As yet unnamed SG-1 Elizabeth ficlet.
SG-1 episode tag to New Order, where after the defeat of Anubis on Earth (thanks to the chair in Antarctica), the System Lords ask to negotiate a treaty with Earth.
"I just didn't expect you'd want to become a system lord," Daniel said.
Elizabeth stopped pacing General Hammond's office. Her office, technically, but it still looked -- and felt -- like his.
"Why not?" she asked. The negotiations with the System Lords had been going as well as expected, which meant badly. But she had them now. She was surprised Dr. Jackson didn't see that.
Daniel blinked.
So little faith, she thought. "Wouldn't it accomplish our aims?"
"Enslaving millions of people, slaughtering innocents ... yeah, that's what the Stargate program is all about."
She shrugged. "As system lords we could do whatever we wanted." She took a breath. "Look. The art of negotiation isn't about responding to the demands of the moment -- which can easily happen when you're locked in a boardroom. You have to have a vision, rise above it, so you can take advantage of unforeseen opportunities. Like this one." She continued, "Our larger goal is freeing the people of this galaxy from the Goa'uld. We could accomplish this at the negotiating table. Take over. Set Ba'al's slaves free. Or give his territory to the rebel Jaffa."
"Or-! Argue that those planets as Earth territories would now be covered under the Protected Planets treaty," Daniel added, words coming out in a flood as they did when he was excited. She was getting to know her people, even if they didn't yet know her. "Maybe even with Earth's technological exemption."
"Now you're thinking like a negotiator." She sat down and leaned her chin on her folded hands. Food. That's what she'd meant to get. "If they say no we get what we want, if they say yes we get what we want."
"Wow. You're good."
Food would have to wait. This was another kind of negotiation. If she earned Dr. Jackson's support, she'd have SG-1, with SG-1 behind her, the entire base. It would be nice to not feel like a substitute teacher.
"Their only way out is to stall or break off negotiations entirely," she said with raised eyebrows. Inwardly, she expected the latter. Touchy folks, those Goa'uld.
There came a knock at the door. Without asking, Walter peered in. "The System Lords have asked for more time to consider their options." He left, also without asking.
Daniel smirked at her.
"Makes me wonder why the Tok'ra never considered this," Elizabeth said.
"Or what happened when they did," Daniel pointed out.
"I just didn't expect you'd want to become a system lord," Daniel said.
Elizabeth stopped pacing General Hammond's office. Her office, technically, but it still looked -- and felt -- like his.
"Why not?" she asked. The negotiations with the System Lords had been going as well as expected, which meant badly. But she had them now. She was surprised Dr. Jackson didn't see that.
Daniel blinked.
So little faith, she thought. "Wouldn't it accomplish our aims?"
"Enslaving millions of people, slaughtering innocents ... yeah, that's what the Stargate program is all about."
She shrugged. "As system lords we could do whatever we wanted." She took a breath. "Look. The art of negotiation isn't about responding to the demands of the moment -- which can easily happen when you're locked in a boardroom. You have to have a vision, rise above it, so you can take advantage of unforeseen opportunities. Like this one." She continued, "Our larger goal is freeing the people of this galaxy from the Goa'uld. We could accomplish this at the negotiating table. Take over. Set Ba'al's slaves free. Or give his territory to the rebel Jaffa."
"Or-! Argue that those planets as Earth territories would now be covered under the Protected Planets treaty," Daniel added, words coming out in a flood as they did when he was excited. She was getting to know her people, even if they didn't yet know her. "Maybe even with Earth's technological exemption."
"Now you're thinking like a negotiator." She sat down and leaned her chin on her folded hands. Food. That's what she'd meant to get. "If they say no we get what we want, if they say yes we get what we want."
"Wow. You're good."
Food would have to wait. This was another kind of negotiation. If she earned Dr. Jackson's support, she'd have SG-1, with SG-1 behind her, the entire base. It would be nice to not feel like a substitute teacher.
"Their only way out is to stall or break off negotiations entirely," she said with raised eyebrows. Inwardly, she expected the latter. Touchy folks, those Goa'uld.
There came a knock at the door. Without asking, Walter peered in. "The System Lords have asked for more time to consider their options." He left, also without asking.
Daniel smirked at her.
"Makes me wonder why the Tok'ra never considered this," Elizabeth said.
"Or what happened when they did," Daniel pointed out.