Well, it's been a long wait, but the last month has been super busy for me, and while my work is not very tiring, it can be stressful and mentally exhausting. There were days I could hardly form a coherent thought, but fortunately, the busy season is over, and I will have more free time in the upcoming months, although my paycheck is expected to suffer a devastating blow. Now, this chapter is a bit shorter than the last, but the next one will be longer as I intend to complete the current season and start on the next season with chapter 28. Although mostly a filler, I hope you'll approve on some scenes, so read and enjoy.
Chapter 26
The people of Cimmeria paused in their work as the rarely used Stargate on their world came to life and activated, allowing a woman wearing a brown robe and carrying a staff topped by a two-headed eagle to emerge.
Immediately, the pillar next to the gate began to hum and sent a pulse of energy over her. When she didn't disappear, the Cimmerians relaxed, but still eyed her warily.
Anya smiled lightly as she approached the gathering crowd with a light grin. "Fair met, friends. I bring you news from Midgard."
"You hail from Midgard? Then you know the warriors of SG-1." One man spoke.
"I know of them, but I am not of their tribe. Our tribes are close allies, along with the Asgard." Anya's words surprised the crowd.
"You claim friendship with the Asgard?" One man asked.
"Indeed. My chieftain stood by Thor's side in a great battle a few months ago and helped him win the day." Anya replied calmly.
"May I ask why you are here?" Another man asked.
"I am here to speak with you. I come before you as a priestess of the Allfather, to teach of his words." Anya explained.
"And if we don't want to hear your words?" A woman asked this time.
"The choice is yours. The Allfather does not seek blind servitude, but understanding and acceptance of his words. All I ask is that I be heard." Anya replied. "Perhaps someplace warmer, and after a few drinks of mead?"
This brought a wave of laughter from the crowd, who turned towards their village and soon enough the village inn was packed with people. Using some of the gold she had with her, Anya bought half of the inn's mead and shared it with the crowd.
"Tell us a tale, priestess. One of mighty warriors and great battles." One man shouted, and the others soon joined.
"Alright. A long time ago on a distant world called Fenris, the leader of clan Russ had captured a strange being…" Anya began to weave her tale.
"…and so, the great king Leman Russ knelt before the Allfather and swore his undying allegiance." Anya concluded her tale.
"An incredible tale, priestess. I would hear more of your words. Any woman that can hold her mead as you can is worth listening to." The man sitting across her gestured to the near-empty barrel they were emptying for the past few hours. This statement was met with cheers from the crowd.
"Then I shall teach you about the Allfather. Firstly…" Anya began a sermon. It was still too early to say, but she had strong hopes that this world would turn to worship the Emperor in weeks. Meanwhile, she finally found a place that served a proper drink.
'I sure went a long way in life. Not bad for a poor rabbit farmer.' Anya grinned inwardly as she finished her tankard and continued her sermon.
"Sir, we received a message from the Stargate. It was the ID marker of missionary book 11." Harry frowned when he heard that.
"Wasn't that dropped off by Kendra on that planet, what was it, Bedrosia?" Harry remembered. Imperial neural implants were a godsend considering the amount of work he had to do.
"Yes sir. The contact protocol was integrated into the books in order to allow the faithful to seek Imperial aid." His aide replied.
"I know. Send a skull probe and see what we're dealing with." Harry ordered and headed towards the Stargate control room.
"That's encouraging." Harry grinned as he watched the feed from the probe. It revealed the room was decorated with banners portraying the Imperial Aquila, and the guards observing the gate also wore the same symbol.
"Tell the Sisters to prep an honor guard, and inform Magos Oz and Saint Faith that I'd like them to accompany me." Harry turned to his aide.
"You're taking the Saint?" The man exclaimed.
"They've asked for aid. The presence of a Saint will send a clear message we're giving their situation a serious consideration." Harry explained.
"Of course, milord. I shall inform them immediately." The man nodded and rushed out.
On the other side, the soldiers guarding the gate relaxed lightly when it shut down, but stood at attention when several men walked in.
"Do you think they will send aid, Rigar?" The leading figure turned to a limping man in a brown robe.
"The book was clear, governor. 'Those of true faith need but only ask for aid and it shall be delivered by His servants.' We can only pray they will arrive soon before the situation proves unmanageable." Just as the man finished speaking, the gate began to activate once more and once active, the men watched in awe as six armored women walked out of it and took positions next to the gate.
The next to emerge was a young man covered in a red robe, with several mechadendrites waving around his form and the traditional staff-axe of the Mechanicus in his right hand.
The next man was Harry, and the sight of him quickly brought the gathered people to their knees, as they recognized the symbols of his office. The last person was a real shock however, as Faith emerged, floating a foot above the floor, her wings spread wide to send the strongest image.
"By the Emperor." Rigar whispered in awe.
"Rise. You have sent for aid, and we have come." Harry stopped before the people he guessed were if not the leaders, at least of some importance here.
"You have our endless gratitude milord, and that of our people. Though I never even dreamt of seeing a Living Saint with my own eyes." Rigar spoke first.
"I felt that Saint Faith's presence would lift the spirits of the faithful here." Harry replied.
"Indeed it shall, milord. I shall spread word of her arrival immediately, so that all of His children can stand in her presence." Rigar replied.
"Perhaps introductions are in order first?" Harry gestured for them to stand up.
"I am Governor Morol, current leader of Optrisia. This is senior priest Rigar, and my military advisor General Orim." The sole woman in the group spoke up.
"I am Inquisitor Harry Maybourne of the Ordo Xenos, Magos Daniel Osbourne of the Adeptus Mechanicus and of course, Saint Faith the Protector." Harry introduced his own little group.
"We are beyond honored by your presence, milord. When Rigar delivered the holy scriptures to Optrica, we never dreamt of what they would lead to, and it was his efforts that led to the retrieval of the gateway that allowed us to contact you." Morol gestured them to follow.
"I take it not everything is going smoothly?" Harry asked once they arrived in a lavish conference room.
"I'm afraid not. While the Optrican people embraced the Emperor's light, the Bedrosians were not as open-minded. Many still cling to the heretical teachings of Nefertum and refuse to see reason. We believe that a new war is just around the horizon, and the people of Optrisia are reluctant to fight their brothers in Bedrosia when the Imperium has so many enemies already." Morol began to explain the situation on the planet.
"I see. Well, before we decide on a plan of action, there are a few things that need to be done. Governor Morol, please kneel before me." Harry waited until the woman did so. "By my authority as an agent of His Most Holy Inquisition, I hereby grant you and your family the title of planetary governor of Optrisia, to rule in the Emperor's name, to uphold His will and His laws. Now rise and serve your people in His name."
"Thank you, milord. Myself and my family shall never forget this day." Morol replied with tears in her eyes.
"Rigar, in recognition of your efforts, I grant you the position of Cardinal of Optrisia. May you lead your flock well." Harry turned to the soldier turned priest next.
"In His name." Rigar whispered.
"Faith, why don't you and the Cardinal arrange for a suitable ceremony for the people of Optrisia? I am certain the faithful will be overjoyed to see that the Imperium is not deaf to their cries for help. It might even sway some unbelievers to embrace Him." Harry turned to Faith who simply nodded and floated away behind Rigar. While she was a fighter at heart, she realized that for now, she would have to fight her battles on different fields and with different weapons.
"Now, how can we handle the Bedrosian situation?" Harry turned to Morol.
"There are only a few key figures that are keeping that ancient heresy alive, but we can't kill them or they'll just be painted as martyrs. In fact, I've ordered every agent we have in Bedrosia to stay away from them in case they try to frame us anyway." Morol sighed.
"Targets we cannot assault unless we start a war we'd rather avoid. I see only one possible solution to this problem." Harry sighed and turned to Oz.
"Magos, I need to speak with Inquisitor Summers."
Oz simply nodded and removed an orb slightly larger than a fist from his robe.
"Who is Inquisitor Summers?" Morol asked, her curiosity overcoming her nervousness.
"She is the commander of all Imperial assets in this galaxy. Consider her the voice and hand of the Emperor, and don't let her appearance fool you. She is more deadly than a whole battalion." Harry grinned and activated the communication orb.
"Harry, this is an unexpected pleasure." Buffy's face appeared in the orb.
"I am calling on official business. A world has asked for our aid." Harry informed her.
"Considering the assets at your disposal, you wouldn't be calling me unless you wanted something special." Buffy sighed.
"Correct. I request the deployment of the Callidus Temple." Harry replied.
"You are absolutely certain of the necessity of such action?" Buffy's eyes pierced through him even through the blurry orb.
"Beyond any doubt." Harry answered.
"You need one or more?" Buffy asked.
"Two will suffice." Harry replied after a brief non-verbal communication with Morol.
"They will arrive in six hours. Prepare a full briefing package for them. And Harry, if they get killed I will be most displeased." With that, the orb shut down.
"Governor, gather every last shred of intel you have on the two most zealous leaders of the Bedrosian opposition along with any relevant info on Bedrosia and deliver it to Magos Osbourne. Oz, you'll be able to compile it into a briefing package for the girls?" Harry turned to the techpriest.
"And upload it into their implants once they arrive." Oz replied.
"Orim, provide the Magos with anything he requests. Inquisitor, would you be so kind as to accompany me on a tour of our capitol?" Morol smiled at Harry.
"It would be a pleasure, governor." Harry spent a few pleasant hours visiting the most important sites in the city before he and the governor had to return to the central government building.
The two female figures that emerged from the Stargate were certainly unique, wearing a very tight-fitting suit made of black material with only a belt with several equipment pouches hanging off it. Even their heads were completely covered, their suits giving way to a flat mask containing a rebreather and visor.
"Inquisitor, C-001 and C-002 reporting." The two stopped before Harry and saluted. Their voice sent shivers throughout the Optrisians, as it sounded lifeless even through the distortion from the mask.
"Ladies. Magos Osbourne has your briefing package. Once you're done with him, a transport will bring you as close as possible to the targets. Once there, you are to follow your given orders until completion. Afterwards, standard extraction protocols apply." Harry instructed them. The two nodded and followed Oz out of the room.
"What are they?" Morol whispered.
"Specialists. They will solve the troubles in Bedrosia with minimal bloodshed and without any visible involvement from our side. Everything else about them is restricted to the highest ranks of the New Imperium." Harry replied.
"I shall put my faith in His servants, then. There is one last matter that I wanted to discuss with you. A great deal of our industry and population has been involved in the war with Bedrosia, and the situation is the same with them. The end of the hostilities will leave millions without work and devastate our economy." Since Morol had no idea of the greater galaxy, she had to discuss the issue with Harry.
"Governor, the New Imperium has more than enough enemies to keep your people occupied for the foreseeable future, but it might be a good idea to plan for the day when that is no longer the case. The Adeptus Mechanicus would be most pleased to provide their Techpriests to your factories and help them produce weapons, vehicles and equipment we use, and I can provide several officers and commissars to educate your soldiers on Imperial tactics and doctrine." Harry paused as he got an idea.
"In fact, there is something you can do that would be of great service to the New Imperium. Inquisitor Summers had the excellent idea to suggest the formation of penal legions to take on the most difficult combat missions, thus keeping the casualties of the faithful, law abiding citizens as low as possible. What we lack however is the necessary number of commissars to maintain discipline with such rabble. We need about a thousand men and women of unshakable faith and impeccable honor to be a shining beacon of order in a sea of chaos."
"You shall have them by the end of the day, milord." General Orim, who was nearby joined the discussion.
"We should also discuss the formation of at least two PDF regiments as well as a regiment of the Imperial Guard. There may come a time soon when they'll be necessary." Harry added.
Harry ended up spending several days on Optrisia, and left the world very satisfied at the work he had managed to accomplish. Even though it would take a couple of months for the Callidus assassins to complete their mission and several months after that for the world to truly unite, Optrisia would quickly become one of the key worlds of the New Imperium.
A few days after Harry reported his success on Optrisia, Buffy received a summon to the SGC to discuss a new discovery that could give them the upper hand against the Goa'uld.
"General, how are you today?" Buffy greeted Hammond as she entered the briefing room of the complex.
"I am well, Inquisitor. Shall we get down to business?" Hammond offered her a seat.
"By all means. You mentioned you had discovered something to give us an advantage over the Goa'uld?" Buffy asked.
"You know Daniel's wife, Sha're?" Once Buffy nodded, Hammond continued. "While she was the host of Amaunet, she bore a child. This child is known as a Harcesis, and is born with the complete genetic knowledge of the Goa'uld parents. This morning, SG-1 retrieved the boy from Abydos."
"I see. May I meet him?" Buffy's mind was abuzz with plans and ideas, trying to determine any advantage from this discovery.
"Inquisitor, this is Shifu." Hammond introduced her to a young boy who was currently sitting in the hands of a woman with SG-1 sitting around them.
"A pleasure to meet you." Buffy smiled at him, although in her mind, things were very different as her senses could feel that the child before her was something far more.
"You bear great darkness and hatred in your heart." The boy spoke calmly, but with a tone of sadness.
"Hatred is my weapon, contempt is my shield against my foes. You know very well what I am and what I fight." Buffy's words surprised the SGC staff.
"I do. It is not a burden I would see you bear." Shifu continued.
"I bear it gladly, so that others do not have to." Buffy countered.
"Your spirit is as strong as your conviction, but I fear both will be tested by what is coming." Now, everyone present was beyond confused.
"We'll be ready." Buffy smirked and turned towards Hammond. "I see no advantage to be gained here, general. We don't need their corrupt memories to destroy the Goa'uld. I suggest we simply let the boy spend some time with his parents."
"Can I speak with you in private, Inquisitor?" Hammond asked with a frown. Buffy nodded and followed the man out.
"I know what you're going to say, and trust me, it is pointless to try. You have no idea what that boy is and what he's capable of. I believe his presence here is a test, to see if we will fall to temptation. Any knowledge we gain from him will be tainted by the influence of the Goa'uld personalities inherent in those memories. I don't know about you, but I don't need something like that. Either way, we already have superior technology to them and plenty of intel on their movements." Buffy spoke before Hammond could.
"What exactly did you sense about the boy? Who exactly is testing us?" Hammond managed to gather his thoughts after a few minutes.
"I have long held the belief that a higher power or powers are subtly directing our actions, although I have yet to divine the purpose of such activity. I am certain that these powers are directly responsible for the creation of the New Imperium, and if such activity was believed necessary, I don't even want to imagine the reasons they would have for it." Buffy answered.
"It is certainly a terrifying thought. I will give your words serious consideration Inquisitor. I trust you shall be leaving now?" Hammond asked.
"Actually, I'd like to talk to Kendra for a bit. It has been a while since we last spoke." Buffy smiled.
"I'm sure she'd enjoy it. She is constantly complaining about boredom, but fortunately we've had little need for her service." Hammond informed her and the two parted ways, Buffy to see her friend, and the General to discuss the latest revelations with his flag team.