Golden King
Delmak, Milky Way Galaxy
The floor and walls of the bridge of an O'Neill-class Battleship appeared to be made from a single cast of solidified mercury. The room was built on two levels connected by an anti-gravity elevator. Here and there, small, grey-skinned humanoids moved between the consoles, walking slowly.
Several 2D virtual screens showed the surface of Delmak flown over by some of Asgard's starships (Bilskirnir and O'Neill). Under the hull of the ships, several blue-white rays appeared intermittently emitted by a source similar to a kind of flashing lighthouse.
In the streets of the huge factory town, which a few hours earlier was still the capital of Apophis' domain, the Kull Warriors disappeared one after another.
Sitting in a large metal chair, an Asgard moved a stone on a kind of rune board. A hologram appeared before him, showing some complex pattern. He continued to manipulate the Asgard stone, navigating through various menus and then rotated his chair to turn towards a senior officer.
"Supreme Commander Thor, I have located the members of SG-1 aboard the Prometheus."
Thor slowly folded his huge eyes completely black.
"All right, inform Colonel Lionel Prendergast that we're beamed-up SG-1 members to our ship."
"By your order, commander."
In the F-302 Fighter-Interceptors hangar, Jack O'Neill and Teal'c were busy untying the buckles of the harness that tied them to the ejection seat. Around their fighter, many other Tau'ri had gathered to cheer them; the members of the landing team recognized themselves by their colorful shirts, while the hands had the classic Air Force green jumpsuits.
As Colonel O'Neill descended the ladder, carrying his pilot's helmet under the arm, the crew congratulated him and he shook hands with several of the USAF soldiers.
Although Jack smiled very pleased with himself, he pointed at the Jaffa who had just left the copilot's chair.
"I flew... and it was quite simple, you just had to go straight ahead. It was Teal'c who fired."
Samantha Carter approached the Jaffa and... took him in her arms. Although the former Apophis first Prime appeared surprised, he did not protest.
"Bravo Teal'c, you were the one who turned my stupid plan into a great success. We owe you this victory."
The Jaffa raised an eyebrow.
"Samantha Carter, I wouldn't describe a plan that defeats an enemy as powerful as Anubis as 'stupid'."
Jack had first looked at Sam and Teal'c with a smile. But as most of the people present had turned to them to applaud, the colonel pointed his finger at himself and turned his head one way and then another.
Daniel Jackson adjusted his glasses and smiled mockingly.
"Oh... the hero of the day has been forgotten by all. Sic transit gloria mundi!"
"What?"
"So goes the glory in this world."
As Jack looked at him without blinking, Daniel sighed.
"Glory is ephemeral."
"Now I understand. Daniel?"
"Yes, Jack?"
"Why didn't you start with that?"
About to answer, the archaeologist was outpaced by the intercom signal. All were silent to listen to Colonel Pendergast's voice falling from the loudspeaker.
"SG-1, be ready to be beamed up on board of the Haüstlong."
A dazzling light appeared in a free space on the Haüstlong bridge.
Jack O'Neill looked around, still wearing his jumpsuit, with the parachute still attached to his back and his helmet in hand.
"I'm going to end up believing that I am indispensable. I don't even have time to change clothes between two galaxy rescues..."
Jack looked at the Asgards working in front of various consoles and took two strides to avoid one of the little grey men crossing the bridge, then smiled widely at the character sitting in the largest chair. All the Asgards were like brothers... or rather like clones, often differing only in insignificant details. Nevertheless, the grey-haired colonel recognized his old friend.
"Thor! It's good to see you back."
The Asgard blinked slowly, his nostrils almost completely closed as he slowly raised his hand in a greeting gesture.
"Welcome aboard my flagship, Colonel Jack O'Neil, Lieutenant Colonel Samantha Carter, Teal'c, and you too, Dr Daniel Jackson."
The other SG-1 members greeted Thor in turn, while Jack approached one of the hands to watch the scene that appeared on the 2D holographic screen. On the ground, the beams of the Transporters continued to make the Kulls disappear, one small group after another.
"Well, I see you won't need our help to get rid of Anubis' Super Soldier."
Sam joined the colonel and watched.
"The transporter beams... of course... The Kulls must be able to cross a Stargate or use the Transport Rings! Why didn't I think of it before? Their armor does not protect them against dematerialization caused by a Transporter. There was a flaw in their invincibility."
She turned to Thor.
"We tried to destroy the Kulls using all kinds of weapons. Their armor absorbs the fire of energy weapons and is so resistant that our firearms, even the explosion of anti-personnel mines or C-4 charges, do no damage. We even activated the self-destruction of one of our bases that was under attack... For naught, the Kull emerged unscathed from the crater resulting from the explosion."
Daniel looked for a moment at the Kulls that were disappearing in the white-blue beam of light and then turned to Thor.
"I assume you're throwing them into hyperspace, using the same method you used once on Cimmeria against Heru'ur (1)."
"Exactly."
O'Neill turned alternately towards Sam and then Thor.
"Throwing into hyperspace?" said Jack in a tone that implied his perplexity.
"Yes," Carter replied in an excited tone. "The Asgard Transport Beam teleports an object from a sending pole to a receiving pole, but what happens if the operator disconnects the receiving pole? Any object captured by the beam is dematerialized... but it disperses into hyperspace as sub-atomic particles if it cannot rematerialize."
"Can our Transport Beams do that?"
"No," Thor answered, outdistancing Samantha. "There is a software block in the Transports Beam provided to the Tau'ri ships. It is not possible to lock a target if the receiving pole is disconnected. The Asgard Grand Council offered you a means of transportation, not a weapon."
"I see," Jack murmured in a disappointed tone.
Daniel Jackson cleared his throat and turned to face Thor.
"You brought us aboard the Haüstlong to show us how you were killing the Kulls?"
For a few seconds, Thor blinked slowly, then he answered in a calm and settled voice.
"No, I wanted to show you a scene filmed by a ship of my squadron."
The grey hand of the Supreme Commander of the Asgard Fleet moved a stone on a sort of rune-encrusted checkerboard that was an integral part of the armrest of his command chair. After navigating through a complex menu, he opened a video file.
A three-dimensional hologram materialized above the members of SG-1 huddled together, gazing at a high-altitude view of Delmak displayed through an Asgard computer interface. The hologram was adorned with runic texts and various symbols along its edges.
In the center of the reticule, a UFO was highlighted by a red circle and a flashing logo. The flying object had an elegant appearance, featuring wings that resembled those of a bird but appeared to be made of stained glass in shades of green. Between the wings was a platform of gilded bronze, complete with a high-backed throne at the rear.
Sam examined the technical information provided by the Asgard detectors. "The propulsion system of this vehicle is powered by an anti-gravity mirror that reflects planetary gravity and converts it into countergravity. And the propellant... it's fueled by... mercury?!"
Sam was taken aback by her findings, while Daniel remained unfazed. "It's a Vimana," he stated. Teal'c raised an eyebrow but said nothing, while O'Neill couldn't resist making a joke. "A bistro buddy?"
"Vimana are the chariots of the gods in Hindu mythology" explained Jackson. The archaeologist pointed out the flying machine and the technical texts in the Asgard language. "The information collected by the detectors confirms the description of these flying machines that one could read in the Samarangana Sutradhara. The books of ancient India describe not only aerial vessels capable of flying above the ground but also 'in the higher regions of the sky'... maybe outer space? In the Mahābhārata and the Rāmāyana, Heroes, and gods fight each other on Vimana with stealth systems and sophisticated detectors. In these mythological battles, powerful weapons similar to nuclear weapons or deathrays are used..."
"Weapons like this one, Daniel Jackson?"
Thor had accelerated the film; they saw a cloud of Death Gliders and Al'kesh falling on the Vinama without the airship battling back. Suddenly a Ha'tak descended from the sky using its main weapons, Staff Cannons capable of razing mountains and breaking the crust of a planet to transform it into an ocean of lava.
This time there was a reaction. The tiny figure sitting on the throne stood up and held out a cylindrical object... Immediately, a red hurricane formed over the Vimana... then the energy was released towards the Ha'tak and the Death Gliders' squadrons that were gathering for another attack.
What followed left the members of SG-1 speechless.
The Al'kesh and starfighters were thrown against the Ha'tak shield and disintegrated as the red hurricane spun faster and faster around the mothership. The sky seemed to have erupted and formidable scarlet lightning streamed through the skies.
The Ha'tak's defensive shield only lasted a few seconds before collapsing. Like a mere tin can under a hammer, the immense Goa'uld vessel was compacted into a sphere of a few meters in diameter that... exploded with indescribable violence.
Carter was white as chalk, yet she was the first to react.
"What is this weapon? How does it work? What I just saw is impossible."
"I am unable to answer you, Lieutenant-Colonel Samantha Carter. This weapon is unknown to the Asgard and is based on principles that are foreign to us. Even the energy used is not detectable by our instruments. The weapon is the product of a science unknown to us. However..."
Thor manipulated an Asgard Stone and zoomed on the Vinama, more precisely on the throne. The pilot of the strange flying machine appeared life-size.
He was a man with blond hair and red eyes, with upright pupils, dressed in a beautiful golden armor. He held in his hand a kind of... sword (?) made of three fluted cylinders that turned in opposite directions.
With a hand on the forehead, the man laughed demonically...
He was not a stranger.
"Gilgamesh," said Daniel Jackson.
O'Neill turned to Thor.
"I see... you want us to go talk with Bill!"
"Gilgamesh" corrected Daniel.
"Gil?"
"Gilgamesh!"
"Whatever!"
Thor blinked slowly.
"Yes, Colonel O'Neill"
"Why us?" asked the archaeologist.
"You are used to succeeding in the most difficult missions."
"You are looking for someone stupid enough to accept," O'Neill remarked. Without giving Thor time to answer, he looked at the other members of SG-1. Daniel Jackson was observing the Vimana with fascination. Samantha Carter was whispering some unintelligible theories. "You have come to the right place."
"Indeed" added Teal'c.
The four members of SG-1 reappeared on the surface of Delmak in a dazzling light. Now dressed in military fatigues US BDU cam urban camouflage (grey, black, white), the three Tau'ri and the Jaffa looked around them, weapons in hand.
They were in a vast square strewn with wrecks of destroyed vehicles and charred corpses. The buildings surrounding the square were in ruins and a smell of smoke was still. However, they saw no one... well, no living beings.
O'Neill lowered his sunglasses and looked up at the sky where a Death Glider patrol was passing. It must have been Free Jaffa's fighters. Anubis' fleet had been annihilated while Apophis had fled after triggering the self-destruction of the orbital station around Delmak.
While the Phoenix Alliance was undoubtedly victorious in space, the ground situation was more... complex. The Asgard had not yet finished cleaning the planet from its infestation of Kulls. The arrival of the Anubis' super soldiers instantly reconciled the armies of Ba'al and Apophis. Nevertheless, the current ceasefire remained fragile.
Daniel lowered his P-90 and turned to the huge palatial complex built by Sokar on the other side of the ruined buildings.
"According to Thor, Gilgamesh has settled in the palace."
"Strangely, I'm not surprised," replied Jack. He turned to the only alien member of their team, leaning on his Ma'tok staff." Teal'c, I wonder what the Jaffa think of Gilgamesh."
The former Apophis' First Prime raised an eyebrow and thought briefly.
"Jaffa who remain faithful to the false gods are impressed by their so-called 'divine powers'... Gilgamesh has shown that his powers are far greater than those of the Goa'uld. No doubt he must have impressed them greatly. Indoctrinated by centuries of submission to tyrants, Jaffa are only loyals to power, ready to serve all those who use extreme force to dominate."
They went up a long avenue strewn with rubble and tanks' wrecks. Shortly before arriving at Sokar's former palace, Jaffa dressed in chainmail came out of different hiding places and surrounded them. They recognized Ba'al's symbol on their foreheads.
The four members of SG-1 raised their hands, while Jack tried diplomacy... 'try' being the key term.
"Uh... hello! Beautiful weather today..."
Only silence answered him.
"As we were passing by, we thought we'd go see our friend Gilgamesh. Do you know where he is?"
The leader of the Jaffa, a colossus with an intimidating face looked at O'Neill with an indecipherable expression then pressed a button on his staff and the firing head closed.
"Follow us!"
The throne room had belonged to Sokar, then to Apophis.
It was a long room without an opening to the outside, very dark because only lit by braziers placed between columns supporting the ceiling. In the dancing brightness of the flames, the Tau'ri discovered walls of golden metal covered with Goa'uld hieroglyphics.
On the other side of the room, a throne had been installed under a statue shaped like a cobra hood deployed... except that the head of the statue was now lying on the ground. Sitting... or rather lying down... in the golden metal chair, Gilgamesh watched them arrive.
The grey-caped Jaffa who led the (disarmed) Tau'ri group knelt before the throne.
"King Gilgamesh, these Tau'ri members of SG-1 and Teal'c... the..." The Jaffa stopped and closed his mouth without uttering the term 'Shol'va' (heretic, traitor) which he was about to use. He hesitated briefly before using a less negative term. "... the Free Jaffa ask you audience."
The King of Heroes smiled mockingly.
"And in my great meekness, I allow them to speak."
Dr. Jackson spoke, ahead of Jack who had just opened his mouth.
"Your Majesty, it's a pleasure to see you again. I hope you're all right?"
Gilgamesh's eyes creased, filtering a dangerous glow.
"Don't waste my time, Daniel Jackson. So far the King has shown patience, but unlike His immense power, His longsuffering cannot be infinite. The King has only one question for you and he demands an immediate answer. Where is Hakuno Kishinami?!"
Somewhere in the Pegasus Galaxy
Wherever the Ancients placed Stargates, local people had legends about these rings.
In the Pegasus Galaxy, they were darker than anywhere else: "Hellgate" or "Rings of the Wraiths", they were the source of terrifying stories, and not without good reason.
In orbit of an anonymous planet, a Stargate floated peacefully. Occasionally, the Vernier rockets around the ring spat out gas jets to stabilize its trajectory.
Suddenly, the outer ring began to turn quickly before the first chevron locks.
When seven chevrons were locked a liquid flow came out of the ring... a bit like a geyser, except, that it was not water of course.
The 'geyser' fell back into the ring which transformed into a liquid-looking mirror crossed by luminous ripples.
Then...
One Dart came out of the ring, then another, and then another...
Wraith Culling had just started.
The Darts that were diving towards the planet would fly over the main settlements. Using their culling beams they would dematerialize the inhabitants to store them in the buffer. Once the Wraith Darts returned aboard a Hive Ships the poor people would be materialized again, but as under the effect of a Wraith Stunner. They could not defend themselves when the drones would take them to the... to the pantry.
The Wraith Culling gave humans no chance; they could not flee, fight, or even hide.
At least in normal circumstances...
He appeared to be a man in his fifties, completely bald with very pale skin. His eyes were milky, resembling those of a blind person, and he had several burn marks on his face. The man—was he truly a man?—was wearing a blue and grey coat with a hood.
He leaned on a stick topped with a large blue gem.
As the terrifying roar of the Darts filled the air, the Ori's Prior turned to the frightened humans who had called out, pleading for him to fulfill his promise of salvation. The poor people prostrated themselves at the Prior's feet. For a brief moment, they glanced up at the two Darts, which were rapidly approaching.
The Prior raised his staff, causing the blue gem to illuminate.
"The only true darkness lives in the hearts of those who do not follow the Path. Otherwise, there is always some measure of light. And where there is light, the Ori see all!"
Ceasing to quote the Book of Origin, the Prior turned to the terrified villagers.
"Do you believe the Ori can save you?!"
At that moment, the inhabitants of this small planet were ready to believe anything. As the mothers held their weeping children close, the adults knelt at the Prior's feet, pleading for the Ori's help.
The Darts hovered just above the village, and the beacon-like Culling Beam swept across the ground beneath the two starfighters. However, as they flew over the gathered villagers, an obstacle became visible: a sort of translucent energy dome covered the square. The Culling Beams glided to its surface.
The Prior stood tall as the two Darts turned in the sky to return to the village.
"Andras chose to hunt the lion and was eaten by his prey."
Again the Prior raised his stick and...
One Dart disappeared in a sudden eruption of flames. The second opened fire with its energy guns. But the blue-white projectiles crashed on the Prior's shield with as many effects as drops of water on a window.
The Prior concentrated again on using his pyrokinetics. And the second Dart exploded in turn.
"Glorious are the Ori, who didst lead us to salvation, who did fight the evil that would doom us to mortal sin. Did they defeat the old spirits and cast them out? And now, with the strength of our will, they do call upon us to prevail against the corruption of all unbelievers."
This brief confrontation was not without witnesses.
Orbiting the planet, hidden by a Lantean's Cloak Devise, the Daedalus had filmed the whole scene.
In the command chair, Colonel Caldwell seemed concerned.
"Navigation, calculate our route to Atlantis."
The "Priors" had only begun to appear two weeks earlier, but they had shown astonishing abilities. Since then, they have saved the population of a dozen planets. They could make extraordinary allies against the Wraiths... except that the Priors' main purpose was to convert the Pegasus' inhabitants to the worship of the Ori.
This cult made the Tau'ri uncomfortable... it was too much like Catholicism in the time of the Inquisition: pyres, witch hunts, crusades, and fanaticism.
(1) Stargate SG-1 season 2, episode 6, "Thor's Chariot"