Aberrant: Stargate Universe - Joint training exercise leads to Conspiracy

[Ryan Hawke]

Ryan nods, but his gaze focuses on Noah. Of all those present he was most unsure what Noah would do. This was a court martial offense, and the young marine had shown himself to be very by the book. It was to him he'd make an appeal.

"I'll agree that we need others we can trust, it can't just be the specialists, but how many would each of you say you could count on? Even the people who work with us day in and out at the base are fearful and intimidated by some of us, despite our best efforts."

[Yseult Sierra]

Yseult turned to her team leader, her inhuman, turquoise eyes sharp. "I would trust Janet Frasier with my life, and with any of yours. Samantha and Daniel will also support us I am sure. Both of them have dealt with people that had powers comparable to ours, or have been people with powers like ours, they will understand."

She spun around, addressing the rest of the specialists, her clear soprano almost pleading. "We are not alone in this, unless we chose to be. The specialists may be the most prominent concern to the IOA, but can you honestly believe that the IOA are not looking at other options as well? They have access to Area 51, plus whatever the Russians retrieved on their short-lived Stargate Program. They have funding from several world goverments to conduct their own research. There must be others who are unhappy with the IOA is acting, we can try to enlist their help as well."

[Rorx]

Gwyn absorbs Omar's message and listens to Yseult carefully before replying, "Thanks for the information Omar, and I can see where some of it will be relevant to us, but with our much smaller numbers and being kept secret some of what that world went through won't apply. After all, I doubt any of us here are going to be setting up their own religious cults. At the moment I think we are fairly safe to concentrate on the IOA and to inhibiting those factions within it trying to grab power for themselves."

Turning to Cam, "I hate to say it, but we may need to find our own 'Omega' site. A gate address with a habitable world where we can withdraw to if we need to. However, that would also entail putting at least a back door into the SGC dialing computer so that we could dial that address and have it removed once we were through."

[Omar]

"That is fine and well." Omar said to Yseult. "And I agree that it would be important to have someone on the inside. But we also need to remember that everyone we bring in will learn of our existence, if they don't already know. How long will it be before they decide to try to build their own super-soldier program based on us."

Omar shook his head. "Even worse, what would happen if when told of the program, they decide that the IOA could offer them a better deal by sharing the supersoldier technology. Through our desire to fix a small problem, we could create a larger one. One that might doom humanity in the far future." Omar looked like he was remembering something from long ago.

"We are not just fighting the IOA, but human nature as well." He started to pace back and forth. "On every version of earth in which nova's appeared, which statistically should number in the millions of millions, we encountered the same problems."

"On one of those earths we went back to a singular point in human/nova developement to see if we could alter the course that inevitable happend in those millions of worlds: humanity's extinction. We succeeded in preventing that fate on one of those doomed earths. I came to this place, precisely because that fate did not await humanity."

"The one thing in common with all these was human nature: mistrust, paranoia, hate, greed, envy, xenophobia, and the desire for power. It is not an easy cycle to break."

[Adrian Moss]

"Humanity also has love, compassion, loyalty, and tolerance alongside those negative traits. Don't think we are immune to these traits either. That's hubris, another bad human trait. I'm not out to change the world, but to restore a sense of justice and those who care for us. Humanity should be free to make its own mistakes and thus learn from them. The IOA is not the sum of humanity."

"As for a broad base of support, I know most of the SG teams have at least an uncaring view of the IOA. If they knew what was happeing to us, some would care enough to help. That is were I would be the most useful."

Caine wondered about Vinny. Like Caine, Vinny had been in the Teams before being transformed. They had a history with most of the other Air Force soldiers on the base. The marines ... the marines would be Hawke's job.

[z028 Riley]

Click to reveal..

Insitinctively activating Awe Inspiring.

Kyria unfolded herself from where she'd been sitting and paced around until she could be seen by everyone. What she had to say would take a minute and would be uncomfortable for everyone, but it needed to be said. "I was born on the Earth that Omar is talking about, the one where they changed the course of history, and there are few things I would like to say about that and about what is beginning here."

She took a deep breath, obviously steeling herself for the next part, "I grew up in a world that's nearly unthinkable for the people of this Earth, from what I've observed of your history. My Earth was unified under a single government early in the twentieth century and until an incident created by an alien species afraid of the potential power of humanity through it's novas and psions, had no war, unparralleled economic development, virtually no crime, and no natural disasters. Novas, psions, and humans lived together with each giving and receiving in their life according to talent, ambition, and desire."

She let that sink in for a moment, then continued, "All this was brought about by the careful manipulation of a group called the Paragons. This is the group Omar is referring to that traveled to all those different timelines. When they came to my world they came into contact with a man known as Michael Donnighal." She glanced away, then back to the group. "My father. He helped them shape his world and he manipulated the Paragons even as they manipulated Earth. When the Paragons decided to continue their travels, to continue their research for an end to taint and to find the creatures that had created the ship they used, called the Watchers, they first decided to jump 300 years in my world's future to gain weapon and shielding upgrades for the Lorean. The ship. Once there, my father's control of humanity was grossly apparent. He was an unofficial king and had shaped humanity to an image pleasing to him."

"This wasn't necessary evil or detrimental to humanity. Those who weren't psions or novas had the option of bio-technological enhancements that would allow them to function on a similar level. The people of that era were, for at least most of what we saw, quite happy with their civilization." She paused and watched the budding nova population in front of her for a moment. "I bring this up because here is the beginning of a new Paragons, of would-be Michaels. It isn't, necessarily, but it could be. We all have our visions of the 'right' or 'best' or at least 'better' world. Of what should be. And as novas, in comparison to the baseline populations of Earth, you have a much greater chance of making your visions the ones that come to be. You can play gods with your home, and to some extent you don't have a choice about it. Even choosing not to act changes the course of events."

"The IOA wants to control us out of fear, out of their own visions of utopia, or even just out of the basic human nature of power schemes. The NID wanted the same thing. The SGC uses us as front line soldiers in one capacity or another to fight the Goa'uld. Everyone will try to use us, and given enough time we'll all try to use one another for something. This is how life is. The reality of novas in this universe, how ever they came about and however few of them there are, is real."

She glanced over at Cam, then to her teammates and friends. "As for what's starting here, let me say something that will probably upset some of you here and maybe get me thrown in that deep dark place as well. My loyalty is and always will be to the novas...the Specialists...of this world, so long as I am here. Perhaps that's a lingering part of my father in my mind, but you are the people I will risk my life for. I will work for the SGC, and I do admire their vision and what they have accomplished in so short a time, but it is the people here at the Beta site right now that hold my devotion. I will do what I can to help you become the people you wish to be and to try to steer you away from the taint and madness that can claim novas that push too hard too fast. You are good people, from what I have seen, and you have the chance to explore the limitless possibilities of being a nova." She took another breath, then nodded mostly to herself. "If anyone wants to talk to me or has questions about what I've said, feel free to ask me. I've been on the soapbox for a bit now, though, so I'll let someone else talk."

With that she moved over to Gwyn, answering his question quietly, "Not line of sight, but they need to be in the general area, especially if I don't know them. The IOA is never going to let me that close to them, for just that reason. Unless I can learn how to change my appearance that's not going to be a viable option."

[Rorx]

Gwyn leans over to reply to Kyria, "Actually I was thinking more of tracking down the missing Specialists and keeping an eye on Dec while he isn't here with the teams. I'd already assumed that they wouldn't want you getting close to them. Actually it might be worth getting a list of the new people being transferred in so that you could surreptiously give them the once over to spot any replacement spies they send in."

[z028 Riley]

"I certainly can't keep contact from another planet. I'll try to touch in with Dec as I can, I'd do that anyways. As for the others, I don't know that I'd be much help scanning for them unless we had an idea of where they were. I can scan new people as they come in, but again, I'd need to know that they were new and have a chance to get near them." She looked around what they'd built so far today and sighed. "Honestly, it'd be nice if we could stay here and do missions out this site. That would give the IOA much less hold on us and we could monitor the comings and goings of strangers much easier. But just the fact that that would give us so much freedom is probably why it won't happen. I mean, if we could get the new general behind it, maybe. It'd be nice."

She bit her lip, "But then, they'd also be able to much more regulate our ability to do or see anyone on Earth. It's just....complicated."

[Mr Fox]

Cam looked at Omar in horror as he spoke, then in deepening understanding as Kyria filled in more background.

He looked at Olivia and Yseult, "Ladies, in light of Omar's revelations I can see just how perceptive you are." Looking around he said, "I've already brought General O'Neill into this to a degree by making him a party to my sabotage of the Ancient Ascension device. In for a penny, in for a pound as they say. I think he would actively join us if he knew all that was going on." He paused for just a moment before continuing. "General Landry I'm not so sure about. I know he is annoyed by the cover up of the AWOL, but he's a by the book kind of guy and I just don't know him well enough yet to know what he'd do. General Hammond I think would be willing to support us from the things I've read in old SG team reports. He's had a few run-ins with those trying to interfere with his people in the SGC and he also has the ear of the President."

"Let me stress, this isn't about US vs. Them in terms of Specialist vs non. This is about Us vs the IOA because they are corrupt and taking actions that go outside what is acceptible to any normal standard of behavior. Let me repeat, I am not suggesting we overthow anyone or take their places. I just want their meddling in our lives in such inappropriate ways to end."

"Now as far as getting someone on the inside, I was actually thinking about infiltrating them myself. They think I owe them one and that I am happy with them because they supposedly saved my life. They pulled a lot of strings to make that happen and I think they would trust me. Richard Wolsey is also a good choice."

Looking over at Kyria he said, "I was thinking the Beta Site would be a good place to work from, although I'm not talking about cutting us off from humanity. And I think I could convince them to let us do it."

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

"I suggest that Yseult probe General Landry with her situation. A few oblique 'what can you help me do here?' should give us an idea of his reaction based on his response. He should be particularly amenable if he is a family man," Olivia said.

Vinny's continued silence next to her was making her nervous. She knew that he was going to lose his top over Eckhart; she was angry about it herself, so he must be furious. Troubled, she waited for him to explode. It was either going to be very quiet or very bad, and she wasn't sure which was worse. A repressed Vinny was a Vinny headed toward a bigger blow-up.

"Honestly, the more irons we get in their fire, the better for us," Olivia added, looking to Cam. Would they come asking her again? And if they did, what would they throw at her if she said no again?

She had sudden urge to call her family. She decided that it'd be the first thing she did when she got out of here. She personally didn't like the idea of moving operations off-Earth. She wanted to be on the same planet as her family; sure, they'd be a hop through the StarGate away, but it had gone down before. She didn't want to be so far away that she couldn't call them.

[Yseult Sierra]

Yseult tore her eyes away from the compelling Kyria, a mounting fear and, surprisingly, pity welling in her. Her world is so different and she knows no other way. Interesting that both Kyria and Omar believe that the arrival of 'novas' was completely natural. Life evolves based on its environment. What could cause humanity to evolve spontaneously in such a way? She turned her attention to Cam and then Olivia, listening to their points.

"Speaking with General Landry about my situation, that is a good idea Olivie, and one that I would agree to," Yseult said with a nod to Olivia.

The two female specialists shared a look, both seeing in the other's eyes that neither of them wanted the clandestine mission off-planet. The distance between their families and the other side of the StarGate was far longer than a single step.

[Rorx]

Gwyn shakes his head during Cam's last comments, but waits through the ladies before talking himself, "I'm sorry, but if we move Specialist operations offworld then it will make them more paranoid about us, and it will inevitably make it more between them and us. It makes it more difficult to maintain contact with our families and any supporters we may have against the corrupt elements within the IOA. As it stands they know when and where we are going offworld as they are SGC operations, if we are operating from offworld in the first place then they will be worried about losing that element of control. After all there would be little to stop us simply dialling out whenever we wanted to anywhere we had an address for, and with Olivia here we would have access to most if not all the addresses that SGC has."

He opens another can as he continues, "Sorry Cam, but moving operations offworld causes more problems than it solves. Having said that I agree that we do need to have such a place, just not as our standard base of operations. Perhaps we could set one up as a stepping stone, so that Earth is one more step isolated from any trouble that might follow us."

[Adrian Moss]

Caine nods.

"Its too easy to keep us away from the gate unless we resort to violence against our own SG personnel, and that's pretty damn harmful to our goals. We might want to look at a place Earthside we can go to if pressured."

"Personally I think Landry will make a formal request through channels. That's the feel I have for him. Yseult's request will set off flags inside the IOA. They should either clamp down harder on her, or try to recruit her by promising her family, which will be a lie. Still, having the General sympathetic to us is a great benefit."

"Hmmm ... Yseult, thanks for taking the risk."

[Mr Fox]

Cam considered for a moment. "Gwyn, you might be right except for one thing. I don't intend for this to be some long drawn out protracted battle of Us vs. them. I intend for us to get what we need and resolve this in one fell swoop. I was thinking two options, we accumulate all the evidence of their misdeeds and either blackmail them into better behavior with threat of loss of their positions, or we take the evidence directly to the President and the other world leaders of the organization. The second would mean a complete clean slate of the IOA board with all it's politics reset. If we go with option 2 I think we should have either General O'Neill or Hammond present the evidence so that it doesn't become about the specialists instead of about the IOA's misbehavior."

"Also, I agree that we should maintain a constant presence on Earth and not be cut off I also think this place would have some big advantages. I don't think even the current IOA board would have an issue with Yseult's family knowing of her existence if they were living here."

"Last, I want to answer Gwyn's other concern. I don't want to see us ever be captured and imprisoned on Earth with no access to the gate and stuck there. I want to have an escape if it becomes necessary. I want to capture a Goa'uld Alkesh or cargo ship and stash it somewhere on Earth to give us a way out if things ever go completely south."

[Adrian Moss]

Caine looks to Cam and chuckles,

"I thought those piloting lessons were a bit to easy to come by. Glad I learned something."

[Rorx]

Gwyn nods to Cam, "I'd favour option 2 with Hammond doing the presentation, Having the Head of Homeworld Security doing it would be better than O'Neil from a political angle. As for the ship, whatever we grab needs to be big enough for all of us and any dependents wanting/willing to go for the duration of a decent trip and have cloak capability if we are to get it to ground somewhere."

[z028 Riley]

Kyria spoke up again, "Then we'll need a cargo carrier. It'll be the biggest ship we can get that could carry a number of people without requiring a substantial crew to keep it going. I'd say the best bet would be to arrange a mission to world known or suspected of being either a former or defunct base of some System Lord, or one known for getting supplies for the coming war."

[Ryan Hawke]

"We'd need a special team for taking a ship like that, no team as its currently organized has what it needs to pull it off safely."

"I'd suggest a team consisting of Caine, Cam, Yesult, Olivia, and myself. That team has two pilots, two translators, andat least three people who can handle most varieties of trouble."

"I've got no issue with General Hammond doing the presentation and waiting until we have our ducks all in a row before we go to him."

There were of course problems with the team he's suggested, it consisted of the StarGate Commander, and two team leaders. "As for the others who wouldn't go on that mission, if something came up Vinny would have his team, and Omar could take the others as he too was once a team leader."

[Yseult Sierra]

Yseult turned to Cam, hope rising in her heart, making her turquoise eyes shine. "I do not know how my family will take it, moving to another planet, but if we can be together, it will be enough. But it will not be for long, yes? They cannot just abandon everything, forever."

Yseult was silent, almost giddy with the thought of being with her family again, as she listened to the others speak. To hold Loric and Monique again, to kiss François again, to lay with him...

"I too, favour going to General Hammond. Presenting the wrongs done by the IOA rather than hiding them and using them for blackmail seems like a much better choice. Blackmail makes us no different then they, yes?"

[Mr Fox]

Cam listened to the suggestions the spoke, "We won't have to arrange a mission for anything. We have three days before we're due to report in or before the engineers arrive here to work on the base. We can do the mission to capture a ship now and I'd suggest two ships, one cargo and one alkesh, both with cloaks. The alkesh is a little smaller and could slip in and out easier, we'll hide one on Earth, the cargo ship, and the other here. That way we have transport either direction."

He turned his gaze on Olivia, "One other thing. I would like you to use your talents at writing to chronicle not only what is happening to us but the stargate program. The goverment has done an amazing job of hiding the existence of the program, but it is only a matter of time before it gets out. Hell, the fact that they hid Anubis' attack was practically a miracle, but it won't hold forever. Best if we had someone of your talents ready to present our, by which I mean the SGC's, perspective and deliver the news to the public in a way that they can grasp and that puts the SGC and it's mission in the best possible light."

[Noah Weston]

Noah listened to the discussion, growing more and more concerned at the seamingly casual way in which treason was being bantered between the members of this elite force. So far from what he'd heard from Cam and the others was that the IOA had engaged in morally and ethically bankrupt tactics but had they broken the law? Had they betrayed America? Noah didn't see it if it was there.

He caught Ryan's glance but didn't betray his thoughts. His CO probably knew what he was thinking; he seemed to get Noah the best out of all of the people he'd dealt with in the SGC, and yet he too seemed to be going along with this, this personal vendetta. For that is what it looked like to him. He sighed and rubbed his eyes. This wasn't easy for him and it certainly wouldn't make him popular.

He waited for a break in the conversation and stood up. "Excuse me," He said simply before leaving the group. He walked across the now flattened and cleared grounds of the future Beta site and stopped just short of where the boundry would be. He needed to clear his head and he had to think about all this.

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

Olivia watched Noah go, knowing that they had their first fence-sitter. She knew that she could sway him with a simple story, but she let him go and make his own mind. "I don't mind doing that, the writing, but... preparing the ship seems a bit much," she said. "It feels like if we have a way out, we may not fight to the end to save what needs to be saved." Olivia paused and lifted her chin. "Earth is my home, as is America. My brother and father are both immigrants, and are both proof of the wonderful country that we have. I'll not be exiled from either, not for any reason.

"All of us need to stop thinking of escape plans and start thinking of ways to defend America and the world - and the universe! - from the IOA's plans. With the power that they could gain from just the StarGate program, they could rule the world. And even if they don't use their power to do that, they've shown that they aren't worthy of that power by what they have done so far."

She looked around, her eyes settling on Vinny longest. "I'm a pacifist, but I'll fight for my home. I've already sacrificed to keep Earth out of the hands of the Goa'uld, and I'll not give up now because some other members of the world community want to create a corrupt shadow government, or whatever the IOA's final game plan is."

[Adrian Moss]

"A ship is not giving up. It is giving us mobility. They can't pin us down and wipe us out. Not all of us can fly, run at the speed of sound, or turn invisible. The ship gives those of us bound to move by the power of our feet an edge."

"I for one agree with your spirit. America - the Earth is my home. I'm not giving it up. I'm not going to live somewhere else in on some other world. That isn't me. I'm not fighting to the death. I'm fighting to win."

[Ryan Hawke]

He knew it was hard for Noah. This was treason as it stood, but for the right reasons. A faction within the government was out to do something horrible and they couldn't let that happen. He let Noah walk off and sighed. "I knew he wouldn't like this, or understand." He looks to Cam. "We are talking about a legitimate branch of our government., do you have any proof of actuall illegal activities undertaken by the IOA? Not things that are just bad or morally reprehensible, but actual illegal acts? Anynone?"

[Aradia McConnell]

Aradia sat quietly, listening to the others around her. She was focused on absorbing the conversation, trying to follow everything that was going on, but it was hard. She was swimming with her own conflicts, and a growing dread that what Kyria and Omar had spoken about might come to pass. For her, it was only her father and, in a way, Wakiki. She didn't care much about her mother, and if the IOA did even an iota of research, they'd have to know that. But everything she'd been afraid of seemed true.. that there was no way out now. Even if the IOA didn't succeed, it seemed impossible that someone else, some other group, wouldn't want to control them, or use them, or keep them hidden.

Her eyes flickered to Livy as she spoke, and she sighed quietly. She knew her friend had faith, but she was finding it awfully hard to be as optimistic.

I am *so* in over my head here.

[Mr Fox]

"Major Hawke, the IOA is not a branch of our government, it is not under the authority of the US. It is an international organization. Yes it does have the sanction of the President, but I don't believe the President would condone their actions. In fact if we can bring him the proof that we are looking for I think Hayes is the kind of man that will kick their butts so hard they won't stop bouncing for days. I'm not talking about taking out some personal vendetta here against someone. I'm talking about stopping them for the good of the US and the world. And like we've already said this is a group that is covering up a runaway soldier who has classified information. That technically is a criminal offense and I don't think General Landry will let that stand for long. He'll call the president, but wouldn't it be better if General Hammond were to make that call and also have in his hand a folder full of evidence against them and the questionable actions they have taken."

He looked at Hawke, "Hang on, let me say a couple words to Noah."

Cam walked over to where the other man was grappling with his thoughts. "Soldier, let me ask you a direct question."

The other man's posture when immediately rigid in formality. Cam did his best not to let the frown show, but asked, "As a soldier and a loyal one at that, what would you do if you discovered someone above you in the chain of command was doing something inappropriate. Say, forcing a female soldier of lower rank to have sex with him and while you did not have hard evidence you personally were aware that it was not a consenting relationship?"

[Forge]

"Alright ass-tards, let's back the truck up. This is all a load of shit and you know it...but first...first..." Vinny started as he stood up and pointed at Omar and Kyria, "Good fuckin' god, you alien ass-tards are long fuckin' winded, like anyone here cares about your Star Trekkin' sob stories."

"That shit outta the way, what are we fuckin' talkin' about here goddamit?! It is bad enough we had to perform some fuck-all manual labor, talk about fuckin' "ability" bigotry...while Omar there was bouncin' around like a fuckin' pinball lumberjack, I'm fucking cuttin' brush with a goddamn chainsaw! You want to capture ships! And keep them secret...are we some fuckin' Montana militia? Is this a goddman NRA meeting? We are part of the US military, by proxy or fuckin' not. We bring suggestions to our superiors and they tell us what the fuck to do. Last thing we need is the IOA finding out this shit and labelling us as 'revolutionary seperatists' and having us put in the dark dank hole that evidently the other specialists are in. Because if they have captured and wiped out some of the others, what's stopping them from doing it to us? Abilities didn't save any of the ass-tards, and Jacobs was a scary fuck, the goddamn devil!"

"We start this shit and we will end up all alone, running if not fuckin' six feet under. I for one, like my fat paycheck and while I fully intend to continue my job stopping threats to the dirtball I live on, that doesn't mean I need to carry the fuckin' torch for Lady goddamn Justice!"

"The IOA may be some fuckin' red-headed stepchild that got locked in the cellar one too many times, but they are an international organization, so count me the fuck out of whatever you do, I'm not that fuckin' dumb."

Seemingly having said his fill, Vinny sat down and turned to Olivia and whispered under his breath, still brimming with anger while he pointed at her, "And we need to fuckin' talk."

His folded his arms, his gaze non-focusing as he waited for the lunacy to end.

Eckhart lived?

[Noah Weston]

Noah stared the Colonel square in the eye. "I'd report him of course," He said without hesitation and conviction. "And I suppose your next question is going to be what if that doesn't work, right?"

"That would depend on a whole lot of different things. Most of which are out of my control once I've done my duty," He continued before Cam could interupt. "In fact unless I...."

Noah's next comment was interupted by the rather loud rant bellowed out by Captain Wright. Noah had never had the opportunity to meet Vinny but he'd heard other soldiers talk about him, and about him and Olivia. He was the Vinny she'd reacted to so strongly the first day he'd met her.

"I think Captain Wright has just summed up how I feel about this," He said simply when the large man finished.

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

"I know," Olivia whispered back, fighting the urge to flinch from him. If she was going to be cowed by her boyfriend, she might as well end this now. She didn't want to his lover-doormat. And if that's what he wanted her to be, then he should end it. She looked at him, met his eyes and murmured, "After this, first thing."

She looked around at the group. "As always, Vinny said it pretty well. We should work with the system, not outside it. Within the system, we have its protection. That's what I was trying to do, when I was researching Hatchins. My team and I noticed some of the same discrepancies that Cam just mentioned and were trying to prove the IOA connection. We were going to take that to the General. In the meantime, I'd quietly recruited Dr. Jackson, and he had spoken to the General, um O'Neill, so that Hatchins would be watched, on and off base. This is how we should be doing this. Within the system."

And then I had to ruin it by telling him off and scaring him. I should have kept my mouth shut instead of growing a backbone and mouthing off. It was such bitter irony that she wanted to laugh until she choked; when she should have fought him, she took his bullshit, and when she should have shut up, she flapped her yap.

She drew a deep breath and said, "And I of all people want the IOA stopped. I've worried about them deporting my brother, and then they- they got personal. But like Vinny has said, there's a right and a wrong way to do this."

A glare marred her pretty features and she looked around the group before adding, "And anyone who thinks that I agree with him because we're close can get crammed. He's right, plain as that."

[Forge]

Fuckin' Daniel knew!! Fuckin' everyone but me. Goddamn bullshit.

If Vin was angry before, he was boiling now. His face, always an indicator of his 'threat' level, was nearing red as he glared off into nothing, wishing this wasn't technically a mission and he could leave.

Despite all the assinine debate, it was still debate, and he was the last person to say that having an opinion was wrong. The opinion could be wrong, and usually was, but they could still have one.

[Mr Fox]

Walking back over to the group Cam spoke, "All I want to do is what Olivia and SG21 was doing with Hatchins. I want us to gather evidence and give it to General Hammond to present to the President. If you don't want to be part of that, feel free to accept whatever fate the IOA has in store for you. I for one will do my part to expose what they are doing plain and simple. I'll do it alone if I have to." He looked at Olivia and Vinny, "With Hatchins you had the ability to stay within normal channels to observe him. The IOA is outside ALL normal channels, that's the problem there is no one watching them and they don't answer to anyone but the individual leaders of the various countires involved. There are no 'channels' to stay within. If we want to correct their inappropriate behavior it is up to us to do it."

"As for what we are going to do about it... So far all we have done is talk and throw out ideas. If we decide something like having transportation is a bad idea then so be it, it won't happen." Turning his gaze on Wright, "But let me remind you Captain Wright that I do have the authority to set this mission's parameters. If we decide that a ship is needed for whatever reason it will be fully legal. Only if we kept it for ourselves and our private use would it become inappropriate, and we haven't made any decisions yet."

[Omar]

Quote:

"Good fuckin' god, you alien ass-tards are long fuckin' winded, like anyone here cares about your Star Trekkin' sob stories."

Vinny was at it again, and Omar had to take a deep breath before he launched into an attack against the temper-prone Captain.

"While I am 'alien' to this world, I am no more an alien than you are." Omar responded, as he cast a glance towards Kyria. "I just happen to come from an earth that diverged from this one in the distant past. But that will probably mean little to you, and anything I say will be put off as some 'evil alien plot'" Omar changed the tone of his voice to emphasize the evil alien plot.

Quote:

That shit outta the way, what are we fuckin' talkin' about here goddamit?! It is bad enough we had to perform some fuck-all manual labor, talk about fuckin' "ability" bigotry...while Omar there was bouncin' around like a fuckin' pinball lumberjack, I'm fucking cuttin' brush with a goddamn chainsaw!

"As for your contention of bigotry.." Omar paused to ponder what to say next. "I can't help you with that. You can either embrace your talents and use them to their best effect by thinking outside the box, or think like you are still a normal person. You didn't need a chainsaw to clear the brush..." Omar was perplexed as he found himself thinking like Kyria, even as he found himself smiling at Vinny. "You could have just tossed one of your mortars and burned it all away?"

Quote:

"The IOA is outside ALL normal channels, that's the problem there is no one watching them and they don't answer to anyone but the individual leaders of the various countires involved. There are no 'channels' to stay within. If we want to correct their inappropriate behavior it is up to us to do it."

"That is the difficult problem in all this. Since they are outside all normal channels, if we go through the normal channels, we risk that the IOA learns of our efforts. And our efforts are also likely to fail. They would retaliate at that point. I'd hate to have the world learn of our existence at this point. That chain of events always leads to a bad outcome if society is not prepared."

"Our best option is to go outside normal channels. It keeps our intentions hidden. Sure it is less savory and honorable. But is not what the IOA doing unsavory? It would also give us a chance of actually stopping them, while minimizing our involvement."

"As the old saying goes: 'To beat the devil, you have to become the devil'."

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

"With all due respect, Captain," Olivia cut back in, "that's bullshit." It was the first time many of them had heard her curse; she must have been saving up the dirty words. "If you become the devil to beat the devil, then all you have done is replace one devil with another. It's the same mentality that has destroyed millions of lives and it is blatant justification to do whatever you want to do and still feel good because you did it for the 'right' reasons. If you lead us do this, you're just as bad as the IOA, save that you're supposed to have had all this experience on us and you should know better. The fact that you don't know better, that you prattled out that nonsense with that smug look on your face, makes me doubt you've learned anything from your longer life."

The anger and frustration was clear on Olivia's face as she spoke. Unlike Vinny, her skin wasn't getting darker; it was getting paler as she drew closer to a confrontation which scared her. But she had to say this; she had to make them understand what doing something wrong for the right reasons was as bad as the thing you were trying to correct.

"We form a secret conspiracy to get things done and then what? We're the same as the IOA at that point, breaking the rules and doing immoral things because they're more convenient than finding a better way. If we go that road, how long before we're sending ra-bullies to torture those who won't play our games?

"We are specialists," Olivia said, jabbing a finger into her table - though not into it as emphasis, "and that means we have new tools that no one else has. I take what I said before back. If we use the new tools to do exactly what was done before, then we're worse than those we stop because we don't have to repeat their errors. We can find a better way to stop them. Part of that is bringing their crimes out into the light, without dragging ourselves into the shadows."

[Omar]

Omar was taken aback by the fanatical zeal put forth by the 'Specialist'. She seemed to be so sure of her conviction, that she was unable to understand Omar's point. As she fumed, he noticed that her skin lightened as her anger grew. Is that her or the taint speaking, he thought to himself, remembering Andrew's frustrated outbursts.

"While I would agree with your assumption most of the time, I do not here." Omar swiveled and stared at Olivia.

(Activating Awe Inspiring)

"What you fail to take into account, is that morality does not exist in a vaccume. We do not share the same values, morals or goals as the IOA." His voice gets louder, though it is not a shout. "You say that what I propose is bullshit? I say that what you are advocating is cowardice borne out of moral relativism. You would ask us to let evil survive because our actions might resemble that of the evil we are trying to stop." Omar waited for that to sink in before he began an analogy to illustrate his point.

"If a tyrant kills his people and you have the ability to stop him- but in doing so, you would have to kill people. Would that be a moral act?" His face became darker. "Or is the moral act, to not act and let him continue to kill because it is wrong to kill?"

Omar raised his voice. "I say that we are not like the IOA. There are such things as good and evil and that evil needs to be opposed, even if evil must be done to suceed. For us to not do everything in our power to stop them would be the greatest evil."

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

Olivia was stunned for a moment, overwhelmed by the sheer weight of his personality. Then her perfect memory remembered the last time she'd had this trick applied to her. "Nice to resort to Goa'uld tactics against one of your own," she seethed at Omar. "Especially after your talk of guiding and teaching us. I guess that mentorship is only available so long as I agree with you completely. I think you just displayed your true character. If you support doing this without considering other options, then you are as bad as I said previously."

Her vision was red and she was only vaguely aware of standing up. "If I'm not free to speak without being intimidated, then I'm gone. Oh, and for the record, I didn't say do nothing, Captain. I said do something better. I'm not sure why you're blatantly ignoring my words, but I can only assume it's because you're an ego-manic has to have his way or no way."

She glanced at Vinny. "Whenever you're ready," she murmured before heading away from her seat and the debate, walking toward Noah. "Thought I'd come stand with the outcasts, unless you want to be alone?" she asked the handsome young Lieutenant. She managed a smile, but she was still obviously strung out on her nerves, almost shaking from the confrontation.

[Rorx]

Gwyn looks towards Omar, "Above all Omar, the ends does NOT justify the means, and never will. However, given you behaviour I start to see why the rest of Humanity turned against the Novas in your worlds."

Gwyn turns to look at the rest of the Specialists, "If we are to do anything, then it must be as much as possible by the book. We approach our CO - General Landry, and his CO - General Hammond, and we let them know that there was been dubious if not illegal activity by members or factions of the IOA and request permission to investigate so that they can present it to the President."

[z028 Riley]

Kyria watched the outbursts with a sense of foreboding and frowned deeply at Omar's responses. She spoke quietly but with her words pitched to carry to the former Paragon. "Omar, this isn't our world, or at least it is only newly so. Let them decide the roads to take instead insisting that they follow your way. Yelling at them is just childish and demanding that they go your way or demeaning those that would seek another is a quick path to becoming a tyrant yourself; just because they disagree with you doesn't mean that they're wrong." Her tone wasn't inherintly chiding, rather it was flat statement of her own truth of the situation.

"Perhaps for now, for the safety of the baseline families affected by this and for the sense of loyalty and patriatism most of the people here have for the SGC and the process of American law, we should start with the chain of command and the legal channels open to pursue the IOA. If we are blocked from such or the IOA uses its influence and power to make such actions untenable for the consequences to ourselves or others, then we can look to other measures. The worst that can happen at this point is that we allow ourselves to become fractured and isolated. Then we will not have the capacity to protect each other and that which we love later on." She was still speaking quietly but intently, trying to hide her discomfort at the division being sown between the people agreeing with Cam's ideas and those that think it treason or stupidity.

[Aradia McConnell]

Originally Posted By: Mr Fox

"All I want to do is what Olivia and SG21 was doing with Hatchins. I want us to gather evidence and give it to General Hammond to present to the President. If you don't want to be part of that, feel free to accept whatever fate the IOA has in store for you. I for one will do my part to expose what they are doing plain and simple. I'll do it alone if I have to." He looked at Olivia and Vinny, "With Hatchins you had the ability to stay within normal channels to observe him. The IOA is outside ALL normal channels, that's the problem there is no one watching them and they don't answer to anyone but the individual leaders of the various countires involved. There are no 'channels' to stay within. If we want to correct their inappropriate behavior it is up to us to do it."

"As for what we are going to do about it... So far all we have done is talk and throw out ideas. If we decide something like having transportation is a bad idea then so be it, it won't happen." Turning his gaze on Wright, "But let me remind you Captain Wright that I do have the authority to set this mission's parameters. If we decide that a ship is needed for whatever reason it will be fully legal. Only if we kept it for ourselves and our private use would it become inappropriate, and we haven't made any decisions yet."

Aradia finally stood up, her lips pressed together tightly, her expression a mixture between anger and frustration and fear. She looked at Cameron as she spoke, her voice quivering slightly.

"Wait.. let me get this straight. All you want to do.. is gather evidence, and give it to General Hammond to present to the President. So.. no offense.. 'Sir', but why the hell are we here then? You have your evidence. You've already given us two very clear examples - without even discussing the situation with those particular examples, as far as I can tell - what the hell more do you need? If what you want to do is within legal channels, why even involve us? What more can we possibly accomplish?"

Her voice started to rise, her frustration and anger at the NID, the SGU, and the world in general finally starting to spill out. Her hair shifted more without seeming to realize it to an angry-looking reddish-black shade. Her eyes glimmered with emotions, and she directed the full brunt of it on the well-intentioned Colonel, fair or not.

"Do you realize what you've done here today? All you've managed is to turn Specialist against Specialist, teammate against teammate, and friend against friend! How well do you think some of these people are going to work together on missions now? Some of us are just getting to know the others, and now people may not trust each other, just based on their differing opinions! All for something that you're going to do anyway?! Didn't it ever occur to you to address this quietly? To gauge people's reactions in a way that didn't cause a bunch of dissent?!"

Aradia bit her lip to stop it from quivering. She knew she probably looked like a whining baby, or a petulant child. But nothing that she was saying was untrue, and right now the only outlet she had for that anger was the man who'd just ruined the tentative peace she was just starting to gain here, for something that now seemed utterly pointless. Finally, she shook her head, and closed her eyes.

"I don't even see what difference it makes. Unless we want to run away and abandon everything, we're trapped. Don't you get that? You think if the IOA isn't around anymore, someone else isn't going to collar us somehow? We're not gonna be considered a security threat by whoever the next "overseer" is? This country is all about checks and balances, right? Well.. there's always gonna be somebody to be our check. And my guess is that it's always gonna be a pretty heavy one. That we will constantly be forced to deal with the fact that every aspect of our lives is in someone else's control. That they will always hold our family and our friends, or at least our freedom over our heads. That if we don't cooperate.. even if they're honorable, and our families are safe, that they won't throw us in a cell somewhere? They're sure not gonna let us go. I don't care if it's the IOA, or the Air Force, or SGU, or the goddamned President himself. We.. are.. prisoners. And that's just a fact.. Sir. And I think it always will be."

[Adrian Moss]

Omar was right. He had to be right. It seemed so clear now, because how could someone like that be wrong. He was in rapt attention ... until Livy spoke.

Just like you can be ...

What the hell?

Caine fought it, fought it hard. It took him a few moments to overcome the sheer adhoration he felt for the big Kurd, but he did. Something was wrong.

"Captian," Caine ground out, "you attack one of my team mates again, you and I are going to have words. Got me?"

Vinny being gone was good riddance. Olivia being gone ... showed something about her character ... something the did much like.

Aradia said her piece.

"Aradia, being part of a society means you give up certain freedoms. It also, normally, allows you to keep others. All Im asking for is equality and that's not too much to ask. It is something they can afford to give us."

"Colonel, I think this meeting is about over."

He looks to those who have left, or about to leave.

I think we have reached the point were anymore more planning compromises this meeting. For God's sake, before we've actually planned anything, rely solely on those who are In. We can't rely on those who are not with us, so for God's sake, plase just let it drop.

[Katalyst]

Simms request to Vinny was drowned out by the others conversation. As he moved closer to listen in Simms tried to do his best to follow. Most of what Omar had said had a ring of truth to it, but the others also made good points. Cpt Wright's little blow up though seemed to really stir up the pot among the other specialists. [i hope that whatever the Col had planned for us didn't just go up in smoke. I was looking forward to working with the others.