Chronicles of the Crusade Book 2: The Long Road

by JonHarper

Draal and Atlantis point the way to P3X 7171 a world that may hold the key to beating the Drahk plague. SG1 is reformed with the task of finding it setting off a chain of events that will lead both Earths down the long painful road to deliverance.

6. Chapter 6 The Cure Aftermath

WellI would fist like to thank everyone who has stuck with this story despite its rather long hiatus. But I am pleased to tell you that the Chronicles team is back in full swing and will start churning out chapters at a much more steady clip. I must actually apologize. This chapter I'm updating has actually been in my records for months!!! I had somehow forgotten that I handn't updated it. So without further delay, lets get down to buisness!

The Cure Aftermath.

Geneva

Capital building

Earth Alliance

As expected Earth Dome had turned into a circus. Since the President had confirmed that the object streaking through the air high above was in fact delivering the cure that would rid Earth of the Drakh plague there had been an outpouring of joy so great she had declared a full week of celebrations to mark the event. It was shaping up to be the absolute greatest party of all time, whatever your nation, belief or creed the whole planet now had one thing in common. The fear of death was lifted, at least for a while. For the reprieved population it was more than enough.

For several hours there had been just pure joy filling the air, until somebody asked where the cure had come from. At that point every media outlet and corporation in the galaxy suddenly wanted to know whom they had to thank for this and if there might be some sort of price attached. President Luchenko had scheduled a press conference at Earth Dome where she would answer that question, it was time to come clean.

"How's my tan?"

Colonel Carter gave a superior a quick look over. "Fine sir."

O'Neill winced and fidgeted a little. "Since I went grey it's more of a contrast. You'd tell me if I looked like George Hamilton right?"

"Yes sir."

"Or a Satsuma in a wig."

"Yes sir."

"Or a pumpkin with…"

"Sir, you look fine." She reassured.

"Its just well, I'll be seen by ten billion people." O'Neill said quickly. "Which is a fairly large number, you know?"

"It is sir." Carter agreed. "And not to mention the various Alien worlds, we're probably talking more than a hundred billion total."

O'Neill gave her a long look. "Thanks Carter, that really helped calm my nerves."

"Pleasure sir." She grinned. "Just be yourself, do what you would normally do."

"Normally I'd run out of a gate and machine gun a bunch of bad guys."

"Maybe a bit more subtle then sir." Carter suggested.

They watched the clouds flitter past the window as the Daedalus made her descent through Earth's atmosphere, a squadron of Thunderbolt fighter preceding her as a guard of honour. O'Neill had excused himself from a riveting meeting about reformatting expense forms and run like hell to the Prometheus which had delivered him to the seat of the Earth Alliance just as Colonel Caldwell had finished deploying the cure. They had orbited for about a day as O'Neill made his way over and received a full debrief while waiting to see if the Plague actually had been destroyed.

Hermiod's readings had proven conclusive, backed up by Doctor Franklin's test on the planet below. The Plague was over, Earth was cured. Indeed the planet had never felt better with a bonus side affect of the Ancient antidote curing a handful of other diseases in the process.

President Sheridan had joined them, warmly embracing O'Neill in a surprisingly strong bear hug before informing them it was time that the Interstellar Alliance learned the truth about where this ship was from. And what better way than landing on the lawn outside Earth Dome.

It had sounded a good idea at the time.

O'Neill and put on his dress blues, which seemed to be happening a lot lately, and would represent the SGC in a very public meeting with President Luchenko in front of the press and the galaxy at large. The rest of the crew would quietly leave while O'Neill distracted the press, probably by falling over or something, and they would debrief Doctor Franklin and the Joint Chiefs on the current state of play. Then they would be granted some well earned shore leave.

The Daedalus crew was therefore eagerly looking forward to landing and seeing what this home away from home had to offer, with the exception of O'Neill of course, and most had plans to visit their home towns and see how things differed. But the eagerness they felt paled compared to the crews of the Excalibur and Victory. It wasn't just visiting home for them, it was heart and family too, loved ones saved from a long and gruesome death and there were just no words to encompass what those men and women were feeling now. It had made the SGC crew quietly humble and deeply proud that they had helped make all of this possible.

O'Neill noticed Sheridan strolling up beside them, grin fixed behind his grey beard.

"There it is." He pointed down. "Centre of Government."

It was a small town in its own right separated from the rest of Geneva. O'Neill could see plenty of buildings as the ship looped in, mostly housing but a few stood out.

"That's the old Psi Corps building." Sheridan pointed to an area of flat land covered in construction vehicles. "We're building the new Telepathic Authority centre there. More of a community organisation than a controlling one."

O'Neill and Carter leaned to and fro as they moved down to an area of flat grass cordoned off by the military.

"There's Bethesda Medical institute where my old friend Doctor Franklin works." Sheridan continued the voice over. "EIA Headquarters, Earth Force Planetary Command, and that's the Dome itself, home to the Senate and President."

"Bit risky putting everything together wasn't it?" O'Neill asked. "Within ya'know, Nuke range?"

"Well there's extensive underground shelters if this place ever came under attack." Sheridan answered. "Plus theres heavy weapons batteries hidden in the Alps covering orbital attack, some major military bases nearby, and you noticed orbital command right above here."

"That big old very expensive looking station?" O'Neill asked. "Yeah, pretty cool."

Sheridan grinned. "The brass think they've got it covered, and if they don't, well who needs a few politicians?"

"Carter, take a memo." O'Neill began. "Nuke the politicians."

"Yes sir."

"There, that made me feel better."

The Starship touched down gently in its landing space, the EA fighter escort roaring overhead and away beyond the mountains. Slowly it powered down and settled in front of thousands of cameras recording this new but oddly familiar looking ship. At the same time President Luchenko stepped out of Earth Dome itself and began walking towards a podium near the press with three pedestals set up for the conference.

"I still think it would be awesome to beam in." O'Neill said wistfully.

"We decided not to show our capabilities to the galaxy at large, remember sir?" Carter replied.

"Yeah, vaguely."

"You wanted to beam in, then Hermiod started ranting about using Asgard technology for fun, then you said what's the point of having it if you didn't have fun, then Teal'c said beaming nukes, and you said that was more fun and uber cool, and then Colonel Caldwell said…"

"Thanks Carter!" He raised his hand. "I remember now, thank you."

"You can beam nukes?" Sheridan raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, beats missiles."

"Or carrying them." The President exhaled. "Where were you guys a few years ago when Thirdspace happened?" he chuckled. "Could have saved me a trip!"

They both gave him puzzled looks.

"Evil aliens, long story. I'll tell you over lunch."

The ramp dropped down, a sea of reporters focusing on what would emerge from the underside of the grey vessel.

"Well, showtime." O'Neill inhaled, then walked with Sheridan down towards the grass.

"Good luck General" Carter inclined her head. "Don't do the reporter joke."

O'Neill had been expecting a storm of flashes and questions but bizarrely the press was utterly silent, just watching as he and Sheridan went to meet Luchenko by the podium. They walked up to the three side by side pedestals with Luchenko in the middle and Sheridan and O'Neill on either side.

"President Sheridan, welcome to Earth." The Russian said quietly so no press could hear.

"You have no idea how good it is to be back. This is General O'Neill."

"General." She took his hand. "I've heard a lot, shall we get started?"

"Yes Madame President." O'Neill nodded. "Sooner the better, I gotta go and… Powder my nose."

She managed to crack a smile, then stepped up to the podium and took in the scene.

"My fellow humans, today we learned that the Plague that has blighted us for these long months is now gone, cured by human ingenuity and a long lost secret."

The press and the planet hung on every word.

"Through our history people have shown that the unthinkable and impossible was only a barricade and that with will and fortune anything could be achieved or found. Today is one such day, the impossible Plague is no more, and through it we have come to see that other concepts deemed impossible were simply obstacles before our understanding.

"We once believed the Earth was flat, that flight was impossible, that we would never walk on the moon or see other worlds. We learned, and we achieved. We believed faster than light travel was impossible, and that Earth held the only life in the universe. But we learned differently. We thought the most outlandish theories were fanciful and couldn't possible be real. But they were.

"Another of those theories has proven correct, that have parallel dimensions. Not like Hyperspace, but direct copies of our own universe with similar laws of physics and most importantly life. A duplicate of our own universe that took a different path, made different choices. endured different circumstances. Another planet Earth."

That raised some comments.

"We have found a device millions of years old linking one reality with another and allowing ships to travel between. We found a New Earth, or more accurately they found us. This world has helped us in our crisis, and it is to them we owe the discovery of this cure."

She paused and allowed Sheridan to continue.

"For the past few months we have been working together, they have fought along side us here against the Drakh and we have sent ships and soldiers to aid them in their own situations. It is an alliance born of common kinship and mutual benefit, we stand to enrich each others worlds and people. Nowhere is this better shown than today."

He looked to the Daedalus

"This ship was not built on this world, but it is a ship of Earth. It fights for humanity and her allies and recently delivered the cure to our world. We live in extraordinary times filled with extraordinary people. I'd like to introduce one such individual, General Jack O'Neill."

A hundred billion pairs of eyes or something similar turned to look at the Air force General, who stood utterly motionless for a long moment before grinning and finding some voice.

"Hi." He waved 'Greetings from the people of the Earth."

Not too far away there was a slap as Carter and Daniel buried their heads in their hands in perfect unison.

"I'm new to this whole public speaking thing," O'Neill admitted. "I don't have polished speech or a natural way with words for an event like this, I'm just a guy in a uniform."

He took in the view beyond the press, looking out over the lake and the mountains beyond.

"This place is a lot like home, which I guess makes sense with it been Earth and all, but I mean more than just looks. It feels like home, and it feels to me that my people have as much a duty to this place as our own homes. Because basically it's the same place, and there was no way we could sit back and watch the Plague happen."

He nodded inwardly and smiled. "I represent a group on my world called Stargate Command, we handle all the cool spacy stuff. On behalf of my leaders and the International Oversight Committee I'd like to formally announce our existence and our ties of friendship and alliance with President Luchenko of the Earth Alliance and President Sheridan of the Interstallar Alliance."

Daniel Jackson was smiling pleasantly.

"Told you he wouldn't mess up."

"That first bit gave me a scare." Carter admitted. "Too many B-movies."

They watched as he shook hands with the two other leaders for the press.

"When it matters he can pull it out of the bag." Jackson nodded. "Pay up Teal'c."

The Jaffa looked indignant.

"I don't belief you bet the General would make a fool of himself in front of a hundred billion people." Carter chastised.

"It seemed a certainty."

"Lucky I gave him more credit." Jackson stated.

They watched as the trio began to leave, stepping down from the podium. On his way O'Neill lost his footing and with a brief 'Whoah' went face first down onto the grass.

"I believe you owe my fifty dollars." Teal'c proclaimed.

"I'm alright!" they heard in the distance as O'Neill stood, secret service men rushing to his aide. "I just had the wrong shoes on, could happen to anyone!"

"Well, it's a first contact to remember." Daniel shrugged.

For more than one reason he was quite correct.

New York City

Earth Alliance

"If there is a heaven, this is what the high street looks like."

Doctor Lindsey Novak and Major Karen Foster stood in Times Square looking one way and then the other and back again. They were dressed in civilian clothes allowing them to simply slip into the population without raising questions about their true origin and apart from one or two differences they seemed like any other tourist in the big city.

"Looks the same." Novak checked out the buildings, all prime examples of Late Nineteenth and Early Twentieth century architecture. "They must have preserved it."

"They got the Empire State building." Foster noted. "And the new World Trade Centre, and then all those beasts at the edge of town."

She gestured towards the nests of Mega scrapers around New York's periphery and the handful build on top of derelict neighbourhoods that were slums back in 21st century New York. Towering above them all was the white and silver spike of the 10k tower built where the UN building once lived.

"We gotta take the tour." Foster said.

"Yeah, but first," Novak pointed at something in the distance. "Tiffany's."

"Breakfast?"

"I don't think they'd get that here." Novak shrugged. "But lets shop."

For the best part of the day Novak and Foster trailed through every shop they could find buying anything that took their fancy. At first the various shop assistants were unsure of these two young women, but when they produced credit cards with the 'Edgars-Garibaldi' corporate logo on they couldn't wait to sell them half their stock.

A lot of the shops were familiar, but there were one or two Alien run businesses re-establishing themselves after Clarks reign. Novak picked up some apparently genuine Minbari crystals, which Foster thought was unlikely, and some odd Drazi sculptures.

"That thing is revolting, what is it?" Foster grimaced.

"It's art." Novak replied. "It's not supposed to look like, well, anything."

"And you're going to buy that?"

"It'll look great in my quarters."

"No, it'll just make all the rest of your junk look less gross."

"Same thing." Novak grinned.

Next stop was a shop selling fine Centauri clothes made in human style. Te Centauri were famed for their extravagant clothing and while this shop was more for human tastes the actual materials used were the same as the Centauri nobility used in their garments.

"Have you felt this stuff?" Foster asked in wonder. "Makes silk feel like Velcro!"

"Amazing, wonder how they make it?" Novak looked over the racks of material. "I'm going to make a full chemical analysis."

"Lindsey, you don't analyse it, you wear it and let men analyse it from across the bar."

"Yeah, you're right." Novak looked at the price tag on a midnight blue dress. She went very pale. "Oh my…"

Foster looked at the tag. "Wow, guess it did come from another world."

"I hear relations with the Centauri are bad, it'd make this stuff rare." Novak guessed. "We can't afford this."

"Mr Garibaldi said we could buy anything on these cards, he said we earned it by saving the Earth."

Novaks eyes lit up. "You know, he's right! We saved the world, lets shop!"

Foster stifled a laugh. "I like your way of thinking. Now, this silk stuff…"

Geneva

Later that day

General O'Neill was glad he'd packed his best uniform, walking through the corridors to the state banquet hall he felt adequately pomped up and ready to take his place in the opulent surroundings.

In addition to the many government buildings and ambassadorial residences in the Earth Dome complex there was a further building on the banks of lake Geneva, a traditional looking Swiss chateaux which was used for formal dinners and meetings, usually between Earth based leaders and dignitaries but in the new era of the ISA it was increasingly used for receptions for alien visitors.

The Banquet hall itself was a high roofed expanse filled with warm lights and a collection of traditional art works. Many were on 'loan' from prestigious museums under orders from Clark and his despotic followers and had yet to be properly returned. It was rumoured Clarks underlings were plotting to steal these works, but Sheridans sudden arrival in orbit with a task force ended that idea rather quickly.

The room could accommodate hundreds of people, and on this occasion it was full. Four long tables stretched across the floor and a fifth smaller table nestled under a tall stain glass window. That particular table was reserved for the highest of dignitaries, and to his surprise O'Neill had found himself one of them.

He shouldn't be surprised really, he'd rubbed shoulders with great leaders, powerful beings, gods in human form and all the rest. Of course he usually killed them soon after but hopefully tonight's company wouldn't require that. Unless the band was poor.

"General O'Neill," he was greeted at the oak doors by the grey haired general he had met at Babylon 5 some months ago. "Glad you made it back."

"General Lefcourt." O'Neill shook hands. "Well it's nice to be back. And also healthy."

"Our people say the air is completely clean." Lefcourt said with evident joy. "As far as we can tell the Drakh plague is completely neutralised, though we're keeping plenty of the cure in stock just in case."

"Well the place we made it is still in SGC hands, if you need anymore just holler." O'Neill offered. "Or cough really loud."

"I heard it even cured the common cold." The older General laughed.

"Really?" O'Neill raised an eyebrow. "Well I guess we'll all need a new excuse for missing work."

Lefcourt escorted O'Neill into the chamber, his blue uniform drawing the gaze of everyone he passed. O'Neill smiled to the onlookers, waved once or twice, then ultimately did his best to ignore them.

"We've got you a seat with the President." Lefcourt spoke quietly. "Luchenko that is, Sheridan will be on the opposite side."

"What's she like?" O'Neill asked. "We didn't get to chat earlier, and when I tripped up she looked like, well, you know how a Lion looks at Wildebeest?"

"I think we've all been there." Lefcourt sympathised. "Sheridan will tell you that. For me I was ready to tender my resignation after Clark fell." He shrugged. "Fighting for Clark wasn't something I was proud of, but I'm old school General, I fight for whoever in the chain of command tells me to fight even if I know he's wrong. But afterwards I didn't feel like I belonged in uniform, like I'd betrayed something."

"What happened?"

"The President needed a new Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, the man who replaced General Hague took a gunshot to the temple, officially suicide but I never bought that. Luchenko approached me and said Earth needed someone who would follow orders but who maintained a sense of morality. Apparently I had both."

"So you took the job?"

"Only after making sure my crews weren't going to be tried for following Clarks orders, except those who committed illegal orders." Lefcourt sighed. "I thought these days were passed me, The Dilgar were bad, the Minbari worse but fighting your own? You never get past that."

They made it to the table in silence and found their seats, most were already filled.

"By the way," Lefcourt gestured towards one of the men in uniform already seated. "This is Stephen Franklin, he's our head of Xenobiology."

"General O'Neill, I've heard a lot."

"Thanks." O'Neill replied. "Wait, it was good right?"

"It was." Stephen smiled. "My Father has a high opinion of you, which I think is the first time he's actually admitted to admiring someone who wasn't dead yet."

"Your Father," O'Neill thought. "You mean General Richard Franklin?"

"The Earth Force liaison to the SGC." Stephen nodded. "Though I think he'd rather be kicking butt."

"Its an urge that grows with the more stars you get on your shoulder." O'Neill explained jokingly. "Sometimes you miss it."

"Like hell." Lefcourt dropped into his seat. "I'm sick of getting ships shot out from under me."

No sooner had he sat down when the band started up playing and the whole room stood up.

"Ladies and Gentlemen," The Doorman announced. "The President of the Interstellar Alliance, and the President of the Earth Alliance."

The band played the anthem of the Earth Alliance, Holtz's 'World in Union' from The Planets suite as Luchenko and Sheridan walked through the doors side by side greeting those in their path. In a stately procession they wound up to the top table and took their places with O'Neill and Lefcourt on the right, and Franklin on the left with an as yet unnamed Senator.

Luchenko nodded to the band who ended their music perfectly on cue, then raised a glass.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, a toast."

In unison the two hundred guests also picke dup their fine crystal glasses.

"To Earth." Luchenko smiled. "Both of them."

The room drunk the toast, then on the President's nod sat down, leaving just Luchenko standing.

"Well, what a year so far." Luchenko beamed, garnering a few chuckles and sighs of relief. "We stared extinction in the face for the second time in a generation. It is becoming a bad habit."

That created a few more weak laughs, but for most it was still a little too raw to find humour in.

"The fate the Drakh brought to us is gone now through the efforts of Earth Force, IPX, The Anla'shok, the Xenobiology department and most remarkably of all Stargate Command."

She turned to O'Neill who nodded politely.

"A few months ago we had no idea General O'Neill and his brave associates even existed, yet in so short a time they have irrevocably changed how we see the universe and how life on Earth exists. As representative of his people I convey the thanks of Earth and her holdings to Stargate Command and its valiant members."

The comment was greeted by a lengthy round of applause, it was good to be appreciated.

"I think," Luchenko spoke up as the clapping died down. "We have earned this party.

Eat well, drink well, and tomorrow, tomorrow we'll have some business with the Drakh."

She sat down to roaring applause, leaning in towards O'Neill. "You will be quite a hero here General."

"Do you think that means I'll get free stuff?"

"From what my Director of Intelligence tells me Ferrari and Aston Martin have both offered you and your team free cars."

"That is so Awesome!" O'Neill grinned, suddenly aware he was being looked at by people at the nearest table. "The Starter is Duck soup… I really enjoy Duck soup."

As their attention went back to their meals O'Neill composed himself. "I always wanted a Sportscar. What can they do?"

"Well the Ferrari can fly."

It took all of O'Neill's control not to deliver a mighty 'Woohoo' to the hall.

The food turned out to be very well done, clearly the President wasn't sparing any expense and O'Neill had the sneaking suspicion Luchenko was trying to awe him with what her people could provide. Sure enough it was impressive, but O'Neill had experienced enough wonder in his years to have a very high threshold when it came to wonderment.

"Damn I miss Earth cooking." Sheridan heartily tucked in. "Sure Minbar sounded a good place but then I tried the food."

Franklin grinned beside him. "Flarn is their delicacy isn't it?"

"Delicacy is the wrong word." Sheridan corrected. "But it takes them so damn long to cook, three days! How can you say no after all that effort?"

"So," O'Neill chipped in. "Don't they have microwaves?"

The table occupants directed their attention at him.

"You know, I mean if it takes three days to cook normally, I bet it takes less in a microwave."

"For the Minbari food is a Religious experience." Luchenko stated. "Popping some flarn in a microwave would probably be grounds for a war."

"Based on their last excuse I'd put money on it." A senator huffed. "Touchy bunch."

"Delenn is a dedicated cook." Sheridan pressed on. "She made me a cake for my birthday."

"Well that's great!" Franklin beamed.

"She used salt." Sheridan winced slightly. "Damn, eating that was the hardest thing I've had to do since the civil war."

"Price of true love." Lefcourt chuckled.

"You know I've started baking myself." Sheridan admitted, a comment followed by stunned silence. "What?"

"You?" Franklin stated. "Making pastries?"

"I happen to be a skilled cook!" Sheridan defended. "Next time you visit I'll bake a cake."

"Now this is just getting surreal." Stephen tucked into his meal. "This is what living on Minbar does to a man."

"You have my sympathy." The Senator said. "Living with those people? I wouldn't."

"General O'Neill," Luchenko spoke up. "Forgive me, this is Senator McKinsey."

"McKinsey?" O'Neill raised an eyebrow. "Well, that's a little close for comfort."

"Excuse me?" the Senator frowned.

"Nothing, old memories, good to meet you."

McKinsey nodded. "And we're all very glad to meet you."

"Senator McKinsey is the new head of the Senate committee on trans Earth relations." Luchenko explained. "Which means he is helping decide how the Earth Alliance will conduct itself with the SGC."

"Which so far has been nothing but a benefit to us." McKinsey stated with a wide smile.

"You can say that again." Franklin concurred.

"Not dieing of a plague has made the people rather grateful to your people General." Luchenko advised. "There is already huge demand that the government here act very generously towards the SGC, both from gratitude and because you are basically the same species as us. Though I think it'll take a while to fully comprehend what all of this means."

"Gives me a headache too." O'Neill admitted. "But I have it on good authority that all this is really cool. Which is I believe the accepted Physics term for all this."

"Where is the rest of this team I've heard so much about?" McKinsey wondered.

"The President was good enough to provide shore leave." O'Neill said. Last I heard they were taking in the sights or attending some private get togethers."

"G'Kar invited Daniel for a traditional Narn meal." Sheridan added. "Which I think means they have to kill it first."

O'Neill would have loved to have seen that. "Who said linguistics wasn't a roller coaster of fun?"

"Can't imagine why I ever thought that." Lefcourt mused. "How about Colonel Carter?"

"She's a guest of Captain Ivanova."

"Oh they'll get on well." Sheridan chuckled. "Just try get a word in edgewise."

"Oh yeah." O'Neill agreed. "Once Carter gets going, best just to smile and nod until she stops."

"Same with Ivanova." Franklin said. "Well, maybe some hiding too."

"So General," McKinsey steered the conversation. "How did you find the ships we sent you?"

"Great." O'Neill nodded. "Nice and big, lots of elbow room."

"The Senate has authorised the next batch of defence satellites for next month." President Luchenko mentioned. "You will have them shortly, we managed to incorporate some enhancements into them based on technology you provided."

"Shields and bigger guns, like the new batch of warships." Lefcourt clarified. "Gives them an edge."

"For a price." McKinsey added. "Currently a fully refitted ship costs three times the price of a regular vessel."

"But is far more than three times as effective." Lefcourt hastily replied. "The cost is worth it."

"Gentlemen, this is not a budget meeting." Luchenko raised her hand. "Earth Force will have all the funds it needs, let no one forget we are at war."

"With Earth open recruitment is up." Lefcourt said. "We're filling up the fleet and in six months will have every ship in the navy back up to full strength, including the new builds. All we need now is an enemy to shoot."

"The Rangers are scouring every likely system." Sheridan informed. "But it's a lot of space."

"That might be somewhere we can help." O'Neill piped up. "I don't know much about EA sensors or, well, any type of sensors much, but the gear on our ships can conduct detailed scans over long range. Plus our ships are pretty fast, I bet we can cover a lot of space."

"That'd help a lot." Sheridan nodded. "How many ships do you have?"

"Coming up on seven." The General replied. "We'll want to keep at least two on the Atlantis run and two to watch Earth and general house keeping. But I think we can lend you a few with the blessing of the oversight committee."

"Aren't you in charge?" McKinsey asked.

"Not so much." O'Neill shrugged. "Plus two of the ships aren't officially in the SGC, the Korolev is Russian and Churchill British. The Brits paid for theirs and we built it, but the Russkies pulled some crap and we had to trade it to keep the SGC running. Glasnost can kiss my rosy red white and blue ass."

Sheridan coughed pointedly and subtly blinked at Luchenko. It took O'Neill a few seconds to remember who he was sat next to.

"Not that all Russians should kiss my ass. Or even get a mental image of it."

"No offence taken General." The President said. "These are not my countrymen you talk about. If they were I'd just lock you in a room with Captain Ivanova."

The diners chuckled, rapidly easing the tension.

"And I have to thank you for releasing the Ship building techniques Mr Garibaldi brought along." O'Neill remembered. "Without them we'd still be working on ship number four."

"Least we could do." President Luchenko allowed. "In a way it benefits us to have strong allies."

McKinsey finished his meal before talking. "I'd be interested to hear the SGC position on the Drakh. General?"

"Well that one's easy, the Drakh took some shots out our ships, that makes them our enemy." O'Neill answered.

"So we can expect to see more SGC help?"

"More?" Sheridan laughed. "You think they haven't done enough so far?"

"The Drakh war will be a lengthy and sustained conflict." McKinsey uttered. "I just want to know where our new friends stand."

O'Neill took a closer look at the senator. "Don't suppose in the past your family was called just 'Kinsey' was it?"

"Well yes, but I don't see how that affects anything."

"Just checking." Inside O'Neill groaned. "And as an answer, we'll deploy whatever assets the President sees fit. We've got our own enemies back home to fight."

"Something we've helped with."

"And we're grateful for the help at Atlantis." O'Neill nodded. "Which I'm sure we expressed in that Naquadah shipment and examples of Goa'uld technology."

"But you keep the technology on your actual warships secret from us?"

"Well it isn't ours to share, we're just borrowing it."

"Oh, I see." McKinsey said with sarcasm. "So why not share it with us anyway? I'm sure with our resources we could reverse engineer this technology to benefit both our worlds."

O'Neill smiled indulgently. "Like I said, it isn't ours to share."

McKinsey grunted and took a drink. "Pity."

"I gave my word, that's all there is to it."

"And as far as I'm concerned the case is closed." Sheridan interrupted. "The ISA will contact the Asgard and discuss technology for the benefit of all its members, not just Earth."

McKinsey settled back in an obvious sulk, which gave O'Neill a happy. The Senator wasn't the same person as the former Senator Kinsey on Earth, now Vice President, but it seemed apparent he was from the same bloodline and his attitude certainly rang true. Therefore upsetting him was an amusing use of O'Neill's time.

"I also here your building more ships?" Lefcourt raised. "I have to admit I'm eager to see them."

"The 305 class." O'Neill said fondly. "We've only just started and even with the new techniques they'll take a while to complete, but they'll make anything we've encountered short of an Asgard battleship look like a kitten batting a ball."

"And will the SGC be exporting these units?" McKinsey asked.

"Well that's not for me to decide." The General answered diplomatically.

McKinsey again looked rather sulky.

"I'm pleased with the help we have seen so far from the SGC." Luchenko said firmly. "And we will maintain friendly relations based on mutual benefit. That Senator, is policy."

"Of course Madam President."

"General O'Neill?" She prompted "Care for some cake?"

Jack smiled. "Future cake? Can't wait."

"I'm a believer in having ones cake and eating it." Luchenko said carefully. "Our two peoples have a good future ahead, one of friendship and respect. I for one look forward to it."

"I'm sure it'll all work out great." O'Neill said, hoping he hadn't just jinxed inter dimensional relations with that one.

Chicago.

With a satisfying clink the black eight ball bounced off the number three ball, the deflection giving it exactly the right angle to roll down the corner pocket of the pool table with a rumbling clunk.

"You're sharking me aren't you?" Caldwell glared.

"I was my high school pool champion." Matthew Gideon shrugged. "Never lose the touch."

Caldwell laughed slightly. "I'm surprised you guys still play this, don't you have holographic games in the twenty third century?"

"Sure we do, but you can't beat a classic." Gideon smiled. "Best of five?"

"Why not, I got some time to burn." Caldwell agreed. "I used to be pretty good at this myself, just out of practice."

"Talk is cheap." Gideon smiled. "What are the stakes?"

Caldwell thought for a minute. "My watch, brand new for me, valuable antique to you."

"Okay." Gideon nodded. "And in return, how about a spin in a Thunderbolt?"

"If I can try the stick you've got a deal."

"Alright Colonel, rack and lets get going."

When Captain Gideon had offered to show Caldwell the sights in his home town of Chicago the SGC officer had been expecting something out of a sci fi film. In part he had been right, from huge glimmering skyscrapers to maglev trains to the occasional flying car or bike which were apparently quite new and expensive beyond words.

But behind these examples of space age technology was a society which wasn't all that different to the one he had come from. People still clamoured for new gadgets, they still envied people with flash cars, and they still found pleasure in simple things. They also still held true to a lot of traditions Caldwell recognized, from Coffee shops and Deli restaurants to old fashioned looking clubs and bars.

One such establishment was Fat Al's Jazz club, according to Gideon the best place to drink in all Chicago. Caldwell could have been back home, apart from a couple of corner data terminals there was nothing to distinguish it from a similar bar in the Twenty first century, or even earlier.

"So then Stephen," Gideon sat down and let the SGC Officer line up his shot. "What's your story?"

"My story?" he took the shot, sinking one of the balls.

"Everyone has a story, what's yours? What brought you here?"

"Nothing special." Caldwell said walking around the table. "Career military, I've dropped bombs on the Viet Cong, Panamanians, Iraqi's and Taliban. I've flown every jet in service, well in my time's service, from Phantoms to Raptors and anything in between. Couple of years ago a couple of guys with a lot of braid on their hats asked me if I wanted a chance to try something new. I said yes."

"That's when you joined the Space Programme?"

"I guessed that maybe they wanted me to fly the Shuttle, always been a dream of mine." He potted another ball. "But what they showed me was a surprise, I guessed we were running some advanced black projects, but damn."

"Is that when you received your ship?" Gideon asked.

"Eventually, I had to learn a whole new ball game first. Space combat tactics, operating a ship the size of a Carrier like a fighter, new weapons, new capabilities and projected enemies. Took some getting used to."

"Well you seem to have figured it out." Gideon smiled. "Must have been a shake up to discover aliens were real."

"Yeah, though I had a relative in the FBI who believed in all that stuff."

"It's different when you live with things every day." The EA Captain said. "You can talk about it in the open, watch it on TV, get a job fifty light years away and not have to lie about the commute."

"Well like I said, takes getting used to, but I'm there."

"So what about family?"

Caldwell smiled thinly. "Well that's not a problem for me anymore."

"Ah." Gideon backed off a little. "Delicate subject?"

"Not anymore, I had wife but the life I chose didn't suit her. We got divorced several years ago."

"Must have been rough."

"For a while, but it came down to whether I wanted this job or a wife. I went with the Air Force."

"You put service before your personal life. Commendable. Ever have second thoughts?"

Caldwell chuckled. "Every other day. But I know I did the right thing, and the things I've done, the lives I've saved, that justifies everything. More than justifies it."

"Ever have a close call?"

"A few." Caldwell nodded. "Dropping bombs on central Baghdad was a seat of the pants thing, even in a Stealth jet it felt like the whole town was shooting solely at me." He paused to take another shot. "But my worst moment was in 'Nam. An NVA missile site put a Russkie SAM up the tail pipe of my Phantom, I had to punch out over enemy territory. It was only on the way down I saw my back seater hadn't followed. Guess his seat didn't work, maybe he was already dead, I don't know and I was so eager to get out I didn't check. I was nineteen, just a kid, I wasn't really ready for all of that."

"What happened next?"

"I spent three days in the jungle evading the VC and their buddies until finally I reached a good extraction point, then the cavalry came rolling in. The napalmed the jungle all around me, I could feel my hair smoking with the heat. The smell made my eyes water, I was terrified. Then the chopper came over spraying tracers and touched down on the wrong damn side of the clearing! I had a four hundred metre sprint, four hundred, right across open ground surrounded by the NVA!"

"Glad you made it." Gideon appreciated.

"I've been in a lot of tight situations since then, Baghdad, the Wraith, the Drakh here. Nothing scared me more than that four hundred metre dash to the evac Helo. Nothing."

Gideon quietly passed the Colonel a drink. "Then here's a toast to timely rescue."

Caldwell raised his glass. "The best kind. So what about you?"

"Me?" Gideon shrugged. "Same story, but without the wife!"

Caldwell laughed. "You didn't miss much! You seen much action?"

"Way too much." Gideon grimaced. "I wanted to be an independent Captain, an explorer. Go out there and survey new worlds for Quantium 40, or for habitability, just me, maybe a small crew. Life on the frontier."

"What happened then?"

"When I was twenty one the Minbari started blowing up everything we had. I got drafted, and instead of getting starship service which I thought I was qualified for they put me in the army, well Airborne to be exact. Probably saved my life."

Gideon paced around the table. "Our ships and fighters got slaughtered, if I'd have been on one I'd probably be dead by now. I was on Proxima Colony, our last line of defence before Earth. Our ships fought like hell, jumping in at point blank range, charging forward again and again until they couldn't move for wrecks. We took our toll on the Minbari fleet, they lost more ships there than any other battle, but it cost us our last real battle fleet to do it, and in the end it didn't stop them."

"They invaded the planet?"

He nodded. "In force. We were hidden in mountains, canyons, tunnels, anywhere to protect us from orbital bombardment. Then when the Minbari attacked we hit them at point blank, getting in among them so they couldn't call for an airstrike without killing themselves. That was bad, really bad."

"I hear the Minbari were excellent fighters, strong and fast."

"Yeah, going hand to hand with one was usually suicide, though I know guys, special forces, with the training and speed to win in a knife fight. But my guys, we were just conscripts, we had six weeks training, got given a rifle and that was it. But they weren't too smart in the planning." Gideon smiled. "We caught them at Hamato Ridge, lured three Minbari divisions into a valley and we slaughtered them. We dropped three kinds of hell down from hidden artillery, mines and armour. Then they sent reinforcements, five full divisions and then we got caught in the valley finishing off that first force."

"What happened?"

"Air strikes took out our artillery so we dug in at the head of the valley and let them come. They charged on like a movie, just a wave of them screaming revenge. We killed them by the hundreds, then thousands. The got in among us and we still killed them, I was shooting bone heads inches from me. I saw tanks racing forward crushing scores of warriors then firing point blank into the Minbari hover tanks and blowing them to shreds. A couple of guys even brought in gunships, brave bastards, they caused hell before a pair of fighters nailed them. You couldn't take a step without finding a body."

Caldwell was shocked by the story.

"We had two divisions, the 101st Airborne which was mine and the 1st Guards division, plus one armoured brigade from the 7th. We took on eight Minbari divisions, and at least one of those was an elite Grenadier division.. A hundred thousand people from both sides, maybe fifty humans walked out of that place, no Minbari. I was one of them. That place is the Valley of Death, less than two square miles of ground and even now its filled with burnt out tanks and vehicles. They left them there as a war grave, the fleet has a nice shiny orbital monument at the point the centre of the Line was formed over Earth, we GROPOS get a simple granite slab where we held the Valley of Death. And we held it."

Gideon exhaled loudly.

"After that we went to ground, fought Guerilla actions against the Minbari on Proxima, I met Garibaldi there you know, then the war ended. Apparently we won. I stayed in the service, put in for Ship assignments and worked up through the officer programme. And that nearly got me killed too."

"What happened this time?"

"The ship I was serving on, the Cerberus, was destroyed by, by I don't know what. Something fast and black and lethal. I was in an EVA suit running a damage survey when it hit, destroying the ship and leaving me out there alone and running out of air."

"How did you make it?"

"A passing ship found me, Galen." Gideon smiled. "Timely rescue you could say."

Caldwell shook his head. "That guy knows how to time things."

"So I made it home, completed my command course and based on my record got a patrol ship, then eventually I got my wish and ended up running an Explorer ship for Earth Force, a world away from any independent ship. I missed Sheridan's liberation of Earth and that whole Clark unpleasantness by being on deep patrol, and was on my way back from a second three year tour when the Drakh hit. And here I am."

"Then lets drink to those who aren't here." Caldwell proposed. "Whoever, wherever and whenever they fell."

"Every one of them." Gideon mirrored, downing his drink. "Well, that was depressing."

"Yeah, we need to get some fun." Caldwell laughed.

"Well there's a Canadian team that run the bone shaker."

"A what?"

"A full burn shuttle drop, it's how the Marines and us old Airborne types made planet fall. A shuttle conducting re-entry nose first at full thrust."

Caldwell blinked. "That's insane."

"Yeah, but fun. Now the quarantine is off and Earth based assets can fly again we should give it a try, like the old days for me."

The Colonel shrugged. "Well why not, gotta beat a Roller coaster."

"That's the spirit." Gideon slapped his back. "Hell of a view from up there too, something to really appreciate."

"Yeah." Caldwell nodded. "I bet it is."

Near Battlestation…

Gateway – SG side

Through the large window of Prometheus's bridge, President Hayes watched as the battlestation drew closer. He only had a brief opportunity to see the wonders of outer space in his lifetime, before returning to a very demanding political world. The reason why Hayes was on this extraordinary trip aboard the Earth's very first starship was that the president of Earth Alliance wanted to personally meet him.

"Excessively ovearmed." The president mouthed softly as he stared at the large battlestation slowly spinning on its heart. "Good thing we didn't named this battlestation the Death Star."

"General O'Neill tried to suggest that we should name that station after a fictional moon-sized battlestation." Colonel Pendergast stated with a slight smile, standing next to the president.

"Ah well." The president turned to Pendergast. "Someday he may get his wish, like when we name one of our ships Enterprise."

"Actually, it was O'Neill's very first suggestion for this ships name." Penderghast stated, holding back his smile.

"Really?" Hayes shot captain a skeptical look. "Personally I thought Enterprise was a very fitting name for the humanity's first spaceship. Unfortunately, only the Senate committee has authority on naming the ships."

"Sir…" One of the bridge crews called them out. "…they are hailing us."

"Let's hear them."

"This is Captain Hans Manstein calling to USS Prometheus, welcome to the Alpha battlestation. Mind you, this is temporary designation until they come up with an official name. Sorry about that, the IOC is still fighting over what they would name this station, just a typical routine for IOC."

"This is Captain Pendergast. We are here to transit to another side with a very important person."

"The clearance to transit had been authorized by the EA government in advance and they are waiting for you. Have a safe journey. Captain Manstein out."

"Affirmative and Tango Yankee." Pendergast let out a soft exhale and moved toward his supreme commander. "Mister President, we are ready to transit anytime. I think that you might like to give the go command, sir."

"Cool." President Hayes turned his attention toward the window all he saw was a large alien device floating in the front, several kilometers away from his current location. He gestured toward the gateway device with his voice high. "Take us in."

As soon as the president's command was given out, the gateway device instantly activated with a white fluidic portal flashed into the existence opening the connection to alternate dimension. The engines of Prometheus rumbled to life, propelling it toward a portal and disappearing, taking them to another side where a sight of the Earth Alliance battlestation, a couple squadrons of their fighters, and a network of defensive satellites greeted them upon the arrival.

"We have successfully transited to the Earth Alliance side." One of the bridge crews announced that bought Hayes a great relief, it was his first alternate reality travel.

"They are transmitting us the coordination of rendezvous on secured channel." Major Gant stated.

"Request clearance to leave this vicinity." Colonel Pendergast ordered.

"They say the clearance is granted. That was very quick."

"Alright, take us to the rendezvous site. We will get there in a quick jump." Captain Pendergast directed his crews. "I want us to be ready when we get there just in case if Drakh decided to crash this party of ours."

"You heard him, take us into hyperspace." Major Gant relayed her commander's order down to the subordinates, swiftly and effectively.

The Prometheus moved away from the battlestation's space, and pushed with full power with an exhilarating leap, joined the blue maelstrom of hyperspace. It lasted a couple of seconds, a very short journey for President Hayes as he stood there with amazement watching a spectacular sight of hyperspace before they appeared into the normal space. It was an incredible experience for him, no doubt about it.

President Hayes breathed out loudly, his hairs on his back stood. "Oh my, that was amazing,we made enormous progress in a decade." He grinned. "Well worth the funding."

"Sir, we have made it to the rendezvous site. It looks clear on the screen, just us." Major Gant announced from her station. "The shields are raised."

"No ones here?" The president asked with a confused look on his face.

"Mister President, they're waiting inside of jump space, their version of hyperspace." Pendergast explained. "All we have to do is send them a tachyon signal and let them know we're here. Major Gant, signal them."

Major Gant nodded, her slender hand hovered over the control panel, and transmitting a secured message into the jumpspace where the Earth Alliance delegation waited patiently, letting them know of the presence of the SGC.

"Multiple energy surges detected dead ahead. Range sixty klicks."

It didn't take very long for the Earth Alliance to announce their presence as the multiple blue jump vortexes tore into the real space, heaving out a dozen large warships and several squadrons simultaneously. Among them, a small and distinctive starship with a rotating disc section surged into the normal space escorted by elite fighter squadron on its flanks and a Warlock-class destroyer trailing it from behind, and clearly visible on the rotating disc was an emblem of the Earth Alliance government.

Appreciation surged through Hayes's body, endless, powerful. The president's curious gaze was fixed on the Earth Alliance ships. The sheer size of escorting warships was something to behold, massive and brutal in design, but they were very effective in their purpose. He finally understood why General O'Neill spoke of the Earth Alliance warships very fondly, and it was very easy to admire these enormous and heavily armed warships.

"That would be them." Pendergast said. "Our official welcome committee."

"Their IFF beacons confirm that they are Earth Force." Major Gant reported her readouts.

"I think we need to get our own Space Force One." Hayes chuckled, his eyes remained fixed on the azure-colored Thunderbolt fighters dancing around the Earth Force One like alerted bees. "It would never happen, probably not on my current term."

"Earth Force One is hailing us, secured channel only." Major Gant announced.

"Open the channel."

A large plasma screen activated showing a woman sitting still and behind her clearly visible was an oversized Earth Alliance emblem, her voice sounded warm and confident. Her orderly brown hair and formal business attire clearly indicated that she was very important.

"This is President Susanna Luchenko, welcome to the Earth Alliance. I apologize for slightly daunting sight of my escorts, these ships are necessary for my protection because the Drakh remain a major threat out there. I will be coming over to your ship with my associates shortly as planned. I am glad that you made it here and I am looking forward to personally meeting you, President Hayes."

In the orbit, above the Ancient base

Excalibur

Captain Gideon sat down with his hands behind his head and tried to relax, alone in his quarters. Not an easy thing to do when his ship was still damaged from previous battle and it needed a complete overhaul. He hated having his options so limited when defending his ship and the people under his command, not in this state. It was an unfortunate byproduct of his horrific experience when he was an ensign aboard EAS Cerberus.

"Captain Gideon…" The voice of Lieutenant Matheson called out through the communication.

"Yes, what is it?" Gideon snapped up in his seat, opening his eyes.

"You have a transmission from Victory, it's on Ultraviolet priority."

"Put it through to my office, thank you, Matheson." Gideon was slightly surprised that someone wanted to call him on a heavily secured and encrypted military channel. He spun his seat around facing a large screen that was lined up with his bed.

He took a deep breath before entering his authorization code verbally, a security measure needed to open a highly classified and secured channel, and the screen activated displaying Captain Anderson. "I am surprised that you called me on Ultraviolet priority channel."

"My friend, before we start, this conversation stays between us because there is something you should know." Anderson's severe gaze fell on him. "I am betting my career, trust and… my life on you."

Gideon raised his head, solemnly. His eyes showed Captain Anderson that he could trust this captain. "Yes. If you called me on Ultraviolet priority and then it stay between us. So yeah, it is damn important. You have my word, Anderson"

"Do you have Dureena aboard with you?"

"Yes, why?" Gideon replied with poise.

"Good." Anderson paused for a moment, his face was a mask of grim concern then said, "Few weeks ago we were diverted to Theta Four Nine to investigate a security matter by General Thompson per the order of Earth Force. We were told that a group of the people escaped from the Earth and might had been inflected with the plague. When we got there, on the surface it was not what we expected."

"What was it?" Gideon narrowed his eyes on his counterpart.

"It turned out that these colonists were not from the Earth. They left from one of colonies and got infected soon after the Drakh unleashed the plague on the Earth." Captain Anderson's face twisted. "They were ex-military, our people. They were part of some kind of top secret military experiment; they were no longer humans but they were rather augmented with machines."

"Cyborgs…" A shocked Gideon whispered to himself quietly. "I thought EarthGov banned cybernetic technologies and research related to that technology after the Dilgar War."

"You could imagine how surprised I was when they were told me otherwise. Robert Black, the colony leader, explained to me what happened. They made a decision to escape from one of the secret bases because they had enough suffering from the experiment. The reason why they settled down on Theta Nine Four was that they want to be left alone and live out their life there."

Gideon nodded slowly. "But that doens't explain how they got infected?"

"What do you know about Pro Zeta Corp?"

"That's one of major synthetic food producers. They provide foods to considerable numbers of the colonies and outposts. Wait…" He snapped and pointed his fingers toward the monitor, "… wait a minute, you are saying they got infected through tainted food supplies."

"Affirmative. That's how we managed to track down the source of infection. When I asked Max Eilerson the IPX expert a question concerning Pro Zeta Corp, according to him it distributes within the Earth Alliance and… beyond. That's a lot of permits and some serious government connections. Serious connections."

"A black project?" Gideon sat up straighter in his chair. For him, it was not surprising since he had long been suspicious about Earth Force after the cover-up over the destruction of Cerberus.

"Precisely. These colonists were assigned to advanced bio-weapons testing center on Seti Gamma 2, which also happens to be the center of operations for Pro Zeta Corporation, the source of their food supplies. General Thompson was their commanding officer, they were infected to prevent them from falling into wrong hands or to keep the secrets of cybernetic project buried."

"Incredible." Captain Gideon said tersely. "They did this to keep their dirty little secrets."

"As far as Earth Force is concerned, they are officially dead. We destroyed their ship as it tried to leave the planet. Unofficially, they are currently stranded on the planetside without a ship"

"What if they tried to leave somehow?"

"Well, if they try to leave, I will know. We left a satellite behind to monitor them."

"I appreciate that you went a length to tell me all of this. But the question remains unanswered, what it has do with Dureena?"

"Glad you asked." Captain Anderson nodded "While we were investigating the colonists on Theta Four Nine. We also made an incredible discovery near the colony. Dureena is no longer alone."

There could be more of her people surviving out there somewhere so Gideon thought, and it would be great news to break to her. That would clear her burden of being last of her race, which was thought to be wiped out in the last days of the Great War.

"There are survivors from the Zander Prime?" Gideon's expression softened. "That's good news and of course, I will pass the word to Dureena."

"Please, I will appreciate it greatly if you do that. We owe Dureena a great debt, she played a critical role in saving our homeworld from the planet killer."

Gideon stood up straight from his chair and moved closer to the monitor. "Will do, you are right we do owe her a great deal. Anything else?"

"You might have to deliver the cure supply to Theta Four Nine since I couldn't return there without raising suspicions from the Earth Force. You and your ship could do that since you are still technically out of active service."

"I think I could cover that." Gideon said without hesitation.

"I am coming over to your ship in a few hours. I'm bringing a very useful asset that will be helpful to you when I get there. I owe you for giving me the information that led me to Kulan's world. I am returning the a favor; that make us even. Remember, it stays between us. Anderson out."

The screen went black for a few seconds before a rotating and three-dimensional Earth Force emblem appeared on the display.

"What have I got myself into?" He spoke to himself softly, staring at blank monitor. He realized what his old buddy meant about a very useful asset. It was a data crystal containing anything on the black project and Dureena's people, it was a way to prepare him when he arrived there.

It was time to ask for guidance.

Gideon heaved a breath as he dimmed his room. He looked around, noting that the only real source of illumination in his room was coming from the seam in the wall panel. He moved toward it, opened the panel, and took out the box. The Apocalypse Box.

He placed the box on his bed and opened it, staring directly at it. He took it from a previous owner before he had died from his injuries suffered when a skimmer had hit him. No one, not even the past owners were able to determine its true origin except that each owner died an unusually and unexplained death.

"What's next, where I will go with this information?"

"Follow" was all the box said to him.

"Follow what?"

The box replied, "Follow a long path given to you."

"Where it will lead me to?" He asked the box, his voice firm.

"The path will lead you to the source of your great nightmare."

"Is there anything else that I should know before I go on the path?"

The box spoke something that surprised its owner. "Do not trust"

"Who?" Gideon asked the box.

"Do not trust Galen."

USS Prometheus

Solar System, Earth Alliance space

Luchenko will be here anytime soon, so President Hayes thought as he glanced at his plush watch; it was a gift from one of his relatives. The security arrangement made between the two governments in advance was for President Luchenko to ring to the Prometheus while a shuttle was launched as decoy to create a false impression to fool the enemies into believing it was carrying Luchenko.

"Sir, I got a stream connection with the Earth Force One." The technician standing next to the ring control panel announced. "They're ringing in."

The rings shot up from the cold metal floor, and a group of seven people flashed into the existence with rings disappearing shortly after that. President Luchenko was standing calmly in the center, flanking her was six secret service agents acting as a body shield for her, merely precautionary. Hayes could tell that the rings did not surprise President Luchenko and the agents as if they had become accustomed to this new technology. What surprised him was that she was much younger than he was; she seemed to be in her late thirties.

"All clear, ma'am." The female agent in the charge of secret service detachment waved on after they scanned the room around them with plain eyeballs for a moment. They moved out of the circular boundary and assumed their positions, allowing President Luchenko move forward to greet her important counterpart.

"Welcome aboard to the USS Prometheus, President Luchenko." President Hayes stuck out a hand and said, "Looks like the cure definitely works."

"Thank you, Hayes. I am glad that I finally get a chance to thank more people who saved my world by finding the cure for us. Yes, it does work, as you can see I am free of the plague, and a slight cold I was developing." Luchenko replied as she shook his proffered hand and looked around the ring transporter ring filled with several personnel – secret service agents, technicians, and a handful of VIPs. "Oh, my associates should be here shortly."

The rings materialized again and with a bright and quick flash illuminating the room, the next second her associates were here. The governmental officials looking surprised except for a pair of escorting agents and a high ranked general. They looked around the room themselves, worrying if they might be missing a limb or whatever from the transportation process.

"Is that their first time?"

"Yes, definitely their first time." Luchenko smiled, chuckling. "Anyways, if you don't mind if you could lead us the way to the conference room?

A gathering was being held aboard the Prometheus's conference room to celebrate the great moment achieved by the Stargate Command, Interstellar Alliance, and Earth Alliance, their discovery at the Atlantis city which had led to the cure. There was Hayes and Luchenko, moving among the delegates, introducing them to each other, smiling, shaking the hands. It was all part of the formal introduction.

Sensing the time was near, the presidential aide quietly whispered to President Luchenko who was chatting with Hammond, the now retired general. She excused herself and moved toward executive spot of the conference table.

It was time to move forward into another stepping-stone.

"Everyone, may I have your attention?" Luchenko raised her voice to make herself heard. "As you know, I am here to do something on the behalf of my people. I can't say enough about what Stargate Command did for humanity, without their help we wouldn't have the cure right now. I am deeply grateful that with their assistance the cure was discovered in the alternate reality which presented itself as an unexpected answer, it would have never been found if it was not for the people involved. The Earth would have been doomed at the end of the fifth year if the cure were not discovered in time. Secondly, with the cure you also gave us a chance to shove our plasteel-toe boot where it belongs – the Drakh. On the behalf of the Earth Alliance I thank you and Stargate Command for finding the cure for my people."

"It is appreciated. we are always obliged to help our fellow humans even if they were from another universe. You would have done the same thing for us." President Hayes announced and turned facing his counterpart, smiling. "Importantly, we also owe the Earth Alliance a great deal of debt because without their assistance, the Atlantis city would be lost, and the Wraiths might have found a way to the Earth. Their military assistance rendered in form of a battlegroup was what gave us a fair fighting chance against the Wraith. On the behalf of Stargate Command, we thank you for your support." Hayes extended his hand, which Luckenho gladly accepted and shook firmly.

"That makes us even." Luchenko said loudly with a smile, still shaking Hayes's hand.

The conference erupted into roaring applause with everyone applauding a crucial moment between two governments. It represented a new shining hope for both of the Earths despite the a great obstacle between then, namely the alternate reality. For the Earth Alliance, it meant tthey were given a second chance since the Earth-Minbari War, they were on the way to another mass extinction until the gateway changed their fate. This day had a profound effect on EarthGov, simply said - they will not forget it.

"Yeah, pretty much even." Hayes replied loudly and he meant it.

As soon as the presidents were done shaking hands, the room broke into casual exchange with every one mingling with each other.

"That's a well done speech, both of you." Hammond approached them with a glass of champagne in his hand.

"Thank you, General Hammond." Luchenko said with a nod.

"We were talking about medicines recently. Its amazing how much progress you've made in the last few years." Hammond said coolly.

"Really?" Hayes asked with interesting.

Luchenko turned and explained to her counterpart. "That's one of many benefits of joining the Interstellar Alliance. With the technology exchange available to us, medical technology took a leap of a couple centuries in the period of a few years. The anti-radiation drug is one of the best examples. Before that we never had medices as effective and our people were dropping dead from radiation poisoning."

"That's a big leap." Hayes looked surprised. He realized that he had underestimated the importance of advanced medicines would have on the Earth after disclosure of the Stargate Program.

"Yes, speaking of medicine, the cure, I am pleased to inform you that my government and a handful of the mega-corps just started distributing the cure to the population few days ago. The people with the plague that prematurely mutated into near lethal form were first to receive the follow up antidote after it was air dropped from Daedalus." Luchenko stated. "The mega-corporations including Garibaldi-Edgars Industries also stared a parallel production, reducing total production time to a week instead of two weeks. Sooner we distribute, the better the results get."

"That's great to hear." Hayes smiled. "We are always happy to help out whenever we can."

"That brings up another subject." Luchenko smiled and said with complete sincerity, "I want to personally tell you that I want to repay what you did for my world. The infantry weapons and certain military technologies that your government was trying to buy from us. Do not worry about that, they were already paid by the EarthGov under my executive order. Please consider this as our way to thank you."

President Hayes was completely taken back by her remark. His expression widened. "I don't know what to say… thank you, madam president."

Lunar Shipyard, Solar System

Earth Alliance space

"It is almost completed." General Ryan proclaimed, his eyes glancing at the nearly finished Marathon class vessel still clamped down in the dockyard. "Few days, the Midway will be launched although her captain is not here yet. First time we'll have met."

"She is a very beautiful ship despite her brutal and intimidating lines." Lieutenant Colonel Davis stated his opinion, his hands resting on the brass railing and surveyed the vessel under construction. Not everyone got a chance to see a Marathon this close up from the dockyard's observation room, he considered himself as one of those few lucky ones.

The Marathon was designed as the replacement for the aging Hyperion-class heavy cruisers, one of Earth Force's proud milestones that saw plenty of action even years before the Dilgar War. It was hoped that their replacements could follow the linage of the Hyperion's exceptional history or do even better. The Marathon was far larger than the Hyperion, much faster, and capable of taking on a warship twice its own size and win. It was conceived with all the lessons learnt from three previous wars. The Midway would be an exceptional warship of her class, merely a template for her future sister ships, and she was fitted with more experimental and alien technologies than any warships in the Earth Force's fleet. This advancement had transformed the Midway into a very formidable Warship despite her very deceiving appearance. Unbeknownst to most she was armed with a few fusion beam weapons salvaged from the wreckage of Omega-X destroyers to supplement the hybrid cannons and neutron beam weaponry, which made up a majority of the Midway's offensive firepower.

"Thank to a few of your best engineers' help, we were able to get the hybrid drive working on the last test run. She could travel over a great distance through either jump point or normal space travel. That would give her a new level of tactical flexibility especially in mobility."

"Good thing it actually worked. If it didn't, the chief engineer of this project would have launched himself out of the nearest airlock in frustration."

"He had been through few projects worse than that." The general's voice dropped. "Good thing the shield generator worked perfectly before we installed it on her. That saved us from some headaches trying to get it to work."

"I now know what it was like when we worked on our first ship, the Prometheus, a few years ago. It was an enormous engineering struggle for the United States government even with the technical assistance from the Asgard. You have no idea how many refits the Prometheus has gone through. Three major refits over the course of two years."

"Geez, three major refits!" General Ryan exhaled loudly with his eyebrows arched high.

"You could imagine the look on the Prometheus project's chief engineer's face. He nearly had a heart attack when he received the news of third refit. He spent next to three hours swearing and saying how he was in over his head."

"I am sure that's what my chief engineer is doing right now while he is working on integrating the experimental sensor suite."

A middle-aged sergeant in gray uniform entered the observation room, cleared his throat, and said, "Sir, Captain Mallard is here."

"Good, bring Captain Mallard in." General Ryan waved the sergeant to fetch her.

"Yes, sir." The sergeant nodded, saluted, turned around, and left the room.

Captain Emily Mallard entered conference room with a blend of curiosity and excitement. Nothing escaped her notice as she studied the whole room in single quick glance, noticing a pair of uniformed officers surveying a new warship then the warship herself berthed outside in the vacuum. She could not help herself. She smiled subtly as she realized that beautiful yet brutal ship would be hers to command.

Captain Mallard was a young, confident, and capable officer who had a fair share of combat experience during the Civil War and recently the counteroffensive campaign against the Drakh. She had a reserved demeanor and aura about her, with brown eyes that glinted piercing intelligence and a short brown hair.

"You wanted to see me, sir?" Captain Mallard announced her presence, standing upright with hands behind her back.

"Yes." General Ryan turned facing her and for a moment, his jaw slackened wide. "Holy Mackery!"

Lieutenant Colonel Davis's head arched back in shock, his eyes widen as if a truck was about to hit him. "Whoa…"

General Ryan shook his head to check if he was not seeing a hallucination and gazed at a shocked liaison next to him, realizing this was real. He mouthed softly, "This is for real."

"Is something wrong?" Captain Mallard asked them, her face twisted in confusion. "Did I do something that surprised you?"

She would learn why they were floored by her appearance shortly after signing the non-disclosure agreement. They told her that she was a dead ringer of a woman from the alternate reality, almost two hundred years into the past. The woman whom had an uncanny resemblance to Emily Mallard, her name was Dr. Elizabeth Weir. The coincidences knew no barriers within the universe and could sail to anywhere, anytime.

Stargate Command

"Atlantis?" Sheridan spoke the word with a sort of schoolboy reverence. "Well it is a hell of a legend."

"And the reality is even more fantastical than the myths." Colonel Carter pointed out. "I've been anxious to go there since reading the first reports."

"Yeah." O'Neill threw in. "And Daniel was ready to walk there if I didn't let him go through the gate soon."

After the ceremony on Earth and some well earned leave the guests had returned to Stargate Command before going their separate ways. Garshaw of the Tok'ra and Gerak of the Jaffa had already left to attend to business and tell about Earth's new stance while Sheridan and his inner circle would be heading home shortly.

That was until O'Neill made the wild offer of taking them to another galaxy.

"I would love to go." The President said truthfully. "But it's a couple of weeks round trip, and I don't think I can afford to be away for that long."

"Ahh, if you go by ship." O'Neill waved his finger. "But thanks to Daniel we've got a new ZPM from the medical facility."

"Doesn't the base need that?" Delenn asked.

"It can run from Naquadah generators for a while." Carter replied. "Right now we're still setting up the production lines, we'll need the ZPM to run the synthesisers but for now we should be fine."

"See, Carter agrees." The General grinned. "That means it can't be wrong."

"I dunno," Sheridan held his doubt. "I mean it's…"

Delenn lightly struck his arm. "Of course we'll go, we'd love to. Right?"

Sheridan chuckled. "I'm just the President of the Interstellar Alliance, who am I to argue with her?"

"Good." Delenn nodded. "The secret to a happy marriage, I am always right."

"Great." O'Neill nodded. "Daniel's gonna flip."

Within the hour the gate plunged open, letting Doctor Jackson and Anise return clutching the glowing ZPM power source. He was met by the General and a small group of technicians who relieved him of the device.

"I brought it." Jackson announced. "What's the rush?"

"We need a little power boost to the gate, we're going for an away day." O'Neill smiled.

"Planning on going a long way?"

"Atlantis."

"Guess that counts."

"I've invited our friends to go take a look and bring a party with them, see what all the fuss is about."

Daniel nodded. "Well it makes sense."

"So you left Felger and Coombs in charge?" O'Neill tried to hide a smile. "How they doing?"

"Last I heard they were going to write a letter to George Lucas." Daniel said in a mildly exasperated tone. "I don't know how they find time to work, I'm worried about leaving them alone for five minutes."

"Oh." O'Neill sighed. "That's a shame because I was going to offer you a place on the expedition. But hey, if you gotta go and babysit Felger and…"

"nah, they'll be fine." Daniel said quickly. "Sure they will, I have total faith in them."

His friend smiled widely. "Get you're gear Daniel, we're off to wonderland."

Atlantis, Lantia

Pegasus Galaxy

"It's alright, getting an approved IDC." One of the civilian technicians reported from the Atlantis control room. "It's Stargate Command."

"The SGC?" Major Sheppard swallowed a mouthful of coffee and regarded the gate. "Better take the shield down."

With a slight woosh the energy shield disengaged and Sheppard made his way down from the control room to the lobby, a couple of Marines joining him and preparing their weapons as a precaution.

"What is it?" Zelenka trotted up beside him. "There's no scheduled travel today."

"It's from Earth." Sheppard replied. "Yeah, I know, the must have another ZPM."

The first man through the gate was instantly recognizable.

"General O'Neill." Sheppard snapped to attention.

"At ease Major." O'Neill returned the salute before looking around. "Nice crib."

"If we'd known you were coming I'd have baked a cake."

"Just as well, it'd go straight to my thighs." The General stated. Behind him more people began emerging from the gate. "So say hello to your first tour group."

Sheppard took a look at the group, his eyes drawn to a somewhat Lizard like creature. "Well he's new."

"Remember the back up we sent to fight for this place, the other universe and all that?" O'Neill explained. "Well that's where these guys are from."

"Well Doctor Weir is probably better suited to..."

"I'm sure you can show us all around." O'Neill chuckled. "Plus I brought Daniel, he's going to want to talk with your research guy, I'm thinking Cookie? Cook-kay?""

"McKay, actually sir." Sheppard replied.

"Sure. But all this talk of cookies has made me a little hungry, why don't you start the tour while I get some chow. Have fun."

O'Neill slapped him on the shoulder and headed away, grabbing one of the Marines as an impromptu guide to the mess hall leaving Sheppard in a spin. Hopefully the group was going to be just interested parties and nobody really important.

"Welcome to Atlantis!" he said cheerfully. "My name is Major John Sheppard and I'll be showing you around, I guess."

"Good to meet you Major." A tall bearded human shook his hand firmly. "My name is John Sheridan, President of the Interstellar Alliance."

Sheppard smiled as he shook the man's hand. Oh yeah, no problem, this wasn't going to be a major diplomatic incident. "Honoured."

Sheridan began introducing the rest of his group, Sheppard could recognize most of them from his briefings.

"This is my wife Delenn," Vice President, Entil'zha, supreme religious figure, "Citizen G'Kar of the Narn," Living legend to his race, "Master Bra'tac of the Free Jaffa," Another living legend, "Anise of the Tok'ra," super scientist, "And Michael Garibaldi of Edgars-Garibaldi industries." Probably the richest man in either universe.

Teal'c, Carter and Jackson had followed O'Neill, leaving Sheppard with these strangers.

"Might I also introduce some of my colleagues." Delenn spoke, gesturing at the be-robed figures behind her. "I introduce Rathenn of the Religious caste, Jolann of the Worker Caste, Kathenn of the Warrior caste, and Durhan of the Anla'shok."

Each of the four Minbari bowed in turn except the black clad warrior Kathenn, he just glared.

"Well then," Sheppard ignored him. "Lets get this show on the road."

"We're leaving?" Rathenn asked in mild confusion.

"Just follow me." The Major smiled.

He led the group out of the control room and into bright daylight, the sun reflecting from the spires of the city and casting a glittering brightness down onto the party. Sheppard was so used to it he had forgotten just how spectacular it was and found himself caught up in the wonder of his guests.

"Breathtaking, absolutely breathtaking!" Enthused G'Kar. "I can see this is a wonder of your universe, such beauty."

"The way the light dances from the towers, it reminds me of home." Delenn smiled.

Behind her Kathenn huffed. "This place is nothing like Minbar, this is all artificial."

"Minbari cities are carved from natural crystal." Rathenn explained to Sheppard. "My colleague meant no insult."

"I am sure the Major knows exactly what I meant." The warrior said plainly.

"I think so." Sheppard grinned widely, he was taking a real dislike to that guy. "Moving on."

The tour continued, and while Sheppard pointed out various facts about the city most of the details were still a mystery to the researchers. On the way he also pointed out the new weapons emplacements and damage caused by the battle for the city.

"We still have a lot of Earth Alliance people in Atlantis." Sheppard spoke. "Weapons crews and relief Marines from Captain Ivanova mainly, but we also kept a company of the 509th."

"An honourless group." Kathenn spat. "They lured many warriors to their death in the tunnels of one of your colonies."

Garibaldi glared at him. "Would have been better if they stood in the open and let you slaughter them huh?"

"Just like your fleet." Kathenn retorted. "War should be a quick and simple affair, and your fleet was very quick and simple to kill."

"That was a long time ago." Sheridan cut in. "The war is over."

"So our leaders tell us." Kathenn looked to Delenn.

"And so we obey." Durhan said firmly. "For that is the calling of the warrior."

"Of course, Ranger Durhan."

"I am a Ranger." The powerful Minbari stepped closer to Kathenn. "But before I was a warrior, I was fighting before you were born so do not presume I have lost my path. Whatever your Windsword friends think the war is over, and we fight alongside humans now. Do not forget it, or I will give you a sharp correction."

Kathenn bowed ever so slightly. "No disrespect intended."

Shepperd didn't believe him. "Let's take a look at the sea, you'll love it, very calming. You know, calm. Not violent, calm."

Elsewhere

"Would you not touch that, please, I just got it how I like it."

O'Neill stepped away from the shiny piece of unknown material, allowing McKay to return to his slightly less nervous state.

"If I had some warning I could have prepared." Mckay continued. "Couldn't you have waited until Doctor Weir came back?"

"So on topic," O'Neill directed. "Seen any Wraith lately?"

"No." Sighed McKay. "They've gone to ground, probably secretly building up their numbers so they can try and kill us all again sometime."

"That's a pretty pessimistic view." O'Neill commented. "If they try again we'll just spank them again. Easy."

"You can't just spank them all!" McKay said, and then winced. "Now I've got a really bad image in my head, thank-you."

"Yeah, me too." Jackson chipped in, not looking up from a note book.

"I'm working on getting you guys better weapons." O'Neill said, still picking up items and looking at them.

"What weapons?" McKay wondered. "And don't play with that!"

"Is it dangerous?"

"No, it's just annoying."

O'Neill stepped away from the shelves. "We're assigning a squadron of 302B fighters as permanent defence, and we're going to deploy our next 304 to cover Daedalus so you always have a ship on duty, the Theseus or Apollo I think. Plus we've sent some Earth Force Anti ship guns with your supplies on Daedalus, smaller siblings of the orbital particle beams we're trying to get hold of."

"Really, well I guess that's cool." McKay nodded. "And you have a spare ZPM we can borrow."

"See, things aren't so bad afterall."

"Oh my." Daniel said.

"Hey wait a minute," O'Neill frowned. "Carter was touching all your stuff, you never told her off!"

"I said Oh my." Daniel repeated.

"Well Colonel Carter is a scientist." McKay smiled nervously. "She understands these things."

"I see what you're doing, you want to impress her."

"I do not!" McKay huffed. "Did she look impressed?"

"A-ha!" O'Neill said triumphantly. "Busted."

"Guys!" Jackson raised his voice. "I said Oh my."

"You're always saying that."

"Well it's always important."

"Knowing the name of the Balinese goddess of plenty did not change my life Daniel."

"Well, maybe not, but this will." He dropped half a dozen photographs on the table, each showing writing on the wall.

"These are from a few doors down." McKay spotted them. "Empty room except for this grafitti."

"We need to go there now." Jackson was already on his feet.

"This had better be important Daniel, and I mean big honking important." O'Neill grunted.

"Well it might just be a map for every Ancient city ever made."

O'Neill nodded. "Well, I guess that counts."

They entered the room, lighting coming on the moment they crossed the threshold. It was as empty as McKay had stated and as such hadn't been explored during their stay. As soon as they were in Daniel went up to the wall.

"Can you translate that?" McKay called after him.

"Parts of it, Galen provided a lexicon of the basic language." Jackson replied. "Didn't you read it?"

"Been a little busy trying not to get my life sucked out." The Atlantis scientist grunted.

"So what you got Daniel? This like the Abydos address room for the Stargate?"

"Maybe." Daniel was reading the inscriptions on the walls closely. "But I don't think these are gate addresses, or stellar coordinates."

"How can you be sure what they are then?" McKay asked.

"The names." Daniel pointed to some writing as if it would all make sense now. "Annwyn, Shangri-La, Camelot, Thule, Eldorado, Avalon and this one, Lyonesse. All fabled lost cities like this one."

"you think they're all real?"

"I'd bet on it, and I'd bet they're scattered across who knows how much space."

"Don't suppose it mentions anything else?" O'Neill prompted.

"I'll get some more detailed photos and take them home." Daniel mused. "I'll know more when I go through my notes at the SGC, but it's lucky I got to see them. Finally."

"Yes, you were right, you should have come earlier." O'Neill shrugged. "But we were busy saving Earth, again."

"Well, yeah, there is that."

"Get what you need, I better go see how our tour group is doing."

"Very impressive!" Durhan laughed. "You are a skilled fighter."

"Thank you." Teyla bowed. "It comes from a life time of preparation, the Wraith are our constant enemy."

"You have done well to survive them, from what I understand they are powerful and remorseless." The Ranger complimented. "If you have time I can show you a few tricks with a staff that nobody here will ever have seen."

"An honour." Teyla smiled.

"Yes," Grinned Kathenn. "An honour to share our guarded secrets with humans."

"Alyt Kathenn, if you have an objection there is a time and a place." Delenn said firmly.

"Yes, the Grey Council, the builders Government." He sneered. "They would have my warriors building walls of stone, rather than with the corpses of the dead."

"A poor choice of building material." Durhan replied. "Besides, we Warriors are builders, we build peace."

"A waste of our resources." The Alyt said. "War is the calling of our heart, not posturing and threatening."

"We obey. Understanding is not required." Durhan snapped. "You will do as you are told."

"Yes, Sech Durhan." He answered with unrestrained sarcasm.

It was into this hostile atmosphere O'Neill walked, immediately sensing the tension between the alien delegates

"So, having fun?"

"Laugh a minute." Garibaldi quipped.

"We were just getting started." Sheppard grinned, blanking out the ill looks from Kathenn.

The Major, now joined by Teyla and O'Neill continued to lead them through the spires of the city.

"Now as yet we haven't been able to tell what this place is made of, just that it is light and strong with good thermal resistance. Doesn't make the city indestructible, but that's what the shield is for.

"A shield?" G'Kar wondered.

"Yeah, rated to survive days of bombardment from a fleet of ships, at full strength it could last years." Sheppard smiled at the reaction. "Well, so Rodney tells me."

"I doubt it would survive a Minbari fleet." Kathenn said harshly. "Not much can."

"Well it took a Wraith bombardment, I think it'll work nicely."

"The Minbari fleet cannot…"

"Okay guys, lets calm down before you start overcompensating." O'Neill said. "Now, what's that do?"

"It's the communication tower." Sheppard grunted. "Hey I know, let's go see Doctor Weir."

"This about all you can take?" Sheridan grinned. "You lasted longer than I would."

With a sly wink he turned and headed back to the centre of the city. "You'll all like Doctor Weir, and you can bet she's gonna love you guys."

"Well, it's a little unexpected." Elizabeth Weir shrugged. "But welcome."

"Yeah, your Major here said the same thing. Unexpected." O'Neill mused. "Not wonderful, or amazing, or a fabulous surprise… just unexpected."

"So I guess our guests have had the tour?"

"Yeah, they're waiting for you in the conference room. They have a lot of questions."

"Doesn't everyone?" Weir sighed. "Fine, let's get to it."

"But when you're done we have good news, Daniel will tell you later. For hours, using words like 'Radically' and 'Phenomenal' and maybe even 'Earth shattering' he likes drama."

She went into the room, closed the door behind her and didn't return for six hours. During that time she answered scores of questions and related what was known about the Ancients and this city. They didn't know a huge amount, but it was enough to cause a lot of raised eyebrows and surprised looks from the group.

Predictably one member of the group was unconvinced.

"First One technology?" Kathenn chuckled. "Humans have mastered this advanced city? I don't think so."

"It's all around you, feel free to check." Weir answered.

"Another human trick, but you do not fool the Minbari."

"No." Durhan said. "They do not, but apparently the words 'Fool' and 'Minbari' are appropriate to this conversation."

"You insult me, Ranger?"

"Enough." Delenn snapped. "I will not listen to childish squabbling Kathenn, you are here to speak to the Warrior caste of this place. I do not care for your comments."

"It is my opinion…"

"If I want your opinion, I will give it to you." Delenn echoed a phrase she had heard in her youth.

"You are no longer Satai, you cannot…"

"No, I am not a Satai, I am Entil'zha, I am Vice President of the Interstellar Alliance. I walked where no one else dared, you included Kathenn. I took ship to Za'ha'dum, I looked into the face of our great enemy and did not flinch. I am of the line of Valen, and you Kathenn will obey the chain of command, and the laws of Valen."

"Valen?" he scoffed. "Do you mean Sinclair? One more human lie."

"Okay," Weir broke in. "I can see this is developing into a tense discussion."

"D'ya think?" Garibaldi chipped in.

"So let's get some fresh air, if you'd join me outside I'll continue to answer your questions."

She led them out onto one of the towers, feeling a metaphorical weight lift off her as she saw the gleaming city and bright ocean beyond. Even after seeing it everyday since the mission began it was still utterly breathtaking.

"Is that the Daedalus?" Delenn asked from beside her, staring down at a landing pad in the distance.

"Yes, as a matter of fact. Colonel Caldwell is just off loading supplies before he begins an exploration of local space."

"I don't suppose anyone would mind if we took a look around." Sheridan glanced at O'Neill.

"Well you let us aboard your big flagship." O'Neill considered. "I guess it'd be rude not to return the favour. And we're not rude, in fact we humans make great hosts. Just ask the Goa'uld." He paused. "I guess that's only funny if you're not from out of town."

They worked their way down to the ship with Weir pointing out areas of interest on their path until they made it to the landing pad and the warship looming over the large flat area.

"General." Caldwell was signing off a roster when he noticed the party. "Well this is a surprise."

"ZPM, gate, tour bus." O'Neill rattled off. "Short story."

"President Sheridan." Caldwell shook hands. Good to see you again."

"Likewise Colonel." The grey haired man smiled. "Say, if it's not too much trouble…"

"You want another look around?" he beamed, clearly quite proud at the interest his ship had generated. "I'll show you myself, I need to do a top to tail inspection, you should come along."

"This is the ship from the battle with the Drakh?" Durhan looked up at its underside. "Remarkable such a small vessel can have such power."

"We've got plenty of surprises onboard, if you'll follow me…"

"Wait." Delenn paused. "Where is Kathenn?"

Of course it was lies. Kathenn knew that, it was a story these humans created to try and supplant the Minbari as the elders of the galaxy. A weak and futile attempt, but the arrogance of it infuriated him. The Minbari were the rightful superiors of the galaxy, and the warriors were the rightful leaders of their race as they displayed the qualities of true leadership. The other races had to see that the Minbari would exercise justice and rule with the wisdom of the ancient races, after all the Minbari had been a favourite of both Vorlons and Shadows.

But first an example had to made, and there was none better than Earth. The reason they had gone to war wasn't important to Kathenn, he didn't know Dukhat or have any interest in him, what did matter was that war had been declared and his people had found purpose in battle. He himself had earned glory commanding a warcruiser and was mortified when the Council had just sent them home before the natural conclusion of the war.

And that was the bottom line to Kathenn. The war had not ended naturally, therefore it was still in effect. All he had to do was convince both sides to start again. It would have been easier a few years ago, with Shakiri in line to take the Minbari back to a warrior culture and with Clark using Earth ships to destroy anything that threatened him war would have been inevitable. With the ISA that had changed, but the Drakh attack had provided a new opportunity. Earth was weak and desperate enough to lash out if provoked. It was Kathenn's hour.

But first he wanted to find the truth of this place. None of the script he had seen written here matched human standard, and he had seen no evidence of these super advanced human ancestors or progenitors that the rather high and mighty female had lovingly described. This place could have been built by anyone, and it could be anywhere, not in another galaxy, It was preposterous to suggest they had travelled millions of lightyears in one step. He wanted to expose these people for the fools they were before crushing them. Two Earths just meant two wars, keep him busy.

"Halt." A voice commanded. "This is a restricted area. Identify yourself."

He dropped his black hood and glared at the human. The man wore a military uniform but had no weapon, likely he was off duty and they had met by chance.

"Do not presume to command me."

"This facility is under the jurisdiction of Stargate command, which means you will answer to me. Now who are you and why are you here?"

"I am Shai Alyt Katenn, newest leader of the Wind sword clan."

"Well that's nice. Why are you here?"

"First who are you?"

"Staff Sergeant William Peters, United States Marine Corps." He introduced, then clicked on his radio. "Captain, you might want to get down here, section twenty, we have a Minbari guest."

"Confirmed." A woman said. "On my way."

Peters took a moment to observe the Minbari, who just glared back.

"If I wanted to leave, you don't have any weapons." Kathenn said. "you couldn't stop me."

"Captain's on her way. She'll escort you to wherever you came from."

"I'm sure she will try."

Peters was getting rather tired of the aliens posturing, but kept a straight face.

"Well, if you don't mind." Kathenn began to walk away.

"I ordered you to halt."

"The day any human commands me is the day the Federation falls."

"If you don't halt I'll be forced to restrain you."

"And the day a human defeats me in battle will be the day the universe burns."

"Have it your way." Peters shrugged, then with rapid speed swung for the warrior.

Kathenn saw the punch coming and moved appropriately. What he didn't see was that Peters was feinting and the real attack came from a rapidly rising knee that connected with his chest. Minbari were extremely tough for a simple humanoid species with heavy bone and muscle density thanks to their mineral rich diet but even with those advantages the impact hurt.

He did however recover quickly, backing up and assuming a more defensive stance.

"You have some skill." Kathenn admitted. "But you know your life is now forfeit."

Peters just shook his head. "You can still come quietly."

Kathenn attacked quickly and quietly, a series of swings that caught the Marine hard. Normally Kathenn would expect a human to fold immediately but Peters took the first two hits, then quickly blocked the remainder. Not only that he also struck back forcing the Minbari onto the defensive.

"Don't play these games with me human!" Kathenn snapped. "You can't win!"

In return Peters struck him squarely on the jaw, staggering the Minbari. He followed with a second and third punch of such power Kathenn began to loose his senses.

"Guess you'll be coming quietly now." Peters said, then punched Kathenn a final time dropping him unconscious to the floor.

"Quite a skilful display." A female voice said quietly. Peters turned to find an unfamiliar person, Minbari like but not exactly on of her race.

"Well thank you Ma'am."

Delenn glanced at Peters, then down to Kathenn. "While he certainly had it coming, as your people would say, I know of only one human who ever defeated a warrior in single combat. And he was a Minbari not born of Minbari."

"I don't quite follow."

"What I mean is no normal human could physically defeat a Minbari in a simple fight. So I have to wonder if you are not a normal human, what are you?"

"What I am," Peters began. "Is late, if you'll excuse me I'll leave this individual in your care."

"Delenn, there you are!" The voice of President Sheridan entered the scene, a small contingent of Earth Force Marines behind him. "You shouldn't walk off like that."

"I found Kathenn." She stated. "This man defeated him."

"How?" Sheridan asked in puzzlement.

"With his bare hands." Delenn answered simply.

"Well that's…"

"Yes, we've been over that." Delenn interrupted. "I was just asking who exactly he was."

"With respect," Peters said calmly. "I have duties to attend to."

"Not so fast." Sheridan cut him off. "Theres no way a normal man can beat a Minbari warrior, I know that from experience. So if you aren't a normal man and nobody else knows about your abilities on this top secret facility, I'd say we have a problem."

"No problem Mr President, now if you don't mind…"

The Marines beside Sheridan raised their rifles at the exact same instant Shepherd arrived.

"And just whoah." The Air force officer skidded to a halt. "Well this feels like I've just walked into a movie near the end."

"I want you to put this man under arrest." Sheridan said. "He isn't human and he's hiding that from you."

"Sergeant?" Shepherd frowned. Peters remained silent.

"Looks like SGC security has been breached." Sheridan spoke flatly. "And I'll bet this guy can tell you how