[Troy Loveridge]

0856
The Pentagon
Arlington, Virginia

“Sir, Fleet HQ reports that Aeneid has just entered the system and is moving into orbit.”

Seated a the conference table of a briefing room, Major General Loveridge looked up from the reports he was reviewing. Attired in his service uniform, Troy looked like any of the myriad of military officers who walked the halls of the Pentagon on the daily basis. All around them, dozens of high-level and top secret meetings and discussions were taking place, helping to steer US and foreign military policy and strategies across the globe. Todays meeting was different though, it wasn’t concerned with events taking place on Earth - it was concerning military affairs taking place in a far off galaxy.

“Thank you Major, send him in once he arrives.”

Troy checked his watch. The USS Aeneid was right on schedule. Getting the ship retasked to taxi a single man across the universe had not been an easy task. Fleet assets were in short demand at the moment. The USS Shiva, the principal support vessel of the Vedas expedition, had been MIA for months now, along with the expedition’s base personnel and it’s commander. While the search continued, things weren’t looking good. In fact, one of the agenda items for today’s meeting was the status of the search. Once Aeneid was in orbit, estimated to be 0900 hours, the cruiser’s special passenger would be beamed down.

A guest from the other side of the galaxy wasn’t all he was expecting today.

The International Oversight Advisory were sending along their own representatives to the review. Troy hadn’t met them personally, and was doing his best to keep his prejudices at bay. At the end of the day, he needed to work them; this was a joint IOA-Homeworld Command review of the expedition.

There was a knock at the door. “Come” Troy called, closing the file he was reviewing.

It was time to get to work.

< Tag Elliot Cowden & Sarah Daniels >

[Robert "Bobby" Oxford Jr]

Three weeks previously.......

1145
USS Aeneid
Oribt
P-0967

She was not a happy camper, she had been pulled out of Delta for this. If she got any madder, the Colonel was sure that smoke would be leaving her nostrils. She was tasked to bring one man back home and for what. A lousy IOA review. Couldn't it wait like another year? Then again, she reasoned this was the IOA, brats attached to SGC that no one wanted around or deal with.

"Colonel," Kim turned to see Elwood by her side, "We have a clear."

"If they are anything like Travis," she gave a shaky smile, "it might be easy. But I keep forgetting I'm talking about an Oxford. Alright beam me down." And wish me luck. She just hoped that she didn't have to bite her own words.

1145
Vedic Base
Briefing Room

She beamed right in the middle of a briefing. Standing quietly as she faced the man she assumed to be the big giant head, while their other giant head was missing. She watched him raise an eyebrow at her, while the talks around her died. "Lieutenant Colonel Kimberly McKinnon," she was standing attention, "Acting Executive Officer of Delta Expedition. I'm here on orders to take the Vedic Expedition Commanding Officer back to Earth, sir."

Bobby slapped the file he had on hand on the table, "On whose orders Colonel?"

He was, Kim asserted the man, 180 of Travis. But it made her question if the two were even related at all, "Stargate Commands and IOA, sir." She watched as with a nod to the group he dismissed the meeting, "And you have one hour to pack and leave. Doctor Vanessa Collins will take over the leadership, till your return or the ship's, whichever one comes first."

Leaning back, "Reasons, Colonel?" Bobby wanted to know so he could prepare for what was to come. Stargate Command pulling a Leader out like this, didn't seem to fit the image Travis had told them about.

"To be honest, sir," Kim spoke, "knowing IOA, it could be anything." Only to hear him laugh. At least they agreed on one thing. "Sir, I hate to push, but we have a deadline to meet." She didn't want claws out should they arrive late.

Present day.....

0856
Milky Way Galaxy
USS Aeneid
Quarters

Rubbing his head, he checked for the millionth time to make sure that all the reports were in order. By teams, dates, missions. There were so many, he felt his nerves play. Picking up the coffee he looked at the piles. He was doing what Matt should be. He didn't wanted to leave the missing ship and brothers behind, but orders had been orders. While he was here, there was no way he could meet his family and not feel the guilt over Matt and Travis being MIA. Just hours before he was going to stamp them KIA, Doctor Malhotra had made contact and stated that even Shiva has no idea where it was or going. Knowing that they were well and alive had taken some heaviness of his shoulders. It only remained to been seen when they could course it back to the base.

His eyes traveled to his Coast Guards blues with a little disdain. He was sure that one of these days the uniform was going kill him. The IOA noose was already around his neck, he just hoped that NID didn't jump into the pool. A knock on his door had him turning to see McKinnon standing, "Just going to let you know that we will be there in few minutes. And if Loverigde hears that you lost his former right hand man, I fear for you." She was merely exaggerating by putting some fear of the General in his mind. One thing, she noted that both Travis and he had in common was how easy it was mess with their heads. What the heck was with Oxfords and their good looks? She thought with some amusement.

And that being Travis, it dawned on him. The Army boy hadn't been lying when he had told Bobby that he was more experienced. "Right...." he trialled off, "Thanks." After she left he was left wondering if this was the same Loveridge, Travis spoke highly of. And he was certain that she was pulling his leg after all, right? One the other hand....he looked at the closed door, she might not be.

<<Tag: Troy Loveridge, Elliot Cowden and Sarah Daniels

[Sarah Daniels]

0856
The Pentagon
Arlington, Virginia

Sarah opened the briefing room door when she heard the General call. She left it open, expecting Elliot to be soon behind her. Dropping her attache case by a chair, she walked up to the man who had to be General Loveridge, namely by among other things the stars on his uniform and his nametape.

She offered a handshake, while wishing Elliot and her had gotten here first. She laid her accent thick, perfectly willing to abuse the "mental IQ point deduction" people tended to make. "Dr. Sarah Daniels, my colleague Mr. Cowden'll be along in a few minutes."

<<tag Elliot Cowden, Troy Loveridge, Robert "Bobby" Oxford Jr>>

[Elliot Cowden]

0856
The Pentagon

Ellliot adjusted his tie as the elevator doors opened, stepping out into the hallway he made his way to the conference room that the meeting was to take place in. He knew his way around fairly good; having been to the building many times for a variety of topics. This time is was for a review of the Vedic Expedition, something that Cowden was looking forward to. Mainly because he did not agree with the expedtion in the first place, but that was six months ago. Finally reaching the conference room Elliot pushed open the door; seeing Sarah already speaking to who he assumed was General Loveridge, not saying anything Elliot walked around the table and dropped the files he carried on table across from where Sarah had dropped her bag. 

"Thanks for holding the elevator Dr. Daniels." Elliot said giving the blonde woman a smirk, before turning his attention to the other man in the room, "General Loveridge, Elliot Cowden" he waited till after Daniels had finished her greeting before shaking the General's hand, "I'm assuming our guest is soon to arrive?" he asked casting a glance around the room, "Or did that ship go missing to?" he added after a moment. 

[Sarah Daniels]

0857
The Pentagon

Sarah smiled beatifically back. "Oh, bless your heart, you're welcome, Mr. Cowden."

She sat herself down with her case and opened it to get out copies of the mission reports that had been sent back. Sarah glanced up at Elliot's barb about the Shiva. "Considering they made contact, I think we can safely say it's a matter of time before they find their way home."

She moved the list of the missing personnel off her pile of reports and focused on the records of SV-1's latest discovery. She'd circled two familiar names.

<<Troy Loveridge, Elliot Cowden,Robert "Bobby" Oxford Jr>>

[Troy Loveridge]

0857
The Pentagon
Arlington, Virginia

Troy accepted the handshake offered by Sarah, the first IOA representative to join him in the conference room. “It’s a pleasure to meet you Doctor Daniels.” While he hadn’t met her, Troy had heard her name around the water cooler while he was stationed with Fleet HQ in the UK. Word through the London IOA office was that she was quite the rising star in the short time she’d been with the organisation. “The folks in the London office always spoke highly of you.”

Moments later, Mr Cowden joined them. Despite being special forces and preferring to fight a clearly defined enemy, Troy had been forced throughout his career to plan politics in Washington on occasion. During that time, Elliot had always been a permeant fixture around DC. Troy had first heard of him from General Kepler, the leader of the Delian Expedition, who had expressed some choice profanities about the man for opposing the funding of Delta. While the mission had join ahead, bad blood had continued between Kepler and Cowden. Today, Troy needed to put that aside, and get on with the task at hand.

“Secretary Cowden, thank you for agreeing to take part in today’s review,” Troy replied, accepting his handshake. “We’ve just had word that the Aeneid is in orbit. Captain Oxford should be with us shortly.”

Taking a seat, Troy reopened his files and quickly scanned over the agenda for the morning’s proceedings. “Standard review by the looks, operations progress, expenditure and resourcing, procurement, personnel.” He looked up and turned to Elliot. “Unless there’s any additional bullets points from up on the hill?”

It was well known through the corridors of Washington that Cowden had the President’s ear. If there was more to this meeting that a single review, it would be nice to have a heads up.

< Tag Robert "Bobby" Oxford Jr, Elliot Cowden & Sarah Daniels >

[Sarah Daniels]

0858
The Pentagon

"Well, thank you, General. I've heard a lot about you, too." As she looked through her papers, keeping up her notes, General Loveridge and Elliot were discussing.

And Loveridge's opening was good as any. "There's some, issues, we have with some of the actions taken by the teams. But I'll wait for Captain Oxford to get into that, General. I'm sure he can explain his choices."

<<tag Robert "Bobby" Oxford Jr, Elliot Cowden, Troy Loveridge>>

[Elliot Cowden]

0858
The Pentagon

Elliot was listening to the on going conversation as he organized his notes into two piles before setting a yellow note pad on top of both of them; though he had the opportunity to have a tablet, Cowden prefered pen and paper. An intern could make digital copies of what he wrote later. “Standard review by the looks, operations progress, expenditure and resourcing, procurement, personnel.” Elliot nodded as the General spoke, “Unless there’s any additional bullets points from up on the hill?”

"Just the usual stuff; first hand report on how the past months have gone, any concerns we need to be aware of, what tech and resources have been discovered." Cowden replied to Loveridge, "The President also expressed a concern about any possible threats to the expedtion members and if the leadership in place was capable of handling it." Elliot knew of Captain Oxford; he had met the Senior Oxford many years before when the two mens paths crossed during an incident that almost resulted in the Senior Oxford being thrown out of the military. That of course didn't happen and Oxford went on to retire years later as a Admiral. "The sudden absence of both Admiral and Colonel Oxford along with several others is also of concern, yes they have been discovered to be alive, but we also have several international friends asking questions."  reaching into his suit jacket he pulled out a pen and set it on his note pad before speaking again, "Having other nations question the American ability to successfully lead an expedtion is not something people on The Hill like to hear."

[Robert "Bobby" Oxford Jr]

0856
Milky Way Galaxy
USS Aeneid
Bridge

He walked towards the bridge after getting dressed, real fast. His coat was secured in his hooked fingers over his shoulders while his un-knotted tie hung around his and under the shirt's collar. It was Vedas first formal review and he had no idea who he was dealing with in this meeting. He was sure there were chances he wasn't going to know. Entering the room, he hung his coat on the arm rest of the CO's seat, "McKinnon, any updates?" he asked as he moved to face her.

Watching him arrive she was sure ozzing of the 'bad boy' wasn't going help him. Shaking her head, she walked over, "I got good news and bad news. Which one first?" she asked. Hearing Loveridge's name in her ear had eased little of her worries about this review that was going to happen. At least Oxford wasn't about to be facing the IOA on his own. With two members of the SGC in the room, the man was in good hands.

He was awestruck as they went past Jupiter, before his brain did double take, "Are we approaching Mars?" he asked. His inner child was having a ball.

"Yes sir," Kim confirmed, "Good new or the bad?" she repeated.

Allowing his fingers to dance to do the half windsor knot, "Bad News first, then the good one might cheer me up a little."

Inhaling, "Our IOA friends are, Secretary Cowden and Doctor Daniels."

"Cowden?" he brows frowned, as he tried recalling where he had heard the name before, "Not Elliot Cowden?" Seeing her nod, he let his mouth loose in French, which only made McKinnon give him a questioning look, "That SOB tried to throw my father out his officer when he was active in the Navy 20 or so years ago. I promised him I'll break his nose if he and I ever crossed paths again." Irritated, undid his tie, only to start again, "Now good news?"

"Sir," they didn't have much time, before getting beamed at the rate and speed he was doing it in, they might as well be here all day, "the tie first." Seeing him working on it, "Good news is that Col -" she bit her lip and winced at her almost slip of a wrong rank. It had been years since she had see him. Last time could have been before his promotion to Bridger General. It had been so long, she couldn't recall dates any longer, "Sorry, old habits. I mean General Loveridge is in panel as well."

And that helped him, how exactly? He was drawing blanks. Then again, why would a former leader of Delta Expedition help out the Executive Officer of Vedas Expedition? Realising he was reading too much into it, Bobby let it go. Once the last of the twists were done on his tie, he placed the knot comfortable under his Adam's apple.

0858
Orbit, Earth
USS Aeneid
Bridge

McKinnon received a word that they were clear for being beamed out in the room. Having IOA on the panel wasn't the brightest of the bright. On top of that, Oxford's reaction to Cowden didn't brood well either. Bad blood between the two could easily be spilling out in this meeting. Robert's short fuse wasn't going to help. "Tip, sir," she spoke after he joined her, "Don't give Cowden a reason to kick your sorry self off the expedition. You were picked for a reason."

"The Wizard did that," he protested, as he buttoned the last button on his coat.

Kim pressed her lips so a laugh didn't escape, the Captain had no idea that his own cousin was the Wizard. Travis what are you doing? She mentally asked the man who wasn't here. As they got beamed down.

0900
The Pentagon
Arlington, Virginia

"Cowden," his eyed landed on the man as he heard last sentence of the man's talks, after getting beamed in, "I could say the same about the American attitude. Nice to see your ugly mug again. Still kicking I see." He noted from this peripheral view that McKinnon was trying hard to keep a straight face. His fingers were itching to break that nose as promised, even twenty years later.

Shifting his focus, to whom he assumed to be Troy, "General, Captain Robert Jason Oxford, United States of Coast Guards. A review, correct?" Just as he had finished talking more reports were beamed on the table.

"General," Kim addressed Troy, after giving a curt nod to the IOA members, "Doctor Collins sends her regards."

<<Tag: Troy Loveridge, Elliot Cowden and Sarah Daniels

[Sarah Daniels]

0858
Briefing Room

"I would surmise that the enemy action that led to Shiva's disappearance wasn't something easily predictable, Mr. Cowden."

And then Captain Oxford beamed in. And then he came in hard toward Cowden. Okay, not that Sarah really liked him either, but a Southern belle knew how to show it without showing it.

She laid the report of the mission that had involved destroying a valuable piece of technology in front of her and offered him her hand with the sunny smile of the Georgia peach she was, while thinking. "Doctor Sarah Daniels, Captain. Glad you could make it considering the current circumstances you're under. There's just some points I have to bring up."

<<tag Robert "Bobby" Oxford Jr, Elliot Cowden, Troy Loveridge>>

[Troy Loveridge]

0900
The Pentagon
Arlington, Virginia

Before they officially began, Mr Cowden raised his concerned that the expedition commander, a flag officer, and his senior advisory and cruiser commander, both colonels, were all MIA together, leaving the expedition without a clear chain of command. The absence of Captain Oxford to attend the review further exacerbated the matter. Doctor Daniels pointed out that the hijacking of the Shiva would have been impossible for the expedition to predict.

“Still,” Troy countered. “These a reason the President and Vice President don’t fly in the same plane. Hell, oil company executives don’t fly together. Not great knowledge management practices to lose all your senior heads in a single incident.”

Right on time, Captain Oxford beamed into the room in a blinding flash. Attired in his Coast Guard blues, he would have easily fit in amid any of the senior military personnel who were in and around the Pentagon this morning. Immediately he greeted Elliot with hostility; it seemed as though the First Secretary had crossed him in some way in the past. He then turned and greeted Troy, as did Colonel McKinnon, who was accompanying him.

“Captain,” he replied, shaking his hand. “Thank you for seeing us on such short notice, please take a seat.”

With everyone now present and seated, it was time to begin.

“I now call to order this joint USAF-IOA review of the Vedas Expedition,” Troy said out loud, adding the time and date of the meeting. His words were being recorded by the microphones spread along the centre of the boardroom table, and in the corner, an Lieutenant was also taking notes on a laptop. “Present this morning is myself, Major General Troy Loveridge, USAF; First Secret Elliot Cowden and Doctor Sarah Daniels of the IOA, and Captain Robert Oxford, US Coast Guard.”

“Today we are here to review the progress to date of the Vedas Expedition, launched last year to explore the Vedic Galaxy, gather advanced technology and foster diplomatic relations with potential allies. As you would expect, all matters discussed today are classified as Top Secret, and all information discussed and disclosed shall be treated as such.”

With the formalities out of the way, Troy turned to Sarah.

“Doctor Daniels, if you’d like to begin?”

< Tag Robert "Bobby" Oxford Jr, Elliot Cowden & Sarah Daniels >

[Sarah Daniels]

0900
The Pentagon
Arlington, Virginia

She kept her best Georgia beauty queen smile as she answered Loveridge. Only another Southerner would have noticed her 'Bless your heart, you are that stupid' tone behind the sugaryness. "Well, I'm not sure how much could be done about it if somebody just went and beamed up the president and the VP while they was sleeping, General."

After all, she'd read Blake's report on the disappearance, and she could read between her ex's lines well enough to tell where Major Hamrick had been when everyone had vanished.

And now she turned that tone on Captain Oxford. "Well, Captain, I'm just going to go chronologically. I understand you had a shot at claiming a fighter craft of our, presumed, enemies and quite literally blew it. I'm just a-wandering why you considered that your best option when there was no immediate indicators that the Asura were coming at all."

<<tag Robert "Bobby" Oxford Jr, Elliot Cowden, Troy Loveridge>>

[Elliot Cowden]

0901
The Pentagon
Arlington, Virginia

Cowden kept his face expressionless as Oxford spoke to him,  Elliot knew better than to reply with his own snide remark. He stayed standing by his chair as Captain Oxford introduced himself, using his full name, causing Elliot to roll his eyes, "Junior." he muttered as he took his seat, he didn't know why he felt to say that. But then again Oxford didn't have to make the comment about his "ugly mug". Sarah was quick to step in with her southern charm, something the woman was good at. She could make a total stranger feel like a friend all while telling you to go to hell, all in a sweet voice. 


“Today we are here to review the progress to date of the Vedas Expedition, launched last year to explore the Vedic Galaxy, gather advanced technology and foster diplomatic relations with potential allies. As you would expect, all matters discussed today are classified as Top Secret, and all information discussed and disclosed shall be treated as such.”

As Loveridge spoke, Elliot opened the files he had brought with him and found the sheets of paper that he wanted to start with, "Well, Captain, I'm just going to go chronologically. I understand you had a shot at claiming a fighter craft of our, presumed, enemies and quite literally blew it. I'm just a-wandering why you considered that your best option when there was no immediate indicators that the Asura were coming at all." Cowden nodded in agreement at Daniels words, looking up he leaned back in his seat and clicked the pen in his hand open, his eyes staying on Oxford to see how he would answer one of what would soon be many questions. 

[Robert "Bobby" Oxford Jr]

0901
The Pentagon
Arlington, Virginia

He nodded, returning the firm handshake, "Not an issue General." When the higher ranks called for a meeting, he wasn't in the position to question their authority over the reasons. Just show up. Over the years he knew wasting time questioning over the why and why nots was not worth the troubles and the onslaught of headaches it would bring. He was not a happy camper to be brought back to Earth, but since he was wanted here, he would be here.

He studied Loveridge for a second longer, before facing Daniels and hearing her. Oh the southern accent brought back memories. But even he knew messing with a southern belle using that tone was asking for a disaster. Instead he took a seat after placing his cover on the table as Loveridge spoke and officially starting this meeting. He looked at McKinnon for a second before facing, Daniels again. At her words he tired not to grit his teeth, "Doctor Daniels," he spoke firmly, "The vessel clearly belonged to the enemy. Doctor Warren's reports has it all on the translations. I have over 250 men and women under my command. Both civilians and military alike. This number does not include the missing members of Shiva. Their safety is paramount."

Inhaling, he didn't break his gaze that was set on her, "I have no idea how far the signals would have traveled, given the type of technology we are dealing with. Or how long it takes these people to show up. Playing the waiting game to see if they arrived or not wasn't a gamble I was willing to take. Even if they arrived within hours after the beacon was activate. The members of the Vedas Expedition would be sitting ducks without Shiva's firepower and backup in the orbit. We either be POW or KIA. In other words, I wouldn't be sitting on my a$$ here today talking to you about it. I would either be doing slave labor or dead. Now tell me, which one would have been more preferable?" He neither wanted to be dead or a POW. He had a four year old back home in Boston, he wanted to see turn into man. Dying young wasn't on his to do list.

He had, Kim noted a good grasp of what he was in for in this meeting not only that but with the whole SGC and the project he was attach to. But it was his bluntness that came through in his tone, layered with some amount of a irritation, if she understood him well from the three weeks on Aeneid. They could have had him on Delta during the war years rather than Travis. Not that she had anything against the Army Officer. But the damn man was an Oxford.

<<Tag: Troy Loveridge, Elliot Cowden and Sarah Daniels

[Sarah Daniels]

0901
The Pentagon
Arlington, Virginia

Sarah was taking notes, not apparently paying attention to Oxford as he responded. It matched up with the team's reports and his report showed he'd made a well-thought out decision. Didn't mean she had to acknowledge that quite yet.

"Recovering the technology, Captain, but we do make do with what we have. If you have anything to say, Mr. Cowden?" It was only then that she looked up to actually be looking at Oxford. The man seemed to have enough force of personality to handle Elliot.

<<tag Robert "Bobby" Oxford Jr, Elliot Cowden, Troy Loveridge>>