Disclaimer: I do not own Stargate or Battlestar Galactica: 2003.
Another Road not Taken
Chapter13: Fifth Race
February 8th 2007
Harvest System
In orbit above New Lantea
Atlantis
Control Room
The space above the dark blue world distorted as the city of Atlantis was dropped back into normal space. It slowly settled into orbit above the planet as its engines cut out and allowed it to drift.
"We did it," Sheppard grinned.
"Well there is still the problem of actually landing this thing," Rodney brought up.
"I'll just get in the chair and ease us down," Sheppard responded and turned away from the window.
"What about the ZPMs?" Weir asked.
"We depleted one of them but the other two are fine for the moment," Rodney replied.
"Have we got enough power to survive re-entry?" Sheppard asked.
"We should," Rodney nodded.
"Beginning re-entry sequence now," Sheppard spoke through the radio as he guided the city-ship down.
"Shields are holding," Radek Zelenka spoke up.
"The angle is too steep," Rodney shook his head. "If we keep going like this we'll but too much strain on the shield which means more power being used from the Zed-PMs."
"Here we go," Weir breathed as the city continued to descend towards the planet.
"Ease up on the angle," Rodney said into the comm.
"I heard you the first time Rodney," Sheppard responded.
"And yet we're still coming in too steep," Rodney shot back. "Hang on," he said as the city broke through the clouds.
"We've entered the atmosphere," Zelenka informed.
"Sheppard, you need to slow us down. We're coming in over the ocean," Rodney continued. "Slow down," he said again. Suddenly and violently Atlantis crashed down on the ocean surface, sinking several feet before floating back to surface.
"How are we doing?" Weir asked the question.
"Systems are looking good and both remaining Zed-PMs are still powered. I think we're good," Rodney sighed in relief.
"Dial the Midway Station," Weir ordered.
The Stargate lit up as a technician entered the seven symbols into the system and the gate activated a moment later.
"Wormhole established," Rodney informed.
"Midway Station, this is Atlantis, please respond," Weir spoke into her radio.
"We read you Atlantis, it's good to hear you," Carter's voice sounded through the comm.
"Sam? Is that you?" Rodney asked in surprise.
"Yes Rodney, it's me," Carter confirmed.
"Colonel Carter, please inform General Landry that we're back on the grid," Weir asked of her.
"You can inform him yourself Doctor Weir," Carter responded. "The IOA wants you to return to Earth immediately and speak with the IOA regarding the future of Atlantis."
"I'm sorry?" Weir asked confused.
"You're being recalled," Carter replied simply.
"...I'll be there shortly," Weir acknowledged.
"Rodney?" Zelenka spoke up from the back.
"What is it now?" Rodney asked as he approached.
"Long-range scanners are detecting a massive fleet of ships launching from the Replicator homeworld," Zelenka replied. "But they're not heading for us," he added confused.
"This can't be right," Rodney shook his head as he looked over the readings. "They're heading in every direction...including Wraith-controlled space...they're searching for us...searching for Atlantis."
"What about the Wraith?" Weir asked.
"Well we know that the Replicators don't attack the Wraith—probably because the attack code is deactivated—but we know they will defend themselves if they're threatened," Rodney responded. "If the Wraith fire on them then they will fight back...it'll be the start of an interstellar war."
March 10th 2007
Sol System
In orbit above Earth
EFS Orion
O'Neill's Cabin
"The Replicators are launching attacks on human worlds throughout the Pegasus Galaxy, trying to lure us out of hiding and the Wraith have finally started fighting back," Carter informed.
"It's about time they got their act together," Jack nodded. "They can wipe each other out for all I care...but we can't let the Replicators murder millions of humans."
"I've ordered Colonel Sheppard to started evacuating settlements in the Replicators path but...it's not looking good," Carter explained.
"...I'm assigning you to Atlantis as lead administrator," Jack told her. "Doctor Weir has been recalled and will be finalizing the business deals with the Colonials for the next few months."
"Sir, with all due respect I'm not sure what I can do," Carter countered. "The Wraith will not be able to hold off the Replicators forever and they will eventually locate Atlantis, or failing that launch an assault on Earth."
"I know," Jack nodded. "If worse comes to worse I want you to launch Atlantis and bring it back to Earth directly."
"With only two ZPMs we might not have enough power to make it back," Carter responded.
"If that happens then we'll transfer the ZPM from New Caprica to Atlantis," Jack explained.
"That won't be enough," Carter told him.
"Probably not," Jack admitted.
"Any word from the Asgard?" Carter asked hopeful.
"Thor sent a message requesting that we send one of our Daedalus-class ships to Orilla," Jack replied. "He didn't say what it was for or why but he seemed strange when I spoke to him."
"Which ship are we sending?" Carter asked further.
"The Odyssey should be ready to leave later today," Jack answered. "By the time she gets back the Daedalus should be returning from Atlantis and the Korolev should be on its way to resupply the new mining colony."
"What about the Apollo, the Sun Tzu and the Icarus?" Carter inquired.
"They're hunting down what's left of the Lucian Alliance," Jack responded. "Ever since the Cylons nuked their worlds into the Stone Age they've been forced into hiding."
"That only leaves the Orion and the Astrea as the only capital ships to defend Earth," Carter brought up. "Is that wise?"
"The new Artemis-class destroyers are either here at Earth or one of the protected planets," Jack told her. "They can hold the line so we don't have to worry about much in the Milky Way for the moment."
"There are a lot of human worlds in this galaxy sir," Carter said warily. "We don't have the numbers to patrol such a large territory...yet."
"Thankfully no one's picking a fight with us at the moment," Jack nodded. "That buys us time to build new ships and train people to fly them."
March 13th 2007
Hyperspace
In orbit above Orilla
EFS Odyssey
Main Bridge
"Major?" Emerson asked as he stepped onto the bridge.
"We're approaching the coordinates sir," Marks responded.
"Drop us out of hyperspace," Emerson gave the order. A second later the viewport flashed wipe as the Odyssey decelerated back into normal space above the planet that was the Asgard homeworld.
"We're being hailed," Marks informed. "The Asgard are requesting permission to beam aboard sir."
"Granted," Emerson nodded and a column of light caught his attention. The Asgard known as Thor appeared when the light finally died down and he quickly looked over the bridge crew and the gathered members of SG1.
"Greetings and welcome to Orilla," Thor nodded.
"Thor," Carter smiled.
"Hello Colonel Carter," Thor acknowledged. "It is good to see you," he added.
"It's good to see you too Thor," Carter returned. "This is Colonel Emerson, Colonel Mitchell and Vala," she gestured to those Thor hadn't met.
"Greetings," Thor nodded towards them.
"So Thor, how have you been? We haven't heard from you in awhile," Daniel asked curiously.
"I am sorry," Thor apologized. "I have been otherwise preoccupied...as mentioned in our communication, the Asgard High Council wishes to meet with you to speak in greater detail but there is not much time. Colonel...with your permission a number of Asgard are prepared to beam aboard immediately to begin installing various technological upgrades to this ship."
"What is it you're planning on giving us?" Emerson asked slowly.
"Everything we have and know," Thor replied.
"By that you mean..." Vala trailed off.
"Everything," Thor emphasised. "All our current technology and all of our knowledge," everyone was shocked into silence by his words.
"Sorry," Daniel spoke up. "We're just a little stunned...why are you doing this? You've always said in the past that we weren't ready."
"Indeed many Asgard still believe that," Thor admitted.
"So what's changed?" Cam asked the question.
"As a race we are dying," Thor explained. "Very soon we will all be gone...this is our last act."
"The Asgard computer core has its own power source and once the upgrades are complete it will be fully interfaced with all the ship's systems," Thor explained as they passed several human and Asgard walking the corridor.
"There must be something more you can do," Carter said suddenly.
"I assure you we are providing you with the latest Asgard technology as well as a database containing our knowledge and entire recorded history," Thor told her.
"That's not what I was talking about," Carter shook her head in response.
"Everything that can be done has been done," Thor responded. "The final attempt to solve our degenerating bodies has left us with a rapidly progressing disease."
"You're really going to commit mass suicide," Carter said sadly as Thor activated the computer core.
"If you like you can interface with the core using a hologram of me or any other Asgard on record in the database," Thor explained.
"I'm sorry but that just won't be the same," Carter told him.
"I've been working on this for the better part of a year Colonel Carter," Thor countered.
"And we appreciate it, really," Carter reassured.
"Many on the council do not believe we should be should be imparting such advancements," Thor continued.
"Well I promise that we'll try not to let you down," Carter promised him.
"You are the Fifth Race," Thor proclaimed. "Your role is clear...if there is any hope of preserving the future; it lies with you and your people."
"No pressure huh?" Carter asked feeling overwhelmed.
"You have earned my respect and my friendship," Thor stated.
"Well the feeling is mutual," Carter nodded.
"Please do not be sad," Thor continued. "The end of my people has been a long time coming; we have made too many mistakes in our development. Hopefully you can learn something from it...my only regret is that our physical weakness stops us from helping you further."
"Thank you for everything," Carter slowly pulled Thor into a hug, making sure not to hurt him.
"I must go," Thor said suddenly as she pulled away. "The time is now...goodbye and good luck," he vanished in a column of light.
Half an hour later the Odyssey quickly fled away from the dying Asgard race as they detonated several of their extremely powerful weapons on the surface of Orilla. The planet seemed to shatter under the assault as its core exploded signifying the end of the Asgard. The Odyssey quickly cleared the radiation cloud that the planet released and made the jump into hyperspace, heading for home.
Though the Asgard were gone, the humans of Earth, the Tau'ri had now been given the task of preserving the future of the known universe...
Author's Notes:
The three ZPMs Atlantis got are actually in canon when the Asurans captured the city after the disaster with the Lantean ship Tria in the intergalactic void. Unlike Stargate canon however Atlantis kept all three ZPMs instead of sending one to the Anarctic weapon and the Odyssey during the Ori Crusade.
Like I said before SGA mostly follows canon with small changes like Doctor Weir survives (she should never have died) and the Asurans attacking human worlds in Pegasus in order to try and lure out the Atlanteans instead of wiping out the Wraith's food supply.
Earth Federation Capital Ships:
EFS Prometheus (BC-303 / Destroyed)
EFS Astrea (BC-303)
EFS Odyssey (DSC-304)
EFS Korolev (DSC-304)
EFS Apollo (DSC-304)
EFS Sun Tzu (DSC-304)
EFS Icarus (BC-303)
Please Read and Review.
See Ya Later…