Well, another chapter done, and things are slowly starting to move forward. I hope you'll like my portrayal of Buffy's character, and how she develops and differs from the cannon Buffy. Without further ado, read and enjoy.
Chapter 21
"Nice room." Buffy commented as she looked over the large number of candles spread across Teal'c room.
"Thank you. So, what do you wish to speak about?" Teal'c sat offered Buffy a seat and then sat across her.
"I wish to discuss the future of the Jaffa. I expect that a rebellion will start soon, correct?" Buffy began.
"It was my intention to discuss the topic with some of my fellow Jaffa soon. However, why should that concern you?" Teal'c frowned.
"Any human striving to throw off the shackles of alien rule has my full support and blessing." Buffy grinned.
"The Jaffa are not human." Teal'c pointed out.
"True, you are not genetically identical to what we would call human, but you are still human enough. And to me, that's enough. Navigators and psykers are genetically different, but they're still accepted in the Imperium. That's why I'm offering the aid of the Imperium. We will provide the Jaffa rebellion with everything you may ask, like weapons, equipment, military aid or even sanctuary." Buffy replied.
"In return for what?" Teal'c frowned. When things sounded too good to be true, they usually were.
"The permission of my missionaries to preach the Imperial Cult to the Jaffa." Buffy answered.
"We have no desire to exchange one false god for another." Teal'c spat.
"Things are not nearly as simple, I'm afraid. The nature of the God-Emperor and the reasons behind the creation of the Imperial Cult are a bit of a complex issue, going back to the days of the Horus Heresy." Buffy sighed. She knew she would have to explain a great deal to convince Teal'c to embrace the Imperial Cult.
"Contrary to His orders, a number of cults worshiping Him had spread through the Imperial Armies. After the traitor legions fled, it was discovered that the regiments that worshiped the Emperor were the most resistant to the taint. Without the Emperor's presence, the High Lords decided to establish a formal religion to afford humanity protection from the ravages of Chaos, and their gambit worked. The Ruinous Powers cannot gain purchase in the minds of the faithful."
"As for the religion itself, the main reason the God-Emperor is so revered is because he put an end to the Age of Strife. He is the sole reason humanity returned from the edge of extinction. His power and leadership managed to unite humanity in a single whole, and He was this close to ending the threat of chaos and hostile alien powers. We do not pray to Him because he demands it like the Goa'uld, we pray to Him as thanks for everything He has done for us, for everything He has sacrificed, and we pray to Him for strength and guidance when we need it." Buffy concluded. "Take this. This should explain the Imperial Cult better than I can."
She had given him the same book that Faith had given to the Bedrosians, and Teal'c took the device without comment.
"I have no intention of forcing anyone to follow the Emperor, it's better for everyone if they join on their own free will. Now, considering our ships and fighters are still being constructed, for the moment I can only offer you lasguns, armor and equipment." Buffy offered.
"How many would you be willing to provide?" Teal'c asked. While the Imperials were generous to the SGC, he doubted they would be as such to his people.
"For now, most of our factories are tied into producing the aircraft and spaceship components, so I can only provide what we have in stock. And what we have comes to about two hundred sets of armor, fifty crates of assorted grenades, and three thousand lasguns." Buffy smirked at the look of disbelief on Teal'c's face.
"You actually have that kind of equipment in stock?" Teal'c whispered. Considering the Battle Sisters and their equipment, that made the Imperials one of the strongest military organizations on Earth. All they lacked were the numbers some of Earth's nations had at their disposal.
"Lasguns are rather simple to manufacture. With some help, the Jaffa should have no trouble in producing them themselves." She shrugged.
"And you can deliver this equipment quickly?" Teal'c asked, just to be sure.
"I can have it delivered here within the hour." Buffy nodded.
"I will speak with the other Jaffa about your offer, but I have to say I am still uneasy about your religion." Teal'c admitted.
"Perhaps there is a way to lay your concerns to rest." Buffy mused. "I can use my power to guide your mind and soul into the Warp and allow you to feel the Emperor's presence directly."
"Is it safe?" Teal'c had heard about the dangers of the Warp, and wondered if he would be putting himself at risk.
"In the Imperium, I would not consider it, but here, the risk is minimal. Don't worry, we will be exposed to the Warp for only a few moments." Buffy assured him.
"What should I do?" Teal'c asked.
"Just lean forward and close your eyes." Buffy replied, and once he did, she put her hands on his temples and leaned forward herself.
"That was incredible. That was really the God-Emperor?" Teal'c whispered moments later after Buffy had released him.
"That is His power radiating from the gap between our two realities." Buffy nodded.
"You have given me much to think about, I shall contact you once I have spoken with the other Jaffa." Teal'c stood up.
"Excellent. Give General Hammond my regards." With that, Buffy too vanished in a flash of light.
"So, what did the Inquisitor want?" Jack asked once Teal'c walked in the briefing room.
"She offered help to the Jaffa rebellion. Weapons, equipment and aid." Teal'c replied.
"In exchange for what?" Hammond asked.
"She wants us to allow missionaries to preach their faith to the Jaffa."
"You said no way, right?" Jack said.
"I did no such thing, O'Neill. I have thought about it, and I think it's a good idea. For centuries, the Jaffa have fought and died in the name of their gods. Having a god attached to our cause will make it a lot simpler to gather allies and absorb defeated Jaffa into the rebellion." Teal'c explained.
"You plan on using the Emperor as a figurehead?" Daniel asked.
"That is correct. And spreading the Imperial Cult throughout the Jaffa will only undermine the Goa'uld's power when we demonstrate that the Emperor is more powerful than they are." Teal'c smirked.
"What's that you're holding?" Carter asked.
"This is a book explaining the Imperial Cult." He replied, showing them the device.
"May I?" Daniel took the device and spent a few minutes reading it. "It's a very interesting device, but I have to say if these things spread through the galaxy, there will be trouble."
"How so, Dr. Jackson?" Hammond asked.
"I've read a lot of religious texts, sir, and this one is masterfully written. It is convincing and very compelling. I'll have to study the texts in greater detail, but I can be certain that people will embrace this faith in droves, and not just the primitive worlds. Even on the advanced planets we've encountered there will be people willing to accept this religion." Daniel replied.
"Do you believe we should forbid them from sending their missionaries?" Hammond asked.
"Do we have the authority to stop them?" Jack asked.
"According to our alliance agreement, they have unrestricted use of the Stargate." Hammond sighed. "So no, if they want to preach their religion to the galaxy, we can't do a thing to stop them."
"Welcome back, milady." One of the Sisters greeted Buffy as she appeared back in Sunnydale. "The Canoness has asked me to inform you that we have found the artifacts the vampires were after. They have been gathered and destroyed. We have also recovered a number of valuables that will be sold to bolster our treasury."
"Excellent. Michelle, please find Inquisitor Maybourne and ask him to come to my office." Buffy told the girl and walked out towards her office.
"You asked to see me?" Harry walked in and sat across her.
"Yes. After today, I believe it's time for you to begin your mission." This surprised Harry.
"Your meeting with the Tok'ra went well?" He asked.
"I have certainly made an impression on them, but far more useful than that was my meeting with Teal'c. Once the Jaffa turn on the Goa'uld, he will play a key role in bringing them into the fold of the New Imperium." Buffy replied.
"You do realize we have only about a third of the projected supplies, equipment and manpower." Harry reminded her.
"I am aware of that, but we have enough to establish the base and begin preliminary recon as well as building connections across the galaxy." Buffy pointed out.
"So, when do we leave?" Harry sighed.
"In two days time. You'll be teleported to the SGC and depart from there since we're still building our own gate. From there you will leave to the world we've chosen for the outpost."
"Alright. I'll start to gather the men and supplies we'll need right away." Harry nodded and stood up.
"Maybourne, your face is the last thing I wanted to see today." O'Neill was the first to speak as Maybourne and his entourage arrived, occupying most of the gate room.
"Nice to see you too, Jack." Harry grinned.
"Colonel Maybourne." Hammond walked up as well. While he disliked Maybourne just as much as O'Neill, the man was also far more diplomatic than his 2IC.
"Actually, it's Inquisitor Maybourne now." Harry pointed to the necklace bearing the barred I resting on his chest. However, what really caught the SGC staff's attention was the familiar shape of a Goa'uld hand device on his arm.
"Is that the hand device we gave to Willow?" Sam frowned.
"Yes it is. I can't very well act like a Goa'uld without one, can I?" Harry laughed.
"How are you going to pull that off?" O'Neill frowned, wondering just what the Imperials were planning.
"That was simple, actually." This time, Harry sounded like a Goa'uld and as he smirked, his eyes flashed with a golden light.
"Now that is just creepy." Jack shivered.
"Just a few little implants, although I wasn't happy they had to remove my eyes. General Hammond, if you'd be so kind to dial to our new home?" Maybourne turned to Hammond who turned to the control room and nodded. Moments later, the gate was active and Maybourne's men and a squad of servitors had begun to move the crates of equipment and supplies through.
"They really replaced your eyes?" Sam's voice was a mixture of shock and curiosity, since Harry's eyes didn't look any different than before.
"I wasn't happy about it, but once you get used to them, they're not so bad, and they do have a few extras in them.
"Milord, it is time to depart." The Celestian assigned to Harry's squad approached them. Buffy had included the girl and three Battle Sisters to ensure the protection of the base as well as Maybourne's loyalty. There was hardly a better deterrent for betrayal than a Celestian with a multi-melta.
The planet they emerged on was an arid, rocky wasteland with sparse vegetation. It was outside the domain of the Goa'uld, and had no resources worth the notice of the various galactic powers, which was why it was ideal for an outpost. Its relative proximity to Earth via hyperdrive was an additional reason why it was chosen.
"Sir, the recon drone reports a large underground river two miles due east from here. The area is also mostly flat and solid." One of the men reported once Harry had arrived.
"Good. Begin moving the equipment immediately. I want to have at least one sleeping quarters setup by sundown." Harry ordered and moved to help his men with the crates. It would take a few days to get everything unpacked and set, and once that was done, the hardest part of his job would begin. Infiltrating the Goa'uld trade network and establishing himself as a prominent merchant. For that purpose, they had a number of exotic goods from Earth as well as masterfully crafted jewelry, but the most expensive resource he had was the crate of weapons grade naquadah molded into small plates to be used as currency. According to intel gained from the Tok'ra, one or two plates could buy a high quality slave.
"This way, my Lord. I have the finest slaves from over a dozen worlds." Harry walked through the market with an arrogant swagger, flanked by two of his men dressed as Jaffa bearing the mark of Apophis. With his demise, many Serpent Guards became mercenaries.
The slave market Harry was walking through was just what one would expect from such a place. The feeling of despair and hopelessness hung in the air like a cloud of foul gas, making it hard to breathe. Of course, Harry managed to hide how much he loathed this place. For a Goa'uld, the sight of humans suffering was supposed to be enjoyable. The trader leading them was a rat-like oily looking human, and although Harry would have wanted nothing better than to blast the man through a wall or three, the fact that he was the biggest slave trader in this particular sector meant that he would have to reign in his impulses, at least for now.
"Feel free to inspect my stock. I guarantee they are all quite healthy, ideal for lotars or even hosts." The trader led him to his slave pens, where over a hundred men and women and even children were gathered.
'At least he keeps them clean and fed. Probably so he can ask for more money.' Harry mused as he walked through the slaves. Four guards walked with him, waiting to separate his selection from the main stock. For this particular trip, Harry focused on young girls ranging from sixteen to twenty; mostly to give the Battle Sisters in his group something to do. It was a bit annoying having one of them hovering near him all the time. He had no intention of betraying the Imperium, since as an Inquisitor when the New Imperium was formed in this galaxy he would have an enormous amount of power and influence, and Harry would be a moronic idiot to endanger such a rosy future.
"That's enough for now. Let's discuss the price." Harry had chosen two dozen girls and walked up to the merchant to haggle.
"A fine selection, my Lord. You have a keen eye for a good slave." The oily trader grinned at him, making Harry want to bash his teeth out.
"I am prepared to offer one plate of naquadah for each of them." Harry pulled out the heavy piece of metal from a pouch on his belt. Between him and his guards, they had about thirty.
"One for each is far too low, I'm afraid. I want two for each." The merchant countered.
"That is far too high. I'll give you twenty six plates." Harry raised his price.
"Thirty eight."
"Thirty and not a grain higher." Harry said firmly, making his eyes glow to remind the man he wasn't dealing with another human.
"Very well. Thirty plates of naquadah for the lot." The merchant sighed in resignation.
With the transaction done, Harry watched as the group of girls was strung together on a long chain which was given to his guards. Once out of the market, it was only a few minutes trip to the Stargate, and if Harry had any doubts about fighting the Goa'uld, watching the string of young women walk after him with their heads hung low would have cleared them in an instant. If there was one thing Harry had embraced from the Imperial Cult, it was the idea that it was mankind's divine mandate to rule the galaxy, and seeing humans treated like animals made his blood boil.
"Welcome back, milord. I see your trip was a success." Two guards armed with hotshot lasguns emerged from hidden bunkers dug near the gate. Their weapons and carapace armor made it quite clear they were not Jaffa.
"Indeed it has. I've begun to make some contacts in the market. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to introduce these young ladies to their new superior." Harry grinned and turned towards their base.
Harry found the Celestian inside the chapel they had built there, and one of Xander's best disciples, his old schoolmate Larry served as their priest. While not as eloquent as Xander, his zeal and dedication was quite remarkable, which was why he was given such an important mission.
"Milord. I see you have brought new disciples for our illustrious Order." The Celestian grinned widely at the surprised girls. They expected to be taken to some Goa'uld's palace, not some sort of strange complex in the middle of nowhere, and they really didn't expect to see a woman wearing a set of strange and intimidating armor.
"I leave them in your capable hands, Sister." Harry said and turned to walk away. He had two more trips through the gate planned for this day, and he had to pick up some items before he did so.
"I am sure you are confused and have many questions. Come, Father Larry and I will try to answer them all." Abigail gestured to the door of the chapel. Inside, one of the walls was dominated by a massive banner bearing the Imperial Aquila and beneath it was a small altar with the same symbol made from gold.
Harry made good progress over the next few days, establishing contact with a few minor Goa'uld, hoping to use them to eventually gain the ear of the System Lords they served. If he played his cards carefully, Harry could quickly become a very important Goa'uld, especially once the Callidus assassins joined his operation.
"Sir, we have a problem. We are unable to contact Earth. The Stargate won't engage a connection." One of Harry's men rushed in his office with shocking news.
"Have you tried to contact other worlds?" Harry asked.
"Yes sir. We've contacted Tollana successfully, but the gate does not engage when we dial Earth." The man replied.
"Contact the Tollan and request that they send us some food just in case. Continue to attempt to contact Earth once every hour." Harry replied feeling a bit worried. He wondered what sort of mess his homeworld was stuck in this time.
As the weeks rolled on, Harry became increasingly worried, as were the Tollan and their other allies. There was also the fact that the most complex components for their new ships could be made in the Factory-Cathedral on Earth, and without them, the ships would be nothing more than rather impressive hunks of metal. Harry's group continued to attempt to contact Earth on the hour every day while Harry maintained his work, forging contact with traders and minor Goa'uld, hunting for information on inhabited worlds abandoned by the Goa'uld, rumors of planets opposing the System Lords etc. Fortunately, despite the loss of contact with Earth, the Tollan and their other allies were more than willing to provide supplies in exchange for some of the intel he had gathered.
It was a small surprise how profound an effect the common cooperation and exposure to the Imperial Cult had on the previously isolated human worlds. Already the lines dividing them had begun to blur as the people began to see themselves as human first, regardless of origin. Harry also grinned when he thought about the quickly spreading following of the Cult Mechanicus among the Tollan. Despite the fact that they initially looked down on the religious tones of the AdMech, Willow had countered their arguments with the cold logic and empirical evidence with skill worthy of a true follower of the Omnissiah, and ever since, the Tollan had begun to embrace this religion in such numbers that Harry was confident that Tollana would one day become a Forge World.
"Sir, we've managed to contact Earth. They were surprised when we told them we've been trying to contact them for over four months." Harry looked up to the man that rushed in his office.
"Did they say what was the problem?" Harry stood up but first took a data crystal from his computer which contained his full report on his activities over the past four months. Already, his group had grown by over two hundred men and women, and his original group was worn ragged while they worked on training and educating them all. He urgently needed more men, and that was the first thing his reports said.
"Some sort of ancient machine trapped them in a temporal loop. Apparently, only Colonel O'Neill and Teal'c were aware of it, although the Lady Inquisitor and Chaplain Harris had at least partial awareness of the phenomenon, most probably because of their connection to the Warp." The man reported as they walked towards the gate.
"I knew Jack was probably mixed up in the whole thing. That man is a real magnet for trouble." Harry laughed. Still, now that they had contact with Earth again, he could get more men and supplies, not to mention the fact that he had over four months of work to report on. With the whole mess Earth was in, he was sure Buffy could use some good news.
"Alright, I better go and talk to Buffy, then see to it the SGC is fed enough scraps not to feel neglected." Harry smirked. Considering the frequent clashes Harry's men had with the SGC, working around that particular organization was quite satisfying for them. Once the gate was active and their IDC sent, Harry stepped through and into the familiar surroundings of the SGC.
"Welcome back, Inquisitor. I understand we've been out of touch for a while." Hammond welcomed him.
"Indeed you have been, General. With your permission, I need to brief my superior on my activities over the last four months. When I return I shall of course share with you all relevant information." Harry grinned and used his implanted vox unit to send a signal to the Asgard satellite.