The Age of Conflict.

Chapter 2: Meetings, History and Invitations.

Master Bra'Tac sat on the briefing table of the SGC. With him where General George Hammond, Daniel Jackson, Jack O'Neill and Samantha Carter and all looked just as Master Bra'Tac, confused.

"So you have never seen beings like these?" asked George Hammond once again to make sure that he understood everything as best as he could.

"Yes, general, in all my life I have never even heard of these beings that you show me today" repeated Bra'Tac as he studied the image once more trying to identify the strange blue/grey beings that appeared on the screen in the meeting room. "I have also never heard from any of the Jaffa, even from the farthest reaching of the Goa'Uld lords of any such creatures" stated finally Bra'Tac.

"So it seems that we have absolutely nothing on these beings except for who they where and what race they belonged to" said George Hammond looking very disappointed with the results of this search.

"Perhaps the Asgaard would know who they are?" asked Samantha Carter saying what was on everyone's mind.

"Yes, SG-1, prepare to go to K'Tau and ask our friends if they know anything on this species, dismissed" ordered General Hammond and all the present left the table.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

Several hours later Samantha Carter and Daniel Jackson teleported into the underground chamber that was situated under the chapel of K'Tau. Upon their arrival Freyers hologram garbed in ancient northern attires appeared. However before it could begin its introduction Samantha Carter removed one of the control crystals on the panel on the wall and soon the image of the northern warrior was replaced by that of Freyer.

"Greetings my friends" said Freyer in the ever present monotone of the Asgaard. "How may I help you today?" asked Freyer very casually, though with the ever present monotone and inquisitive look of all the Asgaard.

Daniel Jackson and Samantha Carter where completely unfazed, though still somewhat bothered by the actions of the Asgaard, that though powerful and intelligent seemed to be eerily naïve. It was Daniel Jackson who spoke "Freyer, I apologize first for taking your time, but we need your help".

Freyer seemed to look even more inquisitive than usual and spoke "It is alright Daniel Jackson, it is always good to help a friend" said Freyer in his always calmed voice "how may I help you?" asked Freyer continuing.

"We recently encountered a group of unknown aliens in one of our expeditions, however we have been unable to learn anything about them save for their name and that they are very advanced" said Daniel Jackson as Samantha Carter opened her laptop to show Freyer what they had on the mysterious Tau. "We did get a Stargate address from them, but we have been unable to find them ever since" explained Daniel Jackson.

"This is a video from one of our video cameras" said Samantha Carter as she showed said video to Freyer who looked with curious eyes at the images. Once the video was done Samantha Carter closed the laptop and stepped back "We learned that these aliens are known as the Tau. That in itself is weird, since we ourselves are known as the Tau'ri by the Jaffa. We also learned that they possessed advanced technology, probably similar if not superior to the Goa'Uld" explained Samantha Carter in a professional tone.

Freyer seemed to look at a screen on his side of the hologram and soon a small scanning beam was projected towards the laptop in Carters hands. "I will analyze this information on these aliens and will inform you soon, what we may have. However so far I have never heard of this race" explained Freyer looking at both Samantha Carter and Daniel Jackson. "If you would wait for me for a short time, I will return with my findings" to this both Samantha Carter and Daniel Jackson nodded and Freyers hologram left.

Several hours later Freyer reappeared in the hologram and found Samantha Carter working on her laptop, while Daniel Jackson had a book in his hand and was looking at all the writing in the room. However both of them stopped their activities once Freyers hologram reappeared. "Greetings once again my friends" said Freyer in the usual monotone of the Asgaard race.

"Hello again Freyer" said Samantha Carter, who nodded at Freyer. "Did you find anything on our unknown friends?"

Freyer looked at both of them with the ever present inquisitiveness of the Asgaard. "Indeed I have" was Freyers simple answer.

"Well that is great news" said Daniel Jackson. "So? What did you find?" continued Daniel Jackson trying not to sound impolite.

"These aliens are part of a race that we found some two millennia ago on a planet on the eastern fringes of the galaxy" said Freyer and produced a holographic map of the galaxy that soon zoomed into the planet in question. "Back then these Tau where at a very early stage of their development, having only recently developed gunpowder based weaponry and basic tools" explained Freyer as he changed the view to a video footage of the planet of the Tau and of the species on it, finally centering on a small Tau village on a coast. "Our studies happened during a rather agitated point of their history and before we left we had unfortunately deemed that the Tau would likely exterminate themselves within several decades. Clearly those studies where proven wrong" said Freyer as the footage finished.

"Very interesting" said Daniel Jackson, but as always something was not right with that picture. "Forgive me for asking, but wouldn't the Goa'Uld have eliminated such a race when they found it?"

Freyer looked at Daniel Jackson and spoke. "Indeed you would be right. However there is no Stargate on the planet of the Tau, nor anywhere within at least some five hundred light years" explained Freyer very calmly once again producing a map of the Galaxy, in which five red spots where represented. "The Tau home world is located roughly in the center of this section of space and the Goa'Uld have had or currently have little to no present in that arm of the Galaxy. As you all know the Goa'Uld territory is mostly based around the Stargates' and an area with so few Stargates' has never been within their interests" explained Freyer.

"I see now. Could we have please a copy of this information?" asked Samantha Carter knowing that any information was essential to them. Freyer simply nodded and a small crystal rod appeared on the dais in the room. "Thank you very much Freyer, you have been a great help" said Samantha Carter as she grabbed the crystal with the information.

"You're welcome Samantha Carter. It has been an honor helping you. Until we meet again" said Freyer, raised his right hand and vanished.

"You too Freyer" said Daniel Jackson and both of them left the temple and returned to Earth.

XOXOXOXXOXOXXOXOXOXO

Several hours after Samantha Carter and Daniel Jackson had returned to Earth and explained the situation to General Hammond the bases sirens started sounding and a voice was heard over the speakers in the base. "Unscheduled Gate activation" said Tyler in his usual voice just before General Hammond got to the control room.

"Close the Iris" ordered George Hammond with practiced ease.

"Yes sir" was Tylers' answer as he pressed the button that closed the Iris as the event horizon of the Gate started to open.

For a few seconds nothing happened. However soon the computer terminal on Tylers' post started to beep "receiving an IDC code sir it is the code we gave to the Tau team" informed Tyler as he reread the information.

For a fraction of a second George Hammond pondered if he should open the Iris or not. However he soon resolved the issue. "Open the Iris". Ordered General Hammond and just as well the iris soon opened.

Not long after the Iris opened a languid, pale blue/grey skinned alien dressed in pale orange, blue and brown dress with several diamond symbols, divided in the middle with a circle at the top. Two manes of hair, one on the top of his head, with several gold bands and a similar one on his chin appeared through the Stargate, followed by another one with even more adorned garments and even more gold rings. However the most impressive sight that appeared was a large floating disc like device with two antennas and sphere attached to the underside, from which sprouted four cylinders. It was this device that sent every soldier in the room to point their weapons to the newcomers.

General Hammond as well as every other person in the room was very surprised, not simply because of the aliens that had come through the Stargate, but also because of the strange and unknown device that has followed them through the gate. Suddenly the last of the aliens to pass through the Stargate spoke "Greetings from his high Excellency Aun'Va, we are the Por Caste envoys sent to begin relationships between our races" spoke the alien with a short bow with his hands opened. "We mean you no harm and have come unarmed" finished the Alien as he looked at every one of the soldiers in the room.

Everyone in the room was surprised. Unlike the translators of the previous aliens form the Tau which sounded metallic, these aliens sounded more fluid and sophisticated however none present knew what to think of the aliens which had just appeared through the Stargate.

Sensing the unconfort of the people present the last alien spoke again "We have come here with the blessing of our highest Excellency Aun'O'T'au'Acaya'Va'Denta to offer peace and to begin trade between our people for the betterment of both". Though the atmosphere in the room lessened, it made no real difference.

Suddenly the megaphone in the room sounded "Men stand down". In truth General Hammond did not know if it was really good idea, but the aliens had made no aggressive gestures. Instead they had continually tried to defuse the situation. Something that he knew he himself would have done had the roles been different. "Escort our new guests to the briefing room" said General Hammond and moved towards the room one floor above followed by SG-1.

Not long after that the two blue/grey skinned aliens followed by their strange floating disc where entered the briefing room of Stargate Command, followed by four guards. "Return to your posts men" ordered General Hammond to which the four soldiers saluted and left.

Soon after the four soldiers had left George Hammond got up form his seat along with SG-1 and gestured to the two aliens "excuse my roughness, but it is necessary" said General Hammond and gestured to the chairs in front of him.

The two aliens looked at the general and nodded "Your apologies are unnecessary General Hammond, we understand what you may be thinking of us" said the alien that looked like the eldest among the two.

"Thank you very much" said Began General Hammond and saw how the aliens sat down in the chairs across form him. "You have actually caught us by surprise, for the past week or so we have been searching for more of your race. However the Gate address that you gave us lead to an unpopulated planet" explained the General trying to give as little information as possible, yet being reasonably polite.

"Yes Shas'ui'Okvest did mention of you in his report and we are deeply sorry that we where this slow in contacting you again. It is not very often that we find a race that is not hostile" explained once again the eldest alien with open hand gestures trying to calm down the atmosphere. "It took a great deal of consideration before this report was passed to our highest authority, his excellence Aun'Va, who ultimately authorized this endeavor" explained the alien in a smooth and gentle voice.

"My greatest thanks to your superior Aun'Va for choosing to come and meet us" said General Hammond looking straight at the alien in question. "Now, why don't you introduce yourselves, since it seems that you already know who we are" said General Hammond gesturing in a friendly manner to the aliens.

"Ah yes, my deepest apologies for our lapse in protocol, I am Por'O'Da'lyth'Valkesh and this is my aide Por'el'Da'lyth'Shio'ta, we hail from the Da'Lyth sept, and have come by order of our Ethereal to begin trade and negotiations between our races" said Valkesh as he introduced himself and his companion to the gathered crowd.

The Humans gathered around the aliens looked at them and nodded. "It is an honor to meet you Por'O'Da'lyth'Valkesh-" started General Hammond before he was interrupted.

"Por'O'Valkesh will do, please General Hammond" said Valkesh as he moved his hand as is to make a light dismissal.

"Very well Por'O'Valkesh, now would you be so kind as to explain the reason for your visit?" asked General Hammond in a casual tone sounding friendly.

"Yes of course General Hammond" said Valkesh and motioned to his aide, who pressed a few buttons on his armband. When the aide was finished the little drone moved to the side and produced a small holographic display from his underside dome. The holographic display showed a symbol of a circle separated through the middle and with another circle at the top. "We have been sent to your world, to meet with you, who helped or Fire warriors in need. This decision was ultimately made by Aun'Va, the eldest member of our race, who oversees the T'au High Council. In this sense we have been sent for two reasons.

The first reason is to begin trade and diplomatic relations with your race for the benefit of both. To this end we have been granted a copy of our history and our stellar maps, which we are to give to you as a show of good faith.

Secondly we have been sent to invite envoys from your world to a visit to our main world in order to further relationships between our two people" said Valkesh as the drone images showed the stellar maps of the Tau worlds and scenes from some of the different world of the Tau.

At this show of not only good will and sights, but technology as well. Because of this all the members of SG-1 and General Hammond where nearly speechless, but after a few seconds they all regained their composure. "Ah...Yah… thank you very much for the invitation" said Daniel Jackson as he looked at the two Tau members across the table.

The two water caste members seemed unfazed by their lapse in response and Valkesh simply answered. "No problem Daniel Jackson, it is an honor to meet friendly people among the stars" said Valkesh as he looked at the gathered members of SG-1.

"Thank you very much for your invitation, we will take it into consideration and mention it to our superiors" said George Hammond in a formal tone.

"That would be fine" said Valkesh looking straight at General Hammond.

"Very well, if you wish it we will prepare some quarters for you to stay and we will give you a tour of our facilities at some time tomorrow" said George Hammond.

"Thank you very much for the invitation, we will be honored. However we must contact our superiors before we accept your offer" spoke Valkesh in a smooth and collected tone.

"No problem there, when you are ready just inform us and we will allow you to use our communications facilities" said General Hammond and looked at a nearby soldier. "Soldier, please escort our friends to their quarters" a yes sir was heard from the soldier and the two aliens with their floating disc left the briefing room.

A few seconds later it was Jack O'Neill who spoke "nice fellows aren't they" exclaimed Jack O'Neill dripping with sarcasm.

"This is way too obvious not to be a trap of some sorts" said Teal'c in his ever present monotone.

"I agree with you Teal'c" said General Hammond resting back on his chair.

"Then what are we going to do about it General? We can't just simply ignore it" was Daniel Jackson's comment. "Even if it is a trap of some kind we can learn a lot from them, just look at that flying saucer they brought with them"

"I agree with Daniel General, we can learn a lot from them even if their intentions are not as clear as they make them to be" said Samantha Carter, who was just drooling at the sight of the strange flying saucer and already expecting to see what it was made out of. "We should go if only to show courtesy"

General Hammond placed his hand on his chin and though about everything that was being said. After a few minutes he spoke "Very well, SG-1 you will go with them to attend this visit. You will depart with them after their tour is over. Dismissed" said General Hammond and after that all the members of SG-1 left the room. All wondering what the future was going to bring with these new aliens.

TBC