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Stargate: Mass Effect
Chapter11: Asgard Legacy
March 13th 2007
Asgard Home System
In orbit above Orilla
TSAS Normandy
Cockpit
Two years went by quickly after the defeat of the Collectors at the Battle of the Galactic Core and there was quite a bit of salvage from the debris field near the Collector Station which the Terrans quickly repaired and added to their own forces, usually as cargo ships. The Milky Way Galaxy had mostly quieted down in recent times besides the odd run in with the Lucian Alliance now and then but that was usually just the odd occasions.
In the distant Pegasus Galaxy however things weren't so easy; the city-ship Babylon was simply too badly damaged to sustain a population larger than a few hundred and most of them were off-world teams. The locals of the Pegasus Galaxy had warned them of an alien race called the Wraith who harvested the humans of the Pegasus Galaxy as food.
The Wraith were currently in hibernation and were being relatively ignored by the Terrans, though that was soon to change. As a precaution at least two battlecruisers were stationed in orbit of Babylon at all times and the city itself was resupplied directly from Earth via Atlantis.
Currently the Normandy, now under the command of Colonel Mitchell was in route to the Asgard homeworld of Orilla after its former commander, General O'Neill having now taken up command of the entire Earth Fleet based on the Citadel. However the good General was going along on the Normandy's current mission to Orilla having been requested personally by Supreme Commander Thor.
"Daniel these are actual leather seats," Cam said from the pilot's seat. "I don't care what you say the new upgrades to the Normandy are a good thing."
"Most of the system updates and upgrades from the private companies are 'better' in only a few places Colonel Mitchell. I still believe it was more efficient before the upgrades," EDI spoke up.
"Err...leather," Cam said back as he gestured to his seat.
"Glad to see you've got your priorities straight Cam," Sam said as she slid into her seat to the side.
"You won't be saying that when you take command of the Phoenix next month," Cam retorted.
"Actually they're renaming it...the George Hammond," Sam replied sadly.
"...I see...sorry," Cam apologized, knowing the effect bringing up sad memories could have on SG1. "What about you Daniel?" he asked the archaeologist.
"I think I'll remain in Atlantis," Daniel shrugged. "I wanted to go with the original expedition but with the Collectors and everything concerning galaxy I thought my time would be better used here."
"So this is SG1's last mission huh? Well it's been an interesting ride," Cam commented.
"Howdy kids," Jack greeted as he stepped into the cockpit. "How are things?" he asked.
"We're entering the Asgard System now sir," Sam replied as the ship dropped into normal space above the planet. "We're in orbit," she confirmed.
"I'm detecting something odd...there are no ships in orbit," EDI reported.
"I thought the Asgard keep at least six ships in orbit for defence?" Cam asked confused.
"They do," Daniel replied as he stared out of the viewport.
"I'm picking up a message from the planet surface," Sam informed. "It's Thor; he's requesting to beam aboard."
"Sure," Jack agreed. A column of light signified the appearance of the Asgard Supreme Commander in the ship's cockpit behind him. "Hey Thor, buddy...how have you been?" he asked after a moment.
"Not well O'Neill," Thor admitted sadly. "With your permission, many Asgard will beam aboard the Normandy and begin installing our latest technology."
Silence...
"...I'm sorry I must have misheard," Jack shook his head and asked in total seriousness. "Did you just say you're giving us all of your current technology...including weapons?"
"Yes," Thor confirmed with a nod.
"Why now? I thought the Asgard High Council thought we aren't ready yet?" Sam asked confused and surprised.
"We can no longer clone new bodies for ourselves," Thor explained. "There is genetic deterioration in our DNA and soon the Asgard race will be gone once and for all. Before that happens we wish to leave our legacy with you."
"Why us?" Cam asked.
"You are the Fifth Race," Thor said simply.
Sam never thought she'd hear those words being said in her lifetime...
The Normandy sat in orbit of Orilla for the rest of the day as numerous Asgard installed more advanced systems on the Terran warship including their new plasma beam cannons to replace the old Thanix cannons. According to Thor they were designed specifically to use against the Reapers and were powerful enough to destroy even Alteran warships.
"It's almost time," Daniel commented.
"The Asgard just left," Sam spoke from her seat.
"EDI, break us out of orbit," Cam ordered and the Normandy veered away from the planet.
"I am detecting a disturbance in the planet's core," EDI reported.
"They're really going to commit mass suicide to deny others access to their technology," Sam said sadly.
"Let's see it," Jack said from behind the pilot's seat.
The Normandy stopped and turned towards the distant planet it he flew away from. Explosions riddled its surface before it exploded in a cloud of fire and rock, leaving nothing but an asteroid field in its place.
"EDI; set a course for Earth...get us out of here," Cam gave the order.
October 5th 2007
Lantean System
In orbit above Lantea
TSAS Daedalus
Main Bridge
In orbit of the mostly ocean-covered world sat three very recognisable warships, two of which were of Terran design and the last was clearly Lantean. These ships were the Terran battlecruisers, Daedalus and Apollo along with the battleship, Aurora. There was also an 'old' Lantean defence platform in orbit that had been salvaged from the neighbouring planet in the system and moved into orbit by the two Terran battlecruisers.
The Expedition had salvaged the damaged Aurora after finding it adrift in deep space with Babylon's long-range sensor grid. Apparently its crew had locked themselves in stasis to survive however there was also a Wraith who had infiltrated the ship's artificial reality where the crew were in. This Wraith had been trying to locate Earth and learn how to upgrade Wraith Hyperdrives so that they may reach Earth itself.
The Wraith was killed by Colonel Sheppard and the crew, seeing as they could no longer survive with their physical bodies now centuries old decided to end their struggle and pass away in stasis. The Aurora was then salvaged by the Terrans and was currently operating under the command of the recently promoted Colonel Evan Lorne.
The Wraith Fleet were still in hibernation across the Pegasus Galaxy but that would change in the coming months as today marked the day when the entire galaxy would be thrown into war. In the coming months the Wraith would be hunted to brink of extinction by a new and relentless foe.
"Sir, message coming in from Babylon," Major Pat Meyers informed.
Colonel Steven Caldwell leaned back in his chair and turned to the screen on the wall. "Put it on," he gave the order. An image of the Babylon Control Tower appeared onscreen with Doctor Weir standing with her arms crossed. "Elizabeth is there something you needed?" he asked patiently.
"Yes there is," Weir nodded and explained. "We've lost contact with AR-1 on M27-493; it's a planet we discovered in the Atlantis database back on Earth. We've tried to dial the gate but we can't establish a connection."
"And you want me to investigate?" Caldwell inquired. He nodded after a moment, "alright we'll find out what's going on. The rest of the fleet will remain in orbit while we recover Colonel Sheppard' team."
"Thank you Steven," Weir nodded before the channel closed and the screen flickered off.
"Major Marks, break us out of orbit and take us into hyperspace," Caldwell ordered.
It was going to be one of those days...
October 6th 2007
Uncharted System
In orbit above M27-493
TSAS Daedalus
Main Bridge
The Daedalus soon emerged from hyperspace above the newly discovered planet which, according to Atlantis' records was some kind of research facility used before the Lantean-Wraith war ten thousand years ago.
"Anything?" Caldwell asked as he stared out of the viewport.
"I'm detecting two ships in orbit...one of them is Lantean," Meyers replied.
"They're firing at each other," Marks reported confused as an image of them appeared on the screen to the side. The unknown appeared to be some kind of box-shaped ship with a pair of thrusters strapped to its back and boasting two energy weapons on its sides.
"I'm detecting another three ships lifting of from the surface," Meyers added. "They're Wraith, two cruisers and one Hive-Ship."
"The Lantean vessel is turning its attention at the Wraith ships," Marks reported.
"Incoming message from Colonel Sheppard sir," Meyers informed.
Caldwell flicked the switch on his chair, "Colonel Sheppard, do you mind explaining what's going on here?"
"We're not really sure who the new guys are but they don't seem to like the Ancient-look-alikes shooting around," Sheppard started. "According to McKay they're Replicators judging by what he got from the database in the outpost on the planet. Apparently they were designed to be used against the Wraith during the war ten thousand years ago but the Wraith turned them off."
"So why have they come back now? A better question would be why the Ancients built them in the first place? I'd of thought they'd have learned their lesson the first time after that whole Reaper fiasco against the Ori?" Caldwell questioned.
"I'm not sure," Rodney's voice spoke through the comm. "There's a lot of data here and most of its in Ancient so you'll have to forgive me for being unable to explain it yet."
"Bring your Jumper aboard," Caldwell ordered.
"Roger that, Sheppard out," Sheppard said before the channel closed.
"Sir, we're being hailed by the unknown ship," Meyers reported.
"Put it through," Caldwell said and the image of a woman appeared onscreen. "This is Colonel Steven Caldwell of the Terran Systems Alliance Cruiser Daedalus, to whom am I speaking?"
"My name is Larrin," the woman responded. "My people are known as the Travellers, I assume you are the ones those of this galaxy have come to know as the humans from beyond our galaxy?"
"Yes we are," Caldwell confirmed. "Why are you here?"
"Wraith hives all over the galaxy are awaking from their slumber far sooner than we had anticipated," Larrin replied with a frown. "We came to investigate the Lantean battleship currently firing down on the Wraith below when it opened fire on us."
"From what I understand they're not the Ancients," Caldwell explained. "They're machines, Replicators."
"Sir the Replicator ship has completed its bombardment," Meyers reported. "The Wraith ships have been destroyed...its changing course and heading straight for us."
"What did we miss?" Sheppard asked as he and his team arrived on the bridge.
"Nothing much...open a channel to the Replicator ship," Caldwell ordered. "This is Colonel Steven Caldwell of the Terran Systems Alliance Cruiser Daedalus, to Replicator vessel. Stand down; if you attempt to attack this ship then it will be considered an act of war."
"...We're receiving a response," Meyers informed.
"Let's hear it," Caldwell nodded.
"Foolish beings of flesh and blood. You cannot comprehend what we are," a distorted voice spoke through the comm.
"Oh crap," Rodney cursed as he looked over the readings. "This is a bigger problem that I thought; those Replicators are being controlled by a Reaper."
"That which you know as Reapers are your salvation through destruction," the Reaper declared. "Though you defeated Nazara and my previous servants, the Collectors, there are other ways to attain our goals. Behold my new servants, my new brethren, the Asurans."
"Major Marks, lock weapons on the Replicator ship and open fire. All batteries," Caldwell ordered.
The Daedalus shot forward as the Asuran battleship launched a swarm of plasma drones at the Terran warship. The drones slammed into the ZPM-powered Asgard shields and the ship visibly staggered from the barrage. In response the Daedalus angled slightly and brought its new Asgard Plasma Beam Weapons to bear on the Asuran battleship.
Six shots were fired, their light blue beams lancing out from the battlecruiser's gun-ports and slamming into the shields of the Asuran vessel. Two shots quickly brought its shields down and the last four shattered its hull, burning through the armour and reducing it to broken metal.
"Target has been neutralised," Marks confirmed.
"Damage report?" Caldwell asked.
"The shields took a beating but they're holding steady," Meyers reported. "It's a good job we have a ZPM aboard; I'd hate to take on one of them without one powering the shields."
"I wish we had these a few years ago," Caldwell commented as he looked over the damage the new weapons had done. "Doctor McKay, see what you can find out from the Replicator ship's black box," he ordered.
"I'm already on it," Rodney called from the back.
"Sir the Traveller ship is hailing us again," Meyers informed.
"This is going to be a long day," Caldwell commented with a sigh. "Colonel Sheppard, can you handle this? I need to report in with Babylon on our current situation."
Sheppard nodded, "tell Elizabeth I'm sorry about not calling in."
Author's Notes:
The Terrans now have access to the Asgard Legacy and the Terran-Asuran War has finally begun. As you can see the Wraith and the Travellers are involved too and the Reapers aren't out of the game just yet though I bet none of you saw that coming huh? This will be my last post for 2010 so I hope you enjoyed it and are looking forward to more.
Merry Christmas everyone and a Happy New Year
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