Sorry for the long delay in updating. Sometimes a story just flies out of my head. Other times, like with this story, it sticks a bit longer. Enjoy.
Part IIIt takes several weeks but Sam's team is able to locate the Lost Tribe of Asgard's new home world. Taking personal command of the "Independence" she orders it to fly at best speed to the Asgard home world.
As the "Independence" drops out of hyperspace and into orbit, 2 ships are waiting for them. The vessel matches the configuration of the one from their previous encounter. The ships immediately open fire. The "Independence" shields hold but won't last forever. Sam hails the attacking vessels "This is Samantha Carter of Atlantis. Our intentions are not hostile. The earlier incident between our peoples was regretful and cost lives on both sides. I am here to open relations in an effort to prevent future tragedies."
Neither ship lessons its assault. Sam orders her crew to fire a warning shot. Thor's people were much further along in their weapons development than these Asgard. The beam weapons the "Independence" is equipped with could gut either vessel with one on or two hits.
When the attacking ships witness the firepower of the "Independence", they break off. One ship lines up to ram the "Independence." Seeing what is about to happen, Sam adds to her hail "We have a database containing all of the knowledge accumulated by the Asgard we knew. I am prepared to enter negotiations for it."
This news does what she hopes. The ship preparing to ram breaks off and the planet sends a hailing signal. The Asgard who appears on the screen bears some similarities to Thor but Sam has been around enough Asgard to notice the difference in skin tone, shape of the eyes, etc. The Asgard says "The database belongs to us. You will turn it over immediately. Our cousins would never have given it to you if they knew of our existence."
"The Asgard were loyal allies. Several were my friends. Thor in particular I considered a close friend. Their deaths were more off a loss to us than to you. You abandoned them centuries ago. You have no claim to anything they accomplished. However, in the spirit of building a relationship I will send you some of the history files. In exchange, you will transmit to us you history files. Once this good faith transaction is completed, we can sit down in Atlantis to discuss trading the technology included in the database." Sam informs the Asgard.
"Very well" is the terse reply.
Sam gives the order to transfer the promised data. She waits several minutes till the Asgard keep their side of the arrangement and transmit their history files. As she hoped, they assumed she is only truly interested in their technology and so they don't consider the history files to have any real value. She hopes they are wrong. With luck their history will have the information she needs to prove her theory.
Sam hails the planet once more "Thank you. Please contact us (sends transmitting information) with dates on which you wish to commence negotiations. I look forward to our next meeting."
She is ordering the "Independence" to return to Atlantis when they receive a hail from the planet. The same Asgard she spoke with before appears on her screen "We wish to open negotiations immediately. I will be beaming on board my ship shortly and we will accompany you back to Atlantis."
"Very well. Signal when you are ready to leave." Sam replies. 'Damn, I was hoping they would take some time to plan before wanting to meet. I underestimated how badly they want this database.' she thinks to herself. She contacts Atlantis so the preparations can start.
On the trip back to Atlantis Sam turns command over to Major Thomson so she can focus on the newly acquired history files. She is pleased to see much greater detail on this earlier war. An ancient faction calling themselves Necomanus had conquered all the star systems that are in the gate network and then some. Necomanus encountered something referred to as the dragon's empire or something like that. The translation is not perfect. This empire soundly defeated the Necomanus. After destroying almost all of the Ancient's, the empire withdrew. The files reference a treaty but there isn't a copy in the files.
While the history files don't provide an exact location, they do give her a rough area of space which just so happens to be where the wraith that attacked Atlantis came from. She would like to order the ship to change course but she knows she can't. An alliance with the Asgard would be useful. She contacts Atlantis and asks that they contact Earth to send a negotiator as soon as possible.
When she arrives at Atlantis she is pleased to see that Earth has sent Senator Charles Kelly to negotiate with the Asgard. He is true politician and must be loving the chance to negotiate with another species. Luckily, there is nothing on the line really as Sam fully intends to give these Asagard a copy of the database. she knows Thor would want her to share their legacy with his long lost brothers.
Sam jumps and puts her hand on her heart to calm herself. She saw Jack again. This time right in the hallway. He looked at her with his special smile and wave and disappeared again. With all they have encountered, she would love to think he was somehow still alive but she knows better. She saw the body. Beside there is no way Jack would Ascend. He had too much contempt for "higher" beings to join their club. Should I seek some help? I know I am having a hard time with his death but I thought it was getting better. I haven't seen him, at least, awake in a few weeks now. Is my mind going?
With no answers, Sam decides to just focus on her quest to find out about this empire of the dragon. If it was able to soundly defeat the Ancients centuries ago, it would be a greater threat than even the Ori. She suspects that is why the Wraith who attacked Atlantis were willing to die. They must have been afraid turning on that device would somehow attract the Empire's attention. This Empire must truly monstrous for the Wraith to fear them so.
Losing herself in her research, Sam finds a few hours of peace. In addition, she has found more information on that lab hidden in Atlantis' database. The Ancients' system of organization reflects a very different thought process which often makes it difficult to get information out of the system with knowing the exact words to use. (Think if in England a flashlight is called a torch so if you asked an English system to find a flashlight; it wouldn't know what you are asking for)
She is not sure what time it is but she knows it is late when she finds herself in the Ancient lab. Her research indicated there would be more information on the space fold drive technology. Their equipment never ceases to amaze her. She lovingly examines several consoles.
Jack is gently rubbing her shoulders and it feels so wonderful. If only we had. Wait? as Sam jerks awake. She fell asleep in the Ancient lab. She needs to get a grip. This is not good. Wait, what is that? Sam thinks as she notices a small device lying forgotten hidden under the console she was sleeping on. If she hadn't been draped over the console, she would never have noticed the device that must have fallen off the console. She pulls the device out and it feels warm in her hand. There is only one button and for some reason her cautionary scientific part of her brain is unable to stop her from pushing the button.
She waits for several minutes but nothing happens. As she starts to put the device down and head for her bed, a figure appears in the room. It is an 8' tall humanoid reptile with a thick tail. It wears some sort of uniform. As it appears, it speaks in Ancient. From its posture and body language it appears angry but then surprise crosses its features as it notices her. The figure then disappears.
Before Sam can wonder if she is still dreaming, a call from the Gate room alerts her to an unscheduled off-world activation. Sam orders the Independence to beam her directly to the Gate room as she doubts this is a coincidence.
When she appears in the Gate room, she can see the shield is up. "Drop the shield." she orders but the shield is already dropping.
"What the. I have lost control of the Gate." the tech manning the controls states.
The detachment of soldiers on duty all take aim at the Gate.
"Stand down." Sam orders as she stands in front of the Gate. As she suspected, the figure she saw steps through. Up close she can see his claws glisten in the light. As soon as he clears the Gate, it shuts down.
"We mean you no harm." she states with her hands held wide and open.
The creature doesn't reply. It does openly study her and the control room. It walks right up to her and mimics her hands apart pose while turning its head from side to side clearly searching for a reaction. All the soldiers tense and point their guns at the creature when it places a large clawed hand on Sam's head.
Sam does her best not to tense when its claw closes over her head. She signs for the guards to hold their fire and she hopes for the best. After a minute, it releases her.
"You do not belong here. Explain you presence." it says in English coping Sam's use of language exactly.
"We are explorers. We found this city. We are studying it." she answers.
"I have seen your thoughts. You are a primitive people not ready for this technology." it replies.
Its posture has changed, it seems almost relaxed but it is hard for Sam to be certain. She has the odd feeling that this is some sort of test. "We have encountered numerous species with more advanced tech than others and all of them had their difficulties. We understand the dangers involved and do out best to use the technology we find responsibly." she says confidently as she takes what she calls "Cam's aggressive stance"
"We have heard this many times. What makes your species worthy of survival?" it asks.
Was that a threat? Thinking quickly, Sam has an idea. "To be honest, I don't know. We have made out share of mistakes and people have died for them. Why don't you observe our activities and then decide?" she suggests.
"Honesty; interesting. I will give your species a chance to prove yourselves." it replies.
