Gateover: Zi
Thomas Shubaltz was impressed. It had taken very long for the younger man named Daniel Jackson to pick up the language of zi. After that he had work with the girl who was call Major Carter to send the first three travelers home. She had been really impressed with Beek and offered to trade something for him. He politely declined explaining the artificial intelligence was an old friend from the war. Colonel O'neil had perk up learning that he had once been a solider.
"Well, I can understand that. Is there any other technology you could trade us?"
"Why are you so desperate for technology?" Ask Thomas.
"The Tau'ri is under constant threat of attack from the Goa'uld. They wish advance technology to defend themselves with." Answer Teal'c.
"Tell me more about these Goa'uld."
"Their a parasitic race. They present themselves as gods and they like conquering and enslaving." O'Neil answered.
"You!" Yelled Thomas pointing at the young man. Thomas walked up and stared Dr. Jackson in the eyes. "Is he telling the truth?" Jackson nodded yes. "You don't plan on using any new weapons to say conquer all other Tau'ri?" Jackson nodded no.
"Come on then I lead you the Empires old weapon dumps. Maybe you can find something there to use. Although I suggested you head back though and bring something to haul it back in. Most of that stuff is heavy. Also two pilots and I can think of two Zoids to send back with you."
"What are Zoids?" Ask Daniel.
"Giant bio-mechanical animals. They have the innate urge to fight. The native people call the Ancients modified them to fight battles." Thomas said. He noted that the people he was leading jumped at the word Ancient.
"You've heard of them?"
"Maybe. Could you describe them for us?" O'neil answered. Thomas did.
"Sir, that doesn't sound like the race we know." Samantha carter commented.
"I can introduce you to one of the last living ones." Thomas said.
"We'd like that. We like that a lot. So what are you? An aerologist?" Ask O'Neil.
"No. An engineered. I use to be a major in the empire but I retired shortly after the mess with the Deathsaur."
"Deathsaur. That does not sound like a good thing." Commented O'Neil.
"It isn't. The Empire and Republic use to be mortal enemies but peace came because we both wanted the Deathsaur destroyed."
"How bad is it?"
"The first time it was released it caused a planet wide disaster. This use to be a forest planet instead of dessert. The ancients had to go into suspend animation until the planet had mostly restored itself. The second time it destroyed most of the Empire's capital city. The third time when it was finally stops for good it destroyed most of the Republic's capital. Of course some of the first part is just theory since that was before the time the human's arrived on Zi. Sorry I'm rambling."
"No. It's oka… Holly Hannah! What is that thing?" Ask O'Neil who had reach the temple's front door.
"Congratulations. You have just seen your first zoid. That's my Dibison."
"Man' that's a big bull." Commented O'Neil
"So this is a robot?" Ask Samantha.
"No. It's actually a life form. Its inner core is made of cells which are heavy metal instead of the carbon found in Humans, ancients, and plants."
"The outside looks artificial." Commented carter.
"It's is. While originally the Zoids were all biologic, it was discover that we only need to clone the core and we could mass-produce parts. Simply assemble them around the zoid core. Boom, instant Zoid. The wild ones are entirely made of metal cells but they look like this too."
"Is it intelligent?" Ask Daniel.
"No. As a general rule most Zoids aren't intelligent. There are a few special exceptions."
"Unfortunately, this is a one seater. We had to go to the nearest town and pick up some transportation for you. We can head to the Use Armory Depot and pick up some used jeeps. Fiona, she's the ancient, and Van lives out in the middle of nowhere. Their living legends and don't like company." A young female nearby snickered.
"What's so funny?" Ask Thomas.
You keep saying that about your old war buddies but you keep forgetting that your one too." The girl replied.
"He is?" Ask O'Neil.
"More so then Van Flyheight. Thomas helped Van save Zi but he's also widely acclaimed as this worlds greeted engineer. Most Advancements made in the years since the war can be traced to his research. My name is Dr. Sherrie Thompson. I've been assigned as Thomas's assistant by the University." The sg-1 notice Thomas was blushing.
"I keep telling them I don't need help but they keep sending them."
"I do believe our good friend here is embarrassed." Commented O'Neil.
"Hey, do you want that technology or not?"
"Sorry. Lead the way." Says O'Neil.
After picking up a jeep in town they headed out into the dessert.
"Your friends live out here?" Ask O'Neil over the radio.
"No. He lives near my home. It's in a forest just across the dessert. Don't worry it only take about a day to cross."
"What about water and the like?" Ask Daniel.
"I have plenty of supplies in my cargo compartment." Latter that night around a campfire.
"Shouldn't we be traveling by night?" Ask O'Neil.
"Nah. It would be cooler but you wouldn't be able to escape if you feel into a ruin."
"Their that common?" Ask Daniel.
"Common enough that most people do travel by day though the dessert. Also most people who do travel though the dessert use Zoids and they have a good environmental system. I need to ask. What are the chances of these Goauld coming here?" Ask Thomas.
"Not very likely. P9Y-9999 is at the very edge of the galaxy. Just a few more light years and we wouldn't have been able to dial it from Earth." They saw Thomas split out his drink at that.
"I've take it you've heard of it. Sure have. That's where the human race on Zi, that's our name for the planet, came from on the prison ship."
"Well that's interesting. Also we got to this planet though a random combination. It wasn't on the Abydoss cartouches." Commented Daniel.
"Why is this important?" Ask Tealc.
"You remember what I told you about the Deathsaur?" All four visitors to the world nodded.
"Well we may take a while to learn our lesson but we do eventually learn it. Both the Republic and Empire after the mess with the Neo-Zenbas empire went on a campaign of major disarmament. Put simply no one except maybe the Zoid Battle Commission has any hope of repelling an invasion if these things are bad as you seem to think they are."
"If their not weapons what are they use for now?"
"Games." Came a voice from behind theme causing the four visitors to jump.
"Good to see you again. Van and Fiona extraterrestrials, extraterrestrials Van and Fiona." Thomas introduces them. "Sorry but I call them on the radio so they wouldn't have to reveal where they live if they wanted to."
"True. I wouldn't have minded but once Thomas told me about you I decide to come out and meet you early." Daniel immediately went over and starts talking with Fiona.
"Reminds me of you when you were younger." Van said shaking his head.
"If you fought with Thomas how come you look so young while Thomas is so old?" Ask O'Neil.
"Old? I'm the second race of Ancient." Thomas said with a humph. Carter smiled at that.
"Yeah, and now that you have alien technology to tinker with your probably going out live me and Fiona. To answer your question it a side effect of mating with an ancient." Said Van.
"Actually they want our technology to help with an alien invasion." Thomas informs him. Van raised his eyebrows at that. "By the way if you're hungry I have some papayas in my food stocks. Van gave Thomas a look.
"What about these games?" Ask Tealc.
"Their non-lethal battles. The Zoid Battle Commission enforces the rules and broadcasts them. They remind me of our old military training exercises." Thomas answered.
"Sounds likes paintball." Commented O'Neil.
"Oh! I meant to tell you Thomas since I know you don't keep up with the Zoids battles, it looks likes someone in the Backdraft stole some of your designs." Fiona announced.
"My assistant told me about the Shadow Fox. I've talk with Doctor Tauros about it and I don't mind. He isn't trying to make a profit off it. He cares mainly about Zoid battles. He's trying to spread the news that many of its systems are base off my work."
"Why?" Asked Daniel.
"Because our friend is a legendry engineer and that might spook their competition." Opined O'Neil.
"You got it in one." Confirmed Thomas. "So van where's the Blade Liger?"
"I came by jeep. It tends to stick out like a sore thumb."
"So now that you had a chance to meet them we can head directly to the weapons dump. And if Van and Fiona don't mind they can pilot a couple Zoids back."
"Hey Thomas what type of starship did they arrived in?" Ask Fiona.
"They didn't. They came though some type of teleportation system, I was call in to investigate, in the Jantala Ruins."
"It's not teleportation. It's a worm hole generator." Said Carter.
"Really do you know how it works?" Ask Thomas.
"If she's anything like Thomas we're about to hear an alien langue for the next couple of hours." Van commented to O'Neil
"Oh' she's like him all right."