Please note: for those who save these chapters-then chapter 1 and 2 have gone through some minor editing,etc so you may want to update with the newer chapters.
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Chapter 3
Part Three of four
127th Emperor Hetto
Mars Orbit
Every single Shiplord and his subordinate of the invasion fleet (then called the conquest fleet, now murmured unofficially to be called the defensive fleet) were either seated or floating in the grand chamber of the 127th Emperor Hetto. Many of them were infuriated at the situation they found themselves in, but most members of the Race were frightened by the sudden turn of events and the subsequent revelations that continued to occur with horrendous frequency since the fleet had emerged from cold sleep. The two major factions had split; those loyal to Straha crowded behind him. The others supported the Fleetlord.
-Or so Fleetlord Atvar reverently hoped. In truth, he was unsure of the loyalty of any of them, not even Shiplord Kirel who appeared to be his strongest supporter. The only good thing to have happened was that no one but Straha wanted his job now. And he silently cursed Straha's arrogance. He cursed the arrogant Tosevites. He cursed the enemy ships that kept flying in and out of radar range at speeds that should have been impossible to achieve and that terrified every male of the Race. He cursed the Tau'ri; he cursed the planet that they came from and their conquest of Tosev Three. And while he was at it, he cursed the scientists who had found this miserable planet that the Emperor's invasion fleet had yet to see close up. And when had the conquest fleet come to be called the invasion fleet?
"The Tosevites have insisted that we send representatives over to their ship to see the evidence they have," began the Fleetlord. "I have called this meeting to determine who shall go to their ship and view that evidence."
'Their evidence is of secondary importance, exalted Fleetlord," Kirel said. "I find myself more concerned that they would threaten the Emperor and Home."
Atvar glared at his so-called ally. Other Shiplords were seen to be in agreement as they stomped their tails excitedly. Ambassador Robert's statement had sent shockwave throughout the fleet. A few of them wanted to attack and destroy the Tau'ri ship for uttering such an insult despite the fact they had no weapons available to do so.
"Yes, it is as you have said. I too have been horrified that they would say such a thing. I am horrified that they would offer to have me become Emperor of Home. That they would suggest something like this proves that they are ignorant of the ways and the power of the Race."
"So you would never consider such a thing?" Straha asked, his voice full of innocent speculation
Atvar added that Shiplord to the number of things he cursed. He knew to the depths of his liver that Straha knew that he was loyal but he had to say something and for that he would pay. Now he would be forced to answer a question everyone already knew the answer to. "No. I would not usurp the Emperor. I leave that to weak creatures such as you."
"You have insulted my loyalty to the Emperor," yelled Straha who was clearly stung by the comment.
"As you have mine," Atvar commented loudly. "But this is not our main concern. We should be concerned whether the Tau'ri claims that they can arrive to Home before our warning messages can."
"I agree with your assessment, Fleetlord," Shiplord Feneress said. "I have seen their energy matter integration device and as you say, I am frightened for the Race. We need more data to confirm or deny the validity of their claims. If it is true then the conquest fleet is doomed to failure and we will have sacrificed our colonization fleet and all of the members of the Race on those ships. You are our superior. What are your plans to counteract this approaching doom?"
'Emperor curse him, too.'
"Every belief that we believed to be true has turned to bite us on the tail stump," Atvar slowly announced. "If what they say has a grain of truth, then our options are few. The conquest fleet would not survive the final few months of travel to Tosev Three without being wrecked. If the Tosevites are only stepping on our tails, then they will still wreak us with only one or two of their high-yield nuclear weapons. If we are able to reach our objective then we would discover one of two things. Either the Tosevites are telling the truth and they are Tosevites with technology and science beyond our knowledge, or they are lying and the probes will show the truth. If they are lying then I do not believe we could conquer the planet."
The Shiplords and their adjutants hissed in dismay, thumping their short stubby tails at the shocking conclusion that Atvar had come to.
"If the Tau'ri or Tosevites have lied to us, then how can we lose?" demanded Shiplord Relek.
"If the Tau'ri have lied then their presence is either not on the planet or is of very little influence. But that does not preclude the fact that they could call for more of their ships and finish destroying what is left of the conquest fleet from space." None of the Shiplords said anything in disagreement for which Atvar was grateful. "We could only hope to refuel and resupply so that we could leave the planet before the Tau'ri could destroy us all. That would not save the colonization fleet. We must protect the civilian fleet but if we are not alive to do so then, Emperor preserve us, this will be the worst disaster ever experienced by the Race."
"And that disaster will be chronicled in the history of the Race forever and you, Fleetlord will he held responsible for the losses of the both the invasion and colonization fleet."
"And what would you have us to do, Straha?"
"If I were Fleetlord, then I could have our ships break orbit from Tosev Four now and head directly to our objective. I could have our ships modified to fire nuclear weapons as soon as we could when we reached Tosev Three. I would use our nuclear stores on 56th Emperor Jossano to beat them into submission from orbit."
"Thereby wreaking the planet where we would have to survive on until the colonization fleet would arrive," Kirel hissed. "Or," he added, "giving the Tau'ri an excuse to destroy our conquest fleet. You talk of offensive weaponry, not defensive. How much time do you think it would take to create and deploy such weapons for the fleet? That has not entered your brainpan and that is why you are not the Fleetlord."
"The Tau'ri are subverting us," Straha hissed. There was a trace of real anger in his voice. "We are doing nothing but talking while our resources dwindle."
"This is why I have chosen you Shiplord Straha, to go the Tau'ri ship to determine the validity of their statements."
The Shiplord stood up. "Fleetlord, I am a Shiplord and as such a security risk," he said quickly. "I am too valuable. And if you must send a Shiplord why not send Kirel? You trust him to give you an accurate report."
Atvar experienced a small thrill watching Straha twitch almost uncontrollably. It was the Shiplord's right to reject the 'honor' that Atvar placed on his shoulders him, but if he did then his credibility would be completely ruined in the eye turrets of his faction. Yes, there was fear but Atvar was taking an awful chance as well. If the Tosevites 'did' torture or kill a Shiplord of the Race, then Atvar would have his answer. He understood that the Tosevites were dangerous, but how dangerous and how desperate they were remained to be seen.
Atvar's lower jaw opened he began to laugh, something that chilled the others into submission. "I trust you to give us an accurate report. I do not believe that the Tau'ri will do anything to you unless you give them cause to. Straha, you have often stated what you would do if you were in command, so I now give you that opportunity. You are a loyal member of the Race and I will send with you Intelligence operator Drefsab and senior psychologist Tessrek. They will help you ascertain the truth. Of course when you leave the ship I will have given orders to change all of the codes on your ship. If you are tortured or killed in any way the codes you have will not be useful in aiding the enemy. It is not my wish that you die some horrible Tau'ri death but if you do, die knowing that you do so for the glory of the Race."
Shiplord Feneress shook his tail, a respectful sign that he wished to be heard. "Fleetlord, I would respectfully remind everyone here that even if we had the time to develop defensive weapons, we are still at a supreme disadvantage. If Shiplord Straha is detained, then our disadvantage increases exponentially. As the ancient texts have revealed, diplomacy is another form of prisoner exchange. He should not go. Send someone less valuable to the Tau'ri or Tosevites as they should be called."
"We must send someone qualified that the enemy will respect," Atvar said and he reverently hoped it was so. "I do not believe that they will do anything to our Shiplord. They seem eager to keep us from achieving planet-fall and we must know if they are predators or simply prey pretending to be predators. We must have bait to capture the truth."
"And I am to be this bait?" Straha asked.
"The bait must be salty enough for the Tosevites to take it," answered Atvar. "You are a savory enough to be chosen as acceptable bait. Do you officially state that you will not comply with my order?"
"Exalted Fleetlord," Straha said. "It-it shall be done," he said.
xxx
The Race shuttle broke orbit from Tosev Four and headed for the Tau'ri ship Odyssey. Shiplord Straha felt helpless as he and the others strapped securely to their seats headed towards the intimidating alien ship. The pilot had insisted that the trip would take twenty-two minutes, provided that the alien ship did not fire and destroy the shuttle.
"This is a most exciting time, Shiplord," Senior Shuttlepilot Nignxe said. "I never thought that I would be the one to pilot a shuttle to an alien spaceship to meet Tau'ri things." His naïve optimism made Straha's liver hurt.
"They are Tosevites," Straha corrected in a tone that made it clear that he didn't wish to speak about this upcoming mission.
The pilot either was either unaware of the Shiplord's hint or addled; he wasn't able to determine which suspicion was the truth yet. He needed to concentrate on the hastily read notes on the Race's history on diplomacy and this male voice grated on his earframes.
"Many members of the Race are now calling them Big Uglies. Such a name is most appropriate. Many males cannot believe that the Big Uglies can walk upright and remain stable without a tail to balance their awkward frames. Big Uglies are such alien things," he hissed with pleasure. "There are so many questions that I wish to ask if I am permitted to speak to their pilot. I wonder if their experiences are similar to ours and would their pilot have knowledge of comparable to mine? But Shiplord, if they are as advanced as some of the males say they are, then I can barely imagine the things we can learn from them. I do hope that they will not eat us when we arrive on their ship. We were expecting savages but it has turned out that…"
"Senior shuttle-pilot."
"Yes, Shiplord?"
"Shut up."
"It shall be done, Shiplord."
xxx
"One secret to understanding these Tosevites is to understand their body language," Tessrek said to the Intelligence officer. "We know next to nothing about them other than what our probes have indicated and our probes have been inadequate to the task."
"Truth," Drefsab hissed. "That is why I am to act as your senior secretary. I can record all available information without the aliens detecting our true motives. But I profess curiosity concerning the techniques you will employ to obtain truth in these matters."
Tessrek's tail thumped slowly in response to the question. It was nice that he was respected by a senior intelligence officer. And his station was much better than Subleader Communications Officer Erelwo who gave every appearance of wanting to do nothing more than crawl back into his eggshell and hide for the next few years. He did feel sorry for the poor officer. Atvar had ordered him to come, calling him a purveyor of bad news. So here he was, a communication's officer who had no other choice but to most likely deliver even more bad news in the immediate future. Maybe being a communications officer was worse than being forced into a soldier's time. Most tacticians believed that the soldiers would have little to nothing to do and that the threat of Tosev Three was minimal. That belief had changed dramatically in the last few days. "I will listen carefully to their answers as Shiplord Straha questions them. How they answer, how long they speak, their movements and other movements will give me a basis to determine how these creatures speak truths or lies. I do not know what their body language will reveal or how it will reveal itself and it will take much time to analyze but once I obtain the data, I will create a computer model that will give us an advantage in our future communications with them. But we need to first determine the most basic of truths. For example, how can we tell males from females if they work together? With those wrappings on, they all look alike. And are the Tosevites Tau'ri, or are the Tau'ri conquerors of the Tosevites?"
Drefsab opened his mouth, showing his small sharp teeth in agreement. "If they are one and the same then the Race will have much difficulty securing the planet if at all. There will be war, one we may not win. The Race can not survive knowing that our neighbors could come and smash our worlds. We must attack but if we do at this time then we will likely lose." He began to laugh. "It will most likely not matter to us because we will be long dead."
Tessrek did not like listening to such negative talk. The last thing he had expected would be to have the fate of the Race place onto his claws. "We are the Race. It should be a simple matter of determining the truth and their weaknesses. But this is something beyond our recorded experiences and since I have awaken from cold sleep answer these new questions, I have been studying the ancient texts in the belief that our ancestors have had some knowledge of our current situation. If we can give them something they want then they will most likely reciprocate.
"I do not believe that that approach will work," said Drefsab. "When the Fleetlord provided papers proving our legal claim to Tosev Three to the Tau'ri, they laughed at us. They will not honor the Emperor's rights."
"Barbarians."
"Barbarians with nuclear weapons and devices that can transmit them through space without being attached to missiles," added Drefsab. "I see many possibilities for the use of such a device and I am not happy with those thoughts. We must provide a counterweight for the Fleetlord to use and do so quickly."
"We now know of the existence of this wondrous technology. How long would it take to reproduce such a device?"
"Far too long," the intelligence officer stated. "If we understand the dynamics of such a device then not less than three hundred years if we can rush our scientists. But such a technology predisposes that others are already in existence such as computers that can process such intensive targeting and energy transmission. Their ships are too fast for us and I am positive if I can think of these things with a flick of the tongue, then the Fleetlord can imagine many such vile devices waiting to be used against us."
"Then we are already defeated?"
"That is a distinct possibility," Drefsab answered adding an emphatic cough to punctuate his statement. "However if they are lying, the Race has a chance."
"If they are telling the truth, then will the Race become servants to their, ah not-empires?"
"By all of the Emperors," and he lowered his eye turrets out of respect as did Tessrek, "I hope not with every bit of my liver. And let us also hope that the truth does not bite us too badly.
xxx
"The Tau'ri are aware of our approach and are instructing us to dock on the Odyssey's rear port side," the senior shuttlepilot said. "But I do not see how it is possible as our docking systems are incompatible."
Straha, now sitting in his passenger's seat securely strapped in. "Continue your approach," he told him. The Tau'ri may have some type of extendable system that can mate with our shuttle."
"It shall be done."
"Shiplord," Drefsab whispered. "They may use their transportation device."
Straha had thought of that as well and was not looking forward to the experience. Happily, the transport didn't occur although the pilot seemed somewhat unhappy. The Tau'ri ship's rear opened to reveal a small docking bay in which the shuttle was able to enter without difficulty. The Race shuttle performed its maneuver flawlessly and as ordered was within five meters of the docking area. Large doors opened and the shuttle slowly entered coming to a halt. The doors closed and the area quickly pressurized.
Several of the Tosevites were seen lumbering through a seal, an indication that there was breathable atmosphere inside the bay. Straha wasn't excited about exiting his shuttle but he would do so if for nothing else than to rub the Fleetlord's snout in this most foolish of endeavors. But for now, he and the other males were prisoners of aliens.
xxx
Senior shuttlepilot Nignxe was the first to exit the shuttle. He almost tripped as he navigated the three short stairs. He wasn't injured but he still hissed in wonder. There was gravity and there had been the moment the shuttle had entered the bay. He could scarcely believe it. The others may or may not have noticed but it didn't matter at this moment. Tessrek, Drefsab and Erelwo followed closely with Straha being the last to exit. All of them were having difficulty walking in the presence of gravity after being weightless for so long. The huge Tosevites using their strange upright stance moved toward them with apparent ease. The others were cautions. Nignxe was elated due to the fact that this was the most exciting thing he'd ever experienced. Taking great strength he managed to remain quiet as Straha began to speak. Then he started to shiver.
"Greetings Ambassador Roberts?" Straha asked cautiously. Both of his eye turrets were locked onto the alien he believed was the Ambassador. Tosevites all looked alike to him and with only very little experience he couldn't really tell one from another. He hoped that he was correct as one of the creatures stood in front of the others which may have represented a sign of superiority. Plus he had the translating device.
"Greetings Shiplord Straha," the Tosivite said. I am General O'Neill." Dashing the Shiplord's beliefs. "I am honored that you have taken the time to come to speak to us on our ship. I trust that you did not bring any weapons with you?"
Straha lowered his eye turrets just a fraction. He shivered as the cold almost frigid air assaulted him and the other members of the Race. Their body temperature must be much higher to be able to endure such coldness and he hated it. "We have done as you requested. We have no weapons other than our claws and teeth. Those we could not leave behind," he answered. "General, the temperature inside this bay is very cold to us. Is this vengeance because of the condition of our ship was not pleasing to you Big Tosevites?"
The Tau'ri had complained about the warmth and Atvar had responded by saying that the Race's ship was the Race and if the Tosevites didn't like it then that was their problem. In retrospect maybe Atvar should have been a bit more accommodating. It did explain why they all wore wrappings over their body rather than paint like a civilized race would.
"Not at all, Shiplord." And Straha wondered why was the alien showing his teeth? "This is a comfortable temperature for those of our kind. If you will follow me, I will take you to our meeting room."
"We will follow." He would resign himself to shivering. There was no choice; he was a diplomatic prisoner.
xxx
It 'was' cold.
Drefsab walked behind Senior Psychologist Tessrek. His body paint reflected that of a secretary and as such he was the least important member of the party. He calm on the outside but internally he felt his liver shrinking and he could see Tessrek felt the same way although he wasn't hiding it as well. Just the simple things they'd seen in the last few minutes had proven that these Tau'ri or Tosevites were more advanced than even he had imagined in his worst nightmares. The fighter killer crafts seen in neat rolls ready to attack and destroy, were space capable.
The gravity system that this ship used was beyond the science of the Race. There were other small things that terrified him and he knew then and there that the Race had no chance to defeat these creatures under current conditions. Technologically wise, the Race was too far behind. The conquest fleet was doomed to failure.
Already he was thinking of ways to counter this threat. Perhaps a sneak attack with hundreds of nuclear weapons would be a useful approach. If however it wasn't a complete and total surprise then Home would be turned into a burned out cinder. And how many colony worlds did these Tosevites have? Tosevites. More and more that is what he believed them to be, an independent species that had somehow defied logic and had developed at the speed of an aggressive malignancy. What little he'd seen convinced him of the truth of their words. They had no need to lie, not with this amount of technology at their disposal.
Straha was not impressed with the room when he first saw it. It was a bit warmer but not up to his tastes. His tongue receptors were irritating him as the alien smells assaulted him. And everything was to big, being built for the aliens instead of the Race. Instead of chairs for his people, there was a long bench, not the most comfortable thing, but it would accommodate their tails. There was also a smaller table for them, a nice consideration, and one that he hadn't thought to provide the Tau'ri when they were at the command ship. In front of them on the smaller table was a translation device. This time he was sure that the alien in front of him was the Ambassador. "Ambassador Roberts?"
"Yes, Shiplord Straha, I am Ambassador Roberts."
"I introduce the males of my small group," he said in relief. "Senior psychologist Tessrek whose duty is to understand you Tosevites and help us facilitate your entry into the Empire. Senior Secretary Drefsab will take and correlate notes of this meeting, Senior Shuttlepilot Nignxe who is responsible for the shuttle and our transportation, and Subleader Communications officer Erelwo who is responsible for our continued communications with the Race if we are permitted to do so."
Roberts turned and pointed to the people sitting next to him. "This is General O'Neill, whom you know."
"If you say so," Straha muttered. "You Tosevites all look alike."
Roberts ignored the slight. "Next to him is Colonel Carter, our resident scientist, Daniel Jackson our resident anthropologist, whose job is similar to Senior Psychologist Tessrek and Teal'c, a representative of the Freed Jaffa nation and an ally of the Tau'ri."
Daniel and O'Neill both caught the look of the secretary Drefsab as his eyes locked onto Teal'c and started writing notes. In fact both men noticed that this particular lizard didn't miss much at all. The way he took everything with his eye turrets rotating here and there way too efficiently indicated that he was more than just a simple secretary and was most likely their equivalent of the resident spook.
"Shiplord Straha, Earth will not become part of the Race's empire," Ambassador Roberts said. "Before that happens there will be war and millions perhaps billions on both sides may lose their lives. Is that what you want?"
"War can be averted if you surrender now," the Shiplord countered. "The Race can incorporate you Tosevites easily and you will become full members in less than a thousand years. That is an offer not to be taken lightly."
This was going nowhere. "Did your Fleetlord consider the offer we gave him concerning overthrowing your emperor and establishing himself as the first of a new line of Emperors of Home under our guidance?" All of the lizards hissed in unified anger, which Roberts chose to ignore because it got their attention. "Perhaps you might be interested in becoming emperor, Shiplord?"
"NO! We would fight you for just saying such a thing."
"Ambassador Sir," asked Tessrek who now tried to ease the growing tensions in the room, "the Race has been unified for the past hundred thousand years under the emperors," and again he lowered his eye turrets. "We venerate (worship) the Emperor for his power to rule over us. To even suggest such a thing as you have is to invite war with the totality of the Race. You will not survive such a war. So it would be wise if you surrendered to the will of the Emperor and there can be a lasting peace between our people."
"Ambassador, may I?" asked Daniel. "Shiplord and Senior Scientist Tessrek, the Human race does not do well under slavery. Sooner of later we will fight to free ourselves no matter what the cost. The people of Rabotev and Halless apparently are not like us for we will not submit to the Race under any circumstances."
"We do offer you the hand of friendship," Roberts added, "or we can leave each other alone. The third alternative is too horrible to contemplate."
"How can there be friendship between us?" Shiplord Straha asked. "We do not know who you are. We do not know what you are. Who controls the Tosevites? Who are the Tau'ri? I know what you say but you have not offered proof of what you say to be true."
"The world you call Tosev Three is called Earth by the people who live there. We call ourselves Humans and another name we call ourselves is Terran. Others across the stars have called us the Tau'ri and we use that name as well. But whether we call ourselves Humans, Terrans or the Tau'ri we are one and the same and our world is called Earth."
"Confusing is what it is," huffed the lizard. "Earth is a foolish name."
"This coming from someone who named their world 'Home' and their people 'the Race'?" asked O'Neill.
"What else would we call ourselves?" asked Straha. "But it does not matter. There can be no friendship unless it is the Race who leads."
"And why would you want us to submit ourselves to you?"
"Because we are superior."
"Ah, ha!" said O'Neill. "And why are you superior?"
"Because we are 'the Race'."
"I knew you were going to say that! And what makes you superior?"
"Everything."
Roberts smiled coldly. The lizards had played into their hands.
xxx
Drefsab didn't like the way Straha had just stepped into the diplomatic claws of the Tosevites without even realizing it. There was nothing he could do but watch now and pray to the celestial dead Emperors that the aliens wouldn't do something painful to them all.
The Tosevite called Ambassador Roberts turned towards General O'Neill and nodded. Interesting, their necks were more flexible in their movement, probably an adaptation to correct for their limited eye movements. That one got up and left the room.
"Shiplord Straha, in the interests of peace, we are about to open your eyes to the larger picture."
"My eyes are open," Straha said, misunderstanding. "Why would they not be open here?"
"I apologize. It is a saying that means that a person will see more of the truth that surrounds him. We are going to take you on a little trip."
"Where," asked an alarmed Atvar. "If this is a deception, my people will avenge me with every weapon with their disposal!"
"This is not a threat," Roberts told Straha. ""We simply want you to understand what you are trying to conquer and why it is not in your best interests to do so."
Drefsab was worried. This was their ship and there was little that the members of the Race could do to save them. They had to trust the Tau'ri to keep their promise of safety as the Fleetlord had promised to them on 127th Emperor Hetto. The Shiplord was right, the Race would demand vengeance no matter how long it took and he feared that that action would doom the Race.
"Please follow us," Roberts told them.
"Where are you taking us?" demanded Straha.
"To the bridge. We will not hurt you."
"Then, it shall be done." Straha got up followed by the others and together lead by the tall Ambassador the proceeded to leave the room followed by huge and intimidating soldiers carrying strange, very intimidating weapons.
Drefsab was surprised. He first believed they were going to a prison cubicle not to the heart of an alien spaceship. However he didn't sense any type of threat and he followed. He didn't know what to expect but if he survived this, his report would be most interesting reading. Going to their bridge would give him plenty of insight and data to formulate defensive strategies that would be needed in the coming battle against the Tosevites.
General O'Neill was at the bridge and invited Straha towards the small window, surprising the reptiles that there would be a window there in the first place. Looking out, they could see the ships of the Race in orbit around reddish planet called Tosev Four. They were huge, powerful vessels, but they looked vulnerable clustered together without any offensive weaponry in which to strike back if attacked.
"Shiplord, I've informed your Fleetlord that we will be taking a short trip to offer proof of our claims," O'Neill informed him. "I've also told him that his ships will remain in orbit. If they attempt to break orbit and move anywhere near Earth, we will consider this an act of war. This means that we will blow every ship you have into scrap metal."
"How has the Fleetlord responded?" asked Straha. His eyes, one staring at the General and the other at the fleet blinked rapidly, a sign of the apprehension he now experienced.
"He said he was the Fleetlord and would do whatever he chose to do in the name of the Emperor," the General responded. The Race had no way to know it, but he was somewhat impressed by the stubbornness of their leader despite the odds against them. "However," he continued, "in the interests of uncovering the truth, his ships would remain in orbit and not move in the direction of the Earth. He also holds us responsible for the safety of the members of the Race onboard our ship. I have agreed to this. No harm will come to you. From a diplomatic point of view we will do everything we can to make sure that you remain safe and secure on this vessel."
"I do not understand," Tessrek said. "We are your prisoners, to do what you will. Why would you want to protect us?"
"As diplomatic representatives of a foreign government, you were invited to come to this ship which is the sovereign territory of another foreign government. When you arrived on this vessel, certain rules, uh, activated themselves. One of these rules is that we become responsible for the protection and safety of the foreign visitors. You came in peace, not as prisoners, and you will leave in peace despite the threat of war."
"Your concept of diplomacy is strange. You Tosevites are indeed strange." The Tau'ri were powerful and could easily destroy the conquest fleet. That much was clear however they had chosen not to and they treated the delegation with some respect despite the threats. At first he believed that it was because the aliens feared the Race but as much as he tried, he couldn't quite convince himself that that theory was correct. These aliens were strong, but they did not exert their dominance the way the Race would have. "How long will we be gone?"
"Not more than two weeks as understood by your measurement of time," replied Roberts.
The Korolev and the Apollo were scheduled to go to Atlantis in a week. This would be the first time both ships would be sent to that distant galaxy together. The replicator problem had to be dealt with and time was of the essence. That would leave the Odyssey and four other ships left to protect Earth. They weren't expecting any trouble but with the Asgardian technology now in the hands of Earth, trouble would be homing in on them like a magnet. The Goa'uld suspected the truth already.
"You desire to show us proof but that time frame is not sufficient to do so," snorted Straha which his hissing clicking style of speech sounded like an angry tea kettle. Already the Races ship were moving from view as the Tau'ri ship began to turn towards open space. "How will we get to Tosev Three in such a short time?"
"We use a form of travel called hyperdrive. That allows us to travel faster than light without suffering any of the relativistic effects," answered O'Neill.
Straha and Tessrek were amused by such an outright lie. Drefsab lowered his jaw amused as well but seemed a lot more thoughtful. The heavily feathered lizard Erelwo looked as if he wanted to curl into a ball and die right then and there. It was becoming too much for him, as it was something completely out of his experience.
Senior Shuttlepilot Nignxe's response was different. He seemed to want to grab the General or the nearest convenient alien and start an interactive interrogation. He was the one who took the General's word as absolute fact. "General Superior Sir," he began. "How is this possible and if it is then how do you bypass the physics of normal space? Do you travel above the established speed of light or do you have the capability to travel even faster? And how do you compensate for the destructive forces of inertia? If you can compensate for this then does your ability to generate gravity on this vessel in some way help to accomplish this? Why is it that…?"
"Hold it, hold it," O'Neill growled. 'Great, I just found Daniel's lizard counterpart' he thought.
"What am I to hold, General Superior Sir?" he asked absolutely eager to please.
"Earth euphemism which means 'please wait'," supplied Daniel. He couldn't help but smile at the creature's enthusiasm.
"Senior Shuttlepilot Nignxe, they are not your superiors!" Straha told the Race shuttle pilot. Refrain from using that honorific."
"Yes, superior sir," Nignxe gulped.
"The Apollo and Korolev are on station. We are cleared for navigation."
"Coordinates confirmed, heading for Earth at your command, Colonel."
"Let's not waste time shall we?" Colonel Wilson ordered. "General, we're ready."
"Wait!" yelled Drefsab. His voice came out as a high squeak. "We are not prepared for the acceleration that you Tosevites are used to!" The others were also alarmed by the lack of preparation. "We require safety belts and proper seating to forestall any injuries that might occur during this procedure!"
"Nah," replied a smiling O'Neill. Still smiling he pointed to the Colonel, who issued the order.
The windows blackness of space suddenly turned a blue-white tunnel as the Odyssey went into hyper-lightspeed. All of the lizards stared at it unable to understand what they were seeing. The image in the window only lasted a few seconds. When the ship transitioned into normal space revealing that they were near Earth's moon, well actually passing it by, the members of the Race couldn't believe accept it.
xxx
"This is a deception!" Straha exclaimed. "This can not be a truth!" Both eyes were glued to the window even as he launched into a tirade of the impossibilities of what he was seeing. Next to him, Nignxe stood equally transfixed. The only thing that moved was his tail which twitched in sync with his heartbeat. Tessrek wasn't watching the screen, but instead his eye turrets swiveled around at the human crew trying to determine if they had somehow generated this deception as he didn't believe it was possible either. Alien body language was unknown to him but he tried using all of his experience available to him.
A stunned Drefsab simply watched the General, who was apparently very amused at the entire scene. And he admitted he would be amused as well if he were not on the tail-side of this joke. "General O'Neill," he said. "This may be a deception as the Shiplord has pronounced. I wish to prove whether it is or not."
The general glared back at the lizard that claimed to be a secretary but acted anything but. "And," started O'Neill, "how do you propose to do that?"
"I wish to go to your hanger deck and look for Tosev Three using my own eye turrets. That will determine the validity of this truth or non-truth."
"I don't have a problem with that. Ambassador?"
"Very wise of you, senior Secretary Drefsab," Ambassador Roberts said. "Shiplord Straha, do you agree?"
"Yes," he simply answered.
A few minutes later, the entourage was escorted to the launch bay. The ship had reversed its position as it slowly approached Earth so that the planet was easily visible to those in the launce bay.
If the window had been a shock, then the view of the planet the members of the Race knew as Tosev Three looming closer and closer at a startling speed that should have been all but impossible slammed at them like a storm. The ship circled close enough for huge Human cities large enough to equal those at home to be seen clearly. Satellites could be seen in orbit as well as other Tau'ri ships. In the end it did not matter whether they were Tau'ri or Tosevites, the planet was already colonized to the point that the Race would have to wreck the planet just too simply place their own colony there. With these vessels and their firepower, the race would spend exorbitant amounts of resources and in the end achieve nothing but the destruction of their people.
Proof.
Horrible, stunning, undeniable, terrifying proof.
"I," started Straha and then he stopped. "I accept this truth," he managed to say. The Shiplord stopped seeming to freeze as he could only stare at the fast closing planet, so big now that it looked as if he could touch it with his claws. "I must contact the Fleetlord and tell him of this truth,' he finished.
"We can arrange that," O'Neill said.
"No, we must use our shuttle communications to ensure security," Straha whispered. He still hadn't move.
Using standard non-lightspeed radio would be slow but it would also be addition conclusive proof that they had traveled so far so quickly. "Okay," Jack said. "Go ahead."
"Erelwo, do so."
Erelwo's eye turrets swiveled to the Shiplord. "It will be done," he whispered. The Race officer slowly entered the shuttle. He seemed to be frightened.
Daniel watched him enter and noticed how low slung his head was and how his tail twitched sporadically.
Meanwhile, the Senior Shuttlepilot couldn't decide whether to continue to look at Earth or the Human crew. Finally the dam broke as he turned to stare first at O'Neill, and then Daniel and finally the Ambassador. "This is such a glorious time to have hatched from the egg! I expected to find primitive brutal savages, but now I have those I can learn from," he exclaimed. "It is glorious!"
At the same time, the Senior Secretary's response was somewhat different. "By the Emperors blessed waste pellets! The Race will not tolerate being subjugated by the Tau'ri Tosevite Race," a panicked Drefsab said. Gone was the almost subservient personality that had been so characteristic of him. "We have been the Race for more than one hundred thousand years and we will fight to preserve our culture no matter the costs!"
That's when they all heard the scream.
"My liver hurts! Make it stop!" Erelow shrieked as he grabbed his tail and bit into it. "Emperor save me!" The officer dropped to the floor racked with convulsions as he rambled. "The Fleetlord hates me and has turned his eye turrets against me. I have only reported to him the truth and he will curse me as soon as he receives the transmission of woe. When I report more truths to him, I will be stripped of my position and I will be abandoned by the Race. My liver hurts with the pain of rejection! I will die with the truth on my snout and everyone will hate me forever. The venerated Imperial ancestors past will not allow me into their presence!"
He began wailing once more as Tessrek between him and a still paralyzed Straha trying to help both and doing neither. All the while, an amused and bewildered Daniel was being assaulted by Nignxe who wanted to know if he could go to Earth, perhaps rent an apartment and meet other members of the space crew.
"Is this what it means to come into contact with your race?" Tessrek wailed at a helpless looking Daniel.
xxx
General O'Neill, Teal'c and Roberts were off to the side looking rather shell-shocked. Medics were standing by but it was little they could do without instructions from Tessrek and he wasn't very forthcoming at the moment.
"Well," O'Neill said to no one in general. "Let's see. We have the lizard almost comatose, another who is having a nervous breakdown all because he is the designated bearer of bad news. We have one secretary," and he sneered at that word," screaming that they will never submit to Humanity as slaves which we don't want in the first place. And of course, we have the psychologist trying to help keep his people from having a nervous breakdown while at the edge himself. And let's not forget one overly excited lizard that would probably join the SGC in a heartbeat if we asked." Now 'that' would be interesting, thought the General. "All in all, not bad for a First Contact."
"Indeed." Teal'c gazed at the Ambassador and his friend. "I wonder what will happen when we take them to Home?"
"Hope they won't all die on us. That would be embarrassing."
"I confess that I feel sorry for them," Roberts said. "But there's no choice. We have to step on them to keep from killing them, better cultural upheaval than nuclear Armageddon."
"Yep."
Roberts turned to O'Neill. "I hope the cameras are working. The President wants pictures."
"I confess to wanting a few myself."
"By the Emperors blessed waste pellets?" Teal'c deadpanned.
O'Neill shrugged. "Still holy, eh, crap by any other name."
"I believe you are correct, GeneralO'Neill."
End of part three
