Disclaimer: I don't own Stargate SG-1 or Gundam SEED Destiny
PS. To All Grammar Purists, get lost!
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HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Chapter 12
Telepathic Call
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New Artemis a few hours before the arrival of Anubis Armada
For three days the Star Forces and their allies prepare themselves for an all-out battle against the most formidable Goa'uld armada in the galaxy, because just early in the day, the Atlantic Federation President Henry Hayes, has just finished his disclosure, his appeal for more people to fight and his collapse from exhaustion and fever. And while the whole world is reeling from revelation, another event is happening far in space.
Two Ha'tak motherships, most likely on a scouting party for the main body, assessing possible target like orbital facilities, namely space colonies and lunar bases and orbital habitats. And are practically in the face of a patrolling Zaft fleet.
When those two Ha'tak appeared, a Zaft strike fleet that was close by, went on an intercept course and tried to make first contact. The strike fleet consisted of only 4 Laurasia class, 3 Nazca class, 2 Zamouth Garr-class and 1 Minerva class as its command ship.
The Zaft fleet spread itself around the two Ha'tak and began pumping up their power levels before hailing them. They send a message of greetings, and for a moment, nothing happens…until one of the Ha'taks open fire and destroyed the closest Zaft ship, a Nazca class.
The other Zaft ships immediately started firing their main guns at max power and close to point blank range, followed by a volley of antiship missiles with an anti-proton warhead tip, which is something they especially made for the Star Forces.
The Zaft commander of that fleet thought that they could overwhelm the two intruding ships at close range and when they stop firing, the two Ha'taks is still there with a raised energy shield that absorbed every beam weapon projectile and missiles like it was nothing. That is if Zaft took the time to notice that the Ha'tak shields are now half strength and another volley could have destroyed them.
Unfortunately for Zaft, firing that much firepower drain their power and are running on reserves. Mobile suits with antiship weaponry went on the offensive to give their fleet a time to recover, but the two Ha'tak didn't give them that time and return fire and are several megatons in yields of plasma fire, the Ha'taks rip apart 8 of the 9 remaining ships in no less than five minutes of battle with the Ha'taks leaving a field of debris that was once spaceships and not even bothering to deal with the last one barely operational Zaft ship and surviving mobile suits.
The incident, was seen by a civilian space shuttle that came from the Plants heading to Earth. It was nearby and they were carrying the news media who were ordered by Zaft to leave the Plants. They were close enough to get a picture and broadcast it to a nearby relay satellite. The battle was broadcasted all across sol to a surprised and horrified population and a disturbed armed forces, questioning if they can defend themselves against such power.
On Artemis, warships from Terminal, Orb space forces, Eurasia and Republic of East Asia who arrive at Artemis to have their ships modified to face Goa'uld warships… are now worried of their chances of defeating and surviving a battle against a Goa'uld warships.
An SF commander of a BC-304 Daedalus class which was part of SGC told them that, for many years they had run multiple simulations to such an event and that every EAF, Orb and even Zaft ships are lost in every engagement in a span of 4 to 6 minutes. The difference of technology, power and weaponry are so big and that the ones that destroyed the Zaft fleet is a standard Ha'tak and not one of Anubis ancient tech modified ones and those are considered above standards.
The commander said that the modifications on their ships will give them a fighting chance but only if they fight together as a group. He explain further that, what they have given them have raise up their warships to the standards of their EAF fleet of ships.
When the AF started rebuilding their space fleet, they used salvage old line of ships to supplement their new ones. The AF military gave the prewar vessels a full upgrade from armor, weapons, sensors and propulsion system. Partially they copied armaments from Archangel class which they upgrade it to damage or destroy Ha'tak motherships. The most important of these upgrades is the replacement of the ships armored hull with a trinium-titanium composite armored plating, and then they installed standard starship systems like energy shields, inertial dampeners, Ion drive propulsion for sublight speed and a combination of Helium-3 and Naquadah power plant.
The only thing that was not installed is the hyperdrive
Their ships were given paint a job that made them look old, beaten and unmodified which is what made people underestimate them. The old line of EA ships continued their service as part of the Star Forces despite keeping its old EA color (the flag) as an act of spite against Zaft.
Lately, the EAF ships were given upgrades such as hyperdrive and structural integrity field which is something the scientist at Area 51 discovered and developed when they were tinkering with inertial dampeners and gravity control. And being sci-fi geeks who watches Star Trek and Star Wars they proudly name it 'Structural Integrity Field' or 'SIF' for short.
The EAF ships help maintain security in their border and all across sol occasionally getting into skirmishes with Zaft which have become frequent every time a Zaft Laurasia or a Nazca class ship drifts into their side of the border or one of their long range mobile suits tries to sneak in by navigating thru the debris field.
The EA ships and their crew shows their best by out pacing out maneuvering and out fighting Zaft in every turn, forcing them to pull back to their side of the line but never pursue them beyond their line. It frustrated Zaft at how different the Star Forces operates, despite the fact that most the commanders and officers came from the former Earth Alliance Forces. There is a degree of professionalism in the Star Forces action which is so unlike the Earth Alliance when Blue Cosmos was in charge.
Reasons why the SF and the EAF are so different was because the Atlantic Federation Military, took a step back to relearn centuries of military traditions and history, relearning old school tactics and adapting it for modern warfare and operation against formidable adversary.
They found themselves mortified that thru the years, the core values of their armed forces was abandoned and replaced by the fanaticism and ideology of groups that led them to defeat and ruin.
So for the next ten years, the AF military strongly reestablish the core value of their armed forces as a means to redeem themselves in the eyes of their people and went further when they establish a new military academy with the core value, as a visitor to Artemis found the words… DUTY, HONOR and COUNTRY written in stone.
Ezalia Joule POV
As the fleet move out to confront the alien armada, Ezalia Joule found herself walking around the Artemis base like some lost tourist, and that she found herself looking up to a mural that adorn the entrance to a section of Artemis not part of the base but integral to the Star Force.
The mural adorn on a wall, tells the AF military history the stretches back to the time of the American revolution, and at the center of that large mural is the coat of arms of the former West Point Military Academy that was destroyed during the Resource Wars.
Now adopted by the Star Forces for their new military academy as a reminder of their proud heritage, and of a place that once teaches the noble ideals, will be retaught to new cadets of…DUTY, HONOR and COUNTRY …in the West Point Military Space Academy.
"Duty, Honor, Country" Ezalia mutters as she read the words written in stone.
"The core values of a once proud military… was lost and discarded, found and relearn" said Governor Woolsey who gave Ezalia a bit of a fright
"Governor Woolsey!" she exclaimed and then carefully look the governor who is now wearing the uniform of an Earth Alliance Admiral.
Ignoring Ezalia curious look, the governor look up at the coat of arms and explain a few things to Ezalia "Five years ago, when we finally finish rebuilding Artemis, we decided to re-establish the military academy program and we choose to build an academy here with those three words as the solid rock foundation for the next generation of Star Force officers to follow, to make sure they avoid the same mistake we made" Woolsey said with great pride saying it and hope.
"We had our first batch of graduates just last month and are now at the helm of our new ships, the rest of the cadets have been evacuated along with their families while the rest of us manned the older EA ships and ready to defend the Earth at all cost"
"And you governor?"
"I am taking command of the JE-01 christened, the Heracles, and I am taking it into L4" he answered
"Why take command of the Heracles, I mean the Artemis is-"
"I gave Maynard command, and the Heracles is built like a battle fortress and more than enough to take on twenty of Anubis Ha'tak motherships head on if it has to" Woolsey answered with a sense of confidence
"The L4?" Ezalia remembers a report that a small number of Zaft ships and civilians from the Plants were able to leave before the lockdown and are now in L4 and organizing its defense with the neutral nation present there.
"There are still too many people left behind, and we have been requested for assistance by the colonists there who is more than a bit frightened after that shocking demonstration of power by those two Ha'taks"
"May I go with you then?" Ezalia requested and offered "I still represent the Plants council and I may be able to talk with the zaft commander for a co-defense of the colonies"
Nodding in agreement with her Woolsey replied "Any assistance you can give us is welcome councilor Joule" and like an officer and a gentleman, Woolsey gestured her to where they will be going and Ezalia smiled at the offer
"Please call me Ezalia, all my friends do" she offered
"Then you may call me Richard then Ezalia, as all my friends do"
A short time later, the Heracles and its battlegroup left for L4 at sub luminal speeds that will take them a few minutes travel time while the Eternal and the rest of Terminal is on standby outside Artemis and watching the Heracles maneuver so well and move so fast that one still wonder how such a massive ship could move that much without tearing itself apart.
The Eternal
As Lacus watch the Heracles leave for L4 she listens in on news report from Earth about the population in the grip of panic. Streets and highways clog up fast from vehicles trying to leave the city, mass looting emptied stores, supermarkets of mostly food and basic necessities. The only country whose people is not in mass panic is the Atlantic Federation.
Most of its population are already in underground shelters and bunkers days ahead or have been ring transported to New Manhattan to join the exodus fleet or got stargated offworld before it shut down. Many world leaders are protesting to the AF of not being informed that they had control over their gate yet only temporary. The AF government gave no response as the whole country is now on lock down.
As the crew of the Eternal concentrate on doing their part, Lacus takes a look on a news broadcast coming from the Plants but under Zaft close supervision. It was right after the AF president disclosure and sudden collapse, the coup leaders went on tv and started ranting, condemning the Atlantic Federation for exposing the Earth to imminent danger and that they should surrender the Chappa'ai or the Stargate to Zaft because of the AF misuse and irresponsible behavior outside the sol system.
The another coup leader was also livid, saying that they were right not to trust the AF and that Henry Hayes disclosure was proof of their mishandling and that they should welcome and appeal to the Goa'uld for a truce and let them punish that Blue Cosmos nation called the Atlantic Federation.
He also berated the people of the Atlantic Federation for electing a Blue Cosmos fanatic like Henry Hayes who uses the Stargate to find weapons to kill coordinators and thanks to him he led Earth to its imminent ruin.
For Lacus, she can see that the man was clearly has a strong dislike to Henry Hayes to the point of being obsessed in believing that Henry Hayes is out to get them, the Plants and every coordinator in the world.
The name Henry Hayes is very much well a known figure, ever since his angry outburst during the signing of the Treaty of Aprillius. Yet despite that, he is considered a moderate and was never known to hate coordinator directly, nor does he have any connection to anti-coordinator groups like Blue Cosmos and their cause to commit coordinator genocide.
In the early year of the postwar, Hayes help reestablish the AF government and was soon elected vice-president and afterwards, a chance to be president because the current president at that time did not seek re-election due to a failing health and recent illness.
Henry Hayes started running for president of the Atlantic Federation with the promise of sweeping changes that will restore the nation to its former glory. His election campaign is centered on taking a new path, different from the rest and to secure that new path they needed to establishment a new Atlantic Federation colony group and access to the vast resources of sol system still untapped, focus on home grown business from industry to agriculture, law enforcement, new technology and the re-arming of the Atlantic Federation Military.
He argued that the arms limitation imposed on them after the Treaty of Aprillius had dire effects on the nation security, as he points out to piracy, terrorism and organized crime is bleeding the nation.
Henry Hayes won the election on a landslide victory, and after 100 days in office, he declared that all three promises have been fulfilled in advance in one of the most daring clandestine operation ever. He also apologize to the public for the secrecy, reasoning that such an endeavor will be a target for sabotage and terrorism much like what happen in Hawaii years ago.
Alarmed by this, Zaft tried to move against them down by using false accusation of theft at Armory One as an excuse, but ended it in near Armageddon and Zaft worst humiliating defeat and embarrassment ever. Since then, Zaft have wanted to have a grudge match so much that they develop new weaponry, increase the size of their forces for the inevitable confrontation.
The only problem was, their adversary, the new AF Star Forces, is not interested in a fight. In fact, the Star Forces did everything to avoid a fight with Zaft no matter how much Zaft try to provoke them to start fight.
The Star Forces never took the bait.
Four years on, nothing happens despite the continued border skirmishes, nothing went beyond that. And when the AF disclose the Stargate and all materials relating to it and that the Star Force is militarily superior to Zaft and sees Zaft as a minor annoyance compared to the Goa'uld.
To a few they felt insulted of being look down on by the Star Forces and they did not took it well and even more so when the Plants council told them to cooperate with the Star Force after an abrupt end to the summit meeting at Hawaii.
Paranoia sets in
If one follows the event before the coup, Zaft observed the AF military suddenly going into red alert, their people were being ushered into bomb shelters and underground bunkers, while world leaders in Hawaii are hastily returning to their country after ordering an alert and strict orders to cooperate with the Star Forces.
Few people in Zaft knew about the real reason for the conference and according to the news from the Plants, those on the-know have been taken into custody and isolated from the public. Those who are now in command are now driven by suspicion and paranoia that they believe that the council have been compromised by the AF and are planning to strike at the Plants with their backs turned.
The truth was, Henry Hayes and most of the AF governments and most citizens wanted very little or to have nothing to do with the Plants, Coordinators and Zaft. They held a grudge like no one's business, but instead of acting against them they approach it with a no involvement, no association, no anything attitude when it comes to them and this went on for years.
However, Anubis changed all that and that they have decided to set aside their differences, at least for the time being.
So they involve the Plants, Coordinators and Zaft for the sole reason of defending the Earth and humanity's survival, including the Plants. That is, if they agree in supporting their endeavor and in exchange for their support, the AF will share resources and technology and to sweeten the deal, Henry Hayes offered them something that they cannot refuse and seals the deal.
Henry Hayes handed over to Chairman Dresden a flash drive containing the means to resolve the coordinators birthrate problem once and for all. Henry Hayes 'ultimate bargaining chip is his 'means to secure absolute support' and though many in his administration oppose the idea of handing the coordinators the means to save their species, Hayes however believe differently.
He believes that the leaders of the Plants is not taking them or the situation seriously enough and that they may back out. So in order to truly secure their support without a doubt, they need to show them that they are very serious and what better way to show them, than give them the means for their species salvation.
Lacus couldn't help but be impressed at the man shrewdness, for he knew that members of the Plants council still carried some doubts in supporting Henry Hayes and the AF. Giving them the means to save ones species have erase all doubts.
Presently, coordinators reproduction is still a problem despite the fact that more Naturals are participating to help coordinator birthrate, yet still it is barely well above normal levels for their population.
This shows how Henry Hayes is a dangerous politician and they know it, because once they accept Henry Hayes offer, there will be no way for them to back down but to fully support him for if they did, then the consequences will be far severe than just loosing face.
The heads of the Plants Supreme Council was heading back to the Plants with a Star Forces ship giving their ship a tow which was faster. When they got back, the council immediately went to work on Hayes plan, as well as ordering Zaft to give the Star Forces their support…and then Zaft executed a coup.
The last report from Waltfeld Intel source at the Plants says that Dresden tried to convince one of the leaders of the coup to call it off and that the key to their survival is to help the Star Forces to defend the Earth. He even showed the flash drive that contain the means to finally resolve their birthrate problem.
What happen next shocked Dresden, when one of the coup leaders smiled and suddenly slap him on the face and accused him of selling out to the naturals for a few measly trinkets, and that he has lost faith in the superior abilities of coordinators and that he let an outsider to once again exploit them.
Then the coup leader did something very stupid… he drop the flash drive on the ground and crush it under his boot.
Blinded by rage of what just happened and calling the key to their salvation as mere trinket, Dresden lunge towards the man and tried to choke him to death and even while he was being shot at by the others, he never let him go of the man's neck until he and the man died.
The tragic loss of Chairman Dresden has hit Lacus and the rest of Terminal very badly and what it could means for the Plants.
Right now Zaft have started deploying every warships and mobile suit into a defensive perimeter around the Plants even emptying the military colony Armory One at Lagrange 4 which left the colony just enough to defend it.
There are a few times that Lacus has such a worst day in her life and this was perhaps one of the worst day, second only to the loss of her father and the passing of Rev. Malchio and one other day ten years ago… ten years ago…
Flashback Lacus POV
Ten years ago
"Ambassador Hayes" Lacus called his name as she is flanked by Col. Waltfeld, Captain Murrue Ramius and Major Mu La Flaga
"Ms. Clyne"
she nodded in respect to him despite being angrily glared on
Lacus look at him and he looks back at her with hidden anger behind cold eyes, and that much says that the man is very angry at everyone right now, especially to her, after all, she sponsored this peace treaty conference to iron out the details of the treaty and not to take advantage on the weakness of others.
What just happened made her look like a liar
'Speak up Lacus, speak up and tell him dammit! This isn't what we wanted!" her thoughts screaming at her to say something but Hayes spoke up first
"Congratulations, you won"
he said with the coldness of a glacier
"Sir, I don't think that anyone have won today"
Murrue spoke up which was not the right words she would be saying because Hayes has lost the last thread of control of his anger.
"Really, well our country, no make that
MY country just got told by every-one-of-you, to walk around carrying a billboard sign saying 'we did it' and 'It's our fault' so I would say you guys won" he shot back and nearly growled at Murrue and she took a step back.
"Sir, it was not my intention to humiliate your-"
"SHUT UP, JUST SHUT THE HELL UP!" Hayes yelled at Lacus out of anger which cut off Lacus explanation which shocked not just her but everyone else and Waltfeld would have deck Hayes if he wasn't restrained by Lacus herself.
"Maybe there is something about you Coordinators being Superior to Naturals and being 'Evolve' and all that garbage, thanks to that God damned George Glenn, he made us Natural born extinct"
'That's not true!' she scream in her thoughts 'we are not evolve, we are not superior! WE ARE HUMAN BEINGS JUST LIKE YOU!'
"Sir, I,"
Lacus was about to make dispute but Hayes spoke up angrily at her again
"You WON! Coordinator, what is there to say other than that?!" Lacus took a step back, clearly his anger was still boiling
"Mistakes were made and we have paid in full with blood and tears, my only regret is, our mistakes of letting George Glenn live"
"We should have killed him when he came back from Jupiter-no correct that, we should have killed him before he was even been born and then kill all the scientist who manufactured him, then none of this nonsense would have started!" He yelled then took a deep breath and calmly he said to her lastly
"As a sign of PEACE, we will walk a different path in life so that there won't be any more conflict between us, so tell your people to stay out of my country affairs and we will stay out of yours in return, don't bother us, we won't bother you, got that!?"
She watch the Atlantic Federation delegates walk away leaving Lacus is crying inside
"I failed" she muttered sadly
End flashback
Lacus wept a tear when she remembers that worst day and made her feel like a failure.
'Walk a different path' she thought, as she started seeing the image of two roads side by side, where one road stood a man, an Earth Alliance soldier but she can't see his face but she recognize a patch used by SGC units and this one carry SG-1.
The man starts walking alone on that long road at first but soon more people started appearing. Lacus slowly recognize the face of Jack O'Neill leading the way, then other people started appearing by his side, and she recognize them as Dr. Daniel Jackson, Major Samantha Carter, Teal'c, Major Davis, General Maynard, Governor Woolsey, General Hammond and President Henry Hayes. The two road was soon filled with people leading towards the edge of a raging river where at the other side is the future.
Lacus felt like she was standing at one of the roads with faceless people and they were all just standing there waiting. As it turns out, a sign was at front of them with the words "NO BRIDGE" and some of the people there suddenly faded into the darkness, leaving but a few people standing, and those few she clearly recognize as her friends and families.
Meanwhile at the other road, the people there kept on moving…thru a Stargate that created a bridge to cross the raging river and into the future. And when all of the people on that side have finally crossed, leaving only a woman standing on one side and Colonel Jack O'Neill leaning at the other side he looks like he's annoyed for some reason.
"The Age of the Cosmic Era is about to end," spoke the woman in flowing robes of white and continued speaking
"The Age of the Tau'ri is about to begin, and are part of it my dear Lacus" said the woman in flowing robes of white as she led Lacus close to the Stargate and then she added gestured to O'Neill "Jack?" Jack O'Neill looks like he wanted to complain on something
"Fine, fine I'll do it but you guys are gonna owe me big time for this, ya hear!" he said to the woman who still smiled at him and then bowed and then walk thru the Stargate leaving a confused Lacus Clyne who was about to asks but O'Neill gesture her to stop and advised her
"No, don't asks because I really don't know if this is scientific, magic, spiritual or whatever this mumbo jumbo stuff were in" O'Neill said grumpily
"Carter and Daniel knows more about this stuff. I just go along with it, nodding my head to think I understood which I don't most of the time" said O'Neill admittedly and almost sounded like he's annoyed
"Look, I don't have much time before I wake up, so here's the story. That lady and most of her annoying glee club members wants us, and I mean all of us survive as much they want to see the rest of humanity in the galaxy to survive, and if we do survive, were gonna have to do some serious changes. One of which is you will have to lead the Plants again and this time do it right because there is no third chance if you screw this up again, Ok?"
Lacus look at him confused a little bit worried and O'Neill is looking a bit impatient
"Look Lacus, can I call you Lacus? Good, now exactly an hour from now SG-1 will be arriving on Earth, however Anubis will be arriving much earlier than we are and he's bringing his armada of thousands and there is no way for us to repel that number of ships, except one and it's somewhere on the planet which we are heading there now and we need air protection once we get there
"Air protection, where are you going?"she asks as she's somewhat confused of what is being asks of her
"It's classified, sorry I can't tell you that"
"Can you not send a message to SGC?"
"Carter is fixing our radio because it's broken so we can't send a message back to SGC, which is why I'm doing this, though you weren't my first choice doing this. Yet you are the only one I can communicate as pointed out or more like bullied me by those annoying glee club members, so here we are, asking you to tell Hammond or Maynard this message"
"I- I can't do that, they won't believe me" Lacus replied
"Oh yes they will"
"How?"
"Simple, tell General Maynard these words…" O'Neill whispered something to Lacus ear and it felt to her that it's more than a whisper
"Maynard will know what to do, understand? Good, well now then Ms. Clyne, time to get your lovely nice ass moving and… WAKE UP GIRL!"
"SMACK!" that is the sound of a man's hand smacking a woman butt without her knowing which pretty much made her jump forward into the event horizon of the Stargate.
"YAH!" Lacus scream as she stood up and look around and behind her like someone slap her behind which pretty much made her blush red 'That jerk, he slap me from behind!'
"Lacus are you ok?" Waltfeld asks after getting startled by Lacus sudden scream
"I'm fine Colonel, oww that smarts!" she replied and feeling her behind like she was soothing a sore but it's not "why that sexist…he complimented my ass being nice and then he slap it!" she remark which confused the crew as to what or is she she's talking about
"Uhh, Princess?" even Waltfeld was curious but before he could ask Lacus got her composure back, still flush in red and gave a quick order
"I'm fine Colonel, please get me a secure line to General Maynard, I need to talk to him right now, and set the timer to one hour and counting now!"
When Lacus explain to General Maynard of what she just experienced a moment ago, everyone is looking at her like she was crazy except for General Maynard since this is SG-1 they are talking about and they deal with weird and crazy things on a daily basis.
"He told me words that only you and the president can interpret. After that he uhmn 'ahem' he woke me up by slapping my behind" she told her blushing at bit at the last sentence
"Sir, I never meet the man but he seems quite a handful to deal with"
"You could say that. And do forgive for being skeptical of your claim Ms. Clyne" The General said apologetically and Lacus nods in understanding "So let us assume that, Colonel O'Neill psychically sent you a message, then tell me what he told you"
"Well sir, he said that and I quote 'Next time, I'll let Daniel put his head in one of those brain sucking thingies and see how he like it' unquote and that 'he's going to asks for a pay raise from the MAN, a month long relaxing vacation at his number ten most favorite place doing nothing. Alone with no phones, no computers and no snakeheads bothering me, and maybe fly one of those nostalgia flights on one of those F-14 Tomcat doing a tail hook landing just once, and then I go watch my favorite football team throw a Hail Mary pass at the last second' sir"
"I see…so that's his message" Maynard remark with a sense of amusement "Those are definitely the words O'Neill would use, that's for sure"
"Sir, O'Neill said that you know what it all means and what you must do"
"There is a message within the message Ms. Clyne" The General said "I would be honest with you Ms. Clyne, I am a bit skeptical of you receiving a message from O'Neill thru your dream and why you of all person…though with the kind of things SG-1 have been dealing with in a daily basis all these years… I'm incline to believe you. However,"
Maynard never finish his sentence as alarms of began wailing, signaling that a hostile force has just arrive fourteen million miles away from Earth's.
Anubis fleet have finally arrived. Lacus look at the timer and see that it was now 50 minutes and counting down. That's 50 minutes till SG-1 arrives with a miracle, assuming that they are still here when SG-1 arrives
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!