Stargate

Changes

Jack walked into the UN building, and walked to the chamber that the Stargate Program had been assigned while their own facilities were constructed. It had been 2 weeks since the unveiling, and 82 Nations had signed the Stargate Charter. Now the real politics began, and he was loathe to have to be involved.

He had been summoned by the governing council that the IOA had established, and he knew he reported tonthem directly.

"-we need to establish a body independent of any Nation. How can we justify the defenses of the entire planet be in the control of an individual that can be recalled by a National Military at their whim?" one of the delegates demanded as he entered the chamber.

"We recognize that point in your argument, however we need to find a resolution instead of holding the anger of the current situation." President Storm said exasperated. "That is why we have asked General O'Neill here to help us understand the discrepancies and determine a solution." he said as General O'Neill walked to the table.

"Reporting as ordered sir." General O'Neill said as he took a seat. "Normally I would ask the topic of conversation, however I believe I jabe the gist of it. I assume we are discussimg how we will merge the Military Personnel of 82 current member nations?" he asked for clarification.

"We are indeed, from a Military Standpoint what are the options?" President Storm asked.

"There are two options. First option is that Member Nation Personnel are removed from their respective National Chain of Command and placed inside the Stargate Program. Once done it can only be undone by the Stargate Program and the soldier in question. Their rank would be equivicated intl the standards of the Program, and their chain of command would be the Stargate Program, and no individual member would be subject to recall by their home nation." Jack explained how it worked now. "This is the current system used, and it takes 2 years training between recruitment and deployment status."

Most of the members nodded, but a few it was clear were still not satisfied with this answer. "What is the second option?" the first angry delegate demanded.

"An idea has been generated inside of the cirrent command to address the new additions we will likely need to make. As we must navigate many arms treatise for the seperate Nations, General Carter has recommended the Stargate Programs be seperated from any individual Nation. Any member Nation would have the ability to recommend personnel, however testing and training would be handled exclusively outside the chain of any Nation.

"Once accepted into the program the Personnel would be required to join the Tau'ri Defense Forces, and sever ties with their previous Nations Military. It would be a force like the UN, but different in that we will not operate on Earth itself. And the Personnel would join us with the understanding that they would not be able to simply return to their previous position." Jack said as he laid her proposal on the table in front of him.

"Is she here?" Donovan Franks of Germany demanded angrily.

General Carter srood in the audience, as she was indeed there as Jack had requested. She dwliberately walked to the table and took a seat next to him. "I am." she finally said into her micropohone.

"How would this new force be different from the UN troops?" he demanded still angry.

"UN troops are assigned by member nations for a term of years. They retain their ranks in their home nation, and can be recalled by that member at any time. Stargate Personnel are different in that their assignment must be permanent. Once assigned to Stargate Operations or Homeworld Command, those personnel cannot be recalled by their home nation. I am suggesting we further isolate this military force and ensuring they serve all of the people of Earth by requiring they resign their rank in their home nation." she said going over her proposal.

The German Delegate was a little shocked at this, and a clear argument was brewing among the other delegates at this response.

"May I add a few things about my proposal as well?" General Carter asked.

"You may." President Storm said at the center of the table.

"In addition to removing the Personnel from being under direct command of their respective nations, I suggest we remove the entire program from the control or influence of any one nation. There are several islands that are currently for sale by Private Individuals, and it is my suggestion we purchase one with the intent of transforming it into the base that our programs need. This way we can remove the technologies critical to our mutual defense to a location that is under the Command of the Tau'ri Defense Forces." General Carter explained to them. "This would include the Stargate, Ancient Weapons Chair, and any other technology acquired to provide for our defenses." she added.

Nearly every one of the delegates was shocked, and President Storm nodded as he liked this idea. "Are any of them located strategically enough to receive supplies from a nearby Member Nation?" President Storm asked.

"Several of them are, one is off the coast of Scottland and located perfectly to receive critical supplies." Carter replied as she had several ideas on where to relocate everything.

"What island are you considering General Carter?" Ambassador Kriten of Germany asked.

"Sanda Island, and the Isle of Vaila are both for private sell. If the UK Government would consent to the sale of the land from their holdings as well, it would be completely independent land from all Nations. In 6 months we could have the structures needed in place to transfer the equipment to replace the Drone Weapons Chair, and the Stargate itself." she replied quickly.

Most of the delegates knew that if it was accepted, each of the islands would provide the perfect solution for the Stargate Program. "Either way over the course of a few years I would recommend the acquisition of both islands, so that we can tramsfer the manufacturing facilities of the X300 series ships that our program has designed and used. It would also allow us to install the advanced manufacturimg facilities needed to produce the technology we have access to from the Lanteans and Azguardians." she finished.

Most of the delegates were shocked by her proposal, as it addressed nearly every aspect of their concerns where the technology was concerned.

"I suggest we take a few hours to review this proposal before we discuss the merits of it. Any objections?" President Storm asked them. A few moments later he nodded and slammed his gavel. "We will have copies distributed within a few minutes, and we will recess for 4 hours so we can review the proposal of General Carter." he said before slamming his gavel to close this contentious session for now. He was glad he had summoned General O'Neill who had come through with General Carter.

He approached the two of them, and shook Jacks hand before he spoke. "How long have you been considering that proposal?" he asked her.

"I began the design a few years ago, but polished it over the last few weeks. The islands have actually been proposed before, but determined security was too large of an issue. Now however I believe it to be ojr best solution. Sanda Island for Stargate Operations and Homeworld Command, Isle of Vaila for manufacturing tech, and ships." she said knowing the details of the islamds well and what they would best be suited for.

President Storm nodded, knowing he should have expected it. "Well it saved us a headache now. I assume the two of you would be willing to transfer from the US military to the new military?" he asked and they both nodded. "Well I will advocate for this as much as possible. Hopefully the member nations will see the benefit. Why the Tau'ri Defense Forces?" he asked for clarification.

"Because we are known as the Tau'ri throughout the galaxy. It also allows us to seperate the branches into specialties that we can quantify for the multitude of member nation armies that will inevitably join us." Carter explained pointing at the file. "It is in there, I assure you."

"I will let you know if we need further information about your proposal. If we enact it how lomg would it take to make a new Stargate Embarkation room that can be as fortified as the current one is?" he asked.

"6 months, and we can have it ready for operations. Full base support facilities will take roughly 2 years to complete." she said confidently. "The manufacturing facilities would take a few years to get operational, and it would likely take a decade beforenwe are prepared to attempt our first city ship. There is still a lot of technical information we need to work out between their technology and ours." Carter detailed what her analysis had revealed.

"Well, it gives us time to adapt to changing circumstances. How much will it cost?" he asked.

"Not a clue, most of the facilities have yet to even be designed. Stargate Operations will take $5.2 Billion to construct to the current security designs." O'Neill said knowing those details better tham she did.

"So our current budget of $15 billion???" President Storm trailed off.

"Is to maintain current operations." he replied smiling. "We will probably need an equal construction budget for projects over the next few years."