Stargate

Langaran Conference

It only took a few hours for Teal'c from Chulak, and Jonas Quinn from the New Langeran Coalition to arrive at the SGC, where O'Neill had been teleported too. They walked into a more secure conference room, and Teal'c knew instantly it was a conference for battle planning.

"Hello Teal'c." Jack said embracing him into a hug that Teal'c returned. "Hello Jonas, how are things?" Jack asked dhaking his hand.

"I have a feeling my day is about to be ruined, as it is not often this room is used." Jonas replied recalling his time here as well.

"Well yes and no, we do have some serious issues to discuss." Jack said as Carter entered and closed the door behind herself.

"Hey Teal'c, Jonas." Sam said as she walked to her seat.

"General Carter, a pleasure to see you again." Teal'c replied as he gave her a hug.

"Sorry it has to be like this, but we have to ask what you know of the Alliance's plans?" she asked before sitting down.

"There is rumor that a sizable fleet is gathering, we however have not been able to determine its target." Teal'c replied not being intimate with the details.

"Jonas?" Jack asked him.

"Not a thing General." he answered.

"The target is Langera, and they will be attempting to take it intact. They intend to dial Destiny, and it is something we will not allow. However I must also deliver a warning to Langera, if we do not have an agreement in place to attempt dialing Destiny, we will Destroy Langera if it appears the Alliamce will be victorious." General O'Neill told the two of them.

Both were shocked at this, as Jonas believed Earth needed Langera intact for that very purpose. "General, you must understand the math is incredibly complicated. It is taking time to even understand what we are looking at, and until we can justify the risk the council will not approve it." Jonas told him honestly.

Jack nodded as he knew what the hold up was. "I am aware of that, and for the moment we have a few weeks before it is needed to attempt a dialing. The attack will be long before that, and the agreement to even attempt will allow me to deploy the forces needed to ensure victory. We will even teach your scientists to understand what it is, and I have been authorized to upgrade your power generation to accomodate the dialing process. As we have informed you before, each staye defends its own interests. Our current agreement calls for us to use all available ships to defend Langera from the Lucian Alliance. They are sending atleast 30 ships, we have 12 available. I cannot guarantee we will be successful, and if not I can guarantee we will destroy Langera ourselves before we allow it to fall into their hands." Jack told him. "I asked Teal'c here to facilitate your request for aid to the Jaffa Council, as they are the only ither race capable of reinforcing us."

Teal'c shook his head. "It would not be advisable Jack, the Jaffa Nation is fractured now. I could gather 5 ships, however the Captains would likely not agree to the risk of destruction."

Jonas nodded as he understood what Jack was saying now. He would do what he could, but would not be able to justify the expenditure of at all costs without it being an Earth asset as well. "Jack, give me 12 hours before anything is decided. I need to inform my people of this development." Jonas said as he stood.

"We will of course allow you to communicate with your people, we wish to have access to deploy the ground troops and defenses needed to defend your planet." Jack said standkng as well as he walked them to the door. "We will keep you apprised of any developments, however right now the odds are about equal between success and failure."

Jonas walked through the Stargate and returned to Langera, surprised that the council members were there waiting for him.

"How was the meeting?" Ambassador Ovirda asked quickly.

"Interesting, we need to speak in private." Jonas replied pointing to the office and walking to it.

The 4 Ambassadors walked in with him, and he closed the door. "What did they tell you?" Ambassador Sevaarin asked curiously.

"The Lucian Alliance is preparing for a massive task. Earth has 12 ships available tondefemd us and will use them to the best of their ability to defend us from this attack-" he began before he was inrerrupted.

"Excellent, we habe nothing to worry about." Ambassador Ovirda said reassured.

"General O'Neill has placed their odds of success at 50 percent, and informed me that if their defense fails, their last act will be to destroy Langara themselves. They will not allow the Lucian Alliance to gain a foothold that can dial Destiny." Jonas finished telling them which shocked every one of them.

Ambassador Ovirda choked on his drink, as he had not expected that. "They have a duty to defend up against the Alliance." he said angrily.

"He said that they will honor the treaty currently in place and will send the dozen ships they have to defend us. Without an agreement in place to give them justification for the expense, they will not allow a defense at all costs." Jonas said.

"This is Blackmail, how can they justify this demand when we have not yet determined the safety margins?" Ambassador Sevaarin demanded.

Jonas nodded. "They are not demanding we agree to dialing Destiny, they are demanding we agree to the principal that we allow them to teach us what we need to do as well as upgrade our systems to increase the security. That we agree to the principal of dialing Destiny after we have determined it is safe." he told them.

Ovirda looked at him curiously. "How lomg will it take you to determine if it is safe?" he asked.

"6 months atleast, we are still working on understanding the math to even confirm the data." Jonas replied quickly.

"And he offered to teach us the current math, and to improve our power generation systems?" Ovirda asked curious.

"Yes, to teach our scientists what they need to know. To increase the efficiency of our power generation, and increase the safety of the dialing of Destiny. Theybwant us to survive as much as if not more than we do, they need the supply line to Destiny. If General O'Neill is saying this, they have determined they have a likely secondary candidate to establish this supply line. We will find ourselves on the obsolete end of the stick if we do not agree to the terms in principal." Jonas said after analyzing what the conversation was.

"What about the Jaffa Council?" Ovirda asked.

"Not an option, they do not have enough ships to secure their borders and assist even with the Tau'ri help." he replied.

"We need to return with you, we will see about this shameful act." Ovirda said angrily.

2 hours later General O'Neill finally entered the conference room that Jonas had beem directed to earlier, and Ambassador Ovirda noticed it was far more secure than he had ever experienced.

"Apologies Gentelmen, I was detained by other important business. Shall we begin?" O'Neill asked as he entered with the files and sat down.

"We shall, there is something we must discuss. What is this ultimatum that was delivered?" Ovirda asked him angrily.

"Exactly as I have told Jonas, if during the discourse of the battle it is determined we have failed, we will destroy Langara to protect our interests in Destiny. Our agreement does not permit for ground strengthening, and as a result of that we cannot assure we will emerge victorious against the fleet of Alliance Ships that will be attacking." Jack informed the 4 Ambassadors and Jonas Quinn.

The blunt impact of this statement shocked the 4 Ambassadors, as that was exactly what they had demanded.

"What are you wanting to ensure we emerge victorious?" Ambassador Sevaarin asked him bluntly.

"All 4 of you are well aware what our interest in your planet is. So far you have refused to even negotiate for the use of your planet assuming your scientists determine it is safe to do so. Until that position is relaxed we have nothing to discuss, we will not strengthen a planet that may decide to reject us, and force us to protect our kther interests." O'Neill replied with a srraight face.

"Why are we not considered atleast a part of your interests? You need us to establish a supply line to Destiny." Ovirda reminded him.

"A week ago that would remain true, however much has changed and Langara is no longer our soul option." Jack informed him making Jonas nod. He had suspected as much.

"You found another planet?" Jonas asked curiously.

"In a manner of speaking, we are running the power requirements now to attempt a dialing." Jack confirmed to him. "As I said, much has changed in the last few weeks. We are in desperate need for a supply line, and if you will not negotiate in principal even, we have nothing to discuss. By the time you determine if it is viable, we will have already established a seperate supply route. At which point it will be pointless for us to focus resources and make agreements that hold no benefit to us." he said firmly reiterating points Woolsey had informed them of previously.

"No State does things that do nkt bemefit themselves. So you are saying we attempt to dial Destiny, or we are on our own to be destroyed by you or by them?" Ovirda demanded angrily.

"No Ambassador, I am not suggesting that at all. I am suggesting you allow us to help you determine whether or not it is safe, as I can assure you we have no desire to see any harm befall Langara. I am suggesting you agree to dialing Destiny if it is determined it is safe to do so by your own scientific advisors. I am suggesting you become an ally that trusts we will hold the concerns of your planet as if they were our own. I am suggesting you use our technology to increase the safety standards for your planet, so any attempt to dial Destiny will be made even safer." Jack told him sliding over the official proposal that had been drawn up. The change in tone shocked them even further, as they realised his demands were not outrageous. "I will allow you to read the proposal at your leisure. Inform the escort when you have reviewed it and are prepared with your decision." he said standing before he walked out and allowed them to read it.

The proposal was heavily weighted in the favor of the Langarans, and they knew it as soon as they read the proposal. They retained control of everything, and the systems that would be installed would increase the security from threats well into the future. They had taken several hours to review it, and they were all speechless.

"To me it seems they have taken every one of your concerns seriously, and managed to improve on nearly every aspect of our life if we go through with it." Jonas commented as he sat back.

"It does indeed seem quite generous, my only question is why?" Ovirda asked curiously.

"Does it matter? With the level of technology alone we would greatly benefit. Add in the salvage rights to the Ha'taq, the ground defenses, orbital fighters, training, knowledge, we would be fools not to accept this." Ambassador Sevaarin said having made up her mind.

"Jonas, do you think they will honor the agreement if it is determined the risk level is to high?" Ovirda demanded.

Jonas considered it for several moments before he replied. "Yes, however I do not think we will. I understand a bit more of it than my peers do, and the work of Dr. McKay seems impeccable." he answered.

Ovirda walked over to the door and looked at the Airman. "Summon General O'Neill please, we are prepared to continue this negotiation."

20 minutes later General O'Neill walked in with Richard Woolsey, and both took a seat.

"Well, you made a decision?" General O'Neill asked.

"We have, however we need clarification of an issue first. Why is this agreement so generous?" Ovirda demanded.

"Ambassador, you have treated us as if we are your enemy at every turn. Refusing assistance that would significantly speed up your progress towards common goals. We are attempting to show your concerns are the same as ours. You wish to display your mistrust of that at every turn, we will honor our current agreement to the best of our ability at the time. However we will not continue diplomatic dialouge with you, and any indication you will not have the ability to protect our interests, we will eliminate the threat Langara poses." Woolsey told him bluntly.

The other 3 Ambassadors looked at Ovirda darkly, making it clear he did not represent all of them. "What my colleague means to say is you yourself Mr. Woolsey have made it explicity clear that each Nation acts in its own best interests. How is it in your Nations best interest to invest so much when tje answer could be no?" Ambassador Sevaarin asked.

Jack laughed at this question. "Jonas, how many times in the years you have known General Carter to be wrong?" he asked smiling.

Jonas considered it for a few moments. "None that I can recall." he answered.

"In the years I have known most of these scientists, they have rarely been wrong. Each of them assures me that with the proposed measures and your current infrastructure the risk of catastrophoc overload is 2.1 percent. If we improve your technology to ours, and add buffers into the system to even out the power draw, it further reduces the risk to 0.2 percent of catastrophic overload. If those chances are so significant that you cannot agree to attempt dialing, we will consider our business concluded and part ways now." General O'Neill said to them.

"0.2 percent of catastrophic overload, is that a percentage you would allow if dialing from Earth?" Ovirda demanded.

"Yes Ambassador, as I am told when we attempt dialing using ZPM technology in a few weeks the risk of the same will be 7.8 percent. I am told if the Stargate detonates it will take out the majority of the solar system, and it is a risk we will be taking until we can establish a supply line that carries a lower risk." General O'Neill replied shocking them.

"You mean to tell us that you will risk a dialing with a higher chance of failure than wait until we can establish the risk is what you say it is for us?" Ambassador Cortel demanded of him.

"Yes Ambassador, we are. We have a need to supply Destiny in order to save lives, and the risk is well within the acceptable margin of error." Woolsey said to them. "We will even save you a seat if you wish in 6 weeks time."

The Ambassadors looked at eachother and the 4 of them nodded at Jonas. "General O'Neill, Mr. Woolsey, I believe we have an agreement of principle. We would like to request ground assistance for the threat we face." Jonas said.

"The first thing we will need to do is get the initial teams in place, and remove the Stargate from your Power Generation facilities. Afterward we will deliver the equipment to large to transport via the Stargate, and will establish the defenses needed to repel attacks from the Lucian Alliance." Jack said as he pulled open his briefcase. "We have roughly 3 weeks to orepare if our sources are accurate, and we will need every moment of that time to ensure success.