5Disclaimer: I'm not MGM, therefore, all I own is Jamila.
Part 3: Major Davis
Arlington, Virginia, USA, Earth
United States Department of Defence, The Pentagon
5th Floor – 5th NAF: DHS Director's office (classified)
Friday, March 04, 2004
ca 1500 EST
A knock on the door ended Jack's typing. "Enter!" Three interviews and no end in sight… all of the candidates so far were a real failure. He hoped the last one would not disappoint, then again, despite the bad news he had been at the SGC, he always had been an invaluable ally…
Major Paul Davis stepped through the door, and closed it maybe a bit hesitantly. "You wanted to see me, sir."
"Yes. Have a seat Major." Flipping through the application the younger officer had filed, he started the interview. "I understand that you wish for a change in scenario, which would allow you to stay in the area if possible, or am I mistaken?"
"You are not mistaken, sir." Paul fought down a blush. "The truth is, I wish to get married soon, sir. And my usual travelling schedule would not exactly be helpful in the matter."
"Aha… if you don't mind me asking, who is your fiancée?"
Now that was an uncomfortable question, to make an understatement. "Lt Col Aileen Lauren O'Neill, sir…"
"Oh…" Jack blinked a few times, then shelved the information away for later. "Well, then let's get to the point. I need a Chief-of-Staff and aide-de-camp since Hammond's aide has quit, and you need a new job which will not send you all over the country all three days."
"Yes, sir." He had noticed the subtle reaction on hearing the name of his intended… maybe it wasn't as good idea to ask him of all people for a new job as Lauren has thought.
Finally he looked up from the file, fixating the Major's eyes. "And why do you think you can do this Davis?"
Davis took a deep breath in, knowing he had to make a stand now if he wanted to get the job. "I know the SGC, sir, the dangers but also the chances it has. I know the ways of the Pentagon and of Washington, DC, with all of their petty grievances, and all the tricks for it. And above all, you and I, Sir, are fighting too. I know I can be of help, sir. While we are not at the front lines, we are maybe fighting something far more important than that. The home front. Someone has to keep politics off their backs, and the people behind them. You cannot win a war without the people behind you."
Jack chuckled. "Spoken like a true student of The Art of War, Major."
"Lessons learned from loss, sir. You know as well as I who didn't care about Sun Tzu's lessons and lost." Paul gritted his teeth. To him, applying the lessons and wisdoms of The Art of War was a very personal matter.
Jack nodded slowly. He too, knew what the younger man was referring to. Shaking off the memory of meeting the young Major yesterday in front of the wall, he made a decision, and rose from the chair behind the table to his full height. "Major Paul Alexander Davis. On Monday, report to duty to me, at 0830 sharp. If you are late for any other reason than an emergency, consider yourself never hired. Which means that in that case you will still have to travel all over the country instead of just accompanying me on my inspection tours. I wonder how my baby sister would react to not having you around…"
Davis had stood up automatically as his superior had gotten to his feet, but now he wished the floor would open up and swallow him. "I honestly don't know, sir. But I won't be late."
Deciding to rescue him, Jack laughed. "That's just like Lauren. Messing with people is a hobby of hers… but this isn't why I chose you; of all the people who applied to this position, you were the only one not to suck up to me. A very good friend of mine said the aide-de-camp is the most likely staff officer under my command to disagree with me. I need you to disagree with me, to agree with me, and above all, to be honest with me so I can make sense of any situation."
Paul stood to attention. "I will not disappoint you, sir. Anything else I need to do for you as your aide-de-camp, sir?"
Looking at his desk and thus, at the teapot on it, he nodded slowly. Actually, there is one thing… I hope you brew a decent cup of tea. My secretary is trying to poison me with his Marine coffee."
The Major chuckled. "I think that can be arranged, sir."
"That is all then, Davis. See you on Monday. Dismissed."
Davis saluted crisply. "Sir!" Picking up his cover, he left.
As soon as the door was closed, Jack sat down again, flipping through the application to the final page. Signing his approval, he picked up the DHS seal stamp, finalising the deal. Then, he rang for his secretary, who came in as unceremoniously as always.
"You wanted to see me, sir?"
"At ease, and yes." He handed the Marine the file. "You need to process Major Davis transfer stante pede. And, according to his file, the poor man is way overdue for promotion. Start the paper trail so this can be done on Monday. Dismissed."
Desjardins grinned from one ear to the other. "Yes Sir!"
Arlington, Virginia, USA, Earth
United States Department of Defence, The Pentagon
5th Floor – 5th NAF: DHS Director's office (classified)
Monday, March 07, 2004
0829 EST
What's with all the commotion, Paul wondered as he stepped into the outer office of his new boss. A flock of officers and non-commissioned was lining the walls to General O'Neill's office, all of them in their best uniforms. Stepping into the side-office designated for the Director of Homeworld Security's aide-de-camp, he left his coat, hat and briefcase at his new desk before approaching the General's door. Right on 0830 sharp, Major General Jonathan James O'Neill left his office, his Command Chief Master Sergeant in tow, causing Davis to come to a screeching halt and snap to attention. "Good morning, sir. Major Paul Alexander Davis reports as ordered."
"At ease." Jack turned to the rest of his immediate staff. "And thank you all for coming here today. As you all might be aware, as of Friday, March 05, 2004, Major Davis agreed to the proposal of becoming my aide-de-camp and Chief-of-Staff. However, there is one displeasing fact about him… a failure of his last three commanding officers, which I am now going to remedy. Therefore, it is with great pride that my first order of business as his commanding officer is… the announcement of the promotion of Major Paul Alexander Davis to Lieutenant Colonel." At seeing the shock of the younger officer, it was Jack's turn to grin from ear to ear, an expression subtly mirrored by the whole staff.
Command Chief Stephen Wang stepped forward, carrying a black leather box. "Attention to Orders: The President of the United States, acting upon the recommendation of the Secretary of the Air Force, has placed special trust and confidence and the patriotism, integrity, and abilities of Major Paul Alexander Davis. In view of his special qualities, and his continuously demonstrated potential to serve in the higher grade, Major Davis is promoted to the grade of Lieutenant Colonel, United States Air Force, effective immediately by order of the Secretary of the Air Force." He handed his CO the box, which held the silver oak leaves.
"Thank you, Chief." Jack proceeded to pin on the new rank insignia, placing the gold oak leaves into the box. Upon snapping it closed, he handed it to the new Colonel. "Lieutenant Colonel Paul Alexander Davis."
The assembled troops applauded.
"Now, raise your right hand and repeat after me," he ordered. "I, insert name, do solemnly affirm that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God."
"I, Paul Alexander Davis, do solemnly affirm that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God."
Everyone applauded again. Finally, Jack broke up the ceremony. "All right people, I think we've got a galaxy to defend, don't we? Back to your stations, dismissed."
Davis was still dazed. "Is this really happening? Sir?"
Jack snorted, turning to his own door. "Oh, believe me, Colonel, it can't get more real than this, that is, for a bunch of people whose life is the backstage area of a real-life science fiction drama…" Stepping into his office, he threw over his shoulder, "Now, get me some tea, will you? The pot is in the tea kitchen, in the box designated with a two-star insignia. And stop the salutes unless absolutely necessary, that's an order. Afterwards, please compile the necessary reports for my 1000 meeting."
Grinning, Paul did an about-face to search for that teapot. "Yes Sir!"
Author's Note: Considering that Davis had been a Major already in Season 01, it is absolutely illogical that he is still a Major in Season 09, let alone 12 years after Stargate became a series (Enemy at the Gate), when even (originally) Master Sergeant Harriman had made it at the beginning of Season 08 to Chief Master Sergeant, considering his extreme loyalty and adherence to the rules.
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