Ultimate Warrior of Zera: I like Hermiod very much; he's the only Asgard who understands slang. He's caustic. One sometimes hears him grumbling in Asgard or complaining. In one episode, the Daedalus must do a long-range search that requires recalibrating the sensors. Caldwell adds: "Hermiod will complain again." He certainly has a reputation with the Daedalus' crew members.
brayanamaya963: Thank you.
naufalrakha0104: I'm afraid you have reason to feel sorry for Hakuno in this episode as well.
end5: Thank you.
Boyzilla: But Hakuno is absolutely irresistible. You're betting that she's going to have a fan club in two galaxies soon?
From bad to worse
Atlantis, Lentea (Pegasus Galaxy)
Dr. Zelenka stiffened slightly and his expression changed under the effect of surprise. He manipulated the crystalline keyboard of his console. In front of him, a flat hologram appeared, showing a view of Lantea as a wireframe model. In orbit, a red dot flashed... where there was nothing a few seconds earlier.
Major Lorne approached.
"Is there a problem, Dr. Zelenka?"
"Maybe, a hyperspace window appeared in orbit."
On the balcony overlooking the embarkation room, everyone was silent. Peaceful conversations had been replaced by tense silence. One of the men wearing the dark grey and green outfit of the technicians stood up.
"There's a ship in orbit, it's coming down very quickly to the surface."
Everyone turned to Lorne. He was the officer actually in charge of the defense of the city. It was up to him to decide what action to take. Should he hide the city behind an invisibility screen, raise the defensive shield... or do nothing?
"It's a Wraith's ship?"
Although the basic principles of hyperspace technology were virtually identical from one civilization to another, the energy signature of a jump window was easily distinguishable.
"No sir, the energy signature is that of the Lanteans hyperpropulsion system" replied Zelenka.
"And the Asurans use the same!"
The technician's response seemed to cool down the temperature.
"Raise the shields" shouted Lorne. "Condition Red."
The spaceship descended to the sea and headed straight for Atlantis.
It was a typical Lanteans spaceship with a dark hull of a "chunky" appearance. The front looked a bit like an Aurora cruiser, but much smaller. The back of the vessel bore a central stop, framed by two thick "wings" with stabilization fins facilitating atmospheric flight.
It was an Ancient Bomber, a small combat spaceship that had been one of the Lanteans' favorite patrol/scout/raider spaceships during the Wraith war.
Flying at more than Mach 20, just above the water, the bomber dug under him a depression in the ocean fringed by two walls of white foam.
On the horizon, Atlantis grew rapidly and its shield was not yet fully raised.
"Shoot," cried Major Evan Lorne.
But the soldier who was trying to lock the target uttered a grunt of frustration.
"Impossible, sir, the radar image is scrambled by surface echoes, and the spaceship is too fast."
Radek Zelenka said something in Czech that sounded like a jubilant exclamation.
"The shield is stabilized. They can no longer enter the city."
All eyes turned toward the main screen where the red dot was closing in.
"But... they are completely crazy!"
Dr. Zelanka tapped quickly on his console.
"If they don't change course now, they'll hit the shield."
But the bomber continued its insane course without slowing down.
"A suicide attack," Lorne asked.
However, they were hardly like the Asurans. The Pegasus Replicators were perfectly rational, making only logical, carefully thought-out decisions.
"They understand the danger. They stop... but it's too late. They'll never get to..."
Zelenka was silent. On the screen, the red dot had reached the blue line materializing Atlantis' shield. Instinctively, everyone turned to the windows, expecting to see (and hear) an explosion. But... nothing happened.
The Czech adjusted his glasses and frowned.
"They... they're inside the shield!"
The Lantean bomber had slowed down. However, its speed was still too high to cross the forest of towers and buildings in a dense urban area. Yet the pilots were not human. The Replicators flying the bomber slalomed between the buildings with incredible dexterity.
As the bomber was still slowing, its speed was already only 200 km/h when it was in front of the central tower of Atlantis.
One of the pilots pressed a button. And - from two openings on either side of the cockpit- yellow-lit drones burst forth.
Hakuno Kishinami looked up from the book she was reading and frowned.
A rather emotional reaction for a young woman who usually showed as much excitement as a porcelain doll. However, despite the soundproofing of the isolation room, she could hear the sirens.
Raising her eyes, the Last master of the Moon looked at the scientists standing in the viewing gallery. They had completely forgotten her presence. They were watching images relayed by the internal network of Atlantis.
Hakuno rose to reach the intercom.
"What's going on?"
There was a moment of silence and then Teyla Emmagan replied in an anxious voice.
"We have visitors. We have to leave you, excuse us."
"Please do. Goodbye."
Lifting her finger from the switch on the intercom, Hakuno turned around to return to the sofa... the instant after a violent explosion threw her to the ground. If she had been human, the Victor of the Moon would have been violently shocked. But she immediately got up and turned around.
Dust was swirling around the room, reducing visibility. The furniture was upside down, broken. The sound of the alarm sirens was now clearly audible because one of the orange metal walls was ripped open by the drone that had passed through it before exiting through another wall.
Although shaken by the shock, the Marines guarding the isolation room were the first to get up. They were well-armed - G36K Assault Rifles, USAS-12 automatic shotgun- well-trained, perfectly able to cope with any bad surprise. However, as the smoke cleared, they saw that the wall of the Central Tower was torn open and a ship was floating in a void just in front of the tear.
There was a metallic noise and an opening appeared in the hull. The next moment, four humanoids descended from a removable footbridge.
They were wearing jumpsuits of two shades of color, light brown on their torso and legs, and dark brown on their shoulders and arms. They held large angled pistols that looked made of aluminum with a blue crystal prism as a barrel.
Sergeant Hammer shook his G36 and opened fire. The other three Marines followed his example. But the opponents were not human, they were Replicators. The bullet impacts formed craters filled with a kind of mercury, but the wounds almost instantly closed.
The Asurans responded by firing their weapons. The blue bolt particles instantly killed two of the Marines. The other shots created melted and blackened impacts in the metal partitions.
Almost as resistant as a tank, Ronon Dex had stood up before everyone else. The Satedan immediately rushed towards the observation room, descending the metal stairs, and running into the corridors. He arrived a few seconds after the beginning of the confrontation. His Particle Magnum in his hand, he took the Asurans on the back, shooting several times in the space of a few seconds.
But the result does not live up to Ronon's expectations. The first time he used this weapon on a Pegasus Replicator, he managed to stun the opponent momentarily.
This time, only one of the guards turned around. With an impassive face, he raised his armed arm...
Ronon take shelter and two shots dug craters into the metal, just where he stood.
Hearing the exchange of fire, Hakuno backed off cautiously as an Asuran entered the room through the jagged opening in the wall.
To her surprise, the 'man' spoke to her without opening his mouth. It was like a mental connection with a Servant.
[We have come to deliver you.]
Hakuno blinked. The teen girl was not stupid. She had realized that the Atlanteans were very uncomfortable in her presence and that the observation room was some sort of prison. Even when Dr. Weir came to talk to her, two armed guards had escorted the SGA's director in addition to John Sheppard. The Atlanteans told Hakuno she was their 'host', but that was just a more polite term than 'prisoner'.
The Last Master was not offended by their behavior. It was normal to be wary of what was different.
Until then, Hakuno had opted for patience. If she did not harm the Atlanteans, if she was friendly, they would eventually lead her to Earth so that she could finally see the birds and flowers.
Anyway, that was the idea.
But now there was another option. And that troubled Hakuno. Although the young teen was very reactive in a combat situation, she was also very ignorant, easily destabilized by a quick change of situation. Kishinami immediately recognized the newcomer for what he was... a Replicator (like her). However, it was a good enough reason to trust him?
[Come with me, we will lead you safely.]
The Asuran guard insisted.
To gain time, Hakuno decided to speak using the link that connected her to the Asuran.
[Why did you attack Atlantis?]
[To rescue you.]
Behind her, there was a noise and Hakuno turned around.
The two Marines guarding the door had just opened and entered. They were holding Anti-Replicator Guns, a weapon that disrupts the link between nanites.
The soldiers fired immediately, aiming at the Asuran Guard and... Hakuno herself.
John Sheppard slowly recovered.
The observation gallery had suffered from the drone attack. Sheppard had a headache, but he was not really injured. He had briefly lost consciousness because of the shock. More fragile than him, Dr. Weirr and Teyla were still unconscious. As for Rodney, he had just sat down, his eyes still misty and his face pale. Completely unsurprisingly, Ronon was absent. Knowing him, Sheppard suspected that he had not been rung and that the Satedan had run straight to the action while they were still stunned.
The sound of gunfire he heard finished waking up Lieutenant-Colonel Sheppard.
Standing up, he looked through the observation bay and discovered the presence of an Asuran in the isolation room below. Just then, the front door opened to let in two Marines armed with ARG.
Seeing the soldiers firing towards the Asuran Guard but also towards Hakuno, John wanted to shout. In an instant, he remembered the whole conversation between Dr. Weir and General Hammond, the existence of this 'Gilgamesh', his alliance with Ba'al, and the importance of Hakuno Kishinami for the Sumerian king.
If she were to die, killed by the Tau'ri, Gilgamesh would avenge her... and humanity certainly didn't need another enemy.
The ARG shot directed at the guard had the usual result, transforming the Asuran into a pool of undifferentiated nanobots. The ARG had broken the sub-space link that turned a group of nanites into a single individual.
On the other hand, the second shot had no effect! Hakuno was still standing in front of the soldiers, apparently insensitive to the disruption of sub-space communication.
Sheppard jumps on the intercom before the soldiers could fire a second time.
"Cease fire! Don't shoot Hakuno Kishinami."
Uncomfortable, the two Marines lowered their weapons. Unfortunately, the death of the Asuran had not gone unnoticed and two other Replicators entered the room at that time. They fired immediately, so quickly that the two Marines did not have time to take cover. They collapsed to the ground, their chests blackened by a smoking crater.
Lieutenant-Colonel Sheppard went down the metal staircase and ran down the hallway to the front door leading into the observation room. But when he entered, the Asurans and Hakuno were already gone.
Sheppard paused for a brief moment to take an Anti-Replicator Gun from the hands of one of the dead Marines and then crossed the room to the torn opening in the wall. In the ruined outer corridor, he saw Hakuno surrounded by three guards climbing a bridge leading to a spaceship.
One of the Replicators turned around and fired in his direction. Sheppard had to take shelter.
Then the sound of the ship's thrusters began to grow the colonel returned to the breach, only to discover that the bomber's airlock was now closed and that it was setting sail. An instant later, the bomber accelerated away. Two F-302s had taken off from the West Pier and were pursuing the Assuran ship by shooting with their railguns. But the latter had powerful shields and covered its escape by firing yellow rays toward its pursuers.
Elizabeth Weir was furious. She struck the metal of the conference table with both her hands, before turning to the others present.
"I would especially like to understand the reasons for this disaster. How did the Asurans manage to cross Atlantis' shield?"
Only Ronon continued to tilt back in his chair without showing interest in the question, on the contrary Teyla and Sheppard immediately turned toward McKay.
"Oh, I see, whenever there's a hard question, you remember I'm on the team!"
"You have to earn your check at the end of the month," John gently mocked.
"Very funny" the arrogant Canadian grinned. "It's obvious I'm not doing this for glory. Do you realize that if my work had been published in a scientific journal I would have received at least five Nobel Prizes since I joined the Atlantis expedition?"
While complaining, Rodey had launched a simulation on his tablet. He put it on the conference table, using an interface between printed circuit technology and control crystals to connect it to the room's holographic network.
The scene that appeared above the table was already familiar to them. It was the arrival of the Asuran bomber. They saw the ship cross the shield, and join the Central Tower then, after a few moments of hovering (corresponding to the brief clash in the Central Tower) the bomber leave chased by two F-302s. This time again, the Asuran spaceship crossed the wireframe model dome representing the energy screen.
"In fact, there is nothing very complicated. Do you know why one never manufactures two shield generators that have the exact same frequency?"
The other people exchanged looks and shrugged their shoulders... except Ronon, who showed no interest in the issue.
"It's simple because two shields operating on the same frequency would interfere if we approached each other."
"Would interfere," said Sheppard in a questioning tone.
"They would malfunction. There would be parasites and fluctuations. Just like two radios transmitting on the same frequency. That's why the Goa'uld, the Ancients, the Asgard... all the peoples using shields varies their frequencies. The Ancients did some experiments on the subject - I found them in the memoirs of the mainframe computer - and they obviously went much further than the simple phenomenon of interference."
Rodney McKay loaded another program onto his tablet.
This time, a modulated frequency forming a red sinusoidal appeared.
"This is the representation of the frequency of the Atlantis shield. And now...
A second modulation appeared in blue...
"This is the frequency of the Asuran bomber's shield."
The second sinusoidal wave was of exactly the opposite amplitude of the red curve. Where the Atlantis shield formed a bump, the bomber's shield formed a hollow as deep, and vice versa.
"And what happens if we superimpose the frequencies of these two shields?"
Rodney MacKay pressed a key and... both sinusoids disappeared. Dr. Weir was the first to react.
"Are you saying that the two shields... are canceled by each other?"
"Exactly. When the bomber approached the Atlantis shield, it created a momentary breach. It made perfect sense if you think about it. In fact, this property was commonly used by the Lanteans. At the time of the war against the Wraith, the patrol ships operating from Atlantis had shields of a frequency opposite to that of the island city. This allowed them to take off even during a maximum security alert without the need to lower the shields. "
"Did the Wraiths could use this property against us," asked Teyla.
"No," said McKay, without even thinking. "One has to know the exact frequency of the shield. It's not something that appears on sensor reading, even at short range. The Asurans have built at least a duplicate of Atlantis, identical in every respect. This proves that they know our city very well. Obviously, this knowledge includes up to the frequency of our shield."
"In practice, how can we prevent the Asurans from crossing our shields again," Weir asked.
"The good news is that this scheme could only work once (1). Zelenka is actually working on our shield generators. He'll change their frequency. This is a minor manipulation that even he can do without mistake," explained MacKay.
"I have another question," said Sheppard. "Why the ARG didn't destroy Hakuno Kishinami?"
The question obviously annoyed Rodney.
"I don't know... at least not yet. The Replicators encountered by SG-1 in the Milky Way have gradually learned to protect themselves from the effects of ARG. But it is a resistance they have acquired after several confrontations with the Anti-Replicators Field. I don't think that's the case here... the good news is that Miss Kishinami was shot in the isolation room. That is, inside a laboratory with many sensors. Everything was recorded. I suppose it would take years of work for a competent scientific team to figure out what happened. But luckily, you have a genius on your team. I could answer that question as soon as you let me go back to my lab and analyze those recordings. That is, when you will stop asking me for explanations and let me work in peace."
Dr. Weir nodded without appearing to notice the arrogance of the scientist. In fact, she was very worried. By examining Hakuno Kishinami the Replicators would no doubt understand the reasons for her immunity to the disruptor beam. And they would probably be able to copy that imperviousness, depriving Atlantis of their only weapon against the Asurans threat.
Asdad (Ba'al Kingdom, Milky Way)
The word 'Asdad' meant 'fortress'. And the planet bore its name. It was the site where Ba'al was researching in the field of artificial gravitation. The mighty Goa'uld lord kept in a shrine a generator created by the Ancients that had fed a weapon of his creation capable of creating artificial Black Holes. Alas for him, he had lost the weapon itself.
The fortress was dug underground in a blond/brown rock analogous to flint, forming a succession of rings in concentric circles. The walls were simply made of this polished rock. Geometric sconces inlaid in the rock diffused white light.
In a hallway, a beautiful young blonde woman was in a hurry. Her hair was short, and her skin very pale. She was dressed in a tight-fitting bustier made of black and glittering leather, and an open skirt of black lace. Two Jaffa wearing brown leather Lorica Segmentata-like armor followed a few steps back. They had no helmets, which made it possible to recognize the sign of Ba'al on their forehead.
The young woman stopped at a door guarded by two Jaffas dressed as her escort.
"I request an audience from King Gilgamesh of Uruk."
The huge hall was luxuriously furnished, lit by copper braziers. Lying on an elbow, dressed in royal clothing from the Sumerian era, Gilgamesh read a Goa'uld tablet moving from one text to another quickly... alas he was bored. Ba'al had obviously not dared to limit his freedom, but there was not much to do in this fortress apart from scientific experiments on gravitation and... torture of prisoners.
Hearing the doorbell, he turned to one of the human servants who were waiting patiently. Royal, he simply nodded and the man on his knees rose to reach the intercom near the door. He spoke with the guard for a few moments and returned.
"Lo'taur (2) Shallan asks to speak to you, King Gilgamesh."
The Wedge of Heaven thinks for a moment. He was so bored that even receiving the visit of Ba'al's servant could relax him for a few moments.
"Let her in!"
Leaving the guards at the door, Shallan knelt gracefully in front of the Golden King's couch.
"My respects, mighty Gilgamesh."
"You have no doubt come to inform me that Lord Ba'al continues to search the all the galaxy for Hakuno Kishinami."
"Yes, O king. But I'd rather speak with you alone."
Gilgamesh's eyes narrowed.
"I see."
He turned to the servants.
"Leave us alone!"
After they bowed deeply, the humans rose up and went out through a door that led to their quarters.
Gilgamesh turned to Shallan and looked at her with interest.
"You were not sent by Ba'al."
It was not a question, and Shallan understood it. The young woman leaned almost to the ground to greet him.
"Rise up, the One King commands you to look at him."
The lo'taur of Ba'al stood up; her face was pale... at least paler than her natural hue. Gilgamesh had a mocking smile.
"So what do you have so important to tell me, Ba'al's servant... unless I have to say 'traitorous servant'... is that correct?"
The amusement disappeared on the features of the king of Uruk's face.
"Don't test my patience, talk!"
Shallan swallowed.
"I praise your spirit of deduction, mighty king. I did not come to speak to you by order of Lord Ba'al. I have something for you, it concerns Hakuno Kishinami."
Gilgamesh shuddered and sat on the couch, suddenly very attentive.
"Hakuno Kishiami?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Shallan opened the small bag on her belt and took out a silver-plated device, typical of Tollanan technology. Approaching the Sumerian king, she bowed to the ground while holding out the object.
"This is a holographic recorder, Your Majesty. Press this button."
Gilgamesh started the recorder and his face briefly showed an expression of joy. He saw Hakuno sitting in a room with an orange metal wall decorated with gilded metal appliques. She was sitting on a sofa and reading a magazine.
A female voice began to tell how a patrol ship had been lured near a black hole by a strange energy emission... which led to the discovery of Hakuno. Obviously, no place name, no ship name, and no coordinates were mentioned.
The recording was brief, when it finished Gilgamesh turned to Shallan.
"Explain yourself!"
The young woman shuddered as she heard the tone of command. Nervously she began to repeat the text she had prepared, well aware that at the first error, she could end up pierced by a sword out of a window of golden light.
"Your Majesty, I am a simple messenger. I know nothing more than what is on the tape. All I can tell you is that I am an agent of the To'kra. I spy on Ba'al on behalf of this organization enemy of the Goa'uld. The To'kra allies that made this recording discovered Hakuno Kishinami by chance.
"Oh? But I guess you have something to ask me."
"King Gilgamesh, my mission was simply to warn you that Ba'al could never find Hakuno Kishinami, because others had already done so. The To'kra is willing to facilitate the reunion. Nevertheless, as I said, the To'kras are enemies of the Goa'uld... all Goa'uld. And the To'kra obviously can't give information about one of its allies to a friend of Lord Ba'al."
Gilgamesh remained silent for a few moments, pondering.
"I see."
Tau'ri (Earth, Milky Way)
Dressed in the dark-brown leather tunic of a To'kra, wearing the holster of a Zat'nik'tel on his hip, Jacob Carter emerged from the liquid ring of the Stargate. Two other To'kras dressed in the light beige version of the same tunic followed him. As the ring went out, he opened his arms to Sam.
"So, happy to see your old dad again?"
Samantha Carter laughed softly.
"Of course."
The other members of SG-1 and General Hammond smiled.
"It's always good to see dad," O'Neill said.
"But I wonder if Jacob came to Earth only to say hello to his daughter," added Jackson.
"What do you mean, Daniel" answered the To'kra, pretending to be offended "I can't cross the galaxy to hug Sam anymore?"
"Indeed, Daniel Jackson means you didn't make this trip just for that, Jacob Carter," Teal'c replied by raising an eyebrow.
"And that's true," replied Selmak's host more seriously. "Our agents on Asdad managed to contact Gilgamesh. He has agreed to meet with your representatives."
SG-1 members exchanged uncertain looks, which Jacob immediately noticed.
"What's going on? A problem?"
"Yes," replied General Hammond. "The Pegasus Replicators have taken Hakuno."
Jacob Carter immediately understood what this entailed.
"Which means you can no longer keep up your end of the bargain."
"Exactly."
Somewhere in the Milky Way.
The small metal sphere became misty and then the bust of a man dressed like a To'kra appeared in his womb. He leaned slightly.
"Chel Hol, Shree (3)"
"Chel Hol, Dhalan," replied the man holding the communicator in his hand.
The To'kra named Dhalan... in fact, an Ashrak (an assassin in the service of the System Lords having usurped the host of a To'kra to take his identity) began his report. He told how the To'kra had made contact with Gilgamesh and that the woman he was looking for was kept captive of the Tau'ri on Atlantis.
"All right, you did a good job."
"I am at your command, my lord."
"Tak mal tiak (4), Dhalan.
"Tak mal tiak, Shree Apophis."
The Goa'uld Communicator became an inert metal sphere again.
The System Lord stood up on his throne. He was an Egyptian with brown skin and short curly hair. His left eye was surrounded by a metal plate and he was dressed in red armor with a high collar.
On both sides of his throne, there were two great copper braziers that lit up the Necropolis Serpent Guard who served as his bodyguard. They were dressed in the traditional Jaffa's chainmail, but their one was painted red, and their helmet was like a snake's head with luminescent ruby eyes. They stood at attention with their Staff Weapons in hand.
Apophis turned to the Jaffa standing behind the command altar of the pel'tak (ship bridge). His eyes began to shine with white light.
"Set a course for Asdad."
"Yes, my lord."
The huge Apophis Mothership looked quite similar to a Ha'tak with its orange triangle-based central pyramid piercing a black superstructure somewhat resembling a model of a city. But it was much bigger. And, as it accelerated before jumping into hyperspace, its articulated arms came together to give it a more streamlined shape.
The gigantic ship would not make the journey alone, about twenty Ha'taks accelerate simultaneously to cross the hyperspace windows that had just appeared.
Author's note: Ouch... this is really one of those days when one regrets getting up. While kidnapping Hakuno the Replicators not only prevented the Tau'ri from entering into an alliance with Gilgamesh, but it happened at the worst possible time AFTER they contact Gilgamesh and that they can no longer hide their involvement. In addition, the Asurans will certainly discover how to protect themselves from the ARG by examining Hakuno. Worst, Apophis has his own twisted plan (trust him for that) to forbid any alliance between Gilgamesh and the Tau'ri or Ba'al. Ironically, although the two factions have never met, the actions of Apophis and the Asurans complement each other admirably. Their actions could not have been more complementary, even in the event of a formal alliance.
(1) This means that the Vanirs (Pegasus' Asgards/ the Lost Tribe) will not be able to enter Atlantis as they did in Season 5 episode 10 of Stargate Atlantis and bring back online the Attero device.
(2) A lo'taur (literally "you, human" it's a slang term in Goa'uld dialect) was the most trusted servant of the Goa'uld, and learned many secret things about their masters. They are also valuable to have nearby: if a Goa'uld host is injured beyond the symbiote's capacity to heal, they would be able to take the lo'taur as a host.
(3) "Greeting my Lord."
(4) Goodbye (literally: We would remember you).