Reviews answered
Thunder18: glad you enjoyed it mate.
SkywalkerT-65: True and I enjoyed writing the chapter. As for the Furlings...They will be in this fic, i hope you'll be surprised.
Chapter 6: The lost secret.
Orbit of Terra, Centre of the Tau'ri Alliance
January 17th 2012
10:30 EST.
Sam was stood looking out of the window at the front of the bridge on the Daedalus. Steven had kindly allowed her to take temporary command of the X-304-A while he was visiting his family planet-side. Janus had requested that a Terran ship join him at a set of coordinates in the centre of the galaxy. As Daedalus was the only ship with both the Lantean and Asgard upgrades, it was the logical choice as it would be the best in any situation.
"Major, set a course. Coordinates have been entered in the Navigation database, take us there please." Sam says moving away from the window and sitting down.
"Aye ma'am, powering hyperdrive and setting course. Stand by for hyperspace jump." Major Gant says flicking switches. A small lurch occurs as the X-304 enters hyperspace. The blue/white tunnel generated by the frequency of the Asgard sub-space generator.
"Ma'am we're approaching the coordinates." Major Gant says looking at the screen.
"Already?" Sam asks confused.
"Yes Ma'am. With the ZPM installed we're extremely fast. We can make it to Pegasus inside of three days." Gant says looking at the Colonel.
"I keep forgetting we have ZPM's now." Sam smiles in all honesty. A small tumour shakes the ship as it exits its sub-space window and incredible speed.
"Sensors?" Sam asks Captain Wilkinson.
"Ma'am, I'm detecting a large space station and what appears to be a super gate." the Captain replies in an Irish accent.
"Super gate?" Sam asks confusion shooting across her face.
"Colonel, sensors have just detected a small vessel de-cloaking on our starboard side. It's a Puddle Jumper." The Irish captain explains.
"Hail it." Sam says to Major Gant. The major nods.
"This is Colonel Samantha Carter of the Terran Warship Daedalus. Please identify yourself." Sam says looking at the large hologram that flickered on.
"Hello Colonel, please allow me to land, we have much work to do." Janus smiles.
"Alright." Sam smiles.
"Opening Starboard Hanger bay doors." The Major says flicking a switch on her workstation.
"Thank you. See you soon." Janus smiles. The Daedalus allows the small Lantean craft to land in the starboard hanger bay while remaining wary of the surrounding space. In a matter of minutes Janus arrived on the bridge of the Daedalus.
"Colonel, how pleasant to see you." Janus smiles.
"Hello Janus. May I ask, why have you dragged us out to the centre of the galaxy to look at a super gate?" Sam asks the ancient.
"I like that, Super gate. We only called it a ship-transport-portal. Well, this is no ordinary super gate. This gate allows you to cross entire realities." Janus smiles.
"We've already encountered technology similar to this. It was a small arch." Sam says remembering the two different missions.
"Ah yes, this is an improvement on that technology. This only allows travel to realities so far away that you will have no double and you will not begin to degrade as a result." Janus smiles trying to put it in the simplest term he could.
"So what do you need us here for?" Major Gant asks being the ships XO. Janus just smiles.
"I'm glad you asked. This gate will allow you to make contact with races in a different universe. They may become horrible enemies or powerful allies. You may even meet future versions of Earth." Janus smiles.
"Why future versions?" Gant asks.
"Because each reality has a different time line. The further away you get from the original, the further in the future time is." Sam tries to explain.
"Please contact High Councillor Hayes and confirm that it is alright to take you to a new reality. When he has given us the go ahead, we will need several people on the station." Janus smiles. Sam nods to the Major. Gant presses a button on the side of her workstations screen.
"Colonel, the high councillor is responding." Major Gant says bringing up the holographic communication system. A large holographic screen displays Henry Hayes sat in his office overlooking Washington.
"Colonel Carter, what can I do for you?" Henry smiles. Washington shone in the sun light of the early morning.
"Well sir, Janus has requested that we take the Daedalus into an alternate reality in order to seek out new allies. He says that there is no risk other than making possible new enemies." Sam explains to the worlds commander in chief.
"Alright, if Janus sees no danger, then I approve. You have a ZPM and your systems are fully upgraded. You're the best ship we have. Good luck." Henry smiles before closing the channel.
"Alright, Major beam three marine squads and a science team over to the Station. Make sure everyone has the ancient gene. Janus, how do we power the gate?" Sam asks.
"Oh, it already has power, we just need your teams over there to dial the Alternate Universe." Janus smiles.
"I see. Well, Major?" Sam turns to face the XO.
"The teams are in what appears the control room and they are powering up the station." Gant reports.
"Good." Janus says closing his eyes.
"Ma'am, Major Dunn just reported that the gate just powered up and has begun the dialling process." Gant informs her temporary CO.
"It's alright, its me." Janus says with his eyes still closed.
"Tell the Major to leave it alone and to continue with securing the station." Colonel Carter orders.
"Yes ma'am." Gant nods while pressing her ear piece.
"Janus, what is in this reality?" Sam asks the ancient.
"I'm transferring the data that we collected ten thousand years ago when we first ventured into this universe." Janus says before a console beeps to indicate a file being received. Janus opens his eyes and looks at the colonel.
"It's all the data we collected before we choose to give up and ascend." Janus says to the Colonel.
"Ma'am, the gate is activating." Gant say indicating to the large super gate.
"Alright, take us in as soon as we can go." Sam nods moving to the command chair. The large unstable vortex lunges out of the gate. Within a few seconds the wormhole stabilises. The normal even horizon ripples as it begins to engulf the X-304-A Daedalus. The ship glides through easily and is finally through the gate entirely. After a few more seconds, the gate shuts down.
Other side of the Universal Gate, Alternate Universe
January 17th 2012
11:45 EST.
Samantha was in the Engine room of the Daedalus. No one else was with her as she had sent all the technicians around the ship to do visual inspections. The Daedalus had been on this side of the Universal Gate for over an hour. Sam had wanted to run all possible diagnostics short of a full systems check that would take days. She was on the look out for any anomalies that would indicate that travel through this gate wasn't safe. So far nothing had appeared out of place and the universal transition didn't seem to have caused any side effects.
Janus leisurely strolls into the Engine room and stands in the doorway. Sam looks up and sees the Ancient standing in the door.
"Well, it looks like you were right. The diagnostics aren't detecting any anomalies and the sensors haven't detected any side effects." Sam smiles closing down the diagnostics screen.
"You see, I told you." Janus smiles to himself. Sam just smiles and stands up. She walks over to the intercom box and radios the bridge.
"Bridge, this is Colonel Carter, set course for Jupiter, best speed." Sam says looking at Janus.
"Ma'am, I'm detecting something on the long range sensors that might change your mind." Gant replies through the radio channel.
"What is it?" Sam ask looking at Janus confused.
"Well, it's a ship, as far as I can tell its banged up pretty bad. According to the sensors its about the size of a Ha'tak Mother ship with double the length." Gant replies.
"Alright, set a course, I'll be there in a minute." Sam replies before closing the channel. Carter and Janus leave the engine room and head for the bridge. The Daedalus moves away from the Universal Gate and enters hyperspace for a short jump. After a few seconds, the Daedalus exits hyperspace from its sub-space window. Colonel Carter and Janus walk on to the bridge.
"Ma'am, the derelict should be entering our visual range in a few seconds. I'm picking up a distress call. Its faint and coming from the derelict." Gant reports to the Colonel who was now stood at the front of the bridge scanning the area in front of the ship. There is was. A large grey hulled vessel. Two long rectangular sections either side of what appeared to be a rotating figure of eight. Black burns were all over the hull and some sections were completely exposed to space.
"Play it." Is all that Sam says while still trying to find this ship.
"This is the Earth Alliance De…..yer Alexander to any …gue ships in this sector. We require immediate ass…..ce. Our Jump Engines are down, wea…s systems are barely operable and ….enting atmosphere. Please re…." A mans voice says over the distorted radio channel.
"Open a channel." Sam says looking at the Major.
"Ma'am, that's an automated distress beacon. The sensors show no life signs aboard. The ships power systems appear to be damaged and only powering the beacon. My guess is that this vessel has been floating in space for several months. I'm detecting radiation impacts all over the hull." Gant says to the Colonel.
"Alright, tell some marines and a science team to suit up in the Ancient space suits we have onboard. Tell them to take a Naquadah Generator with them to power the ship." Sam says looking at the massive grey ship.
"Yes ma'am." Gant says pressing her ear piece to inform the marine and science teams.
"What do you make of this Janus?" Sam asks the Ancient who was also looking at the derelict vessel.
"Well, it appears that it was in a battle. We will learn more by recovering the ships database and log entries. But the ships FTL engines do look familiar." Janus says staring at the Alexander.
"Ma'am, the team is away. They are in what appears to be a cargo bay." Gant reports. Sam just nods.
Derelict Alexander, Alternate Universe
January 17th 2012
11:50 EST.
Major Tristan Davis was in his late twenties. Most of his features were hidden by the Ancient Environmental suits all eight of them were wearing. They had all slightly began to float upwards towards the ceiling. This wasn't sitting well with Tristan. Even though he had trained for zero gravity, with the current technology, he hadn't needed that skill for sometime.
"Activating Magnetic boots and powering suits inertial dampeners." Tristan says in a deep voice.
They all began to slowly fall back towards the presumed floor. He could tell that they were in some kind of cargo hold as massive metal crates and containers were strapped down or fixed to the walls. Tristan looks around the large room. Nothing but crates or exploded power conduits with the odd computer interface screen lined the room. The computer screen blinking on and off as their power flow was interrupted.
He is stood with his team of marines and a team of scientists in a large cargo bay. They had just been beamed over to the Alexander on the orders of Colonel Samantha Carter. All eight of them were in Ancient Environmental Suits that doubled as battle armour. The science geeks were trying to open the door by doing god knows what to it. Davis nods to Captain Sarah Summers. Sarah walks over to the door and moves the scientists away. She places a circular device on the door and backs away. All of them hide behind the crates piled up around the room.
"Fire in the hole." Sarah says happily. She presses the trigger and the circular object begins to melt the door. It was an ancient device that would work on any material as long as there was power in it. The reason they were hiding behind the crate were because of all the sparks and searing hot metal savings that were caused to fly around because of the zero gravity.
"Good job Summers." Tristan says over the radio channel that was no doubt being monitored on by the Colonel.
"Alright, lets move out. The Daedalus has transmitted us her sensor data. Summers and Rodriguez, take doctors Shaw and Mackenzie to the Engineering area. Biggs, your with me. Doctors Novak and Burns, we are heading to the bridge to see if we can recover her database and the ships logs. Alright, lets move out." Davis nods.
"Yes Sir." The three marines nods together. Summers, Rodriguez, Shaw and Mackenzie all leave through the melted door after Summers picks the ancient device that was floating near the hole it created.
"Lets go." Davis nods. The remaining four people in the cargo bay leave the large room and head towards the assumed bridge.
Derelict Alexander, Alternate Universe
January 17th 2012
12:50 EST.
Davis and Biggs are stood next to the Captains chair on the bridge of the Alexander. Novak and Burns were either end of the small room working on the now powered consoles. A small beep on his arm tells Davis that someone was trying to radio him.
"Major, Doc Shaw would like me to inform you that the Naquadah generator is pumping out more than enough juice to power this beast. He says all functioning systems are operational, but the hyperdrive, life support and Artificial Gravity are damaged beyond repair." Rodriguez reports in a strangely American accent.
"Alright, have Summers and Mackenzie check out their hyperdrive engines, we're nearly finished here. We have their database and now we're looking for the ships log entries." Davis says looking to both of the busy scientists on the bridge.
"Yes sir, I'll keep you posted." Rodriguez replies before closing the channel.
"Doctor, have you found those logs yet?" Tristan asks the scientist.
"Not yet. For some reason, they don't seem to keep their logs in the computer system." Doctor Burns says continuing to work on his PC tablet that was connected to the computer system.
"What about these?" Biggs asks pulling out a black tray of ruffle cone shaped crystals from a black box behind the Captains chair. He had been looking at them since they arrived on the bridge, but only just remembered that races like the Gou'ld and Asgard stored information on crystals.
"It's possible." Novak says walking over to scan them with her PC tablet. Shaw walks over from the opposite end of the bridge and looks at them.
"There are interfaces all around the room that look like they could be slotted into." Shaw says pointing to the nearest one on the console he was just working on.
"Alright, bag them and we'll take a look when we get back to Daedalus. Keep an eye out for anymore." Davis orders looking at the scientist before they got back to work running diagnostics on the Alexander. Tristan presses a button on his wrist mounted computer.
"Colonel Carter, we have recovered the ships logs and database. Doctor Novak is insistent on looking over the hyperdrive." Davis says on a new radio link with the Daedalus bridge.
"That's a negative. We have the database and scans of their hyperdrive system. You are to stand by for immediate beaming back to the ship." Sam says through the channel.
"Yes ma'am. Alright team, you heard the Colonel. Pick up all your toys and prepared for return to Daedalus." Davis says to the others after merging the two radio channels.
Derelict Alexander, Milky Way Galaxy, Alternate Universe
January 17th 2012
13:30 EST.
Samantha and Janus are in the Engine room with Doctor Novak looking over the Alexander's logs. The database and a copy of the logs had been given to the rest of the scientists to work on in the labs onboard the Battle Carrier. It had taken them nearly twenty minutes to create a working interface for the crystals.
"Play the next one." Sam says shaking her head. She had decided to skip all of the crystals and only watch the last couple of entries. Lindsey Novak changes the crystal and plays the entry. A somewhat obese man was stood in what appeared to be his quarters.
"Well, we've just left from a meeting with several Alliance renegades. They've promised to help us when the time comes. Its funny. Out of all the contacts we've met since we began this venture, the Alexander is the only Omega class Destroyer. We have a few Hyperion class and even some Nova class. But the Alexander is the most advanced ship we have, well besides Babylon 5 that is." The Man smiles and the log ends.
"What is this Babylon 5?" Sam asks Novak.
"Well, according to the Database." Lindsey says before closing the log and opening the information recovered from the Alexander.
"It's a space station that is located in the Epsilon Eridani system. It is where this rebellion began according to the database." Novak shows her the star map from the Alexander.
"Alright, I'll set a course." Sam smiles before leaving the room.