Chapter 103

Brotherhood of the Fifteen compound

Standing in the Master Handler's office Davos looked out the large window's to the grounds below his vantage point. So far everything had gone according to plan. The few casualties so far were more than acceptable losses. With the Daganian people for the most part interned in several secure locations his men had dug in and awaited the Lantean response that was surely coming.

In all the encounters with the Lantean's not once had they fielded a large ground force, instead relying on their technology. Having brought a sizeable portion of the Genii Army with him to Dagan Davos believed he was more than a match for the Lantean's. His game plan was to fight a war of attrition. With much larger amounts of manpower he could sustain much higher losses than they ever could be believed.

Opening a window he smiled to himself as the warm breeze came rushing into the chamber. Perhaps when this war was won he would build himself a cabin here he thought. Thoughts of the future ran through his mind standing before the large windows.

Without warning a lung rattling boom reverberated through the building as the windows before him shattered. Falling to a knee he could scarcely comprehend what had happened. Shaking his head the fog clouding his mind slowly lifted. Looking around he noted shattered glass was strewn about the room. His hearing was also impaired for the moment. Rising to his feet to look out from where the windows had once been he saw something he had not expected. Every window in the compound that he could see was shattered. Stunned men in the courtyard below were doing as he had just done trying to shake off the effects of whatever had just happened.

Thinking a weapon had been used Davos looked around for evidence of an explosion. Everywhere he looked he saw broken glass and disoriented men, but no fire, no crater, and no blast damage. What type of weapon had it been? This new weapon was impressive but not war winning he thought to himself. Little did he realize that what he believed to be a weapon was nothing more than the sonic booms of 302's passing close overhead at three times the speed of sound.

Cheyenne Mountain SGC

Stepping through the wormhole into the gate room of the subterranean facility was Ladon Radim. Having been informed of Radim's offer word had quickly gone out that he be brought to Earth. Waiting at the base of the ramp leading from the gate stood General Landry, along with a six man security element.

"Mr. Radim, I am General Hank Landry. Welcome to Earth" said Landry in greeting.

"Thank you General" replied Ladon.

"Forgive me for being brief but you are expected elsewhere. These gentlemen will escort you two levels up and accompany you to our capital" stated Landry while motioning towards the security team.

"Absolutely, thank you General" replied Ladon.

Setting a quick pace the six man team formed up three in front and three behind their charge. Making their way through already cleared corridors towards the elevator the team quickly arrived at the jumper bay two levels above. Seating their charge in the waiting jumper the team began to relax somewhat. Seated behind the two pilots Ladon looked out the forward wind screen of the jumper as it rose from its place on the concrete floor. With the push of a button the force shields guarding the jumper storage area dropped, and the jumper slid into the large ventilation shaft that long ago had been used to lower the gate into the gate room.

Rising vertically the jumper exited the shaft while cloaked and streaked into the waiting blue sky as the day faded into night. Gaining altitude quickly the jumper leveled off at seventy thousand feet. Looking out the view screen Ladon saw the patches of light on the ground far below.

"What are those lights if I may ask" asked Ladon.

"Those are cities sir" replied the jumper pilot.

"But they are so large" countered Ladon.

"They have to be, we have millions of people down there" replied the pilot.

"This planet has millions of people? I can't imagine what it must be like" responded Ladon.

"Not millions sir, billions. Our country is one of many on this planet and we have several hundred million citizens. Earth is home to several billion people" said the pilot.

Hearing what the pilot said Ladon realized how wrong he and his people had been about the Tauri. They had always believed the Genii held the advantage of numbers. With billions of people at their disposal armies of unimaginable size could be fielded. This new piece of knowledge simply confirmed that the Genii could never hope to beat the Tauri. When their technology was combined with their sheer numbers these people had the ability to conquer the entire Pegasus galaxy and still maintain massive numbers at home.

"We'll be setting down at the Pentagon in a few moments sir. If you look out the wind screen we'll be passing over our nation's capital" stated the jumper pilot.

Looking out of the wind screen Ladon saw Washington DC laid out before him. Passing over the Capital Mall he saw the seat of American political power, the Jefferson Memorial, and many other sites. He also noted the amount of activity on streets below. As the jumper came in for landing at the Pentagon his breath was taken away by the size of the building before him.

"What is this building" he asked.

"This is the Pentagon sir. You're looking at the headquarters of our nations military" replied the pilot while lowering the jumper into the underground access port. Once on the ground the jumper's rear ramp lowered into place. Resuming their three in front three behind positions the security team quickly whisked their charge into Home World Command.

Making their way through the maze of hallways and corridors the group quickly made it into the inner sanctum of the ultra secret agency. Unknown to Ladon the group passed through four security scanning points that ensured he had no weapons of any kind on him. These checkpoints also ensured he did not carry a contagion of any kind. Moments later the group arrived at the open door of General O'Neill's office. Ladon was quickly brought in and seated before the large desk that O'Neill sat behind as the security team was motioned to wait outside.

"So you're Ladon Radim. General Jack O'Neill" said Jack.

"Thank you for allowing me this meeting General" replied Ladon.

"So what is it you have to offer us" asked Jack.

"I can hand you the tools to defeat your opponents" replied Ladon.

"I don't mean to rain on your parade but we already have the ability to defeat them" countered Jack.

"General I am aware of how powerful your people are. Yes you can defeat the Genii, but I provided information that will minimize the casualties your forces suffer" said Ladon.

"So you give us communications protocols, training manuals, and personality profiles of those involved. Let me be straight with you. You want us to put you back in power of your people but you're not giving us something of equal value" said Jack.

"You want something of equal value? I can make available my network of supporters on my home world. We can fight the current regime together. Once they are defeated I pledge to be a staunch ally of your people" offered Ladon.

"Now you're getting warmer. Where are their nuclear weapons" asked Jack.

"One I know for certain is on Dagan. The second I am still attempting to locate" replied Ladon.

"You do that, but be quick about it. I'm going to share something with you. If you don't find that second weapon and it's used against my people we have authorization to use our own nukes on your planet. Ours are much bigger than yours by the way" stated Jack.

"I understand. I will find it. One thing I ask is you give me a team of men when the time comes to secure the leading council on my home world. Once that is complete the people will fall into line" said Ladon.

"When that time comes Colonel Frost will provide a team of men for that purpose. Ladon let me be clear about something. Your people have screwed us a number of times. We will not be left holding the bag this time. If you try to screw us in any way we'll come for you and it won't be pleasant. Understand" asked Jack.

"We're very similar you and I. I understand fully" replied Ladon.

"You and I similar? Hardly" snorted Jack.