Destiny
In the void between galaxies, nothing can be found but the cold and dark of empty space. Ahead, the slowly rotating mass of a spiral armed galaxy. Behind was a dwarf galaxy similar to Pegasus, on the other side of the universe. Though vastly different in shape and composition, both of these galaxies would play a part in Destiny's overall mission.
Effortlessly, Destiny sliced through the depths of the void between galaxies. In a swirl of blue and green tendrils, the vessel older than humanity moved on. Since returning to this corner of the universe, Destiny had passed through three galaxies. In that time, her new crew had come together as a family of sorts.
In their eighteen months away from Earth, the crew had fallen into comfortable routines. Exercise, study, and crew activities bonded them together, instilling pride in their team. Off world exploration, coupled with her overlying mission kept the crew firmly occupied. Though boredom was a problem for those who arrived from Icarus Base, that problem had not reared its ugly head since her redeployment from Arkos, and the Milky Way.
In her eighteen months of this latest leg of her journey, Destiny and her crew had encountered a number of civilizations along the way. Some thrived, while others were long since fallen. The most advanced were worlds formerly occupied by the people of Novus, which had spread along the limited gate network in their galaxy. Others encountered were preindustrial in nature, and far too alien to risk contact.
The limited gate networks laid thousands of years earlier by seeder ships launched before Destiny, were far different from the networks found in the Milky Way and elsewhere. Composed of a less durable and powerful design, these gates served functions their more powerful cousins did not. Within each gate's base pedestal, a specialized sensor array sat. These sensors monitored the planet around them, while also monitoring the cosmic microwave background. Transmitted to Destiny as she passed, these readings combined together with readings taken by Destiny, to refine data gathered along the way.
During her time within the Arkos shipyard, a number of upgrades were made to Destiny's systems. Her FTL Drive was modified, allowing for vastly increased speed. This speed increase had allowed passage through three galaxies in the time since their return to this sector of space. Upgrades to the onboard sensor suite made an already capable platform even more so. Like a sponge, Destiny gorged on data from surrounding space in and around her designated flight path through space. While she analyzed systems she passed near or through, vast amounts of astrophysical data poured in.
Collection of cosmic microwave background emissions took a quantum leap beyond what it had been. Now, Destiny was able to catalog and record this pattern across an area measuring twenty thousand light years at a time. Instead of the fifty or sixty measurements required before the upgrade, Destiny could now accomplish this task with a handful of observations. This upgrade also opened up another mystery in the structured pattern found in the background they were chasing.
Before their return to the Milky Way, Doctor Nicholas Rush and Eli Wallace had theorized that the pattern in the background might be similar to a fractal in structure. This insight was one a later addition to the crew would be inspired by. One of the descendants of Destiny's crew on Novus, this new addition had earned his place aboard the mythical vessel from Novan history. A brilliant mathematician and aspiring astrophysicist, Doctor Joseph Kent proved to be an invaluable addition to the duo of Rush and Eli.
Together, the three men set about writing a program for analysis of the data thus far collected by Destiny. This fractal analysis program once complete, set about assessing the fractal characteristics of the data set as a whole. As the program analyzed past data, it assigned fractal dimension and characteristics to the theoretical dataset. Processing Exabyte's of data, the program had one limitation. The downside of fractal analysis is that arriving at an empirically determined fractal dimension does not necessarily prove that a pattern is a fractal; instead, other characteristics are opened for consideration.
In the onboard dining facility, crewmembers were coming in and out. Tater tot night was always a favorite. The quiet roar of conversation filling the compartment was one the avatar of Destiny looked upon with happiness. Never before in her long existence had Destiny been filled with so many. At the table closest to the compartments exit sat Eli, Kent, and Rush. Walking in, Colonel Ian Davidson, Destiny's commanding officer, saw the terrible trio as he called them.
"Gentlemen, how goes it?" Davidson asked.
"Ah, Colonel! You are just in time for yet another of Eli's attempts to explain the storyline of Star Trek to Kent." Rush explained in welcome.
"Colonel, back me up here. Surely you see the parallels between Destiny and the Enterprise, right?" Eli asked.
"I was never a Trekkie Mr. Wallace. Knight Rider was more my cup of tea." Davidson replied.
"Ok, so the Enterprise was on a five year mission where no man has gone before? I cannot say I see the comparison." Kent argued.
"How can you not? Rush is Scottish, so we even checked that box. It fits man, it fits." Eli countered.
"Imagine going through this during nicotine and caffeine withdrawal. Now you understand why I stayed in my hallway doing complex math for so long the first time we were aboard." Rush whispered to Davidson.
"Eli, something came in from the SGC you and the rest of the crew might be interested in." Davidson hinted.
"Such as?" Eli asked.
"They managed to get their hands on a copy of The Avengers. I substituted it for tonight's movie. It was doubtful anyone wanted to watch The Princess Bride anyway." Davidson replied.
"Iron Man time!" Eli exclaimed.
"You realize I will hear about this movie for weeks now, right?" Rush asked Davidson pointedly.
"A man made of iron? I will never understand Earth movies." Kent fumed.
---
Galar
Milky Way
A hyperspace window tore open four hundred thousand kilometers from the world of Galar. From this opening, the imposing bulk of the flagship of the Asgard Fleet emerged. Hala had never before traveled to this world, but her commander had many times. Looking out in the distance at the world before him, Thor felt irritation at his current mission. Still, it was a mission long overdue.
Hala's powerful sensor suite detected what Thor could readily see for himself. Hyperspace capable vessels sat in orbit, while others moved towards and away from the world of Galar. Several of these vessels belonged to the ever-growing merchant fleet of Earth, moving trade goods to and from this world. The other vessels were Galaran native built craft. Making use of hyperspace drive technology gained from trading the memory device, Galaran's took to the stars. Propelled by inferior Goa'uld designs, the Galaran vessels lacked the speed of the Asgard and Tauri. To rectify this, Galar was hard at work, attempting to negotiate a trade for more advanced hyper drive technology.
Lifting his hand to the control panel before him, Thor moves the control stone. The Hala's communications suite activated, a short text formatted message is sent to the Galaran Military Command on the world below, explaining his need for 'consultations' as he had put it. For his task, it was best that those below were alerted to his arrival. Patience was not one thing Thor was known for, even among the Asgard.
Beaming to the surface, Thor found himself beside a large decorative fountain near the governmental administration building. All around him, gleaming buildings clad in glass rose into the sky. So similar to Earth this planet was. An Earth of several years ago that is. Waiting for Thor was Emissary Varta. In addition to his duty as liaison to the Asgard, Varta also served as the sitting ambassador to Earth.
"It is an honor to receive you on your visit to Galar. On behalf of my people, we welcome you." Varta said in greeting.
"Thank you Emissary Varta. On behalf of the Asgard High Council, I send the greetings of the Asgard." Thor replied.
"May I offer you a tour of the capital?" Emissary Varta asked.
"I must decline your offer. Instead, I wish to get to the crux of the matter that necessitates this visit. It would be best if this discussion is done in a more private setting." Thor suggested.
"Of course. Please, follow me into the Chancellery, and my private offices." Varta suggested.
Making their way to the Chancellery, the duo crossed through a large marble clad portico. Throughout the ornate lobby, minor functionaries of the Galaran government moved back and forth. Generations of contact with the Asgard had long ago removed any curiosity about the alien in their presence. Instead, the Asgard were recognized as the protectors of this world, and reason for its level of development. A handful of minutes after entering the Chancellery building, the duo entered Emissary Varta's private office. Taking his seat behind his glass covered desk, Varta signaled his underlings to remove themselves from the office.
"Emissary, I would ask that your staff remain present for this conversation, so an indisputable record of this meeting exists." Thor suggested cryptically.
"As you wish Commander Thor." Varta replied warily.
"Supreme Commander." Thor interjects with a raised finger.
"Of course, Supreme Commander. What is it you wish to discuss?" Varta asks uncomfortably.
"Let me begin by informing you that hopes of Galar coming into possession of advanced hyper drive technology from Earth are for naught." Thor began simply.
"Might I inquire why that is Supreme Commander?" Varta asked, his irritation rising.
"We will ask that transfer of said technology not happen until such time as the Galaran government meets the demands of the Asgard High Council." Thor replied smoothly.
"The Asgard and Galaran people have a long history. I see no reason to resort to tactics such as these. What are these wishes if I may be so bold?" Varta asked indignantly.
"For a time, this galaxy was outside of the scope of Asgard intervention. Instead, Earth enforced the Protected Planets Treaty in our stead. During that time, SG-1 paid a visit to this world. Did they not?" Thor asked.
"They did." Varta answered softly.
"The Asgard High Council is well aware from records obtained from Earth, of events that transpired during that meeting. On Earth, I believe the proper term would be frame up. We are well aware of your government's attempt to frame Colonel Mitchell for a murder he did not commit. At the time of this event, an alliance between Galar and Earth existed. Did it not?" Thor asked pointedly.
"It did and continues to exist." Varta replied.
"This is not how allies conduct themselves." Thor nearly spat.
"Has not Galar been a wonderful ally to the Asgard?" Varta asked in counter.
"The Asgard are your protectors, not your allies. We liberated you from the Goa'uld, and protect you under the guises of the Protected Planets Treaty, but never have we been your ally. Earth is our ally, and one of the Five Great Races. Galar is not." Thor made clear.
"I see. What then is the purpose of this visit Supreme Commander?" Varta asked with a hint of dread.
"The Asgard High Council has empowered me to deliver our wished for change in your current government." Thor said clearly.
"You make demands such as these? This is outrageous!" Varta replied in feigned shock.
"Not demands. Simple suggestion is a more apt description. These suggestions come with weight behind them though. There are some on Earth who would strike you down for much less of a slight. Consider every day that they maintain diplomatic relations with your world a gift. Were they not benevolent, they could justify much more than a simple diplomatic flap, and I assure you that no one in this galaxy excels at the result of soured relations more than those on Earth. Change your government now." Thor demanded.
"And if we do not?" Varta asked.
"The Asgard and our allies will strike Galar from the rolls of those planets listed under the Protected Planets Treaty. Trade between your world and Earth will grind to a halt, as will trade with other worlds our three races share relations with." Thor said sternly.
"You demand too much of us, and now you threaten our future as well!" Varta accused.
"I make no threat. Think of this more as simply pointing out potential consequences should you fail to correct this wrong. Yes, it is true that this galaxy is currently free of threats. That can change in the future. Your civilization prospered and flourished under the protection of the Asgard. Are you willing to wager how you will fare generations into the future without that protection?" Thor asked innocently.
Sitting behind his glass desk, Varta found himself speechless. Never would he have guessed that this meeting would come to this point. A shocked and somewhat perplexed expression was on his face as Thor stood without a further word. The sight of the Supreme Commander of the Asgard Fleet simply walking out of the office without saying anything else further heightened Emissary Varta's state of shock. Lifting his phone, he demanded an immediate meeting of the ruling cabinet.
Rarely did politics or political maneuvering please Thor. However, he admitted to himself that this had indeed pleased him. Beaming aboard the Hala, he found his mood much improved. In the coming days, a wrong committed years ago against Earth would be righted. Leaping into hyperspace, Hala left behind a world with its political landscape suddenly turned into a scene of horrific carnage. All in a day's work.
---
Star Gate Command
Cheyenne Mountain
A moment earlier, the star gate had activated. Instead of an unscheduled activation, this incoming wormhole was one they operations staff knew to expect. The medical response team deployed less than an hour before, with those under their charge, and SG-31 piled through the gate. Moving down the ramp, medical staff alerted to the inbound travelers stood by to take charge of the injured evacuee. Also standing at the ramp was Brigadier General Samantha Carter.
"What happened?" Carter demanded.
"Exploring a ruin, we spotted the injured. We called it in, evacuated the wounded and dead, and the rest is history Ma'am." Colonel Andrews replied.
"Any idea who they are or where they are from Colonel?" Carter asked.
"None Ma'am. Funny thing though, all their gear is marked in Latin, as is the notebook we found." Andrews replied.
"Latin? Are you sure it is Latin?" Carter asked.
"Absolutely Ma'am. It is Latin that much I am certain of." Andrews replied.
"Secure your gear Colonel, and get your team fed. We will debrief when I have a handle on what is going on. I am going to call in the expert." Carter replied before walking away.
The expert in question was one Doctor Daniel Jackson. Recently returned from the Pegasus galaxy, the city ship Borealis was currently sitting serenely in San Francisco Bay while her crew enjoyed a well-earned period of rest. Soon, Borealis and her crew would be deploying to not the Pegasus Dwarf Galaxy, but another in the Local Group. As Jackson was the commander of the Borealis expedition, that made him available.
Returning to her office, Carter put in a quick call. Seeing that the lone surviving evacuee had just arrived in the infirmary, she contented herself with the mountainous stack of paperwork on her desk to pass the time. Two hours later, buried in a budgetary audit report, the interoffice phone on Carter's desk rang. Picking it up, she listened to the speaker on the other end of the line and stood before hanging up the phone.
Striding down the spiral staircase at the other end of the briefing room connected to her office, Carter made her way through the gate operations center. Crossing through the nerve center of the SGC, she nodded to those at their duty stations. Two minutes later, Carter arrived at the SGC infirmary. In the distance, nurses hovered over the conscious evacuee. Seeing the General, Doctor Carolyn Lam crossed the room towards the SGC commanding officer.
"How is our patient doing?" Carter asked.
"First, he has a concussion. It is not severe, and he is conscious now. The break in his left arm has been set. Other than dehydration, which we are fixing now with intravenous fluids, he is ok." Lam explained.
"Anything odd about him?" Carter asked.
"You mean other than the fact he does not speak a word of English? No. We did the normal work up protocol on him, and he is free of disease. In addition, he is in impeccable physical shape. Not like a jogger would be. More like what we see with the Special Forces people who rotate in and out of the SGC." Lam further explained.
Before the conversation could continue further, a figure arrived next to General Carter. Turning her head, she saw it was none other than her old friend and colleague Daniel Jackson. Hugging his old friend, Daniel also mouthed a hello to Lam.
"What was so urgent that I needed to take a Jumper from San Francisco to here?" Daniel asks.
"We have a bit of an interesting find. Here, look at this." Sam says as she hands the found notebook to Daniel.
"It is in Latin. I am not seeing the mystery." Daniel shrugged.
"Yes, I know it is in Latin. Where the plot thickens is in the fact that it was found by an SG team in some ruins." Sam explained.
"It gets better. The SG team found three dead in a roof collapse in a ruin. They also brought in one alive and he is lying back there." Sam stated.
"Can I talk to him?" Daniel asked Lam.
"It should be ok for a few minutes. Just do not get him excited is all I ask. Agreed?" Lam asked.
"No problem. Let me go over and have a chat." Daniel said absently, while walking away from the two women.
Approaching the hospital bed, Daniel looked over the man before him. Late twenties, dark hair and blue eyes, the man had the look of a soldier. Daniel also took note of the fact that the man showed little fear of the unfamiliar surroundings. Perhaps this conversation would be productive after all.
"Hello, my name is Daniel Jackson." Daniel said in passable Latin.
"Ubi sum ego?" The man demanded.
"Right now you are in the infirmary. Apparently, you were injured when a team found you." Daniel explained in Latin.
"Ubi est mea quadrigis?" The man asked.
"I am sorry to inform you that your team did not survive the collapse that injured you. Their bodies and effects were collected and brought back with you. If you can tell me your cultures protocol for handling of the dead, I will see that it is followed." Daniel replied in the man's language.
"Mortui milites. Quomodo tactari in mortem parum." The man replied with composure.
"As I said, I am Daniel Jackson. What is your name? What planet are you from? We would like to let your people know what has happened and that you are in our care." Daniel asked.
"I am Senior Centurion Marcus Fabius. My planet's location and name I am not at liberty to disclose. Be aware that I am no threat to you." Fabius explained.
"Do you have a method for contacting your world? We would like to notify them of what has happened, and that you are alive. We would also like to turn over the dead and their possessions." Daniel explained.
"When we fail to check in at the appropriate time, others will be sent." Marcus Fabius explained.
"Other Centurions?" Daniel asked.
"Yes. You are familiar with that rank? How is it you know my language?" Fabius replied.
"Yes, it is a rank I have heard of. It was a rank in the military of an empire in my world's ancient history. My study of that culture is why I can speak your language." Daniel explained.
"What culture do you speak of?" Fabius demanded.
"The Roman Republic, and later the Roman Empire, but we simply refer to it as Rome. You need your rest. I promise we will talk more later on if you are feeling up to it. Agreed?" Daniel asked.
"Yes." Fabius replied with a suspicious look on a face suddenly gone pale.
Leaving Centurion Marcus Fabius in the hands of the infinitely capable Doctor Lam, Carter and Daniel excused themselves from the infirmary. Stopping off for coffee along the way, the duo made their way towards Carter's office upstairs. Along the way, Daniel shook hands with old colleagues along the way. Entering Sam's office, Daniel took a seat as the General sat behind her desk.
"You look good in that chair Sam." Daniel offered.
"A lot of good people have sat in this seat. Sometimes I wonder if I am really up to the task." Sam conceded.
"Something tells me that General Hammond would think you are more than up to the task. So, how is command treating you?" Daniel asked.
"I have developed a profound hatred for paperwork. It really makes me miss commanding a ship." Sam sighed.
"I just hope my ship does not get run into by the Alcatraz tour boat." Daniel said with a shake of the head.
"Is Teal'c happy to be back on Earth for awhile?" Sam asked.
"He is. The chance to update his movie collection is always a big deal." Daniel explained.
"I am surprised he isn't here with you." Sam said.
"Had he been around when the call came in, I am sure he would have come along. As he would say, undomesticated equines could not keep him away." Daniel laughed.
"I am guessing he is tied up with paperwork of his own." Sam theorized.
"Not exactly. He, McKay, and Greer are at Comicon." Daniel explained.
"Did you learn anything that can help from our guy in the infirmary?" Sam asked.
"I learned a bit, but the talk brought up more questions than it answered." Daniel grimaced.
"Such as?" Sam asked.
"He referred to himself by a military rank before giving his name. The only place I have ever heard the title Centurion or a derivative is in Roman history. Compound that with the fact that these people are carrying gear marked in Latin and the mystery deepens. It would not be the first time we have run across humans kidnapped from Earth by the Goa'uld, only to later be abandoned. He did state that is his team does not check in, others will be sent to search for them." Daniel offered.
"Judging by how these guys were outfitted, I will wager a guess that an armed search team will come calling on that planet." Carter offered.
"Someone has to go out there and make contact. If only to let them know we have their guy, he is alive, and we have the dead." Daniel suggested.
"I agree with you, but in case you never noticed, we do not have many Latin speakers on field teams. I know of one though." Carter mused.
"Let me guess. Me?" Daniel asked with a groan.
Twenty minutes of less than spirited debate later, Carter finally managed to win Daniel over. As his field gear was sitting on Borealis in San Francisco Bay, he would instead draw gear from SGC stocks. Walking him downstairs to the recently added exoskeleton fitting and storage bay, Daniel put up a bit of a fight. Standing in front of an unused exoskeleton, Daniel reached his breaking point.
"I am not wearing that! What happened to the days of stepping through in fatigues?" Daniel demanded.
"Things change. Like the rest of the military, we switched our teams over to the exoskeleton for their safety off world." Sam explained.
"This is a diplomatic task Sam. How diplomatic does someone dressed up like a character from Halo look? Can we be serious for a moment?" Daniel complained.
"Do you have the ATA gene?" Sam asked after rolling her eyes.
"I do." Daniel admitted.
Knowing the resistance Daniel would offer at the prospect of wearing the exoskeleton, Sam had thought ahead. Reaching down into the left cargo pocket of her fatigue trousers, she removed a small oval shaped device. Placing it on the inside of Daniels unbuttoned fatigue blouse, the device stuck of its own accord.
"What is this?" Daniel asked.
"Ancient personal shield generator. Just think about it and it turns on. You know what I mean. One day ask McKay about his experience with one of these." Sam added with a chuckle.
Before the First Contact deployment, several other matters needed to be sorted and prepared for. Instead of returning SG-31 with Daniel, a team more experienced with these types of scenarios would accompany him. Once again, SGC personnel would step out into the galaxy in the hopes of finding a friendly race, as opposed to another potential foe. The Roman in the infirmary seemed civilized, and possibly friendly. What could possibly go wrong?