Disclaimer: I do not own Stargate or Battlestar Galactica: 2003.
Another Road not Taken
Chapter18: Civil War
October 2nd 2009
Sol System
Earth
North American Continent
Wallace Residence
"Eli Wallace?" General Jack O'Neill asked when the door opened.
"Erm...actually Eli isn't here right now," the teenager said trying to hide his nervousness.
"I'm not buying it," Jack shook his head.
"Okay, okay whatever you guys think that I did I swear you've got the wrong guy," Eli reasoned.
"Do you really think I'd be standing here if I didn't already know everything there is to know about you?" Jack asked simply.
"...Yeah, not really...you're General O'Neill right?" Eli hazarded a guess.
"That's right," Jack nodded.
"I saw you on TV...you're not going to beam me out of my house, are you?" when he didn't get a reply he knew the answer. "Who are you?" Eli asked the other man as he approached.
"Doctor Nicolas Rush," the man introduced himself. "May we come in?"
"Why?" Eli asked the one question on his mind.
"...You've spent a lot of time playing an online fantasy game called Prometheus," Rush started.
"Yeah so?" Eli asked with a shrug.
"Last night you solved the Dakara Weapons' puzzle," Rush continued.
"Yeah...a month of my life went into that," Eli chuckled nervously. "You know what happens when you solve that thing? Nothing, nothing at all."
"We're here," Jack spoke up. "That happened."
"To complete that particular problem," Rush explained. "You had to solve a mathematical puzzle thousands of years old, written in another language. For that you've won something of a prize."
"Well whatever it is I'll take the cash equivalent," Eli nodded.
"There isn't one," Jack shook his head.
"It's a non-disclosure agreement," Rush smiled and held out some forms.
"Let me get this straight...you hid a top secret puzzle in an online video game? Really?" Eli asked with honest surprise. "What was the point?"
"If you sign the agreement we can tell you," Rush responded.
"...You're serious? This isn't some joke, is it?" Eli asked hesitantly.
"It's not a joke," Rush replied simply. "If you need an incentive...well there is the issue of your mother's illness."
"What are we talking about exactly?" Eli asked knowing what he was referring too.
"The Earth Federation Space Force can provide the funding for your mother's treatments," Rush explained. "Provided that you sign this and join the Stargate Program."
"...Alright, you've got yourself a deal," Eli nodded and moved aside. "Come on in," he gestured and the two entered the house. "Where do I sign?" he asked as he shut the door behind them.
"At the bottom," Rush answered as he handed over the papers.
Eli quickly signed the documents and handed them back. "Now what?" he asked after it was over.
"It's best if you stand still and try not to move," Jack smiled.
"What do you-" Eli was cut off when light suddenly consumed his vision. A few seconds later he found himself in another room in front of a large window overlooking a blue object he knew very well. "Damn," was all he could say as he stared out at the planet Earth beyond the glass.
"You get used to it after awhile," Rush said as he entered the room through the door behind him.
"Are we really..." Eli trailed off as he gestured towards the viewport.
"Yes, we are on one of the orbiting starships and yes, that is Earth. Welcome aboard the Hammond," Rush chuckled.
"You said you'd tell me what was going on if I signed the papers," Eli said as he turned to the man. "Why come to me? What's this all about?"
"Three years ago the Cylons signed the new Armistice Line and we've been in a state of relative peace apart from the occasional incident with the Wraith and the Replicators. The Cylons however have practically decimated both the Free Jaffa Nation and the Lucian Alliance. They even destroyed the planet Tegalus last year and the war restarted so we've been launching raids into their space to keep them off balance," Rush explained. "For the past three years we've been looking through the Ancient database in order to find some kind of deactivation code to effectively 'cut off' the Cylon Basestars from their Raiders...a code we didn't understand...until you finished it."
"Wait...you're saying that you put a highly classified and dangerous Ancient Anti-Terminator weapon into an online video game? And you were waiting for someone...like me to come along and finish it?" Eli asked unbelieving.
"Yes that's exactly what I'm saying," Rush nodded in confirmation.
"...I don't know what to say," Eli said finally. Really what could he say to something like that?
"You don't have to say anything," Rush simply smiled and turned away. "Lieutenant James will show you to your quarters...I'll let you get settled in while we're in route," he gestured towards the female airmen.
"Yeah erm...thanks," Eli nodded.
"I'll see you later Eli," Rush turned and left the room.
"If you'll follow me Mister Wallace," Second Lieutenant Vanessa James spoke.
"Erm...just call me Eli...Mister Wallace makes me seem like an old man," Eli told her.
"Of course Mister Wallace," Vanessa said almost amused.
"Just lead on please," Eli gestured towards the door.
"Right this way," Vanessa nodded and led him through the corridor.
October 3rd 2009
Earth-controlled Space
Hyperspace
EFS George Hammond
Mess Hall
Later in the mess hall Eli entered the room to find almost every table full besides one where a single stunning beautiful blond woman sat. He looked around for another empty seat but saw that there was none and sighed in frustration as he picked up a tray and got his lunch. He headed over to the table and saw several of the airmen in the room look on in surprise.
"Excuse me," Eli said catching her attention. "Do you mind if I sit here?" he asked.
"...Don't you know what I am?" the woman asked him.
"Should I care?" Eli asked back.
"...I'm a Cylon," the blond woman told him.
"I thought Cylons were Terminators," Eli commented. "You certainly don't look like Arnold Schwarzenegger or Kristanna Loken so I won't pass judgment until I know you better," he said as he sat down across from her.
"You're the one they brought in to fight us," the blond woman smiled sadly.
"Yeah, that's me," Eli nodded. "What's your name?"
"Name? I'm number six," the blond woman replied.
"I didn't ask for a number," Eli countered. "I asked for a name."
"My name...is Gina Inviere," Gina answered.
"How were you captured?" Eli asked curious.
"I tried to detonate a nuclear weapon on a Colonial luxury liner," Gina replied with a chuckle. "It didn't work out so well when I was teleported into a holding cell aboard one of your Earth Battlestars."
"Battlecruisers or Battleships," Eli corrected. "When I first heard the term 'Battlestar' I thought it was something out of an old 1970's space drama...and here I was thinking my first time on a starship would be one of those new civilian transport ships."
"You mean Virgin Galactic? I heard that company already had working transports," Gina mused and shook her head. "What do you want exactly?" Gina asked the question. "Why are you sitting with me? Why are you even talking to me?"
"Am I not allowed to?" Eli asked back.
"No you're not...you're not supposed to," Gina replied simply. "You're supposed to hate my kind, hate me and want to kill me."
"...I may not know a lot but even I know that the universe isn't that simple," Eli shook his head with a smile and stood. "It was nice talking to you," he said before walking away with his now empty tray in hand.
October 3rd 2009
Earth-controlled Space
Hyperspace
EFS George Hammond
Main Bridge
The Hammond was fresh off of the construction line though thankfully all of its systems were integrated and working properly. When Colonel Carter had first stepped foot on her new vessel it was barely capable of entering orbit never mind being battle ready. Thankfully after several months it was finally ready for its first and possibly most important mission into Cylon Space.
"Colonel?" Major Meyers spoke up from her seat.
"Yes?" Carter asked as she stared out of the viewport at the spiral and multi-coloured hyperspace beyond.
"We're receiving a subspace message from Homeworld Command...its General O'Neill," Meyers reported.
"Patch it through," Carter nodded and turned towards the ops screen at the side of the room as it flickered on. "General," she greeted.
"Carter, this isn't a social call," Jack started. "I'm afraid your mission is being scrubbed...the Hammond is being redeployed to the Armistice Line."
"Sir?" Carter asked confused.
"The outpost at New Caprica detected several Cylon warships on the edge of the border," Jack explained. "We're not sure what they're planning but I want you to be careful."
"Understood sir," Carter nodded. "Leave the porch light on for us," she smiled.
"I'll do that," Jack chuckled and the screen flickered off.
"Ma'am?" Meyers asked.
"Set a course for the Armistice Line," Carter gave the order as she sat down. "And get Mister Wallace up here...it looks like we're testing out his program prematurely."
"Yes ma'am."
October 4th 2009
Cylon Border / Armistice Line
Deep Space
Basestar 2-10
Command Center
In the past three years since the Second Cylon War ended and the new Armistice Line was established the Cylon Empire had been fracturing. The Ones, Fours and Fives wanted to go to war with the humans again and destroy them once and for all. They wanted to go on a crusade and purge humanity from the universe forever. The Threes, Sixes and Eights however just didn't care anymore. They wanted to leave it all behind and build their own future without looking back at their past with the humans. Because of this a rift in the Cylon Consensus was created...a rift that would never mend.
"Something's not right," an Eight, Gabriela spoke up. "What are the Ones thinking?"
"They're not thinking," a Three, D'Anna responded. "Eight Basestars just jumped in and they're taking up position around us."
"He's not planning too...he wouldn't got that far...he's already fighting the humans again," the Six, Natalie mused. "Hail them...we can't be passed talking just yet."
"They're launching raiders," Gabriela reported. "Missiles are inbound and they're charging their staff cannons."
"Raise shields and tell all ships to execute their jumps into Tau'ri Space," Natalie ordered. It was a gamble and they all knew it. However if they stayed where they were then they would really die at this distance from the nearest Resurrection Ship.
"Coordinates calculated," D'Anna informed.
"Execute jump," Natalie gave the order as bolts of superheated plasma slammed into the shields of their Basestar. The five remaining Rebel Basestars disappeared in flashes of light as the other seven Rebel Basestars were destroyed.
October 4th 2009
Talon System
In orbit above Ulysses IV
EFS George Hammond
Main Bridge
The Hammond dropped out of hyperspace just as the Cylon fleet jumped into orbit of the gas giant Ulysses. The moon Ulysses IV was the only inhabitable body in the star system and had in fact been scouted by several galactic powers in the region as a source of mining potential. The moon was surprisingly rich in Naqaudria which could only be found on a handful of planets though admittedly not in the amount present on Ulysses IV or Langara.
No one had physically laid claim to the system yet however it was firmly within Earth-controlled space and as such no one was stupid enough to actively try to take the world for themselves. Even the Lucian Alliance before their destruction at the hands of the Cylons were reluctant to directly face the Tau'ri in battle. The Cylons were the only ones in two galaxies that had openly defied them and lived to tell about it though they had admittedly taken heavy casualties whenever they did.
"Contacts are confirmed to match Cylon configuration," Meyers reported. "Weapons' fire detected...they're shooting at each other."
"What?" Carter asked confused. The last time she checked the Cylons were a unified people who liked to slaughter innocent people for no reason other than that they could. "Confirm that," she ordered.
"I confirm ma'am," Meyers nodded again. "Cylon vessels are firing on each other."
"Open a channel," Carter ordered and sat back. "This is Colonel Samantha Carter of the Earth Federation vessel George Hammond to Cylon forces," she began. "You are violating claimed space, withdraw immediately from the area or you will be fired upon."
"Ma'am, eight of the Baseships are targeting us," Meyers reported. "They're firing," missiles and plasma bolts soon slammed against the shields of the Tau'ri warship.
"What about the program?" Carter asked.
"I'm having some trouble uploading it," Rush said from the ops station. "There's interference from the Cylon hybrids...I need Eli up here."
"What the hell's going on?" Eli asked as he stepped onto the bridge.
"I need your help with the program," Rush told him and motioned him over. "It's not working," he said simply.
"I can see that, lay off the tone would you. First real space battle here you know," Eli said as he looked over the readings. "The numbers are all wrong..." he muttered. "What are you trying to connect too?"
"The Baseships of course," Rush replied gesturing out of the viewport at the battle.
"The Baseships have hybrids right? I know I don't know much but even I know that the human mind is an advanced computer. You shouldn't be trying to upload it straight to that...your target has to be something dumber," Eli explained.
"The raiders," Carter spoke up. "Cylon raiders are organic in nature but stupid and have the bare minimum understanding of self-awareness."
"Connect it now!" Rush shouted. "From there is should be able to infect the Baseships...though I don't know how long it will last."
"Major Meyers, ready all weapons to fire the moment the program takes effect," Carter ordered. "Make sure to target only the Cylons that are targeting us and none of the others."
"It's done!" Eli exclaimed and suddenly the most of the raiders fell lifeless in space along with their eight Baseships.
"Enemy vessels are disabled," Meyers reported.
"Fire," Carter gave the order. "Open fire on those ships, all batteries."
The Hammond angled and brought its ventral cannons to bear on the lifeless Cylon fleet. Blue beams of superheated plasma lanced out and struck two of the Basestars, melting them in a matter of seconds. This was soon followed by a pair of nuclear detonations in the center of the raider formations, annihilating them instantly along with their motherships. After a few more minutes the eight offending Cylon Basestars were turned to dust along with the raider escorts leaving only the 'rebel' Cylons left.
"It worked," Eli didn't know how he should feel about that.
"Yes it did," Carter nodded. "Now comes the hard part...wait and see if they take any countermeasures."
"Countermeasures?" Eli asked.
"We once used our teleportation technology to beam nukes aboard their ships," Carter explained. "We succeeded however they quickly adapted and began jamming us with an electromagnetic field. The fact that they even knew what to use and how to employ it shows that they cannot be underestimated."
"Ma'am, we're receiving an incoming message from the remaining Cylon vessels," Meyers reported.
"Let's hear it," Carter gave a nod.
"This is Natalie Faust of the Cylon Rebellion...we request an asylum."
Author's Notes:
And that's the end of Stargate Canon in this fic with Eli's induction into the Stargate Program. I bet some of you were wondering what happened to Gina and I hope this gives you some idea. Personally I found her treatment appalling in the series even if she was an enemy soldier following orders; it's true that her people tried to exterminate a species but I like to think humans, especially soldiers wouldn't do something like that anymore even if it does happen to people.
The only crimes she committed herself was the sabotaging the Pegasus at the Scorpia Shipyards and killing Admiral Cain. The sabotage could be explained as a soldier simply following orders and it is known that Cain and Gina were lovers so Gina killed Cain for revenge and madness from her treatment by the guards acting on Cain's orders.
The Cylon Civil War has also begun with the Cylon Rebellion opening negotiations with the Tau'ri against Cavil's faction. This coupled with the Eli's virus program that jams Cylon vessels has give the Tau'ri a much needed advantage against the Cylon menace.
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