Record keeping time:

Komenid: As you've said (other than no Ori in this fic or any other of mine, ever) is correct. But I will add that the people of Earth have not proven that they are worthy as much as they are proving that they are taking steps to prove that they are maturing enough to use their legacy wisely. That includes bringing other nations and people in and not starting wars if it can be helped. Atlantis, Lemuria, and Pacifica city ships are part of that legacy. But just because you claim a legacy does not mean you earn it. The Terrans want to earn this and although growing quickly they are still not pushing as fast as they could without have some clue about the consequences. As we have seen in my stories and others, Earth can so easily fall into an imperialistic government no matter how honorable their intentions seem.

Arekanderu: The Tok'ra. We shall see. But it isn't looking too good at this point. And btw, you have no idea what's about to happen to the Cylons in this story.

Anon. I am getting there. Surprising I need to get into the mood and I am amazed as to the reason why. The human mind isa fascinating mess.

EvilTheLast: The (mostly) unseen Dark Soldiers, minions of the Shadows were nightmares, almost as bad as 'aliens without the molecular acid for blood'. I think of them as more or an elite force as opposed to a massive army. Maybe they were almost all wiped out during the last Shadow-Vorlon war. Maybe not. There could be a planet of those creatures, or may only a few left. What we do know is that they were soldiers so they had weapons and they fed on their enemies not unlike the wraith but they 'connected' themselves to their victims until they finished eating them.

Thepretenderkajarod: To answer your review. Oh, you don't know? (smile). I am surprised. But everything will become very clear in amout three weeks after this chapter is posted. I will say that they have a long sorid history with Earth. And they have a particular hatred of a certain General O'Neill because of what he did to them. Some people are not aware so I am keeping it a half secret for now.

Thor94: Beru didn't really cause it but he was responsible as he played his part.

Orionastro: Hello. Yes the B5 was always in the mix here. Also in the Worldwar series. However there it was always hinted at but has not and will not directly cross. This story is the direct cross. WW is a lighthearted romp so to speak dealing with the Race, Colonials, culture, religion, etc. This fic is the dark side of that version.

ShadowCub said: So confused is this a continuation of one of your other stories?

Ha ha. That question is so loaded that I can't even touch it. I will say that you already know the answer because you read it so long ago. The next chapter will make it clear as mud what this fic is related to.

PanchoPistolas: No, Not the Sinhindrea. That's Babylon 5…wait! Ignore that last sentence. But this isn't them. This is actually a canon B5 alien, a minion of the Shadows.

Roads Paved in Shadow

Book I

CHAPTER SIX

Tok'ra Capital City

A very distressed Anise shoved the two surviving Orbanian children into a side corridor. One of the youngsters had died after being shot by something that came through the tunnel wall. A flood of emotions hit Anise as she found her host crying at the loss as she was perplexed that she felt such a torrent of emotion. She had seen death and had had been in dangerous situations but this was different. She had never lost someone so young under her care before and she hated the feelings that forced themselves upon her. They weren't even her spawn so why is it that she felt so, so lost and yet so grimly determined that it never happened again?

Anise's emotions fought her even as her host desperately tried to understand what she saw. Had she imagined it or had those creatures really phased through the walls? How could they have done that? Was it some sort of device they used or was it a natural ability? How long could they remain phased and what was the extent of their capabilities? Those questions nagged at both symbiote and host even as she promised to protect the panic-stricken children.

Winnow and Tennia were geniuses but they were only ten and eleven years old, respectively. They weren't adults and they certainly hadn't any experience whatsoever being placed in life and death situations. Anise wasn't convinced that they fully comprehend what was happening. They were still innocent children. Unless she could get them to get past their fear and follow her orders, they were all going to die. Like everyone else, Anise was in a state of shock. The Tok'ra were in a state of complete unfettered panic. Any semblance of order had disappeared and bodies lying everywhere exacerbated the situation. Adding to the confusion and hysteria was that a few of the bodies were missing their heads. Making the girls hold hands and follow her, she forced them to follow her. She wanted to tell them not to look, but she knew they would because everyone knew that children always disobeyed their elders.

The three fled into a small corridor and hid in a small closet. It was dark, quiet, and quite terrifying. Any second now Anise imagined one of those assassins coming through the walls and butchering them as they lay huddled in the corner. But she also needed a moment to think. Jankan, a Tok'ra she'd known for three hundred years hadn't even recognize her when she had stopped him demanding information. He looked at her, said something incomprehensible and started running who-knows-where. She didn't even try to stop him.

From the panicked screams and yelling and confusing reports from everyone, Anise believed that there had to be several Ashrak inside the city complex. However, that initial conclusion left far too many questions and the more she thought about it the less water her theory held. No one, not one person had reported seeing the enemy which led her to believe that whatever it was attacking them had to be invisible like those assassins. It could have been Ashrak but could also be someone like renegade Reetou or something else not encountered before killing her people.

The sounds of distant screaming outside had died out leaving only silence. The unnatural quiet frightened her and threatened her sanity. Despite claiming to be different from their Goa'uld counterparts there was one commonality both shared. Both shared a terrible fear of death. Anise didn't want to die. The surrounding silence was almost too much. The two little girls were trying their best not to cry while she was trying not scream herself.

Furthermore, they were clinging to her so tightly that they restricted her movements. In another wave of blind terror, she thought of running and saving herself and try as she might, she couldn't think of a reason not to. Her problem was that if she opened the closet door to flee and saver herself, she wouldn't be able tear herself away from these children' grip if she tried. Anise's sense of self-preservation told her one thing however her legs refused to save herself and not save the young ones clinging to her for support. The whole situation was absurd and she had to use her reserved willpower to keep from laughing hysterically.

Her heart had decided, the choice already made. The responsibility to protect dominated every thought now. Self-preservation had just flown to Netu and back and it was angry. This feeling to protect took command so easily that she was stunned. Now, for the first time, she understood why the death of General O'Neill's son affected so. How could he bear such pain?

"Quiet!" Anise growled at both girls. Her eyes glowed dangerously and both girls to fell silent. Good. They couldn't stay hiding in a closet waiting for monsters to come. "We have to leave this place. No crying." It wasn't like she didn't feel like doing the same.

Anise's hands were shaking as she activated her latest device her Ashrak detector, a small device she had been working off and on for years. It worked by generating a detection field that extended fifteen meters in all directions and the field was (hopefully) undetectable by the targets either Goa'uld killers or Reetou (she was especially proud of that little innovation). The door opened and creaked so loud that she had to stifle a round of cursing learned from listening to Colonel Sheppard whenever she was around him. He was subtle, of course but her hearing was good enough to hear his mutterings.

The natural crystalline light highlighted the blood and carnage on the cave floors. There were bodies as far as she could see down the length of the tunnel, the corpses either burned, or ripped apart. Several of the bodies were shriveled and curled up in rictus. It reminded her of the reports of the victims of a Wraith attack, different but just as horrible. She quietly closed the door and turned to the two trembling girls. She didn't know how to comfort them when it was taking all her self-control to keep from vomiting all over the floor in front of them.

Anise had never known her host Freya to be so scared in her life. She had not complained and hid in the recesses of her mind, allowing Anise to take over completely without comment. That made her responsible for four lives she thought sourly. "Girls, I will lead you to safety." she assured them. "But I need you to listen to me and do not make any noise. If I say 'run', then you run. If I 'stop', then stop. I want you to be brave."

"Braver than you?" asked a very innocent Tennia.

"Yes," Anise answered with absolute sincerity. "Braver than I."

As proud as she was of her device she was also terrified that she had use it. She wanted to field test it but not in this way. Quickly, she made two little girls hold hands and she in turn, grabbed the elder girl's hand and began to carefully lead them down the tunnel carefully stepping over the bodies of people she knew. The three moved as quietly as they could, although the dead silence the footsteps were loud enough to echo in the hallway. Each step dredged up a fresh moment of dread to Anise. In the partial darkness are detector shined like a flashlight illuminating everything around her and bluish light.

"Do you see anything?" asked Tennia.

She looks so frightened that Anise believed the child was going to faint and that was the last thing any of them needed right now. She had to do something quickly or she might wind up having to carry the child.

"No," she answered as confidently as she could. She didn't know what else to do to encourage either of the little girls to smother their fears and face the dangers that were all around. She wasn't even sure if she could do it herself. "We're going to see if we can make it to the stargate. Once we make it through then we will be safe." She looked over at the girls once more her eyes glowing brightly in order to give them a confidence that she didn't feel. She had little hope that the stargate wasn't being guarded, but that was the only hope she had and it was the only place she could think that might offer some hope of safety.

All three continued down the corridors and he saw nothing but the bodies as far as they could see. The detector had not detected anything as of yet which was a good thing in opinion. If she were being honest, she would have admitted praying that she wouldn't see anything. Moving carefully now three slipped into a side corridor to catch their breaths. Winnow was breathing heavily nearly hyperventilating from fear. Anise looked at her, calmly brushing her dusky brown hair away from her eyes. The gesture was gentle and loving and in truth, Anise didn't know where the action came from.

But Freya did.

The young child had started sniffling, most likely because of increasingly stale air Anise assumed. She allowed her a few moments to rest before they continued towards their destination.

Five minutes later, she froze. There was a scratching noise coming from inside the left-side wall. She was intimately familiar with every sound in the City and the sound was like nothing she'd ever heard before. It made her hair nearly stand up on its ends. Cautiously, she pointed the detector in the direction she thought she heard the sound coming from. That was when she saw the alien monstrosity making its way inside the crystalline wall. The detector couldn't quite lock on to the alien, but this is something that she expected. One of the most important features that she had incorporated into her little device was the ability to detect an invisible foe without being herself detected and apparently it worked. She was taking no chances and quickly move the beam away from the wall. It was time to move as quickly as possible away from whatever this thing was. However, she had not considered the reaction of the two girls when they saw the huge creature moving through the walls.

Tennia was trying her best not to cry while Winnow began sniffling louder. Anise almost panicked. She didn't think the creature has seen them but she had no idea what other senses they might have and that include how sensitive their hearing was. For all she knew they might be able to detect vibrations of the footsteps.

"Be quiet," she hissed as she tried to hurry them along. She saw a zat'nik'tel laying in the hands of a shriveled body. She quickly picked it up.

The man hadn't had the time to use it and Anise wasn't even sure if it would work on this enemy. Unfortunately, it was at that time that Tennia decided that she needed to blow her nose.

The young girl tried to hold it back for all of five seconds before she blew her nose loud enough for a person who was deaf to be able to hear it.

Anise nearly had heart attack. "Please be quiet!"

Tennia responded in a near scream. "I can't help it!"

The woman Tok'ra assumed that they were dead, right then and there. The girl was already sniffling and now she started coughing, much to everyone's alarm. All three were sprinting almost at a dead run at this point. Anise didn't dare look back to see if they were being followed and she didn't want the children to look back either. If they did that, then they might see something and both of the little girls would start screaming, and if they started screaming, Anise would start screaming, too…

"Stop!"

It was Freya yelling in her mind, demanding that Anise try to control herself. Freya saw the panic building in her symbiont companion and had no intentions of allowing it to continue especially since she wanted them both and the children to survive. "You have to try it now!"

"It's never been tested."

"Can't you hear it? It is coming!"

And she could hear it, heavy footsteps rapidly closing in on them. The alien soldier hadn't shot at them yet and that frightened Anise even more because she knew that whatever happened to some of her friends that caused them to shrivel and die would happen to the three of them. The creature was toying with its prey and Anise believed that it was going to do the same thing to them as it had done to some of her friends. With its long strides, the hunter was rapidly closing in on them at a frightening speed. The little girls could only run so fast.

They were only human.

She didn't have a choice. Any pretense of secrecy was long gone now. Fumbling in her pocket, she pulled out the small ampule without hesitation, she jammed the small injection module into her shoulder. Instantly, the heavily modified attonak virus entered her bloodstream. It was another one of her experiments that she always kept close out of fear that some other scientist might discover her project and trying to take it away from her. The virus increased the strength and abilities of normal humans as O'Neill and his people had discovered. But it did not work on symbionts or the hosts. The symbiont immune response was too strong and the virus couldn't survive for more than a few minutes. But she was working on a genetic modification that would allow the Tok'ra to use the enhancement virus in times of need. But had been untested and it was still in the raw form.

"Keep running!" she yelled.

Of course, being children, both girls slowed down without her to guide them. The woman did not want the children to die and she was about to yell at them again to run. She couldn't form the words as her body instantly felt a rush of power just as a set of claws dug into her shoulder.

She screamed.

Winnow and Tennia saw what had grabbed her and they screamed.

The Soldier of Darkness roared…

…And then it roared even louder.

"I'm all alone," whispered an infuriated Beru as he was forced to watch the last of his people ruthlessly shot down or torn apart by the alien soldiers. The screamed moved him but there was nothing he could do about it. Morden had to have injected him, an embryo or something that grew into this abomination infesting him and his host's body. The aliens were no long trying to hide now. They were visible and they were methodical. Every main corridor of the city was under their control and in the smaller sections, the soldiers hunted down and killed everyone they could find. Sadly, the survivors were so predictable, either heading for the stargate or the ring transporter. By his latest calculations there couldn't be more than ten people left in the entire city. Both the ring transporters and stargate controls were inoperative but not destroyed. Beru made certain of it. The soldiers and the master had to have a way out before the devastation was completed. The leader alien had placed what he knew to be a bomb in the very heart of the city.

It was an unfamiliar design, organic in its composition but he knew it had the explosive power of a nuclear device. Any survivors here would die when it detonated and he would be among them. The master couldn't allow him to survive under any circumstance. He was considered a liability and the possibility that he might be discovered before their plans came to fruition was considered a risk that they were not prepared to take so he would stand next to the bomb when it detonated, watching as the device counted down to his doom.

Their mission completed, the soldiers gathered their trophies and headed for the ring transporters. Beru went with them to evacuate them to safety. The invaders would leave using the same Ha'tak they arrived in. Quickly and quietly, the dark ones turned and went back the way they came, all but two of them. There were a few survivors hidden away among the wreckage and these aliens didn't like leaving things incomplete even if it meant their own deaths.

Arriving at the ring transporter, Beru easily correct the sabotage he 'd performed earlier. The master appeared in front of him, its eight pairs of glowing eyes glaring at him, examining his very soul and finding him wanting. Those eyes were filled with ancient intelligence far older than anything he'd ever seen before. And those eyes told him that it cared nothing for anyone else other than what they could do for it. Without another word, the Shadow moved towards the ring transporter ranked by two of the warriors. Beru activated the ring transporter and the three disappeared in a flash of energy and light. Another group took their place in the transporter and awaited their turn. They were fleeing like rats from a sinking ship and leaving him behind.

Ten minutes later, there were three of the aliens left in the city to be transported. It was then that the controller's eye opened in alarm and forced Beru to run towards the stargate room. Something had happened to them. Time was running out and the bomb was counting down. If he couldn't find them in fifteen minutes then they were all dead. The hijacked Ha'tak had begun powering up and wouldn't wait if he couldn't find them in time.

Running as fast as he could, it still took ten minutes to get there and when he did, he saw that the stargate was activated; however, there was no one present which meant that they had gone through the gate. All three of the soldiers refuse to answer the mental calls of the controller and he idly wondered if the soldiers had gone through the gate as well in pursuit of whoever had escaped. That was against orders but it was still possible. Some Tok'ra must have enabled the stargate by reconfiguring the crystal control modules and had gotten away. Angered he lamented at the wasted time getting to the stargate he wouldn't be allowed to use.

The controller pulsed in sudden alarm. Turning, Beru was shocked by seeing the body of one of the soldiers crumbled on the floor. It looked broken and there was evidence of several wounds inflicted by one or more zats. Soldiers of Darkness were hard to kill. Seven to nine shots were required. This soldier was shot multiple times. Those wounds Beru understood but he was at a loss as to what could have broken several bones of such a monster. Of the other two soldiers, there was no evidence that they were here and the controller within him felt confused. If one soldier was in trouble the others would surely come to help.

However, Beru really didn't care about that because here was an opportunity for him to stay alive, to flee through the open gate if only he could convince the controller. He pleaded with the controller to allow him to go through and find out what happened, arguing that the soldiers must have gone through or that he could still be able to serve the masters by pretending to be one of the last survivors to escape the attack. He could feel the controller waiver but ultimately it refused. It was more interested in finding the other soldiers to facilitate their safety and escape. He mentally argued that the soldiers could have used the gate the controller rejected the argument believing that they had to be somewhere in the city. Sighing, as Beru turned to find them, a sun-bright light enveloped him and then blackness claimed him. Before he died, and contrary to popular belief, in those instants just before death, he had just enough awareness to know just what had happened.

The city was gone.

Three days later:

The 26th Emperor Jorpna

Battle cruiser Prometheus variant

"Superior sir, we receive a communiqué from UCW command," the communications officer sub-leader Erelwo said. "General orders."

"Pass it to my console," ordered Shiplord Straha."

"It shall be done." Immediately the officer switched the orders from communications to the shiplord's console. Sitting in his chair, one eye turret read the orders while his left eye turret stared at the main screen. Erelwo, looking at his shiplord couldn't help twitching his tail in anticipation. He already knew what the orders were.

Straha had more control than his subordinate in holding his emotions in check, but he also felt the thrill of anticipation. He pressed the switch for ship-wide communications. "Attention crew, our first orders are given to us," he announced. "By order of the United coalition of Worlds command central. We are to proceed to the Utas star system. No communications have come from the system in three days. The Orbanian Tosevite faction on the planet have not returned to their home or established contact. Coalition command cannot communications with the Tok'ra. We are tasked to investigate. Other Coalition vessels are currently pursuing other missions and we are the closest. We will return to our primary exploration duties after we complete this priority. Shiplord out."

The Sse'ki class destroyer was a modification of the Prometheus II class designed specifically for the Lizardian people. It still amazed him and the others by the ease that the Terrans slapped things together with no real idea of the consequences of their actions. But, it worked.

'Finally,', he thought. 'We have been given our first real mission from the UCW. The Emperors, both of them, bestow their blessing to us.' Even in thought, he lowered both his eye turrets in respect of the Emperor of Home and Home II. This was a huge mission, the first independent, Race only without supervision by the Terran. It was also a mission of caution. The Tok'ra would not break off communications haphazardly. Straha would not assume this to be a simple of inquiry. He and his ships would go in prepared.

"Senior pilot Nignxe, plot a course for the Tok'ra home world."

"Yes, Superior sir," the excitable pilot said.

"Communications officer Erelwo, relay the coordinates to our other ships and have them follow."

"It shall be done, Shiplord.

"Superior sir, course is plotted, hyperdrive is online and at full power. Systems report green across the console. We will arrive in the system in two hours."

"I order it now."

"It is done," Nignxe responded as the warm-blooded alien activated the hyperdrive.

In the huge screen in front of the bridge, the stars disappeared an in its place was a bluish tunnel of light. By all the emperors both past and present, he loved this! It was almost worth the terror that clawed at him when walking through the stargate for the first time.

No one on Home could have possibly imagined that in a mere eight years that the Race would have changed from a world conquering empire to becoming a member of equal standing in a powerful, growing organization dedicated to economic growth, military protection and general exploration. All of the changes were still frightening to think about if he dwelled upon it too much.

The Race's conquest fleet, according to the plan, should have left to conquer Tosev III, known as Earth or Terra d, home of the Terran Tau'ri some one hundred sixty years earlier. A small technical correction in the killercraft designs delayed the launching of the Conquest fleet from Home to Terra. The conquering of Tosev III should have been easy. Instead it turned into a nightmare, probably the greatest miscalculation by the Race in the last one hundred thousand years. Terra was full of bad neighbors with large guns, faster than light capable space ships, energy weapons, and filled with huge ugly (not so ugly now as he was used to them now) aliens with nasty attitudes and no respect for the Emperor.

The Fleet was intercepted before they could properly get past Tosev IV called Mars by O'Neill and his fleet. Fleetlord Atvar, Straha and everyone else was terrified that the Terrans would slaughter the fleet which admittedly was what he would have done if he had been in the grip of his claws. O'Neill said as much. He would gladly burn Home, if the conquest fleet dared to attack Earth. Fleetlord Atvar had no choice but to surrender or see the Conquest and Colonization fleets and Home burn in nuclear fire.

Being the quaka that he was, the Fleetlord ordered him, Shiplord Straha the third most senior Shiplord (and his most ardent adversary) to accompany General O'Neill on a trip, one that opened his eye turrets to this unimagine dreamed. The Race wasn't the supreme power of the universe. They were barely little swimming things in a small pool of water. It hurt their collective livers to think about it.

O'Neill, he, and the others walked them through that wondrous device called the stargate and in an instant, stepped onto the beautiful black sand world of what would be known as Home II. He and his adjutants couldn't even conceive of such a device. Straha was terrified not only of the stargate but its capabilities and further, its implications. Its existence would change the face of Home, but just as importantly it could bring destruction.

In coming to conquer Earth, the Race had exposed themselves to the greater universe, a fact that was made clear to the Conquest Fleet when the Lucian Alliance attempted a pre-emptive attack on Tosev III, Earth, he mentally corrected. Enhanced explosive metal or as the Terrans called them, enhanced naquada-laced nuclear bombs, went off everywhere throughout the Sol system as the Alfent and Kata factions of the Lucian Alliance tried to subdue and completely wreck Earth. The Terrans fought back and wiped out the factions in full view of the horrified conquest fleet. They'd witnessed war on a level that made it perfectly clear that they were not ready to even begin to possibly defend against.

The Terran delegation came to Home and had an unprecedented audience with Emperor Risson. The talks went on for three days and at the end of the meeting the Race was changed forever. Emperor Risson sequestered himself in his private chambers for a week, speaking only to his advisors twice during that time.

A month later, the Colonization Fleet was towed to Home II, By the Emperor's command, a new royal line was created and Subordinate Emperor Runshan ruled that new world, Home II.

The Race was in an uproar. As a people, the species moved slowly in everything that they did, so as the Emperor issued his decrees his subjects were understandably nearly paralyzed. However, Emperor Risson had heard and seen proof that the galaxy was filled with terrors, horrible neighbors that possessed superior technologies and sciences, and who would not hesitate to enslave or destroy the Race. The Lucian Alliance were a band of opportunistic pirates and slavers, the Goa'uld a monstrous empire, and the Wraith how would not feed of them but simply destroy them. There were countless dangers that the Race now faced. But there were other neighbors, quiet ones like the unbelievably powerful Asgard who silently helped the emperors stare towards the right direction as the Race traveled along this new path. But it was frightening. Oh, to be able to return home to Home and had never heard of these horrible neighbors!

Unlike Atvar, Straha refuse to think about what could have happened, or returning into the safe eggshell of ignorance, although he couldn't blame him in the least. What should have taken decades, even centuries happened in less than a year. The Emperor, and here he reflexively lowered his eye turrets in respect, signed a series of treaties with the Terrans effectively wedding (he hated that freakish term but he felt that he could live with it eventually) to the young United Coalition of Worlds government. Billions of citizens of all three worlds of the Empire asked the Emperor why. His answer was simple. The Race and all its people and their worlds needed to survive and it was his responsibility to ensure that even if it meant changing the entire structure and way of life of the Empire. That was a very dark road they had chosen but travelled it they did.

Because the Emperor demanded it and, the Race obeyed.

Less than ten years Terran later, the Race now traveled the stars in ships that traveled faster than the speed of light. They were part of a larger group and they were explorers. Conquering other worlds for the glory of the Empire held much less excitement when the neighbors, as a whole, were very, very bad. Straha still felt that the Race was superior to the Terrans…but not as much anymore. This change in attitude was shared by many the military and the civilians that constantly interacted with the people of the Coalition. The other members of the Race were less enlightened. In Straha's private opinion, he hoped that they should keep their illusion for another generation or two.

Lizardian. Now, that was a name he despised just as much as the Terrans once hated the name Tau'ri. They were the Race, not lizards as that name implied. The very name Lizardian was something of an insult. The members of the Race were not lizards as the Terrans understood the term. The Race was warm-blooded unlike Terran species and they had feathers. The members of the Race had as many Terran saurian characteristics as they did reptilian. But they were unique and not simply some Terran composite.

What he hated more was that the horrid name was starting to be used by all the Tosevite Coalition factions. It was disgusting. Worse still, he was getting used to it–just like the had gotten used to the name Tau'ri, making it their own despite its original origins. In his mind, that names Terrans and Tau'ri personified his fear of bad neighbors. But other neighbors that the Race had met turned out to be not as bad as he feared. Others were far worse. But his species would survive.

They were the Race.

Shang-La

Ashtorath Goa'uld Capital

Although she would never admit it to anyone, Lord Astartea was anxious about this upcoming meeting. That woman was coming back and the Goa'uld was nervous. There was something about this Anna Sheridan that set her on edge. Her every instinct demanded that the woman be killed. Her every instinct demanded that the woman be left alone.

Anna Sheridan was not like any human she had ever met. She was a complete unknown and now she was coming back to present herself to heart of the Empire. The ship sent to track her transport to her home base had yet to return and was presumed lost given their mission. There was no proof of their destruction but that was the most likely reason why they had yet to report in. it was another mystery wrapped in a series of mysteries about the woman and her associates. She intended to find out who this woman and her so-called associates were.

And, the Ashtorath Lords would destroy them if necessary.

The 26th Emperor Jorpna

"Perform a full sensor sweep of the system," Straha ordered.

"Yes, Shiplord," the younger Lizardian male in charge of the sensor systems quickly answered.

Not, 'it shall be done,' thought Straha somewhat remorsefully as it was another example of the changes being observed by the Race's military. Terran responses were taking over the traditions of the Race. Yes, he would again admit that it was, for the sake of efficiency more efficient but he was already beginning to miss the old days.

"I pick up no transmissions," the lead communications male announced. "There is no audio or video transmissions in normal or subspace originating from the system. I now focus our scans on the planet."

Straha flicked his claw in confirmation. "Order the Grumi and Senyann to remain at station and secure our rear. Senior pilot Nignxe, approach the planet at point five of light."

Senior Pilot Nignxe immediately vectored directly towards the planet as opposed to using a more oblique route. "Aye, Superior sir."

Straha nearly sighed. That male was now mixing his responses. "Shields to full, set weapons on standby."

They weren't being targeted but he was playing it safe. Lack of communications and destroyed communications systems indicated some type of disaster or attack. Most likely the Tok'ra were attacked and Straha feared what he might find. His mind racing, he suspected the Goa'uld even though current data indicated that if they were responsible, then it was an immediate declaration of war between them and the UCW. If this was the purpose of the attack, then it was foolish as the Ashtorath were not powerful enough to prevail against the Coalition.

"Shiplord, I report that all space borne satellites destroyed around orbit of the planet are either disabled or destroyed."

"Send a transmission packet to UCW command along with our sensor sweeps and inform them of our initial findings. We will continue our approach to the planet. Continue to focus your sensors on the planet."

"It shall be done."

The Race was known for its extradentary patience, but the crew of the 26th Emperor Jorpna were at full alert, a result of their training by the Terran military. Years of military indoctrination had infused them with the Terrans more warlike and erratic characteristics. The Fleetlord never liked how the Race's military was changing, but he agreed to the necessity given the dangers surrounding them. But the Fleetlord believed, Illogically, that when the threats were contained then the Race could return to the way it was. It was a fantasy and both males knew it. But, it was a nice fantasy. It was time for the Race and its friendly neighbors to survive.

"Shiplord, scans of the planet are coming in. There is no humanoid life present. The location when the Tok'ra city is located has suffered a nuclear detonation. The city is wrecked. The radiation profile is unknown, however the devastation extends for thirty kilometers from the center of the city's location. I estimate that the explosion was equal to a twenty-megaton detonation. However, Superior Sir, the explosion pattern is not consistent with known or established detonations. The radiation profile is not within known parameters."

"By the Emperor! Continue the scans. Look for survivors outside of the zone of devastation."

"It shall be done."

"Shiplord, the stargate did not undergo catastrophic failure. I have discovered its location five kilometers below the surface. The area is highly radioactive, but it can be salvaged."

"All evidence indicates that this was no accident. I want all ships to scan surrounding space carefully. Be on alert."

"Aye, Superior sir."

"Send another data packet. Let Central Command know what we have found and get me a direct transmission line to UCW command now."

"It shall be done."

Shang-La

Anna Sheridan made her way up the stairs carefully as it wouldn't do to stumble and destroy the effect. Judging by the tenseness of the audience glaring at her, she was very aware that if she made a single misstep, her life was forfeit. The Ashtorath Goa'uld were a paranoid and vain species, not unlike the Centauri in ancient times. Emperor Catagia and his monstrous eight-year-old son (the only surviving child as the others suffered interesting and bizarre deaths) represented the paranoia and arrogance of his species and that made him very useful to her associates' plans.

Her two Jaffa guards were on edge but not as much as they were the first time she was here. This time, her 'companions' were not being sensed by the Jaffa or the Goa'uld. They learned to move among them without detection now. The lack of that sensitivity would put the leadership here more at ease and therefore somewhat more receptive to her plans.

Once more, she had chosen a more conservative style of dress as compared to the gaudy and flashy style of the Goa'uld ruler. Yet, she wore the colors of power, blue with a touch of purple, the colors of royalty representing both submission and power; pliable but not weak. The Goa'uld would interpret her as useful but a possible threat if crossed. It was a dangerous ploy but one useful to her associates' plans. And if everything went according to plans, a new relationship between the Goa'uld and her associates would be forged this this day. If not, then the Goa'uld usefulness come to an abrupt end before it began. They would be burned from existence and they wouldn't know what hit them before it was over.

Myrana stood at the base of the golden stairway. She was dressed (such as it was) in purple and blue with a touch of gold laced cloth. Her hair style was magnificent aced with gold braid elegantly mixed with her natural hair. It was almost as flashy as a real Goa'uld, Anna thought. Astartea's style was flashier than her counterpart. She was dressed in a pure gold costume. On her head was a solid gold crown that Catagia would be embarrassed to place on his head.

They called themselves Lords but, they still thought of themselves as gods Anna mused. They had no idea what a true god was.

A mental touch, just a flicker, pulled Anna's attention from the twins, as she thought of them, and made her glance towards another section of the hall. One of her invisible masters had noted something of interest and when she saw what it was, she had to suppress her smirk. Two other Ashtorath Lords were observing in the background. If she remembered her briefing correctly, then both Ashtoreth and his sister Atargatis had decided to attend this meeting. Good. The only other Goa'uld Lord not present was Anath. However, the fact that the Goa'uld warlords were present meant that he had made a bigger impression on them than she first believed. They were both staring at her, scrutinizing her so she returned the favor.

Ashtoreth was shaped liked a body builder. He was tall, handsome and had a long dark beard that shrieked 'Persian king' stereotype. His clothing reflected that particular time period. He carried a huge curved sword completing the ensemble. By contrast, Atargatis could pass for an Earth human in her 21st period style of dress which she apparently favored. But she carried twin energy pistols, zats if she remembered correctly. Both appeared interested in her, observant but content to allow Astartea to lead.

Anna listened as her associates gave her advice she needed to survive this encounter.

As a matter of respect and deference, Anna waited patiently for Myrana to speak first. The Jaffa carefully placed the chest she had brought to honor the Lords onto the floor in front of the suspicious woman.

Once again, you've come to grace our presence, Anna Sheridan of the unknown associates," Myrana purred dangerously. "What do you want?"

That's my line thought Anna. "I give my greetings to the Ashtorath Lords of the great and powerful Goa'uld Empire. My associates have instructed me to bring you a gift as a token of their good will."

Myrana glared at the human woman. Somehow she seemed different, less threatening than last time. "And what type of tribute is this?" she asked, naturally suspicious. Whatever was in inside the chest might explode. It wasn't the first time that an attempt was made by some enemy. The chest was scanned for chemical and biological threats and those scans were clean but Myrana was still cautious. "Your associates seem to want to ingratiate themselves to us so why do they send a servant to us? Why do they not come in person to present themselves to us?" her voice dripped with contempt.

"My associates are drawn to those of power, but they are not fools. They want to know if you are worthy enough for them to follow you."

Myrana drew back as if slapped. "You dare!" it was unlike her to be so rattled by a mere servant. Behind her, Astartea strained to keep from jumping up and immediately demanding the woman's death.

"Your Empire is powerful and vast. My associates are few and wary. That is why they want to know 'what is it that you want'. You spoke of the Tok'ra and the Tau'ri. I listened and my associates chose to give you a token of our sincerity." Anna turned towards the chest. "Can I open it. I assure you that our intentions are honorable."

Myrana took a step forward despite herself. Astartea was connected and between them, their joined curiosity forced her to nod once. With a small remote key, Anna unlocked the chest and the lid popped opened.

Myrana stared at the contents of the chest with a mixture of awe and horror. "What have you done?" she whispered.

Astartea moved towards the chest to personally see for herself what the contents were and despite themselves, both Ashtorath lords followed suit.

"These are the heads of the Tok'ra," Anna said. "Literally."

The huge Goa'uld Atargatis stepped forward to get a better look. "I never imagined that I would see the heads of the Tok'ra all contained in a box," he rumbled. There were dozens of curious onlookers trying to get a glimpse of the 'gift' that so startled the System Lords. "Clear the palace!" he roared. Then he turned to Anna. "Not you,' he commanded.

Unperturbed, she merely nodded.

"Either you and your associates are very confident, or you are fools," Atargatis hissed, after everyone had left the room. "You have poked the giant that are the Tau'ri."

"And in the process, may have started a war with them," Astartea finished. Her voice dripped in venom. "They will blame us for this action as soon as they find out."

"My sister is right," Atargatis rumbled. "We have no love for the Tok'ra. I am pleased that they are dead." He paused. "How many have you killed?"

"Twelve hundred and fifty-three confirmed deaths," Anna responded, not missing a beat. "Their city is molten ash."

Myrana gasped as did Ashtoreth. It was nearly the entire estimated population. If what Anna was saying was true then the Tok'ra were effectively eliminated as a threat. The Tok'ra were hated by the Goa'uld, being blood enemies for thousands of years. But the traitors were under the protection of the Tau'ri and any aggression by the Ashtorath against them could easily be a cause for war that the Ashtorath were not ready for.

"You have made an enemy of the Goa'uld!"

"No," Anna countered. "We have no intentions of having blame placed on you. There's no evidence, at all, that your empire had anything to do with the Tok'ra's demise. Any evidence they will find will not implicate your empire in any way. We would never do such a thing since we are seeking cooperation with you and a mutual defense pack against them."

"You mean the Tau'ri," Astartea surmised.

"Yes," Anna confirmed. "Sooner or later they will attack both you and my associates. Their values conflicts with ours. My associates believe that there should be one power guiding this galaxy and we believe that you, the Ashtorath System Lords should rule, not the Tau'ri. They are young but they are giants that should be crushed now before they become too strong.

Ashtoreth laughed. "You believe that you can stop the Tau'ri? Your associates are fools!"

Anna's face darkened. Myrana took a reflexive step back as a shadow covered her face. "Do you wish to cower under the yolk of the Tau'ri? You must know that they will wipe out your people, your empire, and finally your species. The Empire no longer extends across the galaxy because the Tau'ri destroyed the System Lords of old. You have learned from their mistakes but how much time do you have before you're crushed by the Terrans. How long will it be before they become an empire and come for you? We all know that their influence is spreading very quickly everywhere. Your influence will diminish as theirs grow."

"We will destroy the Tau'ri and their allies, crush them beneath our boots," Atargatis said, "just as we have crushed the Lucian Alliance. The conservatively dressed Goa'uld answered with remarkable control unlike her other brothers and sisters. "I am impressed at your confidence but your recklessness sow the seeds of disaster to the empire. You've ruined plans decades in the making and jeopardized others. For that, you and your associates should be exterminated."

"If I die, then I die," Anna said after a few second. "It will change nothing. My associates will move on and find another willing to use our services. You will have gained nothing and will lose a valuable ally. Our resources are vast, but we are looking for a leader. Perhaps we were wrong looking to you."

Astartea looked surprised. This woman was very strange and threats seemed to have little effect on her. She doubted torture would be useful against the woman. Perhaps a few deaths and resurrections might break her arrogant attitude. "What do you want?"

Anna smiled and her faced darkened a bit more. "My associates have claimed a star system that suits our purpose. We want no interference from your empire and in return we will support your wars, supply you will weapons and intelligence on the Tau'ri and their allies. We will help you win this galaxy."

"Bold words from some who hides behind a woman," roared Atargatis. Anna wonder if it was even possible for him to lower his voice.

"Where is this star system that your associates hide in?" asked Myrana, who fully expected that Anna would stall and not reveal its location. Instead Anna anticipated the question and withdrew a small tablet which contained star charts and the location. The coordinates were a fabrication of course but it would take time for the Goa'uld to find out the truth. The sector was filled with collapsed stars and solar eddies and exploration was difficult. Confirmation would not be easy. By then it would be far too late. "My associates value their peace and solitude. They are also loyal do everything they can to help you achieve your objective, but they want to know the answer to their question. 'What do you want?'"

The three Ashtorath Lords and Myrana as one, stared at the chest filled with severed heads and then each other. Not one of them trusted Anna Sheridan but her question was a simplistic one and if there was a chance that her dubious associates could succeed without them becoming actively involved, then the answer to such a simple question was worth it.

It was expected that the Tau'ri would naturally assume that it was they who destroyed the Tok'ra and they would have to prepare for a war in case they came seeking revenge. They could honestly deny that they had nothing to do with the destruction of the Tok'ra and they could honestly say that they were happy about it. It was the truth and there was nothing connecting them to the destruction. The Tau'ri would not start a war without proof and there was none. If Anna lied to them, then the Lords would willingly join with the Tau'ri and hunt these associated to extinction.

"What do you want?" Anna asked once more. The shadows dancing across her faces darkened even more.

The question appeared to be more of a desire than a want and Astartea chose to speak/ "What do we want? We want to rule this galaxy again as we did once before. We want the worlds of the Tau'ri burned to ashes and its people scattered to the winds. We want the survivors to hide in fear of the Goa'uld for eternity and their allies to burn with them. We want to control this galaxy as is our right. That is what we want. Can you fulfill our desires?" she smirked.

"In time," Anna told them to their collective astonishment. "I wouldn't worry about them too much. The Tau'ri will be too busy trying to survive to bother you." Anna bowed. "Is there anything else?"

Jump spaceonboard the transport Caynon

Catagia is a madman," Anna said as she sipped a cup of water. Her transport was submerged in jump space, safe from the prying eyes and sensors of the Goa'uld ships undoubtedly trying to track them. They were unable to follow their Shadow crab carrier as they returned to their base. "These Goa'uld are arrogant but very dangerous."

"Their greed and their hatred for Earth will be very useful," Jason answered. The old man was pleased at Anna's results. She could have been easily killed by those thugs. "We'll have to be careful though. We can't trust them."

"True, they are a potential danger and they will stab us in the back the first chance they get," Anna agreed. "But the Earth of this reality is more dangerous. Their power, their knowledge is impressive and growing. We must neutralize them first before we deal with the Goa'uld."

"Agreed," Jason answered. He brushed back his silver hair. "Our associates finally have their forces in play. The others are coming but Drakh are here. I predict that it's going to be a busy time for the Earthers and their allies." He smiled at the havoc that was about to occur. "I have a question. How did you deal with Astartea's demand to meet with one of our associates?"

She smiled–as much as one such as she could. Even Jason didn't share the connection that Anna had with their Shadows. And he always remembered that the Anna Sheridan he once knew was dead and this woman was merely a shell for something not human. "I had one of our soldiers come down. It was quite a spectacle. It raised more questions than answerers and that will keep them off balance. The masters were quite amused by their reactions."

Jason laughed for a few moments. "I wish I had been there to see their reactions." He brushed it aside. "The pieces are almost set. War is coming and in the end only the strong will survive."

"Anna nodded in agreement. "Our masters will finally be able to shape this galaxy without the Vorlons sticking their noses in and interfering."

"The Terrans here won't know what hit them."

"It's a shame really. They could be so useful."

Yes, but unlike the real Earth, they are so chaotically ordered. Fence sitters. Not what our masters want at all. Still, we must thank General O'Neill for helping us discover this wonder place."

Anna raised her glass. "To O'Neill. Thank you for leading us to you."

She took a long sip of her cool water as her transport was ferried to the new home of the dancers in the darkness.

End Book One. Roads Paved in Shadow: Prelude to War

Next: Book Two. Roads Paved in Shadow: Earth War