Inanna - The Conclusion
-------
"Now *that* is a ship!" Jack proclaimed, looking out the transport vessel's port, his impressed gaze taking in
the measure of the massive ship waiting in orbit. "How many people served on her?"
"The full compliment was well over four thousand but we could easily carry far more than that if required." Inanna
responded, never removing her eyes from her instruments. "We were equipped and staffed to deal with everything from
an all out war to a humanitarian mission. The ship's a Glorious Heritage class heavy cruiser...the 'shining star'
of the Highguard's fleet."
"And the ship we're on currently?" Sam questioned, bright eyes examining every console and piece of equipment she
could find.
"An AM9D Ung Tae drop ship. Used to carry special forces primarily."
"You mentioned the Nietzcheans..." Daniel spoke up suddenly, moving to sit next to her. "Nietzsche as in the
philosopher?"
Inanna nodded once. "Yes."
He leaned forward, looking interested. "Coincidence or..."
"Their race is founded upon the teachings and philosophies of Nietzsche. They are, physically at least, or a race of
supermen. In theory, they are supposed to be a race of warrior princes..."
The android's thick sarcasm earned her raised eyebrows from the archaeologist. "I take it they missed the mark on that
one?"
"By a few parsecs." Inanna made an adjustment, gently guiding their transport into a docking bay. "I can provide you
with documentation on them if you're interested."
"Yes! Thank you." Daniel didn't even attempt to hide his excitement. The very concept of an alternate reality with races
he'd never heard of, one of which had founded their entire society on the teachings of a philosopher like Nietzsche....
it had the anthropologist in him nearly giddy with anticipation.
No less giddy, though for a different reason, Jack leaned over his hostess's shoulder and craned his neck to survey the
interior of the bay. "Sweet."
Inanna grinned up at him. "You think this is good? Wait til I show you the rest."
"Oh, by all means," he said, eyes gleaming, "do show..."
----
Leading them out into the corridor, Inanna paid no attention to the robots that passed them, moving with a stiff-legged
gait but her guests watched them with interest.
"Are these robots employed in the day to day operation and maintenance of this vessel?" Teal'c asked perfunctorily,
watching one carry a large box by.
"Yes. They're controlled by the core computer, unlike me, they have no intelligence or self-awareness, and assist
wherever they're required. Repairs, damage control, transport, wherever." Stopping at a door, she looked back at O'Neill.
"You'll appreciate these, Colonel." Opening it, she led them into a different bay where two massive and very heavily
armed robots dominated the large room.
"Oh yeah," Jack exclaimed, looking the giant bots over. "Now, *that* is what I'm talking about!"
"Meet Frick and Frack, my boys." Inanna patted the side of one. "They're planetary warfare bots. Also non-sentient that
I control from here. These two drove the attackers off the planet. The lack of apparent control fools opponents
unfamiliar with their operation into believing they're automatons and that gives me an added advantage."
Moving closer, Jack thumped the leg of one then grinned back at Teal'c, must've made for one hell of a good show - all
those Jaffa running for the hills."
"Indeed." The former first prime rumbled approvingly. It was most satisfying to think of his former comrades coming up
against such a formidable opponent. Most satisfying indeed. "These 'bots' were able to adequately deal with the death
gliders?"
The curly-haired android nodded. "Quite easily. Being an A.I., my consciousness is capable of splitting itself off into
several different directions - each capable of independent thought and deal with any issues that arise. Including having
Frick handle the ground forces while Frack shot down any airborne assault. Anything they couldn't handle, I dealt with
from up here on the command deck."
"The bridge." O'Neill said absently, his attention on Frick and Frack.
Amused, Daniel looked over at Sam. "That seems familiar."
She grinned back. 'Yeah, you when you're checking out a new site. The Goa'uld could lay waste to the place and you'd
never notice."
He grinned sheepishly. "That bad?"
"Indeed." Teal'c said, amusement in his dark gaze. "Colonel O'Neill has given me standing instructions to secure you
in the event of a Goa'uld assault under just those conditions. I am, apparently, to throw you across my shoulder like,"
he paused, still unsure of the phrasing his commanding officer had used, "like a sack of potatoes...and run."
"He didn't?!" Daniel gaped at him. "He actually said like a sack of potatoes?"
"Yes."
The archaeologist shook his head, bemused. "I can't believe he said that." Almost as soon as he spoke, he laughed and
said, "Actually, I can believe it. It's Jack. He'll say anything."
--------
Looking around the command deck, Jack whistled appreciatively. "I could get used to this."
Sam looked at the centralized podium. "What's this?"
"That would be the slipstream controls - were we to enter slipstream, that's where the pilot would control it from."
Inanna leaned against the console. "We had a chair setup once but the deck was so badly damaged in the last fight with
the Nietzcheans, it was just easier to go with the newer, simpler design."
"Slipstream?" The scientist's eyes lit up. "May I see the drives? We've been aboard ships that used hyperspace but never
anything with slipstream."
"Ordinarily, I would say no but Highguard regulations aren't really a concern any..." A split second before alarms began
to blare, the android's head snapped around and she frowned at a screen. "Tour's over."
Inanna's face appeared on several different screens, calmly issuing a tactical alert and calling the crew to their
stations.
"I don't know why you're still saying that." Inanna addressed herself irritably, hurrying to another station.
A holo-version of her flickered into being and placidly said, "Well, old habits and all. Besides, the chance exists we'll
manage to rebuild the crew and best to keep discipline now if we'll be an example of it later...I'm reading three ships
approaching in hyperspace - same type and configuration as the one previously destroyed."
Looking at each of the three versions of the A.I., Jack's eyebrows rose. "Well...that takes talking to yourself to a
whole new level...new universe even."
The android Inanna looked up to meet his gaze. "These look familiar, Colonel?" One screen changed to reveal three Goa'uld
motherships dropping out of hyperspace.
"Oh they definitely do," he affirmed. "Teal'c?"
"They appear to belong to Cronus." The Jaffa affirmed, stepping closer to the display.
"Ok," Inanna looked to her holographic self. "Weapons drones...are there troops coming through the Stargate?"
The hologram's eyes flicked up toward the ceiling briefly. "No."
"Continue to monitor, just in case." Inanna looked speculatively toward O'Neill and Teal'c. "Think you two could handle a
few drones?"
"Put us on 'em - we'll learn." The Colonel was practically rubbing his hands together in anticipation.
"Major?"
"I'd love to try," Sam agreed.
"Dr. Jackson, can you keep an eye on the Stargate surveillance? If this Cronus decides to put combatants on the planet,
we'll need to react fast."
"Sure." Without hesitation, Daniel turned to the displays in question, watching them carefully.
Not having the time to give a full explanation of the weapons systems, Inanna gave the three officers a quick run through
before outfitting them with the proper gear.
The visor wasn't dissimilar to some VR gear Jack had previously tried but when he put it on, activating it, and he got a
visual he decided virtual reality couldn't even come close. The clarity was perfect and no matter what direction he turned,
he had an unobstructed view of space.
"Sweet."
Inanna's voice drew his attention but he didn't remove the visor, just listened. "When the gliders reach targeting
distance - let them have it."
He grinned. "Not your average android, are you?"
"Nope." She replied merrily, moving away.
In the display, Jack was aware of other weapons being deployed around him and the ship taking on a defensive stance.
He gripped the control stick and began maneuvering the drone, testing it out and seeing what it could do. The ease of
maneuverability and response time was a dream. If everything on the ship worked as well as the drone he was piloting then
they *had* to get Inanna on their side. The Goa'uld wouldn't stand a chance with her in their corner.
Thought was quickly replaced by instinct when Cronus' ships released death gliders He waited until they were in range then
reacted, firing and weaving amongst them. It was almost as if he were out there himself, flying at breakneck speed -
destroying fighters left, right, and center.
"Very cool."
----
Daniel kept one eye on the readouts and the other on the various incarnations of Inanna. Though he couldn't be sure, if
seemed as if they were all her. Whether, as she had mentioned, they were all offshoots or the same core artificial
intelligence or three separate versions of her program, he couldn't be sure. He did know he couldn't wait to find out.
More about her and the 'Commonwealth' that had birthed her. A society capable of creating such advanced intelligence had
to have been something.
The version of Inanna on the screen seemed to focus her attention on sensor data and the actions of Jack, Sam, and Teal'c
while the holographic version kept a running account of the battle's progress. The physical android version seemed more
limited in her focus from what he could see. She kept stood at a weapons console, overseeing the ship's main weapons with
an inhuman level of focus.
Like the reported first battle, the ship easily faced down the attacking vessels. Admit Jack's pleased whoops of triumph
and the sounds of the ship firing her weapons while avoiding enemy fire, they easily destroyed the lead vessel, heavily
damaging the second. The third seemed to have growing reservations about continuing the battle when it became clear that
it would have to deal with it on its own.
When the warship turned her very effective weapons in its direction and fired the first volley, the decision was sealed
and the remaining undamaged Goa'uld ship turned and fled, jumping to hyperspace and leaving its wounded companion to limp
away at a nearly infinitesimal rate.
Removing his visor, Jack watched the screen with a smirk. "Would love to be a fly on the wall of that ship - see ol'
Cronus' reaction."
Inanna chuckled. "Unlikely." She grinned in satisfaction. "You'd be one squished bug."
"A thoroughly unappealing idea, indeed." The Colonel agreed with a nod. "A more appealing one would be issuing you an
invite back to earth. If you're going to be sticking around these parts for a while, our CO - General Hammond - is
interested in a possible alliance or something." He inclined his head in the direction of the departing ships. "Seems to
me, we have the same snakey problem."
Inanna shared a quick look with her other avatars, considering and debating in silent conversation.
Finally, the holographic version spoke aloud. "We can't get home..."
"And they need help..." The Inanna on the screen agreed.
"True." Inanna spun to face O'Neill again. "Deal."
"Uh...one question..." Daniel interjected, holding up a hand.
"Okay..."
"Why are there three of you?"
The android smiled faintly. "Wondered when that would come up."
---------
"The short version of the story is, the ship is me." Sitting on the raised slipstream platform, the android watched their
expressions. "The long version would be that my physical body is just one avatar that the Star of Inanna's command and
control entity has at her disposal. The other avatars you saw are two more. We are all Inanna. It's rather complicated,
but the shorter version is that I am the ship and the ship is me."
"The explanation which takes split personalities to a whole new level." Jack noted dryly.
She grinned. "It can be very confusing to most organics. They have trouble understanding the idea but I just exist this
way, without ever really considering it." She grinned impishly. "You may find the worst thing is catching me either
arguing or talking with my other avatars. It's quite surreal."
"No kidding." Daniel agreed.
"How fast can we get back to Earth if we were to travel by slipstream?" Sam asked suddenly, her fascinated gaze studying
the console.
"At this distance? Seconds but we're traveling by conventional drives so the trip will take a few hours."
"Can we try slipstream?" The scientist asked with interest.
"I'm afraid not." Inanna looked apologetic. "For some reason our scientists weren't quite sure of, AIs cannot pilot
slipstream - we get lost. In time, I can instruct one of you to pilot it if you wish...but not today."
"That's one flight class I'd love to sign up for." Jack grinned. "Flying this baby must be a dream."
The holographic Inanna flashed in beside him and grinned. "I'd like to think so."
He groaned, realizing how his statement could be misinterpreted. "A living ship...I'm so doomed."
-----
George Hammond looked from Colonel O'Neill's very detailed - and very impressive - report on 'The Star of Inanna' to the
almost innocent looking young woman sitting at the end of the table.
Except...she wasn't a young woman. She was an android, an artificial intelligence and her ship self - a very powerful
shipself - rested in orbit, apparently able to hide herself from Earth's satellites with ease.
"Well, Miss...Inanna, you've created quite a stir." He said finally, putting down the file. "Colonel O'Neill is currently
singing your praises and the Tok'ra tell us word of your existence - of your shipself - is fast making its way through the
System Lords. They're actually concerned. It's an unheard of phenomena that you're so easily dispatching their ships."
"From what I've seen of their technology, Highguard vessels are centuries, if not millennia, ahead of the Goa'uld." Inanna
smiled easily. "Colonel O'Neill informed me I'm quite likely the biggest, baddest warship in the known galaxy."
There was more than a little pride in her statement and the General chuckled. "And Colonel O'Neill is rarely, if ever,
wrong in making such pronouncements."
"I sense a but in your words, Sir."
"You do indeed. The fact of it is, ma'am, you are - quite literally - an answer to prayer. Earth needs an ally just such
as yourself in our conflict with the Goa'uld but, if there is one thing I have learned, it's that the saying when
something looks too good to be true, it probably is, is very, very true." He clasped his hands together on the file and
looked the android in the eye. "And the fact of it is, there is no real way to verify your intentions."
"I"m aware of that, General," She responded honestly. "All I can do is assure you the only enemy I have here is the
Goa'uld. I was created to be the Command and Control entity for 'The Star of Inanna' - a Highguard Glorious Heritage
class heavy cruiser. A warship. I protect people from races like the Goa'uld, I perform humanitarian missions - I do
*not* conquer defenseless planets and, by my standards, this one surely qualifies." Speaking with all seriousness, she
added. "I'm here to help, General, but I am still a Highguard vessel and adhere to Highguard principles and regulations
- not Air Force ones. I am an independent being and not salvage. No one on this planet has any more claim to on me than
I will allow - understood?"
He held her gaze for a long moment, suddenly very acutely aware of her artificial nature but, more than that, intensely
aware of her sincerity. She meant every word she was saying without any doubt. "Ma'am...I do believe you and I will get
along just fine."
Walking across the room to shake his hand firmly, Inanna looked as official as any military personnel he'd ever seen.
"Yes, sir," she agreed crisply, "I do believe we will."
Finis
There will be more in sequels.
-------
"Now *that* is a ship!" Jack proclaimed, looking out the transport vessel's port, his impressed gaze taking in
the measure of the massive ship waiting in orbit. "How many people served on her?"
"The full compliment was well over four thousand but we could easily carry far more than that if required." Inanna
responded, never removing her eyes from her instruments. "We were equipped and staffed to deal with everything from
an all out war to a humanitarian mission. The ship's a Glorious Heritage class heavy cruiser...the 'shining star'
of the Highguard's fleet."
"And the ship we're on currently?" Sam questioned, bright eyes examining every console and piece of equipment she
could find.
"An AM9D Ung Tae drop ship. Used to carry special forces primarily."
"You mentioned the Nietzcheans..." Daniel spoke up suddenly, moving to sit next to her. "Nietzsche as in the
philosopher?"
Inanna nodded once. "Yes."
He leaned forward, looking interested. "Coincidence or..."
"Their race is founded upon the teachings and philosophies of Nietzsche. They are, physically at least, or a race of
supermen. In theory, they are supposed to be a race of warrior princes..."
The android's thick sarcasm earned her raised eyebrows from the archaeologist. "I take it they missed the mark on that
one?"
"By a few parsecs." Inanna made an adjustment, gently guiding their transport into a docking bay. "I can provide you
with documentation on them if you're interested."
"Yes! Thank you." Daniel didn't even attempt to hide his excitement. The very concept of an alternate reality with races
he'd never heard of, one of which had founded their entire society on the teachings of a philosopher like Nietzsche....
it had the anthropologist in him nearly giddy with anticipation.
No less giddy, though for a different reason, Jack leaned over his hostess's shoulder and craned his neck to survey the
interior of the bay. "Sweet."
Inanna grinned up at him. "You think this is good? Wait til I show you the rest."
"Oh, by all means," he said, eyes gleaming, "do show..."
----
Leading them out into the corridor, Inanna paid no attention to the robots that passed them, moving with a stiff-legged
gait but her guests watched them with interest.
"Are these robots employed in the day to day operation and maintenance of this vessel?" Teal'c asked perfunctorily,
watching one carry a large box by.
"Yes. They're controlled by the core computer, unlike me, they have no intelligence or self-awareness, and assist
wherever they're required. Repairs, damage control, transport, wherever." Stopping at a door, she looked back at O'Neill.
"You'll appreciate these, Colonel." Opening it, she led them into a different bay where two massive and very heavily
armed robots dominated the large room.
"Oh yeah," Jack exclaimed, looking the giant bots over. "Now, *that* is what I'm talking about!"
"Meet Frick and Frack, my boys." Inanna patted the side of one. "They're planetary warfare bots. Also non-sentient that
I control from here. These two drove the attackers off the planet. The lack of apparent control fools opponents
unfamiliar with their operation into believing they're automatons and that gives me an added advantage."
Moving closer, Jack thumped the leg of one then grinned back at Teal'c, must've made for one hell of a good show - all
those Jaffa running for the hills."
"Indeed." The former first prime rumbled approvingly. It was most satisfying to think of his former comrades coming up
against such a formidable opponent. Most satisfying indeed. "These 'bots' were able to adequately deal with the death
gliders?"
The curly-haired android nodded. "Quite easily. Being an A.I., my consciousness is capable of splitting itself off into
several different directions - each capable of independent thought and deal with any issues that arise. Including having
Frick handle the ground forces while Frack shot down any airborne assault. Anything they couldn't handle, I dealt with
from up here on the command deck."
"The bridge." O'Neill said absently, his attention on Frick and Frack.
Amused, Daniel looked over at Sam. "That seems familiar."
She grinned back. 'Yeah, you when you're checking out a new site. The Goa'uld could lay waste to the place and you'd
never notice."
He grinned sheepishly. "That bad?"
"Indeed." Teal'c said, amusement in his dark gaze. "Colonel O'Neill has given me standing instructions to secure you
in the event of a Goa'uld assault under just those conditions. I am, apparently, to throw you across my shoulder like,"
he paused, still unsure of the phrasing his commanding officer had used, "like a sack of potatoes...and run."
"He didn't?!" Daniel gaped at him. "He actually said like a sack of potatoes?"
"Yes."
The archaeologist shook his head, bemused. "I can't believe he said that." Almost as soon as he spoke, he laughed and
said, "Actually, I can believe it. It's Jack. He'll say anything."
--------
Looking around the command deck, Jack whistled appreciatively. "I could get used to this."
Sam looked at the centralized podium. "What's this?"
"That would be the slipstream controls - were we to enter slipstream, that's where the pilot would control it from."
Inanna leaned against the console. "We had a chair setup once but the deck was so badly damaged in the last fight with
the Nietzcheans, it was just easier to go with the newer, simpler design."
"Slipstream?" The scientist's eyes lit up. "May I see the drives? We've been aboard ships that used hyperspace but never
anything with slipstream."
"Ordinarily, I would say no but Highguard regulations aren't really a concern any..." A split second before alarms began
to blare, the android's head snapped around and she frowned at a screen. "Tour's over."
Inanna's face appeared on several different screens, calmly issuing a tactical alert and calling the crew to their
stations.
"I don't know why you're still saying that." Inanna addressed herself irritably, hurrying to another station.
A holo-version of her flickered into being and placidly said, "Well, old habits and all. Besides, the chance exists we'll
manage to rebuild the crew and best to keep discipline now if we'll be an example of it later...I'm reading three ships
approaching in hyperspace - same type and configuration as the one previously destroyed."
Looking at each of the three versions of the A.I., Jack's eyebrows rose. "Well...that takes talking to yourself to a
whole new level...new universe even."
The android Inanna looked up to meet his gaze. "These look familiar, Colonel?" One screen changed to reveal three Goa'uld
motherships dropping out of hyperspace.
"Oh they definitely do," he affirmed. "Teal'c?"
"They appear to belong to Cronus." The Jaffa affirmed, stepping closer to the display.
"Ok," Inanna looked to her holographic self. "Weapons drones...are there troops coming through the Stargate?"
The hologram's eyes flicked up toward the ceiling briefly. "No."
"Continue to monitor, just in case." Inanna looked speculatively toward O'Neill and Teal'c. "Think you two could handle a
few drones?"
"Put us on 'em - we'll learn." The Colonel was practically rubbing his hands together in anticipation.
"Major?"
"I'd love to try," Sam agreed.
"Dr. Jackson, can you keep an eye on the Stargate surveillance? If this Cronus decides to put combatants on the planet,
we'll need to react fast."
"Sure." Without hesitation, Daniel turned to the displays in question, watching them carefully.
Not having the time to give a full explanation of the weapons systems, Inanna gave the three officers a quick run through
before outfitting them with the proper gear.
The visor wasn't dissimilar to some VR gear Jack had previously tried but when he put it on, activating it, and he got a
visual he decided virtual reality couldn't even come close. The clarity was perfect and no matter what direction he turned,
he had an unobstructed view of space.
"Sweet."
Inanna's voice drew his attention but he didn't remove the visor, just listened. "When the gliders reach targeting
distance - let them have it."
He grinned. "Not your average android, are you?"
"Nope." She replied merrily, moving away.
In the display, Jack was aware of other weapons being deployed around him and the ship taking on a defensive stance.
He gripped the control stick and began maneuvering the drone, testing it out and seeing what it could do. The ease of
maneuverability and response time was a dream. If everything on the ship worked as well as the drone he was piloting then
they *had* to get Inanna on their side. The Goa'uld wouldn't stand a chance with her in their corner.
Thought was quickly replaced by instinct when Cronus' ships released death gliders He waited until they were in range then
reacted, firing and weaving amongst them. It was almost as if he were out there himself, flying at breakneck speed -
destroying fighters left, right, and center.
"Very cool."
----
Daniel kept one eye on the readouts and the other on the various incarnations of Inanna. Though he couldn't be sure, if
seemed as if they were all her. Whether, as she had mentioned, they were all offshoots or the same core artificial
intelligence or three separate versions of her program, he couldn't be sure. He did know he couldn't wait to find out.
More about her and the 'Commonwealth' that had birthed her. A society capable of creating such advanced intelligence had
to have been something.
The version of Inanna on the screen seemed to focus her attention on sensor data and the actions of Jack, Sam, and Teal'c
while the holographic version kept a running account of the battle's progress. The physical android version seemed more
limited in her focus from what he could see. She kept stood at a weapons console, overseeing the ship's main weapons with
an inhuman level of focus.
Like the reported first battle, the ship easily faced down the attacking vessels. Admit Jack's pleased whoops of triumph
and the sounds of the ship firing her weapons while avoiding enemy fire, they easily destroyed the lead vessel, heavily
damaging the second. The third seemed to have growing reservations about continuing the battle when it became clear that
it would have to deal with it on its own.
When the warship turned her very effective weapons in its direction and fired the first volley, the decision was sealed
and the remaining undamaged Goa'uld ship turned and fled, jumping to hyperspace and leaving its wounded companion to limp
away at a nearly infinitesimal rate.
Removing his visor, Jack watched the screen with a smirk. "Would love to be a fly on the wall of that ship - see ol'
Cronus' reaction."
Inanna chuckled. "Unlikely." She grinned in satisfaction. "You'd be one squished bug."
"A thoroughly unappealing idea, indeed." The Colonel agreed with a nod. "A more appealing one would be issuing you an
invite back to earth. If you're going to be sticking around these parts for a while, our CO - General Hammond - is
interested in a possible alliance or something." He inclined his head in the direction of the departing ships. "Seems to
me, we have the same snakey problem."
Inanna shared a quick look with her other avatars, considering and debating in silent conversation.
Finally, the holographic version spoke aloud. "We can't get home..."
"And they need help..." The Inanna on the screen agreed.
"True." Inanna spun to face O'Neill again. "Deal."
"Uh...one question..." Daniel interjected, holding up a hand.
"Okay..."
"Why are there three of you?"
The android smiled faintly. "Wondered when that would come up."
---------
"The short version of the story is, the ship is me." Sitting on the raised slipstream platform, the android watched their
expressions. "The long version would be that my physical body is just one avatar that the Star of Inanna's command and
control entity has at her disposal. The other avatars you saw are two more. We are all Inanna. It's rather complicated,
but the shorter version is that I am the ship and the ship is me."
"The explanation which takes split personalities to a whole new level." Jack noted dryly.
She grinned. "It can be very confusing to most organics. They have trouble understanding the idea but I just exist this
way, without ever really considering it." She grinned impishly. "You may find the worst thing is catching me either
arguing or talking with my other avatars. It's quite surreal."
"No kidding." Daniel agreed.
"How fast can we get back to Earth if we were to travel by slipstream?" Sam asked suddenly, her fascinated gaze studying
the console.
"At this distance? Seconds but we're traveling by conventional drives so the trip will take a few hours."
"Can we try slipstream?" The scientist asked with interest.
"I'm afraid not." Inanna looked apologetic. "For some reason our scientists weren't quite sure of, AIs cannot pilot
slipstream - we get lost. In time, I can instruct one of you to pilot it if you wish...but not today."
"That's one flight class I'd love to sign up for." Jack grinned. "Flying this baby must be a dream."
The holographic Inanna flashed in beside him and grinned. "I'd like to think so."
He groaned, realizing how his statement could be misinterpreted. "A living ship...I'm so doomed."
-----
George Hammond looked from Colonel O'Neill's very detailed - and very impressive - report on 'The Star of Inanna' to the
almost innocent looking young woman sitting at the end of the table.
Except...she wasn't a young woman. She was an android, an artificial intelligence and her ship self - a very powerful
shipself - rested in orbit, apparently able to hide herself from Earth's satellites with ease.
"Well, Miss...Inanna, you've created quite a stir." He said finally, putting down the file. "Colonel O'Neill is currently
singing your praises and the Tok'ra tell us word of your existence - of your shipself - is fast making its way through the
System Lords. They're actually concerned. It's an unheard of phenomena that you're so easily dispatching their ships."
"From what I've seen of their technology, Highguard vessels are centuries, if not millennia, ahead of the Goa'uld." Inanna
smiled easily. "Colonel O'Neill informed me I'm quite likely the biggest, baddest warship in the known galaxy."
There was more than a little pride in her statement and the General chuckled. "And Colonel O'Neill is rarely, if ever,
wrong in making such pronouncements."
"I sense a but in your words, Sir."
"You do indeed. The fact of it is, ma'am, you are - quite literally - an answer to prayer. Earth needs an ally just such
as yourself in our conflict with the Goa'uld but, if there is one thing I have learned, it's that the saying when
something looks too good to be true, it probably is, is very, very true." He clasped his hands together on the file and
looked the android in the eye. "And the fact of it is, there is no real way to verify your intentions."
"I"m aware of that, General," She responded honestly. "All I can do is assure you the only enemy I have here is the
Goa'uld. I was created to be the Command and Control entity for 'The Star of Inanna' - a Highguard Glorious Heritage
class heavy cruiser. A warship. I protect people from races like the Goa'uld, I perform humanitarian missions - I do
*not* conquer defenseless planets and, by my standards, this one surely qualifies." Speaking with all seriousness, she
added. "I'm here to help, General, but I am still a Highguard vessel and adhere to Highguard principles and regulations
- not Air Force ones. I am an independent being and not salvage. No one on this planet has any more claim to on me than
I will allow - understood?"
He held her gaze for a long moment, suddenly very acutely aware of her artificial nature but, more than that, intensely
aware of her sincerity. She meant every word she was saying without any doubt. "Ma'am...I do believe you and I will get
along just fine."
Walking across the room to shake his hand firmly, Inanna looked as official as any military personnel he'd ever seen.
"Yes, sir," she agreed crisply, "I do believe we will."
Finis
There will be more in sequels.