STARGATE SG-1 / Battlestar Galactica CROSSOVER
"The Thirteenth Colony"
PART Four
THE LAST STAND
By SG07

***

     There are those who believe that life here began out there, far
across
the universe, with tribes of humans who may have been the forefathers of
the Egyptians, or the Toltecs, or the Mayans. That they may have been the
architects of the great pyramids, or the lost civilizations of Lemuria or
Atlantis.
     Some believe that there may yet be brothers of man who even now
fight to survive, somewhere beyond the heavens.

***

     
Time: Present

     Robin Meade, CNN news correspondent sat at her desk broadcasting her
daily news show. Her popularity and natural beauty made her a favorite on
the Atlanta based company. Her naturally thick, brown hair was pinned
behind her head today, revealing her ears, which lent a fresh and
trusting view to her audience.
     Her eyes were large ovals of dark brown, while her luscious lips
captivated many a male in her broad audience.
     Robin continued her report, "NOAA, the National Oceanic Atmospheric
Association, stated that the rise in hurricane's this year have risen,
due to global warming. Apparently."  Breaking off suddenly was not her
style, but apparently something distracted her from her report, as she
fiddled with a hidden earpiece. Smiling apologetically to her audience,
she said, "We have a news report that several bright flashes can be seen
in the sky over Atlanta." She paused a moment, "What?" She asked to
someone unseen, then to her audience, "We go live to a local affiliate
station..." This was not a normal occurrence for CNN. The importance of
the flashes over the city must truly be important for a premiere news
channel to switch to a local station. Robin was used to knowing
everything in her little domain. For her to be as clueless as her
audience made her uncomfortable, to say the least.
     A man's image appeared on screen, clean-shaven, handsome man in his
mid-30s, with well groomed hair, "This is Jim Levy live for Action News,
and we've received reports from numerous sources of explosions high up in
the ionosphere. If you look over my shoulder", he pointed to see the
faint glow even in the afternoon light. "Several explosions seem to be
occurring just above Atlanta. NASA officials are strangely silent and
will neither confirm nor deny any meteor showers activity within our
solar system, while The White House has no comment at all. According to
Several local astronomers meteor showers are a likely possibility. Some
have theorized that a severe meteor shower has crossed the Earth's
orbital path," 
     As he said this, a black dot descended from high above, and grew
larger, from his perspective. "Can you see that Casey, that object over
my shoulder?" He spoke to someone unseen, apparently his camera man.
"Look at that!  It's appears to be a several meteors headed our way", he
paused straining his eyes and as the objects drew closer.  So intent on
the breaking news story that he ignored his own safety. Several other
meteors like objects descended rapidly across the horizon.  He began
again, "Do you see them now? These objects we are seeing are at this time
are racing across the Eastern seaboard.  We can expect multiple meteor
strikes. As you can see these objects do not appear to be very large but
they probably will cause severe damage as each one of them will be
traveling at several thousand miles an hour."  Without warning, all the
meteorites turned on their impending impact trajectory and leveled off,
"Oh! My God, Robin are you receiving this?" 
     "Yes", she said, "We see it. Jim, I can not make the image out, not
sure what is." 
     Jim Levy instantaneously knew what it was, "My God, their, their
aircraft! This is amazing! These objects are indeed high altitude air
craft or as yet, some unknown aircraft." 
     The unknown aircraft descended upon the unsuspecting city of Atlanta
and began opening up hellfire rain on the unsuspecting metropolis. At the
first view of destruction had Jim hunched forth in shock as debris rained
down from above.
     Buildings erupted in flames as the purported aircraft rained down
destruction from laser like blasts. Smoke billowed forth from nowhere and
everywhere.  It was a scene of utter chaos as buildings were mercilessly
pummeled, the occupants, in the office buildings were suddenly hurled out
of multistory buildings falling to their impending doom.  Quickly
recovering, Jim Levy got hold of his verbal faculties once again, "Robin
it does not appear to be an aircraft of any design I am familiar with,
There appears to be no markings of any kind, wait, those objects
descended from space, those are spacecraft! Could this be an attack by
some neighboring nation who has developed Top Secret prototypes, or an
attack from some alien race from the stars?" 
     Robin and the audience of course had nothing to say, as they watched
building after building being pummeled to ashes. Jim saw the aircraft
emit a bright white glow that decimated whatever it hit. Jim began again,
"My God! They are tearing up downtown Atlanta! Robin these circular
shapes seem to be gliding through the air, these, these death gliders
have appeared all across the Eastern seaboard, speculation as to where
the other group of aircraft are heading. Some say Washington DC, while
others have reported sightings off the Atlantic Coast heading North."  He
said finally putting a name to the image that he saw before and these are
spacecraft that's what was lighting up the skies as the inner the earth's
atmosphere.  Unknowingly Jim named the Cylon Raiders with the very name
of the next invasion force of the Goa'ould. 
     Jim Levy continued, "It's incredible! Robin, the amount of damage
these spacecraft are doing.  These unknown ships are causing more death
and destruction not seen like since that of 9/11. Jim referred to the
cowardly terrorist attack by Al Qaeda members when they hijacked three
jet liners and used them as high speed missiles, causing massive
destruction, and woke the sleeping giant known as America.
     The unknown spacecraft may have been unknown to the locals of Middle
Georgia, but to the people in the Pentagon watching the news broadcasts,
this enemy was none other than the Advanced Cylon force.

Cylon Raiders

     Two squadrons of Cylon Raiders flew in and out of the downtown area,
demolishing everything that their forty Megon loads could touch.
     In the lead fighter, a mechanical voice spoke, "All squadrons
continue destroying this population center."
     The ships speakers rolled forth confirmations from all squadron
members, "By your command."

CNN Reporter

     Before Jim could speak again, he heard another sound coming from the
North of Atlanta. Jim strained his eyes.  "A new set of aircraft are
coming in from the north." Jim immediately recognized the shapes,
"American Fighters! Thank God! I can also make out what appears to be
helicopters, AH-1 Cobra's, I believe. Their coming in fast, hopefully
they will be able to stop these people, whoever they are." 
     "The Jets we are seeing have undoubtedly flown in from Dobbins Air
Reserve Base, a combination of Air Force F-15 Eagles and the Navy's FA-18
Hornets are the United States first response to these unknown aggressors
attacking Atlanta. The joint base is situated just twenty miles north of
Atlanta in Marietta, Georgia in Cobb County.  That's the reason the
military was able to respond so quickly."
     Sure enough, F-15E and FA-18 United States Air Force and Navy
fighter craft flew in at Mach speed, launching their destructive
missiles.  Several of the Raiders were destroyed instantly, but the high
maneuverability of the death gliders proved too much for them.  The
invaders were too maneuverable and fast.
     The first U.S. Air Force response to the alien invaders closed in
for the kill. The pilot gazed outward through his crystal-clear cockpit
shield of his F-15 interceptor, at the Heads Up Displays or HUD as it was
known, indicated airspeed, compass readings, altimeters, and depending on
weapons setting, range and percent effectiveness.  He locked onto his
target, through various instruments on the aircraft.  His Wizzo, a
nickname for weapons systems officers, also known as backseaters informed
him of the Cylons. His radar showed the image of the bandits attacking
his homeland. "Talley forty-six bandits", he added "My fun meter is
pegged." This meant he was not having any fun at all. His copilot
answered up "Twirly!", an Anti-collision beacon on an aircraft announced
an imminent collision; the pilot swung a hard left, his afterburners
working overtime, just as the raider flew past him at Mach One.  His
copilot responded with "Roger" as the laser bolts raked across the craft. 
"Yankin' and bankin", a fighter pilot term for aggressive aerial
maneuvers.
     His wingman responded, "Three-Nine Line!", which translated into an
imaginary line across your airplane's wingspan. A primary goal in Air
Combat Maneuvers or ACM, is to keep your adversary in front of your
"three-nine line".  His craft banked immediately. Bobbing his aircraft,
left and right, it became unresponsive as alarms blared and smoke began
to fill us cockpit, he responded, "Sierra Hotel!" Announcing the phonetic
abbreviation for "shit hot," a high praise; the pilot's favorite and
all-purpose expression of approval.
     The pilot cursed under his breath and said, "We have to ditch!" The
pilot switched his radio communications to a non-secure frequency all
aircraft whether, civilian or military would receive, in what is called a
clear voice transmission.
     "Mayday mayday mayday, this is U.S. Air Force fighter foxtrot zero
niner zero, declaring an emergency," as alarms blared in his ears.  He
didn't hear a response because his radio was not transmitting. He had
just enough time to see a Cylon Raider on a collision course with him.
His plane would certainly crash into a building in downtown Atlanta,
killing many people in the explosion. Not wishing his plane to hurt any
innocent civilians he turned his aircraft at the last second and the
pilot had just enough time to hit the emergency release on his Ejection
seat.
     Part of the overall egress system is the plane's canopy, which has
to be jettisoned prior to the ejection seat being launched from the
aircraft. The hatch blew just before the ejection seat activated.
     The ejection seat is an extremely complex component to any fighter.
Everything has to perform properly in a split second and in a specific
sequence to save a pilot's life. If just one piece of critical equipment
malfunctions, it could be fatal.
     The Ejection seats attached to a rail system via a set of rollers on
the edges of the seat which guide the seat out of the aircraft at a
predetermined angle of ascent. The catapult fired the ejection seat up
the rail system, propelling his seat high into the air. He exhaled
sharply, "Yeahhhhh!"
     His head pushed downward as his body and his acceleration couch blew
straight up into the air.  The chair catapulted a hundred and twenty feet
into the air by the munitions rounds fired, from underneath.  He and his
copilot ejected straight up in between the skyscrapers. Unfortunately,
his copilot wasn't as lucky, as debris from the Cylon Raider hit their
jet aircraft ripping him to shreds before he left ten feet from the
cockpit. The American aircraft were going down in ever increasing
numbers.
     Another American Fighter flew in guns blazing. He lined up his
target and anticipated the banking of his mortal enemy. He smirked evilly
as he spoke pilot slang, "AMF!" which was the phonetic abbreviation of,
"Adios Mother F----r".
     A whirling noise precipitated the rotating machine gun spewed out
uranium depleted shells at the Cylon ship. The raider's hull fragmented
for one second, and then shattered like an egg less than two seconds
later.
     The Cylons were moderately adaptive, albeit slower than humans. The
relied heavily on what they knew. After an initial regrouping they
systematically began their infamous pinwheel attack. Although the
pinwheel was more abbreviated in an atmosphere, the American pilots
became totally defensive.
     One by one, the American fighters winked out of existence, much to
the dismay of the citizens below.
     The AH-1 Cobra's, a Bell Helicopter sported a power plant of two
General Electric T700-GE-401 Turbo shaft engines. Each engine delivered
one thousand six hundred ninety horsepower. The cockpit sported two
seats, in tandem, pilot in rear, and a copilot/gunner in front. With a
performance climb rate of one thousand nine hundred twenty five feet per
minute and a maximum altitude of fourteen thousand seven hundred fifty
feet made this gun ship quite lethal and mobile. 
     One Cobra sped at the maximum attainable speed of one hundred ninety
five miles per hour. A Cylon fighter crossed its path and it fired its
single M197 three barrel 20 mm gun, nose mounted weapon. Spewing
ordinance from its seven hundred fifty round ammo container it unleashed
several uranium depleted shells into the lead Cylon as it passed the
Cobra. The three barrel weapon emitted a high pitched whirring sound,
followed by empty shell casings falling rapidly onto the cities streets
and pedestrians below.
     The Cylon fighter began smoking immediately from its many holes. It
wobbled and then spun in circles, downward, before it crashed into a tall
building, killing several innocent civilians hunkering down in fear.
"Hoo-Yah! That's a kill!" The pilot said with great satisfaction.
     The Cobra began to move off, trying to stay mobile. The copilot
shouted, "Watch your six!" A Cylon fighter strafed the gun ship from
behind. Reflex caused the pilot to deploy the helicopters AN/ALE-39 Chaff
system and SUU-4/1 Flare dispenser countermeasures in vain. Angling his
craft sideways was a futile effort. The gun ship lasted less than
thirty-five seconds in combat.
     Passing above the debris, the Cylon fighter was laid wasted by
another Cobra gun ship. The Cobra fired one of its eight Hellfire
missiles. Cylon debris reigned down from above.
     Despite its best effort, the attack helicopters were a much slower
moving target. The new survivability rating was not very impressive.
     Similar scenes played out over and through the tall skyscraper
buildings in the most densely populated area of Atlanta.
     Within minutes, the highly maneuverable raiders dominated the sky
once again.
     Dobbins Air Reserve Base had another two squadrons ready, but was
specifically ordered to stand down, by the Pentagon and Joint Chiefs of
Staff. Amidst the loss of their fellow pilots and an attack on American
soil, the pilots quickly let expletives overcome their discipline. Many
derogatory comments were made in reference to the Pentagon, something
about the "Puzzle Palace" struck again. If only the pilots had known why
their leaders had called off the attack, they would not have judged their
leadership so harshly.

NORAD

     In the minutes after NORAD had picked up the Cylon invaders, Major
General George Hammond called the President and on his order, called Area
51, in Nevada. All the F-302 fighter craft they had, which were two dozen
in all scrambled.
     Deep within the state of Nevada, the not quite so secret Area 51
situated on hundreds of acres. On the back side of Area 51 sat a large
mountain range, where the secret hangars of the F-302 are held in
reserve. A rocky camoflauged face were the covering for the set of secret
hangars that housed Earth's newest defenders. This viable counterpart to
the Goa'ould Death Gliders, the F-302 Advanced Interceptor/Solar System
Interceptor was an entirely new technology. Manufactured at Area 51 R&D
facility, and by Colson Industries, used four engines; the first were two
conventional afterburning jet engines, two scramjet aero-spike-high
altitude scramjets, one rocket booster for orbital insertion, and one
hyperspace window generator, courtesy of the Colonial Government.
     Its ramjet engines operate by subsonic combustion of fuel in a
stream of air compressed by the forward speed of the aircraft. In a
regular jet engine, fan blades compress the air. In a scramjet, the
airflow through the whole engine remains supersonic.
     The F-302 was outfitted with four weapons stations, two under each
wing for a total of four missiles, both are naquadah modified AIM-120
AMRAAM missiles and AIM-9X Sidewinders. For atmospheric flight, twin
internal Cannons M61A2 Vulcan 20mm are used for close quarter,
atmospheric combat.
     With a crew complement of two, the F-302 is a technological
milestone for Earth defenses. In addition to all of these technological
marvels, the fighter sported the latest in electronic counter measures.
Its death black outward shell was a direct descendant of the stealth
technology built into its predessors such as the SR71 Blackbird, F117
NightHawk, and B-2 Spirit stealth bomber.
     A stealth aircraft is designed to absorb and deflect radar
emissions. That does not mean these aircraft are completely "invisible"
to radar, they are simply harder to detect than conventional technology.
In general the goal is to allow a stealth aircraft to execute its attack
while still outside the ability of the opposing system's detection. The
F-302 avoid detection by it's body shape that deflects radar signals in a
direction roughly perpendicular from the radar signals origin, rather
than reflecting the signal back to enemy sensors. The normally hot
exhaust of the jet engines and high altitude aero-spike engines is cooled
by ambient air before leaving the fighter; as a result the infrared
signature of F-302 is minimized. The F-302 had been painted in dark
colors to make visual identification more difficult. The one flaw in the
stealth technology were the missiles installed beneath the plane
detracted from its overall efficiency.
     Unlike the Colonial counterparts in the Viper, the F-302's stealth
technology and electronic countermeasures package gave it a significant
advantage over the Cylon Raiders, or so the Colonial technicians claimed.
In a matter of minutes, Earth's newest defenders would be tested to it's
full capabilities.
     In short time they made the near fourteen hundred mile trip from
Nevada to Atlanta traveling in excess Mach Nine Point Six, that
translated into the F-302 traveling seven thousand miles per hour in low
Earth orbit. This speed record was previously set by NASA's experimental
X-43A scramjet flight.
     The F-302's flew high in the ionosphere, well above airline jets.
Looking up past the canopy of his fighter, one of the pilots could see
was the inky dark of space. Focusing on his mission, he looked down.
According to his instruments, the two squadrons of F-302's had already
flown over Kansas, Missouri, and sloped downward toward Tennessee. In
another minute, the squadron would have to reduce their speed drastically
and then dive downward as they crossed Tennessee, or risk bypassing
Georgia altogether.
     They further reduced their speed to Mach 2 and flew at ten thousand
feet above the ground. In seconds the 302's could see the far away
horizon of the city of Atlanta, its view rapidly growing in their field
of vision.
     Their radar and lidar came to life as civilian aircraft circled
above or diverted to another state, depending on the individual birds
fuel capacity. The real time radar targeted the new enemy.
     Colonel John "Viper One" Andrews of Eagle Squadron flew the lead
F-302 squadron. It was good to be home, but now his home was being
threatened, "Dammit! I got a sister that lives here."
     "Don't worry John, we'll show those bastards not to mess with the US
of A!" His wingman announced.
     "Thanks, Frank. I just hope she was late getting to work today."

CNN Reporter

     Jim Levy, local reporter in Atlanta, continued his broadcast in a
somber tone of grief, "It appears our American pilots are outgunned.
These "Death Gliders" are too fast, and too maneuverable! Robin, we may
have to evacuate as the buildings around us are being pulverized by these
spacecraft. As you can see debris from the buildings have littered the
streets, crushing cars and people without discrimination."
     Robin Meade interrupted, "Jim, see one of those black dots on
horizon. Can you focus the camera?" His camera man did his best to focus.
It wavered in as an image solidified, once more on an entirely new set of
aircraft. "It's more death gliders", He said defeated. "My God! Robin,
wait, wait, those are ours!" the black fighter flew overhead very fast as
the cameramen did a quick, up movement of his camera and caught a glimpse
of it under the wing was the tale-tell sign of the American military
fighter logo. A circle the star of the middle and two lines coming
sideways left to right. Robin said, "I have never seen fighters like that
before, this entirely new set of gliders are apparently American
fighters."

F302 Squadron

     Colonel John Andrews checked his readouts and said, "Gentlemen,
Command was right, we got Cylons at twelve o' clock." His wingman,
Frank's instruments beeped for his attention. Turning all business,
"Tally thirty-nine raiders...four hundred miles and closing!" As an after
thought he added, "Transferring target data to your terminal, sir."
     "Roger that." Then in a southern drawl, "Let's show'em how we do
things at home."
     "Roger that!"
     "Get Some!"
     "Alright, leads, we are clear to fire. move in, and cover your wing
man! Good Hunting!"
     With nothing more to say Eagle and Raptor Squadrons flew head on
toward the enemy fighters.
     The two squadrons divided up and Eagle Squadron, formerly of the
Battlestar Galactica took a direct vector to the intruders wreaking havoc
in downtown Atlanta. John contacted his sister squadron, "Raptor One,
proceed to rendezvous coordinates."
     Colonel Michael "Raptor One" Sharpe commanding Raptor squadron
replied, "WILCO, All Raptors, comply." Then he spoke into his flight
recorder, "Pitching right...165" As he moved his "stick" to his right."
The Raptor Squadron veered right, taking a southeasterly approach across
Macon, Georgia, just eighty-five miles south of Atlanta, before turning
sharply around to hit the death gliders from the rear.

Scottsboro, Alabama

     One hundred and forty four miles North West of Atlanta laid the city
of Scottsboro, Alabama. Located in the heart of Jackson County, the city
owned lake resort of Scottsboro Goosepond Civic Center was a host to
corporate banquets, cultural events, trade shows, golf courses, a full
service marina, campground, amphitheater, and more. The marina, sat in
the heart of the Lake District, off of the Tennessee River.
     A mother, Lorie Atkins, an average woman in her mid-thirties towed
her recalcitrant boy of nine, out of yet another store on the docks.
Without remorse, the boy reminded his mother for the tenth time that
morning why she never had any more children. With a whining that Jack
O'Neill would soon find grating, the boy pelted his mother with more
questions. "Are we done yet? I'm hungry!" the boy complained as he licked
his ice cream cone. A generous helping of "Cookies and Cream" flavor
treat melted over the edges of the cone, dripping onto the boys shirt and
shoes.
     His mother, frowned, "Scott! I just bought you ice cream!" Her
motherly patience had long since eroded, "I swear, sometimes I wish the
Army would teach you a lesson and ship you off to Iraq with your daddy!"
Instantly regretting what she said she covered her longing to see her
husband again with the frustration over their spoiled child.
     The child not feeling ingratiated to his mothers care, began jumping
up and down and started to say something until he saw off in the distance
several death black fighters flying overhead. The F-302's flew one
thousand feet above the ground at supersonic speeds. The fighters, two
squadrons in all, flew so low that the small ships in the marina shook
violently sideways, throwing spray and water onto the pedestrians who
were unfortuneately stood beside it.
     Great plumes of water sprayed buildings and pedestrians alike. A
great noise followed the fighter jets as the sound assaulted the ears of
the people.
     Lori and her son, Scott stood open mouthed, drenched to the bone on
the docks. Their hair was water soaked and matted to their head like a
seldom used mop. Water fell from their eyes, as the boy blinked slowly in
shock, the ice cream all but forgotten slid sideways off his cone, making
a muted splatting noise onto the wooden deck of the marina.
     His mother turned a wide eyed expression toward her son who began
sobbing openly. He dropped his now empty cone and hugged his mother's
legs with all of his diminutive might, "I'm sorry! Please don't let them
take me away!" the boy lamented.
     John Andrews had the squadron fly low and tight as they passed
Scottsboro, Alabama. At less than one hundred fifty miles from their
target they assumed the most stealthy approach possible. Smiling
unrepentantly, "Oops" was all he said.

Cylons

     The Cylons had vanquished the humans of the Thirteenth Tribe easily.
Continuing their assault, Cylon Raider One One Zero Three sensors
reported multiple contacts at seventy-five miles out, "A squadron of
unknown enemy craft approaching."
     "Pursue and Destroy."
     "By your command."

CNN News Room

     Robin Meade interrupted Jim's diatribe, "Jim, sorry to cut you off,
the Governor has declared a state of emergency. All citizens in the city
of Atlanta and the local area for a radius of one hundred miles are to
evacuate immediately. The attack currently underway in downtown Atlanta
is just one of two attacks in the United States. CNN has just learned
that a simultaneous attack has just begun in New York City. We switch
live to a correspondent there."

Eagle Squadron

     As Eagle squadron met the enemy head on, Raptor Squadron swung
downward and flew circumspective around the south end of Atlanta. The
idea was to create a pincer. Have the enemy engage Eagle Squadron, while
Raptor Squadron flew in from the south and pounced on them while engaged
with them."
     John came into range, waiting for his targeting equipment to
announce a lock. The targeting equipment completed its job and John
announced, "Sweet Lock!" Then he announced into his flight mask, "Fox
4...Two!" Two missiles released underneath his undercarriage and flew
toward the Cylon force. Smoke expelled from the rear of the missiles as
it blazed toward their electronically painted targets wind trails
buffeting the missiles.
     The Cylons had reason to be confident of their air superiority. The
last human fighters lasted less than five minutes in battle. Although the
other fighters had some of the speed, their maneuverability and slaves to
inertia the fighters were simply outclassed.
     The Cylons had taken a few losses, but that is part of the combat
and to be expected. There was no reason for concern, so the Cylons flew
in head to head.

CYLONS

     The Cylons were not able to get a solid lock onto the newcomers.
"Sensors can not obtain positive lock on targets. The humans are
employing stealth technology." Mentally, the Cylons upped the threat
level but not nearly enough for what awaited them.
     "Continue assault."
     "By your Command."
     Every missile found its mark as half the Cylon force was destroyed
in the first round of aerial combat, by the enhanced sensors, and
naquadah enhanced warheads of missiles reigning fiery death upon its
mechanized enemy.
     After the head to head attack, it was a free for all. Fighters dived
in and out of the buildings. The Cylons cared nothing for human life and
unleashed forty Megon loads of laser fire upon buildings and fighters
alike. The F-302 pilots were more selective trying to minimize their
targets.
     One of the F-302 pilots fired upon a Cylon, only to have another two
fighters surprise him from behind and before him.
     Expertly piloting his new fighter, he rammed his "stick" backward
ascending vertical, "Going ballistic!" The new inertia dampers provided
just enough tug on him to feel the pitch and yaw of the craft, but saving
him from its adverse affects. The fighter pulled seven gee's as it
rocketed skyward between two buildings. The occupants who were either
trapped from the previous attack or too stunned to run watched in awe as
the death black F-302 flew upwards past them at insane speeds.
     An office secretary had retrieved her digital camera in time, which
also recorded live video and audio. The building on the left and right of
the fighter shook and the windows shattered violently inward as the
rocketed upward. Level by level the office building's windows shattered
as a thunderous noise threatened permanent hearing damage to the
buildings occupants. She held her camera up in the air as she reflexively
hid behind an office desk. If she lived, she intended to get her sixty
seconds of fame on television that night. Shattered glass rained all
around her, mortally wounding her co-workers and in a couple of cases
killing them.
     Two Raiders attacked from opposite directions. So fixated on their
target, and slower reflexes prevented the automatons from duplicating the
maneuver.
     "Uh Oh." One of the Cylon pilots had enough time to speak before its
fighter crashed into its sister ship.
     The human pilot's wingman expelled, "Damn! That was close!" As the
pilot quickly pushed his acceleration stick forward stopping all forward
thrust, he said, "Hot Damn! I am Sierra Hotel!" Flipping his fighter
upside down and allowing gravity to propel him at super speeds downward,
he rocketed in between office buildings. "Yeeha!" The pilot screamed in
awe of his fighter's ability. On his downward swing the targeting
computer locked on to the nearest Cylon fighter passing just underneath
him, he excitedly said, "I got tone, I got tone, Fox 4!"
     The Cylon raider flying below him was pursuing another F-302 and
disappeared into fragments.
     The Cylons grew bolder and tried more aggressive maneuvers and never
noticed when Raptor squadron arrived.
     The Cylon force immediately redoubled their collective efforts. A
Cylon fighter lined up on an F-302, the human pilot Captain Shawn
"Lightening Rod". Michael Green's equipment beeped an audible warning,
"Watch your six!" his backseater yelled, "I got it, watch this!" Calling
to his wingman, "Batman! Lightening Rod, going Elvis!" His wingman,
Captain Robert "Batman" Louis Melendez, was well known for his dropping
downward from the shadows, "Roger." Robert said in a harsh "Batman like"
whisper.
     "Lightening Rod" rammed his "stick" backward sharply; his craft
immediately obeyed his commands. The F-302 flew nearly straight up
through the center of the buildings.
     Quickly circling around "Batman" pounced from above squeezing the
trigger on his machine gun. A hail of near invisible ammo raced forward,
ramming into the Cylon following "Lightening Rod" at incredible speed.
The Cylon fighter flew straight for a moment, just prior to exploding
into a thousand shards of hot streaking metal.
     When it was clear that the Cylons could not win, the Squadron leader
announced to the five remaining fighters, "All fighters cease attack on
the humans; begin suicide run on population centers."
     The Cylons orders were to wreak as much damage as possible to the
population centers. If attacked, pursue enemy craft and destroy them. If
an attack proved ineffective, switch to suicide runs on the population
centers causing as much damage as possible. It was Baltar's/Demios
intention to cause as much fear and panic as possible.
     A Cylon fighter flew toward hapless civilians, John Andrews knew
from experience what was about to happen, "Oh! No! Your not going to do
that!" He inverted his fighter in mid air, causing the inertia dampers to
work over time in an atmosphere of the planet. He blinked sharply and by
training squeezed his stomach muscles as tight as he could, from the
g-force was more realistic to the old jets he had flown. Forcing blood
upward to his brain, his thoughts quickly refocused. He would have to
remember to tell the geeks back at the base about the inertia dampers
only working about ninety percent of efficiency. He raced toward he
fighter.
     The pincer movement worked well. The fighters came in hard and a
dozen Cylon Raiders never knew what hit them, they were encompassed by
fiery blossoms of destruction. In less than five minutes all enemy
fighters were destroyed. Eagle and Raptor squadrons went into formation
and circled Atlanta twice before being called to head toward New York
City in order to eradicate what remained of the Cylon incursion there.
Fortunately, for New Yorkers, the Aircraft Carrier, USS Abraham Lincoln
had just moored off the coast for shore leave, and quickly scrambled
everything they had.
     When all the enemy fighters were eradicated, John said, "All right
folks, well done, now we got work to do, our orders are to proceed with
all due haste to assist the USS Abraham Lincoln in Manhattan."
     A pilot announced, "Aw! We gotta fight with Squids?"
     John smirked at the acronym used for Navy pilots, "All right, knock
it off. Ascend to Angels twenty five, Mach Niner."
     "Wilco."
     "Roger."
     The scene had played out, while civilians ran, reporters dived
behind cars seeking protection, while trying to verbalize the drama.
     Below them and unnoticed, were several patriotic shouts of glee and
affirmation as the Earth's newest defenders successfully fought off the
enemies initial attack.

CNN News Room

     Robin Meade faced the primary camera. "Spectacular!" She announced,
The US Military in Top Secret jets stopped, as yet, unidentified aircraft
attacking downtown Atlanta. Is this a new terrorist threat or an alien
incursion? How will the United States respond to these unprovoked
attacks? Stay tuned as the story unfolds. For those just tuning in, we
bring you a live report from downtown Atlanta."
     Inwardly, Robin smiled to herself, not at the tragedy before her,
many people were obviously killed or seriously injured, and the property
damage alone would be in the millions. No, she inwardly smiled, because
tragedy was the news channel's lifeblood. This is what she got paid for!
"We can milk this story for two weeks!" She said to herself. As her
commentary discussed the tragedy unfolding, she was careful to speak in a
sobering, caring tone on the latest tragedy unfolding, as her mind
reeled, 'Who are these people, and why did they attack the U.S.? They
couldn't be Islamic terrorists; they did not have the technical expertise
to build such fighters.' Pushing everything aside mentally she asked all
the right questions, while Jim interviewed survivors and rescue teams
arrived on scene.
     Two hours earlier...

     Sunlight from the distant star reached a metallic hull.  A deep
space satellite sat poised in the ice rings of Saturn. The satellite was
tethered to a rather large ice chunk that floated in a predictable orbit
around the giant planet.
     Thanks to Colonial Technology, the satellite was delivered and
anchored to one of the larger rocks that made up Saturn's rings. The rock
itself was retrofitted with an intelligent network of gyro-synchronous
thrusters, and passive lidar, radar, and Colonial sensor equipment that
kept the rock in perfect alignment, while maintaining the illusion of a
natural ice rock.
     Its sole purpose was to detect any space ship's approaching Earth.
Also thanks to Colonial technology the recon satellite also sported an
advanced communications package that was not slave to the Einstein and
Newtonian laws of natural physics. It's faster than light communication
was used to communicate with orbiting satellites of the Earth, which then
disseminated that data to the proper channels.
     The device continued its passive scan, until its sensors detected a
single space ship approaching.  The Cylon saucer shaped ship quickly
passed Jupiter, then Saturn on a direct course for Earth.
     On Earth, NORAD seated just above the Stargate Command picked up the
long range satellite's communications. 

Baltar's Cylon Base Ship

     Demios/Baltar's Basestar arrived in the Thirteenth Tribes Star
System. A single Gold Cylon Centurion arrived at the chambers doors. The
Cylons posted moved their guns barring the doors to a vertical position.
     Lascivious was a newer model created by Heru'Ur. The gold sporting
its exterior shell indicated that he was the command centurion. Demios or
Baltar as he had been known decided that he would replace the more
independent IL Series Cylon, like Lucifer with a more dependable and
controlled model. Demios host contained memories of the infuriating
machine and could not tolerate one second more of Lucifer's droning.
     Deimos was named after the Greek son of Ares, the Greek name for
Mars, who is also called "panic" or even "dread". In mythology, Deimos,
together with Phobos and others, would often accompany Ares into battle
with gods.
     Demios actually looked quite a bit younger. Thanks to the
sarcophagus the Goa'ould possessed and the miracle of nano technology,
Baltar's physical condition was now in peak performance. He appeared
physically as his host did in his late thirties.
     Demios had traded his original host's filthy garments for a more
classical Greek white robes and a gold leaf crown.
     Demios had decided to keep Baltar's high reaching chair and look
down onto his audience. In that his host and he agreed. After all, he
believed himself to be a god. This afforded more of the illusion. He did
have instruments built into the chair, along with internal
communications, but he preferred to have the Centurion report to him
verbally.
     The centurion walked into the center of the light and waited.
     Baltar/Demios received the report, "Speak servant."
     "By your command. We have entered the Thirteenth Tribe's star system
and orbiting a gas giant planet. We are being scanned by multiple
satellites as we speak."
     Demios considered that. "Ah, these humans work quickly. Heru'Ur is
correct; now that the Tau'ri have become united with their Colonial
Brethren they will grow even stronger."
     "How soon till we enter orbit?"
     "In sixty centons." He said still using the Colonial measurements.
     "Have we detected any space craft?"
     "Negative, we have detected a small outpost on the fourth planet in
this system."
     Demios paused a second, "That's where the defense force will attack
us. Prepare to launch fighters, and notify the Al-Kesh to begin."
     "By your command."

Pentagon

     The Pentagon. It was more than a joint military building
identifiable by its uncommon shape. It was home to the best military
minds that the United States Military and its country had to offer.
     Men and women served tirelessly and long hours coordinating the
worlds most highly trained and well armed military force the world has
ever seen. Each person contributing their invaluable skills, like
thousands of ants each one carried its own weight and more, but as a
whole, this collective of volunteers made one of the most cohesive
military fighting forces the world in the past or present had to offer.
     The building itself was located in Washington D.C., near the states
of Virginia and Maryland respectively. Home of the United States
Government and Capital, it boasted of excessive traffic jams, wrecks, and
of course crime. D.C. as it was referred was the nerve center to its
military; however, as with all things American, if anything ever happened
to the head of the government, another head would take its place
simultaneously. Redundancy in technology, organization, government, and
military structure was an American norm, thus establishing its survival
no matter the odds.
     The Joint Chiefs were immediately notified via fast action message
traffic, also known as "FLASH". Unlike certain pizza delivery business of
the past who delivered their merchandise in thirty minutes or less, this
type of messages were required to be delivered in ten minutes or less.
     An emergency session began before some of the generals and admirals
had a second cup of coffee poured. 
     "A single Cylon Basestar has been sighted near Jupiter."
     "How long till they reach Earth?"
     "When we received the message five minutes ago, based on the
Colonials information of range and speed on Cylon craft it was fifty
minutes out."
     The lead general swore, "Launch the Colonial contingent on Mars."
     "Yes sir, but it will take some time for the fighters to reach
them."
     The general frowned darkly, "Why is that?"
     "Sir, Mars is currently very far away. They'll have to expend a lot
of fuel through their afterburners, turbos, I believe they call it."
     "Mars is the fourth planet in the solar system, how could it be that
far away?"
     "Sir, While Mars is the fourth planet in the solar system; it's not
lined up in a neat row with Earth. Mars is only one point five
astronomical units, or A.U.'s. from the sun, compared to Earth's one A.U.
but..."
     "That doesn't sound that far?" The General interrupted.
     "Sir, begging your pardon, but one A.U. is the distance from Earth
to the Sun, about ninety three million miles. Mars has a fairly
elliptical-shaped orbit, which means that its "closest-approach" distance
changes. Unfortunately, back in August 2003, Mars was closer to Earth
than it has been in about sixty thousand years, but now it's further out.
Mars is near opposition, when Mars and the Sun are on opposite sides of
the Earth."
     "What does all that mean?"
     "Sir, Mars is currently on the other side of the Solar System."
     Sighing, the general frowned. It would take some getting used to
thinking three dimensionally. Space was not a battlefield he felt
comfortable with, yet. He purposed to update those skills as quickly as
possible, "I understand, issue the order anyway."
     "Yes, sir!"

Baltar's Cylon Base Ship

     Once again Lascivious entered Demios chambers.
     "Speak Centurion."
     "By your command, the humans have launched Colonial Vipers from the
fourth planet."
     "As expected. Once the vipers are close enough to us, launch
fighters."
     "By your command."

Battlestar Pegasus Fleet

     As the vipers on loan from the Battlestar Pegasus Fleet sped toward
the Cylon menace, they picked up a new set of readings.  The two
squadrons of Colonial Vipers had been shipped via Stargate to Earth. Now
a barebones base had been setup on Mars. Domed structures provided a base
of operations, with specialized sensor equipment in orbit of the red
planet.
     Pericles, a Captain in the Colonial Military and strike wing
commander flew toward Cylon Baseship. Checking his Tylium fuel gauges he
inwardly cursed at the amount of fuel the viper was consuming to reach
the Cylon Basestar. With little support from Earth, a simple matter of
running low on fuel could put their mission severely at risk.
     His wingman announced, "Pericles, I am detecting a ship in Lunar
orbit."
     Pericles checked his instruments, "You're probably picking up
Earth's Prometheus."
     "No sir. I have them on my scanners as well. Standby." A moment
later he said, "Updated warbook registers this as a mid-range Goa'ould
bomber called an Al-Kesh."
     "Felgercarb! We've been duped! Prepare to abort attack run on the
Base Star!"
     "Sir!" A young lieutenant announced. "Picking up a wall of Cylon
Fighters headed our way! They'll reach us in thirty microns!"
     "Frak! We'll never make it back to Earth in time. Inform the
Prometheus that we are engaged, and that their own their own!"
     "Yes, sir!"
 
High Earth Orbit, USAF Prometheus

     In high Earth orbit, its newest defender, the USAF Prometheus was
under the Pentagon's Department of Homeworld Security, commanded by
Colonel William Ronson who sat in his seat, aboard his new command. The
ship was crewed by a small force of active duty military. One hundred
fifteen crewmembers from the US Air Force made up the main ships
personnel. Two deck crews of US Navy flight deck personnel on loan from
an aircraft carrier, and a small contingent of Marine Corps for security.
     The Prometheus, otherwise known as the X-303, was Earth's first
capital starship. Although small compared to a Goa'ould Ha'tak
mothership, it was a large battlecruiser nonetheless, ten times the size
of an Al'kesh. 
     The name of the ship had come from the Pentagon. Named after the
Titan, Prometheus of Greek mythology. Prometheus was intended to serve as
the prototype for a new fleet of space-faring vessels.
     Although Prometheus was the first commissioned ship of her class,
the X-303 series had already been rendered obsolete. A newer, larger
battleship which was already named, the Daedelus, code named X-304
represented an entirely new class of ship based on the Prometheus design.
     With adaptations of Colonial and Goa'ould technology these new
battleships became the first generation of interstellar space craft
created on Earth.
     The Prometheus was designed to carry up to eight F-302s for
long-range duty, which can be launched and received through a launch bay
even when the ship is in flight. The F-302's sported newly refurbished
AIM-120 AMRAAM's with the ventral/dorsal middle control fins removed. The
F-302 can carry up to four of these missiles on external hardpoints and
were naquadah enhanced warheads. All new Earth battleships employed
shield technology and were capable of hyperspace travel. 
     Prometheus relied on some Goa'ould technology; a set of transport
rings, an ancient design based on the Stargate, while most of the weapons
systems aboard the Prometheus were of Earth design and Colonial hybrid
technology of hyper-velocity railguns, missiles, naquadah enhanced
nuclear missiles, and of course as O'Neill would say, "A big honkin gun".
This long distance weapon was an Anti-Capitol Ship weapon. As added
protection the Prometheus carried eight F-302 fighters.
     The vessel was equipped also operate in a planet's atmosphere and
land on the surface. The vessel was constructed of the near impervious
Trinium alloys, discovered on one of the many excursions that the SG
teams made offworld.
     The overall dimensions of the ship were eight hundred forty three
feet in length, width of three hundred four feet, and a height of two
hundred thirty two feet. With an overall mass of eight billion, two
hundred twenty one million tons. She had a maximum sublight cruising
speed of ninety five Percentage Light Speed.
     The bridge of the Prometheus was spread out. Two consoles sat in
front of him, to his left and right. His weapons officer Major Peter
DeLouise monitored his high tech radar, countermeasures, and weapons
systems. Major DeLouise was a Caucasian male with shortly cropped dark
brown hair and eyes. He sported the new uniform of the Prometheus crew, a
dark blue one piece coverall with the SGC patch Velcro onto his right
shoulder. Above his right pectoral muscles the SPACECOM patch of the Air
Force was placed, and completing his ensemble were a patch with rank and
name on the left breast. His shoulders sported his rank. The instruments
he monitored could not only detect size, shape, and speed of missiles or
space craft, but also detect what type of weapon was being employed, such
as nuclear and other statistical data important to his position. 
     To the immediate right of the weapons console sat the Navigations
and Communications station. Major Erin Gant a thin, sandy-blonde haired
woman who held a PhD in multiple engineering disciplines and one in
electronics was the ships navigator and communications operator. When not
on the bridge her expertise was utilized on in engineering with the Chief
Engineer.
     The ship appeared as a high tech naval ship. Large viewports
dominated the front of the bridge. The interior of the ship was a light
grey, sporting full spectrum.
     Major DeLouise announced to Colonel Ronson, "Sir, sensors have
detected a ship has just decloaked in lunar orbit, it's a Goa'ould
vessel, Al-Kesh."
     Ronson had been receiving a report in the back of the room. Making
his way quickly across the room taking his place in the captain's chair,
he said, "Sound General Quarters!"
     An alarm starts throughout the ship. "Something is wrong sir."
     "Explain?"
     "I had a momentary sensor readings on several ships."
     "Nothing more?"
     He shook his head, "No, sir. I think our sensors are being jammed."
     Ronson looked toward the see through bridge windows, "What is the
Al-Kesh doing?"
     Gant checked her instruments, "Goa'ould vessel closing in on the
Prometheus, Range, five hundred thousand miles."
     "Shields at maximum, load missile bays 1 through 4, arm the new rail
gun network, and charge the primary weapon system."
     Delouise announces, "Arming weapons, sir."
     Gant announced, "Shields confirm up, reading green across the
board."
     Inside the Prometheus corridor, crewmen ran through corridors in a
controlled motion, undoubtedly from the many drills the crew had
participated in. In under two minutes, the entire crew had reached their
posts, including sleeping crewmen."
     Gant reported, "Sir, all decks report manned and operational.
Goa'ould vessel now closing to two hundred fifty thousand miles."
     "Can we talk to them?"
     Gant nodded, "Sir, I can broadcast on multiple narrowband and broad
spectrum frequencies. If they're listening, they'll pick it up."

     Ronson shook his head, "Do it."
     Gant's hands flashed across her instrumentation board, "Channel
Open, sir."
     "This is Colonel William Ronson of the United States Air Force
vessel Prometheus. You have entered our air space, retreat or we will be
forced to take you under fire."
     Static filled the bridges speaker just prior to receiving a
transmission, "Tau'ri vessel, your pitiful ship now belongs to your god,
Imotep! Surrender and you may yet live." The arrogance in the Jaffa's
voice sounded like a knife.
     Ronson exhaled, "O.k. we do this, all weapons, full barrage. Take
them out of my sky!"
     Delouise nodded, "Yes sir!" Then he announced into his headset, "All
batteries commence fire."
     The Prometheus opened up a hail storm of missiles, hyper-velocity
rail gun fire support. Thousands of tiny dart-like gun fire, from the new
rail gun system swarmed toward the Al-Kesh at Mach five.
     Delouise received a solid lock and engaged the Prometheus main gun.
A momentary flash from the forward section of the ship announced a heavy
Colonial particle beam weapon. 
     The Al-Kesh unleashed its heavy weapons on the Prometheus. From all
appearances the Tau'ri shields did not even budge, however on the inside
the ship shook and vibrated heavily.
     The Al-Kesh, a mid-range bomber could pose a significant threat
provided the Prometheus shields were down, but with the shields up, that
was an entirely different prospectus. Simply put, the Al-Kesh was
outgunned by the larger Prometheus vessel. Fortuneately for the
Prometheus, the Goa'ould had not sent a Ha-Tac class battleship or the
results would have been far different. At best, the Prometheus might last
a few minutes against an Ha-Tac.
     The Al-Kesh shields competed with the rail gun fire and beam weapon,
anti-capitol ship support. Delouise got a green light after a few moments
and fired the main gun again. The Al-Kesh shields flared an orange-gold
barely providing support. The Tau'ri continued to pummel the much smaller
ship. Shields were holding at twenty percent until two of the naquadah
enhanced missiles made it through the suppression barrage and hit the
shields with full force. The shields flared brightly just prior to
blinking out.
     Inside the Al-Kesh, the lead Jaffa barked orders, as the little ship
buckled under the stress. Alarms blared, while smoke and open fires
dominated the bomber.

     Major Delouise calmly stated, "Sir, the Al-Kesh shields are down. We
have crippled her. She's dead in space."
     "Continue firing." Ronson ordered.
     "Colonel Ronson, electronic jamming has been cleared, sensors can
now pick up incoming bandits, originating from behind the Al-Kesh!
Closing on our position, and heading this way."
     "Can you identify them?" Ronson demanded.
     "Their Cylon Raiders sir. Eight squadrons."
     "Launch the F-302's"
     "Too late!" Delouise said.
     Ronson ordered, "Lock down all compartments and brace for impact."
Major Gant activated the collision alarm. A piercing and rather
irritating sound filled the ships corridors.
     Seven squadrons of Cylon fighter group rushed past the ship, while
one squadron attacked the Prometheus.
     The Cylons unloaded their laser fire upon the Earth ship with fierce
determination and precision. Explosions rocked the ship but caused no
apparent damage.
     "Sir, shields are holding. We had a momentary drain on power, but
it's stable now." Major Gant said.
     Prometheus rocked, "What is the status of the 302's?"
     "All eight 302's have been launched, but are severely outnumbered,
they won't last long!"
     "They'll have to make due. Continue Rail Gun suppression fire on all
Raiders."
     Gant checked her equipment, then furrowed her pretty brow, "Sir, I
have detected that seven squadrons of Cylon fighters did not engage the
Prometheus."
     Ronson started, "If their not fighting us, then where did they go?"
As soon as he said that he realized his mistake. Turning around to face
the rear of the bridge, as if he could see through the Trinium bulkheads,
Ronson's cheeks flushed at his na‹ve mistake, "Major Gant, turn the
Prometheus around, set course for Earth. Full military thrust!"
     The Cylon contingent sped toward an unsuspecting Earth. The
Prometheus turned as sharply as her mass allowed her too. Quickly picking
up speed the Earth ship sped onward like a charging bull.
     Ronson ordered, "Ignore all Cylons around the Prometheus. Tell the
302's to intercept the Cylons heading for Earth."
     Delouise replied, "Sir, several Cylon Raiders are in our way.
Suppression fire won't be enough."
     Ronson fumed, "Plow them down! Get me to Earth. Now!"
     Gant replied, "Engines at full burn. ETA, three minutes."\
     Ronson had been made a fool. So confident in this new ship, he had
overlooked some of the most important strategies in War College. He knew
after today his career was over. Sighing, he decided to make the next
couple of hours count.

***

Cylon Raider

     A Cylon navigator announced to the leader of its crew, "The
Prometheus has plowed through the eighth squadron."
     "Squadron Seven abort attack run on population centers, commence
ballistic attack on the Prometheus."
     Squadron Seven leader replied in a monotonous mechanical drone, "By
your command."

USAF Prometheus

     The Prometheus shields flared brightly as it plowed through two
thirds of the eighth Cylon Squadron. The Tylieum reactors on the Cylon
Raiders blew releasing enough energy to be compared to a Mark I size
nuclear warhead. Tylieum was not merely unstable; it was entirely
unstable when not properly controlled. If not for the superior
containment systems in both Cylon and Colonial craft Tylieum use would
have been abandoned millennium ago. Many yahren ago, enough Tylieum was
set ablaze by a Colonial hand "laser" that subsequent fires led
ultimately to the entire planet exploding, thus annihilating the
indigenous population. Although the radiation was different than a
nuclear explosion, the result proved far more effective deterrent to the
Tau'ri vessel. If the blast had been a standard, non-naquadah, nuclear
war head, the shields of the Prometheus would have held. However good the
Tau'ri shields might be, the Tylieum explosion released a different kind
of energy. The physical blast of the overloading Tylieum reactors aboard
the Cylon Raiders were easily shielded, however, the electromagnetic
pulse and peculiar radiation that Tylieum expended showed how vulnerable
the Prometheus actually were.
     Inside the Prometheus, equipment sparked and exploded, while alarms
blared loudly. Steam pipes providing heat throughout the ship ruptured on
various decks, scalding an unsuspecting crew member with second degree
burns.
     Ronson clung to his chair, "Damage Report!"
     "The impact of Cylon Raiders has overloaded the shields with some
sort of radiation and an electromagnetic pulse. Shield strength down to
twelve percent. Main power down, auxiliary power is holding and secondary
computer systems are online, but shields won't last long on Auxiliary
power. Primary weapon systems are down. Rail Guns are online."
     "How did the Cylons manage that level of explosions? Were they
carrying nuclear war heads?" Ronson demanded. He was utterly surprised at
the damage mere fighter craft could manage.
     "Unknown, sir. The fuel the Cylons use more than likely exploded,
releasing some kind of radiation I have never seen before. Our shields
would have stopped a nuclear blast of this size, however, the radiation
and the EMP detonation somehow made it past our shields." Gant responded.
     "Casualties?" Ronson asked.
     "None reported." Gant shrugged.
     "How soon before we get systems back online?"
     Gant frantically checked her readouts on her console, "It's too
early to say, Sir."
     "Have damage repair crews assess the damage."
     Gant nodded, "Yes, sir." She went to work on her many tasks.
     Major Delouise announced, "Colonel Ronson, a Cylon squadron has
turned back and has bypassed the 302 squadrons. Their not engaging."
     "Where are they headed now?"
     "They will intercept the Prometheus in one minute."
     Ronson slumped in his chair, "Concentrate all forward rail gun
batteries on the Cylon force. Setup a firing solution to take out as many
as possible. Major Gant, Notify the 302's to stay out of our line of
fire."
     Delouise and Gant went to work on his tasks, "Yes, sir!"

Cylons

     Squadron three leader of the Cylon force announced, "Prometheus
Death Squadrons attack."
     "By your command." The pilot droned mechanically.
     With a cold-hearted precision the Cylons accelerated as they drew
near.

F302's

     Only four of the original eight F-302's had survived their initial
dogfight with the Cylons. The F-302 fighters had managed to turn around
and kicked in their solid rocket boosters.
     Lieutenant Colonel Cameron "Cam" Mitchell, commander of the
Prometheus squadrons told the group, "All right boys and girls, we
screwed the pooch back there, but we can't let those Cylons get to
Earth."
     His wingman announced, "Cam, their ramming the Prometheus!"
     "Holy Crap! No one does that to my ship! All fighters break off
pursuit of Raiders, turn around, get a lock and take out as many of the
fighters as possible. For God's sake, stay out of the Prometheus firing
solution!"
     The 302's did manage to take out half of the fighters before they
hit the Prometheus, but the damage was already done.

USAF Prometheus

     The Prometheus shields flared brightly once more, and then faded
out. A lone Cylon fighter managed to aim its ship toward the Prometheus
landing bay. The shields went down as it approached and as it entered the
bay it opened fire with forty megon loads of fire, while simultaneously
crashing its ship in the hangar bay.
     The explosive force of the detonation destroyed the force field
holding the atmosphere in the hanger bay. Decompression of the right
landing bay caused everything not nailed down to be exhaled into space
surrounding the Prometheus, including the Navy Deck Crew assigned to the
Prometheus. Bodies flew out of the raging fires in the side of the
Prometheus and tumbled away into the solar system.
     The Prometheus rocked violently and then listed to its side as power
fluctuations caused most the electrical systems to go offline. The
prototype space ship lost attitude control and began spinning wildly in
circles.
     On the bridge Colonel Ronson nearly screamed over the blaring alarms
and ruptured steam pipes hissing, "Damage Report!"
     Gant rubbed her bruised head where she had hit it on her console
moments before, "Sir; The ship is in a uncontrolled lateral,
counterclockwise spin. Hull breaches on three decks, including
engineering. Starboard hangar deck has been severely damaged and exposed
to space. Weapon systems are down; all we have is artificial gravity and
life support on most decks." She concluded with, "We're dead in space."
     Ronson acknowledged the report, "Casualties?" 
     "Reports coming in now. Thirty-three deaths reported so far. Nine
crewman unaccounted for. No response at all from starboard hanger deck."
Major Gant could not see the damage, but for all practical purposes,
their was not a starboard hanger deck anymore. It was by sheer luck and
engineered human ingenuity that the explosion did not take out the ship
entirely.
     "Sir, we lost another 302 during the hangar explosion, the remaining
three 302's have taken out the rest of the Cylon fighters."
     "How many fighters reached Earth?"
     "Six squadrons have just descended onto the United States East
Coast. They will reach the coast line in one minute."
     "What are their targets?"
     "Raiders appear to be headed to either Florida or Georgia, while
another squadron is headed for the North East Coastline."
     "Major Gant, can you contact Stargate Command?"
     "Negative, sir. Communications systems are still down."
     "Hopefully Colonel Mitchell will have the sense to notify them. Have
damage repair crews focus on hull breaches first."

F302's
 
     Lieutenant Colonel Cameron Mitchell swore, "Prometheus, this is Cam,
respond."
     After two more times he swore again, "Their comms must be down."
     "What do we do?" Hot-Shot asked.
     Cameron thought a moment, "Hot Shot, contact Stargate Command, let
them know that approximately six squadrons got through and to expect
company, tell them the Prometheus is dead in space, we are unable to
provide support, we are not leaving the Prometheus unprotected."
     "Roger, Cam!"
     The remaining three fighters flew toward their crippled mother ship.

 Present Time, Pentagon

     Deep inside the Pentagon, a room that was guarded from all sides sat
a conference room. The Pentagon was also known by some military personnel
in lively derogatory terms for many unbelievable decisions that passed
through its great halls. Such names were the Puzzle Palace, Fort Fumble,
and the Fudge Factory.
     The Joint Chiefs of Staff or JCS reported to the Secretary of
Defense. Usually the JCS sat discussing budgeting concerns, war in real
time conferences, but today was different in that the President of the
United States was arriving for a briefing.
     The room was circular proximally sixty feet in circumference all the
way around.  There is panel's an unknown until data, surrounded the room
and middle of the room was a long rectangular rounded edge table with a
deep black finished that presented a high gloss she is the overhead
interior lights radiated above it.  Several chairs surrounded the
rectangle table and all but one was occupied.  Seated in these chairs
were general's from all five branches of the US Armed Forces.  The
average layperson was not even aware that the United States Coast Guard
was actually a member of the Armed Forces. The service fell under the
Department of Transportation, however, during wartime; the Coast Guard
fell under the direct control of the United States Navy.
     The general cleared his throat, while another drink from a glass of
water from the far end of the room, a clicking sound can be heard and
door opened.  Instantaneously, the entire high-ranking general's stood to
attention as chairs rolled out from underneath them.  They quickly got to
their feet, staring straight ahead.  The President of the United States
walked boldly into the room with no fanfare from the generals standing at
attention.  The president smiled a politician's smile, looking akin to a
chess sire cat grinning.  "Mike, John, Bob." The unanimous reply echoed,
"Mr. President." The President continued, "John, how are you?" He shook
the mans hand, then, "Sam, hey Dave, How is the family?  Working the room
as if he was trying to get reelected, the president smiled warmly. 
"Gentleman please be seated," all the general set down quickly. The
President rubbed his hands together, then clapped them once and said "All
right, what do we got?"
     General Bob Crane, United States Army openly frowned, "Mr.
President, from all reports from the SGC, both the Goa'ould and Cylon
forces are amassing now for full strike against Earth. As seen earlier,
in Atlanta and New York City, the Cylons penetrated our defenses and
wreaked havoc in two of our larger cities." He concluded with, "Our
vipers on Mars were duped into pursuing the base star which lead them on
a wild goose chase past Pluto. The Vipers barely had enough fuel to
return to Mars, while a Goa'ould Al-Kesh, mid-range bomber simultaneously
had somehow towed eight squadrons of Cylon Raiders into Lunar Orbit."
Summarizing the general said, "We got caught with our pants down, Mr.
President."
     "How did we do against the Al-Kesh?"
     "We stopped it cold, just past lunar orbit, but the Prometheus is
crippled, it will be at least a month till she's ready for combat, they
lost their starboard hanger deck and nearly half her crew. We lost a lot
of good people up there."
     The president swore, "Would someone like to tell me how these Cylons
slipped past the Prometheus and all but destroyed two of our major
cities?"
     "Sir, we are efforting that as we speak, but our people did their
best."
     "Well, General, apparently it wasn't good enough? Now I got a
shit-bed of trouble and have to tell the whole fricking world, not to
mention over thousand dead civilians, and property damage being assessed
in the millions. Congress is going to have my ass if we can't do
something!"
     The president sighed wearily, "There's no way we can hide the
Stargate program any longer. No one is going to buy another meteor
shower. Hell! Some na‹ve secretary wanted her sixty seconds of fame and
video taped not only the Cylons, but Top-Secret F-302's!" Calming down
the president sighed, "We are going to have to change our tactics."
     "Sir?"
     "I have decided to tell the entire world what we are up against.
It's going to hit the fan in an hour. We are going to have to recall all
components of the military to handle this crisis. All right, what about
the Cylon base ship that entered the solar system?"
     "It disappeared after a short confrontation with the Colonial
Vipers."
     "Disappeared? How?"
     "It opened a hyperspace window and disappeared, we think it is
hiding somewhere in the Solar System or departed all together."
     "You think?" The President asked skeptically.
     "Begging your pardon, sir, but the solar system is big, and we've
only begun setting up long range sensor net. It will be months before we
have a proper sensor net up, as an early warning device. The sensor that
did initially pick up the Cylon Basestar was one of the few we have in
commission."
     "Then this could happen again and again. We are vulnerable, I don't
like vulnerable and neither do the American people." The president was
always thinking in reelection terms.
     "Have the Viper Pilot's on Mar's send out continuous patrols
throughout the Solar System. We also need to step up the deployment of
the long range sensors. I don't want this happening again."  The
President said.
     "Yes, sir."
     The president cleared his throat, "What about the F-302 project, is
that up and running?
     Bob nodded, "Yes, Sir. It will be. We had four squadrons up and
running, however" he was cut off.
     "However?" asked the president.
     "However, we lost nearly two of them during the attack and there's
no way they we can amass a force of F-302's large enough to defend the
whole planet, in less than a year. Not with the force being sent to
Earth."
     "Well, how big of a force are we talking about?"  The president
asked.
     Bob cleared his throat shuffled some papers, then looked up, "Sir,
rumor has it from the Tok'Ra agents within Heru'Ur's ranks that close to
one hundred Goa'ould Ha-Tac battleships are headed for Earth. Each one is
capable of orbital bombardment, and each ship can carry several squadrons
of Death Gliders that can fight in space and an atmosphere. That doesn't
include an unknown amount of Cylon forces."
     The president's mouth opened.  He paused, close to his eyes wide as
saucers, and asked "You wanna run that by me again general?"
     General John Meadows of the Air Force deadpanned, "Sir, over a
hundred Goa'ould mother ships and an unknown amount of Cylon Base Stars
are all on their way to Earth and will be here within ten months."
     "What do you recommend general?"
     John looked at the president, incredulous, "Sir. There is no way
that we can protect the Earth from one hundred Goa'ould mother ships. 
Even with the small fleet of Battlestars from the colonials backing us
up. There is no way that we can win."
     "General, defeat is not an option. We're talking about the fate of
the whole planet. For God sakes! We've taken out more System Lords than
anyone else in centuries! We need more options. O.k. we'll table that for
now. Please tell me the shield technology that SG-1 obtained on their
last mission is working and can be duplicated?"
     "That is the one bit of good news sir. The systems, while
complicated can be duplicated on our capitol ships. In fact, the
Prometheus shields worked better than expected. The only glitch is that
apparently shields were not as effective when against Cylons Raiders fuel
cells when ruptured. That's another fix we got to get the techs at Area
51 to correct. Our scientists at Area 51 assure us that the fighters can
be outfitted with smaller, less powerful versions of the shield
technology."
     The President shook his head, "At least there's that. Surely the
must be something else we can do, what about the Asgaard? Can't they help
protect us?"
     Bob answered for John, "So far, SGC has not been able to reach the
Asgaard, but with their war with replicators I doubt very much that they
can spare more than one or two ships, if we can reach them in the next
few months."
     "How likely will we be able to get in touch with them." The
president asked.
     Bob didn't speak.  He but shook his head no
     "Well, surely must be something we can do, what would it take to
create an enough of these F-302's to defend the whole planet?"
     "Sir, with respect, in order to complete that project, it would take
us notifying all the major powers on Earth. This includes both the
Stargate program and these aliens, and of course the imminent attack to
earth.  It would mean stopping all civilian plane manufacturer's and car
manufacturers, retooling their assembly lines, extensive manpower, labor,
unprecedented coordination within the five major militaries of the world,
just to generate F-302's, and that's to say nothing of Capitol ships to
go against such a large fleet of mother ships."
     "Surely we have the industrial base in place in order to build these
fighters."
     "Mr. President, this would be nothing short of what America did in
the nineteen forties, during world war two. The only way we could build
enough fighters is if we notified the general public, but even with all
of America's industry behind production, there is no way we could build
enough fighters to create even a picket line against so many ships, not
to mention the fire power to stop Ha-Tec class Goa'ould ships."
     "After this morning's attack, I don't see that as a problem. O.k.,
assuming we did all you suggest, how long will it take for the F-302's to
be up in running?" The president asked.
     "Sir, we just don't have enough time, perhaps if we had two years. 
Maybe a year and half, we would have enough time to build a fleet of
F-302's. If we could have the majority of fighters ready in twelve
months, then perhaps we could mount a token resistance."
     "Gentleman, we are not at war with a country, we are in a fight for
survival of the human race. If we don't mass produce this alien
technology in less than ten months, it won't matter how many fighters we
could build in two years. What about the battleships?"
     "We believe we can build two more at most, in that time, perhaps
three if we cut corners, Mr. President."
     "Well general we don't have that long, again, we need more options!
Dammit! How the hell can we build enough ships?
     "Sir, even if we were to assume that Russia, China, France, and
Britain could build the same amount and we include the Colonial
Battlestars" He shook his head negatively, "I seriously doubt we could
mount more than a token resistance."
     Another general spoke up, "If we could build enough ships to pose a
threat, perhaps the Goa'ould will have second thoughts?"
     Army General Harry Slocomb cleared his throat, "Mr. President, from
every report that I have read from the SGC, the Goa'ould do not back down
against a lesser force, they'll hit us with everything they have."
     "You're thinking, if we are threat now, they will have no choice to
destroy us, lest we become a bigger thorn in the side?"
     "Yes, sir, exactly." General Slocomb said.
     "All right, we need answers, gentlemen, I want General Hammond, down
here and I want to talk to that Colonel. What's his name? O'Neill?"
     John smiled for the first time in a, "Sir, we have both General
Hammond, Colonel O'Neill and the rest of SG-1 here now, ready to give
recommendations. They arrived about twenty minutes ago."
     The president clearly frustrated said, "We'll get them in here. Oh!
By the way! Relieve the Prometheus commander. I want someone up there who
can think!"
     The Air Force Chief of Staff, General Ryan was about to reply, but
sensed the futility of it. Colonel Ronson would be reassigned by the end
of the day to an assignment far from the confines of decision-making.
'Pity' he thought. Ronson was a good man. Perhaps Ronson will choose to
retire instead of suffering the humiliation of a desk job. Then an idea
came to the general. The US military will need a training facility in
order to get the military up to speed on Goa'ould tactics and space
warfare. After today, Colonel Ronson was the best man for that job, as
well as boistering confidence in one of his best officers. General Ryan
took care of his people. Regardless of Ronson's actions, Ryan believed
that Ronson had done his best. It was inevitable the first battle would
be an opportunity to learn. This was the best therapy for Ronson to work
out his frustration and retain a valuable member of the Air Force.
Ronson's failure could mean the future success of many commanders going
into space this year.
     Several generals shifted uncomfortably in their chairs. The mild
natured president was showing some spine and the generals knew it would
be career suicide to disagree at this point.
     Nodding to a young lieutenant, he turned back to the president.
     
Pentagon, SG1

     Colonel Jack O'Neill, along with this team, Samantha Carter, Doctor
Daniel Jackson, and Teal'c, and General George Hammond watched an
overhead TV playing the latest CNN news.
     Jack was listening to the news, but other than that paid very little
attention as he worked on a cross word puzzle.
     Sam peaked over his shoulder and said, "Ugh, Sir twenty five down."
     Jack clearly intimidated tried to cover up his word puzzle, "Yeah?
     "You wrote, "UMA THURMAN?"
     "So?" Jack asked defensively.
     Carter smiled and shook her head, disbelievingly, "Twenty Five down
was a name for a stellar body."
     Jack frowning, turned his crossword puzzle over, calmly got up from
his desk and said, "What's your a point?"
     A door opened, the same lieutenant who was just in the meeting with
the president and the Joint Chiefs of Staff came in.
     "General Hammond, Colonel O'Neill, you and your team's presence are
requested with the president and the Joint Chiefs."

     As they made a way into the briefing room the President stood up,
smiled a politician smile, and ear-to-ear chess sire cat grin, "George!
How are you?"
     "Fine, Mr. President. Thank you."
     Then to Jack, "Colonel O'Neill, please, please come in have a seat."
     Jack had his fill of politicians ever since meeting pain in the rear
Senator Kinsey. Needless to say, the Presidents welcome surprised him.
"Ah, yes sir. Thank you, sir."
     Everyone waited for the President to seat himself first.
     "Well Colonel, how was your trip to the Colonial Fleet?"
     Jack shrugged, "Interesting, but their food." He left the statement
unfinished.
     The President lifted his eyebrows in a question.
     It was Daniel who finished, "Let's just say that the Colonials are
probably glad to be getting a break from Jack's presence."
     The President's eyebrows lifted perceptively, "Ah. Of course."
Reflexively he looked at nothing particular on his pant's leg, "General,
we have a problem with this countries ability to manufacture enough
military hardware to defend this planet in the twelve months remaining
before the Cylon and Goa'ould attack enforce. That little attack on the
Eastern Seaboard today was just a test. In less than an hour I have to
address the nation."
     Jack smiled and finished the Presidents train of thought, "Your
hoping we might think of something that no one else might have?"
     The President smiled, "You cut right to the heart of the matter, all
right then, yes. SG-1 has a penchant for brilliant ideas at the last
minute. Well, Colonel, Any ideas today?"
     Jack nodded confidently while looking the President in the eye,
"Carter?"
     Sam who had remained silent up to that time stared in disbelief,
"Sir?"
     Jack looked in disbelief and frowned, "Go on?"
     Sam sat stunned, "With what, sir?"
     "Carter? You always pull these things out of your" Remembering whose
company he was in he inserted, "Head." He finished.
     "Sir, I have no idea where to begin!"
     "Come on, tell us our options, Plan A, B, or C."
     The Joint Chiefs and the President watched the verbal volley in
utter astonishment and became caught up in the melee.
     Frustrated at Jack putting her on the spot again, she hesitantly
retorted, "Colonel, Plan A is make enough fighters and battleships
capable of fighting the Goa'ould and Cylons in space and in Earth's
atmosphere before they arrive in ten months. "
     "Which we know we can't do, Plan B?"
     Sam frowned, "Plan B is that we could try to get the Asguard to
intervene."
     "Which we already know the Asgaard do not have enough spare ships,
while fighting the replicators, not to mention we can't reach them."
     "Right." Sam said in conclusion.
     "Well?" Jack asked.
     Sam frowned noticeably, "Well, what, sir?"
     "What's Plan C?"
     "There is no Plan C?"
     "It comes after B?" Jack announced helpfully.
     Sam clearly overwhelmed by her superior officer putting her on the
spot lashed out, "Sir! What do you want me to say? I mean, it's not if I
can wave a magic wand and transform every fighter plane in the world into
a space ship?"

     "Come on Carter!" Jack said exasperated.
     Daniel interrupted, "No wait. Sam, that's it!"
     "You have an idea Daniel Jackson?" Teal'c asked.
     "Just a moment, what if we modified the current fighter planes with
Colonial technology?"
     Sam's curiosity peaked she asked, "How would that work?" Sam ran
figures through her mind at lightening speed, already deducing the
problems inherent in that idea.
     "I don't know, maybe replace the engines with viper engines?"
     Sam frowned, "Daniel, that won't work, first, the inertia would rip
the engines from the planes superstructure. It would be like an out of
control bottle rocket, just before the engines exploded. The metal alloys
are not structurally dense enough to combat metal fatigue at hyper-sonic
speeds that the Colonial Viper's engines operate at."
     Teal'c leaned his head forward, "Major Carter, perhaps reinforcing
critical areas of the aircrafts superstructure with Trinium?"
     Trinium was a metal alloy that when refined produced a nearly
invulnerable metal alloy. It was found recently on an SG team mission.
Their offsite mining operation was in full production.
     Sam smiled, "Teal'c! That's it!" Now Sam was sufficiently intrigued
and ran a new set of mental computations as her mind raced forward, "If
we reinforced the key structures only to prevent structural failure, we
would reduce the amount of Trinium used. That would ensure we did not
have to create a whole new fighter." She paused as another idea
formulated, "We could also overlay the entire outside shell with Trinium
as well."
     Jack clearly confused asked, "Why would you do that?"
     Turning to O'Neill, "Sir, if we reinforce the outer hull of the air
craft with Trinium it could stand the reentry temperatures into an
atmosphere, not to mention added protection from space debris, and
weapons from Goa'ould and Cylon fighters. We could then add basic RCS
thrusters to control the pitch and yaw of a spacecraft, and we will have
to use the inertia damper technology in order to survive those speeds."
     A couple of generals scoffed and General Hammond asked, "Major
Carter, don't you think that this idea is a little far fetched, turning
jets into space ships?"
     Sam smiled, "No, sir. That is exactly what NASA did in the nineteen
sixties, with the X-15 project. The project was commissioned to take
existing jet fighters donated by the Air Force and convert the existing
jets into, both air planes and space craft. The goal was to fly faster
and higher until routine space travel was achieved by the technology."
*** See NOTE 1 before reviewing on this part please.****
     A general interrupted, "Major, if I remember correctly that project
was cancelled early on due to difficulties with the technology."
     Sam shook her head, "Actually, sir, the program was right on
schedule. While the X-15 did have an initial failure, the program got
back on track after a slightly different configuration with the X-15A-2.
The fuselage was lengthened and external drop tanks were added to
accommodate additional propellants, and it traveled at Mach six point
seven zero, back in 1967. The engineer's added RCS thrusters reinforced
the structural joints. Using a white, ablative coating to provide
additional heat protection, the outer shell burned away leaving the
fuselage intact during the intense heat from reentry into the atmosphere.
During the tests, the modified X-15 planes were piggybacked underneath a
transport jet. When both planes reached the operational ceiling of the
first plane, the converted X-15A-2 jets ignited their booster rockets
propelling it one hundred miles into space. Then the spacecraft landed
like a jet. The X-15 project was only cancelled after the Russians put a
man in space, and some damage to the loss of two test planes and damage
to the third. 
     After the space race to the moon began and it was far cheaper to use
ICBM technology, and put a capsule on top of rockets. The X-15 was
cancelled, as all NASA resources were filtered into the Apollo missions
so we could be the first country to put a man on the moon. 
     In essence, we beat the Russians to the moon by cheating. We
sacrificed future space technology in order to get our name in the
history books. Although the X projects have continued till today, the
United States the projects have not yielded a viable counterpart to the
F-302. If the X-15A-2 project had continued till today, we would already
have had F-302 technology, or something similar."
     Daniel asked, "What about the pilot's breathing in space?"
     Sam shrugged, "Until proper fighters could be built like the
Colonial Vipers, the pilots would have to wear space suits and helmets,
just like we use for EVA when we gate to an inhospitable atmosphere off
planet. It would be uncomfortable and reduce the range of motion, but
should work."
     The President came forward, "Major Carter, are you sure this will
work?"
     Sam smiled, "Yes, sir, it's still a lot of work and you should know
that the modified fighter jets would only be a temporary solution to
fight the Goa'ould, every fighter would virtually wear out and break
nearly every safety regulation for space travel, but yes, sir it should
work and meet the deadline." As an afterthought she said, "One other
thing, the planes would probably only be able to travel one third of the
speed that the Colonial Vipers will fly."
     "Why is that Major?" General Hammond asked.
     "The F-15 and F-16's were not manufactured for space flight. Even
with Trinium overlaying the superstructure and key points, the stress of
those speeds during ACM would rip the fighter in two. Every fighter will
have to have Inertial Dampers added as well." She snapped her fingers for
emphasis. "If we added a governor to the engines that inhibited their
speeds to say one third the speed of light, then the fighter should be
within safety parameters, albeit barely."
     Daniel looked at her questioningly, "How fast is one third the speed
of light?"
     Without blinking Sam spat out, "62,094 miles per second."
     "Wow, that's fast." Jacks said.
     "Not nearly as fast as the Cylons can fly." Sam added.
     "O'Neill, Major Carter's plan will only succeed if the Tau'ri can
produce sufficiently more space craft than the Goa'ould and Cylon's
attack with." Teal'c said.
     Daniel also noted, "And mine enough raw Trinium."
     Sam added, "At least that would give Earth a fighting chance."
     "Major Carter, do you think the same plan could be adopted for Naval
ships?" Admiral Nicholas Jones of the Navy asked. *** See NOTE 2 before
reviewing on this part please.****
     Sam shrugged, "Its possible sir, but these ships would be severely
limited in flight, maneuverability, weapons, and personnel. In order to
retrofit sea going vessels into space vessels the same limitations on the
fighters would apply. I would say that in order to meet the deadline,
only key portions of the ship would made be habitable. It's like the old
saying, "put a large enough engine on a rock and it will fly". It will
work, but like the fighters, it's a temporary solution. Those ships were
never meant to fly in space."
     O'Neil piped in, "Not to mention being ugly as sin."
     Everyone decided to ignore that last comment, although Admiral Jones
did frown.
     The President smiled, "Excellent work!" Turning to the senior
officer of the Joint Chiefs, "General, begin preparations and general
contracts with all armed forces and civilian manufacturers immediately.
General Hammond, I will need to borrow Major Carter for little while."
     Turing to an aide, the President said, "I want Denise from
Contracting in here ASAP." Then to another aide, "I am going to need
legal down here to tell me how I can commandeer America's automobile and
aeronautical agencies for mass production."
     Jack patted Carter on the back, "Plan C! It always works."

White House Press Room

     Less than an hour later...
     Inside the White House Press Room, the President of the United
States began his historic speech.
     The President stood at the podium giving his address. Inwardly,
President Hayes was scared to death, this was the kind of thing that
would make or break his political career. In all probability, Hayes
career was over and if he did not show a heavy hand to force the world to
unite, their might not be a world next year. Of course he let none of his
anxiety outwardly show on his countenance. The nation's television
studios would be broadcasting this message live and many nations around
the world would see and know everything. Looking downward, he glanced at
his watch, in about fifteen minutes the entire world would be turned
upside town and it was his fault. He glanced one more time at the speech
his staff had hastily put together for him.
     Looking at the camera in the center of the room he began, "My fellow
Americans, a historic and unprecedented event has taken place.  The
question as to whether or not we are alone in the universe has been
answered. 
     The attacks on America's Eastern Seaboard earlier today were not
from a neighboring country, but from aggressors from beyond our solar
system. It was a probing attack, to determine Earth's defenses."
     Many seasoned reports gasped audibly, not quite sure if they heard
correctly, but the room somehow remained silent.
     "Who are these people that have come from afar to attack us? We, in
the United States, the Chinese, Russian, French, and British governments
have been aware of this dire enemy for some time. It's high time that the
American Public and the world know what we are up against."
     Another collective gasp filled the White House Press Room followed
by a chorus of shouts and questions. After a moment the president spoke
loudly to override the cacophony of noise.
     "Through an ancient alien technology that has only recently become
available in the past few years, first to the United States Government,
and more recently, the respective governments mentioned a moment ago."
     Another round of shouts filled the room as the press collectively
jumped out of their seats. After a moment, the President motioned for
silence and he continued.
     "The Stargate." A white, projector screen dropped down from the
ceiling. An image of the Stargate was shown behind the president. "The
device itself was discovered in Egypt in 1928 where it lay buried for
several thousand years. In 1945, a team of scientists hoping to find a
military application for the device successfully established a stable
wormhole by a process of random dialing. It was, for all intents and
purposes, a lucky accident, which they were unable to repeat. The Gate
had remained inactive. Until, six years ago when this man, Doctor Daniel
Jackson, joined the program." Daniels image was shown to the entire
world. 
     "Doctor Jackson, an exceptionally gifted archaeologist, successfully
deciphered the symbols on the Gate allowing us to begin routine
exploration of alien worlds. Since that time, the United States Military
has visited literally hundreds of planets. Thousands more remain to be
explored."
     Men and women alike pushed their microphones as far as their limbs
could reach while shouting over the president for answers. The president
put up his hands placating, "Please, please, all will be explained if you
will let me finish."
     One by one, both men and women reluctantly took their places.
     Continuing the president said, "The Gate system was built by a much
older race called the Ancients and they have long since disappeared. 
     Where is this Stargate now? It is located in a Top Secret facility,
far removed from the public eye. I plan on touring this facility with a
small contingent of world leaders this week.
     "For the past few years, the United States Military's combined
services have fought the good fight and saved this world from destruction
several times over against alien aggressor's, but as witnessed today, the
Earth must rally together in order to defeat this formidable foe. We can
no longer be consumed by our petty differences, any longer. If Earth is
to survive, we the people of the Earth must work together in order to
defend this world.
     Now, it can be argued that if America had not ventured out of our
solar system, then we would not be at risk. Nothing can be further from
the truth. The Earth was living on borrowed time, and eventually we all
would have been at risk and unprepared.
     "On many of these habitable worlds, we have discovered transplanted
humans from Ancient Earth cultures, brought there by aliens that were
posing as their gods."
     The attention of the reporters was so rapt that a pin could have
dropped and seemed as a rather loud percussive instrument.
     "These aliens, known as the Goa'ould, came to our planet over ten
thousand years ago and kidnapped many thousands of primitive humans and
seeded the galaxy with them.
     I realize that destroys all modern archaeology theory about the
Egyptian culture being only five thousand years old, but we now have
proof that these events happened over ten thousand years ago. The cover
stone found over the Stargate was carbon dated to ten thousand years. The
Air Force employed a few select archaeologists in order to decipher the
gate, but several hit dead ends. That is why the Air Force sought out
Doctor Daniel Jackson. Doctor Jackson had been laughed out academia for
his more radical theories, such as the pyramids being landing platforms
for aliens. Doctor Jackson was right in all of his theories, and has been
instrumental to the Stargate program. Without his help, we would not
understand the Goa'ould's language, which turns out to be ancient
Egyptian.
     The Goa'ould is a predatory species. They will enslave a planet or
in the face of resistance simply wipe out its inhabitants. They do not
negotiate. Our Stargate Teams, which we commonly refer to as "SG" teams,
have witnessed Goa'ould attacks on several worlds. Their standard
procedure is to begin with a long-range assault launched from orbit
designed to take out planetary defenses and instill fear in the
population. Once they've completed their orbital assault, they'll then be
free to move in for tactical strikes against any remaining ground
position. After that the Goa'ould put their troops on the ground. Each
mothership is capable of carrying hundreds, if not thousands of warriors.
     The Goa'ould's compliments of warriors are genetically created super
men called Jaffa. These altered humans, though resembling humans greatly,
are actually physically stronger than a normal human male, by the order
of at least two. Superior strength, perfect health, and an extended life
make the Jaffa a formidable enemy.
     What do these aliens want? Obviously they want the total subjugation
of the human race, or its destruction. These aliens do not negotiate.
There will be no quarter given. Our only choice is to fight for our
survival.
     The attack on downtown Atlanta and in New York this morning was from
another race of machine like aliens that has only recently been
discovered.
     The glider or saucer shaped fighters seen today around the United
States Eastern Seaboard were from another alien race known as the Cylons,
now under control of the Goa'ould. This race of machine engineered
warriors is bent on the total destruction of mankind.
     Why would the Cylon's be bent on the total destruction of mankind?
It is due to the fact, that we of the Earth are not the first humans the
Cylon's have come across.
     A lost tribe of humanity was nearly wiped out by them many years
ago. The Cylons had committed near genocide against this lost tribe of
humanity. After these peoples Holocaust, they did the only thing that
came to mind. With limited fuel, food, and other supplies they carried
the remnants of their people in tightly packed space ships and headed
toward their only hope on a planet called Earth. These brethren of ours
had occupied twelve worlds in a single star system for nearly seven
thousand of our years, until the Cylons over ran them. In a single day
these Colonials as they call themselves lost everything. While Earth's
various civilizations were throwing spears at each other, these people
were traveling the stars.
     As we speak, a rag-tag fugitive fleet of nearly two-hundred space
ships are enroute to Earth."
     Several reporters began throwing questions at him. The President
motioned for silence and reluctantly the press complied.
     "We have met hostile alien races its true, but we have also made
allies of several alien races, including advanced humans. One of these
alien races, the Asguard, is from a different galaxy all together, but
with their help, Earth was added to the protected planets treaty, between
the Goa'ould and the Asguard. Only now, we have learned that the Goa'ould
intend on circumventing the treaty by use of these Cylons now under their
control."
     Pausing a moment he plunged forward, "As we speak, our allies who
have infiltrated the Goa'ould ranks have notified us that a fleet
comprising of one hundred Goa'ould battleships are being prepared to
travel to Earth. The Goa'ould intend on implicating a minor Goa'ould as
the leader of the Cylons and they will then attack Earth. The Goa'ould
System Lords are required by the statutes of the Protected Planets treaty
to stop this rogue force. However, their true intention is to carry on a
massive battle on Earth and leave it wasted. Unfortunately, due to a
conflict in their home galaxy, the Asguard are not currently available to
help us. We will continue trying to reach them."
     The crowd erupted in fevered conversation with shouting questions at
the President. Once more the President asked the press to hold their
questions till the end.
     "It was only a matter of time before the Earth was found by either
of these deadly enemies that have recently attacked us. Several years
ago, the Earth would have been defenseless, but now she is nearly ready
to be defended with these new technologies, and by our brothers from the
stars. 
     During the years that the Stargate has been in operation we've
acquired a working knowledge of certain alien technologies. We've tried
to adapt those technologies for our own uses. Towards that end, two years
ago we developed a hybrid fighter interceptor known as the X301." The
X-301 image was displayed behind the president.
     "It was a combination of human technology and parts from two
salvaged Goa'ould death gliders. Unfortunately the prototype failed to
live up to expectations.
     After the failure of the X301 we began to concentrate on creating an
entirely man made craft, with similar ability. The result was the X302."
The F-302 image was then displayed behind the president.
     "The Colonials and have graciously provided Earth with new
technologies that will enable Earth to repel both the Cylon and Goa'ould
forces."
     "All of these technologies, Goa'ould, Colonial, and human have been
meshed together in order for us to create a proper defense against our
mortal enemies. Unfortunately, we do not have time to build very many
brand new space ships from scratch. In order to mount an adequate defense
the United States along with our allies are forced to turn to more
radical ideas." 
     Pausing for emphasis the president to a deep breath and then began
again, "As we speak, many naval submarines, carriers, destroyers,
frigates, supply ships, and the smaller fighters are being hastily
converted into makeshift space ships. While these naval vessels are
certainly not entirely space worthy, a makeshift retrofit, with engines,
defense shields, Colonial weapons, and a new metal alloy eight times
denser than titanium will be fixed to the outer hulls, as well as key
structures. In addition, habitats inside will be fitted for crew
quarters, and working areas, and other incredible technologies. I know
that this sounds like science fiction, but I can assure you, these
emergency refits are a quick fix to our planet's defense, until an
entirely new group of space ships can be designed and built. In fact,
they are our only hope.
     We have already completed one space carrier, the USAF vessel,
Prometheus, with a second ship, the Daedelus, a newer, much larger war
ship already underway in construction and all blue prints will be shared
with this new coalition that we are creating with the international
community." The Prometheus image was displayed behind the president. 
     My staff will be contacting all major airline and car manufacturers
in the United States and Canada to begin a massive buildup of fighters
capable of aerial combat and space flight."
     Pausing, President Hayes smiled apologetically, "I realize this is a
lot to be thrown on the American people and the world, but it is high
time we all knew what we were dealing with. The entire world is going to
have to grow up and get over their petty differences. The threat is real.
The enemy is real. The Earth has less than ten months to build enough
ships to defend this planet.
     Together, we will stand united, and together we shall prevail. The
Earth is our home, and we will defend our planet from aggressors both
foreign and domestic. We did not ask for this fight, but we will make the
Goa'ould and Cylons regret ever attacking the good people of the Earth!"
     Cheers rang out throughout the audience of media as they realized
hope was real.
     "I have requested an immediate meeting with the United Nations this
afternoon and intend on discussing the tactical situation and technology
disbursement further."
     "Please remain calm. I have approved emergency wartime spending bill
that will put a hold on many other programs throughout the government.
The entire resources of this country will be put to the test. There is
nothing we can do except prepare and prepare we shall. 
     In order to prevent widespread panic, I am declaring Martial Law and
suspending all civilian flights in the United States for one week. A
nationwide curfew is in effect as of this moment. All looters will be
dealt with in the strictest punishment available. All active duty
military, reserve, and National Guard are ordered to report immediately
for active duty, in order to patrol the streets and maintain law and
order throughout all major cities and key industries."
     "The best thing for everyone to do is go about your daily routines,
until seven pm, when the curfew begins." 
     "Thank you and God Bless the Earth."
     Then the president opened the floor for questions.
     Chaos reigned in the heart of the world for the next seven days.
Within five minutes of the Presidents broadcast, over fifty thousand car
accidents were cited around the globe. Seventeen thousand suicides were
recorded on the first day, with half that number on the second day, and
less than two thousand the third day. Mass panic surrounded the general
populace of all major cities. Governments in several countries, following
the U.S. example declared martial law and banned all fights international
and domestic before nightfall.
     The news channels around the world broadcasted clips of the
president's speeches and commented on the days ahead. Several countries
leaderships also broadcasted their support to the new coalition and
assured their citizens that everything that could be done would be done.
Endless debates that created more questions were the norm of the day. The
President and his administration were both condemned and praised for
their actions with the Stargate Program.
     By the evening news, controlled footage of the Stargate program had
been released, starting with a "hero" video made not long ago, a tribute
to the Stargate Program. By eleven pm, footage of the Stargate
activation, entry and receiving of personnel had been broadcast around
the world, and generic information on the races, both friendly and
unfriendly. Several pictures and video of alien worlds were released in
tightly controlled segments.
     The president addressed the United Nations in New York that night. A
special session lasting over six hours were held. With the Presidents
encouragement, each nation vowed their allegiance to this new coalition
and world threat. Although the dialogue would continue for several days,
the preliminary suggestion and bylaws of this new coalition suggested by
President Hayes were accepted and would be formalized in the days ahead.
President Hayes was inwardly amazed that a group like the United Nations,
whom were renowned for not agreeing on most items, had actually supported
his proposal. Hayes could only chalk the unprecedented coordination due
to the United States as lead and other nation's unswerving support such
as Great Britain, Russia, Chinese, and French governments. In addition,
having a plan and having advanced technology to share was also an added
bonus.

Baltar's Cylon Base Ship

     Baltar/Demios contacted Heru'Ur "My lord, The attack was a success.
The Tau'ri put up token resistance and the Cylon force penetrated their
meager defenses. As expected, the Tau'ri now has begun building battle
ships with their Colonial brethren's help. They are attempting to build a
sensor net throughout their home system, but it is doubtful they will be
able to defend against even a handful of ships."
     "What about the shield technology?" Heru'Ur was most anxious to find
out if the stolen technology would be reverse engineered.
     "They have correctly deciphered the information. Readings from the
battle with the Al-Kesh show shields were active on the Tau'ri battle
ship. It is not a powerful as Goa'ould Ha'Tak vessel, but still
formidable. It is most likely that the Tau'ri and their never ending
curiosity will correct these deficiencies. They are an ingenious
species."
     Heru'Ur slammed his fists on a console. "Curse them! They are
vermin! We will crush the Tau'ri underfoot" Heru'Ur could already feel
the blame of the System Lords and their wrath, if they found out he were
to blame for the Tau'ri obtaining shield technology. "Stay just outside
of scanner range. Monitor the Tau'ri. Report all spacecraft."
     "By your command."
     Heru'Ur spat rather nastily, "I told you not to say that!"
     Baltar/Demios smiled arrogantly, "A thousand pardons my lord. My
host has many memories."
     "See that you learn to keep your host memories in the past, or you
will become the past yourself!"
     Baltar bowed lightly, mockingly to his System Lord, "Yes, my lord."
Already Baltar/Demios schemed on how to turn Heru'Ur's plan into his
gain.

USAF Prometheus

     The Prometheus limped to orbit of the Earth. It took nearly a week
to get partial sublight engines online. The damage was extensive
throughout the tiny warship. An extensive refit would be required. That
was time the Earth did not have.
     As the Ship entered a high orbit Colonel Ronson sighed heavily.
Ronson's first and last space ship. Losing his command while saving Earth
had never been his idea of "how it would end". He heaved a weary sigh. A
lengthy debrief with the Pentagon and the final notification from General
Ryan, the Air Force Chief of Staff, notifying him that he had lost his
command.
     General Ryan assured Ronson that his contributions would not be
forgotten and that he had just a vital assignment, if not as glamorous. A
new war college on space combat tactics would be his new arena.
     Ronson had considered retiring, but General Ryan would not hear of
it. In a few minutes he was expected to be relieved from duty by the new
captain of the Prometheus, Colonel Pendergast.
     Major Erin Gant interrupted his musings, "Colonel, we are receiving
a transmission from the surface, it's Vandenberg."
     Vandenberg was the authority for Space Command arm of the Air Force
that granted departure and entry for their one and only space vessel.
     "Put it on speakers."
     "Prometheus, this is Vandenberg, over?"
     Ronson looked at Gant for a moment, she nodded her silent assent
ensuring two way transmission to the surface of the planet was active.
"Vandenberg, this is Prometheus. We are in high orbit and awaiting
instructions, over."
     "Prometheus, you are cleared to land..."
     Major Delouise interrupted the conversation, "Colonel, A large ship
has just exited a hyperspace window, three hundred miles and closing."
     Ronson nodded, "Vandenberg, standby, we have a situation here, out."
     Turning to face Delouise, "Can you identify it?"
     "Not receiving IFF transmission."
     Ronson gripped his chair firmly, "Put it onscreen, maximum
resolution, standby shields and weapon systems."
     Gant decided against reminding Ronson that the only working
offensive system was the rail guns. She fiddled with some controls and an
image on a display directly in front of Ronson and above the view ports
showed a ship. "It's Asguard, sir."
     "Major Gant, open a channel to the Asguard ship. Lower shields and
take the weapons systems offline."
     "Yes sir."
     Momentarily an image on the large fifty-two inch built-in, flat
screen monitor flickered then solidified into the rather odd looking
form, known as the Asguard.
     Gray skin covered a diminutive figure, with a rather large head and
bulbous round eyes.
     "Greetings, I am Thor, Supreme Commander of the Asguard Fleet,
aboard the Asguard Flagship, O'Neill, to whom am I speaking?"
     Ronson had never met a non-human alien before and licked his lips,
suddenly feeling dry. Silently, he wondered why they would name a ship
after a human. We must have impressed them more than we imagined. Putting
those thoughts aside, he said, "Welcome to Earth Supreme Commander, I am
Colonel William Ronson, of the Air Force Vessel Prometheus."
     Ever proper Thor responded, "Thank you Colonel Ronson. Where is
Colonel O'Neill if I might ask?"
     Ronson did not readily anticipate that, "Colonel O'Neil is assigned
to the SGC and unavailable at this time. Sir, we have recently been
attacked by." 
     Thor cut him off, "One moment Colonel." Thor turned to his left and
spoke in what Ronson presumed was the Asguard language. A moment later a
flash of intensely bright white light filled the bridge of the
Prometheus. When the light died Jack, Daniel, Teal'c, and Sam stood
facing out toward the view ports. Jacks arms fell to his sides and he
turned his head, left and right without turning his body. A bewildered
look plastered on his face.
     "Greetings O'Neill."
     Jack looked toward the monitor, to his left, and behind him. Daniel,
Teal'c, and Sam stood in a row to his right and left. "Jack?" Daniel
nodded to Jack. Jack nodded back non-chalantly, "Daniel." Daniel looked
downward at Jack's torso, and then nodded again. Looking downward, Jack's
countenance turned red as he fiddled with something unseen. A zipping
sound could be heard throughout the bridge. 
     O'Neill, slightly red faced, hurriedly turned to face Thor on the
screen and walked toward it, "Thor, buddy. Ugh, you wanna warn me next
time you do that?"
     Another bright flash and Thor materialized on the bridge directly in
front of Jack, sitting in an oversized chair. He got up and stood in
front of O'Neill.
     "It has been some time, O'Neill. I owe you all a debt of gratitude
for rescuing me from my Goa'ould captors."
     "Ah..." Jack said, and then dismissed Thor's debt.
     Thor had been captured by Anubis and his original cloned body was
destroyed. His mind was uploaded into Anubis ship and with Sam's help had
downloaded it for the Asguard to place in another clone body.
     Jack tried lightening things up asked, "Hey, I thought you were
going for the new body?"
     Without any emotion Thor said, "I did."
     Jack blanched at that, trying to recover and he said blankly, "It's
nice, look we're in a bit of a mess here. We had been trying to contact
you for weeks."
     "My apologies O'Neill the Asguard have been consumed in the war with
the replicators."
     Jack nodded, 'That's what we figured. How did you know we were in
trouble?" 
     Thor, "The Asguard monitor all hyperspace activity in the vicinity
of Earth. We have been tracking movements in your star system since you
left orbit."
     "That was not us. Ya see, it's those damn Goa'ould." Jack quickly
brought Thor up to speed. "So, can you help us out here?"
     Thor shook his head no, "If fact, it is we who need your help. The
Asguard homeworld has been overrun by the replicators. We have need of
both you and your ship."
     O'Neill sighed, "Are you serious?"
     "Very." Thor sighed.
     "This ship you need? This brand new ship?"
     "Yes."
     "Thor, this ship is nothing compared to Asguard ships."
     Sam interrupted, "I think that's the point, Sir. The more low-tech
the better."
     "That is correct Major Carter." Thor said.
     Daniel stepped forward, "Certainly defies conventional wisdom."
     "Mine too." Jack deadpanned.
     Thor interrupted, "The Replicators will not wish to integrate such
vastly inferior technology into their own."
     "Then... what?" Jack asked hesitantly.
     "A task for which you are uniquely suited."
     Unconvinced Jack said, "You need someone dumb enough." 
     "On the contrary, it is both your physical prowess and military
expertise that are required."
     "Yeah, don't get me wrong, flattery goes a long way with me, but if
you're going where I think you're going with this...."
     Thor interrupted, "When it became clear to the Asguard High Council
that the war with the replicators could not be won, a plan was devised,
and a trap was set. One made possible by you."
     Sam frowned, "By us?"
     "The android Reese that you discovered and provided to us for study
retained a single core command in her base programming which we believed
all Replicators would still follow."
     Reese the android had been found deactivated on a world with lush
vegetation, but not a single sentient life form. The android had been
taken back to the SGC for study and reactivated. Reese did not know she
was a machine and believed she herself was the daughter of a man on her
home planet. Later, SG-1 and the base found out that she could replicate
anything through her hands, including the bane of the Asguard's home
galaxy, the replicators.
     Either by extreme age, corrupt programming, or guilt at having
destroyed her own planet's human residents. Reese was mentally unstable
and what had been a cute toy turned into the most devastating plague upon
the universe. The replications only function was to replicate. After
destroying the android the SGC gave the body to the Asguard in hopes of
finding an answer to their current no win scenario with the replicators.
     "Then you were able to reactivate her?" Sam asked.
     "No. The android was damaged beyond repair. However, the key command
was activated within her neural network, amplified and broadcast through
subspace throughout the known universe."
     Sam's insatiable curiosity got the best of her, "What was the
command?"
     "To come forth."
     Daniel's eyebrows rose in shock, "You instructed every Replicator
out there to come to you."
     Jack frowned, "I have a theory why you lost the war."
     Non-plussed Thor added, "The command was only given once the trap
was set."
     "What was the trap?" Daniel asked.
     "A time dilation device generating a field radius of point one six
light years."
     "Wow. That's some trap."
     Sam turned to Jack, "They created a bubble in space around the
Replicators within which time was slowed down by a factor of..."
     "Ten to the fourth power." Thor announced.
     "Relatively speaking Sir, one year to the replicators would be about
ten thousand years to the rest of us. An hour would be over a year, a day
would be."
     "I get it." Jack said.
     "The point is, if the plan had worked it would have effectively
bottled the Replicators up in one place and bought the Asguard thousands
of years to solve the problem." Sam commented.
     "No the point is, it didn't work." Jack said.
     "O'Neill is correct. Our plan failed." Thor said.
     "What went wrong?" Daniel asked.
     "We do not know. The time dilation device was constructed within a
very old structure on Halla. The first planet settled by the Asguard. The
device was encased in a solid neutronium shell and set with a time delay
sufficient to evacuate our entire civilization."
     Daniel added, "Well however strong neutronium is, wouldn't the
Replicators be able to eat through it?"
     "Eventually, yes. But not in sufficient time before the device
activated. This calculation was made with considerable margin for error.
When the time came, nothing happened."
     Sam asked, "So somehow the Replicators must have gotten to the time
dilation device before it could activate."
     "That appears to be the only explanation." Thor said calmly.
     "So what do you want us to do?" Jack asked.
     "Fly your ship through Replicator dominated space, repair whatever
damage may have been done to the time dilation device and activate it
before the Replicators can stop you."
     Jack shook his head sadly, "Thor, buddy. There's no way."
     "The Replicators will soon consume all that they can within our home
galaxy. Yours will be next."
     "I thought we were too primitive to consume?"
     "Your technology would not immediately attract the Replicators but
they would eventually be drawn to the raw materials of which your
civilization is built. Your extinction will be assured."
     "For that matter, so would every other world we've visited. It's
just a matter of time."
     "Did all of the Asguard manage to escape?" Daniel asked concerned.
     "Most, but not all. A great battle was fought. The evacuation fleet
is standing by in the void between our two galaxies awaiting to hear word
of your response."
     "My response?" Jack asked.
     "We have done all that we can and failed O'Neill. You and your team
represent are our last hope."
     Jack turned for a moment and huffed, "Yeah, great. So no pressure,
right? Look we have our own problems here; the Cylons and Goa'ould are
going to wipe us out in a few months. We need every ship we got."
     "If you have in fact made your decision not to undertake this task,
I will inform the council." Thor said.
     "Just give me a minute here, okay?" Said Jack.
     "Are you reconsidering O'Neill?" Teal'c asked.
     "I'm considering re-considering."
     Thor added, "Once you have helped the Asguard rid the galaxy of the
replicators once and for all, the Asguard will help you in turn."
     Jack paused, then pointed his index finger at Thor accusingly,
"Look, if we do this you owe us big time."
     Thor tilted his head, "What are you asking O'Neill?"
     "Look, Earth is about one step away from getting its butt kicked,
and you are asking us to use the only ship we got so far to help your
little grey butts. We want Asguard technology in all of the ships we
make, from now on."
     Sam's eyebrows raised in amazement. She saw an opportunity to be
quite specific, "That includes shields, and weapons, communications,
navigation, propulsion, transporters, all star charts and information the
Asguard have collected in this galaxy."
     Thor raised his hairless eyebrows, "What you ask for is difficult."
     Jack began, "Hey! If we're going to save your little grey butts and
two different galaxies then you owe us..."
     Thor interrupted him, "I will address the High Council, but I
believe I can convince them to do what you ask, but we will require
something from you as well."
     "Such as?" Jack asked.
     "For such a trade of technology a great responsibility will be
placed on your shoulders. Your planet will be responsible for ensuring
the safety of all of the protected planets in this galaxy."
     "All? What are you kidding?" Jack asked incredulous.
     "No." Thor deadpanned.
     Jack shrugged non-committal, "We'll work something out."
     Sam frowned, "Sir, you can't commit the whole planet to being
peacekeepers throughout the galaxy!"
     "I haven't said yes yet." Jack deadpanned.
     "But you are reconsidering." Thor commented.
     "I'm leaning in the general direction."
     Thor walked back to his chair and pushed a button and the Prometheus
moved away from Earth.
     "Hey, what are you doing?" Jack asked.
     "We're leaving the solar system." Sam piped in.
     Jack put one knee on the deck of the bridge and peered at Thor, eye
to eye.
     "Thor, little fella. It's not the way it works. It's not my ship.
It's not up to me."
     "The journey to our home galaxy will take many hours with your
vessel in tow. You may consult your superiors en route."
     "What about the Prometheus, she was severely damaged by the Cylons
and we don't have the supplies for such a trip." Ronson finally spoke up.
     Thor turned to Ronson and said, "Your ship is being repaired as we
speak and will be ready by the time we arrive. All the provisions you
need have been beamed aboard from the Stargate Command."
     Jack was stunned, "I hope you did the paperwork?"

     Inside the SGC, Senior Master Sergeant Walter Harriman listened to
audio of the aborted conversation of Vandenberg Air Force Base and the
Prometheus. Unsure of what was transpiring Walter decided to contact
General Hammond when the base alarm went off and red lights flashed
throughout the base. "Oh! Hell!" he said, as General Hammond raced down
the stairs, "Sergeant what's happening?"
     "Sir, I was about to call you, the Prometheus just dropped radio
communications with Vandenberg, reporting a new situation. Then the line
went dead."
     The phone rang and Walter answered it.
     Master Sergeant Siler came running in, "Sir! I can't explain it Sir.
It's like everything in the armory just disappeared. P90's, SPAZ 12's,
SAWs, claymores. Everything!"
     Walter interrupted, "Sir. We have just received reports that half
the food stores went missing at the same time and the uniform locker
clothing was emptied. Also, several reports came from the dining facility
that Major Carter, Doctor Jackson, and Teal'c vanished into thin air as
well. And Colonel O'Neill..."
     "What about Colonel O'Neill?"
     Walter raised his eyebrows and huffed, "An airmen reports Colonel
O'Neill disappeared while using the...ugh...you know."
     Hammond was nearly speechless but somehow took control of his
faculties, "You're certain the Stargate's been inactive?
     "Yes sir." Walter nodded.
     Hammond raised his hands up in frustration, "What in God's name is
happening?
     An eerie sound accompanied by Jack's appearance as a hologram.
"Hello, sir. Siler, how you doing?"
     "Colonel! It's good to see you alive and well. We were concerned
with all the disappearance on the base."
     "No sir, we're all fine."
     "So what is going on, Colonel?"
     "The Asguard showed up, sir."
     "Will they help us with the invasion?"
     "Actually it kinda looks like we'll be coming to their rescue, sir.
     "Does that have anything to do with the supplies and equipment that
are disappearing from all over my base?"
     "Yes sir. Sufficed to say, you might want to get upstairs and punch
one on the old speed dial."
     "My grandchildren?" Hammond asked incredulous.
     O'Neil frowned, "Two then. I think the President might want to know
what the Asguard have in mind for our new ship."
     The trip did not go as planned, but with help from newly evolved
human form replicators, SG-1 activated the time dilation device leaving
the replicators to their prison, and bought the Asguard many years to
solve the problem.
     The actions of SG-1 and the Prometheus directly changed the
percentages of a final battle with the Goa'ould System Lords into
something more reasonable.
     Armed with the Asguard's help, the Prometheus, Daedelus and other
ships manufactured on Earth were upgraded to Asguard designed shields,
intergalactic communications, Colonial Particle weapons were upgraded to
higher power levels. The Asguard removed the Colonial hyperdrive and in
record time installed their version that was superior to the Goa'ould.
Per the agreement with the Asguard, all navigation and propulsion were
upgraded as well.
     Although these modifications made the Tau'ri formidable against the
Goa'ould, the Asguard ensured the technology given to Earth were inferior
to theirs, ensuring Earth would never turn against them.
     When the Asguard were approached about helping convert the older
naval vessels into viable space platforms for the upcoming fight the
Asguard were thrown off balance.
     Hermiod, one of the two Asguard engineers turned his head shaking it
vigorously, speaking his native language in fast, sharp guttural comments
and then left the room leaving no doubt to what he thought of the idea.
     The remaining Asguard, Brage stood still blinking, "Forgive my
counterpart, Hermiod is not known for his tact with lesser developed
races." 
     "What did he say?" 
     Brage turned in the direction his counterpart had left, then turned
back, "He...merely expressed concerns over the idea."
     The representatives once again looked at each other in understanding
Brage's covering for his peer, "So will you help us?"
     "You want the Asguard to convert inferior sea going vessels into
space ships?" His incredulity seeped into his words.
     "Yes." The United Nations representative said.
     A pregnant pause preceded the Asguard's comments, "Why?" He asked at
the sheer lunacy of the idea.
     The two human representatives looked at each other for what they
believed was the obvious, "We will be fighting for the survival of this
planet and we need every ship we can get."
     "Why not focus on building your X-304, Daedelus class vessels?"
     "We would if there were more time. Again, we need the ships."
     "This is foolhardy at best. You realize these ships will be vastly
inferior to your already technological gap with the Goa'ould? You would
be throwing away the lives of the people that serve on them."
     Uncertain the lead representative nodded sheepishly, "Look we know
it's a long shot, but some ships are better than no ships."
     The other representative took his hand out of his pocket and held it
up in the air, palm up, pleadingly, "Look, we know it's crazy, but our
race won't stand by worrying about trying to defend this planet with a
handful of ships. It's not our way to wait for the end, we have to do
something. At least we might buy more time during the upcoming war."
     Brage looked on incredulously and finally commented, "Thor was right
about you humans." Concluding he said, "It is no wonder that you have
become the "Fifth Race."
     "The "Fifth Race?"
     Brage began, "There was once an alliance of four great races in the
galaxy; the Asgard, the Nox, the Furlings, and the Ancients, the builders
of the Stargates. The alliance was built over many millennia. With the
actions of SG-1 and your people's assistance in the past, you have earned
both the trust and gratitude of the Asguard, to have become the fifth
race."
     Speechless, the two representatives mumbled a "Th-th-Thank you."
     Brage nodded and turned to leave, "We will help you." And just
before Brage left the room he said, "And you are welcome."
     Back on Earth...Events unfold...
     Recent Headlines  around the world...
     Several leaders of the world were "ringed" up to the Prometheus on
live television, as a demonstration in the new alien technology employed.
     Young men and women in many of these countries lined up at their
local armed forces recruiting offices that night, staying there until
that morning. Many recruiters around the world would be busy for several
months with the new volunteers. An interesting note, several thousand
sci-fi fans around the world, showed up at their armed forces recruiters'
line in full "uniform" of their favorite science fiction movie or
television show. After seeing their dreams come true about intergalactic
travel, a sort of euphoric joy set their mood. In every case, all
individuals were politely, but firmly asked to leave and come back later
in something the recruiters could take serious. A few of the more
die-hard fans stood mortified that their long dream crumbled before their
eyes, not comprehending why they should change out of standard uniform's
of their respective genre.
     None of the new recruits were told that only a small percentage of
their peers would ever see space travel prior to the war. These new
recruits would attend abbreviated training and replace vital positions of
those men and women already trained and working in their respective
careers. Those personnel being replaced in their sea going billets would
then be transferred to an abbreviated class of their own, receiving vital
space borne training on the modified naval ships, and what many would
later refer to as the "Widow Maker" class space ships.
     Interestingly enough, historians would later record that several
million women became pregnant in the first week of the presidents speech.
Some attributed the information to mass hysteria and people trying to
comfort one another, while others decided it was nature's way of ensuring
survivability of the human race.
     Many therapists and psychologists would be gainfully employed for
many years, whereas the pharmaceutical companies made record sales in
prescription tranquilizers and similar medications. In fact, such a
demand for these said medications increased the prices to a record all
time high.
     In ten days following President Hayes historical speech, the world
as a whole overcame its initial shock and began with a unified effort to
build new space ships and convert older sea going vessels into space
platforms. As with all political situations, some countries requested an
independent committee be sent to some of these Goa'ould worlds to
negotiate for peace.
     President Hayes was concerned that momentum for the armament of
Earth would be stalled. In that light, he authorized the release of stock
footage of several incidents of Goa'ould infestation, such as Major
Kawalsky of Stargate Command becoming infected and the ending death of
the airman.
     Similar video were released of Hathor, Apophis, and other missions
were video had been obtained showing Goa'ould interaction.
     People around the world were incensed with a near state of panic at
the release of the video released by America and the Air Force.
     The same stalwart blowhards that initiated the bureaucracy were
visibly fazed but demanded further proof, but at least the ridiculous
notion of peace with the Goa'ould was put aside for the moment.
     At President Hayes suggestion to the United Nations, a small
delegation of representatives was transported via Stargate to twelve
worlds on a fact finding mission. These worlds had been either liberated
or reduced to a paltry population by the Goa'ould at one time or other.
The residents of these planets readily testified to the fact of the
Goa'ould menace and willingly showed the results of Goa'ould oppression.
     In a month's time, the representatives' of the fact finding mission
released their full report to the United Nations Assembly and the world.
Their trip had been videotaped and these members readily testified and
corroborated President Hayes remarks and conclusions. In fact, much
praise had been given to the Air Force and the other military services in
their valor for fighting against superior foes and their weapons.
     The end result had been better than President Hayes could have
believed; the collective force of an entire planet lent its talents with
a renewed vigor to the protection of Earth.
     Whereas in typical democratic societies protestors rallied for their
"cause" of peace with the Goa'ould, unconvinced that anyone could be so
destructive. In fact, to prove their point of peace a few civic minded
people drove their car's which were packed with stolen c-4 explosives
into international hotels around the world. The death toll was in the
hundreds. To the radical protestor's dismay, their vivid display of
violence did not bring about reform or peace. Instead it instigated a
massive man hunt on several continents where these radical groups
operated. After the majority of these radicals were arrested and charged
in world courts for crimes against humanity the individuals were
sentenced to death or life imprisonment.
     A monument was ordered created for the initial spots that the Cylons
attacked Atlanta and New York City. A large memorial service was held and
a candlelight vigil.
     Inwardly, Hayes worried that this unification came too late.
Although Hayes had not been a praying man, he found himself fervently
letting out a prayer several times a day for intervention and deliverance
of the human race.
     War had a way of bringing out the best and worst of people. There
was an old saying in the military about war, "There are no atheists in
foxholes". Often time's war either drove people to either drink or to
pray.
     Although Hayes considered him neutral to many issues of the right
wing populace, he truly prayed that Earth would survive this conflict for
the American population to have differences of opinion continue.
     Only time would tell whether or not this unification came in time or
not.
     Several Colonial contingents became instant media "stars" as they
described their journey after the holocaust from the Cylon Alliance.
These individuals had been transported to Earth through the Stargate.
     Unknown to the mainstream population, a new terrorist organization
was formed. Unlike the misguided attempts of the other groups for peace
through violence, its one mission was to disrupt this new union of world
leaders. Their unified beliefs were that world coherence and unification,
even to the level suggested by the President would prove...disruptive to
their less than lawful business transactions. Their tactics was simple,
cause as much confusion, terrorism and mayhem as possible, preventing
world unity.
     This new group called themselves, "The Anti-Unification Coalition",
their belief was that a concentrated world government would not only
prevent or endanger their well established illegal trade, but also end
democracy as we know it.
     Unlike their radical Islamic counterparts willing to murder anyone,
these people were from well educated backgrounds and with near unlimited
resources. Their infiltration of many world agencies began immediately.
The recruitment of like minded individuals throughout many countries made
their infiltration all the easier.
     
Battlestar Galactica

     Aboard the Battlestar Galactica, Commander Cain and Commander Apollo
sat on the couch in Apollo's Office
     "Apollo, we are way ahead of schedule, Thanks to the Asguard towing
our ships on our present course we should arrive on Earth, in a sectar,
month, or, Oh! Hade's Hole, whatever they call it!"
     Apollo grinned, "It's called a month."
     Cain shrugged, "I don't care what it's called, why can't the
Thirteenth Tribe use our measurements?"
     Apollo shook his head, "We are settling their planet, not the other
way around. Besides, some of our measurements will be adapted to theirs,
such as engineering terms. Both sides are giving here."
     Cain frowned, "Oh! All right, a week then. Frak! I liked it better
when things were simple, back during the war, we knew who the enemy was
and we simply pulled a trigger." He huffed.
     Apollo shrugged, "Cain, we lost that war, and if our people are
going to settle on Earth, we need to be adaptable, blend in."
     Cain smirked, "Uh, huh." He pointed upward, "You think the reverse
is true when we park a fleet of battlestars and other ships in orbit of a
planet where the majority of it's inhabitants still believe their
greatest feat was putting a man on their moon?" Crossing his arms in
victory Can sat back down on the couch across from Apollo.
     Apollo sobered at that, "I don't know. Hopefully we can reassure the
people of Earth that we are their brothers and mean them no harm."
     Cain looked at Apollo as if studying a child. Finally he replied,
"Do you believe that the Delphian's felt that way when the Cylon's fleet
took up orbit around their planet?" Cain referred to the now extinct race
that was slaughtered by the Cylons.
     Apollo frowned, "Cain, what happened to the Delphian Empire was
tragic, but hardly the same situation applies here. We are human and as
such, Earth should at least listen to what we have to say first." He was
cut off by Apollo.
     "Apollo, listen to yourself! You sound like a na‹ve cadet entering
his first orbit! Earth is in for hard days ahead. We could be worse than
the Cylons."
     Apollo frowned openly, "Why would you say something like that. We
have no wish to harm our brothers?"
     Cain shook his head in disbelief, "These Earthers, for lack of a
better term, on the vast whole, have never heard of aliens, intergalactic
travel, nor do they even have civilian ships that can travel to their
nearest planet! We are going to scare the pogee's out of them! Their will
be wide spread panic, probable suicides, looting! We are putting way to
much pressure on these people."
     Then more gently, "Apollo, these people may be the Thirteenth
Colony, but somewhere along the way they lost all of their technology,
their ancestry, and more. While the colonies were fighting interstellar
war with the Cylons, these people were still living in wooden homes and
centuries away from discovering electricity. They are simply not ready
for this burden."
     Apollo inquired, "What do you propose we do?"
     Cain stood up again and began pacing, "I suggest we move the fleet
into orbit around the fourth planet, Mars, I believe they call it. We
already have a barebones base setup there. We could send a delegation in
a non-military vessel, say the Rising Star."
     Apollo frowned, "O.k.  That solves the military aspect, what about
this "Mars"? It can not support life if I remember correctly?"
     Cain shrugged, "True, but it does have an atmosphere. We could set
up a domed structure and give our people something to do, say build
atmospheric processors, heaters, and more. We could transform the fourth
planet into a new Colony, say in twenty yahren or so."
     Apollo frowned, "I don't know, Cain, we risk further isolating
ourselves and could setup a planetary rivalry, and what about water? The
planet has very little frozen ice and that at it's poles?"
     Cain looked questioningly, "Doesn't one of the outer-rim planets
have a moon made up entirely of ice? We could mine the moon for all the
planet needs. You know, setup trade shipments and star system commerce.
In less than five yahren, we could have a planet with all the water we
need."
     Apollo considered that, "It could also provide a place for ship
building away from prying eyes."
     Cain smiled, "That's the spirit!"
     "Cain, Mars can be a great shipyard and outpost, but Earth is our
destination. You and I both know that is where we are supposed to
integrate our tribes."
     Cain got up and paced around, "Oh! Hade's hole, Apollo! I liked it
better when you were a Captain." 
     Apollo ignored that statement and grinned, "I believe Mar's can be
valuable, but Earth is our primary goal. Mars is a great place for our
collective militaries to setup a permanent base and we could build quite
a ship construction site in orbit, not to mention an ammo depot. Hmmn.
Mars could become quite valuable. Tell you what, I'll bring this up with
Earth's representatives in the UN."

Battlestar Galactica, Celestial Dome

     Hera and Bryan sat in the Celestial Dome holding hands. The silence
was ever-present, but neither minded, as they sat contentedly in each
others presence.
     Hera broke the silence, "Babe, what are we going to do when you have
to go back to Earth?"
     Bryan tensed, he had asked himself that very question and still had
no answer. "I don't know."
     Hera turned to him, "Don't you think we should start thinking about
it?"
     Bryan was becoming uncomfortable where this was going, "I guess."
     Put off, Hera was a little irritated, "You guess? You don't know for
sure, if we should talk about this?"
     Bryan tried to console her, "Look, I don't know what's going to
happen, anymore than you do. Let's just wait it out."
     As a woman, that was not the answer that she was looking for. "Is
that how important our relationship is to you?"
     Bryan sighed, "Look, I don't know what to do, o.k. If I try to stay
here, they'll court marshal me, o.k.? We're on borrowed time as it is."
     Hera was not about to give this up, "Is that the level of commitment
that Earth men have?"
     Bryan knew where this argument was going from the beginning but
still could not stop it, "Hera, what do you want me to say? If I were to
get out of the military at the end of my enlistment, then the Air Force
would not let me get within a mile of the Stargate. How do you propose we
circumvent that little problem?"
     Hera huffed, "Bryan, well be on Earth in a sectan, ugh, week, so we
can do anything we want."
     Bryan was flustered, "So, the impending Cylon/Goa'ould invasion will
wait so we can be together?"
     Hera got angrily, "Bryan, what do you want from this relationship?"
     It was a simple question, but like all men undecided and forced into
the conversation he did the only thing he could in order to prolong the
inevitable, "Oh! Crap!" He looked down at his watch, "I'm late for the
nineteen hundred briefing with Major Davis."
     Hera looked at her own chronometer, "You'll have to do better than
that, you have at least a centaur before you have to be there."
     Bryan's shoulders sagged in defeat, "Hera, you know I love you, but
I can't make a commitment while you and I live in literally two
completely different worlds. The impending invasion is reason enough to
leave things as they are."
     Hera shook her head, "It's the reason that we should hold on to what
we have. I don't want to go into a final conflict not knowing where we
stand. I am not trying to pressure you, but if you believe in "us" then
you're going to have to make some decisions."
     Bryan muttered, "As long as there is no pressure."
     Hera hit Bryan in the shoulder, "Look! I am not asking to get sealed
or anything, but if you love me the way you say you do, and then it
should not be a problem or something to think about."
     Bryan looked down to the floor and said nothing.
     Hera looked on in shock as she realized that Bryan was not sure. She
got up and said, "Tell you what, when you know what you want, let me
know." She started to leave the room, grabbed ahold of the hatch to crawl
down the ladder and added, "Jerk."
     "At least she's getting the idioms right." With that she stormed out
of the Celestrial dome with a pair of Ear Protection around her ears.
     Bryan called after her, but the hearing protection was state of the
art and she heard nothing as she made her way through the engine
compartment of the great battlestar.
     Bryan muttered to himself, "Hera! Wait! Here we go again!"
     He chased her all the through the bowels of the engine section,
until they reached an area where they could remove their ear plugs. She
was quicker than he, and he ended up chasing her into an open section of
the Galactica. 
     It was crowded and Bryan had to jump up and down several times to
make sure he could see Hera. With a frustration that was bottling up for
a long while he forced his way through the crowd until he reached her.
     He wove his way through the crows and yelled, "Hera! Wait! Look,
your right!" 
     Hera turned sharply and started to say something when Bryan did the
only thing he could think of, he took her in his arms and kissed her
passionately. 
     Quite a crowd gathered around them, including Starbuck.
     When he released her, Bryan simply got down on one knee. The crowd
of onlookers was puzzled at Bryan getting down on one knee. Most already
knew whom Bryan was and wondered at the odd Earth custom.
     Pulling a small box from his pocket, for he was still wearing the
Colonial uniform as part of the "Warrior Exchange Program", he lifted the
lid of the diminutive, rounded rectangular, black felted box.
     Hera raised an eyebrow quizzically, "What are you doing? Why are you
kneeling on the deck?"
     Bryan put his finger up to mouth and winked to her he said, "Shhh.
This is a primitive Earth custom."
     Hera frowned perceptively, looking around the crowds faces, looking
totally embarrassed by her boyfriend, "You're out of your mind."
     "Hera, from the moment I saw you I knew you were special, but I
never knew that I could love someone with all of my heart."
     Hera looked sheepishly around the crowd the beamed conspiratorial
smiles, wondering where this was going, "Your Frakked, you know that?"
     Bryan ignored that comment and said, "Hera, words can not tell you
how much I love you, but I want to demonstrate that love now. Will you
marry me?" Bryan opened the diminutive box, revealing a diamond solitaire
ring.
     The entire crowd gasped at the strange Earth custom that Bryan was
performing. They had never seen this type of pre-sealing ritual before,
but the crowd was caught up in the scene, as demonstrated by the crowd's
sounds of awe.
     Hera stopped in mid thought, not quite believing what she was seeing
and hearing, "I, I, don't know what to say."
     Bryan shrugged, smiling, "Yes, you do."
     Hera allowed a single tear to form on the outer fringes of her left
eye. Instead of saying yes she nodded sharply, fearing any words would
make her cry in front of everyone. Instead she enthusiastically jumped
into Bryan's arms, and kissed him. 
     When they paused for a breath Hera asked Bryan, "Where in the fleet
did you get a ring?"
     "I got it from one of the ladies whom went TDY with us. She's
married and had it with her."
     Hera frowned looking at her ring, "You mean I have to give it back?"
     "Nah, she has an anniversary coming up and her husband promised to
upgrade it. .Its yours to keep."
     A few of the women whom their significant others were with them
turned and smiled deviously.
     Those young men turned ashen in color, inwardly cursing Bryan for
starting a new custom they had no idea about.
     Starbuck had seen the entire scene smiled a little to himself as he
moved away from the crowd, putting an unlit fumerello into his mouth he
muttered, "Nice going kid. Welcome to the family."

White House

     The President held his meeting in the White House. The door opened
and all small talk and questions about what the meeting could be about
ended abruptly. As the President entered the room he uncharacteristically
sidestepped shaking hands, except the men and women in his direct line
toward his chair. 
     Briskly President Hayes moved toward his seat and sat down, while
everyone else seated themselves. "Ladies and gentleman, welcome to the
White House, this meeting is being taped for historic and legal purposes.
As I am sure everyone in this room knows, our planet is in immediate
danger. Now, to that end several initiatives will be implemented
immediately. As a politician, I try to always keep my options open. As
the President, I am now being forced to commit political suicide, in
order to ensure my grandchildren and yours have a chance to live out
their lives in peace.
     That being said, let me be frank, talks have been underway for the
last week with leaders of the United Nations. Let me tell you, these
talks could go well into the next century, however, we do not have that
long. Every country is trying to get their hands on this new technology
as quickly as possible. The only thing that this bunch of snakes can
agree on is that the Islamic countries and North Korea will end up
getting squat out of this deal. Let's face it; we are looking at an oil
embargo from the entire Middle-East and terrorist attacks. It's going to
hit the fan and the Arab's only having one serious card to play, oil
embargo to the rest of the world."
     The president's words began to sink in, but before anyone could
interrupt the president continued. 
     "The Arab nations will withhold the lifeblood of this world during a
time of planetary crisis. Gentlemen, the leaders of the free world will
not allow this planet to be destroyed nor will we allow the Islamic world
to have weapons of mass destruction and interstellar space flight. 
     As of now, with Congressional approval, I am invoking a Presidential
Order that all American automobile and oil industries must submit all new
technologies that will enhance fuel efficiency of every vehicle to at
least one hundred miles per gallon. Without this measure, our economy
would collapse, and our oil reserves would be depleted in no time at all.
We need breathing room till new Colonial power sources can be mass
produced and rid ourselves of our dependency on oil."
     Bob Martin, the CEO of Shell Oil Corporation stood up and addressed
the president, "What! That is outrageous! This is unlawful and you know
it! This meeting is over!" Planning to leave the CEO hastily left his
chair and made it exactly three feet from the desk.
     Several people began to mutter and discuss the president's comments
as if the president was not sitting in the same room. 
     Without pause, President Hayes slammed the table rather loudly;
silencing everyone in the room he continued, "These technologies will be
placed into mass production in thirty days. Just to let you know how
serious this matter is; any companies CEO's, presidents, and executive
staff's who do not willingly release this information will be immediately
arrested and charged with treason. That's how serious this is. There will
be no court appeals, no legal delays. This is happening, get over it."
     A woman the president did not recognize raised her hand, "Mister
President, with all due respect, you expect us to go along with this?
You'll be impeached."
     "Miss?"
     "Connie Sullivan, Exxon CEO."
     "Miss Sullivan, Congress was unanimous with my proposal. The
survival of the whole planet is at stake, and you people are worried
about making a buck?"
     "Mister President!" The Shell CEO seethed in anger, "You'll bankrupt
this country."
     "Bob, let me put it to you this way, you people have blackmailed the
world long enough with your price gouging and stranglehold on this
world's only power source. This planet is about to be consumed by a
destructive force that makes all of the wars that mankind has fought look
like a kindergarten sand box fight and you people are worried about
losing your beach houses in Maui?"
     "Mister President, I strongly suggest you reconsider." Bob Martin
reeled in anger. 
     "Mister Martin, my decision is final. Don't test me on this. We have
less than ten months to prepare, we don't have time with corporate
bullying, their lobbyists, or their delay tactics." President Hayes said.
     Bob Martin walked over to the President screaming, "You will not get
away with this! I promise you that, Mister President. I will make sure
you lose any credibility with the public and..."
     The president looked over to his Secret Service guard, whom was
standing in the corner of the room. The Secret Service Agent made his way
over with a speed that shocked everyone in the room. Placing his hand on
Bob Martin, "Sir, I strongly suggest you sit down." Bob forgot himself
and shrugged the agent's arm off his shoulder, "Get your hands off of
me." The agent expertly grabbed the CEO's arm and pinned it behind his
back until the CEO was sufficiently cowed. Bob sucked in sharp breaths
and winced from the pain of his folded arm.
     "That's enough Drew, thank you. Now Bob, if you would please be
seated will wrap this meeting up."
     "Every company in this room has one week to forward all technical
data to the government. Then the immediate mass production of these
devices is to be implemented. You can make a buck off the sales of these
devices. In addition, I am currently freezing all gas prices in America
to protect the economy and public from price gouging till the crisis is
over."
     Then apologetically, "Ladies and Gentleman, I deeply regret placing
this burden upon you but there is no way we can give these aggressor
nations this advanced technology. I wish my term did not end this way,
but I intend on this nation." Then he corrected, "This planet surviving.
Oh! You can file all the law suits you want, but Congress has ratified my
bill and it's signed off. Any corporation who does not have all, and I
mean all technical data and reports on my desk by noon next week will be
immediately arrested and detained till after this crisis is over. That's
a little less than a year from now. We are at war for the survival of the
very human race. Now is not the time for greed. Don't test me on this."
With that the president walked out, while the room went into pandemonium.

Battlestar Galactica, Celestial Dome

     Hera and Bryan sat in the Celestial dome holding hands. The silence
was ever-present, but neither minded, as they sat contentedly in each
others presence.
     Hera broke the silence, "Babe, what are we going to do when you have
to go back to Earth?"
     Bryan tensed, he had asked himself that very question and still had
no answer. "I don't know."
     Hera turned to him, "Don't you think we should start thinking about
it?"
     Bryan was becoming uncomfortable where this was going, "I guess."
     Put off, Hera was a little irritated, "You guess? You don't know for
sure, if we should talk about this?"
     Bryan tried to console her, "Look, I don't know what's going to
happen, anymore than you do. Let's just wait it out."
     As a woman, that was not the answer that she was looking for. "Is
that how important our relationship is to you?"
     Bryan sighed, "Look, I don't know what to do, o.k. If I try to stay
here, they'll court marshal me, o.k.? We're on borrowed time as it is."
     Hera was not about to give this up, "Is that the level of commitment
that Earth men have?"
     Bryan knew where this argument was going from the beginning but
still could not stop it, "Hera, what do you want me to say? If I were to
get out of the military at the end of my enlistment, then the Air Force
would not let me get within a mile of the Stargate. How do you propose we
circumvent that little problem?"
     Hera huffed, "Bryan, well be on Earth in a sectan, ugh, week, so we
can do anything we want."
     Bryan was flustered, "So, the impending Cylon/Goa'ould invasion will
wait so we can be together?"
     Hera got angrily, "Bryan, what do you want from this relationship?"
     It was a simple question, but like all men undecided and forced into
the conversation he did the only thing he could in order to prolong the
inevitable, "Oh! Crap!" He looked down at his watch, "I'm late for the
nineteen hundred briefing with Major Davis."
     Hera looked at her own chronometer, "You'll have to do better than
that, you have at least a centaur before you have to be there."
     Bryan's shoulders sagged in defeat, "Hera, you know I love you, but
I can't make a commitment while you and I live in literally two
completely different worlds. The impending invasion is reason enough to
leave things as they are."
     Hera shook her head, "It's the reason that we should hold on to what
we have. I don't want to go into a final conflict not knowing where we
stand. I am not trying to pressure you, but if you believe in "us" then
your going to have to make some decisions."
     Bryan muttered, "As long as there is no pressure."
     Hera hit Bryan in the shoulder, "Look! I am not asking to get sealed
or anything, but if you love me the way you say you do, then it should
not be a problem or something to think about."
     Bryan looked down to the floor and said nothing.
     Hera looked on in shock as she realized that Bryan was not sure. She
got up and said, "Tell you what, when you know what you want, let me
know." Then more silently she said, "Jerk."
     "At least she's getting the idioms right." With that she stormed out
of the Celestrial dome with a pair of Ear Protection around her ears.
     Bryan called after her, but the hearing protection was state of the
art and she heard nothing as she made her way through the engine
compartment of the great battlestar.
     Bryan muttered to himself, "Hera! Wait! Here we go again!"
     He chased her all the through the bowels of the engine section,
until they reached an area where they could remove their ear plugs. She
was quicker than he, and he ended up chasing her through an open section
of the Galactica. 
     It was crowded and Bryan had to jump up and down several times to
make sure he could see Hera. With a frustration that was bottling up for
a long while he forced his way through the crowd until he reached her.
     "Hera! Wait! Look, your right!"
     Hera turned sharply and started to say something when Bryan did the
only thing he could think of, he took her in his arms and kissed her
passionately.
     When he released her, Bryan simply got down on one knee. Pulling a
small box from his pocket, for he was still wearing the Colonial uniform
as part of the "Warrior Exchange Program".
     Quite a crowd gathered around them, including Starbuck.
     Hera raised an eyebrow quizzically, "What are you doing? Why are you
kneeling on the deck?"
     Bryan put his finger up to mouth and winking to her he said, "Shhh.
This is a primitive Earth custom."
     Hera frowned perceptively and wondered, "You're out of your mind."
     "Hera, from the moment I saw you I knew you were special, but I
never knew that I could love someone with all of my heart."
     Hera began looking around at the attention her and Bryan were
receiving, "Your Frakked, you know that?"
     Bryan ignored that comment and said, "Hera, words can not tell you
how much I love you, but I want to demonstrate that love now. Will you
marry me?" Bryan opened the diminutive box, revealing a diamond solitaire
ring.
     The entire crowd gasped at the strange Earth custom that Bryan was
performing. They had never seen this type of pre-sealing ritual before,
but the crowd was caught up in the scene.
     Hera stopped in mid thought, not quite believing what she was seeing
and hearing, "I, I, don't know what to say."
     Bryan shrugged, "Yes, you do."
     Hera allowed a single tear to form on the outer fringes of her left
eye. Instead of saying yes she simply nodded enthusiastically and jumped
into Bryan's arms, kissing him. 
     When they paused for a breath Hera asked Bryan, "Where in the fleet
did you get that ring?"
     "I got it from one of the ladies whom went TDY with us. She's
married and had it with her."
     Hera frowned looking at her ring, "You mean I have to give it back?"
     "Nah, she has an anniversary coming up and her husband promised to
upgrade it. .Its yours to keep."
     Starbuck had seen the entire scene smiled a little to himself as he
moved away from the crowd, putting a fumerello into his mouth, "Nice
going kid. Welcome to the family."

White House

     The President held his meeting with the U.S. Oil Corporations CEOs'
in the White House conference room. The door opened and all small talk
and questions about what the meeting could be about ended abruptly. As
the President entered the room he uncharacteristically sidestepped
shaking hands, except the men and women in his direct line toward his
chair. 
     Briskly President Hayes moved toward his seat and sat down, while
everyone else seated themselves. "Ladies and gentleman, welcome to the
White House, this meeting is being taped for historic and legal purposes.
As I am sure everyone in this room knows, our planet is in immediate
danger. Now, to that end several initiatives will be implemented
immediately. As a politician, I try to always keep my options open. As
the President, I am now being forced to commit political suicide, in
order to ensure my grandchildren and yours have a chance to live out
their lives in peace.
     That being said, let me be frank, talks have been underway for the
last week with leaders of the United Nations. Let me tell you, these
talks could go well into the next century, however, we do not have that
long. Every country is trying to get their hands on this new technology
as quickly as possible. The only thing that this bunch of snakes can
agree on is that the Islamic countries and North Korea will end up
getting squat out of this deal. Let's face it; we are looking at an oil
embargo from the entire Middle-East and renewed terrorist attacks on a
grand scale. It's going to hit the fan and the Middle-Eastern countries
only having one serious card to play, oil embargo to the rest of the
world."
     The president's words began to sink in, but before anyone could
interrupt the president continued. 
     "The Middle-Eastern nations will withhold the lifeblood of this
world during a time of planetary crisis. Gentlemen, the leaders of the
free world will not allow this planet to be destroyed nor will we allow
the Middle-Eastern part of the world to have weapons of mass destruction
and interstellar space flight. That would be suicide to the rest of the
world.
     As of now, with Congressional approval, I am invoking a Presidential
Order that all American automobile and oil industries must submit all new
technologies that will enhance fuel efficiency of every vehicle to at
least one hundred miles per gallon. Without this measure, our economy
would collapse, and our oil reserves would be depleted in no time at all.
We need breathing room till new Colonial power sources can be mass
produced and rid ourselves of our dependency on oil."
     Bob Martin, the CEO of Shell Oil Corporation stood up and addressed
the president, "What! That is outrageous! This is unlawful and you know
it! This meeting is over!" Planning to leave the CEO hastily left his
chair and made it exactly three feet from the desk.
     Several people began to mutter and discuss the president's comments
as if the president was not sitting in the same room. 
     Without pause, President Hayes slammed the table with two hands,
palm down, loudly; silencing everyone in the room he continued, "These
technologies will be placed into mass production in thirty days. Just to
let you know how serious this matter is; any companies CEO's, presidents,
and executive staff's who do not willingly release this information will
be immediately arrested and charged with treason. That's how serious this
is. There will be no court appeals, no legal delays. This is happening,
get over it."
     A woman the president did not recognize raised her hand, "Mister
President, with all due respect, you expect us to go along with this?
You'll be impeached."
     "Miss?"
     "Connie Sullivan, Exxon-Mobil CEO."
     "Miss Sullivan, Congress was unanimous with my proposal. The
survival of the whole planet is at stake, and you people are worried
about making a buck?"
     "Mister President!" The Shell CEO seethed in anger, "You'll bankrupt
this country."
     "Bob, let me put it to you this way, you people have blackmailed the
world long enough with your price gouging and stranglehold on this
world's only power source. This planet is about to be consumed by a
destructive force that makes all of the wars that mankind has fought look
like a kindergarten sand box fight and you people are worried about
losing your beach houses in Maui?"
     "Mister President, I strongly suggest you reconsider." Bob Martin
reeled in anger. 
     "Mister Martin, my decision is final. Don't test me on this. We have
less than ten months to prepare, we don't have time with corporate
bullying, their lobbyists, or their delay tactics." President Hayes said.
     Connie Sullivan smiled patiently, "Mister President, what makes you
think any of us have developed any of this kind of technology?"
     Hayes turned to Connie and smiled at her as if talking to his
grandchildren, "Miss Sullivan, We know."  
     Connie swallowed hard to herself. She had no idea how the President
could have known about those experiments? Did he know that what he was
asking for was one of the original inventions that Exxon had developed
thirty years ago? What if he knew about their latest invention that
allowed vehicles over three thousand miles per tank of gasoline? They
would be ruined! "Maybe we could burn the building and..." She thought to
herself.
     Her thoughts were interrupted with Hayes continuing, "Oh! Don't get
any bright ideas about concealing those records, or burning down a vault,
claiming industrial espionage. We know who has what, so don't get cheap
on me." He winked in Connie's direction.
     Connie's eyes raised up and a chill ran down her back, but said
absolutely nothing.
     Bob Martin walked over to the President screaming, "You will not get
away with this! I promise you that, Mister President. I will make sure
you lose any credibility with the public and..."
     The president looked over to his Secret Service guard, whom was
standing in the corner of the room. The Secret Service Agent made his way
over with a speed that shocked everyone in the room. Placing his hand on
Bob Martin, "Sir, I strongly suggest you sit down." Bob forgot himself
and shrugged the agent's arm off his shoulder, "Get your hands off of
me." The agent expertly grabbed the CEO's arm and pinned it behind his
back until the CEO was sufficiently cowed. Bob sucked in sharp breaths
and winced from the pain of his folded arm.
     "That's enough Drew, thank you. Now Bob, if you would please be
seated will wrap this meeting up." He didn't wait for Bob to sit, but
continued his diatribe.
     "Every company in this room has one week to forward all technical
data to the government. Then the immediate mass production of these
devices is to be implemented. You can make a buck off the sales of these
devices. In addition, I am currently freezing all gas prices in America
to protect the economy and public from price gouging till the crisis is
over."
     He scanned the room, taking a quick moment to look these corporate
mongrels and was satisfied to see the utter dejection and defeat in most
of their eyes. He did note three whom still wore defiant smirks on their
faces and knew their answers.
     He grinned somewhat apologetically, "Ladies and Gentleman, I deeply
regret placing this burden upon you but there is no way we can give these
aggressor nations of the Middle-East this advanced technology. I wish my
term did not end this way, but I intend on this nation." Then he
corrected, "This planet surviving. 
     Oh! You can file all the law suits you want, but Congress has
ratified my bill and it's signed off, and the Supreme Court is well aware
of the circumstances, as well as the law. Any corporation who does not
have all, and I mean all technical data and reports on my desk by noon
next week will be immediately arrested and detained till after this
crisis is over. That's a little less than a year from now. We are at war
for the survival of the very human race. Now is not the time for greed.
Don't test me on this." With that the president walked out, while the
room went into pandemonium.

Afterwards

     The ACLU, automobile, and oil manufacturer filed multiple law suits
and requested injunctions from state and federal courts. With Earth's
survival hanging by a thread, the Federal Supreme Court threw out every
case sent to them and overruled all civil and state cases relating to the
matter.
     Around the world...
     The United Nations received formal protests from the Middle East and
North Korean countries regarding the withholding of superior technology.
These decisions were considered an outrage in each respective country,
and a holy jihad was declared, while North Korea moved many troops near
their DMZ in protest. 
     A concession was made, as always is the case with politicians. In
ten years, the Arab and North Korean countries would be allowed access to
certain technologies once a radical educational program was instituted
and free elections were given successfully for ten years. A coalition of
investigators and monitors would have one hundred percent free access to
all areas of civil and military society. All current leaders would step
down from power within the year. All royalty based monarchies in the
Middle-East were to step aside for free elections, and be treated as
England's monarchy. Essentially a powerless base of heirs maintained for
the value of their heritage.
     In addition, all previous members of ruling authority were forbidden
to run for any elected office for the rest of their lives, thus ensuring
the political norm were erased forever. Each country would have to spend
tens of millions of dollars to actively and radically reeducate the
average citizens on their individual responsibilities as citizens of the
Earth, which included the public assertion every day of the week, that
all hate crimes and terrorist attacks are made by cowards and enemies of
god. 
     All known terrorists were to be rounded up and accounted for, and
then detained indefinitely. All television, radio, internet, and
billboards would advertise sixty percent of their time to educating their
respective citizens in education, human rights, tolerance for the next
ten years, and then the advertisements could be dropped to thirty percent
for additional ten years, followed by twenty percent advertisements for
ten years. All classrooms and military would also radically receive new
text books and a special class on democracy, women's rights, and general
knowledge and work groups in every community. These and other initiatives
would be dramatically and aggressively supervised in order to help these
lesser, more violently prone countries step up and become equal with the
more advanced and civilized nations of the world.
     All of the Middle-East nations were outraged and shouted defiance
declaring to all the world how they would rape, murder, and pillage the
infidels for trying to make them act mature and responsible citizens of
the world.
     Many scenes on television had shown thousands of Middle-East men
jumping up and down, screaming profanities, and firing weapons in the air
at the outrage at the rest of the world. A unified coalition of the
Arabic nations prepared for a war.
     For all of the world's leaders, many failings, and inability to
agree on key issues its leaders had realized that giving Middle-Eastern
countries advanced technology was akin to giving a child a loaded weapon.
Despite numerous threats and what anyone in the civilized world would
consider verbal abuse, these Middle-Eastern Nations demands were not
heeded.
     In response, the Arab nations blockaded their own port cities and
began the immediate denial of oil to the free world. Having anticipated
this reaction, the President of the United States, leaders of England,
France, Russia, China, and Mexico opened up their oil reserves and the
new gas mileage extension technology. 
     In retaliation, a few terrorist cells tried to initiate a broad
terror program across the world. 
     An odd reaction to the worlds leaders had many Middle-Eastern
countries surrounding Israel, blaming their neighbors for everything. As
tension grew high in the armies surrounding Israel, fighting began
breaking out. President Hayes and the other world leaders decided that
wasting manpower on the Mid-Eastern conflict would be a waste of
manpower.
     Many cells were arrested before their hate crimes began. Two plans
were partially successful, however, a strong hand was used, and entire
planes were shot down rather than succumb to the terrorists demands. 
     In retaliation, the countries of America, Great Britain, France, and
Russia gave an ultimatum to all the Middle Eastern nations of the world,
police your own people with a heavy hand. Unheeded, the Middle Eastern
armies continued their escalation and also began unified terrorist
activity throughout the world.
     When terrorist acts continued, the world leaders utilized their
alien technology. Utilizing the Asguard transporters now installed in key
areas around the world, and space craft, the United States, Britain,
France, Russia, and China beamed all of the Middle Eastern countries
soldiers to a large arid part of a desert with nothing but water and
minimal food supplies that would provide enough resources for their
soldiers to trek two days in the desert, in order to cool their volatile
tempers. In addition, the hardware of all the combined armies, which
included tanks, helicopters, planes, vehicles, small and large weapons
were all beamed to Russia, where they were originally manufactured. The
Russian government readily accepted the hardware and sought to use them
as construction materials.
     The whole world was on the threshold of being destroyed and these
same nations that caused so much grief throughout the history of mankind
would have to finally grow up or their younger cousins were going to
force them too. No longer would the world allow the foolishness and
irresponsibility of these nations to be a plague upon the civilized
people of the world. The risk of these societies being isolated and left
behind economically and technologically should have been enough
incentive.
     After a mere six such coordinated and devastatingly efficient
beaming tactics on major military targets in Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq, and
Libya, the Middle-East regrouped as a whole and individual nations
reluctantly, one by one, agreed to the terms of the United Nations. Iran
was the last hold out lasting four years in embargo isolation and
numerous attempted retaliatory attacks. Iran's defiance of the United
Nations would lead to their country remaining in the dark ages of
barbaric society for years to come.
     For the first time in centuries, the Middle-Eastern countries began
taking responsibility for their hate filled propaganda bearing citizens.
Each Middle-Eastern country began a massive task force to eradicate from
within, the troublemakers of the world. Brother turned against brother as
rewards were set by their countries leaders to arrests all of the new
"Infidels". Those more reclusive trouble makers were located and beamed
to classified prison sites.
     A radical re-education program that dominated every aspect of
Middle-Eastern society to the point of ad nausea littered society. Every
idea of violence would be stripped. In fact in less than a century later,
a new renaissance of thought and philosophical ideas would be generated.
The radical restructure led to the Middle-Eastern countries abhorring
violence of any kind. A total role-reversal of philosophies would fill
the void of the previous hate filled barbarism and the Middle-East that
would later be known for the world's greatest pacifists and
humanitarians.
     Any religious leader that had been known to support terrorism was
arrested and replaced with a civilized counterpart.


     Elsewhere in the world: In typical American fashion, the "bleeding
heart liberals", such as ACLU and other similar groups voiced their
outrage at such barbarism on their fellow man. A call rang forth from the
minority of America for the President's Impeachment. Rallies and protests
were given little consideration and considered trivial and not very news
worthy, considering the imminent attack on Earth. The cry for impeachment
fell on deaf ears and ended with actual criticism from abroad to these
same narrow-minded fools.
     The president publicly challenged these liberals and President Hayes
was quoted, "Look, it's about time the Middle-East take responsibility
for their own people and stop these hate crimes at the source. I would
normally agree with those who oppose my actions, in regard to stripping
these nations of their ability to wage any significant warfare, but come
on people, the whole planet is about to be consumed in a war of biblical
proportions! We do not have time to for these third world countries to
dictate policy by allowing their own citizens to kill innocents. We have
work to do! It's time the world grew up and got over their petty
differences."
     The president was asked by a CNN reporter, "Mr. President, you are
taking an uncharacteristically bold stance, not seen in any other
president's term in the history of the United States, how do you think
this will affect re-election?"
     "I don't have the luxury of thinking about an election when the fate
of the entire world rests on whether or not we can mass produce alien
technology and train our people to use it. If my reelection is forfeited
because I made hard decisions, then so be it. Better to be alive and
enjoy retirement, then see my country, my planet burn. Ask me after the
Goa'ould and Cylons attack."
     Only three CEO's and presidents were arrested and charged with
treason, believing they could continue price gouging Americans and the
world with their over priced products. After seeing the futility of the
other corporations stall tactics, the other corporations readily
relinquished their technologies and after forming a consortium and agreed
which technology would be released. Of course, the oldest technology,
dating back to the late nineteen seventies was implemented. The newer
technologies that were far superior were kept in reserve for future
release. This older device was quickly retooled into modern
specifications and on many shelves and dealerships in a week and a half.
The device met the president's declaration and gave exactly one hundred
miles to the gallon on every vehicle manufactured in the last thirty
years. 
     Heavy marketing on television, radio, and internet hailed the newest
technology that war time could produce to an unknowing country. The
international market also snatched this product up and mass produced it. 
     Not surprisingly, Greenpeace and other known "naturalist"
organizations who were the staunchest supporter of the president,
publicly speaking. Now their only problem was how to figure out how to
get the President to stop global warming, and hunting seal and whales.
Their agendas were met with little enthusiasm.
     Almost as if Daniel Jackson had prophetically foretold to Commander
Apollo during their first meeting at Stargate Command, "By changing the
status quo and not depending on these other nations for oil, they become
obsolete and are pushed from the center of the world's attention. If they
hope to move into a new era with the rest of this planet, these nations
will be forced to police their own people and when money is involved,
people and nations change. When the worlds dependence on oil drops to an
all time low; these countries will do almost anything to maintain
relations, not too mention bring them in as an equal partner to the world
community. Things would have to change if they hope to be a part of what
Earth will develop into, or they risk losing out completely. Also with
the adaptation of your technology, Earths global economies will be open
to other opportunities that should stabilize the world market. "
     North Korea, besides Iran was the only country that refused the
worlds demands and verbally derided the entire world and threatened
nuclear fire upon all the enemies of North Korea. The North Korean
government declared that they would never accept the demands of the
world. 
     The North Korean government short sightedness caused a deeper
alienation from the outside world which caused their nations decline and
eventual fall. The last bastion of Communism would be overthrown by the
very people whom were oppressed for so very long. 

United Nations

     The United Nations began formal talks on the proposition of becoming
a united planet. The talks gained major enthusiasm and after months of
debate, decided that each nation would retain its leadership and
sovereignty. In light of the pending attack of aliens, the United Nations
would imitate the United States in a hierarchy role and government.
     Each nation would govern their respective lands and territory on
Earth, however, a new branch of world government would be formed from all
the participating countries of the United Nations. The formation of a
world governmental agency that was a part of the actual United Nations
would be formed. A president would be voted upon by the entire world, and
the president would be selected from within the UN leaders. This leader
would coordinate the "World Defense Force", but have no other authority
or jurisdiction over individual nations. The world president would have
unilateral powers, similar to the American President's office, but would
have no say over internal Earth Affairs. This new constitution would
ensure no world president would take over other countries. 
     In addition, two cabinets were formed, much like the Senators and
Congressman House of Representatives.  The respective individual leaders
could were part of the senatorial cabinet, while the UN Representatives
became the Congressman House of Representatives.
     It was decided that elections would be deferred until the Goa'ould
and Cylon crisis was over and that President Hayes of America would
preside over the World Defense Force as "World President" until proper
elections could be held, one year from now. In these elections each
country would have similar voting power as the United States Collegiate
Electoral voting ballets. Each country acted as a "state" with the number
of votes representing their number of votes.
     In any society people will disagree, but during a crisis, those
individuals out for political gain and power were alienated and silenced
by those more concerned with high priorities, such as survival of their
planet.

Time: Present

     Inside Cape Canerval, Florida, the mission control room for NASA was
filled to the brim with government officials, and military officers of
all respective branches. 
     Several  NASA Technicians studied the Central Board as final
preparations for take-off commenced.
     The president was holding his breath without noticing it. Realizing
his mistake, he exhaled as quietly as possible. He studied the Central
Board in Mission Control. The screens had been modified to allow for
multiple views of all of the spacecraft taking off simultaneously.
     The new space craft were several U.S. Navy ships that had been
hastily converted into viable space platforms. 
     Hermiod and Brage, the Asguard engineering representatives stood
near a high tech console, that stood at human height. Their diminutive
stature required an equivalent of a "step-stool" for them to reach the
controls.
     The President turned to Hermiod, already known as E.T's smart ass
cousin. In fact, many of his off hand comments and arrogance of all
things Asguard had fell upon stunned ears. Many humans that worked around
him often referred to him as an "ASSGuard."
     "Well Hermiod and Brage, this is it." Hayes said. 
     Brage nodded, but said nothing, while Hermiod looked at the
president, "Why you humans state the blatantly obvious is beyond my
superior Asguard intellect."
     The president trying to be diplomatic, "We like to
discuss...nevermind, I just wanted to say thank you to both of you for
all of your hard work."
     Brage nodded once again, "The Asguard are pleased to assist Earth
with it's defense, after all SG-1 has done to rid the universe of the
replicators, this is the least the Asguard could do."
     President Hayes smiled, he liked Brage, his thoughtful approach to
interacting made it easy to like him. Unlike his counterpart, Hermiod,
Brage was forthcoming and helpful and humble. "How does everything look?"
     Brage visually scanned his console, "All systems are within defined
parameters, or as you humans say, "We are good to go."
     Hermiod shook his head and spoke in his native language and ignored
the president.
     Hayes inclined his head forward, silently asking the unspoken
question.
     Brage frowned at Hermiod and then turned to face the president. If
Hayes had not spent some time with both of the Asguard he might have
missed Brage's embarrassment, "Like Hermiod, I have confidence in our
calculations. Many variables were calculated with a considerable amount
of margin for error. We are quite confident of an incident free launch of
all retrofitted vessels."
     Weakly smiling, Hayes could guess what Hermiod had really said.
Choosing to view the launch he turned toward the Mission Control screens
mounted on the front end of the room.
     The screens showed the ten separate naval launch sites.
     An Mission Control announcer asked, "All stations check in, go/no go
for launch."
     In response all the launch sites responded in sequence.
     Bremerton, Washington, "Go."
     Everett, Washington, "Go."
     Groton, Connecticut, "Go."
     Kings Bay, Georgia, "Go."
     Little Creek, Virginia, "Go."
     Mayport, Florida, "Go."
     Norfolk, Virginia, "Go."
     San Diego, California, "Go."
     Sasebo, Japan, "Go."
     Yokosuka, Japan, "Go."

     A Navy admiral gripped the back of a chair till his knuckles turned
white.
     "T minus one minute and counting."
     The vice president, standing beside his boss uttered in a brief
whisper, "Come on!"
     At the thirty second mark the Mission Controller continued, "T minus
thirty seconds and counting."
     Mission Control was all quiet except the electronic hum of computers
and its various machinery operating.
     "Commencing, auto ground launch of all ships." After a momentary
pause the unseen announcer continued, "Sequencer commencing."
     Collectively the room of politicians, military, and technicians
leaned forward, all their hopes and dreams. 
     Mission Control announced, "All ships, you are cleared for lift off.
     Simultaneous broadcast of all twenty ships were being played live.
     Instead of the usual fire and brimstone launch of the rather
primitive space shuttle launches, the ships silently raised off the
ground with unnatural ease.
     Hayes smiled, "Yes!" He turned to Brage whom nodded but said
nothing.
     Mission control reported, "All twenty vessels of the first wave are
airborne and are quickly gaining altitude, five hundred feet." A moment
later he reported, "One thousand feet."
     An exhale of breaths from the entire room could be heard, followed
by a collective cheer, with back slapping and congratulations following.
     The two Asguard looked at each other, shocked at the human's
behavior in what they considered a routine launch.
     Capsule Communicator, or Capcom was generally the only person who
would communicate directly with a manned space crew now. During much of
the U.S. manned space program, NASA felt it was important for all
communication with the astronauts in space to pass through a single
individual in the Mission Control Center. That role was designated the
capsule communicator or capcom and was typically filled by another
astronaut, often one of the backup crew members. For long duration
missions, there would be more than one capcom, each assigned to a
different shift team. After control of U.S. spaceflights moved to the
Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in the early 1960s, capcoms used the radio
call sign Houston.
     "This is Capcom Houston to all flights, we now have control, report
in."
     "Roger, Capcom, USS Columbus."
     "Affirmative, USS Houston" 
     "Capcom!" An urgent plea "This is..." an unidentifiable sound could
be heard in the background, by blaring alarms, "USS Stennis!"
     Everyone in Mission Control paused, all eyes turning to the screens.
Searching for any sign of distress. All twenty ships could be seen rising
into the air, sunlight filtering below, creating a halo around the top
portion of the ship.
     Static followed over Mission Control's speakers, "Equipment
malfunction! Mayday! Stabilizers failing! Losing attitude control..."
Orders were given in the background, "Helm! Emergency power!" Officer of
the day screamed, Another voice yelled, "Damage control teams to
thirteenth mid-deck! Seal off and inspect compartments two through twenty
four!"
     At the mention of the USS Stennis, a Nimitz-class a former,
nuclear-powered supercarrier the other radio check in's ceased.
     The ship shook visibly, listing to port, her bow dipped ten degrees.
The camera registered it all, an explosion from the port side flared
explosively, expelling metal and bodies alike.
     After another violent shaking, the ship broke in half separating the
forward part of the ship from the aft section. The two separate halves
fell toward the Earth at a height of two thousand feet.
     Hermiod spoke in a whisper, not consciously intending his words to
be carried throughout the room, "Oops." So quiet was the room that
Hermiods ill timed words might have well been broadcasted by a
spearkphone.
     President Hayes turned to Hermiod with a scowl, while Brage looked
up at Hayes, after scanning his instruments that were tied into all space
ships internal systems for monitoring. With an innocent and shocked
expression he announced, "Gravitic generator four was misaligned, the
misalignment caused an electrical fire and explosion. The explosion sent
an electro-magnetic pulse, resulting in a cascading failure of all
electronic equipment throughout the ship."
     After a moment of shocked revelation NASA technicians and
supervisors scrambled to respond to the catastrophe.
     Hayes yelled over the confusion, "What about the other ships!"
     "All other ships have reached orbit and are rendezvousing with the
Daedelus and Prometheus."
     "Abort the other launches! Have those other ships complete a level
by level visual inspection of all equipment." The president replied as
the Mission Controller quickly keyed his microphone.

     Tony Harris, CNN Anchor reported, "And good afternoon again,
everyone. I'm Tony Harris."
     "And I'm Betty Nguyen. We do continue our live breaking news
coverage of this deadly Naval Space Ship crash of the USS John Stennis in
Bremerton, Washington this morning."
     Harris began, "And on this busy news day, two kidnapped journalists
are free this morning in Gaza. Howard Kurtz is following those
developments. And our weather center is tracking hurricane gaining muscle
in the Caribbean."
     Nguyen took her que, "But with us now from the scene of this crash
that we've been telling you about -- some five thousand crew involved in
the crash, we understand one person did survive -- we want to go to an
area very near the scene of the crash. Susannah Frame with affiliate TV
station, KING5, joins us by phone. Susannah, what have you learned so far
as to what may have possibly caused one of this planets' newest orbital
defenders to go down?"
     Susannah Frame, a KING 5 investigative reporter face and upper torso
where pictured in a stock photo, off to the right of the screen, her
angelic carved face and beautiful white tooth smile belied the serious of
the disaster. 
     Her short cropped blond hair and blue eyes gave her a pixie-like
beauty, "The Department of Defense has been surprising close lipped about
this tragic event. Clearly it is too early to determine or even speculate
about a cause, but what we have heard from witnesses who have been out
here and from a news briefing that we have had, this retrofitted "Space
Carrier" for lack of a better term, apparently developed a problem,
whatever that problem was, was known immediately when this ship was
taking off. And the witnesses that I have spoken to this morning said
that they heard what sounded like a loud boom, an explosion of some sort,
and one man said that he saw a flash of light from over the bay on the
edge of the shipyard, followed by a lot of smoke. The ship then broke
into two separate pieces, near the center of the ship. Each half
plummeted over two thousand feet, the forward section has partially sunk
in the Naval Base's port, while the aft section landed some two thousand
feet from where it was docked, killing all warehouse workers inside. I've
also heard reports that when the first responders got on the scene that
this ship was engulfed in secondary explosions and smoke shrouded the
area; therefore, it is very difficult to get to the crew to check for
survivors. The ship was reported to be powered by ten miniature fusion
reactors, which for some reason did not detonate. If they had, most of
Bremerton would have been leveled."
     Now, I would like to mention, because it's happening right now, this
happened a little bit after eight o'clock this morning, and all air
traffic was stopped. And I just saw the first plane take off since this
first happened. So it does appear that air traffic is resuming, but right
now a terrible scene. 
     It is presumed that a total of five thousand crewmen and women have
died on this flight. One crewmember has been confirmed alive, but is in
critical condition right now at the Bremerton Naval Hospital. The
crewman's name has not yet been released."
     Harris interrupted, "OK, Michelle. Tony Harris with Betty this
morning. Just a -- just a quick question. Can you sort of set the scene
there for us? We understand the ship goes down shortly after eight a.m.
-- oh, about eight oh seven this morning. Describe the scene, what you
saw, what you saw happening around you when you arrived at the scene. 
     Susannah's voice responded quickly, "Certainly. I got here about
twenty five minutes after the ship went down, and when I arrived.."
     "Great." Tony remarked.
     Susannah continued, "The entire base was cordoned off by security
forces on base and local policemen. There were some ambulances that were
going down toward the port, but the ambulance traffic, sadly, did not
continue very long. And shortly after that was when the coroner's van
arrived, which was certainly our earliest indication within the first
hour after this happened that this was serious and that there was a near
total loss of life. 
     After that, steady flow of emergency vehicles, as far as out here on
the main road, they have now opened up two lanes of traffic. Most of the
emergency vehicles out on this road are now gone, but, sadly it's a lot
calmer, a testament to the lack of survivors."
     Tony nodded, "Yes."
     Susannah continued on as if she had not been interrupted, "And early
on, a big rush, and now it's just sort of a calm after the storm, so to
speak. All base personnel have stopped their duties and are now out here
helping and they are, I'm told, setting up a temporary morgue in a
warehouse."
     Tony grimaced, "Oh boy, I'm hearing what appears to be -- what
sounds like wind in the area, which makes me think about the weather
conditions at the time of the crash. What can you tell us on that?" 
     Susannah's voice continued, "Actually this morning, just a little
bit of a breeze, a little bit of wind. But this morning, around the time
of the crash, there was some rain. Our meteorologist at KING5 said that
there was nothing severe in the area. So, from looking at our weather
map, nothing severe that would indicate that weather would have been a
problem.
     Tony continued his line of questions, "Any -- any evidence that the
--  this could have been the more radical terrorist attack? 
     Susannah immediately responded, "I do not believe there is any
evidence to point to foul play at this time. It is far more likely that
these emergency refits had some design flaw that had been overlooked. The
new space carriers sport four type of engines, a series of nodes for
anti-gravity vertical take off and landing, sublight thrusters for
navigating space, emergency thrusters, and a massive hyperspace
generator. It is far more likely that one of these systems failed during
lift off. Of course, until an official statement is released..."
     The broadcast dolled on for another hour, till an official statement
by the White House.
     Later that day, the Anti-Unification Coalition claimed
responsibility for the destruction of the USS Stennis and claimed their
would be more terrorist attacks as long as the world maintained unity.


     "This is Jim Levy, live for CNN." The newly hired CNN reporter from
the original alien incursion and attack on downtown Atlanta spoke from
the deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72).
     "I am aboard the newly refurbished, USS Abraham Lincoln, one of
Earth's newest Naval Space Carriers. As you can see the bridge has been
encapsulated in a transparent bubble courtesy of the Colonial
Government." He turned to an African looking male in middle age.
"Standing with me is Major Boomer, did I say that correctly?"
     The ebony viper pilot nodded solemnly to Jim and faced, albeit
hesitantly the camera, "That's correct."
     "Despite Major Boomer's Earth like appearance, he is in fact a
Colonial Viper Pilot from the Battlestar Galactica, the Colonial version
of the USS Lincoln. He is here as part of an advanced group, in an
advisor role on space warfare tactics with the newly formed fleet."
     "Tell me Major Boomer, how does it feel to have finally reached
Earth?"
     "Relieved, but like all of our brothers on Earth, I wish we could
have met under different circumstances."
     "And how does it feel to be aboard one of Earth's newest Space
Carriers?"
     Boomer grimaced slightly, "Ugh, fine, fine."
     "You seem to be reluctant, is their something you would like to
share? Perhaps..." He was interrupted by Starbuck whom came just into
camera view.
     "I think I can speak for Boomer when I say, being in this rickety
tin can you call a space ship scares the hades out of me!" He finished
with putting a cigar into the corner of his mouth.
     Boomer's eyes went wide and glared at Starbuck.
     Jim Levy chuckled, "For those who have not had the pleasure of
meeting Major Boomers colleague, this is the recently promoted Major
Starbuck. Incidentally, it was Major Starbuck, a highly decorated fighter
pilot in Blue Squadron whom is credited with first contact with Earth,
quite an honor after his people searching for our fair planet. Tell me
Major Starbuck, anything else you would like to add?"
     Boomer stuck his hand out to stop Starbuck but it was pushed aside
as Starbuck took center view on screen, "Yeah, once this war is over, I'm
going to sue that coffee business for stealing my name!"
     Several chuckles could be heard throughout the bridge.
     Starbuck was flustered, "If I hear one more joke about my name..."
     Jim Levy actually smiled broadly, "Ugh, of course, what I meant was
any more comments on the up coming battle with the Cylons and Goa'ould."
     "Yeah, we're gonna kick the pogee's out of them!" Someone off screen
could be heard mumbling something and Starbuck smiled, "Crap...yeah,
we're gonna kick the crap out of those tin cans and gallmonging snake
heads." Turning to the camera Starbuck smiled widely, showing his pearly
white teeth, "And you can quote me on it!"
     Boomer put his hand to his forehead and massaged a building
headache.
     Heru'Ur's Flagship

     From outside the solar system, Heru'Ur smiled arrogantly. A person
entered the bridge, "Well, what do you think of my little surprise?"
     Heru'Ur's smile dropped into a flat line, "It is adequate." Turning
he faced down his peer, Baal, a rather tricky and brilliant Goa'ould.
     "Adequate? My, my your jealous at my obvious ingenuity."
     Heru'Ur frowned, "Bah! You over exaggerate your contribution."
     Baal frowned, "Perhaps, or perhaps your lack of ingenuity shows how
inept you are to lead this little foray against the Tau'ri?"
     Heru'Ur frowned, looking to his left and right, his converted Cylon
Centurions stood ever ready to deal with his enemies. "Careful, you are
not what you once were." Indicating the Cylons in front of him.
     Baal smiled and dismissed the Centurions with a batting of his hand,
"You mean these mechanical monstrosities? Your right."
     Heru'Ur did not like when Baal agreed with him. Baal for his part
kept an honest enough countenance on his face. Placing his hands behind
his back he paced in small circles. "Your right." He began again. "Your
are quite well protected. In fact, these, what did you call them?"
Pausing for emphasis he smiled, "Oh! Yes, Cylons, I do recall. Yes, they
are interesting, if a bit primitive. I rather thought a Goa'ould of even
your character would have had...shall we say...a little more
sophistication. In fact, I don't believe you ever told the other System
Lords how you acquired them."
     Heru'Ur distinctly did not like where Baal's conversation was going.
He knew an imminent threat and challenge would be forthcoming, but he
could not ascertain its origin. Taking care not to tip his hand, his
right thumb touched the golden metallic hand device on the same hand. "I
care not for your questions. Speak clearly or leave."
     Baal smiled devilishly, "Or what?"
     Heru'Ur cursed in Goa'ould, "I tire of this...."
     Baal reached behind him with his right hand, and produced a four
inch sphere, bronze in color and ornate, "Yes, so do I." With no further
ado Baal waved his left hand in a counterclockwise circular motion. The
device glowed briefly.
     Tensing for the attack, Heru'Ur was momentarily confused, "What is
the meaning of this? Centurions!"
     Baal smiled widely, "Yes, Centurions, take Lord Heru'Ur and jettison
him into space."
     Heru'Ur smiled, "They only take commands from me!"
     Two Centurions stepped forward "By your command." Passing Baal they
grabbed a surprised Heru'Ur by his arms immobilizing him. "Stop! I
command it!" He turned incredulously to Baal, not quite asking how but
definitely wondered how this treachery could have happened.
     Baal tilted his head, "Did you think no one would find the frequency
these machines operated on? Unlike you, I placed encrypted security
measures to prevent the other System Lords from doing the same to me. You
always were rather short sighted." Then he dramatically he extended his
arms in a swaying motion, directing the Cylons to move.
     "Wait! I..."
     "Oh! Come now! Show some self-respect for yourself at least. Don't
go out sniveling like a mere human. Be confident, I will make our
conquest of the Tau'ri homeworld quite significant and without your
sloppiness."
     "Noooooo!" Heru'Ur screamed his eyes wide open with real fear.

     Outside Heru'Ur's own TelTac battleship, airlock doors opened and a
person could be seen forcibly blown out of the airlock, hands and arms
flailing for an all too short period of time. Heru'Ur body floated in
exaggerated arcs away from his very own fleet. His eyes flashed briefly
as all his orifices exploded a bloody residue and then his body was
still, except for a few spastic reflexes, then nothing. Nothing at all
remained of the son of Ra and Hathor.

     Baal smiled to himself and asked no one in particular, "Now, where
were we. Ah, yes." Reaching a communications console he contacted one of
the other ships, Baltar/Demios sat upon his command chair in the same
command chamber he had for nearly twenty-five yahren, "Where is Lord
Heru'Ur?"
     Baal smiled, "The former Lord Heru'Ur has met with an untimely
accident, and a corridor decompressed. Unfortunately, we were unable to
recover the body to put into a sarcophagus for revival."
     Demio's eyes sparkled with a momentary glee, "How...unfortunate."
     Baal smiled, thinking to himself, "I can use this one." Then out
loud he spoke, "I am your master now."
     Demios dipped his head in a bow, "What are your orders, my Lord?"
     "Prepare to move in and attack the Tau'ri fleet, then Earth!"
     "By your command." Demios intoned seriously.
     Baal inclined his head questioningly, frowning imperceptibly,
thinking another moment he concluded, "I like it. It has a novelty to it.
You may continue to use it." The view screen darkened.
     Turning to face the view screen he examined an extended view of the
Tau'ri Solar System. "Ah! I do so love getting a head start on my day."
With a spring in his step he turned around and moved around the flight
console, then sat down on the throne chair at the back of the room.
Commanding his new Jaffa, "Prepare to move the fleet in."

Earth's Moon

     On the moon, several Colonial and Earth humans worked in new, slim
Colonial designed space suits. The round the clock pre-fab base was one
of four sites located at the North, South, East, and West positions of
the moon housing the now famous Ravishol Pulsar weapon. 
     The base stretched over a mile in length, however, the actual living
quarters and offices were less than one thousand feet long, six stories
high, and five hundred fifty feet wide. The buildings were actually
created in the impact crater of the moon that looked like metallic boils
on the surface. The Ravishol Pulsar was located in the center of the dome
and was as long as the crater was deep. A giant metal tube surrounded the
lens projection of the cannon allowing for airtight facilities inside the
facility. An iris like canopy was closed for the moment, but once fully
opened, the cannon was capable of a forty degree arc for firing
solutions.
     For over six months, over ten thousand crews from six different
nations worked tirelessly to build what the Colonials called the
"Ravishol Pulsar" Cannon.
     The cannon centered in a half mile crater and eventually would be
disguised as a natural crater. In the mean time it was a flurry of
activity and equipment. Four such pulsars were being constructed in order
to cover as many directions as possible. Each time one of the cannons
fired, the power systems for these devices easily outpaced all energy
consumption of the entire Earth since the beginning of electrical power
generation in the last century to present. 
     In fact, the power consumption was so great that a team of R&D
specialists, headed by Canadian scientist, Doctor Rodney McKay had built
four independent master naquadah generators. Unlike their diminutive
first generation generator's, these units easily stood forty three feet
high and boasted of one pound of weapons grade refined naquadah. The
reactor power was so great it was measured in terahertz. In order to
prevent destruction of even one of these units, potentially setting off
the naquadah, which would have destroyed much of the moon causing
ecological disaster for Earth. In the unlikely event that such an
occurrence happened, a core ejection system was created. In such an
emergency, an actual hyperspace generator was built into the unit. Once
activated, the device generated a window around the massive naquadah
generator and transported it to just beyond the solar system, preventing
destruction of the moon.
     A large shadow loomed overhead the northern pole, the newly
commissioned BC-304, commonly known as the USAF Daedelus. The ship named
after the architect and engineer Daedelus of Ancient Greek mythology was
one of several 304's built by several governments over the past several
months.
     Colonel Steven Caldwell, commander of the Daedelus sat sternly in
his command chair. His nearly bald pate, trim physique and perpetual
no-nonsense scowl made him an intimidating figure. 
     The Daedelus (BC-304) is the first starship to be produced of the
Daedelus class of battle cruisers. Advanced alien technology, such as
Asguard shields, an intergalactic hyperdrive engine, navigation, sublight
propulsion, hyper-rail guns weapon systems, and transmission beaming
technology, was incorporated from the start. 
     The Daedelus had notable physical differences from the Prometheus
class vessel. The Daedelus sported a sleeker design, without the large
aft tower and three additional engine emplacements on each side, making
the rearmost part of the ship wider than the Prometheus. Capable of
reaching ninety five percent of the speed of light using sub-light
engines, where as the hyperdrive had no speed limitation, but rather was
limited in speed by the amount of power the ship could pour into the
device.
     Interesting to note that the large square structure on the ship's
bow, sports the navigational deflector for micro-meteoroids and housed
the inertia dampeners, negating the negative effects that inertia had on
matter. Both systems tied directly into the main power source of the
Daedelus. In emergencies or at the Captain or engineering officer's
direction the four fusion reactors can be rerouted to support minimal
power. 
     The F-302 bays are located on both sides of the ship, below and out
from the main hull along the rear.
     The Daedelus was designed more as a multi-role carrier/battlecruiser
providing defensive and offensive capability. Both twin hangar bays of
the BC-304 carried a total of sixteen F-302 fighters and the capability
for over four hundred soldiers. Its designers and the Pentagon hoped it
capable of standing up to multiple Goa'ould mother ships. The ship was
designed to provide fire support in a space combat situation, capable of
trading shots with the largest Goa'ould spacecraft. 
     The primary armament used by the Daedelus was her Twin Pulse Plasma
Beam cannons which were first generation Asguard beam weapons. Much more
compact than either Colonial or Goa'ould weapons technology, however
quite ineffectual when compared to modern Asguard weapon systems. The
Daedelus secondary weapons system is a missile complement which is fired
using a vertical launch system with all her missile emplacements
appearing at the bow of the ship, and finally several rail guns stationed
strategically around the ship that delivered uranium depleted rounds at
speeds of over Mach Five. 
     In addition to numerous Mark IV nuclear warheads, the Daedelus
carried a full compliment of modified naquadah enhanced nuclear-armed
missile used by the armed forces of the United States. This modified
advanced missile included tiny RCS thrusters and a Colonial designed
engine system that could threaten Death Gliders and Goa'ould Mother ships
with impudence. Topping off this awesome hardware is a refined naquadah
enhanced warhead, making this particular weapon lethal either in
conventional weaponry or nuclear form. 
     A new hybrid addition to all missiles in the Tau'ri arsenal sported
an ingenious new technology being labeled as shield discrimators,
developed by a joint effort of Major Carter and R&D at Area 51. These new
devices would be able to bypass the shield technology of the Goa'ould.
The shield discriminators were capable of detecting variances in
subatomic particle acceleration noticeable in Earth's new shield
technology, the missiles sensor package analyzed the patterns being
emitted by the Goa'ould shields by determining the exact shield frequency
used by an enemy vessel and modified its own properties in the missile by
enveloping the missile in a inferior version of the same shield frequency
variable.
     It was believed that this new technology would allow the missiles to
penetrate Goa'ould shields and thus allow entry inside the shield and
impact on the surface of the Goa'ould ships. It was believed that when
the missile hit, the blast radius would cause severe structural damage.
The explosion would be contained by the enemies own shields, thus
doubling the damage of each missile strike.
     Daedelus Bridge was much larger and spacious than the Prometheus
class vessel and afforded a generous view of surrounding space. The
Daedelus was an entirely new and more formidable ship that would be the
standard for all of Earth constructed ships. 
     Caldwell glanced off to his left at the irritating Asguard known as
Hermiod, recently reassigned from his former job at NASA. He sulked
quietly behind a console checking readouts, before heading back to main
engineering where his control console was located. His primary function
was to ensure that the Asguard designed systems in the Earth fleet were
not abused. Stationed aboard the flagship of the "World Defense Force" he
monitored all ships under his domain.
     Colonel Caldwell smiled to himself. Something he rarely did, as if
it somehow might diminish the respect of his crew. He shook his head ever
so slightly, "Who would have thought that the United States Air Force
would go from a pre-space faring service to an intergalactic military
service, literally leaping at least five hundred years in technology, in
less than a decade of the start of the Stargate program. 
     The actual designs for the Prometheus and Daedelus had been on the
drawing boards for sometime now; only the Prometheus was completed, and
then upgraded when the initial Cylon attack happened. If Earth had not
had the Stargate it might have been three hundred years from now before a
non-FTL ship could have been constructed at half of the design capability
of today's counterpart. 
     Due to Earth's lag for the last sixty years on space technology and
dependence on fossil fuel, Earth probably would not have developed even
gravity for their future version of space ships. It was fortuitous and
scary the leaps and bounds that Earth had made since venturing out from
the Stargate.
     His attention was distracted by the Weapons Officer, Major Rick
Montoya announcement, "Sir, sensors have detected hundreds of contacts
four million miles out."
     Caldwell glanced at the Weapons Officer, "What? Where did they come
from? Can you identify them?"
     "Radar and Lidar just picked them up, size indicates possibly
unknown fighters operating some sort of stealth, can't get a solid
reading on them. Reading no emissions of any kind!"
     "Where are they headed?"
     "Most of the bogey's trajectory will come within two hundred miles
of the moon in ten minutes, and then they will be within striking
distance of Earth."
     "Colonel Caldwell." Hermiod, the diminutive Asguard called from
Engineering.
     "What is it, Hermiod?"
     "Asguard installed sensors have scanned the objects."
     "Did you say objects?"
     "Correct. The objects are actually asteroids varying in size from
three meters to two hundred meters, traveling at nearly one third of the
speed of light. Speed and trajectory indicate they will strike the
atmosphere of Earth in..."
     Caldwell cut him off, "Damage?"
     Hermiod spoke in calm even tones. "Total. It is what you humans call
a planet killer. Even areas not decimated will be affected as the dust
and debris will be injected in the atmosphere, creating a shield against
sunlight. Billons will die within a year due to lack of heat from your
sun. Not even microbes will survive. What I think you should know..."
     "Suggestions?"
     Hermiod paused but a moment and then added, "Good luck."
     Caldwell winced, "If that's all then..."
     Doctor Novak interrupted, "Sir, when SG-1 ran into a similar
situation, Major Carter opened a Hyperspace Window and flew the asteroid
through the Earth, thereby avoiding a collision."
     Hermiod interrupted, "I had thought of that possible solution and
then discounted it."
     Caldwell was curious, "Why is that?"
     Hermiod, non-plussed returned, "The asteroid field is over three
point eight million square miles in circumference. For comparison, it is
slightly more than one and a quarter times the size of Australia, roughly
thirty nine times the size of the United Kingdom, or half the size of
Russia..."
     "Hermiod! I get the point. It's too large an area to open a stable
hyperspace window."
     "I believe I had stated as much."
     Novak interrupted, "What if...what if, the fleet took turns opening
hyperspace windows?"
     Hermiod responded, "I have already calculated that forty percent of
the asteroids would still strike the planet...." 
     Caldwell cut Hermiod off, his mind racing and took barely a second
to formulate a plan. "All right, we do this the old fashioned way." 
     With a confidence filled voice he sounded, "Sound General Quarters!
Captain Timmons, signal the fleet, and inform them of our status. We'll
form up in three waves, SPACECOM DET ONE will form the first wave, and
then have the SPACECOM DET TWO form up as the second wave and SPACECOM
DET THREE the third." Caldwell put one hand on his knee and stared out
the forward window.
     Timmons nodded and confirmed with "Yes, sir."
     "Sir!" Doctor Novak from engineering interrupted.
     "Bring shields and weapons systems online."
     "Not now doctor." Caldwell insisted, cutting the commline to
engineering.
     The Weapons Officer confirmed, "Shields and Weapons are online."
     "But Colonel, I, I thinkkkk, you...." She hiccupped as a final
response.
     Timmons sounded, "All ships have confirmed orders. Ugh, the ugh,
"Widow-Maker" fleet is requesting to participate."
     "Engineering, stay off the line!" Then Caldwell frowned openly, "We
don't have time for this." He thought inwardly indicating Novak and the
"Squids", but he was bound to include the "Squids", the other militaries
slang for U.S. Naval Forces. Unfortunately, an important Admiral was in
charge of the fleet and either due to ego or naivety was living aboard
the modified warships informally hailed as the "Widow-Maker"
class-hastily refurbished vessels for their obvious doubtful usefulness
and dubious safety.
     Colonel Caldwell received his orders from the Homeland security
office and a three star general, outranking the admiral in the Theodore
Roosevelt Strike Group or the naval acronym TRSTRGRU.
     It was irritating to even look at those ridiculous monstrosities,
much less take them serious. "Captain Timmons relay to TRSTRGRU that they
are to be held in reserve per previous instructions."
     "Yes, sir." A moment later Timmons replied, "Sir, Admiral Jones
wants to speak to you."
     Caldwell silently cursed, "Tell TRSTRGRU to standby for a fleet wide
announcement."
     A few moments later Timmons responded, "Message relayed sir, but
he's not happy."
     "Very well." Caldwell smiled to himself, "Patch me into to the
fleet."
     "Comm channel open, sir." Captain Timmons replied.
     Caldwell looked down, and then pushed the microphone button. His
miniature headset attached to his ear, "All fleet, this is Daedelus, per
orders we'll attack in three waves, TRSTRGRU, you are our last line of
defense, and watch our six. First Attack wave full military thrust, set
MARK IV naquadah missiles for proximity detonation and engage the
targets. Let's see if we can thin out these asteroids. Good hunting."
Letting go of the button he stared out the window again, "Weapons
Officer, as soon as the Daedelus is within range open up with everything
we have and coordinate with the rest of the squadron."
     "Yes, sir!"
     "Ugh, Sir, Admiral Jones."
     "Not now Captain."
     Timmons smiled and shook his head and thought to himself, "Oh! Boy,
the colonel's going to have hell to pay."

U.S. Navy Widow-Maker Space Fleet, TRUSTRUGRU

     Admiral Jones was not used to having a back seat to anything and to
have an "Airhead" Air Force Colonel put him on the back burner rattled
him to his core.
     He glanced down for the hundredth time at his new one piece
coveralls and was disgusted that the president himself had decided to
separate the uniform look of his naval service. Their khaki uniforms and
dungaree's were tradition and having to wear an SGC patch instead of
naval insignia irked him to no end.  The president wanted a single
"off-world" uniformity and since all off-world activity was through or
due to the Stargate Command or SGC, thus the unified uniforms. Even the
other participating nations rallied around a one-uniform, one-service
concept. The neutral design was sturdy, flexible, comfortable, and had a
"space-like" look to them. Following the SGC's lead, these uniforms were
easily mass produced and distributed amongst the other nations that
comprised the "World Defense Force" or "WDF".
     It still irked Jones about the uniforms, but he had said nothing.
Standing by and allowing the Air Force to accomplish the Navy's job was
unthinkable. In Jones's opinion, only the Navy should be out there
leading. Ships were what the navy was about, aircraft and space shuttles
were the Air Force, or so he believed.
     He was in the Combat Information Center or CIC as it was known by in
the Navy, the setting had not changed since the new technologies were
installed, except in a corner, room was made for emergency space suits,
more Colonial style, thinner and more ergonomic than NASA's bulky kind.
The switches from donning Chemical Warfare suits were easily adapted to
space suit drills during wartime. The "buddy" system, with two people
checking each others gear worked effectively for decades.
     The interfaces for the equipment were all the same due to cost,
time, personnel familiarity of the equipment and training. In fact, the
only real difference were in engineering, the hanger decks, and all open
areas were sealed with transparent tylieum, and of course any outside
hatches welded shut. The bridge remained the same except another
transparent set of tylieum bubble. The overall look was at best
ridiculous and at worst foolhardy. 
     Room had to be made for the life support equipment, which meant
gutting certain sections of the ship and overall crew reduction by sixty
percent. Everyone was pulling twelve hour shifts for the foreseeable
future and severely undermanned.
     Jones was pissed at this Air Force upstart colonel. "I want to talk
to Daedelus CO now!"
     The petty officer whom sat at the "red phone" a satellite encrypted
comms link exhaled sharply, "I've tried several times sir, the Daedelus
comms officer relayed that their skipper is in battle and we'll contact
us afterward."
     Jones shook his head and pursed his lips, "You get that Son of..."
     His ranting was interrupted by the person whom he was irate at, "All
fleet, this is Daedelus, per orders we'll attack in three waves,
TRSTRGRU, you are our last line of defense, watch our six."
     Everything else went unheard as the Admiral shook his fist, "Damn
him! That's it!"
     "Sir?" the communications petty officer frowned.
     Jones ignored him, pushing the button on the "Squawk box" labeled
"Bridge", a sound powered internal communications combination of speaker
and microphone, Jones said "Bridge, Combat."
     A sound chirped followed by an unseen person simply saying, "Combat,
Bridge." 
     Jones spoke sharply, "This is Admiral Jones, prepare to deploy the
fleet and receive course and heading change."
     The OOD or Officer of the Day answered, "Aye, aye, Admiral. Standing
by."
     Jones inwardly thought while grinning evilly, "I'll show'em what the
"Widow-Maker" fleet can do." 

Baal Goa'ould Flaship

     Baal repositioned himself in his seat, Heru'Ur former flagship. The
main view screen shifted and another Goa'ould, a lesser one, appeared.
"My Lord, the alterations to the main fleet has been completed."
     "What about the alterations to this fleet of ships?"
     "There is no time, my Lord. Not unless we delay the fleet?"
     "No, that won't be necessary, but have a Teltac within ring
transport range and cloaked." A teltac is a cargo ship of Goa'ould
design. Some Teltac models were equipped with a cloaking device."
     "Yes, my Lord."


     Within minutes the long range sensor suites registered the activity
and forwarded the results to SPACECOM and NORAD, which then passed the
information to Stargate Command.
     George Hammond, Commander of the SGC had just finished talking to
the President when Chief Master Sergeant Walter Harriman. "General, NORAD
has picked up radar images of several hundred asteroids on a collision
course with Earth. We have also received confirmation from the Daedelus
that they are launching an attack on the rogue asteroids. 
     George frowned, "Damn! I thought the Goa'ould were not supposed to
begin their attack for another two months, now this!"
     "We haven't heard anything from the Tok'Ra, perhaps they were
exposed?"
     George exhaled, "Here we go...Walter, dial the Alpha Site, the
Goa'ould will try to tie up our Stargate, and we need to keep it
activated as long as possible. Recall all off duty personnel."
     "Already done, sir." Walter stared seriously at Hammond.
     He had picked up the red phone that gave him a direct line to the
President of the United States, and then asked the obvious question,
"Which one?"
     Walter paused before walking out of Hammond's office, "All of them,
sir."
     "Good work Sergeant." "Damn he's good!" George said to himself,
"What would I do without the diminutive sergeant?" George stopped short
and stared at Walter, opened his mouth to say something and then chose to
remain silent at his proactive and mind reading sergeant.
     Someone unseen answered the phone breaking Hammonds wide eyed wonder
at Walter, "This is General Hammond, get me the President."
     As usual, Walter turned without so much as a smirk and then went
about his duties.

SPACECOM Detachment One

     The first attack wave of SPACECOM Detachment One consisted of the
BC-304's fleet, USAF vessels Daedelus and Odyssey. The Russian Air
Force-operated Korolev, and Yuri Gagarin, the Chinese, Zheng He, and Deng
Shichang, and the three British starships, HMS Cromwell, HMS Albion, HMS
Daring.
     The pulsar on the lunar surface of the moon fired as the first sign
of battle with the inanimate objects, lighting up surrounding space with
an eye searing flash, destroying several miles worth of asteroids with an
explosive force greater than expected. Due to the arc firing range, only
two of the four pulsars could target the asteroids.
     Due to the large numbers of asteroids several managed to get past
the lunar grid and struck the moon with enough force for the lunar base
to shake down to its seams. A rogue asteroid the size of a sports utility
vehicle hit near the northern Pulsar cannon with enough destructive force
to leave a deeper crater than the original one. The concussive force was
enough to open the internal environment to space. Among the twenty three
staff running the facility, only one person remained alive for exactly
sixteen horrible seconds. It would take some time before what little
gravity the moon had for the dust and debris to settle. The cannon
suffered minor damage, but with no crew to man the site, the weapon was
nothing more than a one billion dollar piece of metal.
     Caldwell saw the explosion of the northern pulsar cannon and cursed
under his breath, "Why aren't they using the cannons?"
     Timmons replied, "Sir, the northern cannon is out of commission. The
other cannon sensor suite is having trouble locking on due to the amount
of dust and debris ejected above the surface of the moon from the
strike."
     "Scan for survivors at the Northern Cannon site and prepare for
transport."
     In less then three seconds he was informed, "Sensors cannot detect
any life signs in or near the northern pulsar site."
     Shaking his head, Caldwell radioed the fleet, "First Attack Wave,
you are cleared to fire!"
     The first wave of missiles numbered thirty-two in all. The naquadah
enhanced nukes flew at previous unheard of speeds. The asteroids flew
silently toward the BC-304 fleet. Upon the missiles reaching the
proximity of their target they exploded taking several miles worth of
asteroids with them.
     The blast wave should have not reached the first Earth attack wave
but unknown to the Earthen fleet these asteroids were specifically chosen
by their Goa'ould masters.
     Caldwell's eyes opened wildly as the blast radius expanded
exponentially toward his attack forces. "Helm!" was all he had time to
say before the blast of nuclear fire reached them. Six of the eight
helmsmen's on their respective ships saw the blast and turned the ships
ninety degrees away and made some distance away from the reign of fire
before the ring of death hit their ships.
     Chinese BC-304 Deng Shichang and British ship HMS Albion helmsman
were from their respective government's naval service and as these men
were taught to ride into the wave or be capsized, they steered directly
into the wave. In this particular case, these seamen's skills proved
erroneous and completely foolhardy as the firestorm they entered was not
born of water, but of nuclear enhanced fire enhanced greatly by the
asteroids having raw naquadah deposits inside them.
     Both ships shuddered violently and their respective shields glowed
brightly for ten seconds before failing completely. Fire scorched trinium
made hulls and lay sickenly black and charred, while their external
communications antenna's, radar, and weapons ports were destroyed from
the intense heat and micrometeorites.
     HMS Albion spun in exaggerated circles, counter-clockwise, and side
over side, bodies could be seen littering the outside of the hull,
orbiting the ship, while the Deng Shichang lights inside could be seen
sputtering, sparking, and fading as all internal power was lost and they
listed to starboard drifting out toward deep space.
     Caldwell demanded answers, "Status!"
     Captain Timmons responded, fingers dramatically flashing across the
keyboard, "Shields strength down to nine percent! No apparent damage.
Looks like the shields kept out the hard radiation."
     "Would someone like to tell me what the hell just happened?"
     "Sir." Montoya reported, "That should not have happened, the
Daedelus was well out of the blast radius."
     "Engineering to Bridge?"
     Caldwell stabbed his microphone button with his index finger, "What
is it? We're a little busy here."
     Doctor Novak responded in her nervously irritating voice, "Sir!
Hermiod says that the Asguard sensors have detected that the core of the
asteroids or at least some of them are filled with raw naquadah which as
you know takes any energy applied to it and increases its power
exponentially."
     Caldwell cursed silently, "And Hermiod couldn't tell us that before
we launched thermonuclear enhanced warheads at them?"
     "Weelllll, ugh. We did try sir, you ordered us to stay off the line"
Novak squeaked.
     "Would you remind Hermiod that if we die, he's just as dead also? It
might help him in being a little more forthcoming...BRIDGE OUT!" Caldwell
felt his face redden. He couldn't blame engineering really, but he felt
guilty and as a commanding officer should, he regained his bearings.
     Turning to Timmons, "What about the other ships?"
     "Odyssey and Cromwell report shields down to less than ten percent
strength, minor electrical fires, but otherwise their in one piece. The
Korolev, Gagarin, Zheng He, and, the HMS Daring report no damage other
than to shields and should be recharged quickly."
     Caldwell mentally counted to himself, "What about the Deng Shichang
and HMS Albion?"
     Timmons tried contacting the ships, "No response on any frequency."
     Major Rick Montoya, the weapons officer reported, "Sir, radar shows
both ships are headed out into deep space."
     "Contact TRSTRGRU and have them launch SAR Operations."
     "Colonel Caldwell?" Doctor Novak, the quirky, but brilliant engineer
called the bridge.
     "What is it?"
     "Sir, Hermiod wanted me to report that the Asguard sensors report no
life aboard the HMS Albion, the Deng Shichang has no power at all, and
life signs are weakening."
     "Damn!" 
     "And sir?" Novak meekly asked.
     "Yes?"
     "Hermiod wanted me to point out that with our shield strength nearly
depleted that we will not survive another round with the asteroids from
this distance."
     Caldwell frowned sharply, "Please thank Hermiod for stating the
blatantly obvious and while you're at it ask him if he has any
suggestions, I am open to them?"
     "Ugh, uh, well actually, not at this time."
     "Fine, Bridge out!" Caldwell responded. Exhaling sharply, he came to
a sudden realization, "The Goa'ould are playing with us, their softening
us up. 
     Activating his comm channel, "Second attack wave, your on, maintain
distance but take out those asteroids! All fleet, stay sharp, those
naquadah enhanced asteroids are only the first round of tricks up the
Goa'ould sleeve."
     The second attack wave consisted of the Royal Canadian Navy "HMCS
Champlain", Japanese - "Yamato",  the "Miyuki", the Italian "Giuseppe
Garibaldi", the French Force d'Action Navale "Jeanne d'Arc", Germany's
-"Bremen", and "Deutschland", Turkey's "TCG Heybeliada", and the USAF 
X-303 Prometheus.
     The first attack wave veered off, reversing course, heading back
towards Earth.
     Major Montoya double checked his scope. The radar system was a
hybrid system of radar technology and the fire control technician's
equipment, sprinkled with Colonial enhancements. Instruments not only
gave accurate information and the well known "green screen" images of
radar contacts, but also displayed, size, shape, distance, and speed of
craft. Its range in space was only limited to einsteinium physics and the
power of the radar equipment.
     "Colonel Caldwell, the naval space forces have divided into two
distinct battle groups and are at full burn."
     Caldwell closed his eyes for a moment and shook his head, "Their
enroute for SAR operations for the Albion and the Deng Shichang."
     "Sir, the naval forces are headed away from the Albion and Deng
Shichang." 
     "Well, where are they headed?" Caldwell through up his hands in
frustration.
     "Their approach vector has them flanking the orbital path of the
asteroids."
     Cursing under his breath Caldwell frowned, "Captain Timmons, tell
them to stand down and return to previous coordinates."
     A moment later, "They are not responding sir."
     "Great, get me Stargate Command."

     The second attack wave headed toward the asteroids, opening fire
with a salvo of thirty six naquadah enhanced Mark V nuclear missiles. 
The asteroids blew into billions of pieces of space dust. However, the
depth and breadth of the asteroids were so widely dispersed, that even
this large scale attack could not encompass the entire amount of
asteroids. The flash of naquadah enhanced nukes and naquadah laced
asteroids threw enough raw firepower throughout the solar system that the
flashes could be seen on Earth on the day side.

     The third attack wave was a combination of the remaining NATO
members. In order to create a joint naval space force and save billions
of dollars that none of the other countries could spare a few of the NATO
members combined crews and split the costs. 
     The result was the Macedonia, Mihailo, Thocomerius, Ramsund,
Najaden, the Portuguese NRP Alvares Cabral, and Spain's Principe de
Asturias, and two Australian BC-304's, the HMAS Canberra and HMAS
Adelaide.
     As the third attack wave were lining up for their shot, as intense
wave of energy blindingly opened up all around them.

     Inside Iran's holy city of Qom, Iranian President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad was speaking to a crowd of theological students, "Islam must
prepare to rule the world." 
     A large gathering had taken place in order to properly greet the
"president". Amidst the head nods of students, the president continued,
"We must believe in the fact that Islam is not confined to geographical
borders, ethnic groups and nations. It's a universal ideology that leads
the world to justice,"
     "We don't shy away from declaring that Islam is ready to rule the
world." 
     A raucous roar permeated the auditorium in response to the beak
nosed Iranian's speech. 
     "According to Shiites", he continued, The 12th imam disappeared as a
child in the year 941. When he returns, we believe, he will reign on
earth for seven years, before bringing about a final judgment and the end
of the world. The Americans and their allies will eventually bow to the
will of Allah."
     "Prepare for the coming of the Mahdi by turning this country into a
mighty and advanced Islamic society and by avoiding the corruption and
excesses of the West."
     More cheers thundered across the densely packed room. Smiling the
president motioned for the students to settle down, "We must prepare
ourselves to rule the world and the only way to do that is to put forth
views on the basis of the Expectation of the Return. If we work on the
basis of the Expectation of the Return of the Mahdi, all the affairs of
our nation will be streamlined and the administration of the country will
become easier. The Mahdi will return soon!"
     Howling and cheers filled the room and threatened to break the
windows. Smiling broadly the president grinned ear to ear, "Which means
Iran needs to start building more hotels, yes?" Laughing the entire
assembly followed suit.
     Waving to the crowd he continued, "Prepare yourselves, the Americans
will not stop us, no one can stop us from our holy quest to bring law and
order to the world!"
     Receiving a standing ovation he grinned and waved broadly before
quickly exiting the room, flanked by security.
     He made it to his presidential car, a black limousine with the flag
of Iran on the front license plate. Sunlight beamed down and he thought
the world was ripe for salvation.
     The door was opened for him and he smiled to the gathered crowd and
entered the car. The door closed and soon he was driving down the streets
of his capitol city. Smiling to himself about the speech he cocked his
head sideways and grinned openly, nodding, "Good. Very good." Exhaling,
he made a snort through his nose, "Corruption of the West." He opened a
concealed compartment to his right and reaching in, he pulled out a
bottle of liquor. "Well, maybe just a little American corruption, yes?"
Giddy, he retrieved a medium size glass and ice in an cabinet in front of
him, next to "authorized" Muslim drinks.
     Pouring a generous amount, he brought it up to his nose and smelled
the intoxicating flavor. Anxiously desiring a taste he brought the glass
to his lips and had just taken in a mouthful of delicious flavor as it
rolled smoothly around his pallet.
     Without as much as a warning an all too familiar voice interrupted
his drink, "Hello, old friend."
     Gasping the president choked and sputtered his drink onto his beard
and the seat in front of him, looking to his left he exclaimed at the
dramatic and unearthly entrance, "Mahdi! You startled me!" 
     Taking a napkin from his coat pocket he dabbed at his clothes and
mouth. A male, appearing in his fifties, with slight middle-eastern
features to his appearance, salt and pepper hair, spoke in a British
accent, even while speaking Iranian, a quite marvelous feat for anyone.
He wore white robes, with silver circlet lining the neck. His face
appeared kindly yet his cobalt blue eyes pierced into Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
very soul, seeing everything inside him, leaving nothing to doubt. His
presence almost seemed to provide an evanescent light of holiness.
     "You did very well today, soon our brethren will be ready and then,
my friend, you will see dramatic changes on Earth."
     Mahmoud Ahmadinejad eyes flickered for a moment, "How will these
things happen? I have done as you have instructed, but the muslim nations
are closed off from the world. The world holds us ransom with
technologies beyond belief! Our planes can not leave the muslim world and
none can come in. Poof!" He snapped his fingers, as he referred to the
transporters aboard the space ships in orbit.
     Taking his time, the man smiled graciously, "Yes, these new
technologies are impressive, but mere child's play to one such as
myself."
     "Of course, I meant no disrespect. I have faith that we, the
rightful heirs of the world will bring the infidels down."
     "But you worry about these technologies being used against you and
your brother nations?"
     "Yes!" the president said like a schoolboy. His eyes aglow with the
joy of being in the savior's very presence. Such peace and contentment!
Rapture could only be the word used to describe this being of light.
     "Your thoughts have troubled you, but you are safe with me... They
cannot touch you, so long as I am with you. The plan is set into motion;
already others that serve me will unite as one brethren and destroy the
unbelievers. I bring you a gift." Handing a small dark green case to the
president, he accepted it as if receiving a gift from god himself.
Looking up with eyes filled with joy he nodded downward at his case.
Mahdi nodded his approval and with near ecstasies he could barely hold
in, he opened the box. His eyes lifted up questioningly.
     He lifted a spool of cd-rom's and his eyebrows arched questioningly.
     Mahdi smiled graciously, "I have provided my children with the
similar level of knowledge as the unbelievers."
     Mahmoud eyes widened, "Even the..." He could barely say it,
"trans-port-ers?" He made "Poofing" noise and snapping of his fingers.
     Mahdi smiled once again, nodding, almost chuckling, he put his hand
on Mahmoud's shoulder, "Fear not, I have the power of life and death and
"No one" has dominion over me." Smiling to himself, Mahdi seemed to look
far off into his own memories distant past. "No one." He repeated as much
to himself as Mahmoud.
     "Yes, Mahdi." He bowed his head and closed his eyes.
     With a fatherly grinning, he smiled parentally, "How many times must
I tell you, when we are alone, it is Iblis, Count Iblis."
     To Mahmound, this man was the very presence of holiness and purity.
What he could not see was the true nature of this particular beast, a
monstrosity from the pits of Hades itself, dark and twisted.
     It never occurred to Mahmounds addled mind, that Iblis name in
Arabic ?????, is the name of the primary devil Iblis in Islam or to the
Ancient Egyptians he was known as Anubis.

USAF Daedelus, BC-304

     Daedaleus shields were now back at optimum strength. Hermiod had
been running a diagnostic when he his console beeped for his attention.
Running his Asguard controlled runes across the board he discovered
something quite interesting. Contacting the bridge he called out,
"Colonel Caldwell, the Asguard sensors have detected one hundred Goa'ould
Hatak class vessels on approach to this star system.
     Caldwell perked up at Hermiod's response, "Where?"
     "Course and speed indicate two astronomical units on the spinward
side of the system. Forwarding coordinates to helm."
     A beeping noise followed by, "I have the coordinates, sir." Timmons
Announced.
     Major Rick Montoya checked his readouts, "Sounds like a good place
to ambush, sir."
     Caldwell smiled grimly, "I agree. ETA?"
     "Sensors indicate they should drop out of hyperspace in three
minutes forty seven seconds...mark."
     "Very well. Captain Timmons, contact the other squadrons and have
SPACECOM DET TWO and THREE flank our positions. We'll set up a
crossfire." As an afterthought he smiled grimly,
     "Also, ask TRUSTRGRU to wrap up SAR operations and make best speed
to surround Earth in a protective shield."
     "Yes, sir." A minute later Timmons shrugged, "Colonel, TRUSTRGRU
acknowledges orders, they also stated, per JCS previous orders."
     Caldwell chuckled lightly, "Still don't want to play nice with the
other off world teams, huh? Well, I guess we'll let Admiral Jones keep
what little face he can save."
     That last remark elicited a few chuckles. Admiral Jones had received
a verbal reprimand in a private communication from the Joint Chiefs of
Staff. In the time since the asteroid detection, he had sulked in CIC
onboard his flagship.
     "Very well, have SPACECOM DET ONE, TWO, and THREE to move into
position."


Trust Headquarters

     Inside the Trust Headquarters, a building in downtown Manhattan, New
York. This secret organization of Corporate America determined to gain
control of America and the world, something ever since the Great
Depression their loosely organized group was used too.
     This particular group was determined to continue influencing the
world through current pop artist, telling Americans and the world what
was acceptable and all for the sole purpose of generating the "almighty"
dollar.
     Senator Robert Kinsey, the current leader of this rogue group had
been approached several years ago by the NID. He had climbed through the
invisible ranks of the NID by cunning, shrewdness, and guile. He had
already tried twice to get control of the Stargate, but finally gave up
or so the SG had hoped.
     In fact, Kinsey was now more than ever convinced that control of the
gate and America's futures were up to him to save.
     In that light, his group had been contacted with a rather tender
offer that they could not refuse. Their new leader, another alien but one
with priorities such as themselves. Kinsey, an arrogant ass of a man was
rather enamored with their, what should he call him? Certainly not a god,
but a powerful alien. This alien had provided them with the technology
base that was exactly what the military of the world had. It was no
wonder that this group was able to accept this alien and his incredible
powers.
     He was as good as his word and every member of the board had
received numerous boons, both financially and favor based.
     Kinsey's only desire was to see General Hammond and Jack O'Neill
suffer.
     "Well, let's get this meeting started, shall we?"
     "What about our leader?" Theresa Hobkins, a pedantic evil witch of a
woman whom could freeze the heart of an average man and verbally reduce
her prey to openly weeping fostered a wicked grin.
     Kinsey knew Theresa was a bitch, but that was what made her so good
at her job. He would hang her butt out to dry if she ever tried to
something with him though.
     Kinsey falsely smiled, "My dear, Theresa, our benefactor will arrive
when he is good and ready and not a moment before, you know that."
     Theresa fixed an icy star upon him, "Yes, of course."
     "Now then..." Kinsey began.
     "Hello, my children."
     Everyone started; Kinsey came to himself, and thought darkly to
himself, "Show off", then said, "Count Iblis!" Pretending not to be
impressed.
     Iblis fixed a soul revealing stare at Kinsey, seemingly piercing the
inner most being of his soul. Finally, he smiled, "Robert, let us begin."
     Kinsey cleared his throat, "Of course, Count. Development of stealth
cruisers is well underway and in fact nine are completed with the week."
     "Excellent, well done. How are the special warheads coming?"
     Theresa smiled, she was enthralled with Iblis and that in and of
itself was a miracle, as she was a lesbian her whole life. She had never
even slept with a man before him, but for Iblis she would bare a new race
of gods for him. She even had to grudgingly admit she even like sex with
a man. Such a revelation still shook her to her core. She felt her belly
under the conference table, rubbing lightly the new life growing there,
and smiled slightly to herself.
     "Sir, we now have siphoned off enough raw naquadah from the SGC's
shipping depot to arm all of our ships three times over."
     Iblis smiled at her in appreciation, "Very good, my dear Theresa.
Soon, the attack on Earth will begin and then we will begin."
     Kinsey sighed, "Yes, Robert?" Iblis smiled patronizingly.
     "Agh, Count, I believe I speak for all of us when I say that we
would all like to know how you know so many things and how this fleet of
ships are going to make a difference? Have you seen the fleet of advanced
ships that the world has at their disposal?"
     "Robert, Robert, do you doubt me already?" Pausing in thought he
said, "Or is it that you're true heart's desire has not been fulfilled
yet?"
     Kinsey kept silent, but Iblis smiled, "Robert, I know your thoughts
before have them. Fear not, SG-1 will meet their deserved end soon."
     "I appreciate that Count, but you haven't answered my questions."
     Iblis smiled fatherly, "All in good time. Now then perhaps we should
disc the future kingdom on Earth."

Baltar's Cylon Base Ship

     Baltar/Demios sat upon his pedestal inside his upgraded Cylon
Baseship. Pushing a button on the console of his armchair a metallic
voice spoke, "By your Command."
     "Drop from hyperspace. We will attack the Tau'ri ships at the
following coordinates." Rapidly punching the correct sequence into his
console he could hear the Cylon centurion's computer bleep affirmative.
"By your command."
     "Hmmnnn." Baltar/Demios mused to himself, "That particular vocal
subroutine is getting most annoying." Then he swiveled his chair to face
the front of the immense chamber, "Now, for the final destruction of the
damnable Tau'ri."
     Laughing evilly, his "Inner Baltar", also reveled in the soon to be
victory. Baltar was in a hellish pain continually, but the one
consolation was the destruction of the thirteenth tribe. He had began
exercising control over his body in increments, and to the annoyance of
his Goa'ould Demios, he was greatly annoyed.
     Demios frowned and thought to himself, "Once this attack is over, I
will head straight to the sarcophaguses to stifle Baltar's attempts at
control.
     In response his right hand flinched. Looking down at it he frowned
horribly. It twitched ever so slightly. Putting his left hand over his
right, he quelled the tremors as best as he could.

USAF Daedalus

     Onboard the Deedless, Major Rick Montoya remarked, "Four basestars
closing on our position! Looks like they jumped in on Det Three's
position."
     "Arm all weapons systems and raise shields."
     "Weapons and shields are ready."
     "Captain Timmons, move us into within five hundred miles, full
military thrust!"
     A few moments later, "Approaching coordinates." Timmons stated.
     "Hopefully, our shield modulators on our missiles will work." Then
to his weapons officer, Major Montoya, "Basestars status?"
     "All four basestars moving toward our position, course and speed
indicates they will pass our position and push toward Earth." Montoya
replied.
     "How close are we to Earth?"
     Timmons checked the console's readouts, "We are within seventy-five
thousand miles."
     "Standby Asguard Beam Cannons, fire on lead ship when in range."
     "Firing!" The Asguard designed Twin Pulse Plasma Beam cannons pulsed
bright red and discharged concentration of superheated plasma. Twin beams
impacted on the lead Cylon ship.
     Pulsating light scattered across a shield of Goa'ould design. The
basestar continued on.
     Caldwell leaned forward, "Damage to lead Cylon ship?"
     "Cylon ship is protected by a Goa'ould designed shield. Minimal
damage to their shields."
     Caldwell cursed under his breath, "Fire forward VLS tubes one
through four with Mark Four enhanced missiles."
     "Weapons away!" Then a moment later, "Three of the missiles were
intercepted by laser turret fire. The fourth missile impacted just inside
their shield."
     "Damage?"
     "Preliminary scans indicate the explosion itself was trapped within
their shields which caused severe thermal damage on their forward
section; scans indicate some hull buckling and possible damage to their
forward turrets."
     "Tough ship." Caldwell said.
     "Receiving incoming fire." The Deedless shook slightly as its
navigator tried dodging its weapons. "Colonial measurements of weapons
fire register forty Megon loads, Shields holding."
     "What are the other basestars doing?"
     "All four basestars are continuing on. I think they intend to rush
past us and hit Earth, sir."
     "That is not happening!" Caldwell surmised. Then a smirk came upon
him, "Helm, come right, two three degrees, swing around, then drop twenty
miles, axis angle up one five degrees."
     The Deedless nimbly swung around the base ship like it was an
atmospheric fighter craft.
     Timmons obeyed and announced a moment later, "Were in position to
hit them from underneath, sir."
     "Montoya, light'em up."
     "With pleasure sir." Firing several times and emptying his forward
VLS tubes, "Sir, missile racks reloading. Asguard Beam Cannons are
overheating; they'll need to cool down before we can fire again. ETA to
optimal firing range, thirty two seconds, Mark!"
     "Damage to enemy ships?"
     "Cylon basestars are taking heavy damage to their shields and minor
to medium structural damage to their hull. Sir, picking up three hundred
bogeys, closing fast!"
     "Can you identify them?"
     "Size and shape indicate Cylon raiders."
     Caldwell thumbed his comm. System, "All units, this is Caldwell,
picking up over three hundred Cylon Raiders headed our way, switch to
Rail Gun suppression fire and launch 302's."
     Timmons announced a moment later, "All units confirm orders."
     Montoya checked his instruments, "Cylon first attack wave will reach
our position in sixty seconds."
     "Where's our fighter screen?"
     "302 squadrons are in the air and are taking up a flanking position.
All ships responding, but we are seriously outnumbered."
     "They'll have to make due. Let's get moving I don't want to make the
same mistake that they did a moment ago." Caldwell stated flatly.
     "Cylon Raiders are not attempting to engage ACM, their coming in
ballistic."
     Caldwell grinned, "They're going to have do way better than that if
they plan on beating us. Timmons, have Det Two make a hyperspace jump
behind the mother ships and hit them continuously."
     Montoya smiled, "Your betting the Cylons will pull back their forces
and protect their mother ships."
     "Exactly."

TRSTRGRU (aka Widow-Maker Fleet)

     Admiral Jones of the aforementioned "Widow Maker" fleet sighed for
the hundredth time at having to take a back stage to the Air Force. He
had stood down from General Quarters in order to allow a break for the
crew prior to engaging the enemy in a prolonged battle.
     An operations signalman announced, "Admiral, picking up several
hundred asteroids that made it through Spacecom Detachments."
     At last, Jones thought. Pushing a button on the squawk box he
contacted the bridge, "Combat, bridge."
     A moment later came the familiar sound, "Bridge, Combat."
     "Officer of the Day, this is Admiral Jones, Sound General quarters!"
     "Aye, aye, sir." Hanging up he replied to the Boatswain Mate of the
Watch, "Boatswain mate of the Watch, Sound General Quarters."
     Petty Officer Salvatore nodded, "Aye, sir, Sounding General
Quarters."
     A shrill, high pitched whistle could be heard throughout the entire
ship, followed by a wavering tone of the General Quarters alarm. A moment
passed then the Salvatore added,
     "General Quarters, General Quarters, Set Condition One throughout
the ship, this is NOT a drill."
     Two minutes later he reported to the Officer of the Day, "OOD,
Condition One has been set throughout the ship."
     "Very well." Calling CIC, he reported to the Admiral.
     Jones smiled wickedly he picked up a red phone that was a laser
encrypted satellite transceiver, "ALL TRUSTRGRU, Open fire on the
asteroids. Nothing gets through!"
     "Their coming in fast, sir!"
     "Shields to maximum. Fire Control, lock on and target all bogeys
designated Sierra. All batteries fire."
     The fire control petty officer said, "Admiral! There's no signature
to lock onto!"
     Jones exploded. "Petty Officer, I don't care if you have to get out
there and paint a target on those asteroids, I WANT THEM GONE! NOW!"
     "Sir...I ugh..." He shook his head in futility.
     A junior lieutenant Simone Rahdi paused, "Sir, this is a long shot,
but perhaps we could lock onto the raw naquadah inside some of those
asteroids."
     Jones scowl lessoned if only for a moment, "Can we do that?"
     Rahdi, a Muslim native of Chicago, Illinois nodded her raven colored
head, "Yes, sir, we should be able to lock on if we have one of the
BC-304's access their Asguard sensors, then transmit their targeting data
to us on a carrier signal."
     Jones considered that, "Are you sure we don't have the capability?"
     Rahdi shook her head no, "None, that I am aware of, sir."
     Jones contemplated that, and then picked up the SATCOM red phone,
"SPACECOM DET ONE this is TRSTRGRU CO, Over."

Balter's Cylon Base Ship

     Demios smiled as he observed the battle on the hologram before him.
The baseships were taking a pounding.
     His comm. Panel lit up from above on his throne like pedestal. Bal
smiled arrogantly, "How goes the battle Demios?"
     Baltar smiled cruelly, "As well as expected, although the Tau'ri
ships are much more advanced than we believed."
     "Oh, how so?" Ba'al seemed rather bored.
     "Their kinetic missiles are naquadah enhanced, but that is not the
worrying part."
     "And what is?"
     "The Tau'ri have somehow circumvented our shields, their kinetic
weapons pass right through."
     Bal frowned, "Impossible!"
     Demios smiled, "It is of little concern, our combined forces are
more than a match for them."
     Bal nodded, "Very well, I believe it is time to come in and stop
these vile Cylon forces!"
     Demios nodded, "As long as you remember that it is I whom am on your
side when the final attack comes?"
     "Do you presume to lecture me? Mind your tongue, while you still
have it!" Ball demanded furiously.
     Demios lowered his eyes, "Of course. Lord Bal."
     The screen went blank and Demios relayed orders, "Centurion, push
the fleet ahead and began bombardment of Earth's surface."
     "By your command."
     Demios rolled his eyes, while his right hand grasped his left hand
firmly as if the two appendages fought each other.

USAF Daedalus

     Fifty Thousand miles from Earth, a large debris field of rogue
asteroids and remains of starships littered space for thousands of miles
and it continued to expand.
     Onboard the Deedless, Caldwell frowned, "Status."
     Timmons frowned and cocked her head sideways, "Shield strength down
to twenty one percent, left rear engine is offline, engineering reports
partial engine power in ten minutes. Long range communications are gone,
due to battle damage; one forward VLS tubes are fused solid, possible
damage to the second tube. Asguard beam weapon is working, Rail Guns are
working but..."
     "But what?"
     "Rail guns have expended all their ordnance."
     Caldwell sighed, "Casualties."
     Timmons shook her head, "Surprisingly minor injuries being reported.
     "What is the status of the fleet?"
     "We've lost the Yuri Gagarin and the HMS Daring."
     "What about the other det's?"
     "TCG Heybeliada has lost shields and is venting atmosphere. Det Two
forces are conducting SAR operations."
     Caldwell nodded, "Continue on course, best speed to Earth."
     "Yes, sir."
     Pushing a button on his chair, Caldwell spoke clearly, "Engineering,
this is the bridge, When am I going to get my shields back?"
     Doctor Novak squeaked a response, "Sir, Hermiod reports that shields
will be up to one hundred percent in thirty minutes."
     "Tell Hermiod that if he wants to live through the next engagement
he has five minutes to get my shields back up." Although Caldwell heard
the diminutive Asguard's comments he couldn't understand them, thankfully
Hermiod complained in his native language.
     "Timmons relay to all Dets, Rendezvous at Earth and standby for
orders."

TRSTRGRU (aka Widow-Maker Fleet)

     Admiral Jones fleet was being torn apart by the asteroids. He mopped
his brow with the back of his dark sleeve. He pointed to the sensor
image, "Tell the FFG's and DDG's to move in and provide support!"
     "Trying admiral! It's a turkey shoot out there and we're the
turkeys!"
     "Son, get those ships moving or we'll start losing cities down
there!"
     "Yes sir!"
     Jones called over to the CIC Watch Officer, "Doug, what's the fleet
status?"
     Lieutenant Commander Doug Smithville looked up stunned, "Sir." He
creaked in a high pitched voice, then tried again in a more normal tone,
"Sir, we've lost the Columbus, Hartford, Maryland, Wyoming, Ashland,
Carney, Simpson, Underwood, Trenton, Benfold, Bunker Hill, Fitzgerald,
Jarrett, Mustin, Blue Ridge,, and the carriers; Enterprise, Nimitz, and a
LHD, the Iwo Jima."
     "Dammit! What the hell is going on?" Admiral Jones shouted.
     "It's the asteroids sir, their coming in too fast, sir."
     He picked up his red phone, it made a garbled noise then synced up
with the crypto, "This is Admiral Jones, to all TRUSTUGRU, We need to
work smarter!..."
     He was interrupted by Doug again, "Sir, we just lost the Tortuga,
Boone!"
     Jones was about to reply when loud shattering sound overwhelmed his
auditory faculties. The floor lurched sideways and he hit his head on the
CIC equipment table. Recovering quickly he tried to stand up but the
floor dropped out from under him, a dark liquid covered his right eye and
he had to squint to see through it. Ignoring the pain he called out,
"Damage report!" Turning to find his CICO, "Doug!"
     He found Doug lying at an odd angle and his head twisted around in
an unnatural position, his eyes staring upward. Jones ran toward him and
checked for a pulse. He looked up to see the entire CIC room looking to
him for guidance, "Damage report."
     Chief Petty Officer Kenneisha McMann jumped in, "Sir" she said,
"We've taken several hits from the larger asteroids, main engineering
reports fires are out of control and we are venting atmosphere on decks
eight through fifteen."
     Jones nodded, thankful someone responded, "Very well, have damage
control teams check the reactors and lock down all compartments." Chief
McMann nodded and dodged her head sideways for a petty officer to take
care of it. The petty officer nodded and went to task.
     Jones continued, "Launch all fighters, to help with the asteroids."
McMann nodded, "Yes, sir!"
     Jones asked the young petty officer at the radar, "How many
asteroids are still out there?"
     "Ah, current count makes it seventy-ish, admiral."
     Jones frowned, "I am going to need a better count than that Petty
Officer Taylor!"
     "Sorry sir, there's no way to be accurate with the sensors we have."
     "I thought the 304's sensor suites locked onto the naquadah on the
asteroids?"
     "Yes, sir, but begging your pardon sir, not all of the asteroids are
laced with Naquadah."
     Jones nodded, "Keep me posted and relay all data to the fighter
squadrons."
     "Yes, sir." He patted her on the arm and turned to survey the mess
in his CIC. "Someone get me a casualty report."

Trust Stealth Squadrons 

     The stealth squadrons of the Trust had launched all nine of their
ships unknown to the rest of the world.


White House

     President Hayes addressed the nation from the White House, My fellow
Americans and indeed my fellow brethren of the world.
     A little over sixty years ago we sent our Armed Forces half-way
around the world to save the world from an evil Nazi empire that
threatened mass extinction, then we traveled yet again to stop to the
cancer of Communism, when helped Korea, followed by Vietnam, then we
helped other nations such as Kuwait from the despot tyrant in Iraq, then
ten years later we were back in the Middle East to hunt the cowardly Al
Qaeda cowering in their holes in the ground, then we were back to finish
the job in Iraq and bring freedom to the people of Iraq.
     Now the men and women of this nation are united with our allies
around the entire world. Some are former enemies now turned allies and
others have been our allies for many decades.  We have answered the call
to preserve our freedom. Once again we face a threat to our way of life.
And once again we look to our military to preserve our future. The men
and women selected to lead this mission are the world's finest and most
decorated career officers and enlisted in the military. Our hopes and
prayers are with them.
     Above our fair planet the attack has begun in earnest. The largest
joint force the world has ever seen has united together to stop an alien
adversary not bent on tyranny, persecution, or oppression, but seeks out
the total obliteration of mankind.
     We have all worked very hard for this day and we will not only
survive, but will thrive. Although I am not a devout man, like many of
you around the world, the coming war has had me reevaluate what I do
believe in. I ask everyone now, regardless of your beliefs to spend a few
moments in silence asking whomever you pray to for protection of our fair
world and to its people and that our combined military forces come home
safely."
     President Hayes bowed his head slightly and paused for ten seconds
then continued, "Thank you and God Bless the Earth."
     Around the world several billion souls stopped what they were doing
and looked toward the sky. In the industrialized parts of the world, many
people had to abandon their vehicles due to the traffic jams.
     Millions around the world made their way to their place of worship,
while others just walked aimlessly around, and while yet others went home
to see their loved ones, others that had no family went to the bars for
what they thought might be a last drink.
     In the atmosphere, jet fighters and AWAC's planes patrolled the sky
around the world.
     An Egyptian plane flew over its homeland with a maximum weapons
loadout. The pilot, Aziz Mubarak flew over the coast of his homeland.
Movement caught his eye and he saw a large ball of fire descending toward
his homeland. He turned to his wingman to speak when the plane blew into
a thousand pieces. Cursing in his native tongue he flew erratic as more
falling objects hurtled past him at insane speeds.
     He went for missile lock on the large asteroid ahead of him, but
could not get a missile lock, switching missiles he attempted to get a
thermal lock when a large crashing sound invaded his hearing. He looked
up and saw a hole about ten centimeters in diameter. Alarms blared loudly
competing for his attention.
     Feeling a sticky-wetness on his leg, he saw the hole in his left leg
and could see another ten centimeter gap through his leg and the ground
could be seen clearly through the hole.
     Pain flooded him as fought consciousness and control of his
aircraft. As mute testimony to the futility of his efforts another
asteroid streaked through his craft, this one rock was no bigger than a
pebble. The pebble size asteroid that survived reentry had fragmented and
this one piece still flying at high mach speeds intersected with the
aircraft cockpit and went clean through his helmet and out of his lower
jaw.
     The plane lost control and plummeted into an apartment complex below
killing nearly hundred people.
     Other asteroids pummeled the Earth destroying countryside's and
cities alike. The asteroid strikes were no larger than a compact car but
combined with their speed the destroyed portions of Alexandria, Cairo,
the Gaza Strip, Iraq, Iran, moving over Afghanistan, and Pakistan and as
far east as New Delhi. A secondary Asteroid strike hit off the coast of
Yangon, and sinking Bangkok in a two hundred foot tidal wave.
     Death toll was in the millions.

Earth Orbit

     The Tau'ri forces surrounded Earth in varying layers of orbital
height. The basestars had made it to near Earth orbit and it was now a
free for all. Hundreds of fighters from both sides fought in a deadly
dance of lethal ferocity. 
     Several Base Ships launched missiles toward Earth. Many of the
missiles were taken out, some by the crossfire of allied ships and others
by Tau'ri ships being in the way. In many cases, the allied ships that
took the broad sides were losing their shield strength quickly.
     A bluish-white cloud of hyperspace appeared and fifty Goa'ould ships
arrived.
     "Colonel Caldwell, reading thirty, correction! Fifty-two Goa'ould
Motherships have just jumped in system."
     "Where are they?"
     "Right where we expected them to be."
     "That's half their force, what about the others?"
     "Sensors detect another group coming around the other side of the
planet."
     "Their boxing us in. I think it's time we teach the Goa'ould what
all humans know, "Payback is a bitch. Deploy the Fifth Fleet."
     "Yes, sir."

Baal Flagship

     Baal smiled to himself. His forward force had begun engaging the
damnable Tau'ri. The entire ship shook. His lead jaffa reported, "Tau'ri
vessels are firing upon us with some type of high yield particle weapon."
The ship shook again. "Shields holding for now."
     Baal smiled, "Contact the Tau'ri."
     "Channel Open."
     "Tau'ri fleet, this is your god, Baal. We are here to enforce the
protected planets treaty. Cease fire and we will move into orbit to
assist you with the renegade Goa'ould, Heru'Ur and the Cylon forces,
however, if you continue to fire, we will destroy you, in order to
protect ourselves."
     At first there was no response. Baal looked at his first prime, "Are
the receiving us?" 
     "Yes, Lord Baal. Wait, I am receiving a transmission."
     A few moments of static, then a voice full of confidence spoke,
"This is Colonel Stephen Caldwell, of the Air Force Vessel, Daedelus, you
will withdraw your ships from this star system immediately or you will be
destroyed."
     Baal opened a channel, Laughing he spoke in his multi-toned voice,
"Really Colonel, you are no match for a god. Return to your pitiful
planet or I cannot be held responsible for your deaths."
     Baal waited for a reply, but then his first prime spoke, "Eight
primitive nuclear warheads are on approach vector."
     Baal laughed, "Please, Haraq, those primitive weapons will not get
past our shields."
     "My lord! Reports from the Cylon vessels are that the Tau'ri has
missile technology that can breach our shields."
     Baal dismissed him, "You put too much confidence in these
primitives. The 'new' shields will hold ."
     Haraq turned back to the holographic screen in front of him, "Impact
in ten seconds." He turned nervously to Ba'al then back to his station.
     Ba'al took his throne seat and carefully checked a nail for dirt.
     Haraq frowned, faced the screen and his mouth formed a thin line of
a grimace.
     The impacts of the missiles were so bright that anyone viewing the
spectacle would have been blinded. The ship shuddered under the
concussive force of the impact on the shields.
     Baal rearranged his wardrobe, "Report?"
     Haraq's mouth hung open, "The new shields held!"
     "Of course they held, I am a god. Now, fire on the Tau'ri, starting
with the Daedelus!"


Battlestar Galactica

     "Commander, receiving a priority communiqu‚ on Fleet Comm Line
Alpha."
     Apollo nodded grimly. He had been watching the Earth fleets getting
the pogee's kicked out of them. He grimaced as another Widow Maker vessel
turned into a fireball and fell planetward.
     His brand new 65 inch LCD television acted as a display monitor.
This new upgrade, courtesy of their thirteenth colony brethren opened a
smaller picture box of Commander Cain in the right, "Apollo, we have to
move now! Those Earth ships aren't going to last much longer, even with
shields."
     "I agree. Have the Fifth Fleet deploy to assist the Daedelus carrier
group."
     Cain's lip twitched, but he said nothing.
     Apollo recognizing Cain's genius at work asked, "Commander Cain, you
have a better idea?"
     Taking Apollo's lead, Cain explained his plan quickly, "Apollo, this
is all a diversion. Where did the other fifty or so Goa'ould ships go?"
     "Perhaps the Tok'Ra were mistaken on the numbers.?"
     "I'm willing to wager they will appear on the far side of the
planet, they'll have a clean shot at deploying fighters and our Earth
brethren will be hedged in on both sides."
     "You want to head them off before they arrive?"
     "Precisely."
     "Cain if you're wrong, we could lose badly."
     "This is not my first "Rodeo" Commander."
     "A what?" Apollo asked in confusion.
     "Something Jack O'Neill told me about old movies, called westerns.
Apparently, I remind of him of some old bovine farmer, named Lloyd
Bridges." He finished with, "Trust me, Apollo."
     Apollo shook his head without much thought, "Right, how can I argue
with a "Living Legend"? Good luck and may the "Lords of Kobol" protect
you."
     Cain smirked, "I make my own luck, but I'll take all the divine
protection I can get."
     The screen winked out.
     Apollo's sister Athena announced, "Apollo, Earth's Fleet Commander
requesting assistance."
     "Tell them we're coming. Battlestations!"


Trust BC-304 stolen fleet

     Trust ships left the planet's atmosphere switched to stealth
systems. They retreated to the far side of the planet and above
Antarctica.
     Captain Charles E. Traven commanded the rogue Earth ship. A
disgruntled U.S. Navy Captain whom had been fired from his last
assignment for mismanagement and then forced into retirement. He was
looking forward to the new world order.
     This Iblis person came to visit him in his cabin by a lake and
promising him his heart's desire. Like an renown sailor of old,
Christopher Columbus, he asked one thing. In the new world order, he
wanted to be Admiral of the New Seas...Space. Having all military members
working for him.
     "Open ship wide communications." 
     "Channel open."
     "This is the Captain. Today marks the new era for humanity. While
our delusional brethren fight against a superior foe, we have the
assurances of our Lord Iblis that he will strike down these Goa'ould and
the Cylons. They will be our servants in the new world order. Once our
brethren soften up the Goa'ould and Cylons, their numbers will be
diminished, then we will step in and destroy the enemy, take power over
all the Earth and then my friends, there will be peace. Not a cease fire,
but Earth will finally know true peace and have a leader to stop all
wars, all diseases, and all famines."
     A cheer ran throughout the bridge.
     Deep within the bowels of the stealth ship...
     "Are they crazy?" Jack O'Neill asked.
     "Delusional is more like it." Daniel added.
     "No doubt." Sam added.
     "Regardless, we must siege control of this ship." Teal'c added.
     Jack turned around, "Getting a little antsy are ya?"
     Teal'c cocked his eyebrow but said nothing.
     Sam shrugged, "I know I am sir. It's been twenty hours since we
snuck onboard." For the last twenty hours SG-1 had been cooped up on a
Trust 304 class ship. Having received word from the CIA about Trust
operatives and rogue NID agents stealing the plans for the BC-304 class
starship, the Pentagon sent SG-1 to infiltrate the lead ship.
     Jack nodded, "Well, it's time to go then."
     "You must hurry." A disembodied voice added.
     SG1 turned around in circles and waived their P-90's.
     Jack leaned sideways a bit, "Carter?"
     "Got me sir."
     "Who said that?" Daniel whispered.
     "I did." A chipper British accented voice said.
     "Aw fer crying out loud? What's going on?"
     A brilliant flash of white light and a white male in impeccably
clean suit appeared before them. Jack raised his P-90 and demanded,
"Identify yourself!"
     The man smiled good naturedly but without any real fear that a sane
person would have of a deadly automatic snub-nosed machine gun waving in
their face. "And now you can see me."
     "Jack."
     Irritated Jack spat back, "Not now Daniel."
     "Jack." Daniel insisted.
     "What?"
     "Look." Daniel insisted.
     Jack frowned but never took his eyes off of the stranger. Continuing
to smile good naturedly, "I assure you that won't be necessary." Pointing
at Jack's weapon.
     "Oh! Really and why would that be?"
     "Because, I am not your enemy."
     "Colonel." Sam asked.
     "Oh! What? Can't you see that I am trying too..." Jack finally saw
something quite odd. His entire black covert op uniform and even his P-90
weapon were now a brilliant white. He viewed his entire uniform. 
     "Oh! You have got to be kidding me. This just screams gay all over
it!" Pausing he looked at the new comer. "You do this?"
     "Yes."
     "WHY? Do I look like I am in the Navy?"
     "Jack." Daniel scolded.
     "I'm serious. You're not supposed to wear white after Labor Day!"
     Sam, Daniel, and Teal'c turned their focus on him. Jack shrugged
embarrassingly, "I heard that somewhere."
     "My apologies Colonel O'Neill. This was necessary in order for you
to see me."
     "Who are you?"
     "Quite right. You may call me John."
     "John?"
     "Yes."
     "As in what? John Doe? John Deere? Dear John? Dear Abby?"
     "Jack." Daniel interrupted.
     "John the Baptist?"
     The British man smiled, making his eyes seem to twinkle, "As amusing
as this is, we haven't the time for it. Right now, the Trust under the
leadership of Count Iblis is planning to undermine Earth's weakened
defenses. You must hurry to take over the ship."
     "You mean what we were trying to do before you delayed us?"
     Sourly the British man frowned a bit.
     "Wait, who are you really? How did you get here and why did you have
to turn our clothes white?"
     John smiled at Sam, "A very good question. Let's say that I
represent the forces of Light and Good. We wish that you succeed, for if
you fail Earth will be destroyed."
     "We know this already." Teal'c answered.
     "Yes, but not from the Goa'ould or Cylons."
     Daniel started, "You are from the ship of lights?"
     John inclined his head.
     "The who of the what?" Jack asked perplexed.
     "The ship of lights. That was part of the Galatica's log tapes. It
mentioned at least two encounters with advanced beings, ugh, angels if
you will."
     "Who is the danger from then?" Teal'c asked.
     John smiled, "Count Iblis. He must be punished and all those that
follow him will be removed from his influence. If Earth were to follow
him, all its inhabitants would be forfeit."
     "Sodom and Gomorrah." Daniel blurted. 
     "What?" Jack asked.
     "Sodom and Gomorrah. The cities that were destroyed by the Hebrew
God for their iniquity." Teal'c stated.
     Daniel nodded and added, "Yes. You see, the Bible has a story about
ancient Jewish patriarch, Abraham. He was approached by an Angel of the
Lord and told Abraham that Sodom and Gomorrah would be destroyed because
of their wickedness. Abraham had a nephew there, named Lot. Abraham tried
negotiating with God and finally God agreed to not destroy the cities if
ten righteous people were found in the cities. There obviously were not
any."
     "So, what does this have to do with this Iblis person?" Jack asked.
     "You have visited Earth before?" Daniel asked.
     John nodded his head, "Iblis ruled several nations of old, Sodom and
Gomorrah, and Babylon, to name a few. He had been cast out and he moved
to other planets where others began to worship him. Iblis has returned to
claim all of humanity and he must be stopped."
     "Your angels, aren't you?" Daniel stated.
     John said nothing but his eyes twinkled merrily.
     "Look, ugh, thanks for the Sunday School lesson and all but we ugh,
have a ship to take and all."
     "Know this, mortal weapons will not hurt Iblis, but only a pure
heart can resist."
     "Ugh, thanks, next time we see one, we'll send you a SMS text."
     "If you have the power, will you not intervene?" Teal'c asked.
     John's eyes looked heavenward, "I am afraid that I am only here to
advise." Pausing he looked Teal'c in the eyes a second, then he added,
"It's a rotten job!" With that he disappeared.
     "Okkkayyy. That was weird." Jack said. He looked at his clothes, "So
what's with the white? Fresh out of Air Force Blue?" Jack spat to empty
air.
     "Maybe it's a side effect of communicating with lesser beings. Some
kind of residual power bleed or something." Sam offered.
     "Yeah, well, we'll blend in real nice with the grey walls. Why
didn't he just paint a target on our chests?"
     "Time is of the essence, Colonel." John said.
     Jack nodded, "I know, and get out of my head!"
     "Ugh, Jack, you might want to be careful with what you say."
     "Why, he's here to advise us right, that means he needs us."
     "Well, I'm just saying. If John is an Angel of God, you might end up
losing your ability to speak, or see."
     "Maybe the Earth opening up and swallowing me?" Jack said.
     "Yeah. Something like that."
     "Yeah, especially since we are in space."
     "Okay, maybe an explosive decompression and then vented out into
space?
     Thinking about that Jack shook his head envisioning such a scenario,
"Right", he said weakly. Then more forcefully he said, "Move out!"


Battle

     Earth battle fleets had taken a beating and they were down to forty
percent of their original forces.
     The Galactica jumped into the fray and launched vipers while
simultaneously launching a laser bombardment that lit up the surrounding
space. 
     A Goa'ould blast hit them and a sphere glowed around the immense
ship.
     Sheba smiled, "The new shields are working great."
     Apollo nodded, "For now. Where's the Cylon fleet?"
     Omega called out, "All Cylon ships are hammering into what's left of
Earth forces. The third ship is firing at the surface."
     "Where?" Sheba asked.
     Omega took a moment reading the unfamiliar names, "The North
American continent, Eastern quadrant, ugh, several locations, Computron
readout coming through now." Wow, Omega thought, this new computer
network is fast! "Laser bombardment on military installations in the
territories known as New York, Connecticut, Maryland, the American
capitol; Washington D.C., Virginia, Georgia, and Florida."
     "Flank speed, intercept that ship.  Once we are in range launch
forward missiles tubes and mega pulsar lasers."
     The Galactica lurched from a near standstill to seventy five percent
the speed of light in mere seconds."


Baltar's Cylon Base Ship

     Aboard the Cylon ship, Demios, once known as Baltar smiled
deviously. "Continue destroying the military bases. Soon, we will have
destroyed the very backbone of Tau'ri." 
     The gold Cylon acknowledged Demios command with a metallic voice.
     Inside the Goa'ould, the host's mind taunted him, "Ohhh! Don't be so
confident Demios. Shall the Not-Quite-So-Great Demios survive a battle
with the Thirteenth Tribe?" Then Baltar's mind laughed a serious deviant
laugh.
     Demios shook his head the silent hot dismal and walked toward his
sarcophagus.


Battlestar Galactica

     The Galactica reached its coordinates and fired upon the ship. 
     "Fire!" Apollo simply said.
     The Galactica released a volley of pure plasma hell into Demios
ship. Cylon shields glowed fiercely.
     Sheba checked her readouts. "Apollo, I got an idea."
     Apollo nodded and Sheba ordered, "Move the ship between Earth and
the Cylon ship. Then launch missiles and lasers."
     Apollo smirked, "Wish I thought of that!"
     Sheba smirked a bit, "I am woman, hear me roar!"
     Shaking his head, Apollo laughed, "You know our culture will never
be the same after all those American quips!"
     Omega reported. "Were taking hits, but shields are holding for now.
Were down to ninety-six percent."
     "Keep it up."
     "Were now between Earth and the basestar." Omega announced.
     The Galactica shuddered violently. "Shields are now at ninety
percent and falling!"
     "Keep firing!"
     Another wave of shuddering hit the Galatica's superstructure.

Earth Orbit

     From orbit, multiple crater depressions pockmarked the major cities
and military installations on the North American continent. Swirling
smoke clouds covered the Northern portion of the American East Coast.
From space the smoke blew North Easterly covering much of the cities and
swirled over the coast line. Smoke covered the sea up to a hundred or so
miles. Many white puffy clouds had large holes in them from the laser
bombardment from the Cylon War machine. The winds were not prevalent and
did little to close the gaps in the cloud cover.
     From ground level millions of tons of debris, and ruins lined
Manhattan's skyline. Buildings were broken in half, hanging on at a
skewed level, or completely leveled. The dust and debris from such a
collapse covered many miles. The only way to breathe would be to use a
shirt over ones mouth, a towel, or medical masks. People everywhere
walked around in a daze, helped others, or lay bleeding on the ground.
Many pets lay beside their master whimpering.
     The Naval Nuclear submarine base in Groton, Connecticut, and naval
bases in Maine were completely leveled. Many Government contractors'
buildings in various cities of the state of Maryland were nothing but
ruined ash. Fortunately, being at DEFCON 1 meant all the nuclear subs
were out to sea and at extreme depths awaiting orders. 
     The American capitol in Washington D.C. and the Central Intelligence
Agency (CIA) at Langley, Virginia was ablaze in a hellish fire that was
out of control. Destruction had rained down onto the Charleston, South
Carolina and did not escape ruin. Sumter AFB and Ft. Gordon likewise were
nothing more than smoking ruins as well. All the military bases in
Georgia, and Florida were nothing more than a ruinous heap. These
American military bases were nothing but high powered bonfires raging out
of control. Fortunately the death tolls were at a minimum due to the
advanced nature of warning.
     Those citizens of the affected areas that died in the initial
hellfire were later considered to be the lucky ones. Although American
defenses on the East Coast were crippled, the vast war machine and
redundancy of America's ingenuity continued on. West Coast military bases
took over command and control. As per military doctrine and established
protocols, the Air Force Cyber Command in Colorado began intensive
communication and coordination of all American military assets worldwide.
Soon after, the other branches of the American military piggybacked on
the coordination efforts.
     Surrounding states that bordered on the East Coast had already been
prepared with the national recall of all reserves and National Guard
units. National Guard units began intensive relief efforts and in the
affected areas. Not since the cowardly attacks on civilians of the 9/11
terrorist dogs and their bombings had America came together as a united
people against a terrible enemy of freedom.
     Around the world other countries suffered much the same fate. Most
of the first world countries military bases and larger cities were
devastated. Many of the larger cities were evacuated ahead of time but
stragglers and looters abounded. In the end it did not help any of the
looters as they were not able to live long enough to get away with their
loot. Most of Europe's major cities lay in ruins to some degree. This was
unfortunately due more in part to the "Widow Maker" fleets debris
crashing into skyscraper buildings and asteroids that were missed by the
fleet.

On the Moon.

     The one remaining Mega-Pulsar Laser worked overtime. Each kill they
landed critically overloaded shields on Goa'ould forces.  Unimagined
power shot fourth in a brilliant display of light in energy.  Wherever
the Mega-Pulsar Lasers hit, a Goa'ould ship either died in a spectacular
fireball or went dark with loss of power to critical systems. If only the
remaining weapons could survive long enough to make a difference.

Rogue Daedalus BC-304 starship.

     Members of SG-1 lead by Colonel Jack O'Neill prowled through the
sub-decks of their target Daedalus class ship. Jack checked his watch;
they were taking too long to reach their target. "Carter, could be
somehow take down all crew with a gas?"
     Carter thought a moment, here blonde eyebrows knitting in deep
thought. "We would have to go engineering, that is where the anesthesia
gas is controlled, that or the bridge. Problem is that its three levels
up, then we would have to accesses the support areas to remain unseen.
Once there we would have to incapacitate the crew. If we could get one of
the engineers to give us the code it would save us time."
     Jack nodded, "Ok, that's the plan. Carter, take point." 
     With nothing further to say the team moved silently toward their
goal. 


Widow-Maker Fleet...

     The widow-maker fleet was all but demolished. Out of several hundred
inferior space craft only thirty-two ships survived. The Navy would honor
the dead later, but for now there was work to be done.
     Admiral Jones carrier survived, albeit barely. His ship hull looked
more like Swiss cheese than actually a hybrid-space ship. Lights
flickered on and off, or blinked for operator's attention. All over the
Combat Information Center (CIC) the dead lay where they laid their lives
down. 
     First Lieutenant Rahdi gasped and sat up from the floor where she
had been hurled across the room.  She started to move her right arm down
only to feel something wrong. She looked down and gasped aloud. Her right
arm had a compound fracture and two white bones in her forearm protruded
out. She bit her lip to keep from crying. She managed to duck walk into a
position where she could gain enough momentum to stand. Reaching out with
her left arm she unceremoniously dragged Petty Officer Taylor out of her
chair and dropped her onto the floor. Rahdi moved sluggishly but
purposely. She checked and rechecked systems. Electrical fires caused a
rancid, choking cough from the smoke inhalation of Rahdi's lungs.
     Jones, had a fractured ankle he was sure. He hobbled over to Rahdi
when he saw her movement. He paused to look around and saw they were the
only two in the CIC still alive. "Lieutenant, damage report, have all
decks check in."
     Rahdi nodded, "Aye-Aye sir!" Swallowing the bile rising in her
throat and intense pain, she called out to several sections of the ship.
When she called engineering she got a snot-nosed sailor who had forgotten
communications discipline, "What the hell do you want?"
     Rahdi was taken aback, "Sailor! You are speaking to a superior
officer; now get me CHENG (Chief Engineer)!"
     After a pause, "CHENG is dead, and so is everybody else."
     "What is the status of engines and the reactor?"
     "What does it matter? We are dead anyway!"
     Rahdi couldn't believe what she was hearing; could it be this sailor
had a concussion? "Name and rank!" She called out sternly.
     "Why you looking for a date honey?"
     "Name and rank sailor or so help me God that I'll come down there
and skin you alive and feed your balls to you!"
     That got the sailors attention, he shook his head in confusion,
"Ugh, Seaman Ludkewski, ma'am."
     "Seaman, are you alright, are you hurt?"
     There was an audible growl then Ludkewski replied, "Yes ma'am! I am
sorry ma'am! I, I, hit my head. I do not know what I was thinking".
     Rahdi took on a matronly and motherly tone, 'Ludkewski, what is your
first name?"
     "Brad, ma'am".
     "Brad, that's good, now listen to me Brad, can you tell me what the
reactor readings are saying? What errors are you reading?"
     "Ah, just a minute ma'am."
     After two minutes he came back, "Oh my God! I can't believe it! The
reactor is fine."
     That's good Brad, now listen to me, I need you to switch all
functions to the CIC. Can you do that for me?"
     "Yes ma'am, I, I think so."
     After a few moments, Rahdi's alternate panel lit up with details,
alarms, and critical information.
     "Admiral?"
     Jones leaned in, "I see it, and damn near the entire ship is holed."
     Rahdi nodded, "Yes sir, but that is not all, and nearly ninety-seven
percent of our oxygen has been vented to space. CO2 scrubbers are down. I
estimate we have about forty-five minutes of air left. We will be on
individual space suits after that."
     Jones shoulders sagged, "Were you able to contact the Bridge?" 
     "No, sir, the comms appear to be working but no one is answering. I
could go up there?"
     Shaking his head Jones said, "No, for all we know the bridge could
be open to space. Can we get a count of lifesigns?"
     "No sir, that system is down as well."
     "Can you tell what the status of the TRSTRGRU, SPACECOM Detachments,
and Colonials are?"
     Rahdi almost got out of her seat, but then remembered the redundancy
built into the ship. She clumsily logged into the other systems with her
one good hand. Reporting she said "From what little I can ascertain most
of TRSTRGRU has been destroyed."
     Jones frowned but nodded, "Go on."
     "I have no information on my board about any SPACECOM Detachments
whereabouts or status. We are still receiving telemetry on the asteroids.
It appears all the asteroids that I can detect with what little are
working have been stopped. I cannot ascertain if non-naquadah laced
asteroids are out there, but we are still receiving a signal from the
other ships regarding naquadah laced asteroids."
     Jones smiled, "Finally some good news, what about the Cylon and
Goa'ould forces?"
     Rahdi rotated some software controls and checked her data, "Sir, it
appears that several Goa'ould vessels are damaged, some destroyed, and
some fully functional. I cannot be sure of estimates accuracy but it
appears that our forces have eliminated up to seventy-nine percent of
enemy forces on this side of the planet."
     "Come again?" Jones asked confused.
     Rahdi bit her lower lip as a spasm of red-hot pain shot up her
extremities from the compound fracture in her arm.
     When she could get her composure she said, "The Colonials are
reporting another heavily armed force of Goa'ould ships, approximately
fifty-three Ha'Tak class vessels, and one super Ha'Tak ship have entered
orbit on the other side of Earth."
     "Are all of our forces depleted?" Jones asked.
     "No, sir, Commander Cain's forces broke off and arrived a few
moments before and are heavily engaged, but..."
     "But what?" Jones demanded.
     "They are heavily outnumbered, at least two to one."
     Sighing heavily, "Well, we cannot help them but maybe we can do
something for the enemy ships here. Put me on ship-wide"
     Nodding Rahdi announced a few moments later, "Your on Admiral".
     "All hands, this is Admiral Jones. If anyone can hear me, the ship
is gone, all of you fought bravely but in the end all we can do is pray
that our other ships have better luck defeating the enemy. As of now, I
am ordering all hands to abandon ship. This ship will be leaving Earth
orbit in two minutes. If you have not made it to an escape pod by then,
you're stuck onboard. Thank you and God Bless America and Earth".
     Rahdi frowned, "Sir, where are we going? We do not have a space dock
and the ship will not survive reentry".
     "Can you patch me through to the rest of our fleet?"
     Pausing he realized he was now proud to say the cursed term of the
Widow Maker Fleet.
     Rahdi frowned a moment but soon got communications up, "Yes, sir,
but I cannot guarantee that we are transmitting".
     Jones smiled a rather fatherly smile and patted her shoulder, "It
will have to do."
     "All ships of TRUSTRGRU our", pausing Jones smiled in recognition of
their proud fleets new history, "Widow-Maker fleet, we have fought the
good fight against more numerous foes. We gave a good accounting of
ourselves, but our job is not done. There are threats to our families up
here and by God we are going to destroy them."
     "On my authority, I am ordering all ships of TRUSTRGRU that are able
to accelerate to maximum speed and ram the closest enemy combatant
ships." Pausing Jones shoulders sagged further, "Our ships will not last
long against either the Cylon or Goa'ould forces, but I am ordering all
ships under my command to arm every warhead possible and take those
Sons-of-bitches out of my sky!" Then will a calm voice he said, "That is
all, good hunting."
     Rahdi shivered at what Jones was ordering the fleet to do. She knew
it was the right thing to do but even though she knew she might die, the
reality hit here more firmly. A new thought came to her though, after the
9/11 attacks by terrorists many American Muslims had been afraid of the
backlash in their country. Some ignorant people had blamed all Muslims
but it angered her that some people put her and her family in that
shameful and cowardly lot of terrorists. Now, she would die a martyr but
not for someone who would use their god as an excuse of extreme hatred
and a great evil. No, her sacrifice would be far greater than her
brethren in the Middle East. She would die inflicting great damage on a
"REAL" enemy that would destroy or subjugate all mankind. Her sacrifice
would be honorable. Those hate-filled terrorists were remembered as the
very worst of human kind, the dogs of the Earth. There was no greater
insult than to call someone a "dog" in Muslim culture. That is what she
thought of the terrorists, Satan's dogs. 
     In fact, the very incident that Extremist in the Middle-East had
been proud of had brought intense shame on all of her people that
worshiped her god. She had been so profoundly moved to patriotism of her
adopted country that instead of going to MIT as she had planned, she had
entered the Navy as an officer. That is how ashamed she was of the dogs
that caused so much suffering and pain. She vowed to be the best example
of what a Muslim should be to the world by building a career of
excellence. She would die showing her life and death meant something by
protecting people. Something her brethren overseas struggled with in
concept and in execution; Honor, Integrity, and Service Before Self.


     The remnants of the "Widow-Maker" fleet propelled to such high
speeds that the inertial dampeners struggled to keep up. In some cases
the dampeners red-lined and failed. 
     Lt Rahdi shook herself out of her reverie. Checking her radar
sensors, "Sir, six of the remaining ships are lagging behind." Jones
nodded, "That will have to do then." He sighed, "Where are we on the
arming status of our missiles?"
     Rahdi checked another screen, "Sir, I managed to get Seaman
Ludkowski from engineering to make contact with the Weapons department. I
count two hundred of our four hundred missiles are armed. We will need to
give them the final launch codes prior to launch, but we should be good
to go."
     Jones eyebrows tugged upwards in surprise, "That's impressive."
Changing the subject he said, "How many made it to the life pods?"
     Rahdi did not need to check her statistics, "Three, sir."
     That had pained Jones, "So few? Shame."
     Rahdi smiled despite the pain in her arm, "No, sir, I mean those
still alive chose to stay and that is why the manual arming process of
our enhanced nukes are moving so rapidly."
     Jones started at the information. Chocking back a tearful sob he
said, "Best damn crew in the Navy!!"
     Rahdi nodded back, "Yes, sir, they are." A console beeped,
"Instruments shows we are coming up on our target."
     Jones nodded acknowledgement, "Deploy ships logs and last visual
recordings of the CIC for posterity Lieutenant."
     As soon as she had said that the ship lurched sideways then righted
itself. "I guess we got their attention." Patting the console, "Come on
ole girl, just hang together a bit longer". The shaking of the ship
became nonstop and nearly unbearable. The console in front of Rhadi
beeped. She stood up and saluted her superior officer with her good hand,
"We're here sir. It's been an honor serving with you."
     Jones nodded then stood as best he could on his one good leg. He
returned the salute smartly, "The honor was mine lieutenant."
     From a distance of three astronomical units (A.U.)., multiple balls
of high yield, naquadah enhanced nuclear weapons burned a short lived sun
into the black of night.
     In the end, all but six of the thirty-two "Widow-Maker" fleet rammed
into Cylon and Goa'ould ships alike. The explosion from the downed Cylon
and Goa'ould ships was so bright that everyone on that side of Earth had
to shield their eyes from the explosions.


Trust ship SV-001 above Antarctica in high earth orbit.

     Captain Charles E. Traven smugly sat in his chair. He surveyed his
state of the art ship. Smiling within he could not help but rub a hand
across the command chair's console embedded within. A red light turned on
which made Traven remove his palm, believing that he had caused the
problem. He frowned at the red button demanding attention but for some
reason he could not remember what the button's light indicated. He turned
his head very slowly to ask his communications officer when she slowly
turned toward him and opened her mouth. Instead of speaking her mouth
went lopsided and drool came out and slid down her chin. Her eyes rolled
back into her head then she collapsed onto the floor.
     Traven was shocked at the falling out of his communications officer.
He tried to stand but his legs felt like two-hundred pound weights and
rubbery. He turned his attention to the rest of his crew as one by one
they either slumped into their seats or fell to the floor.
     His last thought had been that he needed to do something, but could
not remember what needed to be done. He slumped over to his right side
and passed out.
     From engineering, Sam Carter smiled, "Looks like the whole ship is
out. We have about four hours before they awake."
     O'Neill smiled, "Ok, open communications with Stargate Command."
     Sam nodded as she placed the audio and video transmission onto the
main screen and said, "You're on sir."
     General Hammond smiled, "Colonel! We were worried about you! You
were overdue for check-in."
     "Yes sir, change of plans sir, we went to engineering and gassed the
whole ship."
     General Hammond suddenly realized what was wrong with what he was
seeing, "Colonel? Did you change uniforms?"
     Jack shuddered, "Not my idea sir, we had a visitor while we were
waiting".
     "A visitor?"
     Daniel piped in, "Apparently from what we have read in the Colonials
journeys they ran into some type of advanced beings that were watching
from the sidelines of human history".
     Jack jumped in, "Yeah, Daniel went all preachy about Angels or
something but I am not buying it."
     Daniel frowned, "Look he had said, "This was necessary in order for
you to see me". We do not know why the ability to see him and our clothes
turning white happens or was necessary but it did."
     Sam theorized, "Based on what I think happened, I think the exotic
particles associated with turning our uniforms white will gradually
recede."
     Daniel asked, "You think this is some sort of energy decay rate tied
to whatever energy used for this John person to allow us to see him?"
     Sam nodded, and began to say, "yes".
     Sergeant Siler walked past the screen behind General Hammond and
paused when he recognized SG-1 in eggshell white uniforms, "Whoa!
Colonel! You're not supposed to wear white after Labor Day! That just
screams gay all over it!"
     Jack actually smiled, "See!" Pointing to the screen and at Siler's
form behind General Hammond. "That's what I said!"
     Hammond frowned behind him and Sergeant Siler made a hasty retreat
with a profound sense of embarrassment.
     Hammond changed the subject, "Are you able to lower the scrambling
effect so that we can ring some people aboard?"
     "Carter?" Asked Jack.
     Sam nodded yes, "Way ahead of you sir. The distortion field is down.
Feel free to ring up the teams."
     "We will have SG teams 3,4,5,6,9,12, 13 aboard within 5 minutes."
     Teal'c broke the silence, "O'Neill, if we can ring teams aboard this
vessel, could we not incapacitate the other Trust vessels and place our
troops onboard?"
     Jack mouth dropped, "Wow, T, that was more words than you have
spoken since I have known you."
     Sam smiled, "He's right sir, and we could add another seven ships to
this fight!"
     "Colonel, you have a go, I'll send up everyone at the SGC that is
not guarding the entry points in order to remove the Trust crewman. Then
the other SG teams will take command of the other ships."
     Jack grinned an award winning smile, "Now we're cooking with oil!"


     In the background, the being known simply as John stood smiling with
satisfaction. He had argued with his peers that SG-1 could be counted on
to accomplish what was needed in the time remaining.
     O'Neil's team would never know it, but it had been essential for the
transformation of seeing John. By John allowing himself to be seen, now
SG-1 had officially come under the "spiritual protection" of John. This
protection was not the physical but meta-physical warfare. One might even
call it spiritual warfare.
     The wheels were in motion and it was only a matter of time till the
enemy showed himself.
     "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!" A disembodied voice boomed.
     John smiled crookedly, "Ah! Right on time."


Battlestar Pegasus

     Cain's battle was one sided. It would seem one sided to anyone else.
By all outward appearance Commander Cain was outgunned and outnumbered
two to one. By Cain's estimation, the odds were not fair, not fair that
is for the enemy.
     "Tolan, reduce speed, alter angle of attack by 23 degrees, downward
angle, bring all weapons to bear."
     "We are in position sir."
     "Shield and weapons status?" Cain demanded.
     "Shields and weapons are fully functional sir".
     "All right, have our fleet spread out to limit ourselves as targets,
and line up for a forty-five degree arc of fire support on the enemy".
     Tolan nodded, "Passing information on now" Afterwards he replied,
"If you do not mind me saying sir, how can you know exactly where the
enemy will exit hyperspace?"
     Cain said, "You let me worry about that, but suffice to say it is
where I would exit for maximum efficiency on planetary bombardment".
     "Yes, sir."
     A control board beeped, "Sir, scanners show the enemy fleet
appearing right where you estimated."
     "Excellent!" Cain grinned. Standby to fire."


Lord Yu Flagship

     Lord Yu in the secondary attack fleet stood as still as a statue. Yu
was part of this combined Goa'ould Fleet. He had noticed that heavy
resistance but unlike his more cowardly brothers in the System Lords did
not mind battlefield losses, as long as results were achieved.
     The former teacher of Sun-Tsu, awaited the final exit point from
hyper-space. A Jaffa, his "Prime" stood at the helm of the massive Ha'Tak
Command star ship.
     "My Lord" his First Prime announced, "We are approaching coordinates
on the other side of the planet."
     "Have the all ships conduct an emergency stop, then an emergency
jump to secondary exit point!"
     "My Lord, there may not be enough time, may I suggest..."
     "Do as you have been commanded."
     "Yes my lord."
     The fleet appeared in front of their enemy for a moment, and then
performed an emergency hyperspace jump, continuing on to the secondary
exit point. Their ships would appear to be in two places at once.


Battlestar Pegasus

     Cain saw the enemy Goa'ould ships begin to appear and had been
prepared to issue the command to fire. "Tolan, fi..."
     Enemy ships winked into and out of existence as they disappeared
again.
     "What just happened?" Cain demanded.
     The enemy ships appeared and then suddenly had vanished. 
     Tolan stammered, "I, I am not sure".
     Bright lights appeared directly amid ships and to their right. Large
ships appeared amid the Colonial Fleet. Emergency calls went out as
mountain sized starships scraped across the Colonial ships hulls.
     Immensely dense Battlestar hull and Ha'Tak hulls scraped, ripping in
some sections, and merely buckling in others. A small debris field of
shrapnel arced out at high speeds in 360 degree arc patterns.
     Cain exhaled loudly, "Sound Collision" as he held on to his arm
rests of his chair.
     Enemy fire peppered the Colonial Fleet from every side.
     Tolan announced loudly but with great professionalism, "All decks
reporting damage, we are venting atmosphere!"
     The Battlestar Pegasus rocked harshly, "Set damage control teams to
damaged sections!What is happening Tolan? How are they getting through
our shields?"
     Tolan's hands danced across his consoles. "The enemy ships appeared
simultaneously inside and outside our shields. My theory is that the
since the Goa'ould ships within our shields protective envelope it must
have cancelled out the shield harmonics, which had caused a cascade
failure of our shield generators."
     "Launch all fighter squadrons including the ready reserve." Cain
demanded.
     Cain nodded with an appreciative grin, "Very clever. Appearing where
we least expected them to appear." 
     Tolan nodded, "Clearly, we are facing an exceptional strategist".
     Cain's grin turned feral, "Appearing where the enemy was not!
     Tolan checked several alarms demanded his attention but managed to
ask, "Sir?"
     "Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not
expected." Cain said.
     "I am not sure that I follow sir."
     "The Art of War by Sun-Tsu, do you know what that means Tolan?"
     "I have no idea, sir".
     According to Stargate Commands Archives, the Asian Goa'ould known as
Lord Yu spent a great amount of time on Earth thousands of Yahren ago. He
was the only Goa'ould that taught humanity anything of value. I believe
Lord Yu is the enemy commander."
     Tolan turned to face his commander with a questioningly look.
     Cain smirked, "What? Did you think all I did was play their
vid-games on a computer all this time?"
     "Ah, yes sir, what are you orders? The fleet is taking heavy
damage."
     Cain smiled predatorily, "Why Tolan, we take a page out of Lord Yu's
prot‚g‚'s book. Prepare all warriors to board the enemy crafts. We are
taking the fight to where they are strongest!"


Onboard the rogue NID Daedalus Class Starship

     A figure in white appeared before John. He was not the handsomely
groomed individual that the Trust had seen. This was the face of
Mephistopheles, or Count Iblis as he had been known in Paradise, before
the fall of Kobol.
     The demonic face of Count Iblis roared with fangs outstretched,
"What have you done!"
     John was not in the least bit intimidated, "What was necessary for
the survival of the human race".
     Iblis stopped short of John, "The leaders of these nations have come
to me of their free will. You cannot interfere."
     "Oh, I am not allowed to interfere, but merely guide, and guide I
have."
     Iblis frowned deeply, and then smiled arrogantly, "We shall see."
     Without another word Iblis disappeared.
     It was John's turn to exclaim in shock at what Iblis would do, "Oh!
No!"


     Colonel O'Neil felt strange; like that time he had eaten a left over
burrito that had been sitting in the fridge for over three weeks.
     "Whoa." Jack exclaimed.
     Daniel was standing off to the side of Jack, "Jack, you ok?"
     "I, ugh, augh." Then Jack reeled to the side of the commanding
officers chair.
     Carter was busily adjusting coordinates, "Sir!"
     Reaching out to stabilize Jack, Sam and Daniel helped him back in
his chair.
     Teal'c stopped dead in his tracks looking around. Squinting his eyes
as he scanned the room Teal'c frowned at something not quite right. Call
it a deep sense of foreboding. Cocking his head to his side paused in
mid-stride.
     Daniel looked up, "Teal'c! We need help here! What are you doing?
     Teal'c did not stop surveying the room but replied, "I believe we
are not alone Daniel Jackson."
     Sam and Daniel stopped at that, "What?" they said in unison.
     Instead of answering, Teal'c pulled out his stun gun called
affectionally a "Zat Gun". He pointed the gun toward the left side of the
bridge view port and fired. A musical noise going up and down the scales
sounded as a writhing line of energy leaped forward.
     Sam shouted, "Teal'c, what the hell are you...."
     She never finished because a man in flowing white robes appeared,
"Greetings, I mean you no harm."
     Daniel straightened himself, "Who are you?"
     "Quite right, I am Count Iblis, Dr. Jackson."
     Daniel turned his head back to Carter then to Iblis, "How do you
know my name and what do you want?"
     Iblis smiled a paternal smile, "To help you friend, you must trust
me."
     Daniel paused a moment then said, "No, I don't think so."
     "Why whatever is the matter Dr. Jackson"? Iblis asked innocently.
     "We were warned about you." Daniel stated matter of factly.
     Iblis eyes twinkled, "Really, and by whom I wonder?"
     Teal'c interrupted, "By a being calling himself John."
     Iblis smiled ruefully, "And you believe this being?"
     Jack took that moment to projectile vomit and began convulsing, as
his eyes rolled back in his head.
     "Quickly!" Iblis demanded, "I can save him, but only if you trust
me." 
     Sam screamed Jacks name and then choked on her next words, "I, I,
I."
     Iblis peered into Sam's soul and his smile grew as he responded,
"Yes, you have feelings for Colonel O'Neil. I can save him, let me save
him and you two can be together. All you have to do is trust me."
     Jack took that moment to sit up, "No!" was all he managed to say
before he writhed in pain.
     "Stop it! Please!" Sam pleaded.
     Iblis smiled warmly, "My dear, I am not the one that is doing this;
it is your friend, John who is hurting him."
     Daniel shook his head, "I don't believe you! He warned us about
you."
     Sam wailed in fear, "Stop it!" "Please, stop it!"
     "Doctor Jackson", Iblis began.
     A second wave of the Zat Gun hit Iblis and his form changed from
benign English gentlemen to a demonic beast in white robes, then back to
the appearance of an English Gentleman. Isblis ruse defeated now that
SG-1 had seen his true and grisly appearance he smiled evilly.
     "You should not have done that my dear Jaffa." Iblis pointed his
finger at Teal'c, "That was foolish and now you will die."
     Before Iblis had finished pointing his finger, Jack lunged forward
in front of Teal'c, nearly falling over. An invisible power enveloped
Jack and then he collapsed. 
     Sam ran over to Jack, "He's not breathing! Come on Jack! Don't you
dare die!" She began CPR as fast as she could.
     Iblis frowned, "That was not supposed to happen."  For the first
time Iblis looked worried.
     Jack's body became ice cold and turned a pale blue as his whole body
froze in death, bypassing the normal stages of rigor mortis. 
     Sam wailed as she flung herself over Jack's body.
     Teal'c raised his eyebrow and shot Iblis a third time with the Zat
Gun. Iblis turned back to his true self once more only to retake his
human like appearance again. Sighing he said, "You do realize your
primitive weapons cannot hurt me? Fools! I am a god, I could have given
you your hearts desires!"
     Teal'c raised his Zat Gun and was about to shoot Iblis again when
Iblis motioned with his finger impatiently and Teal'c flew backward and
violently hit a bulkhead. Teal'c slid to the floor unconscious.
     Daniel pulled his side arm and fired an entire magazine into Iblis.
Iblis didn't even blink.
     "I can raise him from the dead Dr. Jackson, only believe in me!"
     Daniel frowned as he cried out his frustration over Jacks death,
"Never!" Then in a moment of insight Daniel remembered something and
called out, "John! John! Help us! John! I know your there, I know you can
hear me! Stop this John!"
     Iblis balked at that, "Well, I see you have more pressing matters to
attend to. Before I leave let me leave you with a final gift." Iblis
walked over to the console rather nervously looking around at something
unseen. Then turning back to the console he sliced his hand through the
console and it disappeared into the equipment without any visible damage
to the outside of the equipment. The lights blinked on and off, finally
dying, and then the ship began a downward spiral into the Earth's
atmosphere.
     After Iblis removed his hand, a streak of white light in the shape
of a ball flew past the foreword viewport, and then a second light joined
it, then a third. These round balls of light increased in numbers.
     Iblis appeared worried but Daniel interpreted the look, "What's the
matter count? Is it legal for you to kill one of your followers, or
someone who attacks you, but not someone who gave their life willingly
for another?"
     Iblis did not respond but eyed the balls of white light streaking
across space in front of the spacecraft.
     Daniel further taunted, "You look worried Count, don't tell me you
broke some rule you are bound to obey?"
     Iblis looked momentarily to Daniel, "No one has dominion over
me...No one!"
     At that moment John appeared, "You have done it this time haven't
you? Well you will pay for the evil you have caused this universe."
     Iblis raised his hand defiantly to strike John down, but John merely
waived his hand and Iblis hands fell to his sides. John waved his hand
again and the ship righted itself from it's freefall to Earth.
     Crying out in a loud voice, "No one has dominion over me!" With a
fearful look on his face, a white light shone upon his entire body and he
screamed, "No! No! Abaddon, save me! I did your will, did I not?" Turning 
to John he pleaded, "I will make amends, you do not have to do this."
     John not dissuaded said in a booming voice, "You have not learned
you previous lessons!" John waved his hand and the ship stopped spinning
out of control, and entered a stable orbit.
     Iblis fear turned to paralyzing fear on someone about to receive
impending judgement.
     Iblis cried out loudly, "No! I repent, I repent! Do not send me
there! They do not reward failure! Noooo!"
     John's demeanor and appearance shone brightly as the sun. Sam,
Teal'c, and Daniel cringed, and used their hands as shields from the
brightness of the light. 
     John pointed a finger at Iblis, his voice booming at nearly one
hundred decibels shaking the entire room and stunning everyone's ear
drums, "And you are reserved in everlasting chains!"
     Ethereal chains appeared upon and around Iblis, he screamed again,
"No! No! I repent!"
     John finished with his hauntingly powerful shout of power and
authority, "You will be cast out and placed in utter darkness unto the
judgment of the great Day".
     Iblis screamed one more time and then faded from existence.
     Daniel moved his hands away from his face as he looked on in
speechless astonishment. John's booming and thunderous voice returned to
normal, as did his appearance. John smiled to his charges, "Well, then! I
have been waiting to do that for more than two thousand years!"
     Daniel's mouth twitched as he said, "You really are an Angel of God
aren't you?"


Earth Orbit, Colonial and Goa'ould fleets

     Thousands of space suited Colonial Troops mounted with a small jet
pack hurled across the abyss of space towards the fifty Goa'ould space
ships at nearly one hundred miles per centaur (hour). Instead of using
the boxy space shuttles to transport troops the hastily designed plan
called for using surprise of thousands of troops that had trained for
this very activity. 
     By using individuals, the large Ha'tak class weapons could not hit
the individuals spread out across the horizon of the Goa'ould ships.
     As Colonial troops jetted across the void to the enemy ships, one
group, the Ultraviolet squad unknowingly passed through a debris field.
Charlie was the joker of the Ultraviolet squad and his humor was
legendary.
     "Hey guys, you know we scraped a lot of hull fragments off our
ships, what are the odds of someone hitting chunks of that debris, huh?"
     Mace, the lead sergeant frowned, "Charlie! Radio silence! Shut your
mouth! You don't want to jinx us!"
     Charlie laughed and said, "Oh! Wait! I think I see some debris now!"
     Mace frowned, "Shut it!" just as a fist sized chunk of debris came
within a hair's breath of hitting him, "Felgercarb!"
     Charlie started laughing, "Aw, Sarge, I was just joking!"
     That was when a pebble size piece of shrapnel hit Charlie off center
of his face visor and his oxygen and pressure shot out of his face plate
so hard it send Charlie careening off into deep space.
     "Charlie!" Mace exclaimed
     "Where is he?" claimed one of his squad.
     "He's gone. Head up, more debris ahead, alter course 5 degrees, down
angle"
     "Wait! Is that a joke? Charlie pulling a fast one again?"
     "Shut your  fracking hole! Charlie's gone, heads up and  maintain
radio silence."


     The Battlestar Pegasus, at a length of nearly one Earth mile long
sported nearly five thousand troops that were specifically trained for
inter-ship fighting. The mix of Colonials and soldiers of the planet
Terra made a lethal combination.
     The same reason that disabled the shields of the Colonial ships also
disabled the Goa'ould ships. The only reason that this hastily crafted
plan had a chance of working is because of this unknown liability.
     Captain Green of Kilo platoon maneuvered their jets to a stationary
orbit located directly above what was the Ha'tak bridge. Thanks in no
small part to SG-1 and some snot nosed computron nerd on that last
mission, they had serious intel on the Ha'taks class vessels. The plan
was to storm the ship in three locations then get the hell out of there.
The first location was the bridge, then the secondary bridge, and finally
engineering. Once all controls and redundancies were destroyed the mop up
could take place.
     It had been decided by Cain that instead of fighting every last crew
member to the man, the plan would be to permanently disable all enemy
ships, then leave. With all primary and backup controls, stations, and
power systems down the enemy ships would be towed to Mars orbit for
dismantling and rebuild into new Battlestars.
     "Kilo platoon, on station at Point Alfa."
     "Begin operations Captain, good hunting!" A communications
specialist from the Pegasus ordered.
     "Commencing operation now!" Captain Green reported. Turning to his
platoon he ordered, "All right! Set these solenite breaching charges!"
     All around the Goa'ould vessels surrounding and amid the Colonial
ships similar breaching charges 


Stolen Trust Ship

     Daniel looked at John, "You really are an Angel of God aren't you?"
     John's eyes merely twinkled, "Yes, well, we haven't time for that do
we?"
     John disappeared from view, "Wait!" Daniel exclaimed. "Don't leave,
we need help!"
     Teal'c went to Sam, "Major Carter, we must join the battle."
     Sam lifted her head off of Jack "I can't." She huffed.
     Teal'c uncharacteristically used her first name, "Samantha Carter,
would not Colonel O'Neil want you to continue fighting to protect Earth?"
     Sam nodded as the last tear fell. He countenance fell and darkness
smoldered behind her eyes, "Your right."
     She got up and then sat down in the navigators seat, "Teal'c, man
the weapons station."
     "Prepare" was all she was able to say when Daniel interrupted.
     "What is that?" Daniel exclaimed. 
     A monstrous white ship filled with lights appeared in front of them.
The ship was so bright, and then their ship filled with a sharp light,
then a flash of light disappeared."
     "What just happened?" Sam asked. 
     Teal'c was the first one to notice, "O'Neil!"
     As they all looked at Jacks last location lying on the bridge they
noticed he was gone.
     "What happened? Where's Jack?"
     Daniel shook his head, "I have no idea, but I think it has something
to do with the white ship."
     Teal'c paused and cocked his head sideways a fraction, "Why would
the ship of lights take O'Neil's body?"
     Sam muttered, "I don't know but let's focus, arm all weapons,
prepare for a counter attack. Let's go help Commander Cain."
     That was when they heard an electronic whine so loud that all of
three of them grasped their ears from the pain. Sam collapsed first into
unconsciousness, the Daniel as he reached for navigation controls to get
them out of the range of the noise. Then Teal'c seeing what Daniel was
trying to do actually pushed the hyperdrive activation sequence, but the
controls no longer responded. He screamed in frustration and collapsed
beside Daniel.


Lord Yu Flagship

     Lord Yu sat upon his Dias. "Status on the enemy"
     His First Prime stated, "The enemy vessels are outnumbered two to
one. It appears that all ships have suffered varying levels of damage by
our exit from hyperspace. All enemy ships are venting atmosphere."
     "Excellent! Fire secondary plasma cannons, have enemy ships fire on
sensitive areas."


Battlestar Pegasus

     "Sir, all of our people are on the enemy ships awaiting your order."
     Cain smiled, "All right then, let's begin, then we will have some
fun!"
     "Fun sir?" Tolan asked with brows furrowed.
     "Ah, Tolan, fun is a matter of perspective is it not? This is what I
was born for."
     Tolan glanced at his console again, "If fun is what you want there
is, ugh, fun is headed our way."
     The Pegasus rocked as blasts of plasma fire.
     "Tolan, give the word, blast those gall monging snake heads to
hades!"
     "With pleasure sir!"


Lord Yu Flagship

     Lord Yu enjoyed the battle so far, "These fools know nothing about
warfare! Hmph!" Yu harrumphed triumphantly.
     "My lord, the enemy has taken great damage, but there are reports of
several humans in space suits headed our way"
     Yu  looked askance,  "Bah! What insanity is this? Destroy them!"
     "My Lord, our weapons are for ships, not something as small as a
man."
     "Have the fighters attack them then, run them down."
     "Yes my Lord."
     As soon as he had said this he got up and left the bridge, "I will
see this sight for myself, ready my ship".
     "My Lord! It will be done."
     No sooner had Lord Yu left the bridge a great shaking happened and
he fell unceremoniously to his side. "What trickery is this! Prime!
Prime!"
     Yu walked back to the bridge but the door would not open. He pushed
the button again but nothing happened. He soon realized why the door
would not open. It could only mean the bridge was exposed the hard vacuum
of space. "Very clever." Then he turned and hurried to the auxiliary
bridge.


Battlestar Pegasus

     "Sir, all ships have been breached, our people are inside".
     Cain nodded, "Good, now activate the ships tractor beams, and lock
us onto the enemy ship, spread the word."
     Tractor beams locked on to Goa'ould vessels and dragged them to the
Colonial ships. Much like the old wooden ships of Earth's past, where
pirates lashed their ships together for ease of transfer of troops.


Lord Yu Flagship

     Lord Yu made it to Auxiliary bridge with no time to spare. Report!
     "My Lord, every ship in the fleet has been boarded by the Colonial
humans. They are inflicting heavy casualties among our Jaffa.
     "What?" Screamed Lord Yu. "Very clever, my enemy".
     Order all ships to use stun grenades to take out the enemy troops.
     "My Lord, it will be done!"


     Ultraviolet squad met up with Kilo Platoon under Captain Green.
Captain Green assigned Ultraviolet squad to his personal strike team. 
     Captain Seth Green was from Terra and although he did not know
Ultraviolet squad as they were from a sister ship, they were brethren.
They were all Colonials now. As the saying goes, "In for a penny, in for
a pound". Apparently, that was not a unique Earth term.
     "All right, Sergeant Mace!"
     "Sir!"
     According to the schematics in our scanner there is an auxiliary
bridge. Take two of my men and infiltrate my men. Then turn off all life
support. Radio back when you mission objective is complete."
     Mace straightened, "Yes, sir!"
     Mace rounded up Private Kelly and Corporal Hues. They opened a
ventilation shaft and dived into it.


     Lord Yu reviewed the battle. "Why are the humans destroying my
Jaffa!"
     Alteri, a jaffa of lesser rank looked at his readouts, "My Lord!" He
gulped for air, "These Colonials fight like the damnable Tau'ri!"
     Lord Yu swished his head sideways and spat, "Bah! This is not
happening fast enough. Order all Jaffa to overwhelm them with numbers! We
have a three to one advantage".


     Ultraviolet squad under Sergeant Mace's command wiggled through the
ventilation chambers. He made it to the Auxiliary Bridge and peeked out
from the grate. Looking downward, he say what appeared to be a comical
little man with black ponytail, and long twisty and small beard in robes
hurling insults at his underling.
     Mace turned and pointed downward, then used two fingers pointed to
his eyes to indicate that he saw two individuals, and then grabbed a gift
from Stargate Command called "flash bangs". He looked at the ventilation
grate and noticed the clasps holding the vent closed and loosed them. He
motioned for one of his men to come near, "HVT" he whispered.
     The other non-com repeated the order of high valued target which
translated into "Don't frak this up and kill him!"
     Lord Yu heard a scraping noise and thought he hears a voice,
although faint. He looked around the room in confusion. 
     Then he saw the ventilation grating above open no larger than a
man's hand width and something fall below.
     He turned to escape as he realized what was about to happen when his
world turned to bright white light and then fade to the dark of oblivion.



     Captain Green was getting tired of seeing his platoon cut to ribbons
when all of a sudden the enemy began to convulse and pass out from a lack
of air.
     He read his environmental gauge and the oxygen in the hallway was
reduced to zero.
     "All right!" Captain Green shouted into his helmet's microphone.
"Let's go! The ship is ours!" "Forrester!"
     A small pencil necked private with rat like eyes piped in, "Sir?"
     "Contact Command, tell them the ship is ours." He was about to give
another order when Ultraviolet radioed him breaking radio silence. He
grinned and nodded unknowingly to himself, "All right, and Forrester,
tell command we have an HVT!"


Ship of Lights, somewhere between dimensions

     Sam awoke and heard a voice, "Balron infusion complete".
     She struggled to get up even before her eyes opened but she was
restrained. When she opened her eyes she could not see any restraints but
she couldn't move.
     "What is happening?" She cried out.
     An ethereal person clothed in stunning white array that glowed of
power and energy shone so bright she could not look directly at the
person. The ghost or whatever it was appeared to have no gender that she
could discern. It walked up to her and move its hand over her face and
body. Wherever the hand passed, she could move her body.
     She sat up and tried grabbing her pistol, but it was not there.
"Where am I?"
     The faceless individual turned away from her and walked away.
     "Hey!"
     A hand touched her on the back of her shoulder and she spun around.
     She grabbed the hand and had decided to flip the person but a
familiar voice stopped her, "Sam! It's me!"
     Daniel was behind her. "Daniel!" She grabbed him and hugged him
tightly.
     Daniel pulled back from Sam and said, "I think, I think we might be
dead."
     Sam started at that. "But how?"
     Teal'c walked up to them from apparently nowhere, "Carter! Jackson!"
     The hugged Teal'c and turned to see the faceless entity had waited
for them.
     Daniel stepped forward and asked, "You want us to follow you?"
     The face said nothing but turned its back on them and walked through
a door that suddenly appeared.
     Looking at each other the group followed the entity.
     When the entered another room, they saw Jack lying on a Dias of
sorts.
     Sam ran to him and cried over him, "Jack! Jack!"
     He did not move. She began to silently weep over him.
     From behind the group a familiar voice with a distinctly English
accent spoke, "Well now, I am pleased to see you are all none the worse
for wear."
     Teal'c and Daniel turned in unison, "John!"
     "Now that we are together, let's begin".
     Sam cried out, "Leave us alone! Haven't you done enough?"
     John nodded gravely, "Major Carter, what you do not understand is
that because of you we have permanently disabled Count Iblis powers and
sent him back to his...er, well, home, as it were."
     Daniel walked up to John, "You mean hell don't you?"
     John smiled but said nothing.
     It was Teal'c that finished everyone's thought, "You had the power
all along, why did you not intervene sooner, Iblis was one of your kind
after all?"
     John nodded, "Quite right, Iblis was once a part of our..." He
searched for the right word, "Continuum". "Simply put, we are observers
and guide humanity, but we are strictly forbidden to interfere except
under certain conditions and through the use of humans."
     "Why us?"
     John deadpanned, "Why not you and your team Doctor Jackson? You must
understand that although we did not orchestrate the circumstances, we
allow certain things to happen in order to bring about a greater good."
     Sam was filled with anger when she spoke, "greater good! Jack is
dead! How is that a greater good! What gives you the right to determine
what the greater good is".
     John shook his head, "Until Iblis moved his hand and meant to strike
down Colonel O'Neill we could do nothing. Thanks to Colonel O'Neill's
sacrifice for his friend he enabled us to take a response against Iblis."
     Daniel thought deeply a moment then said, "Greater love have no man
than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends".
     Teal'c cocked his head to the side, "Daniel Jackson, to what do you
refer?"
     Daniel thought a moment, "It's from the Christian Bible, John 15:13,
I think."
     John smiled, "Quite right, Doctor Jackson."
     Same stood up over jack's corpse, "What does that have to do with
Jack dying? How could that enable you to intervene?"
     John nodded, "When Colonel O'Neill laid down his life for Teal'c he
allowed our kind to stop Iblis once and for all."
     Daniel nodded, "Your rules prevent you from interfering unless
certain conditions are met?"
     "Yes, it's a rotten job." John admitted.
     Sam had fresh tears come down her face, "How is that fair? Jack is
dead!"
     John shrugged, "My dear, I know you understand that life is not
fair, but it is just."
     Sam walked around the Dias and stood in front of John and tried to
punch John. Her hand went right through his face. "Jack is dead because
of you and your rules!" She stepped back in horror and looked at her
hand.
     John understood but simply said, "He is only dead by primitive
means." He exhaled slowly as if talking to a slow student in a school. He
walked over to Jack's body and waved a hand over Jack's face and body. 
     SG-1 simply stared in wonder as Jacks' eyes fluttered and he sat up
yawning. 
     Sam ran to him and hugged him. Jack surprised said, "Okay...what did
I miss?"
     Sam smiled forward and throwing military protocol and propriety to
the four winds kissed Jack on the lips hard.
     Jack stared at Sam like she was an apparition. Jack grinned and
said, "Is this a dream? I know I shouldn't have eaten Silers burrito
before we left."
     "O'Neill" Teal'c exclaimed.
     Teal'c buddy, if you kiss me I'll never go to sleep again!"
     Teal'c smiled uncharacteristically, "It is good to see you my
friend"
     Jack pinched himself so hard that he actually said, "Ow! I am not
dreaming".
     Daniel walked up unbelieving that his friend and commanding officer
was alive again.
     Jack surprised him by saying, "Daniel"
     "Jack" Daniel flat panned.
     Jack looked around and asked, "Did you cut your hair?"
     Daniel grinned, "Jack, you were dead."
     Jack shrugged it off, "Again? Wow. That's what 3 times now?"
     Teal'c interrupted, "Four."
     Jack thought a moment, "Ok, so what did I miss?"
     John interrupted, "Now it is time for you to leave. The battle has
ended and you are needed."


     They awoke on their Trust ship.
     Jack was in the commander's seat, "Wow...I'll never steal Silers
lunch again!"
     He noticed his uniform was still white, "And could we get something
blue to wear? Is that too much to ask?"
     A message announced over the radio, "SG-1, come in over?"
     Sam opened communications with Stargate Command."
     General Hammond appeared on the screen, "SG-1, we feared the worst
when your ship disappeared."
     Jack nodded, "Yes, sir, apparently I died, again."
     Hammond frowned and then smirked, this will make for one hell of a
debrief. Colonel, the battle has been won! Lend whatever assistance you
can to Search and Rescue, then we will need you to land the ship for
debrief." Hammond was about to sign off but added, "Well done SG-1", Then
turned the communications and video channel off.
     He turned to Sam and said, "Major, let's not put that, you know into
our debrief?"
     Sam turned knowingly, "I have no idea what you're talking about
sir."
     Jack smiled, "Danny, lets help the fleet with Search and Rescue,
then it's time to eat some cake."


The End


NOTE Section:
     This section is for the techno-weenies and "book lawyers" who like
to bash authors, so before you add a sparkling review on why this can't
happen, please read below. As the Brits say, "Cheers mate." 

NOTE 1: For those folks who think Naval ships is too far fetched, fill in
the blank with whatever, or want to flame me in a review, read and weep,
this precedent was already set in the book by:
Copyright (c) 2001 by David Drake. "Ranks of Bronze" copyright (c) 1975
by UPD Publising Corp. 
     I wish I could publish an excerpt from this book, but if you're
interested buy the book at your local book store, see your local library,
or search the web for it.

NOTE 2: X-15 project. See www.nasa.gov. I first learned about the X-15
project through the history channel program specifically discussing in an
hour long program. I even taped it for future reference. The history
channel's documentary on the X-15 shows how the U.S. gave up on the
project in favor of adopting ICBM technology for the manned Apollo
Missions. Later the X-16 project was nothing more than a spy plane that
was cancelled after the U-2 Spy Plane went into production. It's a shame
the U.S. gave up on this wonderful opportunity. It is a forgone
conclusion that the planet is not serious about traveling to the stars.
If your interested look at the failure of the X projects all the way up
to the X-50 project. Most are jokes and comical, while the rest are
simply drawings. If NASA was truly interested in space, my personal
opinon is that they would have gone through with at least ONE space based
project. If NASA has the technology and it currently does, then why do
they constantly "Screw the Pooch" when it comes to mainline space flight.
The Space Shuttle's are nothing more than a 500 million dollar per
launch-tax payer waste. That is how much it costs to put a 1970's
technology into orbit without even using its older X-15 technology to put
it in space.
     It is a never ending source of frustration for me to see so much
potential and so much go to waste in the U.S., considering we have the
technology today to make dreams a reality.