DEBRIEF; O SEVENTEEN HUNDRED HOURS

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Late afternoons, unless off world, at seventeen hundred hours sharp, the team meet up in the ground floor computer control centre annex, for the days debriefing.

It was the Colonel's* idea. Consistency. He thought it would help them become accustomed to their new way of life. He knew how difficult it is for all of them, coming to terms with.. ..with their new position in life. Daily debriefings, just like home, they all liked the idea, including Harlan, who just loved the company.

The fact that Colonel O'Neill* allowed Harlan to attend all the meetings was testament to the fact there really was nothing formal about the debriefings. It was plain and simple, a way for him to keep some familiarity within his team, SG-1*. Bring them back to ground each day. An anchor.

These daily meetings usually lasted about forty-five minutes, though whenever they discussed their moving arrangements, negotiations tended to stretch out to about two hours. Mostly taken up by Harlan's demands. Two hours was all the Colonel* could take, after which time he would put his foot down and dismiss the group.

On this particular day Major Carter* brought drinks and snacks to the table. She knew full well to dig in as this meeting was likely going to be a long one. Eating and drinking although not required was a thing the team still liked to enjoy. Eating was an occupation new and unappealing to Harlan, however Daniel* had managed to wean him on to several cups of coffee per day.

Harlan's possessions was top of the agenda. They were all aware of how eager Harlan had been to track the Colonel* down, to finalise all the details of moving his more personal items to the Beta Site. Today's meeting was his chance to sort everything out.

Teal'c* was relaxed and comfortable in the knowledge that they would have to agree to relocate at least a portion of Harlan's effects. During today's meeting he would rely heavily on his friend O'Neill*, trusting they would not be tasked with turning up at the Beta Site with boxes upon boxes of who knows of Harlan's what.

Just how much 'what' would be a matter for Harlan and O'Neill* to decide upon.

Daniel* was usually the meeting's secretary. The minutes master.

As soon as they'd all settled into the meeting Colonel O'Neill* stood up, raised his coffee mug, searched for the Altairian heaven and practically shouted up to the roof of the building. "This ones for you George. And I'm damn sorry you weren't with us on our first mission to good old P3X nine eight niner, our new home. Wish you was with us buddy, all the way, heres to you."

Daniel*, Sam* and Teal'c* quickly jumped to their feet in respect and stood to attention.

The Colonel* sat down, plonked his elbows on the table, hung his head and slowly hand pressed his hair, front to back. He didn't look up just quietly said, "at ease." Everyone sat down in silence.

Teal'c* spoke first. "I have myself on several occasions pondered the absence of General Hammond. O'Neill* it would be possible.."

With a look of glaring eyes and thunder Colonel O'Neill* launched at his friend. "Teal'c* don't even go there!"

"He is right you know Sir."

"Carter* drop it!" Jack crouching tiger.

"Jack* we all miss General Hammond a great deal."

"I know Daniel*."

"And Janet."

"Indeed Major Carter*."

Harlan butted in. "Considering your General Hammond Colonel O'Neill*, we need only render him unconscious for a short period of time, no one need know. Even he would not know."

"Oh you don't think anyone would say, notice him missing. Have you even heard the term 'Theft'? How about 'Grand Theft'?" He hissed as Harlan. "I'll send him a memo and ask him to drop by. Hows that?"

The Colonel* was clearly shaken and upset by this whole conversation. His voice had the makings of fever pitch. He took a deep breath, well that's what it felt like. It was all going to take a long time. A long, long time.

Colonel O'Neill* didn't look at Harlan, he was to busy letting his eyes speak to Daniel*, and possibly lay a scorch mark on the centre of his forehead. Daniel* can you please keep him under control.

"Err Harlan, on the agenda we have the matter of your possessions."

Harlan had the stage. He was awash with joy.

"Okay Harlan lets hear it."

"Ooh, com-traya Colonel O'Neill*, I thank you. My friends I have been channelling all of my thoughts to the preparations for our move to a wonderful New-World. I have made lists."

Harlan was up on his feet now going in to circling mode. As he made his way slowly round the table Daniel* thought how much better Harlan looked dressed in a short sleeved shirt and those desert pants.

He didn't object to Harlan's traditional dress, non of them did, but he did seem to look so much.. ..better, dressed like that. There was a somewhat pleasing familiarity about that look, it sort of reminded him of.. ..Oops better not go there.

Harlan was still talking, prattling on and on and on. Nothing they hadn't already heard.

"As you know initially there were a thousand of us, the last of the Altairians, all living together down here. Hubald made everything for us. He was so clever.

We had statues and pictures and other art, but over the years it slowly degraded. Disintegrated. Many of the statues were smashed by accident or toppled over whenever there was a critical system over load. Some of my people took things with them when they left to seek new chances for us. All the work he did, Hubald, and all the books and manuscripts he saved, after only a few thousand years began to disappear. Turn to ash and dust.

But thank goodness in time I was able to transfer many of the works into the computers, to once again save our history. It is all here, all in the computer and it doesn't take up much room. Now it is very easy to transport yes? Very light to carry, no?"

"Yes Harlan that's right, it is easy to carry. I've been doing a lot of research into your history and it is all there nicely catalogued and documented in the computer. I think all that data would be easy to move wouldn't it Jack*?"

"Yerss Daniel*, all the Data in the computers can be moved, when you take the information out of the computer its small and easy to carry.."

"I concur."

"Thank you Teal'c*. Moving on. Right Harlan we can move the stuff you've got in the computers. Whats next?"

"Now we can talk about my apparel yes? Wallace himself chose many of the garments to be stored here and saved for the future."

"What futures that Harlan?"

"Jack*!! Remember in the beginning there was a thousand of them. It was a society. They had hopes and plans and from what I've been researching in their historical archives they hoped one day to rebuild their community, above ground actually."

"Yes yes Dr Jackson, yes that is correct. A new society like the one we will all build together, in our new Home-World yes?"

"Yeah that's about the truth of it Harlan. We will make a new society on a new Home-World."

"Ah com-traya Colonel O'Neill* com-traya."

"Really Sir, is that what you're thinking?"

"Maybe, eventually. Why, do you have any better ideas Carter*?"

"Well none that I like as much as yours Sir. It definitely is something to look forward to."

"I did say eventually didn't I? We're talking very eventually."

"Progress and survival O'Neill.*"

"You betcha."

"Whats next Daniel*?"

"Right Jack*. Yeah right com-traya Harlan."

"Yes now we must decide about the garments no? Today I was looking for you everywhere Colonel* but you was again playing your hiding seek. I wanted to show you which of the garments we can take with us. You must come and look. After the meeting you can come and look yes?"

"Yes Harlan I'll.. ..we'll, Teal'c*, come and look. But I'm warning you in advance we can take some but we can't take many."

"Ah alas I understand. When we leave here we will be leaving behind many things. I will be leaving much history. Much memories and many many things."

"That's true Harlan, but where we're going will be above ground and you'll have a lot of other things to do." Daniel* was perfectly sympathetic with him.

" Harlan I need to make something very clear to you. Our storage base on the Beta Site, which is now basically finished by the way, is only for essential goods. This is where we will keep all of our technology until we are fully established on a new Home-World. And even then Major Carter* has proposed that we continue to store backups of all our critical systems at the Beta Site base."

"You must heed O'Neill's* words Harlan. None of us will be depositing personal effects at the secret base. The risk of using The SGC Beta Site can only be measured against the quality of the things we store there."

"Harlan we can return here to Altair at any time, this will help us to make a much smoother job of relocating. We can come back to collect more things as we develop our new living quarters, that's right isn't it Jack*?"

"Spot on Daniel*."

"Yes. I see. I see. This will make things much easier."

"Okay meeting adjourned. Come on Harlan lets check out this stuff. Carter* a.m. tomorrow. Daniel* have a good trip, see you when you get back. Teal'c* with me."

"Okay, thanks Jack*. I'm really looking forward to this one, you've seen the readings."

"Lets see. Good Luck, you to Carter*".

"Thanks Sir. Good Night. Good Night Teal'c*. Bye Harlan."

"Perhaps you will accompany us Major Carter* yes?"

"Not tonight Harlan, thanks."

"Teal'c*, are you doing your Kelno'reem this evening?"

"Yes Daniel Jackson* and you are most welcome to join me."

"On the fourth?"

"Yes."

"Come and get me on your way up there."

"I expect we will be judging Harlan's garments for quite some time." Teal'c* was an extremely polite gentleman.

"That's okay."

Colonel O'Neill* stepped away from Teal'c* and Harlan.

"Daniel* a quick word if you please."

"What is it Jack*?"

The Colonel* directed Daniel* by the arm over to one side.

"Daniel* tomorrow, under no circumstances are you to let Carter* out of your sight. I don't want her going off anywhere on that planet alone. It that understood?"

"Loud and clear Jack*."

"And if she does insist on taking that menacing machine through the EH you make sure you're her pillion buddy."

"Jack* I promise, I won't let her go off on her own."

"Okay Daniel* I trust you."

Daniel* appreciated the Colonel's* words. Although it was unspoken, safety had become an issue with all of them.

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© Richard Dean Anderson all rights reserved June 2006