Chapter Four
Stargate Command
That Same Time
It was a distinctly downbeat SG-1 who sat at the briefing room table being thoroughly debriefed on the events that had taken place on Tollana. Conducting the debriefing was General George Hammond – commanding officer of Stargate Command – who like his premier team was becoming depressed as the debriefing progressed, depressed and also alarmed.
When Travell had made her offer to share her peoples powerful ion beam weapons technology with Stargate Command he and his superiors had been elated it was everything they had ever asked for. A high-energy particle weapon that had proven time and time again that it could destroy Goa'uld motherships with ease. They had believed that they would never have to worry about the Goa'uld attacking Earth – and risking incurring the wrath of the Asgard – ever again. But now as SG-1 spoke that hope was dashed with the realisation that it had all been a lie.
Travell had been genuine when she'd said she'd give them the ion cannons in exchange for trinium but what she hadn't told them was that the weapons were now next to useless against the Goa'uld. Or at least against Tanneth and whatever master he now served.
The revelation about the existence of a new Goa'uld – a Goa'uld who possessed more advanced technology than the others of his evil kind – was deeply disturbing. The fact that Tanneth had effectively blackmailed the Tollan into producing phase shifting weapons for his unnamed master was even more so. Thankfully with the aide of Narim the phase shift weapons had been destroyed and SG-1 had left Tollana just as Tanneth kept true to his threat and began firing on the planet with energy weapons more powerful than anything seen from the Goa'uld before. They hadn't wanted to leave but Narim had made them with the argument that the battle with Tanneth was one the Tollan would have to fight alone.
"Whoever this new Goa'uld is we know that he possess a dangerous technological advantage over the System Lords," Major Samantha Carter said in summary. "As evidenced by the fact that the shields on his motherships could withstand Tollan ion cannon fire without damage when a mothership of any other Goa'uld would have been instantly obliterated."
"The Goa'uld do not share technology with each other," Teal'c added. "The improved shields and whatever other advances this Goa'uld has made in technology make him a very grave threat to the current balance of power in the galaxy."
"However there is one piece of good news," Daniel said. "Whoever this new Goa'uld is we know that he still fears the Asgard. Otherwise he would have sent the phase shift weapon through the Stargate himself not tried to get the Tollan to do it."
Before anyone could reply an alarm started sounding throughout the complex.
"General Hammond to the control room. General Hammond to the control room," a voice said over the tannoy.
Hammond leapt to his feet, wincing slightly at the stab of arthritis in his left leg and hurried to the stairwell connecting the briefing room to the control room. A highly curious SG-1 tagged along.
As soon as the reached the control room one of the technicians on duty noticing their presence spoke up.
"Sir we're receiving an audio visual transmission from a deep space communications device," the technician said. "The transmission is coming from the Tollan homeworld but it's not on either a Tollan or Goa'uld frequency."
Hammond wasn't sure that he wanted to hear anything from the Tollan now. Travell's betrayal cut deep but could he hold that against the whole of her race.
"Put it through," he ordered at last.
A familiar face flashed up on one of the overhead screens drawing looks of surprise and delight from SG-1 as they saw Narim's face. The Tollan had through some miracle survived and managed to destroy Tanneth's ship or at least drive it off.
"General Hammond," Narim said. "It is a pleasure to see you again."
"And you too Narim. I take it you're people survived Tanneth's assault," Hammond responded.
"Not without more than a little help," Narim replied. "We were on the brink of total defeat and were about to flee Tollana when an alien starship called the Resolution appeared over Tollana having heard a planetary distress call transmitted by Travell. They engaged Tanneth's mothership and disabled and disarmed it in moments. Had they not come we would have been exterminated. As it is so many of us have died," there was anguish in Narim's voice as he spoke, "our main cities are in ruins. I am only calling you now with their help. Our own subspace transmitters have been destroyed so they've been kind enough to let us use theirs. We need your help."
"How do you mean?"
"As I said our main cities are in ruins. We need food, emergency shelters, medical assistance our hospitals have all been destroyed or severely damaged, rescue personnel to help comb the wreckage for survivors."
"We'd be glad to help Narim," Hammond said knowing full well that the president would authorise it. They would never turn away a cry for help like this. "We will send as much as we can through the Stargate at once."
"I'm afraid that will not be possible. Our Stargate has been destroyed. I have spoken to the Tok'ra they can spare a few cargo ships to transport supplies. If you send you're supplies and personnel to their base on Ravana they will transport them. We were also hoping that you could maybe contact the Asgard and ask them if they could be of assistance."
"We will certainly try Narim."
"That is all we can ask thank you General Hammond." Narim disappeared from the screens then.
For a few moments there was silence in the control room. Then finally General Hammond spoke up.
"I'll go speak to the president," he said. "Jack you and SG-1 get ready to go to K'Tau and see if you can persuade the Asgard to help deliver relief supplies to the Tollan."
"Yes sir." Jack O'Neill whirled and left the control room the rest of SG-1 hot on his heels.
Hammond meanwhile went back upstairs and to his office off the briefing room. Closing the door he moved over to his desk and sat down. Then he picked up the red phone on his desk and pressed a button.
"This is General Hammond," he said to the White House switchboard operator who immediately answered the direct line. "Let me speak to the president."
"Of course General one moment please."
Hall Of Wisdom K'Tau
A Short Time Later
The Asgard transporter beam dropped them off in the underground chamber that was SG-1's prime source of contact with the Asgard. Without hesitation Sam Carter moved over to a panel set into the wall on the other side of the room just as the hologram of Freyer – the Asgard in charge of protecting this particular planet – coalesced into being out of thin air. Freyer like always was clad in the holographic disguise of a Human in Norse warrior garb since the K'Tau as a people were not yet ready to see the Asgard in there true form.
"I am Freyer," the hologram said in its pre-programmed message. "You are wise to come before…." The hologram vanished as Sam opened the control panel in the wall and changed the position of the control stone on the crystalline circuitry panel inside.
For a second nothing happened then a new hologram coalesced into existence on the transmission circle this time a hologram of an Asgard in its real form, and unlike the previous hologram this one wasn't a recording with pre-programmed responses. This transmission was a live signal connecting K'Tau to wherever Freyer was in person be it on the Asgard homeworld or on an Asgard battlecruiser somewhere in space.
The small delicate looking Asgard looked surprised to hear from them again so soon after they'd previously spoken when SG-1 had inadvertently caused a shift in the emission spectrum of the K'Tau sun threatening all life on the planet. A shift that they'd corrected eventually – possibly with some covert assistance from the Asgard.
"Colonel O'Neill," Freyer said in recognition. "This is a surprising pleasure. For what reason are you contacting me?"
"To ask you for help. Not for us but for someone else," Jack responded and immediately got Freyer's full attention.
"Please explain."
Jack did just that. First he explained how SG-1 had received a message to go to Tollana to attend the funeral of Councillor Omoc, Narim's cryptic message saying that Earth was in grave danger and Travell's offer of ion cannons in exchange for trinium. He explained how the sudden U-turn in Tollan tech sharing policy had made them suspicious and how they'd covertly investigated with aide from Narim. And discovered that it was all a massive deception on the part of Travell to get hold of the trinium she needed to build phase shifting weapons for the Goa'uld Tanneth and his mysterious new master.
As he said that Freyer looked outraged that the Tollan – normally a people considered advanced by his kind – could even consider making a deal with the Goa'uld. He was even less pleased when Jack told him that Tanneth had ordered that as a test of there effectiveness one of the weapons be armed and sent through the Stargate to Earth in direct defiance of the protected planets treaty.
Still Freyer listened as Jack continued. Explaining how Narim had helped them destroy the phase shift weapons, their escape from Tollana just as Tanneth started to bombard the planet from space sitting comfortably behind his shields that were impervious to Tollan weaponry. Finally he concluded by telling Freyer about the Tollan's plea for humanitarian aide after a mysterious alien ship called the Resolution had saved their planet from Tanneth but not before their Stargate had been destroyed and the majority of their cities reduced to rubble.
When he had finished Freyer was silent for several moments.
"I will speak to the High Council," Freyer said after a moment. "I will contact you with their answer shortly." Freyer's hologram evaporated.
"Now what," Daniel Jackson asked.
"We wait," Jack replied. "Anyone bring a deck of cards?"
They didn't have to wait that long. Barely twenty minutes after Freyer had broken the transmission he reappeared in the hologram circle.
"The High Council has made its decision," Freyer stated. "They have agreed to assist you in delivering emergency relief to Tollana. We recently won a significant victory in our battle with the Replicators and are currently able to spare some ships. A warship and two cargo transports have been dispatched to your homeworld and will arrive soon. You will be pleased to know that Supreme Commander Thor has elected to lead the mission himself. One cargo ship will be carrying a new Stargate to replace the Tollan's own destroyed Stargate. In the meantime we will raise the matter of Tanneth's actions with the System Lords. The High Council is not pleased by his actions and we will make our displeasure clear to the System Lords so they may take the appropriate disciplinary action against Tanneth. Is that sufficient assistance O'Neill?"
"More than enough Freyer thank you. Once there's another Stargate on Tollana we can send supplies there directly."
"I hope the Tollan realise how much of a friend they have in your people," Freyer said. "If the Tollan had threatened us in the way that they threatened you with that phase shifting weapon we would not be so forgiving." O'Neill knew what that meant. The Asgard were friends to all, protectors to all, unless you threatened them or other species under their protection. Then they were a lethal foe. As the Goa'uld had learned in the past. The arrogant parasitic aliens had quickly learned to leave the Asgard - and Asgard protected planets - alone. Clashes did still occur but not often and if every case the Goa'uld came off the worst. Many a Jaffa army had been lost to the Asgard.
"I am sure they do Freyer," Daniel Jackson replied.
"Let us hope that you're species never losses its compassion. It is a great gift to have." With that last statement Freyer faded away.
As was normal Sam replaced the control stone in its normal slot. The transporter beam activated and whisked SG-1 back up into the K'Tau church above.
Elrad - the K'Tau high priest - was waiting patiently for them to reappear before the stone of wisdom. After a few moments of patient waiting light flashed and the four elves of Midgard appeared before the stone through the magic of the gods - though they claimed it was not magic at all. Elrad didn't believe them - to him and his people Freyer and the Asgard were gods and that's all there was to it.
"I hope that Freyer was able to assist you," he said politely.
"Yes he was," O'Neill responded. "We have concluded the business we came here to discuss with the Asgard now we must return to our own home."
"Of course I will walk you to the portal."
As was his normal custom whenever the elves came from the mysterious place beyond the heavens known as Midgard he escorted them through the streets - which were packed with his people all out to catch a glimpse of the mysterious beings that had rapidly become friends to them and who were on a first name basis with the gods who brought them so much. Though it was late at night the stars shinning down from a clear night sky the people still lined the main street - dressed in nightclothes. As they walked the streets Elrad noted the discomfort their four visitors were experiencing - they always hated it when his people did something like this when they showed up. Elrad was not sure why, surely by showing them respect they were showing respect to the gods, but he knew he would only embarrass them further by commenting on it.
A short while later they reached the stone ring that was so mysterious and so was the other stone thing - a strange pedestal with a crystal dome in the centre covered with rows of symbols. Elrad watched without understanding as the elves did that bizarre thing they always did that resulting in water appearing in the centre of the stone ring. For a second they paused the one called Sam Carter manipulating something on her wrist. Then the four elves walked up to the shimmering curtain and stepped through. A second later it vanished as if had never been.
Elrad shook his head as he walked back towards the village. The powers of the gods and their emissaries was not for him or any other K'Tau to know let alone understand. He was just content to know that there were beings out there that protected his people from those who would harm them.