Colonel Samuels shook his head. "No sir. Apparently, there was some sort of 'rescue' going on, and those involved managed to steal whatever they could on their way out."
"Theft. Exactly what they said they didn't want to do. Either someone there has grown a brain, or they were lying about their intentions from the start."
"Sir?"
"It's nothing concerning you. Still, how much technology are we talking about?"
"Enough to keep the scientists happy for a long time, and there is still more coming in," Samuels replied.
Kinsey gave the officer a sour look. "And what does that mean?"
"It seems that the people there have decided to... pay tribute to one of the rescued people, and they're taking the salvage to the gate."
"Are they now..?"
"They are, sir."
"I didn't want confirmation," the senator snapped, as he leaned back in his chair and scowled. "This does change things though."
All through the halls, refugees moved around in a buzz of activity. It was obvious that the newness of the place that they were in was affecting them, but it was not something like that which had them working studiously. Each of them was clearly packing not only the meager belongings that they had, but supplies that could have only come from the American military.
And watching them were Daniel Jackson and Teal'c, as the two of them kept track of the people who were being moved to their new home through the Stargate.
"This is a most odd situation, is it not?" the former First Prime commented.
Daniel nodded ruefully. "I think everything about this is strange."
"I would wish that all of them could stay here..."
"Me too, but this isn't the place for them."
Turning to the other man, Teal'c raised a brow.
"Don't look at me like that. I'd like to have them hanging around, but this is better for them. Instead of having guys with guns hovering over them, they'll get to live outside, in the fresh air, enjoying their freedom, and living how they like. And they can take care of themselves, without hearing people complain about how much this will cost... I'm babbling, aren't I?"
"A bit."
"Well... It is true. And this way they can create their own colony, based on their own rules. Here, we have to keep them from telling everyone that there are humans on other planets."
"It would have been interesting to see how they could live on this world. How would they been seen, Daniel Jackson?"
"Probably as some sort of new age religious or philosophical group initially," the archeologist replied.
"Would that be bad?"
"It was for me."
General Hammond looked over the man seated across from him and resisted the urge to sigh. It wasn't that he didn't like the fact that his command had gotten a rather major winfall, but he knew that such things would be fleeting. If he were to rely on things like surprise bonuses, he'd never be able to deal with anything, never mind if a problem came up.
But it was clear that he couldn't let just anyone know that there were people capable of thwarting entire Jaffa legions. That was why he had someone involved in that situation come to speak with him.
"I understand that you have been... telling others just how proud you are about your son," he said evenly.
"Is so. There much reason to do so," Genma boasted. "You even say he do much good things."
"We need you to stop it."
"What? Why? Father need be proud that work prove be good."
"As a father, I understand it. As a soldier and a commanding officer, there are other concerns."
The portly man frowned. "What that mean?"
"Well, we don't want everyone to know what we have available, especially if we have enemies wanting to attack us."
"Ah... Is smart plan. 'Keep ace in hole'."
Knowing that in combat terms, the man would understand, the general nodded. "Something like that. But there is another concern, one which may make you want to keep quiet."
"What that be?"
"We are treating you as best we can, under the circumstances. But others wouldn't be so kind. They'd see your son and Miss Tomoe as special."
"That be good."
"That would be making them into something that someone would at least want to control, make into soldiers, and that's at best. Mister Saotome, they may also wish to see what they could find out about the abilities that you three have, and to do so, they'd take you to a laboratory to experiment on you. Or if nothing else, they may try to kill you, thinking that you may one day turn into a threat," Hammond informed his guest.
"That... not so good..."
"No, it's not. So will you agree to keep silent on what you know?"
"As much as can," Genma agreed, "I no give away secrets."
"Good."
"But what of training? Soldiers and people in armor want to learn fighting techniques."
"We'll determine that sort of thing later."
"Is fine by me."
Hammond let himself smile as he realised that the man wasn't going to put up too much of a fuss. He'd much rather have things as calm as possible, but he wasn't likely to get that. However, he could enjoy this brief advance, and was happy to get it.
Though he did have to wonder just why Saotome insisted on trying to speak English when it was already proven that the gate apparently had a 'translation function'.
It did keep the martial artist from speaking too clearly, and he was pleased about that while:
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