Chapter 30-1. 2IC and Planetary Specialist

As Roger entered the embarkation room, the other three members of his new team were waiting, Major Marc Gregory at the lead.

"Mornin', Healey, ready to get this party going?" he asked. He was only a year or so older than Roger, and outranked him by mere months. But that was okay. Being assigned as 2IC on his first posting here was plenty ego-boo for Roger.

Roger checked himself one last time, making sure he had the proper gear, the firearm, the instruments he'd need for his role as Planetary Specialist.

"Yes, Major, ready to roll," he said calmly.

Walter's voice rang out, "Chevron Seven LOCKED." And Roger watched, amazed again, as the watery event horizon burst forth and collapsed once more against the ring of the Stargate.

He waited while Gregory and the other members went ahead, taking up the rear as 2IC, P-90 at the ready. In seemingly an instant, Roger stepped foot on another planet 239 light years away.

SG-9 was scheduled to be gone for 12 hours that day. Sam's own team, SG-1, was deployed soon after. They'd received a communique from her father, General Jacob Carter. The Tok'ra base he was helping to get settled needed their assistance, and they had something of possible interest to Dr. Jackson.

O'Neill called the three to his office, gave them the mission parameters.

"Daniel, they've found something they think may be significant, some writings on a cave wall. They thought you might want to catalogue them, see if you can find connections to something. They think they may've been put there some time ago by the Unas!"

Daniel's eyes lit up. The Unas! Since he'd made friends with the Unas Chaka, he always liked finding connections to them. He was forever trying to prove to others that the Unas were intelligent, honorable people, that were so often misunderstood because of their appearance. Most Humans of the galaxy recoiled when they saw the seemingly frightening visage of this ancient race.

"That sounds great, Jack! Sam and Teal'c are coming along to assist, or did Jacob need them for something else?"

"Yes, he asked that SG-1 come, so all three. I'm sure he'll find something Teal'c and Sam can help with."

They got their gear and within minutes were streaming through the wormhole to the planet where Sam's father was.

And so went Roger's birthday. Him on one planet, Samantha on another, both going about their tasks.

Samantha and SG-1 returned first. Daniel had taken down all the information he could, photographed all he could, and was bringing the data to his lab to compare with the resources he'd built over the years.

All three reported, as usual, for the post-mission checkup.

Sam went to her lab to continue on the project she'd begun that morning, before O'Neill had summoned them. She checked her watch. 1823. Roger was due back by 1900, 12 hours after they'd departed.

She couldn't wait to hear how his first day on SG-9 had gone! It was a simple planetary survey, exploring the area. A good majority of their off-world missions were such as that. Dangerous situations, thank God, didn't crop up all that often, but a team had to always be prepared.

Time ticked away as she continued in her work, checking her watch again...and again.

She was startled out of her concentration by the P.A. announcement.

"Colonel Carter, please report to General O'Neill's office!"