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"

"Speaking in a different language"

Chapter 16: The mirror, the shield and the Oma

The Excalibur taskforce, hyperspace, en route, 10 minutes later

Daniel, Varro and Vala were in the mess hall, getting something to eat. Of course, both Varro and Vala still had a military escort shadowing them. They took this opportunity to eat, since they hardly had any in the last few days. Varro due to all the interrogations, Valla for similar reasons, as well as already having several cases against her for having too long fingers. As for Daniel, work. Work was his bane right now. while he loved what he was doing, he was overworked. Even with his android self, the workload as the main Ancient expert was killing him.

Varro just looked at his selection that he took from the bar. Vala noticed it. "something wrong, handsome?"

"No, it's just... having the chance to have regular meals and no death threats on a daily basis is so new to me. Kind of reminds me of the old times, when... when my wife was still alive."

Vala did not show it, but she understood. "I can tell you, having a dead beat father who schemed you out of a fortune, then living for a decade as a host to a second rate Goa'uld was no picnic either."

Varro listened to her response while he took a bite from his meal. "Wow, and here I thought that I had a screwed life. Mmm... interesting. What is this meal called again?"

"Don't know, really. I'm kind of new to this civilization. Daniel, honey, what is this food?"

Daniel sighed. He was both reading a report and eating. Now he had this to deal with as well. "It is a hamburger, Vala. And for the last time, don't call me that."

"Maybe I am calling you dear with a purpose in mind. Maybe you could get the hint? Most guys usually do, when that is meant with the hint."

"Not going there, Vala."

Vala now looked disappointed, for a few seconds. Daniel was playing hard to get. Not what she usually had trouble with.

Parallel universe, deep space, Kobol outpostship, 1 hour later

Kara, both Lee's and Zak were playing a card game to relax. Getting drunk a few hours before the operation was out of the question, so this would have to do. Well, this and a cigar for Kara.

"So, let me get this straight. You... any your Zak? You were engaged?" Parallel Zak asked, a bit shocked at that revelation, as Kara was explaining how their Zak died.

Kara took the cigar out of her mouth and looked at her cards. "Yes. Why are you so surprised?"

"Well, our Kara and me... more like siblings relationship, not ... that."

Lee and Kara were a bit silent at that revelation. Lee remembered how Kara and Zak were in love back then. And how that indirectly caused his death, when Kara, against her better judgment, passed Zak in the Viper pilot test.

"Then how did you pass the pilot test?" Lee wanted to know. "My... our Zak died cause he was not a good pilot."

Parallel Zak looked at his cards and raised. "Neither was I, at first, but I postponed my test for 2 years, against the pressure that I had to pass cause my dad is a pilot as well. In those 2 years, I had my Kara and my brother drill the pilot stuff into my brain. Some are late boomers. So was I."

Now Kara got really upset. Her Zak died cause ... they were impatient... "Frak. Guess that is the whole fork in the road thing Baltar was muttering about."

As they continued playing, Tigh moved pass the opened door to the rec room. "Ah, here you are. Get ready. We moved the attack up the time table. Go to your stations."

Parallel universe, New Caprica, minutes later

D'Anna was walking down the corridor of the prison complex. She had to prepare for the attack. Her destination were several of the prison cells and their current inhabitants. 2 of her Centurions were escorting her. Reaching her first destination, she had the door opened, to find Laura Roslin, sitting on the floor, glasses missing.

"What the frak do you want now, toaster? I can't answer any more questions. I don't know anything else!"

D'Anna had to remind herself that this is not her Laura. "I think you do, like the fact that Hera was on this planet, but that is not the point now. Stand up and follow me. Your getting your of here."

"I don't know what your..."

"Save it, we already took Hera to a safe place. Safe from the Cavils, that is. Now, you can either stay in here, or follow me."

Reluctantly, Laura did as she was told. "Where are we going?"

"To a friend of yours." D'Anna answered as they reached another cell. As they reached it, 2 human guards were standing in front of the cell. They stopped her.

"Sorry, but Cavil ordered..."

"Do you know who I am?" D'Anna responded, knowing what Cavil was doing. "Move or you will not stand up again!"

The 2 masked guards did as ordered. "Get out of here and go outside of this building. Now!" D'Anna added. They did not hesitate.

Inside of the cell, Cavil was having fun mocking Saul Tigh. "You do know that every time we get you out of here, we change those lines on the wall you use to track time. It is quite fun messing with you."

Saul, who was hugging the corner of the room, looked tired and exhausted. He had little strength left to resist.

"Go frak yourself."

"Oh, such colorful language. I always enjoy our..." The door to the cell opened and D'Anna entered it, the 2 Centurions behind her remaining in the hallway, along with Laura. "D'Anna, your interrupting my interrogation here."

"This is not an interrogation, Cavil. This is your attempt at living out your sadistic tendencies. Our parents, the Final Five really made a huge mistake with your model!" She pulled out a gun and aimed it at Cavil. "Based on the shocked expression on your face, you did not expect me to know of such things. Get used to it, because I am not the D'Anna you know. And this is a revolution, you bastard!" She shoots him in the head, killing him. She then looks at Tigh. "Come with me, Adama is going to start an orbital attack, so we better get ready. And it will take about an hour for this SOB to resurrect after the Basestars in orbit get pasted."

"Why... cough... Why should I believe anything you say, toaster!? This is a set up..."

"Ugh... fine. Stay here, but I don't have time to spare." D'Anna replied and left the room with the door open.

Parallel universe, New Caprica, high orbit, moments later

2 Basestars were in orbit, patrolling the perimeter, with 3 Raider wings doing the same. They were without a care in the world, it seemed. Why should they. No way were the Colonials stupid enough to attack. They also had 2 more Basestars in close jumping range, just in case. Slightly deeper in the nebula, a wing of Raptors was waiting. Waiting for the order. Waiting for the taskforce to arrive. Their mission was, once orbit was secured, to go straight to New Caprica and land forces there. Most of the ground forces already arrived via that ring, but apparently, it was useless if 2 of them were in the same system, so one the ships arrived, they would have to use Raptors.

The head Raptor pilot looked at his screen, where a countdown was being shown. "Get ready, people, 30 seconds!"

Only a few kilometers away from the Basestars, a hyperspace rift opened up. The next moment, the Kobol and 3 Discovery class ships were in orbit, opening fire on the 2 Basestars, catching them with their pants down. Now that it would have made a difference, the combined fire power ensured the destruction of the 2 ships in under a minute. Once the orbit was clear of the 2 Basestars, the Kobol went to work on the Raiders, who all converged on the Colonial controlled ships. Once that happened, the Raptors got the signal to begin with their operation.

As the Raiders began their, hopeless, assault, the Pegasus jumped in and began her suppression fire on the raiders. Simultaneously, she launched all her Vipers in order to accelerate the cleaning operation.

"Sitrep." Parallel commander Adama ordered on the Pegasus CIC.

"Sir, it is going according to plan. 2 Basestars down with the raiders being taken care of. The Kobol has established a perimeter, we can begin pahse 2." Parallel Dee reposted.

Lee nodded. "OK, send half the Viper wing to the Pathfinder, the rest to protect the fleet as they leave the planet. Also..."

"Sir, DRADIS contacts. 2 more Basestars just jumped in."

Lee looked at the DRADIS screen. "Like we expected, but their reaction time is good. Status?"

"The Kobol is engaging them with her 2 remaining escorts. One Basestar is already falling apart. This should not take long, sir." The DRADIS operator reported.

Lee smiled at that. "For once, they are in a hopeless situation."

During the remaining mop up of the stragglers, the Pathfinder approached the planed and began its atmospheric entry. On the bridge, Kara was overlooking the situation. "Frak, how I wish I was in one of those Vipers escorting us!"

Just then, she saw thru the main window energy pulses shoot past the Pathfinder. "Guess the Kobol is done with the space problem and has begun to bombard the Cylons in the marked locations." A Colonial from this universe who was her temporary XO, remarked.

"Yes, and once we arrive, we and the Vipers mop up the rest and give your people some cover while the Raptors land."

Parallel universe, New Caprica, Colonial 'town', moments later

Galen and Anders were with the organized resistance members, waiting in cover next to the prison complex.

"Frak, we need to get our people out of there!" Sam said.

"I know you want to see your wife, Sam, but rushing..." Galen began to respond, when they saw it. From the sky. Yellow pulses of energy, firing in at a rapid rate, hitting Cylon strong points, like observation towers, check points, armories... the works, but leaving the structures with civilians alone.

"Frak..." Sam began.

"... me." Galen ended. "What the frak did the admiral find out there!?"

Just then, the wall behind them exploded, shaking them up. As the dust began to clear, D'Anna exited the hole in the wall, motioning people to get out. She looked at the resistance members. "I do hope you keep your end of the deal."

Some resistance members wanted to take a shot at her... "Stand down, people! The way I see it, it can't get any worse, so, let's cooperate."Galen ordered his people.

As former prisoners began to stream out, Laura among them, Saul Tigh exited the prison as well and joined Sam and Galen after spotting them. "So, who's fraked up idea was this!? Trusting the toasters!?"

Sam just shook his head. "The admirals. And even we don't know everything."

"And we keep knowing less and less..." Galen added as he began looking into the sky again. Saul and Sam looked the same way, only to see 2 wings of Vipers, several Raptors and... a ship!? Not of Colonial or Cylon origin, using the same weapons that were being shot from space... being of the size of a Valkyrie and the most incredible thing about it... it was in the fraken ATMOSPHERE! She was not falling, but slowing down, with no visible thrusters doing the deceleration. Instead of answers, only more questions began piling up.

"I see the Pathfinder is on time, let's go." D'Anna said as she moved back into the prison.

"Wait!" Sam shouted. "I'm coming with you, my wife is still in there!"

"I was actually hoping for your help. Someone is going to have to keep her under control, once we get to her. Because she will not believe me."

The Pathfinder stopped over the town about 200 meters in the air, hovering. Then she began to roll over, until she was on her head.

Inside the ship, on the bridge, Kara was realizing how stupid this must look. "Whoever build the smaller cannons on the dorsal part only, needs to get his ass kicked. On the other hand, I see everything upside down without the need to drink. Thank gods for artificial gravity on this thing. We in position?"

Her XO nodded. "Ready and waiting."

"Then light them up. Our Cylons will remain inside the prison complex and the administrative building. But watch our fire, don't hit our people!"

On the outside, the Pathfinder's weapons became alive as she was now able to surgically remove any remaining obstacles on the ground for the Colonials.

Meanwhile, inside the prison, Sam had a hard time not staring at the Centurions moving alongside him. They were all running. They had to do this fast. After this, capturing Colonial One was the last step. D'Anna had left the evacuation coordination and giving the launch keys to the Colonials to Caprica. But they were still meant to meet up in the presidential office.

They finally reached their destination. Leoben's 'human social study laboratory'. D'Anna looked at her Centurion escort. "Knock the door down. If Leoben resist, don't hesitate."

As ordered, the Centurions, after several punches, broke the reinforced door down. Inside the 'apartment', Leoben was already lying on the ground in a pool of his own blood. Parallel Kara was productive.

"Frak, what now?" Parallel Kara cursed, the knife in her hand still dripping blood down to the floor.

Sam passed the Centurions and went down the stairs to hug her. "Kara, frak... your OK. Thank the gods."

Kara was glad to see him as well, but did not take her eyes from the Centurions. "Sam, what the frak is going on here?!"

"Ehmm, it will take time to explain, but you can trust them... I think. anyway, let's get out of here, we are evacuating. The admiral has, it seems, established orbital control and..."

"They are back!?"

Sam smiled and grabbed her by the hand. He began dragging her out of her 'room'. "Yes, and much more, come on!"

Parallel universe, New Caprica, high orbit, same time

In the ring room on the Kobol, parallel Adama was overlooking the whole operation, and to say that it went too easy, when compared to the crap he usually had to go thru, when facing the Cylons, this felt unnatural. Of course, superior technology works just as good, if not better, than superior numbers or fire power.

"Status?" The admiral asked.

Parallel Helo, who was made his XO for this mission, responded. "Sir, all enemy forces destroyed. We received an update from the planet. All is going according to plan. All Cylon positions are neutralized and our Vipers and the Pathfinder are giving our people support. The first civilian ships are taking off and being supplied with jump coordinates. The only remaining is storming Colonial One."

"Good. Now, let's keep a watch on the orbit. Any signs of Cylon forces beyond this nebula on that fancy DRADIS?"

"Unable to tell, sir. It is hampering this DRADIS like it did ours, just not as bad. But beyond 1 Ly, we are also blind. Sorry."

"No problem, XO, just keep an eye on it."

Parallel universe, New Caprica, Colonial 'town', moments later

The Parallel Cylons were in chaos. Reports coming in of traitors among their ranks and Centurions turning against them. Parallel D'Anna, Cavil and several other Cylons were in the presidential office, trying to get a sense of things.

"What the frak is going on here!?" Cavil raged. "One of my model failed to return from the prison, Caprica is missing in action and our own Centurions are... what?! Rebelling!?"

"Perhaps a malfunction..." A Four responded.

"WHO the FRAK cares! Anyone have anything intelligent to say!?"

"I think you outstayed your welcome." Parallel Baltar, president of the Colonies, responded. "Like or not, you're getting back at what you have being doing to us here."

Cavil, who was not in the mood of anyone back talking to him, pulled out a gun and aimed it ad Baltar. "And that makes you useless now, doesn't it?"

Caprica entered the room, panting. "We need to leave, while we still can... What are you doing, Cavil!?"

"Your boy toy is of no further use for us, that's what I'm doing. Then..." He got no further. Several shots were fired from behind the president, from his private quarters. Well, as private, as they were in the last months, anyway. The shots killed Cavil. The remaining Cylons wanted to react, but saw Caprica pull a weapon herself, aiming it at her brothers and sisters. "Caprica, what the frak are you doing!? Parallel D'Anna screamed at her, wanting answers. "You are betraying us!?"

"In a way." Was the response they got... from behind the curtain leading to the presidents quarters. Moments later, D'Anna appeared from behind the curtain.

Parallel D'Anna looked at her, realizing that this was not another copy... but her! "What... how!? How can I be standing there if I am here!?"

"My question would be how I can be such a bitch and so easily manipulated by the Cavils. The Fives and to a degree, the Fours I have no illusions about their blind devotion to One, but the others... my model included... I really was blind... and looking at you, still am, I guess." D'Anna replied as Centurions followed hr into the room.

Then, behind Caprica, Parallel Caprica entered the presidential office, with colonial marines behind her. She saw Gaius and went to hug him. "Oh, god. Gaius, you're OK."

That only increased his confusion. And that of the Cyons that found themselves now prisoners of... whoever was in charge here, because they did not know what was going on.

Parallel universe, New Caprica, high orbit, same time

Laura and other survivors of the first wave were being transported to the Kobol via Raptors. And like all other survivors, she was awestruck at seeing the sight before her. The large ship of unknown origin, 2 other ships, also of unknown origins, patrolling in a perimeter, the 3rd ship of the same design that helped them in the fight, was left of their Raptor, now leaving the planet's atmosphere. The debris field of, what she assumed, were Cylon remains... The only part she recognized, was the Pegasus, also holding a defensive perimeter.

"What the frak did Bill find out there?" Saul asked, sitting next to Laura. She asked herself the same thing.

As the Raptor passed thru the atmospheric barrier, they finally saw the inside of the ship in the hangar. Both of them looked outside the hangar entrance, not believing that they just flew thru... something and that the people inside are not suffocating. "What the frak indeed, colonel." Laura grumbled.

As the Raptor hatch doors opened, both Parallel Laura and Saul were greeted by Parallel Helo, who left the ring room to greet the incoming refugees. "Helo, colonel, madam president. The admiral is waiting for you. Come with me please."

As the passengers disembarked the Raptor, the medical stall under Cottle began looking them over.

"Dr. Cottle? When did you come on board? we were the first to arrive." Parallel Laura asked.

"I have my hands full madam president, I think someone more qualified should answer that." Cottle answered.

"Mam, just follow me, please." Helo said and gestured them to follow him.

"As they began to move, Laura added. "And did you not forget, major. I'm a civilian now, not the president anymore. Thanks to Baltar, that traitor!"

"I think you will understand once we reach the ring room." Helo responded and stepped on a ring transporter platform. "Come and stand here, please."

They did as they were told, not understanding what was going on. Helo nodded to the officer standing at the control plane, who began pushing buttons.

In the ring room, parallel admiral Adama was reading the reports. In about 20 minutes the planet would be evacuated and all ships in orbit. The entrance to the cave where the ring was located on the planet, was mined and will be blown to make sure the Cylons never find anything.

"Frak! What the hell!" Was the scream of his old friend, Saul Tigh, that echoed thru the hallway, outside the ring room.

The admiral just chuckled. He had a similar reaction the first time. Then he saw them, 'his' old friend, Saul Tigh and 'his' Laura Roslin. They noticed him as well.

"Bill, thank the gods! What the frak is going on here!?" Saul ran to him, demanding explanations, while still holding the poorly done cover over his now missing eye. But as he approached his old friend, he spotted... himself? And another Roslin!? "What the hell is going on here?!"

As if he was reading his mind, Adama smiled and sighed. "This will take some time, my friend."

The Excalibur taskforce, hyperspace, en route, 2 hours later

The fleet was approaching the coordinates. No one knew what to expect. Varro had briefed them on the planet. A standard, off the books operation from commander Kiva, who refused to share with the other clans. The defenses were all based on how many ships would be in orbit... if any at all, based on the hammering the Lucians were getting from Anubis. But even with Varro's information, they would be taking no chances. All pilots were in their fighters, all marines ready to repel boarders or initiate boarding actions themselves, all officers were at their posts and all gunners ready to engage whatever would come.

On the bridge, Vix, Daniel, Varro and Valla were waiting. Colonel Fisher had gone to the armory to join his team. In the worst case scenario, they would have to extract, whatever the Ancients left on that planet, by force.

"Sir, were 2 minutes out, but sensors are detecting a radiation spike over the target location. Possible weapons fire." The sensors officer reported.

"Damn." Vix cursed. Someone was there already, and he hoped it was not Anubis. "Set condition 1 thru the fleet. Let's not take any chances here, ready all weapons, and..." He looked at his XO. "Arm the new Ion torpedoes. Let's see if the new Tollan toy will do its job.

2 minutes passed and the fleet exited hyperspace, high orbit of planet PX4-331. And Vix was right. A battle was underway. Goa'uld ship vs. Goa'uld ship.

"Scan the ships. Who is who?" Vix ordered.

In space, 20 Ha'tak's were engaged in battle with 6 Ha'tak's, but the force with inferior numbers was winning. Death gliders were also engaged in battle, but the force with greater numbers was also loosing.

The tactical officer began his analysis of the battle. "Sir, based on the power readings and technological level, the numerically superior force belongs to the Lucians. And they are losing, by the looks of it. The attackers... my best guess..."

"It's Anubis." Vix interrupted him. "The markings match and the tech level as well. This is bad. Comm, hail the Lucians, let's see if they are in a talking mood."

During all of this, the task force launched all of its fighters and bombers. In a tight formation the fleet waited outside the combat zone.

"Sir, we have a response form the lead Lucian ship." The comm officer responded.

On the front screen, which had now replaced the main window, when the armor deployed after condition 1 was set, a young woman with a stern and angry face appeared, clearly sitting on a chair on the Pel'tak.

"What do you want, Terrans!? I'm busy, as you can see!"

Vix was not intimidated. "Commander Kiva, I assume?"

She glared at him. "Guess your informants are working overtime. I won't repeat my question. What do you want!?" Vix looked at Varro, who stepped forward. "Varro! So you survived? Couldn't die like a Lucian solder, could you?"

"Nice to see you too, commander. As for what they want, it's in the laboratory we build in the Ancient computer room we stumbled on."

"And why would they be interested in it? It is worthless, only gibberish on it... Unless you know how to..." Kiva and the Pel'tak she was on began to shake after her ship was hit by an opponent. "If you help us with this... you can have the damn laboratory and that computer... but we have a Kull infestation on the planet, so getting there is your problem, just buy us time to evacuate. If you agree, I'll tell my people not to shoot at you."

Vix nodded. "We are in agreement." As the screen returned to the apace battle in front of them, he looked at Varro. "She will backstab us the first chance she gets." It was not a question, but a statement. Varro just nodded. "Vix to Fisher, were beaming you to a set of coordinates on the planet, weapons free permission given, and the Lucians are 'playing nice' for now. But expect a turncoat scenario. Resistance is made up of Kull solders, so be careful. Once you establish a perimeter, a marine detachment will be beamed after you with dr. Jackson. We can't beam the stuff out because it seems that it is located in a mineral rich area underground. It is making a target lock difficult, that and the battle we will have in a moment. Once you and the marines are down, we will detach a Shrike under cloak to pick you up again. We will have to deal with our friends up here. Understood?"

"Understood sir."

Vix looked at Jackson. "Better get going, doctor."

"Perhaps I should go as well, I could..." Vala said.

"No. Colonel O'Neill may trust you, but to me your a security risk, not unlike Mr. Varro here." Vix responded with cold military logic. "It will take allot more than what either of you did until now to earn my trust. End of discussion. Now, helm, flank speed, tight formation. Get us into weapons range. Comm, tell our fighters to support the Lucians fighters, leave Ha'tak's to us. One wing left for bomber escort, Cag's discretion. Ignore the Shrike once we launch it. Execute." He then looks at his tactical officer. "Once we get into weapons range, weapons free for all gunners. Subatomic particle beams and ion torpedoes on my command only! Cruisers break off with 2 destroyers each to port and starboard, the remaining 4 remain with us for support. We try to pincer them in, with the Excalibur in the middle." The he taps his communicator. "Engineering, prepare the Aegis module."

"Sir, I have to protest, that system was never tested under battle conditions!"

"Noted, now get it ready! There is no time like the present and I have a feeling we might need it."

His XO, who was still coordinating all the commands he just gave, grumbled. "Just wish we had the Damocles module ready as well."

Vix nodded "Me too."

Planet PX4-331, moments later, Lucian base camp under sledge

The Lucian base, that was no more than a makeshift encampment made up of landed Al'kesh, Tel'tak's and tents with weapons emplacements, was under heavy fire. Adding to the problem was the lack of natural cover, since this was a dessert planet. The only good news was that the current attackers were Jaffa only. But the Lucian scouts and Death gliders, well those still alive, reported a Kull force that just disembarked from a landed enemy Al'kesh.

In the command tent, the garrison commander just got an update from Kiva, when a flash of light materialized the Terran special forces team.

"Well, this looks like fun, colonel." Psycho half joked.

Fisher went to the Lucian commander, who had to order his people several times to not shoot at them. "Lack of discipline, yep, they are pirates. Colonel Fisher, Terran forces. What is your status?"

"We are evacuating, how does it look?" The Lucian commander answered with annoyance in his voice.

"When are the Kull to arrive?"

"In about 15 minutes. We have nothing to slow them down, let alone stop them. So you can have them."

"My marines will join you, as well as half of my team, but my mission is to get into those caves you are protecting."

"Yeah, commander Kiva 'informed' me of that little arrangement. My men will not get into your way, but they will not tolerate you forever, so hurry! I should also inform you that there are other entrances into this cave system, ours is just the easiest to access."

Fisher nodded and left the command camp. "Nomad and Aztec, on me, Prophet, you have command here. Hold the line at all costs. But be wary of our 'friends'. Psycho, you have permission to use your 'little friend' if things get nasty." He then tapped his communicator. "Fisher to Excalibur, we made contact and have a foothold, beam the marines and the doctor down."

"Understood."

The Excalibur taskforce, moments later

(Insert music Last flight of the Osiris from BSG OST)

The Terran fighters were a minute away from engaging the Death gliders from the Anubis fleet. The Lucians, to their credit, were not completely stupid. The defender fleet manage to push the attackers to the far end of the orbit of the planet to enable it's people to begin an evacuation. This also enabling the Excalibur task force to beam its people and deploy the Shrike without a problem, but now the attackers had pushed the Lucians back, in an attempt to prevent anyone from leaving the planet.

"Ok, people, all squadron commanders, report in!" The Excalibur CAG and commander of the Liberty squadron ordered.

"Sparrow wing ready!"

"Vengeance wing ready!"

"Sword wing ready!"

"Trinity wing ready."

"Terra wing ready!"

"Mars wing ready."

"Tollana wing ready."

"Renegade wing ready!"

"Devastator bomber wing holding position, as ordered."

"Right, Sword wing, you are on bomber babysitting duty, Trinity wing, you have the atmospheric support load out so go into the atmosphere and harass the hell out of Anubis forces, the rest on me. Let's see what damage we can do. And for god's sake, watch your fire!" Then the Excalibur Cag activated his brand new Rapier's weapons systems. "Eva, set power setting for dog fighting mode."

"Acknowledge, operator. Power rerouted to engines, heavy weapons set to minimum power, inertial dampeners at 140% efficiency." The VA of his fighter responded.

As the Terran wings entered long range weapons range, the 302's, who had the best load out for that situation, unloaded almost their entire long range missiles. The pilots reacted accordingly.

"Fox 3 away!"

"Scratch another bastard."

"My kill board is only going up!"

"I think I should go with read leader on this one..."

"Red 5, you are hogging this Star Wars gig way too much..."

"Stow the chatter!" The Excalibur Cag roared. "Stay focused people, this isn't recess! Eva, scan the Death gliders from Anubis ships. They look different."

"Scanning, but optimal scan can only be achieved at close range combat."

"That's the idea."

As the fighters finally entered close range, the attacking Death gliders broke off from attacking the Lucians to engage them. This gave the Lucian defenders, who had already suffered horrendous losses, some time to breathe. The Terrans had, themselves, caused a hole in the attacking fighter force due to their long range missile attack. Now they were regrouping to engage the Terrans.

The Excalibur wing was the first in the fray, it's Cag taking evasive action to prevent getting hit. "Damn, those things move faster than the standard gliders. People, watch out, Anubis pimped his fighter force us! Don't underestimate them. Even more as pilots. These are not simple pirates you are facing!"

Just as he said that, he saw one of his pilots get shot down, his fighter exploding in a fireball.

"Excalibur 6 is down! God damn it!"

"Stay focused! Attack pattern beta 5, like we trained! Execute! Eva, scanning status."

"Scan 90% complete. Initial analysis confirms your assumption. This fighter has heavier armor, better maneuverability and faster speed, a superior design."

"Just great."

On the Excalibur bridge, Vix was having a similar reaction. His task force had done like he ordered, with the Excalibur and 4 destroyers entering the heart of the battle, while the 2 cruisers and their escorts began flanking maneuvers. It was successful in getting the attention of the attackers, who began focusing less on the Lucians and more on the Terrans. The Lucian defenders themselves had lost another 4 Ha'tak's during all of that and were now pushed to the support role. Something they hated. Kiva herself cursed that they were pushed aside like that, but also saw the benefit. Let the Terrans take the hits, for now.

"Sir, we have a hyperspace distortion on sensors. I think that another fleet is incoming." The tactical officer reported.

"Damn. And we can assume it is not the Lucians. We need to thin out Anubis numbers here fast, before they get back up! time to take the kids gloves off. Tactical, subatomic particle beams are a go, fire at will. Prepare a volley of ion torpedoes."

In space, the ships were already exchanging fire at close range, improved plasma bolts and improved ion bolts passing one another and hitting their targets. The Excalibur's Ion cannon turrets were doing a good amount of damage while the destroyers escorting her remained on her ventral side, both adding to her protection there and using her as a shield from the heavy weapons fire themselves. As the admiral commanded, his ship now opened up with her orange beam weapon, hitting the enemy Ha'tak in front of the ship, while the turrets kept fire to the Ha'tak on their port side.

"Sir, port Ha'tak shields are failing, if we..." The tactical officer tried to suggest.

"No, let the Tollana finish her off, we keep fire on the one in front of us. Their stats?"

"The beams are having a better effect, damage has bled thru and their forward shields are down to 40%... Sir an attack wing from the enemy fighters has broken thru our fighters formation. They are targeting the Avenger..."

"All plasma flack cannons, focus on them, ignore the rest. When are the beam cannons recharged?"

"19 seconds, sir..."

"Don't ask for an order, fire when ready..." The bridge shook as the Ha'tak to their port side exploded, curtsey of the Tollana. The Excalibur now just passed the remains of that enemy, continuing to pressure their own target. The turrets all zeroed in on the targeted Ha'tak and in coordination with the beam cannons, they opened up and crippled the Ha'tak. As the ship began dying, the Excalibur passed it, her destroyer escort breaking off the formation, turning around to finish it off.

With 2 Ha'taks taken care of, the other cruiser destroying a Ha'tak on its own and the Lucians also managing to destroy 2 as well, even if losing 5 of their own Ha'tak's, the tide of the battle had turned. Except that Vix had a bad feeling about the hyperspace distortion. He was becoming a believer of Earth's Murphy's law. Outside the battle, a hyperspace window opened and another Goa'uld fleet arrived.

On the Excalibur bridge, Vix cursed about being right. "Damn, scan the newcomers. I need confirmation. Is it Anubis?"

"Sir, based on the power readings and markings... yes, it is."

"Guess we just dealt with the advanced force. 7 more Ha'taks. That would not be the problem if the 2 Re'nak's and 5 Del'tak's were not with them. "Regroup the fleet. Comm, hail the Lucians."

On the screen, Kiva appeared again. "This is not going as I wanted it! We are leaving the planet. It is not worth this many losses."

"And your people on the planet?"

"They are on their own. Not my problem anymore."

"No honor among thief's, right. Or pirates for that matter."

"Just being practical. You are on your own now as well." The feed cut off and on the sensors, the Terran task force saw how the Lucian defenders abandoned their formation and began retreating.

"Guess it is up to us. Get me Fisher!"

Planet PX4-331, moments later, underground tunnels

Fisher, Nomad, Aztec, Dr. Jackson and a marine cyber expert were running thru the lighten up tunnels, every now and then bumping into a Lucian solder, technician or scientists. If you could call them scientists. Fortunately they all obeyed orders to not shoot them. During their maze running, Fisher comm activates. "This is Vix, colonel Fisher, status update?"

"Sir, we are nearing our destination. A minute more..."

"We may not have the time. Anubis just send the big boys into the battle and the Lucian fleet bailed on us! If you can't complete your mission in 5 minutes, destroy the computer and leave! That is an order!"

"Damn People, we have less time than we thought!"

"What's up, boss?" Aztec asked.

"Anubis sending the big party crashers up in space and the Lucian fleet leaving. We need to..." They finally arrived. A large cave with naquadah reinforced beams. The Lucians were really busy, they had Goa'uld tech hooked up to the Ancient computer. The guards reacted, but a young redheaded woman stopped them.

"Wait, stop. Commander Kiva told us they were coming! Stand down!"

The guards reluctantly stood down. Daniel approached her, realizing that she could speed up their search. "Yes, speaking of your commander, she abandoned you, your fleet left the system. A larger Anubis fleet is approaching so we have to work fast. You can all come with us if you want..."

"Doctor!" Fisher interrupted him. "Yes, we can take you with us, but first thing is first. We need access to that!"

The young woman was not too shocked at that statement. "Kiva abandoned us? Guess I should not be too surprised. Go ahead, help yourself to this. We only used it to speed up our calculations. This computer makes the ones the Lucians use look obsolete. But I did not find anything useful on it."

"What the hell? The commander left us? They are lying!" The commanding officer in the makeshift laboratory began reacting to what he heard.

"Stop it! It makes sense, we were losing the battle in orbit.." The young woman began arguing with him.

Daniel and the marine cyber expert moved passed her to the Ancient computer. "We can discuss this later, after we get what we want and get off this planet, OK?" Daniel tried to improvise. "By the way, Daniel Jackson. And you are, miss...?"

"Ginn. Just Ginn. And the Daniel Jackson?"

"Yes? That is me? Why? Besides, Varro told us about you, ring any bells?"

"Well, the Lucian council wanted to abduct you, if the Goa'uld situation ever changed, well, not the way it is now. They wanted your knowledge of the Ancients, like for this situation, for example. And yes, I know Varro... Is he still alive?"

"We saved him and the few survivors we found on Lucia."

"Doctor, les talk, more help here!" The Cyber expert called to him. She had already hooked the Ancient computer with her mobile hard drive. "Come and look here. You know what we need to download."

"Right."

As Daniel moved to the small screen the marine was holding while searching the Ancient computer, Ginn joined them."What are you looking for anyway?"

"A hidden and locked file associated with an Ancient puzzle. It should..." Daniel stopped with he explanation as he saw a something in the text in front of him on the display. "What is this? The Destiny initiative?"

"I don't know." Ginn admitted. "That was the only usable file on this thing. Something about a ship launched over a million years ago."

"While that is interesting, there is something hidden in this file..." The marine said as she began to dig into the file. "doctor Jackson..."

"This is it. Another clue. Useless without the others we already have, but it will help. Colonel Fisher! We found what we wanted! We just need a couple of minutes to copy all of it!"

"Good, let's begin packing up here. Nomad, Aztec, mine this place. After we leave, we blow it. Can't let Anubis get his hands on it."

Daniel looked at Ginn and the other Lucians. "If you still want to go with us..." Most of the Lucian's began to run in to the tunnel leading to the surface. "I guess I have my answer."

The Excalibur taskforce, same time

The bridge shook as the Excalibur began to take hits from both of the Re'nak's as the new Anubis force got into weapons range.

"What is the Hood's status?" The admiral demanded to know where the other cruiser of his task force was.

"Sir, she and her escorts are cleaning up the last of the original Ha'tak's behind us."

"Good, prep 2 mark 9's, launch them in front of the attackers. Detonate them just before the incoming fighter screen. That should clean that up as well as blind them temporarily. Seconds after the detonation, the entire fleet opens fire with every weapon we have, except the torpedoes. The Re'nak's are the primary target. Tell our fighter wings to form on us. After the barrage is over, they have weapons free status, including bombers. Also, after the first barrage is over, every ship launches it's loaded torpedoes at the Re'nak's. Hopefully that should change the odds a bit. Execute."

"Sir, with that radiation, we would be blind as well..." The XO pointed out.

"I know, so pre-aim the targets!"

As ordered, the task force regrouped after the last original Ha'tak was dealt with, all the time taking some long range fire. As the attackers entered medium weapons range, the Excalibur launched 2 of her 4 mark 9's. The fighters and bombers took cover behind the capital ships, to avoid the blast. Seconds later, the blinding flash was seen.

"Fire!"

The fleet opened fire. Every ion cannon, plasma staff and flack cannon, MAC gun and rail gun began opening up. The fighters and bombers also formed into attack wings and left the cover of their capital ships. As the first salvo was fired at the location where the enemy fleet was located, the capital ships opened fire with their torpedoes. The Excalibur and her cruiser escorts used the new ion torpedoes, the destroyers however were still using the older fusion one's.

As the torpedoes moved thru the radiation cloud created by the 2 mark 9's, they hit their targets who just became visible on the sensors and naked eye again. Most but not all hit a capital ship, but the front Re'nak, who had already suffered shield damage after the first barrage, was now damaged. The torpedoes did what they were intended to do. And the improvements the Tollans implemented, meant that some of them passed thru the still active shielding, if only less than 10% of them. But that was enough. The capital ship began to crumble and seconds later, it's main reactor must have been breached, as it exploded, taking a Del'tak flying too close with it.

"Sir, 1 Re'nak and 1 Del'tak down!"

"How many torpedoes do we still have?"

"Enough for three more salvos, sir. The tubes are being reloaded."

"Perhaps, but they are changing tactics. The other Re'nak is now using it's escorts as cover. We won't get another shot." Vix analyzed the situation. The surviving fighters were also now in close formation, probably on torpedo interception duty. To make matters worse, over 2 dozen Al'kesh had de-cloaked and began a bombing run at the Hood.

"Recall half our fighters to defend our flanks, cruisers and destroyers to guard our rear. Engineering. Activate the Aegis program."

"Sir, as I have stated..."

"And as I have stated, activate it! And that was not me asking, that was me telling you to do it!"

In main engineering, the chief engineer huffed. "Hope this works!"

On her screen, the display of the Excalibur was shown, with a bubble representing the shields, with percentages at different points showing their status. Then a new bubble icon was added, over the original shield one.

"Aegis program activated, naquadria reactor at 60% efficiency." EVA responded at that station.

In space, Excalibur's shields, which were flaring at the impact from the weapons fire she was taking, began to change. The simple spherical bubble began getting a structure like appearance on top of it, as hexagonal shapes began forming, like a net. As the process ended, the Excalibur's shields were covered by the net of hexagonal shapes.

"Naquadria reactor at 100%. Aegis shield enhancement at 100%. Time till fuel consumption: 11minutes." EVA reported.

On the bridge, the admiral heard EVA's report as well. "We got ourselves 11 minutes of near invulnerability. Let's use it. Flank speed, get us into point blank range of that Re'nak."

"Sir, that added naquadria reactor may fail before that and the fuel consumption goes up the more damage we have to take. And if Anubis has some sort of weapon we don't know about... it could still penetrate us! The Aegis program enhances the shields several time beyond what they were capable before. It is not real invulnerability." The XO pointed out.

"I know. We have little choice. Let's see if fortune really favors the bold. Execute!"

Planet PX4-331, same time, Lucian base camp

Fisher and the rest of his team plus the Lucians emerged from the entrance of the tunnel complex. The first thing they were greeted by were both explosions and plasma staff fire flying over their heads.

Fisher looked around. The Lucian garrison and his team and marines had made a good stand against the attacking force. He looked over the dune. The Jaffa were coming closer, with sheer numbers pushing the defenders back. But what was moving behind the attacking Jaffa, already engaging the defenders, was what worried him. Several dozen Kull warriors. The first wave.

He looked at his team. They deployed the Mass accelerator weapons, as was the agreed upon tactic when engaging the Kull's. He hoped it would work. At least Psycho was having fun.

"Yeah! You want some of that!" Psycho screamed as he used his now deployed portable MAC auto gun. "I've got plenty more where that came from!" Fisher moved under cover to that position.

"Psycho, what's the status?"

"Were holding the line, for now, colonel! These mass accelerator weapons are much more useful against those Kull's that energy weapons, I tell you. Look at the graveyard to my left!"

Fisher noted the field to the dune to his left, filled with fallen Jaffa and Kull's.

"But we will need some pick up, and soon. We saw 2 more Al'kesh land behind that large dune in front of our position. And our fighter boys are getting outnumbered in the sky."

Fisher nodded. "Just in case get 'It' ready, I'll call our ride."

Psycho smiled. "Ohhh, I get to use it? You just made my day, sir! Jester, arm Big Bertha!"

"You really named that thing?!" Jester asked as he pulled back to the small pile of weapons they left in the back to be used if bad came to worse. Only one was now left, besides ammo clips.

Meanwhile, Fisher established a comm link with their ride. "Colonel Fisher to Shrike 2B drop ship, come in?"

"We read you, five by five. We are waiting for your command."

"Come down, fast! We are about to get overrun. Land behind the line and extend the shield to cover us."

"We can't extend them too far, or they will be ineffective."

"Understood, just hurry up, Fisher out!"

"Sir!" Prophet screamed to Fisher. "We have a situation!"

"What is it?"

"Several platoons of Kull's are approaching now. They appeared on top of the large front dune! We can't hold this for much longer at this rate!"

"Damn! Psycho! You're up!" Fisher ordered.

"Hell yes, sir!" Psycho yelled out and got his now armed weapon ready. It resembled a high-tech bazooka in many ways. Psycho looked over their cover, watching to not get shot. "Suit, maximum armor!" His suit armor got hardened at that command. "Say hello to MY LITTLE FRIEND!" He fired the single missile in his now empty weapon. "Everybody duck!"

Seconds later, the missile hit the large group of Kull warriors that were still about 300 meters away and... exploded in a small nuclear explosion, creating a shock wave that flattened every other attacker. Even the makeshift tents of the Lucians got blown away.

"Hahaha, I love this baby!" Psycho yelled while grinning. "Eat 1 kiloton plasma charge, assholes!"

At that moment, they heard a noise of reaction less engines. Fisher realized what was coming. "Our ride is here!"

The Shrike de-cloaked behind the Lucian camp and deployed it's defensive staff weapons against the attackers. Moments later, it began lowering its rear loading ramp. A Terran marine was standing in the Shrike, waving at them. "Come on! Move it, we aren't staying here all day!"

Fisher turned around to his team, the marines and Lucians. Move it! you heard him! That goes for you too, doctor!"

Everyone began to run to the Shrike, the Terrans also taking care to pick up their equipment. Only doctor Jackson and colonel Fisher remained in the back. "Doctor, when I said for you to move..."

"That marine has the info we need. I only want to make sure..." Daniel never got any further. He was lifted off the ground and began hovering in the air, gasping for air.

"Doctor!" Fisher yelled, but also got no further, as some sort of force held him in place. But he did manage to turn his head to the entrance they came out of minutes ago. He saw several Kull's and one young man exit the entrance. "How in the fuck? We mined that entrance and blew the computer room to hell!""

"You are wondering how we got past your explosives?" Said man asked as he smirked. "You would be surprised what telekinesis can do. Even deactivate explosives. Now, colonel Fisher, your bothering me. The doctor and I have some things to talk about. Kull warriors, keep his friends busy."

Fisher was thrown into the air and hit the landed Shrike. Everyone that was boarding the ship, turned around and opened fire on the advancing Kull solders.

Psycho ran to Fisher. "Shit, where did that fucker come from? Colonel, you OK?"

"No, I was not able to activate my suits armor. I think something is broken. But never mind that. That 'person' has some sort of psychic abilities. We can't have him probe doctor Jacksons mind with everything he knows! If you can't save the doctor, you know what to do!"

Psycho did not like it. He knew what to do all right. something he wished he never would have to do. Remembering colonel O'Neill's words: 'If you see a friend fall into Goa'uld hands and there is a threat that he might be probed or infested, do him a favor. Dying is better that to be infested'. Well, doctor Jackson was not being infested, but psychic probing qualifies as something like that.

During all of that, Khalek pulled Jackson to about a meter away from himself, but kept him suspended. "Now doctor. I have some questions. And who better to answer them than the famous dr. Jackson."

"Go to hell, you lab rat of Anubis."

"Ah, you know of my father... let's see..."

Daniel tried to keep him out, but he could feel him probing his mind. It was only a matter of time...

"So my father was right. There was a temporal incursion. Janus. Time ship..." Khalek smirked. "This will take time. To break you. But it will be all worth it. Within your mind may be the information I need to kill my father and take over this pathetic galaxy. And then..." He never got any further. He just looked down to his torso. There was a gaping hole in his chest, where his heart was. He looked up to Daniel and saw that he too was injured. A large hole was in Daniel's shoulder. Whoever did this risked Daniel's life to take this shot. Khalek did not expect that. Or that the mass accelerator weapons the Terrans were using would be so effective against his Kull warriors. Well, more so than energy weapons.

"Got the fucker!" Psycho yelled as he was holding a Kull solder to the ground to make sure he was not standing in his way. "Maximum strength!" He then proceeded to break the Kull's neck with a crack. That was his last gamble. His suit was running on fumes now. "There are more of these fuckers coming thru the tunnel entrance! Shrike pilot, target that entrance and seal it!"

The pilot did as ordered and opened fire with its aft cannons, triggering the explosives, sealing the entrance. Psycho, Aztec and Prophet ran to Daniel.

"Shit, he's bleeding badly!" Prophet looked over his wound. "You two carry him on board and get a first aid kit! I'll get that assholes corpse and that of a Kull. Maybe our eggheads can figure out what they are made of!"

A minute later, the shrike took off under heavy fire. "Everybody hold on to your lunch! This is going to be bumpy ride!" The pilot said to the passengers. Seconds later, the ship cloaked, while the remaining fighters also left the atmosphere, prepared to leave for the randevu coordinates.

In the back area, the marine medic was trying to stop the bleeding in Jackson's wound. "The wound is too big, he's losing too much blood! I can try to stabilize him, but he needs a real doctor! I don't know what that bastard that abducted him did, but he also did some damage to his nerves. At this rate..."

"Do whatever you can! That is an order!" Fisher stopped her ranting.

She just nodded and took out a modified hand healer and applied it to his wound.

"It's OK." Daniel said.

"Doctor Jackson, preserve your strength!" Fisher said.

"No, It really is OK. Thank you. All of you. Colonel Fisher... tell Jack I will have to take a rain check on that fishing expedition he wants to take me with. I can try to get more answers this way." Moments later, he began to glow.

"Oh hell no! Not this!" Fisher cursed. How will he explain this to O'Neill.

Daniel disappeared, leaving only his cloths behind. The energy being that was now floating in the room, began rising to the sealing. "Thank you, Oma." Was the only thing heard as it disappeared.

Fisher now looked around the rear storage room. The Lucians lost over 70% of their people, he lost almost 40% of his marines, Jester and Nomad were badly wounded and now... Jackson was gone. He really hopes that this information is worth it. He looked at Ginn. "After we regroup with our people, we can send you to a Lucian world, if you want."

"Why? They abandoned us. The only thing I was useful for them was to fix all the stuff they broke. That and the daily rape threats... I have no desire to go back..."

"Ginn, you traitor! I always knew you would turn on us!"

"Shut the HELL UP, you psychotic piece of garbage, Simeon!" Ginn raged. After years of abuse, she had it with his kind. "Go back to your warmongering slavers club! But I quit! If they are offering me a better option, I'm taking it! Who's with me?"

Almost all of the Lucian survivors yelled at that statement, agreeing with her. Only Simeon looked ready to murder someone. Before he could act on that impulse, a strong hand grabbed him by the shoulder, causing him to squeam in pain. "I wouldn't even try it, boy." Prophet warned him.

The Excalibur taskforce, same time

The battle was not going well for the Terrans. The numerical superiority of Anubis fleet was beginning to show. The fighter losses were mounting and 3 destroyers already had to fall back due to their shields almost failing and damage mounting on the hull.

Even Excalibur's Aegis shields were now bleeding damage thru. Not near as much as they would, not to mentioned that they would have collapsed by now to the constant punishment she was taking. Indeed, Vix took his flag ship in the middle of the enemy fleet, getting their full attention, taking pressure off the remaining ships. But his prize, the last Re'nak, was keeping at least some ships between itself and the Excalibur. The last 2 torpedo salvos were not successful, as either the torpedo barrage was intercepted by staff fire, Death glider suicide or by impacting another ship taking that hit instead of the intended target.

"Sir, engineering reports we have only 2 minutes of Aegis shields left. The fuel is being consumed faster due to the continues damage." His XO reported, while the bridge kept on shaking. "We lost half of our port rail guns and staff cannons and our port MAC guns are running out of ammo. We need to pull back!"

"Not until we get a confirmation of our ground forces. That last Re'nak is the biggest threat and based on their tactics, someone important must be on it, but not important enough to retreat."

In space, behind the Excalibur, the cruiser Hood, who was supporting her from the rear, was in big trouble. All of the Ha'tak's began focusing on her, after realizing that their weapons had little effect on the Excalibur as long as these 'shields' were active. The cruiser, lacking the Aegis upgrade, began taking heavy damage due to her already depleted shields. As she began pulling back, the destroyers and the other cruiser, the Tollana, began shielding her to help her retreat. That caused problems for those ships as well as they too were having fatigue problems. The destroyer Proxima lost its hyperdrive and its sublight engine were dying, so her captain ordered an evacuation, trying to get as far as possible before she would die. As the evacuation began, she was targeted by the enemy fleet. Finish off the wounded animal tactic. She did not last long, exploding with most hands still on deck. Only about 20% of her crew were beamed on the Tollana.

"Damn! Tell the fleet to pull back! We will not lose another ship! These bastards are not falling for my distraction tactic any longer." Vix ordered. "As for us, if these bastards won't make room for us to get a clear shot, we will make one! Helm, ahead full!"

"Sir, that will take us on a collision course..."

"I know! That's the idea! We push them aside while the Aegis shields still last. Do it! Tactical, once you get that opening, take it!"

"Sir, message from the planet, our people are on the Shrike drop ship. They and the Trinity wing are retreating to the randevu point. They also report that they encountered some sort of psionic warrior... dr. Jackson, if I heard this right, was badly wounded and... ascended."

Vix now understood. That ' psionic warrior' was on that last Re'nak, but ringed to another ship, probably an Al'kesh, to get to the planet. In the rear of the bridge, Valla did not know how to react to this. Yes, she only knew Daniel for a short amount of time, but... maybe because he was her polar opposite. The eternal optimist, the educated person, the one who stands with his friends, the one who defends his beliefs, the honest to a fault guy... maybe that is why she liked him? A tear began flowing down her cheeks.

"Brace for impact!" The helm officer yelled.

The bridge shook violently as the Excalibur rammed the Ha'tak in front of her, shields ramming shields. But the Excalibur was bigger and more powerful, so she was winning this tug of war.

"Sir, Aegis shields are almost depleted! That ram..." The XO pointed out.

"Just one lousy shot!" Vix raged.

And he got it, the Ha'tak was pushed aside, her shields collapsing, allowing the Excalibur to get a direct shot at her target. The tactical officer did not hesitate and fired every last torpedo he had, along with every other weapon still available.

The Re'nak, while not taking much damage during this battle, had its defenses overwhelmed by this focused barrage. Again, while only a few torpedoes got thru, it was sufficient to cripple the ship.

"Sir, targeted Re'nak shields are down, her shield generator must have been hit."

"Hard to port. Every gun that can fire, use it to finish them off. Full sublights, get us out of here!" The ship turned and fired her last barrage at the targeted Re'nak. It was not enough to finish it off, but it did cripple it, probably beyond repair.

The bridge began to shake hard again. "Sir, the Aegis shields have collapsed. Fuel is consumed. Our standard shields are taking substantial damage! They will not last for long like this!" The XO reported, looking worryingly at the displays.

"Is the rest of our fleet gone?"

"Yes, they left for our randevu."

"Then get the enemy fleet behind us, we can outrun them at sublight. Once they are behind us, divert all power from forward shields and forward weapons to rear shields. Begin jump prep!"

As ordered, the Excalibur began her retreat. She had to get some distance to the radiation from the weapons fire from the battle, before she could initiate her hyperdrive safely. As she passed the last attacking ship, she began accelerating, putting distance between herself and them. That did not stop her pursuers, who kept up the barrage of fire on her, since they noticed that her enhanced shields were not active anymore. Taking additional damage was unavoidable, but she made it to a safe distance and engaged her hyperdrive, leaving an enraged Jaffa force, loyal to Anubis, behind.

Once safely in hyperspace, Vix looked around the bridge. "Well done, people. You made me and humanity proud today!" There was a cheer all around the bridge. "Let us not forget those who lost their lives today. We will drink to them, once we get back. Now, damage report."

"Will have it ready in 5 minutes, admiral." His XO responded. Vix just nodded.

"Vix to engineering, status of the Aegis module."

"Sir, the reactor for the Aegis module is depleted. We saw some power fluctuations during the battle, the biggest when we played 'bumper cars'. I would suggest we don't do that again. It will all be in my report."

"Good. It was nice to have an ace. The study of those power amplifier crystals yielded some results."

"Yes, if only that we need a reactor to replicate a temporary effect of one or several of them. Still far from the Ancient level of tech."

"I rather have this dumbed-down version than none at all. And don't sell our scientists short. As far as I know, the Ancients newer developed a system like this. Keep me posted. Hope the Damocles module will prove equally effective." He then turned to his comm officer. "Now, what the hell happened on the planet and what is this about dr. Jackson ascending?!"

Parallel universe, Kobol outpostship, deep space, same time

The evacuation was successful, mostly. Only a few Colonials lost their lives. They also managed to get most of their belongings off the planet. Several questions hoverer remained. What to do now? The Colonials from the original universe suggested that they do the same as was done in their universe. Go to New Kobol. Figure the rest out later. The main question was what to do with the parallel Cylons.

Said parallel Cylons were currently being interrogated by their counterparts.

"How is that even possible!?" Parallel D'Anna asked for the... well no one was counting anymore how often she asked that.

"I guess there IS an echo in here, and I am not even talking." D'Anna mocked herself. "What part do you not get? The parallel universes part, the Builders part, the 13th tribe part or the 'Cavil is a shit-head' part!?"

Parallel D'Anna looked at Parallel Caprica. "You believe this?"

"Well, I had a heart to heart talk with myself... and I do. They showed me the evidence, just like you, but for some reason..."

D'Anna stopped her. "Yes, she has a hard time believing this. Because if she does, she will have to admit that she was wrong, she was manipulated and she was evil! Trust me, I've been there. The main difference here is this: I never helped Cavil in his little sick experiments. It is so much more personal, seeing humans tortured, humiliated... than just blowing them up from orbit. I was spared that, she wasn't. And that is why she doesn't want to accept it."

Parallel Caprica sighed. Yes, this will take time. "By the way, why did you kill all the Fours and Fives before telling them anything?"

"If they are like ours, they will side with Cavil no matter what."

"Oh. I guess that figures. And the Eights, Sixes and Twos?"

"That might be tricky. Your Boomer is more messed up than ours was. So is your Leoben. Not to mention my... emm, her model." D'Anna points to her parallel self. She stood up and began leaving the interrogation room. "Let's leave her alone to think it over."

Parallel Caprica agreed. It was not getting any easier with every next interrogation and revelation. Telling 'her' Gaius the truth was also not easy. To say that parallel Baltar was jealous of his counterpart for not having to endure the mess he had to, was an understatement. But there was one good thing about Baltar, any Baltar. To have more than one in a room at any given time was impossible, the ego of either could not handle it, so Batar left for his universe only 10 minutes after talking to his parallel self, raging that he was impossible. Everyone except him got the irony of that statement.

"So, your Gaius is back in your universe, but after he explained to me the whole multiverse thing, I remembered something I read in our universes Caprica university thesis about this." Parallel Caprica asked as they walked to the next interrogation room. "Something about 2 identical people or objects from 2 universes existing in one at the same time. That it is impossible..."

"Yes, our Baltar was worried as well, but he found the logs of the Builders addressing this issue. It seems that this 'law' does not apply. Since every universe is in a multiverse, the total sum mass and energy state of the multiverse does not change, it is only reshuffled around a bit. It should only occur if you cross into a universe not part of your multiverse and somehow another you exists there, as unlikely as that is."

Caprica had a shocked expression and stopped in the corridor. "Other multiverses?"

"Uhh, yes, I was not exactly listening to Baltar, but the Builders discovered that there are other multiverses as well. In them are universes that have nothing in common to our universes. The way he explained it..."

Flashback, New Kobol, original universe, days ago

Hours before the expedition would be launched, Baltar went thru all the notes and logs of the Builders. The only one he could not access, was a recently written personal log from someone named Janus. This intrigued Baltar. Was this Janus the one who helped them. He could not access his log, but could see the time of creation. Around 5000 years ago.

All the people that would be crossing the mirror, assembled in a conference room.

Lee above all was eager to start the mission. "Doctor, before we go, what is it you wanted to tell us?"

"I've read thru the logs of the builders and have come up with an interesting discovery. And based on that discovery, I wanted to ask your permission, madam president, to try some experiments myself, once you permit it, of course."

Laura was getting fed up with the doctors fascination with the alien technology, but indulged him as long as he did not put the people in danger. "What experiment and discovery, doctor." She asked.

"I want to use the mirror to 'dial' another multiverse."

Another of those pin drop silence moments followed. "Excuse me, Gaius. Another multiverse? First you tell us there are other universes, now you say there are other multiverses as well?!" Caprica had a hard time to ask.

Gaius took a deep breath. "Yes, indeed it seems so." He took a piece of paper where he had drawn something on it. It was 3 circles. Each one touching and crossing with the other 2. There was also a middle spot, where all 3 circles crossed each other. "Let's pretend that this circle is multiverse 1, filled with infinite universes. The others are multiverses 2 and 3. All multiverses, of which are again an infinite amount of, are part of a... well let's call it an ominverse. Each multiverse has a certain set of rules it is build upon and the universes within are based upon those rules. Those rules can be physical rules, like gravity or reality rules, like in this multiverse, the 12 Colonies exist in each universe in one way or another, while in other multiverses, they don't. And based on that hypothesis, I can try to explain this circle thing on this piece of paper. Sorry for the bad drawing, but I had to work fast."

"Never mind that, doctor." Laura said as she was losing both patience and interest in the doctors 'findings'. "Get to the point."

"Right. The Builders build this mirror for the precise purpose to travel to other universes in our multiverse. Their limitation is that they can't travel to any universe where another quantum mirror does not exist. Except that before their exodus from this planet, the Builders tried to make it work anyway. And they did. They found a way to open portals and thru those temporary portals send mirrors to universes in other multiverses where there newer were or will be any Builders. That was a great feet of engineering. But it was not always successful. In some universes, the laws of physics were so different that they could not send any mirror thru. What I want is to try to dial some of those other multiverses and see what they are like."

"OK." Lee responded after he just threw everything he just heard out of his head to not get a headache. "That sound risky, doctor, why do it? You have already studied some of the other universes we can reach with this mirror..."

"And they are all the same. In not one of them was there life on the Kobol outpostship. And since this was a prototype, it can reach only a limited amount of those parallel universes, but because of that, it can reach other multiverses as there are no saftey features to prevent that. It is not like I will go to any of them, just sneak a peek, if you will."

"OK, but why use the 3 circles to try explaining this... whatever it is." Laura asked.

"All right. Let's say this circle as I said, is multiverse 1, is where our universe is. Here there are certin laws of physics as well as reality. In this multiverse, our colonies, Kobol and the Cylons exist, in one form or another. In the other 2 multiverses, they don't."

"So, not Kobol, no humans..."

"Exactly! What can exist in other multiverses. And for arguments sake, the ice monsters we encountered, exist in multiverse 2 and the Builders in miltiverse 3."

"But we found this city, this planet, the rings..." Caprica began to question his thoughts.

"I said this is all hypothetical. But see these regions where the multiverses cross. Here universes exist with characteristics of both umiltiverses. So in the middle, where all 3 multiverses touch and cross into one another, universes exist where both we, the Builders and those ice monsters exist. Again, only theoretical. But what I want to try is to see mulitverses that don't even come close to our multiverse, where, I don't know, magic exist for a lack of a better explanation, as stupid as that might sound!"

"Your right, that sounds stupid. I will not allow that, doctor Baltar. I will not allow it for you to satisfy your curiosity. Explore the universes you can access that are in... well multiverse. Understand!" Laura raised her voice to hammer her point home.

"Yes, madam president." Baltar responded, not happy at all.

Caprica had one last question. "Speaking of the mirror, Gaius, what about the theory that 2 people or objects can't exist in the same universe at the same time? Will that..."

"No, I read thru the logs of the builders. The mass and power of each universe is not set in stone, it is possible that the mass and power of a multiverse is not set in stone, only that... emmm... omniverse is important and since mass and energy are only getting rearranged, but it's total mass and power remains the same, it is not an issue. Besides, we are talking about a few people, not the power or mass of an entire galaxy changing universes. There hovever could be complications when crossing multiverses. If you, somehow, find your other self in another multiverse... that would be tricky."

"But you just said that the other multiverses might not even have humans in them..." D'Anna responded.

"Exactly. Not likely to meet yourself in another multiverse, but not impossible. There might be humans in them, just not like us. There might be a you there, but not a D'Anna Biers, a Cylon model Three, but a, I don't know, an actress called Lucy, who plays your role in a media show."

Again, the pin drop silence moment. "OK, this is getting ridiculous. Us being a media show?" Laura laughed.

"Why not? Maybe our own shows exist in other universes in other multiverses. Maybe..."

"That is enough of that, doctor." Lee stopped him. He had enough. "Let's get ready for departure."

"I do want to know one thing, if it is OK with all." Leoben asked. "Why did these Builders do all of this?"

Baltar hated this question. "Apparently, the Builders wanted to answer the meaning of life question. As well if there is a god question."

Now that got Leobens attention. "Really?"

"Yes, millions of years ago, they used their scanners to scan this and other dimensions. And don't confuse dimensions with universes. Each universe has its own dimensions. But it seems that subspace is shared among all universes in our multiverse. Maybe even thru the omniverse. They found a signal in subspace. One older that our universe. They were fascinated. They started this Destiny program, but I don't know what that is about. This was their other attempt at answering the question what that signal was. Was it from a higher power? Study other universes and multiverses to get answers."

"Wow, the Builders had evidence of a god?" Leobed surmised with his eyes wide open.

D'Anna and Caprica just rolled their eyes. Of course he would think that.

Flashback end, Parallel universe, Kobol outpostship, deep space

Parallel Caprica just stood there. That was not an explanation she expected. Has that Baltar gone off his mind! Then again, knowing her Baltar, this might be something they all have in common.

In another part of the outpostship, both Laura's had a talk. While hawing a cup of tea.

"This is nice. When compared to what I had to go thru in the past few months." Parallel Laura said.

"Yes, I would think so. But while I prepared for that day, when I would have to make the hard choice, regarding Hera, you really had to do it? Any regrets?"

"Plenty. Of a great many things. You got lucky, it seems."

"Yes, it seems. But now, you can have a better future as well. What will you do about your Baltar?"

"You mean now that we know from you what he did? Oh, he has an airlock with his name on it. He..."

"I would rethink that. He will be useful for understanding this technology. I understand how you feel. I was there too, but if it would not have been Baltar, the Cylons would have found another way in. He just got unlucky."

"And your Baltar was never signing papers given to him by the Cylons. How many people died? He was a collaborator there! You can't ignore..."

"I don't. But if he resisted, they would have killed him and replaced him by someone else. If that person had refused, they would have continued until they found someone who would have cooperated. Baltar is a selfish bastard, but he is not consciously guilty of what you accuse him of. In the end, it always was Cavil." Laura tried to reason with herself.

"I can't believe that I would ever defend him." Parallel Laura replied sarcastically.

"What about the others? Like Gaeta? He collaborated as well. Should he be air locked as well?"

"We know that he was feeding the resistance information. He is in that case not a collaborator."

"Perhaps. But in the end, we, you are all victims. Again, only the Cavils are to blame. After you send the Cylons back to start this civil war, if all goes right, just leave for New Kobol and let the Cylons sort it out, if you wish. But you don't have the people anymore to pick and choose, we however still do."

"You said that the real Earth is still out there. We could contact them?"

"Yes, and if they are still in the state we told you about? We haven't woken the Builder in the stasis room, yet. Let him tell you, if you don't believe me. Our Baltar already showed you how to do that. There is not much more I can say to persuade you."

New Kobol, original universe, same time

"Gaius, I think this time you are going too far! The president explicitly told you..." Caprica raged.

"What Laura doesn't know, won't hurt me. I am trying this experiment, with or without you."

She huffed. "All right! But at the first sign of trouble, we stop it! We only have an hour until they expect to return."

"I know. Centurions, please record everything you see in those universes? OK?"

They all responded. "Affirmative, proceed."

"Before you do this, Gaius, there is one last universe of our multiverse in the computer data. Let's try that one first, then..."

"OK, OK. fine."

Gaius took the remote and began changing the settings. The mirror changed what it projected.

"Anther Kobol laboratory, see?! Nothing new." Gaius remarked.

"Not entirely." Caprica responded. "Here there are lights. Look!"

They saw it. A Centurion moved passed the corridor outside the laboratory. It was damaged, humping. Then they saw flashes of weapons fire in the corridor. Then 2 more Centurions moved into the laboratory and turned around, weapons deployed. As they moved backwards, not noticing the active mirror behind them, several Centurions entered the laboratory and opened fire.

"A Cylon civil war?" Caprica asked.

"Perhaps."

The battle ended, with the defending Centurions being victorious, but then Baltar, Caprica and their Centurions saw them. "What the frak are those?" Caprica asked again. Spider like robots moved into the laboratory, accompanied by another Centurion. The defenders engaged them again, destroying several of the spider robots in the process. But it was in vain. The spiders swarmed the room, jumping on the defending Centurions. In mere seconds, they stopped fighting. Their red eye changed to a blue color as the now attached spider robot stabbed into their bodies and began taking control.

"My god, they are hacking them in seconds!"Caprica screamed.

"Not just that, look!" Baltar pointed out. The fallen spider robots, they were being reassembled by their brothers. "They stand again! If they are capable of that, can they even be killed?"

"Gaius, focus! Deactivate it or change the universe!" Caprica shouted.

She was right, the spider robots noticed the mirror and moved to it. Seconds before Baltar deactivated the mirror, one controlled Centurion and 2 spiders appeared on this side of the mirror.

"Centurions, open fire!" Caprica ordered them.

A small fire fight erupted, but Caprica's Centurions outnumbered the attackers and without more reinforcements, the 2 spiders were not getting reassembled any time soon.

Baltar kneeled down to examine them. He picked up one of the building blocks. "Impressive technology. They were made up of these blocks. Maybe a self sustaining device? There are no specialized ones for a power core or a CPU core, maybe they all have those..."

"THIS IS WHAT FASCINATES YOU!?" Caprica screamed at him. "We almost got invaded, you moron and you examine those things like nothing happened! Why do I even stay with you is something I question myself sometimes, like right now!"

Baltar just smirked at her. "Like you are not interested in how these things work?"

"That is besides the point!"

"Anyway, I assume that there are only Centurions currently guarding this building we moved our mirror into?"

She nodded.

"Good, please tell them to not report this... yet. I and the Centurions in this room will clean this mess up so that we can go and explore other multiverses. I can dissect this later."

Caprica could not believe it. "You still want to proceed?!"

"Of course. Curiosity. Such a wonderful thing, don't you think?"

"In this case I agree with your gods, Gaius. Curiosity can be deadly."

"No risk, no gain, my dear. Now, if you could..."

"Yes, yes." She waved him off and went outside the laboratory. "I will instruct the other Centurions to do as you asked."

Minutes later, the mess cleaned, Caprica returned to see Baltar ready to begin.

"I still think this is a mistake, Gaius."

"We will take precautions. "

"How?"

"I had the Centurions move the mirror into that containment chamber and now..." He activated the force field. "I have it contained."

"Doesn't mean nothing can get thru."

"Where is your spirit of adventure?"

"Those bug robots ate it!"

He ignored her and went to the control device and took it into his hand. He pushed the dial. The mirror began glowing in a way it did not before with any other universe dialed. "Well, this is a good sign." Baltar grinned.

"This thing glowing is a good sign?"

"Yes, that means the modifications done to it later work. Now, let's see what we will see."

He dialed the first address. As the mirror stabilized, they saw something different.

"Well, definitely not Kobol's laboratory, like all of our multiverses universes were." Capirica said.

What they saw was a large facility with many artifacts in it. There were humanoid walker like robots designed to be driven by a pilot. According to the shape of the cabin, it was mean for a humanoid species. There was definitely a military touch to the facility. There were many, what they could only assume, were artifacts gathered in the large storage room.

"What is this?" Baltar asked.

"I think they are in trouble over there." Caprica responded.

"Why?"

"Look, Gaius! There are lights flashing, usually connected to an alarm of some sort."

"For us, not necessarily for them."

"And look at the floor. Red blood."

Now Baltar saw it too. "And look there, shell casings, scorched marks and... holes in the floor and walls?"

"The ones in the walls look like high heat markings. Those in the floor...? Frak, looks like something dissolved the floor."

"There seems to be a logo of some sort over the main cargo door. Frak, don't know what it reads." Baltar cursed.

Then they saw movement. One of the large cargo doors opened and several humans in military gear entered it. They had helmets and body armor with most of them holding a large rifle. One was holding a gun of some sort attached to her hip whit another carried some sort of flame thrower.

"Solders indeed. They are packing some heavy fire power. Also humans. Or they just look like humans. Didn't you say that humans in another multiverse was slim to none. " Caprica said as she kept looking.

"But not impossible. Besides, they looked scarred. Wish the light was better so that we could..." Baltar stopped mid sentence.

The soldiers opened fire in a direction Caprica, Baltar and the Centurions could not see. They focused fire at first, but then began firing in multiple directions as they began to pull back to what appeared another exit.

"Frak, wish this mirror would transmit sound as well." Baltar cursed. "It would help with this."

A minute later, things seemed to have moved from the storage room, until they saw a bleeding solder moving closely past the mirror, looking horrified. As said solder looked at the mirror, only now noticing that he was being looked at, Caprica wanted to respond by signaling him... "God! Frak!" She shouted the second later. The solder was impaled from behind thru his chest by what appeared to be a black tail. "What the frak!?"

"My words exactly!" Baltar agreed.

A large reptilian looking alien creature with black skin climbed from the ceiling behind the dying man. It was large, easily as tall as a Centurion, with no visible eyes, but large claws and teeth.

"Gods, what a monstrosity. Where would a creature like this even evolve? For what purpose?" Baltar always the scientists. "An exoskeleton, enormous strength from what we have seen..."

"Gaius, look! It is bleeding, but... that's no ordinary blood!"

Indeed it was not. As the creature began eating the now dead human, it was dripping blood from its wound to the floor, where the blood began dissolving the floor.

"How can blood do that? Acid perhaps?" Baltar again began analyzing the situation. He got no further, as a staff pierced the long head of the alien. The creature collapsed on to the ground, apparently dead. Then they saw something in the background. "What is that, a reflection... No, it is moving and getting closer."

"A mirage perhaps?"

"How would that make sense?" Gaius argued back. As the distortion in space arrived to the alien corpse, it began shimmering. Or should we say, de-cloaking. "My gods, active camouflage!"

A large humanoid alien with a mask on its face became visible. It removed its staff from the fallen alien. Then it decapitated the creature and pulled something out of its mouth.

"What is it doing? Is it pulling the tongue out?" Caprica wondered.

"That's no tongue. That is another mouth!" Baltar reacted with disgust.

"Gaius, turn it off, before it notices us. We've seen enough!"

"Agreed." As Baltar began turning the mirror off, the humanoid alien noticed the mirror on its side. A shoulder gun began targeting them, but before it could shoot, the mirror shut off.

"That was a nightmare!"

"More than the spider robots?" Gaius teased her.

"Don't go there!" As she saw him getting ready to activate the mirror again, she wanted to stop him. "Again? Really? We had a nightmare scenario twice now!"

"And nothing bad happened. I want to see more!"

She huffed. "Your curiosity will be the end of me someday!"

Baltar dialed another multiverse. They and the Centurions, who remained on alert, watched as the mirror activated again.

"Well, another storage area or laboratory. How interesting, Gaius!"

"Well, it is definitely different than the other."

"Yes, no signs of a fight, clean and orderly. Barely any light as well."

"Look, another logo. Looks like a bird? Maybe? But I can't read this, again." Batar cursed. He would have to get used to this.

"There is something interesting. A glowing ... cube? In that suspended box over there."

"I see it. A blue glowing cube. The only thing giving off light in this room, besides the symbol and sign. Oh, there is something else that I can see. In that left corner on that shelf." Baltar noticed something.

"Yes, looks like a... round shield with a star symbol in its middle?"

"Whoever these people are, they have an interesting taste in designs."

After 2 minutes, they agreed that there was nothing happening here so Baltar began dialing another miltiverse.

The mirror activated again and the next universe in another multiverse was now seen.

"Now this is interesting." Baltar said with excitement. What they all saw was a high-tech room, filled with consoles, a central hexagonal pylon with consoles attached to it. But what caught their attention were portals. Many portals. But nothing was holding them in place. They were floating in the air. Each portal showed something else. One showed a desert planet with humanoids on it, with what looked like neck bones stretching from their heads to their shoulders. Another was showing an ice planet with blue skinned humanoids with white hair and... antenna? Move worlds and humanoids that looked like humans, but there were differences. Foreheads, pointy ears... really, that is a thing? But then all the portals changed, switched to another image, more worlds and aliens living on them. But one. It showed a ship in space. A really strange ship.

"OK, this is some kind of ...laboratory?" Caprica asked.

"It seems. And the ones who build it were studying the mirror, I would assume." Baltar agreed. "But those portals... I don't think they are mere holographic displays, don't you agree?"

"I do. Maybe an evolution forward of something like our rings?"

"Exactly. But look at that one, the one with a ship. Who in the name of the gods builds a cube for a ship?"

"You got me."

The images changed again, showing the planets or ships up close, more importantly, the people. And when Baltar, Caprica and the Centurions saw the interior of that 'Cube', they were horrified. Again.

"My god, what are those!?" Caprica screamed.

"Look like cybernetically augmented humanoids, but... they look to be from different species? Did they volunteer or... were they abducted?"

"I highly doubt the first part!"

"Oh, from where I stand you and them have something in common. You are cyborgs. Even you, as beautiful as you are, are not entirely human."

"I know that!" Caprica protested. "But we would never do that to us!"

"And yet, if you look at the inside of a Raider, it would look disturbing to a none Cylon."

The images changed again. More planets, but more ships as well.

"OK, we went from the disturbing to the weird. Who uses a saucer for a ship design? With engines sticking out like a shoot me here sign!" Baltar laughed.

"Not only that, is that on top their CIC?"

"Oh, my fraken gods! It is? Who puts such a weak spot like that in their ship design!? What brain dead race..." Baltar got no further with his rant as the images changed again, to the interior of the ship. "I should have known."

"Humans. More or less, with none humans working or whatever they are doing on this ship. Yep, in every universe in every multiverse, humans do stupid shit, Gaius. Get used to it!" Caprica mocked him.

"Whatever, let's get on with it." Baltar changed the setting again and dialed another multiverse.

Now they saw a devastated city in the mirror. "This is strange, I can read that. The writing on that memorial. 'Peace?'. Looks like they were celebrating, but... something went wrong." Caprica said.

"And I think I know what." Baltar responded. He pointed to the other side. There you could see that the mirror was in some sort of museum. "Frak, it reads, Caprica museum of history."

"I thought that you dialed another multiverse?"

"I did, look at the differences! Our Caprica never looked so... what's the word I'm looking for. Retro?"

"And yet there are similarities. Look at the entrance of the museum. A Centurion, destroyed. Looks like First was model even." Caprica said with disgust.

"Frak indeed, another totally different version of ... us? Is there another me in that..."

"Don't go there, Gaius. Let's just move on."

"Right."

Another multiverse later, they were looking at what appeared like a crystal palace of some sort.

"Interesting architecture, for sure. " Baltar said as he admired it. "Looking at this, I think this was build or grown."

"Yes, definitely technological in nature. But what is interesting are the weapons and other artifacts inside this room. I can see an exit, looks like this is a weapons room or something?"

"There is something else in here. A uniform, can you see it?" Baltar pointed to a mannequin where the uniform was put. "I mean, really, red boots, a red cape and a shield shape with an S in it? Someone thinks highly of themselves."

"Like you? I bet yours would be even more extravagant."

"Mock me all you want, my dear, but it is not functional, if you ask me."

"As you said before, not in this multiverse, there..."

"OK, I get it. Moving on."

The next multiverse was indeed different. "OK, is the mirror there in the snow in the middle of nowhere?" Caprica asked.

"Good question. I can't see much of anything in this snow storm raging over there... wait. Look. Someone is approaching the mirror."

And that someone was not alone. An entire army was moving towards the mirror. But what put fear in Caprica and Baltar was when they saw what was approaching.

"My god! They... they... how can they be alive! Look, that one is missing half her face, that one has a hole in his chest, I can see thru!"

"This is some kind of mistake! This defies the laws of nature!"

The army stopped and in the middle, began making room for someone to approach the mirror.

"I said it before today, but frak!"

"And I agree totally again." Baltar nodded. The one who stepped in front of the undead army was a man with pale white skin, horns forming from his head, almost like a crown. But his most disturbing feature were his eyes. Ice blue, glowing.

"I guess that is their king or something?" Baltar said as he was too shocked to do much else.

"Gaius, shut it off, before they get thru!"

He did as he was told, just as the creatures were about to touch the mirror.

"Thank god! Give me that." Caprica took the remote from him. "Centurion Dragoon! Here, you take it. Your reactions are better than his. If you perceive any danger, shut it off."

"Affirmative."

"Fine. You didn't have to be so bossy about it."

"Get over it, Gaius. Now, next one!"

The next multiverse was seen. "Another show world. Great." Caprica remarked.

"Look, a devastated city of some sort." Baltar said as he noticed the background. "Look's highly developed. So what are these angel statues doing here, partially buried in the snow?"

"Who knows. So nothing useful, Centurion, next one."

"Unable to comply. It appears this is the last available option."

Baltar went to said Centurion, as did Caprica. They all looked at Baltar who began looking thru the settings of the device.

One centurion returned to look at the mirror. "Caprica, your attention is needed. Look at the mirror!"

She and Baltar looked at the mirror again and... almost got a heart attack.

"How in the frak did the statues move!?" Caprica said, panicking.

"Ho...how should I know. Why are the statues now so different, with fangs, claws and looking like they want to rip us apart?"

"It only happened when no one was looking. Perhaps they can only move when unobserved?" A Centurion explained logically.

"Whatever they are, they are fast. In only a few seconds, they dug themselves out and almost reached the mirror. Gaius, SHUT IT DOWN!"

"Agreed. Frak this!"

He deactivated the mirror. Caprica then took the remote again. "You are not getting this again. If only this enables the mirror to cross multiverses, you can't have it again! Too dangerous! Now, you get to that Centurion that got thru and those robot spider parts. I don't care if you analyze them of have dinner with them, just get out! I had enough excitement for 10 lifetimes today. I will set the mirror for that universe our people went and welcome them back."

"Caprica,..."

"NOW!" She pointed to the exit. "Centurions, please escort him to his lab. If he will not listen, knock him out and drag him there!"

As Baltar left the room, with half of the Centurions moving with him and carrying the deactivated one from another universe as well as the parts from those robot spiders, Caprica raged. Her heart was still beating too fast for her liking. Does gaius not know how his curiosity nearly caused one catastrophe after another? Is he that blinded by his own ego and thirst for knowledge?

The other question was: How could multiverses exist where such things are possible?

Now, the last part was intended for all of you who said 'do crossover X, Y, Z' and so on, when I introduced the quantum mirror. This is a cameo and nothing more. A way of me putting these ideas into the story, without having to really putting them into the story.

They will never become a real crossover. Maybe mentioned in later chapters, but that is it. And now, my dear readers, please, write in your reviews if you figured out which shows I picked those 'multiverses' from?

Of course with the help of Google, it will go fast anyway. Also, one of these cameos is based on a work of another Fanfiction writer. I love his work and he used the quantum mirror in one of his stories, even if that story had nothing to do with Stargate, but just as a plot device, so I kind of sneaked the concept how the mirror got into his universe.

XD

Here is a list of ships that will be used in this story at this point. Others will be added as the story continues. I am writing this not just to inform you, but to also keep a list for myself for easier writing in the future. And to keep track of things, so that a situation does not arise where you guys point out an error that I could have avoided with a list like this.

Also to all who pointed the whole 2 people from different universes can't exist in one for a long time, I ignore it. Stargate ignored it after the episode where they pointed it out. They had several parallel universe episodes, but it never came up again. As for the alternate vs. parallel stuff. I won't be splitting hairs over such details.

Goa'uld forces:

Death glider - Standard Goa'uld space fighter. Still in production by the System Lords, Anubis and the Lucians. Look for description on wiki. Inferior design to most Terran fighters, but has greater numbers and cheaper to produce. Has several variants, like an atmospheric only version.

Enhanced Death glider - An upgrade of the Death glider, currently being developed by Anubis to replace the more and more obsolete Death glider design. Has better staff cannons, armor protection and greater acceleration, but remains based on the same design as its predecessor.

Needle Threader - Prototype, stopped production long ago. A gate ship of the Goa'uld.

Ha'tak - Main capital ship of the Goa'uld. Being replaced by other designs that are better in that role and is being pushed back to a cruiser role.

Ko'tak - Began as a prototype ship under Apophis, but was adopted by most other forces in the galaxy who use Goa'uld technology after they saw the success of the stolen prototype. About 50% bigger in size and mass than a Ha'tak. About double firepower and triple shield strength. Also possesses 50% more cargo, troop and mission equipment capacity. Has replaced the Ha'tak as a battleship, but is produced in limited numbers, as the shipyards under Goa'uld control are adapted to Ha'tak construction.

Re'nak - Apophis command and control capital ship, build with Sokar technology. More than triple in size of the Ko'tak, more fire power and shield strength that an entire wing of Ha'tak's. More capacity for troops, fighters, cargo and equipment then a fleet of Ha'tak's. Possesses an enhanced staff weapon system with superior range and penetration capabilities. Look for description on wiki. Not know if production will continue, since the design secrets were mostly lost with Apophis and Sokar, but the remaining ones may be copied.

Del'tak - New destroyer design created by Apophis. Does not have any fighter capacity or troop capacity. Primarily designed as a anti capital ship destroyer. A cost efficient alternative to bigger designs. Lacks anti fighter and missile weapons and has no superstructure around the pyramid. Possesses only 25% size, mass and capacity of the Ha'tak. (Idea for this originates from a mod for the Homeworld remastered game).

Hasara space station - Main design for a space station used by the Goa'uld. Varies in size and usage, anywhere from 800 meters in height to 2 kilometers. The one in the system of the same name is the largest as it is used as a neutral space station by the System Lords. The range of usage is from mining outposts, repair stations, dry-docks, defensive position or a command and control centers. Look for description on wiki.

Cheops class - Predecessor of the Ha'tak. Possessed inferior tactical capacity as well as mission specific capacities, when compared to the Ha'tak. Lacks superstructure around the central pyramid. Still used by minor factions, but reduced to support roles or a light cruiser. Look for description on wiki. Not produced anymore.

Al'kesh - Medium bomber, transport ship and scout ship. One of only 2 Goa'uld designs equipped with a cloaking device. Because of that, it is a favorite ship for pirates. Look for description on wiki.

Transport ship - Specialized ship of the Goa'uld, designed for troop transport during planetary invasion or evacuation. One of the few designs of the Goa'uld not based on a pyramid. Look for description on wiki.

Tel'tak- Cargo transport, light troop transport and scout ship of the Goa'uld. In many ways, succeeded by the Al'kesh. Upgraded with a cloaking device. Look for description on wiki.

Anubu'rak - New capital ship of Anubis, both 2000 meters long and wide, combining the best of Goa'uld technology, some Ancient technology and technologies stolen from other sources. Is equipped with 4 power amplifier jewels for its plasma beam weapon. The only one currently in existence, but Anubis is building 2 more. Look for description on wiki. Lacks the typical Goa'uld pyramid design.

Terran forces:

F-201 - Arrow class light fighter. Designed with all the Alliance technologies from the beginning. A small fighter with a light weapons load out, mostly meant for dog fighting. Can't engage capital ships and hope to do damage to them, but possesses superior acceleration and maneuverability. Additionally, the small size makes them a harder target to hit. (Idea for the hull design originates from Star Wars - Z-95 Head hunter, the name from the Wing commander series). Possesses a hyperdrive.

F/I -202 -Scimitar class Heavy interceptor, first attempt by Earth at a space fighter. Previously called the F-302. Was upgraded by the Alliance with many new devices, including hyperdrives, superior atmospheric performances and long range weapons, including anti capital ship weapons. Lacks maneuverability and has a big silhouette, making it easy to hit or outmaneuver in dogfights, but it's fast acceleration, deployment rate and long range anti fighter capacity make them excellent interceptors, but poor dogfighters. Alliance has discontinued production for their main forces. Only keeps spare parts in production as well the designs not equipped with a hyperdrive, for planetary defenses.

F -203 - Rapier class medium fighter, a slightly larger design of the Arrow, with more powerful engines, range and weapons capacity. (The name comes from the Wing commander series). Possesses a hyperdrive.

T -204 - Shrike class transport ship. Terran version of an Al'kesh. Capable to defend itself, possesses a cloaking device and hyperdrive. (Idea comes from Xenonauts game.)

B -205 - Broadswords bombers, build on a similar hull design as the Scimitar, but optimized for a bomber roll. This ship is twice as long, the wings are used to carry heavy weapons, like torpedoes or large plasma staff weapons. A co-pilot is needed here to operate the added weapons systems, including a small ventral and dorsal rail gun turret. It is lacking maneuverability, but has extra armor protection and greater hyperspace range than any fighter.

DD -303 - Prometheus class destroyer, meant as a first attempt of Earth at an interstellar ship. Became obsolete the moment the Alliance was founded, but the 2 ships under construction were build nevertheless. Will not be upgraded with future technologies, unless it becomes necessary. Look for description on wiki.

DD -304 - Daedalus class destroyer. Replaced the Prometheus at the destroyer/light carrier role. Has limited capacity both in fighters, crew and mission equipment, but is fast and packs a punch. Is now reduced to a support role. Look for description on wiki. Upgraded with a reverse engineered and improved Goa'uld cloaking device.

DD -305 - Liberty class missile destroyer. The core hull design is identical to the 304, but lacks any fighter capacity and has no fighter bays. In their place it possesses missile and torpedo pods as well as their storage facilities. Designed as a more specialized 304, reduced to support roles. Upgraded with a reverse engineered and improved Goa'uld cloaking device.

DD -306 - Banshee class stealth destroyer. Designed for stealth missions. Based on a modified 304 hull, but with most of its capacity designated to stealth missions, including a Tollan matter phasing device. Currently only 2 exist, but more are planned.

CA -401 - Freedom class cruiser. Based on the same hull design of the 304, but larger in size. At 600 meters long, it possesses several times the size, mass, fighter, crew and equipment capacity of its predecessor. Was the main front line ship of the Alliance for a few months, until the first 501 was build.

BB -501 - Excalibur class battleship. Is now the main command ship of the Terrans. At 950 meters length, it is the biggest ship they have that they themselves build. It also possesses the largest capacity of fighters, troops and equipment. Production of this class is paramount. (The hull design is based on a fan art design of the same name).

Ancient:

Destiny - The oldest known design of the Ancients still in use. Look for information on the wiki page.

Seed ships - Support vessels of the Destiny. Look for information on the wiki page.

Discovery class - Little brother of the Destiny. Designed and build millennia after the departure of the Destiny. Like the Destiny, primary meant as a scout and exploration ship, but unlike the Destiny, it has no Stargate and was meant to return one day with all the gathered data. Has immense range, but limited combat capabilities.

Ancient Destroyer - Xpios class destroyer used by the Ancients before the first cityship was even build and long before their exodus to the Pegasus galaxy. Small in size and a limited capacity. Also, while technologically advanced for the Colonials, is technologically on the same level as the Discovery, the outpostship and the Goa'uld during their first discovery of Earth, 8000 years ago.

Puddle jumper - First modern known Ancient design. Look for information on the wiki page.

Ancient destroyer - Not to be mixed up with the one found by the Colonials, this is a modern version used in the Pegasus galaxy. Based on a similar design as the cruiser and battleship.

Ancient cruiser - Modern version used in the Pegasus galaxy. Based on a similar design as the destroyer and battleship. Much larger than the destroyer. (Both are based on a design of the Asurans in the wiki site.)

Aurora class battleship - The pinnacle of Ancient war efforts. Has 3 design classes. The mark One was the only one used during the first decade of war with the Wraith. Has immense fire power in the form of drones as well as incredible shielding, but lacks specialized defenses or weapons, making it a one trick pony, as the Ancients found out the hard way. The Mark Two was designed when the war began to go badly for the Ancients. Is 4 kilometers long, 500 meters longer than the mark One, has more specialized weapons and more armor. The mark Three was the pinnacle of the design. Build during the last years of the war, at 4,5 kilometers long, it was the biggest war ship ever build by the Ancients. Unfortunately, 'bigger is better' did not work in this case. It possessed more than triple the fire power than the Mark One, almost triple shield and quadruple armor strength, but the industrial cost made them too expensive to mass produce, even if they could win a battle 10 vs. 1.

Outpostship - Kobol class, predecessor of the cityship. The first attempt of a mobile planeside base/city, that can relocate fast, if needed, can transport entire societies from planet to planet and serve in both military or civilian capacity. Is build more robustly than her successors, since the technology was more restrictive back then. Has tougher hull and designed to survive in space even without power for shields, but is smaller and has smaller capacity in everything, when compared to her successors.

Cityship - The mark One class cityship is the Olympus class. Successor of the Kobol class, it is bigger, better, faster and has greater capacity. It's main flaw is the weakness of lack of power. Unlike the Kobol, it can't survive in space without shields, but relies on superior technology. The mark Two is known as the Atlantis class. The pinnacle of Ancient cityship design, this is the top of the line.

Ship killer satellite - Guardian class, designed by the Ancients during the last years of the war. Possessed the long range ship killer anti-particle particle beam weapons, capable of piercing most known shields and armor technologies, since anti energy reacts on contact with energy or matter, destroying each other. Only the high construction cost and energy demands made these satellites hard to deploy in the final years of the war.

Asgard:

Bilskirnirclass - Main capital ship of the Asgard for millennia. Superior to all Goa'uld ships during the reign of Ra, but Apophis and Anubis have improved Goa'uld tech to a level, where Bilskirnir needed an upgrade or be replaced. Look for information on the wiki page. Not produced anymore.

O'Neill class - Replacement for the Bilskirnir class as the main capital ship of the Asgard. Was build with superior technology and materials, mainly for the war with the Replicators. Fenrir has since upgraded this design into a much more combat oriented role (like a slug match), since the old Asgard mentality that superior technology does not need more guns is no longer valid. Has also been replaced by the Teal'c class as the main front line battleship, thus demoted to a heavy cruiser role. Look for information on the wiki page.

Samantha Carter class - Smaller cruiser, designed as a support vessel for the O'Neill, but primary also a war ship.

Daniel Jackson class - A modern research vessel, not designed with combat in mind, but capable of defending itself. Look for information on the wiki page.

Teal'c class - Designed by Fenrir by combining the O'Neill's advanced design and technology with the capabilities of the Aegis. Is the front line battleship of the Asgard. Also the biggest ship the Asgard ever build.

Aegis class - Specialized war ship designed by Fenrir, but the Asgard abandoned the design, seeing it as too militaristic in the past. Only one of its kind existed. Not produced anymore.

Vanir ship - Used by the Vanir, after the Wraith destroyed their intergalactic ships. Look for information on the wiki page. Not produced anymore.

Furlings:

Cruiser - Main support ship of the Furlings. Because of a more militaristic approach to ship design, unlike the Asgard, most of these ships can hold their own in a battle. Only the recent technological advancements from Anubis have begun to show the Furlings the need for a technological upgrade. Like most Furling ship, these excel at ship boarding due to the usage of gateway technology.

Battleship - The main war ship of the Furlings, an equal to the Asgard Bilskirnir, but based on a slightly better technology base as well as designed for brawling battles. The modern Asgard ships are superior both technology wise as well in the ship design mentality, curtsey of Fenrir.

Nox:

Void ship - A state of the art Nox ship. While large, its combat capabilities are inferior to the Asgard or Furling counterparts. The Nox were never an aggressive race and this ship embodies that way of thinking. But where it loses in firepower, it gains in space and battle manipulation. It possesses not just a cloaking device and matter phasing device (both superior to the Goa'uld or Tollan counter parts, only surpassed by the Ancients) that can not only cloak and phase the ship itself, but any ship in its vicinity, including entire fleets. If all the power is transferred to the cloak and matter phasing generators, it can also do the same with an Earth like planet.

Jötunn:

Scout ship - As the name implies, a long range scout ship, designed for search missions. Once a target was located, it would call its fleet to attack the enemy. Were used during the first war between the Jötunn and the Furings, Asgard and Ancients. They were used in large numbers as the Jötunn became desperate for a counter attack in hope of saving their galaxy from being overrun by the Ancients. For this, they needed to find the home galaxy of any of the Alliance members. They never did.

Planet devastator - A large ship designed to terraform any solid planet into a frozen wasteland that the Jötunn could then colonize, but since the Jötunn required such different environments to survive, than most other life forms, they realized that they could weaponize this technology. This weapon can also be used against ships and stations. The ship is, on the other hand, not a good warship, when engaging an opponent of similar technology level. Also possesses the power siphon technology.

Rift ship - designed thousands of years after the first war. Since the Jötunn realized that they have inferior hyperdrive technology, they decided to develop an alternative mode of travel. This ship, after reaching its destination, can create a temporary rift to another location, where another rift device is located. The rift then enables entire fleets to bypass large distances in seconds. The ship, while massive, is not designed for war, so it cannot hold its own, if not defended.

Colonial:

Only as reference points, since these ships are already obsolete in every way when compared to other civilizations (except for the Cylons of course.)

Viper mark 2 - An outdated space superiority fighter. Small, fast, agile, with good anti fighter load out and dog fighting skills. It lacks range, FTL, fire power and durability. Was used in first Cylon war, is now outdated. Would say to check out the wiki, but it is down.

Viper mark 7 - State of the art fighter of the Colonials before the fall. Many improvements, but still has the same shortcomings that all its predecessors had. Would say to check out the wiki, but it is down.

Raptor - Multipurpose craft. Scout, explorer, missile ship, nuclear attack craft, light transport, electronic jammer, gun boat... and many other uses. Would say to check out the wiki, but it is down.

Valkyrie class Battlestar - Smaller and cheaper Battlestar, when compared to its bigger cousins. Existed since the first war, but the design was continuously updated. Has the most weapons per hull size of any Colonial ship. Was mass produced before the fall. Its main weakness is it's ventral part, where its armor is lacking and the ship can easily be crippled, mostly due to its exposed fuel lines and FTL. Would say to check out the wiki, but it is down.

Galactica class Battlestar - The most successful Battlestar design during the first war. Combines the power and durability of a battleship, speed and flak defense of a cruiser and the fighter and bomber capacity of a carrier. Became obsolete after the war. Would say to check out the wiki, but it is down. Also, I found it called the Jupiter class or Columbia class on some sites, so I don't know which one is the right one, so I'll stick to this.

Mercury class - The Galactica replacement, longer, bigger and more internal space for more Vipers, ammo and equipment. More automation also meant smaller need for a crew. Would say to check out the wiki, but it is down.

Cylon:

Same rules apply as for the Colonials.

Raider - Cylon space superiority fighter. Possesses the same strengths as the Colonials Viper, but is FTL capable. Would say to check out the wiki, but it is down.

Heavy Raider - Bigger than a regular raider, can transport troops and be piloted by a human Cylon. Would say to check out the wiki, but it is down.

Basestar - Cylon main capital ship. In most ways inferior to its Colonial counterpart with the exception of electronic warfare and FTL range and calculation. Possesses a larger surface area, relies on long range missile attacks, can regenerate its outer organic armor and possesses some form of reaction less drive. Would say to check out the wiki, but it is down.

Resurrection ship - Designed as a safety net for Cylons. Extends the range of the resurrection Hub, but mostly defenseless on its own. Generates a large subspace signature that advanced civilizations can track. Would say to check out the wiki, but it is down.

Resurrection hub - The heart of the resurrection program. Without it, all resurrection ships become useless. Has a massive subspace signature. Defenseless on its own. Would say to check out the wiki, but it is down.

Colony ship - The mobile HQ of the Cylons. One of the largest ships on this list, but is still limited by the technological difference when compared to most other civilizations. Can defend itself. Would say to check out the wiki, but it is down.

Wraith:

Dart - Main space superiority fighter. Is used in a similar role than the Death glider for the Goa'uld, a cheap, expendable fighter that overwhelms the enemy with sheer numbers. Has less fire power and durability than its Goa'uld counterpart, but is faster, smaller and more maneuverable. Also designed for gate travel in mind. Possesses a transporter beam, designed to capture targets during fly-by's. Look for information on the wiki page.

Hive Ship - Main capital ship of the Wraith. Possesses large hangars and wings of dart fighters. Like all of their ships, these behemoths are grown, not build. Only specific parts, like weapons, sensors, engines and power sources are installed after its growth is completed, but computer systems and life support are also organic. At 4 kilometers, these are not small vessels, with hundreds of pulse particle weapons all around its hull, designed to wear a target down. Lacks shielding, but possesses heavy regenerative hull armor. The weakness of an organic ship is the buildup of radiation. Wraith ships have both inferior hyperdrives and their ships can't stay in hyperspace for long periods of time.

Wraith ships are also, like all organics, susceptible to other organics, like parasites or viruses. That is ironic, since the Iratus bug, from where the Wraith originate, is itself a parasite. While a Hive ship is formidable, it relies on support vessels to shield her during battle. Look for information on the wiki page.

Fleet Hive ship - A larger variant of the standard Hive, 5 kilometers long, usually reserved for the queens to use and command. The increase in size also increases durability, weapons amount and overall capacity, but this is reaching the maximum size of Wraith ship construction, since they were limited by their technological restraints, mostly by power generation.

Cruiser - Support ship of the Hive, designed more for the direct combat role, with limited fighter capacity. At 900 meters length, it is small when compared with the Hive, but still rather large, when compared with many Milky way ships. Has the same advantages and weaknesses as other Wraith designs. Look for information on the wiki page.

Destroyer - Based on the same hull design as the cruiser, but only half the size as the cruiser.