Galaxies are huge, keeping tabs on everything in even just one quadrant is a tough job. Imagine trying to keep track of everything on earth with just satellite coverage. Setting aside the lack of consistent coverage, all of those high resolution images take a lot of storage, and most of it will be devoid of anything worthwhile. Now multiply that by however many planets can fit into 100,000 square lightyears.

It's not an instant get out of ambushes free card. Even with the help of a dedicated virtual intelligence, running on an asgard system core, it is a monumental undertaking. With the help of their Virtual Intelligence a large chunk of the information can be discarded, having little more importance than the amount of stellar matter spread over several sectors of space.

The VI's work isn't done just yet, it will continue to prove itself worth more than the hardware it runs on, the remaining data, even reduced down to less than ten percent is still massive. And that is still on the small side compared to the potential workload.

The sensor platforms had been given a large suite of tools and instruments, from cameras which recorded well over the range of the mark one eyeball—to the jokingly named SPiDAR (Subspace Detection And Ranging) and anything else they could throw in between. The Asgard inspired computer on each platform controlled the first report on how much of the information was initially relevant. Planets and ships were priority, stellar phenomena came next.

Within the first few months of operation, processing was swamped, as it became apparent that there were a lot of space faring civilizations in a galaxy, or rather a lot of ships capable of traveling faster than light. Secondary to that was keeping track of all of this traffic. Hyperspace even though theoretically separate from normal space was still affected by gravity to some extent as evident by the effects stars had on stargate wormholes, creating areas of space where a ship would be slightly faster following a specific trajectory than if they just forced their path straight from point A to B.

Just because a ship's trajectory could be drawn in a straight line towards one planet or another didn't necessarily indicate that was their destination. Otherwise they'd be alerted every time a ship on the other side of the galaxy was moving on a course that pointed vaguely in their general direction. Not that there wasn't a log of such things.

~ No Paradoxes ~

Aldores, Control Tower

Captain Donovan suppressed his amusement as he observed Miss Mercer's class on the other side of the transparent trinium window set into the north wall of the control room. From the looks of things the teacher was giving the group one last warning before they would enter the room.

"Remember class, the control room isn't a play room, we're here as guests, so don't touch," Miss Mercer said, as the door slid open behind her.

"Yes, Miss Mercer."

Miss Mercer turned to see who had come in and gave Donovan a brief smile before turning back to the group. "Now, Capt. Donovan has graciously volunteered to show us around, do you have any questions for the captain?"

Donovan started with one of the smaller boys in the front named James Theissen.

James asked, "Do you fly the city?"

Donovan chuckled. "Sadly not, captain is my rank not my job description."

Some of the kids gave 'awws' of disappointment.

"Actually, I'm in charge of communications," Donovan said. "But I have also been cross-trained to the other stations on the bridge."

"You in the back," Cpt. Donovan pointed to Simeon out of the few students who'd raised there hands.

"Simeon Spencer," Simeon supplied.

"Ted's boy?" Donovan asked, Simeon blushed and nodded. "What's your question."

"Do you Galaxy dive?" Simeon

"I'm not sure what you mean, is that a new sport?" Donovan asked.

The boy next to Simeon, raised his hand and spoke up, "Kris Hoerst, sir. Some scientists who were really into Star Trek setup what they're calling a holodeck on the southwest pier, they've got a really accurate simulation of the milky way galaxy, and an indoor wind tunnel setup."

"They also have an awesome laser tag setup using the same simulation," another boy said.

"Ah, I see now, galaxy diving," Donovan said, before the group could devolve into anecdotes. "Well, obviously given my confusion on the subject I haven't been. But it sounds like something worth doing."

Donovan answered a few more questions from the class and then called a temporary halt to the impromptu question and answer session.

"Alright, who's ready to see the control room?" he asked.

~ No Paradoxes ~

The class was nearing the end of the tour when one of the screens flashed in warning.

After a quick glance at the screen Donovan ushered them out of the room, "Looks like we'll have to cut the end a little short today class, since my duty today doesn't have me at my usual station I'll be following you out, just head down the hallway to the conference room. I can answer any remaining questions you have."

Behind him the control room crew shifted positions as the alarm at the long range sensors station activated.

~ No Paradoxes ~

General Patchkirk arrived in the coalescing golden shimmer of one of the modified transporter beams. He frowned at the change in the usual musical chime. "Lt. Anders report."

"At 0945, long range sensors detected three contacts on approach in hyperspace, on review of records, course confirmed at 0950 with a ninety-seven percent accuracy on a heading for Edora, current speed of the vessel should have them on our doorstep in just fourteen days."

"How far out are they?" the general asked.

Melissa Anders tapped a few keys on the console changing the display before replying, "Five to six light years' sir, they'll come in at an angle from the ecliptic."

"They're not travelling very fast," the general said. "Where'd they come from?"

The display changed again, "Watchtower indicates they left this planet, approximately four days ago. The previous alert was buried under all of the other reports from when we started calibrating the system, it came back up because it tripped the three day alert."

"Anything on their point of origin?" Patchkirk asked.

"Given their speed and estimated operational range, it's likely that the contact left from that system. We should have a better idea of what we're facing in about four hours when our sensor platform repositions for higher definition imaging of the planet."

"Can we get a better picture of what's coming at us?"

"There's too much distortion from their drive to get a clear image of what we're facing at this time, once the platform repositions we should be able to better calibrate the sensors."

~ No Paradoxes ~

"You've found a ZPM factory?" Patchkirk said. "Amelia, I don't care if it takes a century to completely repair, it's quite the find."

"That's right, sir, and even though the system is off the beaten path. I'm uncomfortable leaving it unsupervised now that I know it exists." Amelia said.

"I understand, stay there and secure the system, Amelia." Patchkirk said. "We'll be fine with David's ship."

"Isn't he still out trying to get the scanners working on that minefield?" Amelia asked.

"I called him before you, and he can have that ship back home in 3 hours, Amelia. In the meantime, though, the dry-dock in the field has been re-tasked from reeling in asteroids for station construction, to building some LaGrange point defenses, and a few other surprises." Patchkirk replied.

"I'll let you know if we need you once the scans give us a more conclusive image of what we're facing." Patchkirk said.

"Understood, sir. I'll have Max and his team bring you the ZPMs we picked up." Amelia said.

"I'll be expecting them, Patchkirk out." General Patchkirk pressed the button to end the call leaning back in his chair, some of the tension had faded from his expression at the prospect of the boost the ZPMs would provide to their defense.

~ No Paradoxes ~

Aldores, 12th Tower, 3rd Pier - Spencer quarters.

"We've discovered six more cases of tampering," Lt. Spencer said, groaning as he laid back on the bed.

Spencer's wife, Sarah pushed him so he was on his stomach reaching over to start massaging the knotted muscles in his back.

"Left shoulder, higher," Theodore prompted.

"How are they coping?" Sarah asked.

"Well enough," Theodore replied. "Nothing that raises and serious red flags so far. Still, it's a major concern."

Sarah hummed in reply.

"Simeon staying the weekend with Adrian?" Theodore asked.

"That's the plan," Sarah confirmed.

"Good," Theodore said, as he flipped over underneath her and pulled her closer.

~ No Paradoxes ~

Altair, Meeting Room.

"So, the atmospheric regenerator is ready?" Harlan asked excitedly.

"Not quite," R-McKay-One replied. "We still need one of our ships to swing by and get detailed scans of the atmosphere. We don't want the Goa'uld to know we've fixed anything."

R-McKay-Two spoke up, "It'll still take several years to reach the point where we can go outside without EVA suits."

"Still, this is joyous news," Harlan said, clapping his hands together. "Comtraya!"

The 'thunk' of Wallace's head repeatedly making contact with the surface of the table was heard in the silence left by Harlan's exclamation as he left the room.

"Is he going to be alright?" R-Zelenka-Four asked.

R-McKay-Two looked confused for a moment before noticing Wallace. "I'm sure he'll be fine."