Chapter Four: Down The Rabbit Hole
USS Odyssey
Earth Orbit
For a few moments after Orthan pressed the control nothing happened, then with a slow increasing humming sound the quantum drive began powering up. Lights throughout the Odyssey dimmed noticeably as the drive drew the lions share of the energy being produced by Odyssey's naqauda reactors. A pronounced vibration began to be felt throughout the vessel as the drive powered up.
"Quantum drive fully charged," Talia said checking her readings on the quaint Earth made plasma display screen. It had been along time since the Tollan had used such a system but she couldn't argue with the quality of the graphic display, it was every bit as good as the holographic viewers she was used to. "Subspace matrix is stable, ready to create the vortex."
"Do it," Orthan ordered, mentally crossing his fingers that the drive would work and not blow them to kingdom come. Opening up a vortex large enough for a ship this size was going to put enormous stress on the prototype drives power systems. He watched as Talia pressed the control to engage the drives primary function.
For a moment more nothing happened then a glowing vortex opened in space ahead of the Odyssey. It was like a hyperspace window only blue and static as opposed to the aquamarine and white colors of a hyperspace window. For a moment both the vortex and the Odyssey remained static in space, then the massively powerful ion drives of the Odyssey engaged and the second of the Daedalus-class starships vanished into the vortex which then folded closed behind them as if it had never been.
The moment they crossed the event horizon of the vortex the Odyssey shook violently, being tossed around by subspace forces she had never been designed to withstand. Arcs of St Elmo's Fire like energy crackled along the hull of the vessel, dancing over her view ports treating the crew inside to one hell of a light show. The ship bucked and rolled as though in the grips of a storm as she shot down a glowing tunnel of energy.
Clutching the edge of the console set aside for them in engineering Orthan watched in growing concern as temperature readings from the core of the quantum drive quickly shot up into the red zone. The subspace field coils in the core of the drive were getting dangerously hot as they fought to maintain the field around the ship. Just a little longer, he thought at the warning lights that appeared on the display, just keep working a little longer, we are almost there.
A shudder even more violent than any that had gone before shook the ship making the consoles and crystals that were a fundamental part of the ships technology vibrate and rattle in their mountings. Then it was over, the ship stabilized as she transited back into normal space.
To find Jupiter looming right in front of them, filling space with its vastness. They had emerged from the vortex dangerously close to the gas giant, well within the massive planets formidable gravity well. Inside the orbit of the innermost of the major moons Io.
"Full emergency thrust, veer us away!" Colonel Emerson ordered urgently, staring at the expressive view ports at the front of the bridge. The great red spot, the storm that had been raging in Jupiter's atmosphere for centuries was directly ahead looking greedily ready to devour the Odyssey whole. High pitched whining filled the Odyssey as her engines went into full emergency reverse thrust, slowing the ships ballistic plunge towards the gas giant.
Slowly, ever so slowly, the Odyssey began to pull away from the planet, rising away from the doom the planet promised. Her speed picked up and the ship rose steadily and established a stable orbit of the planet.
"Orbit achieved sir," Lt. Womack reported with a sigh of relief.
"Excellent," Emerson replied, blissfully unaware that the Odyssey wasn't the only starship in the system and that the ship that was already here had just seen them.
Taelon Mothership
Earth Orbit
A Few Moments Earlier
Quo'on – leader of the Taelon Synod – was starting to get a little irritated by the conversation that was going on between himself, the North American Companion and his preferred choice to succeed him as Synod Leader Da'an, and Da'an arrogant, headstrong offspring the UN Companion Zo'or.
"The detection of the subspace radio signal gives us an invaluable opportunity to increase the pace of our agenda on Earth," Zo'or said. "By making the Humans aware of the Jaridian threat now we can bend them more to serve our will."
"I have to agree with Zo'or but only to a point," Da'an added. "We should make the Humans aware of the threat that we both face, only do it in such away that we can acquire the voluntary help of the Humans in combating them."
"We do not have the time for such a strategy Da'an," Zo'or snapped. "The survival of the Taelon race is at stake, we must take any and all actions required to ensure our survival. Using the Humans in any way that is required is the perfect means of ensuring our survival. We both know who the Humans are descended from, if we can tap into their hidden powers then our survival is assured, the cost to the Humans is immaterial."
"Enough," Quo'on said. "You both have valid points, but the decision has been made. Our mission on Earth will continue according to our original directive. We will guide the Humans to their destiny as is our duty. If the need arises we will inform them of the Jaridian threat, but now is not the time." Da'an inclined his head slightly in acknowledgement and submission to the final decision of the Synod Leader. Zo'or looked ready to argue further and Quo'on prepared to quietly – in a very Taelon way – put the younger Taelon in his place when the melodic chimes of the sensors called for attention.
"What is it?" Quo'on asked one of the implants on the bridge.
"Quo'on sensors have detected an unidentified spatial disturbance over Jupiter," the implant reported in a cool voice, as the implant the human wore removed all emotions. A situation Quo'on and Da'an both quietly disagreed with – Humans were much more interesting when they had their full range of emotions – but they had been overruled by the rest of the Synod. "A ship has emerged from the disturbance and is heading for the gas giants upper atmosphere."
"Identify," Quo'on ordered.
"Configuration unknown. The ship is now moving up to orbit the gas giant."
"Scan for life forms."
"Life forms read as Human."
"What! Confirm that," Zo'or ordered.
"Readings confirmed, Zo'or. Life signs are clearly human."
"Interesting," Quo'on said. "Navigation, break orbit and move to intercept the unknown ship. Communications prepare to hail them on my order."
"Yes, Quo'on," the two Taelons in charge of those sections reported from their control blisters on the wall of the motherships bridge.
With a grace that belief her immense size and complexity, the Taelon mothership broke away from its geostationary orbit over the Taelons moon base and aligned herself on a course that would take her to Jupiter. But rather than spend nearly an hour cruising the distance between the third and fifth planets of the system the motherships Interdementional drive engaged in a blast of quantum fire taking her away from orbit of Earth's moon, and a moment later she reappeared over Jupiter in another flash of quantum fire.
The unknown ship that was giving off Human life signs floated in space in front of the mothership. Bristling with obvious weapons batteries the ship was clearly a warship, though it did not much the configuration of any warship stored in the Taelon motherships vast database.
With a wave of a hand Quo'on summoned up a datastream display and a command to the controls on the arm of his chair – the only chair on the bridge – ordered the sensor readings to displayed in the datastream. The alien vessel was about the same size of one of the aircraft carriers that until the Taelon arrival had cruised Earth's ocean. The design was interesting albeit somewhat primitive; the hull metal was a mixture of trinium – something that was not naturally occurring in this system – and titanium composites. The mothership also picked up considerable stores of naquada present on the vessel and it appeared to be deriving its power from a primitive naquada fusion reaction. The weapons systems though appeared to be very advanced ion based particle cannons and missile launchers, the shield system was impressive and easily matched the shield output of a Taelon heavy cruiser, the ship also seemed to mount highly advanced hyperspace drive technology. Interesting, Quo'on thought, an odd mixture of primitive and highly advanced technologies. And what are these odd quantum readings it's giving off? It doesn't match any of the surrounding space.
"Quo'on the unknown ship has raised its shields," Agent Ronald Sandoval reported from where he had taken over control of the sensor station from the drone implant that had been operating it. "Weapons systems however remain powered down. We are being scanned."
"They must be nervous and cautious," Da'an said. "We should contact them."
Quo'on nodded in agreement. "Communications open a channel to the unknown vessel," Quo'on ordered.
"Channel open, Quo'on," communications replied.
"Attention unknown warship, I am Quo'on of the Taelon Synod. You have entered Taelon protected space, identify yourself immediately and state your intentions."
USAF Odyssey
A Few Moments Earlier
To say that the crew of the Odyssey was surprised when a highly advanced, obviously powerful, absolutely enormous alien vessel appeared out of nowhere right in front of them would have been understatement.
"Where the hell did that come from?" Cameron Mitchell asked.
"Unknown," Sam Carter replied as Narim stepped closer to view the sensor readouts. "It didn't decloak. It just appeared, presumably via a method of faster than light propulsion that we are unfamiliar with."
"Alien ship is scanning us." Marks reported.
"Let's not take any chances, raise shields but leave weapons systems powered down," Colonel Emerson ordered. "I want us to appear cautious not hostile."
"Aye, sir."
"Scan them in return," Emerson ordered. "They're curious about us its only fair that we return the favor."
"Scanning now, sir," another bridge officer reported turning the Odyssey's formidable Asgard designed scanners on the alien vessel. Invisible, highly accurate subspace sensor beams reached across space and began probing the secrets of the massive alien starship that had just materialized in front of the Odyssey.
A holographic screen blinked into existence in front of the viewing windows at the front of the bridge. Windows that were themselves a material the Asgard had taught them to make, a material that was capable of withstanding the enormous stress put on a ship by traveling in hyperspace. The alien vessel was an astonishing nine kilometers long by nearly a kilometer wide and half a kilometer tall. Bigger by far than any vessel the SGC had ever encountered, this ship put Wraith hiveships to shame for its sheer vastness. The sensors revealed the ships composition was highly unusual in that like a Wraith starship the unknown vessel was organic yet an organic material that was somehow merged with strange energy fields and conduits. The ships power emissions were almost off the scale, it was putting out many times the energy of anything they'd seen this side of an Ancient or Asgard vessels.
"Impressive," Narim commented reading the scan readouts. "I wonder what there power source is."
"Probably a ZPM or something similar." Sam said.
"A what?" Narim asked.
"Zero point module, it's the power source used by the Ancients, basically it taps vacuum energy from a self contained region of subspace, a universe in a bottle if you will," Sam replied. "We've recovered two over the years, ones now depleted the other has been sent to an off world facility we have in another galaxy." Sam wanted to tell Narim that they had sent the ZPM to Atlantis, but they were under orders not to reveal the existence of Atlantis to the Tollan, at least not yet anyway. It was a sign of the damaged trust between Earth and Tollana.
"Colonel we've got a signal coming in from the alien ship." Marks reported before Narim could ask Samantha for any details about this mysterious off world facility in another galaxy. Narim made a mental note to talk to her about it and these ZPM's later, the Tollan people would be very interested in getting a look at the power source used by the strongest race to have ever existed.
"Put it through." Emerson ordered.
"Attention unknown warship," a strange, melodic ethereal alien voice said over the radio in perfect English. "I am Quo'on of the Taelon Synod. You have entered Taelon protected space, identify yourself immediately and state your intentions."
Silence reigned on the Odyssey for a moment, stunned silence as everyone digested what they had just heard. Everyone asking themselves what a Taelon was, they had never heard an alien race of that name before. Whoever they were their vessel indicated that they were a very powerful race, a race that claimed this system as a protectorate.
"Unknown vessel, please respond." Quo'on's voice said again.
"We should respond," Daniel said. "These Taelons might be able to help us find and deal with Ba'al."
"Agreed but how should we respond," Emerson said. "Somehow I doubt that this Earth has space going vessels. If we identify ourselves as an Earth vessel then these Taelons might ask some very awkward questions."
"There is away around that," Daniel pointed out. "We could use what the Goa'uld called us to identify ourselves."
"Tau'ri," Emerson replied thoughtfully. "I suppose its better than nothing and should buy us some time. Okay we'll use it, any objections please lodge them now." There were no objections from anyone around the bridge. "Very well, communications open a channel."
"Channel open, sir."
Emerson took a deep breath for a moment to steady his nerves before speaking. "This is Colonel Emerson of the Tau'ri ship Odyssey. We mean you no harm." For a moment there was no response from the alien vessel.
"Be that as it may Colonel Emerson," Quo'on's voice said. "You have viloated Taelon protected space without permission. Why are you here?"
Emerson grimaced and considered how best to answer that question. He glanced over at SG-1and Narim to see if they had any ideas on how to answer Quo'on, one by one everyone shrugged until Daniel spoke up.
"We might as well tell them the truth," Daniel said. "After a fashion of course, we can tell them were tracking an enemy of ours, but leave out the fact that we're from another universe. For now at least, these Taelons look like an advanced race, maybe they can help us track down Ba'al's fleet and recover the stolen quantum drive."
Emerson nodded in agreement, then addressed the Taelons. "We are here tracking an enemy of ours," he said. "We tracked them to this part of space, before loosing them."
"Who is this enemy?" Quo'on asked.
"They are called the Goa'uld," Emerson answered. "A large fleet of their vessels was traced coming to this region of space."
"You lie. The Goa'uld race is extinct," Quo'on replied. "We destroyed them three thousand years ago."
"I assure you it is no lie, Quo'on," Emerson answered. "We know a large fleet of their warships came to this area in the last few weeks."
"Stand by." Quo'on said a moment before there was a bleep.
"Communications link has gone on stand by, sir," communications said.
"Great now what?" Cameron Mitchell asked.
"We wait." Daniel answered.
Taelon Mothership
Quo'on put the transmission with the Odyssey on stand by and turned to Da'an and Zo'or, both of whom had been listening quietly.
"They cannot be telling the truth," Zo'or said. "Every Taelon knows that the Goa'uld are as dead as the Kimera. Since they are obviously unwilling to tell us the truth we should take their vessel by force and find out why they are really here and where some humans got the knowledge required to build a hyperspace capable warship."
"On the contrary," Da'an replied. "They could well be telling the truth. Not every Goa'uld Queen was accounted for during our campaign against them. If some have indeed survived and rebuilt their forces then who knows how far they have advanced technologically in the last three thousand years. With our forces distracted by the war with the Jaridians we would not necessarily notice any survivors rebuilding and evolving in a remote region of space."
"That is most unlikely," Zo'or argued.
"Can we take the risk? If indeed the Goa'uld are back in numbers then the Synod needs to know about it."
"You are correct, Da'an," Quo'on said, feeling the agreement of other members of the Synod through the Commonality.
"We should invite them aboard the mothershiop," Da'an suggested. "That way we can talk to them face to face in a controled environment."
"Agreed," Quo'on replied and pressed a control on his chair arm. "Colonel Emerson I believe we may have been hasty in our assumptions," he said. "If you are indeed telling us the truth then be prepared to send a delegation over to this ship to discuss this matter. Your people will not be harmed, you have my word."
USAF Odyssey
Emerson frowned at Quo'on's words. Though it hadn't been said he clearly heard a veiled threat in Quo'on's statement, the Taelons obviously still didn't quite believe them, but were giving them a chance to prove their case. If they failed to take up Quo'on's offer then there was no doubt in his mind that the Taelons would fire at them then board them to find out the truth.
"Very well Quo'on we'll send a delegation aboard your vessel," he said. "But not right now, we will require time to prepare."
"That is acceptable. I suggest we both go to Earth orbit, is an hour sufficient time to prepare for a meeting?"
"That will be fine," Emerson replied.
"Then I look forward to meeting your representatives," Quo'on answered. "Quo'on out." The communications link with the Taelon ship closed down with a soft bleep and through the viewport they could see the gigantic alien vessel slowly turning away from them.
"Helm match their course," Emerson ordered.
"Yes, sir."
"Well looks like we have a meeting to prepare for," Mitchell said. "We better decide whose going and what we are going to say to these Taelons."
"Indeed," Teal'c agreed.
Elsewhere
The dry air of the planet hummed, a tooth shaking ground swell of noise that grew louder and louder. The sand danced upon the ground and hardy insects and lizards fled to their deep burrows and nests to escape the unnatural reverberation. The noise reached a crescendo and was joined by a large moving shadow, a shape which covered the sun as it lingered high in the air before descending to the desert floor with a glint of shaped and burnished metal.
The Al'kesh pressed into the ground, compressing the shifting sands into a solid platform the craft could rest on, it's guns cool and silent while doors in its belly slid open and deployed ramps for its occupants to depart.
A single man was the first to step down, to plant his heavy boots on the yellow sand of this otherwise deserted world. In his mind it was a homecoming, a triumphant return, but to the timeless memory of the rocks and sand this man was new, unknown and one of only a handful of visitors who had pressed their feet on the ground in the long years of existence.
"Legion!" First Prime Ter'ak shouted. "Cree'tak!"
More alien noise filled the air, this time the steady thump of steel shod feet on the metal ramp of the Al'kesh. A column of dull metal clanged down the lowered platform and onto the sands, the sound of the progression changing as the texture of the ground beneath them altered. Ter'ak stood by proudly as the warriors proceeded in perfect unison, the column a dozen men wide and over a hundred long filing out of the landing ship without so much as a word or step out of place.
They wheeled around and halted in front of the ship, turning to the right to face out towards the mountain where in a different time and place the Jaffa as a race had been born.
He gave a slight nod of approval, the Legions of Ba'al were different to ordinary Jaffa and it was mostly down to Ter'ak. Most warriors fought as their forefathers had generations ago, emphasising courage and divine favour as the core principles of victory. Ter'ak was not so naïve, and while those principles had their place on the battlefield he believed the gods gave victory to those who earned it.
His Jaffa were disciplined, a team of men who knew what battle demanded of them. They drilled in formation, trained in small groups and knew to use terrain and firepower to their advantage. As far as Ter'ak cared his Jaffa were worth any three in the service of lesser gods, he even considered them equal to the Tau'ri in favourable circumstances.
They were a perfect union of warrior and soldier, utilizing the best of both worlds. They were a modern army for a modern Goa'uld, and Ba'al was the only lord who knew how to use them effectively. Ter'ak did not merely serve his god, he respected him, and as such his loyalty was above question.
"Jaffa!" He bellowed. "Bear witness! This is Dakarra! This world, is our world!"
He pointed to the mountain. "This land is our land! Its air is in our lungs! Its dust in our blood! We are Dakarra, and Dakarra is us!"
Behind him the Jaffa thumped their staffs on the ground, a shuddering thump of agreement.
"The city of our people will rise anew on the slopes of this holy place!" He proclaimed. "Like the founders of our line we will build a shrine on this world, a temple to the might of the Jaffa and the resolution of our hearts!"
The staffs thundered again.
"As we stand, and as we fall, this world will be our home! I reclaim Dakarra in the name of Ba'al! Now and forever!"
The Legion roared in one voice. "Ba'al!"
Ter'ak turned to them with a fatherly expression. "Establish a perimeter, then signal the other ships we are ready to begin construction."
High in orbit the transports began their descent while the much larger Hatak's remained on station providing cover should any force try to intervene. Fighters roamed space and escorted the slave ships down to the surface and patrolled for targets.
"This is Glider four to lead, I have a possible target."
The Goa'uld fighter altered course slightly, leaving its assigned sector to investigate this sudden anomaly.
"What are you showing?" the old voice of the lead pilot replied from the far side of the convoy.
"It is a signal, faint, not something we have on records."
"Investigate."
The fighter cruised through space zeroing in on the source of the signal, it wasn't a ship, probably not a fighter either. Whatever it was the target was small and clearly trying to go unnoticed. He was almost on top of it before he caught sight of an alien object.
"Glider four, target sighted. some sort of probe."
"Secrecy is essential." The leader stated. "Open fire."
The glider adjusted course and primed his weapons with a crackle of golden energy. The target was small and assisted aiming consisted of squinting a bit more than usual before firing. He engaged with a quick burst of staff fire, amazing the object started taking immediate evasive action so most of the shots missed but one clipped the frantically dodging device, instantly stopping its signal and robbing it of power.
The fighter shot past and swung around for another run.
"Target disabled, moving in to finish it."
"Wait," the leader said. "No, hold position. If it is inert it might be worth studying. We have orders to examine evidence of other civilisations if we can. I am sending a cargo ship. Well done Jaffa, your accuracy is commendable."
The Pilot shrugged, he'd been aiming to destroy it but he wasn't going to shrug off praise.
"I live to serve."
Ba'al decided that he deserved a moment to just rest and enjoy the fruits of his effort. He reclined lazily in the deep chair he had grown used to and regarded the planet through the reinforced window of his command deck. It was not the Dakarra he knew, it did not have the heritage or presence, but all that was in name only. This was the same place, and when he was done it would surpass the glory of its twin in the other dimension.
Ba'al was a consummate opportunist, he liked creating them and exploiting them. This device, this object of Tollan ingenuity had given him such an opportunity and he had seized it gladly. There were no Goa'uld here, no rivals to his power or sycophants to attack him, at least only those he had brought and he had their measure already.
Nerus was a fool, a fool of a fool, interested only in the pleasures of power. He ate, drank and made merry, though he also had something of a knack for technology which made him moderately useful. He already had what he desired and wasn't energetic or cunning enough to move against Ba'al, he was of little threat.
Persephone was another matter. Like Nerus she had great scientific knowledge, probably more than the obese Goa'uld, but she played it calmly and clinically. She had come to him from a minor lord Ba'al had subjugated and killed, at first she was a mere decoration lightening the air with her beauty. He had since discovered her mind was as sharp as any and enlisted her more directly in his efforts.
Her motives remained hidden, so too did her true depths of wit and cunning. He would be watching her closely.
Even as he played on these thoughts she entered his view, bowing her short blond hair in respect before awaiting his acknowledgement.
"Persephone." He smiled in greeting, hiding any other thoughts he had. "Is the survey complete?"
"It is." She replied. "The world is a perfect geological match for Dakarra, but with no civilization."
Ba'al nodded in acceptance. "What about the device?"
"I will have to investigate it in person if the rumours are true my lord, orbital scans are not sufficient."
"I will see to it." Ba'al replied. "You may remain here continuing your evaluation."
"As you wish." She betrayed no emotion. "The first groups are moving down now to establish a colony."
"Good, we will set up a base of operations then begin to expand." He approved.
"We have located many untapped deposits of Naquadah, sources exhausted on the original Dakarra." Persephone informed. "Enough to supply our expansion by itself for years to come."
"Excellent." He agreed. "We will investigate where the alien races of this galaxy live, then deal with them as appropriate."
"By your command."
He smiled at that. "Indeed."
"I shall continue my studies into local space my lord." Persephone bowed. "I have located many stars that correspond to our own reality, including Tollana, Earth, Chulak and others."
"On that subject, I may have something to help you." Ba'al announced. "One of my pilots found a probe. It has been disabled and brought on board."
The woman's eyes grew acutely aware. "A probe?"
"A cursory exam shows it is entirely alien, a design completely unknown to us."
"That is an intriguing discovery my lord."
"Very." Ba'al agreed. "I want you to investigate it, I don't like the idea of Nerus dropping chicken bones and grease on this device. Besides, I suspect you will do a better job."
"Your confidence is not misplaced my lord."
"See that it isn't." Ba'al returned. "On this, and many other things."
She bowed low, then left to attend to her duties while Ba'al considered his next move. There were aliens here, an un-encountered race. Whether they were allies, enemies or slaves was the next question he needed to answer. and in time he would.