Complete Chapter

CHAPTER SIX

(Comparisons-Part One)

INTERLUDE (4)

One year earlier

Battlestar Junis. Star System-Unnamed: Locations 1400 light years from the Cyrannus star cluster: Position- Asteroid belt five hundred kilometers from Target One: Time- 17 hours post first opening of Stargate designate Target One: Target One-Lantean Stargate unknown configuration.

Junis Command Center

"Communication sent, sir. We're receiving a response!"

"That was quick," Perris muttered.

There was a momentary burst of static followed by a guttural human-like voice over the comms. The sound that came across the speakers almost caused the officer's head stand on his head. "Yes, sir," agreeing with the commander's unspoken question. "I think it was a growl, sir!"

"Yes, that's exactly what it was," Eddlison answered. Some part of him desperately wished that the response was some sort of strange way of saying 'hello'. He knew however that he'd just stepped into a war.

The incoming ship was a few meters larger than a Colonial frigate, about a fourth the size of the old Colombia class. The hull was tapered towards the front and appeared to have two main guns extending fifteen meters from the front of the ship. It was grey black in color with three main engines. There were no windows and what was assumed to be the bridge section was located near the center of the ship. It was headed directly for the Junis.

"Channel open. I want to talk to them again."

"Yes, sir." A couple of switches were moved to reactivate communications and then he nodded to the commander.

"This is Commander Demetrius Eddlison of the Colonial Battlestar Junis. We mean you no harm. Your ship is at what we consider a hostile profile. We have no interests in violating your star system or your stellar transportation device…"

"Sir, we're being heavily scanned! It's starting to affect our systems. Very powerful. Standard DRADIS and subspace–based."

"We have no desire for conflict," the commander continued. "We will leave to avoid an unnecessary conformation with you."

"They're coming directly towards us, intercept vector and speed is increasing."

"Their alien," Colonel Perris grumbled. "They don't understand us."

"No, they understand us alright. They just don't care," the commander corrected. They understood us alright, he thought. And they gave us a clear answer. "Set Condition One. All hands, battle stations. Recall all vipers and raptors. Spin up the jump drives."

"The Tycheon has ceased communications attempt and has set Condition One. Their weapons are tracking."

"Status of weapons," Eddlison ordered.

Elisades' response was quick, professional. "Fire control is tracking, slaved to DADIS. Ready on your orders, sir."

"Any change on the target's profile?"

"Negative, still coming at us. Energy profile is high. DRADIS is still having trouble trying to scan the incoming ship."

"We may not have subspace communications but our new subspace sensors are working just fine, otherwise we'd never know what they were doing," Perris whispered to the Commander. He nodded in agreement.

"Sir, energy buildup!"

"Designate incoming vessel as Hostile One. Helm, go evasive get behind one of those asteroids and use it for cover."

"Yes, sir. Thrusters engaged."

A moment later, the ship rocked violently as some form of plasma pulse hit the ship, melting through some four feet of enhanced armor. The ship shook again as it was hit a second time as it dove for cover behind an asteroid the size of a small moon.

"One jump engine damaged. Second one is now online, recalculating."

"I want a firing solution," Eddlison ordered, "as soon as we clear the asteroid. All missile and main batteries prepare to fire at my command."

On the large screen and on DRADIS, large flashes of light was seen coming from the second battlestar, deep inside the field. This was immediately followed by a massive missile launch of no less than ten high speed Damocles missiles.

"Tycheon has just fired her main guns. Radiologic warning. She just launched twelve nukes at the target."

"I want a half dozen locked onto target and ready to fire as soon as we clear the asteroid. My authorization."

"Yes, sir. We will fire on incoming target as soon as we clear in thirteen seconds."

Perris looked at the commander. "Nukes as a first strike?" she asked.

"They fired on us after we tried to communicate. They used plasma weapons," he said loud enough for everyone to hear even though his answer was directed to the Colonel. "We have to assume they have shields like it seems everyone else in the galaxy has. Their intentions are clearly hostile. They're also hiding something they don't want us to see."

"Twelve twelve-megaton anti-ship missiles hit the hostile five seconds later, slamming it with a total one-hundred and forty-four megatons of nuclear fire, followed immediately with eight of the Colonial's newest high-impact thirty-six ton anti-ship armor piercing shells.

"Firing solution in four seconds…three…two…one."

"Fire!" Eddlison ordered. "Ready second salvo." The vessel gently shook as the payload or a half dozen Damocles missiles left their berths and headed towards their target. Another seventy-two megatons of directed nuclear fire smashed into the enemy ship. Like the Tycheon, the Junis also followed up with eight armor piercing shells from its main armaments.

"Still reading an incoming signal," Elisades announced which confirmed that the incoming ship did indeed have shields. "Enemy emissions are down by twenty-eight percent. It's firing that plasma weapon…Tycheon is hit."

The Tycheon, grazed, had already moved behind another huge asteroid as while the enemy's beam weapon continued to track it. The small rock broken apart under the plasma weapon's power, while the battlestar continued to evade as quickly as it could, seeking shelter behind other larger rocks.

"That shot well beyond our range," the officer manning DRADIS said. "More powerful by thirty percent."

"What's their heading?"

"Directly towards us sir, no change. Speed increasing. Tycheon firing."

"Launch missiles. Fire all batteries and continue."

Both battlestars hit their target and this time it was staggered. Real-time DRADIS began counting down until the next salvo was ready. The target changed its profile slightly as it fired at the more distant Minoan.

"We should launch vipers," pressed Perris. "Give us some breathing room."

"Negative, they'll be slaughtered. How long before our people make it back to the barn?"

"Two minutes. Hostile One's increase speed again."

"Slow them down. Keep firing." Follow he events closely on DRADIS, Eddlison's suspicions grew exponentially as he suddenly realized what was happening. "Emergency evasive!" The ship had fired several times at full power at Sacca's battlestar but only about an estimated fifty percent at the Junis. They didn't want to destroy her. They planned to capture her.

Junis' massive shells continued to hit and wear away the enemy's shields. But the ship wasn't slowing down.

"Redirect our incoming vipers to the Tycheon."

"Yes, sir," the officer responded before starting to issuing orders;

"The target's speed just increased! Contact in ten seconds."

"Collision alert! Brace for impact!"

The front of the enemy ship crashed into the back third of the battlestar. The battlestar vibrated violently shaking everyone from their seats or standing position. Bodies had flown everywhere due to the impact. There continued a deep seated rumble that refused to die down. Emergency lighting and screaming warnings were everywhere.

"We're still alive!" Lieutenant Coronel Kimei growled as he picked himself off of the floor. "That impact should have shattered this ship!" he said in utter disbelief more to himself than to anyone else.

"Hull breach sections sixty-one through seventy-three," Lieutenant Bali said, also not believing what she was seeing. Whoever these people were, they were insane to simply ram another vessel like this. "Some type of plasma device is cutting into the hull."

Eddlison was already on ship wide comms. "To all crew, prepare to repel invades. Repeat, prepare to repeal invasion force. Heavy anti-cylon rounds authorized. All Colonial marines to your stations."

Bridge crew, arm yourselves," Perris ordered. "Full personal body armor. Kimei, inform Tycheon what's happening. We may need re-enforcements."

"They've done this before," Eddlison said while checking to make sure he had armor piercing rounds loaded into his pistol. "They're boarding us. All stop. Seal all compartments in breach from sixty to seventy-four. Shut down all computers with primary access to our data systems. Get those people out of there."

"We have damage reports coming in throughout the whole ship."

"Is their shield still up?"

"Can't be sure, but I think so," Elisades said. She strapped on her kneepads and chest armor quickly snapping it into place. Checking her communications mic in her helmet she placed it on her head. Checking her pistol's magazine she pushed the anti-cylon ordinance into place with a satisfying click.

"Focus every secondary gun we have on the ship and keep pounding those ship. Have the Tycheon add their fire. And tell them to try not to hit my ship. Perris get down there and take command. Make sure our marines have what they need."

"Yes, Commander."

Sergeant Gladius Demarus and six men and women of his squad of Rapid Reaction Response marines were the first of the specialized soldiers to reach section sixty and were busy setting up for the imminent breach into his area. He and his people were the first of the Rapid Reaction Response team to reach position. Scores of the crew were being evacuated, locking down the last of the more volatile equipment or rushing to their stations to get armaments. Like so many others he couldn't believe they'd survive a collision from another warship. But not only had it survive but the Junis was still relatively intact if one didn't consider the other vessel penetrating its hull. But he was more than mindful of the damage inflected and why these people had chosen to ram the ship as opposed to creating some sort of breaching tube or try to gain access to one of the numerous airlocks throughout the ship. Point of fact, they could have attacked one of the landing bays. However these people had a different mentality and the more he thought about it the less he liked the ramification of his conclusions. They were unpredictable and therefore very dangerous.

The collapse of several reinforced support structures had pinned several crew members, people he knew, under almost a ton of debris. Their bodies crushed flat. Some of the crew were attempting to dig them out.

The ship continued to rumble even while the sergeant was yelling for those non-combatants to evacuate. Being the first to arrive the marines were preparing a rushed defensive line. Other armed crew were hastily preparing a secondary defensive line behind the marines. The Junis carried two hundred twenty marines, half of which were converging Demarus' and would start trickling in, in a matter of minutes but he and his people were the point of the spear. There were several large bangs and the room vibrated.

"Explosions–trying to get through the door," Corporal Rivo said. "They're definitely coming for engineering."

Engineering, along with the CnC, and bridge. They were critical. The RRR teams were tasked for one thing; to keep the ship from reaching those critical area and failing that, to deny any useable equipment or data to the enemy. RRR teams hadn't been activated since the first Cylon war. Almost fifty years ago, several battlestars were compromised by Cylons boarding and taking over the three most critical areas of the ship. The crew lost control and the Cylons gathered critical military and navigational data, troop movements, flight sortie data, positions of important civilian personnel, everything. The resulting disaster prolonged the war by a year. A boarding by Earth forces would be even worse. Consequently, most defenses were designed with Terrans in mind.

The Colonial Defense Force instituted the Rapid Reaction Response initiative. Critical areas were to be denied the enemy. If equipment couldn't be protected, then it was to be permanently disabled or destroyed. Failing that the ship was to be scuttled by the Commander and turned into a ball of nuclear fire. During the battle at the Apellai/Terran system. Survivors of the battle followed the established protocols and destroyed anything that might be useful to the Earthers and then surrendered the ships. The Earthers however, really didn't care about the destroyed equipment or computers as they took the hulls and rebuilt them from the base up, creating entirely new ships that were better than the original versions.

And the Colonials learned and developed more stringent protocols.

"Bulkhead door is sealed," another marine said as he fingered his D-08A rifle set on for full auto. The rifle carried a twenty-four round magazine held 5.93mm tyllium gas filled depleted uranium rounds with a firing rate of three rounds per second. It was slow but powerful enough to cut through the heavy armor of cylon centurions. A newer version of the AC bullet was being developed at home to deal that a potential Earther invasion force. Since the battle almost five years ago, it was known that Earth was far more advanced than the Colonials. That fear motivated them into upgrading their army's weapons as much and as quickly as possible especially since they had no real idea how effective the Earther armies' weapons were. His rifle was developed as an equalizer to the Terran threat. "If they get past us they'll get to engineering."

"Gold team is setting up heavy machine guns inside engineering. Red and Grey n will be here in two minutes. Lot of bulkhead doors are jammed. They're having trouble getting through to us."

"We're their targets. People, make sure you've got sufficient cover and make them pay in blood for every step they take on our ship! I…"

He never finished. The bulkhead door was melting, literally melting. Some sort of high energy beam sliced through the four foot thick door as if it were butter. Where the beam touched metal, the metal turned white hot and turned into puddles on the floor which threatened to melt through the floor itself. The heat was oppressive even from a distance of fifty feet.

What remained of the door was blown aside by another explosion. A small canister was tossed into the room which promptly exploded releasing a whitish mist. The mist spread quickly.

No one had any idea what the gas or what its effects would be was but the sergeant made sure that his personal protective equipment was functioning properly. Responding to the aggressive action, Demarus fired a grenade directly through the opening. The ensuing explosion elicited several high-pitched growled that sounded like nothing he'd ever heard before. Moments afterwards, the first of what looked like bald humans both male and female and all of them were heavily armored, armed and–bulky. And even from a distance, everyone could see that their eyes were red almost glowing in intensity.

The first to enter the room started firing its strange handgun-like weapon. A small pulse of ionized energy crashed through the makeshift barrier. The need to yell 'fire' was unnecessary as every Colonial in the room opened up. Two dozen invaders came pouring through the opening firing weapons similar to the first, their relatively soft pinging clashing with the thunderous retorts of the Colonial defenders. The first of the invaders finally fell after more than a dozen shots but already five of the crew were down with small but lethal holes in their bodies.

Then the gas finally touched the first of the crew of the Junis.

United Terran Star liner flight 107

Destination: Makaria sector

Two hours into the flight and Colonial Vice-President 'Berker' Willius was absolutely stuffed. The food, some of it very exotic, was as a whole, delicious. He and his staff had some personal concerns about consuming alien food but several tests were done months earlier on 'Terran foods' and were found to be safe. Also the Embassy staff and missionaries had survived the culinary experiences quite well on Earth, not suffering any ill effects for which he was very thankful. In fact, the food was good enough to keep Cornel Minas' mouth busy chewing instead of talking, a least to some degree.

The man was tenacious but he was also pragmatic. The earlier Tollanian comments coming from the Vice-President had thrown him off of his game. Quorum Leader Minas (although technically he shouldn't be called that since the President was in effect the Quorum leader but it did serve to keep the confusion to a minimum, for the Earthers unfamiliar with the Colonial legislative system), hadn't fully swallowed what he had thrown out as bait but it did keep Minas from probing too deeply.

Willius only took a cursory tour of his somewhat opulent stateroom before he was back at his seat preparing to watch a movie that he desperately wanted to see in its entirety. The Terran had a huge number of movies for entertainment, all of them translated into Caprican standard at voice command. The media centers' computers automatically detected the language being spoken and responded to the command accordingly. Right now, to his chagrin, Minas was back seated next to him, clearly shadowing his every move.

"We need to be careful of Terra's entertainment industry," Minas declared. "Gods, their entertainment is vast. They could drown our own industry if we aren't careful."

"Probably," dismissed Willius. "I wanted to see this movie since we received it from Cain," Willius stated as the movie 'Star Trek: First Contact' began. "It's been under security lockdown since Colonial Intelligence got it. The President hasn't seen it in its entirety yet." Colonial Intelligence analysts were still looking for hidden virus and worms, although they hadn't found anything yet. Looking over at Minas, the man looked bored and at this moment Willius could read him like a book.

"Mister Vice-President, it's just a sci-fi movie and an old one if I'm reading this correctly," he grumbled. "What does this have to do with anything?"

"I agree," Willius answered pleasantly. "It is almost thirty Earth years old, but age has nothing to do with the content." The man quieted for a moment. "There are certain elements in this movie that can't be ignored."

That caught Mina's attention. "Why can't these 'elements' be ignored? If it's fiction, it serves no purpose but entertainment."

"As Leader of the Quorum of the Majority House there were certain security measures in place that prevented you from knowing the full scope of the Thirteenth Tribe's capability."

Minas' eyes lit up in understanding. "What this movie shows isn't necessarily false, but more like a deception?" Minas speculated. "You believe the technologies shown here allow us to see what they actually have."

"Yes, that is what I believe and not only myself. Now I want to see this. Please be quiet."

Willius too great pains to keep from smirking as his associate turned red at the indirect rebuke.

On the medium-sized screen, a bald-headed man in an unusual uniform was looking into the mirror at his face when something moved beneath his skin. It broke out of his skin and clamped onto his face. It was a metallic implant of some kind.

"What the…" whispered Minas as he was pulled into the film. "Thank the gods it was a dream…"

Dr. Mitsos Anastos looked thoughtful as the end credits appeared on the screen of the movie he and Stella just finished watching. The background showed mountains covered in either fog or smoke giving the whole scene a beautiful, mournful, surreal look. The text meant little to him as he couldn't read Terran standard, but the music and scenes captivated him, showing a side of Earth he hadn't seen or thought about. It looked wild and untamed and he sat there trying to determine if they were a product of special effects or the real thing. Personally he suspect they were a product of special effects that was very good. He'd become engrossed in the story in a way that rarely touched him before. In some ways this was more fantasy than any science fiction movie could have possibly watched, at least in his opinion.

"That couldn't possibly be real, could it?" Stella asked Mitsos interrupting his thoughts. "According to Maria, that story was a good representation of what it was like on the Americana North continent in their recent past."

"Recent? I just don't know, but I'll have to take her word for it."

"I know one thing," Stella muttered. "Whether it was real or not, it was disturbing. Earth is more primitive than I imagine."

"That was ancient history," said Mitsos.

"But how ancient?" she protested. "Five, six hundred years ago? You can't have that type history in less time than that. It's not feasible."

"Let's ask Maria." Touching a small flat screen button, he called for the stewardess who promptly appeared next to them.

"May I help you?" the brunette asked.

"Yes," Mitsos said. "The movie you recommended, could you give me a bit more background on it. It's a historical movie but I, I mean we don't really have any frame of reference."

Maria smiled. "Of course. You wanted to see a period movie that represented some of our North American ancient history dating back about three hundred years or so. I chose an older movie that depicted the country of the United States before it became a nation. This story is based on the Seven Year's war or what is called the French Indian Wars. 'The Last of the Mohicans' was a good example I thought you might be interested in."

"Earth was like that only three hundred years ago?" Stella couldn't believe it. "I didn't see any automobiles, no flying ships, and no real mechanical technology. Your people were brutal, primitive and savage."

Maria shrugged. "The world was a different place. But it's who we are. What I've shown you, is just one tiny sliver of life at that time. But my ancestors fought for everything we have to get where we are now."

"I guess I can understand," Stella muttered as she reflected on what she'd seen and heard. "Your people were in the dark ages for so long, and so cut off. I feel sorry for all of the things that your people have endured to get to where you are now. When you arrived on Earth, you must have lost everything," she finished with a touch of real pity reflected in her voice.

Maria smiled once more as she prepared her answer. This was what she had trained for. "Ma'am, you're under the assumption that we are a part of your colonies, but we're not," she said. "Yes we were isolated for a very long time for much longer than you assumed. But there's a reason for that. Earth is not a colony of Kobol, never has been. We have over ten thousand years of documented civilization on Earth and we can trace humanity much further than that, so far in fact that you wouldn't believe it. We've had alien life forms kidnap humans from Earth and transport them across this universe."

Stella gasped, then folded her arms in defiance. "What you're saying is impossible," was Stella's flat reply. "Your history has somehow been altered to reflect what you believe you think you know. What you've implied is that humanity came from Earth and not Kobol and that isn't true."

"History doesn't lie, ma'am and there will come a time when that history will be undeniable to the Colonial people. Until that time, the only thing I will say is that I hope that you will be able to see for yourself one day. History is much larger than your twelve colonies."

"Please forgive us," interrupted Mitsos as he tried to defuse the situation. "We did not mean to offend your beliefs. As I said, there are a lot of things that we don't have a frame of reference for."

"I understand," Maria replied. "It'll take time for us to learn about one another. What we're doing now, whether we agree or not with each other, is opening he lines of communication."

"Opening the lines of communications," repeated Mitsos. "That is an excellent statement. When we arrive at Earth, will we have any access to your history?"

"Most likely, although you will be at the convention center. Access will be granted through our internet."

Mitsos nodded while trying not to stare at the stewardess too intently. She was more than what see seemed. Obviously Stella hadn't caught that. "I think I'd like to get something to eat. Then I'll go to my room for a bit." He would take a quick look at his room and would be back out to be among his fellow travelers, none of whom seem to be interested in retiring to their rooms at the moment. Besides Earth foods were calling to him and his resistance was fading quickly. "I think I want to see a few Terran nature movies."

"I can suggest a movie that may make you think a bit since you will be surrounded by one of our largest bodies of water. It's very beautiful but you have to be careful sometimes." Maria's smile was so innocent that he was immediately suspicious. "Again it's an older movie but it does give you a tiny glimpse of some of the more aggressive wildlife in our beautiful blue oceans."

"What is it, a monster movie?" asked Stella. "I don't like monster movies."

"I am sure you will find it interesting. Think of it as a man versus fish story. It's called 'Jaws'."

Colonial HQ Picon

High Admiral August Cain pulled out one of his fumarillo cigars and start puffing, all the while ignoring the 'no smoking signs' and the glares of disapprovals his fellow high ranking officers including his daughter, freshly minted Lieutenant General Halima 'frostbite' Cain. Admiral Helena Cain just looked at her father and did her best to suppress a smirk. Her daddy was crazier than she was.

"I tried to retire," he bristled at the Secretary of State and President Goesel. To his credit, Goesel didn't as much as flinch. "My wife is happy and we're thinking about going on a vacation for the first time in years. And I get this message." He started cursing. "This HAPPENED TWO MONTHS AGO and YOU KEPT IT QUIET!"

"You know why, High Admiral," Goesel said. "This is beyond top security. There's a good possibility that there may be Goa'uld spies in our own military waiting for us to decide one way or the other so they can inform their leaders of our decision. I don't have to tell you that if they knew what we decided, they'd come down on us like a thirty story building on an ant. They do not need to know we are about to begin secret talks with Earth," he said stressing every single word to make himself absolutely clear to the white haired dynamo. "We could have picked you but the Vice-President was a better choice."

"WHY?" he roared. "He hates the Terrans. Why not me? I have a positive history with them."

"Because we need you here!" Secretary of State Duhnmel roared back. "You and your daughters are a failsafe. You're a family unit that will know if there is the slightest change in personality or pattern. We need someone we can trust with the responsibility to keep the colonies from burning. The Earthers told us about the Goa'uld and their ability to infiltrate and we listened! Everyone in this room is cleared including myself and the President."

"That's why we were all scanned," Helena said, now understanding why all of those tests were performed just to get into the room. The MRIs, the X-rays…"

"Exactly. We've been preparing our marines and best battlestars and crews for a conflict but we will lose if they attack us now." Augustus looked surprised at how Admiral Nagala had aged. Between the Terran conflicts and now this goa'uld situation, the stress was taking a toll on her. "That little event with the civilian liner is going to have repercussions that the Colonial military and the administration will have to deal with for years. It outran our best fighters and I don't have to tell you of the ramifications. What we know of the goa'uld fighters, their speeds and capabilities, they are about equal to our own vipers. Where we have the edge is in training. However," she continued, "that Intel presumes that the Ashtorath have not begun training their pilots better and we cannot assume they'd be fools enough not to. We can't get past their capital shields with our nukes and their weapons systems are superior to ours. Our newest main guns may and I stress, may be able to penetrate a Ha'tak shield but they're untested and only a few of our battlestars are equipped with them. That's the only good thing that the Terran conflict produced. It forces our R&D to develop new systems. It is surmised however that it will take four to five shots to penetrate those shields and as we know, firing those many shots in a fast moving scenario is an eternity. Their ships are faster than ours and according to the Terrans, the goa'uld have destroyed entire civilizations more advanced than ours."

"Sir then why haven't they attacked us yet? They haven't received an answer from us yet," Halima said. "They don't seem like the kind that waits long."

"They came here, playing nice, well as nice as one of their kind can be and that was a warning in and of itself," the President said. "In spite of their advanced technology they came here wanting to make an alliance with a people closer to the Tau'ri in culture and attitude than anywhere else and we know that they hate the Earthers. They even offered me an incentive which I politely turned down." That comment would have produced a few chuckles under different circumstances but no one was laughing now. "That ladies and gentlemen gives us an idea as to how serious this war they're in is."

"And it's coming our way," Helena finished. "Do we have any intel about goa'uld controlled worlds, where one of them might be located? If we could mount a clandestine strike, steal some of their technology, we could back-engineer it."

"That's everyone in this room's dream. We've already thought of that since we first met the Terrans," Nagala confirmed. "The planet we discovered three years ago was once a goa'uld held world abandoned several hundred years earlier. That planet I might add was the closest non-Colonial inhabited world we've come across. How the System Lords didn't find us is a miracle or perhaps divine intervention by the gods I don't believe in. As everyone is aware of, we found several artifacts. What you don't know is that we found a half destroyed Ha'tak."

Augustus Cain immediately focused his attention on Nagala. "What do you mean 'half-destroyed' and how much was left intact?"

Duhnmel took over. "We found what we believed was the hyperdrive system wasn't operation and the components were melted. What little remained was useless for our purposes. But we did discover some subspace communications equipment and what we believe to be a plasma weapons system more advanced than anything we've ever seen. The problem was the power utilization curves were too much for our current technology. They used crystal circuitry that we still don't understand. The few hand weapons we found are completely alien. We have four R&D divisions working trying to analyze those objects. I don't have to tell you that we need to gain parity with the Thirteenth Tribe and that technology will go a long way in achieving that goal. The goa'uld aside, we need to equal Earth's technology. No colony world should have such an advantage over the others as much as Earth does," he said. "But what we really need is one of their ships."

"First, you're making an asinine assumption," Augustus growled. "Do you actually think that the Terrans are going to wait while we catch up to their technological level? By the time we get to where they are now, who knows where they'll be?" Glaring at Duhnmel, he continued. "They haven't stopped developing their tech base, they're advancing every single day."

"I don't agree," Duhnmel said defensively. "History has shown that man doesn't advance as quickly as you're implying. Even if they are rediscovering their lost sciences, according to our experts, it'll take decades before they acclimate properly."

Augustus shook his head as he tried to rein his temper under control. "The Federation is a myth," he said juts loud enough to keep from screaming. "But I can't deny that there are a lot of similarities between those shows and their technology. But that's not the issue here. What it is, is that we need is to understand that the Earthers are not the Thirteenth Tribe," Augustus growled. "If we can get passed this obsession, then we will have improved our relationship with them by more than fifty percent. That's our bottom line."

"You're convinced of this," Nagala said.

"Yes, I am," he answered. "I've seen enough of their history to make me a believer."

"They could have tricked you with false history," the Secretary of State suggested.

"And you could still have your hair," countered Cain.

"That was uncalled for," Goesel told the unrepentant Admiral. "We're not here to fight. We need solutions!"

Cain ignored the President while facing the Secretary of State. "It's time we faced facts! Like it or not, our own history is at the very least incomplete." The man was pacing now as he continued speaking. "We insist on believing that the Earthers are our Thirteenth Tribe and we keep pushing them away from us. Do you think trying to force them is going to do anything but antagonize our situation?"

"Then what do you suggest?"

"What I've always suggested. I think the leadership should do more to help normalize relationship with the Earthers."

"We are trying," the President responded. "I've all but admitted that I believe that they aren't the Thirteenth and I took a twenty prevent drop in the polls for it. The administration still hasn't recovered. The Thirteeners journeyed to Earth. We discovered Earth with cultural similarities to us, therefore, they are the Thirteenth Tribe. You can't force people to change a belief that's been accepted as fact for the last three thousand plus years overnight. I'm not sure if I even believe it but if it keeps Earth from tearing us apart then, I jump over hot coals and insist that Earth is not our colony–until proven otherwise."

"Sirs," interjected Halima. "Our personal opinions aside we need to convince Earth that's it's in their best interests to integrate the dictates we've established for our colonies. We've been at it far longer than they have and ours is a good example to follow. The fact that our mutual enemies, the goa'uld are attempting to gain a foothold in the largest independent human government and population should compel them to help us. If they were really smart then they've should have done so years ago."

"No wonder you joined the marines," Helena said. Halima glared back at her.

"Enough! Lieutenant General Cain, they don't have to be compelled to do anything," High Admiral Cain responded. 'This was a continuation of a long standing argument between both daughters and their father. "We can't make them to do anything they don't want too, just ask Admiral Cain over there," he said pointing to her sister Helena and pointedly not looking at Nagala. "We tried compelling them once before and we all know what happened. If you don't remember, then I will refresh your memories. We-got-our-butts-kicked. That's why although I agree in principle that if we can safely snatch one of their ships and back-engineer it without getting caught, then I'm all for it. But that stupid, stupid representative from Scorpia who tried to quarantine the Terran star liner crossed far beyond the line and could have ruined any chance we have with them for the foreseeable future. He should at least be brought up on charges and then shot!"

President Goesel was furious as his temper reached the boiling point. Reminding the usually calm politician of the recent debacle that occurred only a few hours ago had raised his ire to the breaking point. "The fool almost started a war!"

The Secretary of State was equally angry as were most of the people in the room. "What was he thinking? Wait, I already know."

"Thirty 'inspectors' ready to swarm the plane looking for contraband," Goesel said. "That was his excuse. They were ready to take that ship apart and start a war in the process."

"Who was backing Quorum Torent's plan?"

"The Doassan- Strken-space Corporation," the Secretary of State grumbled. "It was a plan months in the making."

"But no one knew that the Terran ship was even going to schedule a landing until four days earlier."

"They knew that the Terrans or someone like them would show up eventually."

Like everyone else, Helena had no trouble interpreting what happened. "The Colonial uniforms and faked IDs got them through security and onto the tarmac. They were just waiting for an opportunity to come their way. If it hadn't been for airport security, the ones not payed off, we wouldn't have known until it was too late."

Nagala picked up where the admiral left off. "The CEO of the company, Anthony Torent is behind the whole attempt. We caught him about to board a private yacht headed for Sagittaron. I had a quick interrogation done. The fool didn't believe that Earth would start a war over a quarantine order," she softly added. "He is convinced that all Earth would have done was make an official complaint and by then they would have scanned the ship and removed certain 'suspicious' items for further evaluation. The corporation had spies at every single major space port."

"He's in jail now," Goesel murmured softly, "a little worse for wear. So are the heads of that corporation. I am making them my personal project. By the time I'm finished with them, I'll make Adar's resolution to the teacher's strike look like a walk in the park. They disrespected our promise to the Terrans, tried to steal technology, clumsily I might add, would have ruined our relationship with the Terrans when we really need them and might have sparked a war. Anything we asked of Earth would be ignored and we might as well offer our necks to the goa'uld!" Goesel looked at all of those in the room. "I will make them suffer. The leadership of that corporations is dead!"

"Good," the High-Admiral said. "I have no problem stealing a Terran ship but it has to be done right and by the gods, make sure we don't get caught. They took our ships and they're using them. They'd can't expect us not to do the same. But not like that."

"Now we need to quash the rumors about out buildup and the reason for it," Nagala interjected. "Sending one battlestar fleet to the new worlds will calm some of the rumors but we need to increase our building up our home defense and we need to have started this yesterday. If the goa'uld or whatever they're afraid of comes we need to be ready to stop them hard. I'm projecting at least a forty-fifty percent loss of men and materiel in our efforts to defend Caprica, Scorpia and maybe Libra."

Halima Cain looked horrified as he scanned the room. Not one of his military officers or he President seemed intent on offering a counter. "We can't be that far behind the goa'uld, not with our resources…"

"If and when they achieve orbital supremacy," the President said, "the energy blasts are equal to sixty megaton bombs. They'd hit every city, according to the Terrans and the few that were left would become slaves. Those were the tactics of the old System Lords. These Ashtorath would be worse. We're rejecting their proposal and they won't like it. The question is whether they would attack us sooner or later – after we tell them of our decision."

"Hopefully their war will keep them off our backs for the foreseeable future, giving us more time," Nagala finished.

President Goesel sighed heavily. "That's why the Vice-President is going to Earth, to beg them for help. His presence there is a sign as to how serious we are."

"Begging." Helena was angry. "That's another reason to hate them."

"Making us beg?" Nagala asked. "That's not a real reason to hate them, Admiral. It's good politics. We'll owe them. Eventually, they'll owe us. Focus on our overall objective."

"Which is what, sir?" Helena coldly asked.

"Our objective, Admirals Cain, all of you, is to bend them to our will just as they trying to do to us. We need them and they will come to understand that they need us. Begging is a small price. Better to beg than to have fifty billion people dead because we were too proud to get on our knees and ask for help. Our pride is a small price for survival. Never forget, Admiral, I was there when they tore our fleet apart. I was there when thousands of our people died in their star system. I heard and felt your overconfidence as you spoke to Doctor Jackson and I was feeling the same things. I remember the fear and hatred when their ships came charging at us with their super nukes and energy weapons carving our ships and people into small pieces. I take responsibility for authorizing an Alpha strike against their ships and Earth. I remember that missile hitting the Zeus, killing more than half my crew just as we jumped. I remember the feeling of my foot being crushed flat by the falling console. And it was for me to bear the responsibility Helena, not you. But I understand one thing that you don't and until you do, you will never be a great commander." Off to his side, Nagala saw her father nodding. "It was my duty, to fight to win. We are soldiers, doing our duty, but we must let it go and not make it personal to the point that it cripples our ability to lead effectively. We've fought them. Now, we may have to fight with them and we must not allow our personal feelings to interfere with our duties."

"I won't pretend that that I love them." The debacle occurred years ago and she still had nightmares about that battle. Those drone things and beam weapons that the Terrans used, butchering every ship they touched as the remains of the fleet tried to jump to safety in any direction. Her ship barely jumped before a second nuke finished the Pegasus. How could she not want some kind of vengeance?

"They did their duty just like we do ours."

"Sir, as a professional, I understand our position. Personally…this war isn't over. It hasn't been settled yet."

Nagala shook his head as he stared Helena in the eyes. "I know. And you are a professional so remember this. They didn't choose to prosecute the war and nuke our worlds like we tried to do theirs. We're thankful that they limited their actions not because they had to, but it was because they chose to. We wouldn't have done the same. That's one of the lessons I learned. So I know pride is not a good enough reason to reject asking for their help and either way it still connects us to one another whether they, or we like it or not."

"True," Goesel said. "As the President I have to look at the whole picture, including keeping an eye on the internal as well as external factors that affects this government and its people. "You've all been watched and from the reports I've seen, will say that so far, I haven't been impressed by our actions, Admiral Helena Cain." There was a slight gasp by the woman as the Present continued. "The Terrans are not the Cylons and don't forget that whether we like it or not they stand as a buffer between us and the goa'uld, and why shouldn't we use very advantage we have? Besides, who knows what we will be in the future? One day, they'll have to come to us."

Helena barely heard those last words. The President had just insulted her, calling into question. "Sir," she said rigidly. "My record reflects my professionalism and my service to the Colonial military is exemplary. You're having me watch…sir?' Helena muttered darkly, adding the 'sir' just long enough to show a modicum of disrespect.

The President caught it as he was meant to and his smile was very predatorily. "What part of this meeting didn't you understand? Of course you were watched. That's the reason why you're here in the first place, Admiral. And here I thought you were smart," he muttered as he dug the preverbal knife in and twisted it. The answering glare of absolute hostility made the man smile all the more. "Your snide remarks and overt insubordination against my policies are not appreciated. If you think you can do better then get elected. Admiral Helena Cain reign yourself in of you may find yourself being my personal choice for liaison to the Terrans and you'll like it," he growled. "If you don't then I suggest you resign. Admiral, your personal opinions are your own, but do not go spreading your discontent to everything public. We have enough problems without you throwing fuel into the fire."

"Does the President want my resignation," Helena choked out and for a moment her father though he would have to stop his daughter from attacking the Leader of the Twelve Colonies.

"I would prefer to keep you but if you want to resign and drank yourself to death in some gods' forsaken bar because you weren't enough of a professional to perform your duty, then I don't have a problem with that either. We're at the edge of an apocalypse and I need trustworthy and reliable military leaders that I can count on, not some petulant officer trying to fight the last war at the worst possible time. So, Admiral what is your decision going to be?"

No one moved (except for the High Admiral who folded his arms waiting to see what would happen. Halima was frozen in shock. Few people had dare to speak to Helena that way.

The blood vessel on her forehead throbbed so hard that it should have burst. Her face went from pasty to blood red as she struggled for control as well as to make her decision. Temper aside she knew this was a defining point in her career, her very life.

"I choose to remain in the Colonial Armed Services, sir."

"Good," Goesel smiled. "Hate me all you want, but do your duty for the Colonial people and prepare yourself for what's coming."

"And what is coming, sir?" A now pink-faced Helena asked.

The President hadn't miss the tiny sarcastic-like smirk on Augustus' face as he watched his beloved daughter turn an interesting shade of purple.

Despite the dressing down Goesel hoped that his threat would get through her hard head. Otherwise he'd have to come down on her and that would be very bad for the Colonial military and the Colonials in general.

"What is coming is a war for the survival of the Colonial people. What I'm about to tell you will not leave this room until I give the okay. I've just received word that the CDF Junis has just entered Colonial territory after almost a year of being declared missing in action. We have another problem. It's not just the Terrans or the goa'uld we have to worry about," he said while praying that the Terrans weren't listening in.

To Be Continued