Disclaimer: I don't own Stargate SG-1 or Gundam SEED Destiny
PS. To All Grammar Purists, get lost!
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Chapter 26
Homecoming
November 29, 84CE
Earth Solar System
Gathered high above Earth's orbit, is the Atlantic Federation Starfleet renamed from the Atlantic Federation Star Forces. This fleet possess the newest and most advance warships that came out of the slipway of their shipyards and are now gathered in orbit, mostly above the Pacific Ocean, where cityship Avalon is located.
Also, around the cityship are a flotilla of surface ships the Seventh Fleet of the Atlantic Federation wet Navy now on high alert.
Meanwhile fighter cover and mobile suits are on combat patrol every day, the most notable of them are the TS-MA5F Exus Dragoon, the MSN-001A1 Delta Plus a prototype MS and RGZ-91 a mass production type and an RGZ-95 ReZEL. An aggressive patrol, from the blue skies to the space above, daring anyone to try and pick a fight with them.
For many, this, was a display of military of power for everyone to see across the Earth Sphere, giving the world a show in order to intimidate and to assure people across the world of who is Earth's sole superpower on the planet.
In, the aftermath of the Battle for Earth, the Atlantic Federation immediately ramped up the building of new ships to fill in what they have lost or have retired from service. Colony AC195, where all of the advance ships are built, was already producing ships thru an assembly line as fast as it could, and this was before the discovery of the mass fabricator factory inside 'the Ring of Altera' or 'Ringworld' where it possesses a factory that could churns out spaceships of any kind by the thousands in mere days.
Now, one wonders why, the Ancients build something like this, until records in Avalon, show why. It was meant to retake the Pegasus Galaxy from the Wraith. Building massive armadas to overwhelm their enemy thru sheer weight in number. It was their goal, but was never implemented.
The Ring of Altera or Ringworld, gave the AF a massive advantage which none of the nations of Earth or in the space colonies could ever match and that's it's a depressing thought for many of their rival, who has a grudge, jealous or envy of them.
The majority of the population was a mix bag feeling however, fear and apprehension was now rampant and more so because, unlike the Atlantic Federation before the fall at the end of the Valentine War, elected leaders like were self-serving individuals who caters only to the rich and powerful. After the War, politicians like Henry Hayes in all indication, is one savvy leader, while expanding the AF power and influence, he practically serves the public interest of the Atlantic Federation and it shows, as the nation prospers to record level never seen before.
Due to incidents, the ancients fabricator factory pauses its production, as they don't have enough people to manned these ships. What is available is a total of 450 warships, but only 290 are in active duty, the rest are in spacedock awaiting crew and personnel to finish their training.
200 Halberd-class light destroyer (UNSC copy and upgraded)
15 Point Blank-class prowlers a.k.a. stealth ship (UNSC copy and upgraded)
20 BC-304 Daedalus Deep Space Carrier/Battlecruiser (flagships-class designate)
25 Gladius-class heavy corvette (UNSC copy and upgraded)
20 BC-309 Cerberus heavy battlecruiser (escort class designate)
10 BC-500 Nimitz-class (battleship/carrier class designate)
What is no longer part of the fleet, are the outdated Earth Alliance ships that have been either destroyed or scrapped. The last vestiges of the Earth Alliance Spacefleet are gone for good, as they cannot go up against the firepower Goa'uld Ha'tak mothership, as they barely held their own against an unmodified Ha'tak, despite the upgrades and modifications of their EA systems. Many of them upon inspection, shows that their ship frames are already showing signs of fractures, a sign of decades of service. Of the few chosen to be made into museum pieces, and will be restored to their pre-war state before being decommissioned.
Across the Earth Sphere, the other nations were fielding their own spacefleet, mostly rebuilt or salvaged vessels from the Earth Debris Field that circles the planet. Not everyone has the budget to build a new ship from scratch and many former members of the Earth Alliance who inherited the EA fleet after it was disbanded, do not have the available parts, materials and money to keep them operational and were mothballed or scrapped for parts.
Orb Union fleet and Zaft fleet has new ships in their inventory, yet none of them can be compared to the Starfleet most advanced Ship of the Line. And, despite Orb and Zaft fast and very impressive capabilities of reverse engineer any technology even of salvaged Goa'uld technology, they admittedly are not in par to their counterpart.
They needed more time and resources for research and development and improvements and then design a new ship for the new tech, followed by testing it before they can mass produce the finish product. The only thing they can do for now is modify their current ships, which can only go so far until its system started to break down due to stress.
The two nations, made it a joint effort to push the advances, both benefiting greatly in the endeavor, however they admit that they can't compete with their AF rivals who has access to advance alien technology. They complain, that it was an unfair advantage, of having advance technology and knowledge to play with, and what is shared by the AF are mostly for public consumption, something that many people are grateful for, except for a few, namely disgruntled politicians, corporate execs mainly in the arms industry who are banned from doing business with the AF and lastly, other nations military who can't purchase any new arms from the AF.
For now, they made the best on what they have.
On this occasion, a spaceship drops out of warp close to the Plants territory, and to the surprise of a Zaft Laurasia class ship on border patrol, they see a recognizable starship from a well-known science fiction genre, the USS Enterprise 1701-A from the Star Trek TOS timeline and its practically a working vessel with all the bells and whistles on, though there were some differences.
The Enterprise was built in the massive factory complex on the Ring of Altera. A spaceship, based on fiction as a test to see if the factory is working, to see if it can actually deliver and it did, which elated the person who requested it to be built, by SG-1, Col. Jack O'Neill who turns out to be a big Star Trek fan. The facility there makes Logos Military Industrial Complex look like a shack for a fireworks factory. That orbital ring in the possession of the Atlantic Federation is causing all world leaders head spin with worry and anxiety of the Atlantic Federation absurd luck.
Seeing the Enterprise was strangely calming for everyone for some odd reason or another. Right now, it's here bringing a diplomat visiting the Plants and were given permission to approach the colonies.
The Plants
Aprillius Space Colony
Leaving the Enterprise hanger bay and gliding towards the Plants spaceport is an SGC marked inter solar shuttle. Another recognizes ship design closely resembles that of the Space 1999 tv series the Eagle shuttle, only it looks like someone gave it a makeover.
The Eagle shuttle was given a remake, where the rocket engines once were, is replaced with an ion drive engine with gravity control and maneuvering thrusters and energy shields most likely copied from a Tel'tak cargo ship and moderately armed and likely warp capable.
Its only passenger, unclasp her seatbelts and heads for the shuttle exit, where the shuttle crew stood in salute as she disembarked, nodded to them and gave her thanks before she exits. Now once passed security and her suitcase claimed from the baggage counter, she floated towards the nearest elevator, where an AF diplomat (most likely an intelligence operative from SGC) and his entourage is waiting for her, and while heading down, the diplomat explained to her, that tension in the colony and their mix feeling about the AF and their revealed secrets, and there has been turmoil in the upper level of the council and scientists working on genetics lab about uninformed problems.
"To make it a long story short, the scientist got busted for lying thru their teeth for the past twenty years"
"Lying?"
"From the start, they knew all along that, sustaining a coordinator population is untenable, despite all the measure and assurances they made to the public"
"Why continue it if they knew it was untenable in the first place?" she asks and the diplomat answered
"Because they need to save face" he replied "according to them, it will take a hundred years of painstaking research to perfect the technology. So, to speed up their research in order to improve their knowledge and skills in genetic enhancements …they needed a great deal of test subjects to experiment on to see what works and what doesn't. And so…"
"They used us, as guinea pigs without us knowing, those f$%& ing bastards!" She's started cursing with multiple language that she knows of
"Twenty years!" she exclaimed
"They experimented on us for twenty years and they still couldn't figure it out how to fix the problem?!" the diplomat shook his head at her
"Their research are falling short of expectation, there are success like marriages with Naturals, creating a child born Natural and Coordinators to add more diversity and that would have solved some problems but…unless," the diplomat was hesitant to say it but she said it at what she knows
"Public demands, especially in the Plants wants to have a child born nothing less than a pure coordinator, anything else, is unacceptable!" she exclaimed
"Never the fifty-fifty share" the Diplomat remark
"It's making the sterility problem, go unresolved. Its nearing the point of genetic saturation faster than we predicted"
"Freya said it as much" she remarks grimly, remembering the Asgard lecture back at New Vinland, of information from the Plants scientist working on the sterility problem. On the public insistence in altering the DNA of a child born from a Coordinator-Natural marriage, to have Coordinator DNA far more dominant than Natural.
Freya told them, that such an imbalance will not resolve their sterility problem but accelerates the saturation…which is something the Asgard went people thru or one would say, they allowed it.
"They are currently using the repair data the president gave them, despite berating it as mediocre and useless. They are using it and passing it as their own" she said
"Freya said it was only to stabilize the genome to begin genetic repairs for the step back process,"
"Which they are not doing, and I don't think everyone is keen on following a process that will eventually return their descendants back to being Naturals" the Diplomat finished
The woman just heaves a sigh of disappointment as their elevator was nearing the bottom as the diplomat tells her
"They are all waiting for you outside"
She smiled at what he meant for she knows who is or who are waiting for her outside "Thank you"
"You are welcome, Ms. Talia Gladys," he said "Your entourage will arrive in an hour. But, are you sure you want to go on ahead first?"
"Yes, but not to worry, I will be among friends" she answered
"Very well then, and good luck to you" the diplomat gave a bow and with a nod, she walks out
She was tense, hesitant to walk out of the elevator with her suitcase in tow, worried of what's waiting for her at the exit. She took one step, then another and another and walks out to be greeted with the glare of lights and when it fades, a wall of Zaft uniforms is before her.
They're Zaft officers, whose faces she recognizes though ten years older, she recognizes them with awe look, surprised and relief that most, if not all survived the Battle for Earth.
She felt incredible joy welling up inside of her and the calming of a worried soul.
They were her former crew and shipmates from her days as Zaft captain of the Minerva, and it looks like all of them are carrying bouquets of flowers. They are older now, since it's been ten years when she last saw them, and it looks like some of them are trying not to cry as they saluted her out of respect.
Stepping forward is Minerva second in command "Captain Gladys, it is good to see you again. Welcome Home!" greeted her formally, by former XO on the Minerva, Arthur Trine who is trying not to cry in front of his former captain.
"Arthur, it's so good to see you again as well, and you are a captain now I see, well done!" Talia said in approval and smiling softly as she looked at him with the uniform and rank of captain and then two individuals who are unable to hold back their emotions, came rushing towards her with open arms
"Captain!" cried the two Hawke sisters rushing to her, crying as they hugged their former captain
"We miss you so much!" Meyrin Hawke as she cried
"Captain!" Lunamaria Hawke cried as well
"And I miss you all!" Talia hugged them both with tears in her eyes as everyone started to crowd
It was then the greeting evolve into crying of joy and a sense of relief that one of their own has returned to them, while an army of reporters and thousands of onlookers with banners of WELCOME HOME signs being held back by a military police blockade.
They were there when word of an emissary from Epsilon One, in behalf of New Vinland is coming to the Plants to prepare for diplomat that will come afterwards. When Talia Gladys name came up, it was big news, that a reborn coordinator has come back to the Plants and the hope of others may come home as well.
Talia Gladys was practically a celebrity in their eyes.
Later on,
At a rented 5-star hotel, where Gladys and entourage will be checking in. meanwhile, at the lobby, she and her former crew were chatting, about their lives after ten years and her time in New Vinland, a nation founded by reborn's, Coordinator and Natural alike and one of many nations founded after SGC marooned them on that planet for so many years ago.
"SGC left us on Epsilon One for years after a tragic event, our fate is ours to decide and with no more assistance from them, living there became difficult. Of course, there was not a day goes by that we feared that, they would decide to wipe us out since, we were never meant to be revived and to them, we were in their eyes, a mistake"
"I am grateful that they did not do such things to us"
"But why didn't they?" Meyrin asks "I mean, you were at the Naturals mercy, and,"
"Meyrin! Please understand that, they are not Blue Cosmos!" Gladys scolded her, which Meyrin felt a sting of embarrassment
"I'm sorry, captain" Meyrin apologize as Gladys shake her head
"The people in that organization, especially Stargate Command…they are far more dangerous than Blue Cosmos and that's because they are all professional soldiers. So, be grateful, that they are not emulating that accursed terrorist group, and be thankful that they are more interested in exploring the Stargate Network, deep space exploration and expanding their power and influence across the stars, which is far better than settling old grudges with Zaft" she said
"And, as to why they let us live well, I can think of many reasons but, I believe that…they were talk down by their allies, the Asgard"
"Talk down, by the Asgard?" Lunamaria repeated in curious
"Are they that powerful?" Arthur asks
"They are" Talia confirmed "they are revered, feared and respected across the galaxy. That's who the Asgard are and SGC earned a considerable amount of respect because, no one was able to ally themselves to the Asgard and they don't just ally with anyone, ever"
"H-how did they do it? I mean get the Asgard to be their ally?" Luna asks
"I don't know the specifics on how they did it Luna, the Asgard rarely if not impossible to become your ally" she leans back and cross her arms thinking
"How would you know captain?" Athur asks and felt like she was being pump for information. Of course, whatever she will say will be made public eventually
"At that time on Epsilon One, another race called the Nox were there and they are trying to calm down people in SGC after the brutal attack on their embassy, the brutal murder of their staff members, aid workers and especially their ambassador"
Talia explained, that Henry Hayes at that time, then vice-president, was the head of the oversight committee, and he opted to withdraw all aid and complete isolation, but many of his subordinates thought of it as too lenient.
"Many, of them I believe were very vocal about it…retribution" Talia said which gave everyone chill down their spine
"The Nox is not exactly an ally to SGC but more of a neutral party and considered as a friend to both the Asgard and SGC. Both the Asgard and the Nox, succeeded to let calmer mind win over those that are not without resorting to any force, and thanks to them, we were spared"
"But why go such lengths for them?" Arthur questioned
"They have their reasons I suppose" Talia said "they see humanity as potential allies and had they failed, the consequence would be dire, for all of us" she said
What Talia never said, that the Asgard and the Nox, pleaded to SGC and the AF government, to show a level of restraint, that any violence on their part now would taint all the hard work and sacrifices they have made to rebuild their pride, their self-respect and dignity after they lost the last valentine war.
"However, being spared doesn't mean much to two million reborn Coordinators who were relying on the humanitarian aid from SGC and we were far from growing our own food" Talia heaves a sigh, as she tells the harsh days of SGC, MRE aerial drop on their side, while the other reborn across the planet who are not hostile to SGC, enjoyed an orderly delivery of food and supplies to start up their own colonization efforts.
SGC, were tapping on the absurd surplus of MRE in storage, supposedly for the millions of Earth Alliance troops across the globe during Valentine's War and lucky for the reborns, the MRE had a shelf life of 20 years.
"SGC aerial drop comes once a week and at times two or three weeks. This causes many people to start fighting over a bag of MRE which was an awful time" Talia explained which cause everyone to grimace at such situations the reborns were in
"Our situation made even worst, when reborn coordinators started to go at each other's throat with one reason or another and it was tragic. When the violence stopped, we lost about hundred thousand reborn's and those who committed heinous crimes were captured and imprisoned thanks to Mrs. Zala and everyone and I mean, everyone. Thanks to her, we were able to organize ourselves into a community and sharing what food we have to survive, and then later on, SGC came down with the Asgard and offered a measure of assistance. Just enough support to be self-sufficient on the planet without relying on SGC food drops"
"Surely, there could be strings attached to it?" Arthur questioned
"Humanitarian aid is free, the rest of it well, you are not wrong about that Arthur, there are strings attached to it" Talia confirmed remembering the talks with the Asgard and SGC representatives, SG-1 Col. Jack O'Neill and Dr. Daniel Jackson.
She explained that a deal was made with the Asgard, and that's to have the Asgard continue to examine them in exchange for material assistance and the means to grow their own food like farming tools and livestock and some manufacturing equipment but nothing to make a radio transmitter and even if they did, SGC placed satellites to receive and block transmission from the planet.
The Asgard assistance, was extended to everyone living in Epsilon One. With advance beaming technology, they cleared away fields for Farm and Pasteur, irrigation, fisheries and such. It was also fortunate that the planet has an abundance of trees so lumber for building house was available.
So, what did SGC got in the deal for allowing the Asgar on Epsilon One and continued aid and support? The answer is, Outdated Asgard technology installed on one of their warships, then later on, with the Asgard permission, SGC had their scientist reversed engineer and improved the new tech for the new starships going online and also Stargate address to habitable planets with no people or other intelligent life living in them. Perfect for future colonization.
Since then, they were left alone with the Asgard named Freya and she kept watch over Epsilon One. Her presence alone helps the new residence of Epsilon One begin establish themselves into nations in a somewhat late Victorian Era kind of feel.
Still, they are not allowed to have any kind of communication technology or allowed to make one powerful enough to reach into deep space.
Then suddenly, there was a warning given by SGC, and that they are to stay hidden and not to attract unwanted attention which was disconcerting and even more so when Freya left in quite a hurry. They have no information of what is happening, and even the regular starship doing a weekly flyby never came by, many started to get concerned of the absence of their SGC wardens.
"With an archaic radio station that we built out of scratch, we took a chance and broke our silence, and announce ourselves to get SGC attention and they heard us. so, here we are now" she looks at everyone and felt a great relief of their survival after the Battle for Earth and a bit upset to find one person now in their care is recovering.
"Coming back to the Plants is a joy for me, however, I want to have a word with the Council, on what the hell did they do to Shinn!" she said now sounding angry
"Shinn? Is he," Lunamaria was asking with concern in her voice
"He's recovering back on New Vinland Luna, so don't worry" Talia answered which was relief for Lunamaria and the others
"He's lucky to be alive, if you think being beaten close to death by the Reaper is lucky, and then going thru agonizing symptoms in the form of a chemical withdrawal. It is not how I call, being lucky" she said as Talia was not all that happy to find out that Shinn was used as guinea pig for the 'Extended Coordinator'
'Just, what the hell command was thinking, using that procedure on Shinn?' Talia thought
"It took a lot of negotiating with SGC to not take Shinn back to Earth due to his condition and that include others with the same symptoms as Shinn"
"Others?"
"About eleven of them" she pinches the bridge of her eyes 'stealing a Daedalus-class starship would gain them nothing but the ire of the Atlantic Federation' she groaning at the thought
"They are safe, and in our care, and under close observation by SGC medical"
"Under close observation?" Meyrin said curious
"One of them tried to slid their own throats…Shinn and the others are, under suicide watch" Talia said which made everyone groan at the thought of Shinn plight
"Shinn will be fine" Talia assured them "Oh, and I almost forgot" Talia pulled out a large stack of files from her suitcase on the table while continue to dig into her suitcase
"What is all this captain?" Arthur asks
"Oh, these are census report of New Vinland. The names of over 2 million reborn Coordinators plus children and newborns, and I am presenting this to the Plants Supreme Council"
"Whoa!"
"And these are some of their letters address to the Plants" she brought out what looks like bundles of letters, hundreds of them
"And I, have the great pleasure to be their mailman for the first of many" she mused then picks several letters that's on top and gave it to her former XO with a smile
"Arthur, these letters are for you,"
"Captain?"
"Letters… from your sister"
"W-what" he was surprised and stunned to hear what was told of him, as he shakily accepts it where his name is written along with the sender, whom he thought was dead for ten years when Januarius colony was destroyed during the war.
"From big sis!?" Arthur heart was racing as he couldn't believe it
After the war, he looked for her body in the hundreds of morgues across the Plants but couldn't find her. Now it seems, she's one of the reborn and she's on Epsilon One.
Upon opening the first letter, Arthur began to read the writings from his reborn sister and with it is a pair of photos of her, her husband and her children. His sister found love and raising a family after being reborn.
This broke Arthur into tears and snot, sobbing as his shipmates congratulates and console him in what is perhaps a joyous day for him.
"I have more than a hundred letters and more will come later. So, could you help me deliver them all?" Talia requested and everyone jump in to help.
Now, at this moment, Talia Gladys entire diplomatic entourage from New Vinland have arrived as well and they are also among people who recognize them who looks so happy to see them again.
An entire floor of the hotel became their temporary embassy, meanwhile the hotel lounge was practically filled with people from who are relatives from New Vinland and come came to either asks information or ask how to immigrate to New Vinland.
After they finish checking in, Gladys went to the Plants Supreme Council with her former shipmates acting as her self-appointed bodyguards despite the facts that she has ones assign to her by New Vinland Secret Service, as she has diplomatic status.
In entering the Council chambers, the chairwoman Eileen Canaver and Ezalia Joule greeted her with open arms and both hugged each other
"Talia, it is good to see you again, though I wish it was in better circumstances" chairwoman Canaver said
Talia couldn't agree more "The feeling mutual Eileen, which is also Lenore sentiments as well,"
She looks to the other councilor with a stern look and some of them look away from her "She is not too keen on letting me come here on, and in such crucial time for all of us"
"Can't disagree with you on that" Eileen remark
Talia huffs "Well alright, let's get to work then, shall we?"
"Of course," Eileen answer in agreement
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all
See you in 2024
