Finally, the latest chapter is out. I rushed through this one to get it done, and in your hands, so if it isn't up to par, I apologize. My schedule has been a nonstop mad dash since the holidays. While I know all of you love timely updates, my career, and other events planned long ago got in the way. My schedule is going to be crazy for the next month or so, which means the next chapter may or may not be slightly delayed. I hope everyone is doing well. Have a wonderful weekend, and have a happy Valentine's Day!
Review responses will be addressed in the next chapter.
Borealis
Earth
Milky Way Galaxy
Atop the cold waters of San Francisco Bay, the city ship Borealis sat. Enveloped in the thick blanket of fog these waters were known for, Borealis, fully lit, created a halo of light around her. Within one of the city's many towers, Daniel Jackson and Brigadier General Samantha Carter were fast asleep. Making the most of their blooming relationship, these overnight trips from Cheyenne Mountain to Borealis were becoming more and more frequent. In the darkened quarter's, a chime rang out. A second later, a voice broadcast over the address system filled the air.
"Operations, this is Dr. Jackson. Go ahead." Daniel said groggily.
"Daniel Jackson, the message traffic is for General Carter." Teal'c countered.
"I'm here Teal'c. Can you tell me the contents of the message?" Carter inquired.
"The message comes from Home World Command, direct from General Ronson. It states that you are to be prepared for immediate temporary duty at an off site location to be determined. Your departure is slated to take place from the SGC. I have taken the liberty of placing a Jumper on standby, to return you to Cheyenne Mountain." Teal'c stated.
"Thank you Teal'c. Please pass along word to the flight crew that I will be ready to depart in fifteen minutes, and that the destination is Peterson Air Force Base, and not Cheyenne Mountain." Carter instructed.
Rising from the bed, Carter groaned. While she understood these unexpected deviations from her established plans were par for the course, they never came at the most opportune times. Turning her gaze to Daniel, as he reached for and put on his glasses, Samantha could not help but smile. She felt so lucky to finally have someone. That the love of her life was a friend she had known for many years made everything so much better. Ever vigilant, she knew Daniel was preparing to begin his day far earlier than most, just so he could see her off.
"Stay in bed. I'm just going to grab a quick shower, and head for the Jumper bay." Carter urged.
"Are you sure?" Daniel asked?
"Get your sleep. You need it. It will also help your late night research sessions I'm sure that will happen while I'm gone." Samantha said with a knowing smile.
"Any idea what this is about?" Daniel asked, as he settled back into bed.
"None. I'll message you when I can." Carter offered, before heading to the shower.
Ten minutes later, after showering and gathering her belongings, Carter stepped towards the doorway leading out of Daniel's quarters. As the door's parted, Samantha was aware of the sound of soft snoring coming from Daniel. Turning towards the interior of the darkened quarters, Samantha looked in Daniel's direction and smiled for a moment. Returning to the here and now, Carter quickly made her way to the transporter booth that would carry her to the Jumper bay.
Exiting the Jumper bay transporter booth, Carter adjusted the strap of the overnight bag that hung from her left shoulder. In the distance, she saw the flight crew that would transport her to Cheyenne Mountain performing last-minute preflight checks. Standing beside the Jumper was the form of Teal'c. A warm and welcoming smile lit up his smoothly shaved Jaffa face. Bowing slightly, Teal'c greeted his longtime friend. In his hand was a travel mug of coffee, which he extended towards Carter, and which she happily accepted.
"Be safe and be well General Carter. I will watch over Daniel Jackson until your return." Teal'c offered.
"I appreciate it Teal'c. I'll be back as soon as I can." Carter replied.
Entering the Jumper, Carter savored the cup of rich and flavorful coffee as she set down her overnight bag, and took her seat behind the flight crew. A moment later, the rear ramp of the Jumper closed, and the Jumper began to rise of the deck of the Jumper bay. Above, at the peak of the city's central tower, the exit point door's parted ways. Rising vertically, through the now open exit point, the Jumper exited the city, and climbed several hundred feet through dark and foggy skies. Drive pods extended from the Jumper's hull, as the small craft picked up speed and raced towards Peterson Air Force Base.
Star Gate Command
Cheyenne Mountain
Earth
Ninety minutes after her departure from Borealis, Brigadier General Samantha Carter entered Star Gate Command. After a brief stopover at her quarters on Peterson Air Force Base, where she collected the ready bag she maintained for an occurrence such as this, Carter was ready. Entering the operations center of the subterranean facility, Carter was greeted by the graveyard shift standing duty. Gratefully handing her ready bag off to a welcoming Senior Airman, Samantha was confronted by the sight of General William Ronson, head of Home World Command, enjoying a cup of coffee while watching over those around him.
"Good morning General. What have we got?" Carter asked.
"It's morning alright, but I would stop short of calling it good. Three and a half hours ago, I got a phone call that I was to drop what I was doing, pack a bag, and make my way here with all due haste. Ten hours before that, several of our ships, while conducting underway replenishment, found something. Whatever they found, the higher-ups aren't saying. It must be a find of importance, due to our TDY orders being cut three minutes after a meeting between the Chief of Naval Operations, General O'Neill, and Secretary Landry." Ronson explained, between stifled yawns.
Mulling over what Ronson had just said, Carter turned her gaze towards the embarkation room. There, in groups of ten, scholars, researchers, and other academics from around the world were stepping through the gate that would take them to the recently discovered Janus Archive. Jokingly at first, the site had been referred to as the Janus Site, and somehow the name had stuck.
"During my time here, I've learned one thing, and that is these surprise finds never end well. All we can do is hope this isn't the first step towards another war, with another enemy we never knew existed." Carter grimaced.
"I never took you to be the type to buy into naïve hope." Ronson interjected.
"You're not a morning person, are you?" Carter asked lightly.
"Not even a mood probably gives that away." Ronson replied gruffly.
"Incoming subspace traffic." A voice in the operations center announced.
"Let's here it." Carter instructed.
"USS Hammond reports they are on station, and ready to receiver travelers. The message also includes a gate address." A communications technician announced.
"That's our ride." Ronson added.
"Pass word to the those traveling to the Janus Site that they are under a five-minute stop travel order. General Ronson and I will be gating to the address provided." Carter ordered.
"Yes ma'am." The duty officer, a young First Lieutenant replied.
Setting down his coffee, Ronson hoisted a pack onto his shoulders, as Carter did the same. Exiting the operations center, both walked the short steps to the embarkation room. Upon entry into the embarkation room, Carter took note of the annoyed glances coming from academics placed on a five-minute stop travel order. Patience is a virtue, and apparently one these scholars, academics, and researchers singularly lacked. Rolling her eyes, while biting back a scathing reply, Carter negotiated her way around those in her path. As she and General Ronson stepped towards the ramp before the gate, both watched as the gate activated, and a stable wormhole was established. In unison, both Carter and Ronson, stepping off with their left feet in lockstep, climbed the ramp, and stepped through the active gate.
Passing through the event horizon, both flag grade officers and their gear were dematerialized, and transmitted thousands of lightyears across the Milky Way. Seconds later, on sand-swept world, the re-materialized duo of Carter and Ronson emerged through the gate. Looking around, both General officers quickly took note of the three armed security personnel monitoring the surrounding terrain for any unwanted visitors. As the security team was under arms, no salutes were rendered. The leader of this security team, tapping his earpiece, uttered unheard words. In response, both Carter and Ronson, along with the team standing guard, were enveloped in the dazzling visual signature of an Asgard transport beam, departing this world.
Seconds later, the five figures took form, and reappeared elsewhere. In this instance, elsewhere was high above the sand-swept world, in orbit aboard USS George Hammond. Throughout the vessel, the public address system boomed with two separate announcements.
"Home World Command, arriving."
"Star Gate Command, arriving."
For Ronson, arrival aboard the Hammond was a means to an end; a step towards his end destination, wherever that may be. For Carter, arrival aboard Hammond elicited a far more visceral reaction. It was much like a homecoming. This vessel, which Carter had commanded and taken into combat in defense of Earth, was where she felt a sense of home. Flashing through her memory at a rapid pace were images of this vessel, at various stages of construction, and later, with this vessel performing it's many duties. Looking across the bridge, Carter took note of familiar faces, which had served with her during her time in command.
From the commander's chair, Colonel Erin Gant, Hammond's current commanding officer, rose to her feet. On her face, a warm smile took hold. Earlier in their careers, both General Ronson and Colonel Gant had served together. Over the course of Gant's career since that time, Ronson had made it a point to carefully guide her career, and groom her for higher command. Turning her gaze towards Carter, Gant's discomfort was plain to see. Left unsaid, Gant disliked Carter's presence aboard Hammond, as she feared it might diminish her command authority, or present an opportunity for Carter to question Gant's way of doing things. Carter, always observant, quickly took note of Gant's unease; knowing the source for her concerns.
"Welcome aboard the Hammond." Colonel Gant greeted.
"Command suits you Colonel." Ronson beamed with pride.
"Thank you sir." Gant replied proudly.
"Can you tell us our end destination?" Carter asked, hoping to avoid a tense exchange.
"My orders are to make best possible speed to a magnetar twelve hundred light-years from where we now sit. Once there, we will link up with a task group already on site, ma'am." Gant explained briskly.
As Gant and Ronson engaged in conversation, Carter exited Hammond's bridge, to make her way to the mess deck for a much-needed cup of coffee. As she did, slight vibrations transmitted through the underfoot deck plating, telling her that the vessel was breaking orbit. While Brigadier General Samantha Carter focused on what might await her at the end destination, USS Hammond broke orbit, and leapt into hyperspace.
SGR 0501+4516
Milky Way Galaxy
Twenty six minutes later, running at a speed far less than her maximum, USS Hammond reemerged from the dimensional rift, returning firmly to the bonds of normal space. Milliseconds after her exit from hyperspace, data links aboard Hammond began to integrate sensor and position information from the shocking number of vessels in nearby space. Six Athena Class vessels, along with the USS Galactic Express were positioned around another vessel not transmitting identification information. Further out, a mix of other vessels stealthily stalked through space under cloak and unseen.
Standing on the bridge, looking out through the transparent bridge screen, Ronson, Carter, and Gant took in the sight of the ship the collection of warships were standing guard over. Each of their blood ran cold at the sight, as each realized the last time all three had been aboard a ship together was when this ship, or a ship like it, had attacked the first USS Prometheus. This sight shook Ronson's outward confidence considerably, due to this vessel or one like it once handing him what he considered the greatest tactical humiliation of his career as a ship commander. Gant's mind filled with memories of a technologically superior aggressor, bent on relentlessly pursuing Prometheus. Carter, due to a long career filled with many surprises, found herself characteristically unsurprised to a degree. One thing she had learned, is that the universe has a perverse sense of humor, and often, you found yourself face to face with enemies from the past in the most unexpected of places.
"Hammond, this is Ajax." Said the voice of Colonel Everett Young over a discreet subspace channel.
"Ajax, this is Hammond. We read you five by five." Colonel Gant responded.
"We were instructed to wait for your arrival before progressing further. Up to this point, we have been unable to conduct any scans within the vessel itself. Galactic Express, maneuvering close aboard, did release a dozen Kino's, which entered the vessel through a breach in the outer hull. Using that data, we have been slowly building a picture of the internal layout." Young explained.
"Any life signs?" Gant asked quickly.
"None that we've detected. We would like to put a team aboard, before the last expected vessel arrives. Per my orders, boarding requires the consent of General Carter." Young responded.
"Colonel Young, this is General Carter. Put your team aboard." Carter instructed.
"Understood." Young acknowledged, before closing out the open communication.
Giving a series of rapid-fire instructions to vessels in the armada, Colonel Young set in motion a series of events. Ajax, and her Athena Class sisters present sat ready with shields powered and activated, while weapons were powered, but left in standby. Long range sensors aboard Ajax showed the last vessel expected to arrive charging in the distance through hyperspace.
Near the stricken alien vessel, the diminutive form of Galactic Express was maneuvering. Moving into close proximity to the hull breach in the alien craft, Galactic Express came to a full stop. Rolling on axis, the smaller human vessel brought the upper portions of it's hull to a point facing the alien vessel's hull breach. Hull plating parted, as shuttle bay doors opened. Protecting the interior of the human vessel was an integrated energy shield, which cast glimmers of golden tinted light on the nearby alien craft's hull.
Through this protective energy screen, from the recesses of Galactic Express's hull, the diminutive forms of six exoskeleton clad humans emerged. Green tinted shielding on each exoskeleton flickered; under assault by the hostile environment. These Ancient personal shield derived protective systems were new additions to the exoskeleton platform, and a requirement for the current environment. Making use of flight packs, each of the six beings accelerated slightly, beginning their short flight to their target two thousand yards in the distance. Four of these figures took the lead, with the other two trailing.
Leading from the front, Captain Aiden Ford led the three Marine Raiders under his command. For this mission, the Raiders purpose was simply to protect. Those they protected were highly specialized members of the military. The unit these specialized members belonged to was one far different from those who stood guard over them. This man and woman both belonged to the Navy's Mobile Salvage Unit; and both were experts in the field of salvage and recovery.
As this six person team crossed the gulf from their starting point to their destination, USS Ajax relayed the latest Kino created mapping of the alien vessel's interior. This ever-expanding map would be crucial for the salvage experts, if they were to have any chance of bringing onboard systems the hull breach, Aiden Ford grimaced at the sight of the damage this vessel had endured. From the look of things, whatever had struck this vessel had been a glancing blow, instead of a direct shot. Deep gouges marred the outwardly smooth hull surface. Severe scorching of the hull was also evident. Due to the clean edges of the breach, it seemed unlikely this was the result of a kinetic strike, due to a lack of spider-webbing in the hull's surface. That meant an energy weapon, and by the look of things, a powerful energy weapon.
Reaching the breach, Ford and one of his Raiders slowly entered. Externally, the other four team members waited for word that entry was clear. Passing through the breach, Aiden marveled at the thickness of this vessel's external hull plating. In the heads up display of his exoskeleton, Ford saw the exact thickness measurements totaling nearly four feet. This was much thicker than that found aboard vessels of the Earth, or Asgard Fleets. Gaining entry, Ford and his fellow Raider took note of severe damage to internal spaces in the local area. Taking their first steps on the deck plating of triangular-shaped passageway, both men could not fail to notice damage to the passageway itself, with large punctures running deeper into the body of the vessel. Most likely, this was secondary damage, caused by shrapnel from the vessels hull itself.
"This thing has seen better days." Ford said, more to himself than anyone in particular.
"That's the understatement of the year, sir." Gunnery Sergeant Waverley agreed.
Accessing the Kino array's network, Captain Aiden Ford looked for any data pointing to a welcoming party laying in wait, or of any other potential hazards to this mission. Seeing none, he breathed a rare sigh of relief.
"So far, so good. Signal the others that they are clear to enter." Ford instructed.
As Gunny Waverley transmitted this order the short distance to the remainder of the team, both he and Ford drew their weapons. They did this, not due to a threat seen, but for any threat that might be unseen. While both Raiders covered opposite ends of the passageway where they stood, the remaining two Raiders, and both salvage experts proceeded through the hull breach. Upon gaining their footing, the remaining two Raiders also drew their weapons.
Breaking into two teams, the six set out. Heading in opposite directions, both teams had a similar and related mission; attempt to ascertain if systems aboard this vessel could be brought online. Following paths already covered by the Kino's silently stalking through this vessels many corridors, both teams moved slowly; carefully. Taking his directional cues from the salvage expert under his care, Ford led his team through a nearly endless series of identical passageways. As they moved, he began to contemplate why frequent flier miles existed, yet no such thing existed for frequent walking. Admittedly nonsensical, Ford often contemplated things such as this as a means of dealing with stress. Ford knew the Raider with him used imaginary bass fishing as his way of dealing with stress, which made no sense to Ford at all.
Over, in Ford's mind, twenty torturous minutes, he and his team navigated corridor after corridor. Despite his attempts to get any meaningful update from the salvage expert with him, he received nothing more than an endless stream of irritated grumblings. Clearly, this salvage expert was annoyed, or perhaps not a people person. Finally, they came to a heavy polished metal door, at the end of a passageway near the heart of the alien craft. Nearing the polished doorway blocking their forward progress, all were filled with unease the moment this door opened of it's own accord.
Passing through the doorway, Ford and his team were met with a surprising sight. Filling this chamber was a tall illuminated pillar. Through this pillar, pulses of light bounded from floor to ceiling, and then back again. Across the ceiling, in spiderweb like fashion, conduits also filled with pulses of light raced in all directions. Behind them, the polished doorway closed. As it sealed, sensors in each exoskeleton detected life supporting atmosphere rapidly filling this compartment. The addition of atmosphere brought a surprise, in that sound is incapable of traveling without a medium. A deep alien voice, speaking an unknown language, filled the compartment, emanating from an unseen address system.
Moving to nearby work stations, the salvage expert looked at screens filled with indecipherable text, written in an unknown language. To ease his task, the salvage expert ignored the text, and concentrated on the detailed diagrams on the screen before him. Clearly, this room was a power generation room; one of two throughout the ship. On the screen, it became clear that power was flowing to several places aboard this ship, but one of these was the largest consumer. It stood to reason that whatever was consuming this abundance of power might be the key to restoring some level of function to this stricken vessel.
"Sir, I know where we need to go." The salvage expert announced.
"Show me." Ford requested.
Tracing over the screen, the salvage expert provided the information requested. Taking this information, and comparing it to the ever-expanding Kino mapping of the vessel's interior, Ford tried to find a lay of the quickly became apparent to Aiden that whatever was at the salvage expert's chosen location, the Kino's were unable to proceed paste some type of barrier. That represented a problem.
"How sure are that is where we need to be?" Ford questioned.
"Call it ninety percent sure." The expert responded.
"Something blocked the Kino's forward progress. That could be a problem." Ford pointed out.
"Something like a large polished metal door, sir?" The expert questioned lightly.
"Ok, I see your point." Ford said with resignation.
First relaying their findings and intent to Ajax, Ford then instructed his fellow Raider to lead the way. Following waypoints set by Ford in their heads up display, the three men quickly navigating the never-changing corridors for several minutes. Finally, reaching the area where the Kino mapping had come to a halt, Ford and his team saw the reason. Instead of a heavy polished metal door, what blocked off the end of this passageway was a flickering onyx colored energy barrier.
"We need to get through that energy barrier." The salvage expert pointed out unnecessarily.
Unseen within his exoskeleton, Aiden Ford arched a single eyebrow upon hearing the expert's statement. Instead of responding in jest, both he and the salvage expert busied themselves trying to locate a barrier control panel on this side of the field. Try as they might, no such panel could be found.
"I'll look for an access passage, or a duct that runs beneath the barrier. That should get us through." The salvage expert announced.
"No need to go through all that trouble. The exoskeletons normally used by your unit are different from the one you are in now. These are Mark V's. Mark V's are identical to those used by special mission units, and are equipped with a few toys you aren't used to." Ford explained.
"Toys sir?" The salvage expert asked in confusion.
"Phase shifting. A handy piece of Tollan technology, that is tailor-made for a situation just like this. Watch and learn." Ford suggested.
Accessing a menu in his heads up display, Ford activated the control networking feature built into each exoskeleton. Slaving control of the three exoskeleton's to his own, he went one step further and initiated a full command override. From this point forward, each of the three exoskeletons higher functions would operate under his control. What function he commanded of his suit, theirs would mirror. The complicated portion of his task complete, Ford set about completing the remainder of his task. Navigating yet another menu, he selected his sought after option, and powered on the integrated phase shifting device. In response, each of the three exoskeleton clad members of the team were enveloped in a field that altered their very quantum behavior.
Taking steps forward, in lockstep with each other, the team approached and then passed effortlessly through the onyx hued energy through the protective field, each found themselves standing in an oval-shaped room, numbering seven levels in total. Filling each level were pods, with glass like outer exteriors. Behind the frosted glass like exteriors, the spectral outline of a humanlike bipedal figure could be seen. As the trip stepped closer to the pods nearest them, the spectral figures encased within each grew in detail.
Some of the occupants of these stasis chambers belonged to a race never before seen. Humanlike to a degree, with roughly scaled skin and eyes set far apart; these figures looked entirely alien. In other pods, figures of similar build, but clad in dull red armor of sorts were found. These figures potentially belonged to a warrior caste, assuming this culture operated on a caste style system. While Ford stared intently, his exoskeleton was doing much the same. Analyzing the image within it's field of view, internal systems modeled and broke down the image being taken in, which was compared against a library of images optimized for biometric comparison.
In the heads up display of each exoskeleton, a read warning icon began to flash, signifying a biometric match to the armor suited figures had been found. At the left edge of each heads up display, video of these figures appeared. Strangely, the video footage appeared to have been taken within Star Gate Command. Those of the warrior caste belonged to the group that had once nearly taken control of the SGC, leading to a Foothold situation. This group was also the source of the mimic devices in Earth's custody. These findings were quickly shared through the local network to USS Ajax.
"This is Ajax. Captain, I want all teams out of that vessel now. I repeat, your orders are to return to Galactic Express on the double." Colonel Young's voice instructed over the communications net.
Over the course of twenty minutes, those aboard the alien craft retraced steps taken. Their efforts were fueled not by orders, but by a healthy desire to avoid a small unit action against a known hostile race. Three minutes before those aboard the vessel made their exit, a massive hyperspace window tore open local space. The final expected piece of this puzzle had finally arrived.
Joint Recovery Operations Vessel Windlass was unique in design, form, and function. Composed of two crescent moon shaped hull forms at either end of her length, the center body of the vessel was a thick spar composed of modular block modules. From a single point beaming system, at each end of this spar, further block modules could be beamed into place. These modules, once added, would bond at a molecular level with those already present. This system, much different from systems found on other vessels of the Earth Fleet, allowed Windlass to greatly increase in length, should the given task require greater length.
Windlass was not a fighting ship. Her origins traced back to a time before the Arcturus power generation system had found it's way into widespread use. During testing, USS Athena had been pushed into service, to stop the Vanir theft of the Asgard vessel Hala. While Athena had won that battle, use of the Arcturus had damaged the vessel's many systems to such an extent that she had been unable to return to Arkos under her own power. Windlass had been developed to bring large combatants home. During the recently ended war with the Lucian Alliance, Windlass had not deployed to conduct recovery operations for the heavily damaged Hammond, due to being designed to operate only within a permissive environment.
JROV Windlass closed on the motionless alien vessel. As she did, Galactic Express, having recovered it's boarding team, cleared the area. Without slowing it's pace in the least, Windlass closed on the alien craft. Making almost imperceptible course corrections, the human recovery vessel slowed as it approached. Using data relayed from Ajax, Windlass began to reconfigure itself. Single point beaming arrays came online, and the process of integrating spar modules into the main spar commenced. With each addition, Windlass grew in length. This continued, until the recovery vessel exceeded the length of the alien vessel by forty meters at each end.
Passing underneath the bow of the stricken craft, Windlass slowed dramatically. Falling into close formation, the human vessel came to a halt. From the crescent moon shaped hull forms at either end of Windlass, tractor beams shot out. Locking onto the alien vessel, these tractor beams guided and reeled in their target to a position just three feet above the centerline section of the main spar of Windlass.
Power flowed through conduits in the main spar, bringing powerful shield emitters online. Across the hull of the captured vessel's hull, a powerful shield enveloped it. Despite being enclosed in this protective shield, the vessel remained tied above the main spar of Windless, by tractor beams meant for the purpose. This shield would not only protect the captured vessel, but also protect Windlass and her crew from her potentially unruly and hostile cargo as well. Once her cargo was safely locked down, a secondary shield formed around the form of Windlass. Clearly, the crew of the human vessel was being overly cautious, but this was due to a suspicion that the civilization that had built this vessel might try to intercede.
Over a span of two minutes, the sum total of the Earth task force present departed. Traveling through hyperspace, this task force and it's cargo charged through hyperspace towards the November Site.
November Site
Joint Tau'ri/Asgard Operating Location
Milky Way Galaxy
Upon arrival at the November Site, the Tau'ri task force was greeted by a half-dozen O'Neill Class vessels of the Asgard Fleet. The assorted human warships quickly formed up with their Asgard counterparts, to stand guard over the November Site, and the strange vessel being placed within. Windlass, with her cargo secure, entered the November Site, to deposit the alien craft within a cavernous holding chamber that until recently had housed a multiple captured Lucian Alliance Ha'tak's.
Once safely ensconced in a holding bay, the alien vessel was enveloped in a field of the most advanced protective shielding ever conceived by Asgard scientific minds. As these events unfolded, a single Asgard probe, similar in shape to a Kino, but with a dull grey appearance, was released into the captured vessel's interior through the hull breach used by the original boarding team. Floating effortlessly, this probe made it's way towards the stasis chamber found. Using phase shifting technology shared with the Asgard by Earth, this probe too passed through the onyx hued energy barrier preventing access to the stasis chamber. Upon entry, the probe began to take very precise measurements, which were used to build a virtual reality model of the stasis room's interior. This model was accurate to the micron. What was to come hinged on the accuracy of the virtual environment being created.
As these events transpired, other elements of the Asgard plan unfolded. An artificial intelligence, designed by the Arkos artificial intelligence for the task, was released into the data systems of the stricken vessel. Moving quickly, this incredibly adaptable artificial intelligence quickly gained mastery of all systems aboard the captured craft. What might have taken human's years took this artificial intelligence moments. Communicating with the probe within the stasis room, the artificial intelligence provided data needed for evolution to come. The most important portion of this data was the identification of a specific individual within one of the many stasis chambers. That individual was the captured vessel's commander.
The artificial intelligence began making adjustments to the operating parameters of the commander's stasis pod. This allowed for the return of some level of alertness, on a subconscious level, to the commander, Though his mind was being awakened, the commander remained safely contained in a modified form of stasis. The Asgard probe, present throughout, began transmitting a unique carrier signal to the alien commander. Through this process, the alien commander was admitted to the virtual reality environment created for this purpose.
Moments later, Au'it Tap'i, the alien vessel's commander, found himself awakened. A sense of surprise, and relief, filled his mind as he saw the stasis chamber door retract. Emerging from his stasis chamber, he cast his gaze across the other stasis chambers ringing the protective citadel that had protected his crew for an indeterminate amount of time. Strangely, he had been awakened, yet his crew remained at slumber.
Was the long-awaited rescue at hand? A nagging suspicion in the recesses of the commander's mind told him it was not. His mind screamed at him that something was badly wrong with the environment seen before him. The commander's mind, racing in multiple directions at incredible speed, evaluated the environment around him. Sights and sounds were those he knew to expect. Temperature felt within the expected range as well. Smell? That was it. The smells he knew to always be present were nowhere to be found.
This lack of odors the commander associated with high-grade alloys forged on his world meant the entire scene was to be viewed with suspicion. A sinking feeling in this put of his stomach took hold, as he began to believe a rescue was not at hand, and that he and his crew might be prisoners of an unknown power. That thought frightened Au'it Tap'i most.
At the far end of the stasis chamber citadel, two figures passed effortlessly through the energy field preventing unauthorized access, as if they were immaterial. That sight did two things. First, it pointed to his being held by a technologically advanced race. Second, it gave further reason to believe that this entire scene was not real, but one created for him. Looking directly at the two figures, Au'it Tap'i felt his heart sink. One was vaguely similar in appearance to an Asgard, and the other was sight of these two figures, standing together, gave Au'it hope, while at the same time making his stomach clinch. Taking action, as a commander of his people was expected to do, Au'it Tap'i took one step in the direction of both figures, and began to speak.
"Am I and my crew your prisoners?" Au'it asked directly.
"Have you done something worthy of being taken prisoner?" The Asgard asked in reply.
"I believe General Carter would argue that we have." Au'it responded.
"How is it you know the identity of General Carter, without an introduction?" The Asgard pressed.
"She and my people have crossed paths numerous times. I know much about her, those she serves beside, Earth and it's many histories, and the Asgard. Which of the Asgard are you?" Au'it Tap'i questioned.
"I am Freyr, representative of the Asgard High Council." Freyr answered.
"What do you mean when you say Earth's many histories? In your words, I would also like an answer for the record on how you know myself, and those I serve beside." Carter interjected.
"The answers you seek are not as simple as I wish they were." Au'it Tap'i conceded.
"For the sake of brevity, simplify them." Freyr suggested.
"Our people have met many times, across many realities. Many of those interactions were uneventful, and even fruitful. Sadly, not all of them were joyous occasions. In several handfuls of realities, your people have found to be incredibly detrimental to my mission. In these realities, your people are suspicious, secretive, devious, sometimes dangerous, and often combative. Due to these things, in this reality, we felt it wise to try a different tact to achieve our objectives. Unfortunately, this served to put the wrong foot first with your people. Instead of learning from that mistake, we doubled down with a similarly flawed working theory." Au'it Tap'i admitted without a trace of unease.
"For the sake of clarity, I suggest you expand on these actions that, as you say, put the wrong foot forward." Freyr urged.
"As our mission has progressed, we have found versions of Earth that have grown progressively harder to reach an accord with. In this reality, we decided that diplomacy simply should not be attempted. Instead, we adopted Earth's methods, and opted for limited use of force." Au'it explained.
"What is the name of your people?" Carter inquired.
"We are the Qin Hashaash. As I'm sure you have already guessed, we are not native to this reality." Au'it answered.
"Continue, please." Freyr stated.
"To answer your question, I must first provide a bit of context. My people are not a warlike race, but a race devoted to scientific understanding of all things. In the reality of my civilization, we long ago encountered the transport device you know as a star gate. We had little use for this technology, but it did provide the inspiration for development of a similar technology by my world's leading scientific minds. You know this device as the Quantum Mirror. While your people, in this reality, believe the Quantum Mirror is also a device developed by the Ancients, I can assure you that is not so.
We developed this device, in the hopes of interacting with other like-minded civilizations in realities other than our own. At first, the Mirror provided the opportunity to do what we intended. Later, we learned just how dangerous this technology could be. To prevent catastrophe befalling my people, or any who might have a Mirror in their possession, ships like my own were dispatched to recover every mirror planted in a reality other than our own.
As I previously said, Earth in a handful of realities proved problematic in the extreme. It is my personal opinion that the Earth of this reality has proven the single most difficult to deal with. When we first attempted to recover the mirror in your possession, we first attempted to do so by seizing control of your Star Gate Command. What we did not plan on, was you General Carter. You were the undoing of that first attempt to recover a technology that could bring harm to your world.
After that failure, we examined all possible options. To our surprise, your world soon after constructed your first interstellar vessel. When we encountered Prometheus, we wanted to force you into a position where negotiation was necessary. To that end, we fired upon your vessel. Notice, we only fired upon your vessel until such time as your defenses were rendered impotent. By beaming your crew into our custody, we had hoped to arrange a trade; your crew for the Mirror. Once again, you proved to be the unaccounted for variable in that equation. When we returned your crew, we did so in the hopes that we could one day return, to negotiate return of the Mirror. Certain other events prevented that hope from becoming reality." Au'it Tap'i explained with a trace of disappointment.
"What certain other events do you speak of?" Freyr and Carter asked in unison.
"When we returned to this reality, we found that not only had Earth freed this galaxy of the yoke of Goa'uld domination, but you found yourself at war with the followers of the Ori. If a world is judged by it's enemies, then Earth is a world worthy of note. Your war with the Ori presented an opportunity for my people. It was our hope, that we could trade certain technologies for the Mirror, and that these technologies would assist you in your war. Sadly, events transpired that prevented that negotiation from ever taking place.
My vessel, shortly after our return to this reality, encountered an Ori mothership. While you may believe this vessel is a powerful warship, that could not be further from the truth. The Ori took my ship under fire. My ship was badly damaged. Myself and my crew were forced to set lock ourselves in stasis, while the vessel piloted itself to a magnetar. The reason the magnetar was our chosen location was twofold. First, we believed it unlikely the Ori would look for us in such a harsh region of space. Second, the magnetar's energetic properties would have boosted the signal strength of our rescue beacon. That I stand here with you now tells me our beacon's broadcast never reached my people." Au'it explained with distaste.
"If, as you say, your mission was simply to recover the Mirror, then why did you not approach us directly?" Carter demanded.
"General, as I have said, your people have proven to be problematic boarding on obstinate. We felt we could not directly approach because of who you are, and the methods in which you react. As a representative of my people, I stand before you today to apologize for the depths of our flawed thinking. The Qin Hashaash want nothing more than to earn your friendship, and to recover a technology that could bring harm to your world. While we have no quarrel with your world, it is understood that your world has sufficient reason for quarrel with mine." Au'it explained with heartfelt candor.
"You should know, that the mirror you seek was destroyed. My world also saw the dangerous potential of this device." Carter rebutted.
"If, as you say, the Mirror truly was destroyed, it is my duty to return the device in whatever form it may exist to my world for a thorough and permanent destruction. I would also ask for your assistance in conducting repairs, so I may contact my world. It is entirely likely my world will gift you technology to use in your fight against the Ori." Au'it replied.
"Earth defeated the followers of the Ori, and rid the universe of the Ori themselves." Freyr pointed out.
"I will contact my world's leadership, and tell them of what we've learned here today. With their approval, we will assist you in your repair effort. Be aware, my people may not be entirely open to trusting your civilization after attacking us twice." Carter warned.
"Admitting when one is wrong is considered the height of sophistication in some realities. My people are not to blame; only I. If it is the wish of your world that I stand in judgement for my actions, I will happily submit to such judgement. As a commander, all I ask in return is that you allow my crew to return to our reality, and the families they dearly miss. Do with me what you will." Au'it said solemnly.
Over the course of a week, a decision was reached as to how to proceed with those of the Qin Hashaash. In the end, the opportunity to create a lasting relationship with a similarly technologically advanced civilization far outweighed the desire for retribution. Watching from the sidelines, the Asgard belief that Earth was growing in maturity was reaffirmed. Not always is it darkest before the dawn.
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