GENERAL O'NEILL REPORTS TO THE PENTEGON. OH, AND THE NID HAVE BEEN ON, THEY WANNA CHAT.

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Stairs up. Steps down. Long corridors. Dark and secrete places. Couldn't say precisely where in the Pentagon Trans Global Extra Terrestrial Security ~ Inter Alia is located, but guaranteed it is to be found, with the highest level of security clearance, firmly situated in the bosom of sensitive compartmented information.

Mimic prevention, identity card, face recognised, eye scanned, palm read, voice checked, dynamic key, dynamic code, thumb print activation before 'let in' by the security guard. All the detectors, all the detecting. Beyond The SGC on Earth, here be found the last protectors.

General O'Neill was expected.

He and his aide were greeted by Major Davis.

"..Its going to be another twenty four hours before we get the official autopsy results back but you are right about the electricity, they thrive on it. Something to do with the metal ion content in their em.. ..well its not the blood stream is it.. ..something in their system. General Hammond will fill you in on that Sir. We're all very excited here about having the opportunity to get the upper handle on an enemy."

"Well as long as we get something out of it to fight them with. Men down over this Davis. So as you can imagine all of us at The SGC want positive results."

"Yes Sir of course. We feel the same here Sir, especially General Hammond."

"Yah, he knew both Philips and Balinsky. Before I took over the reigns they we're under George's Command."

"Having people down on a Mission, its always a difficult thing General."

"Sure Davis. Okay. Hey Major, do you know this Senior person?"

"Em, not personally General. Haven't actually met him but I know of him. Hes from one of the oversight committees. Defence spending. Oh and he was on the Defense Policy Board at the same time as Richard Woolsey. Hes been involved with the space program and I think he was on the committee for the Starwars program way back in the eighties."

"Was he for or against?"

"Oh, don't have those details Sir, but he is a big spender. Hes been at the table on a number of the near space geo-sat systems. From all accounts hes a reasonable man. I believe General Greer has had previous negotiations with him and they still seem to get along quite well."

"Well lets see shall we. Whats this I'm 'earin' about the NID?"

"Ah, well, em, we've got three of them here this morning. They'll be joining us after the Brief. Again General Hammond will fill you in on that Sir."

"Very good."

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"Bad do Jack."

"Bad! On top of that the letter writing was a killer."

"But Jack you've had your own Command now in one way another for a very long time."

"No, I mean it was the first, these we're the first two letters I've had to write under this Command."

"I'm with you. I understand, I see. You are literally on the front line. Unfortunately casualties are to be expected."

"Still not an easy thing though George."

"I do understand Jack."

"I know, thanks."

"Jack, briefly before we go in. As I mentioned to you last night, we're trying to increase our budget allowance. Of course that includes your division as well. Now what Hannah's come up with is a plan whereby allowing the NID in to make some kind of assessment, we're basing it on this latest engagement, by allowing them to Report on the incident, we're increasing the awareness of our usability."

"And indispensability?"

"Hand in hand."

"You know the NID have a knack of twisting things round to their sole advantage. Do you really think it's a good idea to let them in?"

"Jack how much have you been told about Trans Global ET ~ I?"

"Well you're responsible, with the Presidential seal of approval, for co-ordinating the safety of.. ..everything."

"Actually Jack its more like you 're responsible for the safety of everything, our job here is to make sure you're in the right position to do your job. Basically we're looking after the airwaves, space waves of our planetary system, but we do that through The SGC, with support from your satellites, Alpha and Beta and now Atlantic. We see to it you get everything you need. Ours really is the last line of defence."

"You've got that right. And next to nobody knows about it."

"Hence the difficulty in increasing our spending budget. Jack we need to highlight the dangers you're faced with. Basically were singing for our supper here. Hannah thinks if we can present this latest incident as near foothold.."

"Hey! Hey, hey, that could seriously backfire on me. George things like that call in to question competence."

"Noo not at all. You're wrong on that Jack, trust me I know. In the first place you completely and successfully quashed the threat without even needing to call a Code Five. Secondly what this does do is demonstrate the fact that we are constantly faced with threat of attack by an enemy, known and also unknown.

And while we're on that, just for the record, I can assure yoou, you're not one of the best we've got, you are the best we've got General. You're the top of the tree, so if theres any shaking to be done theres a whole heap of leaves to be picked off long before it ever gets to you."

"Oh Okay.. ..that's nice George."

"That's the truth Jack."

"Thank you."

"On the basis of presenting this Nebulium issue as near foothold we're inclined to be able to draw in more funds, get a bigger budget. Politics Jack. Extra Terrestrial Defence is a key issue now and the President is well aware of it. The amount of money we get will be directly related to how well we can present our usefulness."

"Okay I'm with you. I'm with you George. And you think letting the NID run a muck will help?"

"Jack no one, and I do mean no one, likes the NID. They're a regular pain in the backside. But when it comes to bureaucracy taking them on side is a winner simply because no one likes to say no to them. If we can get them to do a Report appraising this last attack, this Nebulium attack, well its going net us some extra spending. You'd be able to get your S.O.W. fully kited out and equipped. You'd also be able to implement your plans on the hyperspace flight training exercise camp insitu on the Beta Site."

"There is a lot we could do with extra funds George. Its just the NID. Come on you haven't forgotten. I mean half of them are brain dead misanthropes and the rest of them are so deep into sabotage and irregularities.."

"We owe a lot to Agent Barrett. Jack they really have done an excellent clean up job in that organisation."

"No comment.. ..oh you wasn't asking, so you think it will be fine?"

"I've had as much experience with them as you have and I would never admit to things being fine with them. However General Greer thinks things will be fine with them, with regard to producing this Report.

One more thing Jack. On all matters, all.. ..matters Extra Terrestrial, before the NID report to anyone they must first report to Trans Global ET ~ I."

"You're kidding me!"

"I thought you'd like that."

"So if we let them in, any Report they produce has to go across your desk first?"

"First and last Jack."

"Magnifico George. Sublime! Lets open the doors then, roll em in.. ..coin em in."

"Well its about time they actually did something useful instead of.."

"..Deranged?"

"I was going to say demented."

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"General O'Neill, how delightful, its always lovely to see you Jack."

"Thanks Hannah, my pleasure. And I believe more thanks are in order. George has just been tipping me on the meeting at hand."

"Are you prepared?"

"I am, lets see what we can get."

"Thats the spirit Jack. I'm sure they'll realise they can't do without us."

"Certainly hope so."

"Jack I'd like to introduce you to Mr St.John Senior, General Jack O'Neill Commander in Chief of The SGC. And Mr Dennis Rushton, General O'Neill. Em, Mr Rushton's here in an administrative capacity on behalf of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. Mr Seniors here from the Space Defence Spending Oversight Committee. Hes here to assess the spending needs of our organisation."

"Space spending. So I take it you're not here to clip our wings?"

"Not at all General. Not at all. We won't get very far without them."

"What is the actual purpose of your Committee in relation to The SGC Mr Senior? Because the StarGate Program has its spending budget administered through a whole different Committee."

"Yes it does. It does General O'Neill. Since the recent threat to Earth by the alien called Annubis a lot of hitherto deaf ears have begun to hone in and take heed. It seems all your efforts General, have not gone unnoticed.

The purpose of our Committee is to reallocate funds. Where theres been cuts in Defence spending in one area, increases in spending can be made in another, completely different area. In this way we can make the best use of our Defence Budget.. ..surplus."

"I do appreciate that. And I do appreciate the opportunity to be able to bend the ear of someone who truly understands the cost of changing a light bulb down in the Mountain."

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"If I say so myself I think that went rather well."

"What happens next?"

"Well Jack, we're actually lucky in that Hannah knows an awful lot of people.. ..in this building as it happens."

"Oh George I wouldn't say I know lots"

"So what would you say Hannah, you know a few, you know the key people?"

"Now gentleman.. .. anyway George is right. I'll follow it up Jack, I'll get my spies out on it. But judging from past experience these things do take quite an amount of time. The Committees tend only to get together every so often, perhaps every quarter, every six months or so. We're not going to hear anything within the next few months.. ..but after that, I think we'll have favourable news, I do. St.john is a very reasonable man you know."

"Yeah I heard, I heard this morning. Anyway he seems like a nice guy, really does."

"Yes, well I'll follow up on that Jack and I'll keep you informed. Both myself and George intend to equip this organisation with everything it needs."

"Well that really is something to hear, dulcet.. ..dulcet tones Hannah, very nice. Look forward to hearing more, as and when."

"I'm going to leave you gentlemen now if theres no objection. I don't think I need to attend the next meeting."

"General, are you saying you don't need to or you really don't want to?"

"I could say pick one, but that would be rude. So I'll leave it for you to decide. A word of caution Jack, those snippety little NID agents seem to come and go but somehow the NID itself remains completely unchanged."

"Why thank you Hannah. Caution courted. I was going to ask you to sit in on this one, you know, so I could hide behind you, avoid the flack."

General O'Neill was smiling. Out of the three Generals in the room, none of them wanted to meet with agents from the NID.

"Jack, if we had anywhere near sufficient funding, the NID are the last people on Earth, in our solar system, that I would let near our organisation. But for now.."

"Noted and accounted George."

"Now you will come and see me before you leave won't you?"

"Love to."

"Wonderful, bye for now Jack, George."

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"Sirs, I believe you both know Colonel Kennedy. Agent Kennedy now. Hes spent the last two years working at the NID. Em, hes actually part of the cell of four who will be compiling the Report on the recent near Foothold situation with the Nebulium at The SGC. Yes, and also agent Peanna. Ilona Peanna and agent Jonathan Mates. The other agent who makes up the cell, agent Billy Banks, will not be attending this meeting.

General Hammond, General O'Neill. If everybody would like to take a seat."

"Thank you Major."

"General O'Neill?"

"Agent Mates?"

"I understand it was a close call?"

"In what respect?"

"I understand it was a matter of contamination?"

"Contamination but not cumulative contagion, so em, no not a close call. Not in my experience."

"And not in mine either."

"I know from your file General Hammond, you've had a tremendous amount of experience with this type of occurrence, so if you say it wasn't a close call.."

"Well I think we both say it wasn't a close call."

"I was under the impression we we're here to discuss documenting a foothold condition."

"That's correct."

"I'm not quite sure I follow General Hammond?"

"It was a near foothold, it just wasn't a widespread invasion. There are distinct degrees of threat assessment. Its required so that we can gauge our response and effectively deal with the situation to hand. In the most recent situation it was near foothold, but it also was not a close call. At all times, though real, the threat was controlled and contained."

"Point taken Sir."

"General O'Neill I've heard a lot about you. I have to say it's a pleasure to meet you."

"Um isn't it just. And you really don't have to say.. ..not if you don't want to."

"Oh err.. ..General?"

"Ms Peanna?"

"Sir I believe you've had dealings with our organisation, with the NID, in the past."

"Dealings.. ..Dealings? Well I'm sure General Hammond can attest I have had contact with members of the NID in the past. In fact, one of my Colonels had dealings with a couple of NID halfwits who had almost succeeded in converting a little place called Oregon into the first Goa'uld stronghold on Earth.

Amongst other things, many other things, we had a couple of NID numbskulls trying to fly away with one of our 300 series. And then of course there was that wooden top in charge of NID field OPs. Pinched the second StarGate. Purloined it peachy keen, clean away. Put a plastic one in its place.. ..go figure.

As for myself, as for The SGC, yes dealings. We are familiar with NID irregularities. We have at one time or another tracked NID indirect methods across a hand full of star systems. Yah.. ..dealings in the past, with the NID, very observant of you.. ..agent Peanna.."

"Oh I'm sorry General O'Neill, I didn't realise, I em, I wasn't suggesting, yes Sir. Generals, there has been a complete overhaul of the NID. All the .. ..em, rogue agents have been wheedled out. Theres no more irregularities in our Organisation Sir. We will.. ..we're here to compile the Report and I'm quite sure we'll do a very good job, to the satisfaction of all those involved."

"Um, lets see."

"General our proposal is that myself and agent Kennedy will visit The SGC. We'll be making initial enquiries purely in order to assess the scope of the Report. We'll then hold a meeting with all the members of my cell so that the work load can be assigned."

"Sure agent Peanna, come on down. Mr Kennedy's been to The SGC before haven't you. Both General Hammond and I are entirely familiar with Mr kennedy's work. So Mr Kennedy, any time you want to continue that work, you come on down and see me. I'll make sure you get everything you need to carry out the type of work you're use to."

Ou Kennedy, shown up, a clean cut, general reducement, power and glory stripped away.

"Em, yes General O'Neill, once the preliminary proposal is prepared, agent Kennedy, agent Banks and agent Mates and myself will return to The SGC to conduct.."

"Interrogations?"

"Oh no General, questions. We need to question everyone who was on duty when the Mission was exercised."

"Right well err, sounds good. George, sounds good?"

"Um."

"Right then agent Peanna, that sounds great. So just as soon as I approve your proposal for your preliminary proposal, we'll get things underway."

"A pre-preliminary proposal? General O'Neill that would slow things down a great deal. There shouldn't be any need for approval at that level. Em, I would have thought you'd be more interested in seeing the actual proposal itself rather than a pre-preliminary proposal?"

"Really Kennedy? Oddjob."

"What was that?"

"I'm sorry Mr Kennedy didn't you hear me, I said misdemeanour."

"Excuse me?"

"What you didn't ask, agent Peanna, is what was the nature of the dealings we've had with your, agent.. ..Kennedy, in the past. Now before I allow you back into my facility I'd like to check and recheck exactly the precise purpose of your visit. I'll need to see in writing that you understand exactly what you're going to be doing down there."

Agent Kennedy threw a mean looking stare at the floor close to where General O'Neill's feet and shoes were resting. The General relished it. Kennedy had tired to cause trouble for both himself and General Hammond, it was good to have the chance to remind him of that.. ..failed attempt.

The General had already made up his mind who he would assign to shadow these agent's every step of their visit to The SGC. Unaccompanied agents of the NID in The SGC, I think not.

"I'm sure agent Kennedy, given the circumstances you more than most would appreciate the need for caution."

"Yes Sir. Yes General Hammond. Of course you're correct."

"Oh well, oh in that case General O'Neill perhaps we can go ahead and produce a pre-preliminary proposal and we could deliver that to you em, say within forty eight hours."

"Um, delivery, top secret, you'd have to bring it yourself. Sort of defeats the object wouldn't you say agent?"

"Pardon Sir?"

"Well the whole point of having a proposal of what you intend to do at my facility, is to approve that its all right to do the things you propose to do. Now having you turn up at The SGC, schedule in hand, before I've actually had a chance to read over and approve your actions.. ..yeah, well that just defeats the object of the exercise, wouldn't you say.. ..agent?"

"Oh, well, I don't know how to answer that Sir."

"I know the answer to that, agents, General. Perhaps we can arrange for someone from The SGC to attend NID headquarters. Look over the schedule of your proposals and upon approval we can arrange a suitable date and time for you to visit The SGC, to conduct your research and prepare your Report."

"Yes Sir that's also acceptable to us."

"Splendid, thanks George."

"But there are considerations to be considered."

"I'll tell you what Kennedy, when you've finished your considerance give my office a tinkle, I'm sure they'll be able to fit you in, somewhere."

"Actually General O'Neill it won't take very long at all to prepare the pre-prelim. I'll ring your office myself and arrange a suitable time for em, who will be visiting Sir?"

"I'll do the visiting and I'll do the checking."

"Well Sir we'll ring within the next forty eight hours to arrange a suitable time for you to visit our headquarters here in Washington."

"Right. Davis!"

"Sir."

Major Davis stood up and presented the NID personnel the open doorway.

"Thank you agents, that will be all."

Curtness in kind. No one, not a one liked to have dealings with the NID.

"Oh err. Thank you very much Sir and again I'd like to say its been a pleasure to meet you. Thank you General Hammond and thank you Major Davis, and we look forward to seeing you soon General O'Neill."

"Can't wait. Toodlepip."

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