Disclaimer: The characters used within this are mostly the property of others. I have a few originals, but the vast majority are not original. A few well known names may be used, but everything here is fiction. This is for entertainment only and not for profit.

-oOo-

Araiansu – Chapter 4

Sam said, "Cally, beam my team and General Hammond up."

They vanished in a flash of light and appeared on the bridge of the Liberator.

A beeping sound was heard from Cally's station. Hammond and the others blinked and looked around.

Cally said, "Pardon, but the computer detected a serious health issue in General Hammond. I don't have the details, but…"

Jack said, "General."

Janet said nothing. She looked worried.

"I know what is wrong with me Jack. There is nothing that can be done. Janet has already told me. I've tried to eat better but it is probably too late. I'm not dead yet. Let me keep doing what I can."

Sam said, "Sir, we can heal you, either now, or we could beam you up tonight."

Janet said, "Do it now."

"Your his doctor?" asked Sam.

She nodded. "I can't tell you anything."

"I know." She turned to her husband.

He said, "I'll take care of the rest."

"Thanks. I'm going with Janet and General Hammond to the medical bay."

"I hadn't agreed to get treatment yet," pointed out George.

Sam asked, "Are you really going to orphan your nieces?"

"That is playing dirty."

"Yes it is, but if I'm reading Janet correctly this is really serious. The fact that I know the automated scans that occur during transport are not that sensitive and don't catch that much leads credence to this. Cally, what was the computer recommendation?"

"Immediate diagnostics and treatment."

"Why should I get special treatment?" asked George.

Jack asked, "Why shouldn't you?"

Sam said, "More to the point, we need good people like you in the military if we are to navigate the future that is unfolding."

"Alright. I do have a question. Do you have something you can tag people? I wanted to make sure my nieces were safe just in case I don't make it"

Sam rolled her eyes. "We don't, but we can make something. Avon."

"On it mom."

"You should introduce us to these children..?"

"Come on General. Actually Janet, you can give him an order right?"

Janet said, "General, I really must insist. If there is any chance."

"Fine," he said grumpily.

Sam and Janet smiled even as they walked slowly to either side of the General. He glared at them in annoyance, but as they didn't speed up, the normally few minute walk took close to ten. There was three beds on either side of the sick bay for a total fo six.

Sam said, "Here let me help you up."

She helped him into the bed. "Okay sir, well a healing bed is just weird. I'm going to turn off the usual options and let this take some more time, since our usual settings would be really disturbing if you weren't used to them. Just relax and let the bed do its job."

"If you say so," he said dubiously.

A force shield appeared around the General.

Sam said, "You can still talk. Your voice will be relayed out here. Now, are you okay."

"I'm fine."

"Would you like to be awake or asleep? I honestly recommend asleep, but I won't insist on it."

"Sam, you are sure this is safe and I'll be healthy and able to see my nieces tomorrow?"

"I'm sure sir. I've been in here dozens of times."

"Asleep is fine. I trust you."

"Zen, reset occupied pod for maximal comfort and initiate a sleep and recovery cycle."

"Confirmed."

"Add Earth style holographic displays for patient based on current technologies. Permit Janet Fraiser to my side to view and manipulate within the limits of that technology basis. Establish diagnosis and prognosis."

Several screens lit up in the air around the patient showing his circulatory system, and highlighting extensive damage due to diabetes and heart disease. The system highlighted several areas around his heart.

Zen said, "Patient has extensive coronary disease and complications from diabetes. Complete regeneration will be complete in thirty four hours."

"Amazing," Janet said.

"Yes, that is Asgard super science for you. Do you want to stay here?"

"I think I should. Frankly, I thought the general was going to die. This is a miracle."

"Okay. I can show you where the restroom and the food replicator is."

"Zen give additional access to the food replicator for normal usage to Janet and General Hammond. Also allow them to contact me through you."

"Confirmed."

"Zen add ten years to the medical data Janet is allowed to access."

"Confirmed."

"Sam, you didn't have to."

"I can't give you access to Asgard science, but ten years is nothing. It is also close enough to your knowledge base that you can probably learn it."

"Thanks Sam."

Sam walked back to the bridge only to see the president and the joint chiefs.

"Major Carter," General Ryan saluted.

"Retired. No need to salute me." She turned to the president, "Mr. President," and then to the Secretary, "Mr. Secretary."

The president asked, "Where is General Hammond?"

Sam said, "He had a health issue that we are treating."

"You can cure him then?" the president asked softly. "He had asked me to help search for his replacement..."

Sam nodded.

Perhaps sensing that was all he was going to get, the president pivoted to, "This is an impressive ship you have here."

"The Asgard lent it to us to protect ourselves, which we should probably do. Ranma, you were and are in charge. How would you like to proceed?"

"I think I'll beam into the sub with say Dana, Jenna, and Villa and kill all the spiders, then the ship can blow it up to verify it."

Sam shrugged. "That seems reasonable. It would be good practice for the kids."

General Ryan exclaimed, "Your not really going to send kids down into that mess? Those things devour people."

Sam said, "They will be fine, and we will keep a transporter lock on them."

The president asked, "Why not just blow it up?"

Sam shrugged. "Replicators are tricky. There is a chance they could jump to the ship if we hauled it out with the tether beams. We could blow it up in the ocean, but you would have massive loss of life along the shores from the tidal wave we caused. Frankly Ranma getting control and moving the ship where we can cleanly vaporize it is the least bad solution. The problem is not in destroying it. It is not destroying it without causing a lot of civilian casualties. I'm sure Ranma and the kids already thought of all this."

Ranma nodded.

"I see."

"Okay your clear to go. If anyone is tired just ask and one of us will swap in. Ranma, give the command when you are ready."

Ranma looked over at his children. Each was armed with a plasma rifle, just as he was.

Ranma said, "Let's get it done."

They vanished in a flash of light only to reappear on the submarine.

The Liberator's main screen showed everything in three dimensions, complete with audio. Three steps in Ranma was splashed with water running down the ceiling, changing into a woman.

"Great," muttered Ranma. "Well that was predictable. Ki attacks only kids. They oddly work better on these. Every attack should be lethal. These things will kill every man woman and child on this planet if we don't stop them. Use the plasma rifles if absolutely necessary. They will adapt and start using the energy to replicate, so only when absolutely necessary."

They gave a half nod before dozens of spiders stared sweeping in. The kids launched ki attack after ki attack.

Dana mixed it in with the odd vacuum blade.

Jenna started to walk forward.

Ranma said, "Wait. This is a defensible area. A lot more are coming."

She stepped back and shot a quick blast at one that had gotten close to her.

On the ship Sam said, "When it comes to our family Ranma isn't going to take any risks that can be avoided. He is right. More and more are heading their way."

General Ryan said, "Is that why he isn't attacking?"

Sam nodded. "He knows the numbers are going to increase by a lot. He is saving his strength to guard our kids and make sure he can stop the ones that are coming."

The president asked, "Why did he become a she?"

"Ancient Chinese curse," said Sam with fondness.

"If you don't want to say," the president responded.

"No, it really was. He is from a different universe. Look the rate is beginning to pick up. Avon, Cally expect to be switched in. I will too." They nodded. They already had their rifles.

The president asked, "If everyone that can control this ship is down there..?"

"Don't worry, we won't die, and in the unlikely event we did the ship would return to the Asgard."

"I really hope that doesn't happen. We need this ship."

Sam nodded.

Jack said, "Let Teal'c and I go down. We can back you up."

"Okay. P90's I guess?"

Jack and Teal'c nodded.

"Zen transport up from their base tactical gear for SG-1, including P-90's and clips."

A pile appeared in front of them. Jack and Teal'c loaded up.

The spiders starting coming by the hundreds. Ranma started shooting out vacuum blades like they were candy, obliterating them just as fast as they came, even as Jenna, Dana, and Villa began to catch their breaths. The hallway they had before them was now clear, but you could hear more in the distance.

Ranma said, "Swap out the kids. The area is clear. You should come too Sam. I think we have gotten less than half, and there is still a big one here somewhere, and we have to get it."

The kids vanished and were replaced by the remaining two, Sam, Teal'c and Jack. Seconds after they materialized a swarm of spiders starting marching in.

Jack and Teal'c opened fire first.

Sam helped sweep them away with a ki blast.

Ranma half yelled, "Heard them. We will sweep."

Jack said, "Can do," He and Teal'c started to direct their rounds to the spiders at the sides of the room.

Jack and Teal'c aimed to the sides taking select pot shots which succeeded in grouping them. Sam blasted the whole group at once.

Ranma said, "This would be a lot easier if we didn't have to avoid breaking this ship. Screw it. I'm going to go kill a bunch of them. Sam watch for me."

Ranma vanished, and then a blur of destruction shot through the spiders. Sounds of explosions continue to sound throughout the ship as all the spiders started converging on the destruction.

"Ranma," Sam said fondly and worriedly.

Jack asked, "Is everything okay?"

"Sometimes he forgets he is mortal, particularly when one of us is in danger."

"Don't you mean she?" joked Jack.

Sam glared at him. She then seemed to focus into the distance. "She is coming back. Look alive people."

Ranma appeared and knelt beside Sam. "I got about half of them, including the big one." She breathed out and in to catch her breath.

A few seconds later she added, "I say we risk blowing it up after towing it. Right now I'm exhausted. Your at half, or less. Either we blow them to heck with the ship, or we risk leaving to recover and given the work they are doing in the engine room, I'd hate to risk it. We are not that far from land."

Jack said, "I like this plan."

Sam said, "Agreed. Jenna, bring us back."

They vanished in a flash of light.

Sam said, "Zen confirm Liberator is clean and activate maximum automated anti replicator defenses. Civilian casualties are authorized if necessary to protect this ship."

"Liberator is operating at one hundred percent capacity with no foreign objects detected. Does the second officer concur with the order?"

"Agreed," added Ranma.

Zen said, "Anti replicator defenses are active. Transporters are now locked into matter annihilation mode. Shields are at maximum. Powering up neutrino-ion reactors two, three, and four."

Sam said, "Activate them all, and prepare for a max tether hyperspace tow."

"Confirmed."

Sam looked over at Ranma who was still obviously exhausted before turning to Jenna. "Jenna, your the best pilot we have right now. Are you comfortable with the mission? If not, I'll take it."

"I'll take it mom. I won't let you down. Where will we go?"

"Plot a hyperspace course to an uninhabited systems sun. Drop the replicators there. Vaporize them then and let the ashes fall into the sun."

"Overkill much?" asked Jack.

Sam huffed. "Those things have the annoying tendency to live when you think they shouldn't. We have kept them in a bottle. Now we are destroying the bottle."

"Zen, open a connection to the Pentagon."

"Connection Established."

"Mr. President, tell them we are handling the situation and not to needlessly freak. It probably won't work, but try."

The president, General Ryan, and the Secretary of Defense appeared on the Pentagon's screen.

"Listen, I know this makes no sense, but we are in the big ship you were concerned about. We are going to deal with the replicator issue. Everyone just stand down and get the hell back from the replicator ship."

"If you say so sir. Mr. Secretary?"

"Do as he said. Get away."

"General Ryan?"

"Get away from the replicator ship. Don't give them any targets. We are clear otherwise?"

"Yes sir."

"Then do it. We should be back in…"

"Less than a day," added Sam.

"What should we tell the cabinet?"

"We should be back before long. I am authorizing the VP to approve any decisions that must be made in the meantime, and if absolutely necessary the cabinet can do what it needs to."

"Very well."

The screen went blank. Sam said, "Jenna you have command."

Jenna said, "Mom, adjust our shields for the atmosphere. I want to come in hypersonic from the sea. I don't want to give any trigger happy people time to target us."

"Done."

Liberator groaned as it's shields sliced their way into the atmosphere.

Jenna said, "One minute to target area. I'm doing a parabolic course. We will be exceeding several hundred G's when we head up, so grab onto something in case the inertial compensators have any delay."

"Geeze," cursed Jack.

The president, the General, and the Secretary sat on a couch like area at the front of the bridge.

Jenna said, "Ten seconds to maximum acceleration. Stress levels are within ship design limits."

"Activating tether beam."

A great lance of energy lanced down from the ship that was now accelerating straight up, gripping the submarine in a vice like grip as Liberator powered its way out of the atmosphere.

"Thirty seconds to space."

Jack asked, "Couldn't we just blow it up?"

Sam said, "We could, but in the unlikely event one managed to escape, we might not contain it. Right now the tether field contains them."

Jenna said, "Ten seconds. We will enter hyperspace in another twenty beyond that."

Avon said, "Dozens of replicators have tried to ride the particle stream back to the Liberator, but cannot survive in the stream. I think we killed quite a few from just the G-forces plus the tethering field stress."

The world around them changed to streams of blue and white. Ranma asked, "How long?"

Jenna said, "fifteen seconds. Found a black hole. Hope you don't mind the switch."

"Aren't those dangerous?" asked Jack.

"5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0. Hyperdrive cutout. Massive pull from the black hole. Tether Cut. Initiating breakaway thrust."

On the screen you could see the submarine falling away.

Jenna said, "Proceeding away from the black hole. We will reach a safe point for hyperspace in around two minutes."

Sam said, "Zen, use the extended range detectors. Continuous scan. Make sure we are clean and the replicators die."

"Confirmed."

They watched when less than two minutes later the submarine vanished into the event horizon.

A few seconds later Zen added, "Scan complete. Liberator is free of any foreign object. All replicator entities within detector range have been destroyed."

"We'll that sucked. We didn't even use the big honking guns," complained Jack.

Sam laughed. "Jenna take us back."

"Sure mom."

Liberator continued to move away before slipping smoothly back into hyperspace.

Sam said, "Jack tell these people what was happening before we arrived with this ship from the alternate reality."

"Our Asgard were getting their buts kicked and we weren't helping much, beyond buying a little time. Frankly sirs, we would all be dead if they didn't arrive."

"You are serious," stated the President in surprise.

"We are," Ranma said. "Frankly the replicators worried the Asgard from the dimension we came from enough that they helped us go all out building this ship, and updating this universe's Asgard with all they had prepared. We spent more than eighteen years getting ready for this."

General Ryan said, "But you dealt with these easily enough."

Sam said, "Not really. We had them actively trying to tunnel through our tether beam. Frankly, had Ranma not killed the replicator made out of Asgard materials, there is a good chance that one would have made it through, and then once it started absorbing the materials in this ship there may be nothing that can stop it. It is true that we didn't test all our defenses, but well, in hindsight I'm not entirely sure I shouldn't have ordered the strike even if it would have killed thousands."

The president, general, and secretary all paled.

The secretary asked, "What can we do?"

Sam looked at Ranma.

Ranma said, "Getting this ship required making sure we don't give the tech behind the ship to anyone, but we are still going to need to expand our defenses. You should try to get the people of the world to cooperate and build your defenses. While we can't give you this technology we can give you some lesser things, but it depends on everyone cooperating. If we give you help, and the Asgard see it is abused, they will end this."

"I'm not sure you know what your asking," said the President. "A whole political party in America is now all about lies and whatever it takes to win. Other countries of the world aren't much better."

Sam said, "We know, but you still have to do it. We can't do it for you. We have a big enough job."

"What else?" asked the secretary tiredly.

Ranma said, "Eventually we are going to need material, resources, and people. They have to surrender their citizenship and agree to only fight for the good of the Earth as a whole. We will know if they lie." He turned to Sam.

Sam said, "If any country sends people to try to steal technology or otherwise not do this job, we will act as necessary. This is far too important. If we fail, the world dies or becomes slaves, or worse."

Ranma said, "In short, if it becomes necessary, we will kill them. If a country or a corporation steals technology we will do what is necessary to recover it. Please do not make it necessary."

The president said, "We will do our best. What about your magical attacks? I know Major Carter couldn't do those before."

Ranma said, "They are not magic. We will train the recruits that are interested, though I'm not sure it will help. It takes years to get any control over your ki, and the training almost needs to start when they are young. Most never manage it."

Sam said, "Find true martial arts masters. Not the television ones, but the real ones. Make sure they are from all over, and not just America. Give us what you find out and we will see. Make sure they would be good candidates, since they will be needed to teach what we teach them."

Ranma added, "Once the Goa'uld threat is neutralized fully, I have no problems with this knowledge being passed on, within reason. It is like anything else. It can be used for good or evil. Usually it is far easier to kill with guns."

The secretary nodded. "But people with your abilities could walk into any event and likely kill whoever they wanted to and get out alive. That is a dangerous thing. You are a deadly weapon with nothing on you."

Ranma shrugged. "People can do that anyway with guns. It is just your children that are dying, because they have less protection than some of your politicians. This requires a lifetime of learning, so the danger is less than you think. Ki attacks just happen to work well on replicators, particularly on a fragile ship."

"Also," Sam added, "Ranma is probably the best martial artist you will ever find anywhere. His father put him through what we would define as torture from when he could walk to attain those skills. I'm good, thanks to his personal help, but there are limits. If I tried what Ranma did I'd have died. I suspect I could have made it to the original replicator and maybe managed to kill it, but I wouldn't want to bet on it, and I also wouldn't bet I got out alive."

The president asked, "Where will you setup a base?"

Sam said, "We have been thinking about it. We were thinking the Moon or Mars. With our technology we can make it habitable, at least in regions."

"Could we see it?" The president asked.

"Mars?" asked Sam.

The president nodded.

General Ryan said, "As much as I'd like to see Mars as well, we do need to come up with a plan to at least make a dent in disinformation. I'll be blunt. Can you, with your technology, expose the worst of it? All our plans may go to dust if we become a fascist state."

Sam hesitated. "Maybe. The problem is our tech is good enough to invent whatever we want. We wouldn't do that, but whether we did it or not, they would say we did. Sure, maybe we could control the flow of information if we really tried, but that is just doing an end run around democracy. Frankly, I'm not convinced there is a purely technological solution here. From the little bit I've read you have a massive portion of the country believing outright lies and when confronted they just believe more lies."

Avon spoke up. "Create tracking satellites to monitor key politicians in leadership positions and just broadcast most things with some kind of delay. Show both sides. Maybe add some real time fact checking. I'm pretty sure I can manage that."

The president said, "That would make it a great deal more difficult to do some of what needs to be done."

Ranma said, "I'm hardly an expert in politics, but it makes sense to me."

Sam said, "It risks creating a situation where say a president defers key decisions to a vice president or similar, though we could just as easily add to who is monitored. This is very heavy handed stuff."

The secretary said, "Well the Stargate would be obviously exposed as would actual threats to the planet and the country. I assume you can at least hide some sources and methods of intelligence gathering?"

Avon said, "We could do some, but not all, either because people wouldn't trust it or because the algorithms we make are not going to be perfect."

The president asked, "Can we think on this? I suspect it is worth it. I assume you won't just show one side? No, of course not. No one would trust that."

Jenna said, "We are approaching Mars."

Ranma said, "Zen, enable holographic imaging of the ships surroundings."

"Confirmed."

"Jenna show us something interesting."

They flew through the Martian sky staying a few hundred feet from the soil. The view inside the Liberator flight deck became as if they themselves were flying through that sky. After about an hour Sam nodded to Jenna and they pulled out of the atmosphere and into deep space.

As they settled back above Earth the president said, "So, make sure nothing happens to your family, continue our preparation and help you continue yours." He paused for several seconds before adding, "I think I'm going to need a little more."

Seeing Sam's grimace Ranma asked, "What?"

"You will likely have to help me convince leaders of the world to do this, and you will probably need to take some of their picks for leaders."

"We are not going to take anyone who endangers this mission." Sam insisted.

"I know, though I hope your sure about how you are going to figure that out. I don't want to know the details. Too many people would try to use that knowledge to bypass it. This is going to be hard and your going to have to be involved with the politics too, since your the only one with the power to do some things."

Jack looked at Sam in concern.

Sam said, "Okay."

"Also, do the monitoring thing. I'm not going to make any other suggestions there. We have to do something. Perhaps more truth will overcome more lies. I pray that it is so."

Sam said, "Okay. We will get it done, likely with a hacked feed to streaming services or something."

He nodded.

General Ryan said, "I'm less than certain this is a good idea even if it may be necessary. Can I assume if those of us in the military chain of command stay the hell out of politics, and just focus on doing our jobs we won't be put on television?"

Sam said, "I personally hate this idea, so no, I've no plans to expand it. I'd prefer not to do it at all."

The secretary of defense said, "We have modeled all this. They will stop lying when either enough of them are in jail or when it quits working. So far it is still working fine, and while there are some investigations we know about and some we likely don't, the odds of getting a jury having someone who prevents a conviction is high, and so are the odds of riots in the streets."

Jack said, "I was hoping the worst point was Kinsey and his ilk. He was horrible, but he actually cared if people lived or died even if he was a crazy nut."

Sam said, "We will do what we have to do. I may have resigned from the Air Force but I still swore and oath to protect against all enemies foreign and domestic, and I'll be damned to hell before I consign the world of my birth to chaos."

She stopped to look at everyone before turning back to the planet. "Dammit we should have grown up more than we have. We should be enrolling our kids in college not keeping them in space for their protection and because quite frankly we need people we can trust right now."

The president said, "I feel like I have failed far too often."

Teal'c said, "It is not a leaders job to convince people that the sky is blue. Reaching people who believe in false gods is difficult, but it is possible. We have done it before. We will do it again. As many times as it takes."

Daniel said, "Well said Teal'c and I agree."

"Vigilance," Jack added.

"Vigilance," they all repeated.

-oOo-

"This is Andy Davis, and I have a very strange story. We are trying to fact check it but as near as I can tell multiple internet feeds of the current and past president of the United States have started showing. They appear to be at least one week old, but to completely account for almost all of their time awake. The president goes about his daily routine as we would expect, and the previous president appears to be strategizing on which lies to tell to increase donations to his political organization and how to funnel that money back to himself. We are continuing to view and analyze this footage, but must stress we have not yet verified any of it."

Twenty minutes later Andy reported, "It seems one common news agency is now reporting the unforgivable sin the current president has done by using a fork to eat a pizza, while the other is discussing just how far he can egg on the mob without getting indicted for inciting a riot. The heck with this. We are pretty sure this stuff is accurate. Just put them side by side. I'm taking a break."

He held his hand over his ear. "I am told I can't leave and that we need to talk about the spaceship. Spaceship? Seriously? The hell?"

"I am told we have footage from Hubble." He sighed. "Okay put it on," he said wearily.

Andy was stunned when a view of the Liberator appeared on the screen in stunning detail.

"Are we are sure this is not some joke, cause right now I'm seriously wondering if I drank too much last night." He listened to his earpiece for several seconds before adding, "Since that is apparently not the case, well aliens. You heard it here folks."

Sam and Ranma appeared in a flash of light in front of him. They were wearing black uniforms with white edging. They looked a bit like military fancy dress including dress pants.

"What?" Andy said. "Security."

"Relax," Sam said. "We aren't here to hurt anyone."

"Who are you and how did you get in here?"

Sam said, "I'm Samantha Carter of the Earth Defense Force. This is my husband Ranma. We are the leaders of the EDF."

"Earth Defense Force?"

Ranma said, "The Earth Defense Force is an independent group that is preparing to meet threats primarily from outside this world. We came from that ship you were showing."

"Like what?" he asked curiously.

Sam said, "I'm technically breaking my security clearance obligations here, since before I retired I was a Major in the United States Air Force so I'm not going to explain everything in detail. The government can do that, but a couple years ago there was a pair of ships that threatened to destroy the Earth. I was one of the team that helped stop them. I recall we had to talk with quite a few news organizations at the time…"

Andy said, "I never knew the whole story, but I know the story was killed. I know the president called the head of our network. What was the full story?"

"The short version is we got incredibly lucky, then later we got more lucky when the race that helped build our ship decided to negotiate a treaty with the same group that sent the ships. It has protected us since then, though it is a fragile protection. We are now going to protect ourselves."

"So just one ship against?" he asked.

"If your asking if one ship can defend against the Goa'uld, the answer is it depends. Against the level of threat we faced before, yes we can face that. Against a threat much larger, well let's hope we don't face that before we are more prepared."

Andy asked, "Are you the ones that are showing the president and the past president?"

Sam said, "We are. We weren't really crazy about the idea, but something had to be done to reduce the number of lies. Just so people know we aren't limited to monitoring two people. Also, before the one group says it is all fake and such, well they can easily prove it by just inviting legitimate journalists to record them as well. I've no doubt that some will invent some wild theory anyway…"

Ranma snorted.

Sam sent him a wry smile. She started to speak again before she was interrupted by Zen.

"Two nuclear missiles have been launched and are currently on a course for the ship."

Avon said, "They don't have the fuel to reach us. Left alone they are likely going to detonate on or above Earth, even if we don't bother to move."

Sam sighed. "Okay, well we would appreciate it if no other government launched any more missiles. We will take care of these. Andy, do you want to come?"

"Yes, I would love to."

They vanished in a flash of light, but the program continued from onboard the Liberator.

Say asked, "Ranma take the main guns. Jenna, I presume you already are ready?"

"Of course mom."

You could see Andy wanting to ask a question, and just as quickly deciding to wait.

"Execute the plan. Ranma, I know I don't need to say it, but make sure you have firing solutions that don't impact land."

"Already on it."

The ship started to quickly move through space and then make a long sweeping turn that lined them up with the two missiles.

Ranma said, "I have a firing lock. I'm waiting for the missiles to reach their apogee in about fifteen minutes. I presume this will detonate them."

Sam was busy at her station, when suddenly an exploded view of the missile appeared in the air before them. One section behind the warhead glowed a soft red in the image. She said, "Cally I'm passing you information on the detonators. Beam it away from the missile. Ranma cut the power on the plasma cannons to minimal and attempt to slice off the back halfs. We will collect the warheads. If they want to give us perfectly usable weapons grade material, we might as well keep it."

Ranma grinned.

Cally said, "Missiles disarmed."

Ranma fired. A weak beam of plasma energy vaporized the back half of each missile.

Sam said, "The warheads appear safe enough for now. Jenna grab it with a tether beam. We will set it down on the moon…"

Zen said, "Attention. Multiple missile launches detected. Four thousand seven hundred and thirty four missiles are launching or in the process of launching."

"Crap," Sam said. She then added, "Zen, emergency power. All reactors online. All safety cutouts disabled."

"Does the first officer concur?"

"Do it Zen," Ranma said.

"All safeties are released."

"Zen prioritize targets by risk to ourselves or to the planet. Have the battle computers create a solution where the warheads are beamed away from their detonators. Priority 1 saving lives. Priority 2 is being able to collect them later."

Avon, I want you to verify his solution. Do what you have to but give Cally a constant feed of targets for the transporters."

"On it."

"Jenna give your station to Ranma. Ranma your going to have to pilot and fire. Your the only one who can coordinate at the speed required."

Ranma quickly took the pilot's seat. "Hold onto something." Suddenly the ship came alive as the transporters searched out and transported warheads away before Ranma instantly locked on and fired the main cannons for the exact period needed to destroy each missile.

Andy looked at the main screen only to see a count of missiles slowly start to count down. One was eliminated almost every ten seconds. He gripped the couch like area in the front where he was sitting, quickly finding a seat belt and buckling it as the ship went through insane maneuvers.

He said quietly, "I can't believe I'm watching what looks like the beginning of a nuclear war. Thankfully this ship is making some headway into stopping it. Let's pray it is enough."

The maneuvers continued endlessly, until almost thirty minutes later Zen said.

"All missiles are now neutralized."

Sam said, "Cally, I need your station for a moment."

"Okay mom."

Sam sat at her station and adjusted the controls. Suddenly a leader of the world appeared on the bridge. She walked up to him, pulled her combat knife and plunged it into his heart all in the span of less than a second. She left the knife in him. She then went back to her station and beamed the corpse back down.

"If anyone is wondering, yes I verified that he ordered both strikes. I don't know the exact reason he decided to launch an all out attack. My guess is he assumed that the nuclear missiles would become redundant if we were allowed to live. Either way, for the crime of attacking this ship, and for the far worse crime of all the loss of life those missiles would have caused there was no other punishment. Now, if any other country wants to be stupid and try to retaliate against the rest of the people in that nation, well, consider this a warning. Don't."

Sam then beamed Jack O'Neal, Teal'c, and Daniel Jackson up.

Sam said, "Jack, I presume you saw all that."

"We did. You did good Carter, Ranma, all of you did good."

"Indeed."

Daniel said, "I know you don't like to kill in cold blood Sam, but you had no choice. America would have probably declared war if you didn't do that. Now there is a chance that pointless death can be avoided."

"I hope so Daniel. I hope so." She turned to Jack, "Jack can you take over for now? I just want to leave for a bit." She turned to her husband who nodded.

"Sure, but just in case more stupid occurs, I assume you can be reached?"

She nodded.

Jack asked, "Perhaps we could do one more thing to better make the point? Didn't he have a really big yacht?"

Sam said, "Zen return systems to normal. Authorize SG-1 for weapons systems."

"Confirmed."

"Go for it, just beam everyone in danger out of range and make sure Zen or someone controls the energy output so you don't destroy a lot more than a yacht. After that, transport any warheads that are a possible risk of being discovered to somewhere else. Someone can work on a design to transport the fissionable material safely."

Jack said, "We will get it done."

Daniel asked, "Why not just use your transporters to spread the material deep under the Earth?"

"Mostly because there may be battles in the future where we don't have enough of these ships."

"Ah."

Andy said, "I hate to ask, but could I go with you to return to Earth or?"

Sam pressed several buttons. All three vanished in a flash of light.

-oOo-

Please consider Following, adding to your Favorites, and Reviewing. This is of course fiction.