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"Stargate", "Stargate SG-1", and "Stargate: Atlantis", "Worldwar" and the "Worldwar related books", 'Battlestar Galactica, The Re-imagining", and "Babylon Five" and all relatedmaterial, its characters and certain technological devices and/or references to such, from the television shows and movies, may be or are registered trademarks of their respective corporations and franchises. In other words, I own nothing other than the original characters in this story. Everything else is trademarked to their respective owners.
THIS STATEMENT MUST ACCOMPANY THE STORY 'ROADS PAVED IN SHADOW'. IF DISTRIBUTED. THIS STORY IS FREE OF CHARGE AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR EXCHANGED FOR FINANCIAL RETURN IN ANY FORM. THIS DEDICATION MUST ACCOMPANY ANY DISTRUBUTION OF THIS STORY.
Dedication: Bless my wife and the girls who are now women who allow me to drive their cars sometimes.
This is an official AU of Ash Boomstick's (Bob Regent) story called RAAB (Reunions are a Deleted) on this website. It is NOT THE WORLDWAR SERIES written by AlbertG.
Having said that, the characters are the same in almost every way. What you see in Worldwar-The Balance Destroyed and the subsequent series are identical but placed in an entirely different set of circumstances. The two stories are NOT DIRECTLY RELATED TO ONE ANOTHER. In other words, they are not the same universe. In many ways, this is closer to RAAB and Consequences of Actions than my other Worldwar series.
I was originally given permission to use RAAB as a background. I recommend that you read his story to get a feel of SG-1 and nBSG2003 and the disagreements they have with one another. Most importantly, this story is blood brother to RAAB but its mother is Ash's other story 'Consequences of Actions'.
Ash has already contributed to this story in terms of ideas as well as technical data. That is his gift and I find that I rely on him greatly in such matters. I can only hope that I make it worthy of his dreams. RenS contribution in the original Worldwar-SG-1 series will be reflected in this as well so I will acknowledge that. EVERYTHING in the WW-SG-1 series is knowledge and reflected here.
Oh, and one more thing.
No Ori…ever.
Thank you and have fun.
Cyrannus Star System–Earth Date: December 2021
Planet Caprica, Caprica City
Earth Time 1:35 AM
Sixty seven year old Richard Adar, two term President of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol, now ex-President as of three weeks ago, was sound asleep when the first bomb detonated thirty miles west of one of the most densely populated cities on the planet. He didn't see the flash, not directly. His eyes were closed when the flash lit up his bedroom. However the instant the flash happened, he was fully awake as the deep, earthquake-like vibrations shaking the entire Presidential residence practically knocked him and his wife out of their bed. It was that cold realization of what the cause had to be that caused him to fight to keep from voiding himself. Suppressing the urge, he quickly turned towards his wife Mathia, shaking her violently, forcing her awake–gods, she was a heavy sleeper!–when the entire night sky turned to daylight as another nuclear bomb exploded somewhere west of the first one. A second heavier rumble shook the building once more. Several bullet-proof windows splintered and fell out of their frames.
The bedroom door was literally kicked open by Presidential security personnel. "Come with us, Sir," yelled a no-nonsense Special Colonial Services guardian who towered over the President by at least six inches. Three more of the security personnel entered the bedroom and the four men then grabbed Adar and his wife and man-handled them towards the door and to the private elevator that would take them to a secured bunker underneath the Presidential residence. Adar and his wife were still in their bed clothes, but that barely mattered as the horror of a nuclear flash occurring directly over Caprica City seemed imminent. The six people crowded into the elevator with the lead security man punching a series of buttons and speaking rapidly into the voice ID system. The doors closed and the elevator began to rapidly descend. The re-enforced elevator continued down some twenty stories below the home and all the while Adar was demanding answers.
"Is Goesel safe?" Adar all but demanded. Antonius Goesel had just won a hard fought election against hardliner Cornel Minas, Quorum Minority Leader. As President-Elect he was slated to take over the duties of the Presidency in less than thirteen days. "Did he get to the shelters in time?"
"The city of Meletis was hit ten minutes ago," Agent Knight gruffly said. "He and most of the cabinet-elect were there when the bomb went off. With respect, sir, as far as we know, you are the President, Mister President until we can confirm the status of President-elect Goesel."
"My gods," his wife screamed as she went into a full blown panic.
"I thought we were prepared for any Cylon attack," Adar said as he tried to console his terrified wife. She seemed to calm down after a moment while he spoke to agent Knight. "How did the military allow them to get through our defenses?"
The Colonial military defenses had been significant upgraded since the aborted Cylon cyber-attack almost started a war four years earlier. The cold war status between the Cylon nation and the Colonies of Kobol that had lasted almost fifty years was in a heightened state ever since, with each sides playing cat and mouse with one another. There were incidents usually involving each side violating their respective border, trying to spy on each other's territory, but neither side had overtly attacked one another with anything larger than fighters until now.
"I don't have any information, sir," Lead Agent Rinhardi answered. "What I do know is that at least four nukes hit the surrounding suburbs close enough to make the city feel it. But nothing's hit the city proper," he finished while struggling not to add the words 'not yet'.
Two minutes later, the elevator stopped and the doors opened. Armed guards carrying automatic rifles greeted the occupants two of which escorted the entourage to the main facility. Peladis Protectorate, the name of the huge underground bunker, was already filling up with essential military and civilian officials from more than a dozen interconnected military and civilian buildings and offices. The bunker had dozens of tunnels and several deep underground rail systems all designed to protect critical personnel from heavy conventional and nuclear attacks from both terrorist or Cylon.
Still in their sleepwear, the President and First Lady were somewhat self-conscious as most of those in the room purposely avoided looking directly at them out of respect. Two officials came over quickly and provided some outerwear which were gratefully accepted.
"What's the status?" Adar asked while he put on a pair of borrowed pants. "How many enemy elements are hitting us?"
"We don't have information on the numbers yet, sir," one of the commanders answered quickly. "It's not the Cylons. The Thirteenth Tribe is attacking us. We're at war with Earth."
Adar was completely stunned that emotion quickly turning into a burning rage. "But why?" he snarled as his rage turned into a need for vengeance.
ROADS PAVED IN SHADOW
BOOK ONE
By AlbertG with co-author and support mechanism Bob Regent
CHAPTER ONE
Carrina III
Current Home Base of Tok'ra
Location: Tok'ra council chamber
Anise of the Tok'ra tried, really tried her best not to scream out against the narrow-mindedness of the council leadership debating whether to abandon the current world that their people resided or remain where they were close to Terran territory but completely exposed to the galaxy at large. She suspected that exposure to the Tau'ri had a more profound effect than many had realized. The chief scientist wished to stay where they were and like many others was very vocal about it. Judging from the heated discussion going on within the council changers, she wasn't the only one who disagreed with the current proposed action. Others were unsure, cautious. The Ashtorath Lords knew their location and could strike if their fear of the Tau'ri faltered. Yes, the Ashtorath were a very credible threat but there was always one threat or another facing the Tok'ra. Everybody understood that. However, after several thousand years constantly on the run from the System Lords, habits had developed and cemented themselves in the minds and hearts of the Council and the Tok'ra.
The dedication to the destruction of the System Lords represented the very lifeblood of the Tok'ra, the genetic cousins to the Goa'uld. Queen Egeria, the progenitor of the Tok'ra recognized the true nature of her leader and dedicated herself to fighting that evil. She fought against Supreme System Lord by becoming Tok'ra, literally translated meant 'against Ra'. All her offspring inherited her distain of him and the other System Lords, the Goa'uld and their vile practices. Ra was not pleased with this renegade movement.
Defiance meant a death sentence for anyone to dare try to usurp his authority in any way. The Supreme System Lord rarely deviated from this rule. The symbiote queen was imprisoned by the Supreme System Lord for more than two thousand years and many believed her long dead. She was later discovered alive but later died after saving the Pangaran inhabitants from the inbred defect.
To the galaxy at large, the Goa'uld and Tok'ra were little more than parasites when in fact they were so much more. They were intelligent beings that function better with living hosts. The problem lay in how the host were selected. The Goa'uld took hosts by force and they all chose the more aggressive parasitic method of invading their hosts, completely subduing and dominating their unwilling human hosts. The Tok'ra acquired hosts by cooperation; however, that difference was lost to most of the galaxy who hated the Goa'uld and with good reason and considered the Tok'ra little more than passive Goa'uld.
The Goa'uld Empire reigned for at least ten thousand years as measured by Earth but four thousand years earlier, the Goa'uld supplanted a space-faring race, taking over their society and their culture. The result was a short but very vicious war. The Unas, the Goa'uld's natural host were strong and vicious fighters. With each victory the Goa'uld gained more technology and knowledge and extended their ever-tightening grip over their enemies. The alien ships were confiscated, the technology copied and used against the original creators. The Goa'uld were not inventors but they were excellent thieves and knew how to copy the stolen technology.
The war ended abruptly when the enemy race developed a genetically based biological weapon capable of infecting and killing both the Unas hosts and the Goa'uld within. Retaliation was immediate. Now considered a primary threat, the race's three worlds were consigned to naquada-enhanced nuclear fire. But, it was already too late, the damage already done.
The biological weapon killed both the Goa'uld and their Unas hosts. There was no cure and no hope of escape. Millions of Goa'uld died and millions more were sick and dying.
The Unas-Goa'uld entity known as Ra, was a rarity. He was a scientist. He was also absolutely terrified of the final death and in a mindless panic he fled deep into an unknown area of the galaxy trying to escape the plague. But it didn't matter where he fled, because he was already infected. One of his most praised possessions a life-saving sarcophagus couldn't heal him. That medical device was so advanced that it could bring an individual back from the dead within a specific period, but against the plague, it was all but useless.
Ra's Unas host was in almost mindless agony and weakened to the point of death when the ship barely landed on a blue world circling a yellow sun. The world was filled with life however that was of little concern to Ra. The great darkness was coming and he sought to escape his host even if it meant transferring himself into some lowly animal. The ship was surrounded by life forms. Gathering what little strength he had, Ra crawled towards the escape hatch and opened the door. Spent, he lay there wallowing in mindless terror as the darkness crept closer.
Ra barely managed to open his host's eyes and then, he saw it. A bipedal creature wearing a few rags and holding a spear looking at him in what Ra assumed was curiosity. It didn't matter and with a strength born of desperation, the Goa'uld form escaped its dying host and took the bipedal male. Free of its old host and inside a new one, Ra felt jubilation. The biological weapons effects were fading rapidly as the human body fought off the affliction and Ra's own healing abilities started to heal both himself and the new male host. The young male was very primitive and the symbiote ruthlessly crushed the personality of his host until nothing of significance remained. The memories were still there but everything else, the young human's sense of self, was forever lost.
As he lay there next to his now dead former host, Ra repaired injuries, removed numerous minor parasites and healed the minor diseases of his new body marveling at how easy it had been. This host was splendid Ra thought in wonder. The new host's body was so easy to repair and was impervious to the disease that had brought the Goa'uld to the edge of extinction.
The first thing that the revamped Goa'uld did was to repair his ship, secure his scientific treasures and set himself up as a god to the primitives of Earth. He called his worshipers the Ri. As this was the first world of his newly planned empire, he called the people the Tau'ri, or First Ones. Only when his possessions and stolen technologies were secure and the first of two stargates were placed on the world of the Tau'ri did Ra contact others of his kind. Family members were first. Not one of them was trustworthy but he controlled the weapons and technologies to keep them in line. Under his direction, the Goa'uld thrived and expanded. Their starships controlled large portions of the galaxy. However, it was because of their lust for life, their need for power and their control over the human slave populations that they spread across the galaxy that turned Ra's people into worse monsters than they already were.
The humans that they depended on for so much were treated with distain. To the Goa'uld the humans were little more than cattle. The Goa'uld's inherent fear of death incited them to destroy any other civilization that might even think of opposing their will and influence. Ares, Sokar, Ba'al, Hathor, Heru'ur, Anubis, Chronos; the list went on and on. All of them committed atrocities against one another and against any others that opposed them. With the exception of a precious few, their abuses of the sarcophagus for any actual or perceived injury slowly drove most of them insane. They went from pretending to be gods to actually believing that they were. A few like Ba'al and Ra of course, pretended to be gods but they kept their perspectives. The empire flourished, dominating much of the galaxy and uncounted worlds suffered for it.
They had few real enemies strong enough to defy them. One was the Asgard whom all of the Goa'uld hated and feared. The others that they hated above all others were the Tok'ra their enemies by blood.
Ra tried to repeatedly destroy Egeria and her offspring. Going against Ra directly was suicide as the Tok'ra stood no chance against the might of the System Lords vast armies and star spanning warship numbering in the thousands. Instead, they developed methods for infiltration, gathering critical information and sabotage in order to fight against their very powerful enemy. For two thousand years they used these methods to undermine the Goa'uld.
Then the Earthers crawled onto the galactic scene. Ra had abandoned Earth long ago after a human rebellion frightened him into leaving. Ra was prepared for space ships attacking him and his territory, but a few savages with sticks and rocks had come too close to killing him and his terror of mortality and death drove him from the world of the Tau'ri. Earth was free of the false Sun god's tyranny for thousands of years. Earth's civilization grew and fell and grew once more without any influence of the System Lords.
Stumbling, making a mess of everything, these Tau'ri or as they preferred to be called 'Terrans' shattered Tok'ra strategies to destroy the Goa'uld decades even hundreds of years in the planning. The first thing the Terrans did was to kill Ra in a most spectacular manner. Then they went to war with Apophis, warring against one of the most powerful system Lords in the galaxy. Time and again the Terran world survived imminent destruction and not only survived but thrived and grew stronger. Their taunting, their antics, their ignorance, and their seemingly endless supplies of luck helped destroyed the System Lords and catapulted Stargate Command and by extension Earth, into one of the premier powers in the galaxy. In less than fifteen years the Terrans did more to hurt the empire than the Tok'ra had been able to accomplish in more than two thousand.
It was true that the Tok'ra were very pleased with the downfall of the System Lords; but now, they had a new and growing concern. The Tau'ri were too powerful, growing too fast for their own good and most Tok'ra believed that was the surest path to disaster.
"Another one of our operatives was discovered but he died before the pursuing Jaffa were able to obtain his true identity," Council Rana said. "Tanja's' body was completely incinerated. There is no trace that we were involved."
Council Kella nodded soberly. "It is a great loss. The Ashtorath are becoming more efficient in detecting our operatives. That is the third one in three years. But his loss serves to illustrate the problem that we have. The Ashtorath are not fools. They have to know that we are somehow involved. This permanent base is no longer secure. For our safety, we should relocate to another world."
"I disagree," countered a somewhat irritated Rana. "This world is established as our base of operation since the destruction of Ba'al. We no longer have to hide in the shadows. No longer do we have to move from world to world in fear of our lives."
"You are an optimist gambling with the lives of everyone present! The Ashtorath are no better than their predecessors. I consider the Ashtorath Lords are more dangerous that the System Lords ever were. They know where we are and we all know that our defenses would not repel a sustained attack. Just because they are less inclined to attack us in Tau'ri protected territory doesn't mean that they won't at a time of their choosing. We've all witnessed what is being done to the Lucian Alliance. They were crushed without mercy. The survivors are being pushed into Tau'ri held territory and we all know what the Tollanian remnants are doing to them."
"I won't disagree with that assessment about the Ashtorath," Rana stated. "What I am saying is that because we have established this world in the public presences of all of the other worlds for all to see, the Ashtorath will be more inclined to negotiate with us rather than try to attack us. That gives us time to develop our defenses and make allies with those other nations."
"The fear of public opinion is worth nothing to the Goa'uld. We have no defenses except hiding and running. We're not strong enough, we don't have enough numbers or defenses to withstand a sustained attack. Even with the Free Jaffa nations coming to our aid, it would only delay the inevitable."
"So it is your opinion that we should start hiding once more in the caves and desolate worlds as we did for so long?"
Kella nodded quickly. "I think it is prudent that we consider the idea and consider it diligently. I only hope that it is not too late for us."
Anise had had enough. This argument between the council leaders and the others had gone on for months with no decision, with nothing decided by the leadership one way or another. Her eyes flashed brightly as she spoke. "If we don't have the means to protect ourselves then why don't we re-engage with the people of Earth? The Ashtorath are afraid of them and their power. A closer alliance would benefit all of us."
Kella's turned towards her and suddenly he was roaring with unbridled laughter. "That is another major issue that we have skirted around. The Tau'ri are too powerful and too dangerous and they are unpredictable. Look at their recent activities," he all but sneered. "They should have destroyed such an aggressive species as the Race. They came to try to conquer Earth. It took them decades to get to the Tau'ri system by less than twenty light years away, and look what they did. I admit that General O'Neill's response to the invasion was unique. I would be outraged if it wasn't so amusing."
"But this is exactly my point," Anise said. "They should have obliterated the Race's ships the moment they entered the system with hostile intent. With such an aggressive profile their intentions were obvious. Instead the Tau'ri showed mercy, opened communications and in a few short years from now they will finish a buffer zone twenty-five light years in all directions between the worlds of the Race and Earth. It is somewhat surprising that they are capable of such forward thinking. O'Neill is not cognitively aware enough," mused Anise. "But Carter might have such capability and Doctor Jackson as well. That is a positive sign that if we approach them properly without subterfuge, we may be able to find some type of common ground once more. Surely they could appreciate some of the scientific contributions of the Tok'ra. I could help them in their studies."
"We broke our association with them for a reason," Kella rebutted. "They're too immature, they are children playing with powers that will surely destroy them given time. Their arrogance will be their downfall or, the Tau'ri will become worse than the Goa'uld."
"They are young and growing," Anise said. "It is true that their sciences are growing unchecked but it's not too late. The discoveries that they have could allow us to develop technologies that also could protect us from the Ashtorath."
"Anise, once again you are allowing you love of science blind you. We cannot trust them. Besides, O'Neill made no attempt to hide the fact that he mistrusted us and hates you. I see no reason why he or the rest of them have changed their opinion of us."
Anise could feel the hurt in her host Freya's mind. She couldn't fully understand why General Jack O'Neill hated her so much and a part of Anise felt guilty. "We are not Goa'uld! He never accepted that."
"Your actions didn't help the situation between us," Kella commented. "Your exuberance in using them in experiments without their permission was the cause of a lot of their grievances."
Shock and angered Anise stood up abruptly and for a moment looked as if she would strike the councilman. "Do not blame this all on me! The council agreed with my actions. It was the council's fear that forced us to break relations with Earth. Even if they hate me, it was your decision to break off. I opposed it but none of you listened."
"In retrospect, I still believe it was a wise decision," Beru, another member of the council said. "in the last few years we have focused too much on the Ashtorath and not enough on the Tau'ri," To Anise's dismay many other Tok'ra present were nodding in agreement. "There are others who have expressed a concern about the Tau'ri and their growing threat and I've spoken to some of them," he stated. "I have had several meetings with him and I have invited one here to meet with the council."
"You have what?" Kella demanded. "You should have informed us first. You had no right to do this without consulting us first."
"Our society is open now at this moment," he added sarcastically. "The Terran allies know where we are as does the Goa'uld. We can speak and invite others here before we go back into seclusion And," he added, "as you suspect I agree that we need to protect ourselves. We need to stand on our own. We need to be able to defend ourselves. The Ashtorath or the Tau'ri will attack us eventually and while you have been endlessly talking I have been acting to secure our people."
"What have you done?" Anise demanded. No one berated her because they were curious as well as concerned. Beru was always more impulsive than the others and several times had overstepped his bounds protecting them. "You've exceeded your authority."
"I have worked to secured technologies that will help us survive against anyone who would dare attack us."
"You did?" asked a very skeptical Anise.
"Yes, I did," he answered. "We need to dedicate our efforts to undermine the Tau'ri's growing influence. These newcomers are as interested in keeping the Tau'ri or as they preferred to be called the Terrans, from becoming a real danger to everyone."
Turo was unsure what Beru was implying. "Beru, we all have our doubts about the Terrans but it sounds as if you've already declared war against them."
"No, not a war with them, not yet. A deterrent. We and the free Jaffa allied with us should slow their malignant progress. If their infrastructure is destroyed or crippled, then we could focus on the Goa'uld. We would show our strength and both Tau'ri and Ashtorath will not take us lightly and respect our own power."
"So, we've jumped from speaking of re-establishing communications with them to wanting to start a war," said an infuriated Anise. "It is no wonder why they hate us." Several of the other Tok'ra looked thoughtful and appeared to agree with Anises' argument.
"I thought you were listening, but apparently not. They hated you, Anise. You should not speak on things that are not your area of expertise. Furthermore, you have no authority to voice your opinion here."
"Neither do you," she hissed back. "What was their price for this technology they are so willing to give to us? Nothing was free. What did they want?"
"Beru smiled. "That is the question they asked of me, 'what did I want?' I told them that I want is to make sure that the Tau'ri don't become another Goa'uld empire. I want to stop running in fear of both the Goa'uld and the upstart Tau'ri. I spoke of the human's arrogance and constant meddling in affairs they are not prepared for. I had dinner with the man and it was most illuminating. At the end we came to an understanding." From his pocket, he pulled out a small data crystal. "Here is a list of the equipment they will give us."
"They would give us all of this?" Kella asked after looking though the small manifest. The number of weapons platforms was more that the Tollan had in their prime. "It's almost too much."
"And what did they want in return?" another council member asked. "You did not answer the question."
The entire room was silent as Beru began speaking. "Information on the Asgard and their war."
Anise frowned. "The Asgard are all dead. We know every little about that war except that the Terrans were involved. The Asgard home world and eleven others were destroyed in the war with an unnamed but powerful enemy. No one knows more but the Terrans."
"Another one of their secrets," grumbled Beru.
"Secret or not, new technology or not, I will not condone a preempted strike on the Tau'ri based solely on our fears," Rana interjected. "I agree with Anise. Maybe we should reopen discussions. If they could accept the Race, there may be hope for our people. There is no harm in trying to bring about a new alliance with them."
"You are rejecting the gifts without even seeing them?" asked a stunned Beru. He honestly expected the council to. if not jump at the chance, at least strongly consider it.
"This is too good to be true," Kella said while looking at the list once more. "Why would they give us this? I think we need to be careful about accepting such gifts from strangers."
"I agree. We will deliberate more on this at a later time," Rana said. "For someone to give such gifts as you are implying and expecting so little in return is something that I do not feel comfortable with. The Terrans have a saying about looking in the mouth of a gift equine."
"Fools. You're rejecting what could be our salvation. Such opportunities do not last long. We must seize it while we can."
"No," Rana said. "We are simply being what we always have been. Careful. Besides if this is genuine, then waiting a while should not be a problem if it is given in good faith."
"We should err on the side of caution," Anise said with an air of satisfaction. "And we need to explore our options."
"Our cautiousness is why the Tau'ri have advanced so quickly," complained Beru. "Our cautiousness will be our downfall," Beru said as he pointed to the list in Rana's hands, "is our only option."
"We will discuss it," Kella said. His tone indicated that his word on the subject was final.
Without a word, Beru turned and walked away. The dreams of freedom for his people had turned to ashes. Mister Morden, the non-Tau'ri that reminded him so much of one, would be disappointed.
As it turned out, Mister Morden was disappointed. The tall, lean man almost seemed angry but only for a fleeting second. "Are you sure that your council won't change their minds?"
"Thousands of years of hiding from the Goa'uld and living with the fear of extermination have made my people too cautious," said a very bitter Tok'ra. "They have refused to take the opportunity to free ourselves from our enemies."
"Perhaps I could speak to them?" prompted Morden.
"No, they won't listen," Beru answered. "Perhaps another time?"
"I'm sorry," the man said. "I've come from a very long distance from here and my associates and I will be returning soon as we have very pressing matters at home to attend to."
"I wanted to ask you, where are you from?" Beru was skeptical about asking but his curiosity was edging him on.
Mister Morden smiled. "I can only say that we've come a very long way to meet you."
"It is my regret that we were not able to come to terms. But I was able to confirm that the Asgard were all killed in a war with an unknown enemy. Their world was destroyed and them along with it."
The human nodded graciously. "Thank you," he responded. "Any information about them is helpful. My associates will be most please. They wished to meet the Asgard if they were alive but it appears that that may be impossible," Morden shrugged. "Do you by chance know if I might be available to speak to the Tollan."
Beru shook his head. "I don't think it wise to speak to them. The Tollan home world was destroyed by a Goa'uld attack and the people killed and scattered. As they fled, the Lucian Alliance raided, captured and destroyed many of the remnant ships. The Tau'ri saved them and helped the get back their kidnaped people. They call themselves the Tollanians now and they are very close allies to the Tau'ri. Speaking to the Tollanians is the same as speaking to the Tau'ri. "Will your associates be disappointed?"
"They may be somewhat disappointed. But disappointments happened before and it will happen again," the man replied. "Thank you for your time. Perhaps we can do business in the future."
"As do I."
"Good day, Beru of the Tok'ra."
Both men turned and walked away.