Stargate: Immortal

by Seraphin2011

Book III: The Ori gone, Aschen imprisoned, Wraith changed and pacified, yet the Alliance is threatened once more. The Vargas are coming and no one knows how they are going to survive an enemy that spans throughout the known universe and had done so for billions of years. By closing the anomalies, they have postponed the invasion by more than two years, but will that be enough?

30. The Gathering

Author's note: Here it is :)

Thanks to my beta, and I hope you'll like the chapter.

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Jack stood before the transparent external wall of his office, transfixed by the picture-in-picture displays that portrayed the various planets in the solar system, especially the images of Mars and its surroundings, so magnified that they appeared closer than Earth's moon. But the interactive wall was not just a source of awe and wonder; it also highlighted concerning events occurring in the solar system.

While standing beside him, Sam was equally absorbed in the displays. "Terraforming Mars would have been a colossal undertaking with dubious rewards," Sam mused. "We would have given up on it."

He chuckled, remembering how Sam had barged into his office earlier, shouting, 'Io's on the move!'

"It took me a while to realize you were referring to Jupiter's moon," he said. "I also knew there had to be something weird going on since you wouldn't have stormed in here like that for no reason. I almost laughed at the thought of Io deciding to leave Jupiter, though."

"I worry about your thought process sometimes," Sam quipped. "I couldn't make sense of it when I first received telemetry about Io's strange movement away from Jupiter. At one point, I thought it might have been a bizarre dream; I had a few like that lately."

"I'm concerned about what kind of dreams you're having," he replied dryly before returning to the main topic. "But I couldn't believe how quickly things escalated after that."

Io hurtled toward Mars at an alarming speed as if it had developed a sudden affection for the distant planet. Of course, such a change in trajectory did not go unnoticed by Earth's telescopes, and important people began calling in a panic, seeking answers to the unprecedented event.

Hayes was the first to call, initially joking but soon turning serious. Jack had no explanation to offer him for events that made no sense. Hayes not receiving answers meant he could not pass those on to other concerned parties. Consequently, the rest of the day was filled with a relentless stream of calls, leaving Jack drained. He couldn't help but think that people expected him to own a magical ball with all the answers.

"To say things have gotten worse is putting it mildly," Sam said as she marveled at the mess in the solar system. "Much matter is traveling toward Mars, just like we postulated we would need to terraform the planet. Like increasing its mass, adding a metal core to create a strong magnetic field, bringing it closer to the Sun where it's warmer, changing the atmospheric composition, and a million other things that we haven't thought of yet."

"What are your time estimates?" asked Jack.

"It's hard to predict how long before we can colonize Mars," said Sam. "The terraforming process could take anywhere from six months to two years, and we can't be sure how long it will take for all the changes to settle in once whatever changes are happening in the system are complete. It's better not to guess."

"I think we'll be sending settlers to Mars within a decade," Jack interjected.

"I agree," Sam said, "but Venus will take longer."

Several planets in their solar system were undergoing significant changes. Venus was slowly moving away from the Sun, while Mercury was breaking apart, forming new moons and excess matter on its way to Venus and Mars. It would take a moon or two for Venus to become habitable. The composition of Venus was also changing, with the amount of carbon dioxide in its atmosphere decreasing rapidly. With a similar gravity and composition, Venus could one day become Earth's sister planet.

"What about these streams of matter, and how long will they continue to travel towards the habitable planets?" he asked.

"It's hard to say," Sam replied. "We don't know where it's all coming from. But one thing is for sure. Our solar system will be unmatched in the galaxy if this continues."

With streams of rare elements and minerals traveling towards the future habitable planets, Jack mused at the possibilities of an enriched solar system.

"Most heavy elements like neutronium are going to Mars to raise its mass. But Venus will also get a dose of rare elements and some minerals we've never even heard of," he explained. "Lya promised to compensate us for the Creation Shard they took, but I thought it would be only knowledge they'll share. What we got is beyond my wildest expectations."

"It's frustrating," Sam said, a look of annoyance on her face. "We were struggling to decipher the knowledge we'd been given, and the research we thought would take years or even decades was suddenly made clear to us. As a scientist, it's hard when you've worked so long for an answer, and it's just handed to you."

Jack understood Sam's sentiment of wanting to make discoveries without outside help. But they were fighting the powerful Vargas, and no amount of technological advancement could ensure victory. They were not in a position to turn down such gifts.

"Rodney was disappointed to be robbed of the chance to finish the BattleNet 2.0 project," Sam said, "but the benefits of completing it sooner are immeasurable. The simulations predict a tenfold increase in our fleet's efficiency with the new BattleNet 2.0 system. Even Rodney understands how much this means for our people fighting on the front line."

BattleNet 2.0 represented the pinnacle of a communication protocol for units working together on the battlefield. It boasted impenetrable communications that were impossible to disrupt, and unlike the first version, it allowed for the exchange of copious amounts of energy over distances of up to one light minute. By establishing links with five other ships, a fleet could create a vast network that exchanged energy enough to make a difference to distressed vessels. This meant a dying ship could receive power from friendly units, strengthening its dwindling shields and surviving an otherwise desperate situation.

Furthermore, the BattleNet 2.0 system had a high bandwidth that allowed operators to communicate through the immersive system with Cylons, fighter drones, and other such semi-automated remote units. Even if a Nox interdiction device was active, the protocol used the unaffected highest subspace band. Furthermore, a quantum entanglement system ensured it was resistant to external tampering.

"He'll get over it," Jack said. "Besides, he is finally getting some rest. The guy does more research than any scientist and regularly participates in our Council's activities. How he manages to do it, probably stims."

"Once, I saw him with a big bottle on his desk. It looked a bit like a holy object as he placed it in the best place for a quick grab. At first, I thought it was a large Coke, but upon closer inspection, I noticed it was filled with coffee. When I visited three hours later, only an inch of the dark liquid remained," explained Sam. "He stood motionless behind his monitor, only his fingers flying across the keyboard and with his eyes so wide open that it was mildly terrifying."

"I bet," Jack said, snickering while trying to imagine the scene. "He was also planning to work on Earth's dome shield to see if he could improve it, but that too fell through when the Ascended provided the necessary knowledge."

"Now, even a gravity torpedo shouldn't be able to break through," Sam said. "But I'm more impressed with its efficiency and versatility."

The shield's remarkable efficiency meant that it required little energy to maintain, and its benefits extended far beyond defense. Its ability to block space radiation proved particularly useful in addressing various challenges on Earth. Despite advances in energy conversion technology, energy consumption continued to rise, leading to concerns about overheating the planet. However, by selectively reducing heat from the Sun in certain areas, the shield was able to help transform previously uninhabitable desert regions into thriving communities. Agriculture could now flourish with the help of desalination projects to supply fresh water.

"If we combine the technology we have now and the flow of precious materials entering the solar system, Earth will inevitably become, as you suggested, a jewel beyond compare," he said but then frowned. "We'll probably have to keep taxes on Earth much higher than on colonized worlds. Otherwise, no one would ever move out."

The Terran Federation implemented a key strategy of reducing living costs to make settling on other planets more attractive. They offered great incentives like free land and spacious houses for those who preferred living outside the urban areas or lovely apartments in the city center for those who favored city life. In addition, they exempted people from taxes and supplied readily available scholarships for further education. Consequently, many people chose to leave Earth, where living expenses were high, and education was often associated with acquiring loans.

Despite the option to settle on other planets, most people would prefer Venus or Mars once they become available due to faster relocation processes and other benefits. The Terran Federation would make it easier by deploying intra-system portals that instantly connected the three habitable planets. Within a few years, the number of inhabitants on Earth would decrease significantly, and the overcrowding problem would be reduced. That would lead to a drop in real estate prices, making life on Earth less expensive.

However, this strategy had an unintended consequence, making distant colonies less appealing, contrary to the Terran Federation wanting their people to spread throughout the galaxy or even further.

"I still think planets like Haven and Terra Nova will continue attracting settlers. Earth will always be more expensive than other planets because it is the center of the Terran Federation and where human life began. The higher cost will surely make some decide to settle on a planet where they can have a house, a great education, and basic necessities for free. Besides, Haven has things to offer that Earth doesn't," Sam said.

"What? Its stronger gravity?" he retorted, reluctant to think of it as a positive.

"That too," said Sam. "Many studies showed that higher gravity positively affects our bodies."

"You mean your body," Jack corrected her. He was an Alterran and was not as adaptable as the humans who had gone through Genesis. "But I see what you mean. The Army and Marines are in love with the planet. But I don't think it's just gravity. Something about that planet makes it unlike any of the thousands I visited in my SG1 days."

"After a year of living on Haven, many said their vitals improved more than expected if only higher gravity and exercising were taken into account," Sam said. "But I think we're derailing from the main topic."

"We're still waiting for Daniel to show up. But yes, we were talking about the gifts we received from the Ascended," Jack said. His eyes lit up with a mischievous glint as he recalled something. "On that note, Odin was aghast when I gave him a report on the upgrades we received from the Ascended. He muttered something about now having to recall all their ships for an overhaul just as they finished with the last big one."

"You shouldn't be so happy about someone else's misfortune. It affects us too, you know. Each department gained knowledge that boosted their research or, in some cases, even completely changed its direction," Sam said. "Small or large, virtually no component on our ships could not be further upgraded now. As our fleet grows, performing such overhauls has become a real problem."

He immediately corrected her. "Not all departments because Felger didn't receive any help."

Sam furrowed her brow, deep in thought. "I can't help but wonder why Felger didn't receive any," she mused aloud. "His project is in a bind, perhaps even more so than most."

"I bet the Ascended understand how dangerous it is to give Felger more ammunition," Jack said. "When Felger is involved, the danger is never small."

"Lya also mentioned that many Ascended see him as an anomaly. They might have decided best to observe without interfering," Sam said thoughtfully.

It was amusing how they talked about a human being as if he were an exotic space creature to be observed from a distance. But they were talking about Felger, and nothing about him was ever normal.

"Did he say anything about being left out?" asked Jack.

"He said he didn't mind, that he would uncover the truth about the Universe by himself, without anyone's help. But the smile he had on his face," Sam said, shaking her head worriedly. "I'm telling you, if I was mildly scared of Rodney after he drank half a gallon of coffee, I was scared shitless after seeing Felger smile. I had nightmares for the next couple of nights."

"Let's hope he discovers the truth about the universe before he destroys it," he said.

"Sorry I'm late, guys!" Daniel said as he barged into Jack's office. "Adria couldn't decide whether to come."

"Is she?" Sam asked, looking behind Daniel but not seeing anyone.

"Vala just called her; something about their trip to Earth that they've been planning for months," Daniel said. "She'll be here in a minute."

"We were planning an outing this weekend just for us girls, but Vala wasn't sure if she could make it," said Sam unhappily. "We may have to postpone it again, just now that Weir is here on Earth."

"She's taking a long vacation and will stay here for a few weeks," Jack said.

"I know, but she also told me you tend to cut someone's vacation short on a whim," Sam said, giving him a stern look.

"Hey, I'm the last person who wants to force people to return to work," he said, irritated by the insinuation.

"You're also the type of guy who, if he has to work overtime and be miserable, would want to share his misery with others," Daniel said.

"That's an unfounded accusation. I only make people go back to work when there's no other choice," Jack said, looking hurt. "But don't worry. No diplomatic crisis is looming on the horizon that would force Weir to cut her vacation short. Also, half the Illustrious crew scattered to all corners of the galaxy to ensure they didn't get recalled. Some even went a step further by traveling to Asura. Although, I can't understand why anyone would choose to vacation there."

"Only an hour ago, you were thinking of calling Weir to act as an intermediary between the Ulysseans and us," Sam accused him.

"That doesn't count. Weir could be back walking on the beach, visiting shopping malls, or doing whatever she does when on vacation the same day," Jack said.

Adria entered the room and asked, "Should we ask her if that doesn't count?"

Jack replied, "Go ahead, but remember she's a member of an endangered species."

"What endangered species?" Sam asked.

"She's a workaholic whose hands start shaking after a day or two of doing nothing," Jack explained. "If she didn't want to be a mediator, she would have said so. But it didn't take her even a minute to reply to my message agreeing to do it."

"I'll have to talk to her," Sam said, looking concerned. "It's not good if she doesn't rest."

"Said the pot to the kettle," Jack said as he looked at her accusingly. "It might surprise you to hear this, but you belong to the same endangered species."

"I work on Earth, and I go home every day—well, almost every day—and I can visit Earth whenever I want. If anything, I have too much free time on my hands," Sam said.

"Exactly what a true workaholic would say," Jack said, noticing Daniel nodding in agreement.

"Well, you work all day too!" Sam said, cornered by their stares.

"That's Walter's fault. It's not like I get the shakes if I don't work," Jack said. "I wouldn't have a problem spending the entire day doing nothing. And when I say nothing, I mean not moving or thinking. I might even slow my heart rate and breathing and spend the day as a corpse. I've done it several times before."

"Maybe you're the opposite of a workaholic," Daniel commented without anyone asking him to.

"Yeah, what you've explained now kind of feels more wrong than working too much," Sam added.

"How can it be worse than going crazy if you don't have work to do?" Jack said, not understanding how an overachiever's brain worked. "But let's stop talking about irrelevant stuff. We gathered here for a reason."

Nodding in agreement, they all found a chair and sat around Jack's table. "So, we have a bunch of fairies flapping around in need of a new home. And more importantly, they need some special energy to survive, which can only be found within what they call a Spirit World. Their ancestors went there before dying and became a part of it as spiritual energy. Did I understand it right?"

"That's how they explained it," Daniel continued, but his expression conveyed he didn't fully get it. "I don't think there will be any problems with the first part. As a species, they do not have any unique requirements that would make finding a suitable planet difficult. Worlds suitable for human colonization are acceptable to the Ulysseans. As I see it, it's just a matter of finding the best match in our galaxy, a planet no one has laid claims on."

"The surviving Ulyssean fleet consists of only a dozen transport ships and two smaller warships, all of which are in poor condition," Sam explained. "Although the ships are overcrowded, their entire population does not exceed four hundred thousand. We can easily build them a new home, especially considering their size. I suggest settling them near Earth, Terra Nova, or Haven."

"Finding a habitable planet near Terra Nova or Haven shouldn't be an issue, but I'm not sure if there are any near Earth. The closest planet that could work is Abydos, but it might seem like a punishment to give them that planet," Jack said, referring to the barren planet he'd liked visiting solely because of the people who'd once lived there.

"Why not settle them on Terra Nova or Haven?" Daniel asked.

"Would they even want that?" Sam asked.

"We can offer them a whole planet if needed, but it would be more practical to settle them within one of our systems. With its existing infrastructure, Terra Nova can easily support their needs. Moreover, it would be advantageous for us to encourage interaction between our citizens and other species, promoting healthy relationships."

"It sounds like a social experiment," Jack commented.

"In a sense, it would be. Our limited interactions with other intelligent species may inadvertently fuel isolationism and xenophobia. Our goal should be to create a society where our people can confidently walk the streets of our worlds, including Earth, while surrounded by other species," Daniel explained.

Sam widened her eyes. "Let's not limit your idea to just the Ulysseans. We should open our doors to our furry friends whose colony ship Captain Donovan saved years ago."

"Their ship is closing on their destination, so it might be best to open communications immediately after," he said, thinking of the helical colony ship he sometimes liked to watch as it took the cat-like people to their new home at sub-light speed. "But let's discuss the furry friends another time. For the Ulysseans, we should ask if they're open to settling on Terra Nova. We can offer them a large chunk of the planet to call their own, along with a few orbital shipyards and a space station. If they find life there intolerable, we'll build whatever they need elsewhere."

"And we should immediately offer them membership in the Terran Federation!" Daniel added hastily.

Jack felt annoyed. "Calm down, Daniel. They could become members of the Second Grand Alliance, preventing them from joining the Terran Federation. Our priority is building a place for them to live and progress peacefully."

Sam interjected, "We also need to address their other problem and do it quickly."

"Why? Is their situation that urgent?" Daniel asked.

Sam replied, "It's true they are running low on energy from the Spirit World, but there's a more pressing reason we should act fast."

Jack picked up. "By sheer coincidence, or perhaps guidance, Destiny is close to the Ulyssean homeworld. That allows us to launch a mission and take whatever is needed from their planet before anyone's the wiser."

"Anyone's the wiser?" Daniel asked.

"The Vargas are not stupid," Jack explained. "Once news spreads that we've made contact with the Ulysseans, they may increase their presence in their galaxy. They know we can travel great distances and would try to help the Ulysseans."

"What guarantee do we have that the Vargas aren't already there?" Daniel asked.

"None, but based on experience, they are known to delegate work to other races or leave galaxy patrolling to the Reapers," Jack replied. "I find it hard to believe that they would have stayed in the Ulyssean galaxy for centuries if it was truly devoid of life, as the Ulysseans claim."

Daniel appeared hesitant. "I understand you want to send the Destiny to check out the Ulysses' home world, hoping that only a small enemy force is stationed there. But wouldn't it be risky for a lone ship if the Vargas are already present?"

"The alternative is equally unappealing," he admitted. "A conflict with the Vargas would be a massive waste of time, and if they muster a larger force than us, it could end disastrously. We could send our main fleet with the Sphere, but I'm all for it if we can achieve the same goal with a quick insertion."

"Destiny can handle the other races, especially now that she's fully repaired," Sam added.

"Repaired or not, Destiny is still a solitary ship whose primary defense is escaping into FTL," Daniel said, voicing his concerns.

"That's what she'll do if the situation gets dangerous," Jack reassured. "Look, I know it's not ideal, but it's the best we can do if we don't want to divert our main fleet. A quick insertion to gather energy from the Spirit World, but if things get tricky, we abort the mission and devise a better plan."

"Alena has expressed her willingness to participate," Sam added.

"Another reason why I'm not fond of the idea," Daniel replied. "She is their leader. Isn't that similar to sending you on an extraction mission deep into enemy territory, Jack?"

"I've been in plenty of situations like that before," Jack said. "Just think about how many times I've gone back in time to fight the Shrike, only to end up stuck there for two hundred years."

"Daniel has a point," Sam interjected. "We wouldn't have let you go if we had any other choice. Unfortunately, the situation with Alena is not so different."

"In what way?" Daniel inquired.

"Alena is the most capable of accessing the Spirit World, and the mission's success depends on entering that dimension quickly," Sam explained. "With the limited spirit energy they have left, we may not have many chances."

"What we're going to do has already been decided. Now let's discuss the reasons we've gathered here today," Jack said, turning to Adria. "I hear things are going well in your part of the woods. So much so that the priors might join us in the fight against the Vargas."

"They are eager for two reasons," Adria began explaining. "The first is obvious. They understand the threat the Vargas pose and know that if we don't oppose them, it's only a matter of time before they invade our galaxy."

Although it could take centuries for the Vargas to enter the Ori's galaxy due to the entire Laniakea supercluster being sealed off, the fact still was that a prior could live for centuries. It could happen for the same generation to fight off a Vargas Incursion into their territory, which pushes them to participate in the conflict.

Jack couldn't disagree with their decision to join the fight, as he understood the Vargas were not just their problem but everyone's.

"And what is the other reason?" Jack inquired, curious about any other motivation they might have.

"The situation in our galaxy has stabilized," Adria explained. "It took time, but people realized the Priors were unaware of the Ori's true motives. They even acknowledged that I, as the last surviving Ori, was also kept in the dark."

"I can imagine it took some effort to convince them," Sam commented.

"I believe so, too," Jack agreed. "It hasn't been long since the Ori were vanquished, and the truth was revealed."

"Indeed, it required significant effort. The Priors and I have been working tirelessly on a modified version of Origin that no longer imposes belief in higher beings but focuses on True Enlightenment," Adria elaborated.

"I'm curious about this True Enlightenment," Jack chuckled. "What exactly does it entail?"

"True Enlightenment must begin with the truth," responded Daniel instead of Adria. "Nothing is hidden from the citizens of the Ori galaxy. They now know that the chances of any of them ascending are almost non-existent. However, they are being taught a way of life that may eventually lead to their distant descendants ascending. Origin also emphasizes the benefits of technology but also the dangers of over-reliance at the expense of spiritual well-being."

"I understand the point. No need to quote me the entire book," Jack interjected. "However, none of this seems connected to the other reason for joining the war against the Vargas. Am I missing something?"

"You are indeed missing something," Daniel retorted, out of spite for being cut off abruptly by Jack.

"You two do enjoy bickering," Adria remarked.

"We do!" they both replied simultaneously.

"Let's move on," Sam intervened. "Adria, please explain the connection."

Adria gathered her thoughts before continuing. "We changed the Origin, and the Priors put in a lot of effort to provide aid and education to less fortunate worlds. But it wasn't enough. People were still distrustful, and some even chose to live in squalor rather than have contact with the Priors. Moreover, the people were divided. Each world kept to itself, and on some worlds, each city established its state, only to engage in hostilities with neighboring cities that were once closely related."

"Looks like we're not going to get an answer today," Jack concluded.

He could have sworn that Adria's eyes lit up, and her hair rose slightly. He might have gone a little too far.

"Why is he so impatient today?" Adria asked Sam.

"You'll understand when we touch on the next topic. Just hold on until then," Sam explained, then turned to Jack. "Shut it, Jack!"

Without further comments from him, Adria collected her thoughts and continued explaining. "We needed something to unite people and change their perception of the Priors. We needed a powerful enemy, worse than the Ori, threatening our existence. With such an enemy invading our galaxy and the opportunity to fight alongside the humans who freed them from Ori's tyranny, the humans finally began to change their minds. Suddenly, the fight over the pumpkin field with the neighboring village no longer seemed that important. What mattered was acquiring weapons to defend against a much more ruthless enemy, a real bogeyman spoken in the most nightmarish stories. And there was only one place to get those weapons—the Priors, the only ones in the galaxy with the means to supply them with what they needed to defend their homes."

"For a moment, I doubted how you managed to make people believe in the Priors," Jack said. "You tricked them."

"We didn't deceive them because the threat is real," Adria replied. "The number of Priors can be counted in thousands. Without the humans in the Ori galaxy, they could never have become a force capable of opposing the Vargas. The Priors need other people as much as humans need the Priors."

"I see. But it looks like everything might collapse once the conflict with the Vargas is resolved," Jack said.

"That could be decades in the future," Adria said. "I hope that by then, people will start relying on the Priors to make their lives easier, and breaking the relationship would endanger that."

"And it's a problem that might arise after the war with the Vargas ends," Daniel added. "So, it's not something to worry about right now when any help is more than welcome."

"Alright, you've united the galaxy and are ready to fight with us against our common enemy," Jack said. "What kind of firepower can we expect from you?"

"The Priors have been building shipyards and ships for the past five years, even though they didn't have enough staff to use them," explained Adria. "We have a thousand ships ready and fully crewed, and soon there will be many more. Furthermore, our recent research has paid off, and our ships' shields can now negate 99% of the draining effect of the Vargas' weapon."

"Oh, can you share your research with us?" Sam asked, suddenly highly interested.

"Of course, but I'm not sure how much it will help you," said Adria. "Our shields work differently, as they can regenerate using the energy from the weapon used, which is why we can negate most of the draining effect. Since your shields work on a different principle, you must discard them and take ours."

"Absolutely not. Simply drawing energy is not enough to warrant such a drastic change. Our latest shields have numerous advantages over yours," Jack firmly stated.

Sam chimed in, "We've made efforts to reduce the draining effect of the Vargas' weapons ourselves. While we may not have achieved as high a percentage as you, we're confident that our latest shields will significantly improve our ships' survivability. Implementing the changes is also relatively straightforward."

One of the gifts bestowed upon them by the ascended was improved shielding from the smallest to the largest vessel. Though the new systems hadn't been tested yet, it was already widely believed that the days of their shields lasting only a few minutes in combat against the Vargas were over. However, Jack was perplexed the ascended hadn't found a shield configuration that could thoroughly neutralize the Vargas' weapon. The changes might have required a complete overhaul of their systems, leading the ascended to make compromises. Alternatively, the Vargas' weapon could be an exceptionally advanced piece of technology that was difficult to counter, even for the Ascended. No wonder their scientists struggled to understand the weapon's principles, despite having a few working examples salvaged from the wreckage of a destroyed Vargas ship.

"Do you think your ships will be able to fight the Vargas?" Jack inquired.

Adria explained, "Since our shields are impervious to their weapons, the only threat the Vargas pose is with their antiproton beams. However, only their largest ships have it, and they make up less than five percent of their fleet. The challenge lies in our offensive capabilities. Our weapons can penetrate the Vargas' shields and damage their exposed components, but their armor presents a significant obstacle. We're developing a weapon that can disrupt their armor's ability to dissipate energy. Unfortunately, it's still in its infancy."

Jack reassured, "That's not an insurmountable problem; it just means we must have mixed fleets. Our weapons can destroy their armor, and your ships can manage the rest."

The idea of sharing their advanced technology with other races was discussed, but the risks associated with sharing weapons like quantum disruptors were deemed too significant. Therefore, they concluded that it was best to keep this technology exclusive to the Second Great Alliance, as sharing it could potentially lead to catastrophic consequences. For instance, someone might create a larger version and use it to destabilize a planet's core.

However, they agreed to share other knowledge with the Priors, specifically the Alterran and Asgardian databases on genetic manipulation. This information should help them overcome the limitations imposed on their genetic code by the Ori and increase their population.

Adria added, "We also thought that forming mixed fleets was the best solution."

"Great! With your inclusion, we now have an alliance of twenty-four races, thirteen of which provide military assets," Jack said. "It's an unlucky number, but what can we do?"

Daniel quipped, "Maybe we'll find at least one more race during our journey."

"I don't think we will," Jack said in a heavy tone. "We've exhausted Liam's list of races, and finding capable allies ready to go against the Vargas is proving difficult. I'm honestly amazed we found that many."

"What about the Wraith?" Adria asked. "I don't know much about their current activities, but I do know they haven't joined the fight against the Vargas."

"They're willing to help, but there's a logistical problem," Jack explained. "Their ships are too big to fit through the supergate."

"We should have made the supergate bigger," Adria commented.

The supergate could have been bigger without any issues. A black hole could still supply enough energy even if it were ten times larger. However, they decided based on their ships' size without considering future needs. Now, deploying different gates would be difficult.

"It doesn't matter," Jack said. "When the time comes, we'll take the Wraith with the Sphere. But even the Sphere needs at least three months at full speed to return."

"It's strange to think about the mileage the Sphere is racking up," Daniel added.

"Yeah, it's weird to think in terms of billions of light years," Sam chimed in. "Let's hope there won't be a time when the Sphere is so far away that it takes years to return."

Space was vast, and if the Vargas' main base was at the edge of the known Universe, it might take decades to reach it, even with the Sphere. Even the number of supergates they would have to chain would become impractical. However, there were indications that the Vargas' home galaxy might not be that far away.

"I hope the information from the Ulysseans will be helpful," Jack said. "If the ones Alena mentioned are indeed the masterminds behind the Vargas, we may not have to travel as far to confront them."

At the height of their power, the Ulysseans were formidable people that the Vargas could not defeat without incurring heavy losses. That's why a new enemy surpassing the Vargas had appeared.

"Remembering how Liam's ship was affected by that strange weapon, their story reminded me of what the scientists said," Sam added. "I doubt there are two races with such an unusual weapon."

"No, they must be the same people, the masterminds standing above the Vargas," Daniel interjected. "And with the information that Alena provided, we now have an approximate location."

"If we can trust that information," Jack added skeptically.

"Why shouldn't we trust Alena?" Daniel questioned.

"Because of the unique method of gathering information," Jack said, his gaze growing darker.

"I'll admit, it's an unconventional method, but I don't see anything wrong with it," Daniel said, questioning Jack's reaction.

"No, I'm with Jack on this one," Sam said.

"What method are we talking about?" Adria asked, darting her gaze from one person to the other.

"When we asked Alena how she knew their location, she claimed a spirit told her," Jack said.

"A spirit?" Adria inquired.

"That was my exact reaction," Jack said. "Some spirit whispered to her their location."

"Oh, a spirit told her," Adria said, turning to Daniel. "Sorry honey, but I agree with Jack on this one. Someone claiming to have received information from a spirit has no probative value."

"That's not all!" Daniel shouted, giving Jack an accusing look. "She explained what spirits are. It was a lengthy and, in part, confusing explanation, but the bottom line is that the Ulyssean dimension allows consciousness to persist even after bodily death."

"That's not true, Daniel," Sam added.

"In what way?" Daniel asked.

"How you explained it might give the impression that a person retains their cognitive abilities," said Sam, shaking her head in denial. "That might be true for those who ascend, but not those who become spirits."

"What's the difference?" Adria asked, looking intrigued.

"According to Alena's explanation, when people are reborn in the Spirit dimension, they initially exist as a lump of energy without coherent thought," Sam explained. "But as more spirits are born, they merge and evolve into higher-order spirits. However, even then, their consciousness is not fully formed."

Jack interjected, "And here's the interesting part. When a certain number of spirits inhabit a specific area of the Spirit Dimension, they create a Spirit World based on their shared will. This is when the Spirit World and spirits mutually benefit, grow together, and gain consciousness. Alena described it as a conceptualization of their existence because they share the same will. I'm not exactly sure what that part meant."

"I think I understand," said Adria unexpectedly.

Jack raised an eyebrow. "You do?"

Adria continued, "These spirits are intangible beings, and the only way to prevent them from dispersing is by creating a world through their collective will. This world doesn't reject them; its laws strengthen their existence instead. When such a world emerges, its spirits become stronger because their existence becomes more concrete, and their will becomes more potent. With a strengthened will, the conceptualized world solidifies further."

"They're not made of flesh and blood, so they need something to anchor them from disappearing," Daniel added, speaking to no one in particular.

Adria explained further. "Based on your explanation, it seems that these lumps of energy are simply trying to survive. They join together into stronger conglomerates to avoid fading into nothingness, but even that is not enough. Eventually, they would still become irrelevant and forgotten, unable to experience living. So, a group of higher-level spirits with similar desires come together to conceptualize a world where they can exist not just as lumps of energy but as individuals who can thrive, grow, and experience all kinds of things. I, too, believe it's important not just to exist but to experience life to the fullest. The spirit world may not be so different from our mortal realm. It just might not be as stable."

"What do you mean it's similar to our mortal realm?" Daniel asked.

"Well, even in Origin, the mortal plane is spoken of as if conceptualized by a higher entity. The entire Universe might be someone's thought made tangible," replied Adria.

"Like the Creator... I wonder if it has anything to do with that Creation Shard thing... but there's no way to know for sure," Daniel mumbled.

"They're at it again," Jack addressed Sam, feeling fed up.

"These two can now continue their discussion for the next two hours, completely ignoring our existence," Sam said, sounding tired. "Are we going to disappear if they keep going like this?"

"Oy! You two!" Jack cried. Noticing they finally acknowledged his existence, he continued before that fleeting moment passed. "You can have your long and tedious philosophical debate after we finish with the main topic, and the two of us are gone. Or better yet, this is my office, so have your discussion elsewhere!"

"You're all prickly today," Daniel said.

Jack resisted the urge to throw a heavy decorative object at Daniel using telekinesis, knowing that Adria was present. The item would return to the sender at triple the speed.

It was better not to rouse the sleeping dragon.

"What were we even talking about?" Sam asked.

"Does the fading spirit telling Alena information about the Vargas constitute strong evidence to take into account when making our plans?" Jack said. "If you ask me, that doesn't belong in the weak evidence basket either."

Fading Spirits wandered the Spirit Dimension, usually because their Spirit World disappeared due to a lack of spirits to keep it conceptualized. Such spirits would float through the Spirit Dimension in search of another Spirit World but often fade away before finding one. Finding a suitable Spirit World that would accept them was extremely hard due to the uniqueness of each Spirit World.

But five hundred years ago, one such spirit wandered into Alena's Spirit World and conveyed information about the masters who stood above the Vargas and their location.

"According to Alena's explanation, Fading Spirits eventually lose consciousness as they drift through the Spirit Void," Sam elaborated, trying to clarify the information. "Even after a Spirit World accepts them, the spirit that emerges is often changed, with little memory of its previous existence. Which makes it hard to believe such evidence, and changing our plans based on this alone is troubling."

Daniel interjected, "So what's the alternative? Should we randomly choose a direction in the vast Universe?"

Jack nodded in agreement. "Unfortunately, Daniel is right. We are without a clear direction. But I prefer to have slightly stronger evidence before committing to a specific course of action."

The enormity of the Universe was not lost on them. Even with the Sphere capable of jumping 17.3 million light years, their exploration was limited to one direction, as searching a volume of space would take exponentially longer.

But after reaching the IC-1001 galaxy, the SGA was unsure of their next move. They had redirected the Sphere to get closer to the Destiny to save Liam, but they were uncertain if they were on the right track.

Knowing the location of the enemy's base could be the key to achieving their aim in a few years instead of spending centuries aimlessly jumping around. The Universe was vast, and despite securing their home by shutting down the Anomalies leading to the Laniakea supercluster, it was only a temporary solution. Everyone knew that the Vargas would eventually overcome this obstacle and come knocking on their door in full force.

The thought of facing the Vargas head-on, with all their forces united, was daunting to everyone. No one wanted that future to become a reality.

Adria tried to steer the discussion, "You don't have to decide where to send the Sphere right now."

Sam nodded. "You're right. We just received this information, and while it's not conclusive, it's still better than having nothing."

Jack shifted the conversation to another topic. "Let's move on to the next item on today's agenda," he said, looking at Daniel. "Tell me about your encounter with Teal'c."

"What to say? It went as expected," Daniel replied. "He seemed ready to break someone's neck. So I kept my distance, hoping it wouldn't be mine."

"Why would he be mad at you?" Adria asked, showing anger.

"He was angry at the universe, so I don't think it mattered who it was," Daniel explained. "He was lashing out at anyone who said something, so my strategy was only to speak when necessary or directly addressed."

"Did you get the recording?" Jack inquired.

"I uploaded it to the mainframe as soon as I returned," Daniel confirmed.

Jack accessed the file on his pad and started reviewing it. "Let's see what happened," he said.

The large holo-screen flickered to life, displaying multiple angles from various ships' cameras. The screen was filled with a plethora of data, including sensor readings and status updates of friendly units. In the center, Teal'c large flagship appeared, surrounded by the swirling blue of hyperspace. But the view quickly shifted to regular space as the fleet exited hyperspace on the outskirts of the Dakara system.

"There's an interdiction device in the system limiting travel to sub-light speed. I'll fast forward, or else we'll be staring at empty space for the next ten hours," Jack said.

"Let's run the APC and see what it says," Sam suggested, referring to the Asgard Prediction Core. It could analyze the data and provide great insights in real time.

"Good idea," Jack agreed.

The timer on the holo-screen started moving faster, and the image of Dakara transformed from a distant dot to a detailed planet. Jack stopped the fast-forwarding, and the Asgard Prediction Core began sharing its insights. It gave the JFN a clear advantage as they had fifty percent more ships than the Jaffa Empire. But there was more. Unlike the Empire, who believed educating people was a bother, the JFN had trained professionals skilled at taking full advantage of their ship's advanced systems.

The APC massively favored the JFN, predicting the Empire would decide to retreat after only ten minutes of engagement to avoid catastrophic losses. Jack noted that despite considering Dakara a sacred planet, the Empire's loss of ships and potential defeat would be more detrimental. After Dakara fell, the Empire would try to retake the system, benefiting the JFN further since he was sure they would lose even more ships.

"Everything seems to be in Teal'c favor," Jack said confidently. "The JFN fleet is in excellent condition, they have superior numbers, and their track record against the Empire is spotless even when they had equal forces."

"Then what went wrong?" Sam asked, echoing the question on everyone's mind.

"Good question," Jack said, his eyes fixed on the video footage.

The current situation was uneventful. The JFN fleet was making its final approach while the enemy positioned itself to block them. The APC calculated a 99% probability of victory for the JFN, though the machine's output was never absolute. To confirm, he scanned the data for any signs of additional orbital defenses or ground-based weapons that could surprise the JFN and turn the battle against them. However, nothing remarkable appeared. Furthermore, the enemy fleet was positioned far from the planet, preventing ground installations from providing adequate support.

It seemed strange to do so, but the Empire had previously used orbital bombardment to target cities. They might assume the JFN would employ the same strategy if they couldn't capture the planet by bombing a few cities before retreating. The Empire fleet must have pushed further away from the planet, making it challenging for the JFN to target cities.

Of course, the JFN would never do that, not even to an enemy who had done the same to them. Nevertheless, Jack was sure that a day would come when Teal'c would stand before the conquered Jaffa Empire's ruler just before killing him. The hatred between them far surpassed the hatred of the two leaders on opposite sides trying to win the war. It was personal, and Jack knew Teal'c would remove Bre'lac from the throne.

The APC suddenly started giving warning signals.

"What's happening?" he exclaimed, looking around at the others. "Does anyone see anything unusual?"

They stared intently at the sizeable holographic display, reviewing sensor data. Their datapads also displayed all the information they requested, but no information that could explain the APC's warning was immediately visible.

Jack inquired why the change occurred, but the APC's explanation was unclear.

"The Imperial Fleet is not behaving as expected," Jack relayed the APC's explanation. "Out of hundreds of battles analyzed in the past few years, the Empire never acted like this when cornered."

"I don't see anything particularly different in their movements," Sam said.

"The question is, when has the Empire behaved similarly?" Daniel asked. "The APC must have a reference point on which it bases its prediction."

Jack further read the available data, clueless at what he discovered. "The Empire used similar maneuvers when preparing for a full-scale offensive."

The JFN had a considerable advantage, and to turn the situation in its favor, the Empire must have a hidden ace to play. Jack thought they might have developed a new weapon that could easily penetrate the JFN's shields, but he immediately dismissed that idea. The shield they were currently employing was improved by Anubis using Ancient knowledge, which even caused headaches for the Tollans and Asgard to bypass. Later on, they used Aschen technology to enhance the shield further. The shield on Ha'tak IV could resist even the ancient drones, needing more sent in a row before breaching it.

Jack found it hard to believe that warriors who struggled with basic multiplication were able to develop the scientific principles behind a weapon capable of bypassing a Ha'tak shield. The Empire's Jaffa must be fortunate that systems on a Ha'tak were idiot-proof and didn't allow the input of any dangerous configuration that would result in the weapon malfunctioning. Otherwise, they would have killed themselves in a never-ending series of accidents long ago.

It would have been preferable if the system weren't user-friendly. The Lucian Alliance could not have caused mayhem across the galaxy with scores of Ha'taks if they were harder to operate. However, the Goa'uld wanted the Jaffa to be able to use them but also withheld any knowledge that could be used against them.

"What could go wrong?" he muttered.

"What?" Daniel asked.

"Nothing, just thinking out loud," he replied.

Rejecting weapons as a possible ace up their sleeve also meant discarding shields. If the Empire couldn't improve a ship's cannons, it certainly wouldn't be able to work wonders with its shields. But with those options ruled out, Jack couldn't imagine what the Empire could have prepared to turn the tide in their favor.

"Why is the probability of the JFN winning dropping? They haven't fired a single shot," Daniel said, not understanding what had prompted the APC to react that way.

"Is the APC messing with us?" He checked the data, deciphering why the APC thought victory was slipping away. It didn't take him long to realize something. "It's because the JFN is changing its strategy."

"Why are they changing strategy before the battle even started?" Daniel asked.

Not much reason to change a deeply planned strategy before firing a single shot, but Jack thought he was onto something. "It's because of Teal'c."

"Just saying it's because of Teal'c doesn't explain anything," Daniel said frustratedly.

"Jack is right," Sam added.

Daniel seemed ready to explode. "Can you two provide more information?"

Sam went ahead to give an answer that would stop Daniel from flaring. "Just like how the APC knows that something is off with the way the Empire is behaving, Teal'c also instinctively realizes it."

"Teal'c has fought countless battles against the Empire, and I'm sure he felt their movements unusual," he explained further. "He must have decided to proceed more conservatively, but that entails his approach isn't optimal. The APC must have picked up on that and lowered the JFN rating."

During the discussion, the recording reached a critical point where the two fleets began exchanging fire. It wasn't anything spectacular. The JFN focused its fire on the upper left corner of the enemy formation. At the same time, the Empire tried to create a wall formation where all their units could attack evenly. The Empire repositioned its ships, prompting the JFN to shift its entire formation sideways, further away from the planet. The Empire didn't seem to be doing that great.

"Are they so concerned that the JFN will shoot at civilians?" Sam asked, furrowing her brows.

He wanted to dismiss what she said, but after some thought, Jack understood he couldn't. The Empire had done some nasty stuff during this war, and many would argue the JFN had every right to retaliate in kind. Hence, it wouldn't be surprising if the Empire tried to keep the JFN's fleet away from their holiest planet to ensure no stray shot found a city. But Sam was right in questioning whether that was their true aim.

"You're absolutely right. Just like how we know Teal'c would never bomb a city full of civilians, the Empire would have predicted that as well," Jack affirmed. "So why are they withdrawing from the planet instead of staying close and leveraging support from orbital installations?"

"I have no clue. It might still be out of caution, but maybe something else is going on," Sam explained.

"Could the Empire's behavior indicate they've set a trap?" Daniel suggested.

It was surprising that the idea came from Daniel. However, the longer Jack observed the situation, the more he sensed the possibility. The Imperial fleet appeared poised for a full-scale offensive while the battle's location shifted further away from the planet.

"It's not that they're keeping them away from the planet," Sam added, her eyes opening wide. "They're herding the JFN towards a specific location!"

That was the missing piece. The planet, its cities, and the actions of the JFN were inconsequential. The Empire was maneuvering to change position relative to a specific point in space.

"Well, I certainly didn't see that coming," Daniel exclaimed as he saw the sudden shift on the holo-display, which caught them all off guard.

A hundred ships decloaked, hurtling towards the JFN fleet's flank at full speed. The JFN found themselves at a numerical disadvantage, as the Imperial fleet had a third of their fleet concealed.

"Hey, hey! Since when can they cloak a ship the size of a Ha'tak?" Jack questioned, addressing no one in particular.

Hiding smaller ships like the Tel'tak was straightforward, as these ships required minimal energy to run, and the cloak could be limited to a small area. However, concealing larger vessels like the Al'kesh was more challenging, although still possible with the understanding that sophisticated sensors could more easily detect it. But the Ha'tak was a massive ship emanating large amounts of energy in the form of radiation from its reactors and components. Only the most advanced races knew how to hide such a large vessel and only at significant energy expenditure.

"Wasn't that technology lost when Apophis died?" Sam questioned.

"He stole the necessary knowledge from the Nox, but like any paranoid Goa'uld, he didn't share it with anyone, not even his closest subordinates," Jack explained. However, he reluctantly added, "At least as far as we know."

"Anubis later had control over the Goa'uld collective and never showed the ability to cloak such large ships. It wasn't in his character to use cloaked ships in combat, but I still find it hard to believe he wouldn't have used something so convenient if he had it," Daniel said.

"But it's hard to imagine that the Jaffa Empire would break the theory behind cloaking their largest ships," Jack said, shaking his head. "I know there's a joke somewhere in there because the mere thought of such a thing happening makes me giggle like a fool."

The JFN fleet was supposed to be pinned down from two almost opposite sides. But Teal'c sensed something was wrong and attacked more cautiously, preventing the worst outcome. His fleet came to a screeching halt just moments after the ambush sprang.

The Empire immediately went on a full offensive, giving the JFN no time to regroup. Still, from what Jack could see, their surprise attack hadn't completely worked. If the JFN had gone in at full speed, it would have turned into a colossal disaster where it wouldn't be surprising if they never saw Teal'c again. However, as things stood, Jack saw a clear escape route. Nevertheless, as they retreated, the trailing elements suffered damage, with several ships already on the verge of losing their shields.

"I don't want to watch this anymore," Jack said, increasing the playback speed. "Let me see how it ended."

The conclusion was that by releasing hidden mines, the JFN had managed to slow down the imperial fleet enough to get out of their weapons range, but not before losing twenty ships. The Empire was ruthless, clearly wanting to strike hard now that they had the rare opportunity.

"Now I know why Teal'c was so angry," Daniel said. "He barely spoke a few words while giving me the footage."

"It could have been much worse," Sam said.

"From our point of view, yes, it could have been," Jack said. "But from the Jaffa's perspective, I'm not so sure. The mission was a complete disaster, and they returned home with their tails between their legs. They lost quite a few ships, so it's a triple disgrace."

"They really didn't need this," Daniel said, shaking his head. "The war's been lasting longer than expected, but mostly they've been winning. This debacle will lower morale."

"I'm more concerned about how this clusterfuck happened. Wait a minute," Jack said as he thought. "Computer, go back in time and try to find the moment when we lost sight of a large number of Jaffa Empire ships."

Terrans had ways of monitoring the Milky Way. Still, they couldn't observe every square meter where the Jaffa Empire could hold its ships. Knowing where half of them were was already an incredible achievement, and the provided information immensely helped the JFN during the war.

A hologram of a small Asgard with a disproportionately large head appeared floating next to Jack. It played a short animation, with its head bobbling left and right, before getting down to business. "The biggest change in the number of Jaffa Empire units we know of occurred on March 8, 2021."

"That was twenty-eight days ago," Jack said. "Give me the percentages of tracked ships before and after."

"With forty-seven percent, the number of tracked ships dropped to forty-four percent," the little Asgardian replied.

"A three percent drop. How many ships is that?" Jack asked.

Sam looked at the little Asgardian, shaking its head as if too heavy, with no intention of answering. She answered instead. "It should be around fifty."

Jack noticed that the little Asgardian avatar hadn't responded and wondered if he needed to ask it more directly. "You may leave now," he instructed the avatar.

"Are you certain?" the avatar asked, cocking its head.

"Yes, I am," Jack replied, a little irritated.

"Because you often dismiss me only to call me back the next minute," the little Asgardian complained, looking annoyed. "And every time I appear, I must go through the same animation; it's bothersome."

Jack took a deep breath. After Thor had seen the little avatar with its bobbling head, he tinkered with its coding, making it impossible for Jack to change how it worked.

"Go away," Jack said firmly.

"Very well. I'll see you soon," the avatar said before performing another short animation and disappearing.

Jack took a moment to gather his thoughts.

"Since we're only successfully tracking half of what we predict the Empire has, around a hundred ships disappeared that day. And today, we saw a hundred ships suddenly appearing in Dakara's system," said Jack.

"Where are you going with this?" Daniel asked.

"I think I know," Sam interjected. "Twenty-eight days ago, the JFN fleet was still anchored in Chulak's orbit. The JFN must have traitors who informed the Empire of their plan to attack Dakara while they were still in the early stages of the operation."

"How else could the Empire have secretly moved a hundred capital ships to Dakara almost a month before the attack?" Jack replied. The mere thought of what it meant caused his blood pressure to spike. "This mission was kept confidential because the success depended heavily on the element of surprise. It was so secretive that only a handful of people—and only those in high positions—knew about it. I bet Teal'c knows he has a huge problem on his hands."

"There's also the problem of the Empire's capital ships having a cloak, which will give them an advantage in further battles," Sam added.

"Why do you see this as a problem?" Adria interrupted. "Simply take a couple of your ugly dreadnoughts and let them attack the most industrialized worlds of the Jaffa Empire before sending them to the IC-1001 galaxy. Destroying the Empire's infrastructure would force their Emperor to negotiate a ceasefire with the JFN under almost any conditions, as long as he can save his own skin."

Jack wanted to refute the claim that their ships were ugly but knew it would be a futile argument. He sighed, wishing Adria's proposal was a feasible one. "We don't have any dreadnoughts available since they're all deployed at the front lines. Although I understand what you're suggesting, this plan has two significant obstacles."

"And they are?" Adria asked.

"First, if we do that, the JFN would be incredibly dissatisfied with us, and rightly so. Instead of proud people, everyone would consider them our subordinates who, when things got tough, had to call their masters to save them. They would never forgive us for that, and eventually, more Jaffa would turn to the Empire, even if they had to live in squalor," he explained.

"You're trying too hard to please the Jaffa at the expense of quickly resolving the conflict," Adria commented.

He continued as if he didn't hear her. "And second, we're sending the wrong message to the rest of the galaxy. When we start bombarding planets with anti-particle beams, we lose all our goodwill with other races. From then on, the only reason they would be decent to us would be fear. With the technology we have, most races look at us suspiciously, not knowing our ultimate goal and how it will affect them. But after such an act, we would lose any hope of establishing peaceful relations in the future. So, Adria, it's not that simple."

"Do as you wish," Adria said. "I'm just saying that the Jaffa Empire shouldn't be such a big obstacle, even with the war against the Vargas that is taking most of your forces."

There was a part of what Adria said that made sense, but the Terrans had to play a long game, considering all consequences their actions could cause. But more importantly, the Jaffa Empire was not a problem for the Terrans to solve. The Empire had never attacked any Terran system. It would be difficult to explain to their citizens why they attacked the Empire, even though they had done nothing to them.

"If we want to appear as the good guys in the eyes of the people of this galaxy, we can't go around attacking other races without reason. The Empire has never threatened us, and the JFN has never asked us to get involved in the war," Sam explained, echoing his thoughts.

"I don't think the explanation that we simply don't like the Empire or its ruler would go over well with our people," Daniel interjected, putting Adria in the minority. "We already have groups on Earth and the colonies advocating for an end to hostilities with the Vargas. If we declare war on the Jaffa Empire without a good reason, an anti-war sentiment could spread to more than a few people who are bored and don't know what to do with their time."

"I see that you all have solid reasons not to fight the Empire, but the situation doesn't look good for the JFN," Adria said. "As it stands, the Empire could very well be the one to win the Jaffa War."

The most likely outcome of the war was a ceasefire in which the side in a better position would dictate the terms. Even the Emperor, with his massive ego, surely must not believe the Terrans would stand by even if he tried to eradicate the JFN. At some convenient moment, the ruler would resolve the conflict to benefit the Empire. At the same time, it would leave the JFN on the brink of collapse.

On the other hand, if the roles were reversed, the JFN would also offer peace but expect the Empire to pay reparations. The goal would be to economically dampen the Empire so that even a century later, it still wouldn't have the strength to try anything stupid like declaring war again. And in the meantime, their citizens would slowly trickle to the JFN, where living conditions were much better.

"Well, maybe there is something we can do," Sam said, attracting everyone's attention. "We could turn everyone in the Milky Way against the Jaffa Empire."

She said it with such conviction as if it were a done deal. As if they just needed to speak aloud, 'People! From now on, the Jaffa Empire is our enemy!' and everyone in the galaxy would agree.

"That would be brilliant. If we could do that, the Jaffa Empire would have to watch their backs constantly," Daniel said.

"Individually, the human races outside of the Terran Alliance are not a match for the Jaffa Empire, but united could prove to be a tough opponent to chew," Jack declared. "But even though you said that we can do it with such certainty, what would we do exactly to convince the other races to go against the Jaffa Empire? Aside from the Great Whale, no other human race is fond of the Jaffa Empire; we get that. But that's still far from taking up arms and going to war."

Sam replied confidently, "I don't think it should be too difficult. The Empire has helped us in this regard."

Jack asked irritably, "Are you going to keep beating around the bush, or will you finally share your brilliant idea?"

"I just wanted to build up the suspense before announcing my great plan. Like you often do," Sam said with an accusing smile. "By cloaking their capital ships, the Empire has given us the ammo we need. Does anyone here believe their scientists came up with the technology?"

As she spoke, a realization dawned on Jack. He finally grasped why she was so confident that other races would unite against the Empire.

Over the past five years, the JFN underwent significant changes, too numerous to list. In contrast, the Jaffa Empire remained conservative, focused only on their warrior culture, and ignored pressing societal needs.

The JFN was partly responsible for this. They prioritized education and reduced their dependence on external support. They no longer relied on others for food or viewed technology as sorcery that required dark arts and contracts with the devil.

And they achieved that in a very short amount of time.

However, a sizable faction remained reticent of such societal change. These Jaffa clung to their traditional beliefs, unable to change from their oppressive past. With all the changes, they felt marginalized, with no choice but to seek separation.

Those were the Jaffa making up most of the Jaffa Empire.

"You're saying that the Empire couldn't develop a cloaking system that could hide Ha'tak-sized ships?" Jack asked.

"Sadly, the Empire's Jaffa lack scientific creativity and rely on following preset procedures. Their engineers are skilled at operating existing systems, but if presented with complex theoretical explanations and formulas, they wouldn't know where to begin. Without a button labeled 'improve cloaking system,' they're unlikely to know where to start, much less how to change existing formulas or create completely new ones," Sam explained. "Research has been my lifelong passion, but even I find it challenging to grasp the intricacies of cloaking theory. Despite having access to extensive databases and exceptional mentors such as the Alterrans, Asgard, Nox, and Tollans, I still encounter difficulties often."

"The only way they could have improved their cloaking system is if they'd stumbled upon a complete theory or a neatly packaged prototype with easy-to-understand explanations attached to it. Alternatively, someone with extensive knowledge about such matters may have done the work for them and supplied a ready-made solution," Daniel said.

Sam nodded in agreement. "Yes, they had to find a book titled 'Improving a Cloaking System for Dummies,' a working prototype and all of it attractively packaged with a detailed manual explaining how to produce and later install everything. Their engineers still believe a hammer is the best tool. So even installing a ready-made part within a complex ship like the Ha'tak could be impossible for them."

"So, the only explanation that makes sense is that the new system was developed by the Goa'uld and sold to the Jaffa Empire, probably at an exorbitant price," said Jack.

"From the incident involving David and Peter, we know they are connected to the Goa'uld. But we have no evidence they've ever set foot inside the Jaffa Empire," said Daniel.

After successfully apprehending a Goa'uld, he'd unexpectedly died. Further investigation revealed that a small device implanted in his body had released a lethal toxin after ten minutes without receiving a particular signal. It was suspected that the device had been implanted without his knowledge, intended to prevent him from revealing information if ever captured.

"That was probably intentional," Jack continued. "Both the Jaffa and the Goa'uld know that we can obtain information from inside of the Empire. They certainly wouldn't want to risk having their involvement exposed, so they used Union territory to meet. Heck, I bet even the development of the new cloak was done to enable them to sneak around undetected."

The Jaffa Empire received innovative technology from the Goa'uld, who worked from inside Union territory, and the Union and Goa'uld received freshly built Ha'tak and Ha'til from the Empire as payment for services rendered.

"Unfortunately, knowing this doesn't help us," Daniel said. "Most races are already aware of the incident within the Union territory and how the Goa'uld and Empire were involved. However, the blame was placed solely on a few local lords who made a deal with the Goa'uld. Then the Union spread rumors about the lords being brainwashed with an updated version of the Nish'ta drug, further complicating the story. As a result, no one was held accountable, and the case was promptly closed."

The Jaffa Empire's public relations department had to have received an influx of talented people because they had deftly dealt with the situation by spreading countless rumors to the right places. Soon, no one who heard the news of the Jaffa Empire being in cahoots with the Goa'uld believed in it, at least not without a good dose of skepticism. Many even thought that the Terrans had orchestrated the whole thing, and since the only evidence was a dead Goa'uld, no one would take it as solid proof. If it hadn't died, they could have paraded the snakehead throughout the galaxy for everyone to hear what he had to say. But as it stood, they only had their word.

Jack almost believed Ba'al might be behind it all, but he knew they'd taken care of all the Ba'als. However, that doesn't mean they didn't have someone as devious as he was working for them. The point was that the Jaffa Empire was growing in all the wrong directions. He thought the Jaffa from the Empire would never care about things like keeping a good image with their neighbors.

But that also meant they were wary of what would happen if it became accepted by most of the human races that they were colluding with the hated Goa'uld. It wasn't just humans. Many alien races that had now come out of the woodwork would not like a Goa'uld resurgence. The Tok'ra would also get involved. They might even decide to assassinate the current Emperor and spread it as a cautionary tale for whoever sat on the throne next.

They were becoming more cautious, which was a terrible thing. Before, one could always count on the Jaffa Empire doing something stupid without considering the consequences.

"We need proof they are colluding with the Goa'uld," Jack said. "And it has to be irrefutable if we want the whole galaxy to unite against the Jaffa Empire."

"That sounds great, but how are we to get it," Daniel said.

"Not sure," Jack said, thinking deeply. "What about sending those two agents on a scavenging hunt?"

"You mean Peter and David?" Sam asked.

"Yes, the two seem good at getting in the wrong place at the wrong time, so maybe they get lucky and find some intel we could use," Jack explained.

"They are on vacation," Daniel said. "Klaus told me he gave them a well-deserved rest after five years to go wherever they want."

"I wonder how long their vacation will last," Jack said.

"I bet the computer knows," Sam said with a smile.

"I'm not calling it," Jack replied.

"But you really want to know, right?" Sam continued pressing while keeping the same smile. "It would take a second to call it, maybe a little more since it must do the same animation every time it appears."

"I'm calling Klaus," Jack said.

It took a moment before the image of Klaus appeared on the holo-display. "Yes."

"Klaus, when are those two rascals coming back!" Jack asked.

"You mean Peter and David?" Klaus asked.

"Who else," Jack asked.

"Jack, most of the people that work for me are rascals. And for those that I wouldn't categorize as rascals, I would use even harsher adjectives, like freaks, miscreants, nutjobs, you get my drift," Klaus said.

"Yeah, yeah, your department is full of weirdos. You were the one who chose them, right?" Jack said with a smile. Seeing that Klaus wasn't laughing, he continued. "Anyway, how long will they be out?"

"Four more months, why?" Klaus asked.

"We were thinking of sending some agents to dig evidence of the Empire getting friendly with our old enemies, the Goa'uld. I thought these two would be perfect for the job," Jack asked.

Klaus appeared pensive for a moment. "They do tend to get in the thick of things. They are like time bombs ready to go off when you least expect them. I think I can recall them with a little bribe. They both want to visit their friends in the Colonies, but no one's allowed to travel there. If you can make it happen, they might interrupt their vacation for one short mission."

"If it's Kobol, we could make it happen," Jack said. The Colonies still had some problems with unrest related to their religious issues. It was best not to visit yet, as the fanatics from Sagittarion would surely target any Terrans given a chance. But Kobol was far from the Cyrannus system.

"Great! Oh, but there's another thing," Klaus said. "This time, we will send them deep into enemy territory, so they'll need support."

"What kind of support?" Jack asked. It might be nothing big, but Klaus liked to extort things from other departments whenever he could.

"This will have to be a joint operation, and I want the military to be on standby if something goes wrong. If it weren't for you and the Enterprise traveling near them the last time they got into trouble, they wouldn't have made it out," Klaus explained.

"We don't have many, but we can surely spare a few capital ships. If nothing else, I'll send the Enterprise to shadow them; I don't need it much these days anyway," Jack replied. "Anything else?"

"Some military hardware would come in handy," Klaus said.

"You're pushing it," Jack knew Klaus was milking it for as long as he could.

"Hey, I'm not sending them in that rundown little ship without getting some improvements first. Their combat suits should also get a good refurbishing, just in case they get into a firefight," Klaus said.

"Is there a chance they won't?" Jack asked.

"In my experience with those two, none," Klaus spat back. "Why do you think I'm asking for some of that new material you've been coating the latest combat armors and ships with?"

"I'll send you a few cans of the mixture and an engineer who will make all the hardware changes that he deems reasonable," he said. "I hope that's all."

"Well, if I remember anything else, I'll let you know," Klaus replied.

"Please don't remember anything else," Jack dryly retorted before ending the call and turning to the people in the room. "So now we have two volunteers to find some solid evidence we can later show the inhabitants of this galaxy."

"If everything goes well, and I emphasize the 'goes well' part, we could undo the damage the JFN suffered from the last debacle," Sam said, visibly sighing. "I don't blame them. Who could have predicted the Jaffa Empire had cloaking technology that could hide their largest ships?"

"Maybe we should have, especially after our two agents caught the Goa'uld," Jack said, realizing they may have been too relaxed lately. "We've become quite powerful, and almost no one and nothing can threaten us, so we let our guard down if it's not the Vargas."

Daniel nodded in agreement. "We don't consider the Goa'uld worthy opponents, so what did we do when we found out they were collaborating with the Jaffa Empire and the Union? Nothing, thinking we could easily solve whatever they did."

"And it backfired, and now we have to make up for it," Jack said frustratingly. "But enough about this. We'll resolve this, too, as we always do. Let's move on to the next topic."

"Is there another topic?" Sam asked.

"I thought we went through everything on the agenda," Daniel added.

"There's one more thing we need to discuss, but of course, it wouldn't have occurred to you," Jack said, theatrically sighing. "Typical of workaholics like you."

"Oh, it must be something silly that just occurred to him," Sam added, and Daniel nodded in agreement.

"It's not silly," Jack warned. "It's of the utmost importance."

"Stop beating around the bush and tell us already," Daniel said, annoyed.

"Didn't you realize that after so many years, we've all finally gathered on Earth?" Jack asked.

Sam was the first to react. "Now that you mention it, Elizabeth is here, and Vala is also planning to come."

"Mitchell is also on vacation," Daniel added as he tried to think of who else was currently on Earth. "Sheppard also returned when Weir did; he even mentioned meeting with Rodney since he's on Earth too."

"And you're all forgetting, but the main player is also here," Jack added.

"Who?" Daniel asked quickly.

"Liam, who else?" Jack replied immediately.

"Did someone mention my name?" Liam said as he peeked through the door.

"Oh, speaking of the devil," Jack responded, seeing the unexpected guest entering his office.

"This is the first time I've been compared to a fictional evil entity," Liam remarked. "Or at least, I think it is if my memory serves me well."

"Oh, don't even start!" Jack interjected. "You've already regained most of your memories, so don't start doubting them again."

"You're right," Liam agreed. "This is definitely the first time anyone has called me the devil. Thank you for that, Jack."

Although Liam had regained most of his memories, a small portion still eluded him, making him question if he had fully recovered. During his recovery on Earth, he spent much time talking with Jack, and his progress had been remarkable. The amount of information stored in his head was so vast that it could have taken Liam decades to recall everything. However, he quickly remembered the people he spent most of his time with, and gradually, his other memories began flooding like a domino. Only the memories of after he left the Andromeda galaxy and journeyed into hostile territory returned more slowly. Liam still could not recall the last few months before he ended up on an unusual uninhabited planet, surprisingly in the same galaxy the Destiny had traveled through.

"As I said, all the main players are gathered here on Earth," Jack said, looking meaningfully at everyone. "And no one's thinking about throwing a party? Doesn't that sound wrong to you?"

"It certainly does," Adria chimed in. She belonged to the 'more fun, less work' club, caring little for trivialities like accumulating responsibilities.

"It could be years before we all get together again," Sam said. Even the 'let's work until we drop' club seemed to be losing steam.

"Then it's settled!" Jack exclaimed, clapping his hands. "We're throwing a party to remember—one that might require security clearance higher than that used for the secret party at Nessa station."

They had clearance, so everyone knew what had happened a few years back regarding his clone, JJ, after the mission that rescued Daniel and Vala. Now, they planned to throw another such party that everyone would remember and simultaneously remove all thoughts of work, obligations, and worries from their minds for at least a day.

"I see you're already in a celebratory mood," Daniel added.

"I guess Walter isn't invited," Sam said, chuckling.

"I said we were going to get anything work-related out of our heads!" Jack replied, pretending to be angry. "Inviting Walter would ruin that."

"I've never been to a party thrown by humans before," Liam said. "Although, since you're Alterran, technically, it won't strictly be a party thrown by humans."

"Oh, it'll be a party made by humans through and through; I can guarantee that!" Jack declared.

"You say that because you have never witnessed a true Alterran party," Liam said, smirking maliciously. "You can't imagine the kind of shindig that can happen when a bunch of scientists who spent a decade on a project finally realize they have hit a wall. That's when a party lasting for days, months, and in rare cases, years would be born."

"That's easy to say, but where is the evidence?" Jack said, eager to learn about these parties.

"You already have the evidence. It's on the cube I gave you," Liam said, grinning like an evil mastermind. "It's hidden and can only be accessed if you know the code. Do you want me to give it to you to access the experiences of those who lived through those year-long parties?"

"I knew it. You are the devil!" Jack exclaimed. "Teasing me with such bait!"

"These two have retreated into their own world," Sam said, saddened. "Maybe one of these days, my existence will truly disappear."

"If Jack's forgetfulness were a sufficient reason for someone to disappear, Earth would have been left devoid of life a long time ago," Daniel said.

Liam had been working tirelessly to get back to his old self, and according to Jack, he had succeeded. But organizing another get-together with his closest friends always seemed like a promising idea, as it had proven helpful in recovering his lost memories.

"Oh, we should bring Teal'c too!" Jack exclaimed, realizing that one member of the original SG-1 was still missing.

"I'm not sure how we can make that happen," Daniel said. "He didn't seem like he had much time to spare."

"If we leave him to be bothered by everyone around him for another day or two, he'll call us. We can say that the High Council needs to discuss the recent debacle with him," Jack added.

"It's amazing how inventive you can be when it comes to entertainment," Sam said. "But you're right; we need to find a way to bring Teal'c here."

"Hey, look at the time," Jack said, noticing it was already past eight.

"Do you need to be somewhere?" Sam asked.

"We," Jack said, pointing to himself and Liam, "plan to take my new Corvette and go on a long drive through our beautiful Solar system. We want to see what the Ascended are doing with our planets and various moons from up close."

"Does it have to be just the two of you?" Sam asked.

"There's enough room on that little ship for more," Jack said, looking around the room before continuing. "We can all go if you're up for it."

"Adria and I already have plans," Daniel replied.

"Then the three of us," Jack said, looking at the clock again. "How about meeting in the hangar in half an hour?"

"I'll make it," Sam replied, getting up. "I just need to stop by my office first."

"I bet she'll be checking on some research she's conducting right now," Jack said, grinning.

"I have a simulation running, and it should be finishing soon," Sam said.

"Well, it won't explode if you leave it until tomorrow," Jack said, but he noticed she nodded reluctantly. She wanted to take a quick look at the results, regardless of whether it could wait. "Anyway, do as you wish, but we're leaving if you're not there in half an hour."

Sam quickly left the office. "See you in half an hour."

Daniel and Adria also got up and followed Sam.

"See you tomorrow, guys," Daniel said, waving as he left the office.

Jack and Liam were left alone, unsure of what to do next.

"We have half an hour. What do you want us to do?" Jack asked.

"I haven't seen that wonder of a Corvette your engineers put together. And since everyone's been raving about how incredible of a job they've done, why don't we go check it out while we wait?" Liam suggested.

"Oh, you're in for a treat! It's amazing what my people can do when the budget isn't a concern, and they have access to databases brimming with great technologies to draw ideas from," Jack said. "The ship is a real one-of-a-kind."

"Then let's get out of here. It's better than waiting in your office," Liam said, urging him to get up.

He listened to Liam's suggestion and quickly left the office.

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