"You honestly think you can stop them?"
"Yes," Ishan responded, matter-of-factly.
"Why should I believe you?"
Ishan looked over at the SG team for a moment, then shrugged, "Do you have a better destination in mind?"
The Narn scoffed at the response, but there really was no where to go now. The last remaining First One was dead. Babylon 6 had been destroyed. The Minbari and Humans had lost their home worlds. The Narn were reduced to a few nomads scattered throughout the galaxy. He was without choices.
"Fine, I'll take you to this starship you've told me about. It won't take long to get there with Hyperspace."
N'Kal was right. They reached the area that had once been occupied by Babylon 5 in a matter of minutes. Thanks to the Borg, there was no trace left of it. Things might have been much worse, though. The entire galaxy might have fallen long ago if the Collective had the logistical ability to occupy the sector after the attack devestated the station.
Now, there were only two pieces of technology in the entire star system. The old Narn freighter with some Vorlon technology added to it, and the Enterprise E.
"What do you think?" Ishan asked.
"Nice looking ship," N'Kal responded, "I haven't seen any like that before. Are you saying that it can defeat a Borg Cube?"
"No," Ishan shook his head, smiling slightly, "Not until we're done with it."
"They're trying to contact us," N'Kal stated. He manipulated a control panel for a moment, and an image of a older human appeared on the screen.
"Greetings. I am Captain Jean Luc Picard of the USS Enterprise."
"Greetings," The Narn captain responded, "I am captain N'Kal."
"Captain," Picard began, "We have heard reports of Borg incursions in this area."
"There have been some," N'Kal stated, cautiously.
"We are on a diplomatic mission on behalf of the United Federation of Planets. Our information suggested that a station in the area would be the most logical starting point. However, we have not been able to locate it."
"The station is gone," N'Kal responded flatly, "There isn't much left to ally with, if that's what you're looking for. The Centauri are the only ones who still have a stable government."
"Could you tell us how to contact them?" Picard asked.
"I can take you to their current government complex."
Ishan stepped forward, and began speaking into the comm, "Captain Picard, I suggest you bring this ship into one of your shuttle bays. Since you don't have hyperspace, and we don't have warp drive, it would be a little difficult for us to lead you to the Centauri."
"Of course," Picard paused for a moment, "May I ask how you know of our technology?"
"Vortex drive may be a new invention for you, but my people have been using it for centuries."
"You are from an alternate reality?" Picard asked.
"Yes," Ishan nodded, "I suggest we talk about this later. Considering the speed of warp drive, we'll have plenty of time to clear things up on the way to the Centauri government."
"Agreed," Picard responded.
"Wait a minute," N'Kal broke in, "We didn't discuss that."
Ishan waved his hand slightly, and said, "It's alright. You can trust the Enterprise."
"On second thought," N'Kal said slowly, "We can trust the Enterprise."
"Captain, prepare to bring us aboard," Ishan smiled.
***
"Now what do you expect me to do?" N'Kal asked.
"I suggest you watch some TV," Ishan responded.
"TV?" Jack asked, "Why?"
"It's difficult to explain," Ishan said, "Basically, the realities shown on TV actually exist in other dimensions. We'll be going to some of them, so you should try to learn more about those realities."
SG1 was dumbstruck for a moment. Even Teal'C, who had only recently become familiar with television, found the entire notion impossible to believe, yet coming from Ishan, it was impossible to reject.
"What is TV?" N'Kal asked, irritated at being the only one unfamiliar with it.
"I'll show you," Ishan walked over to one of the Enterprise's computer consoles, "Computer, display television records from the dome colony, authorization Ishan, 3-9-Echo-Alpha."
"You have authorization codes for their computers?" N'Kal asked, suspiciously.
"Never leave home without them," Ishan quipped, then he turned back to the console, "Computer, display Star Trek: First Contact."
Ishan pressed a few keys on the console, and turned to leave.
"Wait," Sam was still trying to grasp the information that Ishan had given them, "Where are you going?"
"I have a meeting with the captain," Ishan explained, "Don't worry. That movie should help you learn about this timeline. When it finishes, the console will give you a list of movies and TV shows. Just pick out whatever looks interesting. I'll be back before too long."
***
"We're just passing through."
"Just passing through? Perhaps you didn't hear me the first time. No one passes through our territory without paying the fee."
Dylan Hunt looked at the image for a moment, considering his options, "How long has this policy been in place?"
"We've been holding on to this territory, and asserting our rights as a sovereign power for over two years now."
"Funny, I don't recall paying any toll the last time I was here."
"Our patrols don't have any record of your 'Maru' ever trespassing here before."
"Try checking under 'Andromeda Ascendant,'" Dylan responded evenly, "I'm her captain."
"The Andromeda? As in the High Guard starship Andromeda?" The checkpoint officer laughed, "What would the captain of such a ship be doing on a little freighter like yours?"
"We're on a supply run. My ship has a damaged graviton induction manifold, and I'm on my way to pick up a new one."
"That doesn't answer my question. If you really are the captain of the Andromeda, why didn't you just send one of your other officers to get one?"
"I'm the only one who knows how to deal with the Supreme Customer Service Agent Edro."
"Perseids," The officer muttered, "I suppose I can believe that."
"Just check your records," Dylan said, "I'm sure you'll find my picture right next to Andromeda's."
"Hmph," The odd-looking alien responded, "All you apes look alike to me."
"Am I free to go, or do I have to call my ship, and let it give you a counter-offer?"
The alien looked a bit nervous about that prospect, "No reason to have your vessel come all the way down here. Your ID seems to be in order. I'll be sure to let the headquarters know that you'll be coming back through here. I'm sure you and the Maru won't have any further difficulties."
"Thank you," Dylan smiled, "It was a pleasure working with you."
He shut off the con, and Beka smiled back at him wryly, "Nice bluff."
"Now let's get out of here before he checks with his headquarters."
"Say no more," Beka responded, taking hold of the Maru's controls and preparing to enter the slipstream.
"Yes," Ishan responded, matter-of-factly.
"Why should I believe you?"
Ishan looked over at the SG team for a moment, then shrugged, "Do you have a better destination in mind?"
The Narn scoffed at the response, but there really was no where to go now. The last remaining First One was dead. Babylon 6 had been destroyed. The Minbari and Humans had lost their home worlds. The Narn were reduced to a few nomads scattered throughout the galaxy. He was without choices.
"Fine, I'll take you to this starship you've told me about. It won't take long to get there with Hyperspace."
N'Kal was right. They reached the area that had once been occupied by Babylon 5 in a matter of minutes. Thanks to the Borg, there was no trace left of it. Things might have been much worse, though. The entire galaxy might have fallen long ago if the Collective had the logistical ability to occupy the sector after the attack devestated the station.
Now, there were only two pieces of technology in the entire star system. The old Narn freighter with some Vorlon technology added to it, and the Enterprise E.
"What do you think?" Ishan asked.
"Nice looking ship," N'Kal responded, "I haven't seen any like that before. Are you saying that it can defeat a Borg Cube?"
"No," Ishan shook his head, smiling slightly, "Not until we're done with it."
"They're trying to contact us," N'Kal stated. He manipulated a control panel for a moment, and an image of a older human appeared on the screen.
"Greetings. I am Captain Jean Luc Picard of the USS Enterprise."
"Greetings," The Narn captain responded, "I am captain N'Kal."
"Captain," Picard began, "We have heard reports of Borg incursions in this area."
"There have been some," N'Kal stated, cautiously.
"We are on a diplomatic mission on behalf of the United Federation of Planets. Our information suggested that a station in the area would be the most logical starting point. However, we have not been able to locate it."
"The station is gone," N'Kal responded flatly, "There isn't much left to ally with, if that's what you're looking for. The Centauri are the only ones who still have a stable government."
"Could you tell us how to contact them?" Picard asked.
"I can take you to their current government complex."
Ishan stepped forward, and began speaking into the comm, "Captain Picard, I suggest you bring this ship into one of your shuttle bays. Since you don't have hyperspace, and we don't have warp drive, it would be a little difficult for us to lead you to the Centauri."
"Of course," Picard paused for a moment, "May I ask how you know of our technology?"
"Vortex drive may be a new invention for you, but my people have been using it for centuries."
"You are from an alternate reality?" Picard asked.
"Yes," Ishan nodded, "I suggest we talk about this later. Considering the speed of warp drive, we'll have plenty of time to clear things up on the way to the Centauri government."
"Agreed," Picard responded.
"Wait a minute," N'Kal broke in, "We didn't discuss that."
Ishan waved his hand slightly, and said, "It's alright. You can trust the Enterprise."
"On second thought," N'Kal said slowly, "We can trust the Enterprise."
"Captain, prepare to bring us aboard," Ishan smiled.
***
"Now what do you expect me to do?" N'Kal asked.
"I suggest you watch some TV," Ishan responded.
"TV?" Jack asked, "Why?"
"It's difficult to explain," Ishan said, "Basically, the realities shown on TV actually exist in other dimensions. We'll be going to some of them, so you should try to learn more about those realities."
SG1 was dumbstruck for a moment. Even Teal'C, who had only recently become familiar with television, found the entire notion impossible to believe, yet coming from Ishan, it was impossible to reject.
"What is TV?" N'Kal asked, irritated at being the only one unfamiliar with it.
"I'll show you," Ishan walked over to one of the Enterprise's computer consoles, "Computer, display television records from the dome colony, authorization Ishan, 3-9-Echo-Alpha."
"You have authorization codes for their computers?" N'Kal asked, suspiciously.
"Never leave home without them," Ishan quipped, then he turned back to the console, "Computer, display Star Trek: First Contact."
Ishan pressed a few keys on the console, and turned to leave.
"Wait," Sam was still trying to grasp the information that Ishan had given them, "Where are you going?"
"I have a meeting with the captain," Ishan explained, "Don't worry. That movie should help you learn about this timeline. When it finishes, the console will give you a list of movies and TV shows. Just pick out whatever looks interesting. I'll be back before too long."
***
"We're just passing through."
"Just passing through? Perhaps you didn't hear me the first time. No one passes through our territory without paying the fee."
Dylan Hunt looked at the image for a moment, considering his options, "How long has this policy been in place?"
"We've been holding on to this territory, and asserting our rights as a sovereign power for over two years now."
"Funny, I don't recall paying any toll the last time I was here."
"Our patrols don't have any record of your 'Maru' ever trespassing here before."
"Try checking under 'Andromeda Ascendant,'" Dylan responded evenly, "I'm her captain."
"The Andromeda? As in the High Guard starship Andromeda?" The checkpoint officer laughed, "What would the captain of such a ship be doing on a little freighter like yours?"
"We're on a supply run. My ship has a damaged graviton induction manifold, and I'm on my way to pick up a new one."
"That doesn't answer my question. If you really are the captain of the Andromeda, why didn't you just send one of your other officers to get one?"
"I'm the only one who knows how to deal with the Supreme Customer Service Agent Edro."
"Perseids," The officer muttered, "I suppose I can believe that."
"Just check your records," Dylan said, "I'm sure you'll find my picture right next to Andromeda's."
"Hmph," The odd-looking alien responded, "All you apes look alike to me."
"Am I free to go, or do I have to call my ship, and let it give you a counter-offer?"
The alien looked a bit nervous about that prospect, "No reason to have your vessel come all the way down here. Your ID seems to be in order. I'll be sure to let the headquarters know that you'll be coming back through here. I'm sure you and the Maru won't have any further difficulties."
"Thank you," Dylan smiled, "It was a pleasure working with you."
He shut off the con, and Beka smiled back at him wryly, "Nice bluff."
"Now let's get out of here before he checks with his headquarters."
"Say no more," Beka responded, taking hold of the Maru's controls and preparing to enter the slipstream.