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Stargate: Do Over
Previously:
Mr. Anderson answered that one, "It all started when the replicators re-emerged and the originals of our lines Ascended..."
Chapter 05, Bewildered.
Aboard the Santa Maria, conference room.
"Your people were long dead before that. You committed an act of mass suicide, after a final failed attempt at repairing your genetic degradation caused a rapid fatal disease. You gave up hope." Jules paused, "The Ori were at the time attacking everyone and everything. You decided to destroy all instances of your technology so that it did not fall into the wrong hands. All except what you put on our ship, the Odyssey, was destroyed." He said. "You proclaimed us, the Humans of Earth, the Fifth Race and charged us with the protection of your legacy and the planets under your care; and then..."
They all allowed a silent moment after that.
"Without that technology, Earth would probably not have made it much longer. They eventually learned of a weapon, the Sangraal, looked for it... found it and used it to kill the Ori. Then there was the Ark..." he paused, "All that, is detailed in the tablets before you. Everything from the time we first reopened the gate on Earth, the Goa'uld, their demise, the replicators, their first demise, the Ori, their demise, the Wraith... well those were still around when the replicators came back. We have plenty of time inside the time dilation field for you to study the material, we can be here for a few days and only seconds will have passed outside. So let's skip to the good parts.
"Years later, I... Err, Daniel Jackson was on a diplomatic mission to Hebridan. The replicators resurfaced that day. They attacked, killed him and he Ascended... again." Said Jules.
"We; Samantha Carter and Jack O'Neill were on a shake down cruise of the Odyssey after a refit and upgrade with some more of your technology that we implemented." Said Sophie, "The replicators attacked several planets at the same time. Earth, Cimmeria, Dakara, Orban, Hebridan, Langara and many others. They didn't know about that detail until later. They only knew that Earth was teeming with replicators. The Odyssey had a copy of the entire Asgard database aboard. The other two copies of your database on Earth were destroyed with the self destruct of the facilities housing them."
Mr. Anderson cut in, "They were ordered to head to Dakara and contact the Jaffa High council. But, once it became apparent that option was no longer available, they were ordered to leave, head to Atlantis, warn them of the possibility the replicators might learn about it from Earth and inform them that Earth... the Galaxy, was lost." He paused, "They did try to make a few stops along the way to warn friends, but wherever they looked there were more replicators."
"They eventually reached Atlantis, but a day later the replicators showed up en masse." Samantha continued. "In short, everyone died, sooner or later."
Everyone stayed silent for a moment.
"Daniel had followed and he was able to help Sam and Jack ascend. They tried to help everyone else too, but were stopped by the Others. They did however manage to absorb all the information from the Asgard database on the Odyssey and from Atlantis' database; and every other piece of information there was in the neighborhood, let's just call that the Human Database. Apparently they can do that, don't ask me how... After a long while the trio was sick of watching both the Milky Way and the Pegasus be further entrenched by replicators. So, they decided to leave."
"That's when the strange parts of our story start happening." Sophie cut in. "They decided to go as far away from home as possible. The other Ascended were watching them, stopping them from interfering with the lower plane. They were hoping to manage to go so far away that they would no longer have watchers."
"The Ascended perceive the universe differently. While we, for the most part, normally only perceive three spatial dimensions plus the passage of time or space-time as we like to call it; They can perceive and interact with more... dimensions for lack of a better word. However, distance is still distance whichever way you perceive it. But, traveling long distances is easier for the Ascended. For instance travel between nearby star systems is... Well, to give you a metaphor, think of a human jumping over a puddle. Travel between nearby galaxies is harder even for the Ascended, to continue the metaphor, it is like a human swimming across a very big lake. Doable but tiresome. But there are shortcuts, the Stargates and... other things." said Mr. Anderson.
Sophie continued, "They wanted to go somewhere where the Ascended would not be bothered to follow. And they had an idea of exactly where and how to get there." She paused. "Destiny. Destiny is a ship launched by the Alterans millions of years ago. She was in a very distant galaxy. To continue with the same metaphor, getting there without a shortcut, would be like a human swimming across a vast ocean, for eons, with no end in sight."
"So, they waited until they managed to shake their tail and then used a stargate, one that was next to a black hole, to dial Destiny. They needed the black hole nearby as an energy source. Then they went through the gate." Jules said.
"We do not know what happened there. They categorically did not want to tell us. What we do know is, that several years later they were back in the Milky Way galaxy, in possession of at least one additional database, that of Destiny. And that they were completely alone. No other beings, Ascended or otherwise, were there, or anywhere. When they created us, they sent us to look for Ascended beings in all surrounding galaxies as well as a few more distant ones we could travel to, we found a few sentient species far away, but we detected no sign of Ascended." Chloe finished.
"Just more evidence the replicators had been there." Added Mr. Anderson.
They paused to let that set in. The Asgard were horrified to listen that without intervention, not only were they going to die, but it sounded like the entire Local Galactic Group was going to become a wasteland taken over by the replicators! Everyone would die. Possibly even the Ascended Ancients. This, even Kvasir thought should be prevented.
"What happened?" Asked Aegir.
"Before creating us. They reprogrammed the replicators. All replicators, from all the galaxies they could find them in. And gathered them all in the void near the Milky Way galaxy." Answered Mr. Anderson.
"The replicators had gotten very advanced by this time. They had assimilated knowledge from countless civilizations across several galaxies. And now, Sam, Jack and Daniel had all the knowledge of the Asgard, the Alterans and that acquired by the replicators at their disposal not to mention being Ascended in the first place... And, with that all, they started building." Said Jules.
"They built an enormously gigantic device, the size and mass were so big they had to construct it in the intergalactic void. Within it, they created the pocket universe." Sophie continued. "And with that, they built everything else. Using it as a power source, they made certain that every last particle in everything they built was created from energy coming from that pocket universe. That process took many years... During that time they sent us to investigate all galaxies within reach. After that they did whatever it was they did with the universes. And when they were ready, they sent us all back to the past."
She asked them after a pause, "Do you have records of a relatively small black hole recently... disappearing from the far edges of the Milky Way?"
"We do not." Answered Penegal after looking at each of the others. "We have not been able to explore the galaxies recently due to the replicators."
"Just over two decades ago, the mass of a small black hole was swapped with our mass. They wanted to make it so that no extra mass was added to this universe. So, they balanced the mass coming in with the mass they removed. We do not know if they arbitrarily chose to use a black hole, or if they had to do so for other reasons. Or even if the size of it mattered." She paused, "Of course, the combined mass of our entire fleet, could not possibly equal the mass of a black hole! Not even close." She said cryptically and with a grin.
"But we will brag about that more when we show you our home. For now, do you have any questions?" Said Mr. Anderson.
Kvasir obviously had many but Penegal cut in, "Why the need for such extreme security measures?"
All three of the Asurans showed clear signs of being uncomfortable.
"Uh," Sophie took the lead. "We don't want the Ascended to stop us."
"Remember when we said that all the Ascended were gone?" Mr. Anderson asked.
"Indeed, should we not try to warn them?" Asked Kvasir.
The three winced at that.
"We fear they would destroy us." Jules said.
"Their highest law is to not interfere with the lower planes. If they find out about us, our whole story, they may consider us to be such interference. Which we are, since we were created by Ascended beings." Sophie said.
"And that's not all." Jules continued. "They told us the Ascended from our neck of the woods left. Went to a far away galaxy near Destiny's location where other, friendly, Ascended beings existed, leaving behind the three 'unruly' ones as they called themselves. But then they sent us to look for any sign of them..."
"That, simply, does not fit." Mr. Anderson said, "They said, that the older Ascended could not stand watching everything be destroyed again so, they gave up and moved on. We do not believe that to be the case."
"We think they lied and that there's a simpler and more plausible explanation, one that is far worse. We think they, our originals... killed the others." Said Jules.
Everyone paused at that information. Now three of the four Asgard were the ones showing clear signs of being uncomfortable.
"And there you have it, our most guarded, most embarrassing, most terrible secret." Mr. Anderson said.
Thor spoke, "Plausible..." he blinked, "Why do you believe they lied to you? Why not just tell you the truth?"
"Shame, guilt..."
Thor nodded, agreeing. He relaxed, he considered the matter closed. Any Asgard would recognize the body language, and they did.
The other three Asgard were surprised by Thor's behavior. How he so quickly accepted such an amazing story and such a horrible revelation for the death of the Ascended.
"You should consider that they sent you back in time, so that you could make it so the Ascended survive... Hmm, What are your directives?" Thor asked surprising the others again.
Jules glanced at the others, they all were surprised and took a moment to respond.
"We don't have directives per se. More like suggested courses of action they gave us. We have decided our top objective will always be to defend Earth. A little selfish perhaps, but understandable." Jules said, "Second, to completely remove the threat of the Replicators and third, to help the Asgard live on. There are also some other matters we wish to pursue when the time is appropriate."
"You have a solution for us." Thor said.
"We have a few, for you to choose from. I hope you will have by now guessed one or two of the possible solutions. We have a purely genetic one as well."
The other three Asgard just sat and watched the exchange.
"And then?" Thor asked.
"We assist the people of Earth, uplift them technologically, to an extent, so that they themselves can overthrow the Goa'uld from our galaxy. It will be their rite of passage. Then, later, we will be more involved, we will join them in the fight against the Wraith. After that, only time will tell."
"What about the Ascended?" Thor asked.
"We intend to avoid them. As much as possible. All of our ships have a special repelling field around them, the Ascended find it... difficult to cross. If they find out who and what we are, they will most likely try to destroy us and Earth. If they do try, well... I'm sorry, but we will defend ourselves."
Thor bowed slightly. He picked up the tablet off the table, stood up and walked towards one of the smaller tables further away form the main conference table. The other three Asgard looked at him in wonder. They were not accustomed to such deep interference with less advanced civilizations, but Thor seemed agreeable to it. Moreover, the Asurans claimed they could and would defend themselves from the Ascended if they chose to be belligerent against them. That was horrifying.
Thor turned around before sitting. "One more thing," Thor said, "last time I was here, there was... another one, I might have imagined it, I am not certain. It might have been some side-effect of..." He said looking at Jules.
"Oh, no you didn't imagine him my friend." Mr. Anderson cut in, "Hey, Thor! Are you listening in?" He asked looking up to the ceiling.
A hologram, of Thor, appeared in the room. "Indeed I am. You and I have much to discuss." Thor said to his younger self.
SGSGSGSGSG
A week later
2 light years away from Abydos
A hyperspace window opened and from it exited Osiris' Archaic Tel'tak.
Daniel was awakened by the lurch. He got up, "That can't be good." He said to himself and walked the few feet to the controls. He checked his wristwatch. He looked at the ship's control screen showing his current location, he checked his wristwatch again. "Damn it. Just needed another day, at most..."
A noise caught his attention, he turned and saw...
The man snorted. "You're an idiot." Said Leo, an Asuran of Daniel's line.
"You're not going to stop me." Said Daniel defensively, postured with his arms across his chest.
Leo shrugged, "Oh, please, do I look like I'm stopping you?"
They stared at each other.
"I'm Leo by the way."
"Well, Leo, I appear to be stuck. Did you tamper with the hyperdrive?"
"Oh no, I did nothing of the sort."
"Good." He said turning back to the console. He wanted to fix it and continue to his destination as soon as possible and go find Sha're.
"Of course there's the small matter of what it is you think you're doing out here." Leo said.
Daniel raised an eyebrow. "You're telling me you don't know?"
"Oh, I know, I just want to hear you say it."
"Sha're, of course. I'm going to find Sha're!"
"And then what?"
"Then, we leave with this ship."
"Apart from the obvious lack of food and water, this tub is in serious need of repair."
"We'll get provisions from the planet... and I'll fix it, how hard can it be? I've looked over Sam's shoulder for years. I've learned a thing or two. Not to mention the technology on this ship seems... simpler."
"Hmm, alright."
A silent moment passed.
"You sure she'll want to come?" Leo asked.
"Of course she will!"
"Because?"
"Because. I..." Daniel paused, "Well, she will."
"Ah! It will be a kidnapping then?"
"No!"
"Then what?" Leo asked.
Daniel stayed silent.
"Daniel, you've spent a year with Sha're. You loved her, she loved you. But that's not the Sha're you know on Abydos right now. More importantly, she's not the Sha're that knows you."
"She'll get to know me, we..."
"Nonsense." Leo cut in, "You'll waltz in and terrify her."
"Why would I do that?"
Leo, raised an eyebrow and pointed around the room. "First of all you're in a ship."
Daniel shrugged, "So?"
"And secondly, you're not the young scared archeologist that sneezes a lot and lacks confidence."
"Are you," Daniel sneezed mid-sentence, "going to stop me?"
"Could have been wrong about the sneezing part." Leo said with a grin, "No, by all means, go ahead, destroy any chance you could ever have with her."
"Is there something you know that I don't?"
"The list of things I know that you do not is immense, be more specific."
"Cut the crap. I know you, you know me, tell me what you're not telling me."
Leo sighed, "One, your hyperdrive is off line and two, at the moment, she's got a... friend."
"What? How could this happen! What did you do!" Daniel demanded.
"Hey now, I did not touch the hyperdrive. As for Sha're, were you celibate all your life before meeting her? Hmm?"
Daniel paused for a second then exploded. "DAMN IT!"
"Did the Abydonians ever indicate to you they are cold-blooded?" Leo pushed.
"Damn it!" He repeated.
"They're humans, same as you. They have fun, same as you."
Daniel deflated, "Damn..."
A long moment passed while Daniel was brooding.
"So, now what?" Leo asked.
"I could still..."
Leo cut him off. "Bad idea."
Daniel sighed. "Can't I just..."
"Worse idea. You know, we've observed them together, they're good, for now. Definitely not going to break up just because you showed up."
"What, you can read minds now?"
"No, but I know exactly what I would think."
"So, now what?" Daniel asked this time.
"It's up to you."
"First I need to fix the hyperdrive." Daniel said with a long face.
SGSGSGSGSG
Several hours later, Daniel managed to haphazardly repair the hyperdrive.
Leo was still there, hovering, and definitely not helping.
"Hey, how do you know she's still seeing him, do you have her under surveillance?"
No answer.
"Now that we're years before the original timeline, do you think we will be able to repair the structure in Heliopolis before it collapses?"
No answer.
"Do pigs fly?"
No answer.
"The Tollans' original planet is still not destroyed yet you know... We could warn them."
Again no answer. Daniel gave up trying to glean information out of his alter ego and went to the control console.
Daniel sat thinking for a long while. Leo had joined him, quietly standing back and looking.
The hyperdrive was fixed, although it would not reach its 'top speed', it would suffice.
Daniel made up his mind. "No." He said.
"No what?"
"I'm not turning back, I'm not quitting." Daniel said.
"Daniel..."
"No, I'm going to Abydos and finding Sha're. And that's final!" Daniel stated.
"You're ruining everything you know. We planned for everything, but you... We did not account for you doing something this crazy on your own."
"Well, you should have known better. Why didn't you just remove the ship anyways?"
"It was supposed to be a golden egg, so to speak. If you guys put your minds together you would remember this piece of junk was hidden there..."
"But then we'd have a ship before the others figured out the stargate, wouldn't we?"
"Maybe, depends on Sam. The Carters think she would consider it and then convince you to keep it hidden at least until the first challenge was complete."
"The Carters?"
"Her line of copies. Besides, there's nothing in this tub she cannot recreate on her own, eventually."
Daniel shrugged it off, he'd heard and seen weirder things. "So, now I've ruined your plans?"
"I'm not here to tell you what to do..."
"I can't go back, not without Sha're."
"It would be difficult to explain her presence."
"Not if I reveal the ship."
"Indeed." Leo concluded.
"Which you say Sam would rather we didn't, yet."
"Most likely."
"So, now what?" Daniel asked again.
"What do you want to do?"
"What condition is this ship in anyways?"
"You were just repairing it were you not?" Leo asked.
"I know Osiris used it to escape, so I'm assuming it's not in too bad a shape."
They both stayed quiet for a long moment.
"You didn't tag along all the way from Earth in this ship, it is too small, we would have bumped into each other already." Daniel said.
Leo just raised an eyebrow.
"Well, either way, start helping or get out.
"What?"
"You have a ship out there." Daniel said, it was not a question.
Leo didn't respond.
"I'm going to Abydos, I'll find Sha're. Then, as soon as we can we're leaving for Heliopolis."
"You are nuts. You know that?" Leo said.
"Says you to yourself." Daniel jibed.
Leo snorted. He shook his head. "This tub is really in need of a refit. So, I'd be much more comfortable if you came aboard my ship, and we tow this one back to Earth. The trip will only take a minute or two, instead of several days. Then what you decide to do is up to you. Alright?"
"Mhmm. Here's a thought, we go to your ship, and then go to Abydos."
Leo stayed silent.
"Alright then, leave me alone. I'm continuing with or without you." Daniel said.
Leo sighed. "But..."
"No."
There was a long moment of silence.
"Fine." Leo said sighing.
Daniel raised an eyebrow.
"What?" Leo asked.
Daniel was the one giving him the silent treatment now.
"Fine! I'll help you. But you better make absolutely sure you don't screw things up with Sha're. We'll all collectively kick your ass if you mess it up."
"I'll figure something... You know, you're very difficult to work with." Daniel said.
"Yeah, yeah, pack up, we're leaving. And we're definitely not going inside this tub."
June 3rd, 1991.
Mediterranean Sea.
The aircraft carrier USS Enterprise was heading for Egypt's coast to 'relieve tensions'. Its mission, simply to show its presence. It is well known, when a super-carrier shows up, the nearby nations get antsy, sometimes in a bad way, but most often diplomacy is suddenly remembered. This is the effect they were hoping for this time as well, hopefully it would do the trick and matters in Egypt would not escalate.
The widespread release of the 'challenges' had brought forward a myriad of new global issues; but increased tensions in this area in particular. Some wanted all the ancient Egyptian monuments torn down. Others wanted to start digging everywhere to find more of them and consequently more information about the Goa'uld of the past. And yet others, wanted to welcome their 'old gods' back!
'They better sort themselves out, sooner rather than later.' Captain Roper, CO of the Carrier thought.
He and the top executive officers were in a meeting being briefed on latest world news. Something weird was brewing in the Soviet Union, no one knew what exactly and that made everyone itchy. In a weird act of what everyone thought was a step backwards, the Baltic states had stopped and reversed their position of wanting independence from the Soviet Union. Undoing what they had, de facto, earned already.
The briefing was cut short, when battle stations were called.
Everyone sprinted to their posts.
By the two minutes it took the Captain to reach the C&C, pandemonium became awe. In another few minutes, it spread. Everyone that could, was up on the deck watching the view of the enormous ship hovering above them. Then it broke out to cheering.
The view was amazing. The white ship was lazily 'rocking' its... well it didn't have wings per se, more like rocking its saucer. Signaling in the international aircraft pilot-tongue, 'Hello'.
The massive sized ship was recognized by everyone, it was none other than the Enterprise NCC-1701, from the first TV series of Star Trek. It was huge! More than twice the size of the carrier.
A hologram flashed to existence in the C&C right in front of the Captain. "Holy..." he halted himself, keeping his composure.
"Howdy." The hologram of an Asuran of the Jack O'Neill line said. "I'm Kirk."
"Kirk." The Captain said. "I thought your name was Bond." He had seen CCTV captures of the hologram from the White House.
"No that was another one."
The Captain licked his lips, pausing to think. What did he know about the visitors?
"Kirk? As in Captain James T. Kirk?" Someone asked.
"Yeah..." He shrugged.
"What do you want?" The Captain asked, putting up a hand to stop some marines that were charging into the C&C.
"Same as you, we heard that wherever the Enterprise goes, diplomacy follows, well... that or bombs. People often choose diplomacy I hear."
"And?"
"Well, we wanted to test that."
"That saying was referring to this Enterprise." Offered the Captain.
The hologram just shrugged.
Silence followed for a few moments in the C&C, the cheering and hooting from outside could be clearly heard.
A young lieutenant, a Sci-Fi fan, got brave enough to speak. "You built the Enterprise NCC-1701, from the TV..."
"Beautiful isn't she?" Kirk cut in, not letting him finish the question.
The truth was the view was a holographic impression covering the real ship underneath. The Enterprise design of the first Star Trek TV Series was too structurally unsound to consider building due to the two nacelles and bulbous engineering parts with the interconnecting strips between them. The future version, NCC-1701-E was a more sound design, but that would not be on the movie screens for many years to come. Perhaps never now, due to the changes in the timeline.
The NCC-1701-D version was borderline, it was actually build-able, it would have one or two quite obvious structural weak-spots that extra shielding would have to compensate. As it happened, the Asuran by the name of Picard was nowhere nearby at the moment, or that version of the Enterprise could have been shown here today.
The real ship underneath the hologram was still impressive, but a design no one on Earth would recognize, yet. So they chose to perform this little mirage.
No one else said anything.
"Alright then, I'm off to take a trip around the globe with the Enterprise... I just wanted to drop by and say hi to our sea-faring cousins."
The Captain wanted to say something but didn't get the chance to articulate himself as the hologram winked out. The flying ship slowly moved off.
"Well that was interesting." The same young lieutenant said.
"Interesting? Interesting?! The first time they showed up three months ago, the result was near-apocalypse!" He sighed, "What will the damage be this time...?" He asked the room.
SGSGSGSGSG
July, 1991
Unbelievable events were happening in and around the Soviet Union. Instead of crumbling like it was supposed to, their client states and some of the previous satellite states were in the process of strengthening their relations, alliances and/or allegiances with them. The Baltic states were already back under Soviet control. Moreover, in a surprise display of non-Soviet thought, they all were expressly allowed to keep much of their 'earned' independence. Self-governance under a Federalized Republic-style system was being developed. The Soviets even publicly announced they would permit any style of local government and administration, Communistic, Socialistic or otherwise, to exist in those states. Though many of the Soviet leadership did show disdain about that. In a smart move, they had also loosened or otherwise changed the strict control they had on other states that were still under the Soviet umbrella. As an aside, it was casually mentioned the Soviet Union would be changing its name.
The driving force of all this was the knowledge about aliens. No one wanted to be left hanging. The smaller nations were looking at the bigger ones, for assuring their survival in a world where aliens exist.
In Mozambique, a country where the Soviets have had considerable influence, the civil war ceased after quick talks with Soviet representatives. Enormous concessions were made and the Country was now in the road of joining the Soviet Union under a 'special consideration' status. Nearby, Ethiopia was also expressing interest.
As the Americans watched, the Soviets were sending delegation after delegation to other countries and begun high level talks. The American's counter-response was to do the same, to make new alliances and strengthen their old ones. It was a new form of warfare, a 'War of the Pen' as it was being called. Treaties and alliances were being developed swiftly.
The Chinese ideology had long ago moved away from Russian-style Communism and they even considered the Soviets potential future enemies, so they stood apart from them. For the Western Imperials they had an even lower opinion of. So they stood on their own, ignoring both of their delegations, for now.
The Europeans, still a long way from formalizing the EU, were speeding things up and pushing for modifications in their union in a way that created a more proactive central leadership. They too, individually were spooked and were looking for strength in numbers.
All those events had another driving force behind them, the first challenge. Even though nobody had officially attested to that effect.
A footnote in history would also show that Seth's 'followers' from the ranch in Washington state, were returned home sometime during this month. Safe and unharmed.
SGSGSGSGSG
October 30th, 1991
A large nuclear explosion rocked the Arctic in a remote island of Northern Russia.
Ten seconds later hundreds of ships around the world decloaked. From the small and large version 'puddle jumpers' to much larger vessels never before seen.
Ten seconds after that those ships turned off whatever they were using to block radars from detecting them.
Ten seconds after that hundreds more ships decloaked in low and high orbit. Soon they too started registering on various orbiting satellites.
Before many of the world's military could even register the activity, the Asurans were on high alert already and showing teeth.
The U.S. President was sitting alone in his office finishing up with some reports before heading to a state dinner. Another in a string of many in the past few weeks, where international delegations were having many official and unofficial talks.
Someone burst into the office but before he could say anything, a column of sparkly blue light appeared and in it a bright flash of white light deposited an Asuran, James Bond.
Without giving them even a second to compose themselves, he loudly asked.
"Did you by any chance just nuke the Soviets?"
The President frowned, he was about to speak when the aide rapidly cut in.
"Sir, there are dozens of contacts registering on radar all over the country. Their ships, we think." He said pointing at the intruder. The aide thought that regardless of whatever was going on, he needed to relate this information to the President before anything was said. He walked in front of the intruder to 'block' his access to the President.
James did not flinch, he physically moved the man aside with one hand, surprising the President who thought he was another hologram and he repeated his question, "Did. You. Just. Nuke. The. Soviets?"
"No." The President answered with a hint of uncertainly.
"Good." James said, he looked up momentarily.
"What is going on? What happened?" Asked the President.
Asuran ships were already converging towards the center of the blast zone, doing what they could to negate the effects of fallout and the debris that were still being propelled upwards.
The blast wave was still traveling, some ships were trying to stop that too. But they would not be able to stop most of it or the unsettling it would cause to the weather on a global scale. What's worse, the blast was followed with some widespread tectonic activity. For now it was relatively weak, but that could change.
All this information was being relayed to James right now. Normally such 'links' were turned off, but due to the high alert nature of the event, several were 'connected' to one another.
"Remember what I said about not blowing the planet up?"
"Yes..."
"Well, I think the Soviets didn't catch our meaning." He looked upwards again.
The Asuran representative sent to meet with Gorbachev gave the confirmation of what they suspected. It was good news considering the alternative.
James sighed. "Damn it... What are they trying to do? Cause another Krakatoa?"
The President gulped, "What the hell happened?" He repeated the question.
"The Russians run a nuclear weapons test. A BIG one. Too damn big."
"How big?"
James blinked, "Over a hundred at least."
"M-Megatons?" The President asked in awe.
James nodded. "Time to cut through all the red tape. You guys need to have a talk before you blow up this planet. Be ready for pick-up in five minutes, you can have one assistant come with."
And with that, James beamed out.
SGSGSGSGSG
Three minutes later the President was mentally preparing himself, for whatever was to follow. Many had suggested against going to this impromptu meeting the Asurans were calling, but once it was pointed out that they could probably 'beam' the President out, they laid that option to rest.
All the militaries of the world were on high alert due to the blatant display the Asurans were making. Those nations that were space-capable were even more worried when they detected the orbiting fleet.
Someone answered a phone call, hang up and then went to the TV in the room. He turned it on and started changing channels. They all had the same signal. An assembly/conference styled room. The camera was lazily panning. The room was quite large, but only a few of the 'seats' were prepared with mini flags of the nations and nameplates of the expected representative. Any nation with twenty million or more people was to be represented.
"Ahm, Paul, take a look at this." He said.
"What?"
"It's on all channels."
"All channels..." Paul muttered, "Oh man, Hey! The meeting. They're going to televise it live! Look!" He said loudly for everyone to notice.
Everyone expressed awe at the same time when the camera panned to the left side and showed what was outside of a large wall to wall window.
"I don't think they're sending a car." Said the President, as the Earth stood beyond that window.
_-+o+-_
A/N: Up next... Kawoosh!
The 'Others' is how Daniel, while ascended, called the Ascended that guard/stop any interference with the lower planes.
October 30th was also the date the Russians tested the Tsar Bomba... look it up on Wikipedia.
Many thanks to my Beta readers.
Please review to feed my muse.
Posted on 2012-09-23
