Here is the latest chapter. I wanted to get this one done by Wednesday, but life got in the way. At least it is done now, so you can enjoy this over the weekend. This one fell flat, but that is probably because of the week I've had. I hope everyone has a great weekend. Also, if you have any special requests let me know. I will try to work them into the story where possible. Enjoy!
Star Gate Command, Cheyenne Mountain
Earth
Milky Way Galaxy
In the wake of Colonel Andrews death, many question were answered, while many others arose. In the eyes of counterintelligence officials investigating Andrews, his death was the worst possible outcome. Now, Colonel Andrews could never be properly interrogated and debriefed. That precluded learning just what the suspected wayward officer may have turned over to the Lucian Alliance. This one death brought the entire investigation to an abbreviated end, leaving no other trails to follow.
Following her release from the infirmary, Lieutenant Breanne Goodly emotionally withdrew. Her teammates and friends from SG-31 rallied around the young woman. Despite their efforts, Goodly remained emotionally distant and detached. Realizing the trauma she must be going through following the death of Colonel Andrews, the team redoubled their efforts. When this too met with failure, the team decided it was their duty to report what was going on to Brigadier General Carter.
Upon learning of Goodly's reluctance to let those of her team into her emotional circle, Carter found herself unsurprised. In her own career, Samantha had been through events that had taken time to emotionally recover from. Unfortunately, as the remaining members of SG-31 had reported this to Carter in an official capacity, regulations came into play. The regulations and official policies in question served to tie Carter's hands, and forced upon her certain procedural requirements.
While a debriefing had already been performed for Goodly, a psychological evaluation was in order. Following procedures, Carter pushed this evaluation up by a week. Using the mental health team who watched over all SG team members, the process could be conducted totally in house. During the evaluation, Goodly was noticeably uncomfortable. Efforts to reassure her that these feelings were normal did little to alter the Lieutenant's demeanor. Upon conclusion of the initial evaluation, the mental health team delivered their findings to General Carter. Their conclusion was that the Lieutenant was hiding something. Deciding then and their that she would get to the bottom of this, Carter summoned Goodly to her office.
"How are you feeling Lieutenant?" Carter asked.
"As well as can be expected ma'am." Goodly answered.
"I'm going to get right to the reason I called you here. The results of your recent psychological evaluation are troubling." Carter explained.
"If I may ma'am, might I ask what about the results are troubling?" Goodly asked.
"The psychological evaluation team is of the opinion that you are hiding something. We all have secrets. That is a fact that I understand all too well. If you are hiding something though, you might want to reconsider your efforts to hide whatever it might be. Let me be clear; your continued career here at the SGC hinges on the outcome of your evaluation. Whatever you might be hiding, you need to decide if it is worth ruining your career over." Carter lectured.
For a moment, Goodly looked down at the floor. This was a development she suspected might come, but hoped could be avoided. Taking a deep breath, the young woman prepared herself for the events she had thought about over the preceding days. Returning her gaze to Carter's, Goodly decided to roll the dice in her high stakes game.
"General Carter, I am hiding something. I doubt you will understand once I explain this. If possible ma'am, could we have the evaluation team join us for this?" Goodly asked earnestly.
Staring hard at the Lieutenant, Carter weighed her options. Despite her rank and years of uniformed service, Carter was one of those people who tried to always believe in people. She knew all too well the difficulties of being an intelligent young woman in the boys club that was the SGC. Aware of the potential residing within Goodly, Carter lifted a phone and summoned the psychological evaluation team to her office. Several minutes later, the three member team arrived, and Carter quickly directed them to take seats around the office. As he took his seat, Colonel James MacKenzie, the SGC's highest ranking mental health practitioner removed a recording device from his pocket and activated the device.
"Ok Lieutenant, you wanted a chance to explain yourself. Here it is. The floor is yours." Carter prompted.
"This is so hard to say. I fully understand that what I am about to tell you could very well cost me my career. I just ask that you listen, and not cast judgement upon me, as that would make this much harder than it already is." Goodly stated.
"Lieutenant, this is a psychological evaluation. Consider this a session between you and I. We are all professionals, and will behave accordingly. This is a safe place to tell us what you feel the need to tell us." Colonel MacKenzie said reassuringly.
"This entire situation has effected me deeply. I sit here and question my every action of the last year. It's important to me that you realize the last thing I wanted was to take the life of Colonel Andrews. He forced me to take action. Why he did that I will never understand." Goodly said, as she began to cry.
"Take your time Lieutenant." Colonel MacKenzie offered.
"Colonel Andrews was more than just my commanding officer. He was also my mentor, my friend, and an officer I respected to the utmost. You want to know what I'm hiding? Over a year ago, the Colonel and I entered into an improper relationship. We both knew that fraternization between senior and junior officers is against regulations. When I first joined SG-31, the Colonel was very supportive. We became friends, and later the Colonel and I entered into a relationship of sorts. It was that relationship that blinded me to the changes in his behavior. I knew I should have reported these changes, but I loved him and simply couldn't. When he forced me to take his life, he used that love as a weapon." Goodly explained as tears flowed down her face.
For a moment, no one in the room said a word. The only sound in the room were the soft sobs of Lieutenant Goodly. MacKenzie and Carter locked eyes for a moment. Rising from her seat, Carter handed the crying young woman some tissue, before motioning for MacKenzie to follow her into the outer briefing room. Closing the office door behind her, Carter made her way to the far end of the briefing room with MacKenzie in tow.
"That certainly accounts for her reluctance to share." MacKenzie said sympathetically.
"Are you satisfied and willing to clear her for duty?" Carter pressed.
"I am, but this is something that will need to go on the official record." MacKenzie explained.
"No, it doesn't. Right now that young woman is in hell. I've been where she is, and it is far from pleasant." Carter countered.
"Are you referring to the time with the za'tarc detector showing both yourself and General O'Neill were programed assassins?" MacKenzie asked.
"Yes. Obviously, the General and I never crossed the threshold that Goodly and Andrews did, but I understand what she is going through. I refuse to trash this woman's career over falling in love. However you write up your official report, we handle this delicately. Understood?" Carter asked.
"Fully General. I will have my report in your hands by this afternoon." MacKenzie agreed.
Turning to look back at her office door, Carter consoled herself that while she and Jack may never have shared the intimacy that Goodly and Andrews had, Carter did have the power to protect the Lieutenant. She would never allow Goodly to suffer for a relationship that went against a very silly regulation drafted by bureaucrats. Little did she know that Goodly was aware of the za'tarc incident, and was using that as leverage against Carter's sensibilities and sentimentalities
November Site
Milky Way Galaxy
Seated at the controls of an Al'kesh, tension rippled through the mind and body of Major Robert Carlyle. Secured in the aft cargo by, Sloviash lay unconscious. Upon learning that Kefflin was comfortable with Carlyle disposing of Sloviash, Carlyle had believed the smartest route would be to travel to his message sight, and request extraction through ISA channels. Mulling that idea over as the prisoner was moved to an Al'kesh, Carlyle decided that the method he had in mind might not be the wisest. That method had been used already, and could possibly have been compromised.
Instead, Carlyle opted to take his Al'kesh on a confusing journey, stopping in multiple solar systems along the way. Before beginning his undercover mission within the ranks of the Lucian Alliance, a series of escape options had been presented to the Major. Realizing that time was at a premium in the delivery of the man who had ordered the attack on Edora, and subsequent death of General O'Neill's son, Carlyle instead piloted his vessel to a set of coordinates in space. At this position in space, an Asgard or Tau'ri vessel would standby for a period of one hour each day. In the event Carlyle was detected and could steal an Alliance vessel, he was to come here for extraction. If the need to travel to the November Site kept presenting itself, Carlyle would eventually run out of preplanned methods.
Exiting hyperspace at the appointed coordinates, the Al'kesh returned to real space. As the small Goa'uld designed craft decelerated rapidly, sensors announced the presence of a vessel of incredible size. Making sure the weapons suite of the Al'kesh was powered down, Carlyle maneuvered the craft towards the Asgard vessel in the distance. Unknown through suspected by Carlyle, the Asgard vessel scanned the newly arrived Al'kesh for any trace of signals emanation. Aware of the overwhelming odds against a Lucian Alliance vessel appearing at this section of open space, scanning was done simply to ensure that a tracking device was not betraying the position of Carlyle and his vessel.
Before Carlyle could attempt to contact the Asgard vessel, he was enveloped by the blinding energy field of an Asgard transport beam. Returning to his materialized form, Carlyle took note of the Asgard standing before him. Clearly, he was now aboard the Asgard vessel.
"Welcome aboard the Hala. I am Thor, Supreme Commander of the Asgard Fleet." Thor said in welcome.
"Major Robert Carlyle, United States Army. How did you know it was me?" Carlyle asked.
"Yes, I know who you are. I ascertained who you were upon your arrival. Those from Earth contain a number of identifiable elements in your bodies, due to your planets nuclear weapons testing, and certain elements being introduced to your ecosystem." Thor explained.
"My purpose here is that I need to be taken, with my cargo, to the November Site." Carlyle stated.
"By cargo, I presume you mean the human you have in the cargo area of your vessel?" Thor questioned.
"He is the man responsible for the attack on Edora, and the death of General O'Neill's son." Carlyle replied.
Squinting his jet black eyes slightly, Thor cast his gaze upon the Al'kesh sitting in the space beyond the Hala. Realizing the magnitude of Carlyle's find, Thor found he could not fault the logic of delivering this man to the November Site. Once again, Thor found himself impressed with the Tau'ri ability to respond in a quick and unorthodox manner.
"I will deliver you there myself. Once there, I will have Asgard technicians replace your vessels navigational data with something more suitable." Thor announced.
Aboard the Hala the Al'kesh was beamed. There, the small craft and the prisoner contained within it would remain during the short jump to the November Site. As Thor took his flagship into hyperspace, a subspace message was broadcast to the November Site explaining that Carlyle was inbound, and the nature of his cargo brought with him. Receiving this message, Brigadier General Dean Frost and the other Intelligence Support Activity members present sprang into action. General Frost, aware of what it would bring, sent word to Earth. His message was simple and directed to General Jack O'Neill. The sum total of the message was two simple words. We got him.
On Earth, General Jack O'Neill was away from his normal confines of the Pentagon. Having traveled to Edwards Air Force Base the day before, O'Neill was present to lay eyes on Earth's new long range fighter, and those selected to fly the early production models. Upon receiving the message from the November Site, once relayed through the National Military Command Center within the Pentagon, O'Neill took on the demeanor of a man with a mission. Minutes later, O'Neill took his leave of those he was at Edwards to inspect, and was transported to his home outside of Washington DC. There, he waited.
Arriving at the November Site, Thor maneuvered the Hala within of the confines of the hollowed moon that held the base. Once crossing into the body of the moon, Thor quickly transported both Carlyle and the Al'kesh to a receiving bay where both Asgard and Tau'ri stood ready. That portion of his task complete, Thor returned the Hala to open space, and raced away at incredible velocity through hyperspace towards Earth.
In the receiving bay, Brigadier General Dean Frost, commander of the Intelligence Support Activity, along with Vala Mal Doran waited. Beside them, a contingent of armed base internal security personnel stood. As the energy field of the Asgard transport beam faded, General Frost advanced towards his operative with an extended hand. For her part, Vala offered her playful smile in welcome.
"You're taking a huge risk here Bobby." Frost warned.
"Everyday is a risk General. For something like this, I felt the risk was worth the return." Carlyle replied.
As Carlyle, Frost, and Vala spoke, base security personnel entered the .. Entering the cargo area of the Goa'uld designed vessel, the security team found the prisoner awake, and in a foul mood. Ignoring the endless stream of bellicose rhetoric the prisoner spewed incessantly, the team unshackled Sloviash from the crafts deck plating, and escorted him out of the vessel. Exiting the Al'kesh, Sloviash looked around his new surroundings. Seeing Asgard, his eyes went wide. Shifting his eyes towards Carlyle and Vala Mal Doran, hate suddenly filled his once fearful gaze.
"I knew you were a spy! When I escape from here, I will relish watching Kefflin bleed you slowly!" Sloviash howled.
"Dream on champ. Secure the prisoner somewhere I won't be able to hear his mouth." Frost ordered.
Grabbing Sloviash by each arm, the security team escorted the prisoner from the bay elsewhere. Sloviash, bellowing for all that he was worth, could be heard until the doors exiting the small craft receiving bay shut. As they shut, silence was enjoyed by all.
"He was always a man with so much happiness to share." Vala said snidely.
"I noticed. Bobby, how certain are you that Sloviash isn't bait to lure you into breaking cover?" Frost asked.
"Chances of that are slim at best. I admit its possible sir, but unlikely. Kefflin was ready to feed Sloviash to the wolves. The attack did little to please Kefflin, and he knew this was a power play for control of the Alliance." Carlyle stated.
"So Mr. Happy got his hand caught in the cookie jar? Is that what you're telling me?" Frost questioned.
"Pretty much sir. Kefflin was also incredibly annoyed when he learned that General O'Neill's son died in the attack on Edora." Carlyle added.
"He knew about that? Now we know that the asset in the SGC managed to drop his information before he died." Frost concluded.
"He? So we know who it was?" Carlyle inquired.
"Thats need to know, but yes. " Frost admitted.
"Thor will arrive in twenty minutes, with General O'Neill." An unnamed Asgard announced.
"This should be interesting, in a horror movie sort of way." Vala stated.
Instead of adding commentary of their own, Frost and Carlyle instead exchanged a dubious and troubled look amongst themselves. Both knew that a storm was approaching, and this storm was motivated by the death of a son. Loss such as that had been known to drive a man to madness. Aware of O'Neill's career and training, both feared what he might do to the man in their custody, and what it could mean to the General's career.
"How about a Pepsi?" Frost asked.
"I'm more of a Coca Cola man myself sir." Carlyle admitted.
"We can make that happen. Vala also had the matter replicators programmed to replicate the menu from Taco Bell if that interests you." Frost added.
"The Burrito Supreme is a glorious thing!" Vala announced as she walked away.
Making their way to the November Site's dining facility, the trio set off. With what they knew was to come, they all thought it best to decompress for a few moments beforehand. Carlyle, long tired of the fare enjoyed by the Lucian Alliance, felt a few soft tacos were in order. It was small comforts like these that helped the undercover operative keep his sanity in a world hellbent on ripping that sanity away.
Elsewhere in the November Site facility, Sloviash sat in the spartan room where security personnel had deposited him. While he outwardly portrayed a man defiant in the face of death, internally he was terrified. Betraying this fact were the incessant noises his stomach gave off. Try as he may as he struggled against his restraints, Sloviash knew he was well and truly stuck, secured steadfastly to a chair. Were he able to stand and fight in the face of certain death, he might have been more at ease. Aware that as he sat, death could come at any moment with him powerless to defend himself, he was scared in a way that was impossible to put into words.
Seated in the dining facility, the trio of Vala, Carlyle, and Frost sat. Vala, babbling on about the finer points of intergalactic arms smuggling, spoke a mile a minute. Frost, doing his part as the commander who cares, tried with all his might to give the appearance of listening attentively. Carlyle, tuning out his surroundings, concentrated on his matter stream created soft taco.
Moments later, without fanfare, General Jack O'Neill strode through the dining facility entrance. Zeroing in on the only three people present, O'Neill quickly made his way towards those he wished to speak with. Always aware of her surroundings due to a life spent doing things better left not done, Vala was the first to catch the sight of O'Neill. Waving coyly, she smiled at Jack. Frost, rising to his feet, welcomed the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs to the November Site. Finishing his soft taco and snapping back to reality, Major Robert Carlyle rose to his feet. Motioning the Major to keep his seat, Jack moved closer to Carlyle. Locking eyes for a moment, Jack took in the sight of the young Major.
"Put aside rank, position, and all that other stuff. As a man, I want to thank you for this. You've given me a chance to close a chapter, and for that I owe you more than I can put into words. When the time comes, if you ever need anything, its yours." Jack said solemnly.
Seconds later, Supreme Commander Thor also entered the dining facility. Informing O'Neill that he would take him to Sloviash, the duo set off for other parts of the November Site. Realizing that allowing O'Neill, who strangely was carrying an Adidas gym bag, to see Sloviash alone was a mistake, the others within the dining facility quickly followed. Moving quickly to play catch up, the three quickly caught O'Neill and Thor.
Arriving at the outer door of the room where Sloviash was held, O'Neill asked that all present wait outside. This was something he wanted, no needed, to do alone. Out of respect for the man and his position, all complied. Seconds after O'Neill entered the room, the doors secured behind him. Frost, looking at Supreme Commander Thor, spoke first.
"You realize this could go very badly, and is most probably a mistake, right?" Frost asked.
"Do you mean allowing O'Neill unfettered access to the man that is responsible for the death of his child?" Thor asked in reply.
"Yeah." Frost answered.
"In his emotional state, logic nor an entire enemy fleet could keep O'Neill from this. Of that I am certain." Thor replied with finality.
Standing in the room, O'Neill gave his eyes a moment to adjust to the dim lighting. Running his hands over his camouflage blouse, the General looked at the floor. In fact, he looked everywhere but at Sloviash. The mere sight of the man sickened Jack. Rage boiled up within him. Having the man responsible for Homer's death within arms reach was in many ways a prayer answered for Jack, and that simple fact amazed him while rekindling a faith that at the best of times was an iffy thing. Setting the Adidas bag to the floor, Jack concentrated on unzipping the bag and removing its contents.
Sloviash, in fear for his life, wisely remained silent for once. While he had no qualms about belching his vitriol to the others, he refused to do so to a man that had every reason to take his life. Protection of ones continued existence can be a strong motivator. Watching O'Neill closely, Sloviash observed the Tau'ri military leader remove a strange wooden object from the satchel he had entered the room with.
"I bet I am the last guy you wanted to see come through that door. Am I right?" Jack asked.
Sloviash, unsure of how to proceed, opted to remain silent. Welling up within him however was the unbridled desire to taunt this Tau'ri, in the hope of buying a few more hours of life.
"Whats the matter? Cat got your tongue? Let me tell you what I think. You realize that you made a reckless move without weighing the potential consequences, and now that potential consequence is staring you right in the face." Jack spat.
Despite Jack's statement, Sloviash continued to maintain his silence. Perhaps, if he remained silent long enough, this Tau'ri would simply leave. It wasn't much of a hope, but it was all Sloviash had at this point, and he was intent on clinging to that hope for as long as he possibly could.
"See this?" Jack asked while holing up the object in his hand.
Nodding his head, Sloviash acknowledged that he did indeed see the object. Beyond that, Sloviash was at a loss as to what he could say that would not drive the man before him over the edge into madness.
"This is what we call on Earth a baseball bat. This particular bat is special. It belonged to my son Charlie. I remember the day I bought him this bat. I was going to teach my son Homer how to use this bat, until you killed him." Jack said, as his mood turned suddenly dark.
Believing his death to be imminent, Sloviash continued his silence. Seeing the rage and fury within the Tau'ri leaders eyes caused Sloviash's pulse to race, and his breathing to become ragged. Growing tired of this silence, Jack poked Sloviash in the chest with the extended bat.
"I wanted to do nothing but retire, and enjoy a life with my one remaining son. After all I've given this universe, I figure I had earned that. Then you came along and took that chance away. I'm a nightmare for someone like you. Had you left Edora alone, my son would still be alive, and I would have stepped down on my own. You took everything from me, and I'm going to do the same to you. A big part of me wants to do nothing more than beat you to death with this bat, but that s too easy. If no one else was around, I would beat you to death with this bat, throw you in a sarcophagus to revive you, then do it all over again." Jack raged.
"Go ahead and do it! Your son is dead, yet you stand here powerless to act. Return to your precious Earth, and cry yourself to sleep with dreams of what you might have done had you the courage!" Sloviash yelled, no longer able to keep quiet.
Dropping the baseball bat to the floor, Jack advanced towards the prisoner. Removing a pistol from a skeleton holster at the small of his back, Jack leveled the weapon at Sloviash. Cocking the hammer, Jack ground the barrel of the weapon into Sloviash's face.
"Do you have a son?" Jack demanded.
"I do, and he is alive unlike yours!" Sloviash spat.
"Where might your son be?" Jack asked in rage.
"He is the keeper of the Lucian Alliance army on Ilempir, and out of your reach! My son will continue to live and fight the Tau'ri, but yours will remain dead for all time!" Sloviash taunted.
"I'm going to take you apart piece by piece! You think this is a game? I'm going to force you to watch while your son dies! I'm not going to kill you, oh no. I want you to watch while I destroy everything you love, including your Lucian Alliance!" Jack shouted.
At that moment, believing the situation was well out of hand, Carlyle and Frost rushed into the room. Frost, hoping O'Neill wouldn't discharge his firearm, put his body between Sloviash and Jack. Carlyle, wanting to do nothing more than prevent O'Neill from ruining his career, grabbed Jack bodily from behind.
"You're better than this General. Don't make this mistake." Carlyle said to Jack, as he moved the General out of the room.
"One word from you and I might shoot you myself." Frost said to Sloviash in warning.
Entering the room slowly, Thor locked eyes with Sloviash. Staring intently, the Supreme Commander of the Asgard Fleet considered his words carefully. Approaching Sloviash closely, Thor began to speak in low and frightening tones of confident certainty.
"O'Neill has wisely shown you the mercy you would have denied him. Had he killed you, he would have been removed from command of his nations military. As you live, O'Neill will take his rage to the doorsteps of the Lucian Alliance. As friend and ally of Earth, the Asgard will provide our full assistance. You are in our care, and will remain so. With the blessing of the Asgard High Council, I will punish you in a way befitting your transgression. You will not enjoy what is to come." Thor promised.
Hours later, Sloviash opened his eyes. Wherever he was, it was dark. All around him was a world of darkness. Points of light began to take shape around him. As these points of light came into focus, Sloviash saw that these were some type of holographic screens showing the worlds inhabited by the Lucian Alliance. Among the worlds shown was Ilempir, where his son was located. Thor's voice boomed through the darkness.
"Here you will remain, to witness the destruction of all you hold dear. Welcome to your new reality." Thor stated resolutely.
Though Sloviash did not know it, his consciousness was no longer in his physical body. Making use of technology developed long ago to prolong the lives of the Asgard, Sloviash's consciousness had been removed. Upon removal, that consciousness was placed in a computer construct, where it would remain. In time, courtesy of surveillance assets placed by the Asgard Fleet, Sloviash would stand as witness to the destruction of the Lucian Alliance within his digital prison.
Earth
Sol Solar System
Milky Way Galaxy
In the days following the attack on Edora, a political firestorm of sorts took hold. Leading this charge, diplomats of both France and Russia stocked this fire into a diplomatic inferno. An attack on the off world assets of Earth represented an attack on the nations of Earth, and this fact the enraged diplomats made clear. While France and Russia had passed up the opportunity in off world ground engagements, an affront to their sovereignty brought about a change in attitudes.
War was now a certainty. The deaths of diplomatic personnel on Edora ensured that unfortunate fact. France and Russia would not wage this war alone. Norway and the United States would also participate in ground operations. Intelligence information garnered from multiple sources assisted in the calculus of forces to be deployed against the Lucian Alliance. Unlike Tagrea, this invasion sought to do more with far fewer troops deployed. That was not to say that the number of troops deployed could ever be considered insignificant.
Military wide recall orders, put out shortly after the attack on Edora, meant fully staffed units standing by. Adding to this, vessels of the United Earth Alliance Fleet were similarly recalled. Less than seventy two hours after the recall order was dispatched, the full military might of Earth stood ready for the coming evolution.
At an airfield outside of Camp Raffalli on the Mediterranean island of Corsica, a steady stream of C-142 Nimbus airlift craft came and went. Lacking the overwhelming transport capacity possessed by the United States Air Force and the Royal Air Force, French units would voyage to other parts of the Milky Way by way of allied assistance. Already, half of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment of the French Foreign Legion had been moved. Within twenty four hours, the remainder of this unit would find itself fully deployed.
A similar scene played out n the Russian city of Tula, on the outskirts of Moscow. There, the Tula Division, otherwise known as the 106th Guards Airborne Division, were also boarding allied piloted C-142 Nimbus transport craft. Due to the larger size of the 106th Guards Airborne Division in comparison to the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment meant that more time was needed to transport the unit in full. Specialized Airborne forces of the United States military would soon join them, as would the specialized light infantry forces of the Norwegian Army.
These light airborne forces would not go alone however. Veracruz Class amphibious assault ships belonging to several nations were fast loading men and equipment in several nations. Brigade Nord of the Norwegian Army was the first of these units to depart earth. The French Army's 9th Light Armored Marine Brigade would soon follow. Larger than these two units, the Russian 21st Guards Motor Rifle Division was also fast loading aboard vessels. While these forces represented nothing more than a fraction of the ground power Earth had at her disposal, this force was worthy of respect from any opponent within the Milky Way.
In the space beyond Earth's moon, a massive collection of vessels sat. Composed of Athena, Ascension, Crossbow, and Daedalus Class vessels, these vessels represented a large majority of Tau'ri fleet strength. Here they sat, waiting for the order to break into assigned task forces. While three of these task groups would be led by a single Ascension Class vessel, the other groups would form around the carriers of the fleet. USS Prometheus, USS Nimitz, USS Benjamin Franklin, USS Forrestal, and HMS Illustrious had already departed.
Orbiting Earth, the French carrier Clemenceau, Russian carrier Theodore Ushakov, and Chinese carrier Qin Shi Huang stood stationary. From the airfields scattered across Earth, a steady stream of F-302 and FB-302 aircraft climbed towards the heavens. These craft, belonging to the respective air wings of each carrier, were the striking power of each vessel. Once each carrier fully embarked its air wing, the carriers would join with their escorts and form into individual battle group before departing.
Merchant traffic, arriving and departing from Earth took notice of these carriers, as well as the fleet beyond the moon. To civilian merchant crews, the sight was as impressive as it was frightening. That the fleet had never before been gathered in such numbers in one place was a fact not lost on these cargo vessel crews. Each agreed that whatever was going on, it must be big.
Fleet Station McHenry
Milky Way Galaxy
While newly constructed, Fleet Station McHenry was fast becoming accustomed to operations dealing with the Lucian Alliance. Following the attack on Edora, the badly damaged USS George Hammond had been towed to the station. In the days following Hammond's arrival, repairs were conducted within the large domed docking area atop the station. Shortly thereafter, Hammond was once more taken under tow for Arkos, where full repairs would be conducted.
After the departure of USS Hammond, the crew of Fleet Station McHenry settled back into their normal routine. This routine was not to last though. A continuous stream of intelligence gathering platforms had come and gone, on missions the crew of the station could only guess at. Days after this flurry of visiting craft came and went, Fleet Station McHenry received orders from Earth that raised a few eyebrows. While all were aware that the station was equipped with the necessary equipment to reposition itself within the galaxy, few had ever believed that order would be given.
Making use of the integrated worm hole drive, the station and all it contained departed the coordinates of McHenry's construction. Shortly afterwards, McHenry found itself in new surroundings, in empty space eighty light years from Lucian Alliance space. Soon afterwards, elements of Earth's fleet began to arrive.
In the space surrounding Fleet Station McHenry, five of Earth's powerful carriers sat. Between the station and carriers, a near continuous stream of small craft came and went. Adding to traffic, a continuous combat air patrol, flown by craft from both the station and the carriers, patrolled. Without a doubt, this small patch of open space was by far the most well guarded piece of real estate in this galaxy.
In bays built for the purpose, craft arriving from Earth came to rest. The majority of these craft were the fully loaded C-142 Nimbus transports. Once within the receiving bays, each Nimbus offloaded the combat troops brought here. While waiting for the coming commencement of hostilities, these combat troops and those soon to arrive would enjoy the stations comforts and hospitality. Knowing the horrors that might meet these troops soon, the crew of McHenry made every effort to make the soldiers of many nations as comfortable as was possible.
Days after the flow of C-142's began, thirty six small hyperspace windows opened beyond the station. From these dimensional windows, small craft of a never before seen design emerged. Conducting their passage to Fleet Station McHenry in one hundred light years jumps; these small craft had powered across the gulf from Earth under their own power. Coming to rest within receiving bays shared with C-142's, the first two squadrons of the new F-400 Harpy Eagle long range interceptors came to rest.
Developed quietly as the solution to the vexing limitations of the F-302, the Harpy Eagle represented a different philosophy in fighter design. Designed by Boeing's secretive Phantom Works division, and built within the confines of Arkos, the Harpy Eagle closely resembled the form of Boeing's technology demonstrator known as the Bird of prey. Crewed by two, the F-400 was ninety two feet long, with a span of thirty eight feet. Equipped with a small neutrino ion generator and shields, the Harpy Eagle was as lethal as she looked. Having recently reached initial operating capability, the F-400 would join the coming effort against the Lucian Alliance. Aviation enthusiasts and aviators alike quickly made their way to the bay containing these craft, hoping to lay eyes on Earth's newest tool.
Ninety six hours after the F-400's arrival, a massive body of Tau'ri vessels arrived in the space surrounding McHenry. This body, containing the overwhelming bulk of Earth's fleet, began to patrol the open space surrounding the Fleet Station. Jumpers, moving to and from McHenry, gathered the commanders of each vessel. Most surprisingly to those present aboard the Fleet Station was the arrival of Aris Boch, and the troops captured with him on Edora. Within the station, briefings would take place, giving each individual task group its mission and orders. Nearly every piece was in place for the coming conflict.
Ilempir
Ilempiri Solar System
Milky Way Galaxy
Forested, with deep blue oceans; the world of Ilempir was one with a tragic past. Thousands of years ago, Ancient's remaining in their corporeal form prior to ascension, had found this world. Finding a thriving yet primitive by comparison civilization of humans, the Ancient's realized that they were standing upon a world that would soon become a target of the growing Goa'uld domain. Hoping to spare these humans the horrors of becoming a host to a parasitic Goa'uld, the Ancient's altered the physiology of the native population, making them incompatible as hosts. This act of kindness and concern plunged the Ilempiri into the nightmare in which they still lived.
Eventually, the Goa'uld did discover Ilempir and the Ilempiri people. Learning that these humans could not be used as hosts came as an unpleasant shock to the System Lords. A race immune to becoming hosts represented a threat and an affront to the Goa'uld. Realizing that a way to prevent these humans from ever realizing their strength and rising up against the Goa'uld was needed led to the development of a bluff spanning thousands of years. That bluff was better known as Roshna.
Suborned to the will of the Goa'uld due to Roshna, the Ilempir became a race enslaved. For thousands of years, this was the status quo of this world and its people. In time, the Goa'uld fell. At that time, many among the Ilempiri thought this meant freedom at last. Stepping into the vacuum left in the wake of the fall of the Goa'uld domain, the Lucian Alliance seized control of Ilempir and the Ilempiri as their own. Without firing a shot, the Lucian Alliance enslaved the Ilempiri, using tools left behind by this worlds former overlords. What the Lucian Alliance did not know, was that their time as controllers of this world would soon be at an end.
Hours earlier, a single hyperspace window had torn open the fabric of space far beyond the outer boundaries of this solar system. Exiting this dimensional rift, under cloak, was the form of USS Oceana. Second ship of the Galactic Express Class, Oceana was an odd choice for this sensitive special operation, though she was designed to support special operations conducted by Marine Raiders. Unseen by those lording over Ilempir, USS Oceana powered her way into and through the solar system undetected. Falling into orbit, on the far side of the planet and well away from the Lucian Alliance vessels sitting on the planets surface, Oceana began her assigned task.
Aboard the cloaked Tau'ri vessel, crew and those brought for other tasks prepared themselves for the coming evolution. Thirty five men, each a member of the US Army's 3rd Special Forces Group, donned their combat exoskeletons, and their flight packs. Each of these men was a professional, and hand picked for their task. While each of these Special Forces team members were highly qualified soldiers, they had been selected for this mission because they all shared one qualification. Each of these men was a graduate of the US Army Pathfinder school. It was that skill set that the majority of these men would soon be called upon to put to use.
In the large open bay of USS Oceana, the thirty five men stood ready. At the rear of the bay, a flight crew sealed the ramp of the lone Jumper Oceana carried with her. Loaded with material the thirty five members of 3rd Special Forces Group would need to complete their task, this Jumper would follow the Special Forces soldiers into the Ilempir atmosphere during their reentry. Rising from the deck, the Jumper repositioned itself under the ceiling mounted energy shield separating the bay from space.
Continuing its rise from the internal bays deck plating, the now cloaked Jumper passed through the protective energy barrier. Seconds later, the similarly cloaked forms of the thirty five Green Beret's also exited Oceana. Powered forward by their individual flight packs, the exoskeleton clad soldiers began their reentry. Each was reticent on the prospect of conducting a reentry in their exoskeleton. While it had been shown to work in tests, few trusted those tests now that they were here. Pushing these thoughts from their minds, the soldiers and Jumper plummeted into Ilempir's upper atmosphere.
Friction mounted on the outer surface of each exoskeleton. Integrated temperature management systems within each suit combated the rise in temperature, keeping the occupant comfortable. Where it not for the modified Sodan cloaking devices integrated into each exoskeleton, their reentry might have been detected by sensors on the planet below. Passing fully through the upper reaches of Ilempir's atmosphere, each of the thirty five men breathed a sigh of relief. This time it seemed that the tests had been correct. Now, all they needed to do was keep this lucky streak going a bit longer.
Over the course of the next two hours, the remaining men in flight dwindled until just five remained. This was due to the large group breaking into three groups of ten, with a fourth group composed of five. Each group of ten soldiers homed in on their target location. Upon reaching this location, the Jumper set down and unloaded mission essential cargo. A second trip by the Jumper would be required to deliver the two Cybernetic Autonomous Armed Trackers assigned to each group.
Each of these ten men groups sprang into action upon landing. Once their mission essential equipment was in hand, they first secured the local perimeter, before setting up a very well camouflaged base of operations. Completing that, these three groups began the Pathfinder portion of their mission. Landing locations for these teams had not been at random, but instead purposefully selected. In the coming three days, these teams would covertly survey nearby areas, for use by Earth as landing zones for troop insertion. During this time, they would also catalog and report any enemy movements they saw. Much of the success of the coming invasion depended on these men.
The remaining five men airborne continued on to their own destination. While being qualified Pathfinders each, these men were tasked with a far different mission. Not even the teams surveying the landing zones knew of the mission of these five men. Guided by navigational data relayed from Oceana, the five soon arrived at a farm of sorts. Though these men had been briefed on who and what to expect, tension ran high in each. Setting down behind a structure similar to a barn, the five men took their first steps on Ilempir. Thankfully, the sun would not rise for several more hours.
Charging their individual weapons, three of the five men established overwatch positions for the house nearby. The two remaining men, leaving their weapons secured to their exoskeletons, began to slowly walk towards the farm house. According to the intelligence they had received, this house should have a single family in residence. When was the last time intelligence had managed to make a mistake they wondered jokingly. Coming to the rear door the farmhouse, the team commander knocked on the door.
A full minute passed before the two men were alerted to lights coming on within the house by the overwatch team. Hearing a figure approach across rough wooden floors, the two men knew whoever was approaching could see them through the windowed door. To alleviate any fears the man staring at them might have, both Green Beret's pushed a single recessed button on their forearms, causing the helmets of their exoskeleton to fold away into the protective suits collar. Slowly, cautiously, the farmer opened the door.
"Who are you?" The man demanded.
"Are you Loris Boch?" The team commander asked in reply.
"And if I am?" The man demanded.
"Aris Boch sent us." The team commander explained.
"Aris lives?" Loris demanded in surprise.
"He does, and will be here in a few days. Earth is coming to liberate your people." The team commander announced.
Waking his wife, Loris Boch plied the newly arrived Tau'ri with a hearty breakfast. After they were fed, Loris led them to the barn, and through a hatch into an unseen basement. Over the course of the next hour, Loris told them of the state of the Ilempiri freedom movement, while the Tau'ri told him how he could help. In the coming evolution, the Lucian Alliance would fight not just the Tau'ri, but also those that comprised the bulk of their army.
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