Worldwar: Establishing A Balance

by AlbertG

Summary-Book IV: Years ago, the Colonials of Cyrannus met the so-called 13th tribe. It didn't work out well. The Colonials met the Race. That didn't work out well either, but they were introduced to a much larger galaxy. Now their errors have come back and they know they are small fish in a large ocean trying to survive. Can they? Will the Race let them?

2. Chapter 2

Hello everyone.

First some record keeping

Thor94: A war is coming? Yes. But it's not what you may think.

Crys: No, this is not a B5 crossover although it has roots there. But this is completely independent of that.

PanchoPsistol: It was a tiny recap of the Missionary saga. However it is always wise to touch up on the past as you proceed to the future. There are many who will be new to this story and not be aware of the previous history so it is will be good for them to catch up a bit. I can't answer some questions however some are being answered in this very chapter such as how the goa'uld found the colonials. The super gate saga is about to hit this big time so you'll have to wait there. The Pegasus reference is part of that. The Vorlon reference is there to recap what happened in Consequences of Actions which is what the SG portion of this story is based on although this is a Reunion's AU blessed by Ash. The Lizardians are back and you'll see what they are up to in chapter 3.

Borg Collective: Thank you. I will comply.

Rennsteyg: Missionaries have been sent everywhere. Call this a cultural exchange. The Colonials and Terrans are just beginning to talk to each other in a civil manner. Religion and politics are usually the first steps. Since the Colonials were allowed to have missionaries come then they are obligated to reciprocate whether they like it or no. Not to do so will shame their religious community and the people in general since not to do so would make them seem afraid of Earth's religions. They can't have that. Earth is supposed to be one minor world and nothing they have in terms of religions should threaten the Colonials or that is what the consensus is, or should be.

Majorshane: here is the order of the stories

1. Evolutions Book 1

2. Evolutions Gleanings past and future

3. The Ruination Imperative. Then as a separate series I started:

1. A Universe of Change. Had nothing to do with the evolutions series –yet.

2. Those who Stand

Then I decided to get crazy to explain what was happening and how the

crossovers were connected even though they weren't and wrote:

1. The Conversation

This short story connected both series.

The Ruination war-Search for V'Ger and this started to crossover into the AUOC series. It's a temp cross and was not meant to last.

Next: Allies in Blood or part three of the AUOC series.

Evolutions/Ruination series split and separated again.

Working is A Universe of Change –by candlelight defiance.

All of these are on fanfiction net.

ATV is a separate story unto itself and the ATV supplement is designed

to deal with some of the issues that came up in ATV. Now of course I

couldn't leave well enough alone so a bit of the Evolutions/Ruination

story touched the ATV supplement in chapter 4 and 5 and then moved on

once more separating the story again. So this is the convoluted tale and

the order they are in.

The Worldwar stories are separate. But they are all related to 'Consequences of Actions' and 'Reunions Are A B' by Ashes Boomstick

There are three completed and one working in this series

Another Perspective is separate as well.

And finally…yes I will be working on ATV.

On with the story.

CHAPTER TWO

DEVIL IN A GOLD DRESS

Cyrannus Star system:

Planet: Caprica

Location: Fort Hermes

President Goesel needed to turn this conversation around to his advantage quickly or an already tense situation would take a turn for the worse. The Goa'uld leader was supremely confident, taking control of the discussion quickly and easily. That wouldn't do against such dangerous adversaries. It was extremely important to keep these talks as non-confrontational as possible, and with this in mind the President respectfully asked the name of the older woman. It wouldn't do simply for there to be known only as 'The Translator.

A moment of shock passed through the entire goa'uld entourage before the woman slowly replied. Clearly, none of them were used to her being acknowledged by any other title other than the translator when her Lord was present and after a quick nod from her Lord: "I am Myrana, servant of my Lord Astartea," she finally answered somewhat hesitantly.

Meanwhile Astartea sat at the head of the table and started sampling the glass of golden colored ambrosia before her. She seemed not the least bit concerned of the Colonial reactions to her actions. "I expected this to be a wine of sort. Interesting taste," she said, Myrana translating her words. "Apparently, you don't have grapes on your worlds, a pity." She smiled in a way that didn't reach her eyes as she stared at Goesel.

It was he that she was interested in, that much was obvious. The others might as well not have been in the room at all. "You are allowed to sit in my presence," Astartea said as if it was the most natural thing in the world, which the President assumed it was since he was dealing with a despot.

Goesel's face remained neutral even as he hid yet another flash of irritation. This woman had taken command of the meeting and acted as if he were some type of minor functionary.

Now Astartea's smile was genuine as she properly interpreted Goesel's blank stare as anger. "They are so much like the Tau'ri," she said in goa'uld. Myrana didn't translate.

Besides Goesel, Livia sat down gracefully in full Priestess mode, followed by the Secretary of State.

"Following the traditions of my people," Astartea started, "as a guest coming to meet with you, it is costmary that it is I who should begin this meeting."

"Yes," Goesel responded, spreading his arms for her to continue and as a subtle gesture that she wasn't in command here, but merely a guest they were accommodating. "We were curious how you know about us and how you used the gate of the gods to arrive here from your ship and not from another world. We were under the impression that the gates were only useful if their location was on a planet."

Myrana translated Goesel's words into goa'uld and her Lord surprisingly answered. "Gate of the gods," she repeated when Myrana translated. "How fitting. There's much you don't know about the Chap'pai," was all she said. "Your conflict with the Tau'ri has been told to us," she continued, changing the subject. "We know how your people have been subjected to their arrogance," she snarled, her voice portraying both anger and pity. "They are both your enemies and ours."

"Describing them as enemies is to define our relationship too strongly," countered Goesel. "Although we do have our differences, they aren't enemies. As you probably know, we have several productive agreements with them and hope to improve our relations with them in the future."

After Myrana translated, the goa'uld laughed at him. The pure malevolence in her voice threatened to freeze Goesel's soul. She spoke for a long moment.

Myrana translated: "The remnants of the Goa'uld Empire, the Ashtaroth Empire, and the Tau'ri are fighting an enemy, one that threatens to gain a foothold in the galaxy. The Tau'ri have a saying: the enemy of my enemy is my enemy's enemy, nothing more, and this saying has a ring of truth. We fight with the Tau'ri in common cause because it is in our interests to do so. We know that you are vaguely aware of the war but what you do not know is that the enemy is now aware of your worlds and they will do to them as they have done too many others. You will be enslaved or be destroyed. The Ashtaroth are fighting to preserve our empire from an enemy that are trying to destroy us all. The Tau'ri cannot fight this battle alone but neither are we fighting by the side of the Tau'ri."

The Tau'ri have destroyed worlds of the Goa'uld Empire and have tried to destroy the Ashtaroth and all the goa'uld. They murdered Ra, leader of the goa'uld after his overtures of peace. They have killed my people and our children by the thousands, taken our lands and property. They were responsible for the death of my father, Lord Ba'al, who near his end, wished only for peace and was paid with treachery. The Tau'ri had him crushed, one of the last, the greatest, and most benevolent of the System Lords of old. His most hated enemy, the Tau'ri Jack O'Neill, was healed by my father several times and in return, O'Neill tried to kill him. They are an arrogant, small-minded people whose desire is to destroy anyone that stands in their way. You tried to conquer their world and they will not forget that. When the war is over and if they are victorious, they will come for you and do what they have done to other worlds that threaten them."

Goesel shook his head. "I can't see them taking such action. There's ample proof that they are dangerous and arrogant; we can't deny that. But they are the Thirteenth Tribe of Kobol and they would not do that to their brothers and sisters. They've said so many times that they have no wish to fight us."

"Kobol?" the System Lord eyes glowed unnaturally bright. "The Kobollian gods of old?" he nodded in confirmation. Then she laughed. "What do you know of the gods of Kobol? I believe not as much as you think. Then she slyly announced, "I know the true history of the Lords of Kobol."

Livia perked up and spoke for the first time. "What do you know about the Lords of Kobol?"

Myrana glared at the woman dangerously before translating her words into goa'uld.

"The Thirteen Tribe," Astartea sneered, "were the first to leave the world of Kobol. It was not by their choice; they were forced to leave or be destroyed because of their arrogance and murderous actions. In their quest for power and the desire to kill your gods they killed thousands of your people two thousand years before your people forced them from your home world. They settled on a new world, Earth, and called themselves the Tau'ri because they believed their people to be the 'first people', the 'first tribe', not the Thirteenth. They believe themselves to be the best or, 'first' tribe'. They believed that your people should bow down to them. They have lied to you about their history and their advances in technology that they have stolen from countless worlds long before Lord Ra stopped them three thousand of your years ago and isolated their world from the rest of the galaxy."

"So, you're saying the System Lord Ra protected our people from the Tau'ri of Earth?" asked an incredulous Secretary of State. "There's nothing written in our sacred scrolls about a Kobollian god called Ra."

Myrana translated and her leader responded. By the subconscious flashing of Astartea's eyes, she wasn't used to being interrupted or contradicted.

"Ra was not a Lord of Kobol," continued Astartea. "You should know this, Kobollian. Your people loved the gods of Kobol with all of their hearts, their mind, and spirit. But the Thirteenth was jealous and wished to covet the power for themselves. They hated the gods and after a great war were cast out. Because of the war, environmental damage was done to your world and it could not be fixed. Finally, your people had to flee or be consumed by the fires and poisons devised by the Tau'ri. During the passage of time, the Tau'ri began to believe their own fabricated lies about how great they were. Their civilization rose and fell many times but they always remember that they were Tau'ri."

"But they've shown us their very extensive history and culture," countered a very thoughtful Goesel. "All of the archaeological evidence they've given us…It can't be just a fabrication. It's too intricate. How could they possibly get away with something like this?" he was curious to see how the goa'uld would answer.

"The evidence they have obviously shown you was stolen from other worlds to convince people like you and the Tollan. A detailed deception, but one nevertheless," answered Myrana. "Their history and anthropological records are a lie. Your species did not originate from Earth as they claim to every culture they contact. They have lied to you and the others. When this war is over we will confront them with their crimes and punish them for their insolence."

"If what you say is true, then you've answered many questions we've had about our own history," Livia said evenly. Frankly the woman was amazed that she was able to get those words out and keep a straight face. Like the President, she didn't believe this creature for a moment.

The goa'uld explanation was contrary to everything she read just a few hours earlier coming from her own people. Even Ursula admitted that Terran arguments that humanity developed on Earth was backed up by some very compelling evidence, even if she personally rejected it on religious principle. And, Livia had to smile at this, no matter what the truth was, Ursula and billions of others would never accept that unless it was burned into the very scrolls of Kobol. But she did admit the creature's story was close to what was written in the scrolls but not quite.

"The Apellai reject their Kobollian Lords," Livia began.

Her nephew knew that calculating gaze the instant he saw it. His aunt was up to something. She loved playing the long game and she'd just began one.

"We are aware of their fornication with false gods," she casually said. "To reject ones true gods is a terrible thing, don't you agree?" she continued, channeling Iblison in her intonation.

"Only the ignorant believe in false gods," answered the goa'uld lord. The woman seemed to be enjoying her byplay with Livia. She knew exactly what his aunt was doing.

"Tell me Lord Astartea, if you don't believe in Lords of Kobol, then what gods do you believe in?"

Oh crap, thought Goesel. "Why did she ask that now?

The leader's eyes flashed brightly. "We believe in our own."

"And who are these 'gods'?"

Goesel jumped in before things could and would get worse. "That's a discussion for another time, Priestess," he interrupted. Purposely, he channeled the discussion towards a different direction. "Why did you wait to contact us until now?"

"We could have contacted you at any time," dismissedAstartea. "Your current address was known to us the moment you took the chap'pai from a world that once belonged to the System Lord Sokar. He placed tracking devices on all of his devices so when you activated it we discovered the location of your worlds. Until now we've had other, more important priorities than meeting a relatively minor nation such as yours."

"I've heard of Sokar from the Terrans. By all reports he was a monster," Livia quickly said before her nephew could say anything.

The Goa'uld nodded in honest agreement. "You are correct. He was feared and hated by all of the System Lords. His excesses were legendary and his world Netu was hated and feared by all of the goa'uld, but he was very powerful. Several of the older System Lords Ra, Apophis and Cronus banded together to defeat him. He was thought to be destroyed when the first Netu exploded four thousand years ago. Sokar was everything we are not. He recently returned and was killed by the actions of the Tau'ri. His death was a blessing to the galaxy. Many of his worlds were forgotten by the goa'uld and remained undiscovered. When you moved the chap'pai to your world and activated it, it was a simple matter to identify you and track you. Your ships are distinctive and easy to follow. But the war has…delayed our meeting. That is why I am here–to offer an alliance between the people of the Colonies of Kobol and Goa'uld Ashtaroth Empire."

"I am somewhat confused. Why do you want to ally yourselves with us?" Goesel asked. "You control hundreds of worlds, we are few. Why do you want us to join you?"

For an instant the symbiote unintentionally flashed its power as anger and embarrassment overwhelmed her. "Is it not enough that we have chosen you?" That she would have to lower herself to speak to these impertinent people as equals was humiliating to her and angered her deeply. "The System Lords of old did not advance humans to a sufficient level in order to produce viable industrial societies like yours," she relented. "Your worlds and a few others are sufficiently advanced enough to begin to protect yourselves and make a difference in the galaxy. Most are not. To win this war decisively we require resources and those worlds that have a basic understanding of science and space travel. The Tau'ri are advanced, but are not trustworthy. You however might be useful in helping to save the galaxy from the enemy and the Tau'ri."

Goesel studied the goa'uld for a few moments, not saying anything. Her momentary flash of anger hadn't escaped him. When he did finally speak his voice was soft. "A proposed alliance with your people is an interesting idea, but I am concerned by the reputation of the goa'uld in the galaxy. You have enslaved humanity and spread us across the stars to live in places not their own, forced them to live in primitive conditions and in fear of your power. The few worlds we have visited believe you are either gods or they know of you and fear you. My concern is that you would either destroy or enslave us after this war of yours is over. How do we know that you won't try?"

"Your concerns would be justified–if we were the System Lords of old. We are not," Myrana translated forcefully. "The Ashtaroth wish only to live in peace in the galaxy without fear of those like the Tau'ri trying to destroy us. My brothers and sisters are concerned that you would follow the path of your rebellious colony and make war upon the galaxy. However we are also aware of your potential to be a great and powerful people and we offer your people a place in our empire. In time, your position could be second only to us in the galaxy. The Tau'ri and their allies will be swept away and a new order will be establish with your people in control of what's left of Earth, the Tau'ri, and their allies. The Thirteenth Tribe will know their place under your guidance. Their power and knowledge will be shared by both you and the Empire."

The President looked thoughtful and glancing quickly at his stone-faced Secretary of State. "Your offer is tempting, very tempting" Goesel said. "And you have given us much to think about. There is much that we need to discuss among ourselves. Will you allow us to think about this, before I give you my answer?"

"Of course, but time is short and this offer will not last. The enemy edges ever closer. Our offer is given freely so choose carefully." The voice of the goa'uld system lord turned guttural while Myrana continued to translate. "The Empire remembers their enemies and those who reject our most generous offers."

"We will be in contact with you," Goesel told Myrana who dutifully translated the words to her master."

Astartea stood up, but took a moment to stare at the President and then at was her fashion she completely ignored the others in the room. "In the new Empire, it is customary for the guest to offer a gift. If you wish President Goesel, I will allow my servant to stay with you under your personal care so that you can better understand what we have to offer and …communicate your wishes through her," she mentions as an afterthought that everyone in the room knew wasn't.

Myrana dutifully translated her master's offer without a hint of emotion. "

Goesel's eyes widened as the implications sank in. "I thank you for your…offer. My marital status forces me to say no. My wife would find it difficult to understand this form of 'communication' with a foreign entity."

"It is your loss. She is well trained in the arts of–communication. I find it interesting that you choose not to accept my gift. So many others would have accepted without hesitation if they received such an offer from an Ashtorath Lord." Pausing for an instant she elegantly rose from her seat. Perhaps I will understand more as I study your culture when you become part of the Empire."

---

Ten minutes later after the small entourage went through the gate and the conference room was swept for any listening devices, a grim President Goesel listened to the Secretary of State as the man ranted on.

"Gods, and I thought the Tau'ri were bad," Duhnmel rumbled. Normally a quiet, reserved man, his voice now filled the room. "Our lives have just gotten a lot more complicated. I don't like this. I was under the impression that the goa'uld were about to fight the Terrans not fight with them. It's not good for our people and not good for our worlds. Mr. President, there's no way we can trust these people. The second we turn our backs we'll have a sword sticking out of our collective bodies."

"I'll have to agree here," Mr. Feya added. "If we agree to their terms whatever they are and notice that she didn't lay them out, I'm sure we'll get the raw end of a very bad deal. I can imagine how some of our communities would respond having us allied with people who claimed themselves as gods. And, we have to consider that our defense forces are inadequate to stop them if they were to invade. Their force fields alone would hamper our ability to hurt them and when their offensive weapons are added, they'd slaughter us."

"They've given us an offer we can't refuse. The alternative is extermination by them. I don't doubt that for a second and I know no one here missed the veiled threats she threw out every few minutes. But it leaves some very huge questions that we need answered."

"Yes," The President announced. "The foremost one is why do they need us in the first place? The goa'uld have more advanced technology. They could destroy our civilization if they wanted to, enslave what's left of our people."

"The gods wouldn't allow it," snapped Livia.

"What gods, Priestess, ours or theirs?" Feya snapped right back.

The woman glared at him but didn't answer. There was a short period of silence as everyone in the room imagined their greatest fears. Despite serious political differences, the Colonials were depending on the Terran buffer zone to keep them from harm's way until they were strong enough to stand on their own. As long as Earth was the focus of the goa'uld, it gave the Kobollians time to build up, develop and finds technologies desperately needed for their survival against a hostile and technologically advanced galaxy. And they all knew it just as they knew that they'd just run out of time.

"I would think we'd be on their list of things to do," Secretary Feya grumbled softly. "Everything we know about them points to them being an aggressive species. We know from the Earthers and a few of their allies that have talked to our diplomatic staff that other than Lord Yu who is apparently senile for the most part, the major System Lords were wiped out and the Ashtoreth have filled the vacuum. We also know that they're considered more dangerous because the four of the Lords work together as an organized unit instead of fighting each another. For one of the Lords to come here, hat in hand, asking for an alliance with us means that they are desperate and possibly in danger of losing of the war and need resources we have and they don't'."

"Yes, you're right," confirmed Goesel. "She also mentioned our industry base which is not compatible with theirs. But we have twelve plus worlds of resources. By extension they need manpower but don't want to directly antagonize Earth for obvious reasons. I don't know how many worlds they control however, their tech base must be severely anemic if they have to come to us. Gentlemen, this does point to one probable conclusion."

"They are losing the war, or at the very least, not winning," concluded Duhnmel. "Or, they're on the defensive and need new sources to prosecute the war and it's their own fault." He went on to explain to others in the room unfamiliar with the goa'uld history. "We know that the System Lords intellectually and technologically crippled the humans under their control. With the exception of a very few, everyone else is too primitive to help other than being useful as little more than cannon fodder. It would take them too long to build up their industrial base in the middle of their war. If I remember the reports correctly, the people on the far majority of the goa'uld controlled worlds can't even read or write their own names! The goa'uld are probably using them as fodder and are slowly running out of people able to fight, let alone use or repair any real technical equipment other than the absolute basics."

"Keep them ignorant and controllable."

"Exactly. Then they are warriors, not soldiers," he sniffed. "Their training has to be substandard. Give them a gun, point them in the right direction and send them out into the field to die. We on the other hand, are in a much better position to help. But does this make us more valuable or more of a threat to be cast aside when this war is over? That's the question."

"Don't kid yourselves," added the President. "Fodder, that's what we are to them. We're just more expensive fodder. They need us and that's why they sweetened the pot with the dreams of ruling the galaxy with them and of course putting the Earthers in their place."

"Nice dream," Feya admitted, "tempting even. But it's too good to be true. I don't care how this new group operates. They're still goa'uld and they won't stand for us being anywhere near their equal. If they win this war and remove Earth in the process, we're done for."

"Mister President, it's well known how I feel about the Earthers," Duhnmelbegan smiling ruefully. "From a professional stance I think they're arrogant upstarts who don't remember their place in the Colonies that they are a part of."

"If they really are," interjected Goesel who in turn, received a harsh stare from his aunt Livia. "That's really not important right now. At this point we need to keep an open mind about this," he added. The harsh stare twisted into a darkened glare.

"Regardless," huffed Duhnmel, "I also hate the fact that we have to use Englisa as our standard form of communication. It irritates me more is that that their language might become the standard galactic language, not ours," he practically shouted. That he was inflamed by simply speaking about the subject gave everyone an idea of just how angry he was. "To me, that just makes it worse! However, despite my admittedly bias attitude against the Thirteeners, it doesn't extend far enough to want to go to war with them or try to subdue them. I believe that eventually they will find the truth and recognize their true relationship with us and we'll be united again."

"Keep dreaming," was Feya's sarcastic response. "For the gods' sake, we want to introduce Englisa and Chinese into our middle and upper grade schools. Are they trying to do the same? No. Most of their people there can't even say hello in our language! Their language domination has already started.

"I'll have to agree. They're joining and taking their rightful place amongst us is only a dream at this point," said the President. "But that's beside the point. "Their evidence presented to us says otherwise and it is strong enough to turn our own ambassadors and a few of our missionaries," and here the President heard a snort from the High Priestess, "into questioning everything they knew and believed. Anyway with that amount of evidence, who is to say that they are wrong?" There, he said it for all to hear. He didn't believe the goa'uld's version of the history of things at all. Let the firestorm begin–later. "But, that's another argument for later. As of this moment I want to know what you think about our guest's history of the Thirteenth. Did you believe her?"

Feya shook his head. Whatever he was about to say apparently hurt him to admit to. "Again, It sounded too good to be true. She told us everything we wanted to hear. Evidence we've gotten from Earth contradicts nearly everything she told us. The man rubbed his hands in frustration. "I want to but I can't believe her. And Mister President, Sir, by the mere fact that she sweetened the pot with that translator for your own comfort, err sir, just confirms for me that none of this is in our best interests. I am glad you turned her down, sir," he innocently added.

"As you no doubt know, the Quorum, my supporters and most of all, my wife would not approve of such a communications device," the president said as he felt a definite chill run down his spine. "And we've had enough infidelity in the presidential history books for a while," Goesel added without a trace of humor. "As you've said, it's too good to be true, meaning that we'd wind up slaves or worse if the goa'uld have their way. But their fear is real that much is certain. If they're afraid then we should be too. It makes it a priority that we build new technologies in order to protect ourselves and our colonies from external threats including Earth. I want us to compete with them not fight them because I believe we can work together. Our diplomats are hopeful, therefore so am I."

"I hate to say it but 'thank the gods for Earth. They're buying some time."

"This also makes it our responsibility to get those colonies up and running as soon as possible and get their economies running. We need another dedicated complex for our military research and development away from the Twelve and we need to protect our own. I don't care what Earth says, our colonies near them will become fortress worlds. Whenever this enemy comes I want a fallback point and being near Earth is a good place to start. They won't like it but they will understand since it's the same thing they'd do if they were in our shoes."

"They might feel threatened," warned Feya.

"Maybe so," the President allowed. "But it's our territory, and we will not be the ones who violate their neutral zone. Anybody who does will be either court-martialed to the fullest extent of the law, or shot–by Presidential order."

"Yes, sir," Frey agreed. "I may not have a great love for them but I want to go to that Tahiti place on Earth. I've heard it's nice…"

The President couldn't quite contain himself and the barest hint of a smile creased his face. President Adar's wife's opinion of the place spread like wildfire among the more elite members of the quorum and government. Comments about the Terran vacation spot were mixed, mostly depending if one was male or female. High Admiral Cain's opinion served to confuse the issue even more. However the consensus was that most wanted to go there and make their decision about the spot. It was another reason to improve relations with the Earthers. "Focus, Mr. Secretary. No time for thoughts of vacations. I want a select committee. We have a lot to do and little time to do it. The goa'uld will come back and they'll want an answer. We'll have to be ready. We need to find out about the war and who they're fighting. Obviously, it's not the Tau'ri, although I really expected that those two would go at it. And, we need to prepare ourselves if we have to go it alone. I want more scientists studying the goa'uld artifacts we recovered from the first two worlds we discovered. We're about three years from a workable hyperdrive once we back-engineer the missing pieces or get help from Earth's allies, possibly. Let's not forget the Lucian Alliance and the pirate situation. I also want an update on our military R&D progress on those shield units we recovered."

"That's simple, we don't. Even if we can get them to work we don't have the energy generators to power them for more than ten minutes at a time. Tyllium isn't energetic enough. Our fusion generators may work but they're not compatible with the alien systems. We have no source of naquada and we don't have enough to experiment with. The gate situation is unreliable at this point in our searches. We have dozens of explorer ships out there but there is no source of it in our region."

So we're stuck with what we have for now."

"Yes, sir. And we may not be able to overtly ask Earth for help, either."

"Would they even help us?" Feya wondered.

"If everyone keeps calm and not shoot at each other, maybe. Our trade with them is slowly increasing but that's not the real problem. It's the goa'uld."

"I agree," the President said. "Asteratea's hatred of Earth suggests she is afraid of what they can do, which brings about another point. Why is an empire consisting of hundreds of worlds afraid of what a small independent colony with only a few allies can do? Just how powerful is Earth, or conversely, how weak is the goa'uld empire as compared to them? I have no desire to start worshiping those creatures as gods. If we do ask for help and the goa'uld find out they'll drop down on us like a ship full of nukes just to keep us away from them."

"They may do that anyway, Mr. President," Feya pointed out.

Now Goesel was pinning everyone in the room with his eyes. "Yes, we're talking about nothing less than the extermination of the Colonies. We need to explore our options and keep this topmost secret because it comes down to a choice: Earth or the goa'uld."

"Gods help us. I find this whole situation terrifying. If we do the wrong thing, we'll be burned. But what is the right thing, the goa'uld or the Terrans, or should we fight this enemy on our own terms and hope we have enough manpower to do what is needed?"

"This is why we get paid the big cubits. I want our analysts to go over every bit of video and sound of our meeting. I want them to analyze every inflection, every word, anything that can give us an edge or warning. Contact Earths' ambassador here and politely ask who is this enemy they and the goa'uld are fighting and should we be concerned. I doubt if we get any real answers but ask anyway. If they want to know why tell them we've heard rumors of war." Turning to his aunt, the President looked at her. The woman was gaunt and moody. "Most honored Priestess," Goesel asked. "What is your opinion of this Astartea?"

Livia, who up until now had said very little while the government leaders were discussing what they would do, snarled. It was a guttural sound that none of them had heard before from her.

They pretend to be gods, they threaten us. She uttered one word that summed up her opinion to everyone that heard. "Abominations."

"Mister President, sir, considering the gravity of the situation, should we tell Earth about this?"

"You're the Secretary of State!" Goesel hissed. "Do you even have to ask that question?"

Next:The Race towards war