Disclaimer & A/N: I don't own the Stargate universe - don't sue me. This story is set after my other story, "The Scourge of Alterus", which is some time between episodes 10.3 and 10.5.
Sorta beta-read by Jenwryn.
Construction
Poised on the surface planet of P4J-354 like some sort of giant water droplet was an Ori warship. It was suspended not in orbit, as you would expect, but merely balancing in a delicate network of plank-like metal poles – much like an ancient ship from medieval times balanced in dry docks. Thousands of human believers milled around it, following the plans and using the tools and parts the Prior had brought with him through the Pool of the Gods, or the Chappai'ai as the Jaffa had called it. The Acronians, the inhabitants of this planet, had for a while attempted to resist the teachings of Origen, but resistance had faltered now, at least on the surface. The Jaffa who had guarded the planet under the reign of Lord Ba'al had been all but defeated – rather than retreat and fight the enemy, guerrilla style, the Jaffa had, as always, decided that no enemy was too great, and charged straight at them. Of course, this bravery (or perhaps stupidity) had been dealt with very quickly. The Jaffa were herded towards one point, and the Ori Warship which had brought the invaders had destroyed all but a few stragglers in a single shot.
The few stragglers survived; one of these survivors was Bra'tac. He had been on the surface with a small band of Free Jaffa, scouting the planet to determine the loyalty of the Jaffa there to their Lord Ba'al. They had shown themselves more than loyal, as their mad rush against the Ori, with faith in their own god had proven. A waste of life – but now what had to be done was escaping. They had come through the stargate as Jaffa of Aphophas turned to the army of Ba'al. But that disguise would no longer work – not with Ori control of the gate. Bra'tac looked around at the small group of Free Jaffa with him – seven other men in total.
"Well my friends," he said "what shall we do?"
"We must fight our way to the Chappai'ai, and escape," exclaimed Kavec loudly. "That is all there is to be done."
"But that is madness," said another Jaffa. "You saw with your own eyes the devastation left by the Ori. We must bide our time and wait for the Council to sent a cargo ship for us."
Bra'tac seemed to think for a moment before responding. "Indeed, we must wait. We will not be able to force our way to the gate, no matter how bravely we die." He wondered once again why he was even here. Despite his differences with the new Jaffa council they had called on him to accompany this mission due to his knowledge of the area. During his time as First Prime to Aphophas he had fought against the Jaffa of Ba'al here on several occasions.
Kavec stomped out of the group and turned to face them. "Who will come with me?"
Bra'tac watched as three of the remaining Jaffa went to join him. He sighed and asked, "Do you truly wish to rush to your deaths? It would be pointless – it will prove nothing."
"Just because you have grown soft working with the Tau'ri and Teal'c does not mean all Jaffa must lose their honour and pride," snarled Kavec. "We go now to victory, or to death, but we will not sit here and rot. You know as well as I do that the council will not—"
"Even if the council do not send rescue, the Tau'ri will,' broke in Bra'tac. 'Teal'c will find out where we are and send one of their battleships…"
"Perhaps they will – more likely they won't – but even if they do they will not get through to us here. We have little chance of defeating the Ori warriors – they have even less chance of defeating an Ori warship…"
Kavec didn't look at him, but turned his head slightly and spoke now to the rest of the men who still stood with Bra'tac. "Whoever wills can still come and fight rather than wait here to die if they wish."
No-one moved and then the Jaffa with Kavec faded away into the forest (as well as men wearing two-tonne shiny, silver suits of armour can fade) until they were left alone.
The Prior stood beside the marvel of the Ori that the people of this planet were creating. The almost complete Ori warship was only one of many that were to be constructed. In fact, production was well ahead of the best the Orici had predicted. In fact, such was his progress that the Orici would be arriving soon, to be present at the completion of the first new Ori Warship. Of course, this was only one of many planets where Warships were almost complete. The Ori had willed the construction of ships in the Galaxy as the unbelievers against all odds had found a way to block their supergates. However, the construction of the new fleet had as of yet not been detected. Soon, they would once again have a fleet – perhaps stronger than before. Somehow the three ships that the Ori had had left in the galaxy had been destroyed or captured – it was unsure even among the Priors what had occurred, but rumour had spread that it had been the doing of the Goa'uld Ba'al.
