Stargate: Rise of the Terran Commonwealth

by Samantha Carter-Potter

An unidentified goa'uld ship is discovered of the coast of Scotland by the Royal Navy. read on to see how Britain creates a Commonwealth across the globe that focus's on developing technology to protect Earth from any attacker. Please Read and Review

1. 1995 to March 2002

Disclaimer: Stargate SG-1 and all related technologies, characters, races and planets are not mine. They belong to MGM.

Any original characters, technologies, races and planets are mine, although I do apologize if I have used the names etc that someone else has come up with. It would more than likely mean that I liked your character so much, I based a character of mine on yours (although I more that likely would have asked you for permission first), however, it could also be nothing more than a big coincidence.

A/N 1: This first chapter is a timeline of the Terran Commonwealth from 1995 onwards.

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1995 – March

Unidentified object (Goa'uld Troop Transport) discovered by RN ship HMS Gleaner 30 miles off the coast of Peterhead (40-45 miles north of Aberdeen).

HMS Turbulent and HMS Manchester assigned to the area to assist with examining the object and with protection and recovery of it.

1995 – October

Object since determined to be a spacecraft of unidentified origin, raised from the seabed and taken to HMNB Rosyth, on the Firth of Forth.

1995 – December

Canada, Australia and New Zealand Prime Ministers contacted by British Prime Minister, and are informed about the discovery. It is decided that America will not be contacted or informed about this discovery, at least to begin with, due to the fact that American capabilities in both money and personnel are far greater than all 4 nations combined, which could squeeze them out of a position of equals and cause the project to change from equal partnership from each nation to a project that would be dominated by America, preventing all the nations from reaping equal benefits.

All four countries agree to sign a new treaty to both fund and provide scientists to examine and reverse-engineer the technology onboard for both military and civilian use.

1996-1998

Several new technologies, including advances in aircraft propulsion and computer technologies are developed and are staggered-released to the world through each country.

1998 – July

Apophis attacks Earth.

Spotted by an RAF satellite as well as several Canadian government owned/controlled telescopes.

American response also spotted, including missile attack, no mobilization of military, as well as the recovery of 2 fighters launched from one of the ships.

1998 - August

Canada, New Zealand, Australia and Britain contact the Presidents and Prime Ministers of France, Germany, Italy and Spain.

They are informed of the attack attempt as well as the American knowledge of it. It is agreed that America must have had prior knowledge of the attackers somehow otherwise they would have mobilized their military and warned the other nations of Earth. The fact that they didn't, and still haven't informed anyone of the attack (indeed the fact that they are saying that it was an asteroid that was destroyed by the launch of the two missiles), help convince all nations contacted that America has access to advanced technology and is unwilling to share it, even with their most trusted allies.

All countries agree to sign a treaty to form an international partnership to study the technology of the ship, and to develop the means to protect the planet from attackers. This partnership will be known as the Terran Commonwealth.

A decision is made to only continue research into technology that will be needed to create and sustain a safe and secure base on moon. This will then minimise the danger of any technology being stolen or leaking out to the wider world before it has been researched and a complete Earth developed version is created to be released.

1998 – September

Research concentrated on artificial gravity, life support, shields, sensors and engines.

The three ring shapes located within the ship floors are determined to be a type of transporter. This discovery leads to the decision to use the rings to transport materials and personnel from Earth to the proposed base. This will provide the security needed for the project and will prevent the problems of trying to construct ships on Earth and launch them without anyone spotting them.

It is decided to use the national space agencies to send a manned mission to the Moon as a cover for the real mission of locating a suitable location for a base and depositing the rings to function as the initial base construction point.

1998 – November

Announcement by CSA (Canadian Space Agency), CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) – based in Australia and includes the Australian Space Program, and the ESA (European Space Agency) – pushed partly by UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain, of a joint collaboration for a manned flight to the moon for research and survey purposes.

Research of Life Support from Alien ship allows for increase in efficiency of Earth's own Life Support technology, allowing for creation of new units 50% more efficient than current units.

1999 – January

Prototype Ion engine developed from research into the engines of the Alien Ship. Tests show that it is considerably more efficient than conventional spacecraft engines, and has a potential top speed of 50000 km/hr.

Reverse engineering of sensors from Alien Ship allows increase in efficiency, power usage, and sensitivity of earth designed sensor and detection equipment, such as radar, sonar, infrared detection etc.

Preliminary mission objectives for the joint manned mission to the moon are released. These include a full geological and geographical survey of the moon from orbit, conduct a survey of chemical elements on the lunar surface and complete a high-resolution image map of the entire lunar surface. There will also be a landing to place telescopes and other survey equipment to allow for more detailed visual exploration and study of the solar system, and various geological and mineralogical survey equipment to allow for long term monitoring and exploration of the moon and its geological composition.

Although the mission is to allow for further, more detailed study of the Moon and the solar system, it will have several other objectives that will not be made public. These are to survey the lunar surface to locate a suitable position for the placement of a base for research, development and initial production base, and to then deposit the rings in a position to enable the base to be built from the designs made before the mission begins.

1999 – February

Designs for the moon mission spacecraft are begun, allowing for several limitations. It is decided that the rings will be housed in a separate, self-contained section of the craft with a basic guidance system and rocket booster to allow it to be jettisoned from the craft when a suitable location for the base is located. The guidance system and rocket booster will allow the section to descend to the required co-ordinates and prevent the rings from being damaged and potentially either not working altogether or worse, stranding someone on the other side with no hope of rescue.

Designs for the Moonbase are also begun. It is decided to have the section housing the rings to be the central part of the base with corridors radiating off of it, allowing for research labs, a hangar for construction and testing purposes, a command centre and accommodation for the scientists who are going to be based there.

1999 – April

Designs for the mission spacecraft and for the Moonbase are completed.

Construction begins on the spacecraft. It is constructed in sections, with parts being constructed in Canada, UK, and Europe, before being brought together and assembled at the ESA Launch pad at Guiana Space Centre, near Kourou, in French Guiana. The Spacecraft will be mounted on an Ariane 5 rocket launcher that will propel it into orbit before breaking off and returning to Earth, while the spacecraft will continue on to the Moon.

It is decided to design and construct several ground bases across the globe to either monitor the solar system for any hostile aliens, act as the ground stations for the Moonbase and have the remaining ring transporters located there and to have 1 base to act as a centre for developing and researching advancements into current Earth technology with reverse-engineered technology from the Alien Ship.

1999 – May

Several locations across the world are chosen for the ground bases of the Terran Commonwealth. France is chosen for the location for the ring transports to the Moonbase (it is decided only one base will have the rings installed. The last remaining ring set will be placed in storage to be used for a future installation within the solar system, possibly a shipyard.) Sensor stations are located on the Falklands, in Australia, Canada and in Germany, while Spain is chosen to host the Research base, and the Main Command and Control centre for Earth defense is located in New Zealand.

1999 – June

Assembly of the mission craft begins at Kourou. The craft is similar in shape to the American Space Shuttles, however the command module at the front of the craft is designed to be able to separate and reattach to the rest of the craft, to allow for it to land on the moon. The craft is designated as the Constellation Spacecraft.

Research into the artificial-gravity and shield technology results in the development of earth constructed versions of them. The shield technology is quickly determined to only be very weak, not much more than an atmospheric shield. Nevertheless, the design of the Moonbase is quickly modified to incorporate several devices placed at strategic positions to prevent explosive decompression of the Moonbase in an emergency.

Construction begins on the base in the French Pyrenees to house the Ring transporters. It is predicted to take 2 months to complete. Construction also begins on the sensor sites, as it is decided that the earlier they are completed, the better for Earth safety it will be.

1999 – August

Construction of Ring Transport base, designated as TCGRTB (Terran Commonwealth Ground Ring Transport Base) completed by the beginning of the month. Sensor bases construction ongoing, believed to be completed by October.

1999 – September

Moon Mission is launched. Onboard are 3 astronauts, 1 Australian, 1 British and 1 Spanish. The craft takes 2 days to travel from the surface of the Earth to high orbit of the moon. Several modules containing the survey equipment are jettisoned from the storage area and begin to fly predetermined flight plans over the moon, surveying it. The data is fed to the computers on board the command module and are also sent back to Earth via the reverse-engineered subspace communications array from the Alien Ship. This footage is examined by scientists associated with the Terran Commonwealth to determine the best possible place for the Moonbase.

While the Modules are surveying the surface of the moon, the command module separates from the from the rest of the craft and lands at a predetermined location to set up the telescopes and various sensitive survey equipment, before taking off from the surface of the moon and rendezvousing with the main spacecraft body almost 3 days later.

1999 – October

The sensor bases, designated TCSMB's (Terran Commonwealth Space Monitoring Base's) are completed, and the Commonwealth begin to bring them online.

The Moon Mission completes it's survey, and a suitable site is chosen for the location of the new Moonbase, just over the horizon from Earth so that it cannot be seen by planet or orbit based telescopes, but near enough that the ring transporters still work. The Module containing the rings is jettisoned as the mission craft leaves low Moon orbit and begins the trip back to Earth. It is hoped that the jettison is not noticed, but if it is, the cover story is that it was a container of rubbish generated during the mission that was dumped before the return to Earth.

3 days after the module is jettisoned, the Terran Commonwealth sends a sensor array, which is basically a video camera, atmospheric sensors and various other monitoring equipment through the rings, both to check whether the rings are actually working, and to determine the danger to the engineers that will be sent through to begin construction.

1999 –November

Construction begins on the Moonbase. Focus is primarily on the command centre and living quarters. The command centre will allow for installation and monitoring of the artificial gravity and the atmospheric shielding, to allow the engineers to work without the use of large bulky space suits, which are not easy to move around in, and can possibly be easily damaged while constructing the base, while the living quarters will allow the engineers to stay for longer periods of time there, rather than only having a short period of time everyday to work before having to return to earth.

2000 – January

The construction of the Moonbase is almost completed, with only the aircraft hangar remaining. As such, the council agrees that the transfer of scientists and technology from the current research base in France to the Moonbase is to begin.

2000 – February

Construction of Moonbase hangar, and transfer of personnel and technology completed.

Decision to focus research on developing technologies to create fighter craft, as well as a scout, including modifying Earth systems and weapons to function in space.

With the completion of the Moonbase, construction begins on the Command and Control Centre in New Zealand. This base is designed to essentially be the nerve centre of the entire Earth Defence force, taking the sensor readings from the TCSMB as well as sensor feeds from a scout class ship that will be developed, and possibly, at some point in the future, sensor platforms, to build up a complete profile of the solar system to aid in Earth Defence. Construction of the base is slated to be complete by early 2001, although there are currently no plans for the development of sensor platforms yet. The chosen location for the base is several hundred feet underneath the Southern Alps of New Zealand's southern island, allowing it to be capable of withstanding pretty much any type of orbital assault or bombardment.

2000 – May

Development of the original Ion engine used for the Constellation Spacecraft mission produces a prototype fighter-sized engine capable of 30000 km/hr.

Research into the inertial dampers found in the Alien Ship allows development of a prototype that negates up to 8 G of force.

Various weapon technologies are tested and the ones that show the most promise are modified air-air missiles (AMRAAMs) and a modified prototype weapon being developed by the US Navy and the Royal Navy, a Rail Gun.

Elsewhere, the joint collaboration between the CSA, the CSIRO and the ESA, after the overwhelming success of their joint manned mission to the Moon announce their intention to send an unmanned mission to survey the Moon. Called the Mars Express, the mission will have 2 parts. A permanent orbiter to begin surveying the surface of the planet, similar to how the Constellation I surveyed the moon in 1999, and a British designed lander known as Beagle 2.

2000 – June

The development of all of the essential technologies needed for the fighter craft allows the design phase to begin. Several different designs are considered, before a single design is chosen. The design allows for ease of modifications to the fighter, as well as providing the versatility of weapons needed for the fighter to be both an anti-fighter platform as well as an anti-capital ship platform if needed.

Construction begins on a prototype one-seater fighter, classed as a TCSF (Terran Commonwealth Strike Fighter) or a Cobra class fighter.

2000 – July

Construction of Cobra Fighter prototype completed. Test flights begin to determine capabilities of the Cobra.

Information regarding the unmanned mission to Mars by CSA, CSIRO and ESA is released. The Orbiter, called the Mars Express Orbiter is to complete a high-intensity image map of the surface of Mars, and commence Geological and Geographical surveying. Meanwhile, the lander, Beagle 2, is to begin a comprehensive mineralogical and chemical element survey of the planet, in particular, to look at varying isotopes of Carbon present in the Martian surface to determine whether there is any evidence of life having existed on Mars. The Lander will be mobile, a modification to the original Beagle 2 plans, to allow it to traverse the Martian surface.

2000 – August

Cobra test flight completed. The fighter is deemed to have performed to all specifications, and construction of a squadron gets underway.

Lessons learnt during the design and construction of the space frame of the Cobra fighter are put to use designing a scout ship. This ship will incorporate the most advanced sensors currently developed and will help build up a complete image of the solar system.

2000 – September

X-301 detected leaving the atmosphere by TCSMB Canada heading for Jupiter. An alert is sent out and both the Moonbase and TCGRTB France are ordered to go dark and disengage their ring transporters, as it is unknown what the American's are going to do to retrieve it and what technology they have at their disposal which may detect the rings if they are active. The prototype Cobra fighter, which is fully equipped with all the latest stealth technology, ensuring that it can barely be detected by their own sensor arrays if not for the IFF beacon placed inside, is dispatched to shadow the unknown fighter craft.

The Cobra, which has gone dark and ballistic in order to minimise any chance of detection by either the US fighter or any ship they send to retrieve it, witnesses the rescue of the pilots by an unidentified ship (Jacob Carter's Tel'tak), which is similar in shape to the Alien Ship found in Britain. Once the pilots are rescued the ship sets a course for Earth, luckily not detecting either the Moonbase (although the moon was on the opposite side of the Earth to America at the time) or the Cobra fighter.

Terran Commonwealth decides to leave the unidentified fighter alone, as it is unlikely based on what was observed by the Cobra to have any more advanced technology than the Commonwealth already has. Also, the Terran Commonwealth is currently unable to even affect the course of the unidentified fighter due to only having one prototype fighter available.

Construction began on a prototype scout ship, classed as a TCSS (Terran Commonwealth Scout Ship) or Valkyrie class scout.

Construction of the Mars Express begins, with components begin manufactured across the world, from Canada, to Europe, and even in Australia and New Zealand.

2000 – October

Construction of 1st squadron of Cobra Fighters completed, and test flights begin.

Construction of prototype Valkyrie scout completed. Test flights; including a full survey of the moon commence. The survey of the moon is to allow for calibration of the sensor array if needed by comparing what it is detecting to what is known to be there. It also allows a more in-depth survey than the Terran Commonwealth was capable of doing when they launched the Constellation Mission.

Minor fault lines discovered during the excavation of the Command and Control Centre in New Zealand slow down construction while they are investigated. The predicted completion date is pushed back several months, towards the middle of 2001.

2000 – November

Test flights for the prototype Valkyrie are completed, however, several faults that occurred within the space frame and electronic components prevent the production of several more Valkyries until the faults can be corrected and tested. Current predictions place initial production of Valkyries at around the beginning of 2001.

Decision made to expand the current Moonbase with several more hangars and living quarters. This will allow for more fighter squadrons to be constructed and would also allow for further construction of Valkyries and the proposed Atlas class transport/supply ship prototype.

2000 – December

Moonbase expansion begins. The plans are to construct 3 more hangars, triple the size of the current one, having those as the main basing point for the fighter squadrons and the Valkyries, while the original hangar will be used to create and test fly the prototypes of the smaller Terran Commonwealth ships. The reason for the triple size hangars is that a portion of them will be partitioned off, and will be used to house the production line for the fighters and/or the Valkyries, enabling rapid and easy production of the small ships. Also included in the expansion are almost 200 additional personnel quarters, bringing the total available personnel that the base can hold to 350, with almost 200 more personnel based at TCGRTB France, who transport back and forth everyday using the rings.

2001 – January

Prototype Valkyrie refit and repair completed. Test flights demonstrate its capabilities as being far more effective than previously thought. Commonwealth leadership, recognising the importance of these ships in defence and exploration purposes immediately orders the construction of a squadron (6) of Valkyries to be completed as soon as possible. The Council also orders another squadron of fighters to begin construction as soon as the new hangars and production lines are operational. Meanwhile, the prototype Valkyrie is ordered to begin sensor sweeps of the asteroid belt, searching for a valuable element used in the original technology of the Alien Ship, but not found anywhere on Earth, known as Element 119 (Naquadah).

2001 – February

The expansion of the Moonbase is completed, and the production equipment for the Valkyries and Cobras are installed. Production of the squadron of Cobras begins first, with the Valkyrie production line taking almost 2 weeks longer to install due to unfamiliarity with the parts and the bulkiness of several pieces.

2001 – March

Mars Express parts are brought together at the Kourou Space Port in French Guiana and testing commences to ensure that the spacecraft is fully operational and there are no problems with it.

2001 – April

Mars Express is launched on the 19th April. It is predicted to take 4 months to travel from Earth to high orbit over Mars, where the two sections, the Beagle 2 Lander and the Mars Express Orbiter will separate.

The First Valkyrie scout ship is completed, and following tests, is assigned to perform sensor sweeps of the asteroid belt, replacing the prototype Valkyrie which is recalled.

2001 – June

Construction of a further 2 Valkyries is completed, and they are assigned to survey the Moons and planetary ring of Jupiter, partly searching for Element 119, but also performing a geological survey of the moons as it is unknown what their compositions are.

2001 – July

The survey of the asteroid belt does not yield any indications of Element 119, however, it does give large indications of both materials needed in the construction of Terran Commonwealth Spacecraft and stations, and also precious metals that can be sold on Earth to supplement the funds coming into the Commonwealth from participating nations and patents.

The Commonwealth Council immediately requests research into the development and implementation of a station and mining equipment capable of travelling through the asteroid belt to mine the materials needed by the Commonwealth, as well as a transporter capable of carry large loads throughout the solar system.

2001 – August

The Second Cobra squadron is completed and undergoes flight-testing before being placed on active duty.

Another 2 Valkyries are completed and are assigned to patrol Earth orbit, in the same orbit as the moon. This helps supplement the TCSMB and provides almost complete coverage of near Earth space.

The Mars Express arrives in orbit of Mars on the 24th, 4 months and 5 days from when it blasted off from Earth. Contact is temporarily lost with Beagle 2 when it lands on the surface of Mars, but it is re-established by routing the signal through the Mars Express Orbiter.

Design begins on a prototype transport and supply ship. It is decided that final prototype, and the class of ships based on it, must have a carrying capacity of 100 tons of material. This will allow for rapid movement of supplies, and will enable the Commonwealth to be able to use the ships to move prebuilt sections of stations and bases, allowing for ease of construction.

The success and usefulness of the Valkyrie scout ships lead the Commonwealth Council to order the construction of a further squadron. Once this squadron is completed, that will provide 12 Valkyries, half of which will be assigned to patrol duties in the vicinity of Earth, the Moon and Mars, while the other half will be focused on surveying the various planets, asteroid belts, moons and planetary rings to build up a complete image of the solar system and it's resources.

2001 – September

A third squadron of Cobra class fighters are ordered by the Council, acting on the theory that two squadrons would be on patrol at any one time while the other squadron stands in readiness in case of an attack.

The design for the transport and supply ship is chosen and construction of the prototype begins. It's width are just slightly less than the wingspan of a C-17 Globemaster, with its length and height being almost identical to the C-17's dimensions.

2001 – October

3 Valkyries are completed and are assigned to the 1st scout squadron. They start patrolling the same orbit as the moon, thus providing complete sensor coverage of near Earth space.

2002 – January

The remaining 4 Valkyries as well as the 3rd Cobra squadron are completed. The 3rd Cobra squadron is assigned to patrol Earth orbit, helping to provide security for Earth, while the 2nd Cobra squadron are assigned as protection details for the surveying Valkyrie squadron.

2002 – Early March

The prototype Transport ship is completed and designated TCTSS (Terran Commonwealth Transport and Supply Ship) or the Atlas class. Test flights begin, and are anticipated to last for several weeks.

2002 – Late March

Rogue asteroid is detected by a Valkyrie scout ship on a routine patrol, course and speed put it at hitting the Earth within 20 days.

Two of the three current Squadrons of Cobra fighters, as well as 6 Valkyrie scout ships are dispatched to destroy the asteroid, and to ensure that it is not a sneak attack by an enemy of Earth's.

Plan is abandoned after sensors on the Valkyries detect large amounts of Element 119 (Naquadah), and a second, back up plan in put into motion. The Cobra's are equipped with tow cables and winches and they attach themselves to the asteroid and begin trying to alter the asteroid's course. With luck, the proposed course alterations will allow the Commonwealth to place the asteroid into a stable orbit of Ganymede, thus allowing them to begin to mine the element and help develop their technology.

2002 – early April

Rogue asteroid spotted by US astronomer before Terran Commonwealth can divert its course sufficiently to prevent it from hitting Earth.

SG-1 arrives with a Nuke aboard a Tel'tac to destroy the asteroid, but discover the Terran Commonwealth ships.

The Terran Commonwealth detects the arrival of an unidentified ship and immediately scrambles the remaining squadron of Cobra's, as well as diverting 2 Valkyries into the area to assist the fighters with target acquisition if needed, in addition to providing an overview for the Governing Council back on Earth.

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A/N 2: The ship recovered is a Goa'uld Troop Transport. This is the ship type that Anubis uses to attack Abydos with, and they are seen in several other episodes. I wanted the Commonwealth to have access to a relatively advanced ship, so that they could be able to reverse-engineer certain technologies. However, I didn't want them to have access to large amounts of goa'uld technology such as hyperdrives and weapons that would push their development too fast. I didn't want them to a threat to the Goa'uld in any way, or expanding outside the solar system until they have discovered the SGC.

From the fact that one of these ships can shrug off a SAM attack with no visible damage, I believe that they have very basic shields, capable of repelling most surface to air attacks, in order to give the ships some survivability going from orbit to the ground. Based on the idea that they are troop transports, I would assume that they would be carried inside the hangar bays of the Ha'taks and then be launched in orbit. This means that the ship doesn't have a hyperdrive for the Terran Commonwealth to reverse engineer. I have also assumed that it doesn't have any weapons due to the fact that none of the Troop Transports appearances have shown them to have any visible weapons. I have also decided that as it is supposed to be a troop transport that it should be capable of deploying large numbers of troops to a contested area, so I have given it 3 ring transporters to allow for ease of loading and unloading troops and equipment.

The lack of Naquadah prevents the Terran Commonwealth from reproducing the technology in the ship, so they have to reverse engineer it and develop their own from the information they gather. Therefore their technology will not be as powerful and effective as the original technology that it's based on.

A/N 3: The names and missions for the manned mission to the Moon and the unmanned mission to Mars are real. With the Moon mission, several of the missions that were carried out by various space agencies during 2000-2009 have been done in this story much earlier than in real life, and by one mission. The name of the Spacecraft is taken from the proposed NASA Constellation Program, which was cancelled in favour of a manned asteroid landing by 2025 and a manned Mars orbit by 2035.

The Mars Express and Beagle 2 was a mission that was an ESA and UKSA (UK Space Agency) mission that launched in 2003. I have brought it forward by 2 years and have added various technologies that have been developed by the Terran Commonwealth.