"Unscheduled off-world activation!"
The announcement, shouted over the usual sounds of sirens, brought the usual cascade of brass to the control room. Just going by the other sounds he could hear, Sergeant Walter Harriman identified the General, Colonel O'Neill, and Major Carter. He briefly wondered where the rest of SG-1 was, then decided he was better off not knowing. He sometimes wondered if it was a good thing to have them all here at the same time. He liked the colonel, really. But sometimes, the man's sense of humor was....well, not helpful was an understatement.
"What have you got, Sergeant?"
Returning his thoughts to business at hand, Walter replied, "Sir, no idea yet. SG's 3, 8, and 12 are off world, but none are due to check in for several hours yet."
Nodding, the general looked up. Moments later, the trademark "sideways flush" of the gate filled the room. As the protective iris started to close, the lights began to flicker.
"Uh, sir? I'm losing control of the systems!" Walter typed furiously at the keys, but to no avail. In moments, all the screens and lights went dark. Emergency lights kicked on, but nothing else. The iris, halfway closed, returned to the open position.
"Security, standby!" General Hammond bellowed the command, as Major Carter took the empty chair next to Walter. As she started to try to figure out the problem, a familiar shape emerged from the gate.
"Thor!" Colonel O'Neill ran from the room. As the gate shut down, lights and computers came back on, as if nothing had happened. "Hold your fire," Jack yelled as he entered the gate room. "Thor! Buddy! What's up?"
"Greetings, O'Neill. I have come on behalf of others, to seek your aid."
Nodding, the colonel replied, "Well, any friend of yours...."
Stepping into the gateroom, the general asked, "Thor, welcome to Earth. If I may ask, who are these others?"
"Humans, from an alternate dimension. Their ship appeared in ours a few hours ago, and they appear to be from Earth within that dimension. As of yet, they appear friendly, and I agreed to ask if your people would be willing to meet with them."
"What can we do to help them? Can't you just....push a button and send them home....or something?" The colonel looked slightly confused, not sure what to say just yet.
"No. Our people avoid dimensional research, so I have very little information with which to assist them. Further, our people's resources are needed in the war with the Replicators."
Looking sideways at his second in command, General Hammond added, "And you think they can be trusted, Thor?"
"At this point, General Hammond, I believe so. By all appearances, they were not attempting to arrive in our dimension. I detect no signs of hostility, only caution and confusion. Also, I believe that in their reality, things are very different than in ours."
Nodding, Jack turned to his superior. "Whadda ya say, sir? Think we can spare a cup of sugar for the new neighbors?"
Ignoring his sarcasm, the general replied, "Get your team ready, colonel. Meet these people, find out where they came from, and if we can help. But be careful."
"Of course, sir, you know me!"
"Yes, I do, and still, be careful anyway."
"General! I'm hurt!" The colonel turned and headed for the locker room, heard to mumble, "I'm always careful....well, except for that one time....."
----
Standing next to his team mates a few minutes later, minus one tardy archaeologist, and plus the diminutive Thor, the colonel counted down quietly in his head as the gate went through its dialing sequence. "Three....two....one....." And as if called, in trotted Dr. Daniel Jackson, busy making the final adjustments to his gear. "Ah, Daniel, so glad you could join us."
"Yes, Jack, well, some of us have more to do than wait around for something to happen. I was in the middle of...."
"Doing something boring with something old, I'm sure." Turning, Jack addressed his CO. "All ready to go, sir."
"Very well, SG-1, you have a go. And good luck."
"Thank you, sir." Turning back to the event horizon, Jack gestured towards the gate and called out, "Onward, campers, to the great unknown!"
As they walked up the ramp, Major Carter replied, "Actually, sir, this planet has already been surveyed. Mostly normal, two moons, uninhabited, and...."
"I know. Trees. Lotsa trees. Thanks for the reminder, Carter."
Smiling to herself, the major replied, "Anytime, Colonel. Glad to help!"
Mumbling again, his last words as he passed through gate were heard: "At least I remembered to set the VCR today. Hate it when I miss The Simpson's...."