A/N: Update is a little late because of school. There will most likely come a third part to the conference, though I have to write it. I'll try to post a chapter once a week at the least.
Reviews are welcome!
Chapter 28 – The Conference Part 2
"How long have you known?" asked Anteaur of the Nox.
"Not long. I, well we both actually, had suspicions about what the Ori were planning, but it wasn't until I actually went there that I found out for sure. I reported it to Gannos, and she reported it to the others. They finally gave their consent to tell you about this threat." Minos answered.
"You went there?" Daniel asked.
"Yes. There being in another galaxy about a million light-years away. I went there by Stargate, because the Stargate network is compatible between the two galaxies."
"How will they be coming here?" O'Neill asked.
"They'll most likely use a Stargate, though that would only be large enough to allow several hundred soldiers at a time."
"How are they going to power their Stargate? I mean, dialling to another galaxy costs incredible amounts of energy." Carter asked.
"Well, they could temporarily 'boost' the Stargate, just like I did to go to their galaxy. Or they could use alternative sources of power. These are in essence the same people as the Gate-builders. They'd find a way."
"Which would still give the problem that they can send no ships through." Ambassador Varta from Galaran said.
"That problem could be countered by making a supergate. They are the gate builders just as much as the Ancients in this galaxy are, they know their stuff."
"What is a supergate?" Jacob asked.
"A supergate is essentially a Stargate, but then massive enough to allow ships to come through. It can connect to any gate, regardless of its size, but for ships to come through both sides need to be equally large. And, of course, the energy required to use a supergate is way more than the energy needed for a normal gate. The only thing I can think of that gives enough power to make an intergalactic connection with a supergate is a black hole."
"So they'd need to find a way around the effects from the black hole to make the connection?" Carter asked.
"Not necessarily. Absorbing all the power from a black hole pretty much annihilates its effects. Plus they have the technology to counter those effects. They're technologically extremely advanced, comparable to the Ancients in that case. Well, what's left of the Ancient technology. But it would probably be safe to say that their ships could beat pretty much everything we can throw at them."
"Then what do you want us to do?" Odin asked.
"To fight. To resist their attacks until a more permanent solution is to be found. And of course, to save as much lives as possible given the circumstances."
"And how do you want to do that?"
"My plan is to split the galaxy into multiple sectors at first. Every race will get a certain sector, the size depending on their defensive capabilities. I have plans for several defensive satellites, weapons only made for the defence of planets from orbit. If we have enough of them around the planets, then the Ori ships can be beaten. If there are one or two planets per sector defended by those satellites, then the people from other planets that are under attack from the Ori can flee there."
"It is not the way of the Nox to use weapons." Lya spoke.
"I know, but I don't think the way of the Nox applies in this particular situation. The threat we face is not something to be underestimated. It is either join them or be annihilated by them. If we stand together and are prepared, we might stand a chance."
"The Nox have always relied on hiding to stay safe." Anteaur said.
"You do not understand. The Ori are ascended beings, just like the Ancients. They are less powerful than the Ancients now, but they draw their power from their believers. The more believers, the more power. If they manage to sway roughly half of this galaxy into joining them, the Ori will be more powerful than the Ancients. The only thing keeping us safe from a direct attack by them is then gone. Your technology won't stand a chance against an attack from an army of Ascended beings. Everything will be lost. Where would the Ori go after they have annihilated any resistance? They would keep conquering other galaxies, defeating everything in their paths. Eventually they would become all-powerful."
"And would that be so bad? Not to sound offensive or anything, but the Ancient are pretty much doing nothing to protect us from them." O'Neill started.
"I understand your point, but what would you rather have? An all-powerful tyrant who rules your very existence, destroying every hint of freedom you now have, or a caretaker who observes from the distance, leaving your life open for everything you want to. Besides, the universe is not really meant to be ruled. It never was, and it could cope fine without."
"OK, I kind of like my freedom." O'Neill answered. "But how are you gonna cope with their ships. I mean, if their ships are as powerful as you say, how are you going to handle them?"
"I'm not sure about that yet. Maybe I'll try and build a warship myself. But it's actually not the ships I'm worrying about. It's their missionaries. The Ori will surely send out missionaries to convert the people in this galaxy to Origin."
"Are you sure about that?" Thor asked.
"Unfortunately, yes. I've been to their galaxy and I've seen them being trained. Priors, they call themselves. They have powers like a near-ascension human. And they have weapons specifically designed to enhance and augment those powers. They are selected on their beliefs, so converting them is not really an option."
"Can you defeat them?" Ambassador Gren from the Ohnes asked.
"Yes. I am sure I can defeat them on one on one. But that is not the real problem. The real problem is that I can't be on every planet in this galaxy at the same time. I'm only one person, and they are sure to send out a lot of Priors."
Then what do you wish of us besides defending specific planets?" Ambassador Gren asked.
"I want to have your confirmation and help in all these actions. I need to know whether you are up to the task of receiving millions of people from all over the galaxy. Food supplies need to be made, weapon stocks need to be prepared. Ships need to be built as fast as possible, defensive satellites need to be launched. We must all prepare for war."
"All-right. What info do you need?" O'Neill asked.
"I need to know at least one planet per race that is capable of receiving so many people on short notice. That makes at least seven planets in total, but the more planets, the easier it is going to get."
"How many refugees are we talking about?" Jacob asked.
"At least millions, if not more. The entire human population of this galaxy is about eight-hundred billion."
"That's a lot of people." Dr Weir said. "How many planets do you think we need to handle all the refugees?"
"As many as possible. I myself can protect at least four. Avalon, Arachnis, Terronis and Felinis. I have traded a lot with those planets and the relations are very good. They are not the most advanced peoples, but their planets hold room for at least several thousands of people, even more if I can build the infrastructure on time. I'm hoping you all could provide several other planets that are suitable to cope with lots of refugees."
"Given the gravity of the situation, can we contact our governments about this before we come to a decision?" Dr. Weir asked.
"Yes, of course. There are several subspace transmitters in the lobby." Minos answered.
Almost everybody left the conference room for the lobby. Only Minos and the Asgard stayed behind.
"Odin, have you no need to contact the High council regarding your decision?" Minos asked curiously.
"I have no need to. The Asgard will protect as many planets as necessary, under condition that it is the most ethically correct thing to do in this situation. We will protect as much planets as you need, given that you have saved our race from certain destruction."
"That's nice. I had hoped for a lot of the ships to be upgraded with Asgard technology, or Ancient if necessary."
"Do you still have access to the Gate-builders technology?" Oding asked.
"Until a certain extent, yes. I wasn't really the best student in my time, but I occasionally paid attention to the teachers. I still know some things about building ships and weapons. Those things interested me back then too, you know. I had been unable to use these technologies until now because the Others would probably have blocked my attempts."
"What makes you think they have changed their thoughts about the subject?" Odin inquired.
"Partially the fact that they asked me for help, and partially because some of them are indirectly responsible for this situation. If they had acted sooner, or if they had acted at all, we wouldn't be in this situation."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Well, it was the government led by the Others that decided to flee from the old home galaxy and never look back. If they had looked back, and if they had paid any attention to the situations there, then there probably was little reason to war."
"This situation indeed sounds very grave. Have you yourself not thought about acting sooner?"
" I have thought about that, but I couldn't. The others wouldn't let me. It was only when Gannos Lal managed to persuade enough of them that I received permission to go to their galaxy and check things out."
"What are you planning to do with the Goa'uld in this situation?" Odin asked.
"I have my plans. I'll announce them a little later, when everybody has discussed things with their governments and returned here."
"I take it you are following the conversations closely?"
"Yep. So far, so good. Those subspace-transmitters really are handy in times like this."
"Are those subspace-transmitters Ancient in origin?"
"Yes. I designed and built them myself, so they are Ancient. But they're not using any 'ascended'-technologies, so the Others can hardly complain."
"Why can they hinder your attempts to build weapons then? These technologies are not ascended-based, as far as I know."
"Yeah, but they're still weapons. And the Others don't like weapons. Plus they don't have any trouble interfering with one of their own, even if he's not ascended."
"Why did you choose not to ascend?"
"Well, as far as I'm concerned there wasn't really a choice. Living on a higher plane of existence may sound interesting, just like having access to all the knowledge in the universe, but it's boring. You can't actually do anything fun up there. All business and no fun. The Others start complaining as soon as you make just one little prank so the only things you can do are watch and talk. And I've never been good at either of them."
"Many humans in this galaxy are on quests leading to Ascension, though only a few have succeeded. Have you ever had to battle the urge to help them?"
"No, not really. I know from experience that the quest itself is more fun that the actual solution. Of course there have been individuals that came here for help, but I merely gave hints, just like the Others do."
"Have you acted if you thought there would be problems for this galaxy? Problems like Anubis, the half-ascended Goa'uld?"
"If they were serious enough, yes, but not many are. I have remained reasonably low-profiled over the course of the last millennia. But with threats like Anubis I did choose sides for the free humans of this galaxy."
"Since Anubis has returned to this plane of existence, are you going to act against him before the great war starts?"
"Most likely, yes. Though I won't risk plunging the galaxy into an all-out war just before the Ori attack, so I will only go myself. I'll try not to involve any other races into the conflict with Anubis. And, of course, i'll try and use his resources against the Ori too."