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Date: 48:10 (13 years after the Battle of Yavin)

"You wanted to see me, General?" asked Matt as he stepped into Hammond's office.

"Yes, Private, please have a seat," said Hammond as he got up from his chair and walked across the room.

Matt sat down, his eyes following the general as he retrieved a folder from a file cabinet and sat back down behind his desk. The general removed another folder from his desk, with "TOP SECRET" clearly printed on the front. Hammond opened both of them and removed a few papers from each and sat them around in front of him. "Now, Private Hudson, I must say that your record is very impressive indeed. You've distinguished yourself as a great asset to your team. You're up for a promotion from your last mission. Major Willes says he hates to lose you, but wouldn't mind if it benefited us and our allies. This would mean no promotion at the moment."

"Which allies, sir?" replied Matt.

"What I'm about to tell you is classified," said Hammond.

"Understood, sir," said Matt.

"For a while now we've been expanding an alliance with a group called the New Republic. The New Republic is a rising power in the galaxy, that is still fighting the remnants of the corrupt Empire it overthrew, and they're just beginning to delve into the Stargate. We're currently running an exchange program with our troops, to cross train and be able to understand one another better. You've been recommended to participate in this program. We can't tell you much more unless you sign up."

"Sir, may I think about this?" said Matt as the sat there, stunned.

"Not a problem, come back when you're ready. This here has a bit more information," said Hammond as he slid a small folder over to Matt.

* * * * *

"So you can't tell me nothin' at all?" asked Corporal Jacobs, one of his close team mates.

"Not at all, Jacobs, sorry," said Matt as he put on his shirt and closed his locker.

"Alright, have a good three days then," replied Jacobs with a smile.

"You too, don't kill too many snakeheads while I'm gone," said Matt with a smile. Jacobs just laughed as Matt left the locker room, headed for the elevator and pushed the ground level button. The doors closed in front of him, but the hum of the elevator moving was drowned out by his thoughts.

* * * * *

The drive to his apartment was a normal one; he paid attention to the road and left the thinking for home. Just as soon as he thought it would be a long drive, he was pulling his truck into the parking lot. He got out and closed the door behind him.

He walked to the entrance and opened it. "Hold it there, Matt," came a familiar voice. He turned around and saw Jim Crawford and his wife, each with a bag of groceries in hand.

They passed him and went up the stairs and Matt followed them since his place was on the second floor, a few doors down from the Crawfords'. "So Matt, anything interesting happen in your satellite project?" asked Mr. Crawford.

"Eh, some modifications on the thrusters were needed, just about it," said Matt. That was the benefit of having a technician as a close friend in the SGC.

Matt knew Mr. Crawford knew he was using a cover story—Jim himself had been in Korea and then in the Green Berets for four tours in Vietnam. The old man knew that a perfectly fit soldier would not be working on satellites in Cheyenne Mountain as a new member of a space research group, but could not imagine what Matt did in Cheyenne Mountain for weeks at a time.

"But I may be getting a transfer," said Matt.

"Ah, that's good, remember if you need any recommendation letters, give me a call," said Jim.

"I'll remember that, sir," said Matt as he reached his apartment, put the key in the lock and unlocked it.

"Well, see you later, Matt," said Jim.

Matt waved as he entered his apartment, closing the door behind him. Grabbing the remote from the end table, he turned on his television and the light before heading into his kitchen. Sighing as he opened the fridge, he settled for grabbing a soda and sat it on the counter. He opened the cabinet and found a bag of popcorn, put it in the microwave and put in the time. As the microwave did its work he switched through the TV channels. Nothing on. The microwave beeped and he went in and got the bag from the microwave and the soda.

Walking to the TV stand, he popped Ace Combat Fighter 4 into his Playstation 2.

* * * * *

"Come in," said General Hammond.

Matt opened the door and stepped in the office.

"Sign me up, sir," said Matt with a smile.

* * * * *

"So you're along for the ride too," asked another man as he lugged his baggage over his shoulder. "Lemme guess, infantry?"

Matt nodded. "Yep. You?"

"CIA ops."

"Sounds fun. Happen to know anything more about the Republic?" asked Matt.

"I'm still getting over the fact that there was a space station out there the size of a small moon and they blew it up nonetheless," he replied with excitement in his voice.

"I'll say, I'm wondering what kind of vehicles they use as tanks," said Matt as the Stargae wormhole reached out then leveled off. The CIA guy looked with surprise.

Matt laughed. "I went through that thing on a weekly basis buddy, you're about to take the journey of a lifetime."

"I'm sure I am," replied the man with some hesitation in his voice. The small group walked up the ramp and into the event horizon.

* * * * *

After they had stepped through the gate, the group found themselves in a different embarkation room, with a lot of noticeably different technology. "Please step to the left and through the doors, there you will be taken to where you need to go. Welcome to Farpoint," said a voice over an intercom as the wormhole closed behind them.

After following the men directing them, Matt and the stranger shook hands before separating. "Good luck, see you around maybe," said the man.

"Good luck to you too," said Matt as the groups were separated.

He found himself with just one other person from the SGC, feeling out of place as his drab olive BDU's separated them from all the other people.

Three men stepped forward. "I'm Captain Blanchett, I will be helping you two get squared away with first battalion. Major Plough is the commanding officer of the first battalion. Private Hudson?"

"Sir," said Matt, stepping forward at attention.

"This is Sergeant Stanz, he is your squad leader," said Captain Blanchett.

Matt walked over as Stanz stepped forward. "Come with me," he said, motioning as he headed down the hallway. "You are in the second platoon with me under Lieutenant Anderson. I've read over your file. I must admit, very nice, but things here are very different, especially with combat, weapons and such."

"I hope to catch on fast," said Matt.

"Good, I hope you do," said Stanz, as the two approached the First Battalion headquarters. After walking through winding halls, they finally stood before a door with "2A/1 Barracks" on it.

"Welcome to the platoon Matt," said Stanz as the door opened.