AN: Rather a later update than I planned. Oh well. Here's the next bit. I'll also say I'm now writing without a larger plan to go toward.

-x-

In the days that followed a malaise fell over the valley. Durov was becoming frustrated by their lack of significant progress, or rather the mission's inability to produce impressive results and this frustration was filtering down to his subordinates.

"Vladimir I've just spent the day uncovering the material culture of a new civilisation and the specific conditions of king-worship in primitive societies! This is the stuff any archaeologist would dream of!" Igor had protested when Durov had confided in him, but the Colonel would not be satisfied. Durov and the generals back home had been ecstatic at Tarelkin's report, or rather the implications and theories the logistics officer had relayed back to them after his visit, and indeed they'd received an extensive resupply through only a day after the man had gone back, consisting of three more aircraft, as well as several tractors and other pieces of equipment with which to impress the Romans. However General Abramovich had called on the radio and advised Durov to return to Earth swiftly to make his report in person to the higher command, in his words to strike while the iron was hot and assure the Program's continued support. He had thanked Durov for the material sent back already, but a dead snake and a few Unas corpses, along with some gold ornaments weren't nearly as impressive as the real living things.

However, to bring extensive samples back through the Stargate they needed to secure themselves here, which was proving more difficult to manage. Durov's letter to Thurius had produced a significant result, with the Roman general seeming to accelerate his plans. He'd marched half the distance toward the capital, and now indeed controlled most of the Roman state, having taken all the military districts and now controlling a great deal of the agricultural output. Thurius would with little effort be able to conduct a blockade of the city, but was so far happy to merely regulate the food supply, still sending grain through, but making it clear he could stop the shipments if he desired. The reaction to this however in the capital was that SG teams had reported growing hostility to Thurius, and the Soviets, with popular speeches being made claiming that Thurius had been bribed or conducted various other illegal activity. For the most part the Roman proletariat seemed not to believe this, but never the less conscription had begun. Soldiers ate better than peasants as they had access to the military granaries, meaning whole neighbourhoods joined up and had been training and parading extensively. Any time the soviets left their small camp near the gate they were watched and followed by a large crowd of armed men, though who these men were and whether their purpose was to monitor or to attack was unclear. Stanislav back in the capital had sent entreaties to the Senate and Emperor and asked for discussions or some representative, but had gone largely unanswered. Indeed, Durov really didn't know what romans were actually planning, especially given they must now be aware of the massive level of Soviet firepower available. So far they seemed to be ignoring the Soviets and treating Thurius as an inconvenience. It was regrettable, but if the worst happened, Tarelkin's hedgehog apparatus had already plotted several firing solutions through the Stargate around important districts of the city.

General Abramovich seemed unconcerned by it all, and have given Durov absolute authority to negotiate with anyone on the planet. Durov was pleased by his superior's confidence in him, and had been greatly interested in the excitement Abramovich had related to him that was going on in Moscow. Unfortunately the authority given to Durov was conditional, requiring him to quickly resolve things here rather than having to call in a professional diplomat.

As such Durov had been pushing Igor and the others to make some significant breakthrough. They already had the staff weapons, and they'd also found some unusual snake shaped devices that Gaius had claimed were used for torturing disobedient slaves. Apparently they didn't work though as Gaius had never seen one in operation, and had only heard about them from stories the slaves passed down. Both seemed impressive, though somewhat impractical weapons. Durov was considering how the forces of the Goa'uld actually fought, as from what they'd been able to see the staff weapons were more akin to anti-tank weaponry, rather than a rifle. It seemed impractical for whole companies to be equipped with the weapons, rather than some of them having something with greater precision. Igor had suggested the staffs were only used by the bodyguards of the false gods, but Durov had resolved to worry about it when they were less busy, and had more time to test the weapons on a firing range.

The prisoners though had been of great help. Through interviewing Gaius, the host of Vulcan, they'd gathered a lot of information on the former god's life. Gaius related that the slaves of Vulcan had indeed been taken in raids by the Unas over a period of several hundred years, and currently they numbered in a small community of around two hundred. The slaves had their own history, and knew that Vulcan wasn't actually a god, though unfortunately they maintained the superstition that he'd been some malevolent spirit. Happily, Gaius seemed to have some authority over the rest and the man had been a great help in persuading the others to talk and help the Soviets get various doors open. Through this process they'd discovered a number of other rooms in the palace-ship, including what they assumed was the engine room. One set of doors had stubbornly refused to move, even when Igor stood for an hour muttering Egyptian phrases at it on the theory that it required a password or a magic spell to open. Durov had ordered it to be blown open before Chernov the engineering officer had pointed out that if the alien engines were anything like a normal one using explosives near them might be a bad idea. Eventually though they'd managed to get it open by playing around with the crystal components of the circuitry. So far they'd discovered dozens of panels that slid out of walls or floors with a number of crystals inside. An ornamental function had been dismissed given they were out of sight, and several had been opened and their moving mechanisms removed, in the same manner as one might jam open a door. Like many children, Durov had built a crystal radio when he was younger, his father, who'd been an electrical technician, helping him. It was most amusing for the Colonel therefore that the aliens used something so similar. Chernov was similarly interested, and they'd already sent back a preliminary report as well as a few diagrams relating to the construction of the doors in the hope that some comrade back home might have a better idea of how the things worked.

In addition to practical knowledge of the operation of the ship, the prisoners had also given them a decent overview of Vulcan's history. Basin and Igor had conducted the interviews, writing down their folk stories and pouring over them for any information that might assist the Soviets now. There was always the problem of where the information came from, and whether Vulcan himself might have seeded a certain story over a period of time, but for the most part Durov though the former slaves fairly reliable.

Apparently Vulcan had once been a minor player in the Greco-Roman pantheon, a subordinate group to the Egyptian one that Ra ruled. Ra was apparently the supreme god, and all the others his extended family in a sort of large feudal system that no doubt was rather more complicated than they'd imagined. The Greco-Roman and Phonecian pantheons, like the states of Rome and Carthage, had gone to war for control of various resources, and Vulcan's dominion, apparently comprising several worlds, had been taken. Vulcan had then served Baal, the supreme god of the Phonecian pantheon, and had acted as a sort of researcher for him. Vulcan was after all known for being a craftsman first, rather than a warrior like Ares or other gods, and as such Igor had speculated that Vulcan had received the same rewards a court wizard would, rather than a general. Likely he had little skill in war, but a great ability for invention. This seemed largely borne out by their findings on Elysium. The palace-ship had several unusual modifications that stood out from the rest of the ship, such as a boxy structure on the main cannon, as well as the silvery substance running through the ship over several corridors.

In any case, Vulcan had either offended Baal, or perhaps participated in an unsuccessful coup, and had been forced to flee. As he did so he stole various things, presumably his research, and took it with him, along with a ship to take the Roman population away from Earth. Where exactly that ship was no one seemed to know. Durov thought Vulcan had probably abandoned it to prevent it being tracked, and had taken instead the smaller craft that he set up his home in. Vulcan had presumably been biding his time, creating an army with which to attack Baal again, but before he'd been able to do so the Romans had captured his Stargate, forcing the god to devise another strategy.

The former slaves had led them to Vulcan's treasury, or perhaps workshop, where all his equipment was, and the Soviets had found a number of unusual items. These included several modified staff weapons which didn't seem to work, a variety of ornaments like bangles and a complicated hand device possibly with ceremonial function, as well as apparently the Eye of Baal, a red jewel, again speculated to be some ceremonial object. The silvery metal seemed everywhere, and Chernov had analysed it, determining that it was a sort of wire, and one that apparently transmitted energy with great ease, and without the usual resistance that wiring had. This substance, which ran along the corridors like a vine, had been named 'Vulcanium' and led them to several other larger devices, such as three large squid-shaped objects about a metre long each as well as a golden coffin device.

While they had no idea what the squids were for, Gaius had told them that the sarcophagus was used to extend Vulcan's life, or even to bring someone back from the dead if they were placed inside it. That marvellous revelation had spurred another burst of activity as they examined every part of it to divine its functions, though to little success, as Gaius had then told them that Vulcan had modified it not to heal, but rather to preserve. After the Stargate had been taken Vulcan knew he'd have to live long enough for the Roman state to be destroyed, and as such went into a sort of hibernation, ordering that he be woken with great ceremony every century with a report on the occurrences of the previous years. Unfortunately, this confirmed that there were spies in the Roman state, who had presumably reported on the Soviets arrival and roused their master.

A question arose however, namely, if Vulcan was essentially a parasite, and could switch hosts at will from his original body to Gaius to make his escape, why then hadn't he switched hosts instead of preserving his body? Gaius claimed it was for religious reasons, meaning essentially that such an action as switching hosts so violently was only carried out under exceptional circumstances, but Durov was rather more suspicious, and ordered Dr Belik to conduct an autopsy.

The procedure had yielded results, and Belik had removed several objects from the old man's body that had previously served as Vulcan's host. Belik speculated that these were devices of Vulcan's own invention, perhaps designed to strengthen him somehow. This made less sense though given Gaius-as-Vulcan had managed to throw several of the members of SG-2 several metres, and to break bones with a kick. They had no answers, and Durov had sent the devices back to the SGC for a more complete analysis.

Currently though that was at the back of Durov's mind. He was walking down a corridor toward Vulcan's workshop after Chernov and Igor had requested his presence. He'd been talking with Ivan the Unas about bringing the alien back to Earth to show him another world, and to possibly introduce him as a real alien to any sceptical office back home. At the very least a photograph with them shaking hands would be a historic circumstance. Ivan had proved pleasant enough, and his intelligence was clear. Indeed, through him they discovered the answer to another mystery. The Soviets had never been able to figure out how Vulcan was rallying the Unas to attack, but as Ivan got closer to the palace-ship he became more and more agitated, with his guards having to subdue him at one point. No one had been injured happily, other than a few bruises, but they'd kept him there. Durov had then arrived, and realised Ivan must be being affected by whatever had caused such fury in the other Unas they'd fought inside and outside the valley. Whereas in the Battle of the Beasts (as the Romans called it) the Unas had proved capable of tactics and rational action, in the battle later for the palace they simply charged roaring at the Soviet guns. Through talking with Ivan, and then with Gaius, Durov had found a particular device inside the palace that they thought emitted a special wave that caused distress in the Unas. As Ivan got closer he became more and more agitated, and when they'd tested the device by turning it on and off near a prisoner they'd taken the prisoner collapsed and began to fit. Igor said that Vulcan probably used the device to control the mountain communities of Unas, turning it on to summon them, or causing them pain when they disobeyed him. It certainly explained why they'd never revolted against him. Durov had wondered it the wave had been interfering with their radio equipment, but apparently not, as Abramovich had sent more sensitive receivers which were unable to pick up any signal. Ivan was very grateful when they'd explained it to him, even if he didn't really understand what a radio (or any other sort of wave) was, and Durov suspected Ivan thought the Soviets had countered a spell or similar. At some point they would send Ivan out to speak to the other Unas, but Durov was reluctant to do so just yet.

He turned a corner into another corridor and saw Corporal Boshirov, a member of Reniv's team, standing by the door.

"What are you doing here Boshirov?" Durov asked as he approached. He generally left the placement of teams to the individual team leader, but he knew Reniv was supervising the crash site today.

"Sir." Said the soldier saluting, "Comrade Diakonoff asked for my assistance."

"Really? What for?"

"He said you should see it before anyone tells you." Said Boshirov conspiratorially.

Durov raised an eyebrow and went in. All around the room Goa'uld and Soviet equipment was scattered about, with Chernov, Gaius and Igor in conference near the centre, the Roman wearing a set of fatigues they'd got for him. For some reason there was a large pile of dark metal spheres next to them, piled up like cannonballs on an old sailing ship. Chaya was kneeling next to them, weighing each one, holding a notepad in one hand. They exchanged a smile as he walked by.

They turned to him as he approached. "Ah Vladimir!" exclaimed Igor, "Without asking any questions, come over here." And the archaeologist led him and Corporal Boshirov over to a panel with two red half-spheres sunk into the top of a panel. "Put your hands here and concentrate." Igor instructed him.

Durov didn't ask what he was to concentrate on, as Igor wouldn't have told him, but he did so, clearing any thoughts from his head and thinking only about the red spheres. He pressed into them, leaning his weight toward the panel.

To his amazement, part of the ceiling above them detached, fell to the floor and decelerated, hovering there, just above the floor. Durov saw that the detached part was circular, rather thick and about two metres in diameter. It looked like a miniature Stargate. More circles followed it, coming to a rest again hovering in the air in front of them. Then a ray of light shone out from between the rings, travelling upwards into the ceiling. The rings disappeared upwards, and a small object fell to the floor.

The telephone in the corner rang. They'd run lines all over the ship as the radios obviously didn't work through the walls. Chaya went and answered it, listened, and put the receiver down, turning back to Durov and the others. "Power surges sir." She told Chernov.

The engineer grinned. "Excellent."

Durov had yet to receive an explanation and made his confusion known.

"I think Gaius would be best to explain part of this." Said Igor, turning to the former slave.

"O Great Leader!" exclaimed Gaius, who'd been pathetically grateful when he'd first been introduced to Durov, "When your warriors and machines first arrived here the Demon woke and demanded our attendance. I was among those who followed and aided him. Each day we would come here to bring away that which he created, using this magic. He would then take them to his foundry to create his flying machine."

"Vulcan didn't have the correct materials, even with the ore he received as tribute from the Unas." Said Igor, "As such he used this device, or rather modified it, to create those metals for him."

"To create!?"

"Or transport. We're not sure. A lot of power is used, and then the metals appear here."

Durov went to the pile of spheres, picking one up. "What is this then?"

"We don't actually know." Igor continued, "I think it might be stuck on one setting."

"So when I concentrated on the buttons on the panel what happened?" Durov asked, "Did I activate it?"

"Again, we don't really know."

"Consider this sir," said Chernov, "What if Vulcan need to make a circuit? He needs silicon, copper, a few other things. What if he needs to make a battery? He needs lithium. What if he needs a cube? Or a sphere? He imagines the thing, holds it in his mind, then it appears."

Durov considered it, "Do we know what he was making?" he asked, turning to Chaya, "Are they all the same?"

"That's what we wanted to test. And…" said Igor, snatching the latest object from Chaya. "I think we were right. This one looks much more like the others."

"Igor I really much see about teaching you to give reports properly." Remarked Durov in despair, "The rest of you, as your officer do I have to order you to tell me what's happening?"

That got grins, but Chernov complied. "Sir, out of everyone in the Program, you are the one the alien technology has responded most quickly to. You started learning the other languages fastest, the Minotaur's staff weapon worked for you but not Igor here, and you've so far produced this thing," he said holding up the sphere, "to the most accurate degree given what we found in the escape craft." He indicated Corporal Boshirov, "Boshirov here made the rest of them, and I made one as well, Igor hasn't tried it yet. Boshirov has learnt the languages though whatever method the aliens use almost as fast as you, but he's also been on almost as many gate trips as you have. Igor thought we should test the device with you. If the theory is correct, as it seems to be, certain people are better at operating the alien technology than others. Possibly something to do with your family, you wouldn't happen to be a Martian sir?"

They all laughed, but Durov realised again that he'd better get back to the SGC. If they could now, theoretically, produce any material they'd be able to produce endless supplies of food or medicine. He could already imagine all the houses in the Union having one of these devices, to produce whatever anyone would want whenever they'd like it. Truly, that would be a marvellous discovery.

For now though he prepared for the trip back. Gaius, Ivan the Unas, a reluctant Igor, as well as a few others, would be accompanying them back. Chaya was there as well, transporting another set of samples, this time chunks of the silvery wiring as well as several of the trans-created spheres. Most of SG-2 would be coming back with them, and Basin hitched a ride as well, saying he'd be needing to get back anyway. Dimitri and Ilya were staying behind, to be attached to Reniv's team to assist in the exploration of the mountains. Just as he packed up the last of his things the big man turned to Durov, handing him a satchel.

"Here's the last of your papers sir," said Dimitri, and Durov thanked him, but the big man hadn't turned back and was looking reluctantly at the Colonel.

"What is it Dimitri? Say it whatever it is!"

"I have… a request sir."

An exceptionally unusual circumstance for Dimitri, it rather shocked Durov, and he slumped against his desk. "Well go on then." He said.

"Sir I'd like for you to give General Thurius this." Said the big man, and he handed over a bible.

Durov took it, idly leafing through it. "This is in Latin!" he exclaimed, looking up. "Where did you get it?"

"Comrade-Commissar Basin gave it me sir."

Durov wondered why he'd gone and done a thing like that. Nevertheless, he told Dimitri he'd consider the request carefully, and resolved to speak to Basin about it on their way back.

After that it was a short walk down to the two armoured cars that would take them back to the Roman capital. The cars were the new models, and apparently had a range of several hundred kilometres, which Durov was rather pleased with. Among all the things he felt were almost slipping through his fingers, their logistics were improving. He got into one car with Basin and they set off.

"Did you give Dimitri a Latin bible?" he asked the commissar.

Basin nodded, scrabbling for something in his pack.

"Whatever for? Where did you even get one?"

"I ordered it along with this month's reading material." Basin said, "Don't bother I can already think of all your objections. I'll answer them on a few different issues. Firstly, the Romans would have wanted one eventually and it would have been suspicious not to provide it. Christianity is crucial to the history of Rome, and it's not as if we could have edited the history books we're giving them to omit any mention of it. Even if we did, they'd probably see some fool like your man praying and wonder who their saviours, us communists, are thinking sufficiently worthy of worship."

"Alright." Acknowledged Durov, "But still…"

"Secondly, loving thy neighbour is a socialist principle."

"Now I know you're arguing for the sake of it." Replied Durov, this was an old game with them. Basin would adopt some radical position, merely for entertainment. He had a sharp enough mind that he'd frequently tire of the orthodoxy of his position.

The commissar smiled a little, "It's the malign influence of the church that I find offensive. Not necessarily the moral values espoused by some hermits thousands of years ago. If we've just used Soviet steel to kill a god do you think the Romans would be impressed by one who already died? I imagine any population we liberate will be in effect inoculated against religion. They'll eternally fear false gods and prophets, and should accept easily our proposal to attend to real problems, not mutter platitudes into thin air."

They talked a while more, and then fell silent, passing a hot flask between them. Sleep overtook the car as it wound its way along the road, and the ruins of closest settlements passed them without them perceiving it. Abruptly a bump woke Durov and he looked up. Daylight was clear in the windows of the car, and Basin next to him was already awake.

"About an hour away from Thurius' encampment." He said quietly, "No significant news."

Durov nodded, shifting a little in his seat. He turned slightly at a weight on his shoulder and saw Chaya's bright hair, falling over her face like the old days. He smiled and leaned back against the wall, snoozing again.

They drove into camp, and after refreshing himself Durov walked up to Thurius' tent. The man welcomed him warmly, and they sat and spoke over pleasantries for a while before turning to more serious matters.

"I cannot sign this." Said Thurius, drawing Durov's letter out and handing it to the Colonel.

Durov was surprised, "Then why've you moved closer to the capital? You know they're calling up an army."

"Your men say so, and yes I've heard my own reports."

"Then why do you wait? I won't say this is your salvation, you have already defeated Vulcan, and we couldn't have done it without you, but here is so much more." Durov said, waving the letter.

"And to sign that letter is treason." Replied Thurius bluntly. "I am at most the military governor of the third district. I am not the Emperor, nor even a senator."

"You are a citizen. That is all that's necessary."

Thurius sat back and adopted a thoughtful look. "Let him employ arms, if it is necessary, as he says it is, for his own defence; only let not those arms injure those men who have declared their honest sentiments in the affairs of the Republic." He looked at Durov, "I've been reading the words of our ancient fathers. Even when men seek good ends, they become tyrants. Whether they use the power for good or evil, to uplift or to oppress, because they hold the power illegally, it is an immorality. If I sign this and march on Rome, even if I know it is the right thing to do, I still can't do it."

Durov hadn't recognised the quote, but it had probably been part of the cultural exchange they'd given to the Romans, histories, poetry, philosophical writings, and so on. The Romans were fascinated by liberty and tyranny, mainly because of their history of violent transition between republican and imperial authority. Honestly he understood Thurius' scepticism, the letter had been an offer, and one Durov had wondered whether he'd take. It effectively was an offer of alliance, stating that the Soviets would trade various developmental assistance in return for cultural goods, and most importantly, the Stargate and other alien technologies on the planet that they already controlled. It had seemed the best thing to do when Durov had heard about the growing hostility in the city.

"I will sign, in the name of the People of Rome." Thurius said, and Durov noted that he'd left the usual 'Senate and…' from the name, "but only on one condition. If you will give me your personal assurance and swear that even if my strategy for resolving this situation is unsuccessful, you will do all you can to prevent further bloodshed."

"I will happily make such a promise." Said Durov immediately. He knew that he might be ordered to do otherwise, but he was honest in his statement.

"Then you have my mark." Said Thurius, and signed the paper, attaching a seal to it with red wax. "And you may also have this." He said, and handed his sword belt to Durov.

Durov drew the blade. It was very well made, and shone in the light. He looked at Thurius seriously. "You may need it."

The Roman smiled sadly, "If I march into Rome at the head of an army, with my sword drawn, I have failed all that myself and my family have ever set out to do. Give it to your superiors, and tell them Rome is their grateful friend. I will send my son with you, let him carry your weapons against the false gods."

Durov nodded with equal seriousness. "I have something for you as well." And he handed over the bible Dimitri had given him. "Here is a book detailing some of the religious beliefs of my people. I do not believe it to be true, however many of my people do, as well as most of the people living in those places that made up the old Roman Empire. One of my men has asked me to give it to you, out of concern for your spiritual salvation, and fraternal concern. You may wish to read it, as it relates closely to the history of Rome, the religion it preaches being declared the official religion of Rome at one point."

Thurius looked at the bible, a golden cross emblazoned on the front. "I will indeed consider it most carefully. I thank you again." And they shook hands.

They drove toward the city that night, and Durov sat in thought, Thurius' sword lying across his lap. Through the Stargate they went, Ivan the Unas with his head sticking out the window on the other side to see the cavernous arrival room of the SGC. Quarantine was relatively quick, and Durov found himself in General Abramovich's office. The man stood to greet him, hobbling forward on his false leg.

"Vladimir! It's good see you!"

"Thank you sir, it's good to be back."