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Chapter 6: Sowing seeds

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Part 1

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Beta Site

Milky Way galaxy

Lyda, who was no longer loyal to the rest of the Tok'ra, sat in a comfortable chair, under the shade of a large open tent. It was only thanks to the control she could exercise over her host, that kept them both from fidgeting in worry.

Their Lord and Master, Perun, gave them a vital holy task, and they were determined to succeed beyond any reasonable expectations.

That was easier said than done. The Tok'ra had to clear up any potential issues surrounding a deal signed by Perun himself, acting with his full authority! Which was nearly a sacrilege when one thought about it! To even think about usurping the authority of Divinity in such a way…

Lyda had to forcefully suppress the shudders of rapture and fear threatening to destroy her host's composure. The worst, or perhaps the best thing was that the Tok'ra mostly agreed with her host. When Perun revealed what he was, and the extent of his power, they beheld Divinity!

It was exhilarating to be among the chosen of a real and benevolent God! Yet, at the same time, that meant that Perun placed a heavy burden on their shoulders. They knew how vital a future full-fledged alliance with Earth could be. In the short term, a revolution in agriculture would free countless Human and even some Jaffa for other vital work. That was something Perun wanted to be done as soon as possible. It was a pre-requirement for expanding and strengthening their domain quicker.

"Lady Lyda, the Humans of Earth approach." One of the Custodes guarding her announced.

The Tok'ra nodded graciously, feeling another shiver of rapture at being assigned some of Perun's personal guards as an escort. It was a sign of how important this mission was. More importantly, it was yet another proof that Perun himself held them in high esteem!

"Do lead them here," Lyda said.

After a storm turned the previous meeting place into the next best thing to a swamp, Lyda had to order the tent pitched up on a nearby hill. For security reasons, it was out of sight from the Chappa'ai. The downside was the Humans would have to walk more than they might expect, in a terrain that was still quite soggy, but that was their problem.

While they approached, Lyda hushed Zena and focused all her being on projecting the right image. Today, she was Perun's will made manifest and she would act accordingly!

The Tok'ra watched impassively how a few Humans, most of them unfamiliar to her, slogged up the hill. Except for a four-man security detail, who had sensible, yed weird outfits, and more importantly boots. The rest looked particularly uneasy after their walk through the soggy ground.

If she wanted to be fair, Lyda had to call for a new pair of slippers brought through the Chappa'ai. And boots too, for when she would head back to Prolet. That said, the less than dignified appearance of the Human diplomats and their unpleasant walk could put them at a disadvantage. That could be useful.

"Humans of Earth, greetings!" Lyda proclaimed after plastering her best smile on her face. She gracefully stood up as well. "I apologize for the change of venue. However, as you can see, the local weather decided to rain all over our previous meeting place. Please be seated!"

The Human guards remained outside the border of the open tent, while two of them walked in and sat on the intricately carved wooden chairs.

"Introductions are in order, I believe. I am Lyda, a devoted servant of Lord Perun. Due to political complications, my Lord is unable to meet you in person. However, Lord Perun has authorized me to do so in his stead. You can consider me his voice in the previously discussed matters."

"My Lady Lyda, I'm Ambassador Stephen Mycroft, representing the United States of America. My colleague is Richard Woolsey, a technical and legal adviser."

"Welcome, Ambassador Mycroft, Advisor Woolsey." Lyda greeted them again. "Have your leaders reached a decision?"

"First I want to re-affirm that the United States of America will uphold our side of the deal we signed with Lord Perun." Mycroft began. "Nevertheless, certain technical details cropped up, complicating matters. We need to discuss and deal with those issues. Mr. Woolsey, if you will?"

"There are a few technical issues with building and delivering the agreed-upon equipment on our side. In particular, we have trouble sourcing a sufficient number of agricultural equipment and modifying it with the required electrical engines. As discussed with Lord Perun, at this time we're primarily building and utilizing internal combustion engines that use fossil fuels. Long story short, we are facing bottlenecks in building a sufficient number of powerful enough electrical motors, batteries, and charging systems for them."

Fortunately, that was one possibility that Lord Perun did warn her about, so Lyda was prepared for it.

"If that is the case, we can accept smaller deliveries of vehicles and equipment." Lyda kept smiling pleasantly. "As long as we also receive personnel to help train our workers in their utilization and maintenance. However, in that case, I'm afraid we'll deliver the agreed-upon payment in smaller batches, each depending on what you have to offer during a particular exchange. In his benevolence, Lord Perun has authorized me to still offer you a single Death Glider as a sign of goodwill on our side."

"The United States government is prepared to accept such an arrangement, depending on ironing out the details and any issues that might rise."

"That's good to hear, Ambassador."

"I must ask, do the current political complications Lord Perun is facing affect our relationship?" Mycroft inquired.

Lyda quickly thought how much it would be prudent to reveal at this junction.

"Potentially." The Tok'ra soon answered. "For the time being, we need to act more carefully than expected due to increased scrutiny. Recently, the System Lord Ba'al attempted an invasion of Lady Kali's domain. She is the System Lord, Lord Perun is forced to serve. As Advisor Woolsey said, long story short, it was Lord Perun's scout who first discovered Ba'al's treachery. My Lord informed Lady Kali of the danger, and our Jaffa struck first, while Ba'al's forces were still building up for their attack. Lord Perun personally led our Jaffa to a glorious victory, that exceeded all expectations. Unfortunately, achieving success of that magnitude caught the attention of the Supreme System Lord Ra. He both offered certain resources to Lord Perun and a task to prove his victory wasn't merely a fluke. There are now many unfriendly eyes on Perun's Throne World, which means my Lord can't move as freely as before."

"No good deed goes unpunished?" Advisor Woolsey offered.

"Sadly, in my experience, good deeds rarely receive a proper reward." Lyda smiled sadly. "Which makes Lord Perun's benevolence that much more special." She had to add.

It took hours of careful negotiations to fully iron out all the various small but vital issues that complicated the trade agreement. In the end, Lyda hoped that Lord Perun would find the details up to his undoubtedly high expectations.

In practice, the Humans from Earth would deliver the first batch of modified equipment within two of their days. In exchange, Lyda would ensure they would receive a disassembled Death Glider to toy with.

Lyda found it hard not to laugh at the bait Lord Perun dangled in front of the Humans. She was sure that by the end of it all, they would see the sheer Glory he was and accept their place as a part of his Divine domain. Until that happy time, she would do her part in ensuring they became and remained useful tools or even allies to her Lord.

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Part 2

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1 July 1996

Area 51

United States

Earth

Milky Way Galaxy

General West passed by a third checkpoint before he could finally reach his destination. For the first time, the US government hid an alien spacecraft in Area 51. The security was appropriate for the task. He knew that since the end of the Cold War, the base had been little more than a training facility for desert climate and a bait for UFO enthusiasts. Now, the powers that be, decided that the crazies would make for a good cover if something about the alien fighter leaked.

It was another question altogether that now they had undeniable proof that aliens with spacecraft existed and had visited Earth before. Logically, at least some of the UFO people might have been right all along. That would be an embarrassment all around. Such a truth would also be a slap in the face for the Air force in particular. It would mean they had failed their duty in protecting the US and its citizens.

That particular thought sat ill at ease with the General, as he walked through one last loose ring of security guards, all Air Force special forces. Finally, he could see the prize.

There were all kinds of crates, some quite odd, spread all around. And there it was.

The so-called Death Glider was in several large pieces – the wings were obvious. They were like pylons, laying on flatbed transports crawling with engineers. They were all clad in blue jumpsuits and were busy disassembling the crates hiding the wings. Others waited with all kinds of instruments ready to measure and scan the spacecraft parts.

West walked around the flat-beds and saw the fuselage of the alien craft hang suspended with cranes off the ground. It was a solid mass of dark metal, with compartments open, revealing where the other pieces would attach. The cockpit and nose of the craft were nearby, already unpacked and literally covered with engineers and white-clad scientists.

The General saw a familiar figure, crowned with a balding head and headed that way.

"George, I see you decided to post prone your retirement. This is something else, isn't it?"

General George Hammond turned around and nodded.

"Will, it is. I first thought someone decided to bullshit me as a joke for my retirement. Then I got a proper briefing and saw the staff weapons in testing."

"It's less bad than killer ray-guns we can't stop at all," West grimaced. "However, the thought that a ceremonial weapon can mission kill a tank easily depending on the terrain isn't filling me with confidence. I'm ready to bet dollars to peanuts that this thing is obsolete for them, so Perun didn't think twice about trading for tractors of all things."

"Yes, I've read all the reports I have access to. The ceremonial guard in all that chain-mail, like from a medieval reenactment were a far cry from Perun's actual security detail as well." Hammond agreed.

"Did you have the opportunity to see the assessment of the last meeting between Perun and our Ambassador?"

"Yes, just before I headed down here." Hammond's face tightened. "On one hand, it's a good thing that Perun appears to take security seriously, especially ours. On the other hand, I don't like the implications at all. That's especially true because so far, we have only tangential ways to corroborate anything Perun or his people feed us."

"You aren't the only one who wants independent confirmation about the strategic situation out there, George. However, the Joint Chiefs agree, for the time being, it might be prudent to let Perun play his cards and learn what we can from him, before trying to venture forth into the unknown. If we run into hostile Goa'uld and if they capture even a single person alive…" West trailed off.

They both knew the US was in no position to do anything constructive against a proper space-faring warship. The craft in front of them might eventually help them change the equation. Unfortunately, for the time being, they were completely vulnerable in that regard. Discretion was certainly the better part of valor for the foreseeable future.

"What do you think about the task Ra supposedly issued our new friend?" Hammond asked.

"I have the sneaking suspicion we wouldn't like it when we learn the truth," West muttered while carefully observing the scientists at work.

"General West, welcome to Area 51!" A young blond woman greeted. She walked away from the scientists and engineers fussing over the fuselage of the Death Glider. "I'm Captain Samantha Carter, at your service, sirs."

"Ah, you're the one who wrote the stellar drift program," West noted in recognition. "Good work, both to you and your team, Captain. What do you have for us?

"We should be able to assemble the craft within the next few days." The Captain explained. "However, first we want to study the various components and compare them to the short manuals Perun's people sent us. That might help to figure out some of the technical terms used. Before that, we of course need to wait for Dr. Jackson and his team to translate the documents and arrive here to help clear up any misunderstandings when we begin pocking this spacecraft in earnest."

"We'll eagerly wait to see a test flight when practical," West said in a wistful tone. "Do you have a preliminary report?"

Everyone in the US military and government in the know wanted to see what the Death Glider was capable of. That way, the Air Force could compare it to their existing fighters and the projects currently in development. Only then, the US in general would have a better idea of how badly the Goa'uld outclassed them, in particular, and Earth in general.

"Spectroscopic analysis of the fuselage is telling." Captain Carter pointed at one of the scientists working on a cart with equipment near the fuselage of the spacecraft. "Dr. Lee over here is running an analysis of the exposed components and connections we can see as well. It's an alloy of Trinium and Naquadah, mixed with various elements we're more familiar with. We only know this due to the samples we got from Perun. Those and the various tests we ran on the ceremonial staff weapons. We're not certain yet, however, there are indications that this craft is going to be small arms and shrapnel proof. The whole lot, not just the cockpit, like in the A-10 with its armor to protect the pilots. Until we know more we might have to assume that anti-air missiles that do not directly strike a Death Glider would be unable to mission kill it."

"So it might be highly resistant or even immune to continuous-rod and fragmentation warheads?" George asked.

"That's correct, sir. It's just an assumption based on limited preliminary tests and the odd simulation we managed to run. We need more time to study both the new materials and how the alloy works, before giving you a proper conclusion." Carter answered. "We've already made a few curious discoveries. First, whatever propulsion system this thing uses, is something we've never seen. There are neither exhaust ports, nor air intakes. While the latter makes sense in space, it all but guarantees that we aren't looking at a familiar engine design. Perhaps not even a theoretical one like ion or fusion engines. Further, the controls in the cockpit are nothing we've ever seen or possibly conceived. There's just a sphere, a few displays, and a handful of buttons that might be for emergency use. We won't be poking them until we've got the translated manuals to work with."

"We'll eagerly await your reports, Captain," West said. To be fair, he wasn't surprised the scientists had the devil's own time making heads or tails out of an alien spacecraft. Realistically, it might take years or even decades to fully utilize the unfamiliar technology, at least without Perun's people helping with theories, explanations, and know-how.

"What about armaments?" West asked. "Missiles? Lasers? Something more exotic?"

"We haven't seen missile hard points so far. For all we know, there might be a missile bay in the fuselage like in the B-2s. As far as available armaments go, there are two cannons in separate containers. They appear to be a much larger and more powerful version of the staff weapons Perun gave us. Their mounts are on the tips of the wings. We intend to try and test them separately before mounting them on the Death Glider. That way we'll get both a baseline to work from, and might potentially avoid catastrophic complications." Carter explained. "At least in the case of the weapons, we do understand how those work. We still miss much of the engineering and some theoretical knowledge to make even crude copies. At least with the staff weapons, we know exactly what we're looking at and have a good idea how they work."

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