invent and the ships and vehicles i seem to be designing in droves for this single story.
I would like to thank AlexanderD for all his help and i strongly recomend reading his story New Dawn. I hope he likes the character named after him Admiral Alec Xander.
For those of you interested in what some of the ships featured in this story look like here are a few sketches on photobucket: albums/ae166/Senrab_Nomis/
Please review and i will respond. Or alternatively post in the thread for this story in my forum. topic/84023/35075481/1/
Review Responses
AlexanderD: When compared to the previous Alliance of Great Races i can see where the confusion comes from. The question people should be asking is who else is going to be a part of the new Alliance of Great Races.
BIG Z1776: It hasn't really been much time since they were first deposited on their new planets, barely over a month since the Lucians arrived and only about two weeks at the most for the Tollan. I intend to reassure your doubts regarding the Travellers.
Cdoctor: I don't really have a plan for bringing the Furlings back into the universe at large, i might do though if enough people request it.
Oddliver: Thank you. I hope you enjoy this one.
Just a Crazy-Man: Thank you.
stormwolf3710: That's a question a lot of people have been asking, which means it was a good cliffhanger. You are not the only one wondering, and that goes for in story as well.
SkywalkerT-65: They might appear, they might not. The New Alliance of Great Races is something that will be explored in more detail in this chapter.
Naginator: Well, not this time. Who can say what the future holds, oh wait i can. ;)
Compbrain1720: Sometimes i look back at all i have written and can't believe how far this story has come. I'm actually writing chapter 55 at the moment and i feel like i won't stop writing for some time to come.
drewc: You're not alone.
romanhellhound: So do i, so i'm not about to let him go down so easily.
: Don't worry i will.
the brown cow: I try.
Tau'ri Vessel – Conference Room
"Who else is going to be a part of this Alliance?" Larrin managed.
"Us, the Asgard, the Nox, the Averians, the Vanir, the Wraith, the Jaffa, the Hebridans and the Liberum," said Woolsey with a small smile of amusement at her shock. "And of course the Traveller people if your ruling council accepts the offer."
"I'm sorry but I have to ask," said Larrin, still shocked at the offer that had just been made. "Why us?"
"Why not you?" asked Woolsey innocently.
"Don't play games with me Mister Woolsey," said Larrin indignantly. "You and I know both know that my people can't hope to match up to races like you or the Wraith or the Averians, let alone races I've never even heard of."
"Ah, I thought this might come up so I took the liberty of including a little extra information in your dossier regarding the Hebridians that the other representatives didn't need to know about," explained Woolsey. "Please take a moment to read through the information."
Larrin finally opened the collection of papers she had been given and started to read. It was interesting to watch her expression flicker between emotions as she absorbed the information. When she finally finished reading she sank back into her chair, her eyes wide from all she had just learned.
"They've been through so much," she said softly.
"They have," agreed Woolsey. "You know we didn't even have a name for the Liberum people until they chose one for themselves. When we were fighting them we had simply referred to them and their ascended masters collectively as the Ori."
"So what made them choose Liberum?" asked Larrin.
"In the Ancient language it translates to free," explained Woolsey. "I'm sure you can appreciate the irony."
"Nice," said Larrin with a small smile. "But that still doesn't answer my question. How can my people possibly hope to measure up to such great races?"
Woolsey chuckled.
"My dear are you fishing for compliments?" he asked. "Or maybe you actually believe your own fiction."
Larrins eyes narrowed in anger.
"And what fiction would that be?" she asked, with an edge to her voice.
"I know you constantly argue that your people need better technology than what you currently have but surely you can't actually believe that you are completely helpless?"
"I don't have to sit here and listen to you insult my people Mister Woolsey," said a now angry Larrin, rising from her seat.
"Larrin sit down," said Woolsey in a firm and commanding voice. "Now please."
Reluctantly Larrin did as she was told and sat back down.
"I am not insulting you or your people Larrin," he explained in a much calmer voice. "I was merely trying to point out that your people have accomplished great things and you don't even realise it. Your people struggled to survive in a galaxy full of danger and yet here you are today. When every other race on the Wraiths radar was barely able to make it to the electricity stage of development your people managed to build ships capable of housing your entire race and supporting them for generations to come. How many of the races you have learned about can say they have done that?"
"None," she admitted. "But my people are still so small in number compared to these other races and less advanced."
"You think so?" asked Woolsey doubtfully. "You built those so called inferior ships with your own hands. You can explain how every piece of technology on them works and all of your people possess this knowledge. Granted we are trying to help them resolve that issue but there are many people of those other races who aren't so fortunate."
Larrin grinned. "You really think we're that good?"
Woolsey sighed. "What your people have accomplished is impressive. No one can deny that."
"So what would it mean to be a part of the Alliance?" she asked curiously now that her ego had been soothed.
"Well for starters you would be welcome on the world in this galaxy where we are building the Alliance headquarters," Woolsey explained. "Only dignitaries from member races will have access to the headquarters. In addition the members will provide support for one another during times of need, including military and medical aid, such as during the conflict against the Zarasians. As such the Alliance will also be responsible for safeguarding the galaxies they inhabit from internal and external threats. We will also participate in trading and a cultural exchange so that we can learn more about one another and experience the others' way of life."
Larrin mulled all that over for a moment.
"What about technological trades?" she asked with a hint of eagerness in her voice. "Will technology be shared as well?"
"Member races are not obligated to simply give away technology," he replied, resisting the urge to roll his eyes at the almost predictable question. "However certain races may be inclined to trade for technology. The Hebridans have a large market for such which you would have access to."
Larrin sighed. "But they would most likely ask for technology in exchange, which is an area we are lacking in."
"Of course they would," said Woolsey. "But you are forgetting that your ships themselves are a great asset. Each one was capable of supporting hundreds of people even in their most run down condition and now that they have all been fully repaired their capabilities are greatly improved. The design plans for those will be highly valued since no other race has a ship similar to their capabilities that doesn't posses matter synthesiser technology and only the Asgard and my own people have that. Not to mention that I can see people queuing up to purchase one of your particle magnums."
"You really do like to hammer home a point don't you," said Larrin jokingly. "But once we sell the designs we won't have much to offer."
Woolsey sighed.
"You are still missing the point. Your people were creative enough to keep your ships running all this time and to invent the technology in the first place. Now you have an opportunity that was never possible while the Wraith were still in power. With your colonies and infrastructure established, your ships repaired and your people being protected instead of devoting all of your energy to keeping your ships running you can start to expand once again. Your people have brilliant minds so imagine what they can accomplish when exposed to new ideas and technology. With a little work they could easily improve upon the designs and technologies you already have and those you can acquire."
"Okay, okay," said Larrin, raising her hands in surrender. "I get the point."
"I'm glad," said Woolsey. "Because it'll be your job to make your ruling council understand as well."
"Thank you for that," grumbled Larrin.
"Look on the bright side," said Woolsey. "You get to personally present them with this wonderful opportunity."
"There is that," admitted Larrin.
"By the way what is this back-up plan you spoke of if the Genii worlds prove unviable for supporting everyone?" she asked as a thought occurred to her.
"Oh just an alternative world that we will develop ourselves to house the people of Pegasus," said Woolsey dismissively. "The plans are already in place for us to use should we need to and with our allies assistance it wouldn't take long to implement. If we need to use it we will but we are making sure the option is there should we need it."
"Do you think you will?" asked Larrin.
"We're exploring the first option fully before we commit to anything else but it will take time to determine the viability of the Genii worlds," explained Woolsey. "The only reason this option exists is because we are worried about the feasibility of our first plan given what we know about Genii worlds."
"I see your point," said Larrin. "Most of the Genii worlds have been abandoned for quite some time and the good ones are already taken or not up to scratch."
"Precisely the reason for Plan B," said Woolsey.
"Do you people always have a Plan B?" asked Larrin with that trademark smirk of hers.
"In this case we have a Plan C as well," said Woolsey. "Although we are rather hesitant to have to use it."
"Why?" Larrin asked curiously. "What is it?"
"The complete evacuation of this galaxy by the human populace of less advanced worlds," explained Woolsey with a frown.
Larrin whistled. "I can see why you don't want to have to go with that plan. The circumstances would have to be pretty dire."
"Exactly."
"I'll present this information to my people," said Larrin. "But hopefully they should say yes."
"If not then I'm sure you will be able to convince them," said Woolsey.
"No pressure then," said Larrin, rising from her seat. "Guess it's time for me to head back to my ship."
Woolsey stood with her. "Good luck."
He tapped his ear piece. "Beam Miss Larrin to her ship please."
With the familiar white light of beaming technology Larrin vanished from the conference room.
Vanheim
Sovaer had only been back in his own body for a few hours now and already he was beginning to wish he had stuck to being confined to the computer systems of the Aror, or any computer system for that matter that was in friendly hands. His cyborg body had been subjected to all manner of pokes and prods as the Vanir scientists performed their various tests both for his sake and for their own curiosity. Thankfully it didn't cause him any pain but it was really annoying to be confined to a hospital bed despite the fact that he was perfectly fine.
The Vanir scientists however were determined to find out what had happened to him despite the fact that he knew exactly what had happened to him and had repeatedly told them. Apparently though that wasn't enough for the members of the cybernetics division because they wanted to know how it had happened even though quite frankly that was anyone's guess.
With the Vanir off running tests on the various samples they had cheerfully taken he had finally been left in peace but with strict instructions that he was confined to bed. So now he had chosen to try and get some sleep. Unfortunately his latest visitor had no intention of letting him sleep without speaking to him first.
"Hello Aerin," said a familiar voice from the doorway.
Sovaer smiled, his eyes snapping open as he sat up.
"It's good to see you again…" he trailed off as he saw the dark look on his friends face.
"You're a fool," said Jakose.
Sovaer sighed and settled back onto the pillows.
"I did what I had to JJ," he said softly. "And if I had to I would do it again."
"Why?" Jakose demanded. "Why did you do it? Why did you do it again?"
"You know why," said Sovaer, his voice still soft. "It's my duty to do this kind of thing. It's my job for crying out loud."
"You always do this though Sovaer," Jakose said angrily. "You always put yourself right in front of danger. Ever since that damn test accident you've been finding more and more creative ways of putting yourself in harm's way."
"What have I done JJ?" Sovaer asked. "I've done my job. I've protected you. I volunteered for the cyborg program despite the risks because I thought it would be worth it."
"You didn't have to! You could have taken their first offer and gotten a clone body but you said no. You just put yourself in harms way and take the risk of one of the countless surgeries going wrong and you dying."
"And the end result was that I survived and the Vanir gained a more in depth knowledge of cybernetics that could have helped restore them to their original forms," said Sovaer. "I in turn was able to become faster, stronger and quite possibly nearly immortal and am better able to act as your bodyguard."
"And what did you do with those enhancements of yours?" asked Jakose exasperatedly. "You hooked yourself up to an enemy computer and nearly died because of your virus and for what? For information we might never be able to access."
"So that you, the leader of our people, could be rescued from the clutches of a maniac," said Sovaer. "So that we could gain the information needed to allow us to end this war quickly instead of constantly looking over our shoulders waiting for an attack which could come from anywhere because we have no idea where the enemy even is."
"And because of that all we got out of that rescue was your comatose body," continued Jakose. "Because, as I have just learned, your mind was apparently stuck inside the computer of the damned Zarasian flagship until we managed to track the damn thing down. At which point you were able to transfer yourself before they deleted you like you were a virus and managed to get here before Admiral Xander decided to forcibly pull the plug on you because you took control of his ship."
"I had the situation well under hand," said Sovaer. "I locked out control of the Aror to any outside intervention using my access codes and was able to safely transfer my mind back into my own body."
"You could have died!"
"But I didn't."
Jakose breathed deeply as he ran out of fuel for his tirade.
"Feel better?" asked Sovaer, looking at his friend for the first time since Jakose started venting and with a small smile on his face.
"Much," Jakose breathed striding forward to take a seat by his friend's bedside.
"While I appreciate the fact that you went with the short version this time you really need to find a better anger management solution than yelling at me," said Sovaer. "Spending time with your wife always seems to make you happy so why not try that next time?"
Jakose snorted. "I wouldn't have to yell at you if you didn't do these things. Clarice sends her love by the way and asks that you please stop taking such risks."
"Tell her thank you and that it comes with the territory," replied Sovaer.
"So change territory," Jakose argued.
"Not a chance if it means I can't protect you old friend and you and I both know that Clarice appreciates that more," Sovaer pointed out.
"Unfortunately you're right," admitted Jakose. "What the hell happened anyway?"
"You didn't get the report?" asked Sovaer.
"You know I prefer hearing things first hand," said Jakose. "I've heard the reports from the others now tell me what happened from your own perspective."
Sovaer sighed.
"Well to be honest I'm a little hazy on the details myself. Well you know that I was being attacked by anti-viral programs and pinching as much classified information as I could. I realised that the only way to knock out the flagship was to take down their systems and that I couldn't get out without exposing our location so I released the virus. I expected that when the virus hit me I would at best be left with a few fried neurons and at worst be killed but if that happened you could at least extract the chip from my head."
When he saw the dark look Jakose gave him at those last words he hastily added. "It wasn't the best plan I admit but it was all I had given the situation and I thought it would be worth it."
"Anyway," he continued. "What I didn't count on was that the virus would have an unknown side effect when you disconnected me. It seems that the virus scrambled my avatar to the point that when you disconnected me my mind actually stayed in the damn computer core which was the last thing I expected to happen. Anyway some time after the virus had knocked out the entire computer core and you and my body had been rescued I woke up inside the computer core. It took me a little while to work out what had happened but I still have no idea just how it happened exactly. When I realised that they were trying to fix the computer system I realised that the only way to stop them from deleting the entire computer core and reloading the operating system was to interfere and force them to manually correct every single subroutine if they ever wanted the ship to fly again. It seemed to work and I was able to escape their notice since I wasn't a broken subroutine. My plan was to hide in the computer core and acquire any information I could before transmitting myself to one of our vessels. I certainly was surprised when the ships sensors detected the fleet, and more importantly the Aror, in orbit. When I realised the fleet was apparently intent on destroying everything in sight and you apparently had a team disabling the reactors I realised that it was probably time to get out of dodge. So I transmitted my access codes to the Aror to bypass the firewalls and transferred my mind into the ship's computer. Since I was familiar with those systems I was able to take control of the ship without compromising life support and set a course for Vanheim since I figured that's where my body would be. Once I arrived here I used my access codes again and transferred my mind into the city's mainframe. After that it was easy enough to transfer my mind back into my body using the interface. It was by far the weirdest thing I have ever done but I must admit it is good to be back in my own skin."
Jakose didn't say anything for about a minute. It seemed he was processing this information and mentally compiling it with the reports from other parties.
"Were you able to learn anything while you were in the computer core?" he finally asked.
"Unfortunately no," said Sovaer, tapping his head. "Anything I learned is right in here on my storage chip but that's it I'm afraid. The systems were so badly scrambled that I was lucky to be able to stop them from deleting the entire thing. The Vanir sure know how to design a virus that'll really mess up your day."
"Well hopefully now that you're all there again we'll be able to access that chip again," said Jakose. "It seems we couldn't do it while you were comatose without performing a vivisection."
Sovaer let out a low whistle. "Well thanks for that."
"Apparently just cutting out a small piece of grey matter was too much of a risk since you apparently have so little of it," said Jakose with a mischievous grin.
"Oh thank you very much," said Sovaer in mock hurt.
"You know its funny but I've always said there was nothing in there," Jakose continued jovially. "I never thought I would actually be proved right."
"I think I preferred you when you were angry at me," said Sovaer grumpily. "So what's been happening while I was away?"
"Well the attack on the outpost was a success," said Jakose. "Zarin being a total nut case decided to blow the whole place to oblivion but we rather expected that and were able to save his flagship which should prove to be a mine of information. The best part is that he doesn't even know we have it since we snuck your SPECTRE team aboard to disable the generators and then shielded it from the blast wave."
"So that's why those generators were being disabled," Sovaer realised. "Sneaky, cunning and decidedly genius. I very much approve."
"Glad to hear that," said Jakose. "Oh and the plans for the Alliance of Great Races are being finalised. I'm told that Concordia is finally ready for us to move people there now that the defence grid is online."
"You mean the cloaked satellite based weapons, hidden ground emplacements, planetary shield grid and surface based shield?" said Sovaer. "Not to mention the massive fleet that can be called to protect from every one of the allied races."
"That's the one," said Jakose. "Although the Hebridans are apparently still busy with the Aschen so their fleet will otherwise be occupied in their home galaxy."
"Well you can't blame them for that," said Sovaer. "If I could I would want to deal with those sterility causing bastards myself as well."
"I'm told it shouldn't be long now," said Jakose. "Apparently they have them penned in nicely and are slowly tightening the noose. Eventually it will come to the point where the Aschen will be stuck with their own people to do their work and no nearby worlds to subjugate."
"Good to know," said Sovaer. "One question though."
"What is it?"
"Can I please get out of bed," Sovaer pleaded. "I heard the medical staff talking about a rescued queen being brought in so I really want to find out the story behind that."
"Ah yes," said Jakose. "Todd's sister. I actually want to see this one for myself."
"Wait, Todd has a sister?" asked a very surprised Sovaer. "A living one?"
"So it would seem," said Jakose. "Apparently this one helped him get his mother to safety and was assumed killed."
Sovaer sat up and started to clamber out of bed. His artificial muscles not even slightly affected by his former comatose state.
"Let me get dressed and then I want you to tell me everything," he said, looking around the room for his clothes.
"Alright," said Jakose as he got up to leave. "But don't over do it on your first day."
"You know me JJ," said Sovaer with a grin.
"That isn't comforting," said Jakose, completing the joke, before the door whisked shut behind him.
Doom Bringer
With multiple ships locking tractor beams onto her the Zarasian flagship had been towed into orbit over Vanheim. Before they had started dragging the ship to a new destination they had performed a quick sweep to remove both the subspace beacon left by Sovaer and any other tracking devices that the Zarasians might have left behind. Their scans had turned up no traces of any tracking devices, especially not with main power still offline and half the systems still scrambled.
In fact there were only two things on the entire ship that were still working properly aside from the anti-gravity suspension collar attached to the hull. Life support, which was being powered by emergency back-up batteries and the generators in the suspension collar, and the hatchery, which had its own independent power supply that couldn't be tampered with under any circumstances.
The entire vessel was now swarming with soldiers and scientists from the allied forces, although the soldiers were really only there out of habit since this was an enemy ship and weren't actually needed. The Doom Bringer's arrival had meant that Sovaer had finally been able to get some peace and quiet as almost the entire Vanir cybernetics division had flocked to the ship and its captive Wraith queen like moths to a flame. The reapers had fascinated the Vanir since they had first discovered them, since they too had used cybernetics to augment their clone bodies before they had switched to purely android forms. Before their attempts at solving their genetic degradation problem had only involved adding cybernetics to buy them more time, but now they were tackling the overall problem from the opposite direction. Any chance to gain ideas to better incorporating organic components with their biological forms was bound to instantly grab their attention. As such the hatchery and other associated rooms were overflowing with Vanir talking excitedly in their native language as they poured over the Zarasian technology and more Asgard were even now arriving from Ida. There were even a few science vessels on their way here now to lend their support to the study of the flagship.
While the majority of the Vanir scientists were present to satisfy their own scientific curiosity some of the brightest minds of theirs and several other races had arrived with the sole intention of aiding in keeping the captive Eurielle alive. They knew for a fact that it was easily possible for them to keep her alive by leaving her connected to the various machines. More importantly they knew that disconnecting her too quickly from those pumping the numerous and exotic drugs into her system could lead to total organ failure but that wasn't their biggest concern right now. They could easily wean her off the various drugs but the real problem were the cybernetic interfaces wired directly into her brain. One small slip up there and they could turn her into a vegetable, something no amount of medicine or Wraith regenerative abilities would be able to fix.
Along his and Jakose's way to the hatchery Sovaer had many cheerful reunions with familiar faces. Vanir and humans he had known for years and aliens he had gotten to know in recent times since the Averians joined the galactic stage all stopped in their tasks to welcome him back. Outside the hatchery Sovaer had a very cheerful reunion with his SPECTRE teammates, minus Todd and Eir who were busy working in the lab, who were guarding the room.
Ronon gave him a slap on the back, Teyla hugged him and Jason gave him a nod and a friendly smile.
"It's good to be back and I missed you all too," he assured them. "So I hear you all went and had some fun without me?"
"Next time," Ronon assured him.
"I'll hold you to that," Sovaer replied as he walked into the lab.
Looking around he saw various Vanir and human scientists examining equipment, some he recognised and others he did not.
Gathered around the containment pod holding Eurielle were McKay, Sheppard, Todd, Eir, Beckett, Echidna and Typhoeus. He received smiles of welcome from all of them, save Todd and Echidna whose attention was focused entirely on Eurielle.
"I don't care for your excuses Doctor," Echidna was saying to Beckett as he entered. "I want to know why I can't even talk to my daughter."
Beckett shrugged, which only seemed to aggravate her further. So far Eurielle, despite apparently being conscious, hadn't said a word to anyone. She wasn't even responding to their presence. It was like she was asleep with her eyes open.
"Sometimes the brain just says sleep," he replied.
"That isn't an answer," she yelled before Todd placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Mother," Todd said firmly.
"Echidna," Typhoeus added warningly. "They are only trying to help."
Echidna sighed as Typhoeus leaned his holographic forehead against hers. Although physically the action had no effect mentally the two were connecting and Typhoeus was soothing her storm filled mind with the calm of his own.
Eir looked at the two thoughtfully before speaking.
"Actually you might be able to," she said.
"What?" Echidna asked, her gaze locking onto the Vanir.
"If you can link with her telepathically you might just be able to talk to her," Eir explained.
"Will that actually work?" Sheppard asked.
"It should do," said McKay. "As far as I can tell there are no inhibitors in any of this technology designed to prevent telepathic communication."
"Alright then we'll try that," said Echidna. "I will make the connection."
"As will I," added Todd.
"And I will connect with the both of you and translate for the others," added Typhoeus.
It was a role the living ship being had grown used to since he gained a holographic form. It certainly helped that he could modulate his voice to match that of those communicating telepathically, even if it was a little eerie.
Echidna closed her eyes and placed both a hand against the side of Eurielle's temple. Todd stood beside her and did the same.
"Eurielle," Echidna and Todd sent. "Can you hear us Eurielle?"
"Mother, brother," was the faint reply. "Is that you?"
"It is us Eurielle."
"Mother, brother," she said, sending her joy across the connection. "I am so glad that you still live."
"Eurielle, why did you not speak to us before?"
"I could not," she replied and they could feel her sadness. "I am not there to speak to you."
"Yes you are," they insisted. "We are right in front of you now, can't you see us?"
"That is not me!" she insisted and they could swear she was mentally weeping. "That is just a copy! A clone created from my flesh whose mind is linked to mine! I do not know where I am but that is not me!"
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