Marcus Tullius Cicero
Destiny
Across the Universe
Over several months, the actions and behavior of Doctor Nicholas Rush had grown so erratic as to be impossible not to notice. Word quickly began to spread through certain circles of this change. Amusing anecdotes told over duty shifts soon turned to hushed whispers in dark corners of the ship. At first a denier of any change in the behavior of her husband; Doctor Amanda Perry Rush soon admitted that the changes taking place in her husband's behavior were undeniable.
Normally a moody man, prone to manic episodes of devotion to his current task; Rush was a man all knew to be short of interpersonal skills. Amanda, turning to a true friend, confided her discomfort and misgivings to Ginn Wallace. These two brilliant woman, turning to the only unbiased opinion to be had, turned to Doctor Joseph Kent. Over a quiet conversation in the hydroponics dome, Kent confirmed what Ginn and Perry already knew to be true. Despite their pleas to reach out to Rush, Doctor Kent was firmly entrenched in his desire to remain out of the line of fire of an enraged Nicholas Rush.
Taking these concerns to Colonel Ian Davidson, Destiny's commanding officer and overall mission commander, was a nonstarter. Accusations of potential mental instability, or personality defect, could result in Rush's expulsion from the mission, and a return to Earth. Such an outcome would not only shatter Rush, but could push him over the edge. If Davidson instead opted to have crew monitor Rush's behavior, chances were better than average that the Scotsman would see the effort for what it was, and could result in forever creating a divide between two key members of Destiny's crew.
In the end, it was Ginn who made the final decision on who to share these concerns with. Eli Wallace, Ginn's husband and best friend, enjoyed a unique relationship with Rush. If anyone could handle the volatility Rush was known for when being questioned, it was Eli. Upon hearing his wife's request, Eli first suggested bringing in Colonel Everett Young, but over an hour of conversation, he realized that could inflame an already bad situation. Finally, bowing to the wishes of the woman he loved, Eli agreed to have a quiet one on one conversation with Rush, well away from listening ears, and totally off the record.
It all came down to timing. Consulting internal sensor logs, Eli learned of Rush's return to his old habit of stalking the halls of the ship, long after the dayshift had stood down. Three nights later, while much of the crew enjoyed a screening of a film from Earth, Eli made his way to a computer lab unused by all but Rush, located deep within Destiny. Coming to the computer labs closed outer door, Eli scanned the long hallway in both directions, verifying that he was alone. Tapping the entry button to the doorway, Eli watched as the doors parted, before entering.
Stepping across the threshold, Eli took in the sights before him. Hanging in the air, a pale blue haze of cigarette smoke filled the air. Unsurprising to Eli, the familiar aroma of coffee filled the air. Looking to his right, he took note of a coffee pot, placed here by Rush no doubt. Rush, seated at the computer terminal filling the room, shuddered slightly at the unexpected arrival of another in his personal domain. Turning quickly in his seat, Rush laid eyes on the intruder in his midst.
"Mr. Wallace, this is a surprise. I expected you to be fully engrossed in tales of a zombie apocalypse, World War Z I believe its called." Rush said in welcome.
"I watched it three days ago, after it was transmitted to us." Eli admitted.
"From the pained and uncomfortable expression on your face, I can see you didn't come here for simple pleasantries." Rush said plainly.
"You never make anything easy, do you? Look Rush, the people close to you are concerned. Your mood is erratic, and you have been more irritable than usual. I'm here, as your friend, if you wish to talk things over." Eli stated diplomatically as possible.
"Let me wager a guess. Amanda spoke with Ginn, and Ginn pressured you into speaking with me. Am I getting close?" Rush asked in amusement.
"Thats a fair guess." Eli replied in discomfort.
"Mr. Wallace, I realize that you are imbued with the knowledge of the Ancient's and quite the authority on many things, but as a young man, you are incapable of understanding what I find myself going through currently. " Rush announced.
"You and I have been through enough together that we should be well beyond snarky and condescending replies." Eli argued.
"If you insist on knowing what troubles me, I'll tell you. If I don't, I believe you will refuse to leave, and allow me to return to what I was doing." Rush sighed in irritation.
"That's another good guess." Eli admitted.
"We find ourselves on a mission, chasing something we cannot comprehend. Even the Ancient's, for all their technology and knowledge, could not fathom the source of the message we find ourselves chasing. If we view this as an equation, we must logically admit that certain variables, some known and others unknown, exist within that equation. We are chasing powers we cannot begin to understand, and with each step we take, new unknown variables arrive." Rush lectured.
"What type of unknown variables?" Eli questioned.
"If I knew that, they wouldn't be unknown, would they? Maybe they are connected to our mission, or possibly they are not. If they are not, then I am obviously losing my grip on reality. Eli, I recruited you into the program, so I know full well you understand personal loss. You lost Ginn, so I know you understand, on some level, the loss of the woman you love." Rush rambled.
Grabbing a cigarette from his pack on the computer console, Rush tapped it against his knuckle. Lighting it, Rush took a deep drag, and savored the calming effect it had on his mind and mood. Closing his eyes for a moment, Rush simply enjoyed a moment's silence. Eli, sensing the emotional turmoil in Rush, and also understanding what Rush was truly saying, leaned forward and began to speak.
"You have seen him too?" Eli asked quietly.
"Him?" Rush asked.
"Riley. Sergeant Riley." Eli whispered.
"You've seen Sergeant Riley?" Rush questioned.
"Seen him? I've spoken with him. He has all but pleaded for us to abandon this mission." Eli explained.
"My late wife Gloria has appeared to me numerous times. These visions started before our return to Earth. Since the resumption of our mission, her appearances have grown more frequent. Unlike your Sergeant Riley, Gloria insists that we press forward to this missions conclusion. It seems that our hallucinations are at odds with themselves." Rush mused.
"This is significant. We can't sit on this, and withhold it from the crew. You've seen how that works out before. No more secrets." Eli announced.
"The alternative, sharing this with the crew and with Earth had obvious drawbacks. If we pass this information along, both you and I will be removed from this mission. That is an outcome I am not willing to risk." Rush argued.
"Then what do we do? Ignore the hallucinations, and pretend they don't exist?" Eli demanded.
"I can't agree to do that either. Eli, I committed a great wrong. While Gloria lay dying, I was on Icarus, laboring to unlock the ninth chevron. She died alone. Demand all you like that I ignore her, but I cannot. This is my chance to right a wrong, and to also solve the single largest mystery of this universe. I won't lose her again through my disinterest." Rush countered.
"If we keep this quiet, can we agree to sharing everything with one another?" Eli asked.
"If we have any hope of solving this mystery, I see no other choice." Rush agreed.
"Now we are left with the question of who and what these hallucinations are, and mean." Eli sighed.
"That answer is clear. They are connected to the message we chase. Coincidences rarely happen in nature, or science. Everything is interconnected. This is proof of that." Rush stated.
Hybrid Home World
Ida Galaxy
Seven hundred thousand kilometers from the Hybrid home world, a massive hyperspace window tore open the fabric of space. From this dimensional gash, two vessels emerged. The first vessel was of a type well known to the Hybrid's. USS Leyte Gulf, an Athena Class vessel, returned to normal space, with a second vessel in tow. This second vessel, menacing and intimidating in look, was also one well know to all Hybrid's. This vessel, spoken of in awed tones, was also unique.
Seized during the final battle against the Wraith in the Pegasus galaxy, this vessel was now being placed in the hands of the Hybrid civilization. Subjected to close study, testing, and scrutiny, the Harbinger's flagship had surrendered its many secrets to both the Tau'ri, and Asgard. When it was learned that this ship would be handed over, many scientists pleaded their case to retain this ancient and powerful warship. In the end, these pleas were ignored. A few, seeing the writing on the wall, saw this gifting for what it truly was; a bribe.
Powering forward, with the Harbinger vessel in tow, Leyte Gulf announced her arrival to the handful of Hive's near the Hybrid home world. Receiving instructions in kind, the Tau'ri vessel was made aware of just where to deposit their precious cargo. The coming evolution was tricky, and far more dangerous than the crew of Leyte Gulf cared to admit. Powering down the single tractor beam, used to tow the Harbinger flagship to this faraway galaxy, Leyte Gulf began to maneuver. Coming to a halt directly above the Harbinger flagship, eight tractor beams lanced out from the underside of the human vessel, grasping the flagship at points from stem to stern. Activating it's incredibly powerful defensive shield, Leyte Gulf engulfed its charge within its own protective field. Maneuvering slowly, both vessels entered the upper reaches of the Hybrid home world's atmosphere. Over the next half hour, both vessels slowly shed altitude, before finally arriving at their end destination. While the crew of Leyte Gulf lowered their vessels shield, and laid the Harbinger flagship to rest in its designated landing spot, a lone individual was beamed to the Hybrid city four miles to the east.
Returning to material form, in a spacious open air plaza abutting the newly constructed seat of Hybrid rule, Colonel Paul Davis appeared in a flourish of light and sound. Having seen photos of the city built by the Asgard for the Hybrid civilization, Colonel Davis quickly took note of changes. The large polished stone edifice of the palace before him was new. Ten feet away from the Colonel, a single Hybrid commander stood. Motioning for Davis to follow his lead, the commander began his trek across the plaza. In the distance, two fifty foot tall bronze doors opened, allowing entrance into the palace itself.
Entering the palace, Davis and his escort made their way through a long series of twisting hallways. Months before, Todd had informed Thor of an unprecedented broadening of Hybrid culture. Lining the smooth stone walls of these curing passageways, Colonel Davis saw proof of that fact. Vivid artwork, of Wraith history and achievements was seen, as were sculptures of Wraith and Hybrid's of note. Never before had Davis guessed that the Hybrid race was capable of such incredible artistic feats. As Davis pondered the cultural growth of the Hybrid's, he and his escort arrived at the inner sanctum of Hybrid rule.
Stepping into the chamber of governance, Davis took in the surrounding sights. Mist hung low to the floor, much like that seen aboard Wraith and later Hybrid vessels. Lining the walls of the circular chamber were biological data screens, flashing a continuous stream of characters in the Wraith written word. Dim, the chamber was backlit by these data screens, while the majority of light came from above the thirteen elevated thrones ringing the chambers back wall. Seated in the center throne was Todd. Beside him, in the other twelve thrones, were the then Wraith female adolescents. A young Queen, standing before her throne, nodded her head in greeting to Davis. Stepping to the center of the chamber, Davis stood silently.
"Colonel Davis, I bid you welcome. I trust your world is well." The young Queen said in welcome.
"Considering the circumstances, my world is doing as well as can be expected." Colonel Davis said in reply.
"On behalf of all my people, I offer my sympathies for the tragedies your world has endured. Upon learning of the attack on your people, I, as well as my people, mourned for your loss. We owe your world a great debt, and count you as not only an ally, but a true friend of the Hybrid race." The Queen stated.
"On behalf of Earth, I thank you." Colonel Davis responded.
Taking her seat, the young Queen smiled kindly at Davis. In her amber colored eyes, the pain she felt for Earth was evident. Though young, this Queen was one who felt a kinship with the humans of Earth, in part die to their efforts to bring her into the hands of Todd and his people.
"Colonel Davis, speak and be heard." Todd suggested.
"As a token of respect, my world has placed the Harbinger's flagship in your care. My planet hopes, as do I, that this vessel will serve your fleet well, and provide a catalyst to your scientific development efforts. Consider this our gift to you." Colonel Davis began.
"On behalf of this ruling council, and the Hybrid people, I accept this gift. You have our thanks. The generosity your world has shown, and continue to show my people is most welcome. Now, if you would, tell me what brings about your visit." Todd urged.
"Currently, my world is at war, as you know. We have driven the enemy back to their own territory, and have them contained within three systems. We foresee a final decisive battle happening within weeks." Davis explained.
"You wish for us to assist in your efforts to rid your galaxy of this enemy?" Todd asked pointedly.
"That is not our intention, no. As guardians of this galaxy, and overseers of those we moved to this galaxy, we seek first your permission to add to the number of combatants placed in your care." Davis answered.
"You said first. What is the second portion of your request?" Todd questioned.
"The Hybrid fleet has certain advantageous technologies that would be of assistance." Davis hinted.
"Technology transfer is what you seek?" Todd asked dubiously.
"No, we do not seek technology transfer. We ask that you commit one or more vessels of your fleet to the decisive battle, and provide an unexpected variable to our enemy's threat picture."
"Please, tell me what you have in mind." Todd urged.
Over the next half hour, Colonel Davis explained what Earth hoped the Hybrid fleet could aid to the battle plan. Listening to his guest, Todd found himself surprised by the Colonel's request. Saying nothing, Todd was forced to admit to himself that several years of peace had left him longing for the familiar sights and sounds of battle. Yes, Todd would happily commit resources for what Earth had in mind.
Star Gate Command, Cheyenne Mountain
Earth
Milky Way Galaxy
Lieutenant Breanne Goodly, or whatever her true name really was, had been unconscious for three days. Rushed into surgery shortly after her return to Earth, Goodly's survival came about at the hands of Doctor Carolyn Lam. Over the course of a ten hour marathon surgical effort, Lam had managed to repair the ruptured superior mesenteric artery in Goodly's abdomen. Were it not for the efforts of Doctor Lam, Goodly would have surely bleed out, and met her end.
Unconscious when she arrived, the patient had remained unconscious for the days following her surgery. Courtesy of expertly administered pharmaceuticals, the prisoner remained unaware of her surroundings, affording Earth much needed time. That gift of time was not wasted. All were aware of how precious time is, in the face of a danger still at large on the planet.
While Carolyn Lam had labored to save the life of her patient, a series of calls went out from Cheyenne Mountain. These calls, received a continent away, arrived at Thames House in London. Reginald McQuillen, heading the task force investigating the attack and charged with tracking those responsible down, was stunned by the news of Goodly's capture. Assembling his team, McQuillen and a group of fellow professionals were transported to Cheyenne Mountain an hour later.
Moving quickly upon their arrival, McQuillen and his team quickly laid out what they needed. Personnel assigned to Star Gate Command could not be used in the coming evolution, as they would most certainly have been recognized as faces familiar to Goodly. Set aside for the purpose, level 7 of the facility was locked down, with access restricted to all but personnel approved by McQuillen. In the room where Goodly would be moved to, a series of thin bar shaped Ancient inspired holographic projectors were installed on the walls, ceiling, and floor. These same projectors were also installed in the hallway outside the room. The holograms these emitters were designed to project were not only a level of visual trickery, but due to their tactile feel, trickery to the touch. Temperature and humidity were tightly controlled, as was smell. The human sense of smell can easily give proof to any attempt to deceive the minds other senses.
When the newly installed holographic projectors were finally powered on, the room was transformed from a simple observation center, to a chamber aboard a Goa'uld designed Ha'tak. Furnishings, brought through the star gate from Dakara, added to the illusion that this room was indeed aboard an interstellar vessel. Noise and vibration, piped into the room from flat panel speakers in rooms abutting the disguised room, completed the illusion.
Despite the enraged protests of Doctor Lam, her patient was to be moved for interrogation. In Lam's eyes, this was a most egregious violation of medical ethics, and basic human decency. Despite these protests, the still unconscious Goodly was relocated to her room aboard the supposed Lucian Alliance vessel. Moved from her hospital bed to the sleeping platform so recently brought from Dakara, Goodly was unaware of the danger she was in.
Half an hour earlier, the medication coursing through Goodly's bloodstream had been altered. Instead of keeping her unconscious, McQuillen very much wanted her awake. While she would regain consciousness, she would do so in a dazed and drunken state. Trained liars, like Goodly, could lie with ease when healthy and sober. Doing so while in a chemically depressed drug altered state was an entirely different skill, and one all hoped Goodly did not possess.
Standing behind a window, camouflaged to look like a solid wall aboard a Ha'tak, McQuillen and a handful of his team watched as Goodly began to stir. In the outer hallway, two men dressed in the black leather uniform of the Lucian Alliance, waited for word to enter. That word came quickly, as Goodly's eyes began to flutter, and she regained consciousness.
Weary, pained, and confused; a newly conscious Goodly tried to sit up. Nightmarish pain in her abdomen brought that attempt to a quick halt. Groaning as she looked around, Goodly labored to focus her eyes on the surroundings of the room. Just then, the doorway opened, and two men entered the chamber. One of these men remained by the doorway, while the other quickly made his way to the side of Goodly's sleeping platform.
"Good, you are finally awake. How do you feel?" The man asked.
"Where am I?" Goodly strained to ask.
"You are aboard an Alliance vessel. My surgeon barely managed to save your life." The man answered.
"How did I get here? We were ambushed by agents of Earth." Goodly said uneasily.
"Your attackers were not from Earth. The Al'kesh dispatched for your recovery arrived a moment too late, and attacked those attacking you. My pilot set down and recovered the bodies, which we have examined. They all wear the tattoos of a breakaway clan. I have already reported this development to Kefflin, and he promises to dispatch a fleet to kill that wayward clan in full." The man promised.
"What of my escorts? Did they survive?" Goodly inquired.
"They did not. By the time they arrived aboard my ship, it was too late for my surgeon to save them. Their death will be remembered, and spoke of by future generations." The man lied.
"Of course." Goodly responded, aware of the lie, but not the full weight of the lie.
"You need to rest if you are to heal. The Alliance needs you alive. We have a problem though." The man stated sincerely.
"What is the problem?" Goodly questioned.
"I was overjoyed to be given the honor of rescuing you, but where are the others? You are the only one to escape Earth so far. We have tried contacting them, and have dispatched a rescue force." The man explained.
"Rescue them how?" Goodly asked in confusion.
"We managed to secret a team to Earth to rescue the others. To do that, we need to direct our team to the location of the others. To get them to safety, we must know their location, and only you can provide that." The man said.
"My plan was to travel from Arkos to Earth in a shuttle. That plan became unworkable. Instead I went through the gate." Goodly explained in confusion.
"Yes, we know how you escaped. Now, tell me where I can find the others." The man directed.
"The escape plan changed many times over the years. The last plan called for all my brothers and sisters to change identities, and make their way to a port. Advancements on Earth made our chances of escape far better than those on our arrival." Goodly snickered drunkenly.
"Tell me where. Concentrate, and tell me where I can find them so they can be rejoined with you." The man said in an impassioned plea.
"They can be found in Montevideo, Uruguay. There they will board Earth's newest and fastest cargo ship, called the Andromeda Clipper. That ship is their method of escape. If escape becomes impossible, they will overload the ship's power systems, and level another Earth city." Goodly giggled.
In the observation room, behind glass and holographic camouflage, Reginald McQuillen listened behind a steely masked face. The information flowing from Goodly was exactly what he needed, but her last admission sent a chill through Reginald's core. If what she said was true, and he believed it was, then any attempt to capture the Lucian Alliance operatives remaining at large could easily result in another tragedy. Pushing that thought to the recess of his mind, he focused on his current task.
"Get me everything you can on Montevideo, the port facilities, and the Andromeda Clipper. Go deep. I want to know everything about anyone ever connected to the crew, builders, and any cargo contracts she has been involved in. Lets talk with our allies, and get a team placed on standby. Come on people, lets move! This is the break we've all been waiting for. We only get one chance at this, so let's get this one right!" McQuillen ordered in a strong voice.
Range 19, Fort Bragg
Earth
Milky Way Galaxy
Alert, exhausted, and laboring to perfectly execute their mission; the Blue Light team was hard at work. Focusing their attention out of the opening rear hatch of the MH-100 Pave Paiute, the sounds of explosions in the distance filled their ears. Joining this symphony of destruction, the sounds of multi-barrel mini-guns ripped through the air. Touching down in a center courtyard, the MH-100 came to a stop. From the interior of the insertion craft, one of two Blue Light teams of operators sprinted.
Running as fast as their combat exoskeletons could carry them, which was faster than a normal man could run, the Blue Light teams swarmed into the buildings around them. Leveling their firearms at guards encountered along their path, these highly trained professionals prosecuted their individual targets with relentless precession. Through the data displays of their exoskeleton visors, each shooter watched with dispassionate indifference as their targets toppled to the ground in a lifeless heap.
"Suspend exercise. That is a great insertion. Let's take a break, and we will repeat the simulation in twenty minutes." A voice announced.
The men and women participating in this most realistic of simulations were not on another planet, or even on a training ground. Blue Light operators, viewing high definition virtual reality representations of a Lucian Alliance compound, were actually in a spanning warehouse. Pilots, participating in the skies above the Lucian Alliance compound, were actually sitting in simulators hundreds of miles away from Ft. Bragg. Using high definition scans of what was believed to be a prisoner holding facility of the Lucian Alliance, the men and women training were doing so in a virtual reconstruction of that target facility.
Each individual assigned to the coming rescue effort was a volunteer. Handpicked from the very best of the best, these volunteers had been told that their mission would be learned later, but it was a mission worth doing. That alone convinced many to volunteer on the spot. Later, upon learning what their true mission was, many admitted that this mission was one they would look back on later in life with pride.
Blue Light, a multinational unit, represented the very best of the Special Operations world. Coming from nations both small and large, each of these operators carried a career of experience, knowledge, and knowhow. That the two pilots that the were tasked with rescuing were American mattered not at all. Those two pilots were fellow war fighters, and that common bond was all that mattered.
The plan, utilizing portions of Blue Light, US Army 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, and the Air Force 1st Special Operations Wing, was an audacious one. In a community known for bold and decisive action, the plan for this rescue was bolder than most. Drawing inspiration from a famous, though failed effort known as Operation Ivory Coast, this rescue was an updated form of a rescue once attempted during the Vietnam War. All hoped and prayed that this mission resulted in the recovery of two pilots long held in Lucian Alliance captivity.
Training took place seventeen hours per day, until each member of the overall team knew their duties front and back. This level of rehearsal and repetition resulted in the task becoming rote memory. To keep each training evolution honest, and to prevent complacency, the overseers of each rehearsal added new and inventive variables. All possible contingencies were practiced, which reassured the mission commanders. What worried each member of the Blue Light team were the contingencies not thought of. Many wished, though those wishes were left unsaid, for more time to prepare.
The did not know what physical condition the two captives would be found in. Medical personnel aboard the vessel which would carry them to their target had been augmented. These factors, when combined with unknown variables, and the war at large filled the minds of each member of the rescue force. All they could do was focus on their training, and when the time came, perform their portion of the overall mission with rehearsed perfection.
In four days time, their departure date would arrive. Until that time, all they could do was concentrate on training. It promised to be a long four days. One way or another, the time in captivity for both pilots would soon come to an end.
Lucian Alliance Colony
Uncharted Solar System
Milky Way Galaxy
According to the Lucian Alliance's original timeline, combat operations on Hebridan should have now come to an end, with the world of Hebridan fully in the palms of the Alliance. Timelines, as hopeful hypothetical constructs are things that rarely have little in common with actual events. So it was for the Lucian Alliance. This war was not the war the Lucian Alliance had envisioned.
At every turn, Earth had managed to prevent Kefflin's plans coming to fruition. Alba Longa remained free, and though it was unknown to the Lucian Alliance, was currently being rebuilt. Earth, following a crippling series of attacks, should have been divided, and not a factor in events to come. In a day and a night, three Lucian Alliance planets had met their end, taking into death with them a large fraction of Alliance manpower, and the Alliance's industrial base.
Every direction Kefflin turned, he was met not with victory and accomplishment, but frustration and denial. Now, he faced not only an enraged Earth on the warpath, but the combined strength of Earth's many allies. Most frightening of these allies, initially, was the Asgard. Later, Dorin made clear the ascended races were also stacked against him, holding back their fury only so that Earth could fight this war to its conclusion. Dorin, not content simply to deliver a message that might be disregarded, reinforced the meaning of his message with action, ending the lives of Kefflin's most skilled ground troops in a mysterious shipboard conflagration.
Hours after Dorin's departure from Kefflin's flagship, the Furling Ambassador returned. While Kefflin ascertained the balance of his remaining forces, Dorin appeared to Carlyle. Cut off from communications with his handlers, Carlyle's only source of outside information as it related to Earth was through the Furling. Over an hourlong conversation, Dorin made clear what Earth would do moving forward. While he was cut off from contact with Earth, Carlyle was vital to Earth's plan.
Persuasion and manipulation are useful skills, if applied properly. Major Carlyle, trained to use these skills effectively, applied these talents on Kefflin to great effect. Originally, Kefflin had planned to divide the fleet amongst the three worlds remaining habitable, and under Alliance control. Carlyle, arguing not against strategic depth, made clear the need to evacuate the two dispersal worlds, and return all inhabitants, along with the fleet in whole, to Possara. If any hope of an effective defense was to be had, it would only be possible through a concentration of force. Seeing the logic of Carlyle's persuasive argument, Kefflin agreed. Evacuation and consolidation efforts were already underway. What Kefflin did not know, was that Earth was already moving against two of his three remaining worlds. Only Possara was safe, for now.
In the solar systems containing the two worlds squarely in the sights of Earth and her allies, fleet units were hard at work. In one of these, Earth's vessels were altering the landscape, to suit the battle they wished to fight. In the other, powerful vessels of the Asgard Fleet would soon arrive. A moratorium on allied signals communication from either system meant only after these individual battles were concluded, would the outcome of either be learned. It was certain that the Asgard were already making their move in their assigned solar system, as Earth forces were making moves of their own.
Along the outer reaches of Earth's assigned solar system, four Advanced Capabilities Daedalus Class vessels were busy plying their trade. Dividing the solar system into four parts, each of the four vessels at the fringes of the solar system were quickly and quietly laying the array that would prevent the opening of hyperspace windows. Activation control for the Attero II array rested not with the delivering vessels, but with one of the vessels further in the solar system.
This second group of vessels, also comprised of Advanced Capabilities Daedalus Class vessels, were delivering cargo of their own. Under cloak, two of these vessels busily emplaced hyperspace window simulators in the open areas of space separating this solar systems third world, from the second and fourth. When triggered, each of these devices would consume themselves, and release an energy signature mimicking that of a hyperspace window. This decoy device could easily convince the Lucian Alliance vessels in this solar system of the arrival of a large number of Tau'ri warships. This was not al the inner solar system group of vessels were delivering.
Roughly one-third of the Lucian Alliance fleet was currently present. Signals intelligence pointed towards an evacuation order being given by Kefflin. That evacuation had not yet shifted into high gear. The continued presence of this large fleet force of enemy vessels was not fitting with Earth's overall plan for events to come. Earth's main focus point for their strategy was one of panic. When you incite panic and instill fear, the enemy loses the initiative, and is busy reacting, instead of acting on their own.
How does one implant fear in the hearts and minds of an entire fleet? Firepower has that ability. Arguably the single most powerful anti-ship weapon in existence; Ancient drone weapons were known to easily sow panic. Encapsulated in a nearly undetectable container, with a single use power source, the Ancient drone had long ago been integrated into the weapons system known as the Captor mine. These, the Earth task force laid, along predicted egress routes the Lucian Alliance vessels might take. For the cost of several dozen of these Captor mines, a bountiful harvest rich in panic would be had.
This entire operation, like most military operations, revolved around a tightly controlled timetable. Earth assets in this solar system would not fight the battle to come alone. Other assets, more powerful than those currently in the solar system were now racing towards this battlefield. Seeing time counting down, the operation shifted from a preparatory stance, and into an operational stance.
From the outer reaches of the solar system, the four Advanced Capabilities Daedalus Class vessels raced. Protected from detection by their cloaking systems, these vessels expended large portions of their available power through their sub-light engines. In polar orbit of the colony world, a single cloaked Canadian vessel, having arrived an hour earlier, activated its Asgard transport beam. In areas at the periphery of the Lucian Alliance colony, unseen ground elements of the Reetou and Sodan were deposited. In return for their participation, Oma Desala and Bra'tak promised to lead, when the time was right, the Sodan into ascension. Detecting the energy bloom from beaming delivery, Tau'ri vessels well away from the planet knew it was time to begin.
On the ground of the colony world, Reetou and Sodan ground elements spread out. While they moved unseen at the edge of the Lucian Alliance settlement, hyperspace window simulators many millions of miles away activated and discharged. Caught between these two separate events were ninety Lucian Alliance Ha'tak Class vessels, with many more Al'kesh resting on the planet. Ground forces remained undetected to the armada of Ha'tak's, but dozens of hyperspace window signatures further out in the solar system were not. Commanders of each Ha'tak knew this could only mean the Tau'ri fleet had arrived. In response, the Lucian Alliance armada, minus six Ha'tak's taking aboard evacuees, began their passage towards these now faded energy signatures. Time was a commodity the colony evacuation needed, and that could only be purchased through firepower.
Aboard USS Wahoo, the ship's commander watched as pieces moved into place on this largest of life's chessboards. The enemy, predictable thus far, was doing exactly as the battle plan required them to. Opening a discreet subspace communications channel, Wahoo's commander began to speak.
"Lucian Alliance forces, you are surrounded. In eight minutes time, a device will activate that prevents normal function of hyperspace travel. You have eight minutes to depart, of you can stay and die." Wahoo's commander said with conviction.
"If you seek battle with the Lucian Alliance fleet, we will oblige you what you seek." The overall Lucian Alliance commander replied.
"You haven't thought this one through, have you? We can eradicate your fleet at will. Our target isn't your fleet. Since you wish to force a fleet engagement, I too will oblige you. Keep an eye on the clock, or you might run out of time to escape with your lives." Wahoo's commander finished.
Spreading out across a wide front, the Lucian Alliance armada readied themselves for the battle that could begin at any moment. Defensive shields formed around each Ha'tak. Strangely, none of the vessels deployed the death gliders each carried. Channeling power into their weapons, sensors aboard each vessel searched for targets. Their search was not a long one, with six cloaked targets detected approaching. What those aboard the vessels of the Lucian Alliance did not know, was the targets they were currently tracking were not ships, but decoys. Launched minutes earlier, each MOSS, or Mobile Ship Simulator, was transmitting a detectable trace.
Each of the ninety Ha'tak's brought thirty of their sixty energy cannons to bear on the inbound enemy tracks. In unison, twenty-seven hundred energy cannons unleashed a hellish torrent of fire. Firing multiple shots, many thousands of golden bolts of destructive energy weapons fire filled space, racing towards the inbound but unseen tracks. In the face of such an onslaught, the six Mobile Ship Simulators stood little chance of survival, and quickly succumbed. In a short span of seconds, each of the six tracks vanished from sensors aboard the ships of the Lucian Alliance armada. A brief moment of celebration rippled through Lucian Alliance ranks.
That celebration was premature. Having maneuvered away from the colony planet, in a widespread front, the enemy armada had unknowingly entered the engagement zone of the dozens of Captor mines littering the armada's path of travel. Detecting targets, Captor mines activated, and disgorged their fearsome payload. Springing forth from unseen containers in front, behind, and within the armada, golden hued Ancient drone weapons chased after their prey. Passing through the powerful defensive shields of targeted Ha'tak's, and charged bodily towards points of each targets hull.
Slicing through thick hull plating, each Ancient drone brought several levels of destruction. Piercing the hull brought rapid decompression of effected compartments. Streams of internal atmosphere, debris, and crewmen unlucky enough to have been nearby vented to space. Tunneling through their targets, each drone vented further compartments and levels in the path of their travel. Internal systems faltered and failed as power and data conduits were severed. Several Ha'tak's exploded violently, as their drone ripped through power generation areas.
Drone weapons were known by the Lucian Alliance to be a primary weapon of the Tau'ri fleet. These terrible weapons, appearing as if by magic all around and within the armada, meant Tau'ri ships were within the body of the armada. The resulting weapons free-for-all did nothing to hep the cause of the armada, as Ha'tak's fired blindly within the body of the fleet. Shields blossomed as Ha'tak fire impacted other friendly ships.
Eight Advanced Capabilities Daedalus Class vessels, regrouped and well away from the line of Lucian Alliance weapons fire added a second variable to the evolving equation plaguing the armada. Fitted with systems granting them the ability to utilize weapons systems while cloaked, each of the eight vessels exploited that advantage together. Vertical Launch System covers sprang open, as each of the eight vessels ripple fired four anti-ship missiles apiece. Half of these munitions were conventionally armed, while the other half were referred to as special weapons.
Propelled by the same propulsion system utilized by Ancient drones, these weapons traveled toward their targets at amazing speed. In the confusion found aboard each Ha'tak, these impound missiles were not detected until seconds before impact. Phase shifting as they neared their targets, each missile passed effortlessly through defensive shielding. Several vessels, struck by conventionally armed anti-ship missiles, lost shields immediately. Other vessels, near those now defenseless, were struck by anti-ship missiles of their own. These, carrying nuclear warheads with a yield of fifty kilotons, met their end in a nuclear fire burning from within. Wreckage, debris, and ejecta propelled away from the nuclear conflagration, raced towards other now defenseless Ha'tak's. These vessels, shredded by the remains of other like vessels, exploded.
Aboard his Ha'tak, and counting himself lucky to be alive, the Lucian Alliance commander realized that this battle just begun was already lost. Sending signal to those ships that remained, the commander ordered all to make the jump to hyperspace. While his efforts to by the ongoing evacuation of the colony world was noble, he now saw just how foolish the effort had been. The only defense that would remain were the six Ha'tak's taking aboard evacuees, and the much less powerful Al'kesh brought in for the same purpose. Luckily for the commander, the Attero II array had not yet rendered hyperspace entry impossible. Running for their lives, forty-five Ha'tak's, some damaged and others not, leapt to hyperspace and made their escape. They would live to fight another day, and that day would come soon.
From Wahoo, a simple signal was transmitted. On the periphery of the colony world settlement, this signal was received, by both Sodan and Reetou elements. Their rules of engagement were specific, and restrictive. To instill panic within the inhabitants of the colony was their purpose. To achieve that goal, they would selectively fire on targets of opportunity. These targets were limited to men, and only armed men. That was an odd restriction in the minds of the Sodan, as they were aware of the fate that awaited all presently evacuating.
Each Reetou and Sodan combatant carried on their body an individual tracking beacon, transmitting on a discreet channel. These beacons would play a crucial role in events to come shortly. From opposing areas of the colony settlement, both Reetou and Sodan leveled their weapons. Selecting armed men, who were in view of others, both groups of unseen fighters opened fire. Weapons fire, coming from unoccupied areas, struck individuals around the settlements periphery. Grasping chest wounds, Lucian Alliance combatants, busily engaged in evacuating the colonies inhabitants, clutched their chests before falling lifelessly to the ground.
Panic, true blood curdling panic, set in quickly. Men, women, and children ran in all directions. Safety in numbers was the order of the day, and these panicked throngs of individuals surged towards the center of the settlement. There, parked in orderly lines, were dozens of Al'kesh, fitted with tractor beam towed cargo compartments. These, along with the six Ha'tak's now lifting off from the settlements grounds, were the only method of escape available to the people of this world.
As the terrified crowds raced towards the waiting interstellar vessels, their attackers followed. When armed Lucian Alliance combatants were seen, they were viciously cut down. When such targets were not available, the attackers poured fire into buildings, the air, and anything other than unarmed civilians. Their goal was to insight panic, and once present, keep that panic at a boiling point. In that task, both Reetou and Sodan warriors succeeded. An atmosphere of stark terror engulfed the settlement, and all within.
Ha'tak's, numbering six and climbing into the pale blue skies above, were no longer an option for escape. Seeing this, the panicked ocean of evacuees sprinted towards waiting Al'kesh. Packing into the towed cargo containers, this crowd trampled many. Al'kesh pilots, aware of events unfolding in space, and of the Tau'ri promise to make escape through hyperspace impossible, began lifting off. It didn't matter that evacuees remained in the settlement, as a quick escape was the only way to live another day. In the rearmost towed cargo compartment of the last Al'kesh to depart, a mother held her son tightly to her chest. Unknown to the mother and child, each of the Al'kesh pilots was hurriedly deviating their flight paths well away from the six Ha'tak's now exiting the atmosphere.
Aboard the six Ha'tak's, shields were raised as weapons came online. Each vessel commander knew of the armada's quick departure, and of the fate that befell that armada before its exit. The commander of each vessel knew they faced a foe they lacked the power to overcome. Instead of fighting what would surely be a losing battle, each vessel commander wanted only to whisk the evacuees aboard away to safety. Though each of the six warships carried a large number of evacuees, these numbers were little in comparison to the numbers left on the surface of the colony world.
A party is never a party without a late arrival. Two hundred thousand kilometers from the colony world, three hyperspace windows tore open. These would be the last such windows to open, as the Attero II array came online seconds later. From these hyperspace windows, of which two were slight and the third was large, three Tau'ri vessels emerged. Two diminutive vessels, of the Crossbow Class, flanked the far larger and more menacing form of USS Ascension. Driven forward by their sub-light engines, these three warships of Earth found themselves on a collision course with the six remaining Ha'tak Class vessels.
USS Ascension, HMS Broadsword, and the Swedish vessel Vallonska raised their shields. Powerful protective bubbles formed around both Crossbow Class vessels, while golden colored conformal shields shimmered into existence around Ascension. Weapons powered, as particle cannons aboard the smaller vessels affixed their aim at the an Ha'tak to either end of the six ship line. Panels in hull plating parted on the forward upper curve of Ascension's hull, allowing both powerful forward turrets to rise to firing position.
It was clear that evacuees were aboard these last six Ha'tak's. That was an unfortunate development, that under other circumstances, would have provided a level of safety to each targeted Lucian Alliance warship. Due to the declaration of unrestricted warfare, no such assurance of safe passage was to be had. Networked together, all three newly arrived warships of Earth exchanged targeting data, allowing each crew to know instantly which vessel was targeting a specific target. These six Ha'tak's, all that remained of the now departed Lucian Alliance armada, were now all that stood between Earth and the target in her crosshairs.
Simultaneously, all three vessels opened fire. From Broadsword and Vallonska, powerful Asgard designed particle cannons unleashed destructive bolts of fire. In rapid succession, five bolts were fired by each vessel. The first two bolts impacting both targeted vessels shields depleted these shields, while the third collapsed these shields altogether. The two remaining bolts slammed into the hulls of both targets, ripping these two vessels apart, and extinguishing the lives of all aboard.
Following suit, Ascension fired all four batteries of both her forward turrets. Eight beams, each sustained for three seconds, lanced out towards the center four Ha'tak's. Far more powerful than the Asgard designed particle cannons, these cataclysmic beams of vengeful wrath overwhelmed the enemy's shields with ease, before punching through each targets hull. Like the first two, these Ha'tak's and all aboard were consumed by fire, ending their lives in dramatic fashion.
Peeling away from Ascension, both Broadsword and Vallonska altered course, to fall in beside the eight Advanced Capabilities Daedalus Class vessels moving to intercept the Al'kesh climbing into orbit. Ascension, tasked with another objective, activated other systems aboard, and began her descent into the colony worlds atmosphere. As she entered the upper reaches of the planet, ominous storm clouds formed beneath her. Frightening bolts of lightning crackled as they illuminated portions of this descending cloud mass. Plummeting through this black writhing storm front, wreckage from the six destroyed Ha'tak's fell, resembling falling stars.
Ascension, and the storm front enveloping her, ceased their descent five thousand feet above the colony settlement below. From the black clouds, the spectral outline of Ascension shown through. Seeing this, panicked citizens of the colony settlement knew their end was at hand. Contained within the ghostly outline of the vessel above was the means and will of their destruction.
Instead of opening fire with any portion of her weapons suite, Ascension activated others. Men, women, and children were engulfed in brilliant white light; vanishing in dozens at a time. As these men, women, and children were beamed away, so to were structures, possessions, and any other trace of human habitation present on this world. In under a minute, the colony world was cleansed of any and all evidence pointing towards a settlement ever having stood there. On the bridge of Ascension, the Asgard Hermiod confirmed that beaming was complete.
"General Eckhart, beaming is complete. I can now either purge the beaming systems memory buffer of all signatures captured, or those signatures can be transferred to a storage crystal. Which would you prefer?" Hermiod asked dispassionately.
"Transfer those signatures to a data crystal." Eckhart instructed.
"Your General O'Neill once asked what was done with Jaffa forces loyal to System Lords that were beamed away by Asgard vessels. Now you know that answer." Hermiod responded.
.
The cold matter of fact way which Hermiod said this caused Eckhart to shudder. Pushing these thoughts aside, Eckhart gave orders to take Ascension back into space, where a battle was being fought.
That battle was one with a largely predetermined outcome. Outgunned greatly, the numerous Al'kesh loaded down with evacuees were unable to fight their way to safety. The Attero II array prevented any attempt to escape through hyperspace. Restricted to subluminal velocities, these Al'kesh and those aboard them could only wait for a death to take them.
Aware of Earth's ability to beam objects and individuals elsewhere at will, the Lucian Alliance had long ago installed preventative measures in each cargo container. Active now, this repurposed bunker shielding technology rendered the contents of each cargo container unknown to the Advanced Capabilities Daedalus Class vessels in pursuit. While it was accepted that each container was filled with evacuees, the active sensor jamming gave the crew of each Earth vessel the ability to accept that far more dangerous cargo might be aboard. It wasn't much of an argument, but it was enough to soothe the conscience of many.
From each pursuing Earth vessel, a steady stream of transmissions flowed. In each, the same request was made. That request was for all Al'kesh to heave to and prepare to be boarded. In each case, these requests went unheeded. Acting within their rules of engagement, the collection of Earth vessels were then forced to treat these Lucian Alliance warships as active combatants. Over a period of three minutes, Al'kesh after Al'kesh met its end, until only one remained.
This last Al'kesh, running with all its might, contained all that remained of the evacuees. Aboard this Al'kesh, a mother and child sat in the very last of five cargo containers being towed behind the Goa'uld designed craft. Pursuing this Al'kesh was the Chinese vessel Chilong. Meaning demon dragon, Chilong closed in on her prey with ease. When the final attempt to order the Al'kesh to halt was ignored, Chilong's commander gave permission to fire. From her left hanger bay, a highly energetic beam of destructive laser light lanced out at the target.
Impacting the Al'kesh, the vessel was immediately disabled. Power systems aboard the crippled vessel overloaded, resulting in detonation of the vessel. Individually, cargo containers being towed by the now dead Al'kesh also exploded. In the very last cargo container, the mother and child knew this was the end.
"Whats happening mother?" The child asked softly.
"We are going to a better place, a place with no pain." The mother replied in a whisper.
"Will we be together?" The child asked hopefully.
"Yes, we will. I love you." The mother said, while clutching the child tightly.
Before the child could respond his love in return, the cargo container was torn apart. In the last seconds of their lives, a mothers love for her child had far outweighed deaths approach. Only the dead have seen the end war.