Chapter Five - Earth Revamped
Our mission complete, we returned to Earth to upgrade her defenses. With the help of the Replicators sent ahead, fifteen shield emitters like those on Atlantis had been completed. Atlantis was sent to help in their deployment and to offer help in the form of one hundred replicators. From their suggestion, five would join together to create one ZPM in a few days. Each emitter would house three ZPMs each. These forty-five ZPMs would now ensure that our planet would never again play victim to foreign plots.
Five permanent bases on the side of moon facing away from Earth were to be built on the surface. No bases would be facing Earth so that no nation need worry about attack from above. These bases would be home to five Asgard Beam weapons powered by Asgard Neutrino-Ion generators; they each would also play host to a BC-304. These five vessels, codename Task Force Earth, would remain the constant vigils of our solar system. The individual members would change from time to time.
Around the moon, an additional five emitters were to be put into service to protect our constant companion. Each emitter would likewise be powered by three ZPMs each. One way to cripple us as a people would be to destroy our moon. Now we will ensure even our own moon can't be used against us. The only real threats in our system are our own sun and Jupiter, each of which could be made to blow up which might take us out too. The new shields would probably hold up to Jupiter's destruction and subsequent change in the gravitational constant of our solar system.
The sun would be another story. It is unclear whether the shields would be able to protect us. We, however, believe they would be depleted and no amount of ZPMs would be able to handle such intensity. Even if we did, we would have no sun to grow our crops. We would have no light. With the shields, we would at least have atmosphere, but we would be unable to maintain enough heat to keep the planet from going completely cold. We would also be flung out into the Universe as derelicts. A wandering planet. Would we still be able to use the stargate? Would we eventually run, literally, into another planet or, even, another star?
To prevent this possibility, the moon would act as its constant companion from now on. Ancient satellites equipped with Ancient deep space sensors would be strategically placed around the sun. They would ensure not only her complete coverage but also of the entire solar system out from their individual points. Should there be any signs of incursion, Task Force Earth would be sent to investigate. This would also allow us the unprecedented ability to study our own sun in real time.
Just past Pluto, a series of Ancient satellites, equipped with shields, would encircle us. They would also be equipped with Ancient deep space sensors to watch over the rest of the galaxy and would be armed with Asgard Plasma Beam Weapons. The first round was to produce twenty-five to be placed equidistant around the solar system. To speed up this process, a hundred and fifty more replicators were created. These satellites would be able to scare off attackers before endangering Task Force Earth. With the replicators working non-stop, they will produce enough ZPMs to power Task Force Earth, the new shield emitters, and all forty-five ZPMs to the Ancient satellites in a matter of weeks. Each round would see that number raised to fifty encircling our solar system, then seventy-five all the way to five hundred strong in several months time.
Atlantis was recalled to Earth to ensure the installation of these emitters. She would both aid in the process while also adding security should the Lucian Alliance think of attacking. While there had been no response as of yet, there was no doubt they would try to retaliate. If they should learn of our plans, they would find it easier to attack before its completion.
The Lucian Alliance did think to attack and they mustered a fleet of forty Ha'tak class vessels and twenty-five Al'kesh bombers. From all over the galaxy, groups of small and large were on their way towards us. Luckily they were at least twenty ships that would need at least two weeks to get to our solar system. It was believed that they would wait until they were all together before attacking.
This gave us only two weeks to prepare. Atlantis and every ship in the Milky Way was recalled to Earth. The Earth fleet has been increased. At last count, five BC-304s were in service: the Daedalus, the Odyssey, the Apollo, the Sun Tzu and the George Hammond were better than ever now that they were equipped with two ZPMs each. They would each be receiving a third at the first opportunity. The USS Avalon would be the sixth ship and the fifth of the United States, who are spearheading the efforts in two galaxies. The Chekov would be the seventh and the second Russian ship, their first being destroyed at the Battle of the Supergate.
The Chinese would be keeping their number at one for the moment. Great Britain would get one ship as well, the HMS William Shakespeare, the eighth of the fleet. France would get one, Le Plongeur, the ninth.
The USS Avalon, the Chekov, the Sun Tzu, the HMS William Shakespeare and Le Plongeur would make up the first grouping of Task Force Earth. Each permanent member of the UN would aid in the defense of this planet with one ship from their fleet as their individual fleets would increase, and the other members of the UN. They would then be also free to explore the universe as they saw fit.
Each moon base would house various members from the UN, not just from the permanent members own countries'. The protection of the moon and the surrounding solar system would have to be undertaken jointly by all members of the UN. Just as it was done in Antarctica and on Atlantis.
Two more ships would join the United States' fleet: The USS Pegasus and the USS Artemis would make up the tenth and eleventh ships of the current fleet, eleventh and twelfth ships made by the United States. They would act as the remaining members of Task Force Atlantis. The USS Artemis would also represent the first BC-304 to named after a woman.
It would take just about three weeks to make and place all twenty-five satellites, so they wouldn't be useful against the Alliance. Though, the shield emitters would be in place in time to both protect the Earth and the moon. There would be no bases as of yet on the moon. There would just be Atlantis and the eleven BC-304s of the Earth fleet to protect our planet. More than enough now that the Earth would be able to protect itself. We wouldn't have to worry about dirty tactics. Especially since her compliment of Ancient drones had been fully restocked.
By the time the fleet arrived in our solar system, the BC-304s were cloaked about the solar system. They would perform guerilla attacks against the advancing fleet in an attempt to diminish the numbers that reached Earth and Atlantis. They would then rejoin Atlantis in the final battle.
The forty Ha'taks and thirty Al'kesh dropped out of hyperspace together. They fanned out with a lot of space between them. They stalked forward past Pluto. They passed Neptune when three BC-304s decloaked and fired on three of the Ha'taks. They raised their shields before the fleet fired back. They took a few shots before firing back. Three Al'kesh blew up. Now, their combined weapons fire was starting to diminish their shields. They fired one more time destroying one Ha'tak and two Al'kesh, then engaged the hyperdrive to return to Earth.
The remainder of the fleet continued through the solar system. Just as they passed Jupiter, five BC-304s decloaked and opened fire destroying two Ha'taks and three Al'kesh. The response was quicker this time. They all opened fire faster this time. All their weapons fire was focused on just one of the ships whose shields depleted in response. It had to retreat, it didn't want its shields depleted too quickly before they even reached Earth and added the weapons fire of Atlantis.
Four Ha'taks were destroyed as they focused their fire again on just one ship. That ship retreated before another round of shots could be fired. This time three Al'kesh were destroyed. Now their fire was again focused on just one ship. Instead of trying to fight a battle of attrition, all three remaining ships jumped to hyperspace after one of them had their shields depleted. Five of the BC-304s returned to Earth to wait with Atlantis. The remaining BC-304 would take runs at the fleet, randomly jumping out of hyperspace on them, destroying one of their ships then jumping back into hyperspace.
All in all, only twenty-five Ha'taks and sixteen Al'kesh made it to Earth. What they saw, I hoped terrified them. All sixty battle jumpers were racing towards them, shields raised. Their shields easily withstood the gliders weapons' fire as well as that from the Ha'taks and Al'kesh. They stalked in close and when in range deployed at least fifty each of Ancient drones, thousands in total. The drones took out gliders as they raised towards their ultimate goal.
The remaining fleet was destroyed by a fleet of sixty jumpers. Their field test was complete and they were deemed ready to face the Wraith, a comment of great esteem.
And still, would it be enough? What other marvels could we put to work to ensure victory? Were there any more? Reports from allies in the Pegasus galaxy told of how when the Wraith come to cull, they are almost always in groups of twenty and thirty with far too many mouths to feed. They bunch up close and remain in large numbers. They know we will retaliate and they wish to deter us with large numbers.
How would the battles of tomorrow fare? With Atlantis, in command of a well stocked armory of Ancient drones with the ability to create a completely different sort of drone that remains autonomous for the most part. Thirty Asgard beam weapons. Six BC-304s, stocked with Ancient drones and armed with Asgard Beam Weapons. Sixty battle jumpers, well-stocked with Ancient drones. And an extra shield, far too well powered. Would it be enough?
Whether or not it would be enough or not would widely depended on the person in charge. To this end one commander would be chosen to make almost all of the decisions. Only one person was right for the job. The Vice-Chief of Staff of the Air Force announces.
"It is the feeling of your superiors that your endeavors in four separate galaxies far exceeds the duties of Colonel. It is for this reason you are hereby promoted to Brigadier General Samantha Carter. Since Atlantis is as much a desk job as Stargate Command, it was our unanimous decision that there should be a ranking General in charge of our military efforts. As Atlantis will spearhead the efforts in Pegasus, a clear leader is in need. The only possible candidate at this time is Colonel Samantha Carter.
Please, step forward." Samantha steps forward to receive her new insignia, her old ones being replaced by her superiors.