Ace In The Hole
Chapter 62
[We have an unscheduled off world activation] Walters warning rings out loudly throughout the Avalon gate room.
"Speak to me Walter"
"We are receiving Atlantis' IDC sir"
"Lower the shield"
"Sir?" Walter frowns as he lowers the gates shield "we're also receiving a file sir" he says in mild confusion.
"What is it?"
Landry can't help but smile at seeing the surprised look on the technicians face as he begins to skim through the text "I think it may be for Mr Wallis sir"
"Why do you say that?"
"Better see for yourself" Walter says before displaying the contents on the large monitor behind him for all to see as Colonel Davis walks through the gate.
Lantian High Council , September 30, 2013.
The unanimous Declaration of the 195 member worlds of the Lantian Alliance
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all humans are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.-That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, -That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
Current Tau'ri policy changes and the increasingly unreasonable demands of The Tau'ri High Council have become wholly unacceptable and threaten the welfare and stability of the peoples of the Pegasus galaxy at large, we therefore have no option but to hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the Lantian Alliance, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the universe for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of the Pegasus Galaxy, solemnly publish and declare, That this Alliance is, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent Worlds; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to Earth, and that all political connection between them and the Tau'ri Alliance, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent Worlds, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent Worlds may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
"Sir?" Walter looks wide eyes and slightly stunned at the contents of the document "Isn't that basically?"
"I'll be damned" Landry grins.
"Sir, there's signatures for the 195 worlds listed"
"Is Colonel Sheppard's name on there?"
"Right next to Eden sir, second on the list after the President"
"Teyla?" Landry asks already knowing the answer as Davis finally enters the control room with a slight nod telling the general all he needs to know.
"Send a copy of that document to Commander O'Neill, every member of the council, the leaders of every Alliance member country and then contact Dr Wei..."
"General?" Elizabeth can't help smile at making him jump slightly.
"Never mind the last bit, just forward the message" he waits for Walters acknowledgement then he indicates for Elizabeth and Davis to join him in his office waiting patiently for the door to slide shut before dropping heavily into his seat with a sigh indicating the others to sit also.
"What did you think was going to happen?" Elizabeth says with a knowing smile "You can't give them independence with one hand then try to snatch it away with the other"
"Looks like someone neglected to explain that little concept to Mr Wallis"
"Wallis is not acting alone Sir, the high council doesn't have to be unanimous to make policy changes like the ones coming through but they do have to have a majority" Davies adds.
"Which means over half the council is currently made up of idiots"
"How bad is it Colonel?"
"To be honest sir, I think they think the council has gone nuts" Davis shrugs "They are willing to work with us in partnership, which I must stress is by far the best option, but they are most defiantly not gonna give up their freedom or control, they no longer need our support to survive Sir"
"Personally I don't see how the council has the nerve to make such outlandish demands" Landry sighs "What about our other endeavour?"
"Dr McKay has come up with a ship that should suit our needs, basically redesigned the defunct 305" Landrys eyebrows rise in surprise "It should be completed within a few days and after tests it could be headed back to the Milky Way within a couple of weeks"
"The council has made it almost impossible to operate with impunity but at least having a single ship that they no nothing about should give us an edge" Landry sighs "Of course having John out there all alone is a risky move on Jacks part"
"If he can't trust himself to pull this off who can he trust?" Elizabeth says with a smile.
"It's not that its just.."
"Jack had a team to back him up" Davis says guessing the Generals thoughts
"And so can John"
"Of course" Davis says glacing at Elizabeth "The only sensors capable of penetrating a Lantian cloak are the guardian networks and Avalon's all of which you control"
"Leave it to me General" Elizabeth smiles "I will make sure he stays off the council's radar"
"I have to return to the Pentagon and report in" Davis says making to stand.
"Paul, I hope I don't have to remind you?" Davis merely smiles and nods.
"Kawalsky protocol Sir I know" Landry sighs as the Colonel leaves
"I hate having to keep our own people out of the loop but until we know who to trust..."
"O'Neill is just being cautious General, hopefully the council will realise their error and patch things up quickly" Elizabeth notes the generals look of disbelief and smiles "Maybe not"
"I can't believe that Wallis and the others are being so short sighted"
"Try not to be to hard on them General, disclosure has created just as many new problems as it solved" she shakes her head "most of this is happening because the general public at large is feeling bored and frustrated, cut off and detached from what is actually happening" Elizabeth sighs "Billions upon billions is being spent on research and defence but the average man on the street is still waiting to see the benefits, its Ta,da here's our new reality oh and by the way don't be late for work tomorrow"
"You're saying we need to speed up the release of advanced technologies?"
Elizabeth smiles "The Goliath"
"The XT-01 that Lees designed?" She merely nods "We don't currently have the manufacturing capacity to build a ship that big and frankly I fail to see how a transport ship can pacify the average man on the street"
"People want to see the stars General, they want to see the rings of Saturn with their own eyes, look upon the rolling storms on Jupiter"
"Are you suggesting we build, what? cruise ships?" Landry asks the beginnings of a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Ships don't necessary need to be made of Trinium and Naquadah if they are not going into combat, remove the hyperdrive, install minimal defensive shields, you could even have them built in naval shipyards cutting costs, creating jobs" She smiles "by setting up tours of the solar system you create the beginnings of a civilian fleet that will allow the general public a chance to feel included, once Earth fully establishes its colonies and they are up and running the ships structures can be reinforced, Hyperdrives could be installed and before long..." She grins at seeing the cogs turning in Landry's mind. "Make the public engage, people like Wallis and Darren Rice thrive on peoples fears and apathy"
"In the mean time?"
"I think for a short time we may be in for a rough ride"
Landry nods and taps the console on his desk "Walter"
[Yes sir?]
"Set up a meeting with Dr Lee and Commander Carter will you"
[Right away Sir, oh and Sir, I have been informed that Mr Wallis would like to see you in his office at 09:00]
"Thank you Walter" Landry sighs wearily at the hassle that is surely ahead.
"You wanted to see me Colonel?" Alex smiles warmly as he enters Sheppard's office.
"How are things proceeding?"
"The Astriaportium is now fully installed and online" the monitor on the wall comes on and shows a newly installed rectangular structure on the deck towards the end of the south east pier, if Sheppard hadn't known better he would have sworn that it had always been present.
"And how do you feel?" Sheppard asks quickly noting the look of bemusement on Alex's face "you know?"
Alex can't help but smile "Now that I have a new blemish?" Sheppard just nods causing Alex's smile to quickly become a grin "I'm a city Colonel not a piece of art"
"Its just..." Sheppard sits up straighter "Teyla was concerned" he tries to bluster
"Well you can Teyla that I am fine, I never my understood the logic of not installing one in the first place but then my people did have some strange ideas" he shrugs.
"And now that it is online?" Sheppard asks hesitantly causing Alex to sigh in defeat.
"Sixteen"
"Sixteen what?"
"There are Sixteen Theta Varian Escarpments within the subspace layer that the gate system can access"
"Sixteen" Sheppard's eyes widen
"The star gate network uses the 7th varian and from the research I have conducted on the Potentium" he notes Sheppard's frown "That is the name of the the ZMP charging machine" Sheppard merely nods for him to continue "From what I can tell, the micro gates that it uses access another varian and of course the mini gates used to get there are also using another varian"
"What about the gamma gates?"
"From the readings I have taken they are using the 9th varian"
"So that leaves us with 12" Sheppard cant help but smile "and you are sure you are OK to do this?"
"I guess" Alex shrugs reflectively before a small smile starts begins creeping onto his face "I guess what David said kinda made sense"
"David?" Sheppard frowns momentarily before it clicks "You mean Dr Cairns?"
"He pointed out that by creating more specialised networks we would free up the original system to perform its true purpose, Enhancing rather than detracting from the network as a whole"
"Remind me to buy him a drink when they get back" Sheppard finally grins
"So?"
"What do you need? I'm guessing lots of Naquadah"
"Not as much as you would think, but it all depends on what your plans are, how many gates and networks you want to create how they are going to interconnect, how secure they have to be its not just the gates you also have the DHD's to consider, then of course there is the one thing that you haven't even mentioned"
"How we get the new gates in place?" Sheppard says nonchalantly surprising Alex that he had even thought about the practicalities "Now that we have been able to come up with a way of creating our own shield crystals we have been able to begin finally installing them on the traveller fleet, of course the only ship they have that we have already installed a ZPM on is"
"The Falaciorius" Alex smiles noting Sheppard's frown with amusement "The Lantian ship that I originally came here with, the one O'Neill gave them to sweeten the deal to get them to join up"
"Well the Falcon has we have shortened it to" Sheppard smiles noting Alex's look of disgust at the name change.
"Might as well add millennium" he grumbles
"The Falcon as had the full makeover, her shields and weapons all swapped out ready to start hauling gates, sentinel satellites and such "
"I never really understood the Lantian obsession with the drone weapon system myself Colonel" Alex agrees "They are good weapon but like any ordnance they have their limits, but then again the Auroras as you call them were a hastily constructed design in the first place, built for transport and exploration not combat, you have to understand that until the Wraith came along my people hadn't really fought a real war for tens of thousands of years"
"Be that as it may the other weapons were..."
"A joke?" Alex grins at Sheppard's reluctance to be blunt "Do not worry Colonel, Dr McKay was quite informative of his views of the point defence system on the vessel"
"Well McKay has installed Asgard redesigned Tollan Ion Cannons and a Lantian lance"
"No beam weapons?"
"Being as they are relatively slow ships, and the beam weapons are shorter ranged we decided to leave them out, besides we don't really want them for combat, the Falcon and the Eagle" Sheppard grins "The other Aurora they have, its still hidden in a nebula near Torraxia, Once we can get her shields modified she will finally be able to safely make her way here for repair and final refitting"
"Isn't giving the Travellers advanced weapons against the Tau'ri councils orders?"
"We are no longer bound by those rules, I have to admit that I did have reservations I mean the Asgard did give Earth their technology on the express conditions that it wasn't given to others not ready, but..." he sighs deeply
"Mark and Matthew?"
"God knows how, but at some point in the future they are destined to bring about the rebirth of the Asgard race" Sheppard looks equal parts in awed and terrified at the prospect.
"I do not believe anything will happen to the children when the time comes Colonel"
Sheppard nods "Anyway the way I see it is if protecting them means protecting the future of the Asgard so how can it be bad?"
"I doubt that Earth will see it that way"
"We'll cross that particular bridge when we have to" Sheppard says with a sigh.