Chapter 117

Tollana

Exiting hyperspace the six vessels of TF Guardian engaged their sublight engines. Maneuvering away from Tollana's two moons Onseem and Deril orbit of the planet was quickly established. As each vessel's sensors scanned the planet the amount of damage inflicted upon Tollana by Goa'uld orbital bombardment was noted. Significant impact craters were noted along fault lines, confirming that the forces of Anubis had sought to eradicate the Tollan race through geological upheaval. Upon impact with the planets fault lines, the weapons fire had started a cascade effect of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The once lush and inviting planet had been reduced to a nightmarish landscape.

The remains of the once vibrant Tollan capital city were noted on the sensors. No building had been left standing to survive the bombardment and geological reordering of the planets surface. Several structures far below ground had survived, albeit with significant damage, but no life signs were present. Expanding the sensor sweep the entire surface of Tollana was scanned for life signs. Somewhere down there it was hoped was what remained of the Tollan people.

Several hours later the detailed scan was complete. What had once been a planet of millions was now a planet of few. The eight thousand life signs present were a far cry from what they had hoped to find before their departure. Quickly the orders went out to the combined vessels for deployment of their jumpers to assigned areas. Aboard each jumper along with the flight crew was a PJ.

Utilizing every jumper the Task Force had available seventy five of the sleek craft entered the atmosphere. With drive pods extended the jumpers silently cut through the polluted air towards the ground below. Onboard sensors and cross linked sensor data from the vessels in orbit guided the bevy of jumpers to their targets. One of the Edmund Halley's jumpers sped towards what appeared to be a primitive village on a hilltop some miles from the destroyed capital. Making a slow pass overhead the jumper began to circle the village.

In the village some inhabitants ran for cover in a panic while others stood their ground and stared at the strange craft above them. Calling in their sighting to the Edmund Halley the flight crew mulled what to do next.

"Some of them ran away like we're attacking them" said the copilot.

"These people were bombed into the Stone Age by the Goa'uld, what kind of response do you expect" snorted the pilot.

"Ok, let's set down in the opening center village. We don't know if these people have gone native so close the forward bulkhead before you lower the rear ramp" replied the PJ.

"Gone native? If you think they are a threat maybe we need to get some more troops down there" said the copilot.

"These people are disaster victims. The last thing they need are troops. Right now they need help, so set this thing down and let me do my job" replied the PJ crossly.

With that said the jumper quickly descended the final four hundred feet and silently landed in the village center. As the rear ramp lowered the PJ noted smells that reminded him of the farm back in Iowa where he had grown up; soil, and animals. Exiting the rear ramp the PJ looked around. Many of the villagers had run back into their huts, but a man and an older woman stood there looking directly at him. Thinking that they were his best and only chance to establish identities the PJ began to approach the two villagers.

Looking at them he saw clear evidence that they had once come from civilization, based on the remnants of their clothing. Although now in tatters their clothing still had the look of stylized garments that had once been of high quality. The older woman seemed to carry herself as one in a leadership position the PJ surmised.

"Have your masters finally sent you to finish us off after leaving us to survive with nothing" demanded the woman.

"Excuse me ma'am? We're not here to harm anyone at all. I'm here to bring you and your people to safety" replied the PJ.

"I doubt that in the extreme. If you are here to rescue my people as you say then please inform me as to who you and your people are" asked the woman.

"I'm a rescue specialist with the United States Air Force. Our fleet is from Earth and we have had dealings with your people in the past" replied the PJ.

"Now I know you are lying! The people of Earth are primitive, and lack a single vessel capable of the voyage to this planet" accused the woman.

"Ma'am, if you don't mind me saying, you don't look like you're doing so well yourself when you call us primitive. Things have changed since the last time our people met. General O'Neill thought you might not believe it was us and instructed me to inform you that Skaara is well" said the PJ.

"That proves nothing. The Goa'uld were present for that Triad so your answer means nothing" replied the woman.

"If I mention a cat named Schrodinger will that ease the tension" asked the PJ.

"Who gave me Schrodinger" asked the man.

"Colonel Samantha Carter sir" replied the PJ.

Quickly the man and woman exchanged glances. A silent conversation played out between their eyes.

"Is she here? I am Narim and I am a friend of hers" stated the man.

"No sir, the Colonel is deployed elsewhere at this time. I'm sure that once we have you and your people safe and sound you can send her a message. And you are whom ma'am" asked the PJ.

"I am Travell, Chancellor of the Curia. Do not think for one moment young man that the Tollan are indebted to provide our technology in exchange for this rescue" stated Travell arrogantly.

"Ma'am, look around for a moment. The height of your technology is a hut and the ability to make fire. I don't think we'll be needing instruction on how to make those things for ourselves. Now if you can please gather your people together for me" asked the PJ.

"Gather them for what purpose" demanded Travell.

"Gather them so we can begin evacuation. I need to know if anyone has any medical issues. If so medical teams are standing by" said the PJ.

Not all of the rescue contacts with people on the ground went nearly as well. A number of individuals thinking they were being attacked attempted to flee. In once case four refugees attacked the rescue personnel upon exit from the jumper. The collection effort of the Tollan people would be an ongoing process for a matter of days. In the mean time a tent city was established on the planet. Those that required medical treatment were quickly flown to the vessels in orbit.

Eating their humanitarian rations while wearing clean clothing for the first time in several years broke down the final emotional walls of many of the refugees. Tears flowed freely in the encampment, and would continue to do so into the future after the trauma these people had suffered. Teams of grief councilors circulated throughout the camp for those in need. For the first time in several years the Tollan would have a chance to begin the long process of healing old wounds.

Rescue had finally come. They had held on and lost so many while attempting to survive, but survive they had. That rescue had come from Earth was what several found troubling. In their arrogance they had judged the Tauri to be primitive and warlike. If that were the case then how were they on Tollana now, with a fleet of sh.i.p.s to rescue a people who had been willing to trade their survival for Earth's.

While population recovery efforts were underway the crew's aboard the three Athena class vessels carried out their secondary mission. Realizing that the Tollan would have to rebuild their civilization orders were given to recover as many of their computer mainframes as possible. The knowledge contained therein would allow the Tollan a technological base to fall back upon, instead of having to start all over again. Little did the Tollan know what surprises were in store for them as a people, and what their future held.