Two days after they first arrived on Cimmeria the Soviets returned. The General had deemed the mission important enough for them to dispatch some of their best teams, so SGs 1, 2 and 3 and SA-6 were all headed off. SG-1 with the Nordic expert Severov were heading off to look for the Hall of Thor's Might, while SG-2 under the newly recovered Captain Ivanovich would be investigating wherever Thor's hammer sent the Goa'uld. The other half of SG-2 when it had been a larger team was headed up by Captain Krutoy, who leading SG-3 were going to hike out into the mountains where Haki Wormtongue had been found decades earlier. Lastly the Auxiliary team were going to be monitoring the Stargate and coordinating between all three other teams, as well as providing an escort for one of Basin's subordinate political officers who would be speaking with the local Norse to increase their already friendly relations.
"Alright, let's have a test of those!" Durov ordered and watched as the others got ready.
When the Soviets had examined the Goa'uld Mott's party they'd found various interesting things, of course they had several damaged suits of armour of an unknown alloy, but Mott himself had been carrying a number of unusual things. One seemed to be a paper in a sort of code that Igor had been trying to decipher, while others were clearly just small ornaments. Most interesting though was a opaque dark ball, small enough to fit into the palm of a hand.
This had been interesting because it wasn't the first time they'd seen such a device, having found one in one of Vulcan's store rooms. Great interest had therefore been aroused on both the Ural and the Elysium bases as to orbs functions. Apparently someone had told Corporal Boshirov this while he was testing the device, and amazingly, Boshirov's face had been broadcast across thousands of kilometres back to the lab in Russia where Mott's orb had been being examined by SGC personnel.
Even greater excitement had followed with Durov himself going down to try and 'call' Boshirov, eventually being successful and maintaining a stable connection for half an hour while the scientists attempted to find out how the device worked. This largely confirmed two of their previous hypotheses. Firstly, that Goa'uld technology was, at least in part, telepathically controlled, with both Vulcan's materialisation device, as well as these communication orbs being operably by thought rather than keys or dials like on a computer. Secondly, with the capture of an intact Goa'uld infested body they'd realised that indeed there was something in the physical makeup of the symbiote that allowed them to operate the technology. Boshirov had already donated a great deal of blood for analysis, as had Durov, but Gaius also had some sent away to try and see if his previous experience as a host had affected him. The Roman could use the orbs just as easily as Durov, and so for this mission, despite their wariness about 'calling' Ba'al or another Goa'uld using the orbs, Boshirov would be attached to SA-6 while Gaius accompanied SG-2, each of them with an orb to try and communicate their positions.
"Connection established Colonel." Reported the Corporal, holding up the orb.
Durov regarded it, seeing Gaius' face. "Are you receiving me?" he asked.
"Yes Colonel!" replied the Roman, "We're ready at your order."
"Dial the gate then, and good luck to you all."
The connection faded and soon the Cimmerian Stargate began to spin, its chevron's locking into place. The vortex whooshed out and SG-2 came through the portal. Last of them was Captain Ivanovich, who held a metal cylinder, bolted shut with one of the primordial Goa'uld inside from PD-4.
Thor's Hammer began to whir, the jewel in its golden head lighting up.
"See you on the other side Grigory Yefimovich!" called Ivanovich to his friend Krutoy and the beam neared him.
"You too!" replied Krutoy, raising a hand.
The energy ray reached Ivanovich, his head lit up, and moved on down him to the container. It stayed centred there and Ivanovich laughed, "It's got spirit!" he exclaimed, "Come on now everyone, hold on!"
SG-2 moved swiftly to take hold of Ivanovich's clothing and equipment and moved closer to him, then, without any fanfare or ceremony, the whole of SG-2 disappeared in a flash of light!
Olaf and a crowd of the Cimmerians who had been watching walked up. Durov had invited them to accompany SG-2 but they'd been far too superstitious. "Thor has taken the ettin, that is well." He remarked, but Durov was watching Boshirov who was holding his orb.
"Anything Corporal?"
"No sir, shall I try it?"
Durov shook his head, "Ivanovich might be busy or unconscious, we don't know their situation so don't distract them." The Colonel had expected that SG-2 might not immediately be reachable, it might mean they were talking to Thor right now, or that they were engaged in some other activity wherever the beam had send them. "Remember the plan." He continued, "At the agreed intervals wait for them, then if you get no call try to reach them. For now, we proceed with our missions. Krutoy you'd better head off," he said with a nod, then looked to Tereshchenko, the political officer, "I'll want an update with any relevant information before we get to Thor's Hall, so get going as well."
"Yes Comrade-Colonel." Replied Tereshchenko.
Durov bade them good luck and waited till the teams had set off before he turned again to Olaf. "Well then my friend! Did you have that guide for us?"
Olaf had been distinctly uncomfortable regarding going to the Hall of Thor's Might, but had relatively swiftly bowed to Durov's persuasion. There had been some discussions of whether there needed to be a meeting among all the Cimmerian villages, but Durov hadn't been inclined to persuade an audience, so he logically advanced that Thor, being a protective god, would likely forgive any slights, especially if they came accidently and from warriors who had already fought the ettins. Eventually the man had agreed on guiding them to the Hall, and had promised directions.
"I have." Replied Olaf and with a hand he gestured to his side to a blonde woman in leather clothing, armed with a dagger and an axe sitting at her hips. Durov was amazed however due to her resemblance to Chaya, who was also there with them. They could have been sisters with the same face and blonde hair.
"This is Helga, my niece." Olaf told them, "She'll go with you to the Hall."
Durov put the resemblance down to the Rus Vikings who'd founded Novgorod and Kiev and shrugged, "Glad to have you with us." He said mildly.
After that they set off themselves, hiking through woods and up into the hills. Eventually they reached a clearing with another obelisk.
"Here it is." Said Helga, who had been rather taciturn throughout the walk.
"Severov." Said Durov with a wave, "Get to work."
The scholar moved forward, "Well I don't see a hall." He said, and bent to look at some of the runes. "These don't appear to say anything in particular of note." He mused. "The pillar at the Stargate transported the other team though didn't it Colonel?"
"You think this will take us to Thor's Hall?"
Severov shrugged, "Certainly there seems no other option."
Durov considered it, "There's no activation phrase or password? That's what we used to get into Vulcan's palace."
The scholar frowned, "Aren't these aliens different from the Goa'uld though?"
Helga spoke up then, "The stories say its forbidden to touch the stone."
Severov looked at Durov, then reached for the red jewel at the top of the pillar. "Let's try it."
Immediately the red stone lit up like a bulb, there was another whining sound, and they were all engulphed in a flash of light, which, when it receded, left only darkness.
"Are we blind?" asked Chaya from beside him, "Or is it just dark? Who had those lanterns?"
There was some scrambling about and someone bumped into Durov and apologised as they set up two electric lights they'd brought along. Ilya lit up his lighter and them found that they could see, but that the ceiling at least was too far away for Ilya to reach up and touch it.
"Well this certainly looks like a Hall." Remarked Severov when they finally got the lights working.
The man was right, and SG-1 and their companions found themselves looking a smooth stone walls and supporting pillars in a large space, the ceiling about three metres above them. By one wall there was another pillar with a hammer shape on top. Durov approached it, but like the one before it the red jem in the hammerhead glowed and the Colonel leapt back as a shape suddenly appeared before them.
"I am Thor!" announced a burly figure, dressed in a bear skin and metal armour, and holding a large hammer, "You are brave to come before me."
"Hail mighty Thor!" shouted Helga who raised her axe toward the figure.
Thor seemed to stare right past her though, and not notice Durov at all who was standing close to him by the side. "However, only the worthy may witness Thor's might." The figure continued, before evaporating like mist before the dawn.
Helga grinned, "This is a great day! We cannot fail!"
"Be that as it may, how do we prove our worth?" asked Severov, who was equally impressed at the apparition, yet maintained his dignity rather better than the shieldmaiden. "Perhaps we press that button again and that'll transport us to the first challenge?"
Durov agreed and this time he approached the pillar, but when he stepped forward the whole hall began to shake. Thinking that perhaps Thor was punishing his hesitance, Durov stepped again, but once he got within a few metres of the pillar the floor seemed to collapse, leaving only a thin bridge across a seemingly bottomless void.
Gingerly the Colonel stepped toward the edge, peering over. He couldn't even see the bottom of the pit.
"It's a test!" exclaimed Helga, "We must cross and show out courage! And she made to move forward before Durov caught her by the arm and pushed her back.
"Hang on a moment." He said, "Dimitri, get us that rope out."
The big man dropped his pack and uncoiled a long rope they'd brought, not because they expected this situation but more for preparedness. "Who'd the best balancer?" the man asked.
"Ilya?" Durov asked.
"I think Chay- I mean Captain Vozchik, actually sir."
"Yes I did something like this in training." Said the captain, looking at Durov.
"Alright, be careful though."
Dimitri secured the line in a rough harness below Chaya's shoulders and she approached the beam. In the end though their preparations proved of little use as Chaya made it across easily and looped the rope round the pillar on the other side. Dimitri took up the slack and each person started to move across in turn.
"We'll never fit all of us and all this kit on that platform Colonel." Said Severor, taking the rope in hand. "Do we leave it behind? Do we leave someone here behind to make room for it?"
Durov shook his head, "We must try at least, we might need any of this stuff, or anyone's skills here to get through any other challenges. If we have to fight we'll need soldiers, if we need to solve some scientific puzzle we'll need Chaya."
"Or myself for something else, yes I understand." Nodded the Severov, "Alright then, are you ready my man?" he asked Dimitri.
"Yes Comrade-Doctor."
Severov began to make his way forward, but once he got about half way across the ground started to shake again. Nervously Durov looked up.
"Wind your wrists around the rope Severov!" he called over, "Don't try and get any further, just secure yourself!"
Severov frantically did so, but even as he bound the rope around his arm the shaking grew more violent and the man was thrown from the beam, falling down into the abyss!
Then Durov blinked and Severov was standing there with the rest of them, the floor once again intact.
"What just happened?" blinked the scholar looking around him. "What's going on?" His face was pale and he was panting, eventually collapsing on one knee to the floor. Durov knelt and took a look at him, taking out his canteen and offering it to the man who took it gratefully.
"You have shown true selflessness and bravery." Came Thor's booming voice again, appearing like a mirage in the Hall. "Willingness to sacrifice oneself to save another is an honourable trait. I salute you. Now you must add wisdom to courage. Solve the riddle of the runes, and I will show you my true might."
In the back of Durov's mind he felt a suspicion, and he rallied the others to the centre of the room. Once again they saw a flash of light and this time the Hall was lit much more warmly, with large braziers burning in the corners and a number of carved panels on the walls.
"Before we 'solve the riddle of the runes'" Durov began, "Did Thor actually look at anyone?"
"What like in the eye sir?" Dimtiri asked. "No, I didn't see it."
"Me neither." Ilya said.
The Colonel looked around at them all. Each shook their heads or answered no. With the last of them Durov nodded, "It's some sort of optical illusion." He said quickly "We didn't use bravery to solve the beam puzzle, nor did we show any particular honour. We just came prepared. Thor isn't actually here."
"What?" asked Helga, "We see him, he holds Mjolnir!"
"It's not him, just a recording… an image of him."
Helga looked at him mutinously but didn't say anything.
"We effectively cheated, which means there might be another one after, and we might not actually see Thor."
"What've we come here for then?" asked Severov.
"We'll see. For now though Doctor, this looks like your field again.
Severov glanced around them, steeling himself after his experience. He nodded, and walked to the nearest panel to examine it. He walked a slow circuit of the room, touching each rune where they were carved, and examining some painted pictures. After about twenty minutes he came back.
"We I'm fascinated from an academic standpoint, but I've no idea what he wants us to do." He remarked, "Over there we have runes, from left to right they represent Thor's protective power, possibly his weapon, then Fate, more literally a cup for dice, then a wagon, though also Thor's Chariot, and finally movement, signified by a horse." He turned to the pictures. "There's several pictograms there, a horse, a sunwheel, and a few others, all with various possible meanings, and then finally over there we have simply shapes, which I'll note is something I've never heard of the Nordic cultures producing."
Durov looked around. "Do you think Thor's Chariot is his starship?"
Severov tilted his head, "It did occur to me yes, but any of the meanings might be modified by our scientific knowledge. I also think we're supposed to use all of the different information. For example, the sunwheel looks like a wheel because it's just a circle with a cross in it, so perhaps we're supposed to draw a wheel image on the circle shape over there. The insides of the shapes are soft like sand, though I've no idea what's keeping them from falling out onto the floor."
Durov then went over to the pictograms, examining them closely. Indeed, there was both a horse and a wheel symbol there. "You think we draw the wheel as if that's the thing that 'takes us' to Thor?"
"I really couldn't guess."
Durov heard the noise of Thor's arrival, it was a strange sound, almost as if the air was wobbling.
"There is no shame. Perhaps in more time you will have come of age." Remarked the man sadly, and he made to raise his hammer.
"Now hang on a moment!" exclaimed Severov, thinking the same as Durov clearly. "I was a Professor at the University of Moscow! Don't think I'm giving up after you threw me off that beam!"
To Durov's amazement, Thor stopped and brought his hammer back to rest as his side. He thought he might have misjudged the god and maybe it was actually a real alien, but again he noticed Thor seemed not to recognise anyone and just stared straight ahead.
"Alright." Said Severov to himself, "There's another meaning to the runes, numbers, from left to right they read 3, 14, 15, 9, but sometimes they were read the other way around, Captain Vozchik, do them mean anything to you? I haven't a head for mathematics, are they prime numbers or something similar?"
Chaya fumbled in a pocket for a pad of paper but Durov laughed. "Don't any of you remember your school days!" he asked them all, "It's the calculation for pi, or at least the start of it is as I remember."
Chaya looked at him, her eyes gleaming, "You're right sir! That's what the shapes are for!" and she strode over to the circular symbol, drawing on the radius. "Only an advanced society would be able to make such a calculation." She explained, and it turned out she was right, with the sand disappearing mysteriously, leaving another large red gem.
"Well press it Chaya." Durov encouraged, and when she did it began to glow again.
Suddenly there came the sound of thunder, and the air felt heavy. Thor's still image became to shimmer and change, till soon they saw before them they saw a small grey figure with thin spindly limbs but a very large head and eyes.
"I am the actual one." It announced, "Whom you know as Thor."
The Soviets gaped at the creature. Ilya made a profane exclamation under his breath and Dimitri punched him for it in defence of his religion.
"Are you a recording?" Durov had the presence of mind to ask.
Thor looked at him directly, his eyes eerie and deep, "No. I am Thor, Supreme Commander of the Asgard Fleet." he said, and his voice was rather cool, "My image is a living transmission. I am communicating to you from my quarters on our homeworld Orilla."
"Orilla?" asked Severov, "Not Thrudvang?"
"Thrudvang is the collective term for those worlds which I protect." Thor explained.
"From the Goa'uld?" asked Durov, narrowing his eyes.
"You know of the Goa'uld?" Thor asked in turn.
"Mighty Thor!" said Helga, pushing her way forward, "These warriors have come to seek your aid in battle against the ettins! They knew the riddle of the runes not our people."
Thor looked again at Durov. "I have monitored Cimmeria." He told them, "You are strangers here. Which world do you come from?"
Leaving aside the concerning implications that the alien would know the names of any world he cared to mention Durov spoke up. "I am Colonel Durov of the Soviet Army." He announced, "We serve the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the labouring classes of Earth and the cosmos." Durov stumbled over his worlds somewhat, realising half way through his speech that it wasn't only the Union or even only Earth they were fighting for. "We discovered and activated the Stargate several years ago and have been exploring through it since then. Upon learning of the Goa'uld and their oppression we have set ourselves against them."
"We too find the crimes against the living host abhorrent." Thor said, his voice still magnificently even. He looked at Helga, "Cimmerian, though this is not the way I intended you to discover my true form, I remain Thor. Return to your people and tell them of me."
"Yes Mighty Tho-" and she disappeared in another flash of light.
Durov gave the image a look, he wondered if Thor was safeguarding his worship from the more primitive Cimmerians. Thor apparently saw the look and spoke to him, "I am not Goa'uld. Nor are any of the Asgard." The alien explained, "We do not require worship, nor have we ever called ourselves gods. We are friend to all, protector of all, except the Goa'uld, with whom we are at war."
That was promising and Durov rested a little easier. "Then we are natural allies." He said, "We've come to this world to meet you, this and some other gate addresses were marked by a Goa'uld as dangerous so we knew we might find friends there."
"Indeed?" asked Thor, "Which addresses?"
Durov took a pad Ilya proffered and went to the image of Thor, showing it him carefully as he was still rather suspicious of whatever method the alien was using.
"These are Protected Planets." Said Thor, his voice sounding a hint of anger, "Which Goa'uld had these? Which System Lord did they serve?"
Durov looked at the others, "None, we fought the Goa'uld Vulcan and liberated his slaves, with him being killed by his host during the battle. Vulcan was an outcast, he had stolen from Ba'al and then fled."
"The host survived?"
Durov suddenly remembered SG-2. "Yes, he and some more of my men took a captive symbiote to try and find you, they were transported by the hammer by the gate, can you bring them back again?"
Thor's image shimmered as he moved an arm, waving his fingers in the air as if he was touching something. Then the image vanished and they were left in the Hall alone.
"You don't think I annoyed him do you?" remarked Durov, looking around. But before anyone could answer there was another flash of light and they found themselves in another room. This one had elegant lines sloping walls and no corners to speak of, being some sort of organic looking metal, if Durov had to guess, more like a plant than metal at all.
"This is my ship Bilskirnir." Came a voice from behind them and they all saw Thor, actually half their size at only perhaps a metre in height or slightly more walking toward them. Behind him was a massive blue body, that in amazement Durov realised was a world.
They were on Thor's space ship. In space.
To their left another flash of light, this time SG-2 appeared and their weapons went up immediately.
"Stand down!" Durov called quickly, and seeing him they did, looking around them in wonder. "Ivanovich! Are you all right?"
Ivanovich turned to him, "Yes Colonel! We were transported to a series of caverns, there was an image of Thor, he made a speech about a Protected Planets Treaty, I wrote it all down…" he trailed off, seeing the alien at his console.
"Greetings." Remarked Thor.
"Ivanovich, we found the actual one, this is Thor."
The captain looked at the alien blankly and finally nodded at him.
"Thank you for retrieving my men." Said Durov, "As I said we came here to make an alliance."
"That will have to wait." Replied Thor immediately, "The Asgard High Council must be convened to discuss these developments and much else. What are your intentions regarding Cimmeria?"
"To advance them, to give them what technology we have to improve their lives." Durov said immediately, "They like many other civilisations are primitive when compared to us, just as we are when compared with you." And he glanced around the ship, was this its bridge?
"You will not do so." Replied Thor, "Cimmeria and other worlds have been designated safe worlds for developing sentient species. Under pain of death the Goa'uld are forbidden from them, and condemned to the caverns below. This designation is part of the Protected Planets Treaty, an agreement between the Asgard and the Goa'uld, if any planet develops enough to pose a threat to the System Lords the protection is forfeit."
Durov regarded Thor. "I see." He remarked. "We will abide by your ruling."
Thor nodded, "I am transporting you back to Earth. I must consult with the High Council. We will contact you once we have reached a decision about what to do with you."
The view through the window blurred and before Durov could move he saw the Earth from orbit, being just able to make out the Kamchatka Peninsula with clouds moving in before with another flash of light SG teams 1 and 2 found themselves in the Gate room back at the SGC.
Alarms sounded and guards swarmed in surrounding them as was the procedure, and a technical team who were running maintenance gawped at them.
"Well." Remarked Severov, finding his voice, "I think I shall have to go have a lie down after all this excitement."