Trial Without Error - 4/4
Title: Trial Without Error
Author: Soledad
For disclaimer, rating, etc. see the secondary index page.
Author's notes:
Annalisa Lindstrom is a character borrowed from the first season of “Pensacola”. The personal backgrounds of Markham and Stackhouse are made up by me and used basically in the same form in all my stories. Coffman and Reed are canon characters, mentioned in “Runner”. In this AU, Major Lorne already came to Atlantis with the original expedition.
CHAPTER 4 - CONSEQUENCES
After that, the hearing was adjourned until the next day. Sheppard and Bates were escorted back to their quarters where they were still confined to. The city itself, however, was buzzing with excitement over the fact that Bates had openly turned against his commanding officer. Understandably enough, some Marines had problems with that and went to Bates’ team for answers.
“He didn’t turn against Sheppard,” Teague declared, staring daggers at Coffman and Reed. “He just told the frigging truth, ya know?”
“Besides,” Lt. Annalisa Lindstrom, also known as ‘Stinger’, an ace pilot and the only other Danish member of the expedition save the late Dr. Petersen, added, “he couldn’t really deny what he’d done. Four Control room technicians and Dr. Grodin heard and saw the whole thing first-hand - not to mention Dr. Weir herself.”
“Still,” Coffman insisted, “a Marine shouldn’t side with the civilians against his comrades.”
Lt. Lindstrom raised a sarcastic eyebrow. “His comrades? I thought Air Force pilots - or any pilots at all - were worse than vermin in the eyes of a self-respecting Marine.”
“You shouldn’t believe all that crap about us, Lieutenant,” Staff Sergeant Adam Stackhouse pulled out a chair and sat down to their table. “Most of ’em are evil rumours, created and spread by Air Force pilots.”
That broke the tension, and Coffman, who happened to be on Stackhouse’s team, wisely shut up. Stacks was a fair and easy-going team leader, but one thing could bring out his worst side: if someone picked on a fellow soldier behind said person’s back. And every Marine who’s had the questionable pleasure to be trained by the late Master Sergeant Derek Stackhouse knew that the worst side of the Stackhouse men - be it Derek Sr, Derek Jr. or Adam - was not a place where anyone wanted to be.
Lt. Lindstrom had heard those rumours, too, but seeing the fresh-faced young Staff Sergeant, he had a hard time to believe them. Stacks was still on this side of thirty and looked even less, despite the irregular grey specks on his temples that hinted of untold stories, none of them pleasant.
“Where’s your shadow today?” she asked, as it was unusual to see Stackhouse without Markham. The two had been best friends, if not since the sandbox, at least since twelve years or more, and somehow managed to get stationed on the same place, most of that time.
Stackhouse shrugged. “Anais has come visiting from the mainland when Dr. Z and Marta returned. She and Jamie needed some quality time alone.”
Lt. Lindstrom grinned, seeing the slightly uncomfortable expressions of the other Marines. Like Scandinavians in general, she had a much more relaxed attitude towards… alternate lifestyles than Americans generally had, and the idea of Athosian clan marriages didn’t bother her a bit. To be fair to the Marines, it didn’t bother them much, either - as long as the practice remained strictly among the Athosians. When Dr. Zelenka had married Marta (and who knows whom else in the process), that had been a little harder to digest. But when Stackhouse and Markham had gone and married the same woman - a slim, trim Athosian huntress with the appearance of a local Joan D’Arc - the foundations of the universe had been shaken for them, and there were still in the process of trying to deal with it.
“And they opted you out?” Reed asked, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.
The fact that he was not on Stackhouse’s team explained the idiocy of asking such a question - well, actually, any question at all - about the Staff Sergeant’s private life. Coffman winced a bit, but the expected temper tantrum never came. Stackhouse simply shrugged again.
“My turn will come,” he said, as if it were the most natural thing to share a wife with one’s best friend. Which, from the Athosian point of view, was a natural thing. Clan marriages were their way to ensure that children grew up in a family, even if the Wraith took the one or other parent. And with Atlantis’ statistical imbalance between male and female inhabitants, given enough time, the colonists wouldn’t have many other choices than to follow the Athosian example… or perish within two generations.
Stackhouse apparently considered the topic closed because he turned to Lt. Lindstrom, who happened to be on Major Vogel’s team.
“Lieutenant, do you believe that Gene has a chance to keep his team after this?” he asked; which was a not all too subtle attempt to as whether Lindstrom had heard something from her CO or not.
The deceivingly slim, blonde woman shrugged.
“I’m not sure what to expect,” she said. “My CO is the legal expert, not me. But I suspect he brass are going to make an example, so that the military knows next time whom they - we - ought to listen to.”
“Which means that Bates will lose his team while Major Sheephead will be allowed to keep his,” Rickman commented bitterly, his taut face dark. “To teach the grunts whom to obey.”
“Watch your tongue, Alan,” McKinney warned him. “I’d hate to report you, but with so many witnesses, I’ll have to, if you keep talkin’ like that.”
Rickman shut up. In Bates’ absence, Zeke McKinney was the ranking NCO in the team - a staff sergeant like Stackhouse, while Rickman was just a sergeant - so the others did what he told them to do.
“Perhaps they’re gonna promote you to team leader,” Stackhouse said to McKinney. The older, heavy-set staff sergeant pulled a face.
“God, I hope not!” he said honestly. “The last thing I wanna do is trying to fill the Master Sergeant’s boots.”
“Better you than some outsider,” Teague commented.
“Somehow, I doubt that the brass are gonna ask us what we want,” McKinney replied grimly.
That was something everyone agreed with. Even Annalisa Lindstrom, despite being a commissioned officer.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The announcement of the court was appointed for 1600 hours, local time. As on the day before, everyone but a skeleton duty crew gathered in the courtroom. The low buss filling the room died down in the moment when Kirkitadze entered, in the company of Dr. Weir and Major Vogel. Bates felt his stomach shrink to the size of a dried lemon from nervous anticipation as he rose from his place next to Petty Officer Tiner.
“Be seated, please, ladies and gentleman,” Kirkitadze said. “We have discussed the testimony of the witnesses with Dr. Weir, and we asked the opinion of Dr. McKay, Dr. Grodin and Dr. Beckett as well, since they are the heads of the major science departments. Considering all facts carefully, this court came to the decision that both Major Sheppard and Master Sergeant Bates are guilty in insubordination towards the highest civilian authority. Major Sheppard has the additional responsibility for motivating a subordinate to aforementioned insubordination. This is not a court-martial - we don’t have enough ranking officers in Atlantis for that - so we can’t demote either of them. But it is the opinion of this court that they shouldn’t have any position in the governing structure of Atlantis, as they are apparently not capable of obeying the orders of the civilian authorities.”
The shocked disbelief on Sheppard’s face clearly revealed that he’d actually hoped to get away with his cowboy actions unscathed. Bates had known better - non-coms were usually handled a lot harder and thus had fewer illusions - and was almost glad that it was over. He’d made a mistake. Now he’d have to prove himself again. But he was a tough guy. He could live with that.
“So, what are you gonna do with us?” Sheppard asked in a demanding voice. “Load us off to the mainland to bother Halling in the future or exile us on some barren planet?”
“I’m afraid it wouldn’t be half as dramatic,” Kirkitadze replied simply. “But changes in the command structure are Dr. Weir’s prerogative. Perhaps you should all listen to her.”
Therese Weir rose from her place on Major Vogel’s side.
“As you all know, we have two other commissioned officers in the rank of a major who can take over the duties of the military commander in Atlantis,” she began. “You’ll understand if I’m a bit… wary towards American military at the moment. So I intend to ask Major Vogel to accept the responsibility.”
Ralph Vogel’s surprise was unmistakable. There could be no doubt that he hadn’t known about this before.
“Are you sure that this is a good idea, Dr. Weir?” he asked. “I’m not only a Bundeswehr pilot, which is, I’m sure, every bit as bad as if I were in the Air Force, I’m also a foreigner. The majority of the military contingent are Americans.”
“Which is exactly why I’m asking you,” Dr. Weir said. “I’ve never had any reason to question Major Lorne’s loyalty… but again, I used to believe the same thing about Sergeant Bates, until yesterday. Right now, I’d prefer someone in the highest military position who is a foreigner.”
“Because I’m less likely to side with the military out of reflex?” Major Vogel asked.
“Yes,” Dr. Weir replied bluntly. “It depresses me a great deal that I even have to consider the possibility of another riot like the one yesterday. But for the sake of Atlantis and all people who live here, I have to lessen that risk as much as I can. I hope you understand my reasoning, Major.”
“I do,” Vogel said, “And I accept the responsibility. I’d like you to consider the possibility of switching the office between me and Major Lorne, though. Perhaps at the end of every year, or on a bi-annual basis.”
“That’s an idea worth considering,” Dr. Weir agreed. “I’ll think about it.”
“In that case, I’m ready,” Vogel said. “What about Major Sheppard’s team, though? Will he be allowed to keep it? I can’t command two teams and coordinate all military actions at the same time. Besides, Major Sheppard is still our best pilot, with the strongest ATA gene and vast experience in black ops. We still need him.”
“That’s true,” Dr. Weir said. “And I don’t intend to take him off the team. I intend to change the structure of the team, however. I’ll take Lieutenant Ford off the team and replace him with Gunnery Sergeant Galindez,” she glanced at Galindez who, once again, was standing at the courtroom doors. “Gunny, I was told that you’re used to work with… complicated officers. I hope you’ll fit in with our best team… and manage to keep Major Sheppard out of trouble.”
“I’ll do my best, ma’am,” Galindez replied in a manner that revealed his confidence in his own ability to do so.
“And what will become of me?” Ford asked, very disappointed to have to leave his team.
“You’ll be taking command of Sergeant Bates’ team,” Dr. Weir answered. “They’re not a scout team, so their numbers are not limited. Even with you, they still won’t make up a full squad.”
“Which means, they don’t need a lieutenant to lead them,” Ford argued. “A squad can be led by a Corporal or a Sergeant.”
“This is not a question of USMC, Lieutenant,” Dr. Weir said. “I need an officer in command of our surveillance team; someone whom I can trust one hundred per cent. I believe you are that officer. Am I mistaken?”
Aiden Ford shook his head unhappily. “No, ma’am, you’re not. You can trust me. It’s just… uncomfortable for me.”
“Good,” Dr. Weir said. “I’d be worried if you weren’t uncomfortable with the situation. But you’ve served with Sergeant Bates before; you’ll manage. That’s what you were trained for, isn’t it?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Ford replied with an obvious lack of enthusiasm and glanced at Bates apologetically. “I’m really sorry, Gene.”
“Not your fault, Lieutenant,” Bates replied stoically. He was relieved. Ford was a good kid. A bit still green around the ears, but an excellent demolitions expert and willing to learn. McKinney would be able to support him. The team would be in good hands.
“Excuse me, ma’am,” he heard Ford asking, “but what will become of Gene now?”
“He remains on his team, of course,” Dr. Weir answered. “His experience is of great value, and his talents are needed. He’ll be your second-in-command, your support and relief - but the decisions would be yours, in everything. I’m putting a lot of faith in you, Lieutenant - do not disappoint me.”
“I won’t, ma’am,” Ford promised. “I only hope you’re not planning to make me chief of station security as well. That would be a bit much to shoulder for someone like me.”
Dr. Weir smiled. “Don’t worry, Lieutenant. Dr. Kirkitadze and I have decided to make Mr. Naseband’s status as chief of security a permanent one. He’s got enough practice in that kind of work. Plus, that way we can separate station security and the military, which, in our opinion, is a good thing.”
“But will he have enough people when the Marines aren’t part of the security anymore?” Ford asked.
Naseband grinned. “We have five former detectives to deal with daily business,” he said. “Considering the level of criminality in this city, I think we’ll manage. As for the bigger issues… I happen to have a good link to the new military commander of Atlantis. He might be willing to lend me a few soldiers if needed.”
“That could be arranged,” Vogel grinned back at him.
“See what you’ve done?” Grodin commented with an almost convincing eye roll. “You give them a bit of power, and they promptly start the Great German Conspiracy. Next they’ll demand that we all speak German, too.”
“That won’t be a problem,” Dr. Weir replied, completely unfazed. “I speak German fluently, and so does Dr. Kirkitadze. Your German isn’t that bad, either, if I’m not mistaken. And Rodney can always ask Dr. Zelenka to translate for him.”
“I wish someone would translate when Rodney and Radek are talking to each other,” Grodin murmured, but his dark eyes were laughing. Despite the recent tragic events, life was slowly returning to normal, and a bit silliness felt unexpectedly good. Having dealt with the disciplinary matters, unpleasant though the process itself might have been, helped everyone to push things back into the right perspective.
“All right,” Dr. Weir said, “it seems we’ve settled things for the time being. Let’s hope that we won’t have to repeat this any time soon.”
“Preferably never,” Major Vogel added.
“I’d prefer that, too,” Theresa Weir admitted. “But we should be realistic, Major. Nobody is perfect. We’re lost in a foreign galaxy, living in a dangerous situation under less than ideal circumstances - we’re prone to making mistakes. As you Germans say so eloquently, wo es Menschen gibt, da menschelt es. We can only hope that we’re going to deal with the problems that might occur in the future with causing as little damage as possible."
“Your word in God’s ear,” Ralph Vogel replied, shaking off his black robe and throwing it over the back of his seat. He was wearing his dress uniform underneath. “If you don’t need me anymore, I’d like to change back into more sensible clothes.”
“Save an emergency, no, I don’t,” Dr. Weir gave him a curious look. “You’ve got plans for the evening?”
“No previous arrangements,” Vogel laughed, although it sounded a bit forced. “I just need a little time to digest my sudden and unexpected promotion. Have a beer with my Kameraden; get over the shock… that sort of thing.”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
“How about you getting over the shock?” Annalisa Lindstrom asked Aiden Ford half an hour later jokingly.
They were sitting in Annalisa’s quarters, and the Danish lieutenant had already sacrificed a small bottle of precious aquavit to build up a little Aiden’s self-confidence. A very small bottle only - after all, aquavit was a piece of home for her - but friendship did have its price sometimes. As a result, they were both a little tipsy, which resulted in a gloomy mood by Aiden and in an increasing tendency to giggle by Annalisa.
“I hate this,” Ford admitted. “Gene is a good man, Lisa. He’s just a bit paranoid, and a stickler to the rules. He knows more about command and leadership than I’ll ever be able to learn. How am I supposed to give him orders? Or McKinney, or Richman, or any of the others? Everyone in that team is an experienced veteran, even Smithy.”
“So are you,” Lindstrom pointed out. “You’ve had dozens of off-world missions with the SGC. And you’re an ace in your own field, so why do you fret so much?”
“You don’t understand,” Ford declared dramatically. “Everything that’s useful during an off-world mission, I’ve learned from Gene and the others. They’re good, Lisa. They’ve never lost anyone off-world. No other team at SGC can say that about themselves.”
“So you’ll get the chance to learn even more from them,” Lindstrom said reasonably. “Just don’t boss them around more than necessary - but don’t let them get away with anything, either. That will earn their respect, and you’ll arrange yourselves in time.”
For gave him a playfully adoring look. “You’re a jewel among the pilots, Lisa. I could fell in undying love with you…”
“… if you weren’t already hopelessly besotted with someone else, I know,” Lindstrom said, suppressing the pang of regret she always felt when this topic came up. “All right, toy soldier, you’ve brooded enough for one day. Let’s have some fun.”
“Basketball?” Ford asked hopefully. They were both devoted fans, and Lindstrom had somehow managed to smuggle in a seemingly endless amount of recorded games on a pen drive. Or on more pen drives. Ford didn’t know the details and didn’t really care.
“Is there anything else?” Lindstrom grinned.
And so they spent the rest of the evening lazing on Lindstrom’s bed and watching basketball on her laptop. After the third game, the aquavit was gone and Ford’s limps felt so heavy he could barely move. But that was okay, he could rash at Lisa’s place, since she had night watch anyway. And in the morning he would perhaps be able to deal with the fact that he was now personally responsible for the best survey team of Atlantis.
You wanted to become an officer, he told himself before falling asleep. Now you’ve gotten what you asked for.
~The End~
For visuals: Lt. Annalisa Lindstrom as played by Kathryn Morris
Staff Sergeant Zeke McKinney as played by Terence Knox:
Author: Soledad
For disclaimer, rating, etc. see the secondary index page.
Author's notes:
Annalisa Lindstrom is a character borrowed from the first season of “Pensacola”. The personal backgrounds of Markham and Stackhouse are made up by me and used basically in the same form in all my stories. Coffman and Reed are canon characters, mentioned in “Runner”. In this AU, Major Lorne already came to Atlantis with the original expedition.
CHAPTER 4 - CONSEQUENCES
After that, the hearing was adjourned until the next day. Sheppard and Bates were escorted back to their quarters where they were still confined to. The city itself, however, was buzzing with excitement over the fact that Bates had openly turned against his commanding officer. Understandably enough, some Marines had problems with that and went to Bates’ team for answers.
“He didn’t turn against Sheppard,” Teague declared, staring daggers at Coffman and Reed. “He just told the frigging truth, ya know?”
“Besides,” Lt. Annalisa Lindstrom, also known as ‘Stinger’, an ace pilot and the only other Danish member of the expedition save the late Dr. Petersen, added, “he couldn’t really deny what he’d done. Four Control room technicians and Dr. Grodin heard and saw the whole thing first-hand - not to mention Dr. Weir herself.”
“Still,” Coffman insisted, “a Marine shouldn’t side with the civilians against his comrades.”
Lt. Lindstrom raised a sarcastic eyebrow. “His comrades? I thought Air Force pilots - or any pilots at all - were worse than vermin in the eyes of a self-respecting Marine.”
“You shouldn’t believe all that crap about us, Lieutenant,” Staff Sergeant Adam Stackhouse pulled out a chair and sat down to their table. “Most of ’em are evil rumours, created and spread by Air Force pilots.”
That broke the tension, and Coffman, who happened to be on Stackhouse’s team, wisely shut up. Stacks was a fair and easy-going team leader, but one thing could bring out his worst side: if someone picked on a fellow soldier behind said person’s back. And every Marine who’s had the questionable pleasure to be trained by the late Master Sergeant Derek Stackhouse knew that the worst side of the Stackhouse men - be it Derek Sr, Derek Jr. or Adam - was not a place where anyone wanted to be.
Lt. Lindstrom had heard those rumours, too, but seeing the fresh-faced young Staff Sergeant, he had a hard time to believe them. Stacks was still on this side of thirty and looked even less, despite the irregular grey specks on his temples that hinted of untold stories, none of them pleasant.
“Where’s your shadow today?” she asked, as it was unusual to see Stackhouse without Markham. The two had been best friends, if not since the sandbox, at least since twelve years or more, and somehow managed to get stationed on the same place, most of that time.
Stackhouse shrugged. “Anais has come visiting from the mainland when Dr. Z and Marta returned. She and Jamie needed some quality time alone.”
Lt. Lindstrom grinned, seeing the slightly uncomfortable expressions of the other Marines. Like Scandinavians in general, she had a much more relaxed attitude towards… alternate lifestyles than Americans generally had, and the idea of Athosian clan marriages didn’t bother her a bit. To be fair to the Marines, it didn’t bother them much, either - as long as the practice remained strictly among the Athosians. When Dr. Zelenka had married Marta (and who knows whom else in the process), that had been a little harder to digest. But when Stackhouse and Markham had gone and married the same woman - a slim, trim Athosian huntress with the appearance of a local Joan D’Arc - the foundations of the universe had been shaken for them, and there were still in the process of trying to deal with it.
“And they opted you out?” Reed asked, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.
The fact that he was not on Stackhouse’s team explained the idiocy of asking such a question - well, actually, any question at all - about the Staff Sergeant’s private life. Coffman winced a bit, but the expected temper tantrum never came. Stackhouse simply shrugged again.
“My turn will come,” he said, as if it were the most natural thing to share a wife with one’s best friend. Which, from the Athosian point of view, was a natural thing. Clan marriages were their way to ensure that children grew up in a family, even if the Wraith took the one or other parent. And with Atlantis’ statistical imbalance between male and female inhabitants, given enough time, the colonists wouldn’t have many other choices than to follow the Athosian example… or perish within two generations.
Stackhouse apparently considered the topic closed because he turned to Lt. Lindstrom, who happened to be on Major Vogel’s team.
“Lieutenant, do you believe that Gene has a chance to keep his team after this?” he asked; which was a not all too subtle attempt to as whether Lindstrom had heard something from her CO or not.
The deceivingly slim, blonde woman shrugged.
“I’m not sure what to expect,” she said. “My CO is the legal expert, not me. But I suspect he brass are going to make an example, so that the military knows next time whom they - we - ought to listen to.”
“Which means that Bates will lose his team while Major Sheephead will be allowed to keep his,” Rickman commented bitterly, his taut face dark. “To teach the grunts whom to obey.”
“Watch your tongue, Alan,” McKinney warned him. “I’d hate to report you, but with so many witnesses, I’ll have to, if you keep talkin’ like that.”
Rickman shut up. In Bates’ absence, Zeke McKinney was the ranking NCO in the team - a staff sergeant like Stackhouse, while Rickman was just a sergeant - so the others did what he told them to do.
“Perhaps they’re gonna promote you to team leader,” Stackhouse said to McKinney. The older, heavy-set staff sergeant pulled a face.
“God, I hope not!” he said honestly. “The last thing I wanna do is trying to fill the Master Sergeant’s boots.”
“Better you than some outsider,” Teague commented.
“Somehow, I doubt that the brass are gonna ask us what we want,” McKinney replied grimly.
That was something everyone agreed with. Even Annalisa Lindstrom, despite being a commissioned officer.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The announcement of the court was appointed for 1600 hours, local time. As on the day before, everyone but a skeleton duty crew gathered in the courtroom. The low buss filling the room died down in the moment when Kirkitadze entered, in the company of Dr. Weir and Major Vogel. Bates felt his stomach shrink to the size of a dried lemon from nervous anticipation as he rose from his place next to Petty Officer Tiner.
“Be seated, please, ladies and gentleman,” Kirkitadze said. “We have discussed the testimony of the witnesses with Dr. Weir, and we asked the opinion of Dr. McKay, Dr. Grodin and Dr. Beckett as well, since they are the heads of the major science departments. Considering all facts carefully, this court came to the decision that both Major Sheppard and Master Sergeant Bates are guilty in insubordination towards the highest civilian authority. Major Sheppard has the additional responsibility for motivating a subordinate to aforementioned insubordination. This is not a court-martial - we don’t have enough ranking officers in Atlantis for that - so we can’t demote either of them. But it is the opinion of this court that they shouldn’t have any position in the governing structure of Atlantis, as they are apparently not capable of obeying the orders of the civilian authorities.”
The shocked disbelief on Sheppard’s face clearly revealed that he’d actually hoped to get away with his cowboy actions unscathed. Bates had known better - non-coms were usually handled a lot harder and thus had fewer illusions - and was almost glad that it was over. He’d made a mistake. Now he’d have to prove himself again. But he was a tough guy. He could live with that.
“So, what are you gonna do with us?” Sheppard asked in a demanding voice. “Load us off to the mainland to bother Halling in the future or exile us on some barren planet?”
“I’m afraid it wouldn’t be half as dramatic,” Kirkitadze replied simply. “But changes in the command structure are Dr. Weir’s prerogative. Perhaps you should all listen to her.”
Therese Weir rose from her place on Major Vogel’s side.
“As you all know, we have two other commissioned officers in the rank of a major who can take over the duties of the military commander in Atlantis,” she began. “You’ll understand if I’m a bit… wary towards American military at the moment. So I intend to ask Major Vogel to accept the responsibility.”
Ralph Vogel’s surprise was unmistakable. There could be no doubt that he hadn’t known about this before.
“Are you sure that this is a good idea, Dr. Weir?” he asked. “I’m not only a Bundeswehr pilot, which is, I’m sure, every bit as bad as if I were in the Air Force, I’m also a foreigner. The majority of the military contingent are Americans.”
“Which is exactly why I’m asking you,” Dr. Weir said. “I’ve never had any reason to question Major Lorne’s loyalty… but again, I used to believe the same thing about Sergeant Bates, until yesterday. Right now, I’d prefer someone in the highest military position who is a foreigner.”
“Because I’m less likely to side with the military out of reflex?” Major Vogel asked.
“Yes,” Dr. Weir replied bluntly. “It depresses me a great deal that I even have to consider the possibility of another riot like the one yesterday. But for the sake of Atlantis and all people who live here, I have to lessen that risk as much as I can. I hope you understand my reasoning, Major.”
“I do,” Vogel said, “And I accept the responsibility. I’d like you to consider the possibility of switching the office between me and Major Lorne, though. Perhaps at the end of every year, or on a bi-annual basis.”
“That’s an idea worth considering,” Dr. Weir agreed. “I’ll think about it.”
“In that case, I’m ready,” Vogel said. “What about Major Sheppard’s team, though? Will he be allowed to keep it? I can’t command two teams and coordinate all military actions at the same time. Besides, Major Sheppard is still our best pilot, with the strongest ATA gene and vast experience in black ops. We still need him.”
“That’s true,” Dr. Weir said. “And I don’t intend to take him off the team. I intend to change the structure of the team, however. I’ll take Lieutenant Ford off the team and replace him with Gunnery Sergeant Galindez,” she glanced at Galindez who, once again, was standing at the courtroom doors. “Gunny, I was told that you’re used to work with… complicated officers. I hope you’ll fit in with our best team… and manage to keep Major Sheppard out of trouble.”
“I’ll do my best, ma’am,” Galindez replied in a manner that revealed his confidence in his own ability to do so.
“And what will become of me?” Ford asked, very disappointed to have to leave his team.
“You’ll be taking command of Sergeant Bates’ team,” Dr. Weir answered. “They’re not a scout team, so their numbers are not limited. Even with you, they still won’t make up a full squad.”
“Which means, they don’t need a lieutenant to lead them,” Ford argued. “A squad can be led by a Corporal or a Sergeant.”
“This is not a question of USMC, Lieutenant,” Dr. Weir said. “I need an officer in command of our surveillance team; someone whom I can trust one hundred per cent. I believe you are that officer. Am I mistaken?”
Aiden Ford shook his head unhappily. “No, ma’am, you’re not. You can trust me. It’s just… uncomfortable for me.”
“Good,” Dr. Weir said. “I’d be worried if you weren’t uncomfortable with the situation. But you’ve served with Sergeant Bates before; you’ll manage. That’s what you were trained for, isn’t it?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Ford replied with an obvious lack of enthusiasm and glanced at Bates apologetically. “I’m really sorry, Gene.”
“Not your fault, Lieutenant,” Bates replied stoically. He was relieved. Ford was a good kid. A bit still green around the ears, but an excellent demolitions expert and willing to learn. McKinney would be able to support him. The team would be in good hands.
“Excuse me, ma’am,” he heard Ford asking, “but what will become of Gene now?”
“He remains on his team, of course,” Dr. Weir answered. “His experience is of great value, and his talents are needed. He’ll be your second-in-command, your support and relief - but the decisions would be yours, in everything. I’m putting a lot of faith in you, Lieutenant - do not disappoint me.”
“I won’t, ma’am,” Ford promised. “I only hope you’re not planning to make me chief of station security as well. That would be a bit much to shoulder for someone like me.”
Dr. Weir smiled. “Don’t worry, Lieutenant. Dr. Kirkitadze and I have decided to make Mr. Naseband’s status as chief of security a permanent one. He’s got enough practice in that kind of work. Plus, that way we can separate station security and the military, which, in our opinion, is a good thing.”
“But will he have enough people when the Marines aren’t part of the security anymore?” Ford asked.
Naseband grinned. “We have five former detectives to deal with daily business,” he said. “Considering the level of criminality in this city, I think we’ll manage. As for the bigger issues… I happen to have a good link to the new military commander of Atlantis. He might be willing to lend me a few soldiers if needed.”
“That could be arranged,” Vogel grinned back at him.
“See what you’ve done?” Grodin commented with an almost convincing eye roll. “You give them a bit of power, and they promptly start the Great German Conspiracy. Next they’ll demand that we all speak German, too.”
“That won’t be a problem,” Dr. Weir replied, completely unfazed. “I speak German fluently, and so does Dr. Kirkitadze. Your German isn’t that bad, either, if I’m not mistaken. And Rodney can always ask Dr. Zelenka to translate for him.”
“I wish someone would translate when Rodney and Radek are talking to each other,” Grodin murmured, but his dark eyes were laughing. Despite the recent tragic events, life was slowly returning to normal, and a bit silliness felt unexpectedly good. Having dealt with the disciplinary matters, unpleasant though the process itself might have been, helped everyone to push things back into the right perspective.
“All right,” Dr. Weir said, “it seems we’ve settled things for the time being. Let’s hope that we won’t have to repeat this any time soon.”
“Preferably never,” Major Vogel added.
“I’d prefer that, too,” Theresa Weir admitted. “But we should be realistic, Major. Nobody is perfect. We’re lost in a foreign galaxy, living in a dangerous situation under less than ideal circumstances - we’re prone to making mistakes. As you Germans say so eloquently, wo es Menschen gibt, da menschelt es. We can only hope that we’re going to deal with the problems that might occur in the future with causing as little damage as possible."
“Your word in God’s ear,” Ralph Vogel replied, shaking off his black robe and throwing it over the back of his seat. He was wearing his dress uniform underneath. “If you don’t need me anymore, I’d like to change back into more sensible clothes.”
“Save an emergency, no, I don’t,” Dr. Weir gave him a curious look. “You’ve got plans for the evening?”
“No previous arrangements,” Vogel laughed, although it sounded a bit forced. “I just need a little time to digest my sudden and unexpected promotion. Have a beer with my Kameraden; get over the shock… that sort of thing.”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
“How about you getting over the shock?” Annalisa Lindstrom asked Aiden Ford half an hour later jokingly.
They were sitting in Annalisa’s quarters, and the Danish lieutenant had already sacrificed a small bottle of precious aquavit to build up a little Aiden’s self-confidence. A very small bottle only - after all, aquavit was a piece of home for her - but friendship did have its price sometimes. As a result, they were both a little tipsy, which resulted in a gloomy mood by Aiden and in an increasing tendency to giggle by Annalisa.
“I hate this,” Ford admitted. “Gene is a good man, Lisa. He’s just a bit paranoid, and a stickler to the rules. He knows more about command and leadership than I’ll ever be able to learn. How am I supposed to give him orders? Or McKinney, or Richman, or any of the others? Everyone in that team is an experienced veteran, even Smithy.”
“So are you,” Lindstrom pointed out. “You’ve had dozens of off-world missions with the SGC. And you’re an ace in your own field, so why do you fret so much?”
“You don’t understand,” Ford declared dramatically. “Everything that’s useful during an off-world mission, I’ve learned from Gene and the others. They’re good, Lisa. They’ve never lost anyone off-world. No other team at SGC can say that about themselves.”
“So you’ll get the chance to learn even more from them,” Lindstrom said reasonably. “Just don’t boss them around more than necessary - but don’t let them get away with anything, either. That will earn their respect, and you’ll arrange yourselves in time.”
For gave him a playfully adoring look. “You’re a jewel among the pilots, Lisa. I could fell in undying love with you…”
“… if you weren’t already hopelessly besotted with someone else, I know,” Lindstrom said, suppressing the pang of regret she always felt when this topic came up. “All right, toy soldier, you’ve brooded enough for one day. Let’s have some fun.”
“Basketball?” Ford asked hopefully. They were both devoted fans, and Lindstrom had somehow managed to smuggle in a seemingly endless amount of recorded games on a pen drive. Or on more pen drives. Ford didn’t know the details and didn’t really care.
“Is there anything else?” Lindstrom grinned.
And so they spent the rest of the evening lazing on Lindstrom’s bed and watching basketball on her laptop. After the third game, the aquavit was gone and Ford’s limps felt so heavy he could barely move. But that was okay, he could rash at Lisa’s place, since she had night watch anyway. And in the morning he would perhaps be able to deal with the fact that he was now personally responsible for the best survey team of Atlantis.
You wanted to become an officer, he told himself before falling asleep. Now you’ve gotten what you asked for.
~The End~
For visuals: Lt. Annalisa Lindstrom as played by Kathryn Morris
Staff Sergeant Zeke McKinney as played by Terence Knox: