-Chapter begin-
DC lacked the industrial base of Gotham, but made up for it with nearby proximity of other critical east coast systems. Ever since the Thanagarian invasion the US had dusted off what had been considered outdated Cold War Era Initiatives, drawn in all their organizations, and made plans to better protect the east coast. This though was the first major Pentagon meeting of the UNSC's leaders. "Mr. President," The secret service agent chimed, "The Vice President Kinsey, General O'neill, General Hammond, and the Joint chiefs of Staff of staff are already in the bunker." He announced, sliding a key card across the reader opening the hemetically sealed door. The leaders of China, the UK, France, and Russia were already being transfered down the Pentagon's secure access descent tunnel.
The system had been expanded using a slight modification of the Tok'ra's tunnelling crystal technology, and built in modular components. It was designed to survive a ha'tak's alpha strike on DC if it came to that. "What is the state of our defenses? "I understand the first flight of F 303 is supposed to be ready for operations."
"Yes sir, 3rd SFW is operational and overhead." The Air Force chief of staff responded, "They're operating our crash production model of the new aero-space strike fighter." It'd taken weeks to get Wayne to start production on the engines, when production would have taken months (years even) to get started if they'd gone to Lockheed Martin. "The shield around the bunker can be deployed as well if we need it."
The president nodded, taking a seat at the head of the table, "Yes thats good. Thats good general just keep our forces on standby." The warning of a Goa'uld strike should be enough to defend the east coast long enough to reinforce defenses, but not enough to protect civilians. "Well have we learned anything new-"
The four other world leaders entered the room. "So this is the new war room, bit drab, but I'd say if we have to defend the planet here would be were we could do it," The Prime Minister remarked looking around. The bunker complex was so much more, faced with annual invasions the descision had been to adapt and the necessity of being able to direct and command troops would be as important as ever. "I understand that this meeting was prompted by something to do with aliens, and you're moving forward with a path towards disclosure."
"It has been decided by the United States Executive Branch to reveal the Stargate Program," the president announced formally to the other leader. "As well as the existence of the Goa'uld and the Asgard, and the other races, including the Ancients."
Taking a moment to get seated France's president looked around "Which ones, we seem to have a lot of aliens, the Asgard and the goa'uld have been in the public eye as it were," He frowned, "It was obvious with the threats of invasion disclosure would have to be done at some point."
"Well I imagine we'll have to cover all of them eventually, but the real issue is protecting earth from extraterrestrial threats," Kinsey took a sip of his water, "Lets be honest the French have never been team plays when it came to the cold war, and we're supposed to assume you'll play ball as opposed to running off on your own."
The president of the United States cleared his throat, loudly, "The treaty stipulates the USAF has to maintain trusteeship of the gate, but as the Admirals have pointed out says nothing about a fleet being built. "Now the vice president isn't entirely wrong in his concerns," but the president continued, "the fact is its high time this was made public. Yes the United States Air Force will continue, as per the treaty will continue to hold trusteeship and continue running operations through the stargate." He stated. "But that's not the only fact we are here to address, as I am sure some of your nations noticed a large number of the older warships have suddenly been decommissioned." He commented, "the fact is our fleet of space ships is going to be expanded."
The Chinese president scowled, he intelligence department had been run ragged by the last year and a half of hard work, "We are to assume the US Space Command expansions has something to do with this."
"The fact is we need those troops elsewhere." Hayes responded, "we are proposing a massive multilateral build up of ships, as of yesterday there are twenty six Ha'tak all upgraded and split between the USN and the USAF, also we have three Prometheus class which have been modified with An-" the president paused, looked down at the briefing packet, "Alteran derived shields and hyperspace engines," He gestured for the Air Force chief of staff to take over.
He shuffled a handful of papers, "We have just under forty ships, why is nothing in comparison to the fleet of well anybody of importance," he commented, "In two months we intend to set down the first of a new class of warship our first battleship, the Atlas-class," Which was really only possible because of a mix of Asgard help on the side, captured goa'uld technology, and some useful ancient ruins that were being repurposed. Without those gains it would have been impossible to even consider something like the Atlas, still it was their best choice to demonstrate to Congress it could be done.
"Why exactly are you telling us this?" inquired the French president, slightly miffed at Kinsey, given especially his policies that might have been considered contrary to American ones in the last few years.
It wasn't unknown that inside of congress there were pressures to expand not simply space prescence but to add extrasolar territories."President Chirac we intend, well as every one I am sure is aware Earth is becoming overpopulated and resources are limited. We have a chance to relieve that burden, but we do need defense to defend our assets. I won't lie, these ships will be used to defend American interests," he stated firmly, "however should the need arise they will defend this planet, that is what the stargate program was intended for."
"You intend to tip the balance of power in your favor," snarled the Chinese president, "And you knew of this." He growled to the Russian President jabbing a finger.
The Russian president shrugged, "I have been apprised that it is not simply aliens that might attack us. My colonel had briefed me about a hostile human civilization known as the Aschen, and they are technologically advanced, quite frankly they are if reports are correct a danger to earth. It why Russia has begun the construction of our version of the Prometheus-class vessels."
"Well yes, but there is the more pressing issue elsewhere," The president had already grown tired of seeing these 'new ships', the warning by their very existence being that the Ancients might be returning to their galaxy, "These new ships belong to the race that constructed the stargate network and the only thing we've ever seen that could hope to match them belong to the Asgard." He paused for a moment, "These ships dwarf in power anything we can hope to field, and we only can hope they're peaceful. There are however hostile powers out there, threats have been made against earth that we have to prepare for." A collection of packets were distributed the front of which were embalzoned with the SHIELD crest. "The Asgard have warned about another threat.
-scene break-
While the threat of alien invasion was discussed by world leaders Hermione, and a smattering of others poured over old books. The muggleborn would haved liked to have been pouring over the pictures of the massive stone that had been deposited in Colorado, but Dumbledore considered this a more pressing priority. Myths were so hard to figure what was accurate, and what just had an inkling of truth.
Within the context of the Old God myths places like Stonehenge, and Glastonbury Tor didn't make sense, but then there were wizarding accounts that weren't found in any muggle lore. "Alright well from what Bill's managed to piece together Ra was banished from Earth by the Ancient gods of the sky." The inscriptions, and hieroglyphic records weren't especially clear, "which we've dated to roughly the same timeframe as Lilith's ruins are from," Give or take a few centuries, but in the context that wasn't nearly as a bad as it sounded. Wizards couldn't even agree on their, own, origins, and there had to be something more to it than just evolution.
"Well..." Bill took a moment to stall for time, to put things together, and organize the pictures he'd taken of the hieroglyphics. It was lucky they had these seeing as the Lilith site had been over run, and they didn't risk going back there, "there is too much one side of the globe says one thing, ancient ruins tell another story, and the ancient greeks say another."
It was maddening Hermione knew that much, there were too many competing stories, "What if we narrow things downs. Moody knows something, and Templar means Knight of the Temple, and Lilith I would have thought, that anything related to her would have been found quite a ways east."
"So ask Moody, and completely shift our research sites east? We can ask Moody, but its Egyptian sites that have all the attention," Bill said shaking his head, "I mean we could maybe get support for some Greek research, but ancient egyptian wizards are the main focus." Never mind that the wizarding world was spooked to hell after the disturbance of magic. Then there was Voldemort to consider who was doing his own research on ancient wizards, and there was no telling how much Snape had actually fed back to the Dark Lord. "Asking Moody is one thing but trying to find evidence of yet another group of ancient gods without evidence to start with isn't going to get us anywhere."
There was a muffled growl from the door, "And what," Moody dropped a bunch of musty old leather bound tomes on the table, "Do you want to ask old mad eye about?" Seeing the lack of forthcoming questions he snorted, "Dumbledore wants me to look more into the Kandrakhar matter, and thats one thing the Aedra have never been particularly forthcoming about," Not that the old gods were forthcoming about a lot of things, but that couldn't really be helped.
Hermione reached for one of the new books, "Well what Temple, its not the Temple of Solomon obviously, but still you're a templar." Compared to a lot of wizards, Bill being the notable other exception, Moody wore a lot of trinkets and gadgets so when he pulled one out it wasn't all the a suprise when the red, maybe it was ruby, triangle started glowing.
"This is the Temple of Solomon," There was a whoosh of energy and an image formed, "Its just not what the muggles think, nor has the main complex destroyed." Hermione realized where she'd seen the style of building before, it was similiar (though with additions) to the Lilith structure that the soldiers had come storming into. "Protecting it protects the whole human race, so whats muggles see is only what the wards don't warp their perception of." Moody paused, "It might also be our only recourse for what Kandrkhar is, and what its heart it that the yanks, and the department of mysteries won't have access to."
Moody was always warning about dangerous artificats of magic, but Dumbledore agreed in this case, even if he was intrigued. Not that Hermione wasn't intrigued by something that could repulse whatever the cause of that magical disturbance had been, because she was. All of this though was new, and what they did know didn't seem to bode particularly well. She opened one of the books to the marked page, half wondering if it was going to start screaming at here, "Ares's armor?" It looked like what had been shown on her parent's television.
"Its as good of place as any to start, and if we can find it before Voldemort all the better." Moody growled irritably. Magic was a sensitive thing, and it made sense for Voldemort to want to know about whatever had nearly paralyzed him in agony.
-scene break-
An hour ago he'd been deep within his own domain, so far within his own borders that few to nothing could have hoped to reach him tucked away in the void. Time was counting down. Jyggalag was the second strongest of the Daedra, especially as he drew power from the very order of nature and his strength was returning quickly. Even if the remaining Ori thought to strike now against other galaxies it wouldn't prevent the march from beginning. Soon, even from the perspective of a lesser vampire, to him it would like an instant.
Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on one's positions, Mephala considered it likely the Ori would interfere. It was unfortunate that she tended to be right on these things. In a few centuries they would likely be at war with the Ori, which would be irritating if nothing else.
It mattered little for the moment though, the dark god mused, if it happened it did. It would be funny though, if the Ori attacked then well the Aedra and Daedra would ally against their common foe. Sithis longed for the age of Dreams, but reminscing served little purpose now.
"So? You just going to sit there?"
... impertinent children, still useful, and more to the point they had the honor of calling one of his chosen friend, and calling Arkay's chosen teacher. "I was considering such yes," He answered glibly looking over the area. Constantinos was on the grounds surounding the estate walking them even now, apparently there was some issue with the news people at the gate. Nosy rumor mongering vermin that they were, still even in the days of the Ayelied they had served a purpose... besides Mara's insufferable taste for rumors.
"Right," The blonde rolled her eyes, "So is Constantinos going to kill Duncan?"
He quirked an eyebrow, "I do not know this human, why would Constantinos take the time to kill him?"
"He's kind of a prick."
... yes because Constantinos took the time to slay every annoying mortal he ran across, goodness as if that would happen. "If that is all the sinning Duncan has committed then I should doubt Constaninos will spare the time on it." Killing a man was a bit more indepth, was to be a bit more indepth than just the act. Anything less was Mehunes's folly, and everyone knew what that resulted of. "There are less grievous punishments for arrogance that hardly should involve me." Sithis exhaled sharply as a plume of sulfur rippled through the air. Heat burned within his veins, as the first signs of the explosion reached, and the sounds of gunfire came.
Humans, on this world, primarily relied on internal combustion engines to power their vehicles which were fuelled with natural 'fossil fuels', as opposed to some synthetically created system he supposed. Sithis knew a fair amount about the system scientifically speaking. He knew it was primitive, but despite this that Arkay's chosen was fond of them (particular old ones), and that his own chosen desired such a craft to get around.
What Constaninos knew was nothing new at all. Getting impaled sucked to use modern turn of phrase. "Dude, dude are you okay?"
"I am fine," He hand burned blue white and the street lamp turned red, orange, and then melted away pooling at his feet, and he was able to pool himself free. The teenager stared slackjawed as the wound closed.
"You're not a mutant, that giant robot completely ignored you."
"I am a priest of the all father, and today is not the day he calls me away from here." Constaninos stated pulling a shard of glass from his face. The robot was called a sentinel, he knew that, and he knew that they were reasonably armed. That the war machine could have been a potent tool to defend against the goa'uld. He also knew this machine would be scrap metal. Seeing the gaping Constantinos shook it off, and looked around. The machines target would be the Xavier estate a fruitless attack, only to draw the ire of gods.
The high schooler found his tongue at last, "So what do we do? I mean it doesn't care about collateral damage, and its running amok."
Pulling Duncan out from under his car was easy enough, though his two friends would surely have managed it after a few minutes of work on their own. No, the real issue was the flitting about provoking the robot that 'Shadowcat' was doing. So Constantinos being practical elected to simply free from his vehicle a weapon, and shoot the robot.
"Is that legal?" Duncan stopped for a moment, "Actually fuck legal, where do I get one? The quarterback asked.
"The Maharis Armory," Constantinos adjusted the weapon against his shoulder.
"Is that in Europe?"
"No, its on a planet called Halcyon in the Autumnus sector."
"So they ship to Earth right?" Duncan Mathews looked at his friend, "Its a completely valid question in this scenario we're being attacked by giant robots. Well okay the mutants are getting attacks and those things don't care who gets caught in the cross fire. I kind of want a gun now, just saying."
The other foot ball player shrugged, "Well when you put it that way kind of hard to disagree."
"As to answer your question about legality, yes it is legal, being that it was manufactured six hundred years ago."
Katie popped down, "uh Kurt went to get help, though we might not need it, I guess." She looked around, first to the smoldering sentinel robot and then to the energy weapon. "What is that?"
"Its antique apparently," One of the foot ball players interjected.
Shadowcat rolled her eyes, "Right, of course it is," Because Constantinos didn't seem to own anything important that was less than a half century old, which didn't make any sense, but whatever now was totally not the time she supposed. "So what should do about the giant robot? Cause gotta tell you I don't want to deal with the end of the world, I mean you know this why we don't get to go to the big apple any more."
-scene break-
Meanwhile in New York City Oroku Saki was busy doing ninja stuff, and by ninja stuff he was spying on Talpa's progress on making up for the debacle that had happened long ago. Shredder still wasn't quite up to speed on the whole Armors issue. He did however understand that Hariel's betrayal, being the first and only of its kind, was a big deal.
Still Talpa had recovered the bulk components for Hariel's magical armor, fifty five percent, and it didn't look like he'd be recovering the rest for a while. Raiden might have been slightly irritated by the lack of progress, but well he seemed content to let the matter lay. It was also part of the reason Oroku Saki was looking into it instead of watching Oscorp like a hawk. If he could recover the remaining armors it would be a major politcal windfall against Talpa.
Kaos might have been an enemy, but the human ronin were just that. Human, and masterless samurai, they could be turned. If they could be turned the formidable magic of the armors would be useful... it helped Talpa had made a terrible first impression of the humans.
The leader of the foot looked over the fog covered docks. Hariel his actions were ...supposedly could be forgiven, because Raiden himself could understand the reason, how could the god not, even Sithis the very embodiment of death could understand. Hariel was worth it, the Shinto Kami had admitted; yes he'd give him a last chance. That was the kind of thing that seriously annoyed the Shredder though. Still to finish recovering the nine armors, one sacred gem, well three technically, one for each level, would be politically advantageous.
Naturally about this time univited guests decided to show up. "Wow, you don't have to put that on seriously you don't have to do that." Cassey half shouted prompting the reptillians to facepalm, so much for the stealth aspect of the mission.
"Turtles," The shredder slipped his prongs on, contemplating whether he could reach his sword before they could close the distance between them. "To what do I owe this unexpected intrusion into my home?"
The human vigilante looked to his friends, made an 'I got this guys' gesture, and started talking, "look I know we don't always get along, but uh you know Earth's going to be attack so we gotta put our differences aside, and uh you know work together to save the day."
"What Cassey is- okay there is an alien attack coming on Earth." It looked like the Turtle was going to be physically ill, "Look we're gonna neeed your help, okay there I said it." Michaelango remarked, "So can we put the weapon down, and talk about this?"
The shredder took his seat again, "I'm listening. Tell me of this supposed attack."
"Ok Donatello has acess to a bunch of alien technology, and ah I'll just let him explain."
Oroku made a wide sweeping gesture to be seated at the low table, and the tech savvy Turtle pulled a device from his belt, slowly. "Now I've been monitoring a lot of the old Umtrom systems, and they keep track of things in the local region of space." The Umtrom had had a fairly advanced understanding of stealth systems, their cloaking technology vastly outstripped Goa'uld sensor abilities, which was why the sensor network had never been detected. "and I've got access to in general a lot of their systems. What I've found is that there is an alien fleet approaching earth and well they're not going to be friendly."
"Earth has its own fleet, an invasion would provoke a battle." The Shredder remarked accepting the device and turning it on. "I should assume your concern is that the defenses will fail, that they will be insufficent."
Donatello ground his teeth, "I don't think they're going to be fast enough. I've been monitoring the US Space Fleet, they haven't intercepted the alien fleet yet. I think the aliens are going to invade, and that we're going to have to throw them off. Whether that means we have to hold the aliens off long enough for Earth's ships to get here, or whatever."
"I see," Oroku Saki activated the device, "How familiar are you with the Umtrom's biogenetic research, are you familiar with OsCorp or Alva perhaps?"
Leonardo looked at him funny, "Yeah we know who both of those are, OsCorp is in New York whats that got to do with anything?"
"Everything. The metahuman 'bang babies'," and how he loathed that coined phrase, "are not so different from you. Alva, Parker, Connor, Osborne, and others they all profitted, and continue to alien technology from the Umtrom."
Raphael snorted, and was half way through asking what did that matter when Donatello poised the question, "What about Stark, they're a major tech firm?"
"What has Stark done since Howard died other than make weapons. His," Howard Stark's "heir drinks, and whores about ocassionally making some new thing. Stark doesn't matter." Which would be a hilarious comment in hindsight, in a few years irrelevant would be the last thing one would think when talking about Stark Industries, and Tony Stark. "These invaders well Alva will rally defenders to help the planet in the face of them.."
The leader of the four looked hopeful, "Your serious you're talking about allies we can work with thats great." Leonardo had only agreed that this was necessary, because there hadn't been any choice in the matter. They could have rushed off to try and get the Justice League to help, but the Justice League was always about trying to save everywhere. "Yeah ok, I get where your going with this, so what do we do?"
"What preparations have you made so far?"
-Chapter Conclusion-