Alba Longa
Milky Way
In the hills outside of the capital city of Alba Longa, amongst the lush forests and rich valleys dotting the hillside, sat a simple and outwardly unadorned temple. The Temple of Portunes, built shortly after the ouster of Khepri, had been modeled after the Temple of Portunes still standing in Rome to this day. Rectangular in shape, the Temple structure sat upon a high podium reachable by a flight of stone carved steps. Freestanding Ionic columns stood on all sides, with five columns found on the sides of the Temple, while four columns stood at the front and rear. Built of travertine and surfaces with stark white stucco, the Temple had aged well.
Following the well paved properly Roman road leading from the capital to the Temple was the current Flamine Portunes. Aulus Scribonius first assumed the mantle of his priesthood at the age of fifteen. Each month, Scribonius dutifully made the trek to the site of his devotion. While religion as a whole had taken a backseat on Alba Longa, Scribonius was pious in his devotion. Lacking understanding of the secret zealously guarded by each Flamine Portunes, few understood this devotion.
Crossing the threshold of the Temple's grounds, Aulus Scribonius took in the majesty of the structure, and the history it contained. Ascending the stone steps, golden tinted leaves blew in the breeze, signaling the coming winter. Reaching the top of these steps, the Flamine Portunes opened the well hinged bronze doors leading to the Temple's interior. The aroma of incense greeted his arrival.
Storm clouds approached in the distance. Low rolling booms of thunder reverberated throughout the hills. Not to worry, Aulus would simply remain in the Temple until the storm passed. Setting down the satchel brought with him, Aulus Scribonius went about preparing for his monthly ceremony. Candles were lit throughout the Temple's interior. Aromatic incense soon filled the air. On offering plates in front of the images of the many faces of Portunes, the Flamine laid cakes and a challis of honeyed wine. Donning the priestly robes of his office, Flamine Aulus Scribonius took his station before the now full offering plates. Raising his palms towards the Temple's gilded ceiling, he began his incantation.
"Father Janus, in offering to you this heap of cakes, I pray virtuous prayers, in order that you may be favorable and gracious to the children of Alba Longa, to my house, and to my household. Father Janus, in offering you this heap of cakes, virtuous prayers were well prayed, for the sake of the same things be honored by humbler wine. Father Janus, a new year is almost upon us, come and renew the sun. Janus, who was before all the Gods, to who our parents first invoked their prayers, from whom all things proceed. You, who have power over us and our enemies, to you I pray. I venerate, I ask your divine favor and beseech you, that you prosper the virtuous might and victory of the Roman People, the Quirites, and upon the enemies of the Roman People. May you inflict those enemies with terror, fear, and death. As I have pronounced these words, even so on behalf of the Republic of the Roman People, and of the Legions of the Roman People, do I devote myself and with me the legions of our enemies to the gods of the Underworld. Father Janus, source of years gliding by in silence, who alone among the immortal celestials sees his own back, come attend our nobles as your guests. Those whose labors secure delightful pastimes call upon you! All things I entrust to Patulcium the Opener. Now you are Janus the Gatekeeper, now Cerus the Good Creator, now Janus the God of Good Beginnings. Come now, most especially, you who are better of these kings." The Flamine intoned.
As Aulus Scribonius finished his incantation, booming thunder reverberated throughout the Temple. Howling wind blew open the bronze door of the structure. Turning quickly, the Flamine Portunes scrambled towards the doors, and managed to close them despite the wind. Latching the doors shut, Scribonius turned to see candles flickering. In the flickering shadows, his eyes detected movement.
Squinting his eyes, the Flamine was rewarded with the sight of a man standing in the shadows. Wordlessly, the shadowed figure approached him, crossing from darkness into light. On this figures face was a placid look of contentment, and a slightly mischievous smile.
"How did you get in here? You cannot be here now." Aulus Scribonius said firmly.
"Where else would I be more welcome?" The new arrival asked quizzically.
Polished bronze mirrors on the Temples walls carried the mans reflection. Each was the same, except one. In one mirror and one mirror alone, the mans reflection was not that of the figure standing before Aulus Scribonius. Instead, this mirror alone shown the reflection of a recent guest to Alba Longa; Dr. Daniel Jackson.
"The reflection is not you!" Scribonius pointed in shock.
"In your own beliefs, does not Father Janus have many faces?" Janus asked.
"Who are you?" Scribonius asked quietly.
"I am the bringer of a message. Tell me priest, do you honor your duties?" Janus asked.
"I do, as those who came before me have done." Scribonius replied resolutely.
"Tell me Aulus, have you ever taken the time to ponder the function of a lock and key?" Janus asked.
"I cannot say that I have. Father Janus is the keeper of keys." Scribonius explained.
"Oh yes, he is. Of that I am aware." Janus replied with a smile.
"What is your line of questioning about?" Scribonius asked.
"A lock is to protect something of value. It can be something of little or great value. That value is determined in the eyes of the beholder." Janus stated.
"I am afraid I do not understand what you are getting at." Scribonius admitted.
"A lock and key are as one, serving different sides of the same function. In the instance I speak of, you Aulus are a key of sorts. Now, you must simply find your other half. Your lock, if you will." Janus went on.
"Who are you?" Scribonius demanded.
"Consider me a helping hand. There are powers at work here beyond your understanding." Janus answered.
"I am a simple man with nothing but my duties as Flamine. I have no time for this." Scribonius complained.
"Time is all anyone has in abundance. Undercurrents in the river of time have converged in the necessary order. Your role is clear." Janus explained cryptically.
"I do not understand what you mean." Scribonius argued.
"Step through the calm seas to cross the stars. You will see me again." Janus hinted.
Before Aulus Scribonius could reply, the Temple's bronze doors blew open once again, despite being latched. Wind blew into the Temple's interior, filling it with golden tinted leaves. Managing to close the doors once again, Scribonius quickly wheeled around to his uninvited visitor, only to find the Temple devoid of anyone but the Flamine himself. His eyes darted left and right. Shock filled his mind, until a serene calm came over him. Dropping to his knees, he began to ponder the visitor's words. Looking towards the engraved images above the Temple's bronze mirrors, the Flamine Portunes fell deep into thought. Filling those thoughts were the mysterious visitors words, and the reflection of Daniel Jackson.
White House, Oval Office
Washington, DC. Earth
Milky Way
Seated behind the very same desk used by his predecessor and other past leaders, President O'Bannon sipped his coffee. As the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs entered, with the President's Chief of Staff in tow, O'Bannon motioned both men to take seats. Setting his coffee down, O'Bannon gave the new arrivals his undivided attention.
"Tell me what you have for me General." O'Bannon ordered.
"Mr. President, the situation with Tagrea has taken a turn. Not only has a coup taken place on Tagrea, the Tagrean Security Forces launched a nuclear weapon against the vessel I dispatched to make contact." General O'Neill began.
"Might that be because they felt threatened by the arrival of an interstellar warship?" Presidential Chief of Staff Ed Pine asked sarcastically.
"The vessel in question is a science ship! This is not the first time they have launched on one of our vessels." O'Neill fired back.
"You are generalizing these two episodes into one." Pine said dismissively.
"Mr. President, do you really want a war on foreign soil to be the mark of this administration? The United States is not the on call problem solver of every world's internal dealings." Pine stated
"Might I remind you that the head of the legitimate Tagrean government is in an asylum status in Shambhala?" O'Neill asked.
"What has Chairman Ashwan said so far Jack?" O'Bannon asked.
"Obviously Mr. President, he wants his government back, as any deposed leader would." O'Neill explained.
"I just do not see how this is our problem." Pine added.
"Mr. Pine, I am sure you are good at whatever it is you do, but you are out of your depth here." O'Neill said quickly.
"Is that so?" Pine asked in irritation.
"Yes, that is so. Ashwan signed the United Worlds Charter. Subsection sixteen ensures mutual defense. We are duty bound by treaty, ethics, and our belief in democracy to intercede." O'Neill extolled.
"Gentlemen, now is not the time for disagreement. As always Jack, you state your case effectively. What do you need?" The President asked.
"For now, I need to get surveillance assets in there. We need to build up a physical and electronic order of battle on the Tagrean military. We have had it easy in the past against the Genii, but those days are done. Tagrea has a modern standing Army, Air Force, and strategic weapons. Ashwan has been helpful in pointing us in a few useful directions. To fully exploit the intelligence he provided I am going to need to get a few men and assets on the ground." O'Neill explained.
"Military?" O'Bannon asked.
"No Mr. President. The men we will draw from F6, the black bag guys from the NSA. They keep a team on standby at Fort Meade. To that I want to use a few of our new ISR platforms for ground duties." O'Neill stated.
"What kind of a timetable are we looking at to get everything on the ground?" President O'Bannon asked.
"From the moment you say go, I can have them on the ground in twenty four hours." O'Neill replied.
"Mr. President, as your Chief of Staff, I feel compelled to point out that this idea is a mistake." Pine said.
"Your objection is noted. I took officer knowing how large the shoes of this officer would be to fill. Henry Hayes is a tough act to follow. War is always to be viewed as a last resort, but we must also never forget our dedication to allies and the concept of liberty. The British, Canadian, and Australian heads of state have already called to demand that we act. You have your go order General." President O'Bannon said solemnly.
Mr. President!" Pine said in shock.
"During the campaign and my career, you have always done what you thought was best for me Ed. I may not always agree with your opinion, but I have always respected it. Stop to consider for a moment the reaction of our allies if we do nothing in this case. If we do not stand behind an ally in need, how can we expect them to stand at our side when we need them? I agree that war is not what I want, but we are not yet to that point. This is simply intelligence gathering. This is not America out to avenge an injustice. Instead, this is a unified response to an ally in time of crisis. Unless something major comes up, I am inclined to go the route of negotiating with the new Tagrean government. That something major would have to be something truly major. Until we know more, we are going in to gather facts quietly." O'Bannon finished.
USS Ajax
Tagrean Solar System
Milky Way
USS Ajax, under the command of Colonel Everett Young, exited hyperspace on the outskirts of the Tagrean solar system. This exit point from hyperspace was chosen to avoid detection of the hyperspace window, by any sensors Tagrea may have for the purpose. Seconds after exiting the now closed hyperspace window, Ajax disappeared from view as her cloak was brought online. Invisible to the naked eye and sensors, Ajax silently sped towards Tagrea, pushed ever forward by the vessels powerful sublight engines.
Passing through massive asteroid fields in the outer solar system, Ajax continued forward. Next, she moved swiftly through the orbital plane of the solar systems largest body, a gas giant twice the size of Jupiter. Continuing onward, Ajax closed on Tagrea. Maneuvering past the planets moon, Ajax silently slipped into an equatorial orbit.
On the bridge, from his command chair, Colonel Young sent word to the mission modules added before departure from Arkos, which currently sat in the port side hanger bay. These mission modules tapped into the sensor suite of Ajax. Staffing the individual stations in each module was an array of personnel on temporary assignment to Ajax for this mission. Personnel from the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, formerly known as the National Reconnaissance Office, manned one module, taking detailed ultra high resolution photos of the planet below. In another, electronic intelligence personnel broken up into signals intercept teams, monitored sensors tined to seek out electronic signals of any kind, and began to soak up all traffic crowding Tagrea's electronic spectrum.
In another module, air defense analysts quickly picked up emissions radiating from powerful phased array radar complexes on the planet below. Looking closely at the emissions, a consensus was reached that the phased array radars were eerily similar to early flight SPY-1 radar found on Ticonderoga Class cruisers. Further analysis led the analysts to believe that these radar sites were putting out enough wattage to possibly detect an uncloaked B-3 Chimera.
From the starboard hanger bay, six aircraft were cleared to launch. These aircraft were the recently added EF-302 aircraft, intended for the Wild Weasel mission. Before they passed through the hanger's protective energy field, each EF-302 activated its onboard cloak. It simply would not do to alert Tagrea to their presence. In flights of two aircraft apiece, each of the three flights accelerated, and began their decent into the planets atmosphere.
Ten minutes later, each flight of two aircraft were on station at three widely separated spaces in the Tagrean sky. At random intervals, one aircraft per flight would power down its cloak for a period of seven seconds. This was done to allow brief detection by Tagrean air defense forces. Known as 'tickling the line', this mission was meant to coax and provoke full activation of radar pickets on the planet below. Radiating fully, the air defense sites signals were dutifully recorded for analysis and later use in a concerted jamming effort should hostilities arise.
In another mission module in the port side hanger bay, several fighter tactics officers from the Air Force Fighter Weapons School watched intently the reactions of airborne units of the Tagrean Air Force. Each time one of the EF-302's dropped their cloak, those Tagrean fighters airborne reacted.
"See how these flights seem to turn directly towards the contact? Let's call it a forty second response time. Are we detecting any radar emissions from Tagrean fighters?" One Colonel asked.
"No emissions from the bandits." Another officer answered.
"That means they are tied to central control from the radar sites I'm assuming. That is like the old Soviet model then. That is going to cost them." The Colonel said to himself.
"I agree. We know how to beat that model of doing things." Another Fighter Weapons School instructor replied.
On the bridge of Ajax, sensor operators went about their portion of this fact finding mission. The Ajax's powerful sensors mapped out the Tagrean energy and utilities grid in each of the five major cities. Power planets, switching stations, and underground power lines were mapped out with precision. As this was done, data for surface and subsurface scans were passed along to one of the mission modules. This data would be turned over to the National Imagery and Mapping Agency, where hyper accurate maps of the planet would be made for combat use. As the surface scans were performed, military instillations, vehicle and aircraft numbers, and instillation inhabitant numbers were tallied. The physical order of battle for Tagrean Security Forces began to take shape.
On the planets surface at eleven separate points, momentary bursts of silver light cut through the dark night. In the lights wake, ten Cybernetic Autonomous Armed Trackers, or CAAT's appeared. At the eleventh location, a four man team from the ultra secret National Security Agency unit known as F6 shimmered into existence. Fully autonomous, the CAAT's were preset to scout mode. From their backs, an eggshell blue metal cylinder emerged from each. Unfolding from within these cylinders at top and bottom, sets of counter rotating rotor blades unfurled. Making little noise, these silent UAV's lifted away from each CAAT and into the night sky, transmitting imagery to their launching platform. UAV's away, the ten CAAT's scattered by many miles, moved out stalking through the night.
The F6 team was here for a similar, yet very different mission. Like their robotic counterparts, the F6 team was also on site for data collection. Instead of prowling through the night in search of their prey, the four men had been transported to their designated strike point. All they had to do was dig. Two of the four men watched the dark horizon in all directions, through enhanced night optics, for any sign of enemy activity. While they did this, the remaining two men carefully and quietly dug into the rocky desert soil with entrenching tools used many times for similar missions.
For two hours, the men toiled away at their task. Finally, the entrenching tools made contact with the soft rubberized covering of the thick fiber optic cable, buried here years before. Thanks to information provided by Ashwan, the general location of the cable had been known. Sensors aboard Ajax had pinpointed its position precisely. Carefully, the two men cut into the soft outer housing of the cable, revealing the many hundreds of optical light filled strands making up the bundled cable.
Security experts have known for decades that fiber optic cables can be tapped for communications interception. Many viewed that possibility as impractical though. Aware that physical interruption of fiber optic strands could be detected using time domain reflectometry, most outside the intelligence community viewed fiber optics as secure against wiretaps. Luckily for the National Security Agency, modern network equipment and network configurations regularly failed to detect most types of optical taps.
Optical taps make possible the unknown interception of one hundred percent of all information transmitted over a fiber optic hub line. A successful tap can be achieved with merely an optical tap, packet sniffer software, an optical/electrical converter, and a simple laptop computer. Gathered information is then stored locally, before being forwarded on to the intruder.
Digging beneath the fiber optic cable with a trowel, the two man tap team slid a deflated rubberized balloon into the groove. Wrapping the custom built optical splitter over the exposed fiber optic strand bundle like a blood pressure cuff a doctor would use, the splitter cuff was sealed around the data cable. Touching a button on a remote in his hand, one of the F6 technicians activated a small black box attached to the balloon. Slowly, the balloon filled, creating a bend in the fiber optic bundle. As the cable bent, each strand exposed the light based data stream to the optical splitter. This captured data was relayed to another small box beside the cable, which would transmit the 'take' as it was called, to the NSA station on Tartarus for analysis. Tagrea's data networks were now penetrated and exposed for Earth to see. Their mission complete, the F6 team beamed back aboard the Ajax, one hour before sunrise illuminated the barren desert plain between cities.
Moving swiftly, yet silently, the assortment of CAAT's progressed towards areas of activity detected by their individual UAV's. The dark grey metallic bodies of the CAAT's adjusted to the coloring most likely to avoid detection, thanks to the adaptive camouflage technology built into each unit. Several closed in on military instillations and airfields, where they would lay in wait, silently observing and reporting their findings via subspace link.
CAAT 04 closed in on an altogether different instillation. Not a military base or critical infrastructure site, this site was instead a small township surrounded by high fences. Walking the perimeter of these fences were stern faced armed troops. Settling into a depression in the desert soil, CAAT 04 disappeared fully from view of any who might come looking. It's UAV hovering above the township unseen, as its cameras and enhanced auditory sensors scanned. In the distance, as the sun rose, a small convoy of vehicles could be seen approaching the townships single gate.
This convoy of vehicles passed through the townships lone gate. The five vehicles stopped in the town's center, and men began to pour out. Kalfas and his security detail moved towards the town center with purpose. Having ordered this instillations construction month's before, this was the first time Kalfas had ever visited the site himself. Aware of the problems supporters of Ashwan could bring about after his seizure of power, Kalfas had ordered that appointees and Ashwan sympathizers be interned here. During the early stages of his reach for the Chairmanship, the town's new inhabitants had been quietly collected during the night, and brought here.
Seeing Kalfas standing in the town center, the angry and somewhat frightened new inhabitants poured into the center as well. Were it not for the security team members standing between the inhabitants and the new Chairman, Kalfas would have had reason to fear for his safety.
"Why are we here Kalfas?" A man from the crowd demanded angrily.
"Chairman Ashwan will never stand for this!" Another hissed.
"The political landscape of Tagrea has changed. I am now your Chairman." Kalfas announced.
"Preposterous!" A woman spat.
"Ashwan's actions forced me to take action. The dangerous road Ashwan was following towards full relations with the Tau'ri is now at its end." Kalfas explained.
"Relations with the Tau'ri promised to usher in a new age for Tagrea you fool!" A man yelled.
"As you are all aware, negotiations were underway for some time between Ashwan's government and the Tau'ri. The purpose of those negotiations was for a Tau'ri military base. They sought to occupy this world! Why else put a military base here?" Kalfas asked rhetorically.
"I led that negotiations team Kalfas! The Tau'ri mean us no harm. They are friends to this world. They offered to train our military alongside their own." A woman argued.
"Instead, I have secured a relationship with the Lucian Alliance. They are a collation of people who refuse to bow under the yoke of Tau'ri oppression!" Kalfas continued on, ignoring the argument presented.
"Release us Kalfas!" An elderly man demanded.
"Your beliefs and political allegiance to Ashwan threaten the security of Tagrea, so release is not possible at this time. You will remain here until I see fit to reintegrate you into society." Kalfas made clear.
Coming quickly from the parked vehicles, Kalfas' chief aide approached. Standing near the Chairman, the aide began to speak in low tones, hoping to prevent the crowd from overhearing what was said.
"Chairman, air defense units are reporting sporadic contact with unknown objects in our atmosphere. Liptis felt it important I inform you immediately." The aide stated.
"I believe it to be the Tau'ri, come to claim the world they lust after. Let them look upon a world I will never allow them to enslave!" Kalfas thundered.
The crowd in the township center had grown to encompass all detainees placed here. Anger, shock, and disgust rippled through the crowd. Large collections of angry people sometimes take on a life of their own. Seeing their chances of freedom evaporate, the crowd surged towards the security team, and Kalfas himself. They wanted freedom, they wanted justice, but most of all at this point they simply wanted to hurt Kalfas in new and imaginative ways.
Surprised by the surge forward of the crowd, the security team backed up. Backing up soon gave way to pushing and manhandling of detainees within arms reach. Despite this, the security team kept their weapons on safe. His attention attracted by the sudden commotion, Kalfas looked in horror at the angered crowd clearly intent on laying their hands upon him.
"It's a coup! Shoot!" Kalfas yelled.
On reflex, security team members leveled their automatic weapons at the crowd. Firing indiscriminately, they mowed down all in sight. Men and women fell to the ground, as bullets tore through flesh and bone. For thirty frantic seconds, screams and weapons fire echoed through the air. When it was done, a horrified Kalfas was whisked to his vehicle by the security team. Hovering silently overhead, the UAV of CAAT 04 captured the event. These images were quickly broadcast via subspace link to Earth forces.