Teal'c watched impatiently from his H'tel, still stuck in high orbit around Dakara as the Aschen fleet continued to grow in size. Two more groups of their ships had arrived to add strength to their forces blockading the planet and making it impossible for him to get his ships down to the surface. If he ran them in closer he might be able to get within beaming range, but that would do nothing for the ships themselves. If the planet was going to be attacked directly using the massive fleet above it, he needed his H'tel below them in order to coordinate with Bra'tac. Attacking from the rear against those numbers would be suicide.

Only in a joint fleet action would they stand any chance of survival, which lay heavily invested in keeping the planetary defense weaponry and shields intact. It was those systems that Teal'c needed to help defend, but he was helpless to do so being so far away and on the wrong side of the enemy fleet.

But he could see what was happening, both from his vantage point and the transmissions coming from the planet. The Aschen had fought their way past several cities in order to establish a foothold on the planet, and from that foothold they were beaming down their own mechanized troops. The transmission pads they'd planted there were well guarded and Bra'tac's forces had not been able to destroy them with an overland assault, nor with air power. The H'tel there could not leave the confines of the huge defense shields protecting them and the cities without being fired upon, nor could the Ascend bombard the surface without coming within range of Bra'tac's guns.

If either side made a move to involve their fleets the other would react, leaving the ground battle outside the cities to be determined by their armies.

Bra'tac's troops were meeting them on the plains of Dakara, but the fighting had not gone well…nor had it gone badly. Ground had been lost, but very few troops as his now Alterran Master stalled for time. He had not informed Teal'c as to what that time was for and the First Prime had not specifically inquired, knowing that when he was ready Bra'tac would tell him what he needed to know and suspecting that he was being silent due to the small possibility of their comm signals being monitored.

Right now, all he could do was sit and wait.

Another H'tel came out of hyperspace a quarter of the way around the planet, then diverted to join Teal'c's three ships as it stayed well away from the Aschen fleet.

"Their fleet has grown," Ishta said with a grim look on her face as her image appeared before Teal'c's command chair.

"Indeed it has, though the problem remains the same."

"Which problem is that?"

"We cannot get to the surface to assist them…and we can do little more than die if we attack the Aschen from the rear, even with the addition of your vessel, though I am glad to see it."

"Just it?"

"You as well," he amended. "How went your assault?"

"Incomplete. We had difficulty at first, requiring considerable delays to set up a proper tactical thrust, but the end result was satisfying. We did not have long to bombard the planet before I received Dakara's request for support. What of you?"

"Also incomplete, though that matters little now. It appears the Aschen are pulling their own reinforcements here as well. I feel they mean to have Dakara no matter what the cost."

"Why are they waiting?"

"I do not believe they are confident that they can overwhelm the planetary defenses."

"A surface attack?"

"I have been informed that it is possible that with physical contact to the city defense shields a small window could be opened to allow enemy troops inside."

Ishta frowned heavily. "We have the technology of the Alterra. How is this possible?"

"Bra'tac feels the Aschen technology is sufficient to the task if given a lengthy opportunity. Our ground forces are going to deny them that opportunity, I assure you."

"The Aschen feel they have a chance and are holding off an orbital assault then?"

"Bra'tac feels we need to stall for time, hence we are sitting here and waiting while the fighting on the surface continues."

"He would not have recalled us without a purpose."

"No, he would not. But he has not divulged any further plans with me."

Ishna nodded slowly. "What are your orders, First Prime?"

"Bring your H'tel with mine and we will wait and watch. Patience is not a Jaffa virtue, but it seems we must endeavor to make it one this day."

"Well said. I will be with you shortly," she added as the hologram cut out.

Unfortunately one more H'tel wasn't going to be enough to let him punch through the enemy blockade. Even all the H'tel Bra'tac had constructed, if placed alongside Teal'c's flagship, could not engage this Aschen force and survive for more than a few minutes. He had known all along that it would take time to build up the new Jaffa forces. Sadly, the Aschen had not allowed them time to do so before they struck, thus it was up to Bra'tac to find a clever way to deal with this new enemy and Teal'c would be waiting with his small fleet to partake in whatever plan would be forthcoming.

Bra'tac was not in his audience chamber when the Aschen finally deigned to contact him, thus they had to wait while he was located, but within a few minutes a bust-sized hologram of the Jaffa/Alterra appeared on the enemy ship as he transmitted from a wristbound device held in front of him.

"We are awaiting your surrender," the Aschen said casually.

"To whom am I speaking?" Bra'tac demanded evenly.

"My name is Degon. I represent the Aschen and their interests in this region of the galaxy. You are to stand down your troops, lower your shields, and surrender all small arms."

Bra'tac smiled without any trace of humor. "And if not?"

"I don't see that you have much choice. I am aware that Jaffa often fight to the death, and if that is your wish we will grant it, but there is no need for you to die. The Aschen are not barbarous murders. We seek peaceful coexistence, on our terms, but we do not have any intention of destroying the inhabitants of this planet if you unconditionally surrender to us. You have skills and assets that will be of great value, and in exchange for your assistance we are prepared to make a place for you within the Aschen Confederation."

"A place?"

"We are a Confederation. The word itself should be answer enough."

"So am I to understand that you are attacking us in order to force our joining your union of equals?"

"We are attacking you because you are a threat," Degon stated plainly, with all the emotion of a robot. "We can resolve that threat in more than one way. We do not seek to make the Jaffa slaves, and are well aware that such an approach would not only be unsuccessful but an insult to your history. We are offering a compromise that would allow you to retain your honor."

"And what honor would we have if we affiliated ourselves with a murderous civilization?" Bra'tac said, the steel in his voice more than making up for the Aschen's lack of gravitas.

"We kill when necessary. We are not murderers. And I must say, coming from a Jaffa, your assertions are steeped with hypocrisy given your history serving the Goa'uld."

"And you would have us trade one master for another?"

"A civilized one, yes, operating under a far more equitable system than slavery."

"But still subservient?"

"Within reason, but maintaining a respectful distance, as we do with all Confederation members."

"Do you know who I am?"

"You are the Jaffa known as Bra'tac."

"Do you know what I am?"

"I do not understand your meaning."

"I once was Jaffa…now I am Alterra."

"We have heard rumors of such."

"Do you understand the significance of that?"

"You are allied with a great power located in another galaxy that has been supplying you with technology far beyond what you are accustomed too. The Aschen have long since held a technological superiority and know how to wisely implement it."

"You suggest the Jaffa cannot?"

"What advantages you have over us have not been used wisely. If you forsake your intergalactic masters, we can offer you more than they over the course of time."

"You cannot grasp the depth of how wrong you are."

Degon inclined his head slightly. "Perhaps, perhaps not. There is not a great deal we know of these Alterra. I am sure you could teach us more. The matter at hand remains. You, in your current form, are an enemy of the Aschen. We are offering you a chance to change that before further blood is shed."

"Jaffa do not typically surrender."

"But there are exceptions, I assume."

"No rule is absolute," Bra'tac agreed.

Degon slightly nodded. "Then there is a possibility of common ground here."

"Perhaps there is," Bra'tac allowed. "So I will therefore consider your surrender."

The Aschen frowned, the largest sign of emotion he had shown yet. "I do not find your statement humorous, if that is your intent."

"No?"

"You are horribly outmatched."

"And yet you have not directly attacked our cities. Why, may I ask, is that?"

"We are not here seeking your deaths."

"Considerate of you…and quite insincere."

"I assure you we are not. Our offer is genuine. Surrender now, avoid a costly and potentially devastating loss to the Jaffa, and join with us. We will incorporate you into the Aschen and both will benefit from the merger."

"If you seek our Alterran technologies," Bra'tac said, staring at the Aschen with an even deeper scowl, "then come and claim them."

Degon sighed, slowly shaking his head. "Why must inferior species always insist on bloodshed? We could accomplish so much more with intelligent diplomacy."

"Diplomacy would have began before you landed troops on this world."

"I will grant you that small point, though we felt the Jaffa respond better to actions than words alone."

"And I shall grant you that small point, though you have misinterpreted us if you think that aggression makes us more compliant."

"No, of course not. We seek to instill a sense of inevitable doom. Only when you are assured defeat would you contemplate surrender. Our troops are moving towards your cities, and soon the conquest of Dakara will begin. It may be slow and ponderous, but that will give you time to consider our offer. It will not be rescinded. So long as you are still alive, you may consider it still in play."

"You have to get past my warriors first."

"And we are currently doing that. If you wish to wait to find out whether or not we can breach your shields I will allow for that. Though Aschen speak the truth as a matter of practice, I understand that others are accustomed to lies and deceit in negotiations. We will breach your shields, and when that happens you will see that we are true to our word. We will speak again then."

The Aschen hologram disappeared and Bra'tac dropped his wrist as he looked at the Jaffa around him who were also listening to the conversation.

"They are not so confident of their victory as they claim," the First of the System Lords explained. "It is far easier to talk than it is to fight, and I get the feeling these Aschen are accustomed to intimidating opponents into capitulation rather than having to earn their conquests. They are stupid if they believe that will work on Jaffa," he said with disdain. "They will try a ground assault first. If it fails they will commence attack from orbit. They cannot allow Dakara to stand now that they are here. We are too great a threat and must be eliminated," he said as another Alterra walked up behind the group.

The Jaffa noticed his approach and made way for Paul Stevenson, who had been with them on Dakara since the beginning acting as their 'masterbuilder' and teaching them and Bra'tac more secrets of Alterran technology.

"How much time do we have?" he asked Bra'tac.

"Fear of our defenses forces the Aschen into a ground assault that will be unsuccessful, but we can draw it out for some time before they realize that fact. At which point I believe they will begin their full attack. The Aschen I spoke with is not a fool, but very ignorant to the ways of battle. He is used to winning and uncertain how to proceed. First he is cautious and frugal, then when that fails I believe he will reverse himself and mount a frontal assault with every ship he possesses. We have until then to find an alternative path."

Paul nodded. "We're getting closer, but we need more data transmitted."

"Then you shall have it," Bra'tac said, readjusting his wristbound communicator to contact Teal'c's flagship.

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