Starborn Smith [Stargate, Battletech Multicross]

- - -

POV: James Cromwell

It had been a bit over three weeks since I had let Arthur off the leash. He had spent almost eight hours every day working on completing his Constructor device. He had claimed that he wouldn't need more than another two weeks to complete it at the start, but he later retracted that statement; something about forgetting the 90-10 rule. 

Arthur had taken one of the Leopard's bays for his personal use. Now it was time to see the fruits of his labors. The machine he presented was quite large, with a single central press. The side had a pair of robotic arms attached to rails so that they could traverse the entire length of the device. The front and back of the device seemed to be meant for a conveyor of some sort. 

I spotted Arthur on the far side of the machine. He looked up at us and away from his compad and up towards us. He smiled cheerily. "Elders! Thank you for coming. I just finished the initial diagnostics."

I raised an eyebrow but nodded. "What will you be showing us?"

He pulled out several steel ingots, apparently fresh from Dendred's only functional Steel Plant – something that Ares had guarded almost jealously before. Previously, the steel had been used for making pickaxes and the like. Now, most of it was going towards repairing the vessels in orbit. 

Arthur placed the ingot on the entrance and stepped away. Returning his attention to his compad, he pressed a button and the machine came to life. The Ingot slowly moved into the device. I could vaguely see the ingot centered in the machine. That was the last I saw of it. Both the arms moved, seemingly to align something within the massive metal press; then they both retreated away from the press and the air filled with the hissing of compressed air as a massive piston pushed the pair of plates together.

For several moments, the two pistons pushed against one another, then they retreated. Arthur walked to the other end of the machine and picked up the end result. A single piece blade of some sort. I didn't quite recognize what it was for. 

Callum seemed flabbergasted. "How the hell do you make something like that without a mold?"

I nodded alongside him. Arthur chuckled as well. "Some rather precise usage of electromagnets. When working with metal, it strips all the free electrons then uses extremely powerful magnetic fields to realign the entire object in a matter of microseconds."

Callum seemed to raise an eyebrow. "So it only works with metals?"

Arthur shook his head. "No, it works with plastics and other such materials. Just not nearly as well. It also functions as a hydraulic press." 

I was impressed, to say the least. "Can you make more of them?"

Arthur chuckled. "That's the whole point. There are 339 individual components. The device can make one component every minute – and some of the smaller components can be made in batches. Every single component can be produced by this machine. I can have all the components created in six to seven hours. Assembly will take a couple of days though."

He seemed to falter for a moment. "There's just one issue. I need a compad or a noteputor to control each one. Now, I was originally planning on using an analog circuit for this, but using a proper digital device provides a lot more control over the entire process and means I can basically create blueprints for a device on the fly."

I raised an eyebrow. "How many compads do we have in storage?"

Arthur's response was immediate. "Three thousand, two hundred, and eighty."

He made it sound like we had none. I gently rubbed my beard. Quite frankly, this device was beyond my greatest expectations. I turned to Arthur. "How many materials can it use at once?"

He winced. "Two, absolute max, and that would take serious preparation and testing. It will probably lead to a significantly larger number of failures. If you used just one then I can pretty much guarantee a perfect outcome 100% of the time…"

I nodded. So it was mostly only capable of reforming a single material. That was already a lot. I'd have to get Ma'chello over here and start discussing more extensive production lines. This prototype would have to be moved to the Backup site. We'll have to bring it up in the next meeting. 

I nodded. "You've done well, Arthur. We'll be bringing this up with Ma'chello at the next meeting. We'll see how many more of these things we can make then."

He nodded. "Understood."

I turned to leave. I had more paperwork to do. "Give me a list of things that this could be used for in the immediate future."

He nodded once more. "Yes, Elder."

- - -

POV: Arthur Sinclair

We stood before a clearing on Mycena. In the distance, I could just make out the appearance of Ares' Ha'tak motherships. Before me, however, lay six Al'kesh and a Dozen Telk'taks. 

Standing in a neat row, were a collection of Villagers and Jaffa. Elder James and Arktos had come to an agreement. Arktos had offered ships for the expedition to the Inner Sphere, though I don't know what it is that he got from the exchange, I doubted it was a small price. 

What really surprised me however, was that the Jaffa had given up their normal armor and had instead equipped SLDF Uniforms. Quite frankly, I was flabbergasted. Even more surprising was that the mark of Ares on the brow of each of the Jaffa was gone. 

Elder James gave me a quick look and spoke. "Stop staring."

I coughed. "Yes, Elder."

The Elder was in full white SLDF Uniform, with his rank insignia and full regalia on display.

We approached Arktos and his retinue. Elder James nodded and turned to the assembled crowd. "For those of you from the village, you probably do not know what it is that you have been training for. Well, it is time I told you. Over the next seventeen months, you will be making a trip to the Inner Sphere."

There was a slight murmur through the crowd. Elder James continued. "Many of you were Jaffa. You have abandoned the mark of Ares, and decided to live as free men. I have spoken to each and every one of you. Now is your last chance to leave. You serve no one but those you choose of your own will."

Elder James waited for several moments. No one moved. "Excellent. None of you know where my people come. We are what you would call Tau'ri – the people of the first world."

There were several sharp intakes of breath – even Arktos looked genuinely surprised. I suppose we had yet to inform him of our origin.

Elder James continued. "I have spoken to each and every one of you. I know that none of you will let me down. Good luck to you all."

Elder James saluted and the entire line gave a full salute back. The Elder dropped his arm and nodded. "You are all clear to launch. Your route has been decided on. You will be making a stop approximately once every two weeks, so don't worry about getting cramped."

The entire line dropped and began making their way to their ships. All of us watched in silence as the vessels slowly took off and then – all together – rocketed into orbit. There was a bright flash and they were gone. 

I turned to look at the Elder and Arktos. "So, why were the Jaffa wearing SLDF Uniforms?"

Arktos smiled lightly. "They are the first, the rest will follow. We will no longer be Jaffa – servants for the Goa'uld."

I blinked. Not even Teal'c had gone so far… he really wasn't kidding during that meeting huh. 

Arktos turned to Elder James. "Your people are the Tau'ri?"

Elder James nodded. "I can't exactly prove it, but we can prove that our ancestors have lived on Terra – it used to be called Earth – for the past 30,000 years at least. Before that, we weren't even humans. We were just another species of monkey, but if we count our non-human ancestors as well, we have a record going back nearly a billion years."

Arktos simply raised an eyebrow. "Your people have come far since you were forgotten."

Elder James smiled bitterly. "Perhaps we would have gotten farther had we not been so single mindedly focused on killing each other." 

- - -

POV: Elana Morretti - SLS Manassas, Chief Medical Officer

I felt more relaxed than I had in years… since before Amaris had decided to start his damned civil war. That wasn't normal. 

My eyes shot open as I sat up. I was in an excessively gaudy room, the walls were covered in what appeared to be Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics, with a single entrance leading directly to the chamber I sat in.

I suddenly heard the approach of boots and I immediately went for my weapon only to find it was not there. Looking down, I saw that I was still wearing the same medical gown that I had been when I entered the Stasis Tube. There was something very strange going on. 

I turned just in time to see a short, older man enter the room. He wore an SLDF uniform with the rank of captain. His nametag read Cromwell. I stared at the man for several long seconds. This… this was Captain Cromwell? He looked fifty years older than the last time I'd seen him. 

"Lieutenant Morretti," he spoke and I immediately recognized his voice. "We have a lot to talk about. Why don't you get out of the Sarcophagus so that we can get the next person into the device?"

This was the captain? The same man who was on the verge of causing a mutiny? He coughed once. 

"Ohhhh. Right." I quickly stood and got out of the way as the people began working with the stasis tube.

It took me a few brief moments to realize what was going on; they were opening bypassing all the Stasis Tubes safety features in order to get it opened immediately. 

"What the hell are you doing?" I quickly rushed up to stop them, and they all seemed rather surprised. The Captain quickly stopped me. "Don't worry. The person died before he was stuck in the tube. We've just been using the device to ensure that his body remains preserved."

I ignored his words. I watched as the people carefully picked up a body wearing an unfamiliar uniform and placed him where I had been just moments prior. Suddenly, the interior of the crate lit up with white light. I heard the sound of grinding stone as the lid slowly crept shut. 

Finally I turned to face the man who was holding me back. "Sir, what the hell is going on?"

The man – chuckled lightly. "That is a long story. Let's get something to eat and I'll give you a rundown. 

- - -

POV: Arthur Sinclair

I was finally going to the Backup site. My constructor had been loaded onto a cart and prepared for transport. The gate was dialed and I watched the device – as well as several large trailers filled to the brim with raw materials – passed through the gate. Finally it was my turn to pass through. I quickly rushed through. 

The moment I was on the other side, information rushed into my head

First Perk Activated. Complete Blueprint Acquired: Astria Porta (Stargate)

Custodia Astria (Lantean Anti-Daemonic Wards)

"…"

"…"

"…"

"WHAT THE HELL!"