Stargate Hastings
Chapter Fourteen: It's a start
Abydos.
With the need to draw Ra to this world, no longer an issue. The new focus of the mission was to prepare enough men, to build a resistance on this planet or moon as Rachael had informed them. The eternal one, as it is known by the Abydonians. Was actually an extremely hot gas giant and not a third star as they had first believed. The elders had spoken between themselves and had each sent one of their sons, to be trained by Robert Parker. It was their hope, that in time these men would be able to train others.
Nebu was there, as he had been everyday since Robert began training him. Kaar, Nebu's brother and four other men. Like Nebu and his brother, the men were between the age of twenty and thirty years old. It was a start. Jim thought to himself. Since they had found the Gatekeeper. Jim had been a lot more involved, with every aspect of the mission and felt himself relaxing back into the role of a soldier. The more he learned about these Gau'auld. The more he knew that his friend, was right about at least one thing. One day they would rediscover earth and they would utterly destroy its people. With whatever was left, being enslaved for all time.
There was still a niggling feeling in the back of his mind, when he thought about humanity or to be more precise the British empire, having access to weapons with that kind of destructive power. They could be setting loose on an unsuspecting galaxy, something far worse than these would be gods. At least as gods, they saw themselves as divine and that could be used as an excuse for their actions. No, humanity had no excuses for the horrors they committed. Greed was the true God of man, those who had, would always want more. His friend believed that giving them more, would end that but Jim knew better, that was why he was interested in the training of these men. He was sure that the Gatekeeper, would build in a failsafe of his own, into any technology he gave them. Jim would concentrate on the job of liberating the people, stolen from earth and his son had made it very clear, that he intended to return and liberate the people of Abydos. It would take time but if they could build enough resistance, on enough worlds, they could possibly topple their empire. For now however, secrecy would be their number one priority.
He had learned from the Gatekeeper, that when the Gau'auld had first came to earth and they had needed humans, to learn how to use their technology. In order for them to go out and reclaim there former territories among the stars. It was those people who saw the Gau'auld for the false gods they were. Even though they lived lives of luxury, compared to the other human slaves. Once the Gau'auld grew in number and they no longer needed them. They were all killed and minor Gau'auld's took their place. Before that happened, the device that held all of the knowledge they would need, was created and the caves that they now called home, in which to hide it.
These men knew their time was coming to an end, so they passed as much knowledge as they could, on to others and from that the rebellion slowly grew. They also knew that the newly freed slaves, would be vulnerable after they learned the truth of the false gods and that people would use that to exploit them, in the same way the Gau'auld had. The lion had been their failsafe. A separate resistance cell, that was unseen by the others but worked alongside them. It was they who had slowly erased the Gau'auld technology, from the face of the earth, after the uprising had been successful.
Once that task was completed and they had gained enough power. They were to unseal the Stargate and retrieve the power of the gods, take it back to earth and build an empire strong enough to liberate a galaxy. Rachael had filled in the part about the man who had passed it onto her ancestor. That man had told him, that the lion had been found and that only one of them had survived, to pass the knowledge on. She had also explained, that was the reason her ancestor had ignored the usual way of passing on the secret. That way, the lions numbers could become what they once were.
For his first session with the would be rebels. Robert was going over the importance of secrecy and how all their training would be for nothing, if they allowed anyone to know, that they were planning to betray Ra. Robert was still a little unsure with the alien language but Nebu seemed to instinctively understand him and was acting as his interpreter/enforcer. In the couple of weeks that he had been training with him, Nebu had learned much from Robert Parker. They had even developed a friendship, as far as Jim could tell. There was definitely a common respect, shared between the two men.
It was when the talking was finished, that the other men suddenly became weary, almost a little scared even but still ready, they were brave men. Kaar must have warned them, he knew all about the punishment Robert had been giving his brother. What he did not know, was that he had only been sparring with Nebu, because he could see the man was about to explode. Donald had told them both about Nebu and the vow he had given his father. The man had praised the gods, loud enough to be heard. While the whole time nursing an hatred for them, with no release but one that aided that same God.
They would be taught how to fight but a resistance in its infancy, should have little fighting to actually do. They would be taught training methods, on all the different ways to kill a man but for now, they would need a much more subtle set of skills. All those, that were already holders of the secret. Were considered trust worthy and would be taught the language of the original rebellion. To ensure nobody would understand them, if they were to be overheard talking to each other. Rachael and the Gatekeeper, were already teaching the elders of the five families or their wives to be more precise. They would then teach the others but the children, only when old enough to understand how dangerous, telling anyone would be. Hassif whose wife had died a long time ago and whose family, were all already in on the secret. Was the only Male learning it.
When the first training session of the Abydonian resistance had finished. The five new recruits could not understand why they were uninjured. Nebu was considered the first rebel and would be the leader of the growing rebellion moving forward. His relationship with Robert Parker, had made him a little less reclusive and he showed all the qualities of a leader, when instructing the others. The men had expected to be beaten up, not be taught the best way to kill a man with a knife or how to take a man down, who was charging at you. For their first day, they were doing well. They followed instructions well enough and probably because of the fact that they were an illiterate people, they picked up the English commands easily. Without the written word, their people relied completely on a form of linguistic memory.
The caves had not only been designed to hide and keep safe the device but had also been designed, to use for this exact purpose. The cave they were training in, was deep into the cave system. They had tested whether sound did not travel in both directions, as claimed and had found that it truly did not. The people who had built this place, really were remarkable.
After the next shipment is sent to Ra, which would be in the next two or so earth months. They would be leaving this world and with the new recruits, they would be able to smuggle more Naquadah from the mines but more importantly, without risking either Robert or himself. They would then have the time to learn as much as they can, about their new enemy and devise a training regimen, that utilises the caves and their strange sonic properties, for the rebels to train their troops, in secret.
There was another problem, that he was less and less, seeing as a problem. Rachael had pulled him aside, under orders she had told him and confessed that she could feel something between them. He had already known he was attracted to the woman, pretty much from the moment they had first met. So he had told her he felt the same way but here and now was not the best time. She had of course agreed and the tension had eased between them. He was increasingly seeing the mission as less of a military one and more of an expedition, as far as Rachael was concerned.
She had military training from her father and if needed he was sure she would be up to the task but that was not why she was here. She was here for the task she had already completed and spent most of her time with the Gatekeeper, who had been given a choice of any name and decided he liked the name Larry. When asked why, he simply said, that he liked the sound of it. Jim was nineteen years old when he signed up and he was forty now. If he was going to do the family thing, he would have to start soon and with the mission becoming less dangerous. At least as far as actually having to gather physical evidence was concerned. He was more and more feeling himself drawn to her.
Thomas was doing his job now. Hiding in the secret places and listening to peoples private conversations. Gathering enough intelligence, on as many people as he can in Nagada. Nasseef had been learning off of Tom in return and was making regular reports about the people as well. The routines of the people who were deemed snakes, by Hassif and the others, their movements were especially being scrutinised. As much for information as for its true purpose, to be alerted to whether they suspected, that there were strangers on Abydos.
Earth, somewhere beneath the Stamford estate.
Since Donald had delivered the Naquadah, the scientists had done nothing but complain. They were years away from any practical applications, for the magical mineral. There were two things they could do with the substance but other than being more dense than metals they already had, the first was just an improvement on existing weapons. The second was far more useful but again was merely an improvement on what they already had. That was the use of a small amount of the mineral, to increase the yield of an explosive. While useful, it would count for nothing against the enemies space vessels.
It was for the first use of the Naquadah, that he was now in one of the research and development laboratories, that were scattered around the estate. The mineral was too precious to waste but they had made a small amount of a compound, that consists of Steel and Naquadah. Because of his obvious vulnerability, he had decided that he needed a personal weapon, that could be easily concealed on his person. So he had set his weapons development team, to the task of designing one for him. They had been given a limited amount of Naquadah, so he was not expecting anything special from them.
They asked him to remove his jacket, then presented him with a strap made of a very thin but extremely durable leather. Once fitted on his right arm, the head of his weapons department and essentially the quartermaster for the whole operation, Mr Christopher Bishop. Began explaining the weapons functions. The man looked every bit the mad scientist, with crazy white hair around a bold head. However he was anything but crazy and was the first cousin of his father and uncle Robert. If his uncle Robert, were to ever let his hair grow out. Then Christopher Bishop would be a preview, to what he would look like.
He held many doctorates, in various fields but saw them as a means to an ends only. His true quest was for knowledge and would be the head of the entire scientific division, if he was not required to be focused, solely on this department. The weapon consisted of a mechanism, that was covered by a thin sheet of metal and overlapping leather straps. It was not tight exactly but it was well secured to just above his wrist. They were in the testing range, that had been set up for him to test and practice with the weapon.
"Now, if you would make your hand into a fist and bend your wrist forward like this". Bishop as he preferred to be called, demonstrated what he had just told him. "You should feel the strap tighten slightly?". He asked Richard.
He could feel that the straps had indeed tightened. It was not a strangling tightness but it was enough to be felt. "Yes I feel it". He replied.
"Good, the weapon is now armed. Carefully return your wrist to its natural position, then open your hand completely. You should feel the straps loosen again?". He asked, as he demonstrated what he was saying to him.
Again he did as Bishop demonstrated and once again the strap reacted in the way described. "Yes the straps are a little looser again". Richard replied.
"You have disarmed the weapon. Now rearm the weapon and return your wrist back to its starting position and please be careful once the weapon is armed. This weapon is loaded with six star shaped projectiles, that can be fired either singularly or in a spread of three. They have been forged from the Naquadah enhanced steel, that we have far too little of, to be using on something like this by the way. The springs that propel the projectiles, are made of more earthly metals but it is the magnets that the projectiles pass between that generate the velocity. It does have a greater range but this is a weapon for use against an enemy, within five to ten yards of you". Bishop finished but the annoyance on his face, showed that he was not impressed with the frivolous use, of the precious mineral.
The firing range had three targets, all shaped to imitate a man in an aggressive pose. The one in the middle was the furthest back, it was around ten yards away. The one on the left hand side of that target, was positioned a couple of yards closer and the one on the right a couple more, closer than that. "I am ready. How do I fire this thing?". Richard asked him.
"Good, now aim at the centre target and bend your wrist forward in one fast motion". Again he demonstrated as he spoke.
Richard did as instructed and although he felt no real kickback from the weapon, the projectile sped towards the target at an incredible velocity. His aim was slightly high and to the left of where he had intended but he still hit the targets right shoulder. Which duly exploded into a mass of splintered wood and an instant later, he heard it impact in one of the huge stone blocks at the end of the firing range. Bullets usually bounced off of those blocks, leaving only a mark. However the star he had just fired, was now embedded in the thing.
He aimed at what was left of the first target and fired again, this time hitting the heart of the target. The hole was far bigger than the star shaped projectile, that had made it. "Do you have an explanation for that?". Richard indicated the massive hole in the target.
"As the projectile flies towards the target, it builds up kinetic energy that is released on impact. As you can see, they pack quite a punch and those blocks can take a fifty calibre round no problem. These things stick into it like it's a block of wood. Now aim at a target but this time do as you did to arm the weapon, then in a quick motion return it to its natural position". Bishop instructed him.
Richard did as he was told and bent his wrist forward. When he quickly returned it, so that his hand was back in line with his arm. He felt three small jolts and because of the slight surprise of the extra recoils, his aim veered slightly to the left. The result was all three of the stars striking the target, at different parts of its torso. What was left of the top part of the target fell to the ground, leaving only the legs left standing. He then opened his hand and felt the strap loosen again. "I would say that is mission accomplished Bishop, I will not take up any more of your valuable time. I am sure you are already developing rifles, that fire these stars?". He asked.
Bishop looked like he was about to give an outburst but instead laughed before saying. "Why would I do that. What small amount you gave me of the Naquadah, most of it I used for your little toy. What I have got left, I will be using for experimental purposes. We know nothing about this material but I am certain that we are years, decades even, away from coming close to tapping into its full potential. We need more Richard!". He then picked up a tool and walked the sixty or so yards to retrieve the star shaped lethal projectiles, that were embedded in the stone blocks.
When Bishop returned, he showed Richard how to reload the weapon. He pulled one of the straps over a little and used something that looked like a nail, to press a button that was sunken into the metal covering. When a square frame a little wider than the ammunition used for the weapon, popped out of the metal casing. Bishop pulled it out further, so that he could fit one of the stars inside. When he pushed it closed, the sound of the spring reengaging could be heard. He repeated the process, each time making sure Richard had seen what he needed to do, to reload it. The same sound of the spring being drawn back, could also be heard each time.
"Are each one fired by an individual spring?". Richard asked.
"Yes they are and as requested, it can easily be concealed beneath a jacket sleeve. You have twelve of these only, so if you do have to fire them, retrieve them if you can". He then handed him a box that the gauntlet, was to be stored in and also contained the extra ammo. "And for gods sake, do not go to sleep wearing this thing". He should not have had to tell him that part but the stupidity of his fellow man, never ceased to amaze Christopher Bishop.
Richard knew that they needed more of the magical substance, called Naquadah and he also knew that they needed help with getting the most out of the substance. It was over five thousand years ago and with no way to know if they had even continued, with their original plan. The Scarab may have been found and executed by these false gods. If anyone would be able to find what they searching for, then his cousin was that person. She knew more about the Stargate, than anyone else alive today and had learned both of the dead languages. That had been preserved, since the time of the rebellion and had studied the archives, for twice as long as he had even known about them. Yes, he was certain she would find it, whatever it actually was.
In two days the ambassador from the United states would arrive. He had heard good things about the mans character but he had also heard that the man could be as stubborn as a mule. Joseph Hammond, could just possibly be, the most important person on the planet right now. If he was to endorse the project to his government, they would be one step closer to their ultimate goal. A united people, no longer fighting each other for scraps of land. A united earth, that while liberating their long forgotten brethren, would be really saving themselves, from a world of endless war. The irony was not lost on Richard Hastings. That he intended to end war, by plunging his people into one, that could be the end of them.
