Fighting the Gods
A/N; For some reason I feel the need to apologise for this chapter. I'm well aware of the delay you've all had to deal with waiting for this chapter and this chapter is merely a filler explaining what is happening to the Melatai and Tollans. Hopefully you can still enjoy reading it. I don't want to continue the main story at the end of this chapter as I'd rather have a small leap to the next events in the Wizarding World. I'm trying to detach Harry from the events of SG-1 as I don't believe he'd get so involved in them when he's got bigger fish to fry so to speak. I hope you critics out there can understand that. Tell me what you think anyway.
Chapter 36; Guardians
Melatai Space
Above Tollana the Astari sat in a very low orbit, having to use her thrusters to stabilise her position as the five remaining Ha'tak moved around above her taking shots at her shields. Debris fell towards the planet and impacted all of the ships' shields as they moved about but they were all fixed in position because there were too many Tollans on the ground still defenceless should the Astari move out of position or shift out of phase to avoid the weapons fire. Luckily her shields were still more than a match for the new weapons of the Goa'uld ships and Harry had to wonder how long it would now take before these ships tried to flee the battle.
In the distance the Astari could detect nothing from Melatai. Harry knew that there were numerous Melatai Space Force ships hiding behind the planet and amongst the debris field around the atmosphere and also the Alia fully cloaked even to the Astari was moving around into the lee of the planet so that she could start helping out the casualties without the Ha'taks spotting her.
"Concentrate fire on individual ships and intercept shots at the surface." Harry ordered. "I don't want them firing anything around us in a last ditch attempt to do as much damage as possible."
"It won't be long now." Michael muttered quietly from where he stood next to Harry.
"Incoming hyperspace window." The Asgard at sensors declared and Harry almost groaned and saw Michael sag beside him slightly. One of the screens shifted to show the wormhole and even as they watched the Astari saw through the cloaking of the ships and three large Asgard Hammer class ships flung themselves into the space just above the Goa'uld Ha'taks. "The Belshant, Tocara and Belgrave." The Asgard announced.
"Send a message..." Harry trailed off as the Astari automatically warned them as the Goa'uld ships changed courses and speeds. She'd assessed their intentions based on what they were doing and discovered a danger. The warning flashed up on the screen around three of the five ships and Harry was turning even as Michael read it out loud.
"Intercept course?" Michael gasped.
"They're ramming us!" Harry raised his voice. "All power to weapons and shields. Destroy them."
It was over in a matter of seconds. Three of the Goa'uld Ha'taks turned straight at them and sped up to full speed and not a few seconds later all of the Astari's weapons fire, small and large turned from other tasks like protecting the planet to slamming into the closest of the three ships. Its shields shuddered and it exploded a half second after they crumbled completely and the Astari's arsenal turned on the next just as it exploded from a volley of shots by the rapidly approaching Asgard Cruisers. The last ship lost its shield just as it was about to ram their own shields and the hull itself smashed into the shield even as it exploded under their own shots.
"Shield reduced to seventy percent." One of the Furlings to the side announced.
"We lost ten percent." Michael frowned though having a ship explode against any shield did massive damage.
"The last two ships?" Harry asked the room loudly and the view screen shifted to the two rapidly breaking away from the planet. They were still in firing range and Harry watched with satisfaction as between the four of them the Goa'uld ships were picked off just before they could enter Hyperspace. Harry staggered backwards and slipped into his own chair and Michael flopped into the one next to him. He didn't let himself rest long though. "Report!"
"No damage to ship's hull." A furling announced.
"Life support functioning normally." That was a Nox. They ran everything to do with life support and crew facilities.
"All weapons operational." An Asgard from the offensive systems announced.
"Sensors operating as expected." A different Furling announced.
"What do we have left?" Harry turned to the last Furling at sensors. There were two other Furling operating them with him and they'd each have a different region to watch. Short range like the solar system, middle range as in this section of the galaxy and then long range being about a fifth of the galaxy as the Astari saw it herself. At the back of the Bridge were two Asgards who monitored their satellite network.
"No hostile vessels in short range." The Furling at short range reported. "Sensors are detecting small arms fire on the surface."
"Communication concurs." Harry turned his head to look that way and his attention made the Nox continue talking. "Both Tollan and our own frequencies are being monitored but we have not yet managed to break through the encryption on the Goa'uld signals."
"Let me know when you do." Harry ordered before looking back at the sensor control terminal.
"The Alia's sensor readings are being transmitted to us. Six Melatai vessels are being recovered, two will require an internal dock in short time as they have extensive damage." The Furling told him. "Eight ships of the Melatai fleet are landing on the surface but all fighting has ceased."
"Let's clear up this mess then." Harry looked at Michael before turning to the communications console. "Where are the remains of their command?"
"There are no such identity beacons in place." The Nox told him. "However our own forces report that the greatest remaining resistance is in the capital city."
"Send people to clean up the rest of the planet." Harry told him. "Contact the commander down there and tell them to designate myself and Michael with a place to beam down."
"Supreme Commander." The Nox agreed though he spotted at least a dozen of the occupants look up in concern at the idea of Harry going down to the surface during a war.
"I won't be going unarmed." Harry pointed out even though nobody had contested him verbally. "And I won't be gone long."
"What of the Asgard Cruisers?" Michael asked. Harry glanced at the side screen once more even though he knew what they were doing. Right now they'd spread out around Tollana to spread their sensors down over the surface. "Send them on patrols around Melatai space, look for anything hiding out of the way but tell them not to engage without superior numbers."
"Supreme Commander. Dolocha has sent coordinates for your transport and will escort you. They are close to the remaining enemy forces." The Nox at communications told him.
Harry looked at Michael who tapped his own ATU and TDS and nodded at him. Michael wore his TDS on his waist when he needed to carry it but whereas Harry could do a lot of damage without technology Michael didn't have the same advantage. Harry focused for a moment and his clothing changed in basic clothing. "Transport us to our armoury." Harry ordered and a second later they were across the ship and in the armoury just across the hall from the rooms that Harry, Ryver and Michael had to themselves.
Harry spun and grabbed his armour and started pulling it on. The Tactical Shield was good but if it drained it left you in whatever you were actually wearing and that was only passable when you didn't really expect to get into a fight. This armour was mostly Asgard technology. Lightweight with repulsion fields on each section. It was hard enough to look like real armour and with the Asgard also covered them completely so as not to let people know who they were dealing with.
The suit didn't cover Harry's head unless he activated the rim around his collar so normally he just had a bulky collar but the rest of him was fully covered but he didn't gain much bulk wearing it, just looked far more intimidating. He put the headset on that linked into the suits sensor systems and then put his TDS into its new place on right hip even as he strapped his ATU back over his wrist.
"Ready, Michael?" Harry asked after a moment.
"Ready." Michael nodded.
"Kel'ac. Your turn." Harry told him silent and his eyes flashed letting Michael know about their shift. In a situation like this having Kel'ac in control meant that Harry's already fast reactions were almost doubled, not to mention his strength and speed but the suit enchanced those anyway.
"Bridge, transport us to the designated co-ordinates." Kel'ac ordered and moments later bright light overcame their armoury and vanished to reveal a rather broken looking terrain.
Kel'ac tapped the TDS and it awoke to his thoughts and Kel'ac favourite weapon appeared. He put the TP-1 in his left hand before making the TDS form the second one. Having never really used weapons that fired deadly projectiles before, Kel'ac had been fascinated with them and with his speed and the suit's enhanced accuracy the fast firing weapons were fatal to any enemy within four hundred yards of them. He glanced at Michael and his sensors picked up his outline but none of the information from the suit, like power levels, because the suits had their own dampeners that hide them from sensor suites and even had the Asgard cloaking devices inbuilt to hide them visually. Michael had an Alteran Assault Rifle loosely held against his shoulder and he had to pause as he took in a twelve year old with such a weapon. Luckily the Alteran version wasn't as bulky as the Melatai or Earth ones and Michal had Alteran strength now too.
"Supreme Commander." Dolocha greeted. His voice was distorted by the suit and Harry heard the real sound in his left ear but the headset decrypted it into his right ear for him. "We have secured most of the city. A small pocket of Jaffa forces remain within the council building but there are too many Tollan inside for us to risk use of these combat suits to enter."
Basically the suits were all too big and powerful to risk going inside an actual building without bringing it down around them. And around the Tollan hiding inside. Looking around Kel'ac knew that a few of the buildings had been brought down by the Furlings to kill Jaffa within but their suits and technology allowed them to clear buildings quite effectively without too much structural damage and without actually entering.
If there were Tollans inside this building though they couldn't use the same methods so it was going to be up to Harry and Michael and their own personal technology to do the job. Harry turned and smirked at Michael and Michael nodded back solemnly. They might both be young but Harry needed to vent his emotions and this was the perfect way to do it.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
An hour later
The Astari burst from hyperspace after a micro-jump from Tollan orbit to just outside of the debris field around Melatai Prime. Instantly beams of white seemed to unfurl from four of the spires and from the bow. They scanned debris checking for anything dangerous and finding nothing the Asgard designed desynthesis beams disintegrated the debris into high-density matter that was stored inside the Astari's storage bays for use in synthesis later. There was little point in the metal going to waste and this was a good way of checking and clearing a way through the debris since the main shield was now down since they didn't want to send debris ricocheting around when there were damaged Melatai ships in the area.
"Plot a course to the Orion and pull her into the main hanger." Harry ordered before turning to Michael. "Can you go over to the Aria and put her down on the surface? Pick up all the survivors you can."
Michael nodded and tapped his TDS on his hip to check he was still wearing it before nodding over at the Asgard at transport control. Michael vanished into white light and Harry turned to the same Asgard. "Put me on the Orion's command deck."
"Transporting, Supreme Commander." The Asgard tapped a few buttons and Harry's world exploded into white light before reforming into that of the familiar bridge of the Melatai's greatest Spaceship.
It was dark and the air was filled with the traces of smoke but some of the machinery was still functioning. Before Harry could finish getting his bearings he was facing a Mage with an assault rifle as well as numerous, previously holstered, energy pistols. He raised his hands to show he was unarmed.
"Stand down!" A man dodged around the Mage and touched the soldier on the shoulder. Harry recognised him from a few years ago when he'd been a Mage on a Cruiser going into battle on one of the Melatai's outer worlds. "Supreme Commander Harry?"
"Or Mage Kel'ac as I once was." Harry turned to face him.
"You're not a hologram this time?" The man asked. Harry shook his head. "Sorry, my name..."
"Is Captain Burnett." Harry finished before glancing at his rank tabs. "Sorry, Commodore."
"Since two weeks ago." He sighed. "I just took over the Orion before all this happened."
"You'll have to tell me everything that happened but first we've got a lot of work to do." Harry told him before turning and looking out of the front windows. Three were cracked and the shutters were down on the other sides to protect hull integrity. "What systems do you have still running?"
"Emergency power is online supplying life support and minimal internal sensors. We've got every man available shoring up damage and trying to get some sort of main power back online." Burnett motioned with a hand to a hard-copy incident board. "We've got serious hull breeches on the lower levels and the main hanger bay took a direct hit. We still don't know what the damage is in there but secondary hulls are protecting the areas around it. The port main booster took a direct hit just as the shield fell and overloaded most of our systems and sent us adrift. When we blacked out the Goa'uld ships turned away from us to focus on the Cruisers and we let them forget about us. We launched every Blade and Shadow we had but we lost atmosphere to the other hangers in order to launch them. What survived the fight went planet side when they started landing troops."
"What do you know about the situation on the surface?" Harry asked with a sombre look.
"We get a visual look every twenty-two minutes." The captain sighed. "Most of us can see the damage but we've got no sensors."
"Our sensors give us a number of survivors." Harry glanced around. "I..."
"We all need to know, Sir." Burnett shut his eyes but then glanced around and then nodded at Harry.
"We detected twenty-five thousand on the surface." Harry told him. "We put down three hundred of our own troops to protect them and they've reported that two-thousand of that twenty five-thousand were Goa'uld troops."
The Captain moved to his chair and sat himself down as everyone else fell silent, most staring into the middle distance. "I'm sorry." Harry told them all. "I can honestly say that Melatai Prime felt like home to me. Your people were the first to take me in and give me a life and I'll never be able to make up that debt."
"The Tollans?" Burnett asked suddenly.
"They took casualties." Harry sighed not wanting to go into all of that right now. "But the Astari and four Asgard Cruisers were able to destroy the enemy fleet and their reinforcements. The focus now is recovering your ships and relocating you."
"To where?" Burnett asked.
"I can't offer anything right now without talking to my own Council." Harry told him simply. "The Alia is landing on the surface to take on survivors and she can take the majority. The others will be picked up by the Asgard ships along with the Tollans."
"Can I have a word?" Burnett asked as he stood up. Harry nodded and followed him to the window. "If we have to leave then we can't leave anything behind for the Goa'uld. This ship included."
"I know, Captain." Harry nodded.
"But to scuttle the Orion after all of this..." Burnett sighed. "People will expect us to have to do it with the state she's in but it'll be the final nail in the coffin."
"Captain. Not one more Melatai ship will be lost in this battle." Harry told him simply. "The Astari will be in position already."
"What do you mean?" Burnett frowned.
Harry held up a hand and focused on his own communicator. "Astari, are you in position?"
"Astari awaiting your orders." A deep voice responded. It was distorted as the Asgard and Furling were wont to do when dealing with other races.
"Open the main hanger and gently ease us inside." Harry ordered.
"Docking beams engaged." The voice announced. Harry felt a shudder. "Restoring power and taking over life support."
Light flooded the room suddenly as systems flashed back online. "What is...?" Burnett started before gasping as the Orion was spun gently on her axis and the deck of the Astari came into view, four miles of it laid out ahead of them.
"The Astari has supplemented your power supplies and remotely powered any systems still functioning as well as replacing your own life support. Sort of like an umbilical cord." Harry informed him.
"And you can fit the Orion inside your main hanger?" Burnett turned to him with wide eyes. Harry nodded and Burnett turned to watch as the opening became visible around the hull of the Orion and then the Carrier was being tugged slowly into the welcoming space and soon the doors were shutting above them.
"Captain, the computer is requesting autopilot control over landing systems." The man that spoke sounded rather confused.
"The autopilot has no function for that." The Captain frowned.
"It's the Astari uplinked into your core. She's just being polite." Harry pointed out.
"Give them full access to systems." Burnett nodded and Harry knew that the landing struts would be unfolding to settle the ship down on the hanger floor. The Astari would supply replacements if the hull was too damaged to work the landing systems though. "Supreme Commander Harry. You have our undying gratitude."
"I just regret I didn't arrive in time to prevent this all from happening." Harry sighed just before a hologram of a man appeared beside him. One dressed in the guise of a Viking of Earth. The Asgard were wary of showing their true forms to any other races that did not know of their degeneration and until a decision about the Melatai and Tollan had been reached they'd deal with them only via these facsimiles.
"Supreme Commander, I am Zephilis." The Asgard told him and the others. "The Astari is moving to the Cruiser Aphilas."
"Commodore Burnett this is one of my allies. An Asgard. He's going to remain in contact with you as you get settled in. He'll see to everything you need while I go and retrieve the other ships." Harry told him. "In time we'll open out sections of the Astari so that your people can gather together but for the time being please remain in the Orion or in the hanger. Do what you can for the ship and Zephilis will give you access to the Astari as much as possible to start repairs."
"Thank you." Burnett nodded. "We should start coordinating to find out who survived this. I'll send a list of my surviving crew as soon as I can."
"I'll have the others do the same." Harry nodded before sending a signal to his ship. His world burst into white light as he continued on into what was going to be a rather busy day.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Two days later
The Astari burst out of hyperspace into a system far on the edge of the Milky Way galaxy, far enough from any Goa'uld space that they'd go unnoticed indefinitely. The Aria, Belshant, Tocara and Belgrave burst out of the same hyperspace window and slammed to a halt around them. The three Hammer class Asgard Cruisers were full of Tollans and the Astari and Alia were full of Tollan and Melatai survivors. A few seconds later eight Melatai Fleet ships and ten Melatai and Tollan transports burst out of hyperspace in formation and moved closer to the massively more advanced ships of their allies.
In total the fleet of ships was now the home of thirty-five thousand Melatai citizens and thirty thousand Tollans give or take a few hundred. They were using the vastly superior medical facilities of the Astari and Aria to treat the wounded so there wouldn't be any further deaths but between the crews of the Melatai ships and the citizens loaded onto the transports and Great Races ships it was crowded. All of the damaged ships that had been drifting in orbit around Melatai, two carriers, four cruisers and a destroyer, were docked internally within the Astari but the three cruisers and five destroyers that had arrived in the middle of the battle were all functioning. They'd picked up a couple of dozen Shadow scouts from across the galaxy and the signals had been sent to bring all outposts of the Melatai to this location and according to the Melatai Council, or what was left of it, that would add a few thousand to the numbers bringing the total survivors to around sixty-seven thousand.
"It's not going to be easy but it's not the end for them." Ryver told Harry quietly as he walked up behind him. Harry had been working hard the last few days trying to get some semblance of order amongst the chaos of two entire cultures almost wiped from existence. He acted quickly and given promises that luckily the Great Races hadn't argued with but he hadn't really offered the Tollan or Melatai anything that they couldn't get themselves. Harry had merely made it that little bit easier for them in the short term. Harry was currently pouring over a map of the galaxy in the main holographics suite. He had a meeting soon with the Great Races via long range communications to decide the status of their alliance with the human races and he knew what he wanted to ask for but he needed to find a planet for them first. Something out of the way with decent resources but close enough to Peldaniken Taous that they were able to come to the rescue if anything happened.
"What do you think?" Harry asked his twin with a glance over his shoulder into the shadowed room. Ryver hummed as he came up to his side and looked over the planets that Harry had selected. Ryver, with his link to the Kalona stationed in orbit over Hogwarts, had monitored everything that had happened from Harry's alert and manning of the Astari to the final tallies from the human populations. He'd stuck out the last few days of the week at school and then used the Kalona to intercept the fleet as it jumped clear of Melatai space.
"This one looks the best." Ryver told him. "It's doesn't have as much land mass but they hardly need it. They can expand to another planet in a few hundred years if necessary. The atmosphere is more stable and it's still on the recovery side of an ice age. This one's overdue for one by the looks of the climate."
"Good point." Harry agreed glancing back at him once again, noting that Ryver was lurking over his shoulder like he had every possible moment since he'd arrived the night before.
'You can't blame him for being worried about you.' Kel'ac pointed out what they both already knew.
'He's waiting for me to break down and lose it.' Harry argued back. 'It's a real vote of confidence.'
'For starters it would be normal if a boy your age lost it when the first real home he knew was destroyed.' Kel'ac explained.
'I'm not just a boy my age.' Harry retorted.
"Harry, turn around and look at me at least." Ryver tugged on his arm. "I can damn well hear what you're saying to Kel'ac."
"Huh?" Was Harry's rather shocked response.
Ryver tapped his head. "I'm definitely better at this telepathy thing than you are. It's stronger with you than with anyone else but I can hear everything you're saying to Kel'ac."
"Everything?" Harry sat down heavily on one of the rings of benches around the hologram room. "All my thoughts?"
"Just what you direct at Kel'ac." Ryver assured him. "Sometimes I catch more from people but normally just snippets of what they actually throw out. With you it's always been stronger, probably because we... you and I..." Harry nodded to show he understand what Ryver was getting at. "When you talk to Kel'ac though you throw the words out for him and it's as good as calling my attention."
"Kel'ac and I share every errant thought that we have. Even the ones without words." Harry argued.
"I don't pick up that. I have to concentrate on picking up Kel'ac's side of the conversations too." Ryver sat next to him and leant against his shoulder. "I just know what you're thinking is all."
"That I should be breaking down right now?" Harry questioned.
"That it wouldn't be that strange if you did." Ryver corrected.
"Kel'ac has seen massacres like this before." Harry shook his head. "It's just different this time before I'm there too and it was a home for me. But one of the things I always loved about the Melatai was their ability to overcome these obstacles. They'll adapt and use what they have and try to build something even greater than before. I'm going to give them the little boost to make sure what they build is really great."
"And they can do that there." Ryver told him pointing at the little hovering depiction of the planet they'd chosen. "And by the way, Harry. You're two minutes late for your conference with the Great Races Council."
"Control Deck." Harry sighed and his words patched him through to the command centre. "Connect me to the Council chamber via the holographics room."
The room's display vanished and Harry and Ryver moved into the middle of the room as the edges shifted and took the form of the large chamber. The picture was so perfect that if Harry hadn't of known better he'd have thought he was standing on the centre pedestal on their home planet. Ryver hung at his shoulder just back a little so it was obvious which of them was in charge. Not that Harry ever felt that about Ryver but Ryver wasn't as well versed in this sort of thing as Harry was.
"Thank you for joining us, Supreme Commander." Vor spoke up from where he was standing in front of his pod-like chair.
"I apologise for my lateness. I got caught up in research." Harry explained. "Ryver had to remind me of the time."
"Greetings also to you, Ryver." Vor acknowledged. Ryver was equally entitled to this world as Harry was but he refused to take any position other than that of helping Harry and the other races seemed to have accepted that. He was a permanent council member as far as they were concerned but Ryver had managed to get them to stop calling him Council Member quite a while ago. Michael had managed the same thing and Harry only put up with the Supreme Commander because he had the Astari to think about.
"How are the Melatai and the Tollans?" One of the Nox asked.
"There will be no further deaths due to this tragedy but a tragedy it still is." Harry sighed. "Their numbers are as of the information I sent to Peldaniken Taous. It's the worst calamity in either races history."
"Do you believe they will fail as a race?" One of the Asgard asked from the third row.
"I do not believe so." Harry shook his head. "They are going to be highly resource dependant in rebuilding but both races will put all of their effort into achieving survival as a race."
"It has been observed of primitive races that after such a global catastrophe they have turned on each other and done themselves harm greater than that which they can recover from." The same Asgard pointed out.
"Perhaps a civilisation younger still than the Melatai and Tollans." Harry agreed. "But both civilisations had almost zero crime and both abolished barter and trade systems long ago. They will work as a community to overcome this."
"What are your intentions towards them?" A Nox asked.
"At this moment I have only promised them safety as a fleet in company with the Astari and with permission the Asgard and Nox vessels." Harry explained. "It is not my choice alone how much assistance to give them beyond immediate measures."
"We are all agreed that assistance should be given to find them a suitable world or worlds to resettle upon and we are happy to use our sensors to find a planet best suited for them." Vor spoke up. "What must be discussed is further assistance. Given free hand what assistance would you give them?"
"I would like to give them certain technologies." Harry spoke up and the room was filled with a bubble of noise. "With slow integration of that technology so that they understand the true science behind it. I wish to give them a small jump into their own future of technology in order to give them a chance to rebuild their race."
"They would get there themselves however. No?" One of the Furling asked.
"In time." Harry nodded.
"Then perhaps we should allow them to do so in their own time."
"The Mellatai and the Tollan are two of only five human worlds with technology that poses a threat to the Goa'uld." Harry explained. "Not to mention the ability to police minor civilisations in the event of them spreading further. Only one of the other three are capable of hyperspace travel and one of the others forcibly conquered eighteen of the closest worlds through their stargate. The Tollan and Melatai are our best hope of having human allies to aid us in this galaxy."
"Humanity is the future of this Galaxy." Ryver spoke up. "They are capable of all the traits that made our four races great. They are young perhaps but they have a potential that rivals any of us. They can be a great ally to our races in the future. If we reach out our hands to them now. The humans of the Melatai and of the Tau'ri have already given us their aid on several occasions."
"If we help them now to rebuild their civilisations and give them the means to support and build such as best benefits them then they can be of assistance to us." Vor nodded in agreement. "Are there any here that would speak against this in principle?" Nobody spoke and Vor turned back to Harry. "Find them a world to settle on and we shall discuss which ways to best aid them in developing their civilisations once more. We will send teams once we are in agreement. Place a Stargate on their world but they, like all others, cannot learnt the location of this homeworld. Not at this point in their development."
"Agreed." Harry nodded having expected that. "I thank all of you."
"You have leave to give them the condolence of all of our races." One of the Nox spoke up.
"I shall." Harry nodded and broke the connection. Ryver hugged him and Harry smiled at him before letting his eyes shut briefly in relief. Now it was time to go over to the Bellona and see Curtis.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Soon after
A small bay opened just on the starboard side of the slightly raised bridge of the Astari. It was a tiny bay in comparison but it was designed to hold only three ships and have enough space to conduct work on them. Three small ship's flung themselves out of the bay before the doors shut behind them forming seamlessly into the outer hull, hiding the bay from view completely just like all the other hull opening.
The three ships were all the same size and tiny in comparison to the Astari, all were sleek and powerful but with slightly varying designs. Two twisted upwards and the other rolled in a tight manoeuvre as they split above and below the long lateral spire on the ship's starboard side. They regrouped away from the City-Cruiser and turned in a slow arc to line up with the current control ship for the Melatai fleet, the Bellona where their remaining command structure had relocated to until the Orion was repaired.
Harry, sitting in the Aevis, glanced right and left at the Kellona and the Quetzacotl before selecting the Bellona to open up a communication. They were keeping all communication very tightly controlled to ensure that the Goa'uld had nothing to trace. "Bellona, this is the Aevis. Request permission to dock for myself plus two other Blade-sized ships."
"Permission granted." A voice told them after a few seconds. Within minutes the three ships were powering down and they were greeted by a welcome face. Harry had sent messages to him a few times over the last few days but to actually see him brightened his entire day.
"Curtis!" Harry grinned and hugged the man who hugged him back. Curtis and most of the council had been moved to a secure bunker when the attack had begun along with the command structure and they'd survived the attack even when ground troops had started landing. He pulled back after a second. "Sorry, you haven't been properly introduced yet. This is my brother Ryver and our friend Michael."
"It's a pleasure to meet you." Curtis nodded politely. "What can we do for you?"
"We've got a few suggestions for a new home planet for your race and you need to get together with the Tollans and make some big decisions." Harry announced. "Once you've decided then the Great Races have agreed to give you a measure of assistance."
"Assistance?" Curtis asked.
"Well for starters we're currently protecting you and escorting you there." Harry pointed out. "But they haven't decided what to offer in the long run yet."
"Just as we would in their situation." Curtis nodded. "There is a larger leap between ourselves and the Great Races than there is between civilisations like Earth who we have always kept our technology from."
"Just as you agreed to share some small technological knowledge with the Tau'ri we will decide on what we can safely share with you without crippling your development." Ryver took over the explanation. "First things first we must ensure your continued survival. Together the Tollans and Melatai make up a third of the races within this Galaxy capable of standing up to the Goa'uld."
"A third?" Curtis gasped. "We know of only one other that we trade with."
"There are a few others of varying levels." Harry cut in. "Maybe we should go meet the council and tell them what we've got to offer at the moment."
"That sounds like a good idea." Curtis nodded and settled an arm around Harry's shoulders. Harry let himself enjoy the contact as they walked through the ship.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Two weeks later
Ships exploded out of hyperspace like a hail storm. The newly repaired Orion exploded out first followed by Cruisers and Destroyers of the Melatai Space force and then transport ships of both Tollan and Melatai construction and then finally the Astari burst into existence with the Alia and two Asgard transports in formation around her. The solar system had one orbiting planet with three moons and three asteroid belts high in resources. It was tucked into the end of what the Melatai called the Cerro arm but that the Tau'ri called the Scutum-Crux arm. The Asgard just called it Arm Two. The Alterans had taken the Nox name for it which made it the Kentorun Arm in the Astari's navigational database.
Harry watched silently as the fleet began to split apart. The, now unladen, Destroyers and Cruisers spread out to sweep the solar system for safety's sake while the transports and larger ships fell into high orbit around the white, blue and green planet. It was about eighty percent the size of Earth which meant it was plenty large enough for the Tollan's and Melatai to build together. They were already combining their governments together as it strengthened the civilisations.
"The moons are as we expected them to be." Michael told him from the sensor controls. The moons were his baby, he'd come up with the idea. "They are orbitally locked and spread out on spaced orbital paths. We can easily place a defence station on each of the outer sides and give the planet protection."
"Show us." Harry told him and a few moments later the screen in front of Harry changed from the view of the Orion passing ahead of them to a layout of the planet and its three moons. An arc of firing spread from each moon showing the range and arc of a defence tower that Michael had finished setting up. Unmanned Great Races defences that would obliterate even powerful ships and with the way the moons were laid out they could give complete coverage around the planet. The lunar defence towers would be subtle but powerfully defended and wouldn't permit anything near them, even the Melatai and the Tollans. It was agreed with them that defences would be put around them to ensure their safety in all by the worst situations but that the technology could not be permitted to them in detail.
They'd spend the next few weeks in orbit assessing the planet and deciding where to put down and start building a city and the Asgard transports would stay with them to put the defences in place and then leave a group of Asgard teachers there to help them out. The Astari would remain only in orbit until they started to settle on the surface before she returned to Peldaniken Taous.
Ryver was back at Hogwarts and things were still tense there. The 'Chamber of Secrets' eluded the Kelona's sensors. Over the last few weeks nothing had happened about it but the gossips were working overtime imagining what it could be.
"Harry, we've got an incoming message via subspace from the Kelona." Michael told him. Harry turned to him with a raised eyebrow. "Ryver."
"Personal room." Harry told him and Michael transferred the call. Harry used his own link tothe Astari via his powers and transported them by Furling transporter to his private room.
Ryver's hologram was in the middle of the room and a flick from Harry's mind shut the external blast doors over his windows so they could see him better. The two moved into the catchment area but knew that if Ryver was in the Kelona he'd be able to see everything in the room. "Are you alright?" Harry asked.
"Harry..." He glanced at Michael and greeted him too. "You know that duelling club today?"
"Vaguely." Harry nodded. "I thought you'd enjoy it. Doesn't look like you did."
"He put me up on the platform with Draco Malfoy." Ryver frowned.
"The school bully?" Michael asked having had no experience with the aristocratic son.
Ryver nodded. "We exchanged a few rather harmless spells but then he summoned a snake."
"And?" Harry prompted.
"I spoke to it." Ryver sagged. "I didn't know what I was doing but it felt right. I just told it to stop and not attack anyone and it did what I told it to."
"It could be a power that comes from being half ascended." Harry frowned. "I can't say I've ever tried talking to..."
"Shut up a second, Harry." Ryver sighed and Harry closed his mouth and gave Ryver an apologetic smile.
"Hermione says it's a magical ability called Parseltongue. It's really rare but Wizards can talk to snakes. Salazar Slytherin could do it and so can Voldemort." Ryver slumped again. "People are already starting to mutter about me. I even heard a Gryffindor fifth year saying that I was the Heir of Slytherin!"
"That's ridiculous!" Michael gasped.
"Why?" Harry asked simply. "You could be genetically descendent from Salazar Slytherin but that doesn't mean you're doing anything wrong. Besides, if you are then so am I."
"Thanks, Harry." Ryver nodded.
"But if you being a Parseltongue suggests you are the Heir of Slytherin." Michael pointed out. "Maybe there's a link there to this Chamber."
"Like the Alteran signature gene." Harry joined in. "Some sort of security system based on something only the Slytherin family can do. There may be protections that only you or someone else with the gift can access."
"That might just limit what we're facing." Michael pointed out. "If it's some kind of snake that can cause magical petrification. We can set the Kelona's sensors to detect snakes."
"I'll need to find a gene sequence that would be in every kind of snake." Harry pointed out. "I'll write something and transmit it to the Kelona and get it to keep a watch out in case there's something in the school."
"Harry?" Ryver asked.
"Yeah?" Harry tilted his head.
"Thanks." Ryver smiled. "Could I ask you a favour?"
"Of course." Harry nodded.
"Could you try it out?" Ryver flushed. "Talking to a snake. See if you can do it too? Then I won't feel like such a..."
"You are not a freak!" Michael cut him off.
"Weirdo?" Ryver tried.
"I'll slap you." Michael warned. "I don't know how over this distance but I'll get Harry to help me make something that'll do it!"
Harry and Ryver burst out laughing and Michael grinned at them both before drawing Harry into his side and hugging him with one arm. "I'll contact you once I have something for the Kelona to work with."
"Thanks, Harry." Ryver smiled. "Kel'ac, you too."
Harry's head dipped as Kel'ac took control. "You are welcome as always, little brother."
"So not the little brother." Ryver grumbled before he cut the connection and vanished.
"Never a dull moment." Michael laughed.
"Give us something to do until we get rid of these guests." Harry shrugged before turning to get down to work.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Three weeks later
They'd hung around for an extra week over the Melatai and Tollan's new homeworld of Venden, a shortened version of the Alteran coordinate system. It's full name was Vendenlishanconum but that was a bit of a mouthful and neither of them wanted to use their old worlds' names again. The Astari gently emerged out of conventional Hyperspace and entered the atmosphere on a smooth glide and turned slowly over the ocean towards the bay by the city. As the city came into view Harry and Michael were watching out of the cafe area at the front end of the habitat.
"You've put a lot of work into the city." Harry complimented.
"It just didn't feel like home." Michael told him. "And Ryver always wanted a home."
"You're still sharing a room with him." Harry pointed out softly but didn't look over at him. He knew Michael was blushing. "I know you love him, Michael."
"Of course I love him!" Michael complained. "So do you!"
"He's my twin brother so I'll always love him." Harry laughed. "And I love you as if you were my brother too. But you love Ryver as something more. Maybe more than he loves you right now."
"I know." Michael deflated and Harry wrapped an arm around him gently. "I can't help it. He's just..."
"I think I get it." Harry smiled over at him and dropped his head on his shoulder briefly to comfort him. "Just remember he doesn't mind sharing your bed. Maybe that's something."
"But what happens when he realises how I feel?" Michael pressed. "He'll take it out of my head!"
"Then he'll truly know how you feel if he does that." Harry told him.
"What if he hates me for it?" Michael sagged, letting Harry hold him up as the ship came up over the city. Already towers were rising up out of the waters of the bay, linked by decorative gardens and ornate bridges. Coupling points were just out of the water for the Astari to land on and the ship began settling down on them. A tower rose up in front of them. "That's our new home by the way."
"That tower?" Harry stared at it as it widened. It was covered in pools and gardens but distinctly there was little internal space. It was pillars, bridges, gardens with internal areas closer to the top. "It's beautiful."
"I like designing stuff." Michael smiled. They felt the ship land on its couplings before it began to sink again. Harry had helped Michael with the berth for the Astari and the couplings would sink to the bottom of the water and let the Astari half submerge into the bay, becoming flush with the towers of the city, becoming part of a greater whole just like Harry had wanted it to.
"Ryver could never hate you, Michael." Harry told him after the ship had stopped moving. Michael tensed up but relaxed again. "He loves you and even if he doesn't return your exact feelings he'll always love you. You just have to go easy on him."
"We're only twelve." Michael nodded to himself. "It's just he's been everything good in my life for so long. Do you think it's weird I feel like that about him?"
"No." Harry shook his head. "And neither does Kel'ac. Kel'ac has always been with a male host but he's had male lovers before. I remember it. It's nothing scary and there's nothing wrong about it."
"Thanks, Harry." Michael turned and hugged him properly.
"So, going to show me my new digs?" Harry asked watching the sun set. They were tired enough that they could sleep and get acclimatised in the one night.
"Can I stay with you?" Michael asked. Harry smiled at him before motioning for him to lead the way.
"Aim for the very top horizontal surface." Michael grinned at him. Harry shut his eyes and they were gone."
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
End Chapter