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PS. To All Grammar Purists, get lost!
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Furthermore…please stay at home and be safe, at least for now because this fight with COVID-19 is not yet over.
Chapter 19
Epsilon I
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November 7, 84 CE
Avalon
Summit Meeting
The meeting went on without any further interruptions as the leaders of Earth and the Space Colonies signed into reality, the reestablishment of the United Nations Organization with it headquarter in New York City, its original home.
In the meeting they discuss subjects and issues primarily Earth based issues and the most notable subject: Technology.
The Atlantic Federation is offering to share new technology that are environment friendly such as, recycling technology for 99 percent of Earth made waste mostly from the petroleum-based products, from simple as plastics bags to radial tires.
The far more lethal ones, such as toxic, chemical and especially nuclear waste which much of it is left behind from the last century .can now be made inert and can be broken down into its base elements while the more dangerous ones will be sent to the sun to be incinerated.
They also further the development of carbon capture technology to reduce carbon dioxide and other harmful elements still in the atmosphere, advance clean fuel technology and new and improved solar panel that can harness the sun's rays to as much as 90 percent peak efficiency also adds to cleaner environment.
New sciences discovered by SGC will also be shared and learned which will help expand human knowledge about the universe as a whole.
The UN Security Council, signed a resolution on 'Global Environmental Protection and Preservation' on all-natural life on Earth and that all endangered fauna and flora need to be preserve and protected.
The UN Security Council, place a date to discuss the establishment of the Stargate Oversight Advisory Council for the Stargate Program. Many people wanted some transparency in order to keep the program honest and place some limits of what they should do and not do in the vast universe. Still the need for secrecy will be upheld and classified operations will be kept but known only those of the highest authority.
The Atlantic Federation Senate who does the oversight on the Stargate Program was not all that happy about sharing oversight with other nations to begin with but reluctantly will give some leeway, so long as the SGC will continue to be under the AF military command.
Then there came the issue of financial aid to cash strap countries will speed up the planet economic recovery as the AF is flipping the bill on most of their construction projects and the United Nations. Something that many nations have grudgingly accepted due to the fact that, not everyone wants an to be indebted to the Atlantic Federation because last time around, the Atlantic Federation was indebted to them.
The last one they discuss, is the Orbital Ring Codename: Ring of Altera (instead of Ringworld) in honor of the Ancients which Dr. Daniel Jackson called, the Gate Builders.
Daniel gave a report of the SGC investigation of the ring and found a world whose ecology that dated back eons and its carefully being attended to and manage by a multitude of advance AI systems with a master AI controller codename: GAIA.
GAIA, whose holographic image in the form of a beautiful Greek Goddess, is the main AI and its assisted by advance drones who manage the rings ecosystems like park rangers, making sure there is little disruption to the wildlife and natural environment.
GAIA explains that the rings were built to propagate the natural ecology of a habitable planet and use it to terraform whole planets once a planet is made to be habitable.
"GAIA control the Orbital ring have been generous to allow human settlements on 25 percent of the ring. Bear in mind, 25 percent is large enough to settle three times the population of Earth. Relocating even just a third of Earth human population will stabilize the Earth erratic climate change Earth is experiencing for decades and made even worst after 'Break the World Incident" Jackson explained.
"Terra forming was originally its purpose, but when the Lanteans, who are the direct descendants of the Alterans the Gate Builders, change some of its per view. Now when the Lanteans arrived on Earth from the Pegasus Galaxy around eleven thousand years ago or to be precise, they fled to here from the Pegasus Galaxy after they lost a war against a powerful alien race known only as, the Wraiths."
Daniel continue to explain using what Gaia possess, historical information on what has happen to the Alterans after they left the Milky Way Galaxy millions of years ago. The details are highly classified and will be given to the others leaders later on and by no means allowed to be publicly disclosed until such time until they deal with the current situation.
From what Gaia has told them, the Lanteans took Altera from its hidden location somewhere in the Perseus arm of the Galaxy and brought it to Earth along with a solar systems worth of stock piled resources and turn a quarter of a section of the rings for industrial use and a Space yards for their version of a Military Industrial Complex.
Now GAIA, found the Lanteans actions very disconcerting. Her own observation and interactions of a few of them and some passive scans reveal a tired and beaten people when they arrive on Earth and yet itching for vengeance.
When the Lanteans arrived on Earth, they were surprised to find a race of primitive humans that evolve from the Earth without any intervention from anyone. A Second Human Evolution has occurred and its capable of adapting to the harsh environment of Earth. They are highly intelligent, curious and inquisitive.
The Lanteans to let them be, as the Lanteans tried to rebuild their civilization on the ring but Alas, it was not to be as they are now on the verge of extinction but before that could happen, the Ascended Alterans in the higher plane decided to ascend what remains of the Lantean people and sent the Orbital ring into a subspace dimension for safekeeping.
Avalon, submerges to the frozen sea of Antarctica to awaits it successors. The City-Ship, the last built by the Ancients possess a partial copy of the Ancient archive of the Alterans. The complete one is found only on another City-Ship named Atlantis and is hidden somewhere in the Pegasus Galaxy.
Daniel Jackson was ecstatic to find Plato's work, the Atlantis story was based on something real, and in his research in the archive of Avalon, Daniel found a gate address for the location of the Lost City of Atlantis.
Unfortunately, the address he found is not in their galaxy but in another one.
The Pegasus Galaxy.
Hayes said, "NO" figuring out what is in Daniel mind.
"We've just started settling down Doctor Jackson if you haven't notice it yet" Hayes said gesturing to everyone present and Ezalia Joule agrees with him
"I concur with President Hayes doctor Jackson; we cannot go gallivanting to another galaxy while we have more immediate issues and more concerning problems here to address now."
"But Madam chairwoman, Sir, respectfully this could be the greatest find in the history of mankind. The benefit,"
"Be that as it may, but the answer is still No, and no buts Daniel and that is final" Hayes said sternly to Daniel
"But Sir," Hayes bangs his hand on the table and look Daniel sternly
"Don't Sir me Daniel, I am not going to support any kind of expedition to the Pegasus Galaxy, and do you honestly believe, that I would send people to a place where there is a race of blood sucking alien vampire who are roaming around looking humans to suck the life out of?"
"Uhh, no sir but," Daniel tries to talk back but Hayes wants none of it
"GAIA warned us about the Wraith, the ones who defeated the Ancients in the Pegasus Galaxy, do you remember that Daniel?"
"Yes sir, I do remember" Daniel confirmed "It's on my report"
"I am reading a copy, which she says, not to go there unless we have a power equal to theirs, or do you want the Wraith find a way to their next feeding ground…which is our home?"
"Yes, she did warn us Mr. President, but" Daniel admittedly but couldn't say the words to answer back, as Hayes glared daggers at him, and let the silence go for a few more seconds before he spoke
"A, confirmed danger of a very dangerous, hostile and powerful species that defeated a technological and advance civilization. And you, want us to go there, I don't think so!" Hayes shook his head highly against the idea
Hayes closed the file on the Atlantis Expedition proposal with the word 'PENDING CONSIDERATION' and put it away
"Until such time, until we are confident of the safety of any expedition is assured, this proposal is hereby shelved for the time being." Daniel gave no argument, but acceptance of the decision as Ron patted his shoulder from behind his seat.
After Ron finish dragging Kinsey outside and handed him over to the awaiting AF Marshals, he went back in as his duties is not finish. He listens to Daniel about an Atlantis Expedition and its importance to humanity. However, the president doesn't agree and had the proposal shelve, at least for now.
Ron, could only agree to the president decision since, he himself reviewed files on the Wraith and even video recording of them feeding on the humans and leaving it but nothing but an empty husk. Ron felt chills at the idea of them reaching the Sol System, where they will a planet as one big buffet table.
"Cheer up Danny, there will be other time for you to find that lost city of yours," he said to Ron, patting his shoulder
"I hope so" Daniel respond muted
Hayes, then addresses everyone with this final subject. Once that was finish, he addresses everyone "this first UN conference meeting is hereby is adjourned ladies and gentlemen" and with the bang of a gavel ends the meeting with an applause.
Everyone, filter out of the conference room and went their separate way as Ron and Dr. Jackson is arguing with each other as the walk out
"You can't just expect them to agree on the first day Doc"
"I know, I know I am being reasonable but come on, this is Atlantis we are talking about!"
"Oh Yeah, the legendary lost city, and it's on a planet in another galaxy, a galaxy filled with aliens who sees human as their next day meal!" Ron countered sarcastically as he shook his head in disagreement
"No thanks Doc, and as much as I dislike politicians, the big wigs got bigger problems to deal with here, the NOW things are more important to them. Furthermore, we have no word yet from Captain Carter and Teal'c from the Ida galaxy"
Daniel heaves a deep sigh, as he agrees with Ron and letting the excitement of a discovery get the best of him
"You are right Ron, I am sorry" Daniel apologize
Just as they were finishing up, a familiar warship enters Avalon restricted airspace and headed towards one of Avalon docking port.
"looks like the Archangel is here" Ron declared "Probably came to pick up Lady Cagalli and Chairman Ezalia entourage"
"They are doing the version of carpooling" Ron adds "both the representatives of Orb and the Plants arrived together on board the Archangel. An indication of the still critical situation the Plants and Zaft are still in"
"I thought they got new ships already deployed last month?"
"New ships, yes. Unfortunately, those were just for show" Daniel look at with a question in mind but Ron answered him now "The Plants is in a major shortage in manpower, especially skilled ones, and Zaft barely has enough people to manned them and it's been nearly three to four months after the battle for Earth, and I got word last week that those Zaft ships are manned by drafted up senior citizens and kids barely 14 years old"
"What, they put a bunch of kids and elderly on those warships?!" Daniel was shock at the news "Why didn't they tell us they were having manpower shortage, when we are asking them to,"
"Would you actually tell your ally whom once considered your adversary, and that you are having severe manpower shortage?" Ron cut him off with a question
"So, what now?" Daniel asks
"The President is only now receiving the Intel report about Zaft manpower problems. More likely, he will probably going to have a talk with Ezalia about it and unfortunately, he's gonna have to postponed the recruitment drive from Zaft if there is no one we could consider as a proper recruit" Daniel can only nod in agreement with that assessment.
"We can help them with their shortage in manpower you know" Daniel said with a thought in mind.
"And why pray tell, do WE want to help them?" Ron asks Daniel glaringly (he's having another weird mental picture of Ron looming over him wearing a Grimm Reaper (the Western looks and not from Bleach) outfit, with flowing black robes, a skull masks, scythe and all 'why do I always keep seeing that!?' he thought worriedly. Seeing this, Daniel answered carefully
"We help them…because, it is the right thing to do…so we should, I mean could…tell them about…the planet Epsilon I?" when Ron heard that name and he got tense as he made a quick look around them despite wearing a scrambler device that keeps his conversation in a bubble with Daniel in private.
"That's classified Doc and may I remind you," Ron started with a warning tone but Daniel relented
"No one deserve to be marooned on that planet after that botch up first test of Operation: Revive. My God Ron, there are over three to four million people over there who died in the Valentine Wars, are alive because of us!"
"Unintentionally they got revived!" Ron said back "We never meant to revive them, just our own dead!"
-o-
Operation: Revive
Years backs, in the early years of the Stargate Program, SGC initiated an ambitious plan to mass resurrect millions of recovered war dead of Atlantic Federation soldiers, personnel and even their civilians lost during the last two wars, most of whom died flash frozen in the cold vacuum of space. The bodies recovered were stored in massive cold storage vaults or cryogenic facilities, namely old mined out resource asteroids which they converted into massive refrigerator.
They towed away several of these cold storage asteroids via hyperspace and then brought into orbit to an SGC controlled planet on a star system which is not far from Earth and no Stargate present. Then, using alien technology learned from reverse engineered Goa'uld Sarcophagus, the scientist develops a device for a mass revival of their deceased to fill in their manpower shortage. Of course, they have to separate the ones too far gone or decapitated ones from the lot, as well as well-known members of Blue Cosmos and Logos lackeys.
They set up their device in one section of the asteroid for the first test, and a flick of a switch, an entire section filled with human bodies started to have a human pulse and then breathing and the warming up of their bodies.
The first test was a success, however in the haste of reviving their dead, they did not adjust the scope of their device power, so the energy field literally encompass the entire asteroid, containing no more than 8 million recovered bodies. What is also a surprise to them later on is that, they have also, inadvertently revived members of Zaft and Plants citizen and other nationalities who lost their lives during the last two wars.
SGC wondered why there are so many non-Alliance members and citizens mixed in with their dead. It would be later on that they discovered, that the former caretakers of the facilities were taking recovered bodies from the Junk Guild and anyone else who pass by them, and are bringing whatever human remains they found floating in cold space and mislabeling them as members of the Earth Alliance Forces.
It was a colossal frack-up on the scientist part, and hastily members of SGC and Star Force personnel quickly started evacuating them down on the planet via ring teleporters all while they are all still off balance.
They nearly got overwhelmed, but fortunately they got a help from two Asgard ships that belong to Loki and Freya, and they help teleport the entire population of revived humans down on the planet in half a day. Now, the reason why Loki and Freya were there, was because they detected a massive energy surge while they were heading to a system that's in dispute with a System Lord and they are going to mediate.
They decided to investigate and found SGC Operation Revive, and decided to help teleport 8 million revived people down on the planet and then demands an explanation from SGC.
After the leader of the team explained what happened, Loki did a scan on the device being used and discovered that the device was improperly adjusted as well as overpowered and the whole reason why it encompasses the entire asteroid.
SGC took months to sort out the 8 million people, separating thru facial recognition and then ring transport them to another continent. Interesting enough, SGC identifies several individual worth noted and filed away for a later date.
They brought surplus supplies of tents, clothes and field rations enough to feed millions of people. They also distribute personal hygiene's and water filtration systems. Then, when the sorting was finished, SGC evac the EA side leaving the rest on the planet.
An estimated, four and a half million non-EA citizens and others are mix nationalities were left behind. The largest group belongs to the Plants with over three million people and half a million Zaft soldiers, personnel and ship crew who lost their lives in the two wars.
The second largest belong to Orb Union numbering 200 thousand with a few thousand Orb soldiers. The rest are less than a few thousand.
Their fate, rest solely by the head of the AF Senate Oversight Committee where at that time, Vice President Henry Hayes was in charge of the program, and during which, he's not liking the idea coming from his colleagues throwing around. Ideas of committing genocide or even turning them into Lab Rats like what Blue Cosmos did to children that they turned into soldiers, even though they are officially dead.
And so, Hayes decided to maroon them on the planet named Epsilon Eridani I or Epsilon I for short. A planet that possesses an Earth like environment palpable to a North American wilderness and it is the second planet to its sun, in the Epsilon Eridani System.
Though it's more of a POW (Prisoners Of War) camp for members of Zaft than anything else.
A third planet in the system is named Epsilon Eridani II (someone has no imagination) but later renamed the planet, Reach. Which is also a habitable planet and the location of the Stargate and SGC offworld base.
Epsilon I became their home for the foreseeable future.
-o-
"It's been over six years since we marooned them there Ron," Daniel said "Don't you think it's time you send them home?"
"That would be the president decision, not mine Doc" Ron answered
"And the President listens to you more than anyone" Daniel said
Taking a moment, Ron heave a deep breath, as he himself is a bit conflicted on the issue of them bringing back three and a half million people some of whom are former members of Zaft who lost their life during the Valentine Wars. Epsilon I was never mention among the disclosure files they shared, at least for now.
Operation: Revive sole purpose was fill up their AF manpower shortage with revived Earth Alliance soldiers, give them a second chance in life. The plan was, to quietly and discreetly reintroduce them back into public life like saying that they have been in a coma for years, lost in bureaucratic red tape, misplaced or any kind of excuse to hide the truth that they were dead.
That plan was shot dead in the water.
Those who were part of the Earth Alliance, around a million and a half, had the choice to either reenlist to the AF Military or, they can retire from the military and return to civilian life. Surprisingly, many of them reenlisted back into active duty in the Atlantic Federation Star Force, some were given minor duties as monthly psychological counselling reveals that they still have some lingering nightmares of their ordeal.
Unfortunately, not all soldiers and civilians of the Earth Alliance, couldn't be discharge back to Earth, so they were taken from Epsilon I and brought them to other SGC offworld sites, which estimated around three and a half million civilians, scattered across a dozen planets to establish colonies that will be defended by EA soldiers that was revive with them and are now thriving with their own local government. During the threat on Earth by Anubis, more people were sent offworld and into newly established colonies and are very eager to reconnect with Earth as the Alert level went down.
They have been there for six years
"The president held back the plans to disclose Epsilon I for now, not until such time the president deems it necessary to disclose it. So, in other words, the fate of the people on Elysium is in limbo" Ron said
They look towards the dock Archangel at their vantage point "We shouldn't keep their fate in limbo forever Ron, it's not right"
"Again, it's not our call Daniel!"
"No, it's the president call, and believe me I know how he feels about them, but he and SGC promised the Asgard High Council to one day let them return home after disclosure. This is part our agreement with them, in exchange for an alliance with the Asgard!" Daniel pointed out
Ron remembers their meeting with the Asgard High Council with Vice President Hayes at that time. Hayes went before the Asgard High Council to offer an alliance with them as a means to protect Earth under the Protected Planets Treaty.
When they ask, of what would be the fate of the people of Epsilon I, Hayes explains their intent was only to revive their fallen soldiers and citizens and admittedly, they did not intend to resurrect members of a rival nation.
Hayes admits to that, and also admits that they have no plans for them other than keeping them on the planet for the time being while they decide their fate. Hayes was sincere of telling the Asgard that, despite their feelings of hostility, they have no ill intent on the people they unintentionally brought back from the dead. Although he is annoyed of what happened, and has no choice but to help them because they are his responsibility.
That much the Asgard can emphatically sense on Hayes emotions.
Now, not many know this but, the Asgard are empathic, meaning, they can sense people emotions. They sense a dislike to Coordinators, though that was only recent and reign in on any such dark thoughts. Hayes wanted to protect his country from foreign and domestic threat, care less what the rest of the world would do to themselves so long that it doesn't involve them, or do no harm to them and they will do the same.
Walk a path different to the rest and hopefully, peace.
The Asgard sense a lot of emotions from Hayes as well as his convictions to his duty and responsibility to his nation and caution himself not cause any action that would cause pain to his country, dishonor or lose its dignity.
His, conviction to uphold the trust given to him by the people, to keep the promise of a better future.
He would rather die than betray that trust.
The Asgard High Council took a whole week of deliberation, and that spoke volume of how difficult it was for them to decide but eventually, Stargate Command has a treaty and an alliance with the Asgard.
Then in one last word, the Asgard gave Hayes somewhat of both a warning and an advice from the supreme leader Odin, the head of the Asgard High Council.
"The people of Epsilon I are your responsibilities, that much is true. How you treat them is up to you, and despite some differences in opinions other than genetics, they are still human, they are still your people. But know this, be it may for the good or for ill your actions may be, it will be the face your species, Humanity, that will show to the universe. Thru your actions, intent or otherwise, you will show how you treat others and how others should treat you back, take heed." with that, their meeting ended.
Somehow, what Odin told Hayes is both an advice and a warning that demands to be taken seriously. The Asgard knows too well of the turbulent and violent history they have with their Coordinator brethren. Lately, the Asgard is taking such a close interest in the Tau'ri ever since Colonel Jack O'Neill got flung out of the Stargate on Halla in the Ida Galaxy many years ago.
Hayes would later rule against anything ill or otherwise unethical acts to be done against their unintendedly revived adversary. Many on Hayes side unfortunately, still has some strong hostilities towards the Coordinators including him admittedly. Despite this, Hayes has no intention for them fall into that kind of mindset that only a certain militant fanatic group has let themselves fall into.
Hayes choose a different path, so he argued to the rest of the senate oversight committee to do nothing and allow them to settle on Epsilon II peacefully.
In a meeting with the head of the Stargate Program concerning Epsilon I, Hayes said to them:
"Blue Cosmos and Logos…they are our past mistakes and we paid for those mistakes in so many ways that it nearly broke us financially, morally and spiritually. To repeat those mistakes now will turn us into them or maybe even worse than them. If we walk this path, then whatever future we try to build for ourselves here among the stars, will be over before it can even begin. Please, don't let that happen to us, not now, not ever"
After a long argument about the pros and cons, Epsilon I was left alone, leaving the unintentional new colonist with the necessities required for a new life here on Elysium.
A year later, SG-1 visited Halla where Daniel Jackson and Henry Hayes brought the treaty to be signed and establish the Protected Planets Treaty put on Earth.
The Asgard signed, and that was five years ago.
Avalon,
President Hayes Oval Office an hour later
In one of the large rooms the president chose as his own Oval Office, Hayes hears out Ron about his talk with Daniel about… Epsilon I. Ron agrees to talk with President Hayes about disclosing Elysium but promises nothing to Daniel.
Hayes contemplated for a moment, remembering the Operation Revive and afterwards. The plan to revive salvage bodies that were flash frozen or in cryogenic storage for many years in order to fill up their ranks, but only those of members of the former Earth Alliance and their civilians who lost their lives on their side. It was a bold plan but unfortunately, an un-adjusted device inadvertently revives both friend and foe alike.
Its beginning was a disaster and yet still, they push forward and this time they made sure their technology works and carefully revive people that they first evaluated and then brought into a controlled environment. This went on for years, bringing back nearly 10 million people, giving them a second chance in life and every life regained is a step forward in building a future.
The technology learned from the Goa'uld Sarcophagus and other healing devices is still being used, studied and improved to make sure no one would fall into the madness like the Goa'uld did but still. Its use is heavily regulated and used sparingly.
"So, I take it that Daniel suggested of disclosing Epsilon I?" Hayes questioned which Ron confirms with a nod
"I can think of many reasons why he's suggesting we'd disclose it," Ron suspected "But the first come in mind is that, because we shelve his Atlantis expedition proposal or he feel sorry about the Plants situation, and having back millions people who they thought are dead would a boost of moral for the Plants and a boost in numbers for Zaft"
Hayes gave a deep sigh "I can imagine a few of their reaction will be, when they hear about this" Hayes said and look up to Ron
"In the late 20th Century, the idea of cryogenic suspension of a clinically dead human being came as fad, that in the distant future, they can be revive later after a cure for their ailments is found" he said
"The means to revived the dead is now here, and we have only been reviving people on our side of the fence for years because they are our dead and our responsibility. Now if word leaks out, there is going to be an uproar and we'd be dealing with another three-ring circus, all over again." Hayes slump down in his chair laughing at the absurdity of it all.
"Were going to be accused something, something, playing God, keeping the tech for ourselves, blah, blah, blah to whatever they could add…like always"
Ron snorted at that idea "Begging your pardon Mr. President, other than exiling the people we 'accidentally' revive and left on that planet, we didn't do anything wrong to them, unethical or anything in my point of view."
"Be that as it may Ron, we are still responsible for the people on Epsilon I which is true, or should I say, I am responsible for them…it was my decision for the go ahead of Operation Revive, to those we unintended to be brought back, be kept there, to help them…should I have," Hayes said distantly which Ron knows what he's talking about and quickly interrupted him
"Sir, that incident, I know how you feel…what happen there…what had happened to our people, to Joseph when we tried to help them…it wasn't your fault Mr. President!" Ron exclaimed
"We knew, and they knew of the dangers but we did it anyway because we were trying to help…Joseph knew the dangers, yet he accepted the posting because he believes in the mission"
"To build the new foundation where the future will rise and stand tall for all to see" Hayes remark which put a smile in his face in remembering that saying
"Ron, look at this latest report I received an hour ago, it's from the Lexington Battlegroup I sent to Epsilon Eridani two days ago" Hayes handed a tablet with the report to Ron and was wide eyes at what he's reading and images taken from Epsilon I
"Whoa!"
"Well, we might as well as do it now than doing it later," Hayes said
"Sir…were really doing it now?"
"We might as well do it now, and I think that, this is the opportune time to dump some our responsibilities to the others and let someone else worry about it for a change." Hayes said sounding amused at the idea.
"Come with me Ron," Hayes ordered while giving Ron a canary eating grin
"Sir?"
"If I am going to put my head on the political guillotine block, I might as well drag you with me" Hayes said which cause Ron to crick his neck
"Uhh, actually this was Doctor Jackson idea Mr. President, not mine"
"Then we will drag him with us and put also his head under the guillotine as well"
Daniel Jackson was talking to a female colleague about something about ancient languages, when he was suddenly grab by the ankle by someone and then drag towards the port where the Archangel was dock. He struggles to look ahead and saw who is dragging him
"What the? Ron let go of my leg!"
"No, you are coming with Daniel, we have a date with a guillotine"
"Wha-what are you talking about?" Ron didn't answer as he drags Daniel to the Archangel in front of dozens of people trying to figure out what was going on
"Eh, he, he, there is nothing to see here folks!" Ron said to everyone as he drags Daniel and then glaring back at him
"What, were doing it now?" Daniel is guessing and guess it right "I never said to do it now, all I said is that we can help with their manpower shortage!"
"Well maybe you should tell him that!" said Ron as he yanks Daniel by the leg.
Archangel
A while later, Daniel was given the opportunity to explain somethings before Hayes drops the bombshell. He tells them how the AF military have a shortage of manpower, the lack of skilled personnel with irreplaceable talent and experience that unless filled the AF will be in cutting down operations. The answer: Daniel first explains about the amazing medical technology SGC captured (salvaged, stolen, pilfered, swindled etc, etc) from the Goa'uld and anyone else with healing devices and most coveted, a Sarcophagus.
Their scientists or better yet, what Ron called them 'the Eggheads Brigade' or 'The Mad Scientist Club of Area 51' were developing their own devices using after they reverse engineered Goa'uld tech. Their biggest find is what can only be describe as an 'Ancient Healing Device' also known as 'Telchak's device' named after its inventor thousands of years ago, who according to their allies, Telchak found a device originally created by the Ancients, an advance civilization that died off eons ago. The Goa'uld determined its primary purpose was to heal, but it was so powerful its effects on human hosts was massive, that it prolongs one's lifespan to eons.
This got SGC interested, for the device not only could heal and prolong one's life but it is also capable of reanimating dead tissue, even to the point of giving life to something that had not been alive before.
There is however, a drawback.
Turns out that, prolong and continued use was detrimental to the users, namely the Goa'uld. Primarily, it causes paranoia, egotism and megalomania and other symptoms of madness that made SGC cautious of using it and eventually, be used sparingly or used once for one person and never again.
After developing their own and hopefully, much better than what the Goa'uld made…SGC initiated Operation Revived. A plan to bring back deceased Earth Alliance soldiers from their cryogenic stasis, along with crew, personnel and civilians.
Daniel audience, members of the Archangel, Cagalli, Lacus and Ezalia Joule and her son Yzak and their entourage is listening very, very carefully as Daniel continue to explain the details, that the first test was a fiasco, for instead of a hundred EA soldiers being brought back to life in the first test…they inadvertently brought back to life more than 8 million people or more…of Earth Alliance, Zaft, the Plants and other nationalities.
Needless to say, what they did to non-EA members got a big reaction of what SGC did to them
"You, you left them there!? You left millions of people, citizens of the Plants on some god forsaken far-off planet!?" Ezalia finally said shaking in emotions of fury and surprise at the revelation
"Would you like if we just kill them instead? They are officially dead to begin with after all?" said Ron coldly
"That's not the point!" Ezalia shouted angrily and Ron shot back
"And what is the point then, Chairman?!"
"Enough!" Hayes yelled to both of them "calm down, both of you!" he ordered as to get control of the situation
"What had happened to them was unintentional, we never meant to bring them back, but only our own dead was our intent to resurrect, Lady Ezalia" he said explaining
"We left them there yes, anything else that you might think we've done malicious or otherwise we did not do. However, we did not leave them there unprotected, as SGC kept watch over the planet and the Asgard PPT is in effect above Elysium, so they are at the moment, safe. At least for a while"
While Hayes and Ezalia talked, Lacus, Cagalli, Captain Ramius, Mwu La Flaga and Yzak who are in the meeting was thinking about what was just revealed and many have different thoughts about it
For Captain Ramius, La Flaga and Yzak thoughts, this was another one of the benefits of having the Stargate in their possession. A technology to bringing dead people back to life and with it, a country recovery because so many of the people have valued Knowledge, Skills, Talents and Experiences not easily replaced. They wonder and worries of what else they have that they are not telling them.
For Lacus, Cagalli and even Ezalia, their thoughts are different for they are thinking of the millions of unclaimed dead still left in their own cold storage facilities, and cryonic stasis centers across the Plants. All waiting and hoping to be revive in the near future.
That, could be today with such miracle technology in arms reach is making them giddy. Something Hayes can recognize in their faces.
"I would like to discuss Elysium with civility now?" Hayes requested
Ezalia calms down and nodded in agreement "Yes of course. Question: why reveal it now?"
Hayes got comfortable in his chair, while Ron and Daniel stood by the side as Hayes explains his reasons for revealing Elysium
"I am, revealing to you before I make it public the next UN meeting, and I am fulfilling a promise to allies and friends, who have more than just throw-in their support to SGC, but also showed a great deal of faith and trust in us than anyone we've met. In more ways than one…now we are not just allying but good friends." He said and firmly ads
"I, don't intend to break faith with them, nor any of the people on SGC or the Atlantic Federation for that matter"
"You're allies, who?"
"The Asgard" Daniel answered
"Gaining them as allies is next to impossible, especially with our history"
"And yet you did gain them as allies, along with the Free Jaffa Nation, Organans, Langarans and the Tollans so many others" said Lacus
"It wasn't easy Ms. Clyne. Also, it's not perfect either, but we are learning" Hayes admitted
"Earning the trust of the Asgard, one of the oldest and powerful races in the universe was not easy and is rare, and keeping faith on that trust is even harder, and yet the rewards are worth it. If we broke faith with them, then so as everyone else" Hayes said
While Hayes was talking, Ron observed the expression on everyone and when Hayes finish his sentence, Ron heard someone snorted and muttered very quietly and noticed a smirk in Mwu face which, Ron finds annoying and suddenly called him
"Something you want to add in this discussion, Mwu?" that got Mwu La Flaga attention and when he looks at Ron, he felt a murderous feel to Ron glare aimed at him.
"No-no, nothing, nothing!" he waves away as Ron gave him and Yzak a cold glare as he could guess where that muttered remark come from and Mwu most likely reacted to that remark
Ron made hand signals saying 'I am watching you, punks' at him as Hayes just sigh and continued
"Despite what you might believe, we take our alliance with them very seriously. And, if you have any doubts about it, then you can ask them when they come around in our neck of the wood's sometimes" Ezalia, Lacus and Cagalli nod as they understood
"So, what now?" Ezalia asks
"Before I reveal Epsilon I in the next UN meeting in about three months from now," Hayes heaves a deep sigh before continuing "SGC will hand over responsibility to the Plants and Orb Union, of the Planet and its populace. Ron" Ron and he reaches out to the tablet on the table, and then connected a USB cable to the wall screen and opens open another file that's being shown on the widescreen
"So much has change so fast that we need to respond to the change immediately" Hayes explain to them and then Ron showed a surveillance video from a F-302 doing a fly-by.
"Epsilon I, is not really that far from Earth. The system where it's at, is named Epsilon Eridani around 10.5 lightyears from Earth, and one of our closes neighbors with two habitable planets of eleven orbiting the star"
"You said, two habitable planets?" Lacus said curious
"Yes. The second one is Reach, and we have an old SGC Alpha Site there that we had to abandon during Anubis War with the System Lords" Hayes gestures Ron to change the image to show Orbital photos of the planet surface, on a particular continent the size of North America. There it reveals a section of the continent in an area the size of California, dotted with images that can only be small cities and towns, some close to the ocean where there are many boats, most likely fishing boats.
On Inland shows vast fields of crops such as wheat, rice and barley enough to feed millions and farms raising cows, pigs and chickens'
Far, far away are building of what they believe to be the industrial sector, factories churning up machines for construction work, roads used by what looks like turn of the 20th century cars and railroads in use and more being built across the land.
"That's' a pretty place" Mwu whistled in remark
"It looks like they are in the beginning of the industrial revolution and yet, a bit more advance" Murrue judged
"This is a recon photo, taken by the Lexington (BC-500 Nimitz- class) combat group last week. They were there to see if there to reclaim the base on Reach, as well as checking up on Epsilon I current condition"
Hayes showed recon videos of two F-302 fly by, showing the people going out on their business or walking about with their families but suddenly stop to see the planes flying by, and a close image reveal people's, men, women and children's faces looking up with fear and concern written in their faces, some even looks like they were running for cover or going back inside.
"They don't look very happy?" Murrue have observe "they look almost looks…scared"
"Well, we haven't interacted with them in over four years, not since we left them in…bad terms" Ron mentions
"You mean, you haven't been in contact with them at all, and what do you mean by 'in bad terms?'" Cagalli questioned and Hayes answered her with a grim tale
"A year after we settled them there, a group of Zala fanatics attack our embassy compound… and murdered our people" Hayes said which got everyone attention
"There were two thousand Zala fanatics that attack the main embassy, Camp Alpha 1…they overwhelmed the security group and murdered the staff and employees…including the ambassador"
"Why would they do that Mr. President?" Murrue asks concerned
"Every embassy has a ring transport system installed, which connected to other parts of the planet on other refugee camp sites scattered across the planet. It is also connected to the orbital platform that our transport ships used to bring supplies down on the planet" Hayes said and Murrue started to guess what the fanatics was actually planning
"They tried to seize one of your ships, probably timed it when a ship arrives to dock on the orbital station" Hayes nods in Murrue deduction
"They failed though, Captain Ramius" Ron spoke up "They had the god awful luck, that I was onboard that transport at that time and believe me (chuckling!) they were not happy seeing me again" Ron gestured a slitting of the throat, a cold shiver run down on everyone spine when they see infamous 'Grimm Reaper' smiling.
Ron would have explain the gore details if Hayes silently shook his head to him saying 'we don't have time for that' so instead, he summaries an explanation on how the AF Space Marines, a battalion of Mobile Suits and Ron dealt with those Malcontents both in orbit, and the ones below with quick, decisive and brutal actions that the Malcontents were subdued in just a day of fighting.
The aftermath revealed 50 members of the embassy staff and locally hired employees and their security details were all brutally killed along with the Ambassador.
The investigation reported that, the Malcontents were armed with homemade AK-47 Kalashnikov and Colt Model M1911 side arms, one of the easiest firearms to make in a backyard machine shop if you know the schematics, and a lot of old-fashioned weapons that looks medieval.
The only way to make these weapons is to have access to the machine shops that SGC gave to the refugees to produce farm implements, carpenter tools and other things to establish a colony on their own, were now used to make weapons.
Yzak was guessing "They probably think that they can hijack one of your ship and head for the Plants"
"Even if they did succeed, the transport is nothing more than a cargo ship used for inner systems travel, which means, no FTL and won't get very far. Plus, our base on Reach would immediately react when something was wrong since they have the planet heavily monitored as well as outer space and our people 24/7 with personal RFID"
"RFID?"
"Radio Frequency Identification, like the tag you can find on Shopping Mall products to deter shoplifters. Only these RFID has subspace frequency to monitor a person's health and vital signs"
"So, what did you do afterwards?" Ezalia ask and a bit worried for the answer. Hayes, let a moment of silence to pass before he answers it
"Because of what happen… it's been decided that SGC will leave the planet and let them sort themselves on their own. Any help they need, ended with the death of the ambassador Hayes answered
"That's it?" Ezalia was confused and disbelieving
"Yes, other than keeping passive surveillance, we never made any contact or interfered with their own affairs. Had the incident not happen and our ambassador had not been murdered, then we would have continue helping them"
"Mr. President, who was the ambassador?" Murrue inquired
"It was…Joseph Faxon" Hayes told them "He was part of the delegation that went to the Plants to negotiate after the Second Valentine War ten years ago, and he was my chosen ambassador to Epsilon I"
Murrue, and the others suddenly remembered the man. One of the more open-minded people in the Atlantic Federation. A well like man who would willingly to work with them to achieve a lasting peace.
Hayes, explained that he offered it to Joseph as the main ambassador on Elysium. He accepted without second thought, and help the dislocated refugees to settle down to their new situation, and in the year he and his staff work hard and made progress to raise better living conditions and organize the people which resulted in the establishment of their own local government.
The refugee center named 'Camp 1Alpha' became the first to look more and more like a town as tents, makeshift homes and prefab houses have been replaced with new homes and buildings built from native wood, stones, glass and other materials they produced on the planet and even the roads were paved.
Many camps changed as cooperation made life easier like those near an ocean body, where the people started fishing and they were catching fish of all kinds where many remarkably look like tuna, salmon and trout and best of all, they are edible. Some even built makeshift boats or canoe dugouts to fish further away with homemade fishing nets, catching enough to feed so many people who want something other than K-rations, which they are starting to get sick and tired eating one every day.
They also forage for fruits, nuts and incredibly, they found wild grapes and vegetables similar to those found on Earth and they are safe and good enough to eat, which ads to their dietary supplements.
Hayes told them how Joseph requested acquisition for more machineries to make more construction materials, farming implements, cooking utensils and textiles making and components to make electric productions, power lines and lights. Also, medical equipment to test for any pathogens that could endanger them.
With tools for farming, they started clearing vast fields to sow seeds of rice, wheat and barley that was given to be planted in the rich soil of Epsilon I, along with poultry, cows and pigs' farms. Soon, the need to import food (K-Rations) will no longer be necessary.
Joseph is good in communicating with people and he became someone that the people started to go to when they need help or need something and slowly, he's earning their trust.
A sign of progress, one that many diehard Zala fanatics, sympathizers and agitators that SGC called 'Malcontents' who unfortunately, refuse to accept this kind of progress with Naturals. Then one night, in what is regarded as the planet First Town Hall Meeting. The leaders of the other camps and Joseph, are together to discuss their future, until the Malcontents began to make noise.
The noise, that the Malcontents started has agitate the crowd, saying that what progress they make will otherwise be taken away by the Naturals coming to take the planet, accusing Joseph that this was just a ploy for them once they worked up the land and make it livable, they will be pushed aside and take everything from them. They kept on screaming saying, the Naturals don't give a damned about them, pointing out past history, of the Earth Alliance, Blue Cosmos, Logos and etc. This stoke the hate and anger in the people to the point of nearly causing a riot.
Hayes showed a video recording of the Town Hall Meeting and where Joseph stood up dealt with them by simply telling them the truth:
"If you do not wish to cooperate with us, that is fine. If you do not wish to work with us, that is fine too. If you do not want us here, and if so, well its fine by us. We will leave, and we will leave you… alone." He said and that very much cause them to go silent as Joseph sigh in exhaustion, a bit pissed off to those agitators, he started to explain their situation
"They are right though; the AF government doesn't give a damn about you and that you are all a waste of time and resources. Resources if I may add, are far more needed back home on Earth or in our other offworld colonies, with our own people. Also, back at the Plants…you are all officially dead and that no one knows that you are here, and alive"
"So, you see, we could do anything to you!"
"We, would have left you here and watch you die with no chance of seeing your home, your love ones back at the Plants"
"We could abuse you and commit all vices of evil on you, starve you to death, bomb this planet with nuclear bombs until the soil turns to glass and no one back home would ever know that you just died again"
"We, could have done all of that on you… but we have done none of that!" he yelled forcefully
"Other than keeping you here, we forced nothing on you, demand nothing from you. We, let you have this second chance in life, despite the fact that we never intended to!"
"We, help you build a community, make you self-sufficient so that you won't rely on us anymore"
"We, are here to help you live like people should live, and not in some god forsaken refugee camp on another planet"
"We, did all of this for you, because you are our responsibility and because… it is the right thing to do"
"And whether you believe or not, the promise of Vice President Henry Hayes who is my dearest friend, which I know he will keep… WE will keep the promise to reveal your existence to the world when disclosure have been decided, and that you will be allowed to reconnect with you love ones back on Earth and the Plants."
"I, I asks you now and just this once… I ask for your patience"
Everyone was silent and the speakers call for everyone to calm down and discuss current matters important to them now, then the ones they have no control over. There the video ends.
"We didn't know at that at that time, that those Malcontents were planning to attack the main embassy a few days later. The only bright side in all this, is that no one else on the planet supported the fanatics actions, and yet, some of them knew what these bastards were scheming to do this…and said nothing to stop them"
"Whether they believe me or not, I will promise to them, that I will reveal their existence when disclosure was decided. Until that day come, we kept our distance and no real contact with them since"
"So, you abandon them!?" Ezalia says
"It was already clear, that we were no longer welcome, and I won't risk anymore of my people lives just for their sake Ezalia" he declared
"Excuse Mr. President but, they are just a handful of people with differing opinions. They don't reflect the view or the opinion of the whole" Murrue said
"I agree with you on that Captain Ramius, which is why I didn't order SGC to have that planet glassed. Or would you prefer that I chose that instead?" he asks and Murrue never replied as not liking the president tone that borders on anger
"When we, collected our dead, we were only able to revived some of them with the Sarcophagus technology. Unfortunately, the others were too far gone to get any real help… including Joseph. He, didn't deserve that, he didn't deserve to be mutilated!"
"Mr. President, sir," Daniel gently put his hand on the president to calm him down
"I'm fine Daniel" Hayes said as he breath and calm down before he faces the others again
Daniel continue telling them that SGC immediate evacuation was sudden, the other embassies pack up everything what they can left the planet, leaving only a note of what just happen and why they are leaving
The ring system was given an auto destruct code, leaving nothing even ashes, and as the embassies burned to the ground, crowds of people are gathering and in shock to see it and terrified of them leaving them. For over a week, many people were looking up, hoping against hope that SGC would come back and some of them was writing big letters on the ground saying 'PLEASE COME BACK' hoping that they can see it.
Sadly, what they can see are spaceships doing a couple of orbit and then leaving. A month later with no response, the people on Epsilon I, have finally realized that…that they are not coming back. Then they would later ask…WHY?
"But what happens if the Goa'uld finds the planet?" Ezalia thought of it and worried
"Doesn't look like they found it" Hayes pointed out
"But still, Mr. President, you left them there," Cagalli was speaking but was cut off by Hayes
"Four million or less on another planet, I have over hundreds of millions of Atlantic Federation citizens here at home to worry about Lady Cagalli, and let's not forget, the several Billions of other people on Earth along with them, or do you not think that they are not important enough to be protected?"
"Cagalli, stop!" Lacus put her hand on Cagalli shoulder stop to her from answering back
"But Lacus,"
"What is done is done, and as much as we want to argue of their choices is either right or wrong, they did what had to be done, for all of our sakes" Lacus said
"They are alive and safe, and that's all that matters"
Cagalli thought about it and defeatedly, nodded in agreement but she had to throw one last question
"Could you have at least told them why you are leaving them?"
"Yes, we did" Ron answered and look to the president who gave him a nod to continue "SGC drop message pods down to Epsilon I to brief them of the situation on Earth, and also, we told them to be quiet, meaning, stop their radio broadcasting unless they want to attract attention to themselves. Also, we left four stealth satellites in orbit. Its armed but not enough firepower to bring down a Ha'tak but it will alert us of their presence"
"Would you have responded if the Goa'uld appeared?" Ezalia queried
There was a silence that was deafening, and Daniel just gave a sad shake of his head in response
Ron, then open up the screen again to show them something of interest.
"The Lexington access the satellites data logs and it shows that the weapons on the satellites have not fire in anger and sensor records shows no one intruded into the system for over a year"
They all look at the first video that was pause is being continued again, showing a newly built building, most likely a government building and the people who just came out, have started waving at the F-302 that made a close fly by.
Something notice by the others is a large flagpole is raising up a flag and as it flutters in the wind, it reveals it to be a white flag with the emblem of Stargate Command.
Other video shows the presence of a military bases and a standing army present, they have what looks like high caliber artillery pieces, most likely anti-aircraft guns but it looks more like it came from World War II.
Surprisingly, they also see what looks like radio antennas and further away, and in a desert setting, a number of arrays of radio telescopes pointed up to deep space. Five years was a short time, yet they have been able to make so much progress despite by expanding their industrial and manufacturing capability, which was remarkable.
"Have they tried to make contact?" Lacus asks curious
"Yes, but we never replied to any of their radio broadcast for years. However, this was different" Hayes answered
"How different?" Ezalia ask
"When the Lexington made orbit, they immediately detected broadcasted radio waves from Epsilon I surface, only this was a powerful tv broadcast capable of breaking thru the atmosphere" Hayes showed a TV broadcast Epsilon I.
The TV reception look like it came from the 1950's all black and white, a bit grainy but it was enough to recognize a person, on a podium is a woman in a business suit speaking before a crowd.
The person is far more familiar to both Lacus and Ezalia Joule most especially. Both, were wide eyes and mouth open in surprise to see her of all people.
"Greetings, my name is Lenore Zala, I am the first President Elect of the United States of New Vinland here on the New Vinland Continent on Epsilon I. I am also Chairman, of the United Federation of Nations of Epsilon I"
"We are here in Joseph Faxon city, capitol of New Vinland, and here, on this new world, there are no Coordinators, there are no Naturals, just people, as it should be" she said smiling as crowds cheer to her as she makes her speech
"Today, we are celebrating the first-year anniversary of our nations birth, and on behalf of the people of Epsilon I, we say hello to you and wish for peaceful coexistence with our brothers and sisters on Planet Earth"
"WHAT!"