Chapter Fourteen
U.S.S Resolution
Next Morning
Feeling uncomfortable in his dress uniform Captain Darien Parker arrived in the number one transporter room of the Resolution to await the arrival of the Asgard negotiator. Darien didn't know what made him more uncomfortable; the fact that he had to wear dress uniform or the fact that he was entering a discussion that could see the transfer of Federation technology to another civilisation. A civilisation that in truth they still knew very little about; like most species in this universe the Asgard were still very much a mystery to them. Probably the fact that I have to wear this thing, Darien thought as he stepped across the threshold into the transporter room, damned protocol for demanding we wear dress uniform for diplomatic talks.
Waiting in the transporter room for him looking immaculate in her dress uniform was Commander Urlet and off to the side stood Dr Daniel Jackson – dressed in a freshly replicated two peace suit complete with shirt and tie. Daniel smiled warmly at Captain Parker; Darien had asked him to join them since he had had prior experience dealing with the Asgard on both a personal level and in diplomatic talks. Daniel hadn't minded lending a hand in this instance – he knew how vital to the Asgard and by extension Earth as well these negotiations were.
As Thor had described to Jack in the past the Replicators were an enemy that was far worse than the Goa'uld, if the Replicators triumphed over the Asgard then there would be no stopping them, they would swarm across the galaxies wiping out entire civilisations in their uncaring, insatiable need for technology and resources to consume to make more of themselves. The energy dissipation weapons technology that the Federation had had already proven to be devastatingly effective against the Replicators as the piles of dead blocks aboard the derelict, soon to be destroyed, Galishka proved. If the Asgard were given the information on that extremely exotic and alien weapons technology, then the Replicator threat would be finally eliminated once and for all.
Still despite knowing how vitally important these talks were Daniel found that a part of him would much rather be with Sarah. Sarah was currently in another session with Councillor Dalara, recovering from the psychological damage she had sustained during Osiris' possession of her body, making her a helpless prisoner within herself. Daniel knew that those sessions while they did Sarah a lot of good, also took a lot of toll on her, practically every night at the moment she was in his arms for a good long while in either her quarters or his own. Daniel shook himself slightly to stop his mind drifting in the direction of what himself and Sarah got up to when they were on their own together at night, suffice to say it was very intimate in a way that he hadn't experienced since the death of his beloved Sha're. Noticing that both Captain Parker and Commander Urlet were looking at him oddly Daniel nodded that he was okay and realised he had been letting himself get distracted, something that everyone at the SGC had long ago gotten used to.
"Status report please," Darien said at last breaking the silence in the transporter room.
"The Valkastner has just hailed us with coordinate's sir," the transporter operator a Tellerite – whose name Darien could never remember – responded. "Commander Thor is ready to transport aboard." Attempts to synchronise the Valkastner's transporter array with the Resolution's had proven to difficult – Asgard and Federation transporter beams seemed to operate completely differently though the basic principles were the same, it had therefore been decided by both sides that the Resolution would transport Thor and any other Asgard representatives back and forth between the two ships.
"Very well, energise," Darien ordered. The transporter activated and in a shimmer of silver and blue light Commander Thor materialised on the transporter pad and Darien finally saw a real life Asgard up close. One thing that immediately struck him was how short Thor was – the Asgard was only about three feet tall if that and very thin and extremely delicate looking. The head was slightly larger than one would expect and the large pure black eyes gazed at him with great intelligence and great age. He only paused for a moment before stepping forward to greet his guest. "Commander Thor welcome aboard the Federation starship Resolution," he said politely.
"Thank you Captain Parker I am pleased to be here," Thor responded and to Darien's surprise Thor extended his hand in the Human greeting gesture. Carefully he took Thor's small hand in his own and they shook hands gently. Just as carefully Darien released Thor's hand – he didn't want to take a risk of hurting the Asgard.
"This is my first officer Commander Urlet you spoke briefly when you helped deliver the initial shipment of relief supplies to the Tollan." Urlet bowed her head slightly in greeting. "And I believe you already know Doctor Jackson."
"Hello Thor," Daniel said warmly.
"Hello Dr Jackson," Thor replied reflexively inclining his head to meet Daniel's eyes. He was so used to doing it with Humans by now. "I am surprised to see you here. I was not aware until yesterday that you were here. Is the rest of SG-1 here?"
"No," Daniel replied knowing what Thor was really asking. Thor was asking if Jack was here. "No they're back on Earth taking part in training simulations for a group of new SGC officers. They'll be at it all week."
"I see then why are you here?"
"I came at the request of a friend," Daniel replied. "Since I've had experience dealing with both the Replicators and the Asgard Captain Parker asked if I would mind assisting in these negotiations."
"I understand." Thor looked at Captain Parker. "Speaking of negotiations Captain Parker I believe that we had best get started. It is my peoples hope that they bear fruit." In fact we desperately need them to succeed, Thor thought to himself, for this ship may hold the weapon that could be our only chance of defeating the Replicators.
"This way," Darien said leading Thor out of the transporter room deliberately keeping his pace short to avoid making the Asgard run to keep up with him. Urlet and Daniel followed. Daniel pulled up besides Thor and for a couple of minutes the two spoke quietly amongst themselves – it seemed to Darien that Daniel was giving Thor more information on what he was doing here away from the rest of his team.
After a couple of moments they reached the turbo lift.
"Conference room one," Darien ordered the lift computer as they climbed in. The turbo lift doors closed behind them and the lift started its journey through the ship.
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The turbo lift took barely moments to travel through the many levels and sections of the ship to their destination. The doors opened to the short corridor that connected the turbo lift to one of the two access points to conference room one. The other was located on the bridge itself.
"This way," Darien instructed leading Thor along the short corridor to the conference room.
Thor was impressed with the conference room once he was inside it. The most startling feature of the room was the massive windows that took up the whole of one wall. Through them it was possible to see part of Tollana as it rotated lazily around it axis while floating silent in the star dappled blackness of space. The other main features of the room were the large conference table that filled the room surrounded by comfortable Human-style chairs and one custom replicated Asgard style seat, and a large glass case along the wall opposite the windows. The case contained a large gold-coloured incredibly detailed model of the ship.
"Please be seated," Darien said moving to his normal place at the head of the table. Commander Urlet also moved to her customary place on the right hand side of her captain. Thor moved to the Asgard seat on Darien's immediate left, Daniel moved to the chair immediately next to Thor.
Once everyone was seated comfortably Darien called the meeting to order.
"Well then Thor let us get down to business," he said to the Asgard fleet commander. "What exactly do your people want from us?"
"As I am sure you are aware my people are engaged in an increasingly desperate war with a dangerous, merciless, relentless enemy," Thor replied. "This enemy is an artificial intelligence that we have named the Replicators. The Replicators have one goal and one goal alone and that is to make more of themselves, each new generation of Replicators is more advanced than the previous one as they improve themselves with knowledge and technological aspects that they assimilate from the ships and worlds whose technology they consume."
"Despite repeated attempts to stop them the Replicators have continued to advance across our home galaxy," Thor continued. "Any opposition is simply crushed or if the engaging Asgard ships are more advanced they are boarded and consumed to produce even more advanced Replicators. At the current rate of progression the Asgard High Council predicts the total defeat and extinction of the Asgard race within two Earth years." Daniel winced as he listened to Thor speak, he hadn't realised that the Asgard were so perilously close to being defeated by the Replicator hoards.
"Now you have shown us that a weapons technology exists that can destroy the Replicators quickly and utterly by fatally disrupting the kyron pathways in the individual blocks that make up the Replicator technology," Thor continued. "I will not exaggerate Captain Parker; my people are in desperate need of that technology. The Asgard High Council is willing to meet any terms you deem appropriate in exchange for being given access to your energy dissipation technology. As a gesture of our sincerity we will give you the information you need to replicate our hyperspace technology, we are aware that you are researching the development of your own hyperspace technology. We will give you the information that will allow you to build a hyperdrive capable of both interstellar and intergalactic travel freely."
"That is extremely generous of your people Thor," Darien replied after a moment of silent thought. "We will accept that information and thank you deeply. I am inclined to grant your people access to our energy dissipation weapons technology. But before I can do that we need to work out a full and fair exchange – so lets get down to the nitty gritty and work out a proper formal agreement."
"Yes," Thor agreed. "Let us discuss the terms and conditions of technology transfer."
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Goa'uld Space Station
Goa'uld Empire, That Same Time
Osiris watched through the eyes of his new host as the cargo ship conveying him to a meeting with the High Council of the Goa'uld System Lords approached the space station that had traditionally served as the neutral meeting place of the System Lords.
The meeting of the High Council had been summoned on very short notice after Anubis had taken the highly unusual step of sending a subspace message to all of the most powerful System Lords. Not only had that message informed the System Lords that Anubis had returned from a thousand years of exile, a fact that Osiris knew had caused absolute uproar amongst them, but that there was a powerful and dangerous new enemy out in the depths of space that could threaten the very existence of the Goa'uld. Reluctantly the System Lords had accepted Anubis back into their ranks and agreed to meet with a representative to discuss the matter. Which was why Osiris was here, to try and enlist the assistance of the System Lords in capturing or destroying the Federation vessel currently orbiting Tollana, before more of their ships returned.
A shudder ran through the deck of the cargo ship as it docked with the space station. Osiris sighed softly, he did not want to go to this meeting but he knew it was necessary. If the Federation really were some descendants of the Ancients themselves as Anubis believed, then the System Lords had to be ready. As who knew when more of their ships would arrive, the Resolution could after all be merely a scout ahead of a much larger fleet.
"Lord Osiris we have achieved hard seal with the space station," the Jaffa pilot of the cargo ship said. "The System Lords have indicated that they are ready to receive you."
"Very well, remain here this will not take long."
"Yes my lord." Osiris stood up and headed for the airlock, an ever present lotar moving closely behind him.
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A Few Minutes Later
Sitting comfortably in one of the thrones in the council chamber Osiris made his masters case to the assembled System Lords.
"This so called 'Federation' ship is a danger to both our power base and to our race; with this in mind my master has requested this meeting, to propose an alliance to destroy their ship and the remains of the Tollan homeworld."
"We have heard of this ship, but it has not harmed us or any of our holdings. Only your master has had problems with this vessel, if we leave them alone then we will be fine." One of the others said. Kali dismissed the words with a wave.
"If the Federation come here then none of our people will be 'fine'," Osiris countered. "Their weapons and defences are considerably more powerful than our own. If it gets out we can be beaten the Jaffa will start to question us as many have already started because of the Tau'ri."
"They will not question their Gods."
"The Federation are some form of descendents of the Ancients; we must destroy their ship now before more of them return to this galaxy."
"What do you suggest Osiris?" growled Camulus.
"Combine all our forces and launch a full scale assault on Tollana. Destroy the Federation ship and reduce the planet to a ball of molten rock."
"How many ships do you think you will need for this? I assume your master will send some of his own," Lord Yu spoke up, anger in his voice as he was not at all happy that Anubis was back. With the deaths of Cronus and Apophis he was the only System Lord left from the time of Anubis' banishment, he well remembered the reasons why Anubis had been banished in the first place. Had he learned Anubis was still alive sooner than this then he would have turned the full force of his fleet on Anubis to kill him as he had wanted to do a thousand years ago, only to be overruled by Ra and Heru'ur.
"As many as you can spare."
"Just how exaggerated are the reports from our spies and survivors of the ships?" Camulus asked.
"They are not. I have been aboard that ship, believe me when I say that if more of them come, if there fleet arrives, then the reign of the Goa'uld will end."
Silence reigned in the council chamber, this was not something easily contemplated by any of their race. To say it outright was tantamount to treason and blasphemy, considering Osiris' belief in his master this ship must be something very different and very powerful.
"If this is true then we do indeed need to send our ships, how many will your Master send?" Asked Kali
"Four. Three Ha'tak-class motherships plus a ship better than any mothership ever constructed, more powerful than even Apophis' flagship."
"Indeed, no other ships are available for him then. You wished for him to be allowed back into the ranks of the System Lords and he only has four ships to spare?" Yu smirked
"He does not. He could send many more. If he so desired."
"So why does he not want to Osiris, is he keeping his ships to attack us while our ships are destroyed in fighting the Federation?"
"Because there is no need for more."
"Yet you ask for our help but claim you need send no more than four motherships. You have contradicted yourself Osiris, your master will have to do better and quickly," Ba'al replied
"So be it. Anubis will take the Resolution for himself. Then you will all have to face his mercy for your cowardice."
Growling the angry Osiris stood from his throne and left through the main doors and headed for his cargo ship, the fools would see the true power of Anubis and the destruction of the Resolution would make him unstoppable.
Within the council chambers the remaining System Lords stayed behind, each slightly in awe at the pure power of this newcomer ship. Camulus spoke up as the rest began to fully become aware at Osiris' and Anubis' fears around this unknown Federation ship and where it came from.
"We will all signal one ship each, they will journey out to the battle as it happens, we will see what this Federation ship truly is and if necessary destroy Anubis' ship if it is victorious."
"Agreed." The rest said.
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Osiris' Cargo Ship
Five Minutes Later
Osiris was still fuming at the behaviour of the System Lords. There refusal to accept reality and see the danger that the Federation ship posed to the very existence of the Goa'uld race was infuriating to say the least. For a few moments Osiris sat in the passenger seat silently cursing the cowardice of the System Lords, but then calmed down a little. Anubis would destroy the Resolution himself, then they would take revenge on the System Lords for their behaviour.
"Jaffa disengage from the station and set course for Anubis' homeworld," Osiris ordered.
"Yes my lord," the Jaffa replied and began carrying out his Gods command. Osiris manipulated the controls in front of him opening a secured subspace communication to Anubis' homeworld. After a moment a holographic screen materialised in front of her showing the face of one on Anubis' elite guard of Jaffa.
"Lord Osiris I regret that Lord Anubis has already boarded his ship and cannot take your report directly," the Jaffa replied eyes downcast in a partial bow, showing respect to the God he spoke to.
"I expected as much," Osiris replied. "I have the System Lords response to Anubis request for assistance in destroying the Resolution. Relay it to Anubis."
Osiris replied."As you command my lord. What is the response from the System Lords that you wish me to relay?"
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Conference Room One
U.S.S Resolution
Ten Minutes Later
"Then we have an agreement," Thor said to Captain Parker. The negotiations for the plans for the energy dissipater weapon had gone remarkably smoothly. What Captain Parker wanted in return was quiet reasonable – and that was Asgard help in finding away to get his ship back to its proper universe and time. It would be a challenge to his peoples astrophysicists Thor knew but it was a reasonable price to pay for being given the plans for the weapon that could give the Asgard victory in the Replicator War – a war that they were currently losing. "In exchange for the plans for the energy dissipation weapons our scientists will work on finding away to return your ship to its proper universe and time," he continued.
"Yes Thor we have an agreement," Darien Parker replied with a warm smile. "I will have Lieutenant Wu transmit the plans for the energy dissipater to your ship along with all the information we have on the quantum fissure that brought us here."
"Very well then," Thor replied. "If we have no other business then I request that you return me to the Valkastner immediately. It is imperative that I take the plans for the dissipater weapon to the High Council immediately."
"Of course Thor and I wish you the best of luck in your battle with the Replicators. If you do encounter any difficulties adapting the energy dissipation weapon to work with your technology then do not hesitate to contact us. We will gladly assist you."
"That is most generous thank you Captain Parker."
"You are most welcome. Commander Urlet will take you back to the transporter room."
Thor stood up from his chair and Commander Urlet did the same. Thor bowed his head to Captain Parker – he was really coming to like the Federation captain just like he liked Colonel O'Neill. Then he turned and followed Commander Urlet out of the room.
Daniel Jackson watched Thor leave the room. He was glad to see the Asgard so happy – the acquiring of the energy dissipater weapons could be the single greatest acquisition that the Asgard had ever made. For it was an acquisition that could save them and the rest of the universe from the cancerous, mechanical terror of the Replicators.
"That went well," Darien commented. Daniel looked over at the Teal'c sized Starfleet captain.
"I expected it to," Daniel replied. "Though until now I didn't know how desperate the Asgard war with the Replicators had become. So far all their attempts to stop the Replicators have failed. But now you've given them access to a form of weapons technology that is as lethal to the Replicators as neutron bombs are to organic beings."
"The Asgard were really starting to become desperate?" Darien asked suddenly worried that the Asgard might not keep their word about having their scientists help his people find away home.
"I wouldn't exactly say completely desperate," Daniel replied. "But they were starting to get seriously worried. We were anyway by the very existence of that war, for if the Asgard go then so does the Protected Planets Treaty which protects Earth and a number of other planets from attack by the Goa'uld. If the Asgard were to be defeated by the Replicators and the System Lords learned of it then they wouldn't hesitate to attack and either annex or destroy us all. The strangle hold that the System Lords have on the galaxy would only strengthen."
"Will the Asgard keep their word about helping my people Daniel," Darien asked.
"Of course they will," Daniel replied. "When the Asgard make a promise to someone then they honour it no matter what it costs them. Thor has promised you his peoples help in finding away back to your own time and universe – the Asgard will honour that promise. And if anyone can help you get back to your home then the Asgard can they are after all a very ancient, wise and powerful race." Darien leaned back in his chair.
"I hope your right," he said softly.
"I know that I am," Daniel replied.
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A Few Moments Later
Daniel stood besides Darien's command chair on the Resolution's bridge as the Valkastner prepared to leave orbit of Tollana.
"Captain all data transmissions between ourselves and the Valkastner have been concluded," Lieutenant Wu reported from the operations console. "I have forwarded the information on the Asgard hyperspace technology to both Lieutenant Rakan and to engineering. The Valkastner is breaking orbit."
"Understood," Darien replied nodding, he could see the Asgard ship moving from the position it had been maintaining orbiting Tollana a few thousand kilometres ahead of them. Though it massed about the same as a Romulan D'Deridex-class warbird the Asgard ship moved with surprising ease and grace.
Darien noticed though that the Valkastner did not immediately completely break orbit, instead it turned its nose to face the half-gutted wreck of the Galishka which they had moved to a higher orbit where it would not be a hazard. The sensors bleeped at that moment and Darien guessed what was happening before Lieutenant Wu even spoke.
"Sir the Valkastner is powering up her forward weapons arrays," Wu reported. "Their targeting the wreck of the Galishka."
"Understood," Commander Urlet said from her position before Darien could speak.
Everyone kept their eyes on the view screen waiting for the inevitable to happen. After a moment a brilliant blue pulse of energy shot out from the centre of the Valkastner's forward section and hit the front portion of the wrecked ship. The entire forward section of the Galishka began to glow as inter-atomic bonds broke down as the disintegration effect of the Asgard particle weapons began to take place. A second pulse flew from the Valkastner, then a third, both pulses also hitting the forward section brightening the glow until it enveloped the whole of the once proud Galishka. For a moment in time it remained completely illuminated like that then the lines and structures of the ship blurred and dissolved away. The glow began fading away, the Galishka was gone vaporised so completely that only a cloud of dust remained to blow away silently on the stellar winds.
"Asgard weapons are powering down sir," Wu reported as the Valkastner completely broke orbit, a hyperspace window opened in space ahead of them and with a flash from its engines the Valkastner leapt forward and vanished from the system.
"It's over," Urlet said softly. "This meeting with the Asgard and the Replicators."
"Yes. Though something tells me we have not seen the last of the Asgard commander," Darien replied. "We will probably meet again."
"Oh that's a certainty," Daniel said. "But if you no longer need me I would like to go and catch up with Sarah Darien."
"Certainly Daniel go," Darien answered smiling knowingly. Daniel couldn't help but smile back before heading for the turbo lift off the bridge. Darien leaned back in his command chair, he did not think that they had seen the last of the Asgard. He was certain that they would meet again, when he didn't know but he knew that they would. That was something that he did not mind at all as he was constantly aware that despite her power the Resolution was a very long way from home. He knew that without someone to support them, without friends to back them up then they were very vulnerable to attack by those who – like the Goa'uld – wanted to enslave them and steal there secrets. The Asgard struck Darien as a very good friend to have, a very good friend indeed.
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Authors Note: I would like to convey my personal thanks to Martin70 and Ash's Broomstick for all the help they have given me with this chapter.