Disclaimer: I never have and never will own the characters, Ideas or anything else based on these 2 shows. The TV studios that produced them, do. This story is also free as it is a pet project. Enjoy.

"Talking"

"Thinking"

"Wireless/communication"

Chapter 9: The changing face of the future

Orbit of an unknown planet, 6 months later

12 Ha'tak's were stationed in orbit of a Goa'uld planet. It was a hidden planet, not known to any other Goa'uld. A secret staging area and shipbuilding world. Well, it was unknown, until a month ago, when the Tok'ra found out.

Next to a Ha'tak was an Al'kesh, cloaked. It had arrived an hour ago, behind one of the gas giants in the system and then moved into position at sub light speeds.

"You ready?" Selmak asked, while he was piloting the ship.

"Yes, dad." both Carters answered.

"OK, even after 6 months, I can't get a hang of that." Jacob Carter said. He now, technically, had 2 daughters.

"You are telling us?" O'Neill replied, with his usual cocky attitude.

SG-1 and SG-1A (the A stood for Android) were checking their weapons for the raid. While SG-1 was still the same as before, SG-1A was made up of the 4 android copies of the original SG-1 plus 4 remote controlled robots. Each of these robots had a direct neural link to an SG-1A member and was controlled by them. Basically, 2 for the price of one. These robots were just a basic control system for remote control, no AI or AI based programming was present. For good reasons. The Replicators were a constant reminder of what happens, when AI go berserk. Another reason was that since Harlan and his people were members of the Alliance, the rights of AI's were taken into consideration. Simply put, if any machine becomes an AI, it is given certain rights and is only destroyed, if becomes a threat to society.

The search for Harlan's people still continued, but android and robot research was making progress, thanks to Altairan technology and Tollan insight. The robots were designed by the Tollans and build on Altaira. They were build for combat specifically, as an acceptable loss (think of the Mass Effect security robots, to get an idea of their look). The plan was to build civilian robots at some point for help in the many fields in the civilian sectors. But those would need some form of smart programming, since if you needed a human to oversee each and every action the robot did, what would be the point? In the military, it would be different, since every solider with the equipment to control a robot, would have said robot always stay close and act as a distraction, support or as a shield. For the moment, only the Altairan people had the capability to do so. Humans simply did not have the mental strengh to control a remote controled robot and making decisions with their own body, while in the middle of a battle field. For humans, a different approach would be needed. But the robot design inspired another approach. Powered exo-skeletons. Still a long way off, but not a dream anymore.

The current operation that SG-1 and SG-1A would undertake, was one that was made dozens of times in the last months. This one was just the biggest to date. Smash and grab. A raid on a Goa'uld shipyard, grab as much as you can and get out of here.

Phase one was infiltration. The SG teams would take as many ships in orbit and on the ground as possible, without raising any alarms. The Tok'ra already had a spy on one of the ships. Said spy deactivated the outgoing comm system and ensured that the SG teams could ring over without being detected. As long as they ringed on the designated platforms. Tok'ra isotopes were provided, to ensure that they would remain undetected on internal sensors.

Phase 2 would begin, once the alarm is sounded (best case scenario, it is not, but best have a back up plan). The captured ships would engage the un-captured ones, while they got reinforcements in the form of 3 rebel Jaffa Ha'tak's, 7 Al'kesh, the Jaffa pride as well as the now 2 completed DD-303 Alliance ships.

Once the space battle began, the Sodan would attack thru the Stargate and begin phase 3 on the surface.

Thanks to the Tollans, the captured Al'kesh ships had their cloaks improved. They could now use the rings, while under cloak. The Tollans did say that this upgrade would be something the Goa'uld would figure out themselves, and soon. So they made another upgrade, to the sensors of the Alliance ships. The Alliance realized the danger of small strike forces from the System lords infiltrating Alliance worlds thru cloaked ships landing on their worlds. So by combining every known sensor system to the Alliance and beyond, the Tollans developed one that could see thru the Goa'uld cloaks. Something the System lords clearly lacked. The only problem was, that it was short ranged, with only a range of 120000 kilometers in space. That meant that every planet and outpost needed at least one sensor array of that type and could not rely that in a system, where multiple worlds were colonized, one world could watch and protect them all.

"OK, let's do this." O'Neill said as SG-1A took their place on the transporter platform.

"Yes, yes, send the robot squad in first, why don't you? Were expendable after all." android O'Neill remarked.

The rings activated and SG-1A was gone. Seconds later, SG-1 took the same spot.

"Good luck." Jacob said.

Goa'uld Ha'tak, lower ring rooms, moments later

Both SG teams took defensive positions in the room.

"OK, let's do it. Stick to the plan." O'Neill said as SG-1 moved into the direction that would take them to the Pel'tak.

SG-1A on the other hand moved to the engineering room. They needed to take control of the engines, to prevent this ship from getting away.

"OK, Teal'c, you and me take point, Daniel, you cover our backs, Sam you stay with Daniel. We will need you to take control of this ship, once we get there." android O'Neill commanded.

As they moved thru the corridors to the engineering room, they heard the typical clacking noise of a Jaffa patrol. They took cover and prepared their Zat's. They needed to take these guys out quietly. As the patrol came around the corner, they opened fire. 6 Jaffa fell down on the spot, 2 however, managed to take cover.

"Crap, we don't have time for this. Grenade!" android O'Neill said as he activated a Goa'uld stun grenade. He threw it to the end of the corridor and took cover again. Moments later, the 2 Jaffa were knocked out as well.

"Sorry, guys, but can't let you get back up and warn anyone." android O'Neill said, as the used their Zat's again. This time to kill all the unconscious Jaffa.

After another minute of walking thru identical corridors, they reached the main engineering room.

"OK, I count 7 Jaffa and a Goa'uld engineer." android Daniel said.

"Yeah, but 4 of the Jaffa are on patrol, so we can't get them all with a stun grenade. OK, Daniel and Sam, you wait here at the main entrance and stun them when you hear the signal. T and I will go and take care of the patrol."

"What will be the signal, sir?" android Carter asked.

"You will know it when you hear it."

"I was afraid of that."

Sam, Daniel and their 2 robots remained in the ambush spot, wafting. A minute later, shouting and fire was heard from the other side of the engineering room.

"Great, guess this is the signal." android Carter said as she threw the grenade. The Jaffa and Goa'uld, who were moving away from that door, never saw the grenade coming. Android Sam and Daniel moved thru the engineering room, while leaving their robots to keep guard at the main entrance.

As they arrived at the side entrance, they saw what was making that noise. 3 dead Jaffa, 1 destroyed robot, a wounded android O'Neill and android Teal'c holding the last Jaffa by the neck, chocking him.

"Sir, are you all right?" android Carter asked, inspecting android O'Neill's wound.

"It is nothing, just got shot by a staff weapon in the shoulder. I'm still 80% OK. But will need an oil change after this." android O'Neill said. "My robot fared allot worse."

During that, android Teal'c overpowered the last Jaffa. Then he shot him with his Zat, just to make sure.

"Guess were done here, Sam, you need to do your thing." android O'Neill ordered as he began to stand up again.

As SG-1A moved back to engineering, android Sam took a device from her back pack. It looked like a half ring with attachment points for cables. She moved it around her neck and attached it to the small device now sticking out of her neck. It was this device that allover her and the others to remote control these robots, but it was also a data attachment point. The new piece of equipment, that she attached to the remote control unit, allowed her to connect to other computer systems (if any of you ever watched the Ghost in the shell anime, that's where I got the idea for this).

She attached the device to her neck, then pulled a data cable from one of its forward points. She moved the cable to an entry point in the Ha'tak's main engineering computer interface. "Connection established. Bypassing fire walls... processing... processing... I'm in. Thanks to the Tok'ra information, I am now in complete control of the engineering section, sir." android Carter responded.

"OK, Daniel?" android O'Neill asked, looking at his friend.

Android Daniel removed his back pack and took a canister out of it. "One doze of Goa'uld and human knock out gas, as ordered."

"OK, attach it there, at the main ventilation system." android Carter said.

"Now we wait for 'us' to get to the Pel'tak."

Ha'tak, Pel'tak level

SG-1 was having a less difficult time with their infiltration. They managed to avoid 2 Jaffa patrols and get to the Pel'tak level.

Once at the entrance to the main Pel'tak control room, they took the positions on both sides of the door.

"Great. The place is swarming with Jaffa and Goa'uld." O'Neill cursed.

"Guess those must be scientists. This is a brand new ship. Maybe it has some improvements they are testing?" McKay debated.

"Whatever the case, we need a 2 pronged attack." Sheppard said.

"Agreed. Sheppard, Young, McKay and Daniel, go around to the other entrance. Once there, we both drop the shock grenades, then storm and zat everyone." O'Neill said.

"Remember Jack. The Tok'ra spy is somewhere in there." Daniel reminded O'Neill.

"That is why I said to zat everyone, not kill on the spot."

Once everyone was in position, the grenades rolled onto the Pel'tak command room. Most of the Jaffa and Goa'uld were knocked out, but 7 Jaffa saw the grenades and reacted fast enough. They even managed to protect their Goa'uld commander. They jumped behind the main Pel'tak command consoles.

"My queen, stay behind us. We will take care of these intruders." the lead Jaffa spoke as they took a defensive stance, their staff weapons pointed at both entrances.

"That will not be necessary." the Goa'uld, a blond human woman, spoke with her Goa'uld voice.

After saying that, she revealed a hidden Zat and shot her own Jaffa from behind.

Back at the entrances, O'Neill realized what happened. "OK, If you are the Tok'ra agent, say the magic words!"

"Uhhh, this is so degrading. Duff beer!"

O'Neill smiled and lowered his weapon. The rest of SG-1 did the same.

"Duff beer? Only you could come up with such a command phrase, Jack." Daniel protested.

"Hey, I like the Simpsons. So sue me."

SG-1 moved into the Pel'tak command room. Sam pulled out a portable computer interphone and plugged it into the command console. It lit up a green light.

"OK, our counterparts are already in the engineering room." Carter noted. Just then, they got a call over the radios.

"Since we are green here, I guess you finally made it?" android O'Neill spoke.

"Oh, shut it with your, I'm a robot, so I'm faster BS." O'Neill said back.

"We don't have time for this." Carter intervened. "Sam, are you ready on your end?"

"Yes, we are. I'm taking control of the entire ship now. Put your masks on, don't want to go to sleep at a time like this, do you?"

SG-1 and the Tok'ra agent did just that. Minutes later, the Jaffa and Goa'uld started falling like flies over the entire ship.

"OK, everyone is now visiting Oz. How is it looking down there? Can you upload the entire command sequence to our other teams now so that they just plug both Pel'tak and engineering computers, take over and send everyone to sleep?" O'Neill asked over the radios.

"Yes, but I will need to stay here to monitor the transmissions manually. I will also need time to break the security lock out for the hyper drives. That is the one piece of information the Tok'ra did not get. Besides, our O'Neill is damaged and we lost one robot." android Sam replied.

"Ah ha! So much for being smarter and faster!" O'Neill smirked.

"Just wait till I get my oil change pal, then we will talk."

"Anyway, this ship is secure, let's give the order to the other 3 Al'kesh to start their operations."

1 hour later, 6 Ha'tak's were under the Alliance control, with SG personnel, marines and free Jaffa working together in this operation. No alarm was raised yet, so the Goa'uld commander was none the wiser. But that could change at any moment. And it did. All the Ha'tak's got a message from the base commander on the ground.

"Prepare yourself warriors! Apophis has found our location and a battle fleet is on its way here! We will defend this world in the name of Heru'ur!"

"CRAP! So much for our smash and grab. Good old Apophis ruined it!" O'Neill raged.

"Indeed. This is most unfortunate." Teal'c added.

O'Neill grabbed his radio: "To all Alliance troops, this mission just went FUBAR. Apophis is coming here in ..." he looks at the console "3 minutes. We need to prepare to get out of here! Phase 3 is scrapped. And I doubt that Heru'ur will be happy when half of his fleet just abandons this planet."

"I agree O'Neill." Selmak replied. "But the ships we captured now have a skeleton crew o them. We need time to get them ready for hyperspace travel and bypass the Goa'uld lock outs. We prepared them for battle, not for a fast retreat. Sam... uh, other Sam. How long to bypass the engine lockouts and get us out of here?"

"10 minutes minimum, since I am doing this alone for 6 ships. We need more time."

"Yes, and 2 more issues just arose." Carter said as she looked at the command console on the Pel'tak. "The reason that there were so many scientists, is simple. Heru'ur got his hands on Apophis tech and had these ships upgraded to match him. And that is the reason that Apophis is coming here. He does not want Heru'ur to catch up to him, tech wise."

"Makes sense." android Carter replied.

"And the 2nd issue?" O'Neill almost did not want to ask.

"The ships on the surface, while not entirely completed, are battle ready and rising up, going orbital. In 2 minutes, not only will Apophis be here, but 17 more Ha'tak's from Heru'ur will be here as well."

"So, stuck between a rock and a hard place... we have no choice. Jacob, contact our ambush fleet. Tell them to get here. We need back up to get out of here. And also tell them that phase 3 is canceled."

"Jack, If we call our reinforcements, Apophis might put two and two together when it comes to the ship we stole from him."

"I KNOW! But we have no choice."

DD-303 Demetra, low orbit of local gas giant, same time

In low orbit of the local gas giant, the ambush fleet was in powered down mode, to stay as stealthy as possible.

On the Demetra, rear admiral Vix was aviating an update on the mission. He did not like the one he got. The mission just went sideways. He was a Pack leader, so making him a commanding officer for the now growing space fleet was logical. As for him personally, stealing from Heru'ur was poetic justice, since his ancestors and people fled from Heru'ur and abandoned their home planet a long time ago. That is how the Pack was formed.

The one advantage he had that not even the SG teams now stuck on the Ha'tak's did not know about. One more ship joined them 20 minutes ago. The first DD-304, just finished a day ago. And it had 4 newly installed Tollan Ion cannons on it. Possibly a game changer.

"This is Vix to the entire fleet. Change of plans. A battle group of Apophis is on the way here. Our people need back up to get out of here. Let's do just that and let Heru'ur and Apophis kill each other. Set the entire fleet to condition 1, pilots to your ships and prepare for a short hyperspace jump. We wait for the infiltration teams to give the signal. Vix out."

The admiral then stood up and went to his weapons officer. "Make every shot count. Nukes only on my command but the fusion missiles I leave to your digression." Then he went to the science officer, a Tollan. "Record everything regarding Apophis ships. We need to know, if he got any new toys himself."

He went to the comm officer next. "Tell our Al'kesh ships to stay cloaked until I give the order. Their primary mission is to cover us, not playing hero. The same goes for the fighters. If they can't land during the retreat, they need to jump into hyperspace themselves and meet us at emergency coordinates alpha for pick up. Also the Daedalus must keep its ion cannons a secret. Use only if I order them to!"

Orbit of an unknown planet, same time

Back at the planet, the SG teams were nervous. They also had to play the part of Heru'ur underlings. It was just dumb luck that no one contacted them, yet.

"Sir, 10 seconds. The sensors are picking up a massive hyperspace distortion."

Just then, a fleet of 23 ships exited hyperspace. That was not unexpected. What was, were the 2 new ship designs that Apophis now had. A small three point pyramid ship without the typical black superstructure, barely 200 meters long, was the first one. 6 of them in total. The second one was another beast entirely. A command ship, even bigger that the Jaffa pride. Roughly estimated, it had to be over 1500 meters long. If that was not bad enough, 2 ships identical to the Jaffa pride were also among them.

"You old bastard! Now you throw that at us! Not unexpected, but ahead of time!" O'Neill thought.

Heru'ur's fleet opened fire on the spot, and playing their part, so did the captured Ha'tak's. But they did start to move to the rear in preparation for their retreat. Not too long after the battle began, did the SG teams learn of the purpose of the new small design ships. It was a destroyer. In every sense. Almost no anti fighter defense, most of its staff weapons were designed to take out bigger ships. No fighter capacity either. Limited shield and armor as well. But fire power and speed were something it definitely had. The 2 battleships were fairing as expected. The alliance had intimate knowledge of them.

But the big command ship was a shock. Not only did it have superior shields and standard staff weapons, but Apophis added a new enhanced staff weapon variant on them. And they packed a punch! In only a few shots, one of Heru'ur's front line Ha'tak's was disabled.

"Crap, can't let that thing hit us, or we are toast. That is it. We need back up. Jacob, Do it!" O'Neill roared into his comm.

Seconds later, multiple hyperspace windows opened up behind Heru'ur's fleet. Both engaging Goa'uld fleets were too distracted to notice them, at first.

All the Alliance ships deployed their fighters, while the Al'kesh remained cloaked, ready for defensive operations. The 4 remaining Al'kesh who were part of the raiding party, had already retreated to them. The captured Ha'tak's now did the same. For all to see.

On Apophis mother ship, Apophis himself was seeing that particular development.

"My lord, part of Heru'ur's fleet is breaking off to engage the... whatever they are." his prime reported.

"You fool. If that was the case, why are then not firing on them? Show me an enhanced image of the newly arrived fleet."

The Jaffa did as ordered. Apophis studied the scans. His eyes began to glow with rage.

"That Shol'va! So Heru'ur really did not steal from me!"

"My lord, based on that, should we stop firing on Heru'ur's forces?" another Jaffa asked.

Apophis raised his hand and used his Kara kesh at said Jaffa, killing him.

"Anyone else have bright ideas? Heru'ur stole my technology and insulted me numerous times. It matters little if he did not steal my prototype. Order the rest of the fleet to keep engaging Heru'ur's forces. We however are engaging the traitor and the Tau'ri!"

The change in tactics was felt immediately. Apophis mother ship changed targets and course, now focusing on the Alliance fleet.

On the Demetra, admiral Vix realized that they were in trouble. Numerous ships were getting hit with the enhanced staff weapons, his ship included.

"Report!"

"Sir, shields dropped to 70% in one hit, we can't take many of those. Our fighters are winning, even if outnumbered, but that is the only good news we have." the tactical officer reported.

"Are our weapons having any effect on that monster?" Vix asked the Tollan scientist.

"Barely. Those shields are even more advanced that on the Jaffa pride, but not a tech jump, like before, just tweaking and optimizing. But the sheer size difference is what is making them so much more powerful. The real issue is that enhanced staff weapon. Some kind of plasma amplification device, or... "

"Save that for your report! Any idea of what to do?"

"Only two. The 6 ships we stole need to hurry up. The other is simple. The Jaffa pride has the strongest shield. Same reason why, size difference. She can soak up allot more damage than any other ship in the fleet. As for weapons, the Daedalus must deploy its ion cannons. Let's hope they can do something."

The admiral did not like it. He was risking the rebel Jaffa's best gun and revealing the weapon that could tip the Goa'uld to the fact that the Tollans are part of this.

"Do it! We have little choice. Order the fleet to redeploy, but also to accelerate at maximum sub light speed away from here! The snake heads will have to chase us!"

Apophis saw what happened. He raged again. They dared to use his property against him!

"Focus fire on that Ko'tac. I will not suffer the indignity that my property is in the hands of a Shol'va!"

The Jaffa pride began to suffer under the focused fire of Apophis mother ship. The ship would not last long under the barrage. It was at that moment that the Daedalus appeared from behind her and accelerated directly at Apophis mother ship. She was escorted by every Tau'ri fighter with the heavy weapons load out. The Al'kesh also de-cloaked, ready to do their bomber roll in this assault. The fighters launched their fusion missiles the Al'kesh dropped their plasma charges and the Daedalus opened up with her Tollan designed weapons. And it was more effective than before, but still not enough.

On the Daedalus, captain Caldwell saw that the attack was not having the desired effect.

"Report. Why are the ion cannons not working!? We know that they can rip thru Goa'uld ships shields like butter!"

"Sir, they are having a much greater effect, but it is simply not sufficient fire power, and simply put sir... " just then the ship rocked violently as it got hit by a enhanced staff bolt. "Sir, shields dropped to 82%"

"Crap, what is the status of the captured ships?"

"2 minutes remaining, sir."

"Sir, the admiral is telling us to get back to formation, he has a different idea." the comm officer reported.

"Hope that his idea, whatever it is, works."

On one of the captures Ha'tak's, O'Neill did not like the plan, but knew that it was do or die at this point. The ship he was on, got hit several times and was now running on fumes, shields barely still on line. One of the captured Ha'tak's was abandoned to its fate. The raiding crew evacuated via ring transporters to another Ha'tak. The now remote controlled ship was set on a collision course with Apophis mother ship. Cut your losses and run was the idea. And maybe take that bastard with you.

"OK, Sam, do it." android O'Neill ordered android Carter.

The command executed, in space, the last Ha'tak turned around and charged Apophis mother ship.

"What are those fools doing?" Apophis said. Moments later, he realized their plan. "Focus all fire on that ship! Evasive maneuvers!"

Apophis mother ship now began to turn in an attempt to dodge the suicide attempt of the enemy. Simultaneously, she focused fire on that single target. The target ship began to break apart from the focus fire, but moments later, she exploded in a gigantic fireball. The shockwave hit Apophis mother ship, shaking it.

"Report! That blast was not due to our attack. They must have activated a self destruct and overloaded the engines and generators!" Apophis suspected.

"Yes, my lord. The sensor scans confirm your suspicion."

"What about the Shol'va?"

"Their fleet is gone, sir. They used the distraction to get away."

Apophis raged. The Shol'va escaped again. Taunting him!

"Reverse course, get us back to the main battle. We need to finish Heru'ur's fleet. What is the status of our shields?"

"My lord, shields are holding at 78%. The last barrage took 9% of them in one salvo." one Jaffa reported.

"My lord, that will not be possible. It would appear that Heru'ur's commander abandoned the planet to its fate. The defense fleet is gone." another Jaffa spoke, now fearing for his life.

"YOU INCOMPETENT FOOLS! You let Heru'ur's forces leave with my technology!" Apophis needed to calm himself down. This was not helping anyone, him the least. "Have the fools at least inflicted some losses on Heru'ur's forces?"

"Yes, my lord. 6 Ha'tak's were destroyed. But we also lost 2 of our own, as well as 2 Del'tak's."

"And how did my new destroyer design fare?"

"Very good, my lord. They managed to destroy 1 Ha'tak on their own."

Apophis smiled. He may have lost 2 of his new destroyers, but they were so much cheaper to make, he could take those loses and they have proven their worth in taking out Ha'tak's. And he now also had a planet to ravage thru and prisoners to torture.

"Sir, the last Tau'ri ship had a different weapons system that any of the other ones."

As Apophis took a look at the scans, he recognized them. From stolen reports from Heru'ur. He did lose a ship to those people.

"The humans from the planet Tollana. They are working with the Tau'ri and the Shol'va?! What was the effectiveness of those weapons on my ship!?"

"The shields were taking greater damage from them than any other weapon fired upon us. But they did hold. However, sensors indicate that their weapons were more advanced than our shields. Only the sheer size and power of our shields prevented their weapons to penetrate us. The Ko'tac would be able to stop those weapons as well, but be able to take far less hits. The Ha'tak's would however be able to endure only a few hits, before the shields would be penetrated. The last generation shields would not stop them at all." a Goa'uld scientist said, as she analyzed the sensor readings.

Apophis now understood, why Heru'ur lost a ship to those people. These weapons were even more advanced, tech vise, than his own enhanced staff weapon. The difference is simply in size and fire power and he had more. But when engaging an entire planet full with such weapons... he could lose allot of ships. And to win a pyritic victory against these Tollans would not give him a victory against the other System lords, not in the long run. Not worth it. For now. But he would make them pay. All of them. Heru'ur was just first on the menu.

Emergency coordinates alpha, 1 hour later

The fleet appeared in the void of space at the emergency coordinates. The death gliders from the Jaffa ships had to land prematurely, since they lacked any FTl capabilities. The human designed fighters were forced to stay out longer to provide cover. That meant that they could not land like their Jaffa counter parts, but were forced to retreat under their own power.

In the battle, the Death gliders started to show their inferiority to the human designed interceptors. They were slower, only had one weapon type, and a much shorter range, both in fire power and traveling range. The Jaffa commanders knew that they would have to ask the humans to either help them design a new fighter for themselves, or also build fighters for their forces.

As the fleet was waiting for their fighters to catch up, inspections were made for battle damage. 23 death gliders, 13 F/I-202 (the former x-302), 2 Al'kesh and the sacrificed Ha'tak were lost in the battle. 5 Ha'tak's gained, but that was a low number, since they hoped to get at least 12 of them, if not more. Not to mention the Al'kesh and death gliders on top of that.

The Jaffa pride had suffered some damage. Several staff turrets needed repairing and the shield emitter that was taking the pummeling from Apophis mother ship needed repairs too.

The rest of the fleet had only minor damage and only needed some maintenance.

SG-1 and SG-1A ringed to the Demetra for a fast debrief with the admiral, while he was talking over the holographic view screen in front of the main window on the bridge. On the display, Bra'tac, who was in charge of the Jaffa pride, captain Caldwell on the Dedalus and general Hammond, who was currently on Earth, were engaged in a conversation regarding the mission.

"Based on your report, gentlemen, I can tell that the mission did not go as planned." the general said.

"That would be an understatement, sir. Apophis really ruined our raid. Heru'ur's forces still suffered, but not the way we wanted." the admiral responded.

"Yeah, good old snake boy knows how to F things up." O'Neill said as he walked in.

"Jack. I assume that you are all OK?" the admiral asked.

"More or less, sir. My android self went to the medical bay, thou I thing he will need an engineer more than that."

"And the ships we captured?" Hammond asked.

"In good shape, sir. Once we look them over and repair what is needed, the Jaffa rebels will get them." Carter responded.

"Yes, it is most unfortunate that the false god Apophis stopped us from gaining even more of these Ha'tak's." Bra'tac added.

"Yes, speaking of good old snake boy. He pushed his time table up and made some new toys to boot. Those small ships are new. Any ideas on them?" O'Neill asked.

"Give me time to analyze the scans of the ships and battle and you will get a full report." the Tollan scientist responded." But it is sufficient to say that I am worried. The Tollan science ministry will have to re-double its efforts in upgrading our ion cannon technology. These scans of the mother ship should be valuable in that area."

"I'll say. I expected more from them. Just goes to show that we can't be idle while these Goa'uld are out there." Caldwell added.

"OK, so how long until the fighters arrive?" Hammond asked.

"At least 2 more hours, sir. Once they land, we resume course to the Jaffa staging planet. Can't risk any of the Ha'tak'c having a hidden tracker on them." the admiral responded.

"Agreed. That trip will take 5 hours, so I will contact you again in 7 hours. Hammond out."

Earth, SGC, 8 hours later.

"Welcome back, SG teams. We debrief in 2 hours. Until then, get some rest." the general greeted his people as the returned thru the gate.

The SGC has changed immensely. The gate room was not equipped with all the security measures that were discussed during the first Alliance meeting. Each SG member was scanned for Goa'uld infestation and other dangerous hidden objects. Then they went to the medical bay to be tested for any pathogens.

All the rooms were now digital and connected with one another. The lifts were replaced with ring transporters for faster movement, but were all linked to each individual ring shaft line. The dialing room was also modernized. There was a large holographic display table of the galaxy. From here any known gate address could be accessed for information. Something similar was done to the briefing room.

Now people were also using Tollan designed PDA's more and more, instead of good old paper. These PDA's looked more like a plastic transparent surface that displayed information on it, when touched. O'Neill really hated those. (think of the PDA's from The expanse TV show to get an idea.).

There was now also a new lowest level, that was excavated. Its purpose was simple. It housed 3 large naquadah reactors and several heavy water fusion reactors as secondary power sources. One of the main reactors was designed to power the weapons now installed on the surface of Cheyenne mountain. Tollan ion cannons, heavy staff weapon emplacements, human designed rail guns and an array of anti fighter missiles. They were all cleverly masked to appear as simple base objects. The second generator would power the shield generator, housed in the middle of Cheyenne mountain complex, designed by the Tollans by reverse engineering Goa'uld and other techs, adding some of their own on top of that. The shield could protect the entire base and expand up to 1000 km from its center, but was primarily made to turn certain military bases on a planet into strong points. Mostly those that had weapons that could fire into orbit. The problem for protecting the entire planet was that the shield tech was not advanced enough to encase the entire planet. Also, the energy generation was not even close to accomplish such a feat. Until then, preventing a disaster before it happens was still their best option.

Earth now had multiple bases of such kind scattered all around the world, to give the best possible coverage. At least 3 bases per continent. All the bases were connected with an independent ring network. But at least half of these bases were still under construction or in the planning phase. Until those were finished, the moon base project was on ice.

Speaking of ice, the Antarctica outpost was finally excavated and permanently manned. Even the 2nd gate was moved back there. They tested the drone weapons and realized their potential. The Tok'ra refused to participate in this research, since they were constantly infiltrating the Goa'uld. If any Tok'ra with such knowledge would be captured and possibly turned, the knowledge could fall into the hands of the Goa'uld. The Tollans however, did not have such issues. But even they had to begrudgingly admit that this technology was so beyond them that even they would need time to understand the basic of it.

The one thing both Tok'ra and Tollans were working on, was the frozen Ancient. Thanks to Daniel and O'Neill, they knew that she had a deadly disease in her body. If and when the new sarcophagus would be available, it could cure her. The only other remaining options were the original healing device of the Ancients or a Tok'ra symbiote implantation.

Of course, all these improvements were still hidden from the major public. The governments of the planet made sure that any company involved in the SG program played by their rules, or risk losing everything, including their fortunes and freedom.

A large hangar was also build into the Cheyenne mountain complex, so that several squadrons had room for takeoff and landing.

The numbering of any vehicle in Alliance production were standardize. The 000 series included hand held equipment and weapons build by or for the SG program. The 100 series would be reserved for ground vehicles. The 200 series was now meant for fighters, support craft and transports. The 300 series was for destroyers, frigates and corvettes. The 400 series was for cruisers. The 500 series for battleships and carriers.

They had over 20 DD-304 in production on New Terra. An additional 18 DD-305 were being build. The Liberty class destroyer. No fighters, just a gun and missile destroyer. The CA-401 was the first large hull design under construction. A standard cruise for the Alliance. Freedom class. It had a similar hull configuration to the DD-304, just up scaled to 600 meters. It's engines were lower, allowing the hangar to be open to the rear as well. This enabled a much faster fighter deployment and recovery rate. A catapult system was also being installed on all runways on ships with fighter capacity. There were currently 7 Freedom class ships under construction, but they would take time to build.

Just like the BB-501, Excalibur class. At 950 meters, it was the biggest ship under construction to date. It had 2 wing like superstructures extending from the main hull right in the middle of the ship's length. These 'wings' housed the engines and the missile/torpedo launch systems. At the lower part of the hull, where the wings and main hull met was a large hangar bay, open to the front and rear. The upper part of the middle hull had the now standard large cover plate that was part of the Earth design. The rear was stretched out and provided room for an aft hangar bay and missile silos. Only 2 were being built at the time. (to get a better idea, look at Deviant art for Stargate fan made pictures.)

A new space superiority fighter was also being produced. The F-201. It was smaller in size when compared to the F/I-202, but was build for maneuverability, speed and dog fighting. It had 2 straight wings stretching from its main hull, armed with 4 rail guns and 4 anti fighter missiles. It had no capability to carry any heavy weapons and Its hyperdrive was even more limited than the F/I-202. (think of the Z-95 head hunter from Star Wars.)

All these new capital ships had several, not standardized design features. They had window shutters, that deployed, when condition 1 or 2 was set thru the ship. This would increase survivability during combat. Their armor was also up scaled. They knew that against heavy weapons, it would not hold long, but every second can be the difference between victory or defeat. The ventral parts of all ships was also armored up. The original designs made that part a weak spot of the ships, when the engines were mostly unprotected.

They all possessed holographic displays and monitors, including the main bridge. It would display a picture of the outside, when the bridge window shutters would close.

The military had the idea of creating an independent catapult system for fighters at the side of the hangars, but since the 2 fighter designs would not be compatible for a launch tube made for either of them, that plan was scrapped.

They all had rail gun and staff weapon coverage in all directions. They also possessed launch tubes for now improved nuclear missiles (improved guidance, engines and durability), torpedoes (anti ship missiles) and Tollan Ion cannons. The Tollans build up scaled versions of them for the cruisers and battleships.

The Tollans were also designing a cloak based on Goa'uld designs. The hope was that they could improve the design to cloak something bigger than an Al'kesh.

The last improvement was still a work in progress and only the next generation ships would get them, once they even begin production. The Harcesis child returned to Daniel on Abydos. The Tok'ra understood of the dangers of the knowledge the child possessed in its genetic makeup. The knowledge of the Goa'uld. But this could not be ignored. The Tok'ra were making slow, but steady progress in unwrapping the hidden knowledge in the child. They used genetic analysis technology in combination with the Za'tarc detectors to get the knowledge. It was a pain staking slow process. But the blueprints of the subatomic particle beams were being drawn. A first of possibly many future innovations.

With all these improvements, O'Neill had, with his typical humor, asked when he would see pahsors in use.

After the debriefing, The different SG teams went to their other tasks or home.

"Hey, Sam. You guys going home to Harlan?" Carter asked her android self.

"Yeah, we need to fix our O'Neill up , again. At least the robots did what they were designed to do. So that is something good."

"Too bad, would have loved to have another set of eyes on our little idea exchange." Carter replied.

As android Carter left the changing rooms, O'Neill, Sheppard and Mitchell entered it.

"I still can't get the hang of that, you know." Sheppard replied, after seeing android Carter leave.

"You think we have it bad. Can't imagine what her father must think." Mitchell added.

"Hey Sam, you got some free time this weekend? Could go fishing with me, Shep and Mitchell. Young declined, marital problems. And I have given up with Daniel and Teal'c, so won't even ask them. Or Meredith for that matter." O'Neill asked.

"Sorry, sir, but Rodney and I have things to do on New Terra. We have a kind of work date with Anise and Narim. We are going to brainstorm for technical problems."

"Oh, sounds... fun. Just be careful. If McKay is hot for you, he will do the same with Anise." O'Neill said.

"Oh yes, it is going to be fun! My ass!" Rodney roared into the room. "My sister heard of this little get together and is coming too. Did you put her up for this?" Rodney looked at Sam.

"No, no idea where she got that info from. Stop complaining, Rodney. The more, the better."

"Hey, how is that Martouf fella anyway? Any improvements?" Mitchell asked, trying to change the subject.

"No, unfortunately. Anise is making progress, but it is slow. Martouf and Lantash will have to be kept in stasis until the programming can be undone. Anise thinks that it will take at least a year for her to crack it. Maybe 2. At least once she succeeds, she will know how to do it, so anyone else will be cured in a fraction of that time." Sam replied, sounding sad. She then walked out of the changing room.

"Well that is crap. Hope I never get brain washed." Sheppard replied.

"Wonder how Rodney's sister got that info." Mitchell asked out loud. "Any idea, sir?"

"Well, let's just say that I can be a blabber mouth, when I want to." O'Neill smiled. "Besides, someone has to keep Rodney under control and maybe embarrass him. Who better, than his socially normal sister."

"You can be evil, when you want to. Emm, sir!" Mitchell replied.

"Hey, sir. We still have several hours until the fishing trip. What is the surprise you have for us?" Mitchell asked.

"I was thinking that we test out the new hangar we have here. And I mean test it. We are all pilots, after all."

Discovery, edge of a solar system, same time

Apollo was looking over the sensor telemetry. Only a week ago did the Quorum allow this intelligence gathering mission to proceed. And now, he and the crew were on the edge of a Cylon star system. Just watching and gathering data from the long range sensors. His XO was a hard ass. Cain's former officer that Cain wanted to mold into another like her. And it showed. To balance things out, Dee was the comm officer on the Discovery. She was currently resting in her and Apollo's quarters.

"Here is the last data from the scans. Nothing new." Shaw said as she transmitted the data to Apollo's station. "We have been observing this system for 2 days and nothing. We don't even know which side these 18 Basestars in orbit of the 2nd planet belong to. And we had to go into the upper atmosphere of the gas giant to hide from the Raider patrols. We should pack up and go to the next coordinates, sir. This gas giant is really crippling the sensor range. We can barely see outside this soup."

"I know, colonel. We stay for 8 more hours, then as planned, we move on. It is the number of Basestars that has me intrigued. That many in an otherwise unimportant system... can't be a coincidence."

Trying to change the subject, Shaw spoke again: "So, how is it going between you and Lt. Dualla? Any wedding plans or something like that?"

"Hm, nothing like that, yet. But you know from which world she comes from. She will demand a ceremony. Sooner or later. I think..."

"Sir, we have a situation." the DRADIS officer interrupted them. "16 Basestars just jumped into the system, right next to the original force, and they are opening up on each other."

As Shaw and Apollo came up to him, they observed the screen. "It's a slug fest. Never thought I would be glad to see the Toasters do this. Sir, what... do you think?" Shaw asked, as she noticed the worried expression on Lee's face.

"We have a problem." Apollo took command of the DRADIS controls and enlarged a single Basestar on the sensor information grid. "Look at the weapons this ship is using."

"Frak me. Energy weapons! How in the name of Hades did the Toasters get those!" Shaw said what all were thinking.

"Well, based on this I can say we now know 2 things. First off, these weapons are not like the ones we use. We will record everything and let Baltar figure it out."

"And the second, sir?"

"This was a field test. Only one of the attacking Basestars had this upgrade. But based on the sensor data we have, that was also the only upgrade. Keep recording. We only leave, if we are discovered."

Earth of the 13th tribe, same time

It took Caprica a bit longer to find this place. She did not have the exact coordinates of this planet. But as expected, it was a wasteland. Nature was only beginning to recover.

The excavation teams had found the same results all over the planet. Skeleton remains of human Cylons and Centurion husks. Nothing of any value here. No point of staying here either. That was until 2 days before leaving, when a Two assigned to study and crack the alien gear they had found on the Algae planet, found something.

Caprica, the said Two and several other Centurions and human Cylons were walking away from a landed heavy Raider. The Two had a mobile transmitter/receiver in his hand.

"So, Ben, what have you discovered? I hope that it is important." Caprica said.

"I don't know yet. I modified this hand held receiver to scan for a special type of wireless signal that our normal receivers and transmitters can't reach. It uses some kind of new particle to accomplish this. I have yet to grasp the basic of it. But the alien tech has no problems. The gear detected a source for these particles on this planet. I just modified this toy in my hand to detect them on the ground."

As the group moved thru the debris of a small town, they came across a heavily reinforced bunker complex.

"Well, this is interesting. We would have never spotted this if we had not been searching for whatever is inside. A camouflaged installation like this would hold some secrets." Caprica said.

The Centurions cut thru the blast doors. It took them a better part of an hour. After they had cut thru, the entire group moved inside. The first part was just like any bunker would look like from the inside. But the lower levels were starting to get interesting.

"OK, this is weird. A bunker on top, but a science facility below it? What was so damn important to..." Caprica began to say, when she saw into the largest room at the end of the corridor. "Never mind. Guess we now know, what they were defending."

The group entered the room. In the middle was another large ring and tablet, just like the ones they found on the Algae planet.

"I believe that it is safe to assume that these rings are either long range communication devices or transportation devices. And since we found 2 of those in the ground already, I am leaning to the latter." Ben responded.

"Agreed. OK, fan out and search every room. 1 Centurion, 1 humanoid per team. I'll call for back up. We will need a bigger group here." Caprica replied.

Hours had passed, and all the rooms were checked. Many research project were found, but of no use, since they were based on obsolete technology. At least for the Cylons.

"OK, so is the ring the only useful thing here?" Caprica asked.

"I doubt it. The source of the signal is yet to be discovered. My receiver shows me that it must originate from there." he points to a dead end corridor.

Caprica, Ben and several Cylons go into said corridor.

"We checked this corridor already, nothing there." a Three argued.

"Have you never heard of hidden doors?" Ben argued back.

"A hidden door leading to a hidden room in a hidden bunker? Is that not a bit of an overkill?"

"OK stop it you two. Or get a room. A hidden passageway would create a small air current passing thru, unless it is hermetically sealed. OK, get some explosives, we are blowing this wall." Caprica said.

The group took cover and a Centurion planted the explosives. After the detonation, the group moved back into the corridor.

"Told you! A hidden passageway." Ben said triumphantly.

They moved into the forcefully opened room... to find themselves in a giant hangar. A giant hangar that was not empty.

"Well, this is new." Caprica said as saw the ship in the hangar. It was about 200 meters long, but in really bad shape. Either battle damage, or time itself did this. It had a main hull and 2 large pods attached via wings to the main hull. The pods were positioned on the port and starboard side of the ship.

"I guess hiding an alien ship in a hidden hangar behind a hidden door in a hidden bunker makes some kind of sense?" the Three said.

More hours had passed. They requested more back up, again. Allot more back up. They discovered that the hangar opened up into the large play field on top in the city. The entire city was obviously a camouflage and for the families of the personnel working here.

As for the ship itself. The technology was advanced, but had many similarities to the gear already found. The Cylons also studied the notes left by their ancestors.

"Well, this is not good. They figured out that it would not fly again, unless they fixed it. They however had no clue of how to do that. Safe to assume that this ship is the source of this signal." Ben began to explain as he read the notes. "They also figured out the following: It was a war ship. It crashed on this planet and laid on the bottom of a sea for millennia. They needed decades to lift it up and get it here. The only good news was that it was in shallow waters. It is also really badly damaged. Oh... now this is interesting."

"What?" Caprica asked.

"The only reason it still has power is, because one of its power sources is not dead. 2 large reactors, which are dead, and a small power crystal. Sound familiar?"

"Oh, one of those again? Guess we are 2 for 2."

"Yes and in order to keep studying the ship, they did not remove it. It is still inside. Guess we should either take the whole ship with us, or dismantle it and take it with us piece by piece. The bad news here is that our ancestors managed to get it's atmospheric engines to work again. But once they got it here and started experimenting with it, the engines died completely."

"If we can salvage it in one piece and get it into orbit, I would prefer that. We can dock it with a Basestar then and jump with it back to the others. Wish we knew how the war is going. Stay on it, I'll be right back." Caprica responded as she walked out of the hangar.

"Now that is a good idea, Caprica my dear." was the sentence Caprica did not want to hear from 'him' again. She turned around to face her imaginary Baltar.

"What do you want? I thought that I was finally rid of you."

"Now, now. I helped you where I could. There are some things that I can and others that I can't tell you." illusion Baltar responded.

"OK, tell me this. Are the builders of this ship and the ring the same ones that build the ships the Colonials are now using. And are they the same that our ancestors found and created the resurrection tech from?"

"Yes to the first one, no to the second one."

"Oh, just like that?"

"Well, you did ask nicely. But I am here to warn you. The war is in a stale mate. You need to hurry back with this. The One's have deployed their first Basestar with the upgraded weapons they copied from wreck number 3. Or is it number 2?"

"How could... never mind. OK, another question. The ship that the Cavil's found, race number 1 or number 2?"

"Neither. Race number 3. And while 1 and 2 were friends, 3 was an enemy. Sorry, have to go, my dear."

Phantom Baltar disappeared. "Great, leave me alone with a million other questions, why don't you. Jerk." Caprica muttered to herself. Best go back to Ben, before he thinks that she lost it.

New caprica, Baltars laboratory, 2 hours later

Baltar was working in his lab, filled with assistants and other scientists. They were making slow but steady progress with the alien tech. They managed to repair all battle damage on the Kobol ship. However, now the Admiral demanded that the tactical systems of the alien ships would be copied to be installed on the Battlestars. Energy weapons and shields.

Baltar argued that shields were impossible at the moment. Not only would they need to install a power generation system based on the alien tech, but also add shield emitters and a shield generator. Not to even mention the need to add new power cables, reroute the existing ones as well as add a new computer core to control the whole shield system. Simply put, every Battlestar would have to have its guts turned inside and out. The other problem was simple, bare bones infrastructure, since the Colonials were just starting to rebuild their civilization, as well as that the alien tech was far from being fully understood.

Baltar made a compromise. The material known as naquadah was used for construction on the planet. The moon mining operation was blooming, the dome build and the output tripled in the last 6 months. But the fledgling colony was still hungry for more. It was needed for the infrastructure and building construction. Adding the need for the military to that would mean to further increase the mining operations. Something that could not be avoided.

Baltars compromise was simple, add armor made of naquadah. Baltar argued that this element, once refined into construction grade material, could block radiation as effective as led, but was harder than any armor the Colonials used for ship construction. And the Galactica definitely needed some armor. The weapons would be much easier to add, the current power generation of the Battlestars was sufficient to power them, if only barely. And their rate of fire would also be slower, when compared to both discovered ships. Sooner or later, these naquadah generators would be needed in the Battlestars as well. But building and testing a reactor is something different than just adding armor or copying a weapon. The weapons would be used for anti ship warfare only, the fighter defense would still be left in the hands of the flack defense. Replacing the heavy anti ship cannons with these new energy based weapons would be the easy part.

As for the liquid naquadah, it proved to be a great addition to liquid tylium. The only problem was that it needed to be mixed with tylium. Pure liquid naquadah could blow a reactor apart, since the reactors in use by the Colonials could not handle something so much more energetic than tylium.

Adama accepted the doctors compromise. He understood that he could not expect miracles. Well, at least not more than they already got. But Adama did say, that understanding how the shielding and reactor technology on the alien ships works, was of fundamental need for the Colonies. Once understood, they could be copied. The same rule applied to the crystal based computers.

Here is where the orbital satellite once again came in handy. It had a docking port that acted as a maintenance dock as well. No as good as a shipyard, but beggars could not be choosers.

As Baltar went to take a break from his work and entered his private quarters that were directly linked to the main laboratory, he poured himself a drink and almost fell on the bed. As he wanted to take some needed shut eye from the nonstop 24 hours work, he felt a presence in the room.

"Oh, no. Not you again." Baltar whined.

"Oh, come now, Gaius. I know that you missed me." Illusion Six replied.

"I had a really long and hard day. Could you go away and annoy me some other day."

"Sorry, but I can't. The higher order of things demands that I speak to you and tell you of things."

"OK, here you come with the riddles again!"

"This is important, Gaius! I need you to listen. The civil war between the Cylons has gone to the next level. The rebel Cylons will need your help, sooner or later!"

Baltar blinked. Then blinked again. "OK, tell me, oh my insanity made true, how do you know this and why I should care? Let the Cylons kill each other off."

"Oh, I don't know. How about this: First off, your dear Caprica is with the rebels, Second, they helped you liberate all those people and get out safely. And let's not forget the last reason, if the One's win, they will resume their 'Destroy all humans' single minded logic."

Baltar put his head into his hands. He really hated this. "OK, point taken. So what should I do about it?"

"Nothing much, Gaius, just this. Bring up a star chart of this galaxy on the screen on your work station. Then I will show you what I need you to do."

Baltar, reluctantly, did as asked. Fortunately, he figured that part of the alien database out days ago. The details were still obscured to them, until the mainframe was unlocked. As the galaxy was now on the view screen, Baltar waited for 'Caprica' to do what she wanted to do.

"Ah, here it is. Be a dear and enlarge that." Illusion Caprica pointed at a spot in the galaxy that looked like a stellar nursery. Once enlarged, a single star in the middle of a massive superheated nebula was on the screen.

"So what? what is so special about that star?" Gaius asked.

"Here is where you could find interesting things. A planet orbits this star. Habitable. The 13th tribe build the temple of Five here. You really should take a look at it. Also, you should not take too much time doing that. That star will go nova in the next 2 years."

"OK, if you know of such things, then don't give me scraps of information! Where is Earth? Who build this ship we are in right now? How do I unlock the master mainframe?!"

"Sorry, but what I can tell you is limited. Bye."

As she disappeared, Baltar cursed. "I think that she is enjoying this."

Just then, the door to his quarters opened and Gaeta entered in. "Doctor, the admiral has summoned you. A message from the discovery was received with disturbing news."

"Don't tell me. The Discovery found the Cylons, they are killing each other off, but one or both sides have some tech they should not have. Like energy weapons?" Baltar replied sarcastically.

"How... how do you know that?"

"Uhh, lucky guess? Never mind, let's go to the meeting."

Higher planes of existence, moments later

As 'Caprica' appeared back from the lower planes, a voice behind her began to talk: "You really like to mess with him, don't you?"

"Oh, shut up. It is one of few fun things I get to do. And I get a little payback on the Colonials for their stupidity millennia ago." 'Caprica' replied as she transformed in to Karia. "And don't act all innocent. You like to mess with that Caprica as 'Baltar' as well."

"I never go as far as you do." Maros replied.

"Well, that is certainly true." another voice was heard from behind of Maros.

As they turned around, they saw Janus approach them.

"Oh, it's you, oh great inventor. To what do we owe this pleasure?" Karia asked sarcastically.

"You mean, besides the fact that you two intervene on the lower planes? And in a very interesting was. So hidden that the others haven't caught you, yet."

"You going to rat us out?" Maros asked.

"No worry there. In fact, you can thank me. I have made sure that Erian will not be imprisoned in that stasis device for the next few millennia."

"Ha! I knew it!" Karia screamed as she pointed her finger at Janus. "You were the one. The change i the time line! As if any other ascended one would be so stupid."

"Well, I also did that. But what I am referring to is the Discovery. I made sure that it stopped prematurely in front of the Colonial fleet. If I hadn't, your master plan would have been for nothing. The Colonials would never found Earth and settle on that planet on the edge of this galaxy that we terraformed to look like Earth and seeded it with a pre-stage of evolution of humans to study."

Silence followed. "I somehow don't believe that you did the time change for the Colonials." Karia pointed out.

"True. I did it for the grand design of things. The Colonials are just a side effect."

"OK, now that we know that, why are you really here?" Maros asked.

"I hate to say this, but I need your help."

"With what?"

"Well, not me in person, but an old friend of ours. Chaya Sar."

"Emm, she is in another galaxy, banished, if you remember. What help could she need?"

"Well, I asked her for a favor. She will defend the planed of Sateda from a Wraith attack in 1 week. I need your help to distract the others so that they don't see it. I could do it myself, but the more of us there are, the better our chances."

Maros and Karia could not believe what Janus just said.

"How did you convince her to play along? And don't say you charmed her. That flame went out between you two a long time ago." Karia demanded.

"You sure about that?" Janus smirked.

"Why should we help you?" Maros wanted to know.

"Well, let's say that your secret will be safer if you do." Janus said with a more serious voice.

After looking at each other, Karia replied: "Guess we have little choice?"

"I guessed as much." Janus replied, satisfied.

New Caprica, main market street, outside Kobol ship, same time

Helo and Sharon were walking down the street toward the still under construction main market place. The road and bridge were already built, but many more would follow in the future. Only thanks to the equipment and workforce from the colonies made it possible to have been so fast in this endeavor.

"This place is growing and changing so fast." Sharon said. She remembered the first time she walked down this road, a month ago. It was then, that she was freed from her prison. She had earned the admiral's thrust. The president and many others, not so much. But a compromise was made. She would be constantly under watch and would have to wear a tracker attached to her leg. Helo and Sharon realized that this was a first step. And much better that Galactica's brig. Also, being pregnant, fresh air and freedom would be good not just for the soon to be mother.

"Yes, it has." Helo replied. "Hard to imagine, that months ago, this was just a barely habitable planet. While that satellite will need years to finish its job, I saw the results. The average temperature is already up by a degree. Ten more, and the farmers will start to cultivate the land next to those mountains for more standard Colonial plants."

As they walked, they noticed some glares aimed at Sharon. While it was common knowledge, that Sharon was a big help during the liberation mission, the people mostly replied that 'if the Toasters would not have nuked us, that would not have been necessary in the first place'.

"Don't mind them. You have me. The old man trusts you now. Even some of our old friends trust you now. It is getting better."

"Yes, I know."

Just then, one of the marine escorts took his wireless and started to talk to someone. Moments later, he approached Helo and Sharon.

"Sir, the admiral asks for your presence. Something has come up. Sharon's insight might be needed."

As they moved back to the Kobol ship, Sharon had to ask: "Any idea what this is about?"

"Not entirely, but it seems that the Cylon war has had an unforeseen development."

Hasara space station, 2 days later

The System lords had another meeting. One of many in the last month. The good news was, since Heru'ur and Apophis were slugging it out between themselves, the other Goa'uld were ignored, for now. The bad news was that this was the only good news these days. Until Ba'al joined them. He put a small holographic display device in the middle of the room and activated it. Many technical plans and details were shown.

"What are these technical specifications, Ba'al?" Lord Yu demanded to know.

"Simple. The technology from Apophis. I am willingly sharing this with all of you. If I alone upgrade my forces, I would still be outgunned by either of them, so we need to keep our forces together."

After a brief silence, the other System lords looked skeptical at Ba'al.

"If that is true, why share this with us?" Cronus demanded.

"The sad truth is, that even if I upgrade all of my forces to this tech level, either Heru'ur or Apophis have allot more to attack me. Alone, I stand little chance to win a battle against either of them. Only if we stay together, can e stand against either of them."

Yu stroke his beard. Then he held his arm out: "Tea!" His personal Lota'ur went to work and gave him his beverage. "What I want to know is how you got this information. Not a single spy of mine was successful at infiltrating either sides."

"I have a good informant deep within Apophis fleet. who he is, is of no importance at the moment. But what I do know is this: There was a battle at a hidden planet, that belonged to Heru'ur. He was begining to upgrade his forces with Apophis tech. Apophis found out and attacked the base."

"Where is this planet? Do you have the coordinates?" Cronus demanded.

"Of course. Here they are." On the display a set of coordinates were displayed, as well as a map of the galaxy and a single spot beeping. "However, Apophis won that battle. He raided the planet and left with everything of value. Or so he thought. An Al'kesh of mine arrived hours after the battle. Apophis was focused on the planet, so my ship was able to dock with the remains of a new destroyer design that Apophis was testing. That ship was the most intact. My infiltrators managed to get to the computer core and download, well most of the data. Some information is still missing. after that, they left, with Apophis none the wiser."

"A risky maneuver, but the reward was worth it." Amaterasu remarked.

"Yes. And I also got the last recordings of the battle. You should take a look at this." Ba'al played the recording. The other System lords saw the battle begin like typical Goa'uld fashion. But what happened next was not expected.

"So, your suspicion was right. It was not Heru'ur that stole the prototype. The traitors, Tok'ra and Tau'ri." Cronus said.

"Perhaps, but Apophis will not end the war with Heru'ur, just because of this." Ba'al responded.

"That is in our interest. But this development is disturbing. If the Tau'ri have managed to start building ships as well as allied themselves with the Tok'ra and the Jaffa traitors... this needs to be dealt with." Amaterasu said.

"I agree. But gathering information on this new enemy is the first priority. Thanks to the Asgard, Earth is beyond our reach. But to be able to get this far so fast tells me that Earth is not doing this alone. Other human worlds and even non human worlds must be with them. And I bet that not all of them are under the PPT." Ba'al replied, smirking.

"All good ideas, but where do we start?" Yu asked.

"I believe that we already have a clue." Ba'al said, as he enlarged a picture from the battle of the DD-304 as it engaged Apophis command ship. "This ship was equipped with weapons known to us, thanks to Heru'ur." Ba'al then changed the screen to an analyze mode to determine the energy signature of the fired weapons. "The planet Tollana is known of employing these weapons."

"Were those humans not pacifists? Why join Earth? They would not give their weapons freely." Yu asked, more himself than anyone else.

"It matters little. That planet can defend itself!" Cronus raged.

"Yes, but a stealth mission might be successful." Olokun suggested.

The debating continued for another hour. After the meeting, Ba'al entered his private Tel'tak, where his assistant Goa'uld was waiting.

"My lord, how did the meeting go?"

"Well, my friend. They took the data, as expected."

"But my lord. why give such an advantage to the others?"

"Simple. I got the basic on this technology. It will take time to understand it all. It is not like I got the manual and instructions on how to use it. If they add their resources to mine, we can start to use it faster. Besides, I have added a well hidden tracking virus into the recording and the data. Once they open it, every ship that this tech will be used for, will be tracked by me."

"But, why only do that?" the pilot asked as he started the Tel'tak and engaged into hyperspace.

"Simple. The others will take this data, but are not stupid. They will expect a virus or another form of cyber warfare. This is the only thing I can use that will not be detected. Anything more, like a backdoor program, or a deactivation virus, all of those would be detected. I am sure that this tracking software will not be found. The others are not as good at this as I am, after all." Ba'al smiled.

New Terra, main research laboratory, same time

"No, no, no!" Rodney raged. "No matter how much you try to change the laws of physics, this will not work!" He was changing some written formulas on a table in front of the team.

"Get your head out of your ass for once, Meredith!" Jean Miller raged back as she took the chalk from him and started to undo his work.

"Siblings, this is not helping anyone!" Carter tried to calm the situation down. "OK, so let's leave the issue of the phase modulation and the energy matrix modification for the time being."

"I agree. If the Tollan science council could not figure out how to modify our ion cannons in a month, we will not find a way to further improve them in 3 days." Narim replied. The Earthlings, while technologically behind, had some good insight into advanced technology, even if only theoretical.

"Hey, did you not see the data on this new monster from Apophis? We have to do something, and as much as I hate to say it, your Ion cannons are our best bet, since the subatomic particle weapon is still in the diaper stage." Rodney argued back as he pointed to the first drawings of the prototype weapon on the main table.

"We know, Rodney, but panicking about it and arguing with everyone will not help." carter tried to calm him down.

For the last 2 days, they remained on New Terra and slept in their quarters on the planet. They had many issues to go thru. Many other scientists came and went, while these five continued to argue and debate.

"OK, I agree, let's change the subject." Rodney finally gave up.

"Narim, how does it look in the analysis of the Ancient drone weapons system." Carter asked.

"Ehhhhh, well, as dr. McKay said earlier, I hate to admit it, but we are not getting any closer to understand most of the systems of this missile."

"Must suck, right. The otherwise smartass Tollans have to admit something like this? Like sucking a lemon, right?" Rodney sad, smirking.

"Meredith!" his sister screamed.

"It is quite all right. I admit that we must appear as arrogant from time to time. Not unlike you, Dr. Mckay. However, there is one good development. We have successfully, at least in simulations, upgraded the standard Goa'uld cloaking technology. But simulations are still a long was from a working prototype."

"Oh, wow. What did you improve?"

"The size of the object that can be cloaked. Up to a DD-304, if our math checks out. Anything bigger is still out of question, and our fighters are still too small. The other weaknesses also remain."

"Small steps, Narim."

"I agree with Smamtha." Freya added.

"Hey, what about the new phasing missiles, or bombs, or whatever you are making?" Rodney asked.

"Believe it or not, making a bomb with a matter phasing generator is much simpler that a long range missile or torpedo. Many systems can interfere with the phasing generator, like the guidance system. All we have currently are prototypes with a short range. A range that the Goa'uld can stay out of and keep bombarding us. We need to increase the range as well as test them on an actual Goa'uld ship. We would need to test dummy missiles on the Jaffa pride, if they can penetrate the shileds and also not be intercepted. In about 3 weeks, minimum, we should be ready. Not before then."

"I guess I'll ask Teal'c for help with the Jaffa pride playing 'target'." Carter sighed.

Earth, O'Neill's home, hours later

The fishing trip was a success. O'Neill liked it, as did Sheppard and Mitchell. If only the pesky fish were not there. As O'Neill entered his home and put his stuff on the floor in the kitchen, he realized that he was not alone.

"OK, Harry. We really need to stop seeing each other like that. People will start talking you know." Jack said, with his typical humor.

"Sorry, Jack, but this couldn't wait." Maybourne said, with an worried expression on his face as he entered the kitchen.

"Why the long face? We kicked Kinsey in the jewels and his friends are in hiding? So what is up?"

"Well, I'm going to disappear for a while. No reports and so on."

"Harry, we had a deal. You even signed that unofficial official document."

"It is not about that, Jack!" Maybourne said as he started to go back and forth in the kitchen." The underworld is quiet. Too quiet for my liking. We may have started draining the swamp, but I fear that the bottom is still far away. Kinsey is not in jail, we have some high ranking people behind bars, but they had friends, and their friends had friends and so on. Allot of people lost allot of money and influence with our stunt. And they are not happy. As I said. I will disappear for a while. Go solo and try to dig more dirt up. You may not hear from me for a while. If I contact anyone, it will be either you or the general. If someone comes that you never met and starts saying that I worked with him or her, DON'T trust them. In a situation like that, assume that I am either dead or compromised. If I am compromised, I do hope that you will help me, Jack. Either way, I fear that the people behind Kinsey will make their next move, maybe not soon, but someday. In the mean while, you also keep a low profile. However you know the things you know, keep it close to your west."

"Will do, Harry. Thanks."

As Meybourne went to the back door, he turned around again: "One last thing. I know that Jackson is currently visiting his old professor. He is currently with SG personnel searching for some urns or something like that in the university. Send some more back up, I think that the back door people will try to grab Jackson to interrogate him."

As Maybounne left, O'Neill grabbed his cell phone and dialed the general.

4 hours later, military aircraft, en route to the SGC

"Yes, Jack. It all went well. Thank you for the warning and the backup you sent in the form of marines." Daniel said as he spoke over the phone with O'Neill. "Yeah, 2 commando style squads tried to ambush us at the university. We managed to ambush them back. Only 3 got captured alive, the rest rather died than being taken alive. We lost 5 marines as well. Someone is really pushing their luck to be willing to murder US soldiers on US soil."

"Yeah, it was a good thing we got that warning. What about your friends?"

"They are still shaken up. They will be debriefed, once we arrive. Sarah and Dr. Jordan already signed the whole confidentiality contract, but Dr. Rayner is still refusing. I'll talk him into it."

"And the snakes?"

"If you mean Osiris, he is neatly packed away in the stasis chamber in the suitcase the SG solders are now guarding. So is the corpse of Isis. Something for Fraiser to dissect later. What about the ship that Osiris would have gone to?"

"Let me and the general worry about that. Have a nice trip, Daniel."

As Daniel set the phone down, he returned to the main passenger cabin.

"Daniel, you still haven't said anything about where we are going?" Sarah asked.

"Don't worry about it, Sarah. Just be prepared to see the big picture of the world." Daniel smirked as he put an arm around her.

New Caprica, 7 days later

Apollo was annoyed, to say the least. His mission to observe the Cylon civil war was a success. The egg heads were still dissecting the info about the new upgrade that one of the Cylon sides had achieved. Preliminary analysis showed that these weapons were some form of plasma, similar to the weapons on the Discovery and Kobol, but sufficiently different to conclude that their origin was not the same as the ships the Colonials were now using. another mystery added on top of many others.

But what annoyed Apollo was the fact that for some reason, Baltar insisted that the Discovery would be sent into the other direction. apparently, the good doctor found some references about a planet where the 13th tribe took a break from their travels. Hearing of this, the president ordered an expedition in hope that it would lead them to Earth. For Lee and his father, a waste of time, but the president and the Quorum insisted, so they were overruled.

"Uhh, OK, let's get this over with. Set a course for the coordinates that Baltar has given us. Helm, how long till we get there?"

"1 day, 2 hours at top possible speed, sir."

"Any last minute updates or objections, XO?"

Shaw shook her head, also believing that hits was a waste of time. "No, sir. Unfortunately."

"OK, helm, engage."

The Discovery opened a hyperspace window and disappeared from New Caprica orbit.

Planet Delmak, same time

To say that Apophis was angry would be an understatement. Not only had the Shol'va taunted him and the Tau'ri stole from him, but not both Heru'ur and the remaining system lords were catching up to him in the technology sector. What should have been an easy victory was turning more and more into a war of attrition.

A guard entered hid throne room and kneled.

"Speak!"

"My lord, I bring good news. We have a lead on 'her'. It should not be long until we capture her."

Apophis smiled. "Make sure that you don't fail. Your life depends on it. Go and bring her before me!"

As the guard left, Apophis returned to the tactical display of the galaxy, studying his territory and military deployment. "Soon you will learn that betraying me has a price, Shol'va!"

Earth, SGC, same time

"Well, that mission went well." Sheppard said, as SG-1 left the conference room after the debriefing.

"Yeah, leave it to Daniel to get the Unas to cooperate with us and mine the naquada for us. All for food, medicine and helping them building a more permanent settlement." Mitchell agreed.

"Hey, Chaka helped as well." Daniel argued.

"Well, the good news was that we, or should I say, I was not needed here for the whole meeting between the Gadmeer android and Harlan. I still can't believe that he accepted." O'Neill laughed.

"Well sir, he did promise that once the Gadmeer civilization is back on its feet, they will contact us, so that is some good news, right." Sheppard asked.

"Right. Oh, and speaking of people not being on this mission." O'Neill spoke as carter approached the team. She was needed elsewhere and this was not a high priority mission. "So Sam, how did it go?"

"Went well sir. Cadet Hailey will be coming in a few hours. Time to start recruiting the best and brightest for the future."

"Well, we will need them. In 2 days, we go and politely ask Cronus to give us his ship, while he gets an ass full of good old led. Both Teal'c's are already on edge for this one."

"Jack, what about the other 3 plans?" Daniel asked.

"Once Cronus is dealt with, we raid his worlds, before the other snake heads take them. Then we see what the top brass came up with to deal with the Aschen. We have delayed that for too long. Once they are dealt with, Sam can blow up a star and piss off Apophis." O'Neill smiled just thinking of that.

"Agreed. Well, let's hit the showers and get some R&R, I'm starving." Young replied.

"Now you are talking my language." McKay replied.

"You are always hungry! Where do you put it all?" Sheppard asked.

"I have an active metabolism. Can't help it."

"I bet that is a good excuse with the ladies."

The Goa'uld destroyer design is taken from a Stargate mod from Homeworld remastered game. Might use some of the other designs from there and Stargate mod for Star wars Empire at war in the future. Is it not sad that the only Stargate games like that are mods for other games. Then again, the same rule applies for BSG. XD

Responding to Chloe: Sorry for responding like this, but you don't have an account on Fanfiction, so this is the only way. Thank you and all the others that reminded me of that episode where O'Neill makes his point about weapons. As for your other comments. I agree with all of them. But the reverse can also be true.

KEW are effective versus bug replicators, but useless versus human form replicators. But the energy disruptor weapon was effective. So the polar opposite was true here.

As we have seen in the show, it took several to dozens of hits to put a Jaffa down with a P-90, if not shot in the head. The staff weapon did the same in 1 - 3 shots. Zats incapacitated someone in one shot. KEW were useless versus Reetou, but TER were effective. The Wraith could take severe damage from KEW's and still live, if a human was nearby to feed upon. Ronon's Particle Magnum was however able to 1 -3 shot them.

The rail guns on the 304 were good against fighters, but far less effective against capital ships (Hive ships, Ha'tak's, or Ori mother ships - although most things were useless against the Ori.) Not to mention that the rail guns need ammo. That ammo uses up valuable space and once depleted, your boned. Yes, energy weapons need energy for ammo, but so does every other system on the ship (shields, gravity plating, computers...) so you already have the ammo for energy weapons on board.

And KEW's can be nerfed or neutralized as well. Increase the gravity artificially in an area to make it impossible for the projectile to travel far (and I know, a weird idea.) If the slug is magnetic, a counter magnet could just repel them, or attract them to itself and not the intended target. KEW's would also be useless against matter phasing, but energy weapons could be modified to match the phase settings (a stretch, but hey, who knows.)

The advantage of energy weapons is the no need for reloading and ammo, while KEW's have the rate of fire bonus. Missile weapons have the range and firepower, but can be countered the easiest. It is the good old rock, paper, scissors scenario. No weapon and no defense is without its flaws and counters.

As for your Star Trek example, I completely agree. But we can assume, since in DS-9 during the Dominion war they were already recycling old shots from past space battles, it was a question of money. Same could be said for more realistic sets, cloths, CGI effects... or any ground vehicles for that matter.

And in Star Trek, many weapons for hand use were also the beam variant. So the same damage done not instantly, but over seconds, unlike pulse weapons. I don't remember seeing any beam hand held weapon in Stargate. Does anyone know, if there were? And we do see a KEW in DS-9 used as a sniper rifle for environments, where energy weapons would not work. And that weapon was still using chemically propelled shells? In the 24th century? Does the Federation not know the concept of rail guns?

The one thing that bothers me in the concept of KEW's for space ships is this: It leaves junk in space. Fire a shell and if it hits or not, some matter will remain and continue traveling for infinity, unless a gravity well drags it down. Energy disperses over time, becoming mostly harmless. That is just my OCD working. Sorry. XD

The last thing about this discussion: The staff weapons were originally designed by the Ancients, the Goa'uld just stole the design and turned it into a not so useful weapon for the Jaffa. Why not use the design and make it useful again?

Responding to Not a member: No idea. Would the navy give up all their fighters to the air force? Let's not even go to the Colonials and their jigsaw puzzle of ranks. I'm just trying something out here. Let's see if it will work. I just split the responsibilities and ranks down the middle in a way that makes sense to me.

Also, if in the SG series at any time the navy would have known about the fact that Earth has space ships, would they not protest, since ships are usually their department?

Responding to a reader: If only 5 years had passed, you would be right. But after X amount of years? Still using rail guns only, when they are not really effective against capital ships? Why then bother with Asgard weapons, once they got them. By your logic, they should not use them, cause not a human made design, not understood, not studied... And let's say, for arguments sake, that you are right. Why not then make their own energy anti capital ship weapon, once they understood, how they worked, after dissecting Goa'uld and other designs? If they had large scale KEW weapons (like MAC guns from Halo), where were they? We never saw them.

They tried to get energy weapons (Tollan Ion cannons, the knowledge of the Goa'uld for the satellite defense grid...) all attempts failed, and yet, they had captured Goa'uld hardware to study - a Ha'tak from time to time, an Al'kesh... and we saw that these weapons could be upgraded to even be a threat to the Asgard.

Responding to PascalDragon: The 3 Destiny/Discovery mistakes that I found are corrected. As for the female Jaffa, will not include them yet. Teal'c wife is still alive, so that would be a bit strange. And I don't even know yet what to do about it. Should I let Teal'c's wife die like in the show, or not? Any ideas?

Also, completely agree with you about Stargate Universe. Am so sad how it ended. No real conclusion. Atlantis at least got that.