Record keeping time: Dear Guest, you are going to give yourself a hernia if you keep ranting about the timeframe between postings. I told you one before, I will do it when I have the time to do sol This includes my other stories as well. I will choose what and when I will post. This is not your purview to decide anything about my schedule, no matter what or how you feel. I've watch you do this to other authors as well. I and interesting (and wisely) you never leave your name so other authors can respond. Apparently, you didn't remember what you wrote earlier, or it was a false apology.

I don't know you but for the life of me, you remind me of 'Young Sheldon' with your inability to understand that your opinions don't make the world go around. So, and in conclusion, calm your behind down and please try not to aggravate myself and other authors who have lives and have to live them because of your wants. Remember this old adage. If it hurts too much, don't read it.

Hey Utermia: Thank you for your kind comments. This particular crossover (and Shadows as well) are two sides of the same coin and here, I wanted to go with a gentler approach with Earth and the colonies. The Race is something that the colonials as well as Earth have to adjust to, to say nothing of how the Race has to adjust. When you read this chapter, you'll see the angst the Colonials are going through. Better misery rather than nuclear Armageddon. The Race, Earth and its fledgling UCW and their missionaries and their very deep insecurity about earth is stressing them out. Like the Minbari (hint, hint). They are smaller fish in a large ocean but didn't know it. Earth is a small fish as well and we need not forget that but they are baby whales with huge sharp teeth. My contempt for BSG2003 over at SB is legendary when it first came out. It has not changed but I do want to explore the political sides to this competition. The expectations of the war between Earth and the Colonies are easy and the Colonials lose (cough, cough Reunions, and a few others). Therefore. it needs to be competitive, competitive…and fun.

Note: The Colonials DO NOT speak English. What we have here is a good translation of a foreign language. Some of the idioms translated here are English equivalents that would not normally be used in their language. Thank you.

So, for now, happy new year and well, have fun.

Chapter Twenty-Six

'Hurtful Truths-Part One'

Cyrannus Star System Planet Caprica

Nine o'clock in the morning and although President Goesel didn't get much sleep, the last thing he was concerned about was his lack thereof. This chronic loss of sleep wasn't as abnormal as it was part of the job description. As president of the Colonies of Kobol, he was required to visit several worlds, all with different time zones. Trying to get a unified time zone for twelve major planets as well as minor outposts and the new colonies turned out to be, from a practical standpoint impossible. A standard time/date unit was established and was being constantly adjusted.

If only that was President Goesel's most pressing problem.

The senior representative of each of the original twelve colonies, along with the heads of the Colonial military, and senior officials were seated around the huge oval, superbly crafted wooden table. Each person had their name on placards in front of them. Small microphones were conveniently placed in front of each of the members. In the center chair sat the President. Each of the members had documents pertaining to this meeting and were reading them intently. Most of the men and women present had finished reading, and they were worried. A few of them were then outraged from read the summaries.

The president went straight to the point. "It's been confirmed. The forces that our people encountered more than a year ago is the same enemy that the UCW and the goa'uld are fighting. This enemy has invaded goa'uld territory, and the threat is serious enough that the UCW has gotten involved in the fighting. I don't have to tell you how serious this is. You do however need to be aware of critical information that has been denied you for purposes of security. Before we continue, I want you to see the presentation that was sent to us by the UCW military forces.

The table was mounted on a huge swivel that rotated the table and the representatives one-hundred eighty degrees to face a huge screen that lowered itself from the ceiling. Seconds later the lights dimmed as the images began.

The audience was stunned and disturbed by the images of UCW and goa'uld ships doing battle against an enemy most people in the room were unaware of until today. The camera views varied from three UCW ships. Goesel had been informed that the digital images were slowed down enough for people to see details, but even so, the images of fast-moving vessels still seemed to blur on the screen. The Colonials were stunned by the amount of firepower being used by all the vessels and it produced an element of fear that increased the overall tension within the room. They saw several Ashtorath warships, powerhouses in their own rights, being crippled and destroyed by the immense firepower of the enemy. They saw UCW warships blow the enemy vessels into dust and in turn were crippled in retaliation. Smaller fighters dueled for supremacy while the larger crafts battled one another for survival. The enemy was finally pushed back but only after inflicting a terrible price on the Ashtorath and UCW ships. several Earth ships were torn apart, and the Colonials winced in sympathy. Despite their power, Earth forces were small, and therefore, every lost ship was devastating.

Most people in the room were beginning to believe that Earth wasn't their Thirteenth tribe, but they still felt a kinship to them in spite of their differences. Some of those differences were on the screen for all to see and it terrified them. The power of their weapons almost defied belief and they could barely stand against the enemy. The group was quiet as the images faded from view.

"This is a sample of what Earth sent to us. The rest is still being analyzed along with other sensitive information. Ladies and gentlemen," added Goesel. "This is what we are facing. That is what is coming."

Undersecretary of Defense Carl Gratis looked sour as he slowly nodded in agreement. Unlike the president and some others, not being from Caprica he was still struggling with the time zone change. The situation was dire and the responsibility of leadership was having a deleterious effect on him. This didn't go unnoticed by the president and onlookers. He was close to being ordered to take a short vacation. But Goesel couldn't afford to dismiss the man now, not with the situations at hand. The President nodded at him for him to start.

"The images of the first battle conclusively proves that the same, for a lack of a better word, aliens encountered by the Junis group are the ones that Earth is fighting. Every analytical procedure we have confirms it." He paused for a moment, subconsciously tapping his fingers on the table as he fought to make a decision to express an opinion that would likely cost him his job. "Mister President, in light of this new data, the goa'uld situation, and the Makaria sector rebellion, and the Race situation," and here he paused. "I… respectfully recommend that we have full disclosure with Earth and tell them what we know about the STD we discovered and inform them of its location. If they're coming through from another galaxy as we suspect, and I still have trouble saying that, then we must let the UCW know. I would not inform the goa'uld," he stiffly added. "But I wouldn't be surprised if the UCW made them aware of it given the situation. It may give them an edge that they obviously need."

"I don't agree, Mister Undersecretary," grumbled Admiral Nagala. All heads in the room turned, their eyes gazing at him, waiting to hear what he had to say. "That stellar transport device is a variation of a stargate, a super stargate, and if we handle it right will be one of our most important assets of the Colonies. If Earth and their allies won, then the stargate will be up for grabs. They have no idea where it is or that it even exists. That device is of vital importance to the safety of all of us," he explained. "With it, if we can capture and use it, we can travel anywhere with our ships, gather new technologies and knowledge that will place us on an equal standing with Earth, Tollania. or anybody including those Asgard aliens which should be out ultimate, long-term goal. Let me make it clear. I am not advocating preparation for war but I am saying that we need to be able to defend ourselves." He turned, staring back with steel eyes. "Face it, we are out-classed. If we can't find some way to get an equal footing, we'll be left behind with no way of catching up. We're already far enough as it is. This cannot be allowed to continue!"

"That's a dangerous gamble," Formally retired (in name only, it seemed) Admiral Cain countered. "Those aliens are tough and are giving Earth and the Ashtorath trouble. You saw the recordings of the first battle. The Goa'uld were having serious trouble with them. Earth ships barely survived the encounter, even though they were supported by the Tollanian, their other allies, and their astonishing tech, they still. struggled to push them back."

They won the battle," said a defiant Nagala.

"That's not the point," Cain answered as he struggled to keep his temper in check. "You are assuming that Earth will win the war without discovering where they're coming from. For all we know, and I think it likely, they are pouring though the STD right now. Even those Asgard ships had trouble getting though their shields, shields we don't have. Admiral, I want the technology to protect our worlds as much as anyone else, but the alternative will be worse if we don't tell the Terrans and they lose. I have no doubt that we will be next on the enemy's list. We won't stand a chance. If Earth wins, and they find the gate and find out that we knew about it and didn't tell them when they were fighting for their lives and ours, we can kiss any meaningful relationship with them goodbye for a generation."

The undersecretary began speaking once more. "Admiral Nagala, we can't afford to antagonize potential allies. I acknowledge that there's been a lot of improvement between us and them, but this could push our relationship back to where we were when you first attacked them."

Nagala looked down at the table, but only for a moment as he bristled at the implication. Not one person in that room had disagreed with his decision to strike out against Earth for the very reason they were worried about that world right at this very moment. The Quorum, the military, the politicians, and the religious orders all wanted what Earth had in abundance–technology and power.

"You're working under an assumption that Earth will win," Gratis advanced. "What if they don't?" the undersecretary asked. "What if we were the ultimate cause of their defeat because we denied them critical, need-to-know information? They have to win and we need them to know that we are on their side when they do. We doom them, we doom us."

"I'm aware that it's a calculated risk," Nagala retorted. "Weapons development is months away and there's no guarantee that those technologies will be enough. The STD is just one of our cards however, it's a critical one. If we can somehow isolate it from those aliens, we will have the edge we need."

The escalating conversation turned heated as politicians and military men and women people began arguing for and against a decision that could change the course of history.

Goesel sat quietly and allowed everyone to express their opinions for what was perhaps the final time. He needed to speak in detail to the vice-president who had just arrived earlier this morning. Willius was still upset at the events in Makaria sector and President couldn't blame him because he felt exactly the same way. Willius was almost publicly assassinated by Iblison's power base. The commander of the battlestar in question was claimed to be a misunderstanding, but it almost started a war with the Terrans. Firing on a Terran civilian star liner legitimately arriving at Makaria station carrying the vice-president and government officials from Earth no less. If Iblison's battlestar had fired on the ship, then it would certainly be war at worst or Earth would completely cut themselves off from the colonies. Either choice was completely unacceptable. And furthered his resolve to terminate the renegade with extreme prejudice as soon as possible.

The conversation was dying down somewhat, and President Goesel took that as his cue. "You're dreaming, Admiral," he said, tired of the obstinate attitude of his most trusted senior military staffers. "We came within a hair's breadth of being wiped out by the Ashtorath because we just associated with the Terrans. The Ashtorath are our enemies by the mere fact we exist. The decision to choose our own way was taken away from us the moment they discovered our relationship with our cousins." He paused. "We are too much like our Terran cousins and I will correct myself to make it clear to everyone here. We were targeted by them the moment they discovered we existed."

High Priestess Livia Stromata cleared her throat interrupting the president before he could continue. "We should be grateful that we discovered our brothers and sisters when we did. If the Ashtorath had found us first, we would be dead and what remained of our people enslaved at this very moment. We may feel that the Apellai are arrogant, monotheistic pricks, but they are our pricks," she smirked before returning to the naturally bland look that she always wore in public. "The Ashtorath are just a milder version of the Goa'uld Empire, one that lasted almost ten thousand years! They claim to be enlightened but they have no tolerance for any form of defiance when it comes to achieving their objectives. I saw that in their faces myself. They are a despicable people. if the UCW prevails, we will still have to contend with the goa'uld. We have insulted them by being friendly with Earth and the others. They will not tolerate any type of perceived insolence. I would recommend that we tell them of this super stargate. I considered it a short-term sacrifice for a long-term gain."

Goesel lifted his eyebrows at the statement from the priestess, his aunt. It was an amazing concession on her part. Her contempt for the Earthers, specifically their monotheism, was well known, and he knew despite her bravado, she was frightened of them.

Livia still smarted from the loss of several of her missionaries including two that had married Earthers who were avowed Baptists. She had to look for information about that particular sect to better understand the threat it posed to the beliefs in the gods. What she discovered in her research did not make her happy in the least.

Livia had told her nephew she could almost accept one of them marrying, especially Lucy Ferro, but the additional loss of her cousin to the exact same thing had given her pause. The loss of one was bad enough but the defection of two of her trusted priestesses and dedicated religious adherents falling prey to those heathen monotheists screamed clear warnings, not only to her, but throughout the upper echelons of the religious community.

One of her relatives going to Earth to convince Lucy to return to her belief in the gods had herself been converted. What barbaric attraction did those Apellai possess that so easily seduced committed, dedicated followers of the gods of their people?

She was obsessed with the need to understand how such a thing could happen so easily. It wasn't just two young women; but, several of the other missionaries–weren't the same after they visited Earth. How could theologically grounded leaders change so quickly after being exposed to primitive religious concepts that represented only a small part of their culture when compared to their whole world? Religion was cultural as well as spiritual so it should not have happened to the two women. Could the answer be as simple as being in love?

She didn't believe so, but she could not dismiss that possibility either. The Conclave always believed that the Apellai were waiting for the true religion to be reintroduced to them, that they would flock to the truth and start a religious revolution that would sweep Earth, creating tens of millions of new converts for the glory of the gods of their ancestors, of the gods of Kobol.

That belief turned out to be a delusional lie.

Livia felt some shame at the thoughts running through her head at such perilous times. There was nothing she could really do. She admitted that she was the servant of her nature. She was High Priestess of the Order of Athena, nothing more and certainly nothing less. What was on her mind, now demanded to be addressed? She couldn't fight it, didn't want to until it was satisfied. The gods demanded that she pay attention–and so she did until it had its way

With that, she allowed the words of the chamber fade away as she remembered once again how fractured her religious order had become since the introduction of the Apellai, the Thirteenth Tribe who apparently wasn't.

Tyberi Patrenus, Linus Abner, Luca Ferro, Antonio Ursula Silva Julian Soter, Dodona Bellor, Nikkos Demos, Luke Rettus… Elosha Gale, in Livia's opinion, the greatest of them all, every one of them handpicked for a mission were affective in some way or another. They could have begun the salvation of the people of Earth from their foolish religions and terrible strife caused by their monotheistic ignorance. The Conclave knew that it would be difficult to bring Earth back into the fold, so the generational plan was conceived. Every possibility was planned for, every setback had a counter prepared for. Every possible contingency was accounted for.

Everything that could have gone wrong, did. She should have known. But I all honesty, she didn't expect that the people of Earth would be so hostile to the truth of the gods. Even the few that held on to the truth weren't what she expected. They refused to learn of the true ways once more. They spurned her missionaries, treating them like strangers to the faith.

It was not meant to be.

When she first received the reports, she was elated and then as she continued reading, she was infuriated by those Earthers who followed the true gods. Those Grecian people were ignorant beyond belief. They couldn't understand the truth of the gods if they were bidden by Cerberus itself. Like the Concave, she didn't expect such hostility from like-minded religious brethren isolated for several thousand years. In retrospect however, she had begun to understand the depths of their mistakes and the seriousness of Order of Athena's fracturing.

Iblison.

The less said the better. If she wasn't so far away, she would have ordered his terminated personally. The Order could not abide such evil in their ranks. The more she found out about him, the worse she felt. It was as if he were purposely trying to start a war, one they couldn't win against the Tau'ri-Apellai-Earthers-not Thirteenth Tribe. She should have recognized the threat when he advocated the use of the Race as a possible food source, but to her shame, she hadn't fully disagreed with the man. It seemed reasonable at the time. Now she couldn't imagine it. But apparently, he still did and what was going on at the New Picon colony enraged her. Livia was pleased that her nephew had issued a capture or kill order for that man. He was another fracture that she and her Concave had to deal with.

Except for Tyberi and Elosha, none of the other missionaries remained unscathed. And being honest, even Tyberi, her gentle, most loyal servant had been affected by his journey to that wretched planet. Elosha on the other hand, seemed to have survived and thrived on the alien world and Livia was thankful that her cancer had been treated and now in remission. Apellai medicine was more advanced when it came to treatments of that kind.

The astonishing rate of advancement by a single world astounded her. Elosha tried to explain it to her, but Livia didn't quite understand at the time. Now, she vowed to renew her efforts in her studies of Elosha's progress communiques she had transmitted. Elosha understood that Earth was a mesh of cultures and no matter what Livia thought she couldn't quite get her head around that. Elosha was however, helping her to understand that strange world better.

Those activities could wait however, because as frightening as Earth was, there was something worse that the Conclave feared. That was the goa'uld in the form of the Ashtorath Empire.

They were monsters.

Everything that she had discovered about them frightened her. Her report to the Conclave had sent shock-waves throughout the membership. The greatest level of panic was caused by her announcement that many of the gods they worshipped had names that goa'uld had usurped. Screams of disbelief and terror nearly ripped the Conclave apart. But she secretly thanked the gods that the heathen Apellai had told her that, the original planet Kobol, was not some ancient, hideous goa'uld colony but something else. There was mounting evidence that Kobol, the original birthplace of mankind, or so she once believed, had been used by yet another unknown race to transfer humans from Earth to a place of safety, The Terrans didn't know who were the ones responsible, but it wasn't the snake creatures. This left many more questions than answers and threw everything she thought she knew into a state of emotional and spiritual flux.

There was one thing that was not in dispute and it was, she hated and feared the Ashtorath Lord Astartea more than anyone. She had met with the Ashtorath both Myrana and her snake-infested sister Lord Astartea personally and she recognized the greater threat. Even she thought didn't know the full truth. The blessed Goddess Athena had shown Livia the true enemy, and she knew what evil truly was.

Livia was worried and if she had had her way and if it would help, she would encourage the Colonies to remove themselves from Earth's influence and never associate with them again for the safety of their immortal souls. The elder woman pursed her lips in anger. The irony slapping her in her face was almost too overwhelming. Who knew that in finding Earth, it would prove to be the worst thing that could have ever happened to the Colonies?

But the woman was also pragmatic and a survivor. The waves of obsessive thoughts faded and she could again focus on the words flying pass her.

"We don't have to like them but we need them," Livia slowly said. "I suggest we tell them about the STD. It is none of their business concerning the technologies we acquired." She stood up and stared at Nagala, and then her demeanor changed. "I acknowledge that we–that I made an error in judgement in trying to force them back into the fold. But the gods work in mysterious ways. If we hadn't tried, then the Colonies as we know it, wouldn't exist. That device is useless if by keeping it a secret we become the basis by which Earth and their allies lose.

High Priestess Sytomia is correct," Cain added. "We can't claim something we don't have. I think we've made the only practical decision we could. I think we should let them know and if it helps the war, so much the better."

"They are right," answered a determined President Goesel. "We have several problems to deal with and this one is answering itself. Sorry Admiral Nagala, I understand your concerns, but the decision is made. We tell the UCW know. We let them fight it out. That will give us a time, time that we need to build up our technologies and resources. Now, everyone in this room knows that the snakes did not take our rejection lightly and we have to take the possibility of eventual invasion by them sooner or later very seriously. With this scenario, I see two possibilities. If the UCW wins, we will have more time to prepare against the Ashtorath Empire. We know they are coming. They're frightened that we will turn to Earth. They are right."

Quorum representative Brandas Tymothas of Tauron raised his hand. "We, the Colonies of Kobol, are not some sheep that runs from a fight. According to the information that we've been given by Earth, and we assume is true, the far majority of the galaxy is populated by less advanced humans. These people are our brothers and sisters no matter what their origins. Earth and its protected planets treaty protect them and we sit at the sidelines staring at them like incompetent fools when in fact we are one of the premier powers in this galaxy. I am forced to acknowledge Earth and its allies, the Ashtorath and these Asgard alien are stronger than we are at this moment. But that's only for the short term. We have two hundred thirty battlestars and more coming online. This doesn't include our smaller support craft. The Ashtorath can beat us now, but in a couple of years we will fight them off in the same way we fought off the cylons. In a decade, my sources estimate that we can defeat them decisively. We will not have to hide behind Earth's umbrella like frightened children."

"You're dreaming, Brandas," Cain said. "Every report be; I have read says that the goa'uld have wiped out unknown numbers of cultures more advanced than us or what we will be in the next hundred years. And the Asgard?"

"They are so far above us in technology, that we would take thousands of years just to catch up to where they were four thousand years ago. Also remember that they are friends of Earth, close friends obviously." The sight of their ship hovering serenely in Caprica's atmosphere, in spite everything the Colonial Defense Force threw at it still sent chills down his spine. "We can't touch them and we can't match Earth and as long as I am President, we won't be perceived as threats. We need them."

The Tauron quorum representative looked mulish but in the end he sat down. But he wasn't finished yet. "But that doesn't change the fact that we are still a premier power in this galaxy."

"I am sorry to say that you are wrong, Tymothas," Goesel countered. "Time is not on our side. In fact, this is the very reason we are here in this closed session. What I have authorized to be revealed to you will not leave this room. We are a power, that cannot be denied. But we are not strong enough to defend against the Ashtorath, let alone Earth or as they are now calling their alliance, the UCW, an acronym that stands for the United Coalition of Worlds. We have not been asked to join this Coalition," he murmured, "because they don't trust us, not yet. We've made progress, very strong progress, but the fact is that they trust the Race more than they trust us." He allowed that point a moment to soak in and another moment allow the grumbling to settle down. We all know the reasons why. I believe that Earth came to our aid because of their own enlightened self-interests. They were making a point both to the Ashtorath and us. The Ashtorath would have wiped us out and we wouldn't haven't been able to do anything to stop them. We need Earth for our survival. And Earth apparent wants us to survive. As you have said, we are a premier power, but we are a small power compared to those out there. Our population is greater than any single power in this galaxy but our technology is lacking."

"Mr. President, I can't accept the fact believe that you have no faith in our military might," protested the quorum representative. "We defeated the cylons, one of the most dangerous threats to this galaxy."

Goesel's sneer was most impressive. "The Cylons were nothing compared to what's out there," he said pointing towards the ceiling, but everyone knew what he was indicating. "The only good thing about defeating the cylons was that they found Earth for us, and you know what happened there once we did." The room was deadly silent. "But the greater threat is out there and it's not the Ashtorath." If he didn't before, he knew he had the complete attention of those not already in the know.

"I've called this meeting because it is time for full disclosure of the events of the Battlestar Junis combat group and what they encountered. You need to know what occurred during that mission, what the Coalition and goa'uld are fighting and why I am more afraid of them than I am of the Ashtorath.

"The events that are about to be revealed is the reason that we must have the Earth coalition on our side. I stress that this includes the Race as well. They have the ear of Earth and they are in as much danger as we are. This is also the reason I propose that we send a full delegation to the home world of Home with Earth or one of their allies acting as mediators as soon as possible."

He paused for a moment thinking about Iblison. If ever a person needed to be permanently retired, it was that man. And that was exactly why he had signed an executive order to have the man terminated. He was the reason why those colonies were at the brink of civil war. Although there was no evidence, Iblison was likely the person behind the nuking of Home He was a walking political disaster if ever there was one.

Rumors were that New Picon was in a covert land war against the Race. How their soldiers got on the planet was a mystery although he had its suspicions. It was a miracle Iblison hadn't ordered an orbital strike, but wouldn't go that far, not yet. The other Colony worlds were keeping his space forces occupied and he wouldn't split his forces if there was a possibility of attack.

Goesel was stuck with the responsibility of having to heal the wounds between the Colonies and the Lizardians. The invasion was foolish enough in hindsight but the detonation had made the situation almost impossible. But he had to deal with the consequences or Earth would never let them into the Coalition. If that didn't happen, then there was no guarantee that Earth would be there for them when help was really needed.

Goesel was justifiably upset about these latest developments and he only became aware of it because of Makaria's use of Terran FTL comms. It was another thing to add to the list of needs; real-time communication. The technology was as essential as weapons and shielding. It was another issue to deal with and he planned to initiate at this very meeting. The Terran communication corporations were clamoring to get into the markets here with their subspace equipment. It was desperately needed, and they knew it. He internally sighed. He refused to let his pride get everyone killed. Besides, elections were coming up in a mere three years. He needed to start working the people, get their minds off of the apocalypse for a while. Free, real -time cross-planetary phone service, unlimited calls and text messaging, and photos would do just fine for a start. Everything was falling on his shoulders and he found himself thriving.

Politics was a strange monster…

TBC

This is the beginning of a series of major changes with Colonial, Earth, and Race relations