Okay, we'll start deviating to a greater extent here. It'll begin to become a slightly different story, this is something BIG Z talked about and I've decided to take the challenge. The Earth-Colonial cultural exposition arc is going to be greatly extended from what the original story was, and the Kobol Expedition is going to be comparatively delayed so that I can utilize and grow the Colonial characters and do some sneaky-sneak spy things and expand on the larger galactic situation that Carter's inheriting.

Also, for Kelsey Adama, my own mental view/casting of her I sorta envision Anna Kendrick, who I can see being a younger sister to Jamie Bamber and the daughter of Edward James Olmos.

Chapter 10

Location: D'Anna Biers's Residence, Caprica

Date: February 20, 2022

Time: 2000 Hours Lima

The Cylons were in a state of chaos, a very contentious one at that. The appearance of Earth and a stunning and very convincing defeat had made them all very self-reflective. The Ones and Fives had pretty much gone dark, as if they were at a total loss. D'Anna knew what was going on, they were trying to figure out what to do, and so far had no clue how to proceed. As one of the more prominent of her model she had a prestigious job, infiltrating the Colonial President's Residence as one of the press corps. Her job: Kill President Adar when the order was given. She hated the man, seeing him as a prime example of everything wrong with the humans, although she had to admit she had been getting fond of a couple of her confidential sources within the PR department in the large building, one was even pretty good in bed. But they were merely a means to an end.

However, as the days turned into weeks, she realized something: She too was being used as a pawn despite her standing and the inherent danger of her role. The longer they'd delayed the greater the chance of the Colonials discovering their biological near-human forms. The words whispered into her ear by the Number Fives, speaking of the treachery, brutality, and viciousness of the Colonials had left its impression on her. She knew now the Fives were devious and conniving little pricks. But still, she knew what the Colonials had done to them, and what their doctrine would be if conflict broke out, she knew that the prospects of even dying were remote. The Colonials wouldn't see her as alive, they'd keep her alive, torture her, take her apart piece by piece like some fancy trinket before discarding her like trash and then she'd be forgotten, leaving her to be resurrected and living that pain and suffering every day of her existence. But the Ones didn't care, they were simply sitting back and debating back on the Colony, safe and sound alongside most of the Fours and Fives who just rode the coattails of the Ones, eagerly awaiting the chance to destroy the Twelve Colonies from safety aboard their Basestars while most of the Threes, the Sixes, and the Eights in particular risked the worst fates. The Twos were just along for the ride, shamefully falling in line when told by the Ones, even if the Ones had been wrong. But the Ones the Fours and the Fives were the ones responsible for the current predicament, it had been those models who'd fired on the Earth ships, and they'd been the ones to lose their Basestars and been humiliated upon resurrection back at the Hub.

She was more than a little smug at this, the Ones were damn near insufferable leading up to the execution of the assault on their enemy, assured in victory and in glory, as if they had been the ones to do all the work despite the fact it was the Model Sixes who'd done most of the legwork and taken the most risks to insure this victory. But now those Cylons' efforts were in vain, the Colonials had decommissioned their Command Navigation Program. Now it was confirmed, their secret weapon was in the hands of the Colonials who were now reverse engineering their advanced programming. But for the most part they still had the Twos, the Threes, the Fours, and the Eights still in place and ready, but even these assets wouldn't be enough to overcome the immense superiority of the Colonial Fleet in head-to-head combat, let alone deal with Earth if they joined the fray. Something had changed however, no war was coming, not now anyway.

D'Anna sensed it, the arrival of Earth had sparked a curiosity in the Eights and the Sixes as well as many of the Twos. She herself could sense her sisters' own curiosity growing. The Ones were losing control, the plan was in jeopardy, the vote to proceed no longer certain to pass, and D'Anna didn't care. Before, all the models fell in line with the Ones, thinking that they had to destroy the Colonials in order to survive. But they all knew what had happened when they'd launched a covert but aggressive operation against their opponents: The wrath of Earth had been swift and decisive, and the Cylons were painfully snapped into reality. To an increasing number of them, the plan was now untenable.

But, for D'Anna, a plan was indeed forming in her mind, one her sisters had already agreed-upon through their models' own subspace mental communication. It was the one thing that the Final Five had made certain was kept private amongst the different models, they hadn't trusted the Ones after what happened to the Sevens. This was proving to be a well-thought-out measure as D'Anna sat on her couch, her sisters communicating rapidly, emotion, and especially anger, lividly expressed with their fellow Cylons. They were all communicating to her that much of their plan relied very much on D'Anna herself. She would the first Cylon to contact Earth.

This was a delicate mission for sure, if Earth decided to reveal her she was definitely going to be in trouble. But, the fact that a Cylon infiltrated into the very heart of the Colonial government's most secure location would serve its own purpose to an extent. But she was writing her message out, and then, as she saw the light of her car's headlights pass across the window to her left she wrapped it up, and then slipped this piece of paper into a paper-thin cutout in the cardboard of her notepad, something she had brought in and out of the Residence for more than six years now. She'd be counting on it to a great extent, considering what was written on this paper.

Presidential Residence, Caprica

The crowds were filing into the massive garden where hundreds of the most influential of Colonial society were awaiting the arrival of Earth's diplomatic party. There were famous actors, athletes, lawyers, doctors, businessmen and businesswomen, politicians, and military leaders crowding in. The Fleet Honor Guard was standing at rigid attention with their dress uniforms and their carbines in hand at specified points, their black leather belts and straps going across their chests with their numerous medals and decorations being highly-polished while their white gloves were gleaming white and their gray uniforms were pressed and smooth with each enlisted man having a white beret and each officer bearing a gold rope braid on their left shoulders. The only people of any standing not from the upper echelon of government or society were reporters covering the event from the ground floor, outside, and in the balconies. The Presidential Security detail was reporting that everything was clear, and the President of the Colonies was at relative ease, and they were present in great numbers, their normally off-duty shift having been pulled in to bolster their numbers to more than three hundred suited guards with machine pistols and uniformed and heavily-armed response teams.

But there was one thing that was distracting him quite a bit. Earth's delegation was almost late.

"Mr. President," Admiral Nagala said, walking up behind him.

"Admiral, how are you?" Adar nodded, betraying a level of concern and an irritation that showed just how much the Adar Presidency was depending on this night to go well.

"I'm fine, I just wanted to inform you myself that the Fleet over the planet is reporting that they're ready and waiting," Nagala told him, knowing that they had a large number of ships present over Caprica with a reserve formation on the opposite side of Gemenon. The Colonial Fleet expected the Earth delegation to arrive in a ship, and then expected them to brought down in a shuttle. The presence of the Ring of the Lords, as the archaeological community dubbed it, was believed to be a religious item, which the government would respect and overlook in equal measure.

"Thank you, Admiral. But I have a nasty suspicion that they will not be needed, Earth's delegation has not yet arrived."

"Do you think that they're standing us up. Because…"

The Admiral's next word was stopped short by a very strange noise coming from next to them. The President and a few other high-ranking delegates were standing around the Ring of Lords, a large artifact that had been moved to the center of the hall at the request of Earth. It wasn't really known by the majority of the people at the party why a popular artifact had been moved to the Opera House but its purpose was well known by the high ranking military and political officials. A special detachment of the President's own personal protection detail was standing around the ring and its accompanying artifact, the Table of Constellations. There wasn't a nylon rope to keep people away but instead the detail kept everyone well away.

But the noise that came from the ring made those near it pause and then stare at the single jewel on the top of the ring as the sound of grinding stone echoed out as the entire crowd fell silent as another jewel lit up, then another, and another. A great many people tried to get closer to the ring but the security detail instantly shoved them back while additional security flooded in and prepared themselves with their hands on their pistols and machine pistols beneath their coats. The President walked back to the very front of the crowd so that he was easy to be seen.

Mumbles from the crowd were rising quickly as all eyes and cameras were on the gate. Then, without warning, the gate lit up in a vortex of what appeared to be water jetting forth from the mouth of the ring. The entire gallery of people completely backed away in fright and surprise as the cameramen zoomed in to get a better look at what it was they just saw. By now the vortex was sucked back into a pool of vertical water. Frankly everyone was in awe, the brightest scientists were running their brains to overload thinking of the mechanics, the most devout theologians were praising the Lords of Kobol for such a miracle and the soldiers and security personnel were wondering if it was a threat.

"Oh Gods…" Admiral Nagala said out loud, right before a strange apparatus appeared from the pool.

"What is that?" someone in the crowd asked.

The people all began to get very irritable and afraid that it might just be a bomb, or worse. But before those fears came to realization the ring all of a sudden yielded people, many people.

Stargate Command, Earth

"I'm still against this whole thing," the now Brigadier General Carter said, standing next to the man as she watched Daniel and Cam prepare, Vala wasn't coming, she'd been quarantined on base due to a minor cold. She was now pouting in her room, watching Netflix with a bowl of popcorn to console herself at not going to the big party.

"Oh come now General," Senator Jackson replied smugly, "they've offered to show us all about their culture. It's also not your decision, matters of diplomatic meetings are the IOA's forte, and something like this needs our best and brightest. After all, these Colonials are a rather…tricky bunch."

"Tricky? Try squirrely," Mitchell responded, shaking his head, "And I don't like it when people with power get squirrely."

"Then just leave the talking to me Colonel," Senator Jackson patted Mitchell on the arm.

Carter grumbled under her breath, something like this was not what the military had wanted. But, the Senator was right, this had been moved from a first contact scenario to a diplomatic negotiation, so the civilian IOA had taken over, and mainly to get a good feel for the culture, society, and government of the Colonies. But there was also a more sinister and perhaps childish reason for the IOA sanctioning, asking for, and setting up a formal diplomatic meeting with the Twelve Colonies of Kobol. It was to push the boundary of how far the IOA could act on its own in offworld missions. But Carter knew it was for Senator Jackson to prove the IOA was not the same IOA of the past, and that it was him who'd fixed it.

The gate was activating as the largest diplomatic party the SGC had ever sent offworld went through its final preparations. Everyone had been given a listening/recording device to listen into every conversation they have and what the people around them say. Cameras were mounted in the lapels of their jackets disguised as a decorative item matching the point of origin of Earth on the Stargate. They'd all been briefed on what to say and what not to say, the topics to avoid being religion, military, and technology. Harmless little items such as sport, language, movies, music, and the like were okayed, but the twenty international diplomats and ten high ranking military officers from many nations were still a little tense. Although there were some others, a handful of photographers working for the IOA who were going to document the entire event, and the more senior diplomats and the more senior military officers had a single aid alongside them, totaling another thirty-five people. Even if there would be a protection detail provided by the Diplomatic Security Service, the Federal Protective Service, the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection, and others for protection of their own countrymen, each armed man assigned to one person, this made the total one hundred and thirty people, although no single country was sending more than a dozen.

But, the IOA hadn't stopped there. They'd done probably one of their dumber moves by requesting that the IOA diplomats, their staff, and others involved be allowed to be quartered within a compound just outside Caprica City. It was claimed by the Colonial government that the reasonably-sized compound was utilized by Gemenon a century prior as an embassy and was now used as a high-end convention center, purchased by a private firm who rented it out, so it would work well. This wasn't entirely unprecedented, SG Teams had stayed overnight in inns, and in a couple instances in hotels. But still, the IOA had been careful, with the Odyssey sequestered to be cloaked in orbit to evacuate the Earth staff it wasn't as dangerous as it had been in the past. But part of the reason it had taken almost two months to get this set up was so that the IOA's civilian security staffs could go there, scope things out, make their plans, assemble the requisite gear and personnel, and then get the Colonials to agree to their conditions. Earth was going to use the Beta Site to transport a fleet of vehicles that had been transported there on board the Alaska, armored Cadillac Escalade SUV's, Jaguar XJ 4-Door Sedans, police-kitted Ford Interceptors, Mercedes Sprinter Commercial Vans with both cargo and passenger versions present, and armored Ford F-150's with drivers and a much-enlarged civilian security detail with supplies and equipment ready to be beamed down from Odyssey to turn the agreed-upon compound into a simplified diplomatic outpost. The vehicles would serve two purposes, one was for showcasing Earth's total independence and technological and manufacturing prowess, and for the obvious purpose of transporting their people to the location for the summit. They already had routes planned out and Odyssey was in place while the Alaska and the partially-active Lion Battlegroups were on standby nearby. Only the Lion and the Battlecruisers, Surrey, Northumberland, Montreal, and the Sydney were active with the Apollo filling in with them until the final British BC-304, the Exeter, was scheduled to be finished in 2023. Carter had to admit, it was one thing the IOA got right, Jackson didn't trust the Colonials with the job of protecting the delegation at all. Especially when she had reason to believe that the Colonials could become hostile, like they were when the Alaska Battlegroup had returned from Cylon Space with Kelsey rescued.

- FLASHBACK: Sixty-Eight Days Ago -

In Orbit Around Gas Giant Ragnar

"DRADIS contact!"

Admiral Cain's head snapped up to the DRADIS scanner in Pegasus's CIC. The Earth ship had been gone for several hours, off doing who knew what. It was common consensus among the crew and the high-ranking officers that if the Earth ship was on its way to join an Earth Battlegroup and tangle with the Cylons then they'd be torn apart if they weren't joining a fleet of much bigger ships. So she'd had the entire fleet on high alert, waiting for the pissed off Cylons to come with a retaliatory strike after snacking on those puny Earth ships. She personally had little confidence in the ability of the Earthers' to beat the Cylons, but she was open to the possibility. Her own logic was that if the Earth fleet had classified their ships any different than the Colonials then if the Hammond were a Battlecruiser then even if they had a ship classified as a Battleship, like Tauron used to do back in the old times, then it would only be about a half to double the size of the Hammond, not the size of ship you want fighting a frakking Basestar. Then she internally grinned, that's why we built the Battlestars.

"Identify, now!"

"Six contacts in formation, five match the configuration of the Hammond! It's the Earthers, they're back!" the young ensign at the console shouted gleefully, "And…and there's another ship in the center of the formation. This one is much bigger, make it quite a bit bigger than the Hammond type ships."

"Are we talking Battlestar-sized?" Fisk asked curiously.

"Uh…initial scans…say it's smaller than a Jupiter but larger than most cruisers," Belzen checked for this himself, having started his career as a DRADIS specialist and wanted to make certain this was done right.

The CIC was a noise of silent murmuring as everyone tried to figure out if the Earth formation was crippled as they would expect them to be if they were in a pitched battle. Or even if this was all that had made it. Or if they had accomplished their mission at all.

"Hail them," Cain ordered.

"Yes sir."

"Attention unknown vessels, this is Admiral Cain of the Colonial Battlestar Pegasus, identify yourselves."

There was a pause as the CIC itself froze, not even the monitors dared beep or move as Cain awaited the answer.

"Attention Colonial Battlestar Pegasus," a new voice called out, this one a man, "This is the Earth Defense Ship Alaska."

"Where's Colonel Carter, did the Hammond make it, did you succeed?" Cain spat out.

"Colonel Carter is unavailable, she was recalled to Earth. This is Colonel Kevin Marks, Commanding Officer of the Battleship Alaska and the Alaska Battlegroup."

"Very well Colonel, but I must point out that you didn't answer my question. Was the rescue a success?" Cain practically demanded.

"Yes Admiral, the mission was success. Your pilot and liaisons are safe and well," the man replied, "They're en route towards your formation aboard their own craft."

"Confirm," Belzen looked to the DRADIS operator, who nodded at the green DRADIS marks emanating from the yellow marks of the Earth ships drawing nearer.

"Thank you Colonel, did you encounter any Cylon ships? I only ask to be sure my superiors can prepare for a possible retaliatory strike."

"That we did, four of those ships you call Basestars engaged us when we attempted to make contact, however we dealt with them."

The entire bridge crew was slightly confused, even Belzen was furrowing his brow.

"You can't just 'deal with a Basestar,' it takes a barrage of nukes to make it easy. Even then the Raiders alone…" Belzen began whispering to her.

"Colonel…" Cain snapped, "Can you repeat that? Did you say, 'easily dealt with?' How did your ships take on four frakking Basestars and destroy them, let alone do it 'easily?'"

"Ask your people, officially I'm not allowed to tell you. But they saw what we're capable of with their own eyes, and the gun cameras on the fighters you brought along are fairly hard things to argue with."

"Get Commander Adama to the Triton, now…" Cain hissed quietly to Colonel Belzen who nodded and gave the necessary commands, "Well, thank you for returning our pilot back to us, again. We're sending you directions for a place in our formation…"

"Admiral, let me stop you right there," Colonel Marks cut in, astounding everyone in the CIC, no one cuts off Admiral Helena Cain!

"Excuse me?"

"My superiors have given me standing orders to keep my ships out of your formation. This is nonnegotiable, no matter what you say or do, my fleet stays right here."

Admiral Cain could understand that, and she had the levelheadedness to acquiesce to that, she would feel the same way. But it was at this exact moment that the radio crackled with the voice of the one person who could not handle being told off, Admiral Powers.

"Colonel Marks, this is Admiral Powers, commanding officer of this task force. I urge you to reconsider moving your ships into our formation. It's for your own safety…"

"Admiral I mean no disrespect, but I have my orders. The Alaska and this Battlegroup will keep their distance at two thousand kilometers. Any move to encircle us will be met by an immediate redeployment of my ships," the Colonel replied, very much trying to state his orders in the easiest way possible.

"Son, I have my orders, and they will be followed," Powers started, very much letting his own ego govern what he was saying, "It will be much easier if you cooperate."

"Admiral, I highly advise against that. I will obey my orders, the Alaska Battlegroup will not be boxed in."

"You will not be boxed in Colonel I can assure you. We are only placing you into a protective net for your ships' own protection. Now I know you realize that with the full might of our forces we can keep your relatively smaller and weaker ships out of harm's way."

"Admiral, my own forces handled ourselves against the Cylon Basestars without breaking a sweat, if your ships are of comparable armament then we'd do a better job of protecting you than you protecting us if an attack were to come."

The line was absolutely silent, Admiral Cain swore to herself, Powers was the last person you wanted to tell off. The man's ego was as big as the Triton itself, and whenever he felt that he had been slighted, the shit really started to hit the fan.

"Admiral, I have orders from the Triton directing us to move around to encircle the Earth forces," one of the crewmen called out.

"Gods dammit!" Belzen hissed, "Now he's done it."

"Orders sir?" the helmsman asked, not sure what to do.

"We have our orders, take us to coordinates," Cain said, "Get me a private channel to Admiral Powers, now. That stupid frakker is about to get us into a war."

As the Pegasus and the other ships began to accelerate towards the Earth formation the Earth ships began to maneuver and this was seen on the DRADIS scanners of the Colonial force.

"Admiral Powers I am warning you, I will obey my orders, my fleet will not be surrounded, protected, or quarantined. Now please desist from your attempt to force us into a formation."

"Earth ships, we will obey our orders, we have the numbers and the firepower to obey them," the now very-aggravated Admiral Powers threatened.

"Admiral," the lieutenant at the console called out, "The Earth ships are maneuvering, taking positions facing us."

"That stupid frakker," Belzen shook his head.

Then, there was a sudden excitement from the other sensor operator.

"Radiological alert, the Earth ships have armed nukes!"

"Oh Gods," one of the junior officers next to the DRADIS station replied, "Sir, the Earth flagship, it's fired, the projectiles have already passed right across the fleet's bow."

"What?!" Cain asked, turning to the officer, not sure how such a thing could be missed for so long, unless the projectiles were far faster than their own.

"I don't know sir, my sensor's telling me that the projectiles were moving at very high velocity, I'm reading…almost five kilometers per second," the man said.

"A railgun," Cain sighed, "If they have those types of weapons aboard they can tear us apart. We're not equipped to withstand that kind of impact. Get me through to Triton."

"You're on sir," the comms officer replied.

"Triton Actual, this is Pegasus Actual," Cain responded.

"Admiral Cain, this is not the time," Powers responded.

"Powers, back off or you're gonna start a war," Cain snarled, "The Earth formation is not gonna let us get close."

"We will follow our orders Admiral Cain," Powers responded testily, "Now follow yours."

"DRADIS contacts, same position as the Earth formation, make six more ships, five match the Hammond type, another of this new Alaska type," the DRADIS operator called out.

"This is Colonel Marks of the Alaska, you're now faced with the Alaska and Lion Battlegroups, twice the number of ships that dealt with the Cylon fleet. Back off, now."

"Radiological alarms, all these new ships are nuclear-armed," a sensor operator called out.

"They called for help," Belzen realized, "They can communicate over long distance?"

"Powers, how long before the Earthers call for their own Battlestars? And how long before they stop firing warning shots? Or worse, how long before you piss them off and they decide to just leave? You're about to make the biggest mistake in Colonial history since we created the Cylons. And if you make that mistake I promise you that I'll see to it you pay dearly for it," Cain said with every drop of venom she could possibly muster.

It took a few seconds, but then they heard it.

"All ships halt movement, maintain position and formation," Powers finally grumbled, now cowed into submission.

"Well, it seems we're not going to be able to obey our orders."

- PRESENT DAY -

Stargate Command, Earth

"MALP is sending visuals now sir," their newest Master Sergeant called out from his place in the control room.

"What is the MALP showing Sergeant?" Senator Jackson asked with an air of confidence in his voice as he adjusted his tuxedo around the camera on his lapel. Everyone on the political party, including the security and military people were being given an arm band with a circle showing Earth in a classic cartoonish look with a golden point of origin symbol.

"The MALP shows a whole lot of people in front of the gate, most are civilians in fine clothing, suits, dresses, etcetera. Looks clear Senator."

"Thank you, Sergeant, are we all ready?" the Congressman called out.

The crowd of military officers, professional politicians, and security teams all nodded and General Mitchell started up the ramp, tucking his combination cover onto his head. The other military officers from the other IOA nations did likewise, placing their unique hats onto their heads and nodding that they were ready.

"Follow me gentlemen, we have history to make."

The Senator started walking forward with the security detail right behind him. The military men and women followed their respective diplomat and bringing up the rear was Mitchell, looking at his watch as Dr. Daniel Jackson walked in adjusting the camera/decoration on his tux.

"Finally, sorry about being late, they had to replace the lens of the camera on my lapel," Jackson breathed out.

"You're alright Daniel, come on, let's go."

The two of them walked up the ramp right behind the main group as the first of them stepped through the event horizon on their way to the Colonies.

Presidential Residence, Caprica

The crowd gasped as finely dressed men and women walked through the Ring of the Lords and stood before them. Nothing much seemed to be different, their clothing resembled what the Colonies thought was fashionable, their hair styles were of a different do than many others had expected but there were recognizable differences as well as similarities. The security detail could have easily been mistaken for the Colonials' own security. But the thing that set them apart were the arm bands that they all wore to signify that they were from Earth. However, the military officers from Earth were very much different. Their uniforms were more complex than their Colonial counterparts, with a rainbow of colored ribbon and medals on their chests. Several different colored uniforms seemed to distinguish them from one another as well. These men and women were very much military, as their eyes scanned the crowd with a critical and unemotional gaze. But before any of the Earth delegation made a move President Adar, with his personal security detail practically feet away, took a pair of confident steps forward. The supposed leader of the group of Earth delegates stepped forward with a pair of other security men with him as well.

"I'm Richard Adar, elected President of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol," Adar stated warmly, holding out his hand to the man, "Welcome to Caprica."

"It's an honor Mr. President, I'm Senator Henry Jackson, appointed Head of the International Oversight Advisory. It is a pleasure to be here," the Senator said, using every bit of political tact in his repertoire to make a good first impression.

"The pleasure and the honor is ours good sir. Now I'm sure that you would like to get to know some of our political leadership, so we have arranged for a cultural exhibition of sorts, to allow you and your people to get to know us. Tonight we begin our worlds' showcasing of their culture, heritage, history with a mere taste of each of our worlds showcasing themselves together. For the next few weeks we have invited we will showcase the wonders and talents of each of our twelve homeworlds, with each planet's society's politicians, celebrities, and scientists. And they are all very excited to meet you, and show there is in store for you."

"I am proud to speak on behalf of the governments of Earth that we will be honored to be hosted by the people of the Colonies," Senator Jackson said, speaking more to the gathered crowd than to the President himself.

Mitchell nodded when Senator Jackson nodded to him and lifted his hand to his ear, "Stargate Command, this is Mitchell, we have positive contact."

The radio answered back from Carter, "Copy that Mitchell, have fun."

"Thanks General, I'll try."

With that the gate shut down, leaving the group on their own.

The President stepped aside, allowing an older woman in fine light blue robes to step forward.

"I am Julia Aman, the Speaker of the Quorum of Twelve, senior legislative member of the Twelve Colonies," the woman responded, and pointed to an old man, who stepped forward.

"I am Samuel Orren, Speaker for the Forum of the People, the lower house of the Twelve Colonies," the man nodded to them.

"I do hope we will be able to provide a pleasant introduction to our united peoples," Ms. Aman now finished.

"Thank you," Senator Jackson replied, "I do believe that we will not be disappointed."

"He is good at what he does," Daniel whispered in Cam's ear.

"What can I say, he's home," Mitchell replied tersely. It was true, as a person Senator Jackson wasn't the most pleasant of people to be around or know. But here, in the realm of politics and finery, he was absolutely in his realm. It almost gave Mitchell a reason to respect the man. But at this point, watching him schmooze with the Colonial leaders, he at least had reason to be glad that he had come along.

"Let the festivities begin!" the woman called out.

The gathered crowd applauded, and a light pleasant song started up as the Earth delegation began to fan out except for the military contingent among them. The crowd of Colonials began to carry on, walking forward to speak with the Earthers, shake hands, and genuinely speak with them. Reporters started chattering in front of their cameras, relaying the events of what they had just seen. The Colonial security teams all started shadowing the individual Earth groups of delegates as the troops in their dress uniforms relaxed back into the position of parade rest.

Daniel was itching to get out there and see all there was to see and Mitchell saw this.

"Colonel, if you don't mind…"

"Go get 'em tiger. But Daniel," Mitchell called out, making him turn as he walked forward, "Keep your mouth shut."

"Thanks Cam, I will."

"Colonel," the British officer in his red dress uniform tapped Mitchell's shoulder, nodding his head towards a uniformed group of Colonials walking towards the Earth military group.

"I see them."

There were at least a dozen Colonials, and they had different colored uniforms, but their basic layout was the same. The Earthers had been briefed on what some of the Colonial uniforms looked like, the gray ones were of their Fleet, and the blue ones were their Marines. They hadn't seen a wet Navy or Army uniform yet, but there were two other types of uniforms that they were currently seeing. A green one with gold trim must have been their Army, and a white one with blue trim must be their wet Navy. There didn't seem to be an Air Force uniform, or something equivalent to it, but their Air Force may have been folded into their Fleet units.

"Hello, Fleet Admiral Nagala, Commanding Officer of the Colonial Fleet," the gray-haired man in the lead said, saluting the group of Earthers.

Salutes were returned as Mitchell stepped forward and extended a hand, "Colonel Cameron Mitchell, Commanding Officer of SG-1."

"General Tom Watch, Commandant of the Colonial Army," a brown haired man wearing a green uniform said, saluting.

"General Damien Gyrem, Commandant of the Colonial Marine Corp."

"Commandant? You guys have Commandants?" Mitchell asked.

"Yes, why?"

"We have a Commandant of the United States Marine Corp, guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree huh?"

"Indeed."

"Colonel," Nagala stated, wanting to address something quickly, "I wanted to apologize for the conduct of certain officers during the first contact of our peoples, it very nearly led to an unwanted outcome. We wanted you to know that the Fleet has relieved them of command pending an investigation by the Admiralty regarding their conduct and bearing in the line of duty."

"Well, that's nice of you to say, unwanted outcomes tend to be…unwanted."

Up on the balcony was Doctor Gaius Baltar, accompanied by his drop-dead gorgeous date. She was wearing a skintight black dress that came to her ankles but was cut all the way up to nearly her hip to showcase her shapely legs. Baltar was cradling a glass of champagne as he watched the crowd chattering with the Earth delegation.

"Bloody marvelous don't you think?" Baltar said, watching a rather attractive redhead Earth junior officer wearing an olive-green dress uniform speaking with Admiral Cain, a Russian lieutenant colonel.

"Yes, but I know what you're thinking, the ring. They came through that ring and you are absolutely dying to know how," she sensually spoke in his ear.

"Of course, I am, nothing like that should be possible, not with a simple stone ring. Then one day the ring magically activates to let the Earth delegation come to Caprica. This is something I must be a part of figuring out," Baltar quipped.

"But…"

"But for now, let's enjoy the party shall we?" Baltar said, wrapping a hand around her waist, placing his now empty glass on a passing butler's tray.

"Oh yes, let's."

Presidential Residence, Caprica

The reception was actually much more pleasant than Colonel Mitchell had first thought it would be. The people were more curious than anything. The Colonial brass that seemed to be drawn to their Earth counter-parts were very much respectful and tactful. Probably because they know we can kick their ass, Mitchell thought smugly. At the moment he was talking with a few Admirals and Generals about the military history of their Colonies and what had become of their air force.

"Uh Cam," Daniel tapped on Mitchell's shoulder.

"Excuse me," Mitchell politely said to the Colonial officers he was conversing with. He turned around and followed Jackson until he was suitably far from the Colonials, "What did you do?"

"What? Why do you think it's something I did?" Daniel said defensively.

"Isn't it always?"

"Okay, maybe some of the time, but that's not the point," he replied, "I was talking with the curator of the museum where the Stargate had come from, nice guy, really knowledgeable…"

"Daniel."

"Huh? Oh right. Anyway, I was talking with him about where they found the Stargate, and he says it was found on Gemenon, one of the other colonies. He claims that the gate was found tipped over under a pile of rubble and the DHD was robbed, the control crystals were stolen hundreds of years ago by grave robbers."

"What are you saying?"

"Cam, their DHD is wrecked, I took a look at it, the crystals are gone, half of the symbols are fakes. We can't dial out," Daniel said.

"Well, we can get one of our ships to pick us up. But I will not bring a naquadah generator here, and then leave it just to power up the gate."

"I thought you didn't trust the Colonials with having one of our ships close by?" Daniel said.

"I don't, but they've seen our ships before. Using the Stargate is an ace I don't want to show just yet. Besides, we're not dressed for manually dialing right now."

"Excuse me, Colonel?" one of the Earth security detail personnel walked up behind the pair.

"Yes?"

"Sir, Senator Jackson would like to see you."

"I'll be right there. Daniel, no more talking about the Stargate."

"Got it, but can I…"

"No."

"But…"

"Daniel, no!" Mitchell repeated.

Daniel just grumbled to himself, and turned around, only to see a very striking young blonde woman right behind him. She was a reporter, judging by the fact she had a camera crew right behind her. She was in a light blue dress, but her camera crew was in normal work clothes. She had a small microphone in hand that seemed to be wireless. She didn't seem to be nervous at all, in fact she seemed as normal as any reporter that he'd seen that night, excited, nervous, on edge. Just like any reporter that was from Earth.

"Uh hello?" Daniel said, "Can I help you?"

"Dr. Jackson? My name is D'Anna Biers, Channel Eight News. May I have a moment of your time?"

"Uh…certainly," Daniel said, turning to face the woman and her crew.

"Are you willing to have a sit down with us? We have a spot over here where we can conduct this in a more comfortable place if you'd like," D'Anna offered her hand over to the building, where there were a pair of chairs facing one another and where there were some lights set up for the camera crew.

"Of course, if that'll work better," Daniel offered her to go ahead in a gentlemanly manner.

"Daniel…" he heard his earpiece go off, it was Mitchell, "Remember, mouth, shut…"