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chance to speak to you before we broke orbit. I wanted to check in before we reached Icarus Base.”
    “I appreciate your interest, but I’m fine,” he replied. Rush nodded at the computer. “I’m sure you understand I have a lot of last-minute checks to go over…”
    He was trying to dismiss her on her own ship; Carter resisted the urge to sit and folded her arms instead. In truth, she wasn’t really sure of her own motives in approaching Rush, but she felt like something needed to be said to the man. Carter had made no secret of her reservations about certain elements of Project Icarus from the get-go. “General O’Neill has given the Hammond clearance to remain in orbit for a few days after we drop you off. We’ll provide additional sensor coverage of the planetary core for your tests.”
    “That’s not necessary,” Rush began.
    “I disagree,” said Carter. “The Hammond has the most advanced and up-to-date sensor package in the fleet.”
    Rush hesitated and then nodded. “No, you’re right, Colonel. Your help will be appreciated.” He smiled again. “Your input and experience is valuable.” He paused. “I know there have been some…concerns among certain members of the SGC about Project Icarus. I know that both yourself and Rodney McKay put forward alternate approaches for the ninth chevron venture.”
    Carter’s option had involved the use of a staged naquadria-fusion energy source for the Stargate, while McKay had suggested constructing an artificial black hole using Lantean technology to provide the mammoth power needs. Sam still found it hard to accept that the IOA had, in the end, gone with what she saw as a more risky venture. The highly volatile core of planet P4X-351 was the cosmic equivalent of a powder keg awaiting a lit match, but the colonel suspected that political issues rather than scientific ones had been the driving force here, as both Sam and Rodney had earned the ire of the IOA in the past.
    The problem was, she couldn’t shake the nagging concerns that had plagued her ever since Icarus had been given the green light. Carter had more than enough to do with the Hammond and the challenging missions the ship had taken on, but she found herself wondering if she was just a little envious at being the one to stand by and let someone else make this discovery, especially after so long on the cutting edge with SG-1 and then during her stewardship of Atlantis.
    But it was more than just some rivalry. On some deep level, Sam wasn’t sure if she entirely trusted Nicholas Rush; she couldn’t read his motivations, and that bothered her. She pushed that thought away. “I’m ready to assist in any way I can, doctor,” she told him.
    Rush gave her a last nod and turned back to his work. “If the need arises, I’m pleased to know I can call on you,” he said.
    For better or worse, Carter thought to herself as she left, I hope he knows what he’s doing.
     
    If in doubt, take solace in a snack.
    Okay, so maybe it wasn’t the healthiest of philosophies, but it was one that Eli could connect with, and so he ventured down to the Hammond ’s mess hall in the hopes that if the USAF could send a man across the stars, they could send some pizza and a few cans of soda with him as well.
    He still hadn’t quite got his head around the whole shipboard day-night cycle. The Hammond worked on something called ‘Zulu Time’, with the crew running in shifts similar to the way sailors did on submarines. Eli gathered a few things on a tray and wandered among the people in khaki flightsuits and nondescript work gear. Technicians and military types were not exactly the kind of people he had a lot in common with. And then he saw the girl.
    She was hot . That was the first thing that came to mind, and, to be honest, the second and the third thing. She reminded Eli of all the girls he’d ever thought were way out of his league. Truth was, if they’d been back on Earth, he’d have given her a wide berth