He who knows thee Shines [✱23]

Posted on Wed Jul 23rd, 2025 @ 12:53am by Vice Admiral Lucas Gali & Captain Rovak & Ambassador Oriath Velt
Edited on on Wed Jul 23rd, 2025 @ 1:09am

1,378 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: The Serpent's Tooth [3]
Location: F-Dock Ops Duty Office, DS13
Timeline: 2030 - MD11

In each of the promenades, viewing areas, and anywhere else with a window facing the Supergate, people had gathered, despite the scheduled 2030 departure not being something the senior staff had advertised. Almost exactly on schedule, it activated, and another colossal geyser of luminous liquid energy emerged from within the enormous ring, before settling into a shimmering water-like surface. A few seconds after it had settled, the Alliance ship Bra'tac finally departed, slipping through the fluidic surface of the event horizon, until it disappeared entirely.

Shortly after, the rippling pool within the ring dissipated, a visible charge moved between the component pieces. One by one, they began to disassemble, traveling in an orderly procession back towards the hole they had punched in the side of the Ha'tak they had emerged from, where the smaller active Stargate waited. Soon each had vanished, the Stargate closed, and it was over.

Rovak watched with Ambassador Velt, who had brought a bottle of a purple alcohol that he'd acquired during his visit to the trade summit he'd been at before his sudden return when he'd heard about the Atenists. Rovak found the beverage agreeable, he had not tasted anything like it before. Velt lapped at a glass.

"Well, can't say I'm sorry to see the back of them. I can tell already these gate things are going to be a pain in my ass the size of the one that just left piecemeal." Velt admitted.

"Perhaps. But that is for the Admiralty to decide. How have the discussions with the Atenists proceeded, have they selected a site on Dreizhen IV?" Rovak asked.

"Well, that's the thing. They've said no to Dreizhen IV." Velt said with a sigh.

"They do understand that we cannot permit them to leave the system, do they not?" Rovak asked.

"Oh yes. But they don't want somewhere nicer. They want somewhere less nice. Dreizhen III." Velt explained.

"The third planet is barely class-M. Even Vulcans would struggle to survive below the equator." Rovak analysed.

"Yes, well, obviously this Aten has other ideas. The Pharaoh has picked a spot in the mountains. Typhon's son has elected on the same position on the other side of the planet." Velt explained, taking another drink.

"Typhon's forces are following the son, then?"

"Without any hesitation I've seen."

"What of Hera's forces?"

"They've all lined up behind her boy. And he it seems is now an item with the Pharaoh's daughter, now that his mother is out of the picture. They're all on team Akhenaten now."

"Curious. For all his dubious mysticism, the Pharaoh has had no shortage of success. Perhaps there is more to his Aten than we have given him credit for."

"Well, I'm not going to give up on the Goddesses of Cait just yet." Velt said, finishing his glass, and getting up to pour another.

An alert tone sounded, and Ayol's voice appeared after Rovak responded affirmatively with the touch of a button.

"Captain, sir, the Challenger is twenty minutes out. Admiral Gali has received your preliminary reports, and wishes to meet with you at your earliest convenience." Ayol said.

"Very well, let him know I will be here." Rovak said.

"Understood, sir." Ayol said, and the channel closed.

"I hope you get your CIC back soon, these duty offices are not so comfortable." Velt said, his glass fuller than was necessarily wise.

"On the subject of comfort, do we know why our guests have chosen the third planet instead of the idyllic fourth?" Rovak asked.

"Will of the Aten, apparently. As for Typhon's people, well, they seem to want a challenge more than they want to be comfortable. From what I understand that's what led them to leave the other Free Jaffa in the Alliance to begin with. But, if you want to talk about comfort, Valvir, the planet we went to the trade summit on, remarkable place. The Valviri know a thing or two about how to treat guests." Velt began, regaling Rovak with the decadent tales of his visit.

He was still describing the women he'd seen in a dancing club when Admiral Gali arrived.

"Captain, Ambassador. Good to see you both." Gali said. "Want to pour me one of those?" He asked Velt, noting the fullness of his glass.

Gali took a seat as Velt got to fixing another drink.

"So, quite a bit has happened, huh, Mr Rovak?" Gali asked rhetorically.

"That may be an understatement, sir."

"I was sorry to hear about your losses. Well, not so much the first one, sounds like he had it coming. But Lieutenant sh'Rhavar will be missed." Gali said, taking the drink from Velt. "Cheers, gentlemen." Gali said, and the three clinked their glasses together.

"I think in light of the circumstances, we'll skip the third degree, and I'll take the department head reports as written." The Admiral said, leaning back and loosening his uniform jacket. "How long is it going to take to get the newcomers settled?"

"Not long, I expect. They have selected sites on Dreizhen III, with prefabricated shelters, I expect we can have them settled within 48 hours." Rovak said.

"Oh, that's the other thing they mentioned. They want pyramids." Velt interrupted.

"Pyramids?" Rovak asked.

"It's a cultural thing. They always build pyramids. I looked into it and it's actually remarkably easy to do with transporters, they already have the design. Wouldn't take more than another day to put one together with the Excalibur." Velt said optimistically.

"I didn't think we'd fully surveyed Dreizhen III yet." Gali said, looking to Rovak for clarification.

"We have not. However the Jaffa are hardy, and they have chosen the challenge of this world deliberately, despite the ease that would be found on Dreizhen IV."

Gali looked perplexed but simply shrugged, taking a sip of his drink.

"The pyramids I assume are designed to serve as landing pads for their ships?" Rovak asked Velt.

"That's one of the reasons. I didn't mention that SALCOM might be taking them. But they've got a couple of weeks at least. Perhaps they can hold until them until Earth makes up its mind? At least then they can all pack back inside and get up into orbit if there's any trouble." Velt suggested.

"Not a bad idea." Gali agreed. "We've got three of these Ha'taks unless I'm mistaken. Two Jaffa colonies. Salvage Command will get everything they need from one. Your people can strip out anything that might cause concern that's surplus to their basic survival needs. I'm happy to authorise it, unless the big cheese overrules me." Gali said, referring to the Commander-in-Chief.

"We shall see it done, sir." Rovak said.

"Good. I'd like the crew gathered in the morning Mr Rovak, I've got a few announcements to make. I think based on everything that's happened, people could do with some shoreleave. I understand you're planning to return to Andoria as per tradition?" Gali asked, taking another sip.

"Indeed, sir." Rovak nodded.

"Good. Make a holiday of it. I've been talking with the C-in-C on my way back here, she wants a word with you in person. And your best scientist. Make sure anyone else who wants it gets to come along too, I've asked Captain Eliss to bring the Swiftsure back this way and divert to the Alpha Quadrant."

"Respectfully Admiral, we are already shorthanded. I am not sure leave for all who wish it is necessarily practical." Rovak said.

"Normally I'd agree with you. But I'll be coming with you on the Swiftsure, and my crew just had a few days on Valvir, they can pick up the slack." Gali explained.

"Very well." Rovak agreed, the crew of a Galaxy-class would go a long way towards augmenting their numbers, and he knew a number of crew would not choose leave at this juncture.

"Alright then." Gali said, downing the last of his drink. "We've gotta get back to Valvir sometime soon, Ambassador. This stuff is gonna go fast." He said of his beverage. "I'll see you in the morning Mr Rovak, have a list of promotions ready. I think it's time to spread some good cheer."

"As you wish, Admiral." Rovak said. He already had a list made up, this seemed like as good an opportunity as any.

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