Stargate: Enterprise

By Phares Barnhill III

Chapter 2:

The Journey Continues

"Captain's Starlog: June 28, 2153. Shuttlepod-One had landed on the planet now identified as Naboo. Lt. Reed, Myself, and Ensign Mayweather are not quite sure what to expect. We went to the largest city, called Theed, by the natives. Obviously it's the capital of the planet. When we arrived, we sought out the Queen, but were told by her governor, a man named Sio Bibble, that she and the Jedi rescued them and took off to the planet Coruscant. We offered to rescue the people but he told us that she would bring back help from the Galactic Republic. So, we are heading back to the ship."

Shuttlepod-One docked in the Enterprise, when T'Pol announced that she could with practice control the window – thanks to Samantha Carter.

Brigadier General Jack O'Neill and Dr. Daniel Jackson were in the mess hall when Malcolm Reed came in with Hoshi Sato. The Enterprise officers got their trays and asked if they could join the famous duo.

"So General, what started the war, if I might ask?"

"A plague actually. Specifically, it was the Shanti virus. Colonel Philip Green decided that to purge the human race of all impurities, was the only way to come to terms with an ever-growing universe. The man was sick in the head if you ask me. But that was long after I was in stasis.

"You see, the cure was created, but those who have it can die and for them there is no treatment. I discussed this with your doctor. The virus was not released and it was destroyed, however, one man – Peter Petrelli – was exposed to it, and certain people, like myself, Colonel Carter, Daniel here, Vala, and even Cam Mitchell – not Teal'c, but he wanted the stasis since there was no way back to Chulak at the time."

"I can take over for you, if it's okay, Jack."

"Thanks Daniel."

"This plague was not containable once it got out into the general public. Colonel Green found out about it in 2020, when working for a corporation called the Umbrella Corporation. If I remember correctly, the world was sectioning itself off from the T-virus, which was released."

"So what does the Shanti virus have to do with the T-virus?"

"Well, if you remember, the Eugenics Wars were still being cleaned up until the 2030's. One of the groups dealing with cleanup was called the Company, a division of Section 7. No one can pinpoint the total relationships between the various factions trying to clean up the messes.

"The Company was run out of many places, sort of like cells. One man, Noah Bennett, was in charge of the Odessa Texas cell – as a company manager for Primatech Paper Company, for a cover. He got involved and did some very morally grey things. However, the company wanted him to adopt a young girl, so they could watch over her. She manifested at the age of 15. She was named Claire Bennett."

"Oh dear. Ensign Bennett, of Star Station Alpha?"

"One and the same."

"Well she was a good friend to Travis a few years back," says Hoshi.

"Dr. Jackson, you are a linguist are you not," Hoshi said getting off the subject, to everybody's relief.

"That's pretty much an understatement, but yes."

"Sir, I am trying to come up with an algorithm, which will allow instantaneous communications between cultures."

"I'd call that a good thing. That will be very useful in your line of work."

"We need it badly. I know that computers may not be your thing, but do you think you could look at it for me?"

"I don't see why not. This could be very interesting."

"Now she's gone and done it, Daniel won't be getting any sleep in the next week or so."

"Would you like to check out our recreation facilities, General?"

"Sure, why not – lead the way."

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Back on Earth

"Admiral Nakamura, it is an honor to have you here this evening," the stewardess announced as Hitori Nakamura and Captain Erica Hernandez came into the prestigious Japanese restaurant San-Ni-Ichi, or 3-2-1, in English.

It was a famous restaurant built after First Contact and catered to many people that worked, lived or had been to space – Zephram Cochrane himself was honored to have broken the ground to build the establishment on his tour of the planet following his First Contact with the Vulcans.

"If you would follow me please." She sat them down at a nice booth with pictures of spaceships and various amenities from other eras. In all it was a nice classy place – not unlike the Hollywood Restaurants of the 20th and early 21st centuries which catered to actors and producers of movies.

"Now what I am about to tell you might be a bit much for you, Erika – do you mind me calling you by your first name?"

"No, sir. If I may call you Hito."

"Everybody does. I like it since I found out about my ancestor's secret past. In fact it was that past which I am trying to prevent here in the present. A man by the name of Arik Soong, has been incarcerated for the last 15 or so years. His daughter came to me today. You see, while humanity as a whole gave up on genetic engineering, it is my duty to continue with secret projects and the like under the watchful eye of an organization known to others as Section 31. It is well documented, so we can talk freely here."

"Are you recruiting me like Lieutenant Reed of Enterprise was?"

"No. I just need someone I can trust in Starfleet not to go blabbing to the Brass. I am the Brass. Not the President – who is also aware of the circumstances, nor Admiral Forrest, have the authority and clearance I do."

"Admiral, are you serious?"

"Very. Now before I release confidential information on the Truth, regarding the so-called Eugenics Wars, or other things of sensitive natures, I need an oath of fealty."

"What exactly are you proposing?"

"Erika, how long have we known each other?"

"Roughly 15 years."

"And during that time, what feelings for me have you developed? We are the same age, you know."

"Yes, I know. I have very fond feelings for you Hito. I wish that we could be more than friends. Honestly, with the way the fleet demands are set, I do not see that happening."

"Not unless I propose to you."

"This is not what I expected. You want a secret bearer. One who will take your secrets to the grave? What if I die in duty?"

"Then my secrets are safe with you."

"Indeed."

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Back on Enterprise

"Cam, what are you doing," Jack asked as he saw Travis, Cam and Teal'c flying around the room.

"This is great, Jack, you have to try it. It's a Zero-G Gymnasium."

"Indeed it is, O'Neill. I have never felt as liberated except as the time that I destroyed Apophis."

"That good, huh? Well maybe just a go around."

Up on the bridge, T'Pol told them that the transmission from the surface had located the planet to which the Nubian vessel had fled to.

"Coruscant, is approximately 500,000 light-years distant from here."

"And how long to travel there, with a hyperspace window generator?"

"About 2 hours or so," replies Sam Carter.

"Good, do what you can to make it happen. I know we have to help these people in some way."

"Captain, perhaps we should leave well enough alone."

"I am not turning my back on an oppressed population. Not over something as stupid as trade."

"I take it that you guys aren't capitalists then," says Carter.

"What is a capitalist?"

"I can handle this one, Colonel. Capitalism is an economic system in which the means of production are predominantly privately owned and operated, and in which investments, distribution, income, production and pricing of goods and services are determined through the operation of a market economy. It is usually considered to involve the right of individuals and groups of individuals acting as "legal persons" or corporations to trade capital goods, labor, land and money"

"It sounds horrible – that much autonomy can cause great destruction, and if mismanaged it could spell the end of a civilization."

"That's the point, aside from some very questionable management protocols; it led to the destruction of the world economy about 10 years prior to world war 3."

"Woah, you guys are starting to sound like communists."

"No. We have a resource based economy, it only fluctuates when resources deplete. And since we have over 345 colonies on other planets, we do have a lot to go around."

"Whatever, sounds very interesting, the subspace generator is at peak output, we can engage the hyperdrive window generator."

"So, Colonel, what do you think of Trip Tucker?"

"He reminds me of one of my friends – Orlin."

"That is an odd Earth name."

"It wasn't. He was an ascended ancient – an Alteran, from Earth, but about 50,000,000 years ago."

"Forgive me for being obtuse, Colonel, but isn't that timeframe off by many years – eons – if I understand correctly."

"In most cases you would be correct, but in the case of the Ancients – no. They arrived from a far-away galaxy just like this one, millions of years ago. Right after the dinosaurs died out. In fact, they may have interacted with certain ones, to help them escape our world. Daniel once told me of a race of dinosaurs that had achieved sentience called Vath or something like that. He said their writings were found on Antarctica.

"Anyways, the ancients stayed on Earth for millions of years until a plague – we found out it was a prior plague made them all leave. Atlantis followed and ended up in the Pegasus Galaxy, and there they met the Baratis bug which created the wraith. Faced with extinction on two fronts, many chose to ascend from the material plane and become energy."

"And this Orlin did this as well?"

"Yes. He was trapped on a planet. He decided to help a people defend themselves from an invading fleet. He gave them a weapon which when activated defeated the fleet. However they wanted to turn it on their enemies on the planet, so the Ancients destroyed them and deactivated the weapon."

"These Ancients sound like a force to be reckoned with," says Reed.

"They sure are. They are the ones who are the basis for the Wraith in Pegasus, and the Ori, in the Ori Home Galaxy. There are good ones, like Orlin, and Oma Desala."

"Oh, hey, Sam, I see you are telling them about the Ancients. Perhaps I could take over."

"Sure Daniel."

"I was once an ascended Ancient. I was ascended twice by Oma Desala. She is now fighting a battle of Attrition with an evil being called Anubis. And before you ask, yes he was a Goa'uld who tricked her. He became an Ancient and then used his powers to wreck havoc on them. They stripped him of his powers, and he was then unable to become fully mortal. He was half-ascended. Well time passes – a lot of time. And old Anubis gets an idea; he wants to start the world over."

"So he goes to the planet that initially restored life to our galaxy when it was wiped out by the Prior plague – Dakara. And he uses the device – we called it the Dakara Super Weapon, but that was a major misnomer – it was intended to restore life, not end it. Well we stopped him. I mean Oma did."

"Wow. That was an interesting story. Where exactly is this Super Weapon now?"

"Oh the Ori destroyed it."

"Hmm. Well let's get to Coruscant and see what we can do to help these people."

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San Francisco

"Hito, I would love to marry you. I just don't know when we would see each other."

"I understand. I too am very busy. But I think if we truly want it, we should. At least an engagement."

"I know that you would shower attentions upon me. I will consider it. Give me some time."

"That is all I can ask."

"Sir, I have news for you concerning the Project Alpha Tango."

"Talk to me, Lieutenant."

"Well sir, it seems as though there are other aliens living on Earth. One of them is in of all places Kansas."

"Really, where? I have to meet with him immediately."

"Smallville, sir."