The Palace of the great 'god' Fu Jin, if you could call it that, was situated beneath the landed Cheops class War Chariot, it was built from sandstone by the enslaved masses to the glory of the eternal wind 'god' Fu Jin, and it was guarded night and day by a dedicated Jaffa force of three thousand men and their families.
Fu Jin had waged a disastrous campaign against the storm God Raiden, that had cost him all twenty of his worlds and nineteen thousand Jaffa, he been banished and fled in disgrace landing on this as yet unnamed world to lick his wounds and had stayed here ever since, content so far to live in shame.
(First person view)
I can not quite describe the feeling that is flooding my very being at this time, somewhere between elated and euphoric, why you may ask, because staining my blade is the blood of my former master, for over fifty years I was under the thumb of a fool and bounder the Goa'uld Fu Jin. I hold the blade up and can't quite grasp what I had just done he was a fool and by my hand, I had put him down an ignoble death for an ignoble fool. He couldn't even tell a Goa'uld apart from a regular human slave.
In my mind, I can hear my father Balthazar former system lord and only competition of Apep the wise,
"Only the strong may rule".
The blade I used was one of my own design it is long and thin wider towards the guard with a double fuller the blade itself is double-edged and a Kris pattern serpent design, it is made more for stabbing through armour than flesh.
I watched as the luminous blood of his host oozed down the body of the blade following the path of the fullers, like a glowing snake as it oozed down the grove, I didn't move until the blood passed the cross guard and I felt the lukewarm fluid touch my hand, it wasn't like human blood, besides from the colour and its glow it was also thicker and more viscose.
I wiped the blade on Fu Jin's robe, a gaudy golden cloth with a fur lining; I gave one last look in his vacant eyes, despite the fools Unas host when you drive a blade through any creature's throat and out the other side, through the first vertebrae and coincidently through his symbiont, and then twist the blade nothing can save them, save for a sarcophagus but the fool hadn't thought it possible for an enemy to attack him here so left it on his ship.
I grabbed the cadaver by its golden robe than threw the husk off my new thrown, then looked in disgust the creature had befouled itself in death, I turned to face slaves and Jaffa they were stunned until my eyes glowed and they knelt prostrate before me.
I smirked at the Jaffa, my Jaffa, like clay I shall mould them into enforcers of my will. But first I must observe etiquette and law.
"I Mars claim the domain of Fu Jin for my own" I send a copy of that to the supreme lord Ra as per his laws, I turn to Fu Jin's former first prime, best to be firm with them now to save off any rebellion later.
I ordered The Prime to bring me star chats for my current domain he bowed before scurrying off.
I pointed to the slaves and ordered them to clean the thrown of the refuse, it took a few minutes but once it was clean I sat down on the gaudy thing, it is uncomfortable, very uncomfortable.
After a few minutes the Jaffa returned with two tablets under his arm he bowed, then handed over the charts, whilst I read them he gave me a full rundown of their former lord's domain, one world and six Cheops class War Chariots, that I already knew, he had about a few thousand Jaffa on the planet and another few hundred on each war ship, but what I didn't know was that Fu Jin had found a rich deposit of Naquadah on this planet, rich enough to start a war over and rich enough to fuel my war machine for a few centuries.
But first I need to defend it before I mine it, I looked to the Prime
"Bring me the Jaffa Master"
"Yes my Lord," he said standing bowing and turning for the door, as he does so I observed a change in the man, maybe it's my imagination but I observed a ghost of a smile on his face. Ignoring that I turned to the computer, over the centuries of my existence I have learned a great deal from my time as an Ashrak I had learned that we Goa'uld are through a technologically advanced people are overconfident, egocentric and stagnant, I have lost count of the number of rouge Goa'uld I had ended by using primitive weapons, and I have cringed at the lacklustre security that other Goa'uld have. Many of my brethren have actually bought into their own propaganda believing that they are gods it is disappointing and it is systemic of the real problem, the Goa'uld empire is built on a foundation of sand.
Fear rules more than we do, the fear of an eternal afterlife in damnation, and the fear of torture in the face of failure, it is disappointing. The heavy thud of metal footsteps brought me out of my contemplations
(3rd person perspective)
"My Lord" the two Jaffa bowed "this is Jaffa Master Ja'res" said Jaffa bowed at the waist his eyes on the floor
"My Lord, it is an Honour" he spoke in an old deep voice, the man was largely built, with weathered chiselled features, he had a patchwork of scars on his face a testimony to his battles and experience his brown eyes where betrayed his weariness, he had seen much in both combat and in years Mars concluded.
"Master Jaffa" He inclined his head to the man in a show of respect he was not prepared for and didn't expect from a Goa'uld. "I want you to turn out the guard" he raised an eyebrow not knowing what that was "I want to inspect my new army" the Jaffa didn't know what to say.
"My lord if there are any problems with the current Jaffa..." before he could finish Mars interrupted
"Master Jaffa" Mars spoke his voice deep and commanding, the two Jaffa bowed again expecting that they would be punished for not following commands they didn't understand, "I want you to gather every Jaffa in training, and every Jaffa on duty now" he spoke as the two men looked at him in astonishment " they are to form three lines of one thousand each with the Jaffa in training at the rear and the most experienced in the front line I expect them to be if full armour and have their weapons ready" the two Jaffa looked at each other "am I understood"
"Yes my lord" they echoed, before leaving whispering to each other as they did so.
Mars pressed a hidden button that turned the throne, as he had seen Fu Jin do several times to access his main computer, he waved his hand over the left arm of the throne and a screen appeared, he then reached up his left hand sleeve and pulled out a blue data crystal, tapping the wall beneath the screen a small pedestal popped out of the floor and rose to about chest height to his seated form.
The top of the pedestal resembled the flat surface of a sundial, but instead of a fin at the top there was a hexagonal slot, he installed the crystal in the slot and into the computer, it took a second for the primitive computer system to acknowledge that the crystal had been installed and another few seconds to open the files, the first file was for an improved class of hyper drive, the current class of hyper drive outside the system lords was the standard X310 an interstellar class 7 if you used the Road Builder scale, but from what the Goa'uld had worked out was that the closer to zero the speed is the faster the hyper drive, interstellar hyper drive went up to class 5 from there you began to enter the intergalactic hyper drive scale, though the fastest ship found belonging to the Road Builders was a type X0.5 intergalactic class 1 the engine itself was damaged and immensely complex, it had proved to be a gold mine for the supreme system lord. But the engine Mars had plans for was a type 6 engine that Ra had within his current generation of ships, but with slight adjustments to the flow regulator, he had managed to get X200 instead of X210. but it would be complex to build and expensive in material, Mars didn't expect to have them built and mass produced for at least a decade.
The next file contained adjustments to the Cheops class War Chariot, mostly up gunning and armouring, Mars had yet to find more efficient shield design but weapons he knew very well, the standard loadout for a Cheops class was eight heavy plasma cannons two for each side, the current cannons themselves where medium range and powerful, at least they were but Fu Jin had been out of the loop for a century and with recent design upgrades from the system lords they had been made obsolete. Mars new design called for a ring to be added to the midpoint of the ship adding two duel ball turrets to each side, the turrets themselves had three cannons and could fire independently or all at once, the turrets could turn one hundred and eighty degrees independently of each other both horizontally or vertically, though the new turrets needed an updated power system which would cut down on the space for troops and fighters it would make the War Chariot more formidable overall.
The arrival of the Master Ja'res and the First Prime interrupted Mars before he could access more of his personal database.
"My Lord" came the voice of the Prime "the Guard is ready"
"Very good," he said pulling the blue crystal from the computer and storing it away in his sleeve. He turned to face the two men "lead on Maser Jaffa"
(The parade field in front of the palace)
As the trio exited the palace they came face to face with an impressive site three thousand Jaffa standing with their staffs at their side, around them where women and children, 'probably their families' thought Mars as he came down the very impressive stone staircase, as he reached the bottom he, the Jaffa Master and the First Prime made their way to the front of the army.
He stood there in front of three thousand impressive looking Jaffa and around two hundred new recruits
"Master Jaffa," he said loud enough to draw the attention of the entire parade "your Staff" the Master Ja'res moved forward knelt before Mars and presented the staff. Mars took the staff and spun it with all the skill and speed of a practised Olympic baton twirler before he stopped and shot a blast at a rock destroying it. "A fine weapon Master Ja'res it does you credit" Ja'res nodded and puffed up at the praise, "and I am happy to see such a weapon so well maintained and clean" he turned to the men on parade "you will stand with your chest out heels together and chin up", he said demonstrating the correct stance with the staff at his side. "I will approach you one at a time when I do you will take one step forward and present your weapon like so, "he demonstrated again "once I have completed my inspection you will fall back into line and resume the position I demonstrated earlier" he looked intently at them his eyes flashing at them dangerously, "and when I ask you a question you will start and end every sentence with SIR! Am I understood"?
"Sir Yes sir" it was a muted response and they all sounded off at different times like a confused rabble, which is what they were for now.
"I said am I understood" he roared his eyes flashing in rage
"Sir! Yes, Sir!" it was better but not by much.
Mars presented the weapon back to Master Ja'res
"This belongs to you Master Jaffa may it serve you ever faithfully" the Master Jaffa nodded "now Master Ja'res" he then looked at the First Prime, he knew the man's name it was spoken many times by Fu Jin, "First Pa'nak we have Jaffa to inspect" the two nodded at him and followed him to the first man, who stepped forward like he had been instructed slightly nervously "name".
"Sir! Zar Sir" he said stammering slightly in the presence of his lord, Mars took the staff off him and began to look it over
"this weapon is dirty" he said in a low tone that sent shivers of pure ice threw the men who herd it, Zar began to shake in fear of his lords reprisals, Mars turned to Master Ja'res "take a look" Ja'res looked over the weapon, and to his dismay the emitter guard was dirty and the trigger was sticky and slow.
"I agree my Lord the weapon is dirty," he said almost reluctantly, dreading what the punishment would be from his new lord, handing the weapon back to Mars.
"Your Punishment shall be as follows", he said as the Jaffa began to pail significantly, "you will clean every weapon of every Jaffa on parade here today", he said some colour returning to the Jaffa's face "and you will return to Master Ja'res classes on weapons training and maintenance, then once he feels you are ready, you will return to duty", shock seemed to bleed through the man as the light sentence was given "am I understood Zar" the man nodded quickly then stammered out
"Sir Yes Sir", Mars handed the weapon back to the Jaffa who accepted shaking slightly as he returned to the line. Mars spent the next few hours inspecting each Jaffa individually and once he had finished with the trainees he returned to the head of the parade.
"All but the first line are dismissed back to duty or training", the crowd of Jaffa moved off at their lord's command mystified and confused at their new lord, but hoping that he would be a better lord than Fu Jin. Mars looked over the remaining Jaffa, "These men are the best and most experienced of my entire army?" he asked turning to Ja'res and Pa'nak
"Yes my lord the most experienced and the best Jaffa in the Guard," said Ja'res Pa'nak nodded
"Indeed my lord many of these men have fought and defeated the best Jaffa assembled against them" spoke Pa'nak in support of his men
"Is that so? Show me", he said the two Jaffa looked confused "Drill them master Jaffa," he said "Show me how they are the best", the two Jaffa nodded
To say Mars was disappointed would be an understatement, but he could not blame the Jaffa it is the fault of older Goa'uld and outdated military doctrine, the Jaffa were a policing force more than a dedicated military, their armour is made to intimidate, to sow fear within the eyes of the conquered masses, and not much else, the ornate helmets that the guards wear have very limited military use and are more used to identify who is engaging whom, a truly sorry state of affairs.
He watched them go through there fighting routines, fast and seemingly hard-hitting, they seemed to excel in unarmed combat, but their use of the staff weapons is where they truly seemed to shine, but with more than one opponent they began to fall apart.
Mars had targets set up at different ranges to test weapon accuracy, he had set the targets at five meter intervals going from five to thirty, the Jaffa proved that they were accurate and could fire rapidly at five meters, the same at ten and fifteen though speed suffered somewhat at fifteen and at twenty and twenty-five meters the difficulty was more apparent.
The accuracy dropped off and the speed dropped sharply, they could barely maintain three shots the minute and had to kneel holding the staff over their shoulder to manage that, at thirty meters there accuracy was in a word terrible one out of every ten hit the target, and those were stationary targets, once I had the targets moving their accuracy dropped drastically at each range not even half would hit the target and half of those that did where glancing blows, it was painful to watch but overall Mars give them a 5/10 for stationary and 2/10 for moving targets.
After this test he had them run a mock battle drill, and a new flaw became apparent almost immediately, they moved like a hunting party, not the warriors he was expecting, hunters fighting hunters would be a long battle. Useful for ambush and chase but not for frontline combat that would have to change; better armour and weapons would be a must for a start.
He called an end to the drill and for the master Ja'res and first Pa'nak.
"You do good work Master Ja'res" Mars said much to the masters astonishment, he had seen Mars's disapproving glances and the cringing, "but there is always room for improvement" Mars said dismissing the Jaffa and leading both warriors back into the throne room, to the gaudy monstrosity called a throne and sat uncomfortably, he would burn this thing later he decided and have something else in its place something more comfortable.
"My lord?" asked Master Ja'res he had waited for Mars to sit and get comfortable before speaking.
"Yes improvement", he said catching the glimmer of understanding in the masters eyes, "I have seen the best men, how they fight and where they can improve, and improve they shall" both Jaffa nodded, Mars looked upon the Master Jaffa he seemed to deflate as if he had failed in some way, "I am not questioning your ability Master Jaffa but I have different needs for my Jaffa than other Goa'uld", Ja'res nodded in understanding, he had felt out of place during the parade "though you will continue to train the recruits I will present you with new techniques to train the Jaffa with" he said " and I will have need of your expertise and experience for as long as you may live" Ja'res seemed greatly at ease after that "you may return to your duties" he dismissed the Jaffa.
Once again Mars was alone, he turned back to the computer and called up a view of his territory such as it is, the mine had already been opened half a year ago, and with the knowledge Mars possessed on certain technologies he was sure that he would rise higher than Fu Jin could contemplate, especially in these times of unrest, Sokar is looking to take the throne for his own and had aligned with the remnants of the monster Anubis's forces, in the next century they would have gained enough forces to push Lord Ra hard. A cold war was brewing between the two mighty system lords and silently they were gathering allies creating treaties with other system lord's, minor lords and independent Goa'uld, and there are whispers of an alien menace in the wings, of strange hammer-shaped craft white as ivory, and hunting in deep space.
But for now they can wait, Mars had work to do, just north of this temple is a great plain of mountains, plains land with vast stretches forests, there he would build a great fortress, deep within the mountains, protected from bombardment and detection, the mountain he chose, was a colossal eight thousand, eight hundred and eighty four meters tall, the largest of all the mountains on that continent, and with its heavy concentration of iron ore and other heavy metals, it would hide his future stronghold from even the strongest of sensors known to Goa'uld.
Though now he had forge's to construct and great works to put to paper, new tactics to create and more, it was getting late in the night and a weariness he had not felt before began to overcome him, He walked to the master sleeping chambers drained of all energy and with a new daunting purpose on the horizon he would need all the rest he could get, but before he could sleep he ordered the destruction of the gaudy monstrosity called a throne.
(The next day)
Mars awoke to a feeling of contentment he had not felt in years, not since the incident with that woman, he pushed that memory aside and got dressed, the only thing in Fu Jin's wardrobe that would fit him was alone flowing cloak, Mars made a note to immediately create some clothes to fit him, he looked like a child playing dress up with his father's clothes.
Under the cloak, he replaced his former slave clothes just as something for now, and as soon as he was fully dressed he made his way out of the door. The door opened with a whir of machinery he stepped through the doorway and was met by to Jaffa Guards. They were both tall and broad and Mars recognised them immediately.
"Da'rak" he nodded to the tallest "Ra'bek" he nodded to the other, the two seemed to inflate with pride, their lord had remembered their names, "is there a replacement throne in my throne room?" he said walking the two guards keeping pace a step behind there lord.
"I do not believe so my lord," said Ra'bek his voice rumbling deeply in his chest, Mars hummed in acknowledgement, the walk to the throne was not long and they reached their destination fairly quickly. The throne room was still as gaudy as it ever was, but the overly decorated chair Fu Jin had called a throne was gone with nothing in its place.
"Fetch me a stool or a chair I care little for what material it is made of", he ordered the two Jaffa, the two bowed and left Mars alone in the throne room for a few minutes before they returned with a simple wooden chair, "good work", Mars praised the two Jaffa as he placed the chair where the throne once sat, taking a seat he waited for Pa'nak his first prime to arrive, the Jaffa had been seeing to the punishment of Zar personally, but when he had arrived Mars began the first order of business for the day, which was concerning the priesthood, they were amongst the few literate peoples allowed by Ra's laws and where in charge of keeping the laws of the Goa'uld they served and keeping detailed notes on all things pertaining to ruling, the priests also cared for the Queen Goa'uld and the larva that would be used for implantation, there were five hundred in total much more that what was needed and most did nothing but pray in the temples.
"Fetch me the high priests", he ordered Pa'nak who turned to Da'rak the Jaffa bowed then left to carry out the command, usually the slaves would deal with such a task but there were too few of them to both maintain the palace, and carry out such tasks. It didn't take long for Da'rak to return with the high priest and two other people, they wore identical white robes with blue over tunics and brown messenger bags, their usual blue stole was a striking contrast against their white robes, still held the iconography of Fu Jin, once they arrived they immediately began to abase themselves at his feet.
"Your most magnificence," said the high priest as he and his companions dropped to their knees "we came as soon as your messenger asked for us I am High Priest To'pek"
"I do believe that I asked for just the high priest" Mars quirked an eyebrow slightly glaring at the man's two companions.
"Of course your magnificence", the high priest cowered, "I have brought two of my most faithful with me to better answer any questions you have my lord"
"Excellent I commend you forethought" Mars smiled, the High Priest seemed to almost glow at the praise "I have need of one of your priests for a project," he said looking over the three kneeling priests "witch one of these two is the best with numbers"
"That would be Gar'tak my lord", said Priest raised his head and then bowed once again.
"And who is the best with words", the Priest turned to the man on his left, he reached out and tapped the man's back.
"That would be Ta'rak"
"And I take it that you are the master of laws then."
"Indeed my lord", he said "I know every law set down by Lord Ra and every law written by the false god Fu Jin"
"very good Ta'rak you are dismissed I will not be needing you today", the Priest stood bowed once more, and walked backwards out of the throne room, not turning until he reached the doorway.
"Come", he said rising from his seat "we are visiting my mine today"
"My lord", interrupted Pa'nak "I don't mean to speak out of turn but is that wise"
"Pa'nak my faithful Prime", Mars turned to the Jaffa, "it is necessary, I have standards that must be met", he said turning back to the door, "and if they are not met, heads will roll", he started to the door "but if you are so concerned you can arrange a guard for me."
"at once my lord", he said as they passed through the door, he made his way down a separate corridor and returned just before Mars had reached the steps of the palace, he returned with eleven men in full armour and ready for travel to the mine, it wasn't far away but the state of the roads made it feel longer than necessary.
"To'pek", Mars said as he brought the small party to a halt, the man scuttled forward
"Yes my lord", he bowed
"Make a note to remind me to update these roads," he said shaking his head in disapproval "they shame the name road, and in turn reflect badly on me"
"At once your magnificence," he said taking a clay tablet and a wooden tool from the brown bag, Mars waited for him to finish before the group set off again when they arrived at the mine Mars was most disappointed.
The mine, if you could call it that was a single shaft, the entrance was six feet high and eight feet wide large enough for two men to walk in side by side at the same time, but it was once you where inside the mine that it showed its true size, the shaft was seven feet tall and ten feet wide, an impressive achievement given that they are using primitive bronze and stone tools, once they collected stones they would pile them into wicker baskets and carry them out of the mine, it was a slow and inefficient means of mining that would have to change. But what disappointed Mars was the state of the slaves, they were weak and frail, several of them collapsed while he was there, one slave a child fell and the slave masters whipped girl continually
"Enough", Mars said loud enough for it to echo within the mine, "Pa'nak", the Jaffa stepped forward
"My lord"
"Work is finished for the day," he said turning to the Prime "dismiss the slaves and bring me the slave masters"
"Yes my lord"
Mars exited the mine, the slaves piled out of the mine following him, confused but more than willing to leave and have rest. The slave masters cabin was on the pit head overlooking the slave camp, Mars made his way up there and out of the prying eyes of the slaves.
"I am displeased To'pek very displeased"
"My lord I am afraid I don't know what you mean"
"The tools are primitive and the mining techniques are inefficient and unbecoming of serfs within my domain", he looked at the High Priest with a disapproving scowl
"Serfs? My lord", the High Priest asked
"Serfs, High Priest", he said looking at them "serfs are not slaves, because they cannot be sold and are not property, but each is tied to the land they work and to the lord that the land belongs"
"My lord this is most irregular", Mars raised an eyebrow, "that is to say", he stammered
"Stop before you force me to kill you" the man paled but shut up "these serfs work my land, mine my mines and hunt my game, and in return I give them home, hearth and safety", Mars said with a sneer "I am not Fu Jin", he said finally "I am not content with having slaves do jobs that a machine can do faster and more efficiently,"
"Of course my lord forgive my presumption" he bowed
'Of course, making them surfs circumvents Ra's decree against education' Mars thought 'I have no need of illiterate fools'.
A few minutes later Pa'nak returned bringing with him three very confused slave masters
"My lord", he bowed "these are the men you wished to speak with"
"Indeed", he saw three fat Jaffa, they bowed before him huffing slightly at the effort of keeping up with Pa'nak, Mars sneered in disgust "I am displeased with this mine", he intoned "the surfs are underfed and as such productivity has suffered"
"my lord we can only whip these idle creatures so much before they break", the largest of them spoke
"Indeed my lord we can push harder if that is your wish", another said "less sleep and more lash but we would burn through more slaves than we currently have"
"no that will not be necessary", he said "you three are dismissed of you positions", that seemed to shock them, "you have failed in your duties", he turned to Pa'nak and held out his hand Pa'nak handed him his staff, he brought the weapon up and killed the first of the slave masters, the other two were too shocked to move at first and by the time they realised what was happening it was too late. Mars spat on the largest of the corpses before handing back the staff. "follow me", he said as he walked back to the slave camp the cowering masses drew away from him in fear.
"Please my lord", said an old man "please we can work harder", he promised he said almost as if he was begging for his life, that seemed to cut Mars like a knife, 'that damned woman' he mentally raged 'how dare she make him feel this'
"that will not be necessary", Mars said to the man, who burst into dejected tears envisioning his death.
"hearken to me", Mars called his voice carrying over the camp like the rumble of thunder over distant skies "I am displeased with the productivity of the mine, most displeased indeed", several people began to cry, "but I do not blame you", he roared "I blame the incompetence of Fu Jin and your former slave masters", the people seemed to still, "so I shall release you from your bonds of slavery", his voice carried over the throng, "to Fu Jin you where enslaved unable to own land, unable to stand with pride and forced to toil away with little thanks", there was a murmur within the crowd, "so I thank you and elevate you all to the rank of Serf and all the rights that allow", he said several people there had fallen to their knees in thanks, "you are allowed to own lands of your own that are yours and yours alone", he said, "all I ask of you is that you work five out of the seven days a week, that your children and women stay home to tend your fields, that your elders may rest and enjoy the twilight of their life's without knowing the having to fear the lash and that you follow my laws"
"you are most kind my lord", said the old man who was now crying tears of joy the crowd erupted in exalted cheers, finally their prayers had been answered.
"my lord is this wise", asked Pa'nak as he was lead out of the cheering masses
"Everything I do Pa'nak, is fore a greater plan"
"yes my lord", he said.
Mars spent most of the day going to different slave camps and turning the salves into serfs, though there wasn't much difference between the two lifestyles serfs where allot freer than slaves, Mars was hailed as there deliverer form the evil Fu Jin, a breaker of chains.
When Mars returned to the palace he was given the clay tablets that High Priest To'pek had kept notes on for him, he cursed that woman for making him care for the lives of those around him.
roadworks was one of the things needed most; it would allow better transit for the serf and better transit for materials to and from the mines, followed by housing for the serfs a dedicated fast build house would be needed, from where he would need to begin to revamp the mines, heavy machinery would be a must and much faster than Serf hacking away at a rock face with a bronze pickaxe.
But as he sat on his wooden seat, he mentally cursed that woman
"one day Oma" he whispered to himself "one day".