come to the outpost, and return with Daniel.

Carter had spent most of the time pacing back and forth behind the Ops tech's console. He had finally turned around and spoken to her. 

"Excuse me, colonel. Would you please sit down, or go in your office?" He said. "I'm sorry if I'm out of line, but asking me if I've heard anything every five minutes isn't going to make them dial in any faster."

She looked at him, then grinned. "You're right Chuck. I'm sorry." She said as she pulled a chair over and sat down. "Can I?" She asked, nodding toward the console.

"Feel free." He said, "No one's around."

She leaned back in her chair and put her feet up on the console.

"Would you talk to me, Chuck? I'm out of touch, I don't get to talk to anyone anymore." She said. "I want to get out and talk to people, but there just seems to be so much to do, ya know?"

"Well, it's been quiet around here lately, colonel, now that we're not using the gate as much, so we have time to look at the ancient systems. Being able to read ancient makes it a breeze. I've been wondering who I should ask if we can disconnect our equipment, and just use theirs."

She nodded. "Not a bad idea. We'd free up gear we can use somewhere else, and theirs is probably more efficient anyway. Write it up, and give me a list of what systems would be affected, what equipment is freed up, along with a risk assessment. From what I read, there was alot of jury rigging at the beginning, and I want to know if we can undo it safely."

"Peter Grodin and I did most of the work up here. He died the first year, he was on an ancient satellite when the Wraith blew it up. They had already taken out one Wraith cruiser, but the power went out on them before they could get any more." He told her. "There wasn't as much jury rigging as you'd think, and when we reworked the system after the replicators rebuilt Ops, we patched in clean, so taking it out won't be a problem."

He looked down and checked his console, made an adjustment, and spoke to a team on the north pier.

"Another storage facility, colonel." He told her. "Looks like raw materials and spare parts. That'll come in handy."

"I knew exploring would be a good idea. How's the map looking?" She asked.

Chuck threw up a projection of the city in front of them. "The grey areas are unmapped, green is manufacturing, red is storage, and blue is residential." he grinned at her as he dropped everything but the blue off the map. "There's sixty thousand empty dwellings out there, and we haven't gotten to them all yet. And they're nice places too, I've seen pictures. There's alot of chatter about people wanting to upgrade quarters. I mean, after four years of sharing a little cubby, I wouldn't mind having a place to myself."

"I'm going to get to that, and soon. We'll need to get an inventory before we can start moving people around. We can't have people scattered all over the place. We have to keep them together. I'm thinking about splitting them out across the three main piers." She paused, then looked over at him. "Can you tell me what else people are talking about? You don't have to, I'm just curious."

"They're happy to finally be doing something they think is worthwhile, and they like getting out into the city and looking around." He said. "Alot of us are scared, we're not sure if this is going to work out or not, but most of us think we should have done it along time ago."

"Are they talking about how they think we ought to run the city?"

"Business as usual. You tell us what to do, and we do it." He said as he took down the projection. He disabled an alarm, and turned back to her. "There's some talk about what kind of government you should establish. Do you have any idea what you're going to do on that, colonel?"

"I'm an American, I was raised in a democracy. But I work in a military operation, that's basically a benevolent dictatorship. I have people telling me that a democracy would take too long to get going, and be inefficient, and we really don't have the population to support that right now anyway. Apparently, there are better forms of government for an emerging state, that would improve our standing in Pegasus, and leave us some diplomatic options open."

He hesitated, then said, "You don't sound too excited about those other options, colonel. There's talk about one of them, I guess that's where your people got it."

"What do you think, Chuck? What kind of society would you like to live in?" She asked him.

"I'm Canadian, colonel. We have a parliament and a prime minister. But we're still part of the British Empire, and for the most part, loyal to the queen, even though she's just a figurehead." He paused, then grinned sheepishly. "I'm partial to royalty, ma'am. I've been voting for you in the polls that are going around."

"How am I doing? In the polls I mean."

Chuck turned to his terminal and brought up his email. He opened a folder, and opened the first one at the top.

"That's the latest, I haven't read it yet."

"Oh my god, it's worse than I thought." She said, then looked at him. "I probably shouldn't have said that, huh?" She closed the email, and scrolled through the list. "There's over a hundred emails on just this, Chuck." 

"Yes ma'am, it's a popular topic." Chuck said as he opened another folder.

Before he could show her more, the gate started to dial.

Interior-Office

1545 Hours

Carter was sitting behind her desk, going through her email. There were more than five hundred unopened mails, very few of them business related. She sorted them by topic, then started going through them, opening them randomly.

She spent the most time looking at the email list Chuck had shown her, but she found several on other lists that she forwarded to her staff. One was a detailed plan for relocating personnel around the city, and she thought the plan had merit. Another advocated importing refugees from worlds ravaged by the Wraith, and making them citizens. She marked both as priority, and added a note for her staff to contact the authors.




Confirming Carter Bk. 02 Daedalus Ch. 02



She went back to the first list, started with the oldest, and worked her way toward the top. A third of the way through, she started laughing, and by the time she had read all of them, she had tears running down her cheeks. 

Looking at the mail she had open in the screen, she clicked on the reply all button. She typed two words, sat back, and looked at the screen. After a moment, she stood up, pressed send, and closed her laptop.

Interior-Bedroom

1700 Hours

Tammy climbed onto the bed and slid up behind her, snuggling in close and laying her arm across her waist. She laid her head against her back and sighed.

"What's wrong?" Sam asked her.

"Nothing, just tired, and my brain hurts." Tammy said. "They've been wanting to come in here for an hour, but I told them that you were asleep."

"I wasn't, I'm just thinking."

"I know. I can tell when you're asleep. I just wanted them to leave you alone. All the big stuff is being handled, so they don't need you right now."

"How about you?"

"That's why I came in. I was going through withdrawal."

"You wanna make out?" Sam asked, wiggling her butt back against her.

"Maybe later, I just wanted to be with you. Is that okay?"

"Always. It feels nice just having you here."

"There's one thing you need to know." Tammy said, tightening her arm around her waist.

"What's that?"

"There was a riot in the mess hall."

"What?" Carter said, trying to sit up.

Tammy pushed her down, laughing softly.

"Well, not really a riot, more like a celebration that got out of control." Tammy told her.

"What brought that on?" Sam asked her.

"Like you don't know!" Tammy laughed again, pushing the pillow away from her and rolling over on top of her. She straddled her hips and started tickling her, making Sam scream and try to pull away. "What were you thinking? Sending that email out on an open list like that?"

"Stop!" Sam laughed, rolling over under her. "I couldn't help it! Have you read those mails?"

"I've read them." Tammy laughed, rolling off of her. "Andi almost came in her pants when she read yours. I thought she was having a heart attack at first."

"Sam?" Jennifer called from the doorway. "Can I come in?"

"Sure Jenn. What do you need?"

"We heard from Daniel, Teal'c made it to the outpost." Keller said looking at the floor.

"That's good." Carter said, rolling off the bed, and heading for the bathroom. "When are they coming through?"

"O'Neill is with him."

She stopped, then turned slowly, and walked over and sat on the bed. She held out her hand, and Tammy took it, sliding over next to her.

"What do you think? Send him home, or invite him to dinner?" She asked. "And on that note, I want bacon cheeseburgers and fries for dinner. Teal'c loves them."

"It's your call. But it depends on what he wants." Tammy said.

"Yeah, but I shit on him pretty hard last time I talked to him." Sam said.

"Jenn? You got anything?"

"This is Andi's gig. But Sheppard and Caldwell want to see him."

She thought about it for a minute, then nodded. "Tell them I'll be at the gate at seventeen-thirty. Let's see what he has to say."

She turned to Tammy. "Are there any more of those suits in your closet? If there aren't, take Vala and find us some. Same style, both in black. You mind going twinsies?"

Interior-Gateroom

1730 Hours

Sam and Tammy were standing at the foot of the stairs when the wormhole opened. They let the vortex die down, then walked toward the gate.

"I'm receiving Dr. Jackson's IDC, colonel."

"Open a channel, Chuck."

"Channel open, colonel."

"Is it safe, Daniel?" she asked.

"Yes, Sam. Just the three of us. The shields are up, so our people are going to be okay here. I'm bringing the depleted ZPM's back with me."

"Good to hear it." She looked over her shoulder. "Lower the shield and tell them, Chuck."

"Yes, ma'am."

"How come he gets to call you ma'am?" Tammy asked lightly.

"He means it, he was brought up well. Now shut up."

Jackson, Teal'c and O'Neill stepped through the gate at the same time, side by side.

"Wow, déjà vu." Carter said as she walked over to them. The wormhole closed behind them a moment later.

She let go of Tammy's hand and threw her arms around Teal'c's neck. "It's so good to see you again Teal'c! I've missed you." She turned her head and looked at Jackson. "Daniel, I was so worried when you took so long dialing back. I was afraid I'd have to negotiate with them to get you back."

She released Teal'c, and stepped back, taking Tammy's hand again.

She looked over at O'Neill, and he gave her a weak smile and a wave. She smiled back.

"Teal'c, Jack, this is my girlfriend, Tammy Ford."

Teal'c nodded, and O'Neill held out his hand. "Nice to meet you." He said.

Tammy let go of Sam's hand and went over to stand in front of them. She seemed near tears. Suddenly, she threw an arm around both of them, hugging them tightly. "Thank you for keeping her safe." She whispered, then let them go and stepped back over to Sam. Their hands joined again, and they both smiled.

"Nice outfits." O'Neill said.

Sam grinned, and looked at Teal'c. "No staff?" She said, lifting an eyebrow.

"It did not seem appropriate. Col. Carter."

"It's just Sam, or Samantha now. Family doesn't use ranks." She turned and looked behind her. "You can stand down major." She said to Lorne.

O'Neill looked to either side, then behind him, noticing the fifty marines surrounding the gate. His eyes went wide when he saw a dozen snipers stand up around the balcony overlooking the gate.

"Just being careful." Sam said as she turned and headed for the porter.

"Teal'c, I haven't told Ronin that you were coming. Would you mind if he joined us for dinner?"

"I would be most pleased to see Ronin Dex again, Samantha. I trust he is doing well?"

"I'll let you decide that when you see him." She said as Tammy tapped in the codes for the tower. The porter doors opened a moment later. "We'll have to do dinner over in the conference room. There's not enough room at the table in the kitchen for everyone."

"I don't think I'll ever to get used to that." O'Neill muttered as they stepped out into the living room.

"Muscles!" Vala screamed as she ran across the living room. She leapt the last couple of steps, wrapping her arms and legs around him, almost knocking him over.

"Vala Mal Doran. I have missed your company." He said quietly, holding her easily in his arms.

Vala let him go and turned to Daniel. She put her arms around his waist and hugged him, burying her face in his chest.

"This is new." O'Neill said as he watched them.

Daniel put his arms around her and held her. "I'm okay. Everything came up like it was supposed to, and I came back as fast as I could."

She nodded into his chest, but didn't let him go.

"Daniel, Vala, would you take Teal'c into the kitchen? He should know everyone. Well, maybe not Andi." She turned to O'Neill. "Let's go in my office, Jack." She said.

Interior-Office

1730 Hours

Tammy waved O'Neill toward the chair in the corner, and pull another one closer. She sat down, looking over at Sam.

"I'm sorry, Jack. I was pretty rough on you the last time we talked." Sam said as she pushed some papers aside and sat on her desk. 

"Nah, you were right. And you said it to my face. In front of a room full of people. On video. Which hundreds of people have watched." He said with a wry smile.

"Yeah. That was bad. But what are you doing here now?" She asked him.

"I retired again. I'm not going to fight my friends." He said. "I was on Chulak when Daniel messaged Teal'c, so I asked if I could tag along."

"What do you want, Jack?"

"Well, as much as I like to fish, I don't want to do it as a career. I was wondering if you might have any use for a beat up old general."

Sam looked over at Tammy. She nodded, grinning broadly. 

"We'd be glad to have you, general." Tammy said.

"Thank you." He said, smiling warmly at her. "But I'd like to hear it from her."

He looked back over at Carter and waited.

She looked at him for a moment, then stood up and moved behind her desk. She typed at her keyboard for a moment, made a note on a piece of paper and stood up. She came around and stood in front of O'Neill.

"Access code. You'll need it to get in and out of this part of the building." She said as she handed him the piece of paper. "We'll get you a suite downstairs later. And a job? I'll have to see what the senior staff have to say about that." 

"A suite you say. Sweet." He said, grinning at Tammy.

Interior-Office

1750 Hours

They had taken O'Neill into the kitchen and introduced him to Andi, then adjourned back to the office with Andi and Sheppard.

"You all saw my mail. I'm in. And I hope to god you're right and this doesn't blow up in our faces." She said, looking at each of them.

"I want a vote on it, tomorrow. We have a meeting in the auditorium, and everyone votes. And there better not be more votes than there are bodies." She said, looking at Samuels. "I'd like the ballots kept simple, yes, no, a space for a write in, and two lines at the bottom for a signature, and printed name. I want to save them for posterity, I want our descendents to know who made the world they're going to live in."

"That's a good idea, Sam." Andi said, making a note. "We do need to start looking at what history is going to say about us."

"We're going to keep the spin to a minimum. We fuck up, we admit it. We get something right, people will know. We won't have to say anything." She paused, and picked up a piece of paper from her desk and handed it to Andi. "We should have the court in place before we hold the vote, and introduce the ones we can immediately after. And I want to change your time line."

"What do you have in mind? It's going to take time to make the arrangements for the coronation, that's not something you can do in a week." Andi said. "I need at least the sixty days I told you, and was going to use alot of the other time to work out details."

"You can have your sixty days. I'm closing the front end of the window." Carter said. 

"How soon?" Sheppard asked. "That's based on the last threat being removed, so Andi could still have some time."

Carter nodded. "I want to announce our independence seventy-two hours after we remove the last threat against us. I'm thinking we'll see the Apollo in the next three to five days. I need you and Andi to talk to O'Neill and Caldwell, and find out what else Earth can scrape up to send at us. I want that done tonight."

"Sixty-five days. That's going to be tight." Samuels muttered.

"You can do it. I already know what I'm going to wear, all you have to do is invite people and make some snacks. How hard can that be?" Carter grinned at her.

"What do you have in mind, Sam? For your outfit I mean." Tammy asked. 

"The outfit I wore the night we took over. Simple, stately, I don't know about saintly, but it was effective." Carter said. "Will you read the vows? If our people see me answering you, they'll know I mean it. And I want Bra'tac to present the crown, O'Neill the scepter. Or whatever symbols of state you decide on."

"Oh my god! This is gold! Manna from heaven. I mean..." Samuels said, typing furiously on her tablet.

"Like I said," Sam went on, ignoring Andi's outburst. "I want the court in place. John, talk to Caldwell and tell him what I have in mind. Teyla too, she seems to be smitten with him. I didn't expect that." She paused again, smiling to herself. "There's another name I want to add to the court, but I'm going to keep it to myself for now."

"I wish I knew what I did with..."

"I have it." Tammy said. "I figured we were gonna need it, and even if we didn't, it was something we should keep."

"Thank you. It was meant in fun, but when I thought about it later..."

"I know, that's why I kept it." Tammy said, glancing at Sheppard.

Samuels was looking back and forth between them. "What are you talking about?"

"Don't worry about it, doc." Sheppard said as he stood up. "I'll go talk to Caldwell and Teyla. I'll get with the mess too. Dinner at twenty hundred? Or shortly after, we'll need a few minutes before for this."

"Thank you, John." Carter said. "We're finished. You two get with Steven and Jack after dinner, I think if we take out the Apollo, we're golden."

"Take, not take out." Sheppard said as he stepped toward the door. "Caldwell has a plan. We'll talk to you about it later."

Interior-Conference Room

1900 Hours

Everyone stood when Sam and Tammy entered the conference room. Sam was carrying a spoon in her free hand.

Caldwell and Teyla stepped away from the table and met them halfway.

"What's going on?" O'Neill asked Sheppard.

"Shhhh. Just watch."

"Are you ready Steven?" Tammy asked.

Caldwell nodded, then looked over at Teyla. She smiled back at him.

"We are ready, Samantha."

Teyla stepped to the side, and Caldwell dropped to one knee. "My queen," he said, bowing his head, "I offer my ship and my fealty in your service."

Sam reached out with her spoon and touched him lightly with it on either shoulder. 

"Rise Sir Steven, Lord of the Admiralty." Tammy said.

Caldwell stood, and Teyla took her place at his side, her hand slipping into his. They bowed together, and stepped back, then returned to their places at the table.

Tammy turned to Ronin. "Ronin Dex, step forward."

Ronin looked surprised, but stepped over in front of them.

"Do you wish to join our service, Ronin Dex?" Tammy asked.

"I don't have a ship, and I don't know what fealty is." He said quietly, his head bowed.

Sam smiled at him, and nodded to Tammy.

"Do you pledge to serve us faithfully and well, as you have in the past?" Tammy asked.

"I do."

"Please kneel."

Ronin dropped to one knee, and Sam touched him lightly on each shoulder with her spoon.

"Rise Sir Ronin, Guardian of the Realm."

Sam handed Tammy her spoon as Ronin stood, and she slipped it into her pocket. Sam stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him, laying her head on his chest.

"My life for you and our city." He said softly, putting his arms around her.

"I won't let it come to that, Ronin. I need you. We all need you." She whispered. 

She held him a moment longer, then stepped back. Ronin took a step back, then returned to his place at the table.

Tammy led Sam over to the table, pulled out her chair, then took her place beside her.

She smiled as she looked around the table. "Teal'c, how would the Jaffa High Council receive my request for you as ambassador to my court?"

"Such a request would be well received. You are known by all Jaffa as a capable and fearsome warrior. But I feel that Master Bra'tac would be a better choice for that position." Teal'c said formally. "Is it your intention to establish a government here on Atlantis?"

"Yes, we will be doing that shortly, and I intend to establish diplomatic relations with the Jaffa. With the Athosians, you will be first among friends. And I had another position in mind for Master Bra'tac. I'd like you to ask him to join us here, in Atlantis, to act as senior advisor, along with Gen. O'Neill. Would he consider such an offer?"

"I believe that Master Bra'tac would be pleased to spend his final days in the company of O'Neill. To offer his wisdom to someone who will listen...yes, he will accept." Teal'c said with a smile.

She turned and looked at O'Neill. "Would you consider such a position, general?"

O'Neill looked at her, then a slow smile spread across his face. "I would be pleased to be put out to pasture with the likes of Master Bra'tac, and share our wisdom with you."

"Don't go grazing yet, Jack. There's still work we need you to do." Carter smiled back.

"We're laying the foundation for something I hope will be great, and endure long into the future." Carter said as she looked at each of them. "The strong backs at this table that have thrown their lot in with me will be that foundation. The people out in the city will be our mortar, binding us together, because we serve them, not the other way around."

"The food will be here shortly, and before it arrives. I'd like to review our progress, and plans." She said. 

"Today we secured St. Louis, our gateway into the Milky Way, our trade route. I would hope that we can begin trade with the Jaffa within the year, we will have many goods and services to offer them. We are already exploring the true wonders of Atlantis, and will have all it's production and manufacturing facilities operational shortly. I intend to invite the peoples of worlds ravaged by the Wraith to settle here with us, and those that choose to, may join us in making those goods."

"We will also be taking our second city, Anchorage, in the next few weeks. That's not as ominous as it sounds." She said. "The small group that has been occupying it has oppressed the local population, forcing them into servitude, living under horrible conditions. We're going to change that. Our first act of goodwill. The oppressors will be removed, and the local population brought into the city, and taught how to operate it's systems. We've already begun giving them the gene therapy to make that possible."

"I sent out an email today, to a list that has sprung up, advocating what I have decided to do, and am doing. It was quite short, only two words." She looked down the table at Samuels. "For those of you that haven't seen it..."

Samuels pressed a button on the table beside her, and the email came up on a large screen at the foot of the table. 

It read: I accept.

Interior-Balcony

2050 Hours

"Queen." O'Neill said, as he puffed on a cigar. "Not what I was expecting, but she seems to have dropped into the role comfortably enough."

"It's not official, we still have to hold a vote. That's tomorrow, but it's pretty much a done deal. And this wasn't her idea. As a matter of fact, until today, she was dead set against it." Sheppard said. "Especially when she heard about the heir."

"Heir, you say? As in progeny?" O'Neill asked. "She's never shown any interest before."

"She still doesn't, it seems." Caldwell laughed, looking around to see who was in earshot. "I've never seen her at a loss like that. I never understood the expression, having an apoplexy. I think I do now."

Ronin came over, a cigar clenched in his teeth.

O'Neill looked him up and down. "You look neater than the last time I saw you." He said. "Didn't you use to have more hair? And a beard?"

"Yeah." Ronin said. "I cut it." He turned and walked over to join Tammy and Sam.

"Doesn't talk much, does he?" O'Neill said. "Guardian of the Realm?"

"Good choice. I'm Lord of the Admiralty though." Caldwell said.

"First Knight of the Realm, and Commander of the Royal Forces." Sheppard said, tapping his chest. "And your boss."

"Lord of the Admiralty sounds cooler. And I'm dating an ambassador." Caldwell said with a smirk.

"I think I'm going to get another burger." O'Neill said, stepping around Sheppard, and heading inside.

"Going somewhere general?" Samuels asked as she stepped toward the door.

"It's Jack. Just getting another burger. And they're starting to compare the size of their titles. That's gonna get ugly fast." He said. "Care to join me?"

"I'd love to. I was headed that way myself."

"So you're the architect of all this?" He said as they moved along the table, putting their burgers together.

"No, I'll accept fault for putting her the in position where this could happen, but we're where we are because of a series of events that fell into place in the right order. The right people were in place at the right time, and everything just kind of snowballed."

"The fact that the IOA turned down an offer that would have benefitted the people of two galaxies, and decided to kidnap the author of the plan behind it, well, that was just the fuel that fed the fire."




Confirming Carter Bk. 02 Daedalus Ch. 02



"I'm not going to defend the IOA. I'll just say that they have reasons to be afraid of her. Holding back information like her work on STM bridges, which I don't understand by the way, but people tell me is really cool, and really important, is a big one." 

"She did the work on her own. Why should she share it if she doesn't want to?"

"How about she used research and resources that didn't belong to her to...wait." He sat his burger down. "I don't want to do this. Samantha Carter is my friend, I've hurt her over the years, but I didn't come here to make her the bad guy. So I'm not going to do this."

He turned around and walked out, and went across to the balcony. 

"Remind me to never talk to your shrink again. Ever." O'Neill said as he came up to Sam and Tammy. "Can I just say I'm sorry, for everything, and get kind of a blanket 'it's okay, I forgive you'?" He said. "The list is too long, and I know I'll..."

"I forgive you." Sam said. "And it wasn't so bad, Jack. I knew what I was getting into, and I did it anyway. It's okay. You're here now, when we need you. Just like you always are. Thank you."

He looked down at their hands, and was smiling as he looked back up at them.

"You look happy Sam." He said. "I've seen you laugh, cry, smile, but I can't say I've ever seen you happy. You've done well here, you have people around you that love you, and that's what counts in the end."

He looked at Tammy. "Don't ever let go of her hand. You've been holding it since I met you, and I hope you're holding after I'm long gone."

"We hold each other's hand, Jack. I need her as much as she needs me. But I won't. And you're going to be with us for a long time, so don't talk like that." Tammy said. She reached out and took his hand. "You look like you could use a little too. Stay here with us, we don't have to talk if you don't want."

"Queen Samantha, huh?" He said. "It's got a nice ring to it."

"No, Col. Samantha Carter, Queen of Atlantis, is the official title. She earned the rank, she should wear it." Andi said as she came up. She held a plate out to O'Neill. "You forgot your burger, general."

"I think Sheppard and Caldwell are getting ready to fight." Ronin said as he came up.

"Told you." O'Neill said to Andi.

"John, Steven, would you come over here please?" Sam said lightly, not raising her voice.

They turned to look at her, then came over and stood in front of her.

"Is my Guardian of the Realm going to have to kick the shit out of my two senior military commanders?" She asked them.

"No, colonel." they said together, looking at the ground, squirming like a pair of little boys that had been caught doing something they shouldn't by their mother.

"If I hear about something like this happening again, I'll demote you both to page, and have you washing jumpers for a month."

"I didn't know you had that many jumpers." O'Neill said.

"They can wash the same one over and over. Would you like to join them?" She asked him.

"No ma'am." 

"Dance with me." She said to Tammy as she walked away.

"Don't call her ma'am." Sheppard said. "She doesn't like it."

"It makes her feel old." Caldwell said.

"It does not!" Sam and Tammy said at the same time.

Interior-Col Sheppard's Suite

2210 Hours

"Nice place, John." O'Neill said. "You decorate it yourself?"

"No, It was like this when I moved in." Sheppard said, looking around. "I actually haven't moved in yet. Most of my stuff is still over in the Central Tower. I haven't had time to bring it all over. I'm gonna get my Johnny Cash poster framed, and put over there by the hall I think."

Sheppard led him over to a couch where Andi was sitting. Caldwell had his laptop open and was scrolling through documents. He looked up as Sheppard sat beside him. 

"I'm mailing what I have to you and Andi, John. I already copied the intel package we got from Anderson, the special forces commander, onto my tablet so Jack can look through it while we talk. Anderson told me that he had orders to give that to you. So I think we can count the Americans as allies."

He looked over at O'Neill. "I wasn't told to surrender my ship, at least not in so many words. but the messages I received from the SGC made it plain that they wouldn't be upset about it. The IOA was a different story."

"You go ahead and do that, Steven." Sheppard said. "Jack...damn sir, calling you that is going to take some getting used to."

"Tell me about it." Caldwell muttered.

"Relax boys," O'Neill laughed. "I'm retired. Again. You can call me general, or Jack, it doesn't matter."

"Yes sir," Sheppard said. "We need information. We know the Apollo is coming, we just don't know when. We already have a plan in place, we just need to review it with the colonel, and get her approval. There's a few things we need to nail down before we can do that, but we'll be ready before Apollo gets here."

"What Andi and I need to know from you and Steven, is after the Apollo, what assets can they send at us? To our knowledge, Daedalus and Apollo are the only two active ships the IOA has...had. Whatever. We know that the General Hammond is twelve months from completion based on the last updates we received. But they can bring it off the line sooner, we're thinking six months at a minimum even if they work on it twenty-four seven."

"It's going to be longer than that. They're behind schedule." O'Neill said. "And you want to know what intergalactic ships they can beg, borrow, or steal? None. The Jaffa have half a dozen that were captured from the Goa'uld, but only two of those are operational last we heard. You can ask Teal'c about that." 

He leaned back, stretching his arm over his head. "I've already spoken to Thor, and the Asgard won't get involved. They consider this an internal matter, kind of like a family squabble. And they're really fond of our girl. Thor said he might drop in to say hi once you get things worked out."

He turned to Samuels. "You might want to put him on the guest list. Sorry, I don't know his address."

Interior-Kitchen

2210 Hours

"Andi got Jack set up in a suite down on forty-one near Tammy. I think he's sacked out already." Sheppard said as he sat down. "Where is everyone? Steven is downstairs, Andi said she had a pipe with her name on it. I'm still not sure if I like our chief planner being a doper, but she seems to function well enough." He grinned. "You seen my better half?"

"She got a call from the Infirmary." Tammy said. "She took out of here about half an hour ago, and we haven't heard from her. Teal'c is down with Daniel and Vala. I think Teyla is down there too."

"Is she mad at me? She's been avoiding me all day. Even at dinner. She spent all her time with Vala and Teyla afterwards too."

"What did you get from Jack? We have anything to worry about?" 

"No, not a thing." Sheppard said, shaking his head. "Except maybe a guilty conscience."

"How do you mean?" Tammy asked.

"We're leaving our homeworld undefended." he said. "They only had two operational starships. The Jaffa and the Lucien Alliance both have hundreds. So on the grand scale, I guess it doesn't make much difference I guess."

"I can see where you'd think that, John." Sam said. "But it's not us doing it. We're defending our homeworld. This one. And if push comes to shove, I'll go defend Earth, but I'm not giving Daedalus back, and if you're serious about taking Apollo, I'll keep it too."

"They don't have that much to worry about. The Lucien Alliance is the only real threat right now, and they're quiet at the moment." She said, putting her hands behind her head and leaning back in her chair. 

"I agree, but I'm glad to hear you say we'd help them. O'Neill said the Asgard are going to sit this out. He said he spoke to Thor. They're looking at it like a family squabble."

"A family squabble? Thor is picking up too many human euphemisms." Carter laughed, leaning over and bumping shoulders with Tammy. "You'll like Thor, He's actually got a sense of humor, most of the Asgard don't."

"I just wish they'd wear pants." Sheppard said.

Interior-Bedroom

2350 Hours

"I want to do it with you." Tammy whispered into Sam's back.

"Couldn't you have said something earlier? We already fooled around twice today." Sam said, bringing her hand up and pressing it to her breast.

"No, I want to have a baby with you...at the same time, I mean. We could do it together."

Sam stiffened, then lifted Tammy's arm and rolled over so she was facing her.

"You'd do that? Do you really want a baby, or are you just trying to make it easier on me?"

"I want to do it with you. And yes, I want a baby." Tammy said. "He's going to need a little sister to protect, so he learns right. And that's how we're going to raise them, no matter what anyone else says."

"She's going to want more. When she has the fir..." Her head came up, and she stared at Tammy, her eyes wide.

"What?" 

"I sent you down there. You were in the power room today with the ZPM's." Sam said. "Oh my god, I wasn't thinking, I was just spitting out orders and..."

"It's okay, Sam. I'm okay." Tammy said, pulling her closer. "I promise, nothing happened, I didn't feel a thing."

"You left the room after you got them put in? Like last time? You didn't stay and watch?"

"Yes, every time. I went down the hall just to be safe, I promise." Tammy told her, stroking her hair gently.

"Oh, thank god." Sam breathed. "We can't do that anymore, neither of us can go near there again. We'll have to send someone else and do it remotely from now on."

They lay quietly, holding each other in the dark.

"We're going to have to tell Jenn, probably tomorrow." Sam said. "You're catching up fast. You should already be wearing ear plugs, and you match me when we workout. I'm surprised no one has noticed."

"I've got them watching you, and I'm slacking off when we workout. Jenn has said something a couple times when I've worked out with her, but I just blew it off. Do you think she'll tell Andi?"

"No, if we ask her to keep it to herself, she will. She's gonna be pissed though. She may fire you." Sam said seriously.

"That's okay, my girlfriend is a local bigshot. She'll support me."

"I hope so. You want a little girl? That would be nice. I was an only child till I was ten, and hated it."

"I want two." Tammy said as she turned onto her back, cradling Carter in her arm. "You can just have one if you want, but I want two."

"We'll have to see, I never really liked kids. What if I don't like him?"

"You'll love him. You won't be able to help it." Tammy said, kissing her softly on the forehead. "You love me don't you?"

"That's easy." Sam said snuggling in and closing her eyes. "Let's go to sleep. I want to get up early and workout before breakfast."

They lay quietly, both drifting to sleep. Sam opened her eyes and looked over at Tammy.

"Do you really slack off when we workout?" She asked.

Tammy just smiled, and didn't answer.

(-)

That's all for Chapter Two. Please read Chapter Three for more of this story.

I hope you liked this episode. Please post a comment so I know if I'm the right track with this...



Confirming Carter Bk. 02 Daedalus Ch. 03



Sam and Tammy tell Dr. Keller what they've done, Ronin gets a love interest, and Andi's plan is put to a vote...with an unexpected result...

Confirming Carter Book Two Daedalus

Chapter Three

Interior-Dr. Keller's Suite

0610 Hours

"Jenn...Jennifer, wake up." Carter said, shaking her gently.

"Huh? Sam? What's goi..." Keller sat up, looking around, seeing that she was in her own room. "Is something wrong? Are you..."

"I'm fine." Sam said. "We need to talk to you. Tammy's making coffee. We'll be in the kitchen."

It was almost five minutes before Jennifer came into the kitchen, and Tammy laughed when she did.

"Are you wearing bunny slippers?" She asked, barely able to contain herself.

"Yes, and shut up. I like them."

She poured a cup of coffee and sat down across from them at the table. 

"What are you doing here?" She asked.

"We have to talk to you. Tell her Tammy." Sam said.

"You tell her, it was your idea. I just went along with it." Tammy said back.

"Will one of you please tell me what you've done..."

Keller's mouth snapped shut as she stared at them. 

"I guess we don't have to tell her now." Tammy said. "I think she figured it out."

"When?" Keller asked.

"Two weeks ago." Tammy said. "We did five transfusions before I started feeling the effects, then we stopped."

"Are you out of your fucking minds?" She asked. "Is that's why you've been doing daily scans on both of you?"

"Yes and yes." Sam said. She looked over at Tammy. "She's taking it better than I expected."

Keller stared at Tammy. "I can't believe you'd do something that irresponsible. Do you have any idea what a risk you're taking? Why would you do something like that?"

"Because she loves me. And I asked her too." Sam said. "I wanted her to come with me, not just take care of me."

"I know this violates medical ethics, Jenn. But so does everything else we've been doing." Tammy told her. "And I did it because she asked me to come with her on her journey. I want to go with her. We're going to have a long, wonderful life together."

"What if you react differently? What if you die Tammy? Did you think about that?" Keller asked quietly.

"No. Because it's not going to happen, it would have started already. Have you noticed any difference in me over the past week?" Tammy asked her. "Think about it for a minute."

She got up and poured them all a fresh cup of coffee, then got the cream from the fridge, and sugar from the pantry. Sam scooped sugar into their cups as Tammy added cream.

"Is that why you keep blowing me off when I ask about our workouts? You seem livelier after, and you just power right through everything. Are you wearing ear plugs yet?"

"She really should be." Sam said. "I can see her trying to concentrate sometimes. Jenn, we had to tell you because you're our doctor, and you have to know. Will you help us, if we get in trouble?"

"How many of the tests you sent me this week were yours, Tammy?" Keller asked.

Tammy hesitated, looked at Sam, then back at Keller. "All of them."

"I'll be right back." Jennifer said. She left the room and was back a moment later with her laptop and a tablet. "Bring up the first tests you sent me this week, then look at the last tests you know you sent me on Sam."

Tammy went through the reports, then looked up at Jennifer.

"That's right. You're already ahead of where she was at the same time." Keller said. "I'll be your doctor, there's no way I can say no. But I don't know how to handle this." She paused, then looked back at them. "You're sitting here because you don't want me to tell Andi."

"Yes. But Jenn, I don't need to be stimulated like she does, and my hormone and endorphin levels don't ramp up and down like Sam's do." Tammy said. "That's what I've been wondering about."

"You started after her korathis levels had leveled out, she's no longer producing as vigorously, just maintaining. And you're not having to do the stimulations as much, you're down to once a day, or so Andi tells me. Because you two withhold information from me." Keller told her. "You also have a three year history with it, your levels were near constant anyway."

She looked at them as she took her tablet back. "I'm mad as hell about this, but there's not a damn thing I can do about it now." She said, closing her laptop and sliding both machines out of the way. "Go get me complete scans, and a full workup on both of you. Do Tammy first, in case anyone comes in. I want them in half an hour. And I want you to start wearing a bracelet too, Tammy."

She looked over at Carter. "I guess she's been teaching you how to take blood, run tests?"

Carter nodded.

"Good, so I don't have to." She got up and poured another cup of coffee. "Get out of here. I need to think."

Interior-Col. Sheppard's Suite

0645 Hours

"Wha..." Sheppard grunted as she slid into bed with him.

"It's just me." Jennifer said. "It's not time to get up yet."

"What's wrong?" He asked.

"Nothing...except your boss and my nurse are a couple of idiots." She said as she pulled the sheet up over her. "Just hold me, and go back to sleep."

"Okay." He said, not completely awake. He put his arm across her, pulling her closer as he laid his cheek against her back, and pressed his hips against her, sighing happily.

"And put that thing away." She said. "I'm not in the mood."

Interior-Gym

0940 Hours

Caldwell and O'Neill came up the stairs to the gym and saw that many of the staff had already had the same idea. Teyla was on the bench press, while Sam and Tammy were spotting each other on calisthenics as they rotated between sets.

Caldwell pointed, and O'Neill saw that Ronin was down at the end of the gym sparing with a small woman wearing a sports bra and a pair of sweat pants. She was barefoot, and her hair was tied back in a ponytail.

He dodged a leg sweep, and came back at her with a jumping punch. She moved in under it, planted three quick kicks in his solar plexus, then punched him rapidly in the face three times with each fist. He went down in a heap.

She stepped up over him, holding out her hand. "Let's try it again." She said. "How many times do I have to tell? Think with your head, not with your balls!" 

She pulled him to his feet and pulled his head down in front of hers. "I'm smaller and faster than you are, I can run circles around you. You have to overwhelm me, get me on the ground, then subdue me. Can you get that through that thick skull of yours?"

"Yeah. You fight better than me."

"No, I fight different than you." She pulled his face closer and kissed him on the forehead. "One day, you're gonna run into a guy my size that fights like me, and I don't want you to get hurt, so we need to improve your technique."

"Who the hell is that?" O'Neill asked, trying not to laugh.

"Amelia Banks." Tammy said, coming over and picking up a water bottle. She tossed it over her shoulder, and Sam caught it as she came up behind her. "She's been kicking his ass for an hour. I think he's in love."

She took a drink, swished it around in her mouth and spit it out, then up ended the bottle, drinking half of it before she stopped.

"Watch this." Tammy said she said to O'Neill. She picked up a water bottle, tossed it up and leapt in the air, spinning and kicking it in mid-air. The bottle flew toward the end of the room, and Amelia turned, grabbed it out of the air and tossed it to Ronin.

"Thanks. Got another one for me?" She called.

Tammy laughed, picked up another bottle and threw it the length of the room to her. Amelia nodded her thanks, and motioned for Ronin to sit.

"Which part was I supposed to be impressed by? They were both pretty kewl." O'Neill said.

"What are you going to do today general? Got anything in mind?" She asked. She looked over at Caldwell. "You're late Steven. You can start with sit-ups. Two sets of fifty. You've got six minutes."

"I was just gonna do the bike for a while." He said.

Tammy nodded and walked over to a bench and dug in a gym bag for a moment, then came back over to him.

"Take off your shirt." She said. When he hesitated, she put her hands on her hips and glared at him. "Come on, we don't have all day. We have to get downstairs for the vote in an hour or so. You can take it off, or I can. I don't care."

He looked over at Sam, but she just looked at him. 

O'Neill shrugged, and pulled his sweatshirt over his head.

"The tank too." Tammy said.

He pulled it off, dropping both at his feet.

"Not bad, getting a little soft around the middle." She looked up at him. "You're what? Fifty-eight?"

"Fifty-three."

She took his hand and wrapped a velcro band around his wrist, then picked up a tablet. "Bike number one." She said as she tapped at the screen. "Twenty minutes at ten miles an hour. If you feel chest pains, or the alarm goes off, stop and lay on the floor, we'll be on you before you know what's happening. Go."

She turned and yelled across the gym to Teyla. "I'm hitting the showers. Caldwell does two sets of fifty pushups, then two more sets of fifty sit-ups, then ten at ten on the bike. O'Neill does twenty at ten. Watch him, I don't want him to stroke out."

She looked at Sam. "Don't be long, we have to get ready." Sam nodded at her back as she turned and walked away.

"Welcome to hell, Jack." Sam smiled as walked by him, smacking him on the ass.

"Gen. O'Neill." Teyla called. 

He looked over at her, and she pointed to the bike, then turned her attention back to Caldwell. O'Neill walked over and climbed on the bike, watching the speedometer as he started to pedal.

Interior-Bedroom

0940 Hours

"Spread 'em." Tammy said, turning Sam under the showerhead, then pushing her toward the shower wall.

Sam leaned forward, pressing her hands against the wall, working her feet back, and spreading them wide.

Tammy stepped close behind her, reaching around with one sponge mitt, and stroking it slowly over her stomach. Her other hand slid slowly up over her arm, then back down the underside.

"We have our work cut out for us with Caldwell and O'Neill. Especially O'Neill..." She said.

"Don't talk about them right now. Wash me. You know how much I like this." Sam panted.

"You want cum, don't you?" Tammy whispered, leaning in close to her ear. Her hand ran down across Sam's stomach, dipped into the curly hairs of her pubes, then drew back, making her gasp.

"Oh, you bitch!" Sam panted. "You know what working out does to me. Please, just get me off. I need it Tammy. Please?" She begged, her head hanging down, her legs beginning to shake.

"I know, and I like seeing you like this." She whispered huskily in her ear. "You like this better than when I make you squirt, or eat you out. That's just a cum. But when we do this, everything in clicking, you're cruisin' on that endorphin high, and your whole body just sings as I touch you." Her hand dipped down, the rough sponge brushing across the fleshy lips of her pussy, making her whimper.

Her other hand was stroking across her nipples, her fingers pinching them through the thin mitt. "Here it comes, Sam. Are you ready? I'm going to make you cum now." Tammy whispered. 

She let the mitt drop off her hand, and her soapy fingers slipped between the fleshy lips of her pussy, seeking out her clit. She strummed it lightly, then pinched it gently between her fingers as she ground herself against her ass, letting her feel the heat of her own desire against her.

Carter was trembling violently, her legs shaking visibly as Tammy caressed her. She was gasping for air, shaking her head as she whimpered pitifully.

"You're almost ready, Sam. I can feel it, you're almost there." Tammy said as she started rubbing her clit with firmer strokes. "Let it happen, don't fight it, you know you want it. Come on, cum for me." She ground her fingertips against the stiff bud of her clit, moving them in slow circles, pressing harder as she slid them across the tender nubbin.

"NNNgggghhhhngggnnn." Sam grunted, then gasped, tears bursting from her eyes and streaming down her cheeks. "Ohhhhh...I...nugh...Ta...Nnngggghhhhnnnn!"

She started to collapse, but Tammy held her up, her fingers not stopping their steady movement across her clit. Tammy slowed her pace, replacing her fingertips with the length of her fingers, massaging them up and down, running them slowly over her throbbing clit bud as she let Sam ease down from the peak.

She moved her hand over her upper body, soaping her up slowly. She kept her other hand between her legs, cupping her throbbing mound gently. 

"Let me wash you. Breathe, that's right, breathe. Relax. That was a good one, wasn't it?" Tammy said as she ran her hand over her tummy, then up under each arm. "I'm going to stand you up, can you stay up, or do I need to hold you?"

"Nnnuuh."

Tammy drew her hand slowly from between her legs, bring it up across her stomach. She turned them, using her feet to guide her over under the spray. She held her up, rinsing her off, then turning her around, and rinsing her back.

When she was clean of soap, she picked her up and carried her into the bedroom, laying her on the bed. She leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. "Rest, you can finish your shower when you're ready. I'll be right back."

She went back into the bathroom and stepped into the shower, grabbing a mitt and soaping up quickly. She rinsed off, then washed her hair, rinsed, and shut off the spray.

Grabbing a towel as she stepped out, she dried herself as she went back into the bedroom. Sam was sitting up on the side of the bed, and looked up at her as she came in.

"Thanks." She smiled. "I really needed that. And it was sooooooo good!" She fell back on the bed, throwing her arms out as she started laughing.

"Come on." Tammy said, reaching over and grabbing her hand. "You have to get cleaned up. For real this time. Come on, get going." She said, pulling her to her feet and pushing her toward the bathroom.

She watched as Sam skipped into the bathroom, then started drying her hair.

"Tammy? Can I come in?" Samuels asked from the doorway.

Tammy walked over to the door, running the towel across her back.

"Sure Andi. What's up?" She asked.

"That's getting to be a ritual. You've done it almost ten days in a row now." Andi said, looking at her closely.

"Yeah, she enjoys it. Cumming right after she works out charges up her batteries, and she's good for the day. I'm not doing the midday or evening sessions on days we do this."

"And you're making love every night too. For at least an hour." Samuels said.

"Is this really any of your business, Andi? I think you might be crossing a line here." Tammy said, putting towel the around her neck and holding onto the ends.

"It is my business, and I think it's a good thing. I was going to ask you to keep it up." Samuels said seriously. "And I'd like you to block in an hour of you time in the middle of the day. Take her off, just the two of you. Have sex, talk, cuddle, but that time is just for you. No business, don't let anything else intrude. I'll talk to the senior staff and block what we can, because I want this to happen."

Tammy whipped her towel from around her neck, throwing it over Andi's, pulling her closer. "You're up to something, Andi. But I don't care." Tammy laughed.

"I am, Tammy. That's what I'm here for." Samuels chuckled, putting her arms around her waist. "But you keep her grounded, and I just want to you know that you're doing a wonderful job. We wouldn't be where we are right now without you, and I just want to say thank you." She kissed her on the cheek and ducked out from under the towel. 

"I had a team go through a dozen buildings over the last day or so, and I got you a present." She turned and started for the kitchen. "Sam too. We're waiting in the kitchen. See you soon." She said as she strolled off. 

"Was that Andi?" Sam asked as she came out of the bathroom, drying her hair.

"Yeah, it was kind of weird too."

"What did she want?" Sam asked as she went over to the closet. "And what should I wear for..." She opened the closet and stopped, staring in wonder at it. "Did you do this?" She asked.

"Do what?" Tammy asked as she pulled her closet door open. She froze as she looked inside. "Do you have all the same thing in yours?" She asked.

"Yeah." Sam said, pulling down an outfit. It was a cream colored vest with matching slacks.

Tammy pulled out the same outfit in black.

"I guess she likes us as twins...come on. Let's get dressed and see how we look!" Sam said.

Interior-Kitchen

1020 Hours

"Thank you, Andi." Sam said as they walked into the kitchen. "This was very nice of you. How do we look?"

They struck opposing poses, slouching, hands in pockets.

"That's the look I was going for, but one more button on the vests please." Samuels said.

Sam started to button the next button up, and Andi shook her head. "No, the other way, you too Tammy."

"Are you sure about this Andi?" Sam said, opening another button.

"Yes, Let me worry about the psychology please. You just run your domain." Samuels said as she opened a folder. "You're both getting buff, but not muscle bound. Stay off the weights, and back off a bit on your program. Add more sparring, but try not to leave marks. It won't do to have our queen show up with a shiner. Have a seat, we have other things to discuss."

"How did O'Neill do Teyla?" Tammy asked as she sat down.

"He did mo...some of the time at ten." Teyla said. "He came dangerously close to the red line, so I had him do the last five at eight."

"Good, he'll get better. We get him on a cardio routine, and the belly will disappear. Let's not worry about anything else right now."

"Here's a sample of the ballot, I made them as requested. I also put them on reinforced punched paper, so we can put them in binders without damaging them." Samuels said. "After we're done, they'll be treated with a coating that will preserve them for centuries with daily handling, longer without. After that, it's someone else's problem."

That got a laugh, and she looked around, then at her watch. 

"The first announcement was at eight PM last night, then every half hour till eleven PM. They resumed at eight AM this morning, and have been repeated every half hour since. Starting at ten AM, there's one every ten minutes. One is going now, and we'll have three more before eleven. No work crews went out today, so if anyone misses the vote, they don't vote. We may be short votes, but not ballots, there's a provision for that. We will not be over."

"You should come in fashionably late, eleven-oh-five should be fine. You won't appear too eager. Be casual and friendly, be yourself. Feel free to work the room, and Tammy, stay by her side, not the fly on the wall like you did last time. They need to see you and Sam together. They know about you, and they're fine with it. Again, just be yourselves."

"I have an opening statement I would like to give. I tried to keep it short and positive. I need feedback and approval, because we need to go soon."

She opened a folder, took out two sheets, and gave them to Sam and Tammy. The rest of the group took copies, or shared them.

"I don't have a problem with this Andi. The only question I have, is why seventy-five percent to pass? Why not the standard fifty-one?" Sam asked.

"Because they've been saying they want it. So it's time for them to put up, or shut up. And with a seventy-five percent majority required, no one can say we rigged it."

"That's fine. Can we make it eighty-five?" Sam said, trying and failing not to grin.

"No, seventy-five is the best I can do for you Sam. Any higher, and it looks like you're trying to ditch it, it may look like that now to some, but I can sell it if the question comes up."





Confirming Carter Bk. 02 Daedalus Ch. 03



"Okay, let's start heading down there. Can someone find Jack? I'm starting to worry about him." Carter said.

"He's in the living room." Jennifer said, turning her tablet. "His telemetry is good, he's asleep."

Interior-Auditorium

1120 Hours

She didn't manage being late, she entered the room at the stroke of eleven. But with the number of people that wanted to speak to, or just touch Sam and Tammy, it was eleven fifteen before Samuels could open the meeting.

"Colonel, Tammy, would you come to the front and takes your seats please?" Andi said, her voice filling the room. "I have a brief statement to make, then we will begin."

Sam and Tammy took their seats to one side at the front of the room, and continued to smile and wave at people they saw in the crowd. As people settled down in their seats, Andi began to read her prepared statement.

"We are here today to vote to establish the monarchy of Col. Samantha Carter, installing her as Queen of Atlantis. We come together to make a choice on how she will lead us, maintain the status quo, or allow her to establish a government, and act as a true head of state. A majority of seventy-five percent is required to pass the measure before us."

"There are ballots on tables around the room. We will be asked to sign our ballots. This is to ensure that each of us only votes once, and to speak to those that follow us, to allow them to see who made the decision that shaped the world they live in. There is space on each ballot for a personal message to them if you wish to add one. I would encourage you to use it, but ask that you consider what you say carefully. History has a long memory."

"None of us are required to vote, but we do have to sign and turn in a ballot. Those not in attendance will have a blank ballot entered for them, marked not in attendance. There are nine hundred and forty-one Atlantian's now, we have had three old friends join us. All of us will be accounted for."

"We have one hour to complete our votes. Voting will begin at eleven-thirty, and close at twelve-thirty. Votes will be tallied immediately, in front of us, and the results announced immediately."

"Are there any questions?"

Hands went up all over the room, and Samuels picked one at random.

"Can't we just vote by acclimation? We all know what the result will be."

"No." Sam said, standing up and moving to the head of the aisle. "What I read, and what prompted my response, was the numbers I saw. You were saying that you wanted this. Well it's time for you put up, or shut up, and let history look back on us, and decide if what we're doing was right. But they will know who brought this about. That's only fair."

"Next question." Samuels said as Sam returned to her seat. There were no hands.

"Then please take a ballot, fill it out and return it to the table in front. As I said, voting will close at twelve-thirty."

She turned off her microphone, and went over to sit with Sam and Tammy, as people began to move toward the tables with the ballots.

Interior-Auditorium

1245 Hours

At twelve twenty-five, Samuels announced that there were five minutes left. There were large stacks of ballots on the table, but no one disturbed them. Many people watched them. During the vote, people came up to speak to Sam or Tammy, and they greeted them warmly, thanking them for coming. Their outfits got looks from both men and women.

At twelve thirty, Samuels closed the voting, and went out into the crowd. She picked five people at random, and asked them to go to the front of the room. She seated them at the table, split the ballots into roughly even piles, and asked them to tally them. 

When the were finished, she took the count sheets and laid them face down on the table, and picked five more people, asking them to repeat the process. When those were completed, she picked two more people, and asked them to compare the counts. When both agreed that the counts matched, she took the sheets, and faced the crowd.

"We have our vote, and it is as follows: 

"Eight hundred and twenty-eight in favor, seventeen against, ninety-six abstain. The measure passes, by a majority of eighty-eight percent."

The room erupted in applause, with people cheering, standing on chairs, arms waving in the air. Andi tried to speak several times with no success, so she stood and waited for them to settle down. A large group surged toward Carter, but Sheppard had placed a line of marines in front of her seat. He had to send another group to reinforce them.

It was almost ten minutes before they were able to restore order, and Samuels could speak again.

"Col. Carter, will you step forward?" She said.

Sam and Tammy came forward, and Samuels turned to them and asked, "The people of Atlantis have spoken, do you accept their vote, and the position they have elect you to?"

"Yes." Sam said.

"I'm sorry, colonel, you'll have to speak up." Samuels said.

Tammy reached over and plucked the mike off of Andi's collar and clipped it to Sam's.

"Thank you." She said, leaning forward and kissing her lightly. She turned to the crowd and stepped to the head of the aisle. She looked at them for a moment before she spoke.

"I said it yesterday, and I'll say it again today. I accept."

She looked back at Samuels as the room erupted in pandemonium. 

"Satisfied, Andi?"

Samuels nodded, smiling. Then her eyes grew wide as the crowd surged around them.

Interior-Auditorium

1330 Hours

It was almost half an hour before they were able to restore order. Ronin had forced his way through the crowd, gathering both Sam and Tammy in his arms as people swarmed over them. He led them to a room near the front of the hall. A screen of marines had formed around them as they moved through the crowd, and they finally got inside.

Sam looked around. Ronin, Tammy and her, along with six marines were out of harms way.

"Those people like me, right?" She asked. "I mean, some of them just voted for me."

Tammy and the marines laughed, but Ronin stood in front of the door, staring at it. Carter looked down and saw that he had his gun in his hand.

"That thing is set to stun, right Ronin?" She asked.

He flicked a switch without looking, and she heard it whine as it powered down. 

"Yes." He said, not taking his eyes off the door.

Tammy reached in her pocket and pulled out her comm. Slipping it on, she tapped it and waited for the beep.

"Tammy to the Court. Any Court members, please respond."

"Sheppard, Tammy. Where are you? Is she safe?"

"We're safe. We're in a room in the front with Ronin and six marines."

"Copy. Stay there. I'll come for you." He said

"Send someone to get us fresh vests. We're kind of hanging out here."

Sam looked at her, and saw that her vest had been ripped open, she looked down, and saw that hers was as well.

A moment later, they heard his voice over the loudspeakers.

"EVERYONE ON THE FLOOR! YOU HAVE TEN SECONDS TO COMPLY! GET DOWN ON THE FLOOR! AFTER TEN SECONDS YOU WILL BE STUNNED! TEN...NINE..."

Carter tried to get to the door, and Ronin turned and stopped at her.

"No. He knows what he's doing." He said. "Listen."

Tammy was counting off on her fingers, and when she got to one, they heard two muffled stunners, then silence.

Ronin turned his back to her and pushed her behind him, raising his gun and pointing it at the door. A moment later, a light flashed and the door swished open. No one was there. Sheppard's head popped around the corner, then disappeared.

"Stand down, Ronin! It's me, Sheppard."

Ronin pushed her back and motioned for three marines to get in front of her as he stepped forward.

"Step into the doorway, Sheppard. Show me your hands!" Ronin said.

"We're clear, Ronin." Sheppard said as he stepped into the doorway, his hands raised. "They just got a little excited. We only had to stun two of them."

Ronin looked at him for a moment, then holstered his weapon. Both Sam and Tammy came up on either side of him and hugged him, and he put his arms around them.

"Stay here till we get you some clothes." He said.

"I'm not goin' anywhere you're not." Tammy said. "Ever again."

"Ditto" Carter said, laying her head against him. "Thank you, I chose my guardian well."

Jennifer came in a few minutes later with fresh vests for both of them. Ronin and the marines formed a screen in front of them as they changed. When they were ready, Ronin led them out of the room.

Interior-Auditorium

1330 Hours

Sheppard and Caldwell had wanted to take her back to the tower, but Carter insisted that they stay, that she had to speak to the people.

She stood on the stage looking out at them now. Two rows of marines filled the gap in front of her. Her microphone had gotten lost, and they had replaced it.

"I'm sorry." She said as she looked out over them. "We weren't prepared, and weren't expecting a reaction quite like that. I think we all overreacted."

She looked at Tammy, and smiled. "We can't do it like this." She said. Tammy nodded, and they jumped off the stage, and started walking toward the seats.

The marines began to close in around them, but she waved them off. She looked over her shoulder and saw Ronin following a few steps behind.

"That's not going to happen again is it? It wasn't quite the start I was hoping for." She said, stopping in front of the first rows of seats, holding up the tattered remains her vest. "I hope no one was hurt. I...we appreciate how you feel, but I was frightened. I was afraid Tammy, or some of you would be hurt."

"You elected me to lead you, and represent you. I can't do that if I can't be with you, as a part of you." She went on. "So please, stay in your seats till we're finished."

"The first thing I'd like to do is tell you our immediate plans. We know of only one remaining threat from the IOA, the Starship Apollo. We expect it to arrive in the next few days. Once that threat has been removed, we will declare our independence to the IOA, and all the worlds we have contact with in the Pegasus galaxy. Does this meet with your approval?"

The crowd roared, but she held her ground, raising her hands to quiet them.

"We have already begun production in some areas of the city. We made drones, to replenish the cities defenses. We have found another ancient city, and the local population wishes us to occupy it, and help them restore it. We are calling it Anchorage. It is a sister city to Atlantis, with the same systems as we have here. Some of you will be transferred there, we just don't know when. So please bear with us while we work out the details."

"We plan on reaching out to the people of the Pegasus galaxy, welcoming them to join us, and come share the cities with us. We need people to bring these cities alive again, and we need each of you to help teach our new citizens our ways, and the work they will be doing."

"Now, if I may, I'd like to introduce the people I have selected to serve in my court. You know most of them, they are already my senior staff."

She turned and waved Ronin forward. As he moved next to her, she put her arm around him, laying her head against him for a moment, then looked up and smiled at him.

"Allow me to introduce Sir Ronin Dex, Guardian of the Realm."

They crowd leapt to their feet, making Ronin stiffen and step in front of her. When he saw that they were just applauding, staying at their seats, he relaxed and returned to her side.

"When you see Tammy and I out around the city, you will see Ronin with us. When the need arises, he will serve as the head of our personal guard." She put her arm back around his waist as she continued to speak.

She looked at Tammy and smiled at her as she spoke. "You may not know Tam...I'm sorry, Lady Tammy Ford, my consort."

Tammy stepped to one side, not letting go of her hand, and curtsied. The crowd applauded again, smiling and waving at her.

She waved Sheppard over to the front of the room.

"You know Col. Sheppard, now Sir John Sheppard, First Knight of the Realm and Commander of the Free Defense Force of Atlantis when it is formally established."

She introduced Samuels, Keller and Caldwell as a group then paused, looking at the audience again.

"Some of you may have noticed some new faces among us, and I'd like to introduce you to a group that has joined us recently. Here with us, are Gen. Jack O'Neill, Senior Counsel, Lord Daniel Jackson, Royal Advisor, Lady Vala Mal Doran, Royal Advisor, and Ambassador Teal'c, of the Free Jaffa Nation, who we will be establishing diplomatic relations with as soon as possible. You may have known these people as SG-1. I know them as my family."

The crowd erupted in applause again, while O'Neill and Vala grinned as they waved at them.

When they had quieted down, Carter released Ronin, and let go of Tammy's hand as she stepped forward.

"We will be adding to our court as the needs of the city change, and we are awaiting the arrival of Master Bra'tac of the Free Jaffa Nation, an old and trusted friend, to serve as Senior Counsel with Gen. O'Neill."

"Many of you have known the last member of our court longer than I have. She has been our oldest friend, and staunchest ally. I value her counsel, as I'm sure you do." She turned and held out her hands, and Teyla came over and joined her, embracing her warmly.

"Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to present, as Ambassador of the Athosian Peoples, Ambassador Teyla Emmagan!" She said, her voice rising to a shout as she finished with a flourish. She stepped back, leaving Teyla to accept her due as they crowd leapt to their feet again.

When the crowd began to quiet again, she waved the members of her court forward, then moved into the crowd. 

"We're going to spend the next hour or so mingling, so please, give everyone a chance." She said as she reached out, taking a hand here and there as she moved past. Ronin fell in behind her, and she turned to him.

"Be nice, smile...it's going to be okay now." She told him as she took off the microphone, and dropped it in her pocket.

He nodded, sweeping the crowd with his eyes.

Interior-Living Room

1510 Hours

Ronin turned to Sheppard in the porter as they headed back to the suite. "You're not doing that to her again." He said. "We have people in place before she enters a room from now on."

"Now wait a minute." Sheppard said as the doors opened and he stepped into the living room. "We didn't expect something like that to happen. Those are our people down there, Ronin."

"That's right," Ronin said, throwing their tattered vests at him. "You...we didn't expect it. We should have." He turned to Sam and Tammy. "I'm sorry, I let my guard down..."

"We all did, Ronin." Carter said as she stepped over and hugged him. Tammy followed, and Sam moved to one side to make room for her.

"You had us in your arms, moving us to safety before I even knew what was happening." Tammy said as she looked up at him. "Thank you. You not only protected our lives, but our dignity."

"But he's right." She said as she looked around the room. "We forgot the mob mentality. We were expecting calm, rational people. Emotions and the heat of the moment took over...and we all saw what happened."

"I need something to drink." Carter said, moving toward the kitchen.

"You sit in here, Sam. We'll get it." Andi said, waving her toward a couch. She looked at Jennifer, and they headed for the kitchen.

"We should form that guard now, and we get the best fighters in the city, not just John's guys." Tammy said. "I know at least five that can kick any of his marine's asses, no problem. Starting with Amelia Banks."

Ronin nodded. "I like her. She's tough. She's teaching me alot." He said.

"Then you and her pick them. Three each when we go out." Tammy told him. "We can fight, but I don't think the queen and her consort should be fighting except as a last resort." She looked at Sam. "But you and I train with them. We sharpen our skills, and bond with them at the same time. And we need to start wearing shields."

"That's an excellent idea, Tammy. But we want them bonding with you, not the other way around." Andi said as she came into the room with a tray of glasses. Jennifer followed with a tray of bottles. Samuels handed Sam her coke, and Tammy a glass of water, then picked up a bottle of bourbon and poured herself a shot. "I should have had you put your shields on today."

"You're all right." Samuels said, tossing back her drink, then refilling it. "I missed this completely, and I'm sorry. I didn't think we'd really need security until we started bringing new people into the city." She looked around, then brought her gaze over to Carter.

"That's going to start happening next week, by the way. We have close to three thousand people we need to relocate because of the conditions they're living under. We've already made contact with more than ten worlds that have been hit hard by the Wraith recently, and most have agreed to accept our hospitality and protection."

"Good. I'm glad you're on that. And I want to get Anchorage online as soon as we can." Sam said, leaning over on Tammy. "That situation can't be allowed to go on."

Tammy looked behind her at Ronin, and he nodded, standing up and lifting her feet up onto the couch. Tammy guided her down, taking her glass from her as Ronin pulled her down onto the couch so her head was laying in Tammy's lap.

"Mmmmm." Carter purred. "I can get used to this kind of treatment. You need to be careful."

"That's fine, Sam. It's going to get worse." Samuels said, looking over at Tammy. "We need to talk later."

Tammy nodded, stroking Sam's hair lightly.

"We'll need ZPM's to bring Anchorage online, but I don't want you or Tammy going near the power room. We can train someone to do that, unless you want to keep your part of that in-house for the time being, then you can do it remotely. Either way, we can send someone else down to swap out the ZPM's." 

"Let's keep it in-house for now. We can go ahead and charge up what we have on hand, and when we need to do more, we can train someone then." Carter said. She closed her eyes and laid her hands on her stomach. "Do we have any news on the Apollo, and what's going on with Daedalus?

"Nothing new on Apollo, but Zelenka has finished installing a cloaking generator, and it's working better than expected." Caldwell said, moving over to take a seat next to the couch. "Power requirements are much lower than the shields use, and since they're different technologies, we can use them at the same time. I like that part. I can hide, and not leave my ass hanging in the wind if something goes wrong."

"Have you tested it in space?" Carter asked.

"Yes, we jumped around the system, and Marks didn't see any change in performance when it was active." Caldwell said, a slow smile forming on his face. "We took out half a dozen jumpers in a live fire exercise, beams at five percent. Then Marks fired on one without dropping the cloak. Unlike the jumpers, we can shoot and scoot with the cloak engaged."

Carter sat up, grinning at him. "Please tell me you're not kidding. That's a huge tactical advantage!"

"Yes maam. I'm sorry, I can't help it, colonel." Caldwell said. "Eighteen years service, and my mom..."

"Relax, Steven." She laughed. "It doesn't matter. Everyone is going to do it, so I'll just have to get used to it again. It never used to bother me till I talked to Andi that first time, and she told me people thought of me as a school marm."

"Thank you. Sheppard and I have been talking, and once we get established, we'd like to go Wraith hunting. When we have the Apollo, we take both ships out and hit them. We'd blow them out of the sky before they even knew what was happening. And they won't know how it's happening, or who's doing it. If we're lucky, they'll think its internal, and fight among themselves."




Confirming Carter Bk. 02 Daedalus Ch. 03



"You think Ellis is going to give us the Apollo?" She asked, looking between him and Sheppard.

"No, we're going to take it colonel. Ellis is a hard ass. He'll follow his orders even if he disagrees with them." Sheppard said. "Steven has a plan, we'll review it with you later."

"That's fine. Would someone check and see if the mess hall open and serving? We made people skip a meal again. And is anyone else getting hungry?" Carter asked.

Interior-Col. Sheppard's Suite

1630 Hours

Carter, Sheppard, Caldwell and O'Neill were relaxing in John's living room. There was a bottle of tequila and a row of glasses on the table, and as they emptied, Sheppard would line them up and run the bottle over the line, refilling them.

"You know, if she ever fires you, you could have a career as a bartender, no problem." O'Neill told him.

"I did that in college for a while before I got into ROTC, but I learned this trick from my dad." Sheppard said grinned. "He was a big fan of shooters."

Carter picked up a glass and tossed it back, then leaned back in her chair. "So tell me about this plan you have for taking the Apollo. Start with the risks and losses on both sides." She said. "I don't want to kill those people unless I have to, not to mention, damaging the ship."

"The risk is minimal. We're looking for zero losses on both sides. No injuries either, unless someone lands wrongs. And we're not even gonna put a dent in her." Sheppard said. He looked over at Caldwell. "It's your plan Steven, you tell her."

Caldwell sat forward on the couch and held his hands in front of him. "By the time he gets here, Ellis will know that the SGC and the IOA haven't heard from me, and will assume that the Daedalus has been destroyed somehow. He'll drop out of hyperspace at least fifty diameters out, if not more, to ensure he has as much warning as he can get if you launch jumpers on him. The last they heard, Atlantis used up all the drones in different Wraith attacks."

"As soon as he drops out of hyperspace, we launch Daedalus, to give us time to get out to him. We have her cloaked on the dock right now, tomorrow morning, we'll take her into orbit and keep her there, still cloaked. She creates turbulence in the atmosphere that the Ops Center detected as we came down cloaked. I'm not sure if Apollo's sensors could detect it, but I don't want to take the chance."

"So how are you going to take the ship without hurting or killing anybody?" O'Neill asked. "You got some kind of stun beam or something like that?" 

Caldwell ignored him. He held one hand over the other, then looked over at Carter.

"What I have in mind is moving into position over them, and I mean right on top of them." Caldwell said. "Marks can bring us within thirty meters if his shields are at full power, closer if they're down. We want to be as close as we can get."

"We wait for a signal from you. We'll be monitoring communications, so the best time to do it is when he's talking to you, and won't be expecting anything."

"Oh, for god's sake, Caldwell, just tell us what you're going to do!" O'Neill said, picking up a glass and tossing it back."

"We're going to beam the crew of the Apollo into Daedalus' holds, and at the same time, beam our boarding party over to take the bridge. At that range, we can do it whether his shields are up of not."

O'Neill choked, holding his hand in front of him mouth to keep from spraying tequila across the room. "You're going to what?" He sputtered.

"We do it all the time, general. Ship to ship transfer in hostile space. Ellis and I have done it from as far as a hundred meters with both ships shielded. Over that, it gets dicey. It was his idea, which makes this really funny. Using his own trick on him."

"And you can take everyone off at once, and send our boarding party over at the same time?" Carter asked.

"We can get close. If we have most of them targeted when we get the signal, we can have that ship empty in five seconds. But we'll do the bridge crew first, they'll all be stationary, and beam our people in at the same time. Then we take the rest section by section, beaming in squads of marines with stunners as we clear them, just in case. Apollo's layout is identical to Daedalus, so Marks won't have a problem. Worst case scenario, we'll have them all off in less than a minute."

"Do you want to practice a few times? Or do you feel confident enough to go as you are?" She turned to Sheppard. "You're onboard with this?"

"We've got the element of surprise, so we hit 'em with shock and awe. And believe me, Ellis is gonna be shocked when he lands in that hold."

"I'm comfortable that we're ready to go. We just have to load up the boarding parties and go." Caldwell told her.

"Jack?"

"It's just crazy enough to work. Now we just have to wait for Apollo to show up." He said.

Interior-Dr. Samuel's Suite

1640 Hours

"You said it was going to get worse." Tammy said as she took a seat in Samuels' living room. "What did you mean by that?"

"Nothing sinister, but Sam's going to resist, and I need you to help me push it through." Andi told her. "I'm going to bring in a household staff. I already have three Athosian women that Teyla trusts, and I'm going to bring in at least six more. Three for each shift to begin with."

"We don't need to do that And..."

"Yes, you do." Samuels said. "Not just to take care of you, but because it will be expected. Royalty does not do for themselves, and the court is going to be too busy in the coming weeks to do what they've been doing. Jenn and I are already falling behind on what we need to do."

"I'm going to put them three to a suite down on one forty, and use the other three suites for cooking and household supplies. I'm keeping this small, Tammy. The newer royal households on Earth have dozens of cooks, maids, and attendants, the older ones have hundreds. You can get used to a cook, a housekeeper, and a personal maid for each of you. You won't even see them most of the time anyway. You're both going to need a secretary too, but I'm going to wait until we get things worked out with Earth to worry about that."

"I can understand that. You've all been doing a wonderful job taking care of her. And me." Tammy said. "But we only have seven rooms, we don't really need that many people do we?"

"You will, and as time goes by, and the children are born, you'll need more." Samuels said, picking up a tablet and handing it to her. "I'm going to make this building the royal residence. Everyone else will be moved out by the end of the week, and relocated to the main towers on the other two piers. The suites in this building will become libraries, nurseries and personal spaces. No one except the court, your personal staff, and guests will enter your residence from now on. I think you'll want to keep your suite, you both seem to enjoy the pit."

"Ronin will like that." Tammy smiled. "And yes, I want to keep my pit."

"I agree, and we're doing this for security. I'm already converting the main suite over in the north piers main tower as a conference center, and war room, and the one on the east pier as a formal dining area. I need three more days, then we'll start having meetings in the north tower. I'll miss the kitchen, but this will be better for us." 

Samuels stopped and looked at Tammy. "I know you think I'm up to something, and like I told you earlier, I am." She said. "I'm trying to stay ahead of the wave that's coming at us. Jenn, Steven, and John are all doing the same thing. I intentionally undersold what's involved in setting up a new government, and chose the monarchy because it's the easiest for the people that have to run it. And with the woman we picked the run it, the risk of despotism is non-existent."

"But the only way we're going to survive, and get her plans implemented, is to be independent, so she can call the shots that she wants too. We can't be under anyone's thumb, or beholden to anyone. We have to get up on our feet on our own, and be helping others while we're doing it."

"I had no idea there was so much involved, or so much was going on already." Tammy said, scrolling through the tablet. "How much of this have you talked to Sam about? Has she approved any of it?"

"I send her an update every evening reviewing what's in progress. She's reading them, and I'm getting approvals, or adjustments, depending on the item. I didn't copy you because you have more important things to worry about than day to day operations." Samuels said leaning back on the couch, looking at Tammy steadily.

"You have the most important job of all. And I wouldn't want it, I'd crumble under the weight of it." She said with a sad smile. "As consort, you're her confidant, lover, friend, and companion. The fact that you love her just makes it easier, but I think god was smiling when you stepped into her life. And I hope she keeps smiling on us. We're going to need all the help we can get."

Interior-Bedroom

2340 Hours

"I talked to Andi earlier." Tammy said as she slid up and down over Sam. 

She had her arms pinned down, and was straddling her leg, her own leg grinding up between Sam's. She purred as she writhed on top of her, their breasts sliding across each other on a sheen of sweat.

"She said she wouldn't want my job." She whispered as she nibbled at her ear. "I want to eat you. Your little pussy is sopping wet, and I want to taste you."

"I wouldn't want her to have your job." Sam laughed. "I only want you. Let me get on top." She panted as she brought her arms around her waist, then rolled over on top of her. She threw one leg over, straddling her waist, then slid slowly up over her body as she raised up onto her knees. She stopped when she was kneeling over her chest, her thighs brushing the outsides of her breasts. Her hand moved down over her stomach, and Tammy watched as it drew closer to the golden bush framing her juice coated mons. 

She ran her fingers slowly between the fleshy lips of her pussy, twisting them back and forth as she stroked them up and down. Tammy panted as she lay under her, her hands coming up to cup the cheeks of her ass, squeezing and molding them in her fingers as she tried to pull her closer.

"Can you see how wet I am, Tammy? You did this to me. You always do this to me." She breathed as she pulled her fingers from between her legs. She brought them up in front of her face, pulling them back when Tammy raised her head and tried to take them into her mouth. 

"No, not yet." She smiled, stroking just the tips of her fingers across her lower lip. "Lick it up, taste me." She said. "I want to watch."

Tammy let her tongue slip out, running it slowly across her lip. Her eyes rolled up in her head and her mouth opened. Her hands clenched on Sam's ass, lifting her as she pulled her closer.

Sam held her fingers closer, letting Tammy take just the tips into her mouth, then started feeding them slowly in and out as she licked them clean. Tammy moaned around them, sliding down under her as Sam moved up higher over her. She threw her head back and moaned as Tammy raised her head and began lashing her tongue around all over the puffy lips of her pussy, then reached down, spreading them apart to let her tongue slip up between them.

Her hand came down, brushing the hair away from Tammy's face as she began eating her eagerly, her tongue lashing and laving all around, her lips sucking at the swollen labia. Tammy slipped her tongue up inside her as Sam leaned forward, resting her hand on the shelf over the bed to support herself, then started rocking back and forth. Pressing her pussy down onto Tammy's face, she worked her ass in slow circles, brushing her clit over the tip of her nose. 

"Oh god! Do me too!" Tammy groaned as she pushed her off, rolling onto her side and pressing her face back between her legs.

Sam pulled her closer, burying her own face between her legs, moaning happily as they rolled around on the bed.

Interior-Dr. Samuels Suite

2355 Hours

Andi switched the feed from her tablet to the monitor at the foot of her bed and hit replay, then sat it on the nightstand. She hit a button on her comm, and lit her pipe as she waited for Wilkins to answer.

"Yes, Andi? It's kind of late for you isn't it?" Wilkins said when he answered.

"Can you come over?" She asked as she sat her pipe down. "It's been a few days, and I'd really like to see you. You can spend the night, and do anything you want."

"Ten minutes? I want to throw a bag together." He laughed. "Load a pipe for me, You already sound buzzed."

"I am. Hurry Tim, I really need you tonight."

(-)

That's all for Chapter Three. Please read Chapter Four for more of this story.

I hope you liked this episode. Please post a comment so I know if I'm the right track with this...



Confirming Carter Bk. 02 Daedalus Ch. 04



Bra'Tac arrives in Atlantis, and brings an unexpected companion. The starship Apollo arrives, and Col. Ellis gets an unpleasant surprise...

(-)

Confirming Carter Book Two Daedalus

Chapter Four

Three days later

Interior-Bedroom

0640 Hours

"Let's just stay in bed, and make love all day." Tammy said as she ran her tongue up over the back of Carter's leg. She kept moving up, moving over and spreading the cheeks of her ass, letting her tongue dip into the musky smelling crack.

"Ooooohhh, don't do that!" Sam protested, trying to squeeze her butt cheeks together. "I haven't had a shower. I'm all dirty back there."

"Mmmmmmm, your scent is delightful. I know you want it. I can smell how excited you are." Tammy laughed huskily. "Your mouth says no, but your little pussy says, yes...yes...yes!!"

She dragged her tongue up the crease of Sam's bottom again, making her moan and arch her hips back at her, forcing her ass up at Tammy's face as she relaxed and let her asscheeks open under the pressure of Tammy's fingers.

"I'm going to lick your asshole, Sam." Tammy purred as she dragged her tongue over the smooth, fragrant flesh. She ran the tip around the puckered pink ring, not touching it, then spread her cheeks wider and dipped down to lap at the fur fringed slit of her pussy.

"Noooooo, please don't." Carter whimpered, her face buried in her arms. She spread her legs wider, and her ass pushed back at Tammy's face.

"Yes, I'm going to do it, Sam. I'm going to stick my tongue up your ass now." Tammy whispered. Her tongue darted out, stabbing at the tight, wrinkled ring of muscle, then moved in lazy circles around the outer rim.

"Please, Tammy." Carter whimpered.

"Please what, Sam?" Tammy gasped into her ass. "Don't you want me to lick your asshole? You don't want to feel my..."

"Sam?" Andi's voice came from the comm. "Can you and Tammy come in the kitchen please? I've got coffee going."

"Nnnnuunnngggghhh!" Carter grunted as Tammy drove her tongue roughly against the tender rosette of her ass.

Tammy pulled away, glaring at the comm unit, then crawled up over the bed and hit the speaker button.

"Andi, do you remember that us time we talked about? We'll be with you in a couple of hours."

"I remember, but I also remember saying that I wanted you to do that in the middle of the day." Samuels laughed. "We have things we need to get done Tammy. So come on, get moving."

"I told you you shouldn't have put that thing in here." Carter laughed as she rolled off the bed. "I have to pee. Come brush your teeth. And use mouthwash too."

"Bitch." Tammy muttered as she smacked the comm button. She rolled across the bed and got to her feet, following Sam into the bathroom.

Carter was standing at the sink brushing her teeth when she came into the bathroom. Tammy walked up behind her and tried to turn her around, but she pulled away.

"Huh uh. You're not kissing me with that mouth till you brush your teeth. And use this." She laughed, holding up a bottle of mouthwash. "Twice." She rinsed, then kissed her on the cheek, and went out into the bedroom.

"I just can't win this morning." Tammy said to herself as she sat on the toilet.

Carter walked across the living room and went into the kitchen. She stopped when she saw O'Neill, Sheppard and Caldwell sitting at the table.

"You could have said we had company, Andi." She grinned as she stepped back through the door. "Would someone make us coffee? Big cup, heavy cream, four sugars. We'll be right with you."

She went back to the bedroom, and met Tammy coming out of the door, as naked as she was.

"Get dressed, we have company." She laughed. "I already flashed Jack. I don't know if his heart can take seeing you too." She stepped into Tammy's arms, kissing her lightly, then more eagerly.

"I still think we should just stay in bed all day." Tammy said as they finally broke apart. "We haven't had a day off in weeks."

"Soon, I promise. I'll change the codes, we'll turn off the comms, and just spend a day, you and me. But right now I think they want to talk to us."

Interior-Kitchen

0720 Hours

"What's so important that you couldn't let us sleep a little longer, Andi?" Tammy asked, scooping another spoonful of sugar into her coffee.

"You weren't sleeping, Tammy. And we have..." Samuels said.

"You're comm is on vox." Sheppard said, blushing slightly.

"We weren't listening." O'Neill said. He grinned at Carter. "Well, I wasn't, but I think Caldwell was."

"NO! I was..." Caldwell sputtered.

"We'll get it fixed." Samuels said. "For god's sake, will you grow up?"

She turned to Carter. "We heard from Teal'c, Master Bra'tac will be coming in today. We're expecting him to be here before ten. They were moving his things to the gate, and he should be ready soon."

"I've moved Gen. O'Neill over to the east tower already. I was going to put Master Bra'tac in the suite on the same floor, but Jack thinks it would be better to put them together. It appears that Teal'c agrees."

"There's more than enough room in that barn she put me in for both of us." O'Neill said. "And Bra'tac is used to living with other people. He has five people living with him on Chulak, in half the space we'll have. And he's going to need someone to show him how everything works. Besides, if we share a place, it'll be easier to plot against you."

"Plot away, Jack." Carter laughed. "Just make sure it's something useful."

Interior-Gateroom

0950 Hours

They were stepping out of the porter as the vortex erupted from the gate, and Carter picked up her pace, wanting to be ready when Bra'tac came through the gate. 

Teal'c stepped through the gate alone, bowing slightly when he saw Carter and Tammy.

"Where is Master Bra'tac, Teal'c?" Carter asked. "He is coming, isn't he?"

"Master Bra'tac is having...difficulties." Teal'c said with a smile. "He will be with us shortly. They seem to be having a disagr..."

Just then, a small boy ran through the gate, followed by Bra'tac.

"Dal ma'kalmah. Shel'tii!" Bra'tac was saying as he stumbled through the gate behind him.

"No, my child, wait." Teal'c said quietly to Carter as he stepped up beside her.

Tammy stepped to one side and blocked the boy's path, squatting down in front of him and holding him gently.

The boy squirmed, glaring at her. "Unhand me woman! I am Geraan of the Jaffa, a great and mighty warrior!"

"Cease Geraan!" Bra'tac shouted. "Do not embarrass me further, kalmah!"

He turned to Carter, bowing, then began to drop to one knee. She stopped him, bringing him up and embracing him.

"No old friend, you kneel to no one." She said quietly. She stepped back, smiling over at the boy. "And who is this fearsome warrior you've brought with you? An addition to my army perhaps?"

"My apprentice, and trenkalmah. My grandchild. He insisted that he accompany me, to protect me." Bra'tac smiled. "I was unable to refuse."

"So I see." She said. 

She turned and knelt beside Tammy, looking at the boy.

"Tell me, Geraan. Why have you come to Atlantis?" She asked him. "Besides protecting Master Bra'tac, of course."

"We come to serve the warrior queen." The boy said, breaking away from Tammy, and drawing himself up to his full three and a half foot height. "She summons my master for his wisdom!"

"Indeed. Master Bra'tac is one of the wisest men I know." She said, glancing over her shoulder, and smiling at Bra'tac. "He and Gen. O'Neill will guide me as I..."

"You?" Geraan gasped, stepping back and falling to his knees, prostrating himself in front of her.

"Stand Geraan. A warrior, especially a Jaffa, does not kneel." She said as she helped him up. She glanced back at Bra'tac, then back at the boy. "Perhaps your master will allow my consort and I to assist in your training. There are many things you must learn if you are to lead my armies someday."

"You left your guards." Ronin said as he stopped behind the boy.

Carter looked up at him and grinned. "Whoops?"

Geraan spun around, his eyes going wide as he looked up at Ronin. He dropped into a fighting stance, his face setting in a scowl.

"Back beast!" He said menacingly as he stepped forward.

Carter laughed as she put her hand on his shoulder. "Easy Geraan. This is Ronin, the guardian of my realm, and my protector. He will be another of your teachers."

Ronin looked down at the boy, then growled. Geraan flinched, but stood his ground, not taking his eyes off of him.

"He'll do." Ronin said, looking down at him.

"Good." Carter said, then looked down at the boy. "Geraan, would you like to see where you and Master Bra'tac will be living? I'm sure Gen. O'Neill will be happy to meet you."

"Indeed." Teal'c said. "I believe I shall accompany you. To assist Bra'tac and Geraan in getting settled."

"Indeed." Carter laughed.

Interior-Conference Room

1425 Hours

"Colonel Sheppard, the Apollo just dropped out of hyperspace on the other side of the system. They're holding position eighty diameters out."

"Affirmative. Keep me posted if they move." Sheppard said. "Apollo just dropped out of hyperspace." He said to Carter and Caldwell.

They were in the conference room of the Central Tower. Caldwell had been reviewing their plans to take the Apollo when it arrived.

"Looks like we put your plan into action sooner than expected, Steven." Carter said. She looked over at Sheppard. "Do you really think you can pull this off?"

Sheppard nodded. "Now that we have the Daedalus equipped with the cloaking technology, they'll never know we're coming. Caldwell is right though, we're gonna have to be sitting right on top of them when we start beaming people out."

He looked over at Caldwell. "This is a nice touch, beaming the crew off as we take the bridge. Ellis will never expect that. Are you sure your people can put them into the holds safely? I'd hate to materialize someone inside a wall, or between decks."

"Marks can stand a dime between a pair of graham crackers on a table. I've seen him do it." Caldwell said. "We can put those people into Daedalus' holds, no problem."

"Okay. Get your people together and get in position. And you use stunners and zats when you move them, no firearms. We're not going to kill these people. We just want the ship. Is that clearly understood?"

"Yes, colonel." They both answered as they moved toward the door.

"And good luck." She called as they left the room.

"Now we wait." She said to Tammy. "I wonder what Ellis has in mind."

The answer wasn't long in coming.

Interior-Apollo Bridge

1535 Hours

"Incoming message from Apollo, colonel." The Ops tech said, looking up at her. "Daedalus reports that they're in position."

"Send it to the conference room, Chuck." Carter said as she turned and trotted across the short space between them. 

"...Atlantis this is Apollo. Atlantis this is Apollo. Respond please." Abraham Ellis said, leaning back in his command chair

"This is Atlantis, Apollo. Col. Ellis. We weren't expecting you. What can we do for you?" She said casually.

"I'm surprised to hear you as well, Col. Carter. I was advised that you had resigned your command, and your commission, and that Col. Sheppard was currently in command of Atlantis."

"Neither the Pentagon, nor the IOA have accepted my resignations, and since Dr. Keller has declared me fit for duty, I have resumed command." She paused. "I can send you the supporting documents if you like."

"No thank you, colonel. That won't be necessary." Ellis said. "My orders are to arrest Col. Sheppard, Dr. Keller, and Dr. Samuels, and secure Atlantis by whatever means necessary."

"Whatever means necessary." Carter said slowly. "That sounds very unfriendly, Abe. Why don't you bring the Apollo down, we can sit, talk, and come to an agreement. I'm willing to work with you."

"I'm glad to hear that, colonel." Ellis replied. "Then if you would be kind enough, put Col. Sheppard, Dr. Keller, and Dr. Samuels in a jumper, and when I have them in custody, lower the shield and surrender control of the city to my representatives. Once I am assured that Atlantis is under my control, I'd be happy to come down and speak with you."

"I see." Carter said. "Would you mind telling me what my military commander, chief medical officer, and a staff member are charged with?"

"You know very well what they're charged with colonel. All three are charged with mutiny, and conspiracy to commit mutiny. I'm still trying to figure out why you're name isn't on that list." Ellis said. "Now I'm afraid I have to demand that you surrender them, lower the shield, and await my representatives."

"Abe, I can't do that. I am the legally appointed commander of the Atlantis expedition, unless you have orders relieving me of that command. From my point of view, what you are doing is a hostile act, and I am well within my rights to fire on you. Do you have any such orders in your possession? If you do, would you transmit them please?"

"Col. Carter, the information I have is that Col. Sheppard was in temporary command of Atlantis, and while in that position, illegally seized control of the city. My orders are to secure the city, and arrest the conspirators. Are you going to comply willingly, or am I going to have to use force?"

"No need to use force, Abe." Carter said lightly. "But I have a better idea. I think I'll just take your ship."

"And just how did you pla..." Ellis began to say as he was beamed off the bridge and into one of the Daedalus holds.

"The ship is secure, colonel." Sheppard said a few moments later as he dropped into the command chair. "We're coming home. We'll hold orbit at three diameters until we can go through and see what they're packing."

"Good job, John. Standby." Carter said with a smile as she looked at the screen on her laptop. "Caldwell reports they have two hundred and thirty-four souls safely aboard. Bring our people home." 

Interior-Conference Room

1715 Hours

The glare of an Asgard beam flared near the door of the conference room. When it faded, Col. Ellis of the Apollo was standing surrounded by four marines carrying stunners.

"Col. Ellis." Carter said, not getting up from her seat at the far end of the table. "Come in. Have a seat please." 

A marine led him to a seat in the middle of the table, well down from her. There were two cases sitting on the table in front of him.

"I'm sorry we have to meet under these conditions, Abe. I really am." Carter said. "I'm pretty sure that I'm ending your career. But I didn't have any choice."

"What's going to happen to my crew?" Ellis asked, looking down the table at her.

"You and your crew will be returned to Earth as soon as we're finished talking. They are still safely aboard the Daedalus. Caldwell allowed you to confirm for yourself that they were all safe, and uninjured?"

"Yes, thank you. The only thing hurt was my pride. I landed on my ass in that hold." He said.

Carter tried not to smile, but didn't succeed.

"Before I send you home, I'd like to ask for your help."

"What kind of help, and why would I do that, after what you've just done?" 

"What I've just done is defend my home against a hostile force. And what I want you to help me do is send a gift. A peace offering if you will."

"I don't understand, colonel." Ellis said. "Can we just get to the point?"

"Of course. Open the green case." she said.

Ellis pulled the case over in front of him and popped the latches. He threw the lid back, and his eyes got wide as he stared at the contents.

"Is that a..."

"Yes, it's a drone. There are fifty pallets of them stacked in the gateroom, two hundred to a pallet." She said. 

"I thought all the drones had been used fending off a Wraith attack, three years ago." Ellis said. He reached out and started to pick it up, but stopped when she cleared her throat.

"It has a bit of a static charge, and can give you a nasty burn." She said. "We restocked our supplies of drones. The ones we're going to give you are leftovers. And before you ask where we got them, we made them. Here, in Atlantis."

"What's in the other case?" He asked.

"Open it." She said.

He pulled the other case closer and eased the lid back this time. He looked down the table at her, holding his hand out toward the case.

She nodded, and he picked up the ZPM, turning it in his hand.

"This has a full charge."

"Yes, have you been briefed on my STM bridge research?"

"Yes, is that how you did it? You charged this using that technology?"

She nodded. "I'm not going to tell you, or the IOA how I did it. I am, however, open to trade."

"What kind of trade? And on what scale?" Ellis asked.

"Goods, technology, licensing, services, we're open to everything." She said. "I'd like to start small though. That charged ZPM for five depleted ones."

"And the drones you mentioned?"

"Like I said, a gift, or a peace offering." Carter said. "After you and your crew have been transferred to Earth, we'll give you the address for a space gate to send the depleted ZPM's to. Ask them to put them in a bag, or a case if you would, picking up loose objects in space is a pain in the ass. Once we receive them, we'll send the drones to any gate address the SGC specifies, so they can be inspected with no threat to Earth."

"What about my ship?" He asked.

"I'm going to keep it. I took it fair and square." She said lightly. "And I keep what I kill. That's the way we play here in Pegasus."

"They won't stand for that. They'll come after you with everything they've got." He said.

"And that would be nothing. Both the IOA's active ships are now part of the Atlantian navy. You won't have another ship come off the line for almost a year, and that's if they gear up production and work three shifts."

She sat forward in her chair, warming to her subject.

"Only two races had intergalactic ships in the Milky Way, and most of the Gua'uld's were destroyed, the rest are in the hands of the Jaffa, who aren't going to give them to you. The Asgard gave you the technology to build my new ships, but they think that this is an internal dispute, and don't want to get involved. Plus, they like me, so they won't help either."

She smiled at him.

"Face it, Abe. You can't get at me." she said. "And by the time you do build, or scrounge up a ship or two, I will have made allies of the major races in this galaxy. You'll lose every battle, or I'll have so much warning that I'll blow you out of the sky as soon as you come out of hyperspace."

"Or, you can leave me alone, let me help the people of Pegasus, and when we're ready, expand into the Milky Way, and do the same thing there. I'd welcome Earth's help. I'm going to need doctors, engineers, skilled workers, people that can go out and make a difference in both galaxies."

"I almost believe you, colonel." Ellis said.

"I don't care if you believe me or not." She said as she stood up and strode for the door. "Bring your ZPM, leave the drone." 

She was out the door and walking toward the Ops Center before he was out of his chair. The marines closed in around him, and he followed them out the door.

The Ops tech was dialing the gate, and as soon as the vortex receded, she pressed a button to send the IDC, then started speaking. 

"Stargate Command, this is Atlantis. Stargate Command, this is Atlantis, come in please."

She waited a moment, and was about to speak again when a voice said. "This is Stargate Command, please identify."

"Walter?" She asked. "This is Samantha Carter, in Atlantis. How are you? It's been a while."

"I'm fine ma'am, Mr. Woolsey is on his way, and should be here in a moment." Harriman said.

"That's fine, Walter. How are things at the SGC? We heard that Gen. Landry had been arrest..."

"Col. Carter, This is Richard Woolsey, of the IOA. I am in command of this base now. What can we do for you? Hopefully you've come to your senses, and are prepared to surrender."




Confirming Carter Bk. 02 Daedalus Ch. 04



"That's not quite what I had in mind Mr. Woolsey. I have something that belongs to you, and I'd like to return it." She said.

"And what would that be?" Woolsey replied snidely.

"The crew of the Apollo."

"I don't believe you, colonel." Woolsey said, his voice taking on a harder edge.

Carter waved Ellis over and motioned for him to speak.

"Mr. Woolsey, This is Col. Abraham Ellis, Commander of the Apollo. Col. Carter is not lying to you, she has my ship, and is offering to return me and my crew to Earth. We are all in good health, and being treated well."

"Are you telling me that you are a prisoner of war, colonel?"

"I wasn't aware that a state of war existed between Earth and Atlantis, Mr...may I call you Richard? I knew that the IOA had issued a death warrant on me, Richard, but wasn't aware that you had declared war on my city."

She looked at Ellis and shrugged. "Richard, I'm going to assume that you're not going to open the iris. I probably wouldn't either. But would you be so kind as to transmit a gate address I can send these people too? I would prefer not to be responsible for them."

"One moment please, colonel." Woolsey said.

Carter muted the mike, and turned to Ellis. She held out an envelope.

"The address to a space gate is in there, along with my offer, one charged ZPM, upfront, for five depleted ones. Have them test and examine it just to be sure. Bill Lee knows what to look for, they've had that trick pulled on them before by Camulus. I get the ZPM's, you get the drones. It's all in there. If they don't open the iris, I'll give you a GDO, and send you to Chulak. You'll be safe there till you can be returned to Earth."

"Richard, I changed my mind." She said. "I'm going to give Col. Ellis an a GDO, and send him and his crew to Chulak. They'll be safe there, and High Council can assist in their return. Would that be more acceptable?"

"No, colonel. I'm going to trust you." Woolsey said. "We're opening the iris."

"Richard, I'm going to send Col. Ellis through first. He has our first trade item for you. Please have Dr. Lee examine it before you try to use it. I want to hear Ellis's voice before I start sending his crew through."

She turned to Ellis. "I'm sorry Abe, I have to ensure that those people get home safely. You're my crash test dummy. Good luck." She held out her hand.

Ellis took it. "Thank you Col. Carter. If something goes wrong. Send my crew to Chulak like you said before."

"I will, Abe." She said, then looked passed him. "Sergeant? Escort the colonel to the gate."

When Ellis reached the gate, he turned and looked back at her. He saluted, then stepped through the event horizon. It was almost two minutes before she heard his voice.

"Col. Carter, this is Ellis. I'm safely through."

"Walter, please confirm that the iris is still open." She said.

"Yes maam, the iris is open. We're ready to receive the Apollo crew." Harriman said.

"Thank you, Walter. Sending groups of twenty, thirty seconds apart. Wait one."

She changed to Daedalus channel. "Steven, let's have the first twenty, then send them 30 seconds apart."

"Copy colonel. First twenty on the way." Caldwell replied.

"We'll also be sending some crew members from the Daedalus, and the marine detachment they had aboard when they arrived. That's another twenty-eight." She said as she switched back over to the SGC. "They'll be following the Apollo's crew."

It took almost ten minutes to send all of them through the gate. The departing Daedalus crew members arrived while Apollo's crew was still being beamed down. They followed the last group, and when they were through, she opened the channel to the SGC again.

"Col. Ellis, would you give me a head count please. We want to make sure you have everyone."

"Confirm two hundred sixty-two from both crews. Thank you colonel. And good luck, Sam."

"You too Abe. Richard, we'll look forward to hearing from you shortly. Atlantis out."

She closed the channel and looked at the Ops tech. "Shut it down." She said. "Let Sheppard know if they contact us." 

She turned and skipped down the stairs, and jogged over to the porter. She felt good, and hoped she had some ice cream in the freezer. If she didn't, she'd have to send someone to get some. 

Interior-Kitchen

1800 Hours

"Where's your guards?" Ronin asked as she stepped off the porter.

"I left them in the gateroom. They took me to the porter, and I didn't think anything would happen between the time the doors closed there, and opened here." She smiled as they walked toward the kitchen.

She saw Tammy sitting in her usual seat, eating out of a carton of ice cream, so she got a spoon and sat down, reaching over and digging out a spoonful.

"Andi is bringing in four hundred some odd people in an hour or so from Cealacan, there was a culling a few days ago, and they're in bad shape. She wants to put them on the north pier near the main storage center." Tammy told her as she dipped out a scoop of ice cream and licked at it. "I let the Infirmary know, and we'll have teams ready to check them out and test them for the gene."

"Ronin, would you and Teyla go talk to them when they get here?" Carter asked. "When they hear that your people have been through the same thing, it should help make things easier for them. Tell them what we have in mind, and help get them settled."

He nodded and stepped from the room.

"He hasn't relaxed since you left." Tammy grinned at her. "You had five marines with you, and another twenty over at the Ops Center, but he still didn't like it."

"I know, but there are other things he's going to need to do sometimes." Sam said. "How did the first group look? Any likely candidates?"

"Amelia liked a few, Ronin didn't like any of them. I think he expects them to be able to beat him to qualify. Like that's going to happen." She laughed. "Amelia wants to look at some of the special forces guys, and I think it's a good idea."

"Anybody home?" They heard Keller call from the living room. They heard her talking to Ronin, and a moment later, she came into the kitchen.

"Where is everyone?" Jennifer asked as she sat her laptop and a stack of tablets on the table. "This place is usually packed."

"They're still bringing the Apollo and Daedalus down, Andi is handling some refugees, and I haven't seen anyone else." Carter said.

"Daniel, Vala and O'Neill are over in the central section going walkabout. She called all excited, she's finding all kinds of souvenirs. She wanted to know if she could keep them." Tammy laughed. "Daniel came on after I said yes, and asked me not to do that, but I told him that a few baubles wouldn't hurt anything. He laughed and told me that she's got O'Neill loaded down like a pack mule."

Sam laughed with her, then turned to Keller. "Why all the tablets, Jenn? You going Andi on me?"

"No, but we need to talk about a few things." She slid a tablet over to each of them, and opened her laptop. "I asked Ronin to keep anyone that come in out of here till we tell him. I've been reviewing and comparing your tests results from the last couple days." She said, tapping at her keyboard. The tablets in front of them came to life, and they both picked one up, glancing at them. "I've got them slaved to my laptop, so just look, don't touch."

"What are we looking at?" Tammy asked. "And are you still mad at us? I mean, I'm sorry, Jenn. Bu..."

"I was mad at first, but I should have known it was going to happen." Keller said, smiling at her. "You two are meant to be together, and it's not for me to get in the way, so I might as well help you."

"The first screen is your scans from yesterday, Tammy is on the left, Sam is on the right. Everything is fine, with one exception. Your heart rate, blood pressure, almost every major reading is damn near identical. That's a little unusual, but you have the same body type, and build, and both of you are in excellent physical condition, so I can't call it weird."

She changed screens and looked up at them. "This is this morning's scan. You won't see the difference, so I'll just tell you what it is." She said, pausing before she continued. "You're both ovulating, which is weird. Tammy is two weeks early, and Sam one. It's not unusual for women living together, or in close quarters to have their cycles come in line with each other. But that usually takes several months to occur. You did it in less than one."

"Is that good or bad?" Sam asked, flipping back and forth between the screens.

"I don't know yet. And I told you not to do that." Keller said, tapping at her keyboard again. "I'm in contact with both of you daily, and I don't see any adverse affects of exposing or infecting Tammy, however you want to put it. If anything, it appears to me that you're both thriving. Sam hasn't had a major incident in over two weeks, but we've been keeping her, you both actually, away from radiation sources."

She looked over at Tammy. "When was the last time you used korathis? It's been at least two weeks. I know, because I took your stash out of your suite because I didn't want Sam to get into it, and you haven't logged any out of the dispensary."

"That night we called you and Andi to ask if it was okay to do it." Tammy said.

Keller looked at her laptop, and scrolled through several screens. "That was seventeen days ago. And you're not showing any signs of withdrawal?"

"No, I feel fine, and that night, I was just feeling a little off, not uncomfortable, or in pain."

Keller nodded. "Your korathis levels are steady, almost as if you're still ingesting frequent doses, so it appears that you may be producing the active components as well. But you may have been doing that already, I have no way of knowing."

"Now the bad news. Andi knows that Tammy has been exposed." Keller said. "She's in the medical database daily, she uses it to augment her psych profiles, so I saw no need to block her. But there are notes indicating that she knew before you told me. I went looking through her notes after you told me the other morning. I think she's watching the video feed too. She's keeping her mouth shut about it. To all of us."

"We know she's playing her own game, Jenn." Sam said. "I don't know what she's up to, but she's giving me what I need, as I need it. And everything is falling right into line, almost like we're being guided somehow. I doubt if she has the power to influence outside events, just our reactions and responses to them."

She turned to Tammy. "What do you think?"

"I don't care if she's up to something anymore." Tammy smiled, looking back and forth at Carter and Keller. "I'm happy, and I like where we're going. We're bringing Atlantis and Anchorage alive again, we're going to help the people in two galaxies, and Sam and I are going to have beautiful children that will follow us, and take our places someday. She can play all the games she wants, it really doesn't matter."

"I hope you're right." Keller said. "Look where we've come in just a few weeks."

"We are." They said together, then turned and at smiled at each other.

Interior-Kitchen

1930 Hours

Sheppard and Caldwell had come in giddy as a couple of schoolboys, so Carter had asked Jennifer to call Daniel, Vala and O'Neill back for dinner. 

Daedalus was docked on the east pier, and Apollo was in a parking orbit while crews went through her systems and stores.

Sheppard was reviewing Apollo's stores, a shit eating grin on his face. "We'll have to confirm this when we offload, but the inventory shows thirty thousand small arms, including twenty thousand P-90's. Five million rounds of ammunition, rocket and grenade launchers, 6 tons of C4. Based on this, it looks like they were planning on reinforcing through the gate if Apollo managed to take the city. And there's thirty extra nukes, in addition to her standard compliment of twelve."

"I want half of those for Daedalus." Caldwell said, looking between Carter and Sheppard. "They're designed for use..."

"Relax, Steven." Carter laughed. "You'll get some of them. Just calm down."

"With what we took from both ships, and what we had on hand, we've got over twenty-eight thousand P-90's, and enough ammo to last for years. We can field a small army if we want." Sheppard said. "Not that I want to, but if the need arises..."

"How many three-oh-two's does she have?" O'Neill asked.

"Sixty. sixteen in each bay, and another twenty-eight strapped to the hull." Caldwell said, looking at Carter. "With the thirty-two Daedalus carries, you just acquired an impressive navy, colonel. We can talk about it later, but I'd like to split the three-oh-two's between the two ships, with ten each going to Atlantis and Anchorage, to supplement the jumpers."

"Some of those are fresh off the line." O'Neill said. "And that has to be every one they had. They didn't keep anything in reserve. What the hell are they thinking?"

"They're politicians, Jack. They probably didn't listen to what the military was telling them." Carter told him. "They had one ship disappear, so they loaded up everything they had, thinking that Apollo would come in and intimidate us with an overwhelming show of force."

She shook her head as she looked around the table. "The IOA knew I was playing with the STM bridges, so they had to make the connection that I wanted to charge ZPM's. I guess they didn't give me enough credit. They will now. I told Ellis that I had charged up the one I gave him."

"Half the people we sent back to Earth with Ellis were Spec Ops. SEALS, Rangers, and a dozen CIA. Those were all wet work people. Ellis had them isolated from his crew, he didn't want anyone near them. He doesn't speak kindly of them in his log." Sheppard said. "I copied it and mailed you a copy colonel."

"What's wet work?" Vala asked. "Were they going to attack from the water?"

"They're assassins, Vala. Their job is to eliminate targets in advance if possible." Sheppard said quietly. 

"It doesn't matter now." Carter said, pushing her chair back and getting to her feet. She raised her glass, smiling at Sheppard and Caldwell. "To the conquering heroes! You've done well by us all today, and we thank you. Your courage and ingenuity give us great hope for our future. Salute!"

Interior-Col. Sheppard's Suite

2020 Hours

"A death glider will fit through the gate. Will a three-oh-two?" Carter asked, sitting on the floor in front of Tammy's chair.

"Yes, but just barely." O'Neill said. "The wingspan is a little wider than a death glider."

"I can't speak for John's jumper pilots, but none of my people are going to be able to take one through at speed. What do you have in mind colonel? Quick hits on planets being culled?" Caldwell asked.

"No, but make a note of that, that's a damned good idea Steven." Carter said. "Jack is right, they threw everything they had into the pot, and hoped they'd get soup. And they lost. But because they didn't think, they left Earth sitting wide open. Thank god we're the only ones that know about it."

She looked back at Tammy, and got the nod she expected. She turned back toward the couch.

"It's a good idea, Sam." O'Neill said. "We can launch or push them through the gate. We send them to St. Louis, and they can do a hyperspace jump from there."

"What are you...No! You can't give them back!" Caldwell said, getting to his feet. "Think about what we..."

"We're talking about Earth, Steven. Not the IOA. The American's aren't going to listen to the IOA anymore, that's pretty obvious." Carter said. "I can't in good conscience leave that world undefended. That would be criminal, and you know it."

She turned and looked at Sheppard. "The gate at Anchorage is outside, not up in the tower, like it is here?"

He nodded. "Someone moved it a long time ago. There's a long field leading up to it. and the DHD is set off to one side. We could do it from there." He looked at Caldwell, pacing angrily next to the couch. "How many are you thinking of sending?"

"Thirty." She said, looking at Caldwell.

"I need a drink." Caldwell said, turning and walking toward the kitchen.

"We'll be right back." She said as she got to her feet. She waved Tammy back down as she started to follow, then went into the kitchen.

Caldwell was leaning against the counter, A bottle of scotch in his hand. He upended it and took a big drink as she stopped in front of him, holding out her hand. He handed her the bottle and she took a drink, then handed it back to him.

"Do we have a problem, Steven? You and I?" She asked. "You know why I want to do this."

"No, I just...there's so much we can do here." He said, holding the bottle up.

She shook her head, and he replaced the cork, sitting it on the counter.

"I know, but I can't leave all those people undefended, not that thirty three-oh-two's is going to make that much difference." She said as she looked at him. "I'm going to send them the drones, even if they don't send us any ZPM's back. I may send them more, I haven't decided yet."

"You're right. My daughter Carol and her mother are there." He said. "I know we have to think of Earth, not the IOA, I just haven't made the adjustment yet. I'm sorry, I got caught up in the excitement, and now it feels like..."

"Like you won a big prize at the carnival, and your mom says you have to share it with your brother?" She grinned.

"That actually happened." He laughed. "But yes, that's what it feels...felt like. I was passed it before you came in."

"You keep thinking about what we need to do here, and how we're going to get it done." She told him. "You're going to have a family here, soon I think, but when we get things calmed down, we could see if your daughter would like to live here. We're going to need wedding planners." 

She turned toward the door. "Let's go get John and Jack and go upstairs. I'd like to talk about some other things with everyone. Come on, Teyla and Ronin should be back by now."

Interior-Living Room

2110 Hours

Teyla and Ronin returned shortly after they got back upstairs. Teyla saw Caldwell standing with Sheppard and O'Neill, and came over, putting her arms around him and laying her head on his chest.

"It went well? You are unhurt?" She asked, looking up at him.

"It went just as we planned, no one was injured." He told her taking her in his arms and kissing her lightly. "Well, there was one injury. Ellis's pride took a beating. I heard he landed on his ass when we beamed him into that hold!"

Teyla hugged him tightly, then released him. She turned to Sam. "Andi asked me to tell you that she may not get away. She has much work to do to get these people settled. I offered to stay, but she said we were needed here."

"Those people are in bad shape." Ronin said. "This is some of the worst I've ever seen, even on Sateda."

"John's men are caring for them. Lt. Crown called for a hundred marines, and at first, the villagers were frightened." Teyla told them. "But the marines each took a family, bringing them food and water, then showing them to quarters, and helping them get settled. I believe they are going to stay with them overnight." 

She turned and looked at Sheppard, and he nodded.

"I talked to Crown, and he asked if we could spare them. He thinks we may need to keep our guys with them for a few days, especially when we start doing medicals on them." Sheppard told them. "It'll be better if they have a friendly face with them, someone they're used to telling them that it's okay, that no one is going to hurt them here."

"That was a good idea, and a damn nice thing to do." Carter said. "But I don't want to leave them any longer than I have to. This is going to wear on those men, and we're going to be seeing alot more like this before it gets better." She looked around. "I don't want to sound cold, but we have to take care of ours first. So while this group is being processed, we need to start looking at training everyone else for this kind of thing. I don't want these same guys doing this all the time. Even if they volunteer."




Confirming Carter Bk. 02 Daedalus Ch. 04



"All the marines have had training and exposure to relief work, just not on this scale." Sheppard said. "We'll get that going, it might take us a couple of days to work up a program. I'll have to get with Samuels, or Jenn can send us someone."

"We have three or four people that can help with the mental health aspect. You want to talk to our people about how to protect themselves emotionally?" Keller asked.

"Yes, they're going to get attached to the families they work with, and its going to hurt some of them when we separate them."

"You are not being cold, Samantha." Teyla said. "Merely showing the wisdom your people chose you for. You wish to care for all, and that is good. Just bringing these survivors to Atlantis shows the warmth of your, and the cities heart. This will not be forgotten."

(-)

That's all for Chapter Four. Please read Chapter Five for more of this story.

I hope you liked this episode. Please post a comment so I know if I'm the right track with this...



Confirming Carter Bk. 02 Daedalus Ch. 05



Atlantis issues a Declaration of Independence, and gets a call from Eath about it. Teyla reveals information about a Wraith gathering in a remote part of the galaxy...

(-)

Confirming Carter Book Two Daedalus

Chapter Five

Two days later

Interior-Bedroom

0725 Hours

"I, Col. Samantha Carter, duly elected Queen of Atlantis, do hereby declare and decree the City of Atlantis to be an independent state, free of ties and entanglements put forth by others in our city's name."

"From this day forward, the people of Atlantis neither bow to, nor serve any other master besides our fair city, and as Queen, I answer to them in its name. We reach out to our neighbors, welcoming them to join us in friendship, with the hope of peace, goodwill, and trade between us." 

"We have no history of oppression or mistreatment, but vow to aid others that find themselves oppressed or mistreated. We take this action because others have failed to, and we will no longer stand by as our neighbors and brothers suffer without relief. We will come to their assistance, and bring down furious vengeance upon those that bring them harm."

"Like the Ancients that built this city, and her sisters throughout the universe, we will make it a haven, a center of learning and trade for all to benefit from. We ask only that others join us freely to assist, or refrain from impeding our efforts to improve the lives of those left behind as..."

"This isn't working." Carter said as she threw the tablet across the room, watching it bounce across the carpet. "I like the opening, but that's about all." 

She looked over at Tammy. "I know you're not asleep, so quit faking. Why did she give this to me? She's the brain mechanic, she knows all the buttons to push...just look what she's done so far!"

"She gave it to you because she wants to know what you want to say, and how you want to say it." Tammy said, not turning over. "She'll clean it up and make it pretty. So quit worrying about it. No one expects you to be Thomas Jefferson. And he did like what, twenty drafts over a couple of months? You've been working on yours for twenty minutes." 

"Why are you being like thi..."

"Excuse me, ladies." Samuels said as she walked into the room. She went directly to the tablet lying on the floor by the window, picked it up, and walked out, stopping at the door to bow, and say, "Thank you."

"What the hell?" Carter said. She looked over at Tammy, who was now looking back at her.

"Andi! You get your ass back in here! NOW!" She shouted.

"Yes, ma'am?" Samuels said as she stepped back into the room. She no longer had the tablet with her.

"Don't you ma'am, me! You know damn well why I called you back in here." Carter said, getting up on her knees on the bed. "Are you watching us? Is that how you knew what I..."

"Yes, Sam. I watch you all the time. You both know that." Samuels said calmly as she sat on the side of the bed. She looked around the room, then back at Carter. "I'd like to put a desk for each of you in here, and maybe a few chairs. With the view from these windows..."

"Don't change the subject, Andi." Carter said. "Why are you watching us?"

Samuels looked surprised at the question. "That was rule number one, on the second day, Sam. You have no private life. Someone is with you, or watching you at all times."

"Tammy is with me! Why do you feel the need to watch me as well?"

"No one said we wouldn't, or couldn't, do both. And now we need to watch Tammy too." Samuels said. 

She looked at Tammy. 

"Isn't that right Tammy? The cameras were your idea, you're the only one with access to the software, so I'm assuming that since it hasn't been modified, neither of you had any objection to being monitored. And you both know that you should be, given what you've been up to behind Jennifer and my backs."

"How dar...don't try to blame Tammy for this, Andi." Carter said, her face coloring as she got angrier.

"Sam, I'm not blaming anyone. I watch you because I need to, and because you and Tammy are such fascinating subjects." Samuels said. "I have to watch what you're doing, because you don't tell us. I hope you've noticed that I haven't interfered with any of your plans."

Tammy took Carter's hand as she sat up on the bed. She looked over at her, then let her eyes fall to the bed. "I knew she was watching us, Sam. She's mentioned it several times when we've talked about things. She hasn't tried to hide it." She looked over at her again. "I didn't modify the software because only the four of us have access to it. And I don't think about the cameras being there."

"Do you watch us...making love?" Carter asked, glancing over at Tammy.

"Yes." Samuels said, meeting her eyes. "And most of the time I'm jealous. The love the two of you have for each other, and the way you share it so freely, is so beautiful. I want you to know that no one else has, or will ever see any of those recordings. Most of them have already been recorded over."

"But why, Andi?" Carter asked her. "There's more to this than you're telling me. It's true that we haven't told you and Jennifer things, but why do you need to watch us make love? Or just be together?"

"I review your whole day, every day, Sam. I document the important moments, preserving the video, and make notes on my observations of the rest." Samuels said, turning on the bed and bringing her legs up under her so she was facing them both. 

"In addition to being your foreign minister, and in-house plotter slash tactician, I'm a psychiatrist and cultural anthropologist." She paused, looking at her. "Do you have any idea how valuable being able to observe you as you progress down the path you're on is? Not to mention the historical record we're creating. I promise that none of what I document will be made available until after both your deaths, but what I'm doing is important in so many ways I can't even begin to list them all."

"Wow. I can't believe what I'm hearing." Carter said, shaking her head.

"Why not, Sam? I haven't hidden anything from you, Tammy, or Jennifer." Samuels said. "Granted, I haven't volunteered information, but if asked, I tell you what I'm doing, or what plans are in the pipe. You knew that I've been documenting your case, as has Jennifer. Are you surprised at the level its being taken to? Is that the problem?"

"I don't know Andi. You just hit me upside the head with a two-by-four, and you're telling me that I knew you were doing it and why, neither of which makes it hurt any less."

Samuels got up and went into the next room, and came back with the tablet. She brought up a screen and opened the file Sam had been working on. She made a change, then saved the file and handed her the tablet.

"I came in here earlier to get that tablet, and just made a small change in what you had written. I took that 'as' off the end of the last paragraph. You're finished. Our declaration is complete as far as I'm concerned, and I was terrified that you would delete it and start over. Which would have been a shame."

She turned to Tammy. "I might have suggested some changes, but this declaration had to come from Sam. We need it to reflect what she believes, and what she feels in her heart."

She looked back at the tablet in her hand, then back up at Carter. "You said, in plain, heart felt language, what we're doing, why we're doing it, and what we hope to accomplish. Jefferson's got nothing on you. He just wanted to start a country. You're trying to reshape two galaxies. People will read this, or hear it, and feel the hope you want to share with them."

"That last paragraph just kind of ends, and doesn't really say anything." Tammy said.

"Now she's a critic." Carter muttered. "I was gonna drop it, but didn't think it would be long enough without it."

"Lincoln only used two hundred and seventy-two words in the Gettysburg Address. That speech stirred a nation, and inspired people around the world. It still does. We don't need quantity, we want quality, and that's what we have."

She looked over at Tammy. "We can talk about the last paragraph later. We make it 'those previously left behind, and we'll be fine."

"You're upset. So instead of dwelling in it, why don't you go up to the gym and workout. " Samuels said. "Get warmed up, and I'll send Amelia and Ronin up, and you can vent a little."

"Why don't you come up Andi?" Carter asked her, a wry smile on her face. "You could spar with me. I guarantee, that would do me a lot more good."

"'Fraid not, love." Samuels laughed as she took the tablet and got up off the bed. "I'm a voyeur, not a fighter. Just pretend that Ronin is me. And try not to hurt him too bad, okay?" 

Interior-Kitchen

0900 Hours

Carter skipped her workout, and summoned Sheppard, Caldwell, and Samuels after she'd showered and dressed. They sat along one side of the table, waiting for her to speak.

"Tammy is in my office, she's got a marine down in the power room swapping out the ZPM's for her." She said lightly. "She's worse than I am, she's got him putting them in the receptacle, and won't start the cycle till he leaves the room."

"They've already got more than enough for what I want to do." She said. "We're going to take Anchorage today. I don't see any point in waiting any longer."

"John, I want a hundred marines, armed with zats and stunners loaded on the Daedalus. Steven, its in the early morning hours there. I want you to use your beaming trick to take everyone out of the city, and replace them with the marines. They'll do a sweep of the city, and as soon as they tell us it's secure, we'll start gating people over to start working on it."

"What do you want us to do with them once we beam them out of the city?" Caldwell asked.

"Separate the constables and the hangers on. John can talk to the leader of the former ruling family, and give them the option of working with us, or going with the other group." She said. "The constables are thugs, so dump them on an uninhabited world on the way back, or better yet, on the mainland here, so we can keep an eye on them. Leave them shelters and food, and we'll check on them from time to time."

"If the family with the gene agrees to work with us, we'll see what they know about the cities systems, if anything. They might be useful. Bring them back here. To the city, not here." She said, looking at Andi. "I'll meet with the leader and explain the situation. Tomorrow." 

"What do you want to do about the declaration?" Samuels asked.

"I'll leave that to you. If you're happy with it, send it as it is. If not, make any changes you see fit, I'll trust your judgment. Send it to Teal'c on Chulak first. Ask him if the Free Jaffa Nation will recognize us. And let me know as soon as you have an answer. Send it to Earth at noon our time. Then send it to all the races we have radio contact with at thirteen hundred. Include an offer to open diplomatic relations to everyone we send it to. Tomorrow, we start sending out emissaries to every other world we know of that has a sizable population. We're just going to invite any world with under a thousand living there to move into Anchorage, or Atlantis. We're going to need them to run the cities."

She turned back to Sheppard and Caldwell. "I want this done before sun up local time. I doubt if any of the nobles get up before then. Take supplies to give to the local villagers, we'll have the work teams distribute them and tell them what's happening once they get the ZPM's installed, and get the shields up."

Both officers stood and headed for the door. "Is there anything else colonel? It's going to be a few hours before we get back." Sheppard said.

"Have you heard anything about the group we brought in last night? How are they doing?" She asked.

"Jenn has her medical teams in with them, they started around oh seven hundred. She should be checking in with Andi soon." He said. "I don't have anything else."

"That's fine, we'll reach out to her. There is one thing I'd like to do, and it's not a rush item." She said looking at Caldwell. "I want a search of every database we can access. I want records of all Ancient ships, regardless of class. I want to know what their last missions were, their status, and a search of their last location if they are not confirmed destroyed. I'm not going to wait for the Traveler's to offer us ships for Steven's navy. I want to go looking for them. Add cities and outposts to that list, we might as well find those too."

Caldwell glanced at Sheppard, then stepped over and knelt beside her chair. "You are a wise, just, and generous queen." He said, his head bowed to hide his smile.

"Oh get up!" Carter laughed. "Go, both of you, you have work to do."

Caldwell followed Sheppard out the door, and as the elevator doors closed, they heard Sheppard say, "Kiss ass."

Interior-Kitchen

1130 Hours

"It's not as bad as it looked at first glance." Keller was saying. "The marines got them cleaned up, and got some food in them last night, and after a second meal this morning, they looked alot better. Some of the adults hadn't eaten in days. John's marines were a godsend, they all spent the night with a family, and by the time we started this morning, the children were calm, and well behaved. The adults were more hesitant than the kids were about the tests. Unfortunately, we don't have many treatments for diseases native to Pegasus, so we just inoculated them for what we could pass along."

"So they're going to live? We're not going to lose any?" Samuels asked.

"No, three died overnight. All older, but I don't know what counts as old in Pegasus. All three from complications related to starvation. There are five others that are in danger, but we moved them to the Infirmary, and are doing what we can for them."

Ronin stepped into the room, and Carter looked at him. "Yes, Ronin?

"Sheppard's on comms, he says mission completed. They're on their way back." He said. He held out a headset, and she stood up and took it, slipping her arm through his and walking into the living room with him.

"John?" She said as she put the comm unit behind her ear. "Any problems?"

"No, ma'am. We took them all sleeping, even the constables, only two guards were awake." He reported. "I've spoken to the leader of the family and explained the situation, and she's agreeable to your terms. She tells me that there are only fourteen members of the family that actually have the gene left, and doesn't seems too concerned about what happens to the rest."

"She sounds like the kind of girl I want to keep at arms length." Carter said, glancing up at Ronin. "Have all of them tested anyway. The family might have missed something. Anyone that doesn't have the gene goes to the mainland. Do you have enough shelters and food to supply them for a month? It's going to be that long before we can get back to them."

"We can leave them three months worth. They'll get used to MRE's. I brought some of their weapons with us. Once we get them situated, we'll beam them down. There's some nasty critters running around on the mainland. So they'll need something to defend themselves."

"That's fine. How long do you need?"

"Call it three hours before we can dock. I'm going to throw up a basic stockade and put the shelters up before we beam them down. It would take them weeks to do what we can do in a couple of hours. Nothing fancy, just something to keep the big stuff out." 

"Whatever you think is best, John. Be careful. Carter out."

"You met these people, are they worth the bother?" She asked Ronin as she handed him the headset.

"No, but you're not me. Neither is Sheppard." He said. "Sometimes you have to give an enemy a chance to become a friend."

She nodded. "Well put." She looked up at him as she took his hand. "You know that you're not a messenger, or here to run errands. You have a job to do. If you need to speak to me, don't wait like you just did. Get my attention, and speak. Okay?"

He nodded.

"I heard that Amelia wants to let some of the special forces that came in on the Daedalus try out for the household guard. What do you think of that?"

"I want them to go out on some ops first." He said. "We don't know them. They may be good fighters, but they don't have any reason to be loyal to you, so I don't trust them."

"That's what I was thinking. I'll talk to Sheppard about them. Keep your guards to people you know. I'll feel better if you pick them." She turned to go back in the kitchen, then stopped and came back, taking his hands in hers. "And keep me honest. I'm going to do things you don't like, and we can get away with it for now. But you're going to have to put both me and Tammy on a leash at some point. Are you up to that?"

"Yes." He said, trying not to smile. "I talked to Tammy. I'm glad you said something first."

"Good, I have to get back. We have alot going on today."

Interior-SGC, Earth

1200 Hours

"Unauthorized gate activation. Incoming wormhole." Sgt Harriman announced over the PA. He picked up the phone and dialed Woolsey's office.

"Yes, Walter." Woolsey said, putting him on speaker. "What is it?"

"We have an incoming wormhole sir. Wait one...I'm getting Atlantis' IDC, sir." Harriman said.

"Do not open the iris, Walter. I'll be right out."

"The wormhole has closed, sir. But we received a databurst."

"Send it to my office, Walter. Let's see what she has to say." Woolsey said.

He turned to his terminal and brought up the list of databursts in the database, and clicked one. The file opened, and an ornately scripted document opened on the screen.

"Oh my, I didn't expect that at all." He said.

He picked up the red phone and pressed the center button.

"This is Richard Woolsey of the IOA. I need to speak to the President please."

Interior-Gateroom

1310 Hours

"Maj. Lorne, this is the Ops Center."

"Go on Lorne."

"Sir, I have an incoming wormhole, and am receiving the SGC's IDC. They're requesting a video conference with Col. Carter at fourteen hundred hours sir. What should I tell them."

"Tell them that she'll be there. Lorne out."

"Lorne to Dr. Keller or Dr Samuels, come in please."

"Yes major, this is Dr. Keller. What can I do for you?" 

"I need to speak to Col Carter, ma'am. Is she with you?

"Yes, wait one."

There was a pause, and Carter came on. "Yes Evan, what do you need?"

"We just received a message from the SGC, ma'am. They're requesting a video conference with you at fourteen hundred. They didn't offer any details." Lorne told her. "I had Ops tell them you'd be there."

"Good, that means we don't have to dial them back and ask what they want." She said, grinning at Keller and Samuels. "I'll be there. Would you contact the Daedalus and tell Col. Sheppard to get in a jumper, and gets his ass back here? Caldwell can finish what they're doing."

"Yes ma'am." Lorne said, grinning broadly. "I'll get right on it."

Interior-Conference Room

1400 Hours

Carter sat at the far end of the table, with Tammy, and Sheppard flanking her. Ronin stood by the door, and five marines stood on each side of the door on the outside.

"Incoming wormhole, colonel." Chuck said. "We're getting a video signal, ma'am."

"Send it in here Chuck."

The large monitor mounted on the wall came to life, and Gen. Landry looked down at them.

"Gen. Landry! It's good to see you sir. We had heard that you were under arrest." Carter said, smiling at him.

"Thank you colonel. Or, I'm sorry, do you have an official title? I wouldn't want to get our talks off on the wrong foot." He said, trying not to laugh. 

"No, sir. Colonel, Sam or Samantha is fine. My advisors say I earned the rank, so I should wear it."

"I wish I had people that smart working for me." Landry said. "Come to think of it, I used to. But most of them got a better offer." 




Confirming Carter Bk. 02 Daedalus Ch. 05



"Sorry about that general. But let me say again how relieved we are to see you. Are you back in command at the SGC? Or is the IOA just giving me a friendly face to talk to?

"I'm disappointed that you would think that, Samantha. No, the President has withdrawn the United States from the IOA, and we have resumed control of the gate. I am authorized to negotiate for the American government."

Carter looked down at the table. When she looked up, her face was somber. 

"I'm sorry general, but that won't be good enough. Just because you control the gate, that doesn't give you the right to speak for the peoples of Earth." She paused, giving him a moment to digest what she'd said. "We have already been recognized by the Free Jaffa Nation, and the Athosian peoples. We have also announced our independence to the worlds of the Pegasus galaxy, and expect to be begin establishing diplomatic ties within the week."

"You didn't waste any time did you? But are you saying that you want to deal with the IOA?" Landry asked, looking perplexed.

"No, that's not what I'm saying. In order for me to negotiate with Earth, we would have to work with a representative body that speaks for the majority of peoples of Earth, not a group looking out solely for the interests of member nations. I'm not saying that you have to make the gate public, but we have to ensure that the best interests of all the peoples of Earth are taken into consideration."

"We can wait until you speak to the President, and he speaks to whoever he has too. In the meantime, there are issues that we can discuss that are to our mutual interest." She added.

"Actually Sam, the President is listening." Landry said. "But these other issues? Would they involve property and assets recently seized from the IOA?"

"No, general, I'm think more along the line of gifts. One of which you've already received. Well, that was our first trade item really, and we haven't received our requested price for it." She said casually.

"I've read the note you sent through with Ellis. That price is being discussed. But you mentioned other gifts in your note."

"Yes, ten thousand drones for the chair weapons platform in Antarctica. I have fifty pallets of the damned things clogging up my gateroom, and I'd really like to get them out of here."

Landry finally lost it, and burst out laughing. When he regained control, he was smiling broadly, and said, "We'd be glad to take them off your hands, Sam. And I'm being told that the best we can do for that trade item is three for your one."

"That's fine, general. We just wanted to know that you would trade." Carter said. "We'll need a gate address to send the drones to. I will not send them directly to Earth. I won't take the risk of being responsible for an accident. I hope you understand." 

"I understand, and appreciate that, Sam. Would you still like our depleted ZPM's to be sent to a space gate?"

"Yes please. I'll feel better doing it that way. Please don't send the one Camulus gave you. We'll be checking them carefully." Carter told him. "It's not lack of trust, but we're not going to be shipping anything into Atlantis. All trade from offworld will be routed to other gates, inspected, then transferred. It's just good business."

"Very well." Landry said. "I'm getting questions about the Daedalus and Apollo. What is their condition, and when will they be returned?"

"Both ships are in excellent condition, and we will be keeping both of them for the Atlantian navy." Carter said. 

She watched as Landry winced, then removed an earwig from one ear and dropped it in his trashcan. His phone started ringing immediately, and he hit the speaker phone.

"You can ask your own goddamned questions now, and if you want to fire me, feel free." He said lightly. "You need me alot more than I need you right now."

He was met with silence from the phone.

"Tell them that if it makes them feel any better, I plan on returning thirty of the three-oh-two's the Apollo carried as soon as I can." Carter said. "Probably within the next two weeks. Daedalus and Apollo, however, are spoils of war. If I'm to believe Mr. Woolsey, in addition to issuing a death warrant on me, the IOA also declared war on my city. Talk to your people, Hank. I have a copy of the death warrant. I'll send it to you if you like. We never received the declaration of war. Very sloppy."

"To my knowledge, there was no declaration of war, Sam. The IOA was not authorized to take such an action." Landry said. "I believe Woolsey misspoke in your last conversation, But that's neither here nor there. You should know, however, that you've placed Earth in a precarious position by seizing those ships, Sam."

"No, general. I defended my city and my people from hostile vessels, and neutralized the threat." Carter said. "But we can talk later about them. As we acquire more ships from other sources, we may be open to returning one of those ships, or providing you with others. But rest assured, that should the need arise, we will assist in the defense of Earth, regardless of our diplomatic status."

"You would..." Landry began.

"Let us make this clear for everyone listening." Carter said, looking directly into a camera. "Atlantis is our home now, and our first responsibility is to it, and our people. But Earth is our homeworld, and we will not allow anything to happen to it because of the fumblings of dimwitted politicians and bureaucrats. Should the need arise, we will bring our ships and cities to Earth's defense."

"Excuse me...your highness." A voice said. "Did you say cities? Am I to under..."

"Who is speaking please?" Carter said, a look of irritation crossing her face. "And I would prefer that address me as colonel, or Samantha."

"This is Henry Hayes, colonel. President of the United States." He said. "My apologies, colonel. But are you saying that you are in possession of more than one ancient city?"

"I was speaking in future tense, sir." She smiled. "We are aware of other ancient cities and outposts, and as our population grows, we plan on restoring them, and expanding our domain."

"Thank you, colonel. Knowing that you have a place in your heart for Earth gives me hope for the future." Hayes said. "Would you accept the recognition of the United States, as a sign of good faith, until such a time as the governments of Earth can reach an agreement on establishing relations with Atlantis?"

Carter touched a button beside her, and Samuels came up on a monitor off to the side. 

"Your thoughts Andi?" She asked.

"It would be in the best interests of all parties to have some sort of formal agreement in place, Sam." Samuels said. "I'm Dr. Andi Samuels, gentlemen. Foreign Minister. It also allows us to deal directly with the United States, which is most likely to supply us with the personnel and assets we would be most interested in acquiring in the coming months."

"What type of personnel would you be referring to, Dr. Samuels?" Landry asked.

"Doctors, engineers, skilled labor, construction workers." Samuels answered. "I'm sending you Col. Carter's outline for the department she proposed to the IOA, and copies of requests she has sent to the Pentagon, then the IOA over the years she was with the SGC. You will see what we have in mind for Pegasus, and eventually, the Milky Way galaxy."

Samuels turned her attention back to Carter. "If I may? This is as good a time as any." She said.

Carter nodded, taking Tammy's hand again as she sat back, crossing her legs.

"We will announce a date for the coronation in the next few days. Our tentative plan is to have that in sixty days, and we are on schedule for that." She said, looking at her notes. "Representatives from Earth are of course welcome, but we would ask that you assist us by arranging transportation for family members and friends of the colonel's court. We will provide you a list of who we wish to have in attendance."

"If I may." Hayes said. "I've been through two inaugurations, and both were a nightmare. I don't even want to begin to imagine what my staff went through. As an act of friendship, would you allow us to assist you in planning and preparing for the coronation? I'm sure that our friends with royal houses would also be willing to assist."

"Thank you, Henry." Carter smiled. "We would appreciate that. Can I assume that you would like to accompany Gen. Landry to the ceremony?"

"Yes, please. My wife and I weren't invited to several recent events, and to be honest, if I missed an event such as this, I'd never hear the end of it." Hayes laughed. "And I would like to see your fair city. From what I've seen and heard, it is a sight to behold."

"If we could get back on topic." Samuels said. "Col. Carter will appreciate any assistance the American government wishes to provide, and we believe that formal relations between us are acceptable. This is of course, contingent on a later agreement with a body representing all the peoples of Earth. This is non-negotiable. All of our diplomatic relations will be done on a by world basis, not individual states on those worlds. That is not an issue in Pegasus, but will present a problem in the Milky Way."

"My staff will prepare and send an outline of our needs, as well as what we have to offer in the form of trade, training, and technology. We should establish channels of communication, but those are details that can be worked out later." Samuels said. "For now, I believe we should exchange statements of intent, then have representatives meet to formalize an agreement. Those talks should take place on neutral ground, and I believe Chulak would be a good choice for that, since we both have friendly relations with the Free Jaffa Nation."

"That will be acceptable, doctor." Hayes said. "My staff will have that statement of intent to you by close of business today, and we'll await your next communication on the other issues." Hayes paused, then addressed Carter. 

"Col. Carter, I regret that you were put in a position that you felt it necessary to take the steps you have. But from what I have heard today, and from briefings recently, I am beginning to believe that this might actually be for the best. I want to assure you, that the American government will work with you in any way we can, to ensure peaceful, productive relations between Atlantis, the peoples of the Pegasus galaxy, and Earth."

"Thank you, Mr. President." Carter replied formally. "Friendly relations with our homeworld is the most important diplomatic effort we have, and is foremost in our minds. Our people will wish to return home someday, to see their families and loved ones. You have our assurances as well, that we have only the warmest feelings for Earth, and her peoples. We truly hope that we can once again become a family, and not just friends."

"I believe that we should conclude this initial meeting on that high note." Samuels said. "Gen. Landry, we will be communicating with you regularly over the next several days, and will have an introductory package for you by close of business as agreed. We will accept any communications from you of course."

"Thank you, doctor." Landry said, looking down at his monitor. "I will forward everything as it is received from Washington. I've taken the liberty of transmitting personal messages to some friends. If you would be kind enough to see that they are delivered?"

"Gladly general." Samuels smiled. "If no one has anything else, I believe we're finished." She paused for a moment. "Thank you gentlemen, Atlantis out."

The monitor over the door went dark, and Samuels looked up at them from her monitor. "Ops confirms the gate is closed. We're clear."

"That went better than I expected. But we'll have to wait and see what they come back with." Carter said. She looked over at the monitor and grinned. "And when did you get a staff Andi?"

"As soon as you approve it, my queen." Samuels laughed. "Would you like to come home and talk more, or would you like to see your new conference center?"

"We'll come home. See you in a few."

Interior-Kitchen

1530 Hours

"I'm going to ask Andi to make us up a greatest hit disks of us doing it." Tammy said as she sat on the toilet. "I think it would be kewl to watch us doing it while we did it."

"Don't you dare!" Sam said, coming over to stand in front of her. "It's bad enough that she watches us, but..."

"Oh come on, Sam! You never watched porn before?" Tammy laughed as she stood up. "Just think how hot it'll be! We'll be the stars!"

"I don't even want to think about that, much less talk about it." Sam said, shaking her head as she walked out of the bathroom. "I'll be in the kitchen." She called back over her shoulder.

Tammy came into the kitchen a few minutes later, and stopped behind Andi. She leaned down and whispered to her, and Andi looked back at her, then shook her head. She looked back at her tablet, then waved her over to take her seat.

"We received a gate address to send the drones to, and the initial package for the diplomacy. Still no ZPM's." Samuels said. "The statement of intent is straightforward, and doesn't commit them to anything. That's to be expected. Our's reads the same way. But it's just an opening gesture."

"What do you think? Are they legit, or are they playing a game?" Carter asked.

"Hayes means what he says, but he'd prefer to keep us, and the gate program in American hands. I don't have a problem with that, but I agree that we deal with worlds, not states. So they're going to have to grow up. I think they'll do it, but they'll only approach the developed, or industrialized countries, they won't include the third world. We can look at dealing with forty or so countries, not just the five the IOA was made up of. That's a representative sample, call it a little over sixty percent of the total population of the planet."

"What we have to watch out for is the big dogs. The Americans, the Russians and the Chinese. The Russians and Chinese have been letting the Americans foot the bill for the gate program since they found out about it, but have been demanding a share of all technologies found, while trying to call the shots by using threats of exposure, even war. That's more the Chinese than the Russians. They're going to be pushing for settlements in Pegasus inside the first year."

"So we'll be pulled into a diplomatic cesspool on Earth, while trying to establish our own relationships here in Pegasus." Carter said, shaking her head.

"No, we tell them up front that we won't do that." Samuels said. "We deal with whatever agency they present us, in good faith, but we sit down privately with the leadership of the big three beforehand. We explain to them what we expect, and if they find it unacceptable, we tell them all deals are off, they can give us a call if you need us."

"There's six billion people on that planet, and there has already been noise about wanting to resettle some of them somewhere else. Involuntarily, of course. With Atlantis as a shield, they'll want to look here for that. The Milky Way would actually be safer, but they won't see that."

"Are you saying that they still see us as their property? A wayward child as it were?" Tammy asked.

"That's a good analogy. There are some that believe that we will come to our senses, and come running home to mama." Samuels said. "Another group, a small one thankfully, will do everything they can to impede our progress. They'll eventually be ignored and left out of the process once others see that we're standing on our own, and are making strides without Earth's help. The bulk of the people that we'll be dealing with will see what we're offering as a benefit, and try to figure out how to get a piece of the pie for their people. That's the group we target."

"The way you say it, it makes it sound like we don't want to deal with any of them, Andi." Keller said. 

"Necessary evils, and I admit, neither diplomacy nor psychiatry are the friendliest of languages for describing people or relationships. Let's talk about the group that will want us to do something for them." Samuels said. 

"Let's table this for a while instead." Carter said. "I'm not up for listening to another three hour lecture. Make your arrangements, see what they have to say, and keep me in the loop. How many people do you have working for you right now, Andi?"

"Directly? Forty or so, then another two hundred reporting through them." Samuels told her. "That's in half a dozen different efforts, including translating manuals, database searches, and making arrangements to import refugees."

Carter nodded. "I'd like all of you to give me an org chart. I want to see who is working on what, and what progress they're making. That means formalizing your departments, with an outline of duties, responsibilities and goals. I'm thinking that we're already duplicating efforts, and I'd like to stop it before it gets started, or too deeply ingrained."

"Andi, you mentioned to Tammy the other night that you want to bring in a household staff, and secretaries for me and her. I like that idea. I also like your idea of desks in the bedroom. Make it happen as soon as possible. And start staffing your diplomatic corps. Take what you need from any department, but feel free to go offworld if you need to. Keep it in Pegasus." 

She looked around the table at them. "I've been the worst offender, at least when it comes to winging it. I've been throwing out ideas and orders, and expecting things to get done. I've been able do that, because I have the best people working for me, but as we start to grow, things are going to get out of control. So I want daily status reports from all of you. Copy Tammy, and the other department heads. And while I'm on it, if you get a reply from Tammy, follow it, she's my co-queen, and shares my authority, but only senior staff needs to know that."

"In addition to your household guard, Ronin wants to setup a strike force, which I think is a good idea." Sheppard said. "We have rapid response teams, but now that we have these spec ops people, we might as well make use of them. I want to recruit as we import people too, not all of them are going to have the ancient gene, and we're not going to need that much manual labor."

"You'd be surprised how much manual labor we're going to need, John." Samuels said, sliding a tablet down to him. "With each city running at full capacity, it could take as many as twenty-eight thousand unskilled workers to keep them going. Of course, we'll need another forty-five thousand skilled workers to get everything running at peak capacity."

"Seventy-three thousand people to run each of them?" Tammy said. "Are you sure about that Andi? I mean..."

"The actual number to run both cities is over a hundred and ten thousand, Tammy. Once you add in clerical, support and management staffs." Samuels said. "Right now, with the exception of the drone facility on the east pier, all our efforts are being concentrated on the north pier. We should hit five percent production in some of those shops by the end of the week."

"Two hundred thousand people." Carter said slowly. She shook her head, looking around the table. "It looks like we have out work cut out for us. Let's get to it." 

Interior-Office

1710 Hours

"May we speak?" Teyla said softly. drawing Carter off to one side as the meeting broke up, and people drifted into the living room. "Privately?"

"Of course, Teyla." Sam said. "Would my office be private enough? Or would you prefer to go outside? We can..."

"The office will be fine. I have news of...we must talk."

Carter led her into her office, closing the door behind her. Teyla took a seat, perching on the edge a chair, and Sam looked at her as she leaned against the desk.

"What's on your mind, Teyla?" Carter asked. "We should be celebrating, but you look frightened, or at the very least, nervous. What's wrong?"




Confirming Carter Bk. 02 Daedalus Ch. 05



Teyla looked up at her for a moment. "I do not wish to tell you, but I must." She paused, her eyes pleading before she dropped them. "We have word of a gathering of hive ships. Ten so far, and their escorts, but we believe that more are on the way. We do not know why. A gathering such as this has never occurred before in the memory of my people."

"And you're worried what we might do. Especially since Daedalus is equipped with cloaking technology now."

"He will wish to go, Samantha!" Teyla said in a rush. "He knows of my hatred for the Wraith, and will want to go and attempt to destroy as many of them as he can. I cannot ask you to stop him..."

"You just did, Teyla. And I would do the same." Sam said as she went over and knelt in front of her, putting her arms around her. She was silent as she held her, glad that she hadn't begun to cry, but as she thought about it, she had never seen Teyla cry. Leaning back, she held her at arms length, meeting her eyes.

"I'll need to speak to John and Steven, but I can assure you, I will not send one ship into a hornets nest like that, no matter what we thought they could do." She let Teyla absorb that, then continued. "But if Apollo can be ready, I may have to send both of them. But you knew that before we came in here, didn't you?"

"Yes." Teyla said quietly. "I have not spoken of this. Only to you. But we must tell them, so plans can be made, and options weighed..."

"I'll want you to go with them, if we decide to do anything." Carter said, as she moved over and sat in the chair next to her. "With your knowledge of Wraith ships, we can't afford not to have you there. Would you do that for me?"

"You need not...how does John say it...work me, Samantha." Teyla said with a smile as she stood up. "But yes, I will accompany them. And thank you."

Carter waved her back into her seat, and leaned over, opening the door. "John, Steven? Would you come in here please?" She called. "And would you call Jack? I'd like to talk to him too."

"Here!" O'Neill said, high stepping into the room. He grinned down at them as he looked around for a seat. "That little brat Bra'tac brought with him hasn't shut up, or sat down since he got here. I had to get out of there."

"Sit here, Jack." Carter said as she stood up and went behind her desk.

O'Neill turned to Teyla as he sat down. "You and Caldwell. I didn't see that one coming." He said lightly.

"Yes, apparently you do not see many things when it comes to affairs of the heart, general." She replied with a wry smile. "Let us hope your vision is better when it comes to military matters."

"Ouch." O'Neill said, wincing, then smiling at her. "I guess I had that coming. I was about to add that I thought you looked good together. Is this a new thing, or have you been interested for a while?"

Teyla looked at him for a moment before she replied. "I did not care for him when first we met, but he showed himself as a capable fighter during the Wraith siege of the city. He had changed when he returned to Atlantis following his encounter with the Goa'uld."

She seemed to almost look through him as she continued. "The arrogance had been replaced by thoughtful self-confidence, and I found that appealing. When he joined us, he spoke from his heart, wanting to help right the terrible wrong being done against Samantha."

"Having a snake in your head will make you take a good hard look at yourself." O'Neill said. "I was glad we could save him. There was pressure from Washington to replace him, but Landry and I wanted to see what he'd do after the Asgard took the snake out."

"Then I owe you my thanks." She said.

Sheppard came in and had a seat. "Caldwell will be with us in a minute. He's trading war stories with Vala." He shook his head. "I have to be careful not to underestimate her. She comes across as a ditz, but she's crafty, and a lot smarter than she let's on."

Carter nodded and smiled. "Vala was host to the Goa'uld Katesh for almost fifty years. So if anyone can relate to what he's been through, it's her. You should run ideas through her, she can be conniving and devious. She knew every sneak thief, con artist and underworld operator in the Milky Way, and bested them all. I'm going to put her with Andi when she gets her intelligence services up and running."

"Well, we should as..."

"That woman isn't as dumb as she puts on." Caldwell said as he came into the room. "We need to put her with Samuels, maybe make her head of the intelligence services when we get them started up." He went over and sat next to Teyla, smiling at her as he tabbed across his tablet.

"I'm glad everyone is catching on about Vala." Carter laughed. "I didn't say anything because I wanted you to see it for yourselves. She won't head anything, she's an operator, and it would be a shame to waste her skills, that's why she's a royal advisor. I'm going to ask her to be our emissary to the Genii." She laughed again as she looked around the room. 

O'Neill grinned wolfishly. "They'll never know what hit them! You may end up with new subjects, not just allies." He laughed.

"That would be a best case scenario. But we asked everyone to come in here to discuss something else." She said, looking at Teyla. "Teyla has information you need to hear, so I'll let her have the floor."

Teyla glanced at Caldwell, then over at Sheppard, giving him a small smile. "My people have been contacted by the Travelers." She said. "Larrin was quite specific that I share this with you John, and no, she had no personal massage for you."

"One of their scout ships detected a gathering of hive ships in a remote sector of the galaxy, I have the coordinates. So far, they have confirmed ten hives, and they believe that more are on the way." 

She looked around the room before she spoke again. "Such a gathering is unknown in the history of my people. The Wraith are broken into factions that are openly hostile to each other, and often fight amongst themselves over territory. They are, however, all subject to one queen that they call the Primary. All the factions are loyal to her."

"So taking her out could throw them into disarray, and maybe even get them fighting each other." Carter said. She looked at Teyla. "Do you know how the Primary is chosen? It can't be hereditary, so I'm betting that the head of the strongest alliance takes it be force."

"I do not know, Samantha. Many of the leaders in this galaxy are chosen by who leads the strongest armies. It would seem natural that the Wraith would do the same."

Carter nodded and stood up. "We can't really do anything else tonight, but I want you all to think on it. I'd like to hear some options in the morning. Let's go into the living room, I'm sure Vala has Andi in a tizzy by now. Either that, or she's trying to seduce Tammy."

Caldwell took Sheppard to one side as they adjourned and moved into the living room.

"Zelenka's people just knocked off for the night, and he's saying that the cloak on the Apollo is operational. I'd like to do a few test runs, and see how she performs. If he has feedback waiting in the morning, they'll be able to get her ready that much quicker."

"That's a good idea." Sheppard nodded. "Do you want to just do jump tests, or go live fire with the jumpers again? I think Marks was having a good time when you guys were doing the shakedowns on the Daedalus."

"He was having a blast." Caldwell laughed. "I had to remind him that we were a military vessel, not an amusement park ride. But I was thinking of using the three-oh-two's this time. They have roughly the same radar signature and maneuvering capability as a dart, so it would be a better test for us."

"That's a good idea. Copy me on whatever you send Zelenka, and send me results on how you do against the three-oh-two's. Put all your birds in the air, and have them do targeting runs on asteroids or rocks in their areas, we might as well use the time to get them some practice too. We want them moving, going on sitting targets doesn't really tell us anything." 

Caldwell nodded, looking around the room for Teyla. "I'll have Marks assemble the crew we'll need and move them over. The pilots will be glad to get out on a joy run. Other than routine patrols, it's been a while since any of them have had any flight time. I need to speak to Teyla, I'll let you know when we wrap up."

Sheppard grinned as Caldwell walked over to Teyla, and was about to go in the kitchen when Carter spoke up behind him.

"What's Steven doing, John?" she asked.

"He wants to do some test runs on the Apollo. Zelenka's people just knocked off for the night, and say the cloak is operational." He said as he turned toward her.

"That's fine, Teyla doesn't look too happy, but let him have his fun." She told him. "I'm going to have Tammy see about getting us something to eat, do you want to stay, or do you having else going?"

"No, I need to talk to Samuels about Anchorage, we sent eighty people over there today, and I need to know what else she thinks we're going to need. With the shields active, we won't need many troops for protection, but she might want to pull from my people based on skills. They can get lessons on the systems we need to get up first."

"Good, leave the towers alone, and concentrate on the production facilities." She said as they walked toward the windows. "We want to bring them online as soon as we can. And get a structural scan. Andi has concerns about it not being space worthy. We can live with that, but having two working starships makes us a force to be reckoned with."

"Let's not worry about that yet. We can defend both cities, that's enough for now." Sheppard said, looking out over the ocean. "I can't believe I'm saying that, but we have other things we need to do first. I'd like to see us making alliances, and diplomatic ties before we start looking at getting aggressive."

"I agree, but...nevermind, you're right. Let's take it slow for now." She said. "We all have enough on our plates as it is. And speaking of plates, I'm getting hungry, so I'm going to see if I can get Tammy to rustle something up."

Interior-Daedalus Bridge

1850 Hours

"Prepare to exit hyperspace and acquire targets, Mr. Marks." Caldwell said, bringing up a chart of the region they were dropping into. "Make sure all telemetry is recorded so Dr. Zelenka can go through it."

"Aye, sir. Exiting hyperspace in ten seconds...full stop, three targets acquired. Firing. Reversing to starb..."

The ship shuddered, and Marks was thrown violently against his console. Caldwell barely hung onto his seat as the ship shuddered again, and pitched to the right. Alarms sounded all over the ship.

"Inertial dampener's offline." The weapons officer said as his hands flew over his console. He glanced at Marks. "Cloak and shields holding steady."

"Sublight engines coming online, sir." Marks said. "Moving ahead, one half sublight."

"What the hell just happened, Marks?" Caldwell asked as he scrolled through the data on his screen.

"Checking sir. All systems online. Breaking off." Marks said, turning to look at Caldwell. "We'll have to go through the telemetry sir, but I think we just stalled her."

"Bridge to all stations." Caldwell said as he open the shipwide channel. "Damage reports as soon as possible. Sickbay, give us a count on injuries when you have it. Bridge out."

"Recall the birds in the area, Marks. Once we've got them, we'll go to the next zone." Caldwell said. "Let try one more, just to make sure we didn't break anything. Set a course for zone six."

"Aye, sir. Sickbays reports eleven injuries, nothing major."

"Nevermind Marks, we're not gonna chance it. Notify all birds to standby for pickup, then take us home." Caldwell said. "And send the telemetry we have to Zelenka. I want to know what the hell just happened."

Interior-Dr. Zelenka's Lab

2010 Hours

"Just explain it to us nice and slow, doc. Caldwell here's not that bright." Sheppard said. "I, on the other hand, could have been in Mensa if I had wanted to join." 

"Bunch of egghead pansies." Caldwell muttered. "You'd fit right in."

"A power relay in the sublight control system failed. It had nothing to do with the cloak being installed, so we didn't test it." Zelenka said, showing them on the telemetry where the relay failed. "I'll have a crew replace it in the morning, and check all the other systems as well. Just so you know, this was not caused by our cloak installation. The Apollo may be overdue for maintenance. We have no control over that."

"That's fine, doc." Sheppard said. "No one is blaming you. But I'd like your crew going over that bucket bright and early tomorrow. We may have to take her out. I'm not sure who we're putting in the big chair yet, but if she's gonna act like this, it may end up being me. I'm not going to put someone in command of a ship I wouldn't fly myself."

"And I won't fly with someone dumb enough to fly in a busted bucket of bolts like this." Caldwell said. "Get crews out on it tonight. Have them check every switch, fuse and relay, starting in the engineering spaces, and work their way forward. When they get done with that, have them check the seat belt on the helm station. Marks has a wicked bruise on his chest from hitting that console."

"Yes, yes. I'll send them out now. If you'll excuse me." Zelenka said as he scurried out of the lab.

"I think you scared him." Sheppard said as he stepped through the door. "You made him run out of his own lab."

"You were going to let him sit on his ass all night. Bright and early. The fucking ship is in space for god's sake! It's dark all the time. Mensa my ass."

"It really irks you that I'm your boss now, doesn't it?" Sheppard grinned. "Let go get a beer."

"Like you wouldn't believe." Caldwell laughed. "And I drink scotch. But I can chase it with a beer."

"Now you're talkin'." Sheppard said as he keyed the porter. 

(-)

That's all for Chapter Five. Please read Chapter Six for more of this story.

I hope you liked this episode. Please post a comment so I know if I'm the right track with this...



Confirming Carter Bk. 02 Daedalus Ch. 06



The Daedalus has been equipped with the Ancient's cloaking technology, and Caldwell leads a mission to scout the Wraith gathering. Sam and Tammy have a falling out, then some serious make up sex. Tammy shows the first negative signs to her exposure to Sam's blood, and Teyla welcomes Caldwell home as befits a hero...

(-)

Confirming Carter Book Two Daedalus

Chapter Six

Interior-Conference Room, North Pier

0825 Hours

"Zelenka has the cloaking equipment installed on the Apollo, but he says he needs another day to fine tune and test it." Caldwell was saying. "We took her out on a few test runs last night after his people knocked off, and we didn't have any problems with the cloak. There were some performance issues though. I don't know if you can really stall a starship, but I think we came damn close."

"I would have thought you'd be beating on the table demanding we go, Steven." Carter said, leaning back in her chair. "I'm glad I was wrong. But I read your report, you tried to drop out of hyperspace, come to a full stop, then fire at multiple targets while putting the ship in a reversing turn to starboard."

"Yes, maam. I can do that maneuver with the Daedalus, and we should be able to have both ships behave in a similar fashion." Caldwell said. "And I'm not going to be sitting in the big chair on Apollo. I'm not going to put someone else's life on the line because I got in a hurry. We found out what the problem on that was. A power relay overloaded and took the sublight engines offline. Zelenka's people said the problem was with the relay, not something in the cloak that caused the problem."

"We'll let Zelenka make his adjustments, but if we can go safely sooner, I'd like to." Carter said. "I wasn't here when you hit those Wraith ships last time, and I don't know what kind of dead spaces there are in a hive, but I'm betting that there are alot." 

"Are you thinking about beaming nukes onboard some of them, while we hit the rest with beams and missiles?" Sheppard asked. "They threw up shields pretty quick the first time we did it, and we haven't gotten another shot since. They come out of hyperspace with shields at full power now."

"I'm thinking along those lines, but I'm not exposing either of my ships to that force. I'm thinking drop and dash." Carter said. "Teyla's people are saying that there are twenty-seven hives, and dozens of cruisers now, gathered out there in the middle of nowhere, and they're thinking it's some kind of summit." 

She leaned forward, looking back and forth between them. "I'm thinking, that if you beam a nuke onto a few around the perimeter, when they go up, we'll get secondary's off the nearby hives and cruisers. If enough of them start going up, we may get the whole gaggle of them, without risking either ship, or wasting alot of ordinance."

"That's a ballsy move, Sam." O'Neill grinned. "But what makes you think that they'll be unshielded when we get there? From what Teyla said, the Wraith are just as hostile to each other as they are everyone else."

"We're the first one's to put up any kind of fight against them in a long time, Jack. And I think what happened with the Replicator homeworld has a lot to do with this." Carter said. "They're out there talking about us, and the Travelers. They're wondering what they're going to do now that there other space fairing races in Pegasus that can be a threat to them. Add to that the fact that the Hoffen drug has poisoned their food supply, and they have to be seeing things getting tight for them."

"I've talked to Teyla about the intel we're getting." Caldwell said, bringing up a star chart on the monitor. "This is the area we're talking about. It's dead space, there are no planets or space gates for light years in any direction. The Travelers are sending scout ships that sit at the edge of their sensor range, keeping an eye on what's going on. So far, none of them have been detected."

"This gathering is more than ten percent of the Wraith ships that we, and the Travelers know about. And the head queen, the one they call the Primary is there, that's been confirmed." Caldwell continued. "There's still more hives on the way it appears, so we may have a few days to get the Apollo ready, and make plans. The question I have is, do we want to try something on our own, or do we want to see if the Travelers will come on to help?"

"No." Carter said. "If we decide to do anything, I think our stealth approach is going to our best and safest bet. But we need our own recon, and a test. We need to see if they have shields up, and if we can get in close without being detected." She highlighted an area on the chart. "Steven, if you dropped Daedalus out of hyperspace here, where it should be outside their sensor range, how long would it take you to get to that cluster of ships at max speed?"

Caldwell looked at the chart, then tapped his comm and spoke quietly for several moments. He made a few adjustments on his tablet, then looked up at her again.

"Marks says we can actually drop out here." Pointing to an area much closer to the Wraith ships. "That's quite a bit closer than you suggest. Apparently we give the Wraith sensors too much credit." He said with a smile. "I'm like to split the distance, and come out here." He highlighted an area on the map. "Just to be safe. From there, we're looking at three hours in and back. Once we reach the cluster, we can use passive scans to check for shields and do a count of our own."

"That sounds like a plan. We're going to adjourn, and I'd like you to be ready to go by eleven hundred hours, sooner if you can. Teyla is going to want to go, and I told her that we'd send her when we did anything, but I've been thinking about that." Carter said. "With the Wraith being able to detect her, and get into her head, she could present an unnecessary risk. But damn, having her on the scene would be valuable too."

"We've already talked about that, colonel." Caldwell said quietly. "She understands the risk, and knows that she can't go. She doesn't like it, but she's accepting it. We've been going over the schematics we got from the Travelers, and she's pointed out places we can beam nukes in where they shouldn't be detected too quickly. If we work quickly, we should be able to have a dozen nukes on timers in place and be safely away before they start going off."

"Good. And thank you, Steven." Carter said as she stood up. "Get going, and at the first sign of trouble, you get your ass out of there as fast as you can." She looked at Sheppard and O'Neill. "I need a couple hours, but I'll want you two back here, and we might as well get Andi too. We need to look at what's going on with Anchorage."

She walked over and stopped Caldwell at the door, putting her arms around him, hugging him tightly. "You be careful, Steven. No heroics, just go in, get what we want, and get out. You and your crew are more important than a few Wraith ships. We can always pick them off one at time if we have to."

"Yes, maam." Caldwell said with a smile. "My boss already had that little talk with me. We'll be careful, And we'll be home soon."

"She did, did she?" Carter laughed as she let him go. "Well, in that case, let me say good luck, and good hunting."

Interior-Kitchen

1040 Hours

"Ops says the Daedalus is away. They left a few minutes ago." Tammy said as Carter and Ronin came into the room. "And you left your comm on the table. Again. You don't have to wear it, but you do have to carry it with you." She handed her the headset as she sat down.

"Bitch, bitch, bitch! That's all you've done for two days." Carter laughed as she dropped the comm in her vest pocket. "What's the matter, sweetie. You not gettin' enough lovin'?" She laughed as she leaned over for a kiss.

Tammy kissed her, but it was just a light peck. "And no, I'm not getting enough lovin', as you so quaintly put it. What do I have to do Sam? I try, but you're not interested. Is it the cameras? I can turn them off, all you have to..."

"I'll be in the living room." Ronin said, then stepped out quickly.

"Jezzus, Tammy! Was that necess..."

"Fuck you! I don't want to talk about it anymore. You're not gonna listen anyway!" Tammy said as she stood up and stormed out.

Carter stood up to follow her, but before she could, she saw Jennifer coming down the hall.

"Do you have a few minutes?" Keller asked as she came into the room. "And what's wrong with Tammy? She blew right by me, and didn't even say hello."

"I think we just had a fight." Carter said, then shook her head and looked at her. "What did you need, Jenn?"

"I've the got test results from the people we brought in from Cealacan. Of the three hundred ninety-four survivors, almost three hundred of them have the gene. We've already started the therapy, and had less than a dozen failures so far." Keller told her, handing her a tablet. "We started them on the teaching machine too. Oh my god, Sam! You should have seen them when we told them that they would be able to read and speak ancient. The..."

"Can you bring up the cameras on this thing?" Carter asked, handing the tablet back to her.

"What? Sure, it only takes a second." Keller said as she tapped on the screen, then handed it back. "Just touch the picture of the camera you want to see."

Carter took the tablet and touched the picture of the bedroom, then the bathroom. Both were empty. She tried the office and living room, then the small bedroom. She was about to call Ronin and ask him where Tammy had gone, when she noticed that there were more images, but she had to scroll up to see them. She found her in the guest room. She was laying on the bed, propped up against a stack of pillows. Her pants were around her ankles, and she was holding a tablet with one hand. Her other hand was between her legs.

Sam started to laugh, then gasped as she zoomed in and saw that there were tears running down Tammy's cheeks. She looked over at Keller as she sat the tablet down and stood up.

"Come with me, Jenn." She said as she went into the hall. Ronin stood and turned toward her as they came into the living room. 

"She's in there." He said quietly, pointing to the bedroom.

"I know." She told him. "Clear everyone out, and lock the porter out. Wait downstairs, and lock the elevator too. Nothing but emergencies comes through. I'll let you know when we need you."

Ronin nodded and led Keller down the hall. She heard the elevator doors open and close, and she stood looking at the bedroom door for a moment.

"Can I come in?" She asked from the door, looking over at Tammy.

"It's your house." Tammy said, not looking up from the screen.

"It's our house. Whatcha watchin'?"

"A movie."

"Anybody I know in it?" She asked as she unbuttoned her vest and shrugged it off her shoulders.

"Yeah. A couple of really hot bitches doin' all kinds of nasty stuff." Tammy said, trying not to smile. She glanced over at Sam quickly. "I'd really like to fuck one of them."

"Yeah? You thinkin' about steppin' out on me?" Sam said as she let her pants fall to the floor and stepped out of them. She crawled up on the bed slowly, letting her eyes run over Tammy's body. "What's this bitch got that I don't?" She asked.

Her hand touched the buttons on Tammy's vest, and started opening them from the bottom up, She got three of them open, and was working on the fourth. 

"You're not going to help me?" She asked as the button slid free. Her hand moved up to the last one.

"No."

She opened it slowly, then pushed the vest to the side, smiling as her breasts came into view.

"Either of those sluts have titties as nice as yours?" She asked as her hand slid over the firm, round globe of her breast. She teased the nipple with her thumb, running it in slow circles around the areole.

"One of 'em does. The others one's are kinda saggy." Tammy said as she began to breathe harder.

"Hey now! Watch it there, girlfriend." She paused, pinching her nipple between her fingertips. "You are still my girlfriend. Aren't you?"

Tammy turned and looked at her, and the look in her eyes made Sam's heart freeze. She took the tablet from her and tossed it on the bed, then reached down and pulled her pants off her feet. She moved up and lifted her so she could slip the vest off. Tammy didn't help her, and she lay back on the bed when Sam eased her down.

She stretched out over her, resting on her elbows, her legs spread outside Tammy's. Her face was inches from Tammy's. 

"Can I kiss you?"

"Yes."

She pressed her lips to Tammy's, closing her eyes and moaning as she did. She drew back when Tammy didn't respond, keeping her lips closed. She had kissed her back, but it was a chaste kiss, like you give a friend, not a lover.

So it's gonna be like that, is it? Carter thought.

She smiled at Tammy, rubbing her body up and down over her slowly. Their tits rubbed against each other, their nipples scraping across each other breasts. Tammy was breathing harder, and the look in her eyes was softening. Sam kissed her again, and her lips opened slightly, then closed around her tongue, nipping her lightly.

"Will you make love with me?" Sam asked, stroking her hair gently.

"No." Tammy said, then after a moment, she added, "You make love to me."

"Mmmmmm, can I? Let me see...what do I want to do first?" She looked up at Tammy as she slid down her body. "What would you like, sweetie?" She asked as she nibbled on her neck, then dragged her tongue up under her chin. She pressed her lips to Tammy's again, and moaned as she responded, letting her lips part, her tongue dancing lightly with her own.

"Just love me, Sam." She whispered into her mouth as they kissed. "I need you so much, baby. Please, don't let all this get in the way." She said as her arms came up and held her to her.

"I'm sorry, Tammy." Sam whispered as they began to kiss more eagerly. Their legs intertwined as they writhed against each other. "I..."

"Shut up and kiss me." Tammy said softly as her tongue darted into her mouth, making her gasp. "Then fuck me, Sam. I need you so bad..."

"Mmmmmm," Carter panted, kissing her back eagerly. She broke away and slid down her body, and ran her tongue under the spongy globe of her tit, then opened her mouth and sucked the nipple in hungrily. Her hand slipped down between her legs and dipped between the fleshy lips of her pussy, finding it warm and wet with her juices.

"Are you forgiving me, or was the movie that good?" Sam laughed as she moved over to her other tit, taking it into her mouth as she pinched its twin between her fingers.

"It was a pretty good movie." Tammy panted as she arched her back, feeding her tit up at her face. "The brunette was really hot! She had that blonde bimbo doi...Ooooohhh!" She purred as Sam slipped three fingers into the cream soaked opening of her cunt and started stroking them in and out lazily.

"Mmmmm hmmmm. Didn't the blonde do anything right?" She asked as she nipped at her stiff nipple lightly. Her fingers started moving faster, and she turned them so her fingertips brushed over the roof of her pussy, pressing against it firmly, and feeling a small bump growing under them.

Tammy was laying back, her eyes closed as she let Sam pleasure her. "So good, Sam. Oh please, I need it...oh god, I need you so bad!" She groaned as her hips started moving, arching up, trying to get her fingers deeper inside her.

Sam stroked her fingers in and out faster, stopping every few moments to rub her fingertips over her G-spot. The tender gland was already the size of a pea, and Tammy wriggled and squirmed on the bed, her hips arching up, trying to get more of her fingers inside her.

Her hands were clutching her tits, squeezing and molding them as her fingers pinched her nipples. Sam dragged her tongue down her body slowly, darting it into her belly button, making her gasp.

The crisp curls of Tammy's pubes brushed her chin, then her lips as she continued down. Nipping at the soft curls, she tugged at them with her teeth, making Tammy whine softly in her throat. 

"Cum baby." She whispered into the soft hairs. "Give it to me. I need it Tammy. I need you to cum for me. I want to see it, feel it. Please?"

Her fingers settled on her G-spot, and she started rubbing it firmly, adding her thumb to her clit as she moved her fingers in tight circles over the growing gland. She dug her chin into her pubes as she looked up at her face, smiling as she felt Tammy's pussy quiver, then clench around her stroking fingers.

Tammy's head came up, her eyes wide as she stared down at her. Her mouth worked, but no words came out, and her eyes rolled up in her head as she shivered, grunting loudly, then screamed as she started to cum.

Warm pussy juice spurted from her spasming pussy, soaking Sam's arm and the bed under her. Sam started stabbing her fingers in and out of her cumming cunt hole, slamming them in and out as fast as she could. Tammy screamed again, and her hips arched up off the bed, jerking down onto her probing fingers. She held the arch, her whole body rigid as she shuddered and jerked wildly.

She collapsed suddenly, falling limply to the bed, gasping for breath. Sam drew her fingers from her slowly, pushing her legs apart and pressing her mouth to her juice coated pussy slit. Her tongue lashed slowly around over the puffy lips of her pussy for a few seconds, then she raised up and climbed over her leg, sliding off the side of the bed.

"Get up." she said, taking Tammy's hand, pulling her to the side of the bed. "Come on, get up. I'm not done with you yet." She said as she pulled her to her feet. Keeping her hand in her own, she led Tammy into the bathroom, and into the shower. Turning on the spray, she turned her under it slowly, then pushed her against the wall.

"Spread 'em." She said as she picked up a sponge glove, pumping soap on it, then stepping up close behind her. "I said spread 'em, bitch! Now do it." She whispered huskily as she straddled her leg, grinding her pussy mound against her.

Tammy moaned as she slid her feet back, spreading them wider. She moaned again as Sam slid the soapy sponge over her tits, then dragged it slowly down over her tummy, stopping as she reached the close cropped vee of her pubes. She ran the glove up and down over the soft hairs, then slid it down quickly, brushing it over the clean shaved lips of her pussy, withdrawing it just as quickly.

"Noooooo." Tammy whimpered, humping back at her. "Please."

"No what, baby?" Sam whispered as she moved the glove back up over her stomach, running it over the heaving mounds of her tits again.

"Please...do...don't t...tease me." She said softly.

"Ohhhhhh, I wouldn't do that to you, Tammy. I love you." Sam whispered. "I promise. I won't tease you." She smiled as she felt her sigh with relief. 

"I'm going to torture you."

Tammy stiffened as her soapy fingers plunged between her legs and slipped between the swollen lips of her pussy. She grunted, her knees bending as Sam ground her fingers over her clit, mashing the stiff nubbin roughly into her body. 

Tammy's legs started shaking as she started cumming again, and Sam held her tightly. Her fingers ground mercilessly over Tammy's clit, then slid off, catching it between her fingers. "Do you like this, Tammy?" She asked as she pinched her clit between her fingers, tugging on it, almost as if she was jerking on a tiny cock.

Tammy grunted, and her head bobbed up and down as she bent her knees more, opening her crotch completely to her fingers.

"Can you stay up if I let you go?" Sam asked softly.

Tammy nodded, and Sam moved her hand around, sliding it up and down the crack of her ass, then pressed a soapy finger against the tight, wrinkled ring of her asshole. Tammy grunted, pushing her ass back as Sam started fucking her finger up her asshole slowly, moving her fingers back over her clit, strumming them up and down over the tender nubbin.




Confirming Carter Bk. 02 Daedalus Ch. 06



"Are we having fun yet?" Sam grunted into her ear as she humped her pussy up and down on her leg.

"Oh god, yes!" Tammy, moaned. "Whatever you do, don't stop!"

"Oh, I not done with you...not by a long shot!" Sam laughed evilly. "Cum. I want to feel your asshole cum on my fingers." 

She let her finger slide slowly from Tammy's ass, and added another one, pressing them both against the tight hole, twisting them back and forth, forcing them up inside her slowly. Tammy rose up on her toes, then relaxed, settling back onto her feet. She was gasping for breath, her whole body shaking as she came over and over under Sam's skilled fingers.

She kept pressing her fingers deeper into Tammy's ass, and her fingers worked faster on her clit. She could feel that she was near the breaking point, her legs were shaking, and she kept inching closer to the wall. Sam helped her, pushing her feet toward the wall as her hands worked her over. She was finally pressed flat against the cool tiles, Sam's arm trapped between her body and the wall. She pressed against her, holding her up as Tammy threw her head back, shaking it from side to side, a long, loud moan coming from her mouth. 

Tammy slumped against her, and Sam slipped her hand from between her legs, holding her around the waist as she eased her fingers from her ass. She held her hand over under the spray, rinsing it off, them put both arms around her, and moved her over under the spray.

She soaped up her hands and turned her around, running them gently up and down between the cheeks of her ass, then smeared soap all over both firm, round cheeks. She rinsed her off, then washed her hands again as Tammy leaned against her.

"Come on." Sam said, pulling her from the shower, leaving it running. She led her out of the bathroom, stopping when Tammy stumbled. She turned and picked her up, carrying her out of the bedroom, across the living room, and into the kitchen.

She laid her gently on the table, then opened the freezer, and grabbed a quart of chocolate ripple. She pulled the lid off and tossed it on the counter, then pulled Tammy down in front of her chair as she sat down, resting her legs on her own shoulders. She pressed her mouth to the juice slick slit and lashed it all around, darting it up into her leaking cunt hole, then slapping her clit lazily.

Tammy moaned, her head moving from side to side, then her eyes flew open and her head came up as Sam drew her head back and smeared fingers full of ice cream over her wide spread cunt slit.

"Oh God! Wh...what are...Ohhhhhh! It's cold!" 

Tammy moaned pitifully as Sam plastered her mouth to her sticky mound and started licking and sucking hungrily, lapping up the ice cream, then spreading her puffy pussylips and sluicing her tongue up and down lazily. She spread the lips of her pussy wider, centering her mouth over the juice dripping hole, locking her lips around it, and driving her tongue inside as she sucked eagerly at the dripping opening.

Tammy put her hands on the back of her head as her hips started moving, humping in slow movements up at her face. Sam pushed her legs higher, opening them wider. She fucked her tongue rapidly in and out, making loud snuffling noises as she panted through her nose. Tammy was moaning non-stop, her hands pressing her face harder into her juicing pussy. 

Sam ate her eagerly, moaning happily as the rich, spicy girl cum spilled into her mouth. She kept eating her, and pressed her nose into her clit, scrubbing her face back and forth over the rigid nubbin. Tammy jerked, and her pussy spat a small spurt of juice into her mouth. She smiled, pulling back slightly, then puckered her lips and pressed them against Tammy's clit. Sam smiled as she blew a long, loud raspberry right onto her clit, the fluttery vibrations making Tammy jerk and heave under her mouth. 

"Nnnngggggghhhhnnnnn!" Tammy grunted, then collapsed on the table. Sam slid her legs off her shoulders and stood up, resting her hands on the table.

"Time to go, sweetie" She sighed as she pulled her down, then off the table, getting behind her and walking her out into the living room. Tammy shuffled slowly in front of her, her body overwhelmed by what Sam was doing to her, but she prayed that she didn't stop.

"More?" She mumbled as Sam led her over to the couch.

"Oh, you can bet yer sweet bottom there's more." Sam panted in her ear as she turned her and pushed her against the couch. "Over ya go!" She said as she bent her over the back of the couch and dropped to her knees behind her.

Forcing her feet wider apart, she spread the lips of Tammy's pussy and jammed her tongue up inside, darting it in and out, then moving her hands up, cupping the cheeks of her ass, spreading them apart with her fingers. 

Tammy groaned as Sam's tongue stabbed at the wrinkled rosette of her asshole, swabbing the nimble labia all around over it. Sam moaned into her fragrant ass crack, surprised that she liked the musky taste of her asshole. Darting her tongue against the tight ring of muscle, she felt it slip through, making Tammy push her ass back against her face harder, bending her knees as she ground her ass in slow circles.

Sam reached up and took her hands, bringing them back, putting them on her ass. 

"Hold 'em open." she grunted, then mashed her face back into her ass crack and started fucking her tongue harder into her asshole.

Tammy spread her asscheeks, holding them open as Sam rimmed her eagerly. She purred as she felt Sam's fingers wriggling up between her pussylips, then stroking up inside. She closed her eyes and shivered as she started rubbing her G-spot again, making her legs start to feel rubbery.

"Sam...I...I ca..." She said.

"Shut up. I'm kissing you." Sam said into her ass, her tongue driving roughly up into her asshole. 

Tammy shuddered, and a thick stream of pussy juice erupted from her as Sam ground her fingers onto her tender G-spot. Sam pulled back, plastering her mouth to her dripping pussy, sucking and licking frantically, her tongue lashing and laving madly as she stabbed it up inside her. Tammy screamed, a long, full throated shriek then seemed to go on forever, then fell over the back of the couch.

"Oh no ya don't." Sam said as she lifted her, getting her upright, then picking her up and carrying her through the bedroom, and into the bathroom. She sat her on the toilet, and squatted in front of her.

Sam lifted her chin, grinning when she saw that Tammy's eyes were glassy, and she was having trouble focusing. She stood up in front of her, tilting her head back. She stepped closer, spreading her legs and bending her knees as she pulled Tammy's face against her pussy.

"Eat me." She said softly. "Make me cum, Tammy."

Tammy moaned into her sopping wet cunt slit and started eating her hungrily. Her hands came around and cupped the cheeks of Sam's ass, pulling her tighter to her. Her tongue lashed out, darting up into her, lapping and licking up the creamy girl cum as it poured out of her pussy.

She moved one hand around and stiffened three fingers, easing them into Sam's dripping pussy alongside her tongue. When she had them firmly seated, she moved her mouth up and locked her lips around her clit. She started pumping her fingers in and out, sucking eagerly on her clit as Sam ground her pussy down onto her face.

"Oh yeah! That's it. That's what mama likes." Sam grunted. "Fuck me, Tammy. Hard! Oh god, he...here it comes...Oh shit! I...Cummmmmmiiinnngggg!" She screamed, her legs shaking madly as she mashed her clit against Tammy's mouth. She shuddered and jerked as Tammy fucked her fingers in and out of her spasming cunt chute as fast as she could, nipping at her clit with her teeth at the same time.

"Enough!" Sam shouted, pushing her away, and falling back toward the floor.

"Sam!" Tammy screamed, then watched, amazed as she did a tumbling roll as she hit the floor, ending up on her knees. Her head hung down as she panted for breath, then came up, a sly smile creasing her lips.

"Almost done." she said as she got slowly to her feet. She came over and held out her hand to Tammy, helping her up. "One more stop."

Leading her into the bedroom, she sat on the edge of the bed, patting her lap lightly as she looked up at Tammy. When Tammy just looked at her, she grabbed her hand and pulled her down across her legs. She rested one hand on her back, and ran the other slowly over the soft, smooth skin of her ass.

"No, Sam. Please do..." Tammy's eyes went wide as Sam brought her hand down on one cheek. She tried to move, to get up, but Sam had a leg hooked over hers, and her hand was pressing down on her back as she brought her hand down again and again, alternating cheeks as she spanked her.

She stopped after ten smacks, and rubbed her ass gently, soothing the tender flesh. Tammy's asscheeks were bright pink as Sam caressed them. She looked down at Tammy. 

"Ready?" She asked

"Please..." 

"Well, since you're asking do nicely." Sam said as she brought her hand down again, harder this time. She waited a few seconds, then brought her hand down on the other cheek. Another pause, then she moved to the other cheek. She continued like that for seven more strokes.

She stopped after ten strokes again, rubbing Tammy's bright red bottom gently. After a moment, she moved her leg and lifted her arm away. 

"Stand up."

Tammy climbed off her lap and stood in front of her, her head down.

"Turn around."

Tammy looked at her for a moment, but turned quickly when Sam lifted an eyebrow.

Sam put her hands on her waist and slid them slowly down over her hips, then pulled her closer as she leaned forward. 

"I love you." She whispered as she pressed her lips to one rosy red cheek. Then, "I love you." as she kissed its twin.

"Get up on the bed." She said, pushing her away.

Tammy scrambled up on the bed and stretched out on her back, wincing as her tender bottom touched the cool sheets.

Crawling up over her slowly, Sam smiled down into Tammy lust stunned eyes. "Do you love me?" She asked, running her tongue lightly across her lower lip.

Tammy nodded, not taking her eyes from Sam's.

Sam kissed her roughly, her lips grinding over Tammy's as her tongue snaked between her lips and slithered into her mouth. Tammy moaned, her tongue lashing back at it, then pulling back as she started sucking on it gently.

Sam pulled back, staring into her eyes. "Do you love me?" She asked again.

Tammy nodded again, and Sam kissed her again, her leg sliding up between Tammy's, her thigh grinding into her abused pussy mound, making her whimper. Warm liquid dripped down her leg as she drew it back. She raised her head, staring into Tammy's eyes again.

"Yes! I love you!" Tammy said as Sam opened her mouth. "Oh god! I love you so much, Sam!" She said as she pulled her down onto her, hugging her tightly.

"I know baby, I know." Sam said softly. "I love you too. And I'm sorry that I haven't been showing it." She looked at Tammy as she raised up over her. "Now, are we going to have to do this again?"

Tammy's eyes glowed, and a small smile crept across her face. 

"Yes." She said.

Interior-Dr. Samuels Suite

1230 Hours

Andi was going through the staffing requirement lists for the north pier complex when Jennifer called.

"Yeah Jenn, what can I do for you?" She asked. She already had a pretty good idea what she wanted.

"Have you heard from Tammy or Sam?" Keller asked. "They had a fight, and Sam threw everyone out, and that was over two hours ago. I'm starting to get worried, and Ronin won't do anything. All he'll say is that she said she'd tell him when to come back!"

"Then why don't you listen to him? I'm sure they're fine." Andi said lightly. "Don't you have something you could be doing? I haven't seen a report on the Cealacan yet. I was expecting that yesterday. Do you have a status?"

"Oh, seventy-five percent of them have the gene, and we already started the treatments." Keller said, sounding exasperated. "Honestly, Andi! I don't understand you..."

"Ever." Samuels finished for her, laughing hysterically at her own joke..."Relax, Jenn. They had a little tiff, and now they're really having out. All over the house. They've been in a bedroom, a bathroom, the kitchen...now they're in the living room. I think Sam is winning, she has Tammy bent over the couch."

"Oh...my...gawd!! What is she...Noooooooo, she isn't!" Jennifer breathed. "I'll get those reports to you as soon as I can, Andi. We just had an emergency come in."

"Okay, Jenn. Have fun, and say hi to John for me!" Samuels laughed

"I will...wait, aww shit!" Keller said as she closed the channel.

Samuels hit her comm and waited for the beep.

"Ronin?" she said.

"Ronin."

"This is Dr. Samuels. I told Jennifer to leave you alone, and I just want you to know that Sam and Tammy are fine. They'll be with you in a little while."

"Thanks doc, I told her that." Ronin said. "She just ran off. Do you need anything else?"

"No, Ronin. Samuels out."

Samuels moved the video back to just before Sam had entered the kitchen, then ran it back, stopping every ten minutes or so and frowned. She brought up the medical database, and looked at the mornings scan, then scrolled through the telemetry data from the bracelets.

She tapped her comm again.

"Jennifer? Are you near a computer, or do you have your tablet with you?" She asked.

"Yeah, Andi. What do you need?" Keller replied. "What do you want me to look at?

She gave Keller the timestamps on the video and the telemetry, then waited for her to pull it up.

"I'll be right up." Keller said as she closed the channel.

Interior-Dr. Samuels Suite

1410 Hours

The alarm went off as they were going through the telemetry for the past week.

"Andi! Jennifer! Something's wrong with Tammy! I can't wake her up!" Carter said, her voice shaking as she spoke.

"We're on the way, Sam!" Keller said. "Is she breathing? Have you checked her pulse? Do it now Sam, we're on the way."

"Oh god, she's not breathing." Carter said. "I'm going to start CPR."

"Don't Sam, you may kill her." Samuels said. There was a long pause, then she came back on. "She's only been down for a little over a minute. She should start coming around. We're in the elevator..."

A moment later Carter heard Ronin shout, "Colonel?"

"Bedroom!" She called back, holding Tammy and rocking her. Tammy opened her eyes and looked up at her as Ronin, Andi and Jennifer came charging into the room.

"I need you to back up, Sam." Keller said as she got up on the bed, pushing her away as she tried to resist. She looked over her shoulder. "Ronin, get her off the bed, and hold her. Do not let her go!"

Ronin nodded, and Keller turn to Tammy.

"Tammy, I need to examine you. You're okay, but we need to check you out." Keller said calmly as she pushed her back on the bed. "We'll explain in a minute, but you have to let me look at you."

"Blood pressure and heart rate are spiking." Samuels said as she watched the telemetry on her tablet. "BP is two ten over one thirty, heart rate one forty."

"Hold her, Ronin! She's stronger than she looks!" Keller said. "Look at me, Tammy." She said as she shined a small light in her eyes, then leaned down and smelled her breath.

"Tammy, tell me where you are, and who I am." She said.

"I'm in my bedroom, and you're Jessica Keeler. You're a director." Tammy said.

"That's good, Tammy." Keller said, glancing over at Andi. "Call Susan, tell her to get ready downstairs."

She turned back to Tammy. "Can you tell me who that woman and the big man at the foot of the bed are, Tammy?"

Tammy smiled. "That's my girlfriend, Sam. I don't know him." 

A moment later, her eyes rolled up in her head and she went limp. Keller grabbed her wrist, and Samuels said, "She's coding again."

"Pick her up, Ronin." Keller said. "We're going down to thirty-one." She jumped off the bed and hit her comm, she started speaking softly as she walked out the door.

Ronin picked Tammy up and moved quickly across the room, and into the living room. When he got to the hall, he saw Keller holding the elevator open. As they stepped in, Ronin looked down and saw Tammy looking at him.

"What's happening, Ronin? Where are we going?"

"You're sick. We're going to take care of you." He said softly, lifting her so she could put her arms around his neck.

"Thank...ugh...I...think I'm going to be sick." She groaned.

The elevator doors opened a moment later, and Ronin charged down the hall to the med center. The door was open, and Susan Arbann, one of the other nurses was standing just inside. She pointed at a bed, and Ronin laid Tammy out on it gently.

Keller turned to Susan. "I need the teaching machine, and the scanner. Have you been through the training on the scanner?"

"No." Susan said. "Dr. Samuels said we were going to wait. The teacher is right next door." She turned and went to the door, stepping aside as Carter and Samuels came through it, then stepped out behind them.

Samuels went over to the bed, and Ronin stepped out, blocking Carter's path.

"No. Let them work." He said quietly. "She knew me in the elevator. That's good."

"Sam, we need the scanner, it's over there somewhere." Keller said, waving at a corner of the room. She felt around Tammy's head, then slipped her telemetry bracelet off and tossed it to Samuels. "Find out why that thing didn't go off."

Carter turned around, spotting the scanner quickly. She went over and pushed it over to the bed, then stepped back beside Ronin. She slipped her hand into his, and looked up at him.

"She's going to be fine." He said. "Did you make up?"

She smiled and nodded, then turned back to watch Jennifer.

"Susan is getting the teacher." Keller said over her shoulder. "Tammy is the only one that knows how to use the scanner, so I'm gonna need lessons. Be ready to set it up when she gets back."

"I can do it, Judy. Is Sam okay? Where is she?" Tammy said, trying to sit up.

Carter went over and stood next to the bed. "I'm right here Tammy. You need to be quiet, okay? We need to find out what's happening to you."

Samuels came over and slipped the bracelet back on Tammy's wrist. "The alarms were turned off, that's the default setting. She just put it on, so we could take readings. It wasn't anyone's fault."

"What's happening to her?" Carter asked.

Samuels took her arm and led her across the room. Ronin followed, and Samuels looked up at him.

"I'm responsible for her." He said. "I need to know what to do."

Samuels nodded, and turned to Carter. "She's been coding, five or six times a day, for at least the last three days. She goes flatline." She looked between Carter and Ronin. "When it happens, she's clinically dead, for up to ninety seconds, and the episodes happen in quick succession. There will be two or three events in less than half an hour, and then she appears fine till the next one."

"How did we miss this, Andi? We're monitored and watched. And I'm wi..." She stopped, looking up at Ronin, then back at Samuels. "I've been away. And having her do what I can't cover. We've been doing different things. I haven't spent as much time with her over the last few days."

"It's not your fault, Sam. And she comes back, so I think it might be like what you went through. Her brain may be reconfiguring like yours did." Samuels said. "I hope we're that lucky. Has she been anywhere where she could be exposed to radiation, like the power room, or your STM bridge?"

"No, she knows that she can't do that." Carter said.

"Ronin? Has she?"

"No, she's been to the north pier, and the Central Tower. Otherwise, she stays home and talks on her comm." He said.

"Has she been acting differently?"

"She gets confused sometimes. And she sleeps at the kitchen table. She did that two or three times." He told her. "Did I miss something?"




Confirming Carter Bk. 02 Daedalus Ch. 06



"You can't miss what you don't know about. We didn't warn you about this threat." Samuels said. "When she was sleeping at the table, was that when she seemed confused about things?"

"Yeah. She called me Robert yesterday, then caught herself. That was right after one of those naps." He said. "She acted normal a few minutes later."

"Jennifer, would you quit poking me? Let me up. I feel fine." Tammy said.

"Let her up, Jenn." Samuels said. "I think the episode has passed."

"Why do you think that?" Keller asked as she helped Tammy sit up, but she made her stay on the bed.

"Ronin said that she's been sleeping at the table in the kitchen, then acting confused when she wakes up, but it passes after a few minutes." Samuels said. "She called you Jessica upstairs, and didn't know Ronin, now she knows your name, and he said she recognized him in the elevator."

"I haven't been sleeping at the table. I work in the kitchen alot, because I like it in there." Tammy said.

Sam came over and wrapped her arms around her, hugging her tightly. "I was so scared, Tammy. I couldn't wake you up, so I hit the alarm, and then Andi and Jenn came in, and we brought you down here."

She turned and looked at Keller over her shoulder. "Show us what's going on. And where is Susan with that machine? I want to know what's happening to her."

"She just called in, she had to go over to the north pier to get one. She's on the way back now. Five minutes, then we can get started." Keller said.

Carter nodded. "Then show us what you have."

Samuels pulled the video feed up on the monitor on the wall and showed them the episodes that they had found. Then she brought up the telemetry. Tammy gasped as she watched the readouts flatline, then recover, again and again.

"Look at the timestamps. Most of the events are happening when you'd normally sleep, just like we think was happening to Sam." Samuels said. "But there have been a few events, at least six, during the day, and they match up to when you collapse at the table."

"As luck would have it, you were alone, no one had eyes on the video feed, and the alarms on your bracelet weren't turned on. It was just bad luck that we missed it. I'm sorry."

"Like you said Andi, it wasn't anyone's fault, things just fell through the cracks. We know now, so let's see what we can do to help her." Carter said.

Susan came in with the teaching machine, and Keller turned to Carter. "I need lessons on the scanner, and we need to get more people trained on it. So you need to get more people trained on the teacher, or let me know when you can do it."

She turned to Susan. "Run our scanner while we do this, we just need head shots."

Susan nodded and pulled the scanner over, and helped Tammy lay back down on the table.

"Andi, get the scans for the last three weeks, we need to do a stare and compare, that's how Tammy spotted the change in Sam." Keller said, moving over to stand next to the teaching machine. "We're missing something, and we need to find it."

"Send them to me, I'll train them on both. Do it in the morning." Carter told her as she brought up the teaching machine. She handed Keller a headset, and when she had it seated, hit the control button. 

"Thirty seconds..." She said after moment. She looked at Keller, watching her closely. "Ten seconds...you're done."

Jennifer opened her eyes and shook her head. "Wow. That was weird. There were all these colors, then...I can't describe it."

Keller waited for Susan to finish with the scan, then moved the ancient machine closer, and positioned the arm over Tammy's head. She tapped on the panel, then looked up as an image appeared over the machine. She went through several views, rotating and turning it as she did.

"No merging like we saw with Sam." She said. She switched to another view, then expanded the image. "I think I got something here."

"Me too." Samuels said as she put a series of images on the monitor. "There's new tissue growth, just like with Sam. But it started before these events began, It looks like it's been happening for eight or nine days."

"Mostly in the frontal and parietal lobes?" Keller asked. "That's where I'm seeing activity. I've got activity in the brain stem too. I think that's why she's coding."

"So we know what's happening." Carter said. "Now what are we going to do about it?"

"The same thing we did with you, Sam." Tammy said as she pushed the scanner's arm out of the way and sat up. "We wait, watch, and see what happens next."

"I wasn't done with that." Keller said.

"I am." Tammy said as she slid off the table. "Andi, what's the frequency on these events? Are they increasing, decreasing, or steady?"

"Decreasing. You had one last night, and two so far today." Samuels said. You had two the night before, then four before that, and three during the day Tuesday, three yesterday."

"Then all we can do is monitor and wait for the next one." Tammy said and she went over and put her arms around Sam. "I'm okay, Sam. It's going to be alright, we just need to let it happen."

Carter nodded, hugging her tighter.

"How much smarter am I, Andi." Tammy asked, looking at her over Sam's shoulder.

"I don't know if you're any smarter, but it looks there's eighteen percent more active neurons in the frontal, and nine percent in the parietal lobe. There's definitely more going on in there."

"I'm still smarter than you." Tammy told Sam softly as she stepped back. "Can I go upstairs? It's cold in here."

Interior-Kitchen

1840 Hours

"Still nothing from Daedalus?" Tammy asked as they sat a they kitchen table. She was eating rocky road out of the carton, and held a spoonful out to Sam. "Want a bite? You haven't eaten anything. And we skipped lunch."

Carter shook her head. "Aren't you worried about this?" She asked. 

"Not really, and there's nothing I can do about it anyway, so why freak out?" Tammy said lightly. She leaned closer, a big smile on her face. "I had fun with you this morning. I'm gonna have to be bitchy more often. You licked my butt! You nasty!"

"You did it to me first! There's where I got the idea." Carter laughed.

"Um...can I tell you something?" Tammy said, looking down and digging her spoon around in her ice cream.

"Besides how much you liked getting spanked?" Carter asked her, reaching over and dipping her own spoon in the carton.

"How? Noooooo, there's no way you could know that!" Tammy said as she looked up, her eyes wide.

"It was written all over your face." Sam laughed. "You liked me domming you, didn't you? When I was on top of you, asking you if you loved me, you wouldn't answer cuz you wanted me to push you."

"Not as a steady diet, but damn! That whole thing was fun!" Tammy laughed. "I thought we were just gonna cuddle after we made out in the bedroom, then BAM! You're dragging me all over the freekin' house!"

"I actually carried you a couple times."

"I know! And you licked my butt! You stuck your ton..."

"Oh for god's sake! Shut up! I don't want to hear that!" Jennifer said as she came into the room.

"Hi Jenn!" Tammy said. "You got anything new? Am I gonna stay dead one of these times?

"Don't you even joke about that." Sam said softly.

"You're right. I'm sorry." Tammy said. "Hey Jenn, did I tell that Sam stuck her tongue up my butt?"

"No, but I heard you the first time you said it. So did Ronin, O'Neill, and Bra'tac." Keller said as she sat her tablet on the table. "I'm going to get them something to drink. O'Neill damn near fell over laughing, but I don't think Bra'tac knows what it means."

"Did they bring Geraan?" Tammy asked, getting to her feet, heading toward the door.

"Yeah, he's running all over the place. As usual." Keller said, shaking her head in disgust. "I'm never having children, that kid is a terror!"

"Geraan! Where is my mighty warrior?" Tammy shouted as she ran into the living room. 

Bra'tac pointed to the door of their bedroom, then watched her run into the room. His eyebrows raising when they heard a scream, followed by peals of laughter.

O'Neill went over and stuck his head in the door, then grinned at them. "You gotta see this." He said as he turned back to watch.

Carter joined them at the door, and saw Tammy holding the boy by a wrist and an ankle, spinning around in circles, then lifting him and throwing him across the room to land laughing on the bed. Geraan leapt to his feet, shouting, "Again!" then jumping off the bed and running back over to her.

"She is feeling better?" Bra'tac asked. "We were told she was ill. Gravely ill."

"The kid was pretty shook up." O'Neill told her, going over to the couch. "He moped around most of the afternoon. He really likes her."

"There's a problem, and we've identified it, but it looks like we're on the backside of it." Carter told them as they sat down. "Her brain is reconfiguring, adding new cells and neurons. Our warning systems failed, and we didn't know that it had been going on, and we're hoping that she's coming to the end of it."

"I thought you weren't contagious?" O'Neill said. "Or did that change."

"No, I'm not contagious. We...we did this intentionally. I exposed her. We did transfusions so she could come with me." Carter said quietly. "We both wanted it."

"This is truly an act of love." Bra'tac said.

"It's truly an act of lunacy, is what it is." O'Neill said. "No one is sure that you're going to survive this, and you do this to her? What th..." He stopped in mid-rant. 

"I'm sorry. I just jumped way over the line, and I apologize." He said after a moment. "I should just keep my mouth shut."

"It's okay, Jack." Tammy said as she walked over to the couch. "Here, hold this." She said, throwing a squealing Geraan onto the couch between them. She went over and sat on the couch next to Sam.

Geraan slid off the couch and ran around the table. He looked up at Sam, and when she nodded, he climbed up on the couch, and sat quietly between them.

"Why doesn't he do that with us?" O'Neill asked Bra'tac.

"Because we do not rule, nor do we exhaust him as Lady Tammy does." Bra'tac smiled, nodding his thanks to her.

"He can stay with us, if you guys need a break." Tammy said, hugging the boy to her. She looked over at Carter. "Is that okay, Sam? I can use some company. Ronin's not much of a talker."

"I would love to have Geraan stay with us." Sam smiled. "If Master Bra'tac approves of course."

Geraan looked at Bra'tac, who nodded. "I cannot think of better hands to put him in. But is Lady..."

"She's fine Master Bra'tac." Keller said as she came in with a tray. "And we have our warning system in place now, so no harm will come to him. Actually, having him here may help her."

"Then it's settled. He stays here. What do you think of that Ger...Sonofabich. Look at that." O'Neill said, unable to believe his eyes.

Geraan had his head in Tammy's lap, sound asleep. Sam scooted down on the couch and lifted his feet into her lap. 

"You just have to have the touch, Jack." She said lightly. "Was this just a social visit? Or did you have something for us?"

"Oh, sorry. Daedalus checked in about an hour ago, just before they jumped into hyperspace They jumped early, so should be back in an hour or so." O'Neill told her. "Caldwell said they cruised back and forth over and around that cluster for almost three hours, and got within a hundred meters of a dozen hives. The crazy bastard sat right on top of the Primary's hive for fifteen minutes, and got a complete scan of it. They hung around for another hour after that, doing scans on the perimeter, and there was no sign that anyone noticed them."

"Jezzus, I don't know if I'm gonna kiss him or kill him when he gets back." Carter said. "I told him to be careful! I said, 'Don't take any unnecessary risks'. You were there, Jack. You heard me."

"I know, but we weren't in his shoes either." O'Neil told her. "I remember Hammond telling us the same thing, but we had better intel once we were on the ground. Old Caldwell isn't going to risk his crew, I'm pretty sure he felt safe before he started getting stupid."

"Are any of them shielded? Or are they counting on numbers and the dart shield."

"They're sitting there wide open, Sam, like they don't have a care in the world. And Zelenka says Apollo is good to go, he says he got the kinks worked out." O'Neill laughed. "It was all I could do to keep Sheppard from loading up and going chasing after Daedalus."

"You should have let him." Tammy said, stroking Geraan's hair gently. "Then we'd be welcoming them home as champions, not sweating it out again, wondering what's going to happen when we do send them."

Interior-Kitchen

2005 Hours

"Col. Carter? Daedalus just came out of hyperspace, they're checking in." Chuck told her from the Ops Center.

"Can you patch me through, Chuck? And stay on. You'll need to do something for me."

"Yes, maam." There was pause, then. "You're on."

"Steven?"

"Yes, Colonel. Mission completed, I'll be down shortly to give you my report." Caldwell said, trying to keep the excitement out of his voice.

"That's fine, Steven. Would you put Maj. Marks on please?"

"Ma'am?"

"Just put Maj. Marks on, Steven."

"Marks." Came a voice a moment later.

"Major, this is Col. Carter. I'd like you to beam Col Caldwell to his quarters. Now. Ops will give you the coordinates. Oh, and tell him to stand up first. We can't have our returning hero land on his ass in his living room."

"Yes, Ma'am." Marks laughed. "Wait one."

She switched channels. "Teyla? He's on the way. Have fun." She said.

"Thank you, Samantha. Do not expect him early tomorrow." Teyla said. "I will call you."

She was grinning as she switched back, and Marks was speaking. "Package is away, ma'am. Upright and squawking."

"Good, and thank you major. He won't be squawking long." Carter laughed. "Now would you be kind enough to bring my ship down, and put her on the east pier. And give the crew my love, and share my heartfelt thanks for their safe return. You've all done well today."

Interior-Col. Caldwell's Suite, North Tower

2010 Hours

The glare of an Asgard beam flared and faded, and Caldwell looked around. He was standing in his living room. The lights were dimmed, and candles filled the room with a warm glow.

"Welcome home, Steven." Teyla said softly from behind him.

He turned around and gasped when he saw her.

She was wearing a diaphanous green gown that hugged every curve. Her small breasts stood out sharply, the nipples almost poking through the tissue thin gown. The lush growth between her legs shone with pearly droplets of her juices.

"Among my people, it is customary for wives and mistresses to welcome warriors returning home from battle." She said, kneeling down and unlacing his boots, slipping one off, then the other. She stood, her fingers toying with the tab of his jumpsuits zipper. "Alas, I am neither. Merely a lover." She pulled at the zipper, dragging it down slowly.

"You are not merely, anything, Ambassador." Caldwell said, looking down at her. "And it would not befit a woman of your position to be anyone's mistress."

"This is true." She said as she pulled the zipper all the way down, then pushed the jumpsuit off his shoulders, easing it down his body. "I also believe that you must seek the permission of your queen to take a wife. The commander of her navy may be required to marry for political purposes. Such unions are common."

"Such a union would not suit you. There is nothing common about you."

Caldwell stepped out of the jumpsuit puddled at his feet. He flinched when she scraped her nails across his stomach, catching the top of his briefs with her fingers and tugging them down. She eased them over his hips, letting them fall to his feet, and he stepped out of them as well.

"You are pleased to see me?" She said with a sly smile, looking down as her hand wrapped around the jutting shaft of his cock. "I had feared that perhaps after so long a mission, you would be fatigued. It appears I may have been wrong."

"Your beauty rejuvenated me." He told her, his voice catching in his throat as her hand stroked slowly up and down. His eyes never left her face, mesmerized by her playful expression. "As it always has."

"Flatterer." She smiled, laying her head against his chest. She inhaled, taking in his scent, then looked up at him. "Will I suffice? In place of the wife and mistress you lack? Your deeds today require reward. I have asked your queen if I may serve you in her stead, and she has consented."

"Suffice? Yes." He said, bending suddenly, scooping her up in his arms. "Serve me? No. You will always lay with me as my equal." he said as he carried her into the bedroom. Laying her gently on the bed, he started pushing the gown up over her legs, but stopped when he saw her frown. Smiling up at her, he climbed up over her and grasped the wispy material of her gown in his fingers and jerked, tearing it from her.

The front of the gown came away in his hand, and he leaned down, gripping her arms, pinning them to the bed as his mouth came down on her breast. Teyla gasped, arching up at him, her legs opening and wrapping themselves around him, pulling him toward her. 

"No." He whispered as he moved down over her body, his tongue leaving a wet trail on her soft olive skin. "A warrior deserves a feast, does he not?" He smiled up at her. He pushed her legs apart as he moved his head between them, kissing the insides of her thighs, then inhaling her heady aroma as he pressed his face into the lush growth covering her loins. His tongue pressed between the lust swollen lips, making her moan.

"Oh yes, my lord." She moaned, her hands dropping to the back of his head as she arched her hips up at him. "You may feast to your hearts content. And when you are sated, we will find other diversions to amuse you." 

Caldwell grunted, mashing his face into the sopping wet crease of her cunt, sucking hungrily. His tongue lashed and laved up and down over the dew coated lips, lapping up her spicy nectar. He ate her like a starving man at a banquet table, forcing her legs wider apart, his mouth opening and clamping around her fur fringed mound, trying to take all of her in at once.

Teyla writhed under his oral assault, her head rocking back and forth. She gasped and panted for air as his tongue dance over her clit, then just as quickly moved away. She pulled at his head, trying to guide him back, but his tongue darted up inside her, lapping up her spendings from the source.

She grunted, humping up at him, trying to force more of his tongue inside her, then whined when he withdrew, taking the puffy lips of her pussy between his, sucking on them tenderly. 

"Please my lord! Do not tease me!" She groaned

"I am not teasing you woman, I am pleasing myself." He grunted roughly, nipping at her tender flesh with his teeth. 

"Ohhhhhh! Yes, my lord!" She squealed as he pressed his lips to her clit, sucking it into his mouth. He chewed at the stiff little nubbin with his lips, then dragged his tongue up the length of her drooling pussy slit, returning to her clit, nipping at it gently with his teeth.

Sliding his hands under her squirming asscheeks, he rolled suddenly, bringing her over on top of him, straddling his face. "Feed me." He grunted into her loins, then pulled on the tight cheeks of her ass, plastering her pussy over his mouth.

"Yes, master!" She panted, getting up on her knees over him, keeping her juicing pussy planted firmly on his mouth. She supported herself with one hand, and reached between her legs with the other, spreading the lips of her pussy with her fingers, then stroking her clit eagerly. "Y...you seek nectar, my lord?" She asked breathily, her fingers flashing frantically over the throbbing bud of her clit.

His stiff tongue stabbing up inside her gave her all the answer she needed, and she threw back her head and cried out as her orgasm swelled over her. Her hips jerked, and she ground her spasming cunt down onto his face as warm juices flowed from her, filling his mouth, and soaking his face.




Confirming Carter Bk. 02 Daedalus Ch. 06



He held her tightly as she writhed and jerked above him, his mouth working hungrily, his tongue darting and slapping all around over and inside her. Teyla collapsed, tears streaming down her face as she surrendered to the overwhelming sensations battering her senses. Her body heaved as he jammed three fingers inside her, and she slammed her hips down on them, pumping up and down mindlessly, fucking herself on the stiff digits.

Caldwell kept his mouth open under her, gathering up the spicy juices as they spewed from her.

"Oh! Mercy my lord." Teyla whimpered was she shuddered through a series of powerful orgasms. "I will surely die if you continue! I must rest. Please!"

Not paying her any mind, he continued his feverish feasting on her lust enflamed loins. He withdrew his fingers, making her whine, then groan as he replaced them with his tongue. He slowed his frantic sucking, his hands relaxing their grip on her bruised bottom, as he let her ease down from the peak she was teetering on.

He finally pulled back, raising her off his face, guiding her down to lay over him. She stretched out over his body, planting kisses all over his face, then lifted her head, her eyes going wide as his cock slipped inside her of its own accord.

"Don't move." He whispered as she started wriggling, her hips beginning a slow up and down motion. "Rest, lay with me. Just let me hold you."

Teyla sighed, as she laid her head on his chest, her heart racing, her breath finally beginning to slow. "Thank you, my lord. I will..."

"Shhhhh, you pleased me, love. Rest." he said softly as held her. "I'll speak to the queen in the morning."

Teyla smiled, snuggling against him as she felt sleep overtaking her.

Interior-Bedroom

2110 Hours

Tammy stripped off Geraan's robe, then started unwrapping his breechclout.

"What are you doing?" Sam asked as she came out of the bathroom.

"I'm getting him ready for bed."

"Do you think we should let him sleep naked? And are you going to let him sleep in here with us?" Sam asked.

"Yes, and yes." Tammy said as she took the robe and clout into the bathroom and put them in the cleaner. "It won't hurt him to sleep naked, but you can put him in a tank top if you want. I'm going to let him sleep with us for a few days, till he gets used to being here, then we can put him in the city side bedroom."

"But we sleep naked too, Tammy." Sam said. "What if he..."

"What? Gets a woodie? I kinda doubt that's gonna happen." Tammy laughed as she laid him out at the top of the bed, then put a big round pillow next to him. "He sleeps up there, we sleep over here, I'm pretty sure we'll be safe."

"That's not what I meant." Sam laughed.

"I know, but there's no need to have him stuck with a body taboo when we both run around naked. It's natural, and it won't hurt him." Tammy said as she slid off the bed and came over to her. "He's gonna be fine, Sam. And I like him. He sees the world in wonder, and I miss that. He can help us get that back I think, if we let him."

"I'd like that, I'm getting stuffy." Sam said as she hugged her gently. "I'm gonna get some ice cream. Wanna come...I mean, would you like to join me?"

"Tease." Tammy laughed. "But yeah, that sounds good."

Interior-Kitchen

2130 Hours

Andi was sitting at the kitchen table when they walked in. She was holding her tablet, and her eyes were moist as she ran her fingers lightly over the screen.

Tammy looked over her shoulder, and laughed. "You watching us again, Andi?" She asked.

"I never stopped." Samuels said, not taking her eyes off the screen. "He's so beautiful, so innocent."

"You have kids, don't you Andi?" Carter asked as she got out two cartons of ice cream, then held one out to Samuels. "Want some, Andi?" 

"No, thank you. And yes, I do have kids." She said, sitting the tablet down. "They're grown, a boy and a girl. We don't get to talk much these days."

"Hopefully, after things settle down, you could have them visit." Tammy said as she took a carton from Sam.

"Maybe, we'll have to see." Andi said lightly. "I can't stay, I just wanted to make sure that you're doing okay, Tammy." She slid a tablet face down across the table and looked at her as she stood up. "I'll be going. Try to get some rest."

Tammy picked up the tablet after she'd gone and turned it over. There was a post-it note on the screen with 'Kiss-n-make up' on it. She peeled it off, and saw that under it, there was an icon with the same name. She tapped the icon, and a video stated playing.

Tammy laughed, and stopped the video, then opened her email and sent Andi a short thank you note.

"What was so funny" Sam asked.

"She made me a video."

"Of what?" 

"You and me. This morning."

Sam picked up the post-it, unfolding it and reading it. "You didn't see everything." She said, handing her the note.

The note said, 'Some things, even porn, should be preserved'.

Interior-Col. Caldwell's Suite, North Tower

0230 Hours

"Do not move." Teyla whispered as she felt him stir under her. "I will do everything."

She slithered up and down his body slowly, and Caldwell groaned when she squeezed her inner muscles, milking his stiff shaft gently, then more forcefully as she ground herself down on him. Her lips brushed lightly over his chest, and she took one of his small nipples between her lips, then nipped at it lightly with her teeth.

Caldwell's hips moved, and she let him withdrawal, then on the instroke she clenched herself tightly around him, trapping him inside her. Closing her eyes, she fluttered her inner muscles up and down the length of him, and he jerked, his cock swelling and throbbing inside her. She felt the stiff shaft ripple as his cum surged up it, bursting from his cockhead, erupting inside her.

Teyla moaned, burying her face in his chest as his outpouring filled her, and she kept him buried deep inside her. "Yes, my lord, feed me now, fill my womb with your seed." She whispered as he emptied himself inside her.

"I...I don't know ho...how you do that." He panted, putting his arms around her and rocking her gently. 

"And you needn't concern yourself." She whispered. "You have done your duty, now sleep."

Interior-Col. Carter's Suite, Bedroom

0310 Hours

Sam opened her eyes and looked over at Tammy, smiling back when she saw her smiling at her.

"How long has be been there?" She asked, nodding to Geraan.

He was sprawled out on her back, sound asleep.

"About an hour. He woke up crying and crawled over. He went right by you, I'm surprised you didn't notice." Tammy whispered.

"No, I didn't. Are you going to be able to sleep with him on you like that?"

Tammy nodded. "He weighs less than you, and I sleep with you laying on me all the time. Now I have two people that love me. It feels good."

"He looks so peaceful, not a care in the world."

"You look the same way when you're sleeping."

"Liar."

"Honest injun." Tammy said as she closed her eyes. "Go back to sleep, he's going to be up early, and that'll be all she wrote."

"I love you." Sam said softly.

"I know, you can't help yourself." Tammy said with a smile.

Carter closed her eyes, smiling to herself. You're right, I can't. She thought, as she let herself drift off to sleep. 

(-)

That's all for Chapter Six. Please read Chapter Seven for more of this story.

I hope you liked this episode. Please post a comment so I know if I'm the right track with this...



Confirming Carter Bk. 02 Daedalus Ch. 07



Caldwell leads the Atlantian fleet on mission against the Wraith, with devastating results. The Atlantian's get an unexpected visit from the Traveler's, and Tammy takes on a new role...

(-)

Confirming Carter Book Two Daedalus

Chapter Seven

Interior-Living Room

0645 Hours

Caldwell came out of the elevator and went into the kitchen, finding it empty. He went back down the hall, and found Tammy lying on the living room floor with Geraan, showing him a math game on a tablet.

"Is the colonel up?" He asked, looking around and nodding at Ronin.

"She should be out in a minute." Tammy said. "Our little friend here was up at six. Sleep wasn't an option after that." She smiled up at him. "Congratulations, Steven. You did well yesterday, both in what you accomplished, and your restraint."

"Thank you." He said, looking toward the door of the bedroom as Carter came out, buttoning her vest.

"Good morning, Steven." She smiled. "I didn't think I'd see you till later." She said as she came over and sat on the couch.

"I didn't want to wait till our meeting. I have..."

"Ronin, would you take Geraan and get him something to eat please?" She said as she held up her hand, silencing him. 

Ronin nodded, scooping the boy up and holding him at arms length as he squirmed and kicked at him. They were both laughing as they went into the kitchen.

"What's on your mind, Steven? You look...out with it. What's wrong?" She asked.

Tammy came over and sat next to her, and Caldwell looked at her, then back at Carter.

"What you say to me, is if you said it to both of us. So speak your mind, Steven." She said, glancing over at Tammy.

Caldwell nodded, then dropped to one knee, bowing his head in front of them.

"Steven..."

"I come to ask a boon, my queens."

"What do you wish, Steven? We will grant whatever is in our power."

Tammy gripped her hand, and shook her head when Sam looked at her. Caldwell still had his head bowed, and Tammy held up her hand, the back to Sam, wiggling her ring finger, then tapped her fingers on her wrist. 

"What is this boon, Steven?" She asked again. "It must be of great importance for you to hold your tongue so long."

"I wish to marry, my queens. But I cannot, without your permission...and your blessing." He said, looking up at her.

"We give our blessing freely, Steven, but cannot give our permission. We do not yet have the right." She said, looking him in the eye.

Caldwell sagged slightly, then drew himself up. "I understand. I had hoped...but other affairs must be attended to." He started to rise, but stopped when she kept looking at him.

"We think it will be a good union. And will allow it at the first opportunity. You have our word." She said as she took his hand. "Aside from our own affairs, we must seek the permission of the Athosians, and see that a proper dowry is offered. Our Lord of the Admiralty is not someone to be passed off lightly, neither is a lady of her station. These things cannot be rushed into."

"I..."

"The ambassador knows these things. Does she know that you are here?" Carter asked.

"I told her that I would speak with you." He said. "I didn't wake her before I left."

"Have you asked for her hand?" Tammy asked.

"No, my lady. I was told that I must have the queen's consent."

"I'm sorry to pry, Steven. But I must know how this idea got into your head. For the sake of the realm, not my own curiosity."

"I decided the night I surrendered my ship, at the party." He told her. "But last night, Teyla welcomed me home. She said that wives and mistresses welcomed warriors home, but that she was only a lover."

"And then?"

"I told her that it would not befit a woman of her position to be anyone's mistress. And she told me that I would need your permission to marry. That my office may require me to marry for political purposes."

"Thank you, Steven. Rise." Carter said as she stood up. "I'll see you at the meeting. In the meantime, would you tell the ambassador that I would like to speak to her as soon as she can drag her ass out of your bed?" She spun on her heel and went into her bedroom.

Caldwell stared after her. Tammy took his arm and led him to the elevator. "Tell Teyla that she should get here soon."

Interior-Office

0730 Hours

"What the hell were you thinking Teyla?" Carter shouted as Teyla came in the door. Tammy closed it behind her, and took a seat, motioning for her to sit next to her. "Do you have any idea what you've done by putting these ideas in his head? You couldn't have waited a few weeks, let us get settled? You knew I was going to give him to you! Why, Teyla? Why would you do this to us?"

"I meant no harm, Samantha." Teyla said. "I welcomed him home, as you consented to. I wished only to..."

"I gave you my consent to sleep with him, to reward him for his deeds, not position yourself as his wife!" Carter said, standing over her, glaring down at her angrily. "I had to say no, Teyla! He was here less than an hour ago, asking my permission to marry, and I had to say no!"

Teyla and Tammy watched as she paced angrily back and forth in front of her desk. 

"You're going to help me fix this, Teyla. I'm not leaving that man hanging, and letting this get to him. We can't let this turn him against us, either of us. It's always the little slights that cause the most harm." She said as she turned to face her. "I need him on top of his game, and now I can't send him out to do something we both want, and know needs to be done, because his mind isn't going to be where it belongs!"

"Steven will do as he is asked. You know this Samantha." Teyla said, looking up at her. "He will do this thing for you. And for me."

"But his heart won't be in it, Teyla." Carter said softly as she dropped to her knees in front of her. "He'll be thinking that we have something, someone, else in mind, and it may poison him towards us. He knew nothing of how things..."

She laid her head on Teyla's knees, shaking it slowly. "I know you didn't mean to do this, Teyla. You spoke to him with your heart. I can't fault you for that." She looked up at her. "But we may have damaged him, and we have to find a way to fix that. Do you understand what I'm saying."

"I will talk to him, and explain..."

"No, we need to talk to him. Together." Carter said. "I need to apologize, I said something nasty before he left, and that was uncalled for. Then we'll tell him what we're going to do."

"What are you going to do if he says he doesn't like our plans?" Tammy asked.

"What else can I do? I'm going to fire him, give him his ship back, and wish him luck as a pirate."

"Samantha! You would not do such a thing!" Teyla said, gripping her arms and shaking her. "Do not say that, even in jest! He is an honorable man, and will do the right thing!"

Carter looked down at her hand gripping her arm, and Teyla released her. "Is that what you want Teyla, for him to do the right thing? Or do you want him because he loves you. And he does love you. I hurt him when I said no, and it tore my heart out to have to do it."

"I wish for him to do both, but I desire his love more." Teyla smiled.

"Then call him. And hope that we can save it."

* * * * *

Caldwell came in a few minutes later, and stood quietly, waiting for her to speak.

"Steven, I want to tell you that I'm sorry." Carter said as she stepped in front of him. "What I said as I left the room earlier was uncalled for, and rude. I had no right to say that about my friend, and the woman you love. I hope that you can forgive me."

"I understood, colonel. I didn't realize what was involved, or at stake." Caldwell said, looking her in the eye. "I thought I could ask, have you say yes, and have you marry us after the coron..."

"You were going to wait? This isn't something you were going to want to do quickly?" She asked.

"No, of course not." He said, looking back and forth between Carter and Teyla. "I still need to meet Teyla's people, and you're right, I need their consent too. But I couldn't think of any one else that I'd want to marry us, a loyal member of the court and a trusted friend being joined? That just screams for the queen herself to perform the ceremony."

"And just when were you going to spring that on me?" Carter laughed. She looked at Teyla. "Did you know anything about this?"

"I had no idea." Teyla said, looking at him in wonder. "He continues to surprise me. Much to my delight."

"Would one of you tell me what's going on please?" Caldwell said. "I'm starting to get nervous, because there's something else going on that I don't know about."

"No, if you're happy waiting till after the coronation, it would be my pleasure to marry you." Carter said, taking his hands. "Teyla told me of your feelings for her, not that I didn't see them, and hers for you. You just took me by surprise this morning, and I handled it badly."

"It didn't seem that way to me." Caldwell said. "You gave me your blessing, and explained why you couldn't give your consent, and when I thought about it, it made perfect sense." He looked at her, his eyes narrowing. "You thought I would take it as a slight, and let it fester. That's why we're all here now."

"Yes, I wanted you both to know that I want you to be together, and hope you share a long happy life. But this is not the right time and I..."

"May I, Samantha?" Teyla said as she stood up and took his hand. "I misspoke when we were speaking of wives and mistresses, and when you said would speak to her, I was so filled with joy, I never thought of the consequences, and how they may affect you. Samantha was correct in what she said to me, her only thought was that we not cause you harm. I am glad to hear that you, at least, have given this thought. We must speak of plans, together, so we do not stumble like this again."

He nodded

"Well?" Tammy said, looking up at him.

"Excuse me?" Caldwell asked.

"Are you going to ask her or not?" Tammy said with a grin.

"Don't you think they might want some privacy for that?" Sam said, trying not to smile.

"He has not said the words, which I do not need." Teyla said. "He speaks his love in other ways, that are much more meaningful and satisfying. And I accept eagerly, everytime he asks."

Tammy opened her mouth, then closed it when Sam arched an eyebrow and shook her head. 

Caldwell colored slightly, and nodded to her. "Will you?" He said simply

"Yes." Teyla smiled. "Provided of course, that my family approves of you."

Interior-Conference Room, North Tower

0930 Hours

"Before we begin, I'd like to make an announcement." Carter said, looking over at Caldwell. 

He nodded, looking down at his tablet.

"Our Lord Caldwell is betrothed, He has asked for Ambassador Emmagan's hand, and she has graciously said yes." She told them. "I have given my blessing and consent to their union, and will perform the ceremony after our coronation." She got to her feet, looking down the table at him. "Well done, Steven. May you have many joyful years together."

Sheppard, O'Neill, Bra'tac and Samuels, got to their feet, applauding politely, and Caldwell blushed, waving them to their seats.

"Now. Steven, if you would tell us what you saw, and your thoughts. We've reviewed the data, but I want to hear what you have to say."

"I've never seen anything like it. We counted forty-one hives, and stopped counting the cruisers after we hit a two hundred. That's over a third of the hives that we know about. We had two close calls, when darts almost collided with us." Caldwell grinned 

"You're sure you weren't detected?" O'Neill asked. 

"One of those darts went by so close to the bridge windows, I could see the Wraith inside it. He had no idea we were there." Caldwell told him. "We sat on top of the Primary's hive, and scanned the length of it twice, at low power, and they didn't give any indication that they knew anything was going on. We scanned more than half those hives, mostly on the perimeter, and they went on like business as usual."

"There's alot of traffic between those ships. Half the hives had cruisers docked, and shuttles were leaving alot of them every few minutes." He said, bringing up a video on the monitors around the room.

"Jezzus, you flew through that?" Sheppard said softly as he stared at the ever shifting cluster of ships.

"Half a dozen times." He turned to Carter. "I'd like to promote Marks. He's early, but the man is a genius at the helm."

"You haven't told me what your structure is going to be yet." Carter said. "So I think we should wait on promoting anyone until we know what kind of system we're going to use. How would you feel about a knighthood? Much more prestigious, and it gives us some other options."

Caldwell nodded. "John and I haven't talked about it, but I'm in favor of keeping the current system in place across all branches. And I think he'd make a good knight of the realm. I'm just not sure he'd accept it. He's doesn't take praise easily, or lightly. Does a place in the court come with the title, or are there other duties? I don't know much about royalty."

"We can have something ready in case he declines. We're not adding to the court right now, not below the command level, so we'll assign other duties as the need arises, but for now, his place is at the helm of the Daedalus. We still have to crew up the Apollo, I'd like your backup helmsman for that." 

She looked up at O'Neill. "Feeling lively, Jack? Do you think you'd like to command the Apollo, in addition to your duties as an advisor?"

O'Neill shook his head. "No, I will if I have to, but this is a younger man's game now. I think Lorne is the best choice to put in that chair. He has command experience, he's smart, and he's loyal."

"I agree." Caldwell said. "He took a damaged ancient ship, still under repair, into battle. When they couldn't get the weapons systems up, he set it on a collision course for a hive, and beamed off at the last minute."

"I don't like giving him up." Sheppard said. "But he is the best choice. He'll take good care of the Apollo."

"I agree too." Carter said. She looked down the table at Samuels. "Andi, your thoughts?"

"He's the best man for the job, and we owe him." Samuels said. "Let him take some of his people with him, so he'll still be in his comfort zone."

She looked around the table. "John should tell him, with you there Sam. That way he'll know that he has the support of both of you. We can transition him over to the navy gradually, so we don't rattle him."

"That makes sense." Carter said. "But are you okay, Andi? You've been quiet today."

"I'm not used to sitting on a war council, and I feel out of place." Samuels said. "I can tell you about the people, but I can't guide you in this. I lack the skills you need." 

"I understand, we have experienced people here to advise on the military matters, but I'd still like you to sit in. You may have an insight like what you said about Lorne. I need what you have to say about dealing with people."

She turned to Caldwell. "What would you do, based on what you saw in that cluster? Can we drop nukes on some those hives, and be able to get to a safe distance before they go off?"

Caldwell brought up a graphic on the monitors. "This is a basic hive ship, we made up this composite based on the scans we took. Most of them are laid out roughly the same." He highlighted an area on the picture. "These look like holds, and the same spaces are on every ship. They're not living areas, or sleep cells, and there is almost no movement in these spaces. That's where we drop our nukes."

She turned to Sheppard. "How many have we got on hand, John? Are we going to be able to cover all that?"

"We'll only need twenty or so colonel." Caldwell said, bringing up another graphic. "With the way they're sitting, we space our nukes out, every third ship around the perimeter, one in the middle, on the Primary's hive, and a few in this inner ring. With the secondary's we'll get off the cruisers, that whole thing is going to go up like a supernova."

"We've seen what happens when a hive ship goes up, it takes everything close with it." Sheppard said. "Most of these are sitting less than a hundred miles apart, so I think Steven is right. We're not just going to get secondary's off the cruisers, but off the nearby hives as well. We've got close to eighty nukes on hand, so I think we should send forty nukes, and go every second ship. We spend a little, to get alot."

"That makes sense." O'Neill said. "It won't be a deathblow, but it will knock the wind out of them for a long time, and give the people of this galaxy time to regroup, and get ready to fight back when the next round of cullings comes."

"My concern is that these Wraith will know who has done this, even if you are unseen committing the act." Bra'tac said as he looked at the images on the monitor. "They will respond in kind, attacking Atlantis with the full might of the forces they have remaining."

"All the better." Carter told him. "This city has shields for the three outer piers, and a main shield that covers the whole city that can be used independently, or together. It also has a stardrive, and a chair weapons platform. And six fully charged ZPM's. Anchorage has the same. With Anchorage up and running, I have no qualms about taking the fight to them with Atlantis. We're not going to just defend anymore." 

She looked down the table at Samuels. "Do you have a drone count, Andi?"

Samuels opened a file on her tablet, and brought up a chart on the monitor. "We're fully stocked with drones, and we're shipping what we're making now to Anchorage to bring it's stores up. They're at a little over forty percent capacity right now. We need another week to get them maxed out."

"So we're better armed and equipped than anyone in Pegasus has been since the Ancients first went to war with the Wraith." Carter told them. "I'm not interested in committing genocide, but the Wraith are a threat to everyone in this galaxy, and if I can't eliminate them, then culling them for a change is just as good."

She looked at Sheppard. "We'll talk to Lorne when we're done here. I want minimum crews on both ships, we don't want to send people who aren't needed, and put them at risk."

"When do you want us to go?" Caldwell asked, typing on his tablet.

"You're going to have to tell me that." Carter answered. "Get the Apollo crewed, and both ships loaded. Take twenty-five nukes each. Use what you have to, but make them count. I want a realistic estimate of when you think you can go. I won't be disappointed if it's not today. Apollo's crew will need to be briefed on the mission, so take your time, and do it right. Review your final plan with me when you think you're ready."

"Apollo is crewed, and they've been doing shakedowns with the cloaking systems. We just need to put Lorne, his people and the helmsman on her, and they can go." Sheppard said.

"Like I said, tell me when you're ready, but keep it realistic." Carter said. "Let's go talk to Lorne. We'll do it in the conference room in the Central Tower, unless you think your office would be better."

Interior-Col. Carter's Office, Central Tower

1100 Hours

"Come in Evan." Carter said, holding out her hand as he stepped into her office. "It's good to see you. I hope we're not keeping you too busy?"

"No ma'am, we're getting things together, and the different units are starting to mesh." He smiled. "It's taking the military longer to adjust to having civilians on their teams, but they're all learning from each other. To be honest, I wasn't sure it was going to work, but we're seeing good results."

"Good, have a seat, we'd like to talk to you." She said as she sat down.

"Evan, we'd like you to take command of the Apollo." Sheppard said as he leaned against the desk. "Col. Carter, Gen. O'Neill, and Col. Caldwell all agree that you're the best man for the job. We're prepping her for a mission, and need you to take command immediately."




Confirming Carter Bk. 02 Daedalus Ch. 07



"Jezzus, you're not even gonna butter him up first? Just wham! Here's a job, do it?" Carter laughed. She looked at Lorne. "Is he always this abrupt?"

"No ma'am, I think the colonel might be a little nervous with you here." Lorne laughed. "But I can step up. I think Gen. O'Neill would be a better choice though, given his experience."

"Gen. O'Neill suggested you, Evan." Sheppard told him. "I'm not happy about giving you up, but it's what's best for the city, so I'm not going to stand in your way. This is going to be a good move for you, and Col. Carter and I both know you can handle it."

"Col. Caldwell did a recon mission on a gathering of Wraith hives yesterday, and we're going to hit them, Evan." Carter told him. "He'll brief you in a little while, but I want to tell you the same thing I've told him. If you can't get it done without risking your ship, get out. If you're detected, get out. Under no circumstances are you to engage any Wraith ships other than to deliver your payload. Is that clearly understood?"

"Yes, ma'am. This is a step up for me. The last ship I commanded barely had anything working on it. I'm not going to risk the Apollo before I get to know her." Lorne said. "Can I ask what the payload is?"

"You're going to be delivering nukes. Caldwell with explain what you'll need to do. We've already got you a helmsman, but you can pick two officers to take with you. I want to leave the current XO in place, he already knows the ship, and can help you get situated."

"I'm sorry, but I have to go." She said to Lorne. She looked over at Sheppard. "Status me as you need to John, and let me know when Caldwell and Lorne say they're ready. Good luck."

Interior-Gym

1130 Hours

She got off the elevator and went into the kitchen. No one was there, so she made herself something to drink, and went back down the hall into the living room. The marine standing next to the porter saw her and came to attention.

"Lady Tammy, Ronin and the boy are in the gym, ma'am." He said.

"Thank you." She smiled, and went back through the kitchen and up the stairs to the gym. 

Tammy was naked, lying across a float, holding Geraan in her arms as he flailed his arms and legs in the water, turning them in circles.

"Slow down, Geraan, save your strength, smooth steady strokes. You were doing it before." Tammy was saying. She looked up and saw Sam standing by the side of the pool. She dropped Geraan, then grabbed him as he bobbed to the surface, sputtering.

"Give us a minute." Tammy said as she kicked her feet and came over to the side.

She lifted him, and Sam leaned down and took him, sitting him on his feet. Tammy rolled off the side of the float and came out a moment later, sitting on the side of the pool.

"Where's Ronin?" Carter asked. "The marine downstairs said he was up here with you."

Tammy jerked her thumb back over her shoulder. "Sparring with Amelia. They were going through a group of candidates for the house guard. They found three they both liked."

"Good, I was going to ask him about that. What were you two doing?"

"Swimming lessons. Our little warrior didn't know how to swim." She laughed. "We're correcting that."

"What do you expect? He's only five, for god's sake." Carter laughed.

"That's no excuse. He lives on a water planet now. Time for him to learn." Tammy said, then looked over her shoulder at him. "Geraan, show the queen what you learned today."

Geraan stepped up to the side of the pool and bent over at the waist, his arms back at his sides. He looked over at her, and Tammy said, "Go!"

He launched powerfully from the side of the pool, belly flopping into the water. He dog paddled quickly across, stopped at the far wall, pushed off, and dog paddled back.

Tammy hauled him out of the water, and held him in her lap. "Good job." She said quietly, and he beamed as he looked up at Sam.

"Very good, Geraan." Sam smiled. "You just learned that today?"

He nodded, and Tammy hugged him to her. "He sank like a stone the first time I threw him in. Didn't you my little warrior?" She laughed. "Now he can keep his head above water. I'm going to take him to the mainland in a few weeks and teach him how to surf."

"If you can find the time, it's okay with me. Master Bra'tac may have something to say." Carter said. "How are you feeling today? Any problems?"

"No, I haven't spazzed out once. Jenn poked and prodded me for an hour. And Bra'tac just left. He doesn't swim either, but he had a good time hanging on the side of the wall watching us. I hope I look as good as he does when I hit one forty."

"Have you eaten? I'm starved." Carter said. "Has Andi done anything on that staff she was talking about?"

Tammy nodded. "They're set up downstairs. Just hit RS on the comm, and tell them what you want. I already ordered dinner for nineteen hundred. Fried chicken with the fixin's. That okay with you?"

"That sounds great. Will you talk to her about getting someone to screen who comes in here?" Carter asked. "I keep missing meals because people just walk in whenever they feel like it."

"We already talked about that. She was there when Jenn was going over me." Tammy told her. She looked down at Geraan. "Are you hungry little man? You've been working hard this morning." She hugged him, making him giggle as he squirmed in her arms. "I'm so proud of you!"

He stood up as she released him, nodding as he looked at her. "Cheebugga."

"He had cereal at seven, bacon and eggs with hashbrowns at nine, and a bacon cheeseburger with fries at a little after ten." She said as she got to her feet. "But a bacon cheeseburger does sound good." She looked over at Carter.

"I was thinking a salad, maybe some pasta..." Carter said.

"Excellent! Three bacon cheeseburgers with fries, coming up. I'll call it in." She pushed Geraan ahead of her. "Hold onto the rail junior, just like we showed you."

Interior-Kitchen

1230 Hours

"Geraan." Tammy said, turning his head toward her. "Chew your food, like this." She took a small bite and chewed slowly. "Now you."

Geraan crammed his sandwich into his mouth, and Tammy grabbed his hand, pulling it out. She tore a small piece off of hers and put it in his mouth, then worked his jaw, setting the pace for him as he chewed.

"Try again." She said, holding onto his wrist.

He took a smaller bite, and chewed, his face lighting up with a big smile.

"It's a lot better when you take the time to taste it, isn't it?" She laughed.

Geraan nodded, and took another, bigger bite, but chewed it slowly before he swallowed.

"You're going to make a great mom." Sam said as she watched them.

"We both will. We're going to keep the nannies to a minimum. I want to raise them as much as we can ourselves."

"I like that idea. After my mom died, I saw a succession of babysitters, maiden aunts, and nannies. I hated it." Sam said. "I want our kids to know us, and be real people. Or as real as they can be."

"Oh, I had Jenn test Geraan while we were down there. He has the gene, so I asked Bra'tac if we could give him the treatment. He thought it was a great idea, so we did it. It took, so I hit him with the teacher too, just basic Ancient. I found some kids games in the database, math, science, stuff like that. I'm gonna start him on them."

"What did Bra'tac think about that?"

"He said that a warrior's mind must be developed along with his body." Tammy smiled. "He suggested that I find something for O'Neill while I was at it. Something about young minds needing new ideas."

"O'Neill is half his age, less in fa...damn." She said as she reached in her pocket and pulled out her comm."

"Carter." She said as she put the headset on. She listened for a moment. "I think you're rushing it, but I'll listen to what you have to say. Let's meet in thirty minutes, and you can review your plans."

She tapped the comm off and put it back in her pocket. "Sheppard. He says they're ready to go." She shook her head. "I don't want them running off, and not being ready when they get there."

"You're being a mother hen." Tammy said. "They know what they're doing, and they're not going to risk those ships if they don't have too. If Caldwell says he's ready, that means his fleet is ready. Trust him...them."

"I know, I just can't help it. All I can do is listen to what they have to say."

Interior-Conference Room, North Tower

1330 Hours

Caldwell waited while everyone took their seats. Carter sat at the head of the table, with Teyla and Tammy flanking her. Geraan was sitting on Tammy's lap, playing a game on a tablet. Bra'tac looked at him, and Tammy smiled as she leaned down and whispered to Geraan. He shook his head, and continued playing his game.

Lorne sat next to Caldwell, while Sheppard, O'Neill and Bra'tac sat at the far end of the table.

"Major?" Caldwell said, and Lorne brought up a graphic on the monitors. Caldwell highlighted an area on the star chart. "This is the location of the Wraith gathering. We will drop out of hyperspace here, thirty minutes out. That's inside their sensor range, but there will only be one window, and we'll be well away before they can get anything there. We'll be cloaked when we come out anyway, so even if they have someone sitting there, it should just look like an anomaly."

Lorne enlarged the image showing the area inside the zone they would be jumping into.

"We'll separate, taking an arcing course toward the cluster. Actual travel time is going to be close to an hour, based on the path we'll take." Lines appeared on the chart indicating their routes, then the image changed again, this time showing the cluster as they had last seen it. "We'll take up positions at six and twelve o'clock, then move counter clockwise around the perimeter. Package placement will be at commander's discretion, based on density of the ships in the area."

"Once we have the perimeter covered, we'll move into the inner ring, and proceed in the same fashion. Daedalus will move in to drop the package for the Primary's hive, since we've already been there, while Apollo withdraws to the three o'clock side of the cluster, ready to jump if anything goes wrong."

He looked around the room. "Questions so far?" He asked.

"Why do you want to come in so close? Why not take your time, and come out of hyperspace where you dropped out yesterday?" O'Neill asked, looking back through the charts on his laptop.

"We don't want to use the same jump point twice, in case they did notice us, and with all the traffic in there, coming in close reduces our chances of being noticed." Caldwell said. "Four hives dropped in yesterday while we were there, at about the same distance, none came in closer. If they do notice, they should just think it's one of theirs coming in."

"It sounds like you've thought this through, Steven." Carter said. "Now give me the downside."

"The downside is we get in there, everything is shielded, and we have to back off and try again later." He said calmly. "In that scenario, we regroup, wait six hours, then go back in for another look. We're prepared to repeat that up to three times. After twenty-four hours, we call no joy, and come home."

"Worst case scenario, one of us is detected, at which point, we break radio silence, call no joy, and Apollo jumps out immediately. Daedalus remote detonates any packages we have in place already, and jumps in another direction. We regroup, wait six hours, and Daedalus goes back in for BDA."

"What's your window in the drop zone?" Tammy asked, pointing at Geraan's tablet, showing him a question he had missed.

"Timers on the nukes will be set for sixty minutes. We start moving away no later than fifty minutes, five minutes at full sublight, five at military thrust. That should take us well out of the blast zone." Caldwell said, bringing up a graphic showing their exit routes. "We should have all the nukes set within thirty minutes, so we back off to at least ten minutes out, and Daedalus remote detonates the packages."

"You say you will put these weapons into the holds of these ships." Bra'tac said slowly. "Yesterday you spoke of cruisers docked with these hives, and transports moving between them, which indicates that they are moving materials."

Caldwell nodded, then glanced at Carter. "We took the liberty of beaming some materials out of the holds of several of the hives yesterday. Our nukes will be camouflaged as their own goods when we beam them in."

"For crissake, Caldwell, you could have mentioned that yesterday." O'Neill said. "Of all the bo..."

"Good thinking, Steven." Carter said. "A little more risk than I would have preferred, but it's done, and it reduces the chances of someone stumbling across our nukes."

"Yes ma'am, it was a last minute decision. Marks wanted to see if they'd notice us beaming our nukes in, and the best way to test that was to beam something out." Caldwell told her. "We took containers from four of them, and sat waiting on each for a reaction. There was none, so they're not scanning within the cluster. They feel safe in there."

"Jack? Go or no go?" Carter asked.

"Go."

"Bra'tac?"

Bra'tac nodded. "Should Lord Caldwell, decide to leave your service, he would be most welcome to lead a Jaffa battle fleet. Proceed."

"Don't get your hopes up old friend." Carter laughed. "Tammy?"

"Go." She said, looking at Caldwell and Lorne. "Get it done, and get your asses home in one piece. Both of you."

Caldwell nodded as she stared at him, then looked across the table at Teyla.

"Teyla?"

"They will makes us proud this day, Samantha." Teyla said. "Major Lorne, I ask that you bring Sir Steven home safely. He has obligations that he must fulfill."

"Yes, ma'am." Lorne smiled. "We'll keep an eye on him for you."

"Then we go. Be ready to jump at sixteen hundred." Carter said. 

"Fifteen hundred." Caldwell said. "We're ready, and the longer we wait, the higher the odds of something going wrong get. I don't want to put this off. We have a good plan, and should go."

"Fifteen hundred then." Carter said as she looked at Caldwell and Lorne. "Go with our blessings and hopes, gentlemen. And come home safe."

Interior-Daedalus Bridge

1610 Hours

"Hail the Apollo, Marks." Caldwell said.

"Apollo online sir." Marks said a moment later.

"Lorne, we'll be dropping out of hyperspace in two minutes. Are you good to go?" Caldwell asked.

"Ready, sir." Lorne replied.

"Very good, Evan. Radio silence until your packages are delivered, and you are outbound." Caldwell said. "If they have shields up, we break off and go to the rendezvous point. If you need to break radio silence, keep traffic to encrypted microbursts."

"Confirm." Lorne replied. "Good hunting, sir."

"You too, Evan. Exiting hyperspace in sixty seconds." Caldwell said. "Good luck."

Interior-Apollo Bridge, Sector 347C3

1655 Hours

"Jezzus, will you look at that mess?" Lorne said softly as he looked out the bridge windows, then glanced down at his display. "How long till we hit the perimeter, Wilkes?"

"Six minutes before we're in position to start dropping our packages, sir." Wilkes said from the helm. "I'm not detecting shields on passive scans, and there are no scans coming from the cluster."

"Good, take us in, half sublight, then one quarter when we start delivering our presents." He opened a channel on his comm. "Weapons room, status on the nukes?" He asked.

"Twenty nukes armed and ready, sir." Came the reply. "Timers are set, we just have to disengage the safeties."

"Confirm. Five minutes to first targets. Lorne out."

Interior-Daedalus Bridge, Sector 347C3

1700 Hours

"First target is in range, colonel." Marks said, then a moment later, "Weapon away, no change in the target."

"Take us around the rim, Marks. Low and slow." Caldwell said. "Get us a count. Hives, then cruisers. Don't worry about the little stuff."

"Aye, sir. There's fifty-seven hives, and it looks like more than three hundred cruisers." Marks said. "I can't get a good count. The damned things are all over the place, and moving at a good clip between the hives."

"Get me the best count you can, Marks. We want to be able to count the meat when we're done."

Interior-Apollo Bridge, Sector 347C3

1705 Hours

"Major, we've got a dart on a collision course to starboard. Forty seconds to impact." Wilkes said, his hands working over the controls. "Shields up. Package away. Increasing speed to military thrust."

Lorne pressed the shipwide on his comm. "All hands, brace for impact! Prepare for hyperspace jump."

"Dart impacted aft quarter, starboard side, sir." Wilkes said as he scanned his console. "No damage, no explosion from the dart. It looks like he bounced off the shields, sir."

"Where is he?" Lorne asked, checking his own screens.

"The dart broke up on impact, sir." Wilkes said. "It looks like we got lucky. No change in upcoming target. Dropping to quarter sublight, next target in eighty seconds."

"How many more do we have on the perimeter, Wilkes? We close to done?" Lorne asked, reaching for his comm again.

"Six more targets on the perimeter, sir. I have the next four tagged, and if I get between them, we can drop two at a time." Wilkes said. "I've already done it once, and we can move to the inner ring in fourteen minutes of we go two at a time."

"Do it. It looks like the dart traffic is picking up out here." Lorne said. He hit the comm. "Weapons room, we're going to be dropping doubles, be ready to pick up the pace."

"Aye sir, we have thirteen nukes ready. Just tell us when."

"Helm will advise. Bridge out." Changing channels, he went on shipwide. "Stand down hyperspace jump. We just took a dart strike to the shields. We've been blooded, but not bloodied. Resume normal stations."

Interior-Daedalus Bridge, Sector 347C3

1715 Hours

"Colonel, shields are going up on the Primary's hive, we have increased...wait one." Marks said as he leaned over his controls. "Shields dropping on the Primary." Marks said a minute later. "There was a hyperspace window near where we came out. Half a dozen ships hit it with scans, and we were right in the path."

"Jezzus, Marks! Don't do that to me." Caldwell laughed. "Get us out of here. Take us to the next target."

"Already moving to the inner ring, sir." Marks replied. "We're ahead of schedule. Wait one...package away, moving to next target."

"How many is that, Marks?" Caldwell asked, checking their position on his screens.

"Fourteen, sir. Five more on the inner ring, then the Primary." Marks said.

"Take us to the Primary next, we can come back here." Caldwell said. "I want to make sure that bitch gets our queen's little present."

"Yes, sir." Marks grinned, looking back at him. "Should I make it a double, colonel?"

"No need to waste ordinance. One will be fine." Caldwell said. "Just tell weapons control that if nothing else works, that one damned well better go off!"

"Aye, sir."

Interior-Apollo Bridge, Sector 347C3

1720 Hours

"Last package away, major." Wilkes said. "We still have six nukes left, do we want to use them?"

"Negative, Wilkes. The lady said to use what we had to, so let's take some home with us." Lorne said. "Get us out of here. When we get outside the perimeter, send a microburst to Daedalus advising of our status. Full sublight when we clear the perimeter." 

"Yes, sir. Three minutes."

Interior-Daedalus Bridge, Sector 347C3

1725 Hours

"Inbound traffic from Apollo, sir." Marks said. "They report nineteen packages away, and are clear of the perimeter. Moving away at full sublight." Marks paused, then turned and looked back at Caldwell. "They took a dart strike on the way in, sir. No damage, they say they weren't detected. It looks like the dart broke up, but didn't explode."

"Lucky bastard!" Caldwell laughed, shaking is head. "Get us the hell out of here, Marks. Lorne used up all our luck, and I don't want to push it. Tell weapons to store whatever's left, and prepare to detonate on my command."




Confirming Carter Bk. 02 Daedalus Ch. 07



"Aye sir. Breaking off, perimeter in four minutes."

Interior-Daedalus Bridge, Sector 347C3

1740 Hours

"Contact the Apollo, tell them we're clear, and confirm their status, Marks." Caldwell said, He hit the comm on his armrest. "Weapons, bridge. Standby, we'll be detonating in sixty seconds."

"Aye, sir. Message away. Receiving reply." Marks said. "Message reads, 'Clear. Light 'em up.'"

"You gotta love that guy!" Caldwell said, hitting his comm again. "Weapons, bridge. Apollo requests we light 'em up. Would you do the honors please?"

"Gladly sir." There was a pause, and Caldwell heard the weapons tech say. "This is for you, Tommy." A moment later, the bridge was filled with a blinding white light.

Interior-Apollo Bridge, Sector 347C3

1741 Hours

"Jezzus! Back us away, Wilkes! Turn us into the wave, we need to take it on the bow, and reduce our profile." Lorne said as he stared at the growing orange glow coming at them. "Full military thrust! Now!"

"Aye sir, full military thrust."

"All hands, brace for impact! Repeat, Brace for impact!" Lorne said over the shipwide, trying to keep his voice calm. His fingers flew over the console on his arm rest, transferring power for the shields to the bow

They watched as the glow grew steadily, finally overtaking them. The shockwave tossed them about like a leaf in a rapids, and Wilkes fought his controls as alarms went off all over the ship. 

"Get us out of here. Wilkes." Lorne said. "That was the energy wave. We may not be outside the range of debris."

"Aye sir, sublight coming online now." Wilkes said. "Military thrust not available. Moving at max sublight." Wilkes looked over his console. "Damage reports coming in. We're okay sir. Hyperdrive online and shields at eighty-five percent. Request permission to go to hyperspace, that second wave is closing fast."

"Do it. Contact Daedalus when we drop out."

Interior-Daedalus Bridge, 

1743 Hours

"Message from Apollo, colonel. They got hit by the shock wave too, but report no major damage." Marks said. "They jumped to hyperspace to avoid the debris wave. They're requesting our status, and coordinates for a rendezvous."

"Give them our status, and tell them to come to us." Caldwell said as he checked the readouts on his display. "How long on the hyperdrive?"

"At least ten minutes, probably closer to thirty." Marks said as he worked his controls. "We took that hit broadside. Half the ships systems are down, including life support. Shields are at thirty percent, cloak is down. Damage control parties are on it." 

"Tell Apollo to get here as fast as they can then. We're going to need cover." Caldwell said. He stood up and walked to the bridge windows. "Do you think anything lived through that?" He asked as he watched the glow in the distance start to darken and contract.

"Doubtful, sir. Given the radiation readings I'm getting, its going to be a couple of hours before we can send jumpers in to do a BDA. Maybe longer." Marks said. "We're just outside the lethal zone, but it's dropping fast out here."

Marks paused, then spoke softly on his comm. "We'll have hyperdrive in two minutes sir, and Apollo reports that they'll be on station in eight."

"Very good. Contact Atlantis. Tell then we're coming home." Caldwell said as he took his seat again. "Send the video and telemetry. We can come back, or have the Travelers do a BDA later."

Interior-Kitchen

1800 hours

"Col. Carter, we have an incoming message from Daedalus." The Ops tech said as he opened a channel.

"Understood." she said. "Have the staff meet me in the north tower conference room, we'll take it there." She paused, then asked, "Are they alright?"

"Yes, ma'am. They're on the way home, Apollo suffered minor damage, but Daedalus took a beating. They were hit by shockwaves. It looks like the blast was bigger than they were expecting. They included a databurst."

"Thank you. We're on our way."

She turned to Tammy. "Would you call Teyla? Our boys are on the way home. They're safe, but Daedalus suffered damage from a shockwave. We're going over to the north tower. They sent a databurst when they checked in."

Interior-Conference room, North Tower

1810 hours

They watched the video of the explosion in stunned silence. 

"Thoughts? Anyone?" Carter asked quietly.

"Nothing lived through that." Tammy said as Samuels played the video from Apollo's perspective.

"Now I am created death, the destroyer, the shatterer of worlds." O'Neill said softly.

"Jack..."

"No, it's appropriate." He said. "Oppenheimer said the same thing at Trinity Site in 1945, when they set off the first atom bomb."

"Actually, the full quote is, 'If the radiance of a thousand suns, were to burst at once into the sky, that would be like the splendor of the Mighty one...I am become Death, The shatterer of Worlds.' It's from the Hindu scripture, Bhagavad-Gita." Samuels said. "That is much more fitting."

"Caldwell's preliminary reports says that there were fifty-seven hives, and over three hundred cruisers." Carter said. She reached out and hit the comm. "Ops, do you have an ETA on Daedalus and Apollo?"

"Forty minutes, colonel."

"Thank you." She said, then closed channel. 

"Caldwell says that they couldn't get a BDA. It was going to be several hours before the radiation dropped to safe levels at the site." Carter said. "We need to have med teams waiting to check the Daedalus crew. They may have gotten some exposure from the energy wave."

"I'm not going to ask if we did the right thing, because I know we did. The Wraith have been preying on this galaxy for more than ten thousand years." Carter said. "Hell, it's been longer than that, The Ancients left ten thousand years ago, when they couldn't fight anymore. They left this galaxy open for the Wraith to plunder. Well, we just took the first step in putting a stop to that. And we're not going to back off."

"So we're declaring war on the Wraith." Tammy said, looking at Carter

Sam opened her mouth to speak, but Samuels spoke first.

"No. We don't have to. Not formally anyway. The Wraith are already a hostile force, not just to us, but to everyone in the Pegasus galaxy." Andi said. "And just to remind you, let me read from our declaration of independence."

"We have no history of oppression or mistreatment, but vow to aid others that find themselves oppressed or mistreated. We take this action because others have failed to, and we will no longer stand by as our neighbors and brothers suffer without relief. We will come to their assistance, and bring down furious vengeance upon those that bring them harm."

She replayed the video of the explosion. "This is the furious vengeance we spoke of." She said after letting it play to the end. "You may want to think about Pearl Harbor, or other attacks on unsuspecting nations. This is not what we did. We planned and executed an attack on an already hostile power, reducing their ability to bring harm to us, and to others."

"I'm not upset about what we did." Tammy said, looking at Sam. "Part of me wants to do cartwheels and scream from the rooftops. Hell, I think we should throw those guys a party like this city's never seen when they get home. But part of me is asking god to have mercy on our souls for what we've done today."

"It is good that you ask forgiveness for your deeds." Master Bra'tac said to her. "I was raised to be a warrior, and rose quickly through the ranks of the Jaffa because of my skill. As First Prime of the false god, Apophis, I committed many atrocities in his name. I knew them to be so, but weighed the cost against the greater good for my people. What was done today was an atrocity that makes my own actions pale in comparison, and my heart swells with pride. You did not do this deed for yourselves, but your people, and for all the peoples of this galaxy."

He paused and looked at Geraan, who was struggling to stay awake in Tammy's lap. "I look at you with my beautiful trankalmah, and see the love you both show for him. It is the same for all the kalmah of this galaxy, you reach out to them with your hearts, to save them from the fate that has befallen their ancestors. This is a good thing, and with all my heart, pray you continue."

"Can I keep him?" Tammy asked as she turned Geraan, laying his head on her shoulder. He put his arms around her as she leaned back, finally surrendering to sleep.

"He is not mine to give, but as long as I am in your service, I wish for him to stay under your tutelage. When he returns to the Jaffa, after studying at the feet of the warrior queens of Atlantis, he shall be a worthy leader indeed."

"I'm not a warrior queen." Carter said softly

"She's the queen, I'm just the consort." Tammy said.

"In my youth, two terms were used to describe a coward, or a warrior unworthy of the name, Ta'Ree and woman. This Ta'Ree female, this woman, is one of the finest warriors it has been my honor to stand beside in battle, as O'Neill will attest." He said with a smile as he looked around the table. "Her name is known throughout the Free Jaffa Nation. Her friends among the Jaffa respect her, and her enemies fear her. Now she stands as queen of Atlantis, chosen by her people."

He looked at down the table at Carter. "You do not wear armor, or carry a staff, but in your heart, you are indeed a warrior queen. And you must accept this, if you are to serve your people."

"We may need to change our plans for the coronation Tammy. I don't think it would be appropriate for you to read the vows to Sam." Samuels said. She turned and looked at Carter. "She should be standing beside you, taking them with you. You've told us outright that Tammy is your co-queen. Well, if you're going to give her the work, you should give her the recognition. The people that elected you will support you."

"We're being railroaded again." Carter said as she looked at Tammy.

"I don't mind, if it will keep him, and the other kalmah of the galaxy safe." Tammy said as she rocked Geraan slowly. She lifted him and laid him gently on the table in front of her. "It's worth the price."

"Col. Carter, Apollo and Daedalus just came out of hyperspace. They're requesting permission to land on the east pier. Daedalus is requesting we have medical personnel standing by." The Ops tech said.

"Bring them down. Call Dr. Keller and have her get her teams moving." She said. "Ask Col. Caldwell and Maj. Lorne to beam down so we can congratulate them."

The Ops tech came on a moment later. "They both say negative, colonel. They insist that they have to get their crews taken care of, and will brief you as soon as possible."

"Understood. Carter out."

"Do we go down there, or wait?" She asked Tammy.

"Wait." O'Neill said. "Let them take care of their people. Once they know they're safe, they'll be with us."

Interior-Kitchen

1930 hours

"Attention all Atlantis personnel. Assemble in the Auditorium at 2130 hours. All Atlantis personnel. Assemble in the Auditorium at 2130 hours."

"I just came from checking on Caldwell and his crew." Sheppard said as he cut up a chicken breast. "He has eleven people showing signs of radiation sickness, mostly from engineering and weapons control."

"And Steven?" Teyla asked.

"I'm sorry, Teyla. He's fine." He laughed as he put a piece of chicken in his mouth. "I'm not sorry he's fine, I'm sorry I didn't say anything. The bridge was shielded by the ship. If they took that wave head on like the Apollo did, they'd all be dead. We got lucky that it caught them broadside like it did. The exposure the crew got was minimal."

Teyla put her head down, her lips moving in a silent prayer.

Geraan slid down off Tammy's lap and went to stand by Sheppard's chair. He looked up at him as he put another forkful of chicken in his mouth.

"You want some of this?" Sheppard asked. Geraan nodded. Sheppard speared a chunk and held it out to him. The boy took the morsel into his mouth, chewed, then smiled broadly up at him, and ran back around the table.

"What do we say, Geraan?" Sam asked him as he reached Tammy's chair.

Geraan looked at her, then ran back to Sheppard's seat. "Dang-gu." He said, then held his mouth open again. Sheppard fed him another bite, and he ran back, climbing up on Tammy's lap.

"What's wrong with yours? Don't you like dark meat?" Tammy asked him as she cut strips off the leg on his plate. Geraan nodded, picking up the pieces as she cut them, putting them in his mouth. "So you just wanted to taste his?" Geraan nodded again as he looked at Sam's plate.

"Don't even think about it buster." Carter said as she moved her plate away from him, holding her hand over it. Geraan frowned, and Tammy laughed as she reached over and broke off a piece of cornbread, popping it in his mouth.

"What's Caldwell's mood, Sheppard?" O'Neill asked. 

He pushed his plate away, then looked over at Geraan. He pushed the plate closer, and the boy pulled it over in front of him and looked up at Tammy. She looked at him, and he turned back and said, "Dang-gu." 

"He was kicking himself for underestimating the blast, and because so many of his crew were injured, when I was over there." John said. "A ten gigaton warhead makes a pretty big bang in space, and we know a hive going up does too. But Daedalus and Apollo were more than a billion miles out, and that first shock wave went over them and just kept going. There was no way we could have expected that."

"I agree." Carter said. "How's Lorne holding up? Apollo had ten injuries too. Are those radiation sickness?"

Sheppard shook his head. "One broken ankle, one wrist, two arms, and six concussions." He looked at Carter before he continued. "Lorne is kicking himself too, but his helmsman, Wilkes, said Lorne was telling him to turn the ship into the wave and back away before he even saw it coming, and that he moved the shields full forward himself. He saved that ship, colonel, the logs back up Wilkes' version."

"I know. They were closer to the blast, and took less damage." She said turned and looked at Tammy.

"It's in my pocket." She said as she took a bite of coleslaw, then offered Geraan some. He scowled, and shook his head. "Taste it before you say no." She told him. He opened his mouth and took a small bite. His eyes lit up, and he opened his mouth wide for more.

"You're going to spoil that kid." O'Neill said as he looked at Bra'tac, then down at the pile of bones on his plate. He looked back at Tammy. "What's in your pocket?"

"My spoon." Sam said.

"And what is up with tha..."

"General." Sheppard said quietly. "I was the first one knighted with that spoon, and at first, it was all in fun. I offered my sword and fealty when the royalty talk was just that, talk, an inside joke." He looked at O'Neill. "It's not just a spoon, it's a symbol. One that I live for, and would proudly die for." He looked at Carter as she started to speak. "I said proudly, not gladly. If I give my life in your service, it will be with pride, not glee."

"Well said." Bra'tac said as he picked up another chicken wing. "A warrior's life is not something to be thrown away lightly."

Carter and O'Neill stared at him, then started to laugh

Bra'tac looked back and forth at them. "I do not see what you find amusing." He said as he tore the wing apart.

"Nothing old friend." Carter said, then looked at O'Neill. "John made that pledge the day I resigned, and the next day, secured Atlantis for us. Tammy had the good sense to hold onto it. I know it's the same one, because the lip of the bowl is bent on one side. It's my most precious possession, because of what it stands for."

"All joking aside, just what does it stand for?" O'Neill asked.

"Loyalty, duty, honor, friendship. All the words we want to live by." She told him solemnly. "I'm going to add two more knights to my table tonight. Men worthy of the reward."

"We need to start getting ready." Tammy said.

"John, would you go get Steven and tell him what's going to happen? I'd like each of you to stand as second's for your man. Dress is formal, so get with Andi and tell her you need suits for you, Steven, Jack and Bra'tac, unless he prefers his robes. I guarantee, she knows your sizes."

She turned to Teyla. "Your finest please, something befitting your station. I wouldn't want your fiancée to out shine you."

Sheppard tapped his comm and stood up, then stepped out into the hall. He was back a moment later. "We just got a message from the Travelers. Their scouts report that the blast zone is still too hot to get into, and the three more hives and their escorts have jumped into the area. They want to talk, and want to send a delegation."

"When?" Carter asked as she pushed her plate away and stood up.

"Now. They're holding the gate open."

"Go meet them at the gate, and bring them to the north tower." She told him. She looked around the table. "Jack, call the Infirmary, have them send Caldwell and Lorne over. Get Andi too. I know how she'll want this to go. Do not bring them in until our people are in place."

"Yes, ma'am. I'll call Samuels. As foreign minister, she should meet them with me."

"Even better." She grinned. "We're learning fast."

Interior-Conference Room, North Tower

2050 Hours

"Sheppard, what the hell did you do?" Larrin asked when she came through the gate.

"It's nice to see you too, Larrin." Sheppard said. "We'll explain everything in a few minutes. In the meantime, may I introduce Dr. Andi Samuels, Foreign Minister of the City of Atlantis."

Larrin ignored her as she stared at Sheppard.

"We were told that there was a delegation." Sheppard said lightly, looking past her at the event horizon behind her. "Are you it, or do you have others with you?"

"The other members of the ruling council are with me." She said. "They'll come through when I tell them that it's safe. Now answer my question."

"Please invite them through." Samuels said. "Col. Carter will brief you all as a group, if you'll bear with us."

"No, you'll..."

"Thank you for dropping by." Samuels said, turning to the Ops tech. "Raise the shield, and close the gate, plea..."

"Wait!" Larrin said, then spoke softly into a small radio clipped to her collar. "We'll do it your way." She said. A moment later three people stepped through the gate, and the wormhole closed behind them.

"Greetings. If you wouldn't mind, I think we should wait and make introductions when we have everyone together." Samuels said. "John, if you'll lead the way please?"

The senior staff and Lorne were seated along one side of the table when they stepped into the room. The Atlantian's rose, and Samuels led the Travelers to seats on the other side, then went with Sheppard to the far end of the table and stood at their places. A moment later, Ronin stepped into the room.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the queens of Atlantis, Col. Samantha Carter, and Lady Tammy Ford." He paused, then added, "Accompanied by Geraan, of the Free Jaffa Nation."

Sam and Tammy entered with Geraan between them. Tammy looked at Ronin, and he came over, took Geraan's hand and led him to a chair. He lifted him up, speaking softly to him, then returned to his place at the door.

"Larrin, it's good to see you again." Sam said as they stepped over to the Traveler's. "Allow me to introduce Lady Tammy Ford, my sister queen. If you would introduce our guests?"

Larrin introduced her fellow council members, Waleen, Pharris, and Arrin, then Carter introduced her court. Sam and Tammy moved to their seats, and everyone sat with them.

Pharris turned to Sam. "We do not know the Free Jaffa Nation. Does this child represent them?"

"No." Carter smiled, not rising to the jibe. She motioned down the table to Bra'tac. "Geraan is the grandson of Master Bra'tac, and has been placed in our care while Bra'tac serves as senior advisor. He wishes Geraan to be tutored in statecraft, and other skills, so when he returns to the Milky Way galaxy, he will be a leader worthy of the name."




Confirming Carter Bk. 02 Daedalus Ch. 07



The Travelers looked down the table at Bra'tac, then at Geraan, who was sitting quietly, watching them.

"Most wise. I too have a grandson, perhaps he may be granted the same privilege when we formalize our relations." Pharris said. "His name is Phinnar, and he is very bright."

"We would be happy to discuss it with you." Tammy said. "Regardless of our relations. A companion for Geraan would be most welcome."

"What did you do? And how did you do it?" Larrin said, looking down the table at Sheppard, then at Carter. 

"Patience, Larrin. Col. Carter will share that information when she is ready." Waleen said. "Allow us a moment for pleasantries, and to come to know one another. We are in Atlantis, the city of the Ancients."

"Actually, we have a ceremony to attend shortly, which we'd like to invite you to." Carter said lightly. "But to answer Larrin's question." She motioned to Samuels, and the lights dimmed as a large screen dropped from the ceiling. A moment later, a video began playing.

"Yesterday, Col. Caldwell took the Daedalus into the Wraith cluster in Sector 347C3 on a reconnaissance mission. That mission was also to test the effectiveness of newly installed cloaking technology. They spent three hours there, undetected, and scanned more than a third of the hives present, allowing us to make up a composite of a basic hive ship. They also beamed materials off of several hives without detection."

She let the video play for a minute longer, then changed it.

"Today, The Daedalus and the Apollo returned to the cluster, and placed nuclear warheads on thirty-nine of them, including the Primary's hive, then detonated them."

The Travelers were staring at the screen, unable to believe what they were seeing. Samuels change videos again.

"This was the result."

The room was filled with the glare of the explosion, then the view changed, and they watched the bridge view as the blast wave came at, then hit the Apollo. The video from the Daedalus bridge played immediately after.

Samuels stopped the video, and brought up the lights. Larrin looked over at Caldwell and Lorne. "You got lucky. That blast wave should have killed you."

"We counted fifty-seven hives, and more than three hundred cruisers just before they went up." Caldwell said. "And I agree, we got lucky. We underestimated the size of the blast. We won't do that again."

"There will be no need." Waleen said quietly. "You have destroyed more than half the Wraith in the galaxy in one engagement. Another such gathering will never occur. You are to be congratulated."

"Our scouts report three more hives jumped in after the blast." Larrin said. "With the radiation in the area, nothing aboard them will survive. Depending on if their shields hold, the hives themselves may be damaged. We won't know till we board them."

"We'll be claiming any surviving hives and their escorts as plunder in the name of Atlantis." Carter said. "We killed them, we're going to keep them."

Larrin opened her mouth to object, but Waleen silenced her with a wave. "You are due the spoils, and we will assist in anyway we can in your recovery efforts. Your announcement that Atlantis would now be acting as an independent state was met by skepticism in the council, myself included." He looked at Carter and Tammy. "It is obvious to us now that you spoke the truth. Your former masters on your homeworld would never have allowed this. We come to offer our friendship, and to open relations with you."

"We welcome the friendship of the Travelers, and have long sought it." Carter said. "We knew that there was distrust of our leaders on Earth, and we understood, you did not know them. We are here, the people at this table lead the city of Atlantis, so you now know who you will be dealing with."

She paused, looking at each of the Travelers.

"We have only sought good relations with the Travelers." Tammy said, looking at Teyla, then back at the Travelers. "We wish to deal with you directly, not bypassing our friends the Athosians, but in conjunction with them, because they shall always be the first among friends. We do, however, have a request to make that will benefit both our peoples, and all the peoples of the Pegasus galaxy." She looked down the table at Andi.

A video of Atlantis from a jumper view started on the screen as the lights dimmed again. 

"This is Atlantis." She said as the jumper did a slow orbit of the city. The image changed to a land based city. "And this is our sister city, Anchorage, which we recently acquired at the request of the local inhabitants. We will be manning and restoring Anchorage in the coming months, and your knowledge of ancient systems would be of immense benefit in those efforts."

"We also need workers for both cities to operate their production and manufacturing facilities, and ships to delivers the goods we produce through out the galaxy." Carter said as the lights came up. "You have both. We offer not only diplomatic relations, but a partnership, for the benefit of all."

The Travelers sat silent. "How many of our people will you require?" Pharris asked softly.

"None." Carter said looking at her. "We are already taking in refugees from planets decimated by the Wraith, and will welcome all that seek the safety of our cities. We are offering your people safe havens. They are free to come and go as they wish. In exchange for their efforts, we will share whatever they help produce."

"You misunderstand, colonel. I did not think you were requiring hostages." Pharris said. "We cannot support our population, and are forced to leave many planet bound. I should have said, how many can you take."

"To fully staff both cities would require two hundred thousand people." Samuels said. "That's roughly fifty thousand for unskilled labor, ninety thousand for skilled labor, which requires the ancient gene, and seventy thousand for support and management, which also requires the ancient gene."

She paused, then added, "We have a therapy that activates the dormant ancient gene, as well as teaching machines for immediate training on ancient equipment, including ships. In addition, many of the production facilities in both cities can produce replacement parts for the vessels you already possess."

"Do it. We can't afford not to have them as friends." Larrin said, looking at her fellow Travelers. "They could be dictating terms, but instead, they lay out a banquet before us. We'd be fools to let this slip through our fingers."

"I agree. We can haggle over numbers later." Waleen said, looking down the table at Samuels. "Those details will be worked out with you, Dr. Samuels?"

"Andi, if you wouldn't mind, Waleen." She said. "We can put people together to work out an equitable agreement. But keep in mind, it will take several months to get both cities up to full production. Testing and training people, acquiring resources..."

"Can all be dealt with later." Carter said as she rose to her feet, holding out her hand. "For now, we offer our hands in friendship. Which I assure you, is better that any treaties or contracts we will ever sign."

She moved among the Travelers with Tammy, shaking hands and hugging them all. Andi gave them a few minutes. "We need to go, or we're going to be late. Waleen, if you and the other council members will join us, we have a ceremony to attend to, then a reception following it. We can talk more then."

Interior-Auditorium

2140 hours

Samuels gave the assemblage a few minutes to get seated, then stepped to the front. She looked around the room, then began to speak.

"Today, at 1740 hours, the Atlantian Warships Apollo and Daedalus, acting under orders of the queens, engaged and destroyed a major Wraith fleet. We can confirm that fifty-seven hives, and in excess of three hundred cruisers were destroyed. The Atlantian navy suffered no losses."

The crowd erupted in applause, and Samuels let them go on for several minutes, then raised her hands for quiet. 

"We come together to honor them, and offer our thanks. Their selfless devotion to duty gives us all hope for the future of our city. Two men, however, are deserving of special attention. Maj. Evan Lorne, and Maj. Kevin Marks, stand forward."

The doors at the back of the room opened, and Loren and Marks, flanked by Sheppard and Caldwell, entered and strode up the aisle. They made their way to the front where Carter and Tammy waited.

Tammy looked at both men, then said, "Evan Lorne, step forward."

Sheppard and Lorne stepped in front of them, then Sheppard stepped back, and to one side.

"In recognition of your service to us, we wish to reward you with honors befitting your loyalty and your deeds. Do you accept this honor, and pledge to serve us faithfully and well?"

"I do." Lorne said.

"Please kneel."

Lorne dropped to one knee, his head bowed. Carter reached out with her spoon, and laid it gently on each of his shoulders.

"Rise, Sir Evan, Commander of the Atlantian Warship, Apollo." Tammy said. "Welcome to the Knighthood of Atlantis. May we serve each other well."

Sheppard stepped over and came to attention as Lorne turned to face him. Sheppard saluted smartly, then held out his hand. Lorne took it, and Sheppard smiled as he said, "Congratulations Evan. You deserve it."

"Thank you, colonel. I'll try to live up to it."

Sheppard led him off to the side

"Kevin Marks, step forward."

Caldwell and Marks stepped in front of them, then Caldwell stepped back, and to one side.

"In recognition of your service to us, we wish to reward you with honors befitting your loyalty and your deeds. Do you accept this honor, and pledge to serve us faithfully and well?"

Marks took a step back, bowing his head. "I offer my service freely, but cannot accept this honor. I do not believe I am worthy of it."

Sam smiled at him, then looked at Tammy and nodded. Tammy looked at Caldwell as she said, "Col. Caldwell, would you read the specifications please?"

"Major Kevin Marks, the queens, the people, and the city of Atlantis wish to recognize you for your service on our behalf in the action against the Wraith this day, and in the days preceding. We have testimony that you have twice piloted the Atlantian Warship Daedalus into hostile space, both times returning her safely to our shores. We have further evidence, that without your knowledge and insight, the planning and execution of this operation would not have been possible. In addition, your skill and cunning were instrumental in the capture of the Warship Apollo from the forces of the IOA, with no losses, or injuries to either side."

Caldwell turned to Marks, and came rigidly to attention. "My queens, as commander of the Daedalus, I will attest to Major Marks worthiness for this honor and position. I stand before you today because to the skill, cunning, and courage of the major, as does my crew."

The crew of the Daedalus stood as Caldwell mentioned them.

"So say you all?" Tammy asked.

"So say we all." They said as a group. They remained standing until Tammy waved them down.

Carter stepped forward. "Kevin, we ask you again to allow us to bestow this honor, and welcome you into our service, as befits you. Will you accept?"

"Yes, my queen." Marks whispered.

"Kneel with me." She said as she laid her hands on his shoulders. 

Tammy held out her spoon, but Sam shook her head and nodded at his shoulder. Tammy stepped forward and laid the spoon on each of his shoulders, then stepped back.

"Rise, Sir Kevin." Carter said. "Welcome to the Knighthood of Atlantis. May we serve each other well." She smiled at him as she held out her hand. "Now, if you would be so kind as to help me up?"

Marks helped her to her feet, then turned to face Caldwell, returning his salute, and his handshake.

Sheppard and Lorne stepped back up beside Caldwell and Marks.

"Ladies and gentlemen of Atlantis, our queens wish to present the newest Knights to the Knighthood of Atlantis, Sir Evan Lorne, and Sir Kevin Marks!" Samuels said from the rear.

Lorne and Marks bowed, and were escorted to seats by their commanders as the crowd gave them a standing ovation. Samuels waited for them to be seated, then said, "Two weeks ago, we voted to install Col. Samantha Carter as queen of Atlantis." She paused letting them get ready for what she had to say next. "Since her election as queen, her consort, Tammy Ford, has been assisting and advising her in all matters pertaining to the safety, management and well being of the realm. She has, in truth, been acting as defacto co-queen."

The audience began talking and whispering, and Samuels paused again to let the furor die down. "Because of her importance to the queen, the city, and our people, Col. Carter has decided to elevate her to the role she already fills so well, as official, and recognized co-queen. We ask that you approve her selection by acclimation. From your seats, if you would be so kind."

Carter stepped forward, looking around the room. "How say you?" She asked.

"Aye." The crowd roared.

"Opposed?"

A smattering of no's came from around the room, and Carter smiled.

"The ayes have it." 

She turned to Tammy, holding out her hand.

Tammy stepped forward, taking her hand.

"Lady Tammy Ford, do you accept this terrible burden we place upon you?"

Tammy looked at her for a long moment, then looked at the crowd.

"I will do as my queen and our people ask. I will serve our city humbly, with the fullness of my heart, and will act as the conscience of our fair city in all things."

The crowd came to their feet, applauding wildly.

Geraan came running over, throwing his arms around Tammy's leg as Sam raised her hand in the air. "Gentle people of Atlantis, I give to you, my Sister Queen, the Lady Tammy Ford." She looked at Tammy, then down at Geraan. They reached down together and took his hands, then bowed before their audience. 

"Ladies and gentlemen, We will be having an official celebration in three days time." Samuels said over the loudspeakers as the applause began to die down. "Tonight, we have guests from our friends the Travelers, and must conclude this gathering so we may attend to matters of state. There are refreshments is the mess hall for any who wish to attend. Feel free to indulge, tomorrow is a holiday, but in coming years, will be celebrated on this date. Goodnight."

Interior-Dining Room, East Tower

2230 hours

Samuels led the way into the formal dining room on the east pier. Carter looked around at the splendor, then looked at Samuels in amazement.

"Andi. How? I mean this is..." She said. "I never imagined. How did you do this?"

"It was easier that you'd think." Andi laughed. "We had an empty city to take whatever we wanted from. It was just a matter of moving things around."

"I'm sorry, are you saying that you've never been here before?" Waleen asked.

"Yes." Tammy smiled, looking around the room. "Please forgive us Waleen, we're a young nation, still getting used to the trappings of state. Not to mention being trapped by them."

"You're our first guests, so if you don't mind us practicing on you." Sam laughed. "We'll do our best to behave."

"You have nothing to fear colonel, you haven't seen Larrin eat yet." Waleen laughed.

"Please, there are no titles tonight, so make it Sam or Samantha, and Tammy. We should dine as friends."

"This Knighthood of Atlantis, you seem to hold it dear, Samantha." Pharris said as she came over. "Your Maj. Marks did not feel himself worthy of the honor, which speaks highly of it, and of him."

"Long ago on our homeworld, in a country called England, men of quality, men of strong moral fiber and sense of honor were made knights of the realm. They were expected to defend the weak, and take the lead in times of war. They were a standard for other men to rise to for the good of all."

She watched as Sheppard spoke to Caldwell, then waved Ronin over. They conferred briefly, then went over to Marks and Lorne who were talking to Arrin.

"I've always been a supporter of knights, it's the only royal tradition I have any use for actually. I intend on making it difficult to make anyone a knight following our deaths. Because in later years, it became common for kings to sell knighthoods to men not worthy of the title. We won't allow that to happen."

Pharris looked at Waleen, and he nodded. "We have much to learn from, and about each other it seems." She said. "You are in a unique position. You are able to make your own laws and rules, which your people will live by in the years to come."

Carter turned and watched as Larrin came across the room. She was followed by the five men of the knighthood.

"I have been instructed to ask a boon of the queens." She said, a confused look on her face. "I do not know what this boon is, but I will ask you for it."

Carter turned to Sheppard. "What is it you seek, gentlemen?" She asked with a smile.

"We've each only been knighted by one queen." Sheppard said solemnly. "We humbly beg that we be allowed the blessing of both our queens."

Tammy reached in her pocket and pulled out their spoon, handing it to Sam. "Start with Kevin. He's the only one you're missing."

She turned and faced them. "Sir Kevin, stand forward and kneel."

Marks knelt and Carter stepped over and touched each of his shoulders with her spoon, then stepped back. She handed the spoon to Tammy as she said, "Rise Sir Kevin." She offered him her arm, then stepped to the side.

"Knights of the realm, stand forward and kneel." Carter said, smiling as they moved as one, taking a step forward, and dropping to one knee. "How long did they practice that?" She whispered to Marks.

"Three times, it only took a few minutes." He said softly. 

Tammy glared at them, then turned to Lorne, kneeling in front of her.

"Sir Evan, Commander of the Warship Apollo." She said, laying her spoon on each shoulder.

"Sir Ronin, Guardian of the Realm, and my protector in all things." She said, laying her spoon on each shoulder, then leaning down to kiss him lightly on the forehead.

"Sir Steven, our Lord of the Admiralty, and Commander of the Warship Daedalus." She said, laying her spoon on each shoulder, and holding it for a long moment.

"Sir John Sheppard, First Knight of the Realm, and Commander of the Royal Forces. Who came to us offering his sword and fealty, then freed our city with us." Tears rolled down her cheeks as she knelt before him. She touched his shoulder lightly, then hugged him. "None of this without you. Always remember that." She said softly, then stood and stepped back.

"Rise Knights of the City of Atlantis." Carter said solemnly, stepping over to take Tammy's hand. Marks rejoined the group, and the queens bowed to them. 

"If you'll excuse me, my queens." Sheppard said, then moved to the door.

"I'm going with him." Ronin said, then hurried after Sheppard.

Teyla took Caldwell by the hand and led him off to the side of the room.

"My queens." Lorne and Marks said, then moved over by the windows.

"What was that?" Larrin asked as she watched Sheppard and Ronin hurry from the room. She looked back at Sam and Tammy, smiling now, but both crying unashamedly.

"A lesson we have yet to learn, but would do well to." Waleen said. "Perhaps we should give Samantha and Tammy a moments privacy. I could do with something to drink I believe." He took Larrin's arm, leading her over to the bar at the side of the room.

Pharris stood quietly, then stepped aside as Geraan ran by her, followed by Bra'tac and O'Neill.

"My apologies." Bra'tac said. "I could not restrain him any longer. When he saw you in distress..."

"Not distress." Carter smiled, wiping her cheeks. "Joy."

"Geraan my little warrior! Where were you?" Tammy said as she picked him up and hugged him.

Geraan held out his arm, and Sam stepped closer, letting him hug her too.




Confirming Carter Bk. 02 Daedalus Ch. 07



"Lady Tammy, I mentioned my grandson Phinnar." Pharris said, then she looked at Bra'tac. "Master Bra'tac, my grandson is five, and in need of guidance. His mother died in child birth, and his father is away much of the time."

"Then they have much in common." Bra'tac said. "Geraan comes from similar circumstance. The lady Tammy offered to care for and tutor him, and his love for them grows by the hour."

"What did you learn today, Geraan?" Tammy asked, holding him so Pharris could see him.

"Dog paddle! Keep head out of water!" He laughed, making swimming motions.

"What else?" Sam asked.

"Dang-gu." He said, with much less enthusiasm.

"Two excellent lessons for one day." Pharris laughed. "Very good, Geraan."

Tammy and Sam both looked at Geraan. After a moment, he said, "Dang-gu."

"You're welcome." Pharris said. She looked at Tammy.

"We can talk later." Tammy said.

"Ladies and gentlemen, dinner is available on the buffets." Samuels said as she stood at the head of the table. "We have Athosian, and a variety of foods from the nations Earth, so please, try some of each, and save room for dessert!"

Interior-Kitchen

0110 hours

"I have to put him down, I'll be right with you." Tammy said as she moved toward the bedroom. "Kitchen?"

"Yeah, that's fine." Sam said as she took Pharris' hand and led her down the hall to the kitchen.

She took three glasses from the cabinet, filling one with water, and sitting it at Tammy's place. Opening the fridge, she held out a glass to Pharris, then grabbed two cokes and filled her glass with ice.

"We're kind of self service." She said as she waved at the fridge. "We have a selection of juices and soft drinks, or alcohol and spirits in the other fridge. Ice is in the dispenser."

"What was that you took?" Pharris asked.

"Coke. A sweet, carbonated beverage from my home country. It has bubbles in it." Sam laughed. She leaned closer to Pharris. "It's one of my vices."

"I'll try that then." Pharris laughed as she took a coke and moved to the table.

"You'll want ice." Sam said, taking her glass and filling it from the dispenser, then sitting it on the table in front of her.

"Her other vice is ice cream." Tammy said as she came in and opened the freezer. She tossed Sam a carton of chocolate ripple, took a rocky road for herself, and held out a carton to Pharris. "We'll start you off on french vanilla. A good choice for beginners." She said as she got spoons from a drawer.

Tammy slid spoons across the table to the other two women as she sat down. Sam picked up her coke, turning toward Pharris as she popped the tab to open it, then poured it slowly down the side of the glass. Pharris imitated her, then took a tentative sip. Her eyes lit up at the first taste, and she took a bigger drink, then finished filling her glass.

"I'll send a few cases with you when you go." Sam laughed. "But don't tell anyone when you get home, or you won't have any left." 

Pharris was watching as Tammy dipped ice cream out of her carton. She took the lid off her own and dipped out a small spoonful. She broke into a broad smile as she got a bigger bite.

"Try this." Sam said as she held out a spoonful. Pharris tasted it, then shook her head. 

"That's bitter. This is smooth and sweet. I like this." She said. "But your Earth foods were all so delicious! I especially liked the meats with the thick yellow sauce on bread. I had two of that."

"Bacon cheeseburgers. They appear to be an intergalactic favorite." Sam laughed.

"You surprised us." Pharris said as she scooped up ice cream, and held the spoon in front of her mouth. "Our scouts reported seeing the explosion, and identified your ship. We did not know that there were two."

"Daedalus' cloak was damaged when the blast wave hit them." Tammy said. "Apollo came in and was flying cover until they could go to hyperspace."

"We had expected you to ask for our assistance, as you did with the Replicators." Pharris said, looking between them.

"We discussed it." Carter said. "But we decided that it would be safer for us to do this alone. We didn't know how long that gathering was going to last, and I wouldn't have allowed you to go without cloaks anyway. There just wasn't time."

"We also thought to minimize the risk by doing it alone." Tammy said. "If our ships had been discovered, we would be the only ones blamed. "We're better equipped to defend ourselves. There was no reason to have the Wraith come after all of us."

"I came to speak of Phinnar, my grandson." Pharris said. "I spoke to Bra'tac, and he tells me that you are long time friends."

"Almost ten years, yes." Carter said. "He's only known Tammy a few days."

"So he said. But he trusts her implicitly, and he looks on her with a fondness it takes most people ages to achieve." Pharris said. "But I feel the same thing, after only hours. The way your men asked for the blessing of both their queens. That was not for Waleen and I. That was for you, and to make them feel complete."

"We take it seriously, as do they." Carter said. "Each of our knights was rewarded for specific deeds in our service, even though each had performed many worthwhile deeds before entering our service."

"My son was not meant to be a father. A breeder, yes, but not a father." Pharris said. "You may not know that because of our population problems, not all of our people are allowed children."

"We didn't know that. But not everyone that can produce a child can raise one." Tammy said.

"Do you have children of your own?" Pharris asked. 

"No. Neither of us, not until after the coronation. We've already selected the father, and have his contribution." Tammy told her. "I want several. Sam's not sure yet, but has to have at least one."

"I keep trying to ask..."

"Bring him. Or send for him, it's late, and I was going to suggest you spend the night." Sam said. "We'll care for him, and teach him as we are Geraan. Geraan is with one of us every moment he is awake. He's teaching us how to be mothers. Phinnar can help him."

"He's teaching you how to be a mother. I'm a natural." Tammy said.

(-)

That's all for Chapter Seven. Please read Chapter Eight for more of this story.

I hope you liked this episode. Please post a comment so I know if I'm the right track with this...



Confirming Carter Bk. 02 Daedalus Ch. 08



The Traveler's visit Anchorage for a tour, and agree to join the Atlantian's in a partnership. Bra'Tac develops a love interest...

(-)

Confirming Carter Book Two Daedalus

Chapter Eight

Interior-Kitchen

0705 Hours

"Where's Geraan?" Carter asked as she came into the kitchen. She went over to the coffee pot and poured a cup. "Refill?" She asked.

Tammy held out her cup, and Sam topped it off for her. "He went and crawled in with Pharris in the middle of the night." She said. "I have no idea how he knew that she was here. I checked on him, and he was already snuggled in and sound asleep. I don't think she even woke up when he climbed in with her."

"I did." Pharris said as she came through the door. "But I'm used to Phinnar joining me, so it was a comfort." She looked around the room. "What is that wonderful aroma? I think that's what woke me up."

"Coffee. It's a stimulant, and the most widely abused drug on Earth." Carter laughed, getting a cup from the tree and pouring some for her. She sat it on the table. "This is bitter as it is, you can add cream and sugar to make it more to your liking."

"Be careful, Pharris." Tammy laughed. "You may not want to go home if you keep finding things you like about us."

"We'll need an emissary from your people, to ensure our dealings run smoothly, and your people are treated well." Carter said, looking at Pharris. "Andi can find someone on her staff to send to your people."

"You'll want this too." Tammy smiled, sliding the cream across the table. "It adds body and taste."

"Am I that obvious?" Pharris smiled, imitating Carter, and heaping sugar into her coffee.

"Yes, but we've already made a connection, and while our foreign minister may be willing to deal with just anyone, we are not." Carter said as she sipped her coffee.

She looked over at Tammy. "I'm hungry. Will you call down and order us something? Or would you make me biscuits and gravy?"

"And eggs, bacon, hashbrowns, toast...the woman is a slave driver!" Tammy said to Pharris as she got up and went to the fridge. "Do this, do that." She turned and looked at Pharris with a soft smile. "And do you know that she didn't even ask me before she 'elevated' me, to use Andi's word." 

Pharris watched as she took items from the fridge, sat them on the counter, then started pulling out pans. 

"Pay no attention to the hired help, Pharris." Carter laughed as she got up and went over to Tammy. She turned her around and kissed her lightly, smiling at her. "Thank you for making me breakfast. You know how much I like your cooking."

"I'm not making you breakfast." Tammy laughed. "I'm making Pharris breakfast. To further entice her to stay with us. As the emissary of her people of course."

"You have servants, yet you prefer to do for yourselves. I have had dealings with leaders of many worlds, and most try to impress us with the grandeur of their houses. You welcome me into your home, and treat me as an honored guest."

"Only friends and family sit at our table." Carter said seriously. "If you were a guest, we'd be in the dining room or the mess hall. And we're not going to be able to do this much longer, I think, if Andi has her way."

Sam had just taken her seat again as Geraan came in, rubbing his eyes. He came over and buried his face in her lap.

"Good morning, little one. Did you sleep well?" Sam asked him, lifting him into her lap.

Geraan nodded, laying his head on her shoulder. "Ceweaul?" He said softly.

"Cer-REE-uhl. Say your r's." Sam said, holding him up so he could see her mouth moving. "And Tammy is making breakfast. Can you wait a few minutes?"

"Cer-ree-uhl." He repeated. "Hassbrown?"

"Yes, she's making hashbrowns." Carter laughed. "Go get your tablet, and play a game while she's cooking. Go." She said as she sat him on the floor, then watched him run out the door.

He was back a moment later, and started crawling up on her, but she waved him off, and pointed to the chair on the other side of Pharris. Geraan went over and climbed up, turned on the tablet, and was immediately engaged in a math puzzle.

"Tammy found some ancient children's games in the database, so we're letting him learn naturally." Carter told her. "We could put him on a teaching machine and give him the knowledge, but then it wouldn't mean anything to him. We'll train adults on them as needed, but children will still go to school, so they appreciate the art of learning. It's a skill in itself that has to be learned."

"Our scouts reported that there were Wraith ships in the area your ships were in." Pharris said. "We may not have been the only ones that saw you."

"Larrin told Sheppard that last night. We knew that there was a risk of detection." Tammy said as she added flour, then milk to a pan. She stirred it, then lowered the heat and put another pan on a burner and started laying strips of bacon in it. "We felt that it was better to have the Wraith focus on us, and perhaps take their attention off some of the worlds they've been culling recently."

"We've taken in groups of refugees recently that are telling us that the last round of cullings are different than those in the past." Carter told her. "Now, they're not just taking people, but destroying everything as they leave, so survivors have nothing to live on."

"We have seen this too." Pharris said as she watched Geraan work through a maze on his tablet. "None of our colonies has been culled, because they are on remote worlds, and located far from the stargates." She looked at Carter. "These are the people we would wish to bring to your cities first."

"When you're ready, we'll send a ship, or send jumpers through the gates with medical teams." Carter told her. "We can test your people for the ancient gene, and give them the treatment. We think you should move those that respond to the therapy to ships first where they'll do you the most good, we can take our time on manning up the cities."

"We want to concentrate on Anchorage." Tammy said as she took bacon out of the pan and put it on a plate. She stirred the gravy, then checked on a tray of biscuits in the oven. "We have months of work to do on that city, so the only thing we'll be producing there is foodstuffs for the workers. Once we get up and running, we can start supplying you on a regular basis."

"How soon could we begin moving people to this Ankara...how do you say the name?" Pharris asked.

"Anchorage." Carter said. "It's the name of a city on Earth, and the original meaning was a place that ships sat at anchor, or were held safely in place. The name was Andi's idea. She felt that since that city is land locked, it was appropriate."

"We'll have to check with Andi's people, but I'd say we can be ready within the week, two at the most." Tammy said as she took the tray of biscuits from the oven and turned it off. "But the more people we get in there, the faster we can get it up and running."

"Are you cooking again?" Andi asked as she came into the kitchen. "Good morning. It smells delicious. Are you going to have enough for me?" She noticed Pharris at the table, and her eyebrows went up. "Good morning, Pharris. I didn't know you had stayed. Are they treating you well?"

"We have plenty, but you know the rules." Tammy said as she started sitting food on the table. "You can start by putting out plates and utensils."

"I have been made to feel welcome, and am being treated very well, minister." Pharris said as she started to stand. "Can I hel..."

"No." Andi laughed, waving her back down. "I'll get it. But you can help with dishes after. House rules. If you don't cook, you wash dishes. And that's the real reason I got you a staff, Tammy. I hate doing dishes."

Tammy got glasses and bottles of juice from the fridge, then picked Geraan up and brought him over to sit by her. She filled a plate for him, then grinned at him. "Knock yourself out kid, you're on your own this morning."

"We were speaking of your city Anchorage." Pharris said as she watched Sam and Tammy load their plates. She took a sampling of everything, then looked at the juices. "May I?" She asked, then lifted the orange juice, sniffing at it cautiously. She wrinkled her nose, then did the same on the apple and grape juices. She went back to the orange juice and filled her glass.

"Our population problems are most pressing." She told Andi as she sat down next to her. "We fear for our planet bound people. Not just from the Wraith, but the Genii, and others as well."

"We told her that we had to check with you, but that we should be able to start moving people into Anchorage in the next week or two." Carter told her.

"We can take a thousand as soon as you can get them there. We'd need a week to get them trained so they can train others, then we can take another ten thousand immediately." Samuels said. "We have food and supplies to support that many for several months on hand already, and if they don't mind sharing apartments, and are willing to work, we can add five thousand a week, up to sixty thousand, or until we reach production capacity."

Pharris choked on a mouthful of food, then turned to stare at Samuels. Tears filled her eyes as she tried to speak.

"Perhaps we should save our talks until after we eat." Andi said gently. "I didn't mean to startle you."

"No. It's just that you speak so calmly of such large numbers of people." Pharris said as she got herself under control.

Samuels colored slightly. "I'm sorry, we look at this from different perspectives." She said. "I see numbers I need to fill certain goals, while you see the people themselves. I'm meeting our new citizens as we bring them in, but I still see...I'm sorry." 

"You have nothing to apologize for. I too look down and see what needs to be moved here or there. It must be done." Pharris said. "I was just not expecting to be able to begin so quickly. You had said that you had only recently acquired Anchorage."

"Yes. Five days ago." Samuels told her. "But the parts of the city we'll be working and living in have been untouched for centuries, and are in almost pristine condition. We need workers to go into the areas that the former inhabitants had converted, or allowed to fall into disrepair. A few will go to the production areas, so we can start ramping up food production."

Sam turned and looked at Tammy. "How do you think Ronin would feel about a field trip?"

"He'll want to send an advance team, but as long as we stick close, and don't wander off, I don't think he'll object." Tammy grinned. She looked down at Geraan. "We may have to put this one on a leash though."

Carter turned to Pharris. "I'd like you to go home, and invite your fellow council members to come tour Anchorage with us, today if possible. Also tell them that we wish you to be your people's emissary to our city. I'll put that in writing, in any language you like. We will accept any emissary they offer, but relations between us will be better if we can work with you. You needn't tell them that, but we want you to know it."

"Thank you. I will have to resign my seat on the council, but that is not a hardship." Pharris said with a smile. "Waleen had mentioned several excellent choices as emissaries, but they would do equally well as my replacement."

"We'll speak to them when we tour Anchorage, so don't say anything yet." Tammy told her. "We'll bring it up, so it won't look like you're maneuvering for the job. Which you didn't."

"If you wouldn't mind, I'd like to finish my breakfast before we go traipsing off to Anchorage." Andi said as she got up and got the coffee pot. She refilled everyone's cups, then sat back down. "Besides, she still has to help me with the dishes."

Interior-Council Chambers, Traveler Ship Qintoo

0920 Hours

"Why did you stay, Pharris?" Arrin asked, glaring at her across the table.

"I was invited." Pharris replied. "It would have been both unwise, and rude to decline."

"They would not harm her, Arrin." Waleen said. "I think perhaps, that they thought to sway her."

"They did not, and even if they had, it would not have taken much to do so." Pharris said lightly. "We spoke of my grandson, Phinnar. And I watched them with the child Geraan. You saw them at dinner last night. Good words for everyone, and their patience with the boy..."

"An act to get us to..." Arrin began.

"No, I ate with them this morning, and the boy climbed into bed with me in the middle of the night. Lady Tammy checked on him, but when she saw he was safe, and that I did not object, returned to her own bed." Pharris smiled at the memory. "This morning, Lady Tammy cooked, at Samantha's request. The foods they eat! By the stars, if only to share their table, I desire their friendship."

"The Earth foods were delicious." Waleen said. "The meats with the thick yell..."

"They call that 'bacon cheeseburgers'. It seems that everyone in two galaxies is enamored of them." Pharris laughed. "Yet they take it as just another in a host of choices available to them."

"Did you hear Andi talking to Teyla about Earth?" She asked them. "There are six billion people on their world. Six billion! And we struggle to maintain two million."

"Not all live as well as the people in Atlantis, Pharris." Arrin said. "Many live in poverty, and they war amongst themselves. Sheppard and Caldwell were officers in the military of the dominant nation. They spoke freely of their experiences, and the ways of their world."

"Theirs is but one of several powerful nations, and they fear for their homeworld." Waleen said, glancing at Arrin. 

"The fact that these people speak so freely about the problems on their homeworld," Larrin said as she came in, "Speaks volumes about them. They want us to know that they are not without fault, and are willing to learn." She shook her head. "Sheppard forced a Wraith to give me my life back, and would have killed it without a thought. I actually wish he had, but he was moved to tears last night by that simple ceremony with those women."

"The power they have over their people is impressive." Arrin admitted. "Even I could see that it was given to them freely. These people want these women to lead them. How is that possible?"

"They wish us to join them to tour their city Anchorage, today if possible." Pharris said, looking around the table. She paused, looking at each of her fellow council members. "Andi, Dr. Samuels, says that they can take a thousand people as soon as we can get them there, then ten thousand a week later, once the first group is trained to train the others. Then they can take five thousand a week until the city reaches production capacity. She said up to sixty thousand people all told."

"We are moving too quickly." Arrin said. "They are powerful, but few in numbers. There are just over a thousand of them in Atlantis." He looked around, and met empty stares. "You wish to proceed on this course then? Even you Larrin?"

"Yes. What do we have to lose? Our way of life?" She asked, laughing harshly. "Even if they betray us, the people they take in will have a better life as their slaves than they do now. But the Athosians trust them. We all know Teyla Emmagan. She is not one that is easily fooled. She has been allied with them for almost five years, and has been our intermediary to them."

"She intends to marry the bald one, Caldwell. They are betrothed, he was saying that he was going to seek the consent of her people to wed." Waleen said. "And the old man, Bra'tac, of the Jaffa. He told us that the Ta'Ree, that's what his people call them, helped his people free themselves from the bondage of false gods as he called them. The other old one, O'Neill, explained that these gods were really a snakelike parasite of terrible power and intelligence."

"I wish to see this Anchorage, and ask that you join me." Pharris said, looking at Arrin. "They offer us havens for the planet bound, parts for our ships, a treatment to make the ancient gene come alive!"

"I will go." Waleen said

"Me too." Larrin said. "I want to see this city, and find out just why they are so eager to have us come live there."

"Finally! A voice of reason." Arrin said. 

"They don't say that they don't stand to gain, Arrin." Larrin said. "Their offer was to share what our people produce. I think we have met the first trading partner that will deal fairly with us, because they need us. They spoke of a partnership, which means a voice in how things are done. And we have seen their partnerships in action, when we joined with them to fight the replicators."

"We lost three ships in that battle, Larrin." Arrin said. "My son was on one of them."

"We all lost friends and loved ones that day. But the humans went into the fire, Arrin." Larrin said, shaking her head in amazement. "They went down onto that planet, set their trap, and we all saw what happened. The Replicators are no more. If only for that, we should listen closely when they speak."

"And they kill the Wraith. They do not just speak of it, they seek them out, and destroy their ships, and planet based operations." Waleen said. "Did you see the man that announced the queens last night? Do you know who that was?" He asked Arrin. Arrin shook his head, and Waleen smiled. "Ronin Dex, of Sateda. The runner. He is one of their knights. The Lady Tammy called him guardian of the realm, and her protector in all things."

"He looked near tears as well last night." Larrin said. "I didn't think that was possible." She turned to Pharris. "Contact them. Make the arrangements, and tell them the three of us will be pleased to join them."

"I will go." Arrin said. "If they have won you all over..."

"We only go to look, Arrin." Waleen said. "We have not committed to anything yet."

Interior-Kitchen

1045 Hours

"Col. Carter, we have a message from the Travelers. They say they will be pleased to join you, and ask for details." The Ops tech said when she answered her comm.

"Thank you. Tell them that we can meet them here, send a jumper to take them to Anchorage, or meet them on any world of their choosing. Tell them that we would like to leave in one hour, but are adjustable."

"Response is, Atlantis in one hour."

"Advise them to radio before they go through the gate, so we can lower the shield." she told him. "We don't want any accidents."

Interior-Gateroom

1200 Hours

"Incoming wormhole." The Ops tech said. "We're getting a radio signal. It's the Travelers. They say five visitors."

"Five?" Sheppard said as he brought the jumper down and parked it in front of the gate.

"It's okay, John." Carter laughed when she saw that he had parked the jumper right in front of the gate. "Now, would you back that thing up, and give them a little room to come through?"

"Go ahead and lower the shield, Ops. Then tell them to proceed."

She stepped up next to the jumper as Sheppard moved it back, then waved for him to keep going. Tammy and Geraan joined her, while Ronin moved to the front. Ronin looked back over his shoulder.

"Shields on?" He asked, looking at the pendants on their vests.

The travelers stepped through the gate, stopping short when they saw the jumper. Carter went over to them and knelt in front of the boy they had brought with them.

"You must be Phinnar." She said, holding out her hand. "Your grandmother has told us much about you." She looked over her shoulder, and Tammy brought Geraan over. "This is Geraan, of the Free Jaffa Nation."

Geraan stepped up and looked at the other boy. "I am a great and mighty warrior." He said. "I am here to protect the warrior queen."

Phinnar stepped forward, standing inches from Geraan. "I will be the greatest pilot among the greatest pilots in the universe." He replied.

"He'll do." Ronin said as he picked both boys up by the back of the shirt and carried them around, then into jumper. 




Confirming Carter Bk. 02 Daedalus Ch. 08



The adults laughed, and Carter motioned everyone around to the back of the jumper. 

"The gate at Anchorage was moved away from the city long ago, so we'll have to go by jumper." She said as she led them inside. "We've cleared a lower landing bay on the east pier, so we can get into the city easily. That's the section that we'll be bringing on line first. After we look around there, we can go to other parts of the city, to give you an idea of that needs to be done."

Larrin had moved to the front, and taken the right hand seat. Carter waved the others forward, and lowered jump seats for herself and Pharris. 

"Any time you're ready, John." She said lightly.

Interior-Anchorage

1200 Hours

Sheppard raised the jumper, then dialed the gate. After the vortex receded, he spoke quietly on his radio. The jumper dropped, then moved forward into the wormhole. A moment later, they exited through the other gate, and he climbed to treetop level, moving slowly toward the tower in the distance. As the tower grew larger, he steered to the right, then turned sharply to the left when they reached an opening in the trees.

"Much of the city is buried, or covered by forests." Carter told them. "We're still doing structural inspections. We know that Anchorage isn't space worthy, but we're debating about whether its safe to raise her, to see if we can remove some of the debris from the upper levels without using manual labor. We may even clear a site, and move her, but again, that's in the future."

"The stardrive still works?" Larrin asked, turning in her seat.

"Yes. It's been powered up twice by us. Once two years ago, then again the day we took possession."

Sheppard guided the jumper down a long sloping tunnel of trees, then they passed underground. They could see an open bay door ahead of them, and a moment later, they were inside it. Bringing the jumper to a stop, he lowered the rear door, and motioned for Larrin to step out ahead of him. 

When they exited, Carter saw that both boys were wearing harnesses, with a leash attached to the back. Another shorter leash, joined them together.

"No! You didn't!" She laughed, looking up at Ronin.

"Her idea." He said, nodding at Tammy as he handed her the reins.

"I am not chasing these two all over this city." She said as she shook the reins. "Giddyup...go!"

"A practical solution to an age old problem." Arrin laughed. "I wish I had thought of it when my children were young."

She grinned at him. "Andi will be with us in a moment. She had to make a stop on the way down. Oh, here she comes now."

"Good morning, and welcome to Anchorage." Samuels said warmly. "We'll be taking a porter up several levels to the production center first, then we'll make a stop so we can show you quarters for personnel. So if you'll follow me..."

She led them through a doorway and down a short hallway to a porter. She tapped on a series of symbols as the doors closed, and then opened almost immediately. 

"We're on the other side of the pier now, about ten levels up." She said as they stepped out into a long, high ceilinged room. The aisle they stood in was lined on both sides with rows of shiny machines and equipment for a hundred meters in every direction. "Feel free to look around, and let me know if you have any questions. Samantha, Tammy, or John can tell you what the various machines are. Everything is labeled. I don't have the ATA gene, so I don't read ancient."

"Really, this treatment you mentioned didn't work for you?" Arrin asked.

"No, and I tried twice." Samuels told him. "It's effective in about eighty percent of the people that test positive for the gene, and there is a small chance, slightly under one percent, that the treatment can have an adverse, or negative reaction. We can review the data with your doctors, so they'll know who might be at risk."

"What are these machines for?" Pharris asked. "What did they do?"

"This side of the aisle, from here, all the way to the far corner, are food processors. Raw materials drop down these chutes in the ceiling, is sterilized, then fed into the machine, which can make any number of foodstuffs, either packaged, or loose, which drop through another chute, here, at the base of the machine, into another processing room for further packaging or routing for shipment."

She turned around and pointed in the other direction. "On the other end of this side. The machines are setup to make a wide range of devices and components out of metal and plastic. The same thing for the other side of the aisle." She blushed and grinned as she shrugged and pointed toward the last section. "I have no idea what any of those over there do."

"I'm sorry we don't have anyone to show you how to operate one, but we had to send people back to Atlantis for an ongoing project. We should have them back next week."

"What kind of project?" Arrin asked, walking over and squatting next to a machine.

Samuels looked over at Carter, and she nodded.

"We needed them for drone production, to replenish the cities defenses." She told him. "Anchorage has a chair weapons platform, just like Atlantis has, that controls the cities defenses, and the stardrive. Most systems can be operated from remote locations, but the chair ties everything together for the operator to access easily."

"The next ten floors in this section of the pier are all production, manufacturing, and storage areas." She went on, telling them about the area they were in. "The adjacent sections have shops for servicing equipment, vehicles and vessels, up to a small transport. The problem is, the access ports are buried, and are really meant to be used in space for the larger stuff."

"You can repair ships here?" Larrin and Pharris asked at the same time.

"Yes, the city is equipped to do it. But we don't have personnel trained for that yet." Samuels said as she turned toward the doors. "We can move that up on the schedule, but until we get these lower levels raised above ground, there really isn't any point."

"Can you do it in Atlantis?" Larrin asked.

"We have the same shops in Atlantis, but because the city sits in the water, those bays are not easily accessible. To use them right, we'd have to take the city into space, so vessels could be moved right in from orbit."

"Depending on how pressing the problem is, that's something that we can talk about." Carter said. "Keep in mind, that there is a limit on the size of ships that these shops can handle. From what I've seen of them, it looks like they can take something up to about five times the size of our jumpers, maybe a little bigger."

"We've been doing database searches for other ancient cities and outposts, and we have records of several space docks that would handle vessels up to an Aurora class cruiser." Samuels said. "We can confirm that at least one was destroyed in the last years of the war with the Wraith, but we're going to be looking for the others. We immediately thought of you when we ran across those records."

"Unless there are other questions, we can go up to the workers quarters." Samuels said. "So if you'll follow me." 

She stepped back out into the hallway and led them back to the porter. Keying in another set of symbols as the doors closed.

"If you don't read ancient, how do you know what symbols to press on that panel." Waleen asked as the door opened again.

"Cheat sheet." She grinned, holding up a small piece of paper with strings of symbols, then english written under them. She turned and looked out the door. "Oh...Sometimes my staff plays little jokes on me. Sorry."

They were looking out over the landscape from a long, wide balcony near the top of the central tower. Andi turned around and entered another set of symbols on the panel. When the doors opened, she sighed and stepped out.

"This is where we're supposed to be." She said as she led them down a hallway. "We're on the ground floor of a residential building. There are eight suites, or apartments on each floor. This building has sixty-five floors. The top ten floors have fewer suites, but each is larger. Some of those will be converted for recreation areas and meeting rooms, others will be apartments for managers."

She palmed the panel next to a door and it slid open. "I think this one has three bedrooms, with a bathroom off of each, and one in the central hall, this main room, a kitchen, and something else. You can look around, every suite is different."

"How many people would you put in this space?" Arrin asked as he went over and sat on a couch.

"Three. One in each bedroom." Samuels said. "The main room and the kitchen would be shared."

All four of the Travelers burst out laughing, then went from room to room, their laughter continuing as they went.

"You waste so much space!" Larrin gasped as she fell onto a couch beside Arrin a few minutes later. "Our people will never return to us if you treat them this way!"

"With the number of apartments in this building, we can put at least thirteen hundred people in it, and that doesn't include the top ten floors. There are eighty buildings of this type in the city. That's over a hundred thousand people. There are sixty taller buildings, so that puts us over two hundred and fifty thousand." Samuels looked at Carter and Tammy. "I don't see what the problem is."

"They're saying that we're giving them too much space, Andi." Sam turned and looked at the 

Travelers. "We understand that you live in cramped quarters, but you need to understand our ways too. For the ancients that built this city, this would be the home of a family of three, possibly four. We can tell that some of these dwellings were occupied by a single resident."

"Were you to make the choice, how many people would you put in this space?" She asked them.

"We would put fifteen per room, twenty or more in here. The kitchen and small room would be common areas." Arrin said. "One of the bedrooms is larger, so we could put twenty in there as well."

"That's more than thirty thousand people in just this building." Carter said as she sat across from him. "What and how would you feed them? That alone would be a struggle. Would all of them work? I think not. So you'd just be warehousing bodies. You could cut those numbers in half, and still fit your entire population in this city. " 

She stretched out on the couch, putting her hands behind her head. "The three people that I would put in here would each work the same shift to give them a chance to share their lives. They'll be productive and happy, and the goods they produce will be worth having, or using."

"But we are so many..." Waleen said.

"I understand, and I'm offering to help you with up to a hundred and fifty thousand of your people. Should we find more ancient cities, we would make more welcome." She smiled at Arrin. "Should you find more ancient cities, we will help you restore them, and you can do as you damn well please with them."

"She's right, our problems are not theirs." Larrin said. "We sound like we would abuse their generosity."

"There are other options for you people, especially here, less so in Atlantis." She looked at Samuels. "Can we go back up to that balcony? I'd like to show them something."

She stood up and waved for the Travelers to follow her. "Tammy, would you keep the boys here? Let them run wild, go jump on the beds or something." She grinned. She followed Andi down the hall to the porter.

When the porter doors opened on the balcony again, she stepped out. "Andi, hold the door. I don't want to get stuck up here." She laughed as she leaned over the rail.

"Look down there." she said, pointing at the forests below them. "There's two million acres of timber down there, billions of square feet of lumber. That mountain range to the west, that's iron, copper, zinc, and granite. The plains to the south and east, excellent farm land. We'll have to do a survey to see what other resources there are on the rest of the planet. We really need to find petroleum reserves. We'll need those for lubricants and plastics." 

She turned to face them. "I can only put eighty thousand of your people in this city. But I can put another quarter, to half a million in a twenty five mile radius around it, working the land to produce raw materials for the factories." She smiled as she stepped back into the porter. "I've just taken at least one fifth to almost a third of your population. Does that help?"

"What about the Wraith?" Waleen asked. "Should they attack, those people on the plains would have nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. The people in the mountains could hide in mines, but..."

"This planet hasn't been attacked by the Wraith for centuries. They haven't come back here because they knew that the city had drones to use against them. If they return, we'll remind them of that. The people that ran the city before us used the cities defenses to protect the planet. They also used them to abuse the people outside the city, which is why they no longer occupy this city."

She led them back to the suite and took her seat on the couch again. "In addition to protection from the city, we would offer shield generators for each settlement, providing even greater protection to the people living there. There's already a shield on the gate like we have in Atlantis. The options I can provide here are much greater than I can provide in Atlantis, and have the benefit to both of us that it reduces costs of importing raw materials for the cities factories."

"So you can control who can get to this world, and defend against those that you do not want on this world. Is that what you are saying?" Pharris asked.

"Yes. We control who comes into Atlantis with a shield." Carter said. "We control the skies around the city with the drones from the chair weapons platform. We'll do the same thing here."

"The other security measure we have here, is we're the only ones that know about this world." She told them. "We have no reason to tell anyone about this city. The Travelers are the only people we have told of it. Since you stand to benefit, we see no reason for you to share that information."

"You've shown us an ancient city, and offered to let our people live and work here, but you haven't told us anything else." Larrin smiled. "We don't know the gate address, or the cities coordinates, so we can't tell anyone if we wanted to."

"We're still just talking, and haven't agreed to anything yet." Carter told her. "There's no need to tell you that yet."

"So they don't trust us." Arrin said to Larrin, smiling slyly.

"I don't trust you, why should they?" Larrin laughed. "Have we told them our secrets, revealed the locations of the worlds we have settlements on? No."

She turned back to Carter. "I'm sorry, Samantha. We have been rude, and ungrateful to every offer you have made since we met. You must think of us as some kind of animals. But I want to change that."

"Larrin, you know we act as a one on the council..." Arrin said quickly, glaring at her.

"If I may." Carter said. "We recently had the same conversation with our homeworld. And even though you do not officially have a world that I am aware of, you do have a central government." She paused, looking between the four of them. "We cannot deal with separate factions within the Travelers. Perhaps it would be best if we tabled our discussions on this for the time being. We have time, we can let things progress slowly, and get to know each other better first."

"I agree, we have things to work out between ourselves, before we can work anything out with you." Waleen said. "I would, however, ask that we still formalize relations, even as we put other plans on hold. We wish you to know that..."

Carter leaned forward on the couch, looking at Arrin. "What is it about us that you don't like?"

"I do not unde..."

"Yes, you do. You've been hostile since you set foot in our city." She said lightly. "We opened our home to you, have been as honest as we can be with you, made no threat against you, yet you seem to grow more hostile the more we offer to benefit your people. Will you tell me why?"

Arrin stared at her for a moment, then glanced at his fellow Travelers.

"I'm afraid of you." He said softly. "You will bring an end to a hundred generations of my people. The Travelers will cease to exist if we follow your course."

"Now that I can understand and believe." Carter said as she sat back on the couch. "Let me be just as honest. I have no interest in ending the Travelers, because I need them, as they are, for my plans to succeed. I'll admit, there is the possibility that if I offer your people too many safe havens, many may want to leave for a different way of life. I have no control over that, but it is not my intent."

"Why do you need the Travelers, Samantha?" Pharris asked. "What do we have to offer that you could want?"

"Many things. Your name, the Travelers are known throughout the galaxy. You have ships, which I need for trade. You have people, that I can put to work producing goods to improve the quality of life for other people in the galaxy, and at some point, help in building roads, hospitals, power plants, more things to help the peoples of Pegasus. And you fight. You stood with us against the Replicators, and give us intel to fight the Wraith. It's in my best interest for the Travelers to exist."

"You speak of your needs, and of doing for others, but you do not say what you get out of this for yourself. Perhaps if we understood that, it might be easier for Arrin to accept." Waleen said.

"I have what I need. Well, not at the moment, she seems to have gone off somewhere. But..."

"We're in here." Tammy called from a bedroom. "Be with you in a minute!"

Carter smiled as she looked at the Travelers. "I have my city, and now this one, and I want to make them come alive again. I want to find other ancient cities and outposts, and make them come alive too. This I want for me, to give me a sense of accomplishment."

"I spent more than ten years with the SGC in the Milky Way, first as an explorer, then fighting an evil that infected that galaxy. We stumbled on it, we went out into the galaxy not knowing what to expect. We did the same thing here. At first, the Goa'uld seemed to be unbeatable. Yet in the end, with the help of friends, and alot of luck, we prevailed. At the same time, my friend Daniel and I learned what we could about, and studied everything we could find on the ancients."

"Master Bra'tac spoke of this, he was a servant of these false gods, and he said you and O'Neill freed him, and his friend Tilk, then fought beside them." Waleen said.

"Teal'c. There's an apostrophe cee...nevermind. When I came to Pegasus, it was to live and work in Atlantis, the city of the ancients. I wanted to study and learn about them, but was interrupted again by war. A war of our own making. Not intentionally, part of it was ignorance, part of it was arrogance, part of it was just plain bad luck." 

She paused. "I'm a scientist, that's what I chose to do with my life. I wanted to know how the universe came to be, and how it works. On Earth, I'm one of the foremost authorities on the subject. But fate led me onto a different course, after my people discovered the stargate."

She looked at Pharris, smiling warmly. "I wouldn't give up a minute of the experiences I've had working in the stargate program, but now, I'm so tired of war, and death, and pointless destruction. And now I'm in a position where I can make a difference. I want to make something, I want to help people have a better quality of life, to not live in fear. I know that's too much to ask." She laughed, tears running down her cheeks. "But I want to do it anyway."

"We would join you in that. That is worthy of the risk to our people." Arrin said, "But you are right, many of our people would seek the life you offer, but I think many others would wish to preserve the Traveler way of life, as I do."




Confirming Carter Bk. 02 Daedalus Ch. 08



Tammy came in with Geraan and Phinnar, and sat down beside her. "Are you okay, Sam? Do we need to go?"

"No, I'm fine. It's the damn korathis. It makes me so emotional." She looked at the Travelers. "I had a bad reaction to the Athosian herb, korathis. It affected my DNA, and my brain."

Samuels came into the room and saw what was happening. She came over and sat next to Carter. She looked over at the Travelers. "Sam's reaction to korathis has enhanced her, physically, and mentally. We're still studying the long term effects."

"Thank you, Andi. You just scared the shit out of them, and erased all the goodwill we had built up with that little tidbit of information." Carter said with a laugh.

"No harm has come to the goodwill we are building." Arrin said. "The fact that you shared your true goals, not only swayed me, but helps me understand the power you have over people. I can see now why they follow you so willingly."

He turned to Samuels. "We've been speaking of dreams, Dr. Samuels. Samantha has told us of her history, and what she hopes to accomplish here in our galaxy."

"Then you've changed your mind? You wish to proceed with allowing our people to live and work in the ancient cities?" Waleen asked him.

"As part of helping to build the galaxy, to make it safer, and find a better life for our people? Yes." Arrin said, looking at Carter. "But you know that we will need more allies. The Athosians are too few, and too scattered. We can help bring in the ally we must have."

Carter nodded. "We've reached out to the major races, and as word spreads about what we're doing, some will join us. We're already asking people on worlds with small populations to join us in Atlantis and here, which is why we can't take more of your people. Your people can protect yourselves, we need to look at taking in those that can't."

"As far as the Genii are concerned, I would prefer that we build and grow before we approach them." Carter said, leaning back and taking Tammy's hand. "I think if we already have our cities producing, and are distributing goods throughout the galaxy, they will see the benefits others are enjoying, and come to us on their own."

"We can show you what we have in mind, and provide details if you'd like." Samuels said. "Producing goods is only the first step. As we progress..."

"We're passed that, Andi." Carter said. She turned and looked at Arrin. "And we're making progress."

He nodded, signaling for her to continue.

"Having some of your people settled, gives you room for growth, but also frees up space on your ships for cargo, and frees up your warships to fight alongside ours."

"Then you will continue to fight the Wraith?" Pharris asked.

"It has to be done." Carter sighed. "We'll equip other planets gates with shields as we can, but the threat from space has to be dealt with. It doesn't do any good to build something when it is easily destroyed."

"We need help with the warships." Larrin said. "If Sheppard had..."

"Larrin!" Carter laughed. "You kidnapped him and held him hostage...don't act surprised that he wasn't eager to help you!" She glanced at Tammy and smiled. "But we can help you with them if you like. The Aurora class uses ZPM's, we can supply you with those, as well as drones. Once your people are treated with the gene therapy, we can teach them ancient so they can operate the ships more easily."

She looked over at Arrin. "This is how I show my trust, Arrin. I'm offering to help you power, man, and arm one of the most powerful weapons platforms ever made. What your people do with it is up to you."

Tammy stood up and grabbed the reins on Geraan and Phinnar's harnesses. "All this is well and good, and we can continue if you like, but I need to find these two something to eat." She looked over at Samuels. "Do we have to go home to get something to eat, Andi, or can we..."

"The mess is open, we can eat there. I had actually planned on this tour taking right at two hours, then going back to Atlantis for lunch." Samuels said.

"That sounds like an excellent idea. We can see more later, and details can be worked out over time." Arrin said as he stood up. "There was a dish last night, there were meats with a thick..."

Carter, Tammy, Pharris and Waleen burst out laughing, and Arrin looked at them.

"Yes, we can have bacon cheeseburgers, Arrin." Carter laughed. "Andi, call ahead, but let's do this at home. The dining room is fine, but I want to be able to relax while we talk more."

Interior-Kitchen

1430 Hours

"Pharris said that you cooked this morning." Arrin said to Tammy as she came into the kitchen.

"Yes, just a basic breakfast. Bacon, eggs, hashbrowns, biscuits and gravy." She said as she got a glass and filled it with water. "We prefer to do for ourselves when we can. There's a staff to take care of the house, and we can order food if we want, but we both like doing for ourselves." She reached over and took Sam's hand. "Or maybe I should say, she likes me to take care of her."

"It is your job." Sam said. "What did you do with the boys?"

"I parked them in the small bedroom with a video. Ronin is with them." Tammy laughed. "I think he likes Bugs Bunny!"

"The foods you have are amazing." Arrin said as he picked up his sandwich. "Not just the quantity, but the variety."

"Yes, what we had last night was a only tiny sample of the foods of Earth." Tammy said. "Once we get things worked out with them, I want to begin importing foodstuffs from there. Not just premade items, but cattle for beef, that's what the burgers are made out of, pigs for pork, that's the bacon, but both offer other cuts of meat as well. Then there are grains, like wheat and rice, that will grow on many of the worlds here."

"So in addition to what you want to do with the ancient cities, you have other plans for this galaxy?" Waleen asked.

"Yes." Tammy said, picking up a fry. "Getting people fed is the first, most important goal. Half the mainland on this planet is tillable soil. I plan on setting up farms with Earth grains and livestock. Mainly because I prefer them, but for export as well. Some of them will produce almost immediately, but some crops, like oranges, apples, and rice will take a few years before we get our first harvests. The livestock will take several years to build up usable herds as well."

"In the long term, we want to improve the infrastructure on many worlds." Carter said as she leaned back in her chair. "That means building roads, sewers for waste disposal, power plants, and with the ancients technology, that will be cheaper and cleaner than what they use on Earth."

"Your people have electricity and plumbing, but both are actually fairly rare in Pegasus. That's mainly due to the cullings that keep civilizations from developing, but we're going to address that problem as we need to."

"Our people on the worlds we've been forced to settle do not." Waleen told her. "We can work the technology on our ships, but our planet bound people live as many others in the galaxy do."

"Andi, would you have Zelenka bring over a naquadah generator, and one of the ancient power boxes?" Carter said, looking down the table at her. She turned to Waleen. "We have a small power source that is safe, can be set up quickly, and will run a small city indefinitely. We brought them from the Milky Way, but we can make them here. They're Goa'uld technology. Then there's an ancient device that we can operate, but we're still trying to figure out how it works. We'll distribute both as we get geared up, and have the manpower to support the network. There are other technologies we can put in place as well, but the details still need to be worked out on them."

"So no matter what our people do, you will progress with these other plans?" Pharris asked. 

"Yes. Not to make light of your importance, because you are a big part of what we want to accomplish, but it's a big galaxy, and there's a lot to do." Carter replied.

"But there are so few of you. How do you hope to accomplish everything you speak of?" Waleen asked. "It seems an impossible task."

"Difficult, but not impossible." Carter told him. "And we know that it's going to take years, but we're willing to wait to see progress. We're talking to you, we've brought people in from half a dozen worlds already, and when we get things worked out with Earth, we'll bring in people from there."

She paused when she saw Arrin frown. Waleen had a look of concern on his face as well.

"I'm not talking huge numbers, I won't allow that. There's room in the Milky Way if humanity wants to expand off of Earth." She told them. "But there are skills that we need that we can't get anywhere else right now. We need doctors, engineers to layout and design the infrastructures, skilled workers like electricians and plumbers to train others on how to build and support those infrastructures."

"You assume that everyone will want these things you wish to do." Pharris said.

"Most will. And be honest, if given a choice between using candles, or an electric light, an outhouse, or a toilet in a warm, clean room inside your house, which would you choose?"

"She has a point." Arrin said, looking at Pharris. "I do not wish to live as our planet bound brothers do. I am too accustomed to the comforts that we enjoy, even take for granted. I want these things for our people, so to deny others..."

"As we have with you, we'd only offer to assist." Tammy said. "We don't have the right to tell people how to live, but we do have the responsibility to help those that want change. The only time we would impose our will on anyone is to prevent them from doing harm to others."

"And you believe that you have the right to do that?" Larrin asked her.

"Yes." Tammy said, looking at her. "You agree that we should stop the Wraith from culling, and feeding on the worlds in Pegasus. How is it different allowing other races, you for instance, or the Genii, from preying on their neighbors because they are less advanced, or have something that they desire?"

"There is a difference, but I see your point." Larrin nodded. "But while we're talking about the Wraith, what are your plans for them?"

"We really don't have any." Carter told her. She looked around the table. "An opportunity presented itself that we were in a position to take advantage of, so we did." She sighed as she looked at Tammy, then back at Larrin. "And you were right, Larrin, we got lucky. We could have lost both those ships, or any number of things could have gone wrong. Sheppard and Caldwell have some ideas, but for right now, we're going to wait and see what the Wraith do. We really can't do anything else."

"I think that's a mistake." Larrin said. "They have to be reeling. The time to hit them is now."

"With what Larrin?" Carter asked. "We have two ships, and a hundred fighters. What can you bring to the fight? If we started today, it would take weeks to train enough people to get your warships ready for battle." She paused, then asked, "Do you know where the Wraith are? The last I heard, they were spread across the galaxy."

"We're not going to sit idly by forever, Larrin. But we do need to see what the reaction to this assault is going to be. Like I said, my people have ideas, and we'll put them into action when the time is right."

"You keep making sense, and I have to keep agreeing with you." Larrin smiled. "I don't have to like it though."

"I have an idea that may make it easier to track the Wraith, or at least know where they are from time to time." Sheppard said from the doorway.

"John, I didn't know you were here." Carter said.

"I've been in with the boys and Ronin. I have a soft spot for Looney Tunes. Elmer Fudd is my hero." He laughed. "But a couple of years ago, McKay and I got in trouble playing with an ancient simulation, we thought it was a game. It turned out that the system communicated with the local inhabitants, and we were giving them instructions, and affecting their development."

"I remember that." Tammy said. "Dr. Weir was pissed about it. You guys almost started a war on that planet."

Sheppard nodded. "Not one of the high points of my stay here in Atlantis. But the system is satellite based, and there are hundreds of them scattered around the galaxy. We could use them to monitor when those planets are being culled. If we have too, we could probably move some, or place new ones."

"How would that help with the Wraith problem?" Waleen asked. "Just knowing which worlds are being culled does you no good, does it?"

"It can." Sheppard said. "A culling can go on for several hours, we've heard of hives staying for days over the same world. With a monitoring system in place, we could send a ship, and see what we could do to help. If we came in cloaked, we could blow them out of the sky before they knew what hit them."

"What good does destroying one hive at a time do?" Larrin asked. 

"Quite a bit actually." Samuels said, leaning forward on the couch. "They may not notice immediately, but they will eventually. Then the psychological effects begin to work for us. The Wraith are already having trouble feeding because of the distribution of the Hoffen drug. Thousands died because of that, but it made the survivors deadly to the Wraith. We have to wait and see if their children will carry the effect. If they do, they should be encouraged to breed freely across the galaxy."

"But when we add in the sudden, mysterious disappearance of hives culling seemingly defenseless worlds, they could begin to fear to feed even more. Not knowing which worlds have been poisoned by the Hoffen drug, or which may result in the loss of their ships will have a tremendous impact on them."

"What could we expect them to do, Andi?" Carter asked.

"There's too many variables, and I just don't have enough information about the Wraith themselves to give you a good answer." Samuels said. "My guess would be that their initial reaction would be to lash out, probably at us, as the most likely suspects. That's one of the best case scenarios. Or they could begin fighting among themselves, another best case scenario." 

She paused and looked around the room. "Other possibilities aren't as pleasant. They could lash out everywhere, going on a rampage, taking what they can, destroying what they can't. My nightmare scenario, is they do mass cullings, taking entire populations that they know to be clean of the Hoffen drug. Then they go to ground, starting farms of humans to feed on."

"Jezzus, Andi." Tammy whispered. "How do you sleep at night, with shit like that running through your head?"

"That situation is salvageable, if you're willing to do what it would take." Samuels said.

"What's that?" Waleen asked.

"Destroy their hives on the ground, knowing that there are innocent humans onboard." Pharris said quietly. She looked over at Tammy. "I will not sleep tonight, Lady Tammy."

"Many of us won't." Carter said, standing up. "We need a break. Too many ideas, too much information. It starts to get overwhelming after a while."

She turned to the Travelers. "Waleen, you, Arrin and Larrin can stay if you like. We can have someone show you around the city, or you can return home, and come back another day. There will be many opportunities in the days to come. But I'd like Pharris to stay. We'd like her to be your emissary to our city."

"Sam, I don't think we shou..."

"That is acceptable, Samantha." Arrin said. "We have faith in Pharris to represent our peoples interests, as she has so well through the years. Sadly, none of the emissaries I would choose are available, so we will trust Dr. Samuels judgment."

"Thank you Arrin. As our partner, Pharris will be involved in everything we do, and will be free to share with you. How you deal with our emissary will be up to you." Tammy said, stepping up beside Sam.

"As much as I would like to see more of your city, I should return home." Waleen said. "My wife will be worried, and I have work I have been putting off."

"Me too." Larrin said. She turned to Sheppard. "We'll be in touch. We need to talk about our warships. I may even let you fly one, if you're nice."

"If I remember, I was nice the first time we met." Sheppard laughed. "You on the other hand..."

"Pharris, come home when you are ready." Arrin said, stepping over and embracing her. "We can arrange to have the personal items you wish to have with you sent to you here, and have your quarters sealed, for when you return to us."

"Thank you, Arrin. And thank you for listening." Pharris said, returning his embrace. "We are doing what is right for our people."

"I agree. But I also agree with Waleen. My wife will be worried. And she is not as forgiving his." Arrin laughed. "Now walk with us to the gate, we really should be going."

"We'll walk with you." Carter said as she led them toward the door. "John would you tell Ronin that we're going to the gateroom? Tell him to stay with the boys, we'll pick up a team when we get downstairs. Ask him to call ahead."

Interior-Living Room

1545 Hours

"That was interesting." Carter said as she stretched out on the couch, laying her head in Tammy's lap.

"I had a good time too." Tammy said, brushing the hair away from Sam's face. "That production room was kewl! I wonder what it's like in there when it's running. We'll probably need to get people ear plugs."

"I said it was interesting, not fun." Sam laughed, looking up at Tammy. She smiled over at Pharris. "I was really surprised when Arrin turned so suddenly. One moment, he was dead set against dealing with us, the next, he's all in. Is it real? Is he normally like that?"

"No, he's not, and I was more surprised than you." Pharris said, stretching out on the couch across from them. "But you can take his word, he won't go back on it. You made an impression, on all of us. We're not used to people being so open with us. That's going to take some getting used to."

"It's a newly acquired habit, and I like it." Sam told her. "I spent years with the SGC, not being able to tell anyone what I did for a living. We even had a cover story about what kind of work I did." She laughed, stretching her arms over her head. "I like this. I can tell people what I'm thinking, what I want to do, and if they believe me, and want to help, great. If they don't, I just go to the next person in line."

"You still have secrets, sweetie. Don't pretend you're Polly Pureheart." Tammy said. She looked over at Pharris. "There are lots of things we haven't told you. Some because they haven't come up, others because you don't need to know."

"Everyone has secrets." Pharris told her. "What surprised me, is how little you asked about us. You offered this and that, but asked very little about what we wanted."

"I was getting that from your answers and reactions." Carter told her. "We've also spent time talking with Teyla, so we know quite a bit about your people, your needs, and what you want to do. I decided that the best way to approach you was to lay out what I want to do as plainly as possible, and see if you wanted to come along for the ride."

"It proved to be effective." Pharris said.

Ronin came into the room with a boy under each arm, and turned down the hall toward the kitchen. "We're going up to the gym. Phinnar wants to learn how to fight." He said.

"I'm sorry we dumped them on you, Ronin. This just came up so suddenly." Tammy laughed.

"It's good practice for when I have sons." He said with a smile. "You haven't worked out today either."

"We'll do it later." Carter said. "But thanks for reminding us."

He nodded and disappeared down the hall.

"I didn't know he wanted kids." Sam said, looking up at Tammy.

"I think he may have found someone that changed his mind." Tammy said. "Let's hope so."

"He likes them, and Phinnar likes him." Pharris said. "He would not allow anyone but a friend to treat him so."




Confirming Carter Bk. 02 Daedalus Ch. 08



"Actually, I wouldn't mind a swim, or maybe a quick workout." Tammy said. "Do you exercise, Pharris? We workout, or spar everyday. After all the talking, it helps to clear the head, and relieve some of the frustration."

"I do, but not daily." She said. "Every other day or so usually, or whatever my schedule permits. We have been busy of late. We recently setup two new colonies, and twenty hour days are not uncommon."

Carter sat up, then stood. "You're about our size. We workout in a tank tops or a sports bra and panties. Come on, we can get changed and go upstairs. You'll like our gym."

Interior-Gym

1710 Hours

O'Neill and Bra'tac came into the gym, O'Neill in a sweat suit, Bra'tac in a pair of loose pants with a towel around his neck. They walked over and stood next to Carter, watching Tammy spar with Pharris.

"Whoa!" O'Neill said as Pharris dropped to her back, swept Tammy's feet out from under her, and slammed a backfist punch into the back of her head, driving her face into the mat. Tammy rolled away, but Pharris grabbed a leg, slid up on top of her and got an arm lock around her throat. Tammy pounded the mat, and Pharris rolled off and got to her feet, holding her hand out to help Tammy up.

"Most impressive." Bra'tac said. "She shows no mercy, but goes for the kill."

"Don't go getting all excited." O'Neill said, giving him a look. "She's probably married."

Pharris smiled as she held out her hand for Bra'tac's towel. She let her eyes move over him, then looked at his face as she ran the towel over her chest. 

"I find it difficult to believe that you are over sixty years old, much less, a hundred and forty as you claim." She nodded at the 'X' shaped opening on his stomach. "What is that wound, and why has it not healed?"

Tammy came over and picked up a bottle of water, then handed one to Pharris. "Your bracelet is in the bag O'Neill." She looked over at Bra'tac. "Sparring today, Master?" She asked.

"If Ronin will indulge me." He smiled. He turned back to Pharris as he ran his fingers over his stomach. "This was my symbiote pouch. All Jaffa are born with them."

"That's where he kept his pet snake, when he still had one." O'Neill said. He noticed that Tammy was looking at him and grinned. "I know, I'm going." He said as he went over and took a velcro bracelet out of her gym bag and strapped it to his wrist. He went over and got on one of the bikes and started pedaling.

"Ten at ten today, then add ten to your other sets." Tammy said as she watched him. "And you better not loaf today, or we spar again."

"Lady Tammy would strike fear into the heart of the strongest Jaffa warrior were he to enter her gym unprepared." Bra'tac said with a smile. "I see that Ronin is letting his charges rest. I should see if he has time for me."

"If I may, I would like to watch." Pharris said, falling in behind him. "Perhaps I can learn something."

Sam and Tammy looked at each other and grinned. "It's gotta be something in the air." Tammy laughed.

"Yeah, go showoff, you old coot." O'Neill panted as he pedaled on the exercise bike. "See if I care."

* * * * *

"Enough!" Bra'tac shouted, slapping at Ronin's arm. Ronin had him in a cross arm bar, bending his arm back up behind him as his leg locked Bra'tac body in place, preventing him from escaping.

Ronin let him go, slapping him on the back as he stepped away. 

"Were I forty years younger..." Bra'tac said.

"I would be dead." Ronin finished for him, laughing. "You don't fool me old man, you were loafing today. Now show me that spinning kick again, I want to try that on Amelia."

"It will do you no good my friend." Bra'tac smiled "It was she that taught it to me. I merely refined it to fit my style."

"I think you should take a break. You've been going at each other for almost an hour." Tammy said, tossing them both a bottle of water. "Ronin, tell Amelia to teach me and Sam that move. If it takes you down, I want it in my bag of tricks."

"Does Phinnar swim?" she asked Pharris, looking across the gym. Phinnar and Geraan were standing next to the pool, talking.

"Yes, all Traveler children are born in water, it is less traumatic for them." Pharris replied. "They can swim before they can walk. It is an old tradition, our people were originally from a water planet, much like this one."

"Really? That's interesting. My parents did that with me, and my mother said the same thing." She looked at the boys again. "They look like they want to get wet. I think I'll join them." She whistled, and the boys turned toward her. "Strip down, and get in, I'll be right there."

She started to pull up her sports bra, then looked at Pharris. "We swim nude, I should have asked." She said.

"As do I." Pharris said, stripping off her own top, walking toward the pool.

Tammy grinned and pulled off her bra, walking behind her. "You get in some kind of decent shape Jack, and we'll see about getting you laid. Hell, I might even give you a ride." She said as she went by him, pushing her panties down over her hips.

"I believe I shall swim today as well." Bra'tac said, looking after Pharris. He was untying the belt on his pants as he walked away.

"How about you?" Sam asked Ronin. "Swim, or you want to go a few rounds?"

"Rest." Ronin said quietly. "Don't tell him, but that old man wore me out."

"There is no need, Sir Ronin." Bra'tac laughed. "The Jaffa have excellent hearing!"

Ronin glared at him and shook his head. Carter patted him on the shoulder, then turned to follow Bra'tac.

Interior-Kitchen

1900 Hours

They'd found casual clothes in their closets for the adults after everyone had showered. Sam had had to call down and ask the staff to find something for the boys, who seemed happy enough running around naked.

Tammy had ordered a selection of Earth foods for them. Chicken for Bra'tac, small hamburgers with a selection of toppings for Pharris, pizza and tacos for the boys. She'd had to call down for more when Sheppard and Caldwell came in with Jennifer and Teyla. Before long, they were having a party, and Carter called Andi, and asked her to join them.

"Are all Jaffa as well endowed as you, Master Bra'tac?" Pharris asked, making O'Neill choke on the rib he was gnawing on. Sam and Tammy burst out laughing, and Jennifer colored brightly.

Pharris looked around the table as they all tried to compose themselves.

"I think that may mean something else where we come from, Pharris." Andi said lightly.

"Oh, I see." She said. "I meant that his physique is impressive." She looked across the table at Bra'tac. "His member, I must admit, is quite impressive as well." She added with a smile.

Bra'tac nodded, smiling back at her.

"Well now! You're not the least bit shy, are you, Pharris?" Sam laughed.

"A woman my age..."

"Should revel in her beauty." Bra'tac finished for her.

"Cannot afford to waste time on idle chatter, I was going to say. But thank you, kind sir." She said with another bright smile.

"There's something in the air in this place." Tammy laughed. "If we could bottle it, we'd make a fortune!"

"Love does seem to find it's way around here." Sheppard said, reaching over and squeezing Jennifer's hand.

She looked at him, wide eyed. "Love?"

"I thought so." He said, looking at her closely. "If I was..."

"No!" Keller said quickly. "I just wasn't sure. You...we...I."

"We too have found love here." Teyla said, laying her head on Caldwell's shoulder, neatly taking Keller off the hook. She looked across the table at O'Neill. "Perhaps we should introduce..."

"No, thank you." O'Neill said quickly. "I prefer to do my own shopping, if you don't mind."

"There are many women among my people that would be pleased with such a strong, mature man as yourself, general. Most pleased, I can assure you." Teyla said with a smile.

"Okay, pick your feet up folks, the bullshit's gettin' deep!" Carter said, leaning over to kiss Tammy. I love you, she mouthed. Tammy smiled and kissed her back.

Interior-Living Room

2130 Hours

The excitement of visiting Anchorage, playing with Tammy, then working out with Ronin had all taken its toll on the boys. Sam and Tammy had laid them out in their bed, then come back into the living room to rejoin their guests. O'Neill and Samuels had left after dinner, so there were just the four couples left.

"We got a..." Sheppard said.

"Send us a report. This has been too pleasant an evening to ruin it talking business." Tammy said. "You are officially off duty, John. If that's not good enough, I'll fire you, and rehire you in the morning."

"Oh, don't do that, I can't sleep wi...shit!" Keller said. "Did I really just say that?" She laughed.

"It's not like we all didn't know anyway." Sam laughed. "I could hear you screaming the other morning. And it wasn't from pain. We had to go over to the north tower to..."

"You did not! We've only done it twi..."

"She's so easy." Tammy laughed. "Only twice? Me and Sam do it every night. A couple times during the day too when we can."

"Yeah, but you keep him so busy, by the..."

Sheppard reached over and put his hand over her mouth. "She was going to say, that by the time I get home, she's dead asleep, and is impossible to wake up."

"Steven wakes me in the most pleasant manner, in the mornings, or if he returns home late." Teyla said. "Perhaps he could instruct you, he is a most talented lover. He does things with his tong..."

Caldwell covered her mouth, then pulled his hand away quickly when she bit him.

"I will not be silenced as a child, even by you Steven." She said. "I will expect an apology later. And you needn't try biting me in return, you know how much I enjoy that."

"Maybe you should talk to him." Jennifer said to Sheppard. "Then again, that little dagger of yours usu..."

Sheppard leaned over and kissed her this time. "Are you saying that you'd like to go home so I can perform the duties I appear to have been neglecting?"

"Well, duh...it took you..." She squealed when he picked her up and threw her over his shoulder, smacking her on the ass as they headed for the elevator.

Teyla looked at Caldwell, lifting an eyebrow when he just looked back. His eyes got wide and he stood up, reaching for her.

"I do not wish to be carried, Steven." She said as she took his hand. He looked at her as she pulled him toward the elevator.

Tammy stood up and turned her back to Sam. 

"Steven?" Sam called, then swatted Tammy's bottom. Caldwell's eyes went wide, then he grinned.

"Pharris, have you seen the view of the city from the guest room?" Teyla asked, stopping just before they went into the hall.

"Yes, I slept in there last night. It is most beautiful." Pharris said.

"Then perhaps Master Bra'tac would like you to share the sights with him. The view is most romantic." She smiled and pulled Caldwell into the hall. A moment later, they heard a smack, then Teyla giggling as the elevator doors closed.

Bra'tac stood and held out his hand to Pharris. "I would be pleased to behold any sights you would share with me." He said as she took his hand and stood. 

"I have seen the city lights at night before." They heard him say as they crossed the room. "It would please me to see you lit by them."

"Smoooooth." Tammy said softly. "The old coot still has his groove on."

(-)

That's all for Chapter Eight. Please read Chapter Nine for more of this story.

I hope you liked this episode. Please post a comment so I know if I'm the right track with this...



Confirming Carter Bk. 02 Daedalus Ch. 09



The Atlantian's learn just how effective their attack on the Wraith really was from Todd, who asks a favor. 

(-)

Confirming Carter Book Two Daedalus

Chapter Nine

Interior-Kitchen

0730 Hours

Sam and Tammy were sitting at the table with Geraan and Phinnar when Bra'tac entered the kitchen. He was wearing the Athosian gown Pharris had worn the night before. Going over to the fridge, he pulled out a bottle of wine, then took a cup from the cabinet.

"It's a little early for wine, don't you think?" Tammy asked, grinning at him.

"It is never too early for wine." Bra'tac smiled back. "But I have not, as yet, been to sleep. Pharris has just now fallen into slumber herself." 

He poured a long shot of wine into the cup, then took a sip. "I must return to my quarters, or O'Neill will worry." He said. "He hovers about, asking constantly after my health."

Carter laughed, shaking her head. "I'm not buying it you old coot. You're going to slink out of here like a worn out old peacock that's just had his last feather plucked. You shame my house with your cowardly ways."

"Master Bra'tac is no coward. He is a warrior of the finest caliber. After subduing me, he had his way with me repeatedly throughout the night. I was unable to resist his advances, regardless of how I tried." Pharris said as she slipped her hands around him from behind. "When I awoke and felt his absence, it was not to be tolerated." She said as she reached around him, took the bottle of wine from his hand, then pulled him down the hall.

Sam and Tammy looked at each other, their mouths hanging open like schoolgirls. Then they started to laugh, wondering who was going to show up next.

It wasn't who they were expecting.

Interior-Kitchen

0840 Hours

"Col. Carter, a Wraith cruiser just dropped out of hyperspace. They've taken up a stationary orbit directly over the city. Col. Sheppard is on his way to the chair room."

"Good. Keep an eye on them, if they make contact, send it up here, and tie Sheppard in." Carter told him. 

"We have visitors. Wraith." She told Tammy. "Let's get everyone up to speed, then see what they have to say."

Interior-Kitchen

0920 Hours

Carter sent Caldwell and Lorne up in the Daedalus and Apollo, to be ready to engage the cruiser if necessary.

"Colonel, we're detecting a subspace carrier coming in to this cruiser." Caldwell reported. "And they're not carrying their normal compliment, it looks like they only have a skeleton crew."

"What kind of weapons? Anything to worry about?" Carter asked.

"No, just the standard array we've seen before. It looks like they're going to use the cruiser as a relay point. We're already tracking the subspace signal." Caldwell told her. "I'd like to take the Daedalus and see what they have out there. I can do a series of jumps to get close. We know the system they're in now. We should be able to drop in behind a planet to hide our jump window, then move in close at sublight."

"Go ahead, Steven." Carter told him. "But have Apollo back off, and keep their shields up. That cruiser has been sitting there for half an hour now, so something has to break soon. If you find more hives, leave nukes on them, but set them on long timers, then back off, and sit. Try to get something between you and the blast if you can."

"Copy that." Caldwell said. "We'll move out behind a moon to mask our jump out, then scan as we go. Will report as we can. Daedalus out."

"Ops, status on that cruiser?" She asked. "Are they still holding station?"

"Affirmative. No change, colonel."

"Okay. Keep us advised. We're going let him make the first move."

Interior-Daedalus Bridge

0955 Hours

"Let's move out around this moon Marks, and take a look at what's out there." Caldwell said, bringing up the screen on his chairs panel.

"Aye, sir. Moving now...three targets, two hives and a cruiser. Two hundred thousand kilometers, eight seconds at max sublight."

"Shields?"

"Negative sir. They're sitting wide open again." Marks replied.

"Weapons, bridge." Caldwell said, opening a channel. "Arm two mark fives, and fit them with subspace transponders. Timers set to twelve hours, with remotes enabled."

"Copy, bridge. Four minutes. Do we need to cover them, or send them loose?"

"Let's use the covers, no point in being sloppy." Caldwell said. "Advise helm when ready."

"I missed that." He said to Marks. "Hold in place, and let's do a scan. Low power. We might as well see what they're doing out here."

"Aye, sir. Beginning scans of first hive." Marks said, his hands moving lightly over the controls. "The cruiser is scanning the moon, sir. Breaking off scan. I'm going to move us away."

"Break off the scan, but hold position, Marks. Sit tight, and let's see what they do."

"Aye, sir. The cruiser is moving away, heading for the moon." Marks said. "Weapons reports packages are ready. Do we want to drop, or hold?"

"Hold until we see what the cruiser is going to do."

"Cruiser is opening a hyperspace window...jumping away sir." Marks said.

He glanced over at Marks. "Can you place our packages with any kind of accuracy from here, or do we need to get closer?" He asked. "This is looking too easy, and I don't like it."

"I can put them in one of the open spaces, sir. No problem. Do we want to go ahead and drop the packages?"

"Let's drop them and get out of here, Marks." Caldwell said. "Something isn't right. I want to get out of here, so make it quick."

"First package away...second package, full reverse." Marks called out as his hands danced over his controls. 

"Get us behind the moon again, Marks." Caldwell asked.

"Ten seconds...clear. All stop." Marks turned around and looked at Caldwell. "I'd like to look over the telemetry. But I want to be away from here first."

"Do it. Contact Atlantis when we drop out and report status."

"Jumping. Ninety seconds." Marks worked his controls, then looked up at the bridge windows. "Ten seconds...exiting hyperspace."

"Give me another thirty second jump, Marks." Caldwell said. "Pick a direction and go."

"Jumping...thirty seconds...ten. Exiting hyperspace." Marks called.

"Let's see the telemetry on those hives, Marks, and send it to Atlantis." Caldwell said.

"Yes, sir. Nothing special about the moon. The planet is uninhabited. No energy sources from either. There's no reason for them to be there." Marks said. "The first hive is almost empty, not even a skeleton crew. Second hive same condition, but packed with stores."

"Can we detonate from here, or do we have to go back to do that?" Caldwell asked.

"With the transponders, we can detonate from Atlantis if we want, sir." Marks said. "I think that's what we should do."

"Agreed, Takes us home, Marks." Caldwell muttered. 

Interior-Conference Room, North Tower

1010 Hours

"Col. Carter, Daedalus reports that they set packages on two hives, and are coming home." The Ops tech told her. "They included a databurst of the scans they took." There was a pause, then he spoke again. "Incoming transmission on subspace channel. Another Wraith, ma'am."

"Send it up here, let's see what they want." She said, looking around the table. Sheppard, Pharris and Samuels all looked back at her, nodding.

A moment later, an image appeared on the monitor.

"Todd." She said, lifting an eyebrow. "And now I know why there's a Wraith cruiser sitting over my city."

"I know nothing of ships near Atlantis."

"Then what do you want?"

"I require your assistance." Todd said.

"We end up getting screwed every time we deal with you." Sheppard said. "Why would we want to help you now?"

"Like I said before, What do you want, Todd?" Carter said. "And like Col. Sheppard said, you do have a nasty habit of screwing us."

"You may not know, the Wraith are at war." He said slowly. "A war the likes of which has never been seen among our kind."

"Why should we care?" Sheppard asked, suppressing a grin.

"What can, or will you tell us?" Carter asked him, waving a hand at Sheppard to silence him. "You seem surprised at this, and you don't get caught off guard very often."

"Indeed." He replied. "Hives from all the alliances were gathering to select a new Primary. She had become unable to fulfill her function, and as is our way, had summoned the other queens to choose her successor."

"I didn't know that's how it worked, but go on." Carter told him.

"We do not know for certain what occurred." Todd said. "I suspect treachery, but the gathering is no more. Hives sent to join stopped responding when they jumped into the area. We investigated, scanning from a distance. This is what we found."

Todd was replaced on their screens by an image of space. In the center, there was a small white disk, surrounded by a large, glowing debris cloud.

"Is that a black hole?" She asked. "That looks like an accretion disk. Are you saying that they were having this summit on top of a black hole? That's not very smart."

"Indeed. But the black hole is artificial. I believe it is the result of a massive explosion." Todd replied. "There were no stars or planets in the area that could have caused this. The only answer is a battle. The collective began fighting among themselves, and the result was a massive chain reaction. Hence, the black hole you now see."

Todd came back on the screen.

"You said the other queens had been summoned." Sheppard said. "As in all of them?"

Carter glanced over at him as Todd stared back at them from the monitor.

"That's a good question, Todd. I'd like to know the answer to that myself." Carter said. "And if they were, what does that mean for the Wraith?"

"All were summoned, and none survived." Todd said finally. "This could mean the end of the Wraith. Which is why I require your assistance."

"I don't see what we can do." She told him. "We know nothing of how the Wraith reproduce." 

"You can assist because you have access to the ancient database." Todd said. "The ancients created the Wraith. You can help preserve us."

"Again, I didn't know that the ancients had created the Wraith." She said. "Another one of their experiments that got away from them it would seem. But even if we agreed to try, there is no guarantee of success."

"I have eggs that were preserved at a breeding facility, before it was destroyed." Todd said. "I believe many to be queens. We wish you to incubate them, and return them to us."

"If you have these eggs, why don't you incubate them yourselves? Why do you need us?"

"The process we would use is dangerous, and also has little chance of success." He said. "We would implant them in arathis bugs, as you call them, and harvest them as they are fertilized. There is a risk, however. Much time has passed, and both the Wraith and arathis bug have changed over the millennia, so we fear effects from mutation."

"It sounds like you're afraid that the queens you'd get might not be compatible with the Wraith as they are now." Samuels said. "So even if you were successful in producing a queen, it might not do you any good."

"This is indeed the case."

"What makes you think that the ancients preserved the original genetic material, or the research they used to develop the Wraith, or that it would do you any good? If you believe that the changes in you and the arathis bugs would result in mutations in any queens you incubate that way, what makes you think you haven't changed too much from what the ancients originally created?" Carter asked. She pause for a moment, then added, "And what leads you to believe that we won't just say no, and let you die."

"Because you, like the ancients before you, are hopelessly optimistic. You believe that all things have a right to exist, even those that you hate." Todd laughed. "And Dr. McKay has demonstrated a keen understanding of ancient technology. I believe he may be able to assist me."

"Well that presents a problem, Todd. Dr. McKay is no longer with the Atlantis expedition, he has returned to Earth." Carter said, drawing a frown from him. "But let's back up a couple steps, you said the Wraith are at war. I think that the situation would have to be much worse than you're telling us for you to come to us like this. I'm an astrophysicist, I study the stars, and can tell you that it took a pretty big explosion to create that artificial black hole. We're talking about releasing the energy of a star in a concentrated blast, or compressing the gravity field of a planet. How many ships were at this gathering?"

Todd hesitated, then said, "Nearly sixty hives, with their escorts. I would imagine more than four hundred cruisers. Two thirds of the Wraith ships presently in the galaxy. Many alliances stripped the hives they did not send, leaving them in parking orbits around remote worlds. Mine among them."

"So you're saying that the number of Wraith that died in that explosion is higher than the numbers of ships would account for?" Samuels asked. "What would you estimate the number of Wraith left in the galaxy to be now?"

"Less than fifteen percent of what it was before this tragedy." Todd said. "Several of the alliances that did not send large numbers are already preying on those that did. They seek to capture the idle hives."

"It's not going to do them much good if they can't crew them up, or replace the losses from the battles." Carter said. "So we can expect your numbers to go down further in the coming weeks and months."

Todd stared silently are her.

She shook her head. "I can't give you an answer, Todd. I have to think on this. You're not only asking me to preserve your people, but to help the Wraith continue to prey on the peoples of the Pegasus galaxy. I have to tell you that I don't like being put in this position."

"I did not expect you to agree immediately." He said after a moment. "But I know your people, you cannot help yourselves. Should I survive, I will contact you again."

His screen went dark.

"Eighty percent of them sitting there. And I killed them." She said to herself. She shook her head and looked over at Sheppard. "Tell Lorne to destroy that cruiser, and tell Daedalus to detonate those two hives as soon as we can contact them."

"Todd said that the ships we destroyed accounted for two thirds of the Wraith ships in the galaxy. That means there could still thirty or more hives left...I thought there were more than that, but anyway." 

She turned to Pharris. "Contact your people. Tell them to be on the look out for these idle hives he mentioned. If you think you can take them and use them, go ahead. If not, destroy them, or contact us, and we'll destroy them. He said that there are still active alliances out there. I don't want them to get those ships."

"Are you going to help them?" Samuels asked, looking down the table at Pharris.

"I don't know yet, but I want a database search for the original research." She turned to Tammy. "You and I are going to do a lot of that. Andi's people can sift through records, But I want to know why the ancients would create something like the Wraith to begin with."

"You would seriously con..." Pharris began.

"I just said I don't know yet." Carter told her. "I don't like the idea of playing god, and I think the ancients screwed up big time if they really did create, or assist in the creation of the Wraith." She leaned back in her chair, letting her head fall back, sighing heavily. 

She looked over at Samuels. 

"Twenty-nine days. How the hell did so much happen in that little time, Andi?"

Interior-Bedroom

1130 Hours

"Come with me." Tammy said, taking Carter's hand as they got off the porter, leading her into the bedroom.

"You're in a bad place, and you shouldn't be." Tammy said as she turned Sam to face her. "You didn't cause this. All of us were involved, and we all make the decisions that are being made. And what we're doing is right." She opened the buttons on Sam's vest, cupping her breasts, letting her thumbs run in slow circles around her nipples. "That extra fat is going right where I wanted it too. You're tits are getting bigger."

"It's not..."

"Don't talk." Tammy said, pushing the vest off her shoulders, then opening the button on her pants. "Undress me." She said as she slid the zipper down slowly, guiding them down over her hips, letting them fall around her feet.

Carter stepped out of them, her fingers moving down to open the button on Tammy's slacks. As she opened them, she looked into her eyes, questioning her. 

"Talk to me." She said softly.

Tammy's pants fell to her feet, and she stepped out of them as Sam opened the buttons on her vest, pushing it off, letting it fall to the floor behind her.

"Soon. Wash me first. Then make love with me." Tammy said, taking her hand, leading her into the bathroom. They went into the shower, and Tammy turned on the spray, pulling Carter under it with her. "Dance with me." She whispered, nipping at her ear as she pressed her body against her.

"I don't want to do this." Carter said softly, her hands resting on Tammy's hips, her feet moving slowly in time with Tammy's. 

"Yes, you do. You wouldn't have let me take your clothes off if you didn't." She dropped her hand between her legs, cupping the lightly furred lips of her mons. Her fingers stroked up and down between the soft, slippery lips of her pussy, and she purred as she slipped her fingers into the tight wet hole of her cunt. "You're dripping. You want it, and you know it. Say it."

"No. I..." Sam whispered, then gasped as Tammy started moving her fingers, fucking her gently as she leaned back against the wall, pulling her with her. "Oh god!" She moaned as she followed, her knees bending as she spread her legs wider.

"I want to eat you." Tammy whispered, rubbing her breasts back and forth over Carter's. "Say yes. Tell me you want me too."

Sam stared into her eyes, then pressed her lips to Tammy's, her tongue delving deep into her mouth, then pulling away quickly. "Will to you take me into the bedroom?"

"Yes." Tammy said, taking her hand and stepping toward the door.

"Carry me." Carter said, a slow smile forming on her lips.

"No, you lazy bitch." Tammy giggled. "Now bring your hot little ass out here. Bacon cheeseburgers may be the hottest thing in two galaxies, but I got me a taste for furburger, so get your ass moving."

Carter laughed and ran past her, falling onto the bed, lifting and opening her legs, then putting her hand over her pussy. "Say please." She said, staring up at her.

Tammy dropped to her knees beside the bed, her hands running up the backs of her legs, pushing them up, and wider apart. She pressed her face against her hand, inhaling deeply, the rich, musky scent filling her senses. Then she turned her head, licking lightly along the inside of one soft, smooth thigh, then moving over to the other one.

"You say please." She whispered as she ran her tongue slowly up over Sam's fingers, moistening them. She dipped down, lifting one with the tip of her tongue, sucking it into her mouth and fucking it in and out slowly, wetting it with her saliva.

She dipped lower, dragging her tongue up the warm, moist crack of her ass, lapping up the spicy juices drooling from Carter's juicing pussy. She moved her hands down and spread the cheeks of her ass, then drilled her tongue against the puckered pink rosette of her asshole.

"Oooohhhh! Th...that's che...cheating!" Carter panted, her fingers beginning to move slowly over her pussy slit. She pulled her hand up, slipping two fingers inside her pussy, grinding the heel of her hand over her clit. She arched her hips up as Tammy moved her mouth up, licking lightly around the outer lips of her pussy.

"All's fair in love." she said as she licked around Carter's probing fingers. "Are you going to move your hand? And you still haven't said please."




Confirming Carter Bk. 02 Daedalus Ch. 09



"N...no. This feels good. keep do...doing it." Carter panted, her fingers beginning to move faster, pressing deeper into her pussy, making soft slurping noises as they slipped in and out. "Wh...what about war?"

"That can wait for later." Tammy whispered, taking one of her puffy pussylips into her mouth and sucking on it gently. "Move your hand. I want to eat you. I want to stick my tongue up in your pussy and fuck you with it." She moaned softly, biting at Carter's fingers, trying to pull them away.

"Ooooohhh! This feels so good, Tammy!" Carter whined, her fingers starting to move faster. She was plunging three fingers in and out of her creaming cunt hole, and they were making loud sucking noises now. The fingers of her other hand were grinding on her clit, whisking it rapidly back and forth.

Tammy was busily working around the outer rim of her pussy, lapping up the sticky juices that clung to her fingers. Opening her mouth wide, she plastered her lips over them and started lashing her tongue all around, licking and laving both fingers and pussy, whatever happened to fall under her teasing tongue.

Carter groaned, jerking her hand away suddenly. She wrapped her fingers in Tammy's hair, pulling her face hard against the quaking mound of her cunt. "Do it!" She grunted, humping her spasming pussy up at her face. "Fuck me, Tammy! Stick your tongue in me...Please!"

"You said the magic word." Tammy muttered into her pussy slit, as she drove her tongue deep up inside her, slapping it around over the slick, juice coated inner walls. She darted it in and out quickly, twisting her head from side to side as she mashed her face eagerly into her quivering cunt slit, sucking hungrily as she fucked her with her dancing tongue.

"Oh god! Tammmmmyyyyyy!" Carter cried out, her hips working frantically up at her busily sucking mouth. She wrapped her legs around her back as she held her head tightly between her legs, the fingers of both hands clenching into fists in her hair. "Yesssssssss! Oh please! Don't stop! Fuck me, Tammy...so ungh, oh fuck...Nnnnngggggnnnhhh!" She screamed as her orgasm swelled over her.

Tammy jerked her head back and plunged three fingers into her pulsating pussy hole, searching out her G-spot. She locked her lips around the rigid nubbin of her clit, slapping her tongue over it as she stroked her fingers over the swollen bump on the roof of her pussy.

Interior-Daedalus Bridge

1210 Hours

"Atlantis, this is Daedalus." Caldwell said as they dropped out of hyperspace. "We just exited hyperspace. Inbound for Atlantis on sublight engines."

"Confirm, Daedalus." The Ops tech said. "Welcome home. We have orders for you to detonate your packages as soon as possible. Copy?"

"Copy, Atlantis." Caldwell said, nodding at Marks. "Do you have a status on that cruiser?"

"Apollo took that cruiser out on Col. Carter's orders." The Ops tech said. "Advise when your packages are...

"Done, Atlantis." Caldwell said. "We'll be ready to dock in twenty-two minutes. Daedalus out."

"Copy Daedalus, we'll be waiting for you."

Interior-Bedroom

1210 Hours

Carter was writhing mindlessly on the bed as Tammy tortured her pussy, her fingers stroking in tight circles over the rapidly swelling bump of her G-spot. She jerked, her body arching up as she planted her feet on Tammy's back and raised her ass high in the air. Thick spurts of juice spurted from her spasming cunt channel, spraying across Tammy's neck, and soaking her chest.

Tammy dropped down, opening her mouth and driving her tongue into her pussy beside her fingers. She had to pull away as another jet of creamy girl cum spewed from Carter's cunt hole, filling her mouth and soaking her face. She added another finger, folding her thumb across her palm as she started pounding her fingers as hard and as fast as she could into her cumming cunt channel. Her eyes gleamed as she saw her hand begin to slip into the wide stretched hole, and she twisted it roughly, pushing as hard as she could against the tight ring of muscle guarding the opening of her pussy.

Carter screamed, a long, drawn out shriek that went on for long moments. She twitched and jerked spastically, her abused cunt opening clenching around Tammy's fist as she humped her pussy up onto it. 

Tammy glared at the stretched out lips of Sam's pussy with sadistic fascination as she twisted her hand slowly back and forth. She was panting harshly as the fingers of her other hand dug into the sopping wet slit of her own pussy, and she grinned as another tremendous jet of girl cum sprayed from Carter's pussy around her wrist.

Interior-Dr. Samuels Office

1230 Hours

"Jennifer, this is Andi." Samuels said as she keyed her comm. "Have you looked at Sam and Tammy's telemetry this morning? They're both pushing the red line, and I don't like what I see on the video feed. I think we should go up there."

"What are they...no, I don't want to know." Keller said. "Wait...I'm on the way. The alarms are going to go off if they keep this up. I'll meet you there."

Interior-Bedroom

1235 Hours

Sam was lost in a swirling maelstrom of sensation, the pain from her tortured pussy mixing with the overwhelming pleasure coming from the constant pressure on her G-spot. Every time Tammy moved her hand, waves of pleasure would surge over her, pounding her mind into submission, until finally, she collapsed, consciousness fading. She fell limp on the bed, her legs dropping across Tammy's back.

Tammy kept twisting her hand inside her, forcing it in and out roughly, unmindful that Carter had passed out. She was lost in her own world of sensation, and barely noticed when Samuels came in, kneeling behind her, trying to get her to stop.

"Tammy, you're going to hurt her. You have to stop." Andi said as she put her hand around Tammy's wrist, holding it deep inside Carter's clenching cunt channel, not letting her move it. "Tammy, please...you have to stop now."

Tammy looked at her, her eyes glazed over, making Samuels flinch away momentarily. She looked back at Sam stretched out on the bed in front of her, seeing her hand buried up to the wrist inside her. She leaned down, her mouth opening, but Samuels pulled her back roughly.

"God dammit, Tammy! You have to stop now!" Samuels said harshly. "You're going to hurt her!"

Tammy looked at her again, her eyes beginning to clear. She took her hand from between her own legs as she spoke. "Wh...Andi. What are you...What hap..." She looked around, and saw Keller kneeling on the bed, cradling Carter in her arms. "We..."

"I know." Samuels said as she held her. "The alarms went off. Both of you were near cardiac arrest. Now don't move. Okay?" She said softly. "Just stay still. We need to let her relax before we try to let you move away. Do you understand me?"

Tammy nodded, laying her head between Carters legs. "Yes." She panted. "I di...didn't realize...I'm sorry..."

"It's okay, Tammy. You didn't hurt her. You were just making love, it's okay." Samuels said softly. She glanced up at Keller, and got a nod. "We're going to move your hand now, Tammy. Do you understand me? You need to move your hand slowly, we're going to take it out now. Are you ready?"

Tammy nodded, her face rubbing over the soft wet flesh of Carter's pussy and her own wrist. She raised her head and looked at Samuels. "Wi...will you help me?" She asked.

Samuels nodded and tightened her grip on her wrist, pulling on it gently, guiding it as they pulled it slowly from Carter's pussy. Keller reached down and held the lips of her pussy open, easing the passage of Tammy's hand.

"You have to turn it..." Keller said.

"I know." Tammy said as she turned her hand slowly, then pulled forcefully, making Sam grunt, then moan. The wide part of her hand came free, and she stopped, then eased the rest of her fingers slowly out of the stretched out red hole, bringing a long drawn out whine from Sam.

"Help me get her up on the bed, Andi." Keller said, getting her hands under Sam's arms, pulling her toward the middle of the bed. Samuels stood and lifted her legs, and they got her laid out where they wanted her.

Keller checked her tablet, then looked at Andi and Tammy. "Heart rate and breathing are coming back to normal." She looked over at Tammy as she moved down, spreading Carter's legs, and moving between them. "Your blood pressure is up. Get up on the bed and lay down."

Carter groaned as Keller leaned close and gently eased the swollen lips of her pussy apart, her face inches from her crotch as she examined her. Tammy laid out beside her, and she watched as Carter's hand moved, falling onto the back of Keller's head, pulling her face first into the gaping wet gash of her cunt.

Keller gasped as Sam's hips arched up at her face, and her hand pressed her face harder against her wide spread cunt slit. Jennifer jerked her head away, and Tammy slid down, quickly taking her place, pressing her mouth over the still spasming opening of her cunt, her tongue laving over the swollen outer lips, then slipping up to slap at the rigid bud of her clit.

"I don't think she's done yet." Samuels said with a smile as Jennifer wiped her face of the sheet.

Carter groaned as Tammy lashed her clit with her tongue, her hips humping up lazily as she moved her face around with her hands. Samuels crawled up on the bed, stretching out beside her. "Mmmmmmmm, so good, isn't it Sam." She whispered. "You want to let it happen, that's right. Tammy takes such good care of you. But you have to stop now Sam."

Carter whined, squeezing her eyes shut as she shook her head.

"Yes, Sam." Samuels said softly. "You have to stop now. It's Tammy's turn. She made you cum soooooo good, now you have to take care of her. Don't you want to thank Tammy, and show you how much you love her?"

Carter smiled dreamily, and pushed Tammy away, pulling at her, trying to get her to move up over her.

Tammy looked up as she drew her face back, smiling as she saw Samuels motioning her to move up over her. Moving slowly up over her, Tammy rested her weight on her elbows and knees as she let her body rest lightly on Sam's.

"You made me feel so good lover." She whispered huskily as she eased over and lay beside her, pulling her over so they were laying on their sides, facing each other. "You've never made me cum like that before. I need to rest, just lay with me, Sam. Hold me, just let me feel you."

Carter smiled happily, her arms twining around Tammy's back, her leg sliding between Tammy's. She moaned softly as she felt Tammy's leg slip between hers, and she started working her sore, swollen pussy up and down over it.

"I think we can go now." Andi said as she climbed off the bed. "Let's go get you cleaned up." She grinned as she took Jennifer's arm and led her toward the door.

Interior-Kitchen

1255 Hours

"You have to talk to them, Jenn." Andi said as she took a sip from her drink. "They can't do that to each other. One of them is going to get hurt."

"Me? Why do I have to talk to them?" Keller asked, scrolling back through the mornings telemetry.

"Yes, you. You're their doctor, they'll listen to you."

"Who'll listen to her?" Tammy asked as she came in, buttoning the middle button on her vest. "About what?"

"You...and Sam." Andi said, watching Tammy as she filled her glass from the tap. "You could have hurt her, Tammy. You were completely out of control when we came in. It was almost a minute before you even noticed me shaking you."

Tammy nodded, blushing slightly. "I know, I'm sorry you had to see that." She looked over at Andi and grinned. "Well, I guess you would have seen it eventually, but I mean like, live, up close and personal."

"Don't even get me started on up close and personal." Jennifer muttered. "I've washed my face twice, and I can still smell her on me."

"Oh, you know you loved it! But you should have seen the look on your face." Tammy grinned, then sobered up quickly when Keller glared at her. "I'm sorry, but I thought it was funny."

"What was funny?" Carter asked as she paused in the doorway, holding onto the door frame. She had put on a robe, and was swaying as she started to move forward.

Tammy got up and went over to her, taking her arm and guiding her to her chair. She winced as she sat down, then laughed suddenly.

"What's so funny?" Keller asked, looking down the table at her.

"You. You came in here the morning after the party last week, bitching about how you'd be walking funny for a week. You remember, the night John did you doggie in the elevator." Carter laughed. "I know how you feel now."

She turned and looked at Tammy. "We have to get some toys. That was great...and I mean in-freekin-credible...but you're not doing that again. Ever."

"I don't think it's a healthy practice, and I have some aids I can share with you." Samuels said. "I'd prefer that you keep insertions to a couple of fingers, three tops." She paused, looking down at the table. "Would you consider..."

"No. I like dick as much as then next girl." Tammy said, trying not to laugh at Samuels discomfort. "But that would feel too much like cheating, even if Sam was there. Besides, who could we get, that we didn't have to kill afterwards?"

"I'm happy with what I have." Carter said, reaching over and taking Tammy's hand. "But go ahead and send your aids us, Andi." She laughed, shaking her head. "Marital aids. Whooda thunk it. I never even knew what they were till my brother got married. Half the girls at Sally's bridal shower gave them to her as gag gifts!"

"And you were how old?" Tammy asked.

"Thirty-one. I've led a sheltered life." Carter laughed. She looked over at Samuels. "You hear anything from Pharris's people? I think the Wraith being down for the count might put a kink in our plans with the Travelers."

"Not yet. But I think we'll get the opposite reaction." Samuels said. "Knowing that the threat from the Wraith is not as great as it has been, should make them more likely to accept your offer to put people outside the city."

She scrolled through several pages on her tablet, then looked over at Carter.

"Suggesting that we put people outside the city like that, I swear, Sam. That was brilliant. It not only gave them more of an incentive to join us, but it solved a problem that I had been worrying about, mainly, where were we going to get the resources for the factories." Samuels shook her head. "I'm sorry, I was just so wrapped up in everything else, I didn't see the forest because of all the trees."

"It's okay, Andi. I only got a glimpse out of the porter door when it opened the first time." Carter said, reaching over and picking up Tammy's glass, taking a small sip. "It hit me while they were talking about how many people they'd cram in those suites..."

"Do you want me to get you something to drink?" Tammy said, sliding her glass out of Sam's reach. She got up and got a glass from the cabinet, filled it with ice, then got cokes from the fridge. "Here, drink this." She said as she poured a coke into her glass, then sat it in front of her.

"What? You'll stick your tongue up my butt, but you don't want to drink after me?" Carter laughed, leaning over and kissing her cheek lightly. "Thank you. I just didn't have the energy."

"Did you have to say that?" Jennifer said. "I had just gotten that image out of my mind."

"John won't do it to you huh?" Tammy laughed. "Hey, did you get spanked the other night? I'm pretty sure Teyla got her bottom warmed. She got the idea from you guys!"

"That's none of your business." Keller said, blushing slightly.

"She did. Just look at her." Tammy laughed. "I bet her butt was pinker than her cheeks are right now!"

"If we could get back to the Travelers. We can shift two hundred people back to Anchorage tomorrow, so we'll be ready anytime they want to start sending people in." Samuels said. "I'd prefer that personnel and goods go through that gate until we're ready to ramp up production. I'd like to keep the location close to the vest for a while. And on that note, I want the Travelers to be our exclusive distributors, once we get ramped up. Anything else we ship out, goes through off world gateways."

"I think we need to touch base with Pharris, where is she by the way?" Carter asked. "She didn't come back with us."

"She wanted to talk to her people face to face. We haven't heard from her yet." Samuels said. "But we can..."

"Where's Geraan?" Tammy asked. "I haven't seen him since breakfast. I guess Phinnar is with him. I'm surprised Pharris is letting him stay, we really haven't spent any time with him." 

"Ronin took them over to show them his quarters, and his weapons collection." Samuels said. "He said that he wanted to work with both of them. I think he's enjoying having them around."

Samuels tapped her comm, listened for a moment, then took it off and handed it to Carter. "Ops, for you."

"Carter, go ahead." She said as she put the headset on.

"Colonel, we've got an incoming wormhole. Traveler's. They say it's Counselor Pharris."

"Let her through. And next time she leaves the city, make sure she takes a GDO with her. There's no reason to check every time she comes or goes. Carter out."

"Pharris is coming back. Would you go bring her up?" She asked Samuels as she slid the comm over to her. "I guess we need to set her up with codes for the porter too. I don't want her to think she's a prisoner."

"Do we want to set up a suite for her in one of the towers, or were you planning on her staying here?" Samuels asked as she went to the door.

"Set her up a suite, Andi." Tammy said, glancing over at Carter. "She's going to need office space, but as far as I'm concerned, she can stay here whenever she likes. I like her, and with her here, maybe we'll see Bra'tac more often."

"Put her on the same floor Bra'tac and O'Neill are on." Carter added. "There's no point in making them chase each other all over the city if they want to spend time together. And speaking of spending time together, where the hell are Daniel and Vala? I haven't seen either of them in days."

"Daniel has been exploring the city, and Vala has been working with me." Samuels smiled. "That woman is amazing! She's even more devious than I am!"

"Being host to a Goa'uld for fifty years, then having your own people turn on you when it's removed will do that to you." Carter said. "Vala is smart, but she's still rough around the edges. You be careful with her, Andi. And I mean you make damn sure that you don't piss her off."

"Actually, I've been asking more than telling, and letting her talk about whatever she wants to talk about." Samuels said carefully. "She had a bad experience with a psychologist at the SGC, so I'm keeping my brain mechanic hat in the closet. I'm actually trying to make friends with her."

"Go ahead and try, but it took me more than two years to get through to her." Carter told her. "Once she saw that I trusted her, and depended on her to be there for me, we started making progress."

She looked over at Tammy. "It looks like you got in by proxy. The fact that you're alot like her in some ways helped too." She paused, glancing between the two women. "You should try to build on that. For your own sake. She's a friend worth having, and she's got a hell of a sense of humor!"

The headset she had on beeped again, and she tapped it. "Go on Carter."

"Colonel, we have Counselor Pharris here, and we found something interesting in the gateroom. It appears that there's an auxiliary shield that we weren't aware of. We just found it in the database this morning, and we've managed to activate it."

"Really? What's it...nevermind. We're on the way. Carter out."

"Let's go down to the gateroom." She said as she stood up. "Chuck says that they found something new, some kind of shield."

Interior-Ops Center




Confirming Carter Bk. 02 Daedalus Ch. 09



1315 Hours

"So what did you find, Chuck?" Carter asked as she walked up and took a seat next to him at his console. "You said something about a new shield?"

"A secondary shield on the gate." He said, leaning back in his chair. "We were going through the database, and I found records on the shield systems. All of them, the main, the three subsidiaries on the piers, and a dozen more in different areas around the city."

He grinned at her, then stood up and motioned for her to follow him. "But while we were waiting for you to come down, we found something you'll find alot more interesting." He jogged down the stairs with Sam and Tammy behind him, and led them over to a spot in the middle of the floor between the gate and the stairs.

"Stand here, and hold out your hand." He told her, taking a step back.

Carter did as he said, and a moment later, a console raised up out of the floor.

"Put your hand on the pad. We've cleared the system, so when you touch the pad, the city will be under your direct control." He told her. "We found out about this when Daedalus ran across that ancient ship a couple years ago, and they took the city back. What they didn't tell us, is that up to three people can be entered into the system."

"So what does that mean, Chuck?" Carter asked, stepping back and putting her hands in her pockets. "I think I want to know more about it before I go messing with something like this." 

She looked over at Tammy. "What do you think, Tammy? You were here when that happened." 

"From what I heard, the head ancient put her hand on that thing, and all of us were locked out of the cities systems." Tammy told her. "Sheppard was there, he should be able to tell you more."

"The replicators killed all the ancients, and by the time we moved back in a couple weeks later, the Ops center had been rebuilt and the system had been reset. This time, no passcode was in place. I guess they didn't use one, because we had access to more systems than when we left." Chuck said. "I think it's safe, maam. Basically, all you're doing is adding a level of lockout security to the system."

"I'd still like to know more about it before I mess with it." Carter said, stepping away from the console. "Show me this secondary shield you were talking about. What's it for?"

"As near as I can tell, we can let someone through the gate, but still keep them contained. It should also provide protection for when teams are coming in hot." Chuck laughed. "We've gotten shot up pretty good a few times, and having this shield up will put a stop to that."

Chuck led them back up to his console and brought up a screen. A graphic showed the gate room, with the gate in bright blue.

"The shield is up on the gate, which is why you see it as blue." He made an adjustment, and a long blue box appeared, stretching between the gate and the stairs. "I just activated the secondary shield, so even if I dropped the gate shield, we'd still be protected."

His hands flew over the controls and he grinned at her again. "You're gonna love this, colonel." The graphic changed, now showing an outline of a blue box filled with yellow. "We can manipulate the gravity field within the shield. So now if we have a vessel coming in hot, we put up the shield, alter the internal gravity, and they can come through at speed without crashing into anything."

"Who do you work for, Chuck?" Tammy asked. "I mean, what department are you in? Do you have a supervisor?"

"I worked for Dr. McKay, and haven't been reassigned to anyone else since he left." Chuck told her. "I'm kind of on my own. Well, all of us are really. There's seven of us ops techs, and we've just been kind of winging it while things get sorted out."

Carter and Tammy looked at each other, then back at Chuck.

"Call one of the other techs and have them come down and relieve you Chuck." Carter said. "We'll be in my office. Come join us when they get here."

It was almost fifteen minutes before Chuck came in. Carter waved him to a seat, and waited for him to get settled.

"Start talking, Chuck." She said after a moment. "I want to know everything you've found on any ancient systems you've been playing with. Take your time, we have all afternoon."

"It would be easier if I just sent you the material I've written up on everything, colonel." Chuck said. He looked back and forth between Carter and Tammy, not sure what was going on. "I've been making detailed notes on everything we find in the database, and I have a kind of how-to guide in progress for most of the cities systems. It's kind of a pet project."

"How would you like to be our city manager, Chuck?" Tammy asked, getting up and coming over to sit next to him. "From what I've seen over the last few years, and heard over the last few minutes, I'd bet you know more about the city and it's systems than anyone else in the city right now. You sit up there in the Ops Center and poke around, because you're curious, and you like to play with the city. Is that about right?"

"Uh...yes, maam. I guess it is." Chuck said, trying not to grin.

"So what do you say, Chuck?" Carter asked. "Do you want the job? You'd report directly to us, but we'll have to get you a staff to do the leg work." She looked over at Tammy. "I think we should pull him off the Ops rotation and put him to work full time running the city."

"What part of that don't you like, Chuck?" Tammy asked when she saw him frown, and slump in his seat. 

"I really like working in Ops, Maam." He told her. "I have access to all the cities systems from there, and I'm used to the routine. I'd be glad to take the job, but I'd like to stay in the rotation if I can."

"I won't argue with that." Carter laughed. "Most of the senior staff wear more than one hat."

"I guess it makes sense. He'd be sitting there to do any work on the cities systems anyway." Tammy added. "Or we could set him up in a suite over on one of the piers, then load the office up with everything he'd need."

"Let's get Andi on that when we're done here." Carter said. She grinned over at Chuck. "From what we were talking about the other day, I guess you wouldn't mind moving into bigger quarters?"

"No, maam!" Chuck said quickly. "Wow, the girls will love that!"

"Girls? Do you have female roommates? I bet having a little more space will be a treat till we get them relocated too." Carter said.

"I don't think that's what he meant, is it, Chuck?" Tammy grinned. "I remember now! They call you the Chucknician. You're the guy that...nevermind. I'll get you a good suite."

"Thank you, maam. I'd appreciate it."

"Okay, since we've got that settled, I think we should let Chuck get back to what he was doing. Hopefully, he'll find more goodies out there in the cities systems that no one has bothered to look for yet." She came around the desk and took his hand, smiling at him. "Thank you, Chuck. You're going to be a good addition to the senior staff. We'd like you to come to dinner tonight so we can introduce you to the rest of the team, dress is casual. We'll send someone to get you and bring you over. How's eighteen hundred sound?"

Interior-Pharris' Suite, North Tower

1405 Hours

"The guy is a stud!" Tammy giggled as they stepped off the porter and walked down the hall toward Pharris' new quarters. "He's boinked at least half the female staff over the last four years. I know at least ten nurses that he's done. They all say he's great!"

Sam grinned as she palmed the pad for the door. "So are you saying that you want to do him now too?" She asked as they waited for Pharris to answer.

"Nah, I was just telling you." Tammy laughed. "But we have to make sure that Andi gets him a good suite, maybe see if she can find another one with a pit. I bet he'd love that!"

The door swooshed open, and Bra'tac stood before them, still working on the fly of his pants.

"My queens! It is a most unexpected pleasure!" He said, waving them inside. "I had thought it might be O'Neill."

"Are you sure, Bra'tac?" Carter asked, looking around the room. "We wanted to talk to Pharris, but we can come back, or talk to her later."

"There is no need, Samantha." Pharris said as she stepped from the bedroom, running a brush through her hair. "The interruption is welcome. The ruffian accosted me as I entered my new home, and was trying to have his way with me yet again."

"Way to go, Master Bra'tac!" Tammy laughed as they walked over and took a seat on one of the long, low couches. She looked over at Pharris. "You left before we could talk to you earlier. Andi said that you had gone to speak to your people. We'd like to know what you, and they, think about what we heard from Todd."

"I do not know this Wraith as well as you appear to." Pharris said, pulling her legs up under her and leaning back against the arm rest of the couch. "But the news that the Wraith have been decimated, if it proves to be true, is most welcome indeed. When I related this report to the ruling council, it was met with cautious optimism and joy."

"Did you talk about how it might affect our plans to relocate your people to the areas around Anchorage, to provide resources for the city?" Carter asked.

"Yes, Arrin was most vocal about the need to progress quickly with those plans." Pharris replied. "The council feels that if the Wraith are now less of a threat from space, added to the protections already in place for the city, it is the best course of action."

Carter heaved a sigh of relief as she looked over at Tammy.

"Andi thought as much, but we had concerns that with the Wraith as less of a threat to your planet bound people, you might reconsider, and expand that way."

"To be honest, that was never really an option." Pharris said. "We have established colonies because we had no choice. But now, with this new partnership with you, we have the chance to not only settle our people safely, but provide for even greater numbers within the fleet. It is in all our interests for us to proceed on the course you suggest."

"Good, Andi says that we can have two hundred people back in Anchorage this week, and can begin training the first groups whenever you like." Carter said.

"When he is not pawing me, Bra'tac has offered insights we had not previously considered, and I now believe that we should consider a slightly different course of action." Pharris said. She looked over at Bra'tac, reaching over and stroking his leg lightly. "I believe I should let him offer his ideas."

"What good does it do to have the production facilities of the city active, if you have nothing to supply them with?" Bra'tac said slowly, looking back and forth between Sam and Tammy.

"We just talked about the same thing with Andi earlier." Sam told him. "But you have an idea. Let's hear what you're thinking."

"Develop the resources you will need for the city before you attempt to begin production." Bra'tac said lightly. "This will allow Pharris' people to relieve the strain on their population, while allowing you to proceed at a slower pace training workers for the city, perhaps doing repairs in areas of concern at the same time."

"I have discussed this with my people, and they agree on this course of action." Pharris said, picking up where Bra'tac left off. "We feel that it does neither of us any good to have working factories, with no materials to produce with. Altering our timeline slightly to bring up resource production sooner will actually allow us to begin producing goods sooner, at a reduced cost."

Tammy leaned over and whispered in Sam's ear, then looked over at Pharris.

"We like that idea, but the only concern we have is finding the right person to manage an operation of that scale." She said. "We'd need someone familiar with your people, that also has a clear idea of the long term goals of the project."

"And we only see one possible candidate." Carter added, smiling gently at her. "Would you consider taking charge of Anchorage for us, and getting those operations up and running?"

"A question before she answers." Bra'tac said, putting his hand on Pharris'. "Would she be required to live in this Anchorage, or would she be able to perform her duties remotely?"

"I don't see a need for her to live there full-time." Tammy said. "We could set her up with a suite for when she feels the need to stay over, and to use as office space. But realistically, we'd prefer that she did as much as she could from here, so we can be in the loop and offer support."

"We don't need an answer right now." Sam added. "Take your time and think about it. Talk to your people, and see what they have to say. We..."

"I do not need to think about your offer, nor do I need to speak to my people." Pharris said. She grinned at Bra'tac, then went on. "Now that you have addressed Master Bra'tac's selfish concerns, I see no possible objections. So yes, I would be pleased to serve in such a capacity."

"Excellent!" Carter laughed. "In that case, we'd like you to work up an outline of what you'd like to do. Give us a timeline, priority, materials and equipment lists, along with staffing and manning projections."

"There's no hurry on this, Pharris." Tammy said. "We're not going to make an official announcement for a few days, so take your time. And keep it to yourself for the time being. We're going to be making some adjustments to various departments in the near future, and we might as well announce this then."

"Bra'tac and I have been, 'brainstorming' is the term I believe O'Neill uses." Pharris said. "We already have a outline in progress, but will begin in earnest now that it is official. I would like to include O'Neill if I may, he 'thinks outside the box' as he puts it, and has also had interesting insights on the project."

"That's why I brought them here." Carter told her, grinning over at Bra'tac. "These two old geezers taught me alot of what I know, and I want to keep learning from them. Bring in anyone you need, just keep it quiet for now."

She paused, looking back over at Pharris. "I think we need to apologize, Pharris. We haven't spent the time with Phinnar that we told you we would, and feel bad about that. We'll..."

Pharris held up her hand, stopping her. "There is no need Samantha. Ronin Dex has taken both boys under his charge and is training them in the way of the warrior. Bra'tac and O'Neill have also been tutoring them in the military arts of their worlds. Phinnar is getting the education I wished for him. You may contribute as time allows."

"Thank you, Pharris." Carter said. "We knew that Ronin was spending time with the boys. And you should know, that was his decision. He must see something in them, which speaks highly of them both."

Pharris nodded. "He has spoken to me of the training he wishes to give Phinnar, and I gave my consent. Phinnar's ancient gene is now active, and he studies with Geraan on Tammy's tablets. Ronin's wife Amelia has them on a training schedule."

Carter and Tammy looked at each other.

"Wife?" Tammy asked.

"I had assumed such." Pharris said, a look of concern crossing her face. "She is with him when he visits, and the affection they share. Was I mistaken?"

"They've only been together a few weeks, but we kind of figured that something would come of it." Carter told her. "We think it's a good match, but we've been staying out of it, and letting nature take it's course."

"Nature has taken it's course." Bra'tac laughed. "Only death will separate them now. So let us hope that that is long in the coming."

"From your lips to gods ear." Tammy said softly. She stood up and stretched, then smiled at the couple on the couch. "We should really be going, we have a few things still to do this afternoon. Come to dinner this evening, we hired a new city manager, and we'd like you to meet him. He might be someone else you want to talk to Pharris, he knows more about how Atlantis works than anyone else in the city."

"Then we will be sure to join you." Pharris said, smiling. "To learn more about the wonders of these cities..."

"We agree." Sam smiled, moving toward the door. "We'll see you at dinner then."

Interior-Office

1550 Hours

"I think we should do that security thing Chuck was telling us about." Tammy said, looking up from her terminal. "I've been reading through his outline on it, and it looks like it's not only safe, but a smart thing to do."

"Yeah? So just what does it do?" Carter asked, leaning back and rubbing her eyes.

"The basic setting allows for lockout protection for the primary users. They can lockdown the city from any panel in the city once they've been coded in." Tammy told her. "Then there are advanced settings for access control to every section of the city, the self destruct, damage control, and dozens of other systems. It looks like that with access to this, running the city would actually be safer."

"Chuck said that up to three people could have access to this system." Carter said. "So you and me of course, then who else, Sheppard? I trust him to do the self destruct if we need to."

"I was actually thinking about Chuck." Tammy laughed. "He's going to be the city manager, and most of the systems this thing controls are directly related to that. We give him access, then work with him on how we want the city set up."

"You trust him with that much control?" Carter asked. "I've been working around him for 4 years, but haven't really started to get to know him till the last few weeks. I'm just not sure."

"He already has hands on control of every system this thing controls, and he's been telling us about everything they find, as they find it." Tammy grinned. "If he was gonna screw us, we'd already be locked up, and he'd be running the city as king. So yeah, I think we can trust him."

"You got a point there." Carter laughed. She stood up and came around the desk. "Okay, let's go do it. Might as well get it out of the way, and I need a break anyway."

Interior-Ops Center

1610 Hours

"Colonel, Lady Tammy." Chuck said, standing up as they approached.

"It's just Tammy...or your Goddessness, I'm not picky." Tammy laughed.

"Ignore her." Sam said, smiling at Chuck. "We came down to have you set us up on that new system you showed us. Do you have time?"

"Yes maam. It only takes a minute." He said as he brought up a screen on his terminal. He made a series of rapid keystrokes, then moved toward the stairs. "We'll have to go through later and configure the individual systems, but for right now, getting the lockout in place is the most important part."

When they reached the foot of the stairs, he walked over and held his hand out. The console rose out of the floor, and he waved Carter over.

"Put your hand on the pad. The manual says that the lights should change, and you should feel the pad vibrate when it accepts your input. I just set it to accept new input."

Carter stepped over and put her hand on the pad, and after a moment, the lights on the console flickered, then steadied. She stepped away and waved Tammy over.

Tammy put her hand on the pad, grinning when she felt it vibrate under her hand.

"It likes me." She laughed as she stepped back. She looked over at Chuck and waved him forward.

Chuck just looked at her, not sure what she meant.

"You're up, Chuck." Carter said, giving him a push toward the console.

"Wh...I don...Are you..." He sputtered.

"As our city manager, you're going to need access to these systems." Tammy told him. "You already have control of them, and if we don't include you, you'll be locked out, right?"

"Yes maam, I guess that's right." He said looking at her. He didn't make any move toward the console.

"So put your hand on the pad and let it read you." Carter said, stepping up beside him. "I don't want to have to run down here every time we want to make a change to these systems, that's what I hired you for."




Confirming Carter Bk. 02 Daedalus Ch. 09



Chuck looked at her, then glanced over at Tammy.

"Don't make me order you, Chuck." Carter said lightly, reaching down and taking his hand. She lifted it and held it over the pad. "Go ahead, we want you to."

Chuck pressed his hand to the pad, jerking slightly as it started to vibrate. He waited till the lights flashed, the removed his hand.

"Thank you, ma'am." He said quietly as he stepped back from the console. He watched as it sank slowly back down into the floor.

"From what I read, we're just set up for the lockout right now." Tammy said as she stepped over next to Sam and took her hand. "When can you go through and make up a list of systems we need to get configured, and in what order?"

"I'm already doing that, maam. I have a list of about forty different systems we need to look at. I hadn't thought about a sequence." Chuck replied, looking slightly startled by her question. "Do you really think it would make a difference?"

"It might make a big difference. We want damage control at the top of the list, self destruct is a priority too. Then we need to look at those areas you said had separate shields. I'd like to know why some areas of the cities have their own shields, and just what the hell they were doing in them that would justify it."

"She has a point, Chuck." Carter said. "We still need to go through what you sent us, or at least I do. But in the meantime, why don't you take a look at what Tammy mentioned so far, then we can talk about others after dinner."

"I can do that. There's a couple hundred individual systems we can configure, but only forty or so are really major, so I'll concentrate on those first."

"That's fine. Bring your laptop, or whatever you keep your notes on with you." Tammy said as she turned, pulling Carter along behind her. "We're going to be quizzing you on what you know about our city, so be ready."

"Yes maam. I'd like that." Chuck grinned. "It'll be nice to talk to someone that wants to hear about it!"

Interior-Daniel Jackson's Suite, North tower

1630 Hours

"I swear Daniel, With everything that's happened in the last few days, it feels like my head is going to explode sometimes." Carter laughed as she leaned back against the couch. She was sitting cross-legged on the floor between Tammy's legs, idly running her fingers across the top of her foot.

"I almost made her head explode earlier." Tammy whispered, leaning closer to Vala. "She had already passed out, if Andi and Jenn hadn't come in and made me stop, I think I could have done it."

"Well, you took advantage of a situation that presented itself, and it paid off better than you could have expected." Jackson replied lightly. "We would have loved to have done the same thing to the Goa'uld, and not given it a second thought, at least I wouldn't have, and I doubt if Jack or Teal'c would have minded." 

"I know Daniel, but I gave the orders. I made this happen." Carter said softly. "I may have brought about the end of a race of sentient beings."

"I've tried to tell her that she's not at fault, Daniel." Tammy said, reaching down to massage Carter's shoulders. "It was a joint decision, the whole court was in agreement that we should do it. I think what's bothering her is just how successful we were. Personally, I think we did a good thing."

"I agree. I've read the reports on the engagement Sam, and I don't see what you're beating yourself up about. Your people engaged and destroyed a hostile force, the fact that they used surprise and stealth shouldn't enter into it. You used the same tactics on the Wraith that they have been using on the rest of this galaxy for millennia."

"I guess it's just going to take me a while to get used to being the warrior queen that Bra'tac says I need to be." Carter sighed. She glanced up at Tammy, then looked back over at Daniel. "What we came over to talk to you about is to ask you if you and Vala would take a look at how we're setup, the government operations that is. And before either of you object, I think you're both qualified, or else I wouldn't have asked."

"I wasn't going to object." Vala said, laying out on the couch, resting her head in Tammy's lap and kicking her feet up onto the armrest. "I've been talking to Andi quite a bit over the last few days. She's been trying to pump me for information without seeming too. She'll say something innocuous, then let me talk about anything I want. I think I could get to like her."

"She told us that." Tammy laughed. "She said that she really liked you too, and that she hoped you could be friends."

"Well, from the department outlines and reports she let me see, I can see where you already have people doing the same work in several places. And I don't mean similar work, I mean gathering the same information, it's just being routed to a different department heads."

"That's exactly the kind of thing we're looking for." Carter said, shaking her head slowly. "We've noticed the same thing, but wanted to get you to go through and take a look for us. We want to streamline the government operations, keep the bureaucracy to a minimum as long as we can, and get something done while we have a chance."

She looked back over her shoulder at Vala. She grinned when she saw that she was laid out with her head in Tammy's lap. "We really haven't looked at how we want the government set up, the individual departments that is. Andi gave us an overview of what she had in mind, but I don't think she really had any formal plans for the individual departments. That's what I want you to look at."

"As near as I can tell, you really don't have a government yet." Daniel said. "Andi is your government right now. She's giving orders and directing traffic, but as it stands, you really don't have a government per se."

"We've talked to her about that, and the three of us have sketched out a rough outline of what we think we need." Carter told him. "The original idea was to model ours after the grand Duchy of Monaco, but I figured out pretty quick that that was just for the show and tell part of it, not actually governing. We sat down after that and started talking about how to actually do that."

"Well, besides the military, most of what government you have flows through her." Jackson said. "It's not a problem at the moment, and realistically, with the population we have here in Atlantis, it won't be a problem for at least six months, if not closer to a year. But getting something mapped out now, before you need it, and taking the time to set it up will let you make adjustments easier when the population starts to grow."

"We'll look at the areas under Andi's control first." Vala said, looking up at Tammy. "She should keep diplomacy under her, which includes intelligence services, but everything else should be split off, and given to other people. I think the military should be split as well. Make the navy a separate department under Caldwell, but leave Sheppard with overall control."

"Why would you do that?" Tammy asked her, brushing Vala's hair away from her face. 

"Caldwell's navy will have different duties than Sheppard's ground and jumper based forces. If you make them separate entities, that lets you define their roles more clearly." Vala said, making kissy faces up at her. "It will give them someone to compete against too, which should make them work harder."

Tammy smiled down at Vala and shook her head slowly. Vala pouted, then rolled over on her side.

"Vala has a good point about the military, both in defining individual roles, and the need for esprit de corps. I think Jack and Bra'tac will be more help there though." Jackson said. "I have some ideas, but I'd like to get some research materials. Unfortunately, those are going to have to come from Earth. Do you think they'll send us that if I request it?"

"I can go through Landry to get whatever you need, Daniel." Carter chuckled. "Give me a list of what you want, or just send it yourself. I'm pretty sure he'll be glad to help."

She scooted away from the couch and got to her feet, twisting and stretching. She looked over at Tammy, grinning when she saw the pout on Vala's face.

"I really should go work out, or spend some time with the boys, but what I really want to do is take a nap." She laughed. "I don't know how good an idea that is, because I invited our new city manager to dinner at eighteen hundred. And we still have to call the kitchen about that."

"You'll want to come Daniel." Tammy added. "Chuck is one of the Ops techs, and he knows more about how the city works than anyone we have right now. We might need you to sit in, because I'm sure we're going to miss something." 

"That sounds like it might be interesting." Daniel said as he stood up. He went over to the couch and held out his hand to Vala.

Vala brushed his hand away and rolled off the couch. She shook her hair out as she stomped across the room, disappearing into the bedroom.

"What was that about?" Daniel asked, staring after her.

"I'll take care of it." Tammy said lightly as she got up and followed her.

Vala wasn't in the bedroom when she walked in, so she went over to the bathroom and stuck her head in the door. Vala was standing at the vanity, examining her face in the mirror. She saw that Tammy had come in, but ignored her.

"You don't really want me, you know." Tammy said as she came up behind her, wrapping her arms around her waist. "Your bored, and you just want to do something to stir up a little trouble. Isn't that right?"

"A little I guess." Valla said grudgingly as she picked up a brush and started running it through her hair. "But if you didn't flirt with me all the time, maybe I wouldn't..."

"Liar liar, pants on fire!" Tammy laughed, bringing her hands up and squeezing Vala's tits lightly, making her gasp. "You love it when I flirt with you! And you do it right back. Why can't we just have fun, and not worry about anything else? We both know that we're going to play together eventually. Don't be in such a hurry."

She stepped back and took Vala's hand, turning her around and leading her out of the bathroom. They went back into the living room where Sam and Daniel were waiting by the porter.

"Is everything okay?" Daniel asked, looking at Vala. "You didn't do..."

"Everything is fine Daniel." Vala said lightly. "And no, I didn't cause any trouble."

"It's a game they play Daniel." Sam laughed. "Don't think anything of it. But I'm going to steal her for a little while if you don't mind. Dinner is at eighteen hundred, don't be late."

She grabbed Vala's hand and pulled her into the porter, turning to look at Tammy as she stood next to Daniel.

"You coming, Tammy?" She grinned.

Interior-Kitchen

1720 Hours

"Do you remember that night in Dakara, Daniel was looking for that ancient weapon, and you crawled into my sleeping bag?" Carter asked Vala as the porter doors closed behind Tammy. 

She tapped out the symbols for her suite. When the doors opened, she led her down the hall to the kitchen. Tammy followed behind them with a quizzical expression on her face.

"I remember, Samantha." Vala said, not sure what was going on. "I also remember that you made it very clear that you weren't interested."

"I think what I told you, in my own terribly shy, more than a little terrified from what I was feeling way, was that I wasn't ready. I'm sorry that you thought I wasn't interested." Sam said with a soft smile as she got a bottle of tequila from the freezer. "You remember that I didn't make you leave, and that you spent the rest of the night holding me. And copping more than a few cheap feels."

"I remember Mitchell giving us a funny look when we both climbed out of that sleeping bag in our underwear." Vala laughed. "But what's going on, Samantha? I'm only playing when I..."

"I don't care if you flirt with Tammy, Vala." Carter said as she got glasses from the cabinet. "I actually kind of like it. The two of you put on a great show when you get going. No, what I wanted to tell you was, I'm ready now if you're ever interested. Unless me having a girlfriend is a problem."

She looked at Tammy as she sat down and poured shots into their glasses. 

"What are you saying Sam?" Tammy asked as she came around the table and sat down. She picked up one of the glasses and tossed it back, then slid it over to Sam for a refill. "You looking to step out on me?"

"Never, love." Carter grinned as she took her hand, pouring her another shot at the same time. "And I thought I was very clear just now. I know that you'd like to make it with Vala, and I just want both of you to know that I not only don't mind, but I want a piece of the action. Or ass, however you want to put it."

"Samantha! I don't know what's gotten into you, but I like it." Vala laughed. She was more serious when she said, "But I'm with Daniel now, and it would hurt him terribly if he ever found out that I had been unfaithful to him, especially with one of his closest friends."

"That's fine, I wasn't suggesting that we go jump in bed for a threesome, I was just telling you that the door is open, if you ever want to drop by." Sam said.

"This is because of earlier, isn't it?" Tammy laughed. 

She looked over at Vala. "She's can be more sexually aggressive after she's cum really good. The korathis reacts with her hormones and endorphins, and it sends her into overdrive sometimes."

"That's part of it I guess." Sam said. "But I really do like watching you two teasing each other, and I wanted you both to know that if you want to stop just teasing, it's okay with me."

"Daniel likes watching me with her too you know." Vala said, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Sometimes, after I've done something particularly outrageous, we don't even get home before he's all over me. He's a fantastic lover as it is, but if I give him something to think about...mmm, it's just that much better."

"I feel so used." Tammy pouted "You've just been leading me on to get your boyfriend excited."

"Like you haven't been doing the same thing." Sam laughed. She looked at Vala. "But Daniel? Really?"

Vala nodded her head vigorously. "From the first time, and it was his idea. We were at one of those awful dig sites he loves so much on some barren little planet, and he asked me to go for a walk with him. When we were away from the SG team, he turned around and kissed me, and before I knew it, we were doing it. We did it three times that night."

"You gotta be careful of those bookworms and nerds. They'll get you every time." Tammy said, nodding her head sagely. "Lots better in bed than jocks too."

Interior-Office

1940 Hours

After dinner, they had adjourned to the living room. Sam and Tammy had been asking Chuck questions about the cities systems, and they had gotten to the point where Tammy wanted to see, not just hear about what they could do.

Chuck was sitting behind Sam's desk, and Sam, Tammy, Pharris and Daniel were relaxing in chairs around the room watching on the big wall monitor as he scrolled through screen after screen.

"These are the areas with independent shields I was telling you about." He said as he brought up yet another diagram of the city. A dozen areas were highlighted on the map. "Most of these are labs of some kind, one is the detention center, but there are three in the north pier and one on the east pier that aren't marked. The survey teams couldn't get into them either."

"So there's still parts of the city that we don't know what they are?" Sam asked.

"Almost a third of the city is still unmapped, at least by our people." Chuck told her.

"Why couldn't our people get into these areas?" Tammy asked.

"The doors are secured, so they bypassed them. They're on the list for another try. This one," He said, highlighting one on the north pier, "Is still shielded. We shut it down occasionally, but it comes back up after a few hours."

"Why haven't you said anything about this before now, Chuck." Sam asked.

"We told Dr. McKay about it three years ago, and he had us disable the alarm, and told us not to worry about it."

"I thought you said that you had just found these." Tammy said.

"No ma'am, we knew that some areas, like detention and some of the bio labs had their own shield systems, we just didn't know about all of them. Since this one is on an outer pier, it never got investigated."

"What about the sublevels, have we looked there yet." Daniels asked

"Those areas are clearly marked on the city maps. We've had crews go through the shops, especially the ship and vehicle repair areas, but more that half of that still has to be gone through, room by room. We don't have a complete inventory of what's down there right now."

"We also need to get people down there because there's been water damage over the years, and we may need to look at structural integrity. There's twelve decks below the waterline, and we know that at least four of them have been flooded at some point."

"Andi knows about this?" Carter asked.

"Yes, ma'am. She checks in with me daily, and I send her updates whenever we make changes to the map."

"Start copying the four of us on those updates." She said. "But schedule some crews to go look at those decks. Don't worry about an inventory, I'm more interested in what kind of shape they're in. Send those reports to me and Tammy."

(-)

That's all for Chapter Nine. Please read Chapter Ten for more of this story.

I hope you liked this episode. Please post a comment so I know if I'm the right track with this...



Confirming Carter Bk. 02 Daedalus Ch. 10



Tammy tells Sam about a plan she has, then tries to convince her to go along...Sam and Tammy lay down the law to the senior staff about how the city should be run...and O'Neill gets a love interest.

(-)

Confirming Carter Book Two Daedalus

Chapter Ten

Five Days Later

Interior-Bedroom

0550 Hours

"I found something in the ancients' database a couple of days ago." Tammy said over her shoulder as she lay next to Carter. "I was going through looking for research on the Wraith, and I ran across another one of their experiments. One that didn't go wonky."

They were spooning in the predawn darkness, and Tammy could see the first hints of sunrise on the horizon.

"I'm not going to like this, am I?" Carter asked softly, kissing the smooth skin of her back lightly.

"Probably not, but I've been playing with it, and I think I want to do more." Tammy said, wiggling her butt against her. She reached back and put her hand on Sam's ass, pulling her tighter against her. "Those toys Andi gave us aren't doing the trick. They're fun and all, but there's something missing."

"So you're getting bored with me already? And what has that got to do with the ancients?" Carter asked, nibbling at her neck. She moved her hand up and cupped the full, firm mound of Tammy's breast, pinching the nipple between her fingers.

"Mmmmmm, do that harder...oh shit, you may have to fuck me before we get out of bed if we keep this up." Tammy purred.

"And what makes you think that would be a problem?" Carter asked as she moved back, pulling Tammy over onto her back, then slithering up on top of her. "What did you find, and what do you want to do with it?" 

Tammy slid her arms around her as she spread her legs, moaning happily as Sam slipped her leg between them. She reached down and cupped the cheeks of her ass, pulling her tighter against her.

"I wanna make us a fucktoy." She whispered as she started humping her pussy onto Sam's leg.

"And what could this fucktoy do that Andi's toys can't?" Carter asked, slipping down over her slowly. Her tongue dragged slowly over the soft skin of Tammy's neck, then down between her breasts. She licked at the spongy globes lightly, then moved over, tracing soft circles around one nipple with her lips and tongue.

"It could fuck us." Tammy said breathily, pushing gently on Sam's shoulders. "Eat me. I want to cum before we get up."

"Don't be in such a hurry!" Carter laughed. She laid her arms across Tammy's stomach as she looked up at her. "Tell me more about your fucktoy first. Is this some kind of machine? What would it look like? And how would we use it?"

She moved one hand down, her fingers dancing over the clean shaved lips of Tammy's pussy. She teased her with gentle caresses as she waited for her to answer.

"He'd be about five-eight with a wiry build, we can talk about the hair and eyes, but I'm partial to blue-eyed blondes." Tammy moaned as she arched her pussy up at Sam's fingers. "But I want a big dick, at least eight inc..."

"He?" Carter gasped, rolling off of her and getting up on her knees. She stared down at Tammy in disbelief. "Are you talking about a fucking replicator?"

"Huh uh. He'd be a programmable android. I already have the schematics drawn up for him, and lots of the parts are already in the inventory." Tammy grunted as she rolled onto her side, propping her head up in her hand. She looked at Sam as her other hand moved between her legs, dipping into the juice drenched cleft of her pussy. "If you're not going to fuck me, at least talk dirty to me. You know how hot that makes me."

"You're doing fine on your own." Sam said as she watched her. Just the thought that Tammy might want to make a replicator had been like having ice water thrown on her. "Tell me more about this thing. If it's not a replicator, what is it?"

"Ang...Angelo." Tammy panted as she stroked her fingers rapidly over her clit. She stared at Sam, her eyes roaming all over her body as she knelt beside her. "I'm going t...to call him Angelo. God, you look so hot! Raise up a li...little, and spread your legs, I want to see your pussy. You have the prettiest little blonde bush! It's so cute!" 

Carter raised up, moving her knees wider apart on the bed. She smiled at Tammy as she put her hand over her pussy, not playing with herself, but hiding it from Tammy.

"An Angelo would be dark haired and swarthy." She said as she started moving her hips in slow circles. She shimmied her shoulders, making her tits jiggle and bounce, smiling as she saw Tammy gasp. "A blue eyed blonde would be a Dietrich, Hans, or Boris."

"Oooooohhhh! I like Boris!" Tammy whimpered, her fingers flying over her clit. She looked up at Carter, her eyes pleading. "Oh fuck! Move your hand, Sam. I want to see your pussy when I cum, baby. Please?"

Carter moved her hand off of her pussy mound, dragging her fingers slowly up between the wet, fleshy lips. She reached over, holding her fingers under Tammy's nose, then brushed them lightly over her lips, smearing the fragrant nectar over them slowly.

"Oh god!" Tammy groaned as she fell back on the bed, licking her lips. She grabbed Sam's wrist, opening her mouth and taking her fingers inside, sucking on them hungrily. "Oh shit, Sam! I'm...oh fuck! I...I...cumming" She screamed around Sam's fingers.

Carter laughed as she watched her writhe across the bed. Pulling her fingers from her mouth, she reached down, pinching a nipple between them. She leaned close, stretching out on the bed beside her, her lips brushing her ear.

"You're thinking about your pretty little Boris fucking you, aren't you you little slut?" She asked breathily. "You can already feel his big cock pounding into your hot, wet little pussy, fucking you till you cum and cum and cum. Isn't that right?"

"Fuck!" Tammy groaned, her hips bouncing on the bed as her fingers ground harder onto the swollen bud of her clit. She grunted, pulling her hand away from her pulsing pussy mound suddenly, rolling over and knocking Sam onto her back

"Thank you, thank you, thank you." She moaned as she planted sloppy wet kisses all over her face, then ground her lips down onto Sam's. "I don't know why I needed to cum so bad this morning! You made me cum so good last night. God I love making out with you!"

"Liar!" Sam laughed, wriggling out from under her and rolling off the bed. "You want to replace me with a walking dildo! How do you think that makes me feel?"

"Hopefully, you'll be so turned on the first time he pounds your little pee hole with his big ol' cock, you'll forget that he's just a walking dildo." Tammy laughed, climbing to her feet and bouncing across the bed. She jumped off the end, grabbed Sam's hand and pulled her toward the door. "Come on, let's go make breakfast. I'm starving!"

Interior-Kitchen

0645 Hours

"You're not listening to me!" Tammy said as she pushed her plate away. "He's not a replicator. The machine I want to make was a couple steps before them in the process. He'll have a skeleton, muscles and skin. Think Arnold in the Terminator. But friendly, like in the last one, not the first." She paused, then grinned at Carter. "He might actually be closer to Data from Star Trek. He'll be an android, not a cyborg."

"But you'd use the same labs and the same machines to make this thing that McKay used to make his replicator, Fran." Carter said. "And before you say it, yes, she worked out okay. She did what she was programmed to do, but it was still creepy."

"Do you like it when I fingerfuck you, or when I use a toy on you?" Tammy asked as she got up and went over to the coffee maker. She brought the carafe back over to the table and filled their cups, then sat it off to the side. "Be honest, I think you do, but I'm biased about my prowess."

"God, you are so conceited!" Carter laughed. "But yes, I do like it when you play with me. I..."

"Say it." Tammy grinned, leaning close, her eyes glittering. "Say the words Sam, I want to hear you say it."

"I, um...you know, like it when you...do stuff to me." Carter sputtered, her cheeks coloring brightly.

"Oh shit! You can't say it!" Tammy laughed. She got up, pulling Sam to her feet, then pushed her back against the counter. Dropping her hand down between her legs, she eased two fingers into the warm wet slit of Carter's pussy, stroking them in and out lazily.

"What am I doing to you right now, Sam?" She asked, pressing her body against her, their tits rubbing against each other, her hand trapped between the lightly furred mounds of their cunts. "Tell me."

"You...you're rubbing my..."

"Rubbing your what, Sam? And I'm doing more than just rubbing, and you know it." Tammy breathed huskily. "What are my fingers doing, and where are they doing it?"

"Oh god, Tammy!" Carter moaned, spreading her legs wider as her knees bent, giving her more room to work on her drooling cunt slit. "It feels so good! Don't stop!"

Tammy pressed her fingers deep into her pulsing pussy, holding them still as Carter jerked and humped her pussy down at them. Her thumb stroked steadily across the stiff nub of her clit, adding to Sam's pleasure.

"Please Tammy! Don't tease me like this!" Carter groaned as she tried to fuck herself on Tammy's fingers. 

"Look at me Sam." Tammy said softly as she started moving her fingers again. "I want you to say what I say, word for word, as I say it. Do you understand me?"

"Ungh! Ye...yes." Carter panted, her hips working frantically as she tried to get Tammy to move her fingers faster.

"I love your fingers in my pussy. I want you to fuck me, and make me cum." 

"I...love yo...your fingers...in me." Carter panted. "Please, make me cum!"

"No, that's not right, Sam." Tammy said slowly, burying her fingers knuckle deep in the spasming passage of her pussy, holding them still again. Her thumb ground onto her clit, moving in slow circles over the tender nubbin. "Say what I told you to say. It's kind of weird that you can talk dirty about what you're doing to me, but not what's being done to you. Why is that?""

"I...oh god, Tammy! You know I ca..."

"Okay." Tammy said as she stepped back, her hand moving down, pulling her fingers slowly from Carter's juiced soaked cunt slit.

"No!" Carter groaned, reaching down and grabbing her wrist, forcing her fingers back into her pussy. She held her wrist tightly as she humped her heaving cunt channel down onto the stiff digits. "Fuck me you bitch! Fuck my hot little pussy with your goddamned fingers and make me cum!"

"You do it." Tammy whispered. "Fuck yourself on my fingers Sammy. You like my fingers in your hot little cunt hole, don't you? I want you to tell me, I want you to talk dirty to me when I fuck you."

"You want dirty? I'll fucking give you dirty!" Carter grunted as she jerked Tammy's hand away from her crotch. She hopped up on the counter and leaned back, bringing her feet up to rest on the edge as she spread her legs wide. "Put your fucking fingers back in my cunt and fuck me! Do it hard, and make me fucking cum you bitch!"

Tammy grinned as she pressed three fingers between the cream coated lips of her pussy and slipped them slowly into the tight, wet hole. She started moving them in and out slowly as she teased Carter's clit with her thumb.

"Faster!" Carter grunted, bringing her hand down and wrapping it around Tammy's wrist. She started pumping her fingers into her pussy, showing Tammy the rhythm she wanted.

Twisting her fingers back and forth as she drove them in and out of Sam's warm, wet pussy, Tammy started moving them faster. In moments, her fingers were a blur as they pumped between the puffy, fur lined lips. Tammy looked up at her as she fingerfucked her steadily.

"I'm going to program Boris to fuck you just like this." She said huskily. "I know just how you like to get fucked, and I'm going to put every trick I know turns you on in him."

"Oh shit!" Carter grunted, her ass hanging over the edge of the counter as she humped and jerked frantically down at Tammy's fingers. "Wh...when can we st...start on him? If you can g...get him to fu...fuck me like this...Oh god! Faster! I...I'm gonna cum, Tammy!"

"What the hell are you two doing?" Keller gasped as she walked into the kitchen. She stared wide eyed at the spectacle before her.

"Negotiating." Tammy laughed as she moved her head between Sam's legs. "We'll be with you in a minute!" Replacing her thumb with her lips, she sucked Sam's clit into her mouth and nipped at it with her teeth, making her moan and jerk every time she did.

"Oh fuck! Eat me Tammy!" Carter grunted, her hands coming down to press her mouth harder against her clit. "Suck on it! Suck my clit and fuck me harder!"

"I don't believe this." Keller muttered as she watched them. She felt her own pussy moistening, and at the same time felt a wave of jealously sweep over her. She envied the pair the freedom and passion they shared when it came to sex.

"Oh god! Enough! You win!" Carter groaned as she eased off the counter, pulling Tammy up so she could kiss her hungrily. Tammy's fingers still drove in and out of her juice soaked pussy slit, and Carter groaned again as another series of spasms surged over her.

"Someone's going to clean that counter before you put any food on it, right?" Keller asked as she opened the fridge.

"Good god, Jennifer!" Tammy laughed, easing her fingers from Carter's pussy and bringing her hand to her mouth, licking her fingers clean. "Do you always have to be such a downer when it comes to sex? And if you want to know, we were doing it in here because I was trying to get Sam to lighten up a little. She's almost as repressed about sex as you are, at least when she's talking about herself. I was trying to adjust her attitude a little."

She looked back as Sam, a sly smile crossing her face.

"What do you think hon? Want to help me adjust Jenn's attitude a little now?" She giggled.

"John might appreciate that." Carter laughed, turning to look at Keller. "Or we could just send her down to the STM bridge next time we charge up ZPM's. You remember what that did to her!"

"John and I do just fine, thank you very much!" Keller said as she poured a glass of juice and sat at the table. 

"So what are you doing up so early, Jennifer?" Carter asked, going to the cabinet and getting a fresh glass.

Tammy came over and took it from her, getting one for herself. She pushed her over toward the table as she opened the fridge.

"Sit down, I'll get your drink." She said as she filled the glass with ice.

"Not that it's any of your business, but John woke me up doing it this morning." Keller said, coloring slightly. "I think he's been talking to Steven. Teyla says that he wakes her up like that all the time. They both do it like that. They wake up in the middle of the night and just...use each other."

"Mmmmmmm, I like waking up like that." Tammy purred. "We do it too. Now that the boys are sleeping in their own room, we don't have to be as careful."

"It was nice." Jennifer laughed. "He was so gentle this morning! He's normally so...I don't know, macho? It's like he has to prove himself by being rough with me. I like that sometimes, but sometimes I just like it soft and slow, you know?"

"Then tell him." Carter said, taking her drink from Tammy. "He can't fix what he doesn't know is broken. And if you don't say anything, you're going to start resenting him, and you won't last."

"And don't just tell him what you want, ask him what he wants too." Tammy added. "Do it in bed one night. Take him to bed and spend the night talking and playing. I guarantee you'll both probably have a good time."

"That's easy for you to say!" Keller said, frowning slightly. "He works twenty hours a day most times! It's hard to catch him when he's not exhausted!"

"We're going to have to do something about that." Carter said, looking over at Tammy. "I already told everyone to block out downtime, but it sounds like some of them didn't listen." 

She glanced over at Keller. "How many hours a day are you putting in, on average, Jennifer?"

"On a good day, probably ten, on a bad day, closer to sixteen, maybe eighteen." Keller said. "It varies. There's just so much to do!"

"I know Andi puts in at least twelve every day. But she knocks off at twenty, maybe twenty-one hundred most nights and fires up a pipe." Tammy said.

"There's no reason for the senior staff to be putting in so many hours." Carter said, a look of irritation crossing her face. "We're going to talk about this today. I want a meeting at oh nine hundred, we'll do it in the conference center." She looked over at Tammy. "I think it's time we broke the news to them anyway. Let's get the org charts out and look them over one more time. You can show me your plans for Boris at the same time."

"Who's Boris?" Keller asked, looking back and forth between them.

"What, not who." Tammy said lightly. "Special project. Just something we're going to be...playing with."

Interior-Conference Center, North Tower

0900 Hours

"Tammy and I have been looking at the org charts all of you submitted, and we think some restructuring needs to be done." Carter said as she walked into the room. She turned and looked at Sheppard as she sat down. "Besides this morning, when was the last time you and Jennifer had sex? Or you've been up to the driving range, or just kicked back and had a beer with Ronin?"

"Sam, I told you that in confidence!" Jennifer blurted out.

Sheppard looked stunned, and sputtered for a moment, trying to answer her questions.

"That's what I thought. Ronin is pissed by the way, he feels left out. You should reach out and mend that bridge."

She looked over at Samuels. "How about you Andi? When was the last time you and Wilkins did the horizontal mambo, or blew a pipe of thumper together?"

"Three days ago." Samuels smiled, realizing where Carter was going with her line of questioning. "But he's been offworld for two of those, and if it makes any difference, I masturbate daily, whether we have sex together or not."

"Good, at least someone is getting some release around here." 

She looked down at Caldwell.

"My sex life is really none of your business, Colonel." He said, coloring slightly. "But to put your concerns to rest, Teyla and I have sex daily. One of us will initiate it, so it's not unusual for us to have sex several times a day."

"I wasn't going to ask about your sex life, Steven, but I'm glad to hear that you're taking care of yourself." She laughed, then sobered quickly. "No, I was going to ask why you haven't spoken to the Athosians about your betrothal to Teyla. And before you say anything, that is my business. So why not, and when are you planning on doing it?"

"I haven't had time to get offworld to visit them." Caldwell said. "I believe that I would need to spend several days making visits to at least three different worlds, and I just haven't been able to get away."

"I like that you want to spend time with Teyla's people, that will go a long way toward getting their approval." Carter smiled. 

"Plan on taking next week off." Tammy said as she made notes on her tablet. "You and Teyla can do a tour while she ties up some diplomatic loose ends for us. Having you with her will kill several birds at once."

Carter looked around the table, making eye contact with all of them. "I don't know how hard you're all working, but I do know that you're working too goddamn long on any given day. Unless there's a special event, or some sort of emergency, there's really no reason for any of you to be in your offices, or working on anything past say, nineteen hundred hours. That's why you have deputies, and department heads. If you have to work twenty hours a day, you need to replace them, or I need to replace you. We need you looking at the high level, long term stuff you should be paying attention too, not day to day operations."




Confirming Carter Bk. 02 Daedalus Ch. 10



She looked over at Tammy, and a moment later, a flowchart appeared on the screen next to the table.

"You all have, or in John's case, had deputies, as well as department heads." Carter said, looking down at her laptop. "I'm making the navy a separate department under Steven. He'll report to us, but still coordinate with John, who maintains overall command of all armed forces."

"We had Daniel and Vala go through the org charts, department outlines, and have also been funneling daily reports to them for the last few days." Tammy said. "They discovered several instances of direct duplication of efforts, and almost a dozen points of overlapping influence. We mailed you all a copy of this new department design, along with a brief Daniel prepared suggesting what personnel should be doing what functions, based on skills and experience."

"There are going to be areas where you have to do the same, or similar work, but we want to keep that to a minimum." Carter said, picking up where Tammy left off. "I would have liked to have them do this part of this meeting, but they're in Anchorage right now with Pharris." She looked over at Samuels. "We're taking Anchorage out from under you Andi, and putting Pharris in charge. She has the management skills to run an operation like that, and we trust her to do right by us."

"I was actually going to suggest that." Samuels said. "We've talked about a few of the ideas you threw out when we were over there with them, and she's eager to get started on some of them." She paused, checking a note on her tablet. "The biggest change she suggested was getting resource production started before we start working on the city itself. She pointed out that there's no reason to get the production areas geared up when we don't have materials to make anything with."

"We had the same conversation with her, which is why we asked her to go ahead and assume command." Tammy said. "We're going to make some changes in the production here in Atlantis as well. We can feed fifty thousand people for over a year with what we currently have on hand, so we're going to back off food production by half, and change over to making jumpers, mining equipment, and farm implements. I mailed you and your deputy an outline and a production schedule, along with a list of required training. Feel free to add to it, and let us know what you think."

"If we're going to start making jumpers, does that mean we can keep some of the three-oh-two's you were going to send back to Earth?" Caldwell asked.

Tammy grinned at Carter, then looked down the table at him. "Yes Steven, you get to keep fifteen of your little space planes. We're going to send fifteen of those instead of the thirty Sam originally proposed, along with the first ten jumpers we produce. We'll be sending them thirty percent of the jumpers and drones we produce for the next few months, once we have Anchorage stocked up, that is."

"I'm going to need medical supplies and equipment in the not too distant future." Keller said. "We already need to do a blood drive, and if we keep bringing in refugees at the rate we have been, we're going to start running low on consumables in the next sixty days or so."

"Make up a list of what can be produced locally, and another with the stuff you think will have to come from Earth." Tammy said. "Get with me and Andi later, and we can work out what we can make here."

"Steven, you only have four days to get your department split off and setup as an independent unit, so you need to get your people up to speed as fast as possible." Carter said, looking at him, then glancing around the table. "We're in a lull right now, so this would be a good time to get everyone resituated. We'll be moving the military to the north pier, and Andi's team over to the east, those two buildings are already being used for city business anyway. We want the central tower to be a research center, since most of the ancient labs are there. Our management stuff can be done from anywhere."

"That makes sense, Sam, except most of the science people work for at least one of us." Samuels said. "I have fifteen that I know of, and I think John has at least ten, if not more."

"I don't see where that's a problem, Andi." Carter said lightly. "We're not doing any major research, or at least we're not supposed to be doing any. If there's something going on that I don't know about, now would be the time to bring it up."

"Zelenka has half a dozen projects going, but most of those are directly related to the Daedalus and the Apollo." Sheppard said. "Stephen and I talk to him daily."

"Chuck, your people are going to be busy, and I don't know where we're going to get you more right now." Carter said. "I doubt if any of the others will want to give anyone up."

"I've been pulling from the refugee pool, if that's okay." Chuck told her. "I already have three of them in the Ops rotation, and another thirty doing city maintenance. I meant to say something, but haven't really had a chance."

"How did you pick them, and how are you training them?" Samuels asked not looking up at him. Her fingers flew over her tablet, and she frowned as she looked at the screen. "And has your department personnel list been updated?"

"It's a couple days behind." Chuck said. "I brought in ten yesterday, and I have sixty more that I'm going to phase in over the next few weeks."

Samuels looked over at him, her eyes wide. "How many people do you think you're going to need? Running Ops can't take that many people."

"No, but running the city does." Chuck told her. He glanced over at Carter. "Realistically, once we get production going full blast, I'm going to need...call it two thousand maintenance workers to keep it going. Some of the machines on the north pier are already showing the strain."

"Do what you have to do, but keep your paperwork up to date." Carter said. "And get with Pharris, I guess we're going to need a city manager over there too."

Chuck shook his head. "No, ma'am. I have Anchorage slaved to Atlantis, and can monitor it's systems from here. Some of the people I'll be bringing in will be slated for there, but we'll only need three hundred or so for that. That's based on just supporting the production and living areas, and not doing major repairs. I'd need over thirty thousand if you want that city to fly again in less than ten years."

"Two questions." Tammy said. "First, how are you picking these people?"

"The teaching machines do an IQ and an aptitude scan when you put the headset on, that's why you get a suggested training list on it." He said "It automatically updates the cities database with that information, and any training the person gets."

He looked around the table. "The database also locates any other information on the person from its systems and merges it into a central file. So when we key someone in for a dwelling, or they get a medical scan, that information is included. I just went through, and got their addresses, and went to talk to them."

"You know who and where everyone is in the city?" Andi said, staring at him.

"Yes ma'am. Dr. Keller's people have been doing a great job. They get a name, age, and a complete medical history on everyone that goes through the ingress process. Our people were already in the system." He said. He typed on his tablet, then slid it over to her. "This is what the city has on you."

"This is amazing." Andi said. "But how does the system know who is who, we don't input names when we assign a dwelling."

"That's easy. Every ancient machine or device you touch does a DNA scan whether you have the ATA gene or not. That information is stored with any other matching records." He said. "I can tell you how many times Col. Sheppard has flown which jumpers if you want, or who has been in what room, and when."

"I think this is something that we all need to get training on, Chuck. How long would it take you to work up a presentation and put all of us through it?" Carter asked.

"I'll get you the required training list from the teacher, and you can just have everyone do that. It would be alot faster." He said. "There's only three or four files related to this system, so it only takes a few minutes."

"Send that list out, and we'll get everyone trained." She said. She looked over at Tammy. "You said you had two questions."

Tammy nodded and looked at Chuck for a moment. "If you had the people, how soon could you get that city to fly?"

"No more than eighteen months, depending on if we had all the materials we needed." He told her. "But from what I'm seeing on some of the sensors, we'd have to dig it out first. It looks like two thirds of it is buried. most of the towers are above ground, you just can't see them because of the forests. That's why you can only see the central tower."

"How long do you think it would take to dig it out?" Samuels asked.

"That depends on how you want to do it." Chuck said. "I'd suggest clearing the forests for two kilometers around it first, there's no point in wasting all that wood. Then we start from the outside of the ring, blasting the dirt out with the Asgard beams from one of the ships. When we get within ten feet of the structures, we switch to C-4 and earth movers, either that, or we fire up the stardrive and try to vibrate some of it loose.."

He looked down the table at Caldwell. "Is your guy Marks as good with those beams as he is with the transport system?"

"Better. Why?" Caldwell asked.

"If he can give me a narrow, directed beam, we could get as close as five feet, maybe even three." Chuck said. "Then we could cut the window for excavating down to one week."

"Work me up a plan, and send it out to the senior staff." Carter said.

"I sent a draft out three days ago. I didn't include that last part, I just thought of that this morning."

"What else have you sent out?" Sheppard asked. "I may not have been reading all your mails."

"I think I missed a few too." Caldwell said. "But can we go back to what you were saying about the teaching machines? You said that they do an aptitude scan? What kind of information does that include?"

"It looks like a graph, broken down by skill sets." Chuck said. He opened a file on his tablet again, and slid it across to Caldwell. "The obvious ones are on it, like math, language and science, but you can break it down pretty fine. That shows the full spread on me." 

"There's over a hundred categories here." Caldwell said. "You're off the scale on associational reasoning and management skills. It looks like we got the right man for the job you're in."

"Can that be sorted by skill sets?" Tammy asked, holding her hand out for the tablet.

Caldwell slid the tablet down to her, and she leaned closer to Sam so she could see it.

"Yes ma'am. That's how I'm picking my people." Chuck said.

"So we just learned that we need to step back and rethink what we're going to do with Anchorage, and where we're putting people." Carter said. "And I hope we all learned that we need to pay alot more attention when Chuck sends out an email. I know I did." 

"Let's let Pharris proceed with her resource project, we need to get those forests cleared before we can do anything anyway." Andi said. "We're probably going to need metals too, so mining is going to be important as well."

"Andi, get with Chuck and make sure everyone gets that training, today. Get Pharris back here and include her." Tammy said, she thought for a second, then went on. "You might as well do Bra'tac and O'Neill too. When you're done. Sit down as a group and go over your staffing lists. I want you to move people around based on what they're best at."

She paused again. "The first thing I want you to do is find the top twenty management types we have. The top five go to me and Sam, you can fight over the rest. There's almost fifty thousand people in the city now so it shouldn't be too hard."

"You want us to go into the refugee pool, like Chuck did?" Sheppard asked. "Are you sure that's a good idea? You're talking about putting these people into high level positions, at least if I heard you right."

"You heard me right." Tammy said. "And make it the top fifty. You all know we need the help, and we just don't have what we need with the people we started with. We're going to trust these people to make our food, and equipment, and to keep the city running, so how much different is it trusting them to help us run the government?"

"It's alot different. But I agree, if we're not going to trust them, why are we bringing them here?" Caldwell said

"We're not going to force you to take anyone you don't want." Carter said, "But the people that go to us are going to end up running other departments, or working directly for us. We both still need personal assistants, so keep that skill set in mind during your search."

She looked around the table, smiling as she watched them talking to each other, or making notes on laptops and tablets.

"I'd like an update on progress by thirteen hundred, and an outline for a plan by no later than eighteen hundred." She said as she stood up. She smiled again as they all looked at her. "And we wouldn't mind company for dinner, so let us know who's interested. I was thinking Italian would be nice." She said, giving Andi a significant look.

"I wouldn't mind Italian myself." Andi grinned back. "I'll get with the staff, they have all my recipes, so it shouldn't be a problem."

"Can I bring a date?" Chuck asked as he gathered up his things. 

"Fine with me." Carter laughed. "I just want to have a nice family dinner, so it might be nice to meet your friends, Chuck."

"He's just trying to score points with someone, or trying to get into her pants." Tammy laughed, joining Sam at the door. "But that's okay, I'm all for helping people get laid!"

Interior-Robotics Lab, Central Tower

1115 Hours

"This is one of half a dozen labs the ancients used when they were developing the replicators." Tammy said as she showed Sam around. "I still have to go through the others, but there's already some parts here I can use for Boris. From what I saw in the inventory, it looks like most of the skeleton is built, and just needs to be assembled."

"What about the skin? You said it would be more like Data from Star Trek, so does that mean he's going to have rubber skin?" Sam asked. She went over to a work bench and lifted a sheet of plastic from it. "I don't think I'd like that. It would feel creepy."

"Got it covered." Tammy laughed as she came over and joined her. "The ancients had something that they used to replace real skin for burn patients. It looks and feels like the real thing. I need to tell Jennifer about it. There's some other stuff in the research that she might be able to use too, like artificial limbs and organs."

"So there's going to be a real, direct benefit from your little project besides getting you laid?" Sam laughed.

"Definitely." Tammy grinned, turning on a terminal and bringing up the schematics she had been working on. She brought up images of different faces, and looked at Sam over her shoulder. "You got a preference? I can't decide between a twenty something boy-toy, or an early thirties man about town."

"I like that one." Sam told her, pointing at an image. "Mature, but not too old, give him short, sandy blond hair, and lose the mustache. Smooth out the cheeks a little too, he looks like he'd be fat with those puffy cheeks."

"I like that one too." Tammy said as she made a few adjustments, then looked at Sam again. "Better?"

"A little more off the cheeks, and make the hair a little longer." Sam said as she leaned closer. "What do you have in mind for the body? You said something about five-eight? That's a little short. I prefer my men taller than I am."

"I like my men lean and wiry, but taller isn't a bad idea." Tammy laughed, then changed screens and brought up a series of images of headless bodies.

"Any of those would be fine." Sam said as she looked over the pictures. "But I'm serious, make him at least five-ten, don't go over six feet. There's something about looking up at a man, I don't know, it just..."

"I know what you mean." Tammy said as she turned around. "I already made the adjustment. All those images are scaled between five-ten and five-eleven. That's going to put them in the one seventy-five pound range. You okay with that?"

"You weigh almost that much, so it shouldn't be a problem." Sam said as she looked at the images. She glanced over at Tammy, then back at the screen. "You said you wanted a big, um...thing..."

"Step this way." Tammy laughed, taking Sam by the arm and leading her across the room. She opened a cabinet and pulled out a tray, making Sam laugh when she saw what was in it.

"You've got to be kidding me!" Sam laughed as she stared at the rows of disembodied penises. "There's no way any of those is going in me! They won't fit!"

"I know." Tammy laughed as she closed the tray and pulled open another one. "I just wanted you to see them. These are more of what I had in mind."

The second tray had three rows of artificial penises ranging from seven to nine inches long with various girths. The ones on the bottom row were all uncircumcised.

"That's more like it, even though all of these are still bigger than any of the guys I've been with." Sam said. She picked one up, turning it in her hand as she looked at it. 

"This doesn't feel like what I what expecting." She said as she ran her hand up and down over the shaft. 

"These are prosthetics, replacement parts for humans." Tammy said. "We can use them for Boris, and the good part is, we don't have to pick just one, we can interchange them. But check this out."

She took the prosthetic from Sam and mounted it on a base attached to the table. Bringing up another terminal, she typed for moment, then grinned at Sam.

"Watch, this thing does all kinds of tricks." She pressed a series of keys, and the penis began getting longer and thicker as it became erect. 

"Put your hand around it." She told Sam.

Sam wrapped her fingers around the shaft, surprised at how warm, and life like it felt. She ran her hand up and down over the length of it, stopping suddenly when she felt a protrusion just above the base.

"There's something wrong with this one." She said, leaning closer to see what was causing the bump. "There's something sticking out of it."

"It's supposed to, and it does it on both sides." Tammy said as she made another series of keystrokes. "It's a G-spot nodule. It extends to stimulate as the penis strokes, or..." She made another adjustment, laughing when Sam jerked her hand away. "It vibrates to add different sensations."

"Do they all do that?" Sam asked as she put her hand back on the prosthetic, her palm resting on the protrusion.

"They do different tricks, but they all have that feature. Apparently, it was popular with ancient women." Tammy said. "But check this out."

Sam jumped back as the penis throbbed and twitched in her hand, and a small spurt of a creamy white liquid erupted from the tip. The penis jerked as it stood on its base, and another burst sprayed from the tip, rising almost six inches in the air.

"Isn't that kewl?" Tammy laughed. "I always liked the sensation of a guy shooting off inside me, and with Boris, I can have it anytime I want it!"

"So what kind of time table do you have on this, and what's involved?" Sam asked. "Are you going to be spending alot of time on this? I mean we're supposed to be looking for information on the Wraith in the database."

"I'm still doing that." Tammy said as she shut down the terminal and walked over to the table. She removed the prosthetic from its base and wiped it off with a towel, then put it back in the drawer. "And now that I have an idea what you like, I can finalize the plans and start the process. That'll take a couple hours tops, then I can start him cooking, and he should be done in thirty-six hours."




Confirming Carter Bk. 02 Daedalus Ch. 10



Interior-Conference Room, Central Tower

1125 Hours

Chuck watched the screen on the teaching machine, waiting for the process to end. Caldwell sat in a chair next to him wearing a headset, his eyes closed, a small smile on his face.

When the process ended, Caldwell opened his eyes and looked around, then looked over at Chuck.

"Is that it?" He asked as he took the headset off and sat it on the machine. "When we did the ancient language, I felt it, I mean, I could feel myself thinking in ancient. I don't feel anything with this. Are you sure it took?"

"You have to have a reference when you get training on a specific skill or how to use a piece of equipment or device." Chuck told him. 

He looked around the room at the others sitting around the table as he opened a file on his tablet. The monitors around the room came on, and he saw heads nodding as he worked through the screens. 

"These are the same screens I showed you a few minutes ago." He said. "Do they make any more sense now?"

"Yeah, it was gibberish when we looked at it earlier." Sheppard said, picking up his own tablet. He tabbed through the database, then looked up at Chuck in surprise. "You already started that search Tammy asked us about?"

"It only took a minute to set up, so I went ahead and ran it while we were still in the meeting." Chuck told him. "I pulled the top five hundred, not just the top fifty. But if you want to set your own search up for practice, I can walk you through that." 

"Can you go ahead and walk them through that, just the basic search?" Andi said as she scrolled through the list from Chuck's search. "Then we can talk about which of these people we want to send where. I'm marking the top four candidates from the personal assistants list to send to Sam and Tammy."

"Its fairly straightforward. You input the primary characteristic you want, and the range you're looking for." He said as he keyed a search in on his tablet, then looked up to make sure that it was mirrored on the monitors. "You can add sub categories, like gender, age, and secondary skills as well. The results can be shown as a list, a chart, or a graph, with the best choices at the top."

"That seems simple enough." Caldwell said. "But this just gives us likely candidates based on aptitude. The people we're looking at probably don't have any actual training or experience."

"That's true, Stephen." Samuels said, leaning back in her chair. "But it usually takes someone new a few days, if not weeks to adjust to how things are done when you bring them in. And there may be training available on management and some of the other things we need."

"There is." Chuck said, blushing slightly as he looked over at Caldwell. "I've done a few of them myself. That might be why the scan I showed you was off the scale in some areas."

"I thought you said that the scan was your basic aptitudes." Caldwell said. "Are you saying that using the teacher affects that?"

Chuck nodded as he brought up a pair of images on the monitors.

"Whenever you learn something new, whether you're using the teacher or doing it naturally, your brain makes new pathways, which affects your basic aptitudes." Chuck told him. "What you already know affects what else you can learn."

"He's right, Stephen." Samuels said. She looked over at the images on the monitor closest to her. "I guess those are before and after images of who, Stephen after his last session on the teacher?"

"Yes, ma'am." Chuck nodded. "As you can see, there's a marked change in several areas because of the different training he's received."

"Okay." Sheppard said as he looked around the table. "Now that we know how to use this, can we look at the list Chuck pulled up? Tammy said they wanted the top five, but I think we should give them the top ten, then just alternate them as we go down the list. That way, we all get about the same level of skills."

"That sounds like a plan." Caldwell said as he looked over the list. "But we might want to add Pharris and Jennifer since they're not here right now."

"Don't forget Daniel." Andi added. "He's going to need people for his education department. And since he doesn't have the ancient gene either, one of you might want to go ahead and see if you can work up something to find him teachers."

Interior-Kitchen

1330 Hours

"So tell me what you have so far, Andi." Sam said as she came out of the door to the gym. Tammy followed behind her, pushing Geraan and Phinnar ahead of her.

"I'll be right with you." Tammy said as she ushered the boys out the door. "I want to get these two dressed real quick. Why don't you order us something to eat? I could go for a steak, maybe some ribs."

"I want pizza." Geraan grumbled as he stepped into the hall.

"How about you, Phinnar?" Tammy laughed. "Pizza okay?"

Phinnar nodded, then took off at a run down the hall. Geraan followed, both of them laughing and whooping as they headed for their room. Tammy grinned over her shoulder, then jogged after them.

"Her inner child lives very close to the surface." Sam laughed as she sat down at the head of the table. She looked over at Samuels, her face coloring slightly. "She caught them playing doctor yesterday, at least that's how she put it. And instead of stopping them, she joined in, and let them play doctor on her."

"That was actually a very healthy thing for her to do." Andi said as she sat down. "They see you two naked all the time, and I'm pretty sure that they've seen you making out, if not making love, so letting them explore a little won't hurt them. She used the opportunity to explain a few things I hope."

"Yes I did, Andi." Tammy laughed as she came into the kitchen. "And to be honest, I was amazed, and a little disappointed with how fast they got bored with me. Phinnar said I smelled funny."

She turned and keyed the comm, then gave the cook their food order. She glanced back over her shoulder at Sam, and when she nodded, she told the cook that that would be all and closed the comm.

"Its going to take half an hour for the food." Tammy said as she moved around the table and sat down. She grinned at Sam, then looked over at Andi. "So, you wanna hear more about what the boys did to me, or do you want to tell us what you have for us."

"I think I should tell you what we've gotten done so far." Andi said, trying not to smile as she glanced over at Sam. "Chuck had already setup a search before we left the meeting, so after he ran us all through the training and gave us an overview on how to use the system, we went through and pulled people for all the departments."

She paused, glancing down at her tablet, then continued. "He set the search up for the top five hundred, instead of the fifty you said to do, and we pulled the top ten out for you, along with four personal assistants for you to interview. I have someone out contacting them now, and we'll have them assemble in the conference room in the morning so you can meet them. We'll set them up in quarters in that building as well."

"Put our assistants in the suites on forty-two, unless you already have someone in them." Tammy said. "I think they should be close, since they're going to be part of the household staff."

"I can do that." Andi said, making a note on her tablet. "I have to tell you, we went a little overboard when we were pulling from that list. There were only four of our people on the list, all of them in my department, and we're going to leave them in place. For the rest, we pulled almost thirty each from the refugee pool, and Chuck already has the first groups on the training machine for the skills they're going to need."

"So how many did you get altogether?" Sam asked.

"Not quite a hundred and fifty." Andi said, grinning broadly. "Sheppard and Caldwell may have had concerns earlier, but once they got a look at the skills list, they were like kids in a candy store."

"Did you get Pharris over like I asked?" Tammy asked her.

"No, they were tied up, and couldn't get free. But we got people for her, Jennifer and Daniel." Andi told her. "I also had Chuck set up a search for teachers for Daniel, since he doesn't have the gene."

"That was a good idea." Sam said. "Have him send that list to Daniel, but copy us, since his department is going to be directly under us. You've got too much going as it is, and we may be pulling more out from under you as we grow."

"I'd suggest doing the intelligence services first. The woman I have running that is very competent, and I think you'll like her." Andi said. "She's one of ours, and was one of the original expedition members."

"I didn't know that you had farmed that out, but bring her to dinner tonight so we can meet her." Tammy said. "I know most of the originals that are still here, so I probably already know her."

Geraan and Phinnar ran into the room, going around the table to Tammy's chair.

"There they are! My little warrior and the finest pilot in the galaxy!" She laughed as she turned in her chair and leaned toward them. "Come here and give me a big hug, then we'll go in the bedroom and play airplane while Sam and Andi talk. How's that sound?"

The boys laughed happily as she hugged them, then they each took a hand and pulled her up, leading her out of the room.

"She's so natural with them." Sam said quietly as she watched them walk down the hall. "I envy her sometimes."

"She's more like their sister, or favorite aunt." Andi said, smiling softly. "You're the queen, and mother figure."

"She's a queen too. I do..."

"No Sam, you are the queen, emphasis on the. Even Tammy acknowledges that." Andi said seriously. "You were first, and without what you had done with this city and these people, none of this would have been possible. I know it may be getting old, but what Teyla said is right, you are much loved by your people."

Interior-Office

1530 Hours

Carter was working at her terminal when Tammy came in and sat down, putting her feet up on a table.

"You were kinda quiet during lunch, then you disappeared in here without saying anything." She said as she opened her laptop and waited for it to boot up. "You feeling okay?"

"I'm fine." Carter said, not looking up from her work. "Its just...I don't know. Seeing the way you are with the boys, then something Andi said..."

"What did she say?" Tammy asked, sitting her laptop down and turning her attention to her.

"She said...she said that you were like their sister, or a favorite aunt, and that I was the queen, and a mother figure." Carter said, glancing over at her, then going back to her work.

"I can see that." Tammy said. "I'm alot more relaxed than you are, and I play with them more. They come to you for the mom stuff, and come to me for the fun stuff."

She leaned back in her chair, smiling over at Sam.

"Who do they go to first thing in the morning, or if they have a problem?" She asked. "Think about it. What does Geraan do every morning when he comes into the kitchen?"

"He buries his face in my lap." Sam laughed.

"That's right. And Phinnar is right behind him." Tammy told her. "They don't even look at me until they've said good morning, or gotten a hug from you." She paused, frowning slightly, then added, "I get jealous sometimes, you know."

"Funny you should say that." Sam laughed, her mood starting to brighten. "I said the same thing to Andi. That's what prompted her to say what she did."

"They're not the only ones that look at us that way, you know." Tammy said. "Maybe its our personalities, maybe its the fact that you were in command before we took over, but people are more relaxed with me, and more formal with you. Except Daniel, Vala and O'Neill that is, they treat you like family."

"They are my family." Sam said with a smile. "And they're your family too now. I see the way you are with Vala, and Jack treats you like his kid sister."

"I still don't get Daniel, but I never got the bookworm type anyway." Tammy said. "But you're right about Jack and Vala, they do feel like family already."

"Don't worry about Daniel, he likes you, you just have to spend more time with him." Sam said as she got up and came around the desk. She stopped in front of Tammy and held out her hand. "Come on, let's go over to your lab, I want to see more about our little fucktoy, Boris. I have some ideas you might like."

Interior-Office Complex, Central Tower

1610 Hours

Chuck stepped out of the porter and walked down the row of desks toward the back of the large room. He stopped outside on open door and knocked lightly, then said, "Hey, got a minute?"

"For you? Anytime." Sandy Wildon said as she looked up from her terminal, giving him a bright smile. "If you want the truth, I can use a break."

"Good." Chuck said as he stepped into the office and stood in front of her desk. "I was wondering if you'd like to have dinner with me tonight. I ha..."

Sandy's smile disappeared, and she got up, coming around the desk to put her arms around him.

"Oh god, I can't tonight, Chuck." She said as she pulled him closer to her. "Dr. Samuels wants me to join her for dinner tonight. She said that she wanted me to meet with the queens, and talk to them about something."

Chuck grinned as he put his hands on her hips, grinding his crotch against hers.

"Tell her no, because you're going to dinner with me." He said. "I already have permission from the queens to bring a date, so you can still talk to them. And I promise that I'll be alot more fun than she will."

"Am I getting in the way of your social life, Chuck?" Andi said from behind him, laughing as they both turned to look at her. "And are you saying that I'm boring? I think I should resent that."

Chuck looked over his shoulder at her, his eyes wide, his mouth moving, but nothing came out of it.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to eavesdrop, I just wanted to talk to Sandy about dinner." She said lightly. "But go ahead and go with Chuck, Sandy. He can introduce you to everyone as well as I can, and it will only take a few minutes for what I want to do with the queens."

She smiled as they both just stared at her.

"Okay, I'll let you two talk. But remember, dinner is at nineteen hundred in the dining room, we're having Italian." She said as she turned and started to walk away, then turned back. "And Sandy, come see me when you're done with Chuck. No hurry, I just want to review a few things with you."

Chuck and Sandy stared at the open door for a moment, then burst out laughing.

Interior-Office Complex, Central Tower

1630 Hours

"I'm sorry about that, Dr. Samuels." Sandy said as she stepped into her office. "We didn't know you were there. But I have to tell you, it was nice getting two different invitations to have dinner with the queens on the same day."

"I can imagine." Andi laughed, waving her into a seat. "And its really not a problem. If you want the truth, it works out even better this way."

"How do you mean, doctor?" Sandy asked as she got settled. 

"First, I think its time you started calling me Andi, second, I mean that both your and Chuck's status points will go up if you show up as a couple, instead of a pair of singles. I think General O'Neill and I are going to be the only unattached people there tonight." Andi said. She looked at Sandy for a moment, then added, "I suppose I should ask if you are a couple. I mean, is this serious?"

Sandy smiled at her and said, "I'm not in the rotation anymore, but we get together occasionally. But considering that he asked me to join him for dinner with the queens, I guess he might want to get me back as a regular."

"I'm not even going to ask what 'in the rotation' means." Andi laughed. "But why don't you go wrap up whatever you have going and knock off early today so you can go get ready for dinner. Dress is casual, jeans are fine, but no perfumes or colognes, please. And try to be fashionably late, so you can make an entrance. You'll make a better impression."

Interior-Dining Room, East Tower

1920 Hours

"Hurry up, Chuck." Sandy said as they stepped out of the porter. "She said to be fashionably late, that's ten minutes. We're pushing obscenely late."

"Would you lighten up?" Chuck laughed as he stopped and looked at himself in one of the mirrored walls. "I impressed the hell out of the colonel and the court this morning, so I think I'll get some leeway." 

"I wouldn't bet on that Chucky." Tammy laughed as she came out of the restroom behind them. "Sam has been asking about you, and Andi says that you have her new...well, I guess I should let them tell her about that."

She turned and looked at Sandy, her face brightening when she got a good look at her.

"Sandy!" She laughed as she went over and hugged her warmly. "I didn't know you were still in Atlantis. God, I am so sorry I lost touch with you. How have you been? And what are you doing hanging around with the Chucknician?"

"I've been fine ma'am." Sandy said as she hugged her back. "I've missed you too. We had some good times that first year. I'm sorry we lost touch too, but we both got so busy with work, it was bound to happen."

"So tell me the truth." Tammy said, glancing over her shoulder at Chuck. "Is what they say about him true? I mean is he really as..."

"Better." Sandy laughed, stepping back and putting her arm around Chuck. "He's a regular machine. And the tricks he knows! I'm surprised you never gave him a test drive."

"I meant to, but could never seem to find the time." She said, grinning over at Chuck. "I may be the only original that hasn't."

"There's quite a few act..." Chuck began, but Tammy cut him off.

"And neither of us cares, Chuck." She laughed. "But I think we should go in now. They're already serving, and I love Andi's lasagna."

She turned and went into the dining room, and they followed behind her. Tammy walked up behind Sam's seat, laughing when she heard what was going on.

"I want pizza." Geraan grumbled as he poked at his plate with his fork.

"We don't have pizza." Sam told him. "Put some lasagna on a piece of bread, and pretend its pizza."

"You liked what we have last time we had it, Geraan." Tammy said as she knelt down beside his chair. She glanced over at Sam and winked at her. "Do this for me, try a little, and tell me what you think. You have tried it haven't you?"

Geraan shook his head, his face set in a pout. "I don't want this, I want pizza."

"Well, you had pizza for lunch, and this is what we have, so its up to you, no one is going to force you to eat it." She said as she looked over at Phinnar. "What do you think, Phinnar, do you like it?"

Phinnar nodded as he shoveled a forkful of spaghetti into his mouth, then wiped his plate with a piece of bread and stuffed it in his mouth. Tammy grinned at him as he chewed quickly, then looked up at her from his now empty plate.

"Go ahead." She laughed. "But get one of the servers to get it for you, okay?"

"Uh huh." He grunted as he dropped off his chair and ran across the room.

"I found Chuck primping in the foyer." She said as she stood up and turned to Sam. "And he has Andi's assistant with him." She waved Sandy closer and smiled at Sam. "This is Sandy Wildon, she was one of the original Ops techs, then got moved to sciences, then shifted to admin. From what I heard, she kicked ass everywhere she went, and I know that she was one of Dr. Weir's favorites. She should do fine for what Andi has in mind."

Sam stood up, wiping her hands on a napkin and grinned over at Tammy.

"I know Sandy, she's my go to girl for when I have to get something done." She laughed as she turned and looked at her, holding out her hand. "How are you Sandy? I'm sorry I've been out of touch, but things have been a little weird for the last few weeks, ya know?"

"I've been fine ma'am." Sandy said as she took her hand. "It's been interesting since we kicked the IOA out, and now, working with Dr. Samuels, I can understand why you don't get out as much as you used to."




Confirming Carter Bk. 02 Daedalus Ch. 10



"I thought I told you to call me Andi, dear." Samuels said as she walked up. She turned and looked at Chuck. "And I thought I told you to be fashionably, not ridiculously late young man. We'll have to talk about that later. Why don't you go get something to eat, we won't need you for a little while."

Chuck looked startled, then nodded. He bowed slightly toward the queens, and went over to the buffet.

"It really wasn..." Sandy said.

"I know." Samuels laughed. "But I can see him getting too big for his britches, and wanted to bring him down a notch or two."

"Judging by the way you greeted her, I take it that both of you know Sandy already?" She said, looking at Sam and Tammy.

"I think she's a good choice Andi. Like I just told Tammy, I went to her when I needed to get something done. Especially with McKay." Sam said. "Have you talked to her about what we have in mind?"

"Not yet, I wanted to get your impressions first." Samuels said. 

She looked over at Sandy as she spoke again. "You've been running the intelligence services since you came to work for me, and to be honest, I've just been rubber stamping what you've been sending me for the last few weeks. I spoke to the queens about it this afternoon, and we'd like to formalized it, and make you the head of that department."

"I...I don't know what to say." Sandy stammered. "I'm honored, but I don't know if...I don't have any training or field exper..."

"Having operational experience is a plus, but not a necessity for a department head." Sam reassured her. "Being a competent manager is much more important, and we all agree, you are definitely competent."

"Sam's right." Tammy said. "I think you can handle it. And we're not going to just throw you in the deep end and see if you can swim. You'll have assistants to do the leg work, your job is going to be looking at the high level, long range stuff, and directing traffic. You can do that in your sleep."

"Thank you ma'am. I apprec..."

"I'm sorry to interrupt you Sandy, but there's one thing we need to get out of the way right now." Sam said with a soft smile. "We don't care for that ma'am you keep using. I prefer colonel, and Tammy...well, she's just Tammy."

"Yes ma...I'm sorry, colonel." Sandy said. "This is going to take some getting used to. I've been calling you ma'am since we met."

"That's my fault Sandy, and I'll explain later." Andi laughed, then turned back to Sam and Tammy. "Head of a department of this importance is a court level position, or at least I think so. What do you ladies think?"

"I agree." Tammy said. "And that calls for a title. I don't think Lady Sandy sounds any worse than Lady Tammy. What do you think Sam?"

"I think it sounds fine. But we didn't bring my spoon." Sam said, looking at Sandy. "I guess we can have someone go get it..."

"We don't need it Sam, we're not knighting her, just awarding a title." Tammy laughed. "But we do have to keep an eye out for likely female candidates. The knighthood is a boys club right now."

"We'll get to that." Sam laughed. "I think Amelia is at the top of the list right now. I just need her to do something. I'm not going to make a woman a knight just to have one. That's a position that needs to be earned."

She turned back to Sandy. "But you still haven't given us an answer. What do you say, hon, do you want the job?"

"This is really a surprise, and would be a big step up for me." Sandy said, looking back and forth between the three of them. "Can I have a couple days to..."

"No." Samuels said quickly. "Look Sandy, we all know that you can do the job, because you've been doing it. The reason I suggested you for the position is because I want it off my plate, I have enough to do as foreign minister, and more seems to land on my desk every day. So while the queens might be willing to wait for an answer, I'm not."

"She has a point, Sandy." Tammy said lightly. "We really need to free Andi up so she can concentrate on the diplomatic situation and planning the coronation. That, and doing everything else we dump on her. It may not seem fair for us to pressure you like this, but we really need an answer."

"Then I guess I have to say yes." Sandy said, then frowned suddenly. "Oh god, I have no idea how Chuck is going to take this."

"Let's find out." Sam said as she turned and looked around the room.

"If I could have everyone's attention please?" She said. She waited a moment before she continued. "In consultation with our foreign minister, we've decided to split the intelligence services off into a separate department, which will still work with, but not for the foreign ministry. We'd like to introduce our choice for the head of that department, which will be a court level position."

She reached back and took Sandy's hand, pulling her up beside her.

"Ladies and gentlemen, It gives me great pleasure to present to you, the Lady Sandy Wildon. Please make her welcome."

Polite applause followed her announcement. Sandy was watching Chuck, trying not to smile as he looked back at her with a stunned expression on his face. She frowned when he pushed away from the table and walked toward the door.

Tammy was watching him as well, and intercepted him before he could reach the door.

"Do you have any idea how rude it is to ask someone to dinner then walk out on them?" She said quietly. "I don't know, or care what you're thinking right now, but I'm going to tell you that she had no idea that this was going to happen. We blindsided her with it."

When he didn't reply, she went on.

"You can leave if you want, but before you do, you're going to go over there and congratulate her. And you're going to look like you mean it." She said, leaning closer. "If you still want to leave, you're going to apologize and tell her that something came up, you can blame me if you want. Personally, I think you're an idiot if you do. Now give me your arm and look like you're having a good time."

"Yes ma'am." He said quietly. He looked at her for a moment then added, "I was going to come back, I was just going to step out for a few minutes, and see if I could get my head around this. It kind of took me by surprise."

"Whatever Chuck." Tammy said as she turned and led him back over to the group. By the time they got there, everyone was crowding around Sandy, and it took a few minutes for them to get close to her.

Sandy smiled when she saw him, and he grinned back as he put his arms around her.

"Congratulations Sandy." He said, then kissed her on the cheek. "I can't think of anyone that could the job better. They made an excellent choice."

"Thank you Chuck, that means alot coming from you." she said, then leaned closer, her voice lower when she spoke again. "Tell me the truth, were you going to leave? You didn't look too happy when you walked away."

He shook his head and smiled. "No, I was going to go out to the foyer, maybe the restroom and try to get my head together. That was quite a shock, hearing the colonel announce your appointment like that."

"Then imagine how I feel." She said softly as she stepped back. "They offered me the job, and said they needed an answer right away. Then I see you stalking off..."

"It wasn't like that, honest..."

"Excuse me, but are you going to hog our newest court member for the entire evening?" O'Neill asked as he came up beside them.

"Well, she is my date general, so..."

"Excellent! Then you have all night." O'Neill grinned at him. 

"I don't know if you're aware of it or not," he said, taking Sandy's arm and leading her away. "But I spent more than ten years with the SGC, and worked with the..."

Chuck stared after them as they walked over and stood next to one of the windows. He turned and started back for his seat, and almost ran into Andi, who was now standing next to him.

"I think its time we had that little talk I mentioned earlier." She said coolly as she glared at him. "Wouldn't you agree?"

"I..."

"I don't think Chuck can take much more this evening, Andi." Tammy laughed as she came over and put her arm around him. "We blindsided him by promoting his date, then I shit on him because I thought he was going to leave, O'Neill looks like he's hitting on her, and now you want to rip him a new one. What do you say you wait till tomorrow, when he's had a chance to recover?"

"Thank you." Chuck said, then looked over toward where Sandy and O'Neill were standing by the windows. "But did you say..."

"Sure did, and by the looks of things, I'd say she's open to the idea." Tammy laughed. "You may be going home alone tonight, Chuck."

"I think that was going to happen anyway." He mumbled. "I kind of thought she would be too though."

"What are the three of you talking about over here?" Sam asked as she came over. "From across the room, it looks pretty serious. Did Chuck come up with something else for us?"

"'fraid not Sam." Tammy told her. "Chuck's not having a very good night, I don't think he's feeling very well. I was about to suggest that he go home and get some rest, and maybe he'll feel better in the morning."

"I'm sorry to hear that Chuck. I had a few things I wanted to talk to you about, but that can wait till tomorrow." Sam said.

"Thank you, colonel." Chuck said softly. He paused for a moment looking at her. "Do you mind if I ask why you didn't give me a title when you promoted me? As near as I can tell, everyone else here tonight is a sir, lord or lady something or other."

"I thought about that too Chuck, I guess it just slipped our minds." Sam told him, looking back at him evenly. "But we did give you a title, you're our city manager. And we only have one of those."

"The lords and ladies are all honorary titles." Tammy added. "Because we don't have anything else to give them. We gave you your dream job, and our city to play with to your hearts content."

Chuck nodded and smiled at her. "And I'm still trying to come up with ways to thank you for that."

"You're doing fine, and please, keep it up." Tammy laughed. "But I'll make you a deal. If you can get Anchorage repaired and flying in the next twelve months, I'll make you an earl, and give you the next ancient outpost we find once you do."

"Tammy!" Andi said, unable to believe her ears. "You can't do that! Do you have any idea wha..."

"I like that idea." Sam said. "Just look at the scale of what we're asking him to do, Andi. Granted, that city is in better condition than any of us could have hoped, but its still in bad shape."

"Just to make sure I understand what you're saying," Chuck said, looking back and forth between Sam and Tammy. "If I can get Anchorage to fly, you'll make me an earl, and give me an ancient outpost to do whatever I want with, is that accurate?"

"In space. It won't do us any good to be able to fly it around that planet. So it has to be space worthy." Tammy said. "And as an earl, you would still be subject to our domain, and the laws of Atlantis."

"Of course, without the backing of Atlantis, a standalone outpost wouldn't stand a chance." Chuck said. He paused, then grinned at them. "But tell me something, how do you feel about polygamy?"

Interior-Living Room

2210 Hours

"He actually asked you how you felt about polygamy?" O'Neill asked as he leaned back on the couch. Sandy sat next to him, her hand resting on his leg.

"Yes." Sam laughed as she picked up a shot glass from the table and tossed it back. "And I'm pretty sure he was serious too."

"Oh, he was serious alright." Sandy said. "I don't know how much any of you know about him, but most of the women in Atlantis have slept with him at one time or another. He has thirty or so in the rotation, and it's not unusual for him to do a two or three a day."

"Two or three a day?" O'Neill asked. "are you serious?"

"That's what I heard too." Jennifer pitched in. "Apparently he has an unusually high testosterone level. I looked at his records when I heard about him, but there's no history of STD's or infections."

"I think he's immune. He likes to ride bareback." Sandy said, then took a sip of her wine.

"Bareback?" O'Neill asked.

"I'll show you later if you'd like, Jack." Sandy said, snuggling closer.

Tammy laughed as Sam tried not to choked on her drink. She patted her on the back, then picked up two more shots, handing one to Sam, and tossing the other back.

"So um...are uh, you in this rotation thing?" O'Neill asked.

"I used to be." Sandy laughed, running her hand up and down his leg. "But if you want the truth, he's really not my type. I mean, he's good in bed and all, but I prefer older, more worldly men. There's something about a silver haired military type that just gets my motor running."

"I'd say its in overdrive right now." Tammy whispered to Sam, making her giggle.

"But I have to get up early in the morning." Sandy said, turning to Sam and Tammy. "I'd like to meet with you and Andi tomorrow to talk about what you have in mind as far as what the job involves, and there's the Genii spy issue to discuss as well."

"The Genii have spies here?" Sam asked.

"At least thirty that we've identified so far, but there are probably more." Sandy said, standing up and making a show of stretching in front of O'Neill. "We've been isolating them as we confirm that they are Genii agents. I'm surprised Andi hasn't said anything to you about them."

"No, she hasn't." Sam said. "I'd remember something like that. I'll have to ask her about them, and see if there's anything else she hasn't felt the need to share."

Sandy turned to O'Neill, smiling as she held out her hand. 

"Come on, Jack, you can walk me home." she said. "I'd like to talk to you about a job opening we have, and given your experience, I think there may be a couple other openings I want you to look at that you might be interested in. I'm pretty sure you'll be able to fill them to my satisfaction."

"Oh my gawd." Jennifer said under her breath. "I can't believe she just said that."

"Uh...sure." O'Neill said as he stood up. He brushed the front of his pants casually, trying to hide his erection. "We can do that. But keep in mind, I am a retiree, so..."

"From what I've seen in the gym recently Jack, you're in the best shape you've been in years." Tammy laughed as she stood up, then turned and pulled Sam to her feet. "I'm moving this party into the kitchen, I like it better in there, it's just more comfortable. Jack and Sandy, we'll see you tomorrow. The rest of you, follow me."

Interior-Jack O'Neill's Quarters, North Tower

2300 Hours

"I really don't want to go home, Jack." Sandy said as she pressed him against the porter wall. "I'd rather go to your place. I have a roommate, and I'd really like to be alone with you right now."

"Um...I have a roo..."

"But you have your own room don't you?" She asked him as she nibbled on his ear, her hands running over his chest. One of her hands dropped down and brushed across the front of his pants, her fingers groping at the rigid shaft of his cock. "And you want to be alone with me too...don't you, Jack?"

"Whoa!" O'Neill said, easing her away then reaching over to tap in the symbols for his quarters. "This is a little sudden, and I'm not used to women, especially younger women, coming on to me like this."

The porter doors opened and he led her down the hall to his suite. The doors swished opened as he palmed the pad, and he leaned in, glanced around the living room, and sighed with relief when he saw that it was empty.

"Well, you'd get used to it pretty quick if you got out into the general population a little more often." Sandy laughed as she followed him into the suite. "I know a couple dozen that would love to get their hands on you." She looked around as he led her into the kitchen. "This is a nice place. Who else lives here?"

"Bra'tac shares it with me, but he must be over a Pharris' place tonight. And the boys, Geraan and Phinnar stay over a few nights a week." He told her as he opened a cabinet, then held up a bottle of scotch.

Sandy nodded, and O'Neill got glasses, sitting them on the table, then pouring them both drinks.

"So how long has it been since a woman hit on you, Jack?" Sandy asked him, taking a sip of her drink.

"Oh, that happens all the time." O'Neill laughed. "But it's been a little over two years since I took one up on it. I had some issues to work out."

"So did you get them worked out? I mean, are you ready to let another woman into your life?"

"I think they got worked out for me, and yeah, I think I'm ready for another woman in my life." He said. "But I've never been one for one ni..."

"I don't just want a one night stand, Jack." Sandy said softly, stepping closer and letting him feel her presence. "I wouldn't be here if that's all I wanted. I'm looking for something better, and I think you might be able to give it to me."

She put her finger to his lips as he started to speak, giving him a sly smile.

"And don't give me any crap about me being too young for you." She said softly. "I'm the same age as one woman I know you've been interested in. So what do you say we go see if we get along in bed, and worry about the other stuff later?"

Interior-Kitchen

2310 Hours

"So what do you think, is he gonna get some?" Tammy laughed as she sat a bottle of tequila on the table, then took her seat.

"I don't know." Sam laughed, smacking Tammy's hand. "Jack's an old fashioned kind of guy, so I'm not sure. She was coming on pretty hard though, he may not be able to resist."

"Coming on pretty hard? Are you kidding me?" Jennifer gasped. "If she had come on any harder, they would have been doing it in front of us!"

"I'm more interested in what she said about Genii spies." Caldwell said. "You would think that Samuels would have shared information like that."

"I am not surprised that the Genii have spies here. They have spies everywhere." Teyla said, laying her head on his shoulder. She yawned then added, "But I too am surprised that Andi has not shared this information."

"I think its just something else that slipped through the cracks, or she wasn't ready to make accusations." Sheppard said quietly. "That's one of the things I like about her, She makes sure her ducks are all in a row before she starts shooting them."

"Andi does do things at her own pace, and only shares information when she's ready." Tammy said, glancing over at Sam. "And we keep dumping more on her everyday. That's why we took the intelligence services out from under her. As a matter of fact, that was her idea."

"I don't think we should jump to any conclusions until we see just what they know." Sam said, looking around the table. "Andi isn't comfortable in the military arena, and may feel the same way about the intelligence services. Let's see what they say in the morning, and go from there."

Interior-Jack O'Neill's Quarters, North Tower

2330 Hours

"Go ahead, Jack." Sandy whispered as she knelt between his legs on the bed. She was running her hand up and down over the throbbing length of his cock, her tongue lashing at the swollen knob, lapping up the sticky pearls of pre-cum dripping from his piss slit. "Cum for me. I want to see it, feel it, taste it. Come on, Jack, cum so we can fuck!"

Her mouth opened as her head plunged down, engulfing half his cock. She started sucking frantically, her fist a blur on the spit slickened shaft as her lips sucked and slurped up and down over it.

"Oh god!" O'Neill groaned as his balls convulsed, tightening up against the base of his cock. His eyes rolled back in his head and his hips arched up towards her hungrily sucking mouth, forcing more of his cock between her lips as he started to cum.

A loud moan escaped Sandy's throat as the first hot jets of jizz sprayed across her tongue and the roof of her mouth. Her throat worked busily as she swallowed as fast as she could, eager to milk off his first load so she could feel his cock inside her.




Confirming Carter Bk. 02 Daedalus Ch. 10



"Shit, Jack!" She laughed when she pulled her mouth off his cock, licking up the creamy drops of cum around her mouth. She crawled up over him straddling his waist and guiding the spit slickened knob of his cock into the juice dripping slit of her cunt. "How long have you been holding that in? I thought you were going to drown me for a minute there!"

O'Neill groaned as she fit the head of his cock between the lips of her pussy, then eased down onto it, letting the throbbing shaft bull up inside her. His hips jerked mindlessly as the sensitive skin on the glans glided up into the cream soaked depths of her cunt.

"Mmmmmm, do you like that, Jack?" Sandy purred as she laid out on him, her small, firm breasts pressing into his chest. "I think you do. You cock isn't getting soft at all."

O'Neill wrapped his arms around her as his lips sought hers. His hands settled on the cheeks of her ass, holding her as he started working his hips, stroking his cock slowly in and out of her.

"That's right, Jack." Sandy whispered, grinding her cock stuffed cunt down to meet his strokes. "Nice and slow, we've got all night."

Interior-Bedroom

0010 Hours

"So do you think Sandy can get O'Neill to fuck her?" Tammy panted, arching her back as she cupped one breast, her fingers pinching the nipple roughly. Her other hand was between her legs, strumming over her clit as she worked her hips in slow circles.

"uhnnf ghoon uffm scoolm wloood." Sam mumbled, her hands gripping the cheeks of Tammy's ass, pulling her up higher over her face. She drove her tongue as deep as she could up into the juice dripping slit of her cunt, sucking hungrily, then turned her head, taking one puffy pussylip between her teeth, nipping it lightly.

"I bet he's fucking her right now." Tammy panted. She moved her hand down, wrapping her fingers in Sam hair, pulling her head up as she centered her clit over her mouth. "Suck my clit baby. Suck on it, and make me cum!"

"Igmms obommc woobs plaam uh." Sam grunted as she sucked the tender nubbin between her lips and started nibbling on it.

"I know." Tammy laughed, humping her pussy harder onto her face. "I like it when you cum in my mouth too..."

(-)

That's all for Chapter Ten. It's also the end of this part of the story.

I hope you liked this episode, and the entire story. Please post a comment so I know if I'm the right track with this...

Book Three 'Changes' will be posted shortly.