A Top-Secret Meeting Room in the Basement of the Pentagon, Monday Evening (Fandom Time)
After some waiting that seemed longer than it was, the hologram of Sam appeared again in her chair. In addition to the monitor still showing the star chart, Jack had gotten his tech people to bring in another one that was now showing the view from the bow of the General Hammond, and a third showing some of the sensor readouts from the spaceship. The empty area on the map looked like it might have gotten a little bigger... but it was hard to tell.
"Okay, we're in position," Sam announced. "Sensors aren't detecting anything abnormal. Launching probe in three... two... one... probe launched."
The probe sped away, quickly becoming too small to see, and all eyes locked on the sensor readouts tracking its progress. Suddenly, it disappeared entirely.
Daniel turned to look at Sam, no longer concerned about the probe. Sam looked a little confused, and then shook her head. "Sorry, General. I must have spaced out a little. Okay, launching probe in three... two... one... probe launched."
Daniel and Sam glued their eyes to the screens again, but Jack facepalmed. "We just did this," he told them. "You seriously don't remember launching the other probe? It disappeared when it got to..." He looked at the screen. "Right about... there."
The second probe winked out a little earlier than Jack thought it should have, but maybe he just had a bad internal clock these days. "What's right about where?" Sam asked. "I haven't launched the probe yet. Launching in three..."
"No, no, stop it," Jack cut in. "Save your probes. You've already lost two."
"She has?" Daniel asked. "Jack, I don't remember that..."
Sam tapped at her computer. "Inventory reports none have been used today, sir. Are you sure?"
Jack rubbed his temples. "Yes, I'm sure. Two probes. And you just forgot they were-- did you see that?!?!?!"
On the screen showing the view in front of the ship, the closest star had disappeared.
"See what?" Sam asked. "What just happened?"
"Get out of there, Sam!!!" Jack yelled. "Get out of there right now! That's an order!!!"
Sam nodded. "Aye, sir. Helm, full speed aft. On my mark, come about to heading 132 point--"
And then she was gone.
"Sam!" Jack yelled at the empty air. "SAM!!!"
Daniel frowned at him. "Uh... Jack? Who's Sam?"