Alright, some of my future plans are revealed, and I hope they will be met with approval. To answer a few questions, Mr. Kemp is an OC, basically just a random psycho that caught Buffy's attention. To jimk, it is shown in the episode where Anubis tries to blow up the Stargate that the gate room is at the bottom of a missile silo that goes straight to the surface. On the subject of the Ted based servitors, servitors are not AI, merely robots programed to perform a set task. They have no capacity for learning or improving, which is the condition for a machine to be considered an AI.
Chapter 14
After the conflict with the now greatly diminished, if not extinct Sisterhood of Jhe, Buffy and the others had decided that giving the Battle Sisters novices field experience was a good idea and squads of the girls now accompanied Buffy and the others out on patrol.
Of course, the girls did most of the fighting; with their supervisors only stepping in if things got too dangerous, which thanks to the regular patrols rarely amounted to more than a few random vampires.
As Buffy walked idly through the cemetery, flanked on both sides by a pair of Sisters, she was busy thinking about her biggest source of headaches, namely the Mayor. So she was a bit surprised when a group of vampires armed with swords ambushed them.
One Sister was stabbed in the left shoulder, but the girl still managed to react quickly enough to make the vampire miss her heart.
The initial surprise gone, the vampires quickly turned to dust thanks to the four bolt pistols brought to bear against them.
"You alright, Sarah?" Buffy approached the injured girl.
"Yes, Milady. It is only a minor wound." The girl's tone was firm and brave, despite her paling face.
"You reacted well. Now, hold still." Buffy took the sword still stuck in her shoulder by the handle and pulled it out quickly.
"Have her bandaged and take her back to the complex. Kate, take the swords as well and bring them to Giles. I'll finish tonight's patrol." Buffy ordered.
"So, what can you tell me about the vamps that attacked us tonight? They didn't look local." Buffy met with Giles once her patrol was over.
"No, they're not. From the swords, I've concluded that they're the El Eliminati, a medieval vampire dueling cult. Constant duels and increased anti-vampire activity in Europe reduced their numbers and they entered the service of a demon called Balthazar who led them to the New World. However, they were considered extinct." Giles explained.
"Oh, they will be soon enough. And their master?" Buffy smirked.
"Well, if the cult is still alive, then it goes to reason Balthazar is alive as well. I will see what I can dig up on the subject." Giles replied.
"Alright. We'll intensify our patrols and see if we can't find where they've holed up. Once we…" Buffy was interrupted by the phone ringing.
"Summers… Yes, that's right, general… No, no trouble at all. We'll depart immediately."
"Trouble in Colorado again?" Giles asked curiously. The SGC certainly had a habit of getting in trouble about as much as they did.
"No trouble, just something I wanted to be alerted to. Almost two years ago, they encountered a human civilization calling themselves the Tollan, and they are one of the, if not the most advanced human world in this galaxy. I asked that if contact was established with them again, that we be informed." Buffy explained.
"Why do you want to meet with them for?" Giles was a bit confused. While he was aware of a great deal of Buffy's plans, it seemed that he did not know everything.
"A long term plan that should take care of the Goa'uld threat once and for all. I plan on meeting a few other planets the SGC have established contact with other than the Tollan, so I might be away for a week or so, along with Willow." Buffy said cryptically.
"What about school?" Giles asked. While it was hardly necessary as they had enough funds to cover their basic needs along with funding their combat efforts, and education far above what was taught on Earth, they still went to high school mostly to maintain their cover. It was inconvenient, but it also gave them a sense of normalcy.
"I'm afraid this is far more important. I'll talk to mom before I leave. Between you two, I have no doubt you'll be able to cover for us." Buffy shrugged.
"You do know we're about to receive sixty more novices from the Council, right?" Giles asked. That would bring the number of Battle Sisters to a hundred, which was an impressive number once they were fully trained and equipped.
"Faith can take care of that. She is the Order's Canoness, after all." Buffy shrugged.
The trip to the SGC went quickly enough, and the two girls were quickly led down into the mountain.
Once they entered the briefing room, General Hammond took a moment to examine the two girls. Buffy was dressed similarly to a Commissar, only instead of the greatcoat, she wore a gold trimmed red cape with the symbol of the Inquisition. The Aquila was also displayed prominently on her special carapace armor. Her usually loose hair was gathered in a ponytail. On her belt hung her sword and her trusty bolt pistol.
Willow had also changed since the last time he saw her. Her robe was now red, and a third mechadendrite had joined the two she already had. The circlet around her head had grown in both size and complexity, as evidenced by the wider surface that completely covered the top and back of her head, now resembling a helmet more than a circlet. She also wore strange gloves that looked to be riddled with circuitry. On her belt hung a las pistol, while in her right hand she held a staff that was decorated with the symbol of the Machine God and held within it a number of tools.
"It is good to see you again, General. Are we clear to depart?" Buffy went straight to business.
"Yes. SG-1 is already expecting you on the other side. May I ask why you want to talk to the Tollan? They have refused to aid us in the past. Not that I blame them considering our past behavior." The General remembered bitterly what certain members of the Pentagon had in mind with the Tollan they had rescued two years ago despite his protests.
"Please, sit down." Buffy took a seat on the table, and Willow and the General followed.
"The fact is, if we want to win against the Goa'uld, we need ships, and the best way to build them is in orbit. Since we can't build a shipyard here, we must seek other locations. The Tollan home world is not only secure, but they have the technology to construct them faster than anyone else. An advantage for us is that if you know how, Imperial ships are relatively simple to construct. Certain components will need to be produced in our complex, of course, but that won't slow down the production." Buffy surprised the man. It was certainly ambitious.
"How would these ships rate against Goa'uld ships?" Hammond asked.
"We plan to begin with a frigate class. Based on the data you have provided, Goa'uld Ha'tak would be a threat only in greater numbers." Buffy shrugged.
"The void shields would be able to endure a prolonged bombardment by a dozen Ha'tak for ten to fifteen minutes based on certain variables. The ship's offensive capabilities are even more formidable. We estimate a single broadside is capable of destroying a Ha'tak." Willow added.
"We are talking about a frigate, right?" Hammond whistled.
"Yes. We have several classes in mind that are much larger and more powerful. Our only issue is the hyperdrive engines that are meant to replace the Warp engines. We will need to discuss the topic with the Tollan and the Tok'ra." Buffy replied.
"Well, I think we kept SG-1 waiting long enough." General Hammond stood up and escorted them down to the Gate room. The Stargate was already dialing by the time they got down.
"Welcome to Tollana." Carter and Teal'c were waiting for them on the other side along with a Tollan.
"Narim let me introduce Lady Inquisitor Elizabeth Summers and…"
"Magos Willow Rosenberg. Nice to meet you." Willow cut in.
"You're a Magos now?" Carter asked curiously.
"The group decided as a whole that my position, skills and knowledge merited a promotion. I still say I should be condemned as a heretek instead of being promoted." Willow shrugged. The constant alteration and adaptation of Imperial technology was not something she was comfortable with even if she understood the necessity for it.
"Oh, this is Narim. He was one of the Tollan we rescued two years ago." Carter finished the introductions feeling a bit embarrassed about the unexpected interruption.
"This way, please." Narim gestured towards one of the buildings.
"You've upgraded your equipment I see." Carter commented to Willow as they walked.
"Yes. I have expanded the capacity of my mind-impulse unit and added several neural wafers. I also designed these gloves as a replacement for electoo implants, and the collar is a special device allowing me to broadcast in lingua-technis." Willow replied calmly.
"Have the others received implants as well?" Carter continued her questioning.
"They have received the blessings of the Machine God they are capable of utilizing." Willow replied.
At the same time, Buffy was talking to Teal'c about the situation that brought them to Tollana in the first place.
"You believe the Goa'uld have ulterior motives in this matter?" Buffy asked him.
"I do, however the Tollan insist that we do not interfere." It didn't take a genius to notice the disapproval in the man's voice.
"When dealing with the xeno, be ever vigilant for duplicity. I daresay it is something the Tollan should take to heart." Buffy commented.
"By your definition, that also includes you." Narim commented, which caused Buffy to stop.
"Tell me, are you human?" Buffy's eyes seemed to bore right into his as she spoke.
"Yes." Narim replied after a few moments.
"And are we human?" Buffy asked again.
"Yes." The Tollan had begun to wonder if he was about to be attacked by the dangerous looking young woman.
"Where we live is irrelevant. We are all children of Holy Terra." Buffy grinned and resumed walking.
The pair was led to a separate room, and Buffy nodded with approval when she saw one of the walls decorated with the Imperial Aquila. About half an hour later, they were called before the Tollan Curia, which was the ruling body of the planet.
"On behalf of the Imperium of Man and the immortal God-Emperor, I thank the Curia for this meeting." Buffy began as she stood before the Curia members.
"We are honored to meet with you as well. May I ask where your Imperium is located? SG-1 was unclear on the matter." One member asked.
"The Imperium's location is sadly beyond our reach. Our arrival here was by accident, and we have no way to return. Despite this, we remain true to our holy mission. Ensuring the survival and dominance of humanity." Buffy replied calmly.
"You have requested this meeting to discuss a matter of great importance. Shall we proceed?" High Chancellor Travell cut off any further questions.
"Thank you, High Chancellor. Considering the recent battle in your system, I don't have to remind you of the constant threat of the Goa'uld. We all know of the atrocities they commit daily on countless humans across the galaxy. I know I am new to this galaxy, but that is not something I can let continue, not when I have the power to stop it. But we cannot do it alone. We ask that you help us end the tyranny of the Goa'uld once and for all." Buffy began, eliciting murmurs from the Curia.
"While your sentiment is commendable, our laws clearly state we do not share technology with less advanced races." Travell said calmly.
"Less advanced? The Imperium had ruled a million worlds before your ancestors even left Holy Terra. You should be lucky we are even considering sharing our MORE advanced technology with you." Buffy snapped.
"We do not require your technology, merely your expertise. To combat the Goa'uld, we need ships, and we ask your permission and aid to construct them here in orbit around Tollana. We plan to discuss the matter with several other free human worlds that will provide raw materials and labor." Willow joined in.
"Such a facility could draw the combined might of the System Lords. It is a great risk." Travell countered.
"But it is a risk worth taking. Even a few of the ships we plan to construct will shift the balance greatly in our favor. With the recent losses the System Lords suffered battling Sokar this is the perfect time to strengthen ourselves before they recover." Buffy pressed on and gestured for Willow to step forward.
Willow pulled a holo-projector from her robe and put it on the ground. A large projection of an Imperial frigate appeared floating and spinning in the middle of the room. It was based on the Sword frigate, but modified to accommodate the current situation they were facing.
"This is what we propose we begin constructing. The ship's specifications are also listed." Buffy waited a while as the Curia examined the designs presented to them.
"A most impressive battleship, but I am not sure that even we would be able to construct it." It took over five minutes for Travell to admit they were faced with technology beyond their ability to reproduce.
"We will provide the most complex components. The rest is fairly simple once we've taught you how. Oh, and this design is only a frigate. This is a battleship." With that, the image changed to the design of a Retribution class battleship.
This time, the image drew several gasps from various members. To even imagine such a massive and heavily armed behemoth was something beyond them.
"I hope you're not proposing we build something like that as well?" Travell asked once the shock wore off.
"Not unless we truly required it. The frigates should be more than enough, and we might consider adding a few cruisers in the future, but that should be enough." Buffy shrugged.
"May I ask why you would need such a vessel in the first place?" One Curia member finally asked the question they all wanted to ask.
"Our home galaxy is far less pleasant than this one. We are facing enemies that that make the Goa'uld seem friendly and pleasant, and we have been forced to develop weaponry that matches theirs." Buffy replied.
"We require time to discuss your proposal, and we must also conclude with the Triad." Travell brought an end to the meeting.
"I thank you for your time. I would like to return back to Terra. I have several other worlds to visit and I must also determine the best alternate locations for a shipyard should you decide to refuse our proposal, but Magos Rosenberg will remain in my stead." Buffy informed them.
The next couple of days were busy for Buffy as she visited several worlds the SGC had contact with and tried to enlist their aid in the construction project. Already, several worlds had pledged raw materials, and the few more advanced planets had offered a number of workers and use of their manufacturing facilities.
As she was preparing to move on to the next destination on her list, SG-1 returned from Tollana with a grinning Skaara but without Willow.
"I take it you won the Triad?" Buffy noted that Skaara didn't have the device on his chest that separated his mind from Klorel.
"Yeah, but the Goa'uld are real sore losers. They attacked Tollana and managed to destroy all the ion cannons in one strike. If it wasn't for Teal'c, they would have been done for. The sneaky bastard got Lya to hide one of the cannons." O'Neill commented.
"Where is Willow?" Buffy considered this new development carefully. This attack could be useful to her agenda.
"She stayed behind to help with reconstruction. The Curia has also informed us that they would like to meet you again at your earliest convenience." Carter replied.
"I'll head on over straight away. With your permission, General?" Buffy turned to the control room. Hammond only gave her a nod and the gate began spinning.
"I trust you have given my proposal careful consideration?" Buffy stood once more before the Curia, only this time, the air of arrogance that saturated the room the last time was not present. It seemed the recent attack had a greater impact than she expected.
"Yes. Our initial decision was to decline your offer, but the recent attack has shown us that the Goa'uld are growing to be a much bigger threat than before. Therefore, we agree to construct warships for joint use against the Goa'uld." Travell replied.
"Excellent. We estimate it will take at least several months to construct the shipyard and the supporting infrastructure?" Buffy asked.
"Yes. We will begin as soon as we are able. You have secured the aid of other worlds as well?" Travell asked.
"Several worlds have already pledged their aid, offering raw materials, laborers, use of their factories or all of the above, and I plan on contacting a few more. I expect we will have no problem gathering the necessary materials. While the shipyard is being built, I will ask that you dispatch several men to Terra so that they can be educated on how to construct these vessels." Buffy answered.
"One last thing. Under whose authority will these ships fall?" One of the Curia members asked.
"The Imperium would have complete authority in combat situations, however we will not instigate offensive actions without approval from a supervisory council unless an emergency demanding rapid response occurs." Buffy replied.
"That is acceptable. We will select suitable candidates and dispatch them to Earth within the next few days." Travell concluded the meeting.
While Willow remained on Tollana for a few more days to go over certain topics with the Tollan, Buffy concluded her tour of the allied planets and secured as much aid as she could. While most of these worlds were still what she would consider feral worlds, if given the proper equipment they could provide more than enough raw materials to build their ships.
Their mission complete, the two girls returned to Sunnydale in high spirits; however the news that awaited them was not good.
"So, you caught the Deputy Mayor when you went after Balthazar?" Buffy frowned. It seemed a bit unlikely for the man to be in the area.
"Yes. I'm not sure why exactly he was there that night, and after Xander and I broke through the enchantments that the Mayor had placed on him, he wasn't in a state for lengthy conversations. We were lucky to get as much as we did before he died." Giles paused for a moment. "The Mayor plans to Ascend to daemonhood, and has already performed a ritual that makes him invincible. We're now trying to determine what he plans of Ascending into and once we do how to kill him. The good news is that we have until graduation day. There's an eclipse on that day that is the final event in the Ascension ritual."
"So, we're talking about a Greater Daemon?" Buffy frowned.
"Any of the Old Ones are bad news for us. To even survive a battle with them is a daunting task." Giles sighed.
"I doubt he would be at full power immediately, so that gives us a chance, however slim it may be. We must prepare. Faith, step up the training for the Sisters. We will need them in that battle. Willow, I want as many sets of power armor as you can make. Make sure to rotate the Sisters through the sets we have already so they get the proper experience." Buffy ordered.
"Well, Kendra will be complete in about a month, so we'll be able to focus more on producing the armor. However, we'll also need weapons and ammo and a ton of other things. We'll do our best but I can't promise miracles." Willow groaned internally as she considered how much work was ahead of her. Add to that the necessity to educate the Tollan and the engineers from other worlds on Imperial ship construction, and her headache simply doubled.
"When the time comes, this vile sorcerer will not find us wanting. Dismissed." Buffy let her friends disperse before she collapsed in her chair. It seemed that she always had to have bad news with the good.