DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter, Stargate, Star Wars, or anything you may find in my story that in any way resembles a character, story, or plot that is owned by another person.
A/N: Sorry for all the stats in the last chapter. It had to happen sometime. Sorry that I forgot that in 1998 Earth's population was 6bil not 7bil. See why stats are so important ;-)` Also, the 396 stargate come from the official wiki. I won't be dealing with the vast majority of them anyway except in summary format, I don't really care about the other 1,000's there probably are in the galaxy that the series never touched on either.
Harry Potter and the Alteran Gift
Chapter 25
PNA avatar (or any artificial intelligence or neural computer interface) speaking with Harry looks like this. Telepathy *looks like this*.
August 6, 1998 ...
At 0800 the next morning all hands met on the command deck for the final recovery effort of this expedition, including Ginny and Mione this time since they are done with their project for this trip.
"Commander, Atlantis reports we are ready to drop out of hyper-space near the coordinates of the adrift Aurora and scanners have detected two small hyper-space capable vessels of unknown origin in station keeping formation with the Aurora. The Aurora comms. are still down at this range, it is badly damaged, detecting localized radiation leaks in the engine compartments. Ship markings indicate this is the Battleship Varleter, abandoned during the Wraith war due to radiation leaks."
"Very well, drop out of hyper-space, raise the shields, standby all weapons, and do not raise the cloak-let's see if they recognize us and are willing to talk before doing anything stupid. If so they should recognize our claim to that ship."
...
"Merlin, attempt to communicate with those ships." ordered Harry.
"Hail, unknown vessels in station keeping with our damaged Battleship Varleter, this is the Alteran city-ship Atlantis, please identify yourselves and your purpose near our vessel?" says Merlin.
"Atlantis, this is Larrin, Captain of one of the Traveler generational ships you see before you and Commander of this salvage mission. No one has seen your kind in the galaxy since the end of the Wraith War 10,000 years ago. We had thought you all were destroyed or permanently left this galaxy. We have been attempting to salvage this ship to add it to our fleet. Are you planning on preventing us from completing this salvage operation? The ship has been abandoned here for a very long time."
"Larrin, this is Atlantis actual, Supreme Commander Potter of the Alteran fleet. We have never heard of you Travelers before. However, I am willing to hear you out. Would you care to beam aboard Atlantis to meet with me and some of my senior staff to discuss the situation?"
"Atlantis, this is Larrin, that is acceptable. May I bring two of my officers with me, they may be of use to the conversation at least on my side."
"Very well, are those the two life-signs we detect closest to you?" "Yes" "Alright prepare for beam out and let us know when you are ready."
"Merlin, when they are ready please beam them aboard and escort them to my ready room."
"Captain Helia, please take command of the Asuran Second Squadron and launch in patrol in case we have any unwelcome visitors while we're just sitting around here chatting." "Yes, sir."
"Atlantis, we are ready" "Beaming now." .beaming.
Merlin greets them with a squad of Asuran security, "Welcome aboard Captain Larrin, if you and your officers would follow me to my Commander's ready room, please."
As Larrin and her officers enter the room followed by Merlin, Harry, Ayiana, Saul, Mione, and Ginny stand to greet them. A squad of four Asuran security separate to leave 2 guarding outside the door and 2 inside the room at the door. Harry walks around the table to shake hands with all 3 guests, "Hello I am Supreme Commander Potter, I presume you are Captain Larrin?" "Yes, it is nice to meet you, this is my chief security officer Silas and my chief scientist Nevik." "A pleasure, please have a seat." Around the table you have Moros, my First Officer, Ayiana one of my Councilor's, Saul one of my Advisors, and Ginny and Hermione, two of my star engineers." "Thank you, it is nice to meet all of you, thank you for agreeing to see us."
"So Larrin, our scans do not detect that you possess the proper gene sequence to activate and use our technology so we are curious as to what you had hoped to accomplish? And if you could tell us a little bit more about your people?"
"We call ourselves the Travelers because we have escaped being culled by the Wraith by hiding aboard generational ships which travel throughout the Pegasus galaxy. Over the ten-thousand years following the defeat by the Wraith, we have remained aboard our ships, landing as needed for supplies but otherwise keeping on the move. However, without a home base and with virtually no other advanced civilizations in the galaxy, we have been forced to improvise to maintain our fleet. As such, we cannot build new ships, and those that remain are often repaired using mismatched components and haphazard reconstruction."
"We found this derelict Lantean battleship adrift in orbit of this dwarf star a number of years ago. We put up some localized shielding in the engine compartments to shield us from the leaking radiation while we've been trying to restore other parts of the ship to make it space-worthy again. Our biggest impediment is of course our lacking the correct gene markets to activate your technology. We simply hoped that with time we would figure out how to overcome that. We are not as advanced technologically as the Lanteans were, but we are the most advanced among the humans in this galaxy that we are aware of. We recently lost one of our generational ships, we have a lot of over-crowding and we had hoped to salvage this ship to house a significant portion of our population. This battleship is about 25 times the size of one our standard generational ships so with this one ship alone we could alleviate our population concerns for a very long time."
"I see. Tell me Larrin, what are your relations with the other more primitive human populations of this galaxy? Are you friendly with them, do you dominate or subvert them, do you protect them from the Wraith, or do you simply ignore them? I am just trying to gauge the character of your people."
.beep. "Excuse me Commander, my First Officer calls." "OK, yes, I see. I will ask. Thank you." "Sorry, my First Officer just contacted me to let me know that he has observed that 4 Battleships departed from your space-docks and have taken up station keeping around us and the derelict. Is there going to be a problem?" "No, not at all Captain. I simply wanted to make sure we had a good patrol on station keeping a watch while we sit and have our discussion. We wouldn't want any Wraith to spoil our good day so far. I am actually intrigued by your story and want to find a way to help you if we can determine if your worthy of it. Please continue."
"Okay, good. Well, to answer your question, our primary strategy for the past 10,000 years has been to stay on the move. We do not call any one place or any planet home. We rarely land our ships. We do occasionally make trading runs to some of the more primitive communities you refer to. For the few we have dealt with we have good relations. We've never bullied any of them, we always come in peace and friendship. We've never been in a position to defend any of them though. We've also found that many of the primitive populations that are aware of the Wraith have each devised some kind of measure to keep themselves safe, usually by hiding when the Wraith come culling. Currently they are in a quiet period so if we don't disturb them, they don't usually find us to bother us. But, we stay on the move anyway, just in case."
Harry can tell with his advanced telepathy that she tells the truth, so he says "Captain Larrin, I need to confer with my Council for a bit to see if there is some way we can help you. I don't think simply letting you have that derelict battleship is going to work because you will never be able to use it. However, there might be something else we could do. This shouldn't take long, do you want to wait here in an adjacent conference room while we discuss it or would you rather beam back to your ship until we've decided?" "Commander, we would be happy to wait in the conference room, thank you."
...
Well team, normally we would never consider giving our technology to another race, nor would we interfere so much. However, I have a few mitigating thoughts I would like to run by you and see what you think and if any of you have any creative ideas. 1) These people are an advanced space-faring race for at least the last 10,000 years since the fall of the Lanteans and have hyper-space flight. 2) They appear to be the most advanced human civilization in this galaxy beside us, and we are no longer calling this place our home. 3) They don't need us to give them much, just a little nudge and perhaps some maintenance work and spare parts while we're in the neighborhood.; and 4) I was wondering that if we leaned more on the generous side with them, say to gift them an older class of industrial ship, could we leverage them into agreeing to being our human eyes and ears in this galaxy, having them agree to offer protection or at least sanctuary to more primitive groups when they need it and to contact us if things were get out of hand; toward this end we could give them limited access to our social satellite network in this galaxy."
"Of course, to put another incentive in front of them, we could also let them know that we will come back sometime before the end of the Wraith's current 50 year hibernation cycle to try to deal with them. In this way they would be our agents of a sort here and in return we could uplift them a bit, or rather return to them some means to take care of themselves. In the process gaining ourselves a worthy ally in this galaxy. If they can better take care of themselves, perhaps they can help take care of others. Do any of you have any objections to this or alternative ideas?"
"Everyone seemed positive about the idea but Merlin and Ayiana are still worried about the details. Ayiana asks "Harry, I understand the sentiment and the idea has strategic merit, but actually giving them technology based on our science would still be covered by our prime directive of non-interference. I would prefer if instead of giving them an industrial ship that you make them a different offer, to 1) provide comprehensive repairs and refit of all their ships using their current technology, and 2) if they have plans for the building of a shipyard or refinery platform based on their own technology, we could acquire the materials and build it for them. So, we will have restored their ability to be self-sufficient, stepped in with the industrial might to get it done, but only at their own current level of technology."
"That is a fantastic idea Ayiana. I like that approach better than my original idea." "Anyone else have anything else?" "Saul, Ginny, Hermione? you've had to miss some of these meetings and I know you lack experience with these things, but any gut feelings from you guys, thoughts on this? I'd like more opinions." Ginny knowing that Harry just needs morale support so that he doesn't feel like he's making all these decisions on his own says, "Harry I think you are doing the right thing to try to help these people. I'm proud of you for thinking of ways to help them." Hermione picking up on the same thing says, "Harry, I agree. I don't see how it's ever wrong trying to help people, even if you sometimes have to bend the rules to do it; I think I learned that example from you in first year, and second year, oh yeah in third year I might have been the instigator of that one, but you get my meaning." "Yeah, thanks Mione, Gin." "OK then, let's have our guests come back and pose this to them."
...
"Captain Larrin, I've discussed this with my advisors and we are in agreement on a way we can help you. It will be up to you to decide if you want to meet us half way, you see we have an offer for you. One of our fundamental laws prohibits us from giving our science and technology to the younger races and strongly discourages us from interfering in the natural development, so we can't let you have that ship, but here is what we can do..." and Harry explains the offer that Ayiana detailed with his request to be their proxy in this galaxy to keep an eye and ear on things.
"Commander, that is a generous offer. We've had no offer of that kind of assistance from anyone in millennia. With that kind of help once we get back on our feet we could begin to rebuild and expand some of our own industrial capability and improve the quality of life of our whole fleet. I will need to take this matter to our Governing Council. I cannot make this decision on my own." says Larrin.
"OK Captain, how about we agree to meet you in orbit of Lantea in 15 days to find out your decision. In the meantime, we will salvage the Varleter ourselves. If there is any tech. or personnel aboard her that you need to remove before we bring her in to dock, please remove them." "Very well Commander, we will only need one hour to vacate the ship. I'm sure you will handle this but, we will remove our shields holding back the radiation leak in the engine compartments, so be mindful of that; and we will see you at Lantea in 15 days with our decision."
"Merlin, please take them back to the command deck for beam out." Harry once again shakes each of their hands and apologizes that he can't let them have the ship." Larrin actually just shrugs thinking there's nothing they could've done to stop them from taking it from them anyway, at least maybe we will get something out of this venture. .beamout.
1 hour later...
"Commander, Captain Larrin has signaled they are ready to depart."
"Very well, send our engineering teams over to secure the radiation leaks and tractor the Varleter into dock."
"Commander, Atlantis reports the Varleter is docked and secured for hyper-space travel."
"Very well, recall Captain Helia and the Asuran Second Squadron."
"Commander, Atlantis reports the Asuran Second Squadron is docked and secured for hyper-space travel."
...
"OK everyone, let's break for lunch. Merlin, put us on course back to Alpha Centauri, it's time to go home. Let's meet back here after lunch to have a final status and planning meeting."
1pm back in the conference room...
"Merlin, please give us a current sitrep." Attendees: Harry, Merlin, Ayiana, Helia, Saul, Ginny, Hermione
"Re-occurring Activities:"
- Intelligence satellite deployment is at 50%
- Potentia construction stockpile is 68
"Completed Items:"
- All 8 Initial Rescue/Recovery Expeditions Completed.
- Initial loading of Terran foods into the replicator's Completed.
- Determined planets for settlement at Tau Ceti E, F.
- Determined initial shipbuilding and fleet plans.
- Built WNA stockpile, will automatically maintain from here out
- Defense satellite construction is at 100%, will automatically maintain from here out
"Open items are:"
- TBD - Establish naming conventions for all Altera Nova ships and city's.
- Harry - Return to Lantea on 8/21 to meet "The Travelers" and assist them with repairs and construction.
- Merlin - Design espionage solution for Earth SGC in Colorado.
- Ayiana - study Aurora crew stasis solution.
- Ayiana - study Wraith DNA weapon solution.
- Ayiana - study Wizard/Squib pineal/zpe solution with the DOM.
- Ayiana - (low priority) Study Harry's partial ascension/descent augmentation of his physiology.
"Okay, for new business Harry, I have a status on your question of spying on Earth's SGC and Astria Porta. I took a step back and looked at your requirements more holistically and I think I have a more elegant approach. I recommend we just deploy a cloaked geostationary social research satellite modified with advanced computer espionage capabilities that can both keep ordinary track of the planet's social research and can additionally maintain a passive record of their Astria Porta usage and maintain passive taps on their SGC computer networks." "That is a great idea Merlin, please deploy that immediately when we return; was that all you had?" said Harry. "Yes," said Merlin, "and will do."
"Alright, I have several new items. Merlin, when we get back task Niam to have all 4 Lantean Aurora Class Battleships visit the shipyard facilities for full workup and refit, everything down to a new coat of paint; and restock all supplies. Also, while they are in dry-dock, Potentia are no longer optional, all ships get upgraded with a permanent Potentia power plant, with 1 spare on board; and all ships get an inter-galactic Astria Porta. I want that full 4-ship squadron back to full operational status with these upgrades ASAP."
"Next, Helia once the ships are completely refit, I want you to assume full Squadron Commander duty, and if you believe he is ready, at your option you can promote Lieutenant-Commander Argon to full Captain and give him command of the Tria, and I assume you will want to maintain your flag on the Tria, but the choice is yours. Additionally, until we have a deeper population, I want you to have the Aurora, the Varleter, and the Hippaforalkus staffed with Asuran crew and slave their AI's to the Tria for space and combat operations, so that they are fully mission capable." "Thank You for the promotion Supreme Commander, it will be my pleasure." says Helia.
"Merlin, now that the initial build-out of our first stock of Lagrangian class defense satellites are completed, immediately deploy a full standard LD64xLD32xMC8 grid to AC-Bb in standard non-cloaked configuration so that any curious passers by see that this planet is spoken for and protected. Finally, Saul, when you meet with Kingsley and Arthur to debrief them on this Expedition and your initial assessment of what we're doing here, I will remain out of it so that you can speak your mind to him without any interference on my part." "That is fine Harry. Tomorrow will just be a face to face summary briefing, it will still take me over a week to write up all the formal reports." "That's good, if you want to send me any draft written reports to Q&A any terminology or definitions let me know. Otherwise, don't forget you can make inquires to your WNA for basic information if you are not certain of something." "That's good Harry, thanks for reminding me. I have been good at wearing this thing but I really haven't fully explored all that it can do for me yet." "I will give you two more WNAs to take with you that you can give to Arthur and Kingsley tomorrow." "OK, thanks."
"Well everyone that is it for today and for this Expedition. It's still early afternoon. We will be arriving back in orbit of AC-Bb in the middle of the night while we're sleeping. So feel to just relax the rest of the trip, tour the city some more if you're curious, just unwind. We will disembark and return you back home to Earth at 0800 tomorrow morning."
"Damn Gin, now you have me sounding like a cruise director."
8/7...0800
"Instead of returning to orbit of AC-Bb, Harry had Atlantis take them in cloaked orbit of Earth so he could play a prank on Molly and Arthur first thing in the morning."
"OK Saul, Ginny, Hermione are you ready to go home?"
"Yeah, but where is our little shuttle Harry?" says Gin.
"Oh, we're taking the more direct route this morning."
"Atlantis, scan the coordinates for the Weasley's residence aka "The Burrow" that I gave you earlier this morning and check that Arthur and Molly are still in the kitchen."
"Commander, subjects are still located at the same coordinates at the premises."
"Very well Atlantis, beam us down."
.beamout.
"Ayieieieieieie!" screamed Molly and "Merlin's Balls!" yelled Arthur. "Language Arthur!" yelled Molly. "Good grief kids, Saul. Where in Merlin's underwear did you just come from and what was that sound? That was not apparation or portkey, what was that?" exclaimed Arthur. "Oh nothing Daddy that was just us beaming back down to Earth from space."
Harry mentally commands Merlin to take Atlantis back to orbit of AC-Bb, while outwardly laughing his butt off. "Ha, ha, ha, Molly! Arthur! Got you. Whew, that was awesome, you should've seen your faces. Oh by the way, Hi! We're home."
"Ahhhh." Harry exclaims as with a flick of her wand, Molly sets several brooms to chase Harry around the house. "Yikes!, hey, make it stop." says Harry. "See here now Harry, where do you think my kids get all this tom foolery from anyway. You think you'd get one up on me did you?" .spank. .spank. .spank. as the brooms keep popping Harry on the tail while he unsuccessfully runs from them. Arthur, Ginny, Hermione, and Saul are rolling around laughing their heads off and Molly is just standing there with a smug look on her face twirling her wand this way and that, making the brooms stay one step in front of Harry's poor attempts at escape."
A/N: short chapter to close out this Expedition. Sorry I probably seem like I'm slowing down a bit. I hurt my back a few days ago and I probably wouldn't be up typing at all except that for some reason occasionally it feels better to sit up for a while. Anyway, I hope now that we're getting into more action some of you are enjoying it more. I think that things keep moving at a fast clip from here on out.