Part One: Reunion

[Troy Loveridge]

1100 hours
Stargate Command
Embarkation Room

If you thought the Stargate - an alien device that allowed people to venture across the known galaxy in the blink of an eye - couldn't be made to look any more impressive, then you'd be wrong. Every surface of the Embarkation Room, the 'gate room', deep with Stargate Command had been polished and buffed within an inch of its life, the metal reflecting almost like a mirror. Red, white and blue bunting and streamers crisscrossed the room, making the roof feel lower than normal. An ultramarine blue carpet trimmed with golden yellow, the heraldic colours of the US Air Force, snaked through each doorway and met in the middle of the room before snaking up the Stargate ramp, terminating at a podium of dark brown polished wood. Behind the podium was an array of flags the likes of which you rarely saw, including flags from countries all around the world, military flags representing dozens of armed services, senior diplomat and consular flags, and flags of government agencies and their officials. The room was a sea of colour to a scale rarely been seen before in the history of this complex.

Into the room in neat files marched military personnel in full dress uniform alongside civilians in their best suits and non-human representatives in the ceremonial attire of their native worlds. Major General Samantha Carter, the commanding officer of the SGC, led the formation. She was followed close behind by the senior base NCO who held before them the guidon of the base, which was carefully slotted into prime position amid the other flags. The parade continued with choreographed precision, the order in which people entered determined as a result of hours consulting protocol guidelines. Neat standing rows were formed facing the Stargate, with senior personnel and those who were nearing retire age taking a seat toward the front of the room. Without request, everyone in the room gazed up at the Stargate, the powerful device that had brought them all together.

General Carter began once everyone was seated, welcoming the crowd to the special ceremony. A small military marching band appeared by one of the doors, and while they were unable to fit into the crowded room, they gave rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner for which everyone rose. Thanking the band, Carter handed over to the next speaker.

Seated in the front row, Major General Loveridge had been nervously fidgeting, running his speech endlessly through his head and trying to stave off his nerves. No matter what anyone told him, public speaking was still the most nerve-wracking thing anyone could be asked to do. He'd rather get shot at one some distant alient world than present before a crowd. Dressed in his finest military uniform adorned with polished medals, Troy strode up the ramp to the Stargate and took position behind the podium, taking a moment to adjust the microphone to his height.

"Thank you General Carter," he began, his voice croaking through the first few syllables before composing itself. He cleared his throat. "On this day ten years ago the Stargate behind me activated, and through it walked almost a hundred of the finest military personnel, government employees and civilians experts from across the world. They did not know exactly what awaited them on the other side. What they did know was that it was not going to be easy. They signed on knowing the path they were about to walk would not be easy. It would be weeks between supply drops, months between news from Earth, and years between visits to their family."

"And for some of them, those final goodbyes they made before departing for the mission would be the last time they saw their loved ones." Troy paused for a moment, doing his best to hold it together. It wasn't easy. He'd personally lost close friends during his three years with the expedition. "Some of those men and women paid the ultimate price, laying down their lives to make the galaxy a safer place for others. Before we move on, let us have a moment to silence and reflect on those brave individuals and the sacrifices they made."

< Tag Alec Styles , Elizabeth "Beth" Houghton , Kata Harris , Nolen "Dragon" Syaria , Stephanie Martin , Travis "Wizard" Oxford & Will O'Malley >

[Will O'Malley]

1101 hours
Stargate Command
Embarkation Room

Wearing his dress uniform was honestly never a good occasion. His black British Army attire, contrasting with the dress-blues of the Americans. While O'Malley never minded pulling the old thing out of the back of his closet, it was never under good circumstances. Someone died. Something serious happened. Many people died. In fact, the Colonel saw it synonymous with death, at this point. While, yes, it also came with accommodations...those felt far more rare. Minor offsets of the negativity associated with the dark uniform.

And on this day, Will wasn't sure which it was.

Tired eyes moved over the over-the-top decorations he had seen them putting up all day. There really was no need for all that. The idea was to drum up excitement and team spirit that may have dwindled in their time apart. Or, at least that's what he assumed. Some part of him took it as tacky. This was a serious moment, after all. It had been ten years since the Delta expedition had taken off.

Dark hazel eyes watched Carter speak - her words as well put together as always. His gaze then drifted to the man beside him; Troy Loveridge. It had been years since they had seen one-another. A sad notion, considering he had one been the man's XO on a few missions. And yet here they were. Sitting in a room covered with glitter, talking about the successes they had in another galaxy.

Attempting to not make it obvious he wasn't listening to Carter, he glanced over at the others. A few faces he recognized; some he didn't. Honestly everyone looked worse for wear. Will couldn't help but wonder what did it. Was it just life on Earth? Or was it a result on what they had been through in another galaxy?

Turning his attention back to Carter just as she finished, Troy took her place on the podium. He knew the man hated speeches - a small smile spreading across his features at the odd tone of Loveridge's voice as he first started speaking. How could he still be bad at this? Well - bad wasn't the correct word. Nervous, perhaps. Everyone in the room was on his side. The people having followed him to the edge of chaos itself, sitting calmly in the room with him. Then again, O'Malley never really had a problem with public speech. Most likely it was because he didn't really care what people thought of him. Troy, on the other hand, very likely did.

The patting-on-the-back turned grave, as the speech went down the past of those who were lost. Will's gaze fell to the ground just in front of his knees - the room hauntingly silent. There had been quite a few he had known, who had died. Some happened far from his grasp, others happened under his fingertips. Either way, it made him feel sick. Death was the natural mortal enemy of a doctor, after all.

Hopefully this ceremony would be over soon, so he could go back to stopping more of it.

<TAG Troy Loveridge , Alec Styles , Elizabeth "Beth" Houghton , Kata Harris , Nolen "Dragon" Syaria , Travis "Wizard" Oxford , Stephanie Martin >

[Elizabeth "Beth" Houghton]

1101 hours
Stargate Command
Embarkation Room

Being the newbie around the block, Elizabeth wasn’t sure exactly what to expect. With the booklet she received from Katrina Logan-Walker, this special agent didn’t want to miss out on the people she was about spend a lot of time with over the next weeks. No one could ever replace Katrina and no one ever will. Beth felt honored to be chosen yet nervous not wanting to be judged of sorts.

There was no uniform for Beth. She simply wore one of her better tailored Slate grey suits accented with a flamingo colored shirt. At the 12th precinct, there were no medals just a warm feeling a murderer was found giving a family peace when their beloved could final be at rest and the perp was locked away where they belonged. Katrina and Elizabeth are cousins. Their grandmothers were sisters. When they met for the first time to investigate the murder of Katrina’s father, they had no idea they were even related. Eerily, that same killer was also responsible for the death of Elizabeth’s mother, Shirley Ann Houghton. After the long battle to finally catch the bastard, paperwork revealed their relationship. Every correspondence they made since then always ended with Keep In Touch. It stuck for Elizabeth and friends started calling her “Kit Kat”.

Elizabeth thought best to sit in the back of the room. There were probably going to be a lot of friends who want to be next those that became dear to them after such a long time together and apart. As General Carter spoke, Beth took the chance to just take a small glance around the room. The Stargate was immense compared to how she imagined. The streamers and band made the brunette feel like she was back in high school playing the trumpet in Marching Band. That didn’t last very long.

Eyes fell back to the newest speaker, Major General Troy Loveridge. His nervousness reminded the former homicide detective that she also wasn’t a very good speaker. However, most of her speeches were with her fellow detectives on a case to find a murderer. Katrina spoke highly of this gentleman and by his honest attempt to make a brave speech, respect immediately grew in her heart.

<Tag
Troy Loveridge , Alec Styles ,Kata Harris , Nolen "Dragon" Syaria , Travis "Wizard" Oxford , Stephanie Martin , Will O'Malley >

[Stephanie Martin]

1101 hours
Stargate Command
Embarkation Room

Time had been both kind and not so nice to Stephanie in the years following the expedition. As she listened to Troy talk, she was reminded of the hardest days following when she had left the expedition on medical terms. Kepler's death was now fresh on her mind. She'd been more of a wild canon than she was now. But Kepler's death was one of those who had prompted her to start the shift to taking a different look at things. "GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!! GO!' How many times those words had just rung in her head.

She was quiet and had a very different stance about her. There was no anger or aggression. Though she was trying to keep the images out of her head. It was small things and this had probably been a bad idea to come back; but here she was. Stephanie looked around the room. Some of the faces were familiar, but not all of them. Some of them had come before her.

Still keeping silent she tried to bring herself back to what was going on. She did take the moment of silence and it was like she wanted to have a conversation with those who had passed on. She just tried to remember that there was no use in holding onto the past if she was going to go forward with this expedition. How easy would the past be to leave behind? Personally she hoped that it was easier than she realized.

<Tag: Troy Loveridge, Alec Styles, Elizabeth "Beth" Houghton, Ashley "Logan" Kale, Kata Harris, Nolen "Dragon" Syaria, Travis "Wizard" Oxford, Will O'Malley>

[Nolen "Dragon" Syaria]

1101 hours
Stargate Command
Embarkation Room

Nolen hated his dress uniform, he had always found a way out of wearing the thing that in his opinion was only created to torture officers of any force. But on this occasion he was wearing it with no complaints, no sarcasm followed the wearing of it just a somber silence as he took his seat and listened to Carter and Loveridge speak.

The former squadron leader knew the toll taken for defending earth's interests, he had the photos of every single lost pilot in his office. An old tradition from his father was to put an upturned shot glass for each one. Every year he and the dwindling survivors of the squadron would have their own remembrance by having a drink for the dead. But still the words hit home, his gaze dipped as Loveridge spoke of the price paid. Friends that had been lost still hurt in Nolen but it had never gotten to him, he morned the fallen but still carried on living for them.

<tag Troy Loveridge, Ashley "Logan" Kale, Will O'Malley, Travis "Wizard" Oxford, Stephanie Martin, Elizabeth "Beth" Houghton, Alec Styles, Kata Harris

[Travis "Wizard" Oxford]

1101 hours
Stargate Command
Embarkation Room

The two people seated together were the most recent Delta's military Commander, Colonel Travis Oxford and Lt Colonel Kim McKinnon. A part of Travis wished he still held the spot, however a time does come when someone with fresh ideas should take over. Since he had given it up almost a year ago to stay with Vedic Expedition, Kim was doing a fine job. He had been happy to serve the place for the length of time he had done so. The only one missing was Kepler. It would have been almost historic if all four had been under one roof.

The decorations that were place held a celebration, goodbyes and achievements all in one swipe. The gate itself held a meaning. How many time had he gone through it thinking it was his final trip? Too many times. And now two of his brothers were in the jaws of the danger, the excitement, the unknown the program offered. He knew what Troy meant, his each word was true. He had gone, yet all had with limited supplies and whatnot. Missing family, events, festivals. The ultimate price was the only thing that hung over their heads. Still did.

His thoughts turned to the fallen ones, those who would never see their families again or work thier way up to the next rank or go wherever life would have took them had they been alive. He had lost few XO's under his command, Kat Logan's clone came to mind. Yet the lose of Kepler had been a blow. The one he still carried within him. His thoughts went to the ones who where act within the new expedition. It was going to be the same road. Losing commandments in arms to enemy. Losing those who would become a family was never easy. Sighing he tried to keep his mind blank.

<<Tag: Troy Loveridge , Alec Styles , Will O'Malley , Kimberly "Kim" McKinnon , Kata Harris , Nolen "Dragon" Syaria , Stephanie Martin and Elizabeth "Beth" Houghton >>

[Troy Loveridge]

1105 hours
Stargate Command
Embarkation Room

At the end of the moment of silence a lone trumpeter in the hallway gave a haunting rendition of Taps, followed by The Last Post, the equivalent tune that was played in the UK and Commonwealth nations.

“Upon stepping through the Stargate the Delian Expedition quickly established a base of operations and immediately encountered a hostile group against which they would wage a three year conflict - the Olympian Empire,” Troy explained. With the moment of remembrance out of the way it was time to discuss the successes of the mission. “Across dozens of worlds the expedition brought the fight to the Olympians, pushing them back and in the process freeing innocent worlds from tyrannical rule. Seven years ago, in June 2008, their enemy were finally defeated at the Battle of Olympia.”

Looking around the room Troy saw familiar faces among the seas of people. The sombre Will O’Malley was one of the first he picked out from the crowd. Troy averted his gaze immediately, ashamed. The two had led SD-1 to hell and back, exploring worlds and cultures so bizarre that no words could do them justice. During the expedition the two had grown close, a bond forged between them through shared expedition. But neither had handled the transition back to living on Earth well. Today would be the first time they’d shared a room in more than half a decade.

Other faces he knew and had not seen in just as long. Squadron Officer Syaira had been a long time fixture at the expedition and commanded a number of their fighter squadrons. Captain Martin - she had been Stephanie Amberson back then - had joined the expedition during its third year when Troy had been appointed commander. Colonels Oxford and McKinnon were also there, some of the few to return to the Delian Expedition after the war with the Olympians. Joining them in the crowd were just as many folks the General had never seen before.

“During their time in the Delian Galaxy, the expedition formed close diplomatic ties with a number of planets and races, many of who remain important strategic and trading partners to this day,” he continued. “Today we welcome their representatives to Earth. With us in the crowd are honoured guests joining us from the Amazons, the Alcarans, the Nemeans…”

1245 hours
Stargate Command
Briefing Room

Troy’s speech had continued for some time after that, chronicling the victories of the expedition during their three year deployment. After him others had taken to the stage, singing their praise for everything the group had done on behalf of Earth. Troy had returned to his seat and sat through the rest of the ceremony, finding himself enjoying the event a lot more now that his speaking engagement had been completed.

A plaque on the wall of the gateroom celebrating the work of the expedition had been unveiled at the end of the ceremony, after which everyone was dismissed. The SGC was after all a working base, and they could only keep the Stargate offline for so long. The crowd was ushered out of the embarkation room and up the nearby stairs into the familiar briefing room. The central table had been removed to create more space, and the same degree of decorations as during the ceremony had been erected. Mess hall personnel moved between the crowd with silver trays of food and drink, offering them to the groups as they socialised.

Troy had taken up position by the long window which looked down over the Stargate, watching as an off-world team prepared for a mission. He hadn’t stepped through the device in the seven years since he’d returned to Earth. Sadly it seemed as though his days of explored the galaxy had passed him by.

Behind him someone cleared their throat. Troy turned, finding a familiar face before him.

“Well, it’s certainly been a while.”

< Tag Alec Styles , Elizabeth "Beth" Houghton , Kata Harris , Kimberly "Kim" McKinnon , Koren Telion , Marah "Tonobi" Law , Nolen "Dragon" Syaria , Stephanie Martin , Travis "Wizard" Oxford & Will O'Malley >

[Koren Telion]

1101 hours
Stargate Command
Embarkation Room

Koren stood in the first line of those standing behind the senior, and senior, officers, looking around the room and seeing, for the first time in nearly a year, the faces of friends he had served with over 7 years ago, and friends whom he had not had a chance to say goodbye to due to his early departure from Vedas while unconscious. Pangs of guilt attacked him with every face; the Delta expedition he had been a part of not two days before the major conflict was over, and though his flight had been instrumental to their victory, at least in the eyes of the Air Force, most of the faces around the room he had long idolized but only met once. Koren knew to many of them, he represented what they tried every night to forget; the Battle of Olympia and their fallen comrades.

And to the Vedic expedition members, whom he felt as though he abandoned. Whisked away unceremoniously and under extremely critical condition, it was months before Stargate Command was able to relay a message back to Vedas that Koren had survived his injuries. Most, he heard from Travis Oxford, had believed there was no hope and had already moved on when they heard he had survived. And then the SGC didn't let him return. They said it was too dangerous, that he could relapse or even revert. Koren didn't care; they were his team, his family, and he was abandoning them if he didn't go back, but the SGC was insistent and reassigned him. Koren knew, locking eyes with his Vedic compatriots, they had many more questions than answers, and there was a bitterness that hung between many of them. Or so he felt.

Koren then caught eyes with General Carter, who gave him a small smile. It was only a week ago that she had presented him with the rank of Major and the Air Force Cross, and clearly she still thought the happiness from that moment was present with him. She couldn't be more wrong. It was just that evening that he and Clark had gone out to celebrate, but ended the night with half-finished beers starring at the floor, remember those they had lost at Olympia and left behind at Vedas.

Koren looked at the floor, took a deep breath, and refocussed on the clumsy, commanding, but reassuring and comforting, words of his most memorable XO, Troy Loveridge, and hoped that somehow this would be over soon, his heart dropping as he remembered Carter saying they had reserved the embarkation room for 2 hours. Koren just wanted a chance to explain to his old friends what had happened...


1245 hours
Stargate Command
Briefing Room

Koren stood in the middle of the dense crowds of familiar faces, all smiling, all laughing it seemed, happy to be there. Excited to be taking part in the legend that was the Delta expedition. Little did many of them comprehend just what kind of sacrifices were required to bring them all here. Koren wandered around the briefing room a bit more before finding himself at an oddly familiar place; the back of Troy Loveridge. This is as good a place to start with the apologies as any, Koren thought to himself, and cleared his throat.

Without turning, Loveridge beckoned to him, “Well, it’s certainly been a while.” Koren was not surprised the man recognized him even from that distance; Troy had a way with people that, while not comfortable for most, was surprisingly caring and reassuring, especially for military personnel.

"Yeah," Koren said, stepping beside his most revered XO. He stood there a moment, looking at the Stargate, trying to find the words to begin. "Troy, at Olympia-" He started, not really sure where he was going, "I never had the chance to apologize for-" Koren trailed off. This is pointless, Koren thought to himself, hanging his head slightly and taking another drink of champagne. F****** champagne.


<TAG: ALL, Troy Loveridge >

[Kimberly "Kim" McKinnon]

1245 hours
Stargate Command
Embarkation Room

The banners, Kim realised made the whole event bittersweet. Had it been really that long ago she had joined the expedition? It just felt like yesterday that she had been reporting to the CO and XO of Delta expedition for duty and team assignments. Today she held one of the top spots. She had been the last one to take the stage with updates on what they were doing in the last two years. While peace was upon them in the galaxy there was still more smaller foes they had encountered; mostly those who had resented the fact their so-called gods had fallen by mere humans. The war itself had been long and hard one. While she hadn't held the Executive Officer role long as those before her, she was also representing the Delta members of the present.

Once the fan fair was all but over, she picked up her drink and moved along to stand with Travis and to her surprise, Pooja Garcia who had shown up; Kim picked out the woman on the other side of the room. When that happened Kim wasn't sure. But Jerry was no where to be seen. There were chances Jerry had send her for this, but not to join the people in battle. But whatever it was she was going find out. "Travis," she told the Colonel, "I'll be back. Pooja's here." She saw the look of surprise on the man's face as his eyes looked for the said woman.

Not waiting for a reply she weaved through the crowd, greeting old faces as she went. Half of her feared that the woman would just disappear as quietly as she had come. For the moment she knew Pooja was still part of SGC, but not attached to any expedition that currently active. "Hey," she greeted the woman after finally reaching where she was, "I didn't think you or Jerry would be coming. I'm just happy to see you here." Pooja had joined few months after she had, they had never really interacted till the Doctor had started to date Jerry.

Pooja nodded as she kept an eye on Troy as he man moved around the room. It had been years since she had spoken to him. After the Titans had fallen she had resigned from Delta as their Sociologist and never looked back. Since then she had worked within the SGC, but not the front line. Had created a family; she had been glad that Jerry had decided to stick by her. She had been sure her marriage had been all but over after the cloning and living with the doubts that even likes other had thought of her as a clone. Looking at Kim, the woman smiled, "I was going to at the SGC anyway, had some time free so I popped in. So, Delta's XO, huh?" She hadn't been at home when Kim had came to convince Jerry to join her in the new adventure.

<<Tag: Troy Loveridge , Alec Styles , Will O'Malley , Travis "Wizard" Oxford , Kata Harris , Nolen "Dragon" Syaria , Koren Telion , Stephanie Martin and Elizabeth "Beth" Houghton >>>>

((Pooja is just making a cameo here for this ep/few posts))

[Will O'Malley]

1105 hours
Stargate Command
Embarkation Room

Unlike Carter's speech, O'Malley actually made an effort to pay attention to Troy's words. After all, the man clearly would have rather been anywhere else - no need to make it even worse. Their eyes briefly met; Loveridge's gaze quickly darting away. Laughing quietly under his breath, Will shook his head and leaned back slightly further in his chair.

The Delta expedition had been...life changing. Taking some random medic from the British Army and throwing him into a world he was yet to escape. Aliens. Space. Technology and beings his mind couldn't even begin to wrap around. It had been ten years ago now, but his first memories of arrival were still as clear as if they were yesterday.

Will typically wasn't the sentimental type; but he couldn't help it. While he was a cynical person, he had to admit that it was the best time of his life. It was hard. It was trying. It nearly killed him multiple times; far more successful with a few of his friends. But still...he missed it. He missed being away from Earth. The strange challenge. Alien diseases. The separation from humanity. While he got his fair share of weirdness in the SGC...it wasn't the same.

1246 hours
Stargate Command
Briefing Room

With the speech over and everyone's back nicely patted, they were ushered out of the overly decorated Gateroom, and into the place where people typically got bad news; the Briefing Room. It seemed like an odd place for them to hold any sort of celebration, but he wasn't one to judge. Well...yes he was, but it wasn't in his job description to actually set up such events. Just attend them and pretend he cared. Unlike most, however, he did.

Glancing up at the countless decorations that encrusted the room, he laughed under his breath. Just like the Gateroom, everything was covered in festive...things. Will idly wondered who exactly was in charge of actually setting up decorations in a secret facility. Did they have a party-planning committee?

Seeking a glass of champagne - a small bonus to the event - his eyes washed over the others. He knew most of them by name, but had a feeling few actually knew his. Came with the territory of being a doctor. Taking a slightly too-large sip of his bubbly drink, his eyes fell to Troy who was loitering by one of the windows; staring off at the gate like a sad girl in a music video.

He began to approach the man - knowing they hadn't exactly had time to exchange words before the ceremony. Will knew he should at least say 'hi', or 'good speech', or 'you look how I feel.' Instead, another cut in. A recently promoted Major Telion - apology hot on his tongue.

"Well I managed to meander over at an awkward time," Will smiled, before taking another drink of his champagne. It wasn't even good champagne, "Just wanted to say; 'good speech, Loveridge,'" before a smile pulled at his lips, "Good to see you're still rubbish at public speaking. Words were solid at least," his brow quirked, before nudging the Major, "Right, back to your apology; didn't mean to interrupt."

He honestly wasn't sure he didn't.

<TAG: Troy Loveridge + Koren Telion + anyone who wants to save Will>