T Minus 2 months 3 days
Harry stood behind Steven and Scott as their hands flew across the gate controls as they activated five of the six Astria. Two of them were being set as incoming from the hidden island base on Earth and two of the other three set to split the matter stream on the new Draynor Astria allowing exit on both sides of the event horizon and the third for the sealed cargo containers that would go through the larger ship Astria in orbit.
Harry greeted Stone Crusher and Griphook as they stopped beside the Astria console. "Good morning."
Seeing the other elders walk through the first Astria in line, along with fifty or so Goblins who congregated in lined groups in front of the Astria, Harry walked over to the Elders followed by Griphook and Stone Crusher.
Seeing Harry look at the squad of Goblin spell casters standing behind them Bane Breaker told him. "Taking advantage of our shorter stature, we plan to levitate the crates above our people's heads as they enter the Astria system."
Waving his hand at the spell casters behind him he told Harry. "These are some of our most powerful spell casters. It shall fall to them to take control of the crates as they come through the Astria and send them on through the next Astria."
"The first two Astria will receive the Goblins from Earth." Harry started his explanation by pointing out the Astria in question.
Walking over and standing in front of the third Astria Harry told them. "This one is will lead to the ship Astria in orbit above Draynor, so you should only send through objects that can withstand the vacuum of space. We will then use the shuttles to ferry the crates down to the planet."
Pointing to the last two Astria activated. "Those two will lead to the Astria on the plains of Draynor itself." Harry told them, as the Goblins arranged themselves now that they knew which Astria to send items and people through."
Detecting movement in the matter streams form earth Steven called out. "Incoming travelers."
Harry and the elders stepped aside as the first of the Goblins started to come through the Astria.
After half and hour of returning the greeting of the passing Goblins, Harry said his regrets and moved over to his work platform where he could monitor the progress while trying to get through some of the reports that had piled up overnight.
After another hour of work Harry leaned back in his chair reclining slightly and stretched as he thought over the latest request to cross his desk.
If it wasn't for the fact that both his advisory council and the department heads had been the ones to author this he would have set it aside and responded with maybe at a later date.
What they proposed in securing the security of Terra or Earth as it was now known, would mean nothing other than bringing the humans into the Alliance as the fifth race, and he was not sure they were ready for that.
Paying attention to the Holo Screens at the edge of the table Harry watched the flow of people and goods flow from the Earth Astria through the city and out the Draynor Astria as he contemplated the points brought up in the proposal.
Still not coming to any decision Harry watched as a group of Goblins took over for the ones moving the crates as they arrived at the city and now instead of people coming through it was a massive stream of crates and materials.
Still not coming to any conclusion Harry was distracted with the blinking of one of the Communication panels indicating a fold space transmission.
Pressing the controls that would accept the incoming transmission a Hologram rippled into reality in front of him above the middle of the table.
Expecting to see Jack on the other end of the transmission Harry sat up in surprise to see the face of Thor.
"Greetings Lord Commander." Thor stated nodding his head slightly.
"Greeting Thor, is everything alright?" Harry questioned slightly concerned that something had happened to Jack.
"Yes, I am calling on behalf of the SGC of Earth with a request that they be able to formally meet with you." Thor answered.
Opening his senses to the space around him he could not sense the presence of any ascended beings close by, still it was such a convenient coincidence.
"When do they want to meet?" Harry asked slowly.
It was really short notice Harry thought but he would defiantly find out how serious they were. "I have time today, the Furlings are re-colonizing Draynor and I wish to be on hand in case of problems."
"Tell them that I can meet with them in one hour. I know that is not a lot of notice, but I can not guarantee I will have enough free time after today." Harry told him.
"I will relay your message along with co-ordinates to O'Neill you have given us to use." Thor said before closing the connection.
Harry pondered what surprises the Earth SGC had come up with now.
XXXX
"Sirs." Carter said as she knocked on the open door to the general's office.
Jack looked up from the reports scattered across the desk, he and Hank had been going over. "Carter?"
"Ambassador Faxon is here." Sam reported, as she moved aside to allow the man to enter the office.
Standing up Jack extended his hand. "Ambassador Welcome to^Å"
Alarms started to blare as a voice called out over the speakers. "Unscheduled off world activation."
Jack was first out the side door into the briefing room, and over to the corner to the stairs leading down to the control room.
Meeting up with Teal'C as he stopped behind Walter in time to hear him say. "Sirs, the iris will not engage."
Hearing what Walter had just told O'Neill, General Landry walked over to the microphone. "Seal the gate room." Just as the event horizon gave the typical whoosh as it activated.
As the special Operation Command forces chambered rounds in their weapons there was a ripple in the event horizon and Thor walked out and stopped a meter from the gate as it disengaged behind him.
Blinking, Thor stood there calmly as he looked up through the observation glass of the control room at the assembled officers. "Greetings O'Neill."
Jack disappeared from the control room as he ran out the hall and around the corner to the blast doors sealing off the gate.
Sliding his ID card through the scanner strip he followed it quickly by inputting his password to over ride the security and allowing the doors to be opened.
Seeing that everyone was standing down from action stations, jack made his way up the ramp until his head was face level with Thor's.
"Thor, I did not expect to hear back from you this soon." Jack told him, knowing that SG-7 had returned from P3X-798 where they contacted the Asgard not even two hours ago.
By this time the Carter, Teal'C, the Ambassador and General Landry had made their way into the gate room.
"O'Neill I bring word from the Ancients." Thor stated as he stared at the human in front of him.
"The lord Commander will meet with you, and which ever representatives of your government that you bring, in one hours time." Thor said as he extended a hand with a plastic imprinted card in it.
Walking the few steps needed to take the item from Thor; Jack looked down at it and noticed a series of nine symbols on it.
Looking back up at Thor, Jack did not have a chance to ask when Thor spoke once again.
"This gate address will take you to Toria Ai Shas, where you will meet with the Lord Commander. The rest is up to you." Thor told him as he raised his hand with one of the oval control crystals and activated the gate.
Jack watched the little Asgard walk towards the gate and heard him say as he entered the event horizon. "We have faith in you O'Neill."
Turning around clutching the card in his hand Jack scanned those in the gate room before asking. "Where's Daniel?"
"He's still a the alpha site Sir." Sam told him.
"Walter." Jack yelled up at the window. "Dial up the Alpha site and get Jackson back here pronto."
Walking down the ramp Jack handed over the card with the gate address on it. "Here you go Carter. Program that in and meet us in the briefing room, bring Danny boy with you."
"Shall we." Jack told the rest as he gestured towards the door.
As everyone followed Jack into the briefing room and found a seat jack went to the desk in the corner and removed several legal pads and threw the bunch of them into the middle of the table, keeping one for himself.
Sitting down at the head of the table Jack waited until everyone that wanted one grabbed one of the pads. "Joe, I know this is short notice but can you be ready in time?" he asked.
Before he had a chance to answer Carter rushed in and sat down. "We got hold of the Alpha site and they will send Daniel back as soon as they can get him to the gate."
"Thanks Carter." Jack said as he looked at the Ambassador.
"I wish we had longer to discuss what the President told me before I left Washington to make sure we all are on the same page." Joe said as he started to list points on the pad in front of him.
"It goes without saying that we would like to get as much advanced technology as we can." Joe told him before asking. "You actually met with them, even if briefly, you must have made a wish list from what you observed."
Snorting Jack replied. "You think they would just gift wrap one of those stations along with the tech manuals if I asked nicely?"
Carter coughed as she almost choked on the coffee she had just started to swallow when Jack cracked that comment.
Looking at Carter to make sure she was ok, Jack said. "Seriously, one of the things mentioned was that we could be accepted as the fifth race in the Alliance. That alone would go a long way to securing our world from hostile forces."
Writing that point down Joe motioned for Jack to continue.
"If we could secure that I would like to know how much assistance we could get." Jack said as he leaned back.
"I mean look what happened with our helping out the Asgard, they have helped us develop the Prometheus and installed Asgard weapons, if we can even get half the technological help that the Asgard have given us." Jack mused.
Leaning forward over the table. "One of the big things is they have six gates side by side and they are more advanced than even the ones in Atlantis, if we could get ours upgraded." Jack told him.
"Sorry it took so long, I was outside the base." Daniel said as he walked into the room.
`What's the emergency?" Daniel trailed off seeing Jack at the table.
Seeing the wary expression on Daniels face, Jack said. "Not still mad at me about the tape thing are you?"
"I am not happy with you, but no I am not still mad." Daniel said slowly.
"Good, because in thirty minutes we are going to go meet with the Ancients at some place called^Å" Jack started to say tor a as he tried to get his mouth around the words Thor had spoken.
"Toria Ai Shas, is what Thor called it Sir." Carter volunteered helpfully.
"Toria?" Daniel questioned, before thinking for a moment mumbling sounds of similar words.
"Pretty sure that means city. Though I will have to do a little more research on what Shas means, maybe it is descriptive like the cities name." Daniel mused.
Sighing as Daniel went off a tangent, Jack brought him back on topic. "Well find time after we come back if you want."
Seeing the confused expression on Daniels face. "You are coming with us." Jack informed him.
Daniel smiled at hearing that. Reaching forward he grabbed one of the pads from the center of the table and a pen and started to write out questions at a brisk pace.
Almost groaning out loud Jack told his impulsive friend sternly. "Danny Boy, under NO circumstances are you to try to talk to them in Ancient. Am I making myself clear here?"
Paling slightly in embarrassment at the memory of floating through the Stargate with his mouth duct taped shut and the expressions on Sam's and Mitchell's faces when they saw him.
"Right, no worries Jack." Daniel told him, as he muttered something about checking Jacks pack before they left.
"Do we know what the meeting is about?" Daniel asked.
Seeing that there was not much time left before they would have to break up to get ready, Jack responded. "I sent SG-7 this morning to contact the Asgard to see if it would be possible to meet with the Ancients, to discuss what it would take on our part to meet the requirements mentioned so we could become a member of the Alliance."
"What I did not expect was to get an answer back two hours later telling us we would be meeting with the Lord Commander of the Ancients in an hour." Jack told them.
Making a snap decision Jack stood up. "Dress blues on this one folks, if we are going to meet with the main man himself, we have one chance to make a good impression."
"Meet in the gate room in fifteen minutes, I don't want to be late." Jack told them as he started towards the visitor's quarters.
XXXX
Standing at the foot of the gate ramp in his best dress uniform Jack was glad that Mitchell was off planet with that Vala woman, he could just imagine the chaos she would cause if given the opportunity of tagging along.
Teal'C was the first to join him dressed in his formal Jaffa robes, Followed by the Ambassador and Carter.
Looking at his watch Jack thought if Daniel didn't hurry he would be left behind.
Just as he finished that thought Daniel came running into the room holding his suit jacket and attaché case under one arm as he tried to tie his tie.
Chuckling softly at Daniels antics Jack called out. "Walter dial it up."
General Hank Landry pulled the microphone close. "Good luck Jack."
Shaking his head CMSgt. Walter Harriman announced that the ninth chevron had locked.
XXXX
Harry was in deep discussion with Aloria over the brief report from the drones he had sent to the Altare galaxy several months ago. It had taken the probes a good six weeks to make their way unnoticed into the galaxy that spawned his race.
So far they had found and examined the nexus world that allowed Astria travel between galaxies, only to find it a barren wasteland. With a melted puddle of rock where the Astria once stood.
In fact the breathable atmosphere had long since burned off as all life on the planet had been destroyed.
He had a really bad feeling about what he would find when the probes made their way to the next closest world that had a Astria.
If he believed in the slightest in Divination he would say he was feeling a portent of danger.
Watching the Goblins once again start to exit the gates on their way to Draynor Harry tried to shake the feeling of danger.
Sighing he thought he would find out in two weeks when the probes made it to the next Astria enabled system.
Catching out of the corner of his eye the closest Astria start to light up and the address bar on top start to fill Harry stood and walked down the steps and across the deck to the Gate Console.
Steven who looked up from the hovering symbols above his console to see Harry walking towards them told him when he got close enough. "Lord Commander, the matter stream was initiated on Earth."
Nodding his head. "Ah, that would be the SGC team that Thor requested I meet with." Harry told him.
Griphook had seen Harry walk over and decided that he should update him with how things were going so far walked over in time to hear his comment.
Seeing Griphook stop near him as he watched the Astria activate, Harry looked down and asked. "Is everything going smoothly?"
"We have reached the half way point Harry, another hour to an hour and a half should see us done." Griphook told him barely holding on to his excitement.
Smiling at Griphook's enthusiasm Harry said. "Maybe in a week or so you should take a couple of days and wander around Draynor yourself."
Seeing the excited Goblin practically bouncing in place was one of the strangest things Steven had ever seen.
Seeing the next shift of spell casters walk through the Astria Griphook hurried off to make sure every one knew which Astria to use leaving Harry to stand by himself as the Earth team walked out of the Astria.
Giving them a moment to take in the massive movement of Goblins in and out of the Astria, a chance to awe them, Harry walked slowly over to greet them.
Sam stood there starring at the impossible sight before her. Five gates in close proximity to each other not only active but moving massive amounts of beings and cargo through them. Everything she knew about the gate system screamed at her this was impossible.
So engrossed in this contradiction of acceptable facts she did not notice the first three attempts to get her attention and Daniel had to resort to pinching her arm hard to get her to snap out of it.
Jack seeing the guy introduced last time he was here as the Lord Commander gathered his group together. "Hello there, thank you for agreeing to talk with us."
Giving a slight head nod. "Please, this way to where we can sit comfortably and talk." Harry told them as he led them towards the steps next to the Astria console leading to the next level.
Walking past the manned stations to the of the stairs and towards the next set leading up, Harry led his guests up to the third level where his meeting room was located.
Jack stopped at the only chair on this level and noticed he could see every station from this point.
Walking past the chairs on either side of the table and stopping at his chair at the head, Harry gestured to the empty seats. "Please have a seat."
Harry waited until the others had seated themselves before sitting down. "Thor tells me that you wish to talk with me."
Seeing that Joe was deferring to him for introductions. "We are glad for the opportunity." Jack told him.
"If I may introduce you to my team and the Ambassador." Jack said.
Seeing Harry nod his head, Jack started. "Colonel Samantha Carter our technological genius. And next to her Teal'C a weapons expert and free Jaffa."
Then pointing to his right Jack finished with. "On my other side is Dr. Daniel Jackson and next to him is Ambassador Joe Faxon here as a representative of the President of the United States."
Nodding to each in turn as they were introduced Harry fixed his gaze on Daniel wondering if the man would be foolish enough to make the same mistake twice.
Seeing the man squirm slightly Harry shifted his gaze before introducing himself.
Deciding a little misdirection would be appropriate. "The closest translation of my name would be Harry James Potter, Lord Commander of the Alteran people."
Hoping to avoid a political faus paux Joe asked. "Please do not take offense, but could you tell us what rank would Lord Commander be equivalent in our ranking system?"
Seeing the question was very appropriate to heading off social mistakes replied. "No offense taken. It shows intelligence that you would prefer not to unintentionally insult me." Harry said as he glanced at the wincing Daniel Jackson.
Seeing that the point had been taken by the man Harry continued. "The closest, as this position does not exist on your planet would be King of all Kings."
Jack winced slightly thinking how close Daniel came to insulting this person last time. And the fact he had disregarded the explanation from his mini version as being facetious.
Joe was taken aback, finding out how high up this young looking person was in the scheme of things.
Harry had to chuckle inside as he took in their expressions, he loved doing that to people.
"Yes, Well..." Stammered Joe as he tried to think of what to say next.
Jack helping the Ambassador out said. "One of the things we wanted to discuss was the statement you and one of your Advisers made to me before I left the last time."
Leaning back Harry had wondered if this was what the meeting would be about. Then asked. "What would you like clarified?"
"If Jack understood you correctly." Joe Started. "The reason your people will not consider letting our government join the Alliance is because we do not have a colony world?"
"Our world does not have one government, we have many governments, not all of them are aware of the existence of other worlds and travel through the gate system." Daniel told Harry.
"I am well aware that your world is splintered in such a way. I also am aware that only a small portion of the governments are aware of the gates existence and of those five only two are actively traveling through it." Harry answered.
"That does not matter to me. I know General your comment of being treated like children by the other races that are closely related to yours genetically must vex you to no end." Harry told the man.
"In my mind it is simple really. Once any of the Governments that are aware of the gates use and existence, have successfully colonized one of the empty worlds out there, they will be considered for membership in the Alliance of Races." Harry leaned back in his chair.
"The Asgard and even the Nox speak highly of your race." Harry surprised them with the statement.
"The Asgard have even teamed up with you technologically in joint ventures. Which speaks highly of how they already consider you as the so called fifth race." Harry told them.
"So what you are saying is that once the United States has an off world Colony we would be considered for membership." Joe said slowly, wanting to make sure he had his facts straight.
"Well there are plenty of empty worlds out there we can use." Sam told her companions.
"Indeed Colonel Carter. And with the Goa'uld menace reduced it would be safe for you to do so." Teal'C stated.
"But it would take years to set up a colony." Daniel interjected.
"What about the people at the Alpha site, would they count as a colony?" Joe asked Harry.
"Unfortunately your Alpha site only qualifies as an outpost. There simply is not enough people there to be a viable population if for some reason it was cut off." Harry told him.
"So we have to spend the time to develop a planet then the months it would take to move the people there after the infrastructure is in place." Daniel said frustrated.
"But how long will it take to build enough housing and all the rest of the support structure needed for a new world." Joe asked.
Jack had not joined in on the conversation as he was busy watching the subtle expressions on Harry's face. Seeing the growing frustration there he broke in. "Hold on folks we're evidently missing something simple here."
Sam looked surprised and asked. "Like what Sir?"
Ignoring the others and concentrating on the very hard to read young man across from him Jack slowly said. "Nothing you have said told us we had to build the colony from the ground up."
Encouraged by the lessoning of the frown and slight nod of Harry's head he continued. "So if we chose an empty world that all the buildings and support structure were already in place it would be acceptable."
Smiling now Harry answered. "Yes."
Feeling that he was right in his conclusions, Jack rambled on. "So we choose one of the worlds we have visited that had no one living on it, but still has the remains of civilization that can be used to house our people. Then all we have to do is move enough people to the place and instant colony."
"Don't forget you have to move enough livestock and food production capabilities so it would be self sufficient." Daniel added.
"Surely it is not that simple? Is it?" Joe questioned looking at the others.
"Yes and No." Harry said as he sat up and placed his hand on the new control he had the remotes install.
Linking his mind to the controls Harry activated the replication features of the table and had several copies of a sample charter conjured in front of the Earth team.
"Since your world is splintered any colony would have to be governed by a charter. These are translations of several extremely old charters, from several differing planets." Harry pointed to the parchments that appeared.
"The charter would state how the world would be governed, any monetary system used, how land was acquired and sold, the technological level that could not be surpassed. I think you get the idea." Harry said as they started to read the samples.
Skimming through the documents Joe asked. "Who would be in charge of seeing the charter was followed?"
"Any colony charters would be filed with the Alliance. They would make sure that is was followed." Harry answered.
"So we have narrowed down years to maybe one now. It still is going to take a long time to move thousands of people." Sam told them bursting the bubble so to speak.
Jack followed Harry's gaze out the transparent side wall were he was watching all the commotion going on below.
Wait a moment he thought, the gates are still active, they haven't shut down, Jack thought. Looking closer he noticed the amount of crates of goods floating above the heads of the people as they moved from one gate to another.
And some of them were carrying infants and children Jack noticed. Right there under their noses a colonization project was being carried out in plain view.
"Maybe not Carter." Jack said as he turned back to face Harry.
"What do you mean Sir?" Sam asked.
Pointing to the wall behind her. "Look down there." Jack told her.
Sam and Daniel turned around and looked out the window and stared at what Jack had pointed at, trying to figure out what he was talking about.
"I don't see whatever it is Sir." Sam said.
"Carter you are looking at colonization in progress down there. Look closely and you will see children and what looks like families along with their belongings moving from one gate to another." Jack explained.
"Ok." Daniel said slowly. "But how many worlds are being done at one time?"
"One." Harry answered, then followed up with. "And they are coming from one initial world also."
Turning back around. "How is that possible? You can only have one active gate per planet." Sam asked, assured of her knowledge of how the gates functioned.
"Later Carter, you can satisfy your curiosity after we finish this conversation." Jack interrupted her.
"Nothing I have heard or read today said we had to colonize a world without help." Joe said thoughtfully.
Looking at his watch Jack noticed the gates had been active at least forty minutes asked. "How long do those gates stay activated between shutdowns?"
Looking out the wall at the gates Harry was confused at the question and it showed. "I am not sure I understand what you are asking, the Astria don't shut down until we have finished using them."
Almost growling in frustration at the obvious language impasse, Jack asked in a different way. "How long have those five gates been active before you shut them down to let them recharge?"
Quickly getting the answer form Aloria on how long ago the Astria had been activated answered still confused. "Those five Astria were activated two hours and forty five of your minutes ago and have yet to be shut down as it will take at least another hour to finish moving all the people we need to through them."
"That's not possible. The amount of power needed to generate and maintain a stable wormhole^Å" Sam started to protest.
"CARTER." Jack looked at her and mouthed later when she stopped her rant and looked at him.
Looking back towards Harry he started to ask before being distracted by an amazing sight down on the floor. "How many^Å"
The amount of people traveling between the gates had stopped and now there seemed to be three times as many of the little people standing in lines as guides. When all of a sudden large numbers of crates started to fly out of the two first gates and the little people seemed to act like they were catching them and throwing them into one of the other gates even though the crates never got close to them.
And then the awe inspiring part started, they speeded up the already fast performance till the crates were flying by in a blur.
Harry noticed that the Goblins had decided to put on a little show for their visitors and smiled as they preformed like one smooth machine and levitated the supplies at a rapid rate.
Clearing his throat to gain their attention Harry thought he better explain, hoping it would bring about the end of the confusion on both their parts.
"Draynor, that's the current colony world the Furlings are moving to by the way.
Twenty-seven days ago I sent in remotes to completely rebuild the Astria on Draynor. In all total it took ten days for that to be completed.
During that time a team of fifty that had gone through along with the construction remotes, used that time to map and inventory the structures of the old Furling colony.
When the new Astria was finished I sent a larger team of remotes and support craft into orbit around Draynor so they could construct a ship sized Astria, which also took ten days to complete.
During this time more teams had been sent through to follow up with the evaluation team and over the next ten days these teams moved back and forth helping the new colonists chose where they would be living and to help set up some of the farms.
Then once the new Astria was finished we moved through enough Automatic weapons platforms to ensure that the system would not fall to outside invasion.
These sealed weapons platforms are of Alteran design and more advanced then anything the Furlings are able to produce.
That took around four and half days." Harry told the SGC negotiation team to their incredulous looks.
"We then moved the livestock through to the prepared farms along with the farmers over the next two days. Which leads into this morning when the rest of the colonists are moving to Draynor." Harry said, seeing that the last group of Goblins were coming through the Astria now.
"We estimated it would take four hours to move the thirty thousand Furlings and all their belongings and what not." Harry said as the first two Astria finally deactivated as the last of the Goblins had walked through.
"Seems Griphook wanted to get done early." Harry mentioned out loud as the few Goblins left moved through the now single activated Astria before it to closed down after they had made it through.
Jack sat there and blinked as he took in the unbelievable amount of information. Thinking of possibilities he decided it would not hurt to ask. "If we found a suitable world, filed the charter with you and did most of the preliminary work would you be willing to offer us the same as you did for those folks moving to Draynor, even if we have not become a full member of the Alliance yet."
Joe sat there taking all the information in, it was amazing the way Jack could bounce around and even though he was more straight forward than a diplomat he seemed to get things done quickly. Maybe he should talk to the President about Making O'Neill the colonies governor or something. Talent like his should not be wasted.
Harry truly smiled, Jack was right, under that dumb acting exterior there was a keen intellect. Placing his hand back on the raised panel Harry had the system recreate several copies of the obligations of Alliance membership along with the benefits and place them in front of every one.
"If you agree to the obligations of Alliance membership which is now in front of you, and I must say the benefits are quite nice." Harry told them.
Seeing them pick up and start to skim through the documents. "Then to answer your question. Yes we would." Harry told them.
Grinning in triumph. "Carter, while the Ambassador and I go through these why don't you and Daniel ask your million and one questions." Jack smirked.
Edited by Scott