Stargate Hastings
Chapter Nineteen: The Hastings gate teams
Earth, beneath the Stamford estate.
Joseph Hammond had chosen his primary team, only to be told he would have to rethink his choices. The man he had finally chosen to lead that team, would now be an important member of an expedition to another galaxy. He would lose further personnel in the future, but the earth would be safe from attack. He no longer had to fear for his families or the world's safety, he could take some solace from that he supposed. Jacob Turner was a very competent individual, who would command respect from his subordinates. He was not intimidating like Robert Parker's protégé Nebu, who was now shortlisted for the position by his new boss. He did match him in size but that meant nothing. Jacob had been trained with the position in mind for almost half a decade, and would have been perfect.
The other man who had the experience and would have been his first choice, was now the head of state for the Abydonians. Donald McCain had survived alone on another world, and more than carried out his mission. He had also taken command of that mission with highly experienced men, stepping aside in order for him to do so. He had a duty to his people, one Joseph did not believe would keep him from the frontlines. However, he would be leading his people into battle, not exploration and reconnaissance teams.
Both Queen Victoria and Chester A. Arthur, the President of the United States of America, had both agreed that the Stargate should be revealed to the world as the Hastings gate. Even though the Stargate was on British soil, the Hastings family had influence across the globe. By naming the military operation that would soon have the finest soldiers from across that world, for the Hastings family and not a single country. That family's influence in those countries, would in theory make that possible. What Larry had in store for them would blow their minds, it had Josephs.
It made him determined that the future Larry showed him, would never come to pass. Humanity had hit its lowest, with drugged up populations being fed propaganda that was not all false, but far from the reality that propaganda painted. Human beings exterminated for their race, It made his own country's barbaric origins seem more civilised somehow; They had fought for that land. These people were murdering their own countrymen, people they shared blood with. All because of the depths their leaders would stoop to, to manipulate the population. He made no excuses for his people's past, he believed they should learn from those mistakes. What was done was done, it was how a people learned from past mistakes, that should define a civilisation.
There was so much that shocked him about this other reality, but it was the bombs dropped on Japan and the annihilation of Germany; They were the images that gave him the resolve to ensure that world, would never come to pass. He could not put himself in the position of those people after such a devastating conflict, but that was horrific in a different way to their enemies crimes. They were driven to it, and from what he could tell those acts bought that global war to a conclusion. However, it would forever be a stain on those countries, his own included. He had been given an opportunity to prevent that future, and would give his all in that endeavour.
He also had two people that were both heroes locked up in cells, that had been built for prisoners of war. They would be escorted to Abydos on the day of the summit, but they would be returned to confinement upon their return to earth. Richard Hastings had not been pleased with his decision, but he had been placed in command of this facility. He had never met James Elden, but he had grieved for him, everyone on the base had. He had given his life for not only his country but his entire world, now he had returned to us and was being treated like the enemy.
With good reason, only Joseph did not enjoy being the one to insist upon it. The other, this San'kha was a bigger hero still. He had left his family behind and betrayed his god, a false god but a god none the less. His father had been the first among Ra's Jaffa. He had not only betrayed his god; He had also betrayed his father's legacy. Something Joseph Hammond only hoped he would have the strength to do, if it was the right course of action. Loyalty was a double-edged sword. Richard Hastings had proved that true.
Best friend or not, the man was a security risk, as was the Jaffa that had already turned against his own people. Larry had vouched for them, as far as saying that the two men were being truthful. Except he had lied to them himself, so that very useful tool was now rendered unreliable. Joseph understood why Larry had lied, but he had still lied and once a man did that, their word could not be trusted. He did not know if Larry was a man but whatever he was, he would be held to the same standards. Knowing that he had the ability to destroy any threat that faced the earth, was both a comfort and a constant threat.
Larry had told them he could protect himself, and that it was not a threat but a warning. Joseph was thinking, that warning had far greater meaning than just trying to take him to pieces. Even though they had been given a huge boost in their quest. Janus had made it clear that the Hastings family had been given this technology, not the people of the earth. They had been merely given a level playing field, with slight improvements to their ground forces weaponry and additional needed technologies.
Earth itself would not be waging all out war with the Gau'auld, but would instead go to war with the first two Gau'auld on Janus's list. The freed slaves and the Jaffa of those System Lords, would be encouraged to continue the fight to free the rest of their brother's and sister's, together. With the Tok'ra training and then leading them as equals, not gods. It was hoped those Gau'auld who did decide to take Janus's offer, would in time be forgiven.
The way the earth played its part would also be geared towards cooperation, and the involvement of all of the peoples of earth. There were planets out there, where the right coloured hair will not be enough to blend in with the locals. That was why only the initial teams would be made up of British and American soldiers. The two Abydonians who his new boss assures him are more than ready for the coming fight, would also be used. Egypt and the rest of Africa were where most of the slaves were taken from, but Europe and the Americas had also been pillaged before these Asgard stepped in.
It was the Asian continent that would be the biggest problem. There is evidence that the Gau'auld were not driven off of that continent, when the rest were. Eventually they must have done something that had angered the Asgard, however this lord Yu among others, were there in the more recent past. Still thousands of years ago but instead of five thousand years, it was closer to three thousand. He was almost a good deity, in the sense of what he taught his people about philosophy and agriculture. He still demanded sacrifice meaning Hosts, with the Asgard probably just deciding that was unacceptable, eventually.
Their first target had pillaged both northern and southern Europeans, so they would not have a problem getting people amongst their slaves. Once there they could ferment rebellion by telling them the story of Abydos, and he who had defeated the Gau'auld within. When those same Abydonian slaves came to liberate them, they should join their ranks. Those who chose to follow their god, may take up arms against them. There was nothing they could do about that, but at the least they would have chosen that path freely. They may see the truth of these false gods one day, either that or they would die before that happened.
Innocents always died in war, that was the nature of the beast. It would be more of a crime to leave those people in slavery, that scar had yet to heal on this world. It probably never would, but the fighting to stop it across a galaxy, may go someway to starting the healing process. Joseph doubted that it would be enough and agreed that the former slaves of Africa be given the opportunity to start afresh on a new world, one of their own. Still a part of the earth, with freedom to return and receive visitors from that world. None would be forced to leave, with all not being expected to take the offer.
They would however have a world that was theirs, that they could slowly build into a nation. One that did not have others interfering in their business. Larry had told him what was to come, when the former slaves began to prosper and certain others did not take kindly to it. Another stain on his country, that all of this could prevent happening. With all of the new worlds out there, worlds that Janus assures them are completely unpopulated. There would be no more need to go to war over land or resources. They were the worlds of the Ancients, and all sentient life had been wiped out on them. That was during the plague that had decimated his people, over two million years ago.
Humanity were his peoples legacy, but the Hastings family were only the knowledge away from being his race. Those world's belonged to humanity, they were their birth right. The Hastings themselves would eventually be moving to the Pegasus galaxy, to fight the Wraith to the death. The Gau'auld took slaves, the Wraith ate humans or drank their years. Joseph was certain all of humanity would want in on that fight. The Ancient's had only lost through lack of numbers, their technology was more than a match for the Wraiths. They would keep defeating them, only for more to be sent at them. Because his race focused on the goal of Ascension, instead of trying to return to their former numbers by mass breeding. Their numbers were dwindling through their losses to the Wraith, and were eventually forced to abandon those people.
Others had achieved ascension but it was not something taught by the ascended, because of the none interference laws. So they decided to document their efforts, in order to help others reach ascension. Breaking the laws before you reached the next plane, was not breaking the rules. Janus had explained to them all, when he had picked the delegation up in his massive city. Richard had insisted Janus transport Joseph as well. He believed that Richard had only told him to do it, so that he could see the look on his face. The British were supposed to be reserved, but they all had a twisted sense of humour or they liked to take the piss, as they so eloquently put it.
The city was the most amazing thing he had ever seen, and he had been through the Stargate to Heliopolis. That place was an old ruin now, but would not have compared to New Atlantis even in its heyday. The earth was getting several of them built around the world, when all of this was revealed. They would not be able to travel the stars as this one could or have most of the advanced technology. They would however have transporter booths, that would be connected to the other cities across the planet. The world's governments would occupy parts of them, but their primary use would be as transit points. The world was going to get a lot smaller, very quickly.
It was after he returned from outer space that he confronted Larry, and was given a future lesson. If Larry was being honest this time, which he claims he was. Then Joseph completely understood his reasons for being dishonest, only Joseph had no idea if he was being truthful now. He had spent some time with Larry, and learned that his descendant had been the General in command of the original Stargate facility. In that reality the Stargate had been on American soil. Those people had been very successful in defeating the Gau'auld. It was the century of galactic war that followed, that had destroyed them.
Joseph had dealt with enough liars in his time as a senator, giving him a dislike for untruthful people. He understood the necessity of being sparing with the truth, but outright lies were something else altogether. So he had asked Larry to tell him everything about this other universe, including the set up of their Stargate programme. It did not take him long to come to the conclusion, that their system would not work for them. A branch of the armed forces that dealt with aerial combat, the US Air Force; Were the people who controlled the Stargate on that world or reality. They had skilled technicians who were trained in combat, not scientists who had zero combat experience.
The Hastings family members that were scientists, had some sort of military experience but not all of them. Those who did not, would never have learned about the Stargate if it had not been found. There were plenty of military men in their ranks, but they were exactly that. Bishop, who would ignore Joseph if he referred to him as Christopher. He would also be leaving for another galaxy and his replacement was now Host to a Tok'ra Symbiote herself. She would also be locked in a cell, only locking up potential allies was not the thing to do.
The Jaffa was a single man, and would be given the chance to prove his loyalty. The Tok'ra were an organisation, one they would need going forward. From them, humanity would learn about the technology that is utilised by their enemy. This would be humanities advancement, learning about those incredible devices and any others they found through the Stargate. The Tok'ra would be a kind of teacher to the earth's people, not just the freed slaves and Jaffa. Janus vision was a united galaxy, one that he hoped would then help fight the Wraith.
The team that would be travelling to Atlantis, would be trying to organise the people of that galaxy. However Janus did not believe that would be enough, with the MilkyWay galaxy's numbers being the difference. With a large part of the Gau'auld empire still intact, and the rest controlled by the Tok'ra and a united freed slave population. Those who were not willing to turn on the Gau'auld, would have the option to continue as they are. Only they would have the choice, and be given rights under the terms of the Gau'auld's surrender. They would also be educated under those terms, and allowed to leave whenever they chose. No human would ever be taken as a Host against their will, and the Jaffa would be cured of their need for a Primta.
The Jaffa would also be given the option to remain in that symbiotic relationship, keeping the health and strength enhancements. They had lived that way for generations, and could be considered a different race to their human cousins. All of this was new information to Joseph, with it all being just dumped on him. It solved more problems than it created, but it changed the focus of the facility into more of an exploration based operation. It was always meant to be that, only now the war with the Gau'auld would be waged from the world named New Atlantis.
The city sized vessel that he had been informed shared the name of that planet, would be returning there once the ultimatum had been made. The vessel measured in miles not yards, with the Gau'auld having nothing comparable. Nothing that had the manoeuvrability or advanced armaments of the city anyway, and was meant to show the Gau'auld that they could back up their claims. Earth would still be inserting operatives through their Stargate, that would stir the pot of rebellion and tell the tale of Abydos.
Joseph understood the logic of Janus's plan, when put into the context of that other universe. He doubted that the military leaders would see it the same way, with many withdrawing their forces. They were going to be told that we had a technological advantage over the enemy, but would be fighting them on a level playing field. A brutal ground battle with losses to both sides, when they had technology that could win the war in a fraction of the time. Not everyone were going to be able to see the bigger picture and even if they could, they may not want to get involved.
That was not his problem, a woman named Fran Weir would have the pleasure of convincing the world. She was a kind of daughter to the woman that was awaiting them on Atlantis, and would be returning when she was awakened in that other galaxy. Janus assured him that she was more than experienced for the position, even though she looked younger than Saroosh. He had decided to learn more about people before assuming their age, ever since his unforgettable meeting with that lady. She sure did not dress like a lady that was for sure, maybe in France or New York. That place had been very different to other cities he had seen but he had never been one for city life, for all he knew they were all like that, and he had just not explored them enough.
His job was to assign teams for exploring the worlds untouched by the Gau'auld. Teams consisting of four military personnel and a scientific, and or archaeological support member. Janus would not give the earth access to all of his peoples technology, but he would not stop them finding it for themselves either. Much of it would be useless to the vast majority of humanity anyway, with only those who had the gene being able to utilise it. There were others on the planet that could use it, people who had nothing to do with the Hastings family.
The more earth advanced as a people, the more dominant that gene would become in the future. The gene was spread throughout the human population, not just that of earth. The earth's people's were more prominent, because Janus people had returned to the earth and mixed with its population but those same humans were taken from earth. So all humans had the gene and with a greater understanding of the universe, it would become much more active. They had centuries of growth before that would happen, but a few would already be at that level without knowing it.
The Hastings family would be taking the technology that Janus gave them, when they leave the earth for good, but the technology gained through the Stargate would be left behind. That would not happen until after the war with the Gau'auld, and that could last decades. With the mission to the Pegasus galaxy scheduled to last years also, all culminating in the fight against the Wraith. He hinted at another group of humans that may attack, but he had plans for them that did not concern the earth. Joseph was certain that they would indeed concern the earth and her people, but they would meet that challenge also. Earth was a member of the galactic community now, whether the rest the world liked it or not.
The personnel for his teams may have changed, but he had been able to go over the ranking system of the teams before Janus arrived. Both his former and present bosses had approved, they had also told him that it was his command and Robert Parker would only make suggestions. He had placed Nebu on the shortlist for command of HG1, the flagship team. Only Joseph did not wish to put him in command of mission's, that would require multiple teams. He was essentially an alien, and this operation would be predominantly earthling ran. Another shortlisted for the position was now most certainly an alien, and had one of their enemies sharing his body.
Richard Hastings had placed him on the list, with his final act as the unofficial head of the family. They were only on the list, and the final decision to even place them on a team was his. He had no problem with Nebu and the other Abydonians being a part of the programme, but Kraytos was something else. If he could be removed, then James Elden would undoubtedly be his choice. That was not an option, so he would have a closer look at the situation when the American troops arrived. That was going to cause some problems, but Joseph was certain he could get both sets of troops working together.
They were going to have to, because they planned on putting those two groups of his fellow countrymen, into situations where they would need each other. They would be the heroes of humanity, with earths inhabitants having it fed to them through devices that were called televisions, in that other universes future. They were used to broadcast drama's and sporting events, but they would be used to keep the earths population up to date with the war effort primarily. They would also be used to educate the population, concerning these false gods and the human's that were still slaves. As well as actually educating the people, with lessons in reading and writing also available on these incredible machines.
When the war did commence, in one earth year after the ultimatum is given. The HG teams would take command position's alongside the various commanding officers. They would have far more experience dealing with the enemy, so would be in a better position to come up with strategies. They would also be heavily involved in reconnaissance, making them invaluable assets. With the HG teams being numbered, seniority between those teams would fall to the lowest number. Unless a team of lower rank, were specialised in a certain field that would be required.
Those would usually be a more research focused team, made up predominantly of scientists. They would have command of the off world operation, but the teams sent with them for their protection would take command if the situation were to change. Those teams would not even go off-world, until the primary teams had thoroughly scouted the planet and given it the all clear. He had considered using the USAF's method of ranking their teams, but decided to continue with the method he had devised.
He had decided that the Greek alphabet was common knowledge across the world, so the leader of each team would take the rank of Alpha, with his second in command's rank being Beta. The other members would all then be of equal rank, with the Alpha deciding the seniority of the other members. That would change depending on the mission and each persons particular skills, with the Alpha and Beta positions never altering. That was unless one of them were to fall, the one left standing would then choose another Beta.
Until the scientific support were more experienced in the field, they would be left behind and called in when needed. With just the four military personnel making the initial investigations, and marking out possible sites of interest for the brain, as the soldiers call the extra team member. It was not a perfect system but it was one that would be easy for different nations troops to pick up. Even if all of the other nations did not join, those that were a part of the British empire would not all speak English. Ranks used by armed forces made up of people who spoke different languages, were best kept simple. Words like lieutenant and other words that were difficult to spell, would make things complicated very quickly.
He had also chosen Alpha for another purpose, one involving the soldiers that would actually be invading these worlds. They would automatically be distinguished as being of command rank, no matter what country those people represented. Again because it would be easy to get that across, without that person being of a rank that contradicted the command structure of their own nations military. For the first year it would be entirely British and American troops, but the other nations troops would be joining after that first year. With their men being trained for the position, once they had been selected by their nations.
They would learn about everything once this summit was over. Joseph was strangely looking forward to seeing their reactions, if only to compare them to his own. For now it would be the leaders of empires, in time the entire planet. They could threaten to go to war with Britain and the USA if they wished, it would only result in their countries being left behind. They were no threat to them now, they were not allowed to conquer another country using Janus's technology, but they were allowed to defend themselves and basically render their enemy's forces useless.
They had the power to simply take their troops and send them home, without killing any of them. Eventually they would give up, well it was hoped they would. It was not like they would need much man power to operate the technology, even if they didn't. When America still helped those countries by sharing technology with them anyway, that should be enough to bring them round. Then colonisation of the galaxy would begin proper, although that process had already begun.
It involved a joint venture between Britain and the USA, two separate colonies but both working together to make a success of life on a new planet. That world would become a second earth of sorts, and would eventually invite other nations to join them on that world. It was going to be a secret world, that even the earths allies would not know the location of. If everything was to end up like it did in the other reality, then it would be a place for the earths legacy to live on. The people who colonised that world, would have no involvement in the wars to come. They would be given a mission to be the best that humanity can be, and would return to the galactic fold only when peace was truly gained. Even then that world would be known to a select few, and by that time other worlds would be colonised in the same way. Not all of them would be kept secret, but enough to ensure the people of the earths survival in some form.
They were all set to get started, with Larry already revealing a world to scout out for that first colony. They could not begin until his primary team was chosen, and he could not get that finalised until everyone returned. The first mission should be carried out by HG1, if only for history's sake. They would also need to be seen by the other teams, as their superiors. Being the first team to be sent on a mission, would be the right way to begin that process of chain of command. The other teams would be sent out on their first missions in order of seniority also, establishing a pecking order. One that would define the chain of command concerning off-world operations, moving forward into the future.
Joseph Hammond would also be attending this summit, that was called to declare Abydos a protected planet. Only that was no longer its purpose, it was to declare the protected planets treaty null and void. The Asgard would not be joining the earth in this war, they would merely be a presence in this galaxy.
They would be protecting the worlds that would no longer be protected by that treaty, and would also give the warrior's of that world the choice to join the fight. Not all of them were stolen from earth, some were rescued during the Gau'auld occupation and given a safe haven from the Gau'auld. Those people had long dreamed of the day the Etins would fall, with the Asgard hoping the world's they protected could one day liberate their brethren. They would get that chance, and they would also get a chance to see Midgard.
Joseph himself was looking forward to visiting those Asgard protected worlds. They were safe to travel to and Joseph imagined them to be an idealistic version of the Norse warrior's, that were once referred to as Vikings. That was merely their profession. They were not Vikings, they went Viking or raiding in English. They were Norse men, with a culture that went far beyond that savage trade. Most of it wiped out by themselves, upon taking up the Christian faith. These people would not have been touched by that religion, and would be a window into the past. A past that with the Asgard's continued contact with them, would be of those people before they began their raiding ways. Before the Christian propaganda, painted them as nothing more than savages.
Now he just had to wait! Perhaps now was a good time to get to know the heroic prisoner's, that were being detained under his order's. He would be travelling with them to Abydos, and he was intrigued to meet this man who had supposedly defeated a Gau'auld. Something that many believed impossible, but also something Joseph Hammond would not be declaring proved false. He did not care who vouched for either of the men, they were to be considered enemy operatives. Ready to turn on fools who give them the opportunity. That was why loyalty was a double-edged sword, you had to grab it but Joseph only owed loyalty to his duties. He would fulfil those duties, even if he had to destroy his own father's legacy to do so.
They were too important to do any less, the fate of the whole world rested on his leadership. To simply welcome their new enemy with open arms, without thoroughly testing their loyalty would be insane. Robert Parker had understood this, while his nephew was too close to the man to be objective. Even the mother of his child agreed, only allowing him to see his daughter under strict supervision and then through bars. That woman was no fool, even calling her cousin naive when he objected to his friends detention. She was happier than he had seen her, although he had actually seen very little of her since her return from Abydos, but she was not stupid because of it. Yes he would go interview the prisoners himself, he had nothing else to do but wait.
