Episode Five - The Enemy Within

[Paul Riley]

1530
Bridge
BC-304 Sun Tzu
Star System M1B

After checking his watch nervously once more, Colonel Paul Riley finally made a concentrated effort to lower his arm and keep it rested on the command chair. He was a man who believed in being punctual, especially when your appointment was with the last survivors of an advanced alien race that'd previously helped save Earth countless times. It would be fair to say that tension was once again high across the Sun Tzu. The Asgard, or Vanir as he referred to himself, had been quite cryptic in their initial encounter. All he would tell them was that he was named Njord and he needed help. It was a risk, Riley agreed, but on the balance of things this was one worth taking. If they could forge some sort of alliance it would help them no end.

The ship dropped out of hyperspace exactly as Riley had planned. The planet Njord had given them co-ordinates for was in orbit in the same star system they'd encountered the mysterious alien vessel a few days ago, only this time a little closer to the star. Riley had ordered that the ship drop out a fair distance away so they could use long range scanners before they went diving in head long. He didn't expect a trap, but it didn't hurt to be careful. Turning to his left he asked one of the bridge officers,
"Decker, how's it looking out there?"

<Tag Sun Tzu Crew for another mission!>

[Shawn Booth]

1530
Bridge
BC-304 Sun Tzu
Star System M1B

Shawn never met an Asgard or a Vanir who are technically the same with the exception of their beliefs which the Asgard tried to conduct their research as highly moral beings, while the Vanir believe the end justifies the means even if it means abducting humans and conducting tests on them. However they never met Njord and if what Shawn read was true and right as far as they knew then all of the Pegasus Vanir were killed unless Njord was elsewhere when that occurred.

Njord did have the Sun Tzu dead to rights and if he wanted he could've destroyed the ship and crew along with it, yet he didn't and he appeared to be alone o his ship, although that doesn't mean he is alone. If he is alone though it would be reasonable for him to act the way he did, any human would do the same. Shawn stood next to one of the bridge officers, Decker he believes it is as they exited hyperspace near the coordinates Njord gave. The only question is, what does Njord need the Sun Tzu's help with?

Tag: Paul Riley Ryan Decker

[Ryan Decker]

1531
Bridge
BC-304 Sun Tzu
Star System M1B

The weapons officer still felt this was a really bad idea, I mean someone who had a greater understanding of the universe and wasn't posing as a god, in fact someone who with the right materials could create an intergalactic hyperdrive from memory and understood the principals behind your own shields and probably your newer weapons was not someone you wanted to be fighting, then again the Vanir had been separated from the Normal Asgard for quite a while, so maybe the beam weapons weren't compromised... The shields were still probably... And well the hyperdrive most likely as well as long as the transporters.

But the Flight Lieutenant had taken every opportunity to try and convince the others and had since they were now here evidently failed, so he had like he was trained to, followed orders and made sure all the offensive and defensive systems he could make as good as possible as good as possible, if you were going to walk into a trap on purpose it would probably help a hell of a lot to be prepared.

So they dropped out exactly on schedule and the first thing he did was raise shields, as was standard procedure. It was then Riley asked him a question.

"Decker, how's it looking out there?" Well it seemed it wasn't as bad as he suspected, not an ambush fleet to be seen, then again there was a planet for them to hide behind. The sensor swept the space around the vessel a few times before Ryan spoke.

"Only seems the be a vessel the same as the one from when we met, presumably Njord's vessel and a small base that is shielded on the planets surface, I am however getting some life signs, not a certain amount due to the shielding but probably over 20." He let the sensors sweep the space around the ship a few more times. "Doesn't seem to be anything else sir... But Sir, I still recommend we deploy the 302s defensively or behind a moon or a planet..." Decker gave a stern yet slightly concerned look to Riley, before concentrating back on his console and all the data coming into it. Now he was going to target the Vanir vessel with the ships passive sensors, it wouldn't guarantee more than the a general hit, but still, shooting first against someone who wants to kill you, your cremates and destroy your ship was still the best course of action.

<TAG: Paul Riley, Shawn Booth, Njord, Sun Tzu crew> 

[Paul Riley]

1534
Bridge
BC-304 Sun Tzu
Star System M1B

Whilst Paul Riley liked being in the command chair and getting to be the one who gets to call all the big shots, he knew he wouldn't stay in the chair very long if he didn't listen to his team. Flt. Lt. Decker had finished scanning the quadrant and reported back,
"Only seems to be a vessel the same as the one from when we met, presumably Njord's vessel and a small base that is shielded on the planets surface, I am however getting some life signs, not a certain amount due to the shielding but probably over 20." There was a pause as Riley checked the ship's sensors. "Doesn't seem to be anything else sir... But Sir, I still recommend we deploy the 302s defensively or behind a moon or a planet..."

Colonel Riley glanced over to Major Booth who was stood, arms folding, scanning the scene on the bridge with a look of concern on his face. Booth nodded, Riley pushed the comms button.
"Colonel Riley to the 302 bay, deploy in defensive patrol. Stay in comms range. Riley out." That would do it for now, he would check in with them once deployed and if the moon of this planet came around at the right time, they could spring a nice trap. The 302's were small enough to use an asteroid or similar to hide from most sensor arrays.

Riley turned his attention to the readings from the co-ordinates up ahead. One ship, in geo-synchronized orbit over some sort of shielded and protected installation down on the surface. This was already starting to sound too similar to the Vanir in Pegasus. He nodded to Major Hunter to his right,
"Alright, time to play our hand. Take us forward. Slowly. Keep shields up. Bring any incoming comms on screen."
Hunter nodded and entered the appropriate commands into the ship systems. The BC-304 activated it's after burners and slowly began to push forward, and into sensor range.

<Tag Njord>

[Njord]

1534
Bridge
Starship Vanir
Star System M1B

Njord and the Vanir were monitoring the long range scanners as they observed the Earth ship approaching the coordinates they were given 48 hours ago. Njord beamed himself to his ship as he opened the hangars and ascended into orbit and out of orbit entering the space surrounding his planet. He decided against raising shields or charging weapons, he didn't want to seem hostile, although it only took a moment to do both.

Njord hailed the Earth ship while sitting in his control chair. Njord isn't in his exoskeleton which is only used when they don't want people to know what they look like or when they're expecting company and combat is expected. The Vanir are in a tough spot with only so many of them alive and their fellow brethren the Asgard, all deceased. "Commander Riley, I wasn't sure you were coming." Njord said once connected to the Earth Ship.

Tag: Paul Riley

[Paul Riley]

1535
Bridge
BC-304 Sun Tzu
Star System M1B

"Incoming transmission" spoke the voice of Major John Hunter to Riley's right. The ship's commander lifted his head slightly and gently increased his grip on the faux-leather arms of the chair.
"On screen" he ordered. The image of Njord the Vanir was presented before them, just as it was 48 hours prior.
"Commander Riley, I wasn't sure you were coming." Came the voice of the Asgard. Colonel Riley glanced at the overheard monitors briefly, noting to himself that the F-302s had just launched and heading away from the Sun Tzu rapidly toward the approaching moon. He glanced back up at the screen and noticed Njord's eyes flicker. Well so much for that, he knew they'd launched and he knew they were out there, but he said nothing. All the cards were on the table now.

"Njord. A pleasure to meet with you again. Given our... Awkward encounter between my people and yours in the Pegasus Galaxy, I feel that perhaps trying again is in both our people's best interest." Njord stared, unblinking at the Colonel. It was slightly un-nerving, Riley continued to break the silence, "If I might ask, what exactly is so pressing that you'd request our help above your own? I had you pegged as a very secretive group up until now."

<Tag Njord and the Sun Tzu crew>

[Njord]

1535
Bridge
Starship Vanir
Star System M1B

Njord sat in his control chair looking at the screen as the Colonel appeared. Njord studied the man not sure if he could be trusted or would help but obviously they worked with the Asgard if they have their technology, there was no way such a primitive race could defeat the Asgard or even just one of their ships. It was obvious they were of the Tau'ri which even the Vanir have heard of them.

"Njord. A pleasure to meet with you again. Given our... Awkward encounter between my people and yours in the Pegasus Galaxy, I feel that perhaps trying again is in both our people's best interest." Njord looked on and listened and agreed it is in our interest to work together not to mention they're the only hope to save this base.

"If I might ask, what exactly is so pressing that you'd request our help above your own? I had you pegged as a very secretive group up until now."

"Colonel, I am sending you a data-burst right now." Njord says as he sent the file showing the reason which was an asteroid was on a collision course and couldn't be destroyed, Njord sent the coordinates and all the information they have on the rogue Asteroid.

"We tried to destroy it but with the Etruscans heavy presence in the area and this being our only ship we were unable to destroy it. It isn't a normal asteroid, it was modified we believe by the Etruscans. We took samples from it and the element is unknown to us and our databases. However we do know it will destroy our base on the planet below within the next 12 hours. If we abandon our base we will be in great danger of extinction. We made great progress in the galaxy on our cloning issues and we need this base if we are too succeed. We need your help, or like the Asgard we will all be dead."

<Tag: Paul Riley>

[Paul Riley]

1537
Bridge
BC-304 Sun Tzu
Star System M1B

Njord gave an abrupt and prompt response to the commander's questioning, "Colonel, I am sending you a data-burst right now."
Colonel Riley nodded to Major Hunter to his right, subtly ordering him to accept the download. The image on screen showed Njord's base and the Vanir ship in orbit, it then traced back a trajectory displaying what looked like an asteroid or other unknown galactic object in a very unusual orbit. Most interestingly of all, the orbit had changed it's course wildly very recently. Riley shared a worried glance with Decker. Njord continued,
"We tried to destroy it but with the Etruscans heavy presence in the area and this being our only ship we were unable to destroy it. It isn't a normal asteroid, it was modified we believe by the Etruscans. We took samples from it and the element is unknown to us and our databases. However we do know it will destroy our base on the planet below within the next 12 hours. If we abandon our base we will be in great danger of extinction. We made great progress in the galaxy on our cloning issues and we need this base if we are too succeed. We need your help, or like the Asgard we will all be dead."

That statement changed things.
"Okay Njord. We'll help you. Feel free to beam aboard in a few minutes. Just give me time to brief my crew then we'll lower the shields. Riley out." Njord slowly nodded in the way that only the Asgard could and cut the transmission off, reverting the view screen to the ship and planet ahead of them. The Colonel pushed the button to open a ship-wide channel and made sure it transmitted to the F-302s as well. He rose from his chair and paced forward, turning to face his crew,
"So it seems our friends the Etruscans have a far reach over this galaxy. Even a race as rare and special as the last few remaining Asgards in the universe have been hounded by these... Creatures." He paused to think and glanced over at this chief weapons officer, "It seems that the Vanir is their only ship left. The base on the planet may be THE last outpost for the Asgard as we know it. I think we owe it to them to at least try to defend it alongside them. I don't need to remind any of you how important an alliance out of this could be, especially against the Etruscans. We've got twelve hours to destroy the object and they've given us all their data. Anyone got any solutions?"
Riley listened to the ideas pitched by his crew, the last of which was interrupted by a flash of bright light as Njord beamed himself over onto the bridge. Well, time to get started!

<Tag Ryan Decker Shawn Booth Dylan Hawkins and the others and then tag Njord >

[Shawn Booth]

1537
Bridge
BC-304 Sun Tzu
Star System M1B

Shawn was standing near the Colonel listening to the conversation between Njord and Colonel Riley letting all of the information sink in. Shawn never met an Asgard and never will but the Vanir are the same just with a different philosophy and that is to save their race believing the ends justify the means. Shawn wasn't sure how he felt about that, the case report about Loki the Asgard on Earth was definitely different but they don't really know what Njord and the Vanir were doing to save their race.

Shawn was definitely a man who would do anything to save his race, crew, and any human. Shawn respected what the Vanir were doing and Shawn knows that any military man or woman would do the same except humans aren't clones yet anyways.

"So it seems our friends the Etruscans have a far reach over this galaxy. Even a race as rare and special as the last few remaining Asgards in the universe have been hounded by these... Creatures." Shawn folded his arms not very happy about the Vanir not being able to stop them but he knows that an alliance with the Vanir could definitely overthrow the Etruscans and unlike the Asgard who wasn't really able to help the SGC with the Goa'uld, it looks like the Vanir will help in the fight against the Etruscans.

"It seems that the Vanir is their only ship left. The base on the planet may be THE last outpost for the Asgard as we know it. I think we owe it to them to at least try to defend it alongside them. I don't need to remind any of you how important an alliance out of this could be, especially against the Etruscans. We've got twelve hours to destroy the object and they've given us all their data. Anyone got any solutions?" Shawn thought about this before responding.

"Well, Colonel. It appears we have to work together to help destroy the asteroid. I don't have any ideas yet but I am going to assume we can't use our weapons, I am sure Njord tried that already. Maybe a nuke can destroy it?" Shawn says being a physics major but none of those classes ever consisted of blowing up any asteroids especially not ones that were modified with an unknown element.


<Tag: Paul Riley Ryan Decker Dylan Hawkins Njord>

[Ryan Decker]

1537 
Bridge
BC-304 Sun Tzu
Star System M1B

Colonel Riley signalled for the 302s to delpoy defensively and as they did they showed up on the ships sinors with their IFF tags identifying them as freindlies. Riley then sginalled for them to move forward. "Alright, time to play our hand. Take us forward. Slowly. Keep shields up. Bring any incoming comms on screen."
 
Ryan double checked the shield power levels along with the capacitors for the plasma beam weapons, along with all the systems for the ships other wearpons, missles and railguns.

Soon a commucation came through and it seemed to be the same vanir as last time, he sure as hell wasn't going to consider them the same as the Asgard, they had already proved they weren't. 

"Commander Riley, I wasn't sure you were coming."
 The Vanir spoke. Watching the Vanir carefully he noticed the beings eyes flicker, he had probably picked up the 302s, now they were sitting ducks, but he was somewhat confidant the beams would out class what ever weapons the Vanir had, since they Asgard had created them shortly before their demise, and they were quite powerful, and far more useful in terms of usability than ancient drones, due to power and ammunition concerns.

"Njord. A pleasure to meet with you again. Given our... Awkward encounter between my people and yours in the Pegasus Galaxy, I feel that perhaps trying again is in both our people's best interest."
 The Colonel was far more suited to the diplomacy via video than Decker might have been, then again if it had been up to him they likely wouldn't have been here, as much as the stargate program and everything else related had a habbit of doing so, a change in form mgiht be helpful.

There was a short pause in which none spoke, Ryan concetrated of seeing if Njord was going to attack them in some form, physically or perhaps another way... one that might be soon allowed.

"Colonel, I am sending you a data-burst right now."
 He hoped procedure was being followed it was being downloaded onto the less unsecure or a physically seperated part of the ships many and varied computer systems. 

Njord then explained to them all a reader digest version of the sata burst's information. "We tried to destroy it but with the Etruscans heavy presence in the area and this being our only ship we were unable to destroy it. It isn't a normal asteroid, it was modified we believe by the Etruscans. We took samples from it and the element is unknown to us and our databases. However we do know it will destroy our base on the planet below within the next 12 hours. If we abandon our base we will be in great danger of extinction. We made great progress in the galaxy on our cloning issues and we need this base if we are too succeed. We need your help, or like the Asgard we will all be dead."
 
"Okay Njord. We'll help you. Feel free to beam aboard in a few minutes. Just give me time to brief my crew then we'll lower the shields. Riley out."

Decker looked up at Riley, perhaps that army lance corporal was right, Americans were insane... He listened as Riley explained. "So it seems our friends the Etruscans have a far reach over this galaxy. Even a race as rare and special as the last few remaining Asgards in the universe have been hounded by these... Creatures."
Creatures was perhaps too nice of a term, megalomanical style mongers 2.0 might be far more accurate.

"It seems that the Vanir is their only ship left. The base on the planet may be THE last outpost for the Asgard as we know it. I think we owe it to them to at least try to defend it alongside them. I don't need to remind any of you how important an alliance out of this could be, especially against the Etruscans. We've got twelve hours to destroy the object and they've given us all their data. Anyone got any solutions?"

Major booth spoke first. "Well, Colonel. It appears we have to work together to help destroy the asteroid. I don't have any ideas yet but I am going to assume we can't use our weapons, I am sure Njord tried that already. Maybe a nuke can destroy it?" Perhaps explaining Asgard-vanir history a little might help.

"I"m not convinced of that Major, the Vanir don't have access to the beam weapons, after all the Asgard we knew and the Vanir split before Atlantis was evacuated by the Ancients... and the Asgard only built these weapons within the last few years are they were far more powerful than anything they had used previously." Decker Paused. "As for the Nukes, we could try going Armageddon style... finding a weakness in the rock and exploting it with a nuke... but... we should test the beams first and then get a Mark IX ready to transport and drill into the rock with the Beams regardless. I should be able to concetrate the beams energy much finer than normal... though at a much higher power draw rate than normal... but I'd need time to check it all..." Decker glanced back at the Sun Tzus senors on his console, then back into the discussion. "We should avoid allowing him access to our databases... for all we know, they could be trying to steal the plans for this vessel or anything else, they don;t exactly have a good track record sir." He said looking right at Riley then over to Booth, hoping he could get them to be a little security concious.

After the Discussion wrapped up he dropped the shild allowing Njord to beam abord. before asking the Colonel. "Shields back up?"

<TAG: Paul Riley, Shawn Booth, Njord>

[Shawn Booth]

1537
Bridge
BC-304 Sun Tzu
Star System M1B

Shawn looked around when the Australian Lieutenant spoke up, Shawn looked his way while he spoke.

"I"m not convinced of that Major, the Vanir don't have access to the beam weapons, after all the Asgard we knew and the Vanir split before Atlantis was evacuated by the Ancients... and the Asgard only built these weapons within the last few years are they were far more powerful than anything they had used previously. As for the Nukes, we could try going Armageddon style... finding a weakness in the rock and exploiting it with a nuke... but... we should test the beams first and then get a Mark IX ready to transport and drill into the rock with the Beams regardless. I should be able to concentrate the beams energy much finer than normal... though at a much higher power draw rate than normal... but I'd need time to check it all..." Shawn was about to speak against him, a man who reminded him very much of, well a crazed person who thought every alien was a bad alien, the Vanir are not the Asgard yet that doesn't necessarily make them bad.

"We should avoid allowing him access to our databases... for all we know, they could be trying to steal the plans for this vessel or anything else, they don;t exactly have a good track record sir."

"Lieutenant I don't really believe that. First these Vanir are Triangulum Galaxy Vanir, not the Pegasus Galaxy Vanir, the trip from Pegasus to Triangulum isn't exactly an easy trip. These Vanir may not exactly be the same Vanir. Now I don't know anything about Njord, but I do know that the Asgard and Vanir are quite intelligent and I wouldn't count them out. If we have an alliance that could go help in the fight against these Etruscans who could be just as bad if not worse than the Goa'uld. We're not the SGC, we have limited resources and I am fond of the little grey guys."

Shawn says uncrossing his arms and looking around for Njord to pop in or someone else to talk. Shawn may never have met an Asgard but he sees eye to eye, metaphorically speaking, with what the Vanir are doing, they after all still alive and the Asgard aren't.


<Tag: Ryan Decker Paul Riley Njord Dylan Hawkins>

[Dylan Hawkins]

1540
Out in space
F-302
Star System M1B

Hawkins had been going over the paperwork he had neglected during his stay in sickbay. Sufficed to say, it was a lot. His last mission. It hadn't been the first time he'd been beaten. It was the first time he was hospitalized for it, though. A first time for everything is what they say, right? Another first time had been the fact that he was on the ground, rather than in the air.

Flying's where his true calling was at. While he liked flying in space, he would not mind doing carrier operations again at all. Those gave him a real rush. Being held in your seat from the G-force as you launch assisted by catapults, landing on a flight deck on fumes or with a dead engine. It's not like the inertial dampeners the 302's have.

Then his thoughts were interrupted. The alarm sounded. The Squadron was to scramble. The Commander quickly grabbed his essentials and made for the armory to pick up his gear. A few minutes later, he arrived at the fighter bay. Hawkins climbed in his fighter and quickly went through the pre-flight checks he had memorized by now.

Then he launched, followed by his subordinated. "Red One to Wolf Squadron. Take up a finger-four formation. Blue One, take your flight and take up heading one-eight-zero and see what you can find. Red Flight, we're going right ahead. Baseplate, this is Red One, we have scrambled and are heading the Alien ship. Pray tell them we're friendlies." he said through his microphone.

[Njord]

1540 
Bridge
BC-304 Sun Tzu
Star System M1B

"Okay Njord. We'll help you. Feel free to beam aboard in a few minutes. Just give me time to brief my crew then we'll lower the shields. Riley out."

Njord got the message and ended the transmission. Njord waited and while he waited he ensured the ship would be fine on its own even though he could control it from his control chair, he had a few minutes to kill. Njord was the leader of the last of the Vanir and as such has to lead and ensure they are successful or the Vanir will be like the Asgard.

Njord checked his sensors and the long range scanners were clear of enemy or unknown ships and Njord beamed onto the bridge of the Earth vessel sitting in his chair, smaller than he thought it would be considering his ship is the same size and its only him on it however he wouldn't complain and had no reason too.

"Greetings." Njord said looking at the people on the bridge and to the Commander.

<Tag: Paul Riley Shawn Booth Ryan Decker Dylan Hawkins>

[Paul Riley]

1541
Bridge
BC-304 Sun Tzu
Star System M1B

Major Booth, as reliable as ever, was the first to pitch up an idea on how to destroy the ominous looking Etruscan meteor that was now making it's way toward the Vanir base.
"Well, Colonel. It appears we have to work together to help destroy the asteroid. I don't have any ideas yet but I am going to assume we can't use our weapons, I am sure Njord tried that already. Maybe a nuke can destroy it?"

Colonel Riley pondered this for a moment, they had a couple of gate busters on board in the armory, if that didn't do it then they would really struggle, it seemed a bit extreme though... Decker and Booth went back and forth about what the Vanir might or might not have tried, Riley watched on with a vested interest. It seemed they had a plan, test the strength of the asteroid with beam weapons, if that failed the nukes would be deployed.
"Alright then, beams and nukes it is. Sounds like a plan. How much longer have we got before impact?" Major Hunter, to the Colonel's right began tapping some more commands into the console,
"Almost exactly 11 hours and counting according to my predictions."
Riley nodded and hit the comms button through to the F-302s as a transmission came in,
"Baseplate, this is Red One, we have scrambled and are heading the Alien ship. Pray tell them we're friendlies."
"Roger that Red One, maintain cruising speed and sensor distance. You're our back-up plan if it all hits the fan. Alien asteroid is eleven hours out. We'll be jumping out of comms range temporarily to try to neutralize the threat. Keep an eye on that alien bird and do not engage unless threatened. Riley out." He turned back to his crew just as Njord beamed over onto their vessel in his chair.
"Greetings." He simply stated. Colonel Riley stood and bowed slightly, not knowing exactly how to greet an alien being.
"Njord. A pleasure to meet you in person... Now, we'd better get a move on. Hunter, take us out via a hyper-space jump to the asteroid's current location." Hunter nodded and punched it in, the ship jumped.


1543

Two minutes later the ship was in position ready to intercept the asteroid's path. The Colonel could feel the tension building on the bridge, they'd have to hit the darn thing as it went past at speed but he felt confident his crew could do it.
"Decker, Hunter, I hope you've got this under control... Here she comes."
It started off as just another star, a pinprick of light in the distance yet slowly growing. Riley squinted as slowly but surely it became clear, it was then that most of the crew rose from their seats in awe, this was not any ordinary asteroid. The enormous metallic sphere was ten times larger than the Sun Tzu. A purple lightning like effect crackled to and fro across it's hulking, crater filled surface, giving it an ethereal effect. It almost looked as if it was being powered by the stuff. The Colonel's memory flashed back to the unknown satellite they had found spying on the Meropis planet, no doubt now that it had been of Etruscan origin. Whilst this current threat resembled the look and shape of a rocky meteorite, the texture and material all looked and felt wrong. There could be no doubt among the team now, this was some ungodly creation assembled by the Etruscans in an effort to wipe out the Vanir, and thus wipe out what they perhaps deemed as one last threat to their reign of terror over this galaxy.
"Fire when ready." Commander Paul Riley ordered, sitting back in his chair and preparing for what he hoped was a spectacular light show. Thoughts of strategic negotiations back at Njord's base began to drift through his mind, he had to get his hands on one of their exo-suits.

<Tag all who apply>

[Ryan Decker]

1540
Bridge
BC-304 Sun Tzu
Star System M1B

Major Booth couldn't possibly be expected to remember that flight Lieutenant is never shortened to lieutenant but then again He was only a rank lower than the XO and the Pilot, Major Hunter, and it seemed the lieutenant was being used in a far more pleasant sort of way than a less diplomatic officer would take, apteral he was here to partly asses if it would be practical to purchase and or build a BC-304 for the Australian and or a joint commonwealth governments venture, besides they were mostly just bouncing Ideas, as much as he felt the Major was wrong with his assertion that the Vanir are the same technologically as the Asgard were, he still felt the Vanir's weapons were very unlikely to be as powerful as the gifted plasma beams.

"Lieutenant I don't really believe that. First these Vanir are Triangulum Galaxy Vanir, not the Pegasus Galaxy Vanir, the trip from Pegasus to Triangulum isn't exactly an easy trip. These Vanir may not exactly be the same Vanir. Now I don't know anything about Njord, but I do know that the Asgard and Vanir are quite intelligent and I wouldn't count them out. If we have an alliance that could go help in the fight against these Etruscans who could be just as bad if not worse than the Goa'uld. We're not the SGC, we have limited resources and I am fond of the little grey guys."

"Major, I wasn't counting them out merely pointing out the Asgard-Asgard only created these weapons shortly before their demise and they had far greater resources than the Vanir, any Vanir."

Colonel Riley came through with the expected decision. "Alright then, beams and nukes it is. Sounds like a plan. How much longer have we got before impact?
Major Hunter came in with a reply, one that left them with a decent amount of time to work on a plan. "Almost exactly 11 hours and counting according to my predictions."

As Riley and the 302s went back and forth Decker was busy writing the beam confinement program for the beam weapons, if they were going to try and drill, they would need a beam not much bigger than the Mark IX itself.

Njord then beamed aboard, Decker looked up at the grey Alien in his chair, a neutral expression on his face, his back teeth grinding uncomfortable together. "Greetings." The alien spoke.

"Njord. A pleasure to meet you in person... Now, we'd better get a move on. Hunter, take us out via a hyper-space jump to the asteroid's current location." Just after Njord beamed in, Decker sent a request down for a pair of Mark IX nuclear warheads to be readied and tagged for easy transport.

---

1543

"Decker, Hunter, I hope you've got this under control... Here she comes." Riley said with a hint of nervousness perhaps.

As everyone moved to look at the clearly now metal sphere Decker's jaw clenched tight, this had not gone well. The metal sphere of was similar design and construction as an Etruscan satellite it looked asteroid ish... But not close enough. Decker kept scanning trying to find a weakness or a seam... There didn't seem to be anything particular obvious. Decker locked all the available beam weapons facing the rock onto a single point probably the size of a medium to large sized car.

"I'm going to try the beams first... At normal full power settings.." He said. "Fire when ready." Riley ordered, Decker triple checked everything, he even added an extra bit of kick to the beams, 105% normal should be a nice margin... He thought to himself, before depressing the button to fire the Beams at the faux asteroid. "Firing beams." The Weapons officer Announced. The pair Light blue line of superheated plasma drove their straight lines of destruction towards the asteroid, before impacting its surface.

<TAG: Shawn Booth, Paul Riley, Njord, rest of Sun tzu peoples, and that evil good for nothing fakteroid.>