Chapter 33

Heliopolis, ES-1 July 10th, 1949

"Incredible. I've seen small samples of their technology before, but this … an entire outpost full of their equipment … I could do so much. But not at the current developmental state of your technology. We'll have to improve that first." Nerus said as they stood in the main control room of Heliopolis.

"Do you have a problem with that?" Samuel asked icily.

"What? No. In fact, it's going to be a challenge, and I enjoy a challenge. Few things challenge me these days. The only thing that really has challenged me in centuries is understanding the more sophisticated Alteran technologies. Even Baal's more … scientifically esoteric experimental projects are at best mildly amusing. But an uplift project, bridging a technological gap from a civilization with a very different technological base to that of the Goa'uld up to our level … I daresay I will be more entertained and challenged than I have been in at least five hundred years. The first step is improving those hideously primitive things you call computers. That itself will be a task of great proportion. And one I believe will be quite worthwhile. I will, of course, require your finest experts in the field, to help me learn how your technology works and then teach them in turn so we can begin working on these exponentially more sophisticated devices."

"Our finest experts?"

"Yes. Surely you must have them. The innovators, the geniuses. Those best equipped to possibly even begin to comprehend this technology at a level beyond that of an idiot child."

Earth/Heliopolis (audio conference)
Later that day

"And Nerus is absolutely insistent on this?" Sheridan asked.

"I fucking hate to admit it, but he makes a good point. Our technology is radically different from what he's used to. In a way, it's almost too primitive for him to comprehend. We spent two hours just helping him understand vacuum tubes. If we're going to make best use of him, we need to bridge that technological gap. And besides, the more people who we have learning from him, the faster we can begin finding ways to disseminate the knowledge and potential technological advancements into the general public without arousing suspicion. And the sooner we won't need him." That was Dr. Matthews, who now spent most of his time between Heliopolis and Fort Roosevelt, which currently served as the primary research facility (although said "facility" was merely a cluster of five Quonset 40s, at least for the time being; fiscal considerations were delaying plans for further permanent buildings.) The good doctor made no secret of his distrust for Nerus to anyone except, fortunately, Nerus himself.

"So, your professional opinion is that we need to do this?" Sheridan asked.

A pause. "Yes. Honestly, our research division needs absolute top priority for available resources, particularly brainpower and funding, from throughout TOTO if we're going to drive science and technology forward as quickly as possible."

Sheridan sighed. "Write up an official proposal for me to send to the higher-ups. Include a list of the primary fields we should focus on studying, and, if possible, a list of particular individuals in those fields."

"You'll have it by the end of the day tomorrow." Dr. Matthews said.

The discussion turned to other things, chiefly the latest updates on further support from the other nations of TOTO. Some financial support was currently being arranged, as were further military contributions.

The next issue of discussion that came up was the progress of the diplomatic talks with the Svoriin and Galarans. Ambassador O'Hare had managed thus far to get the beginnings of a trade agreement established, one which would see scientific and technological cooperation between the three governments, as well as the beginnings of a military support treaty.

The conversation next turned to the Egypt mission, currently held up over including Nerus in the team, as a cooperative Goa'uld could be useful. But first was the recovery of the wreckage from the Stewart Expedition. Setesh and Nerus had both said the same thing, that there was likely a special key to access anything important. They had detected what appeared to be small naquadah signatures during a cloaked Gateship overflight of the area, and the location had been noted as likely being the wreck.

The next item was an update on a new building project. Several worlds Bra'tac knew of were uninhabited, and on these worlds, small, concealed, underground bunkers would be constructed, bolt-holes in case a team had to flee and couldn't conceal the address they were going to. They could get to the bunkers, lay low if they were followed, and wait until the Jaffa gave up the search before coming back to Earth. In the event the team members who knew the coordinates for Earth, Fort Roosevelt, and Heliopolis were killed, these would also serve to allow them to stay safe until they were noted as missing either a scheduled check-in or their return, at which point one of the worlds under Earth's control would begin a systematic dialing of each bunker world to see if they needed extraction.

The final major update discussed was the future expedition to Antarctica. The expedition teams had been finalized, and now the process of outfitting the expedition had begun. They would be using modified versions of the Antarctic Snow Cruiser used previously, as well as having the resources to establish a proper base of actual permanent structures. Once the base camp had been established, they would begin investigating the area around the base, particularly a large deposit of naquadah, almost the exact mass of a Stargate, that had been detected by a cloaked gateship doing exploratory overflights of the area.

The surveys, conducted globally, had detected a few other locations of interest, all of which were flagged for future investigation. The most notable of these was in Central America, deep in a jungle.
_

Fort Roosevelt, ES-3 July 31st, 1949

The decision had been made. A list was being compiled of known top computer scientists for recruitment into the program. Two names in particular had arisen: Alan Turing and Konrad Zuse. While there was some debate over recruiting Zuse, apparently Turing himself, upon being approached for what at the time was merely called "an experimental computing project of unprecedented magnitude and importance," had recommended Zuse highly. And so he was currently being located. Turing was being fully briefed and would be arriving at Heliopolis in a few days.

Nerus had begun to help them understand some of the other elements in the Heliopolis pedestal. He had pointed out several that were of interest to the Goa'uld and to making advanced technologies in general. It turned out that the Imperials also had several mines for what was called naquadah, and that material had gathered a lot of interest as soon as Nerus had said it could be used in explosives to amplify the blast. Experiments were underway to improve current designs using it, and so special investigation was being conducted to find a testing world.

September 2nd, 1949

The emergency meeting had to be something absolutely huge. Basically the entire commanding staff of the SGI had been gathered with the Joint Chiefs and Truman on short notice, ordered to use a concealed Gateship to show up in person.

"We have a problem." Truman began. "For four years, we have had an advantage against the Soviets. Unfortunately, as of yesterday, we were made aware that we no longer have that advantage. We detected irrefutable evidence that the Soviet Union has detonated a nuclear device."

"Fuck."

A/N: guest reviewer Chloe ... stop pestering me. It accomplishes nothing to see you just asking for more and showing your impatience.