Season Three Finale: Sacrifice (Part Two) - Volume Three

[Troy Loveridge]

1545
Stargate Command
Embarkation Room

< Continued from D2X-374 >

Accompanied by the expected sounds and flashing colours, an event horizon was formed within the SGC’s Stargate, connected planet Earth to its outpost in the Delian Galaxy. The embarkation room was by no means empty, but noticeably, was lacking its usual continent on security personnel. In their place was a gathering of Air Force personnel of various ranks, including a few generals, alongside civilian employees of the SGC and representatives from other branches of the military. All were dressed in suits or their respective military service uniform. The usually drab room was decorated with banners and bunting in the traditional red, white and blue, with a blue carpet extending down the ramp. It was by no means a normal day at Stargate Command.

Troy, attired in his service uniform, was one of the first through to step through the Stargate. With him were a cohort of the senior officers, civilians and enlisted personnel from the Delta Site. The group moved down the ramp and stopped in front of three individuals, General O’Neill, General Landry, and a red haired woman in a suit and skirt. Salutes and handshakes were exchanged as appropriate, together with words of congratulations and thanks for a job well done.

As this was taking place, the ceremonial flag of the expedition was brought forward by the expedition’s first sergeant, Master Sergeant Calmara. Given everything the group had been through, all the enemy attacks, killer viruses and even having their first base blown up, the original flag they’d brought with them had survived. With some pomp and ceremony the flag was handed to the expedition’s new first sergeant. At this point, the red haired woman stepped forward.

Special Agent-in-Charge Charlotte Barnes was widely considered a rising star in the NID. Recruited into the CIA straight out of an Ivy League school she’s served in South America, the old Soviet Bloc and East Asia. She’d been the youngest ever Beirut station chief, and when the NID had been restructured following the removal of its criminal elements, she’d be brought on as a division head. Since then she’d earned a reputation as an honest and hardworking leader, albeit somewhat short tempered. And as of this moment, she would be the new head of the Delian Expedition.

”Special Agent Barnes,” Troy said, shaking her hand. ”Colonel,” she replied with a polite grin. Barnes would be the expedition’s first civilian commander, and under her lead the expedition was expected to transition from a combat force back to its original mission of exploration and learning. For the time being it would be run by a crew of fresh faces while Troy and his people took six month leave. After that, some would return to the Delta Site to continue doing what they loved, while others move on to other parts of the SGC, or even back to normal life.

Of course, normal was a matter of perspective. Three years ago the Colonel had been in this very room, transferring from the Gamma Site security detail to team leader of SD-1. Since then he’d fought two alien enemies, explored more worlds then who could remember, and seen things he still couldn’t explain. He’d made lifelong friends, and sadly, lost friends in battle. Closer to home, his wife Ashlee had passed away a few months ago in a car crash. She had been the only thing linking him to his pre-Delta life, and without her, he’d need to start again. It was a scary prospect.

With its typical noise and fanfare, the Stargate began to dial. The ceremonial guard separated and the new members of the expedition poured into the gate room, weighted down with their equipment and supplies. They took up position at the base of the Stargate ramp, and once the wormhole was established, they made their way through the event horizon. Special Agent-in-Charge Barnes gave Troy a parting salute, and took up position at the front of the group, leading the new group of expedition personnel through the gate. Once the final member stepped through the gate disengaged, and the room went silent.

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