Oliver looked around. "All right, Major Rhodes, I'll dial the Gate and we'll send the M.A.L.P. through and see what we can see."

"We've got you covered, Doctor, don't worry about it."

"Thank you." He dialed the Gate and sent the M.A.L.P. through. He grabbed the tablet he'd brought with to intercept the M.A.L.P.'s transmission and pulled up the video feed. He cursed.

"Doctor?"

He looked back at the Major. "The Alliance is still present, there's a couple of guards several meters from the Gate." He looked back down at the tablet as he rotated the camera. He cursed again. "Dammit, I've lost the feed, they must have seen the M.A.L.P."

"So there's no possible way to know if SG-1 is still on the planet?" the Major asked.

"I'm afraid not. The fact that the Alliance is still present tells me they think they have enough of a defensive position to handle us if we come back for SG-1. If they're guarding the Gate I'd say they have something they want to protect."

"SG-1?"

"That would be my guess." Oliver shut off the tablet and packed it away. "I suppose since we're already here we might as well check out the planet."

Major Rhodes nodded. "All right people, let's move out and give this place a once over before we head home."

Oliver trailed SG-14. He glanced back at the Gate with a sigh. He'd been hoping he could find a way to go to the planet and rescue his sister. That wasn't possible now, not with the Alliance still occupying the planet. "I'll find you, sis, promise," he whispered.

Elias slapped a stack of folders down in front of Sam. "Choose the new team!"

She shoved the files back across the desk. "I've already told you no. I will not replace SG-1 until it's glaringly obvious they will not return. Now take your folders and get out of my office."

"The IOA has already directed you to choose the new members of SG-1," he told her.

"Oh, yes they have and they've given me no choice but to choose the team members from the candidates they've chosen." She rose slowly and leaned on the desk. "I will not bow to you or the IOA, Mr. Albrecht. I am in charge of this facility and I make the decisions that affect my teams. You can make suggestions but that doesn't mean I will acquiesce to them."

"You must—"

She slapped a hand on the desk. "I will not be bullied into accepting the IOA's mandates. Get out of my office and off my base before I have you removed!"

"You can't do that! I am tasked with overseeing this facility!" he shouted.

The door opened and two soldiers stepped into the room. "Ma'am, is everything all right?"

"Please escort Mr. Albrecht off the base." She turned a glare on Elias. "I suggest you don't return unless you have something constructive to contribute to my command."

Elias protested as the two soldiers dragged him from the room.

Sam sat down with a deep sigh. She wasn't going to allow the IOA to bully her into choosing a new SG-1, especially with the candidates they were attempting to put forth.

Van slapped his cards down. "Straight flush."

Lee threw her cards on the table. "I really need to stop playing poker with you."

"You need to stop playing any kind of card games with him," Mal called out. "He always wins."

"Yeah, well there isn't much of a choice, I can't fit a board game in my pocket."

"Stop bringing the cards with you," Mal said with a chuckle.

She stuck her tongue out at him.

Van shuffled the cards rapidly. "Wanna play again?"

She sighed. "Might as well. Deal them, you card shark."

"Hey, I'm much more than a shark. I'm a card dragon." His roar was less than inspiring.

Lee laughed. "All right, card dragon, deal them."

"I am told you are here to see me," Teal'c said as he came in through the door.

Mal rose. "Yes, we are. It's good to finally meet you, Teal'c. I'm Colonel Hughes. This is Captain Kain and Dr. Walsh. We're SG-1."

One of Teal'c's eyebrows rose. "You are?"

Lee grinned at him. "Indeed."

Teal'c grinned in return. "What is it that I can do for you?"

"We were gathering intel on a Lucian Alliance stronghold when we were captured. We managed to escape but it appears that our IDCs have been locked out of the computer."

"Yeah, by his dick of a brother who works for the IOA," Lee told Teal'c.

"I do not understand. How do you wish me to fix this situation?"

"We can't get home, not with our IDCs but you were given one. If you dial and use your code they'll open the iris and we can go home." Mal reasoned.

"I see. You are certain this is what you wish to do? Perhaps it is best if you do not return if there is a problem at the SGC."

"There isn't a problem. Not with the SGC, it's the IOA we have an issue with. My step-brother is the agent in charge of overseeing the SGC. He and I don't get along. He doesn't care about Stargate Command, his only interest is to find a way to get rid of me. If I wasn't in charge of this team I doubt SG-1 would have been locked out."

Teal'c inclined his head. "Then we must get you home. Come with me."

They gathered their things and hurried after him.

"Can you please tell Hoteg thank you for his hospitality?" Mal asked Teal'c.

"You may tell him yourself, he is guarding the Gate this day."

"Oh, okay." Mal hoped this plan worked because if it didn't he had no other ideas how to get them home. He lifted a hand and waved to Hoteg as they approached the Gate. "Thank you for your hospitality. We appreciate all you've done for us."

"It was a pleasure to have your company over these past four days. My home will seem very empty now."

Mal smiled. "You'll have your privacy back."

He shrugged. "I would rather have the company."

Mal slapped him on the back.

Teal'c dialed the Gate and pulled out his GDO and entered the code. He grinned at them. "You have a go."

Mal clasped his hand. "Thank you for your help. Would you like to come for a visit, I'm sure General Carter would love to see you."

"No, I have much to do here. You will tell her that I send my well wishes."

"I will." He turned to Lee and Van. "Ready to go home?"

"Hell yes," Lee cried before she ran through the Gate.

Van released a shout of laughter and dove through after her.

Mal shook his head. "We'll come back for a visit," he told Hoteg before he stepped through the Gate.

Sam stepped into the control room with Oliver following her. "What do we have?"

"Unscheduled off world activation. Receiving IDC transmission." The Sergeant looked up at her. "It's Teal'c."

Oliver's shoulders slumped and he looked disappointed.

She smiled. "Open the iris." She looked at Oliver. "I'm sorry it isn't SG-1." She left the control room to go down to the Gate room. As she stepped into the Gate room Captain Kain exited the Gate.

"Yes, we're home!" She screamed and threw her arms into the air.

Dr. Walsh followed her out of the event horizon. "It worked!" He did a little dance.

Colonel Hughes was last out of the Gate. He grinned. "SG-1 reporting back, General."

"It's good to see you, Colonel."

"Lee!" Oliver screamed as he came running into the room and threw himself at her to hug her. "You're alive!"

She laughed. "I am. What are you doing here, Ollie?"

"He insisted on being here until you found your way home," Sam told her. She looked at Mal. "What happened out there?"

"We got a little too close and were spotted. The Alliance captured us. We managed to escape but we couldn't get home, it would seem we've been locked out of the computer. We couldn't remain on the planet with the Alliance so we dialed the Furling homeworld and camped out there until we came up with a way to get our butts home. Teal'c was kind enough to let us use his IDC to get you to open the iris. He sends a big howdy to you by the way."

She laughed. "We're glad to have you back. Trust me, I didn't want to lock you out. That was at the insistence of—"

"Who let them through the Gate? Their codes are supposed to be locked out!" Elias shouted as he stormed into the Gate room.

"It would seem, Mr. Albrecht, that SG-1 is crafty, much craftier than you gave them credit for. They found a way to obtain an IDC that would allow the iris to be opened so they could get home."

"Where did they get an alternate IDC from?"

"I'm not at liberty to reveal that sort of information as it would put the person in danger. If you'll excuse us, I'm sure SG-1 would like to get some rest and then we must debrief."

"General, permission to kick this man's balls up into his throat?" Lee asked, her glare directed at Elias.

"Permission denied, Captain." Sam grinned at Elias. "There's too many witnesses. Good day, Mr. Albrecht. SG-1, you're dismissed."

They trooped from the Gate room.

Lee looked back and gave Elias the middle finger.

"Captain!"

She grinned at Mal. "I'm sure you were thinking the same thing."

"Actually, I was thinking of stuffing a grenade down his pants."

She laughed. "That's the spirit, sir!"

"Can't we shoot him with a rocket launcher?" Van asked.

"Go big or go home, Van?" Lee asked.

He shrugged. "We could strap him to the outside of a rocket and send him into space."

"Oooo, I like that idea. Okay, change to our schedule, debrief, then drinks at my house and we have epic tacos?" Lee asked.

"Deal," Mal replied.

"More poker?" Van asked.

"No, never again," Lee told him and slung an arm around his shoulders.