Disclaimer: I don't own Stargate or any of the IPs from which any imported elements may originate.
The Wars of Legends
Book 4: War of the Ascended
Chapter Three: Invasion Intensified
Beta:
The newly completed Coalition Assembly Building in Tokyo, Japan was a marvel of the New Classical architecture style that seamlessly blended the time tested beauty of traditional and classical architecture with more modern features. It was within this beautiful building that the Coalition was convening for an emergency meeting at Lord Yu's request.
As the formalities drew to a close, Kalwart adjusted the skirts of her double breasted long sleeve bow ruffled Lolita one piece dress and shifted into a more comfortable position as she readied herself for the actual discussions to begin. She was acting as Albion's representative today and thus needed to be on her top form so as to not embarrass her mother.
Woolsey, representing the Tau'ri and thus acting as their hosts was the first to take the floor. "Pardon my confusion Lord Shǎohào," the human said with a nod to the Goa'uld who served as Jade's ambassador. "But I fail to see why the Jade Celestial Empire sees the missionary Priors as threats and would go as far as to convene an emergency session of the Coalition to formulate a response to them."
His statement seemed to enrage more than just Shǎohào and his delegation, quite a few others including some of Kalwart's own aides bristled at Woolsey's remarks. Thankfully though everyone kept their cool.
This anger though seemed to confuse many of the representatives of the minor powers, a sight that left Kalwart and those of her leanings incredulous.
Do they really not know what kind of atrocities the Priors are committing?
To the Tau'ri diplomat's credit he seemed to pick up on the hostility that his words had garnered and seemingly going off the script, posed a sincere question. "Is something wrong? We, the Tau'ri that is, have encountered these Priors as well, and despite coming across as zealous missionaries they do not seem hostile."
That this sparked murmurs of agreement among the delegations of various minor powers just stoked the anger of those whose nations had suffered at the hands of the Priors' depredations.
Apparently unable to hold his temper any further, Shǎohào hastily signaled for the right to speak. Immediately upon being granted the right to do so, he launched into an angry retort.
"Then you lot are lucky fools," he growled in barely contained rage. "You have not seen the true face of the Priors."
Gesturing to one of his aides, he called up a video on the room's various displays. It showed footage of the Priors raising wights and of them unleashing firestorms against Jade forces. As might have been expected, this was met by horrified shock from the gathered dignitaries previously unaware of the horrors the albino priests were capable of.
"Why didn't you share this earlier?" An uncomfortable Woolsey asked, as the footage of a Prior leading an army of wights as they slaughtered a squad of Jaffa played across the room's many screens. The man looked at one of his aides with a look of disgust, before swallowing hard and continuing. "Perhaps because you were the ones who provoked the Priors and had to take time to edit that out of this footage?"
Shǎohào leveled a death glare at the man who had obviously prompted Woolsey to ask such an inappropriate question, but replied in a surprisingly calm voice. "No, we did not take time to doctor the footage. It merely took time to recover enough of it for this emergency meeting, too much time to share it with my esteemed colleagues before now. As for provoking the Priors, what kind of absurd question is that!?"
At this the Jade ambassador shot to his feet and with his eyes a blazing gold, addressed the room in the booming voice of a Goa'uld. "Jade is a tolerant state! We would not provoke mere missionaries. No, these battles were not of our making. They were the result of Priors stirring up uprisings, killing governors, and seizing worlds. In the face of that, any retaliation that we did unleash upon them was warranted."
The clicking sounds of the Reetou language signaled the insectoid race's ambassador's desire to speak. Once that was granted, the synthetic voice he'd chosen for his translator - a cultured male voice, but which was mechanical enough to hint at its artificial nature - filled the chamber.
"I do not doubt you were justified in your actions, Lord Shǎohào," the Reetou said measuredly. "But surely you understand how it is hard for us to believe. Especially considering our own relatively harmless interactions with these Priors."
"Albion can corroborate Lord Shǎohào's account," Kalwart replied in Shǎohào's stead. "We too have suffered such assaults from the Priors."
Signalling to one of her aides, the scenes of carnage from the Jade delegation's footage was replaced with similar scenes from Albion's own. In contrast to Shǎohào's film reel though, Kalwart's selection was clearly far more raw with clear areas in need of edits. It had not been intended for release so early into the discussions but with the release of Jade's footage, they'd had to accelerate their own timetable. Though perhaps this change was a boon as it seemed that in the face of this corroborating evidence, the majority of the delegations appeared convinced.
"But why the divergent behavior?" The Reetou ambassador asked, sounding shaken.
"We obviously cannot say with certainty," Kalwart replied. "But if I were to posit a reason, I would say that the Priors and their masters, these so-called Ori, are only using such aggressive tactics against former Goa'uld states because they know they can get away with it because of our negative perception in the eyes of the rest of the galaxy."
"Then these Ori are fools," Rak'nor, the Free Jaffa Nation ambassador, responded confidently. "If this is truly what their priests are capable of, and I believe the daughter of Nimue, then the Jaffa for one will not stand idly by while they ravage our galaxy."
Lucille, representing the Chiropteran Swarm, and Tyr of the Asgard both expressed their agreement.
"Enough talk, let us vote!" Shǎohào demanded. "Should we or should we not take collective action to stand against these invaders?"
To no one's surprise, the Coalition unanimously agreed to stand against the Ori.
Saya and Diva reclined on their bed in the Hive Complex on Chiroptera as they reviewed Ori activity using floating hard light displays.
In the past month since the Coalition took a stand against them,the enemy had switched tactics and were now no longer holding back against the other Coalition member. As a result, Priors were appearing, seemingly out of nowhere in some cases, on many worlds, to attempt to convert their populations and incite unrest.
They're probably using cloaked ships to insert themselves unseen. Saya hypothesized as she read a report on one of dozens of cases where Priors appeared unexpectedly.
Probably. Diva agreed distractedly. I'm more concerned by how this tactic is keeping many Coalition members preoccupied with trying to stamp out the Ori threat within their own borders. It's like the Ori are trying to divide and conquer.
It does. Saya concurred. It might be in response to them overplaying their initial gambit. If only they were less aggressive in the first phase of their invasion, they could have split the Coalition.
No plan survives contact with the enemy. Diva reasoned. The Ori probably intended to do as you said, but when the Priors found themselves surrounded by Jade and Albion troops retaliating for the seizure of their worlds they probably panicked and began using powers they should have kept in reserve for the more overtly aggressive phase.
That makes sense. It likely didn't help that they couldn't readily communicate with their "gods". That must have made maintaining their nerve in the face of unexpectedly heavy opposition difficult.
I can imagine. Diva replied as she pulled up a file on the display she was working on before flipping it to show her sister. Saya, look at this. Isn't this a cause for concern?
Turning to see what had caught Diva's attention, Saya saw that it was a timelapse video of unknown Ori activity in the orbit of a black hole.
What are they doing?
I don't know but whatever it is they've dedicated a sizable portion of the ships they've seized to work on it and that alone should raise alarm bells.
Yes, it sho-
Saya's reply was cut off when their computer chimed to signal an urgent comm hail from Thor.
"Thor? What's going on?" Saya asked as she accepted the call.
Thor nodded in greeting and, if she was reading his body language correctly, approval that they'd foregone the pleasantries.
"The Tau'ri analysts have ascertained what the Ori are actually doing around the black hole," the Supreme Commander of the Asgard Fleet said nodding to the still playing timelapse on a screen behind the two Swarm Queens. "They are building a Supergate. A massive Stargate capable of establishing a connection back to their home galaxy."
"We have to stop them," Saya shouted as she jumped to her feet in alarm. "They must have a fleet waiting on the other end and if it's let through, they'll be able to dramatically increase the intensity of their invasion."
"All our analysts agree on that," Thor informed her. "As a result, I have already mobilized all available Asgard assets to assault this gate as have the Tau'ri."
"The Swarm will do the same," Saya promised, feeling Diva's agreement through the bond.
"You have my thanks," Thor said with a bow before cutting the comm link presumably to notify other allies and rally support for their attack.
"Saya," Diva called out sounding worried. "Many of the other Coalition members are too tied up to send anything substantial if they can send anything at all. Will we really be able to muster enough forces to stop the Ori?"
The red Queen turned to her lover and pulled her into a reassuring hug.
"I don't know." Saya admitted. "But we have to try."
Eldarose surveyed the hastily put together Coalition fleet under her command that was supposed to be deployed in a bid to destroy the Ori Chappa'ko. They were all mustering together around the Mel'tak, the Ganos, for the final space fold to the combat zone and in so doing exposed just how small the fleet was.
According to the readings on her tactical displays the whole fleet consisted of only 1 Mel'tak, 30 O'Neills, 64 Bilskirnirs, 354 Ha'tak, 220 Bonapartes, 653 Shel'tak, 987 Al'kesh, 5 Prometheus destroyers, 3 Daedalus battlecruisers, 12 Ohne destroyers, 61 Reetou and 400 Résurrections. There were less than three thousand ships in total. A pitiful number considering the consequences should they fail.
Unfortunately time was not on their side. Reports indicated that the Chappa'ko was near completion, and with the way that Ori attacks had intensified recently, the Coalition simply could not spare any more forces.
A glance at her tactical display reported that all ships were in position, and with a breath to steady her nerves she gave the fateful command.
"Commence the space fold."
I dearly hope that we succeed.
Colonel Samantha Carter watched from the bridge of USS Apollo, the flagship of the Tau'ri contingent of the Coalition fleet assaulting the Supergate, as they completed the space fold and emerged just outside the interdiction field of the enemy fleet.
"Sensors are reading 824 Ha'tak, 1132 Shel'tak, 2986 Al'kesh, and 83 Reetou frigates," the sensors officer next to her read out dutifully even as Sam quickly analyzed the readings on the ships.
"They look like they've been upgraded like we feared, Colonel Ellis," Sam reported as befit her duty as a technical advisor attached to the mission. "They're emitting a lot more power than ships of their classes should be."
"Any ideas on their capabilities?" Colonel Abraham Ellis, commanding officer of the Apollo, asked.
"Unfortunately not," Sam replied with a shake of her head. "But at a minimum? Expect stronger weapons, shields and maybe maneuverability."
The ship's CO just nodded and turned to his tactical officer, "Launch all fighters. It's time to get this fight started."
Cameron "Shaft" Mitchell flew his F302 at the head of his squadron straight into the heart of the enemy fighter formations and unleashed mayhem within their ranks with every volley of his missiles and bursts from his guns. Despite that though, a shiver of unease ran down his spine.
"Something's not right," Cam noted even as he blasted a enemy Death Glider apart. "Why are the enemy fighters sticking so damned close to their ships?"
Typical fighter tactics in the Milky Way called for the forward deployment of all strike craft to at once intercept the enemy's own and to attempt to break through to the opposing capital ships. Yet in defiance of this logic, the Ori were keeping their strike craft close to their ships in defensive swarms. Sure, this gave them a major defensive advantage takes to close fire support from the point defenses' of their motherships but it also eliminated an entire avenue of attack against their enemy. It just didn't make sense.
Banking away with his wingman from a trio of Needle Threaders gunning towards them, Cam frowned as he tried to process the situation even as he fired off a pair of 'Fly Swatter' missiles to take care of the bogeys on their tail.
"It is strange," his co-pilot agreed as he glanced up from the sensor display. "And it just got weirder."
"What's happened now?"
"Their firing line just broke apart."
"You've gotta be kidding me," Cam replied incredulously. "Either the enemy commander is an absolute idiot-"
"Or he has some kinda trick up his sleeve." Banks added, before a beeping from his console had him glancing down. "Bogeys! Multiple bogeys! Looks like a squad of Jade Tierens."
"I see the lousy traitors," Cam replied as he jinxed to avoid the plasma bolts coming from the enemy Mobile Suits.
Looks like I'll have to leave the grand strategy to the admirals. I've got to focus on the job at hand. The fighter pilot mused as he turned his machine around and dove towards the enemy guns blazing.
Eldarose sat on her command throne on the Ganos and watched with satisfaction as the allied forces began to gain the upper hand. Despite their superior numbers and upgraded ships, the Ori's mind controlled slaves lacked anything resembling tactical skill.
Instead of forming up into orderly formations to maximize the opportunities to concentrate their fire, the enemy fleet acted like a disorganized rabble and fought in at best small groups. It had thus only taken a single hard push by the disciplined Coalition fleet and any semblance of cohesion within the Ori fleet had crumbled.
Is this the result of them being drawn from disparate origins? Eldarose pondered as she watched her forces mop up the scattered Ori forces. Though if that's the case, then shouldn't we suffer from the same?
As mother would say, don't look a gift horse in the mouth. Rose, Eldarose's human half, reminded her. It's giving us an advantage so make use of it. Worry about the why later.
Indeed. Eldina, her Goa'uld half, added.
She would have probably said more but their sensor officer crying out in alarm caught their attention.
"What is it?" Eldarose demanded.
"The Chappa'ko!" The woman replied, still sounding rattled but calming down as her professionalism overcame her surprise. "It's powering up!"
"Impossible! All reports indicated it shouldn't be complete. Not for weeks!" Eldarose shouted incredulously. "If it's activating, then this-"
Was a trap. Eldina completed their thought grimly.
That means the way the enemy fleet behaved… It was on purpose. Rose added, equally grim. It was all a ploy to lure us into a false sense of security so they could ambush us with a force from the other side of the Chappa'ko.
"Order our fleet to disengage from the enemy forces," Eldarose barked to her command crew. "We need to reform to face whatever is coming through."
Her crew hurried to relay her orders and her tactical display indicated her forces were attempting to obey, but the enemy wasn't letting them. Fighting with a tenacity they had not previously displayed, the Ori forces were doing their best to waylay the allied ships as much as possible.
"My lady! The wormhole has stabilized."
Looking away from the tactical display at that announcement from her sensor officer, Eldarose looked to the viewscreen showing live footage of the Chappa'ko to see the familiar rippling pool of silver energy of a stable wormhole and watched with trepidation as a massive ship emerged. It was a white colored vessel with an oval shaped structure that included a large Stargate styled ring in the center which glowed with a white light and with two engines at the stern.
It had barely cleared the wormhole when it opened fire on the Coalition fleet with a powerful beam weapon from a dish on the prow that destroyed a Ha'tak in a single shot.
Glancing at her tactical screen, Eldarose noted that at least three groups of allied ships had managed to form up around the Ganos.
That'll have to be enough. The daughter of Nimue thought as she began issuing new orders.
"Get Groups Falcon and Naiad, along with the Tau'ri Second Tactical Wing to follow our lead. We're targeting that dreadnought. All other forces are to attempt to keep the remaining enemy forces off our backs."
As her crew informed her of the affirmative receipts from allied forces, Eldarose's attention was glued to the Ori's ominous new ship as it almost casually destroyed one allied ship after another with its deadly primary weapon and unleashed a storm of plasma bolts with its arrays of secondary batteries. Through the sheer weight of its own firepower it was turning the tide of the battle.
"Falcon, Naiad and the Second Tactical Wing all report affirmative, my lady." Her XO informed Eldarose.
It's time.
"All ships close the distance with that monster ship!" She ordered. "Focus all fire on the damned thing and reduce it to a wreck!"
At her command almost three hundred Coalition ships formed up into a spindle formation and charged through the chaotic battlefield on a direct course towards the Ori dreadnought. All the while they unleashed a sustained barrage on the nightmare vessel, whose immensely powerful shields nevertheless held.
All around them, the Ori's vessels tried to intercept this charge but in a ironic about face were in turn intercepted by Coalition forces who turned their own bite and hold tactics from earlier in the battle against them.
"Englobe the ship!" Eldarose commanded as the lead elements closed with the enemy dreadnought. "And keep firing!"
Like a well-oiled machine the spindle of the Coalition deformed as it reached close quarters of the Ori ship and proceeded to spread out around it in a spherical cage with the enemy at its center. It was in this formation, that the allied forces unleashed a deadly crossfire on the beleaguered vessel.
Under this immense firepower, not even the titanic shields of the Ori warship could hold and it cracked like a egg. This left the ship it had protected subject to the harsh barrage of the Coalition forces which within moments rendered the formerly nigh unstoppable nightmare into a smoldering, drifting wreck.
A small cheer broke out on the Ganos' Pel'tak at the sight, but the sense of victory was quickly shattered when a shot from the direction of the Chappa'ko slammed into their shields.
"Wh-" Eldarose shouted, only to receive her answer from a shaken looking sensor officier.
"Multiple contacts from the Chappa'ko!" The woman shouted. "Detecting two Ori dreadnoughts."
"Two!?" Eldarose breathed out in shock as she eyed the visual of the wormhole to be confronted with the sight of two more of the dread ships she'd just destroyed exiting the Chappa'ko abreast and moving forward as a terrifying firing line that was killing ship after allied ship.
They used that first ship as a distraction! The daughter of Nimue realized with horror.
"Sensors are detecting more coming through!"
We can't win this. Eldina gave voice to the thought every other part of Eldarose knew but was unwilling to admit.
"Retreat," Eldarose hissed even as the Ganos was hit by another shot from one of the Ori dreadnoughts and its shields strained. "Order a retreat!"
Damn it! Damn it all to hell! Eldarose cursed even as the forces under her command made a desperate retreat from the lost battle.
Done!
I took a break from writing in this verse for a while before starting this book so this chapter had my first space battle in a while. That said, I hope it was acceptable. Please do let me know what you thought of it.
Till next time, ciao!
