Chapter 33: Alliances Part 1

Dulles International Airport, Washington DC, Earth, September 16th, 1998 (Earth Time)

"...and you can see that the interview resulted in more positive and more negative reactions amongst American conservatives. The polls we ran show that the number of moderate conservatives - those who held a slightly negative opinion of Etheria - shrunk as a result," Mr Brown explained, pointing at the big screen on Darla's bridge, where a diagram was displayed.

Adora frowned. That didn't sound like a good result. "We made more people hate us?"

"Yes. But you also made more people like you," Mr Brown said. "In short, you polarised the moderate conservatives. We're still analysing the exact reasons, but so far, it looks like your, ah, appeal to progressive family values was the central argument that convinced the more liberal of them, although many have other reasons as well, such as your willingness to defend Earth, while the other end of the spectrum saw their negative opinion confirmed by several of your statements. However, we're still not sure how many of the reasons given were merely excuses for reasons that made the difference but were less socially accepted."

"What? What do you mean?" Adora asked.

"Well…" Mr Brown glanced at Glimmer and Bow. "While few answered our respective questions directly, we have reasons to suspect - based upon other polls in the past - that the relationship between Queen Glimmer and Techmaster Bow also influenced them."

What? But Glimmer and Bow weren't… Oh! "That racism thing, right?" Adora asked.

"Yes. Although the overlap between people who show an extremely negative reaction to same-sex relationships and people who show negative reactions to interracial relationships is very high."

"Most racists," Julie cut in, "are also sexist and bigots. At least in the USA. But they don't want to be seen as racists, so they generally make up other reasons."

"Ah."

Catra snorted. "Idiots, all of them."

"Yes!" Bow agreed - with a rare expression of anger, Adora noted. And Glimmer…

"Well, fuck them!"

Yes, Glimmer was livid.

"So… we basically made the almost good ones better and the almost really bad ones worse?" Entrapta asked.

"Yes. As expected, actually. And the numbers are positive - together with the progressives, we're looking at a very solid majority of the Americans who have a positive opinion of you." Mr Brown nodded. "Helped along, of course, by the propaganda efforts of the government."

"Of course, that could and will change - opinions shift all the time," Julie said. "But you met expectations, more or less. And yes, the government's PR campaign is helping here, though they probably didn't appreciate your frank statements."

Well, that was their problem. Adora wouldn't lie to the people. And yet… "But we also increased the number of people who really hate us," she pointed out.

"That couldn't be helped," Julie told her. "You have very divisive opinions. And you didn't want to commit to a more extended public relations campaign."

Adora frowned but didn't pout. It wasn't as if they had the time to 'interact with the public in casual ways' for weeks. And that sounded far too much like playing a role. And lying. 'Just be yourself' was no guarantee that people would like you. Entrapta and Catra were great, but you had to know them a bit to understand that.

"And some of your opinions are not well-received even amongst progressives and liberals," Mr Brown cautioned. "There are already attempts to paint you as communists because of the way your economy is set up. That may get some traction, though we might be able to counter that by stressing that we're talking about a war economy and showing the similarities to our own war economy during World War II."

"And the palace economy of Minoan culture," Bow added with a smile. "There are parallels, even if the social conditions are different."

Mr Brown and Julie looked as lost as Adora felt.

Bow sighed. "An ancient culture based on... Crete, I believe. Yes, ancient Crete. Daniel told me about it during the trip here."

"Ah." Mr Brown nodded. "I fear most Americans won't be able to place such a reference. A pity, I'm sure."

Catra snorted as Bow pouted.

Mr Brown went on: "Anyway, some of the more left-leaning segments also didn't like how you recruited and apparently pardoned your enemies after the war. It didn't play well with some of the civil rights activists either, but not enough to measurably affect their opinions. The religious aspect of your followers pretty much was a wash - the more religious ones who were affronted by what they saw as an attempt to replace God already were disapproving of you for your social stances - but your plan to return magic did affect people who would have supported you otherwise."

"I thought we explained that their fears are baseless," Glimmer commented. "Even if they have the talent, they'll need years of training to do anything noticeable, much less anything impressive."

"Well, they don't believe you," Mr Brown said. "Interestingly, you have anti-colonialist activists split between those who think you are acting like colonialists, making decisions without concern about the opinions of the people affected, and those who laud your willingness to return magic to indigenous cultures despite the objections of former colonialist societies."

Not for the first time, Adora wondered what was wrong with Earth. "We won't return magic if no one wants it back," she said. "But we know people want it back."

"You don't have to tell me that," Mr Brown said. "I've seen the polls. Anyway, basically, we're talking about a solid majority in support of gay marriage now."

"Great!" Adora beamed.

"Of course, for actual changes in legislation, that doesn't mean much. What matters is whether or not you have a solid, even a supermajority, in the House of Representatives and the Senate," Julie said. "And the states."

Adora blinked. It was all for nothing?

"Well, that will take a while to shake out, and we can't poll the politicians, so we should focus on your next interview," Mr Brown said.

"Right." Adora sighed.

Pentagon, Washington DC, Earth, September 16th, 1998 (Earth Time)

"...and those polls are clearly biased! Why would anyone change their opinion after seeing just how depraved and dangerous those aliens are? The government should stand up to their insane demands! We all - all the patriots, at least - have taken the pledge! One Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all! And this offence against God is no justice at all!"

Samantha Carter pressed her lips together and stood up, walking towards the TV in the corner of the canteen. A warrant officer almost dropped his tray to get out of her way. She reached the remote control and quickly changed the channel to something less stupid.

"Hey!" A man at one of the closer tables stood. "What are you doing? Change it back!"

She eyed him. He was a major - he technically outranked her. But he was an Army staff officer, and she was Stargate Command's best scientist. "The television is supposed to show the news," she told him.

"This is the news!"

"Technically, this isn't news but entertainment, despite the name," Daniel spoke up in support of her from their table. He smiled at the glare from the major. "That's what they claim."

"But they show the news!"

"No," Sam told him. "They show some selected polarising 'interviews' in an attempt to gain better ratings. There is nothing informative about the rantings of extremists."

"Why are you calling them extremists?"

"Because they are extremists." She glared at him. This should have been obvious. "They refuse to acknowledge facts to push their own narrative." And every scientist knew that that was a cardinal sin.

"They're just stating their opinion."

"And we don't need to listen to their opinion," she retorted. "Not in the canteen. What you do in the privacy of your home is your business, but this kind of propaganda has no place in the Armed Forces of the United States." She turned away before he could retort and stalked back to her table. Where, she saw with a sinking feeling, the Colonel had joined Daniel.

He grinned at her. "Wow, you read the man the riot act. And he outranks you! Way to go, Carter!"

She refused to blush. "I was merely enforcing regulations, Sir," she said as she sat down stiffly.

"Yeah, yeah, Carter." The Colonel snorted but quickly grew serious. "We're all sick of the stuff."

"Actually, the reactions of the various segments of the population are fascinating," Daniel retorted.

"You wouldn't say this if you had been at the meeting I just had to attend," the Colonel said.

"Oh?" Sam raised her eyebrows, prompting him as much as she would.

"Yes. Kinsey," he all but snarled. "He's got his hooks into the government."

"We, ah, already knew that," Daniel said with a frown."

"No, we knew he had influence - but he's now running an NID operation to shatter the right-wing movement in the United States. And the government has basically given him carte blanche."

"What? But… that's illegal!" Daniel protested.

"Yes." The Colonel's smile was devoid of any humour.

"Then we have to report this!"

"Report what? It was all between the lines." The Colonel scoffed. "Kinsey didn't say he was going to blackmail, frame and assassinate people whose political views were in the way of government aims. He was talking about 'persuading' and 'offering incentives', and 'making them see reason' and 'exposing those who preach water and drink wine'."

Ah. Sam nodded. "But the NID could still make mistakes, and their machinations could become exposed." She had a few ideas on how to arrange that.

Usually, the Colonel would say something like, 'machinations, Carter? Did you fall asleep on the dictionary yesterday?' But he merely shook his head. "Yes. And then?"

She pressed her lips together. She knew what he was thinking.

Daniel, though, frowned. "Then they'll get arrested, and the whole illegal operation exposed."

"And then?" The Colonel asked, staring at their friend.

"Their victims get exonerated, the government will have to… Oh." Daniel blinked.

"...drop any plans to pass gay marriage legislation as the right-wingers resurge with popular support as the victims of evil government manipulations," the Colonel finished for him. "And the United States can forget about an alliance with the Etherians because we'll be doubling down on the anti-gay legislation."

That wouldn't be the only thing such a comeback of the right-wing conservatives would bring, Sam knew. If they gained the presidency and control of Congress, they would also try to crack down on women's rights. Funnel more money into the military, of course - but without the help of the Etherians, and most of Stargate Command working directly for the United Nations, much of that money would be wasted. "They'll also call us away from the Stargate," she said. They would want everyone with knowledge of the aliens working for the USA.

"But…" Daniel looked lost. "They wouldn't do that, would they?"

"Daniel!" the Colonel snapped. "They've been crying for exactly that ever since they heard that the aliens aren't heterosexual Aryan princesses."

Sam blinked. "'Heterosexual Aryan princesses', Sir?"

He frowned at her. "I was quoting the Secretary of Education."

Ah.

"So…" Daniel licked his lips. "Are we going to, ah, sit on this, then?"

The Colonel snorted once more. "That's the question, isn't it?"

Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland, Earth, September 17th, 1998 (Earth Time)

"...and the protests in Riad turned into riots as a mob assaulted several embassies of European countries…"

"...the state of emergency in Egypt has been prolonged indefinitely as the civil unrest continues, the armed forces and the police cracking down on any protests to avoid a repeat of the Goa'uld riots in…"

"...statement from the Vatican that the Pope is still deliberating and urges the faithful to remain calm and kind to those in need…"

"...has resigned after serving twenty years as Senator, citing that recent events make it impossible to serve both his personal principles and the needs of the country. His successor will be appointed by the governor of…"

"...arrested and charged with multiple counts of embezzlement. His church declined to comment on…"

"...hat der Bundestag die erste Lesung des geplanten Gesetzes abgeschlossen und weitere Änderungen vorgeschlagen. Der Bundeskanzler erklärte, er sei enttäuscht, dass das Parlament die Dringlichkeit der Gesetzesänderung offenbar nicht ganz realisiert habe, und…"

"...Prime Minister's refusal to comment on the apparent favoured treatment of the United States in comparison fueled speculation that his diplomatic efforts had encountered obstacles that passing the gay marriage act in Parliament wouldn't solve, yet…"

"...le Président de la République est arrivé à Genève, où il va rencontrer la reine Glimmer…"

"Can you stop switching channels all the time? I want to actually understand what they are saying!"

Catra snorted at Glimmer's familiar complaint and switched channels a few more times. "It's not my fault you're too slow, Sparkles."

"Slow?"

"Yeah!" Catra nodded. "I got everything I needed."

"Really."

"Yes." She smirked.

"And what did you get from switching through three dozen channels in a minute or so?" Glimmer crossed her arms and glared at her.

"That nothing much has changed. The people on Earth are still rioting because we aren't following their customs, and their rulers still try to flatter us at every opportunity." Catra grinned. "You really should reconsider not accepting gifts - I am sure Adora would have enjoyed that private island we were offered."

Glimmer clenched her teeth. "Those were bribes! The man expected Etherian weapons in exchange!"

"So?" Catra shrugged again. "Just hand him some spears and swords." The man hadn't specified which weapons, after all, he wanted.

Glimmer rolled her eyes. "Yeah, that's exactly what we need - a reputation for trickery and deception!"

"It would be an improvement over 'witchcraft', 'carnal sin', 'heathen debauchery', 'offending God' and…"

"I've seen the report!" Glimmer snapped. "And things are improving."

"In some countries," Catra pointed out. "We've been basically banned from entering an entire region."

"And other regions are complaining that we haven't visited them yet," Glimmer retorted.

"The people or the governments?" Catra grinned at her friend's scowl. "Anyway, we don't need them. We just need a few countries and their armies to start conquering planets."

"Liberating planets!" Glimmer glared at her again. "And the more allies we have, the more effective we'll be in the long run."

"Provided they don't betray us." Catra scoffed. Not everyone was as untrustworthy as Double Trouble, but a number of the people they had met here…

"That's why we are doing all those negotiations. Not that you're doing much," Glimmer complained.

"I'm analysing them and keeping Adora from being swayed by their sob stories," Catra retorted. "If you want me to actually negotiate, just say so!"

Glimmer scoffed in return. "And have you fleece the Earth countries out of their treasury?"

"Well… we can use it for the war?" She flashed her fangs. "Even with the support from the fleets, and with Perfuma doing her plant growth thing, it'll be costly."

Glimmer sighed and sat down in the seat next to her. "I know. We still haven't recovered from the Horde War. And the Earth people want to open free trade with us."

Catra frowned. "So? They are really desperate for our technology. We could make a killing!"

"Yes, until they have our technology, and then we get flooded with cheap Earth products." Glimmer shook her head. "Bow has read up on that. We need to be really careful with any trade agreement."

Catra would have to read up on that stuff as well, then. She knew how to wage war, but trade politics… In the Horde, you just requisitioned everything. Trade was for the black market in the barracks. "So… stick to the military?"

"That's the plan. But they have plans of their own."

"They're not stupid, despite all this." Catra pointed at the screen on the wall.

"I know. I just wish they'd stop being stupid where it matters." Glimmer sighed. "We've got a meeting with the French president in ten minutes. Where is Adora?"

"She is still reading up on French history with Bow." As if there'd be a test later on.

"Ah." Glimmer nodded.

"And how did your talk with the Australians go?" Catra asked.

"They wanted to know more about magic. I'm not sure they fully understood my explanations - or Entrapta's." Glimmer shrugged. "They don't get that Earth magic isn't the same as Etherian magic. They don't have runestones. They don't have Mystacore. They think once magic is back, people will spontaneously start flying and throwing lightning around." She scoffed. "It's frustrating."

"Better you than me." Catra grinned again.

"You're up for the strategy meeting with NATO as soon as we can get a time and date."

Catra hung her head. Great.

Pentagon, Washington DC, Earth, September 16th, 1998 (Earth Time)

"...and speculation about who will succeed as senator is rampant, with the governor remaining tight-lipped about any prospects, but with the polls showing that a majority of the state's population support a more progressive stance, he is expected to…"

So, it had begun. Jack O'Neill pressed his lips together as he forced himself to turn away from the television and focus on his jello. He would bet all his desserts for the next ten years that the senator in question hadn't resigned out of his free will but had been forced to by Kinsey and the NID. The guy was claiming some noble principles and the good of the country, but Jack didn't believe any of it. It just didn't fit the man's policies.

So, it wasn't a great loss to see that politician go. It might actually be a good thing if he was replaced by someone not as selfish and greedy, but the man had been elected by a majority of his state's voters. Forcing him to step down through underhanded means was a blow against democracy and the rule of law. Against the constitution Jack had sworn to defend.

"So… what do we do?" Daniel asked. "About that, I mean." He gestured at the television as if there was any doubt about the topic of the conversation.

Out of habit, Jack glanced around. Still no one close enough to overhear them. "We don't actually have any proof," he said, trying not to wince at his own words. They sounded like… excuses.

"Without proof, there is no way to legally stop this," Carter pointed out.

"So we would be breaking the law if we did anything?" Daniel sounded weirdly hopeful and desperate at the same time. "And we don't have proof, so we don't really know…"

Jack hesitated for a moment, then shook his head. He didn't like excuses. "We do know. This…" He pointed at the screen, then blinked. They had already switched to covering the latest scandal involving a minister, a luxury yacht and church donations. "Well, that too. We know this is the work of the NID using illegal means to affect national policy. We don't have proof, yes, but this is no coincidence." This was Kinsey at work.

"Yes, but…" Daniel fell silent, then raised his chin. "We also 'know' what will happen if this gets exposed."

"That's a good guess," Jack replied. Then he raised his hands, "Yes, I also think if the NID gets thwarted, we'll see the right-wing nutters take over." It would be just like Watergate. The public wouldn't tolerate such blatantly illegal acts by the government.

"'Thwarted', Jack?" Daniel blinked.

Jack stared at him. "Not the point, Daniel."

"Uh, right. Anyway - so… what do we do? Whatever we do would be breaking the law, sort of."

"It's not against the law to keep speculation to yourself," Carter, prim and proper as usual, said. "Without any proof or even clues except for the timing, we aren't required to take action."

"Yes," Daniel agreed. "Otherwise, we would have witch hunts all the time. I don't mean literal witch hunts."

Those were good arguments. Sound, logical, perfectly fine. But Jack knew that they were excuses, nothing more. Under different circumstances, he would be doing all he could to stop the NID. And Carter and Daniel would be with him all the way. Doing the right thing, no matter the cost.

But what if the cost was America? There was some Latin saying about justice and the world ending that Jack did not quite remember from West Point. Something about enforcing justice even if it doomed the world. Did he want that?

He snorted, startling Carter and Daniel. If he did, he would have quit the Air Force long ago. Some of the things he had done during the Cold War… His friends were still staring at him. He sighed. "We don't have any proof. And doing anything illegal to gather proof…" Carter blushed a little, he noticed. "...would have us act like the NID." Not quite, but close enough. At least for his conscience.

"You could argue that the only reason this is happening is because the American system is flawed, so a minority has too much influence, controlling the majority," Daniel said. "So, those suffering from the NID breaking the law were already violating the spirit of the law."

Jack stared at him. "Let's not sound too smug or noble, OK?"

Daniel blushed. "OK. So… we don't do anything. Illegal, I mean."

"Yes." Jack nodded. As did Carter.

He turned to look at the television again. They were showing a report from some country in Africa - he had missed the start. Something about witch hunts. The reporter sounded concerned in that professional way some managed.

"...and the reports of people lynched after being accused of being 'witches' keep increasing. The government has announced that in light of the Etherian threat to restore magic, they will outlaw witchcraft. In response, a rebel faction has called upon the population to 'embrace the ancient magic of our people'. Experts disagree about…"

And there were the literal witch hunts. Jack scowled. If they or the NID bungled this, this could become the future of America. He'd do a lot more to avoid this than turn a blind eye to rumours.

No matter how bad it made him feel.

Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland, Earth, September 17th, 1998 (Earth Time)

Adora was prepared. She had read up on the history of France - and there had been a lot of revolutions and quasi-revolutions; they were up to their fifth republic! - and on the current politics of the country and on the Président himself. She was prepared.

But she was still nervous when she walked towards the meeting room. She had only briefly met the man before, she didn't know any French people she could have trusted to tell her more about him, and the news was pretty divided about him.

Catra stretched next to her, then leaned over. "Relax. He wants something from us, not the other way around."

"We want allies on Earth," Adora whispered back. Allies they could trust. If only SG-1 were princesses - well, princes and one princess - in charge of the USA! "And we need allies."

"Not as much as they need us," Glimmer cut in from Adora's other side. "If everything fails, we don't need to share technology - Earth troops can fight the Goa'uld on the ground just fine, as SG-1 has proven."

"Yeah," Catra agreed. "Though in the long run, we might be pressed for resources."

Adora knew that. Second and Third Fleet had their logistical tails and could get resupplied. Bots could be used. Entrapta and Hordak also were positive that they could rebuild Horde Prime's cloning facilities. Well, replace them - the originals were currently part of the space plant above Etheria. But that should be the clones' decision, not anyone else's. And it certainly shouldn't be done because they needed more soldiers.

Of course, if they managed to get an alliance, the point would be moot.

They reached the meeting room and entered.

The Président was tall, was Adora's first thought. Not as tall as She-Ra, but… maybe half a head shorter? Which meant he was far taller than her friends and herself.

"Queen Glimmer! Princess She-Ra!" The Président beamed at them, shaking their hands - she had half-expected him to kiss their hands, based on some reports about the French. But he had a firm handshake.

"Monsieur le Président," Glimmer nodded at him.

"Hello!" Adora added.

"Techmaster Bow. Catra." More smiles all around, even if Catra's was a little toothy.

Then they met his staff. General Dubois. And the Minister des Armées. And what Catra called flunkies or minions.

"I am so happy to meet you again," the man told her as they took their seats at the table - decorated with the French flags and… the Princess Alliance Crest. That was a nice touch!

Adora smiled at the Président. "Yes." They had met briefly before, when they had met the United Nations. But this was their first personal meeting.

"It's an honour," Glimmer replied.

"The honour is all mine." Another smile. "I hope to invite you to France one day - you must see Paris, one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The City of Love, she is known as."

Adora didn't have to glance to the side to see Catra perk up.

"That would be lovely," Glimmer said. "Should we form an Alliance, then signing the agreement would be a great occasion to visit."

Adora nodded. Perhaps they should have visited for this meeting, but… Geneva was close to France, and they had so many meetings with the Security Council anyway. Besides, this was mostly a preliminary meeting, according to the schedule.

"France would be honoured."

"As would we," Glimmer told him. "But let's get down to business. Let's talk about an alliance."

"...and we will pass legislation that will grant everyone, no matter their sexual orientation, the same rights to marriage and everything that entails, including adoption." The Président nodded. "We expect the laws to be passed soon."

Adora nodded. She could have done without the list of France's achievements with regards to human rights - she had read up on the country - but it would have been rude to mention that.

"Now, I'd be the first to admit that we're not perfect. France has done much to be ashamed of in the past. Sometimes out of ignorance, sometimes for worse motivations," he went on. "But we strive to be better than we were."

Adora nodded again. She had read up on that as well. "As everyone should."

"No one's perfect," Glimmer added. "We understand that."

"So we've heard." The Président didn't look at Catra, Adora noted. But it was clear what he meant.

And Catra knew it - Adora saw that she was pretty tense. She reached over and patted her knee. Catra had changed. She wasn't the Catra who had led the Horde any more. Well, she was, in some ways, but not the ones that counted most.

"As long as you don't go back, this will be fine," Glimmer said. "Of course, laws also need to be enforced to matter."

"France is a country of law and order. We will enforce those laws." He smiled again. "You have my word. Although I don't expect many problems - it's not as if we are limiting people's rights; we're expanding them. That rarely causes any problems with people."

"Except for the bigots," Catra said. "They hate that."

"We have a handle on them," the Président told her. "France is a secular, laicist state with a strict separation of religion and state. The religious extremists do not hold any power here."

That was aimed at the USA, Adora was certain.

But Glimmer didn't comment. "Now, with that dealt with, let's talk about the military."

Capitol, Washington DC, Earth, September 16th, 1998 (Earth Time)

"But can't we outproduce them? They said their planet has a population of fifty million - we have six times that number!"

Samantha Carter had to refrain from correcting the senator that the United States' population was five and a half times Etheria's. That wouldn't only further alienate the man and his conservative cohorts. So she gently shook her head and repeated what she had been telling her superiors and various members of the government since they had returned from Etheria: "If we had the same technology and resources, we could. But we don't. We don't have enough people who understand alien technology."

"Can't we teach more people?" another conservative senator asked. His accent sounded as if he had stepped out of 'Gone with the Wind'.

The people who understood alien technology enough were not good teachers. Sam included herself in that category, seeing as she really wanted to curse at her audience. She had gone over that before! It was in her reports!

"We would have to teach all scientists and all engineers. And then every worker. And we would still lag behind the Etherians' technology. They, on the other hand, have a fleet full of people who know to use, maintain and create alien technology. They can teach that to others much more easily than we can. And on Etheria, they have a society used to both magic and technology." Sam shook her head. And there was also the threat of brain drain - those who came to study and work in the USA because it was the most advanced nation would look elsewhere if the USA lost that position.

"A society that's still using swords and bows and arrows," the first senator said.

"Magic swords and arrows. They defeated an army that had hovertanks with laser cannons," Sam shot back. She was fudging the truth a little here, but only a little. "They aren't primitive. They have different aesthetics, that's all. People in the USA hunt with bow and arrow, yet we don't think the USA is stuck in the medieval age, do we?" Why couldn't they see that? The rest of the conservative senators did!

"My cousin swears by his composite bow," a third senator - an overweight older man from the South - said with a smile. "I swear by my Remington, of course."

"That's irrelevant. The question we're here to answer is: Can we defy those aliens who attempt to force their ideology on us and chart our own course as a proud nation, or do we have to bend our necks and accept their demands so we will not be relegated to a third-world country?" the first senator snapped.

"They don't make demands, Senator," Sam corrected him. "They have requirements to be met for anyone who wants access to their technology."

"Semantics!" the senator who had asked after teachers said. "If we want their technology, we have to bend to their whims. That's what it boils down to."

"Well, they're just doing what we did to our backyard," another said with a chuckle.

Sam cleared her throat, then had to wait a few moments before the assembled senators turned their attention back on her. Why exactly had the President sent her to talk to those people? She knew their type; they didn't like listening to women as a rule, and if the woman was pretty and young… She managed not to clench her teeth. Well, the Colonel would have lost his patience long ago and would have antagonised everyone with his flippant remarks, and Daniel… would have lectured them in his earnest but accidentally offensive way.

Still, as grating as this was, she had faced worse sexists. "As I said, senators, if the United States is forced to tackle upgrading our technology without any help from the Etherians, we will lag behind. We simply aren't on a sufficient level, educationally, scientifically and with regards to infrastructure, to match whatever country they support."

"But ultimately, we'll catch up, right?" the first senator asked again. "We might have a slower start, but we're the United States - we will persevere. With God's help, we'll show them!"

"By the time we catch up to where they are now, they will have progressed even further. And we would have to spend a lot of resources just to catch up - money we could spend on more advanced programs." Not that education didn't need a huge investment, but this wasn't the crowd to address that even - or especially - since they were the exact crowd who had caused the damage to the United States' schools and colleges.

"We would certainly lose our role as leader of the free world," another Senator who had stayed silent so far spoke up. "And we wouldn't have the strongest military in the world any more. Not when the French and the British are rolling over and showing their bellies to the aliens just so they can get spaceships."

Of course, that made an impression on the politicians in the room. Sam refrained from scoffing - whether or not the USA had the strongest military in the world didn't matter, not when six ships in orbit could easily defeat the entire world's militaries.

"So, we either grant the dykes the right to marry each other and raise children, or we lose everything we have achieved in the last two hundred years."

No one batted an eye at the man's slur, Sam noted. But most nodded in reluctant agreement.

"At least a chunk of my state is in favour of this," one senator said. "According to the polls at least."

"Lucky you. My constituents will murder me for this," another said.

"Aren't they busy murdering your church right now?"

"It wasn't my church! I have attended a few services there, but I hardly knew the minister! And I certainly wasn't aware of his… inclinations!"

Ah! So that scandal was happening in his state. Sam kept a polite expression on her face as the senators complained about having to go along with the government's proposals.

She just wished she could already leave. More such meetings and she might become as bad as the Colonel about politicians.

Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland, Earth, September 17th, 1998 (Earth Time)

"...and we can send la Légion d'Étrangère out at once - it's one of the best units in the world and ready to deploy," the Minister des Armées said. "Though they would need support from other forces - they don't have integral air support."

Catra nodded. "Unlike the US Marine Corps." She had read up on Earth's military history.

The French general frowned. "Of course, how valid air support is on foreign planets remains to be seen. And going up against space ships?" He shrugged. "I assume you have sufficient space forces to take over this, and we can handle everything on the ground, provided our intel about the enemy forces is correct."

"It should be," Adora said. "Teal'c was a highly placed officer, and he didn't know about any armour units in the ranks of the Jaffa."

"Or artillery." Which was a weird deficiency. How could you wage war without armour and artillery? Well, if you had princesses to pick up the slack, you could, Catra amended. "They are said to rely on their bombers for such support. But the core of their ground forces is composed of infantry. And Earth-made weapons are very competitive in that area." She had examined the zats and staff weapons herself. And the American rifles.

The French general nodded. "That is a small consolation. To find ourselves completely outclassed, and many of our best weapons rendered obsolete, was a heavy blow."

"Of course, it helped that every army on Earth was rendered obsolete at the same time," the French Président added with a chuckle. "Our pride might have suffered some blows, but others who used to look down on us suffered relatively worse."

Which meant the US Army, Catra knew. There was, well, she wouldn't call it a feud, but certainly some bad blood there. And the French were supposed to be allies of the Americans. Then again, the USA hadn't exactly been honest with the rest of the world - and also more than a little arrogant, or so it seemed.

"But a few thousand soldiers are not enough to tackle an Empire that spans the galaxy. We'll have to mobilise more, and that will take some time. As will converting our existing weapon designs to incorporate advanced technology," the minister went on.

"Well, the Goa'uld Empire is, as far as we know, fractured. After the death of Ra, his underlings split and started fighting each other. Or at least competing with each other," Glimmer added. "And this is a weakness of theirs."

"Yes," Catra agreed. "If we can keep them divided, we can defeat them piecemeal." What the Horde had almost done to the Alliance. "We have the edge in technology, and we can concentrate our forces as long as we have the initiative. If we use a few flotillas to strike various planets far apart, we can force them to spread out their ships to cover their realms. Of course, that will become harder and harder as we take more planets. So, it's essential that we develop ground-based weapons to protect planets and more ships."

"France will do what she can to help there," the Président said. "Our industry is ready for this challenge. Even the unions agree," he added, which prompted some chuckling from the others with him.

"But we won't be able to win this war on the defensive," Catra went on. "We need to take out their leaders and either conquer or destroy their core industries to cripple their ability to wage war. Most of the planets they control aren't important from a strategic sense - they don't have any infrastructure other than some mines, and they only have as many troops and gear their that they can supply through the Stargate." Which, Catra didn't need Teal'c to tell her that, was great for travelling, but not so great if you had to supply an army through it - much less several armies and bases.

"And we want to avoid pushing them into fighting to the bitter end," Adora added.

Catra kept her mouth closed. It was a sound decision - an enemy who had nothing to lose would fight harder than someone who could surrender - but she didn't think many, if any, of the Goa'uld could be trusted to stick to an agreement if they were even willing to make one in the first place. It would have to entail giving u their slaves, after all.

"As long as we can keep Earth and Etheria safe," the Président said.

"That's the main objective, of course," Glimmer agreed. "Strategically."

"But back to the alliance," the Président said. "We've covered the laws we'll change. Is there anything else left to discuss that needs to be altered?"

"As long as you make an honest effort to enforce the new laws and don't start conquering other countries, I don't think so," Glimmer said.

Adora nodded.

"Then we need to discuss how the command structure will work," Catra said. "Who's in charge of which operations, how discipline is being handled."

"Trade agreements, training, how to keep restricted knowledge safe from spies," Glimmer added.

"With regards to trade, that would have to involve the European Union," the Président replied.

"Well, we won't really see much trade for the foreseeable future, what with the distance between Etheria and Earth," Glimmer said.

And the issues about economic imbalances, Catra added to herself. France had more people than Etheria as a whole. And they were also meeting with the British and Germans. At least all of them were in the same Union which should simplify trade agreements.

Still, she preferred to talk tactics and strategy rather than trade, so she leaned back while Glimmer and Bow started talking about economic details. It looked like they would have their first ally on Earth soon enough.