Two months after being kicked out of Atlantis on the end of Sheppard's boot, Richard Woolsey sat at the side of the SGC's briefing room table as his IOA cohort, Ian Victor, ran through the list of reasons for going after the now rogue city of Atlantis and the criminals who'd stolen it.

"In addition, your President is in full agreement with the need to reacquire the city and bring Colonel Sheppard and Captain Stevenson to justice," the Brit reinforced. "So why are there currently no ships out hunting for the city?"

"Because it's a really bad plan," O'Neill said in muted frustration. "We have no idea where they went, let alone if they're still in Pegasus. And just for the sake of argument, what exactly do you think we could do once we found them?"

"Recover the city," Victor said patronizingly.

"I believe the General is concerned," Landry jumped in as O'Neill gently banged his forehead on the table in a gesture of futility, "with our ability to bypass Atlantis's shield and get our teams within the city."

"We have the Asgard beam weapons," Victor continued. "Use them to breach the shield and forcibly take back the city."

"Might I remind you," O'Neill said irreverently, "that this is the city of the Ancients. Our current technology, even with what the Asgard gave us, is no match for what they've got…especially now that they have someone who knows how to use it."

"So you believe," Victor countered. "That hasn't been confirmed."

"The city took off from the planet," Woolsey gingerly interjected, "and entered hyperspace at a speed that even our 304s can't match. That shouldn't be possible with only one ZPM. Either they somehow acquired more, or this Stevenson did something above and beyond our current understanding of Ancient tech."

Victor turned on his fellow IOA representative with a look of betrayal. "We must have the city back."

"I think we all here agree on that point," Woolsey offered conciliatorily.

"I don't," O'Neill said, raising his hand for emphasis.

Woolsey leaned up over the edge of the table and looked down to the far end at O'Neill. "Surely you must understand the importance of the technology within the city."

"Oh, I surely do," O'Neill said sarcastically, "but in my book I'd write this one off as karma. You all wanted to abandon Pegasus and blow up Atlantis after looting it to your hearts' content. Personally, I rather like the turn of events."

"But why?" Woolsey asked with that innocent, incredulous look he used so often.

"Because it once again gives me the chance to say…I told you so."

"General," Victor began to patronize again, "we are all aware of your misgivings over our plans for Atlantis, but how we choose to utilize the city is none of your concern."

"It is when it's our ships that'll be taking fire in the retrieval process," Landry interjected again.

Victor raised an eyebrow speculatively. "You really think they'd fire on one of their own ships?"

"I would," O'Neill stated, "if I was shot at first."

"Which is exactly what you're suggesting we do," Landry added.

"Alright then," Victor conceded, "give me another option."

The briefing room fell silent for a few moments before Landry finally said, "McKay."

Victor's eyes narrowed. "Explain."

Landry blew out a reluctant breath. "Dr. McKay has been our foremost expert on the city of Atlantis since we first discovered it. If there's any way of getting past its shield he'll be the man to find it."

"Where is McKay currently?" Victor asked.

"Area 51," O'Neill answered reluctantly.

"Then this meeting is postponed until you can recall him here."

Landry glanced down at his watch. "Give me ten minutes," he said smiling.

"No," McKay said emphatically after being beamed over to the SGC via the Odyssey in orbit. "I'm not doing it. I'll resign first."

Victor was about to say something unpleasant when Landry held up a hand to stop him. "Dr. McKay, you're the best man we have for the job."

"Best man maybe," O'Neill added from the other end of the table.

McKay turned to him. "No matter what I do, you're always going to assume that Carter knows more than me. Oh no, completely ignore the five years I spent on Atlantis compared to the one year she spent, and of course she'll be more of an expert than I am, especially given that she was pulling command duty rather than working with and analyzing the Ancient tech. During her year of tenure, it was me who she came to when she needed something done…me, because I know Atlantis's systems inside and out, far better than she could ever hope to."

"Actually," O'Neill said quietly, "I was referring to Stevenson and the fact that he isn't quite Human anymore."

"Oh," McKay said, caught offguard. "Well in that case I agree with you. That man…Ancient now, I guess…knows far more about Atlantis's systems than I ever will."

Woolsey cleared his throat. "Do you have any idea how he managed to get the city to fly that fast on one ZPM?"

"Well I, hadn't really put much thought to that," he said hesitantly, making it clear that he was holding something back.

"What do you know, Dr?" Landry said firmly.

"Who me? Nothing."

"Dr. McKay," Victor said, standing a bit straighter, "if you're intentionally withholding information you can be charged with conspiracy and put into confinement."

"Hey," McKay yelled, pointing a finger at Victor. "I came back like I was supposed to."

"Enough!" Landry yelled. "We are not going to start pointing fingers amongst ourselves. And the only people that are being charged are the ones that chose to stay in Atlantis. McKay is not at fault for wanting to shield his former teammates, but we do need to know what we're up against before we risk a confrontation," he emphasized, looking directly at McKay.

Rodney frowned. "Fine, I might as well tell you. Maybe you'll think twice before sending anyone after them. Sheppard and Stevenson brought two additional ZPMs back with them. Atlantis is fully powered now…and you don't have a prayer of getting past their shields. Take a cue from the Wraith if you don't believe me."

Woolsey stood in utter shock. "Three ZPMs! Where did find two more? He's right, there's no way we can retake the city if it's fully powered."

Victor looked to O'Neill. "Have we lost any of our ZPMs?"

O'Neill shook his head slowly. "Not that I know of…and if we had I think I would have been told."

"Then Atlantis has acquired two new ZPMs…which makes recovering the city even more of a priority now," Victor said, his eyes gleaming greedily.

"I don't think you're hearing what they're saying," Landry said irreverently. "With three ZPMs the Ancients held off the Wraith indefinitely. How are we supposed to succeed where they failed?"

"Use the Asgard knowledge in Odyssey's data core," Victor suggested, "or find some way to infiltrate Atlantis and deactivate the shield from inside. It doesn't matter how you do it, just find a way."

O'Neill suddenly stood, resting his arms on the table as he stared down all assembled. "My orders from the President are to recover Atlantis if feasible. That means if there's a quick and painless way to retake the city then we will, but if it isn't doable, or if it'll cost us a ship or more in the process then we aren't going to try."

"McKay, I need you to go with the search teams and give an honest effort to try and find a way into Atlantis. If it truly can't be done, then we'll abandon the idea."

"General…"Victor began to interrupt.

O'Neill held up a stop finger. "I'm not finished yet. Regardless of what the IOA wishes to happen, we can't ignore facts. And one fact that I certainly am not ignoring is the fact that I take orders from the President and not the IOA. I'm also not ignoring the fact that it will be US Air Force ships that will be going after Atlantis. Neither the Russian nor the Chinese 304s are anywhere near complete, so it's US assets that will be put in jeopardy, and I'm not going to risk good people on some hair-brained IOA scheme."

"So this is how we're going to play this," O'Neill continued. "McKay, I'm sending you and the Odyssey back into Pegasus to do your thing. If nothing else try and locate Atlantis. We need to at least have an idea of where it is and what they're up to. I'm sending the Daedalus and Apollo along with you to help in the search. The Phoenix will stay behind and safeguard Earth."

"Colonel Carter has recently been given command of the Odyssey and will be in charge of the overall operation. Does that suit you, McKay, or is the stargate program going to lose your valuable services to retirement?"

Rodney starred down at his feet for a moment. "I still don't like it, but I'll agree to go under those terms…and Colonel Carter's command."

"General O'Neill," Victor objected. "Do you really think it's wise to put the operation under the command of someone who has a personal connection to Atlantis?"

"Colonel Carter will do her duty," O'Neill emphasized. "Which, by the way, is to the Air Force and orders I give her, not to the whims of the IOA."

"Never the less, General," Victor said, none too happy. "On behalf of the IOA, we would like a representative to oversee the operation."

"Observe, yes," O'Neill correct him. "Oversee, no."

Victor didn't answer, he just stared at O'Neill in aggravation.

"I'll go," Woolsey offered. "My limited experience with Atlantis may prove to be of some use...if that's acceptable to all parties?"

"You're free to tag along," O'Neill agreed, "but Carter has the authority to push you out an airlock if you get in the way."

"General!?" Victor protested.

Woolsey stood, cautioning Victor. "The General is exaggerating in order to make a point." He turned to face O'Neill. "I understand that I'll have no actual authority, but this way I can give the IOA assurances that certain persons aren't deliberately compromising the mission due to personal feelings."

"If 'all parties' includes me," Rodney said passively, "then I vote no."

"I can assure you it doesn't," Woolsey said stiffly.

"Well actually," O'Neill started to say. "McKay, is there another IOA representative you'd feel more comfortable with?"

Rodney sighed. "I suppose not."

"Well then…" O'Neill said, waving at all assembled to get their asses moving.

"Are you going to beam me back to Area 51," Rodney asked irreverently, "or am I going to have to walk? I have an ongoing experiment that needs finished or deactivated before it blows up half the continent."

"I thought we stopped doing those?" O'Neill asked deadpan.

Landry turned back to O'Neill as Victor and his associates began to file from the briefing room. "How long until we need to pass McKay your way?" he asked after the IOA suits had moved out of earshot.

"Two weeks," O'Neill said, giving Stevenson and Sheppard as much lead time as he dared. He glanced over at McKay. "Well…better start packing."