Ended up busy. But here's the epilogue now.
1200 Hours, December 6th, 2552 (Military Calendar)/
Moscow Station
It had been a week since the end of the Battle of Earth, and the beginning of the end for the Human-Covenant War. A long week, as the ruined UNSC Navy attempted to rebuild, while the Stoics and Elites fought their battles for them. It was a monumental task, as the Fleet had been crippled in the assault on Earth. The Home Fleet, reinforced by any ships they could strip from the other Inner Colonies, had been the vast majority of the UNSC Navy. Hundreds of warships, amongst them the newest and most advanced built since the
Odyssey had arrived.
Of those ships, barely one hundred remained in workable condition at the end of the battle. The remainder of the Navy, several hundred ships itself, was needed to police against the hit-and-run raids the Brutes and Elite-loyalists made. Hence the reason that the Elites and Stoics were the ones driving the Brutes back, back towards their homeworld. And it was a task they were performing admirably. The Elites had yet to truly shake their loyalty to the Prophets, outside a few like the Arbiter. Transferring that loyalty, at least on a military basis, to the Stoics had proven remarkably easy.
The joint forces of the Elites and Stoics were more than a match for the disorganized Brutes...most of the Covenant Prophets had died with High Charity. This left the Brutes without effective leadership, outside a select few who knew what they were doing. As a result the enemy was hemmed in and losing every battle.
Of course, none of this meant much to SG-1. It should have, but they were just tired. The Battle of Earth had taken more out of them than they would readily admit, and they just wanted to go home now.
"Figure anything out yet Sam?" Cameron Mitchell asked, once more.
"As I've said the last twenty times you asked," Samantha Carter replied, "no. Even with the data of the event that got us here in the first place, I can't replicate it. Unless you want to try getting the Arbiter to shoot us with an Energy Projector."
Cam blanched, "Not particularly, no."
"Then stop asking, I'll tell you when I'm done."
What was left unsaid, was that Sam had no idea when that would be. SG-1 had been aboard Moscow Station, one of the few surviving ODPs, for days now. And they were no closer to getting home, than they had been when they first arrived. It was quite frustrating really.
"I'm sorry for snapping at you," the Colonel spoke up after a few minutes.
"Eh, no biggy," Cam replied, "You're the one doing all the work here. I'm as useless as Vala at a jewelry party."
"I heard that!" the former-host in question shouted from where she was hounding Daniel, "I'll have you know I'm plenty useful when it comes to jewelry!"
"Useful at stealing it maybe."
"Exactly! That's a handy skill to have!"
Shaking his head in amusement, Cam turned back to his fellow soldier, "Seriously though, keep up the good work. If anyone can get us home, you can."
"Everyone always expecting miracles..." Sam muttered under her breath, though it was easy to tell she was thankful for the vote of confidence.
"You're a miracle machine Carter."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence. Now, I really do need to focus on this."
The male Colonel nodded, and left his female counterpart to her work. Turning away from Sam, he walked over to where Vala, Daniel and Teal'c stood. Landry was somewhere else, probably talking with Hood. That left just SG-1 in the room, though that wasn't a bad thing. They hadn't been together like this in months.
"No luck I take it?" Daniel asked, glad for the distraction from Vala.
"Nope," Cam replied, "of course, this is all way over my head so I wouldn't know even if she was having good luck."
"Yeah, Sam's like that," the other man said, a fond smile on his face.
The Colonel turned to Teal'c, "What do you think about this?"
The Jaffa looked thoughtful, "I believe Colonel Carter will uncover a way to return home."
"Hear that Carter!"
"Yes!"
Cam smirked slightly, glad that he had lifted the mood slightly. It had been entirely too dreary lately. Little did he know, that as the door opened behind Teal'c, a way to get home may just have been found. Standing in the open entryway, was Miranda Keyes. Behind her, was a woman who looked remarkably similar to her, sans her scientist outfit. The two women entered the room, and drew the attention of SG-1 quickly enough.
"Colonel Mitchell," Miranda nodded at the commander of the team.
"Commander Keyes," Cam nodded back, "You need something?"
The dark-haired woman shook her head, "I don't, but Kalmiya has something she thought you might find interesting."
The woman behind Keyes stepped forward, her body moving surprisingly fluidly considering it was an android. A Replicator, to be technical...with the stalemating of any ideas to get home, Sam had spent some time on a solution to Smart AI's, 'lifetime' issues. The best one to come up, was constructing Replicator bodies, with Asgard technology for the 'brain'. The combination was effective enough...a typical Smart AI could last decades with a Replicator body, as opposed to just seven years in a crystal.
"Cortana and I believe we have figured out what the artifact is," Kalmiya said.
"The one under Mombassa?" Sam asked, looking away from her lack of progress.
The AI nodded, "Yes. If what we are seeing is correct- and Grieving Light believes it is -it is a slipspace portal."
"To where?" Daniel asked.
"We don't know," Kalmiya replied, a slightly nervous look on her normally impassive face, "according to Grieving Light, the
Ecumene can be used to activate it, but we do not know where it will lead."
"You want us to try it, don't you?" Cam asked.
"If you are willing, yes."
Miranda shook her head slightly, "Not just you. Kalmiya will stay with the
Odyssey, but Cortana and a detachment of Spartans will be on the
In Amber Clad. We'll both go."
SG-1 shared a look, before nodding their heads. This was literally their mission. Not fighting massive wars. It was exploring through portals, finding new worlds and all that stuff. This was a return to form, and who knows...maybe the Forerunner had something on the other side of that portal that could get them home?
"We'll do it," the male Colonel said.
1300 Hours, December 6th, 2552 (Military Calendar)/
USS Odyssey
"That is..."
"Big?"
"Indeed."
"Kinda reminds me of the supergate. I swear, if I end up in another Galaxy again..."
Sam shook her head in amusement at that statement, "Don't worry Vala, you're aboard a ship this time, not a shuttle."
"Little comfort that is!"
The woman tried not to show it, but her little detour to the Ori Galaxy was something that had left scars. Metaphorically speaking, of course. So looking at the massive portal in Earth's sky that had been created by the
Ecumene, didn't exactly do her any favors. Memories of the first Supergate came to mind. And for the rest of SG-1, it brought memories of the Second Supergate. At least this time it was them activating it, so there wasn't any risk of massive toilet-bowls of doom coming out of it.
Still, it felt dangerous going into it. At least they weren't going alone. The
Ecumene lifted up from the silvery metal at its 'feet', joining formation with the much smaller
Odyssey and
In Amber Clad. The three vessels were going through to scout the other side of the portal, nothing more, nothing less. They were expected back quickly, at least to get more support if needed.
If there was something on the other side that could handle the
Odyssey and a Keyship though, there wasn't a whole hell of a lot the UNSC could do to stop it, of course.
"Well, let's get going!" Cam ordered, as the UNSC helmsman flared the battlecruiser's engines.
The frigate and Keyship were right beside it, as they entered the portal. Not even a few minutes later, they exited the portal...in orbit of a structure that dwarfed even the Halo Rings. A massive, almost flower shaped, structure. Completely untouched by the flood, it looked like a planet, spread out into arms. Like the Halo's, but on a totally different scale.
"I'm not seeing things am I?" Daniel asked.
"Unless we all are," Cam replied, "Damn, the Forerunner don't do anything small."
"Scanning..." Sam added, "That thing is 127,530 kilometers wide."
"Jesus Christ."
"Indeed," Teal'c added, that one word carrying a lot of weight.
Daniel shook his head in amazement, "Why would they need something so big?"
"Something has to build those Rings?" Vala suggested.
"That's one hell of a factory then."
"Indeed."
The rest of SG-1 gave Teal'c looks. It was rare when he was shocked into just using one word answers. At least, it was rare these days.
"I...never believed I would see this," a transmission came from the
Ecumene. Even Grieving Light seemed shocked into a stupor.
"What is this?" Cam asked.
"The Ark. Where the Halo Rings are constructed, and where the last of the Forerunner hid from the firing of the Array. I had thought it was lost."
Evidently the Forerunner lied to their Monitor then. To be fair, if Guilty Spark were more of a 'normal' monitor than Light...it made sense to not tell them everything. But hiding something like this from them, was quite the feat. Actually, scratch that.
Building this thing was quite a feat. Even the Ancients had never done something of this scale. And if the power readings coming off the Ark were any indication, it had more power than Atlantis hundreds of times over. If it built Halos, it had to have that power. Even the Rings had a lot of power, building them probably took even more. Not to mention the fact there seemed to be a planet being strip mined at the center of the Ark.
"Is there anything we can use it for?" Sam asked this time.
"Other than building giant Rings of doom?" Vala suggested.
Light was silent, before answering,
"Perhaps. I cannot claim to know of the Ark's capabilities. But it is possible that it can be used to return you home. The Portal that transported us here is likely controlled by the Ark's systems. Slipspace is another dimensional plane entirely. If you can tap into the portal, it might be able to be used like the Quantum Mirror you told me of."
SG-1 shared a look at that. They would like nothing more than to go home. If using that portal could do it...well, they had to at least try didn't they?
"Could that work Sam?" Daniel asked.
The blonde looked curious, "Possibly. A Slipspace portal isn't the same as Hyperspace...it isn't another level of subspace, it literally is a different dimension. Traveling between dimensions like with the Quantum Mirror isn't quite the same thing, but it is possible."
Hope was reignited for getting home. SG-1 may have just stumbled upon a way to do so, and that was important.
"We'll return to Earth and report," Cam relayed to the other two ships, as they started to explore the Ark.
"Return as soon as possible Reclaimer," Light replied,
"I want to help you as much as I am able."
1600 Hours, December 20th, 2552 (Military Calendar)/
Installation 00 (Ark)
It had been a couple weeks since the discovery of the Ark. Weeks spent exploring the massive structure, and attempting to find its controls. Even with Cortana and other Smart AI working on the task though, it was far from a simple thing to do. The Ark redefined big for a physical construct, and the only expert on Forerunner technology they had was every bit as lost as everyone else. If only because the Forerunner had kept a tight lid on the Ark, and made it to where even Grieving Light couldn't access everything.
In point of fact, the largest issue with finding the control room was the fact that the systems of the Ark refused to give full access to the Monitor. No matter what Grieving Light attempted, the same message was given.
Unauthorized Access.
They might have never figured out how to access the stations systems, were it not for Cortana. The AI, most advanced human construct, finally found a curious anomaly in the systems. If a 'Reclaimer' was with Light when she accessed a system, it would allow her to use it. The Forerunner probably did that intentionally...much as they had left the Portal on Earth. Eventually, they had to have known that humans would stumble upon the Ark. Setting it up to where even their Monitors needed human assistance made sense in that regard.
Once they had discovered the secret of using the Ark, it had only been a matter of time until they found the controls for the Portal. It turned out it could connect to several different worlds in the Milky Way, notably not including the homeworlds of the Covenant races. These secondary portals seemed to be used for reseeding the Galaxy after a firing of the Rings, or for depositing the Rings in the first place. Such as the incomplete Installation 04B currently being built.
But the more important discovery, was the fact that the Portal was variable. Given enough tinkering, it could go anywhere. If that included SG-1's home universe...well, that was what Sam was working on at that very moment.
"Do you think this one will work Carter?" Cam asked, on the bridge of the Odyssey.
"It should," Sam replied, "by giving the Portal the quantum signature of our own reality, it gives it something to connect to. Right now, its set to drop us off over Tollana...nice and isolated."
"But are you sure it will work?" Vala asked nervously.
The blonde shrugged, "There's no way to be certain. On the other side, there is no slipspace portal so we can't send a Prowler to scout it...they can't get back."
"Which raises the question," Daniel added, "why are they coming with us?"
'They' meaning the gathering of UNSC and Covenant vessels around the Odyssey.
"Since you asked," Landry spoke up, once again in command of the vessel...
*flashback*
"You want to send ships back with us?" the General asked, "Even though they might never come back?"
Lord Hood nodded, "We pay our debts General. If not for your assistance, we may very well have lost this war. We were losing, until you gave us a boost. We would have lost Reach, and possibly even Earth. You saw yourself that nothing but the Ecumene could handle the Keyship."
"Still, you are sending your people somewhere they may never return from."
"Maybe so, but this isn't entirely altruistic General."
Landry's eyebrow went up, "What do you mean?"
Hood sighed, "There will be several Colony Ships going with you. We lost many worlds in this war, and the refugees are...not exactly trusting of our new allies."
"The Elites."
"Precisely. Many who lost their worlds want to live somewhere where they are never at risk of that happening again. There is nowhere safer than another universe."
Landry nodded. That made sense to him...if his people had gone through the same thing, they wouldn't be so trusting. And going to another universe would leave them far, far away from the Covenant that may attempt to attack again. Doubtful that may be, considering the Elite's newfound freedom and reverence for humanity. The risk was still there, and he could easily understand that those who lost their worlds may want to live in peace.
Problem being, they weren't any safer in Pegasus or the Milky Way of his home, than they were in their own Milky Way. The Wraith and Ori may not have been as bad as the worst of the Covenant, but they weren't exactly sunshine and daises. Especially the Wraith, who would make you wish you were being glassed.
"We did inform you that we have a war of our own to fight, correct?" he asked his UNSC counterpart.
"Indeed you did," Hood replied, "that is why we are sending Battlegroup Keyes with you. Captain and Commander Keyes have worked with your team in the past, and are fully understanding of the risk they are getting into. The Ecumene will go with you too."
"That's the only Keyship left..."
"Not exactly," the old Admiral replied, before a hologram sprang up on the table...showing two Keyships under construction, "Light's main body on Installation 02 has been constructing new vessels, ever since SG-1 made contact with her. The Erde-Tyrene and Didact are about 50% complete."
Landry's brow went back up, "Well, that solves that problem. Everyone knows what they're getting into? The Ori are more powerful than the Covenant...even if not as numerous."
Hood nodded, "Yes, they all know what to expect. In fact, I believe they may not be your only support."
Landry was going to ask what the man meant by that, but his answer came walking into the room. Imposing in their full armor suits, stood two Elites. One in ceremonial armor, the other in red Major armor. The two aliens stood tall, looking every bit the warriors they were. Landry recognized them...the Arbiter, still in his special armor, and his second in command. Why the two were here was fairly obvious.
Their motives, less so.
"Lord Hood speaks the truth," Thel finally said, "My people want to help those who helped us."
"How did we help you?" Landry couldn't help but ask.
"By exposing the lies of the Prophets, and introducing us to the true Prophets," the Arbiter replied, "something for which we will never be able to properly repay you. Nor will we ever properly repay our debt for blinding following Truth's lies for so long."
The red-armored Elite nodded, "This is why we are offering what we can."
The General still frowned, "You have even less reason to go on a journey you may not return from. There aren't any...Sangheili...in our Galaxy. Not that we've seen. You'd be alone."
If the Elite in red could have shrugged, he would have, "This is a risk any true warrior would take. Our honor demands we assist you, regardless of what may happen to us."
"However," Thel added, "I shall not be going. I am needed here, to maintain our Alliance. Nar shall be the one leading our detachment."
The other Elite nodded his head. Landry just shook his own...not quite sure how to feel about this...
*end flashback*
"So...they're guilty?" Cam asked dubiously.
Landry nodded, "Basically. We need all the help we can get against the Ori, so I won't turn them away."
"Wasn't saying I would sir."
They could hardly afford to turn support down. The SGC had, at best, three other 304s they could use. The
Daedalus herself, the
Apollo,
Sun Tzu, and if it were complete, the
Phoenix. That was it, and it wasn't enough. Even if all three- or four -of the other ships were still intact when the
Odyssey returned, and could be refit with the Asgard upgrades...it still wouldn't be enough. The Ori outnumbered them too heavily, and it was only a matter of time before they made another Supergate to replace the currently locked down one.
That wasn't even counting the ever-looming Wraith, of course.
"Still, isn't this a bit...much?" Daniel asked, looking out at the gathered warships.
"I ain't complaining," Vala replied.
"Indeed."
Floating around the
Odyssey, were dozens of UNSC and Covenant warships. Ships of all classes, aside from a Supercarrier, in fact. All of them floating in their own formations...UNSC and Covenant clearly apart from each other, yet clearly in support of each other at the same time.
On the UNSC side there were: The
Solemn Penance, a single
Valiant-class Super-Heavy Cruiser, three
Autumn-class Cruisers, the
Pillar of Autumn herself, a dozen destroyers and at least as many frigates. Floating at the center of the formation were six
Phoenix-class colony ships...containing the refugees who wanted to start a new life in the other universe.
On the Covenant side, there were fewer...but distinctly larger...ships. The
Shadow of Intent floated at the center of their formation, surrounded by a half-a-dozen CCS class cruisers, and a dozen destroyers and frigates. All of these vessels were green, to distinguish them from the old Covenant purple.
All together, there was nearly a hundred united warships going with the
Odyssey. And the
Ecumene was right next to the ship in question.
"Portal is ready sir," Sam reported.
Landry looked up, at the massive slipspace portal opening in front of the fleet, "Take us in then."
The
Odyssey was finally going home...
And there we go. The sequel will be up as soon as I can get the chapters from my sister.
On that note, both of us thank everyone who has read the story.
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)