Here's the next chapter in our little ongoing saga. Enjoy and post those reviews. I'm also open to ideas if anyone has any special requests on where they would like to see the story go. I'm not saying that the requests will make it into the story but anything's possible.
Cheyenne Mountain, Earth
After numerous off world gate activations all expected visitors had arrived. With off world operations being conducted from Earth, the Alpha and Beta sites, and the recently added November site the operational tempo of Cheyenne Mountain has slowed. While it was true more SG teams existed now than at anytime previously, their being stationed in multiple facilities around the galaxy helped.
In the conference room races from across the galaxy were seated. Jaffa, Asgard, Alterran, and Human were all present. The reason for being of this small intergalactic conference was the current pandemic afflicting the Free Jaffa Nation. The CDC and USAMRIID had tracked the path of the outbreak, and isolated a sample of the virus for examination, but found themselves in need of assistance. Displaying their data on the virus via overhead display the briefing had begun in earnest thirty minutes earlier.
"During our genetic sequencing of the virus we found several peculiarities which lead us to believe the virus was engineered. Genes found in very robust forms of cancer were present. The virus also appears to be sheathed in a protective coating which it produces that makes it highly resistant for a time to atmosphere and ultraviolet light. No other known virus we've ever encountered behaves in this manner. It's very similar to what would be found in a weaponized biological agent." said Colonel Nathan of USAMRIID, creators of some of America's most feared biological weapons before their banning.
"We are in agreement with these findings. The Asgard have never before encountered a naturally occurring virus such as this. Sensor readings from our science vessels dispatched to the effected planets have detected airborne concentrations of the pathogen not consistent with a naturally occurring outbreak." said Heimdal, the chief Asgard medical specialist.
"I concur with these findings. After speaking with several individuals on this matter I can tell you who developed this virus, when it was developed, and why. For many millennia we watched over the Goa'uld. This virus was developed by a Goa'uld named Nergal roughly five thousand years ago. It was intended to be a failsafe should the Jaffa ever attempt an uprising against the Goa'uld. It was employed only once to our knowledge in Sokar's war against the Sodan Jaffa greatly reducing their numbers and sending them into hiding. The use of this virus was the reason we gave the Sodan their cloaking bracelets. In its one use as a weapon the virus had a lethality rate approaching seventy percent. The thirty percent it did not kill it left greatly weakened. The virus will quickly mutate into new variations, always attacking the implanted Goa'uld larvae. As much as it pains me to say this we know of only one cure. You must remove all symbiotes on all planets, and change over all Jaffa to Tritonin." said Kalus, the chief medical specialist of the Alterran's.
Silently Teal'c seethed. Seeing the realization of just who might be behind this dawn on the surrounding faces General Landry looked upon Daniel Jackson for more insight.
"Dr. Jackson, what can you tell us about Nergal?" asked the General.
"Not as much as I would like General. Nergal was the Babylonian god of war and pestilence. Also known as the burner, the raging king and the furious one he was the god of the underworld. He was also in later days known as the god of plague. He is mentioned in the Hebrew bible as the deity of the city of Cuth and in later Christian texts is purported to be chief spy of Satan which we've learned was the Goa'uld Sokar." said Jackson.
"Nergal fell in battle against Ra long ago. His planets were assumed by Ra and later Apophis." stated Bra'tac.
"No Jaffa would unleash a virus such as this on his or her own people. It goes against our very code of honor." stated Teal'c with barely controlled rage in his eyes.
"If this is something created by the Goa'uld, that points us in the direction of who released this. It's no secret that much of the Goa'uld's less than humanitarian hardware and knowledge now rests in the hands of the Lucian Alliance." said General Landry.
"The planet this virus was developed on has no stargate. It was used as a headquarters for the Goa'uld Empire. It stood abandoned for many years before their fall." said Kalus.
"Perhaps you would care to provide the planets location so we can have a look around?" asked Landry.
Hermes
Orders had been dispatched quickly to Colonel Mitchell. He was to precede to the outer edge of the galaxy and under cloak scan a little known planet for any signs of life or energy signature. The same would be done for the surrounding moons as well. Unsure of the reasoning of why he and his ship were being sent on a simple recon decided not to ask.
Gliding through the void of hyperspace Hermes closed in minute by minute on her destination. Dropping out of hyperspace on the edge of the solar system the cloak was quickly engaged rendering the vessel invisible to visual and sensor detection. At full sub light their target was an hour away. Long range sensors scanned the surrounding solar system.
"Sensors are picking up energy signatures consistent with Ha'tak class vessels. Estimated ship count is five." said the sensor specialist.
"Any sign they have detected us in the neighborhood?" asked Mitchell.
"No sir. Weapons and shields are currently offline. I'll be able to tell you more as we get closer sir." said the sensor operator.
Silently Hermes moved into position near Tuat's outermost moon; her powerful sensors scanning every inch of the planet. A close eye was also kept on the orbiting Ha'tak vessels.
"Sir, sensors show a large facility on the surface of the planet; consistent with Goa'uld design. We are also showing a number of Al'kesh and Tel'tak's parked near the main structure. Some form of sensor jammer is in operation, we can't give you a number of life signs within the structure sir." said the sensor operator.
"That's a whole lot of what looks to be Lucian Alliance hardware parked on and around this rock. Relay our findings and sensor data to SGC via subspace. Their going to want to know something is going on here." ordered Mitchell.
"Sir, Ha'tak's are powering shields and weapons." exclaimed the sensor operator.
"They must have detected our subspace message being transmitted. That's just great. Either they've upgraded their sensor capabilities on those ships or that facility has a way to detect us when transmitting even if cloaked. Keep recording all sensor data on those ships." said Mitchell.
"Hyperspace window opening six hundred thousand kilometers to starboard." exclaimed the sensor operator.
On cue three more Ha'tak class vessels exited hyperspace. In seconds their shields were up and weapons were powered. All eight Ha'tak's began disgorging their gliders in search of the source of the subspace transmission.
"It's getting a little too hot in the kitchen. Navigation, give me full sub light out of this system. I don't want to risk detection by jumping to hyperspace within their sensor range. Once out of the solar system set course for Earth." ordered Mitchell.
Pluto
The construction of the ever growing Tauri fleet never stopped within the ancient shipyard, although it had slowed slightly. The automated army of construction robots in several handfuls of docks was busily working on their new task. Large numbers of the ancient's defense satellites were being mass produced. The design had changed somewhat though. Their original power source was replaced for a faster charging and much longer lasting variant. The sub space capacitors addition to each satellite would ensure unlimited power for an infinite amount of time. Shield emitters much like those found aboard Destiny had also been added to keep the satellites in working order should they be attacked.
Elsewhere in the station a team of engineers were going over the proposed design of a new class of seed ships. These ships had a twofold purpose. While acting as advanced scouts gathering ever small detail of a habitable world they also manufactured and emplaced stargates. This new class of seed ship would have greatly increased shield and sensor capability, greatly improved defensive weapons, and a cloak. Lessons had been learned fighting the drones billions of light years away and those lessons were being put into practice. These new seed ships would also build the Pegasus model stargates. Once the first ship was completed an upgrade of the Milky Way gate network to the Pegasus model was planned.
On lower levels of the shipyard construction was underway of several Improved Daedalus class vessels. The Constantine Alekseyev was to be Russia's newest vessel, and a replacement of the Korolev lost several years before. Beside her was another Daedalus midway in the construction process. Dreadnaught was to be Great Britons first space faring vessel. The French would also be getting their first vessel in the Le Triumphant. It had been decided to give the three nations the smaller ships so as to train crews for future Athena and Aurora class vessels for their nations. Each of the Improved Daedalus vessels featured improved power cores with Asgard ion neutrino generators as their primary power source with a zpm in reserve. As each day passed the arachnid like construction robots inched toward completion of the vessels. The Tauri fleet continued to grow.