Date: Fri, 27 Jun 2008 08:04:56 -0400
From: Ron <wolfwalker2@alltel.net>
Subject: Heritage of the Ancients - Ancients Ascended chapter 5

Molly looked up in surprise as Augusta sat down next to her and logged into
the system.

"I was just about to com you." Molly told her. "Aren't you and Neville
supposed to be helping Harry chose sites to re-establish Potter Castle at?"

Seeing the very slight change of expression on the older woman's face, a
change that most would not have picked up on, but seeing that she had raised
seven children and a twin set of pranksters, Molly picked up on it.

"Augusta dear.is there something you want to share." Molly asked, thinking
this was going to be good.

"Well." Augusta replied as she looked around. "Remember that project I was
working on for the past few days."

Looking off to the side as she thought about it, Molly replied. "It had
something to do with the lake I think."

"About repairing the bottom.And placing an island in the middle." Molly
answered.

"We did that, finished yesterday and then seeing as it was the perfect
place, nice and high, wonderful view of the city and forests, we place
Potter castle on top of the highest point." Augusta told her as she brought
up a picture of the lake with the now lush island in the middle.

Looking at the Hologram Molly was slightly surprised to see the island so
lush looking and told her so. "I thought you would have to start an island
from scratch and plant it out, where did you.No how did you move a whole
island?"

"Aloria sent down this strange looking ship to help us out, she re-formed
the lake bed and moved the island in a couple of hours." Augusta told her.
"Neville was pleased with how lush and pristine the island is."

"And you are hiding up here because..?" Molly asked.

"I don't want to be around when Harry sees his families ancestral castle on
top of the island, at least until Aloria has a chance to explain the
positive points of it being there." Augusta whispered conspiratorially.

Laughing at how sneaky her friend was being Molly told her the reason she
was going to com her. "There are two Earth people on their way here with
proposals for colonization projects for their respective governments."

"And you wanted me to sit in and offer my advice?" Augusta asked.

"I think between the two of us we should be able to make sure that Harry
does not have to go through proposals that he has to send back, because they
are incomplete or do not follow the guidelines he set up under the first
agreement." Molly brought up the display of the pertinent parts of the
agreement as she said this.

"Maybe we should suggest to Harry that we take over screening the
colonization proposals, that way he is not dealing with all these demands on
his time when he could just read the final draft and give the ok for the
target world and use of resources." Augusta offered.

"Harry thinks so too." Aloria interrupted.

Molly jumped in her seat and looked around. " What do you mean Harry thinks
so to."

Harry's laughing voice came from the speaker near his chair. "What she means
is that I agreed to take a day off from work, but that I did not agree not
to listen in to keep myself informed of what was going on."

"Sneaky Mr. Potter, very sneaky." Augusta told him as she stared at the
speaker in the table.

"Hey, everyone just assumed I would walk away for the day and leave
everything behind." Harry countered smugly.

"Oh and before I forget, Gran there was no reason for you to go up city and
hide from me. Neville pulled me aside this morning before we went over to
the island and explained what you did and told me if I did not like the
castle where it is, it would be easy to move it somewhere else." Harry
informed her.

"Though I like what he said before we ever got to the island this morning,
Neville explained your reasoning for placing the castle on this island. And
I agree with the idea of it being close to the city yet apart and not
casually available for everyone to stop by." Harry smiled when he said that
even though they could not see it.

"Now Aloria has the co-ordinates to the island we built on Earth, just for
the new Astria that will become active in five days time. There is also
housing and such, so that teams can use the Astria to study different worlds
as possible colonization sites." Harry informed them, as another display lit
up and the information scrolled across the bottom of the picture of the
island.

"No one nation has control over the island, and the island is warded
heavily, so only those ships carrying one of the beacons will be able to
pass through the wards and dock." Harry told them as a box of the beacons
appeared on the table in front of his chair.

Molly stood up and went to the end of the table to retrieve the box. Opening
it up she found a dozen small pyramid beacons inside. "How many do we hand
out?"

"One to each group, we will hand out temporary, one use beacons to be used
to ferry supplies and colonists to the island." Harry told them as they
heard in the background someone yelling his name.

"One last thing before I go, make sure they understand that the island is
under diplomatic control. Our control, so Alteran law takes precedence, also
we can remotely destroy the Astria and island if we need to." Harry told
them before closing the connection. "Thanks by the way for volunteering your
time and a solution to a problem you discovered."

Augusta and Molly looked at each other in trying to figure out how Harry was
always one step ahead of everyone else.

"David is accepting an incoming connection from Myrrdin station." Aloria
told them interrupting their musings.

Looking up and over towards the Astria arrival area They watched Remus
escorting two men through the Astria, but did not see Tonks or her team come
through before the portal closed.

Once the group was close enough Molly asked. "Remus, where is Tonks and for
that matter where are the prisoners?"

Motioning for the two to sit Remus replied. "Tonks will be back shortly."

Grimacing Remus told them. "The one tried suicide by poisoning as soon as he
came out of the Astria on Myrrdin station. He is currently in the med bay
there, as they heal the damage done."

Sitting down across from the two Remus finished his explanation. "The other
one was stunned as a precaution and being examined by the healers also."

Looking over at the two men Remus had escorted to the city Molly had to ask.
"Do people from your world do that often, killing themselves when captured?"
She really meant non-magical folk.

"Not anymore, we tend to try to stay alive and hope for rescue or escape.
Government employees working undercover or across hostile borders that is."
Vladimir told her his accent a little thicker than normal.

Deciding that she would never really understand non-magical people even
though she really tried, Molly started the meeting. "I understand that each
of you have completed proposals to deliver."

"It is fortunate for you that I was the assigned Watcher today, Augusta and
I are in charge of any colonization efforts, and once they have been
finalized we take them before the Lord Commander for his approval." Molly
told them as she introduced each of them at the appropriate times.

"Very fortuitous indeed." Ambassador Lei said.

"Shall we begin by going over the colony charter that each of your separate
groups would be governed by?" Augusta told them.

Going through the folders each man handed over the bound brief of their
respective colony charters to one of the ladies.

After several minutes where Molly and Augusta went through the paperwork,
asking questions when something was not as clear as it could be and marking
the changes in the margins, Augusta exchanged her proposal with Molly's.

After several more questions and numerous notations in the margins they
closed the proposals and Augusta looked at Molly and in Alteran commented.
"It was your idea Molly so I shall defer to you. Other than the one proposal
needing to have the independence clause added they look complete."

"I suppose since it was my idea I don't mind leading the team. And agree
with your observation on the missing clause, let's ask shall we." Molly
replied.

"Sorry gentleman, sometimes it is easier to switch to a language you do not
understand than to be constantly raising and lowering silencing shields."
Molly informed them.

"Everything looks to be in order except for one small section in your
proposal Ambassador Lei." Molly informed them. "There needs to be an
independence clause added to your proposal."

"We understand that colonization is a large investment, and a government
would like a certain level of control over their investment." Augusta told
him.

"But each colony must have a point that once it is reached it becomes
independent of its mother world." Molly added.

"According to the charter the Americans submitted, their colony will reach
independence once one hundred years has passed with the colony either
supplying or purchasing what they need to survive and prosper." Augusta told
the Ambassador.

"Your comrade's proposal has set a monetary value that once the colony meets
will give them independence." Molly offered as an example.

"I understand, I will get with my government and we will correct that
oversight." Ming told them formally.

Smiling at the formal man's reply. "I see no reason that you cannot still go
forward with your plans to investigate possible colony planets while your
proposal is being corrected." Molly let him know.

Opening the box and pulling out two of the crystal pyramids Molly placed one
in front of the ambassador and the commander.

Activating the Holo display in the center of the table Molly brought up the
image of the island Harry had shown them. "This island is along the Tropic
of Capricorn and is heavily warded so that the only way to gain access to
the island is by boat. And only if this beacon is secured to the ships metal
structure."

"The island should be considered Alteran soil and as such our laws govern
those on the island." Molly informed them.

"In four days time one of the new Astria will be placed on the island for
colonization and search purposes." Augusta told them as she read the report
of when the island would be up and running. "It us up to you to man the
facilities with your search teams and support staff."

"We will leave the staffing and scheduling of the use of the facilities to
be handled among yourselves, but see no reason that you all can't share the
facilities at the same time." Molly watched their expressions as she slid
the proposals back to their respective owners.

"I am sure you have questions for us." Augusta invited questions.

"It is my understanding that you are providing system security for the
Americans colony, will you be providing the same for each new colony?"
Vladimir asked.

Not sure what he meant by system security as she did not remember seeing it
in her hasty skimming of the agreement. Molly asked for input by the only
other one that would have been part of the negotiation. "Aloria can answer
this?"

The hologram changed to show one of the weapons platforms they used to
secure the system, rotating it so they could see it from all angles. An
image of the space shuttle appeared next to it for size comparison.

"Of course Molly. As you can see this is Paer class station, four of these
are capable of defending a planetary system.

They are fully automated and sealed against all access attempts and any
attempts to breach it would be met most severely.

A quad of these stations have been provided for planetary defense of the
target colony world the Americans are developing." Aloria explained.

"So once we find an acceptable world you will similarly emplace the means to
defend it?" Ming asked as he made notations on his notepad.

"Freely.No." Aloria told him. "If you agree to the terms the other Alliance
races have, then yes."

Confused for a moment as he followed her words Ming asked. "What terms are
you talking about?"

"Each system that we provide security for must provide at least two thousand
personal to be stationed with our own security forces throughout the
galaxies.

They will serve on this city, as search and rescue, as crew for our cruisers
and various support positions.

Each person shall be given training in their field to bring them up to
galactic standard before they will be asked to serve, and must agree to
serve a minimum of two years before we will agree to their training.

The Americans have already provided the required personal who are being
trained in their chosen careers while providing help with the thousands of
rescued infants from a planetary evacuation that went wrong." Aloria
explained the terms worked out in the agreement.

"I believe from what I overheard while working in the nursery, they have
planned to split up where the recruits go once they cycle out of their
obligations, half to go back to their home world taking their new skills
with them, while the other half go to the colony world." Molly told them
what she remembered.

"And who would our people answer to while assigned here?" Vladimir asked
thinking this sounded like a good way to get a lot of people training not
available on Earth.

"They would find themselves living and working under Alteran law, and while
in our service, they must put their loyalty to the Alteran Empire first and
foremost. Just like the soldiers in your armed services must put their
loyalty to their country first and foremost." Molly told them.

"That is not an unreasonable request, and a prudent one." Ming told her
while thinking if the troops assigned to the United Nations forces followed
that logic they would not have near half the problems they did now with the
peace keeping forces.

"My president wishes for this project to go through with all due speed. We
have a list of the worlds visited by the SGC that hold promise, they were
never considered as there was no way to defend them against the Goa'uld, but
now.now several of them open up as possibilities of a new start for my
people." Vladimir spoke thoughtfully.

"Would you be willing to share this list with my government?" Ming asked
quietly.

"Yes.yes we would, I will mark the three worlds that we plan to send teams
out to as soon as possible, these worlds would be our first choices as
colony worlds." Vladimir was excited.

Pulling two folders out of the pile in front of him, and quickly marking
three worlds and their co-ordinates as the ones they were planning to
develop on both copies, he passed one over to the Chinese Ambassador.

Bowing his head slightly hiding his surprise. "Thank you." Ming offered his
peoples thanks.

Very pleased with the results so far Vladimir had a thought, hoping the
answer would be positive as it meant more of his people no longer starving
or relying on theft to survive, he asked. "This two thousand recruits, is
this per world or just in total?"

"It would be per world." Harry's voice came from the speaker.

"Lord Commander." Molly chastised. "You are supposed to be relaxing."

Laughing Harry told her. "Molly right now I am laying on the beach, while
Cadfael is down by the water with Jack going through basic martial arts
moves while Bryce and Neville are plotting on how to get me to agree to
build several greenhouses on the island."

"It sounds like you are building an army." Ming sounded suspicious.

"In a way I am." Harry told them. But continued before they had a chance to
respond. "What I am building could be termed a galactic police force, along
with a rescue and medical force."

"It is one thing to stay safe in a closed system, protected from any and all
hostile intruders, but eventually with commerce comes trade vessels coming
and going and between accidents and those who believe that might makes
right, a galactic security division will be needed." Harry informed them of
part of his plans.

"The Alliance will meet in the coming months and come up with a list of
galactic laws each treaty signatory must agree to abide by while off world.
A set of galactic laws you might call them." Harry expanded on his idea.

"Plus as you must have realized this is one of the quickest ways to train up
your people. Oh I suppose we could just give you the databases of knowledge
and let you muddle through, but it a lot better if we teach you in a safe
environment." Harry told them, eyes closed soaking up the warmth of the sun.

"Four days." Vladimir muttered. "You say that the new gate will be
operational in four days time correct?"

"Yes, the remotes shall finish it in three days, but I have allowed a day
for testing and whatever else Steven wants to do to make sure he is
satisfied." Harry answered as he sat up to watch Bryce and Neville carrying
a large amount of blueprints walk his way.

"How soon can we start sending the volunteers through? Would we be able to
start sending them as soon as the new gate is functional?" Vladimir asked
quickly, mentally adding up how soon they could get several thousand people
to the island he had written down the co-ordinates of its location.

"You can start as soon as the Astria is available, makes no difference to
me. Though I should inform you they will be interviewed to make sure they
are volunteers and they pose no threat to humanity or the Alliance in
general." Harry told them groaning as he was now sure Bryce and Neville were
headed his way.

"Gran what is it with your grandson." Harry groaned out." He is perverting
my perfectly good fosterling, I am about to be bombarded by enough
greenhouse drawings to make my head swim."

Molly couldn't stand it and started to laugh at Harry's tone., a laugh that
was infectious and had them all laughing.

Hearing something that sounded suspiciously like traitors had a new round of
laughter breaking out especially when they heard Neville yell. "Hey Harry we
have something we would like you to look at." Before the connection was
terminated.

"Any other questions that you need answers to." Remus asked as he looked at
the time, wondering what was taking Tonks so long.

"I think for the moment I have nothing further. Assuming of course that once
we get to the island communication is possible?" Vladimir said as he
gathered his folders and notes.

"Yes there is a fold space transceiver already installed in the main
building on the island." Remus informed them, having spent the meeting time
reading through all the specifications of the island.

"I too am finished for the moment, I must get this information to the
Premier so he may make the changes. I am sure he will have further questions
for me to relay." Ambassador Lei told them as he stood up and bowed slightly
in the direction of the two ladies.

"That would be my queue." Remus said as he stood up. "Gentleman if you would
follow me I will escort you back to the Astria so you may return to Earth in
one trip this time."

Hearing the Russian ask how it was possible to return in one trip when it
took two to get here in the first place, Molly tuned the answer out as she
sat back in her chair rubbing her temples.

"Merlin, Harry does this day in day out fourteen hours a day, sometimes
longer for all those months. I don't know how he does it, two hours and I am
exhausted." Molly muttered to Augusta.

"Harry has a dedication that few others can even hope to achieve." Augusta
thought of all the people she had known in her life and how none of them
even came close to man Harry was.

XXXX

                                    Day 6

Yesterday was fun Harry thought as he walked away from the arrival area on
the embarkation deck.

Climbing the steps towards his work area chatted a few minutes with the
theta shift Watcher before bidding the woman a good night.

Sitting down Harry activated all the displays that let him know what was
going on around Alteran controlled space.

Deciding to move forward the Ark's departure date if they were ready, they
should be as he had planned for several extra days just in case.

'Aloria open a fold space transmission to the Ark please.' Harry asked down
the bond.

Seeing the bridge of the ark in the central Holo emitter, Harry spent a few
minutes watching as everyone came on shift and chatted with the skeleton
crew before relieving them.

Seeing Charlie walk onto the bridge Harry thought he should let them know he
was listening in.

"Morning Charlie." Harry activated the Holo emitter on the ark so that they
could see who was talking.

Chuckling Charlie called. "Susan I owe you a Galleon."

"Morning Harry, What do I owe the pleasure of your call so early this fine
morning." Charlie was practicing his smooth talking.

Harry stared back before slowly saying. "You bet on if I would contact you
today?"

"Actually the bet was that you would contact us this morning and order us to
get under way." Charlie sounded smug.

"Incredible." Was all Harry could say.

"So we are fully loaded, have been for the past two days and are ready to
move as soon as you give the word." Charlie told him, before whispering.
"Don't tell her I said so, but I miss mum's stew."

"Well let it not be said I have the audacity to get between a Weasley and
his stomach." Harry laughed.

"Right, let's do this officially." Harry said as his voice started to echo
on the last word as he glowed brightly.

Placing his hand on the input link Harry's voice echoed throughout the
command deck and to all stations in system.

"All stations prepare for Ark Shift." Harry' voice spurred them into action.

Powaqa quietly handed two Galleons over to Steven as she walked up the steps
to command level one yelling out. "Report.All station report readiness."

As station after station reported in Harry watched the displays show each of
the individuals report the fact to Powaqa.

Walking down the length of the command level one until she was near the
balcony that overlooked the work platform Powaqa looked over the edge and
reported through the com system. "Lord Commander, all stations report
ready."

"All system traffic reports standstill stations." Aloria chimed in. "Weapons
platforms report automatic targeting at stand down stations."

Looking at the Holo display of the Ark bridge Harry's voice echoed through
the fold space com. "Ark report."

"All stations report green to go, dimensional drive at full power." Charlie
replied in excitement.

"Ark prepare to shift.You are cleared to shift in Five.Four.Three.Two.One.
Ark SHIFT." Harry ordered.

Harry stared at the displays as the Holo of The Ark in Earth's orbit showed
it fade from sight and he turned his head to look up and out the window to
see the Ark fade into sight several grids distance from the docking station.

"Secure stations.Weapons platforms to ready status." Harry ordered as the
displays told him the ark had made it safely.

"Welcome home Charlie." Harry told him as his glow disappeared and his voice
returned to normal.

Smiling at the sight of the Ark bridge crew plastered to the Holo displays
as they took the first good look of their new home. "Are all your passengers
properly stowed in stasis?" Harry asked knowing the answer already.

Breaking away from the Holo, long enough to look at the Holo of Harry.
"Yes." Charlie told him as he turned back like the others taking in the
visage of their new home.

"Good then dock that thing with the docking station and get your arse down
planet." Harry grinned devilishly." Before I tell your mum that you're here
and went to see the twins first."

Spinning in horror of what his mum would do to him if Harry did that Charlie
yelled out. "All right you lot you heard the man. Prepare for docking."

"That's downright evil." Powaqa told him from above him causing Harry to
laugh all that much harder.

'Aloria, how goes the project to detect planets with high concentration of
magical energy?' Harry thought.

'Very slowly, while Earth and Lantea have a unique energy signature, I am
being hampered with search due to the state of the Astria network.' Aloria
answered back.

'Maybe Steven should explain as he has been working on the problem.' Aloria
told him through the bond, and her perplexed feeling came through along with
her answer.

Harry placed his hand on the link panel. "Steven do you have a moment to
come over and explain the problem with Astria network, Aloria tells me you
have been working on the problem." Having no clue what the problem actually
was.

Steven really did not want to leave his station un-manned, yet even though
it sounded like a request, he knew an order when he heard one.

Locking down his control's he walked the thirty meters over to the working
platform and chose the seat nearest Harry.

As soon as he sat down and placed his hands on the table a Holographic
control panel that looked like his station lit up.

Tentatively touching the Holo controls Steven was surprised when information
displays lit up and started to scroll information just like his station did.
"Wow."

Chuckling softly. "In an emergency we could duplicate any of the command
stations right here through the Holographic interface, but it is not as
efficient or as quick to respond as the actual hard wired station." Harry
explained amused at the look of awe on Stevens face.

"Now Aloria informs me you have been working on a problem with the Astria
network." Harry prompted.

Startled out of his exploration of the neat controls, Steven remembered
where he was and why.

"Um, how do you.?" Steven started to say as he looked around for the input
controls.

"What do you need.' Harry asked still amused at his antics and his slight
blush.

"Can you put up a representation of the Pegasus galaxy." Steven finally
asked giving up on finding the normal controls.

Harry hand still on the link pad sent the command to the system and a large
Holo display appeared representing a globular display of every system in the
Pegasus galaxy.

Frustrated Steven ground out. "How in Merlin's name do you control anything
from over here?" And then promptly turned red as he realized who he was
being grouchy to.

Laughing, Harry took pity on the man and explained how the table interfaces
work. "See the slightly raised panel off to your right."

Seeing Steven nod his head Harry continued. "Place you hand on it like I am
and briefly touch your core and mentally give the command to the system. It
will do what you have told it to do."

Placing his hand on the panel Steven touched his core just like he did every
morning when he did his forms and was shocked to feel his mind link up with
the Astria system.

"Whoa.This is so incredible. I need one of these at my.wait a minute there
is one there I use it to prop up my notes on so that I can see them better."
Steven said excitedly.

"How come no one has ever shown me what this panel is for?" Steven turned
and looked at Harry.

'Aloria?' Harry questioned.

'Checking.seems not a single person has accessed the links from any of the
command stations.' Aloria told him puzzled.

Frowning Harry answered. "I am not sure, seems somehow or other it has
fallen through the cracks."

"Aloria please instruct every one of the command crew on how to properly
access the link." Harry ordered correcting the oversight. "You were saying."

"Right." Steven said as he let his mind link with the system.

As three quarters of the systems turned slightly blue, Steven started to
explain. "The blue represents archival records of the Astria network during
the time that Tylene was evacuated."

"As you can see the Alteran's had control of most of this galaxy with Astria
in each of the habitable or mineral rich systems." Steven told him before
ordering the system to replace the blue systems with red for the next stage.

"The red systems represent the known Astria network, gathered from the
Atlantis archives, at the start of the war with the Wraith." Steven told him
solemnly.

"That's not even half of the previous systems." Harry was shocked to see how
small the network had devolved too.

"The purple systems are of the known Astria network by the end of the war
when they abandoned Atlantis and Lantea." Steven informed him very quietly.

"But.You mean to tell me they lost three quarters of the network." Harry
spat out in shock.

"Aloria did you find any mention in the Atlantis archives explaining this."
Harry said waving his hand at the display in the center of the table.

"Nothing, Harry there was no explanation anywhere. As far as Atlantis is
concerned that represented the total known section of the galaxy." Aloria
told him.

Staring at the Holo in front of him, Harry tried to get his horror under
control. Narrowing his eyes at a sudden thought, Harry ordered. "Aloria mark
each known nexus by blinking the dot."

The display changed once again, but this time when the nexus systems started
to blink an answer presented itself to what had happened.

There in the display every single nexus except one was clearly in the blue
areas.

Sitting back Harry thought out loud. "So at least we know how they lost
contact with most of the galaxy."

"Now all we need to do is find out why it happened." Steven finished the
thought.

Scott lent me his editing skills for this Chapter