Galaran. One of the Treaty-Protected planets.
Isara, seated opposite the local rulers, felt a sense of déjà vu—the encounter was painfully reminiscent of her encounter with Szarekh. Back then, she hadn't yet heard the word "clone." Rapid training became her constant companion, a necessity for solving a multitude of problems. Her personal guard: Omok and four Tollans, assisted by the Curia. Galaran, as a developed world, surpassed Earth, but, unlike Earth, it wasn't fragmented into millions of warring nations. Its population, exactly one hundred million souls, was stable, like Svorin's. Its military, although it existed, was modest for such a formidable power. Devoid of external threats, the Galaran army, as on Urvashi, served primarily as a police force, only vaguely resembling a National Guard.
Isara held herself with the unwavering confidence befitting a phaetarch. She had long since realized the illusory nature of these civilizations' ostentatious "development." Yes, they might have invented miracles, but at their core, they remained the same. Urvashiyka hadn't had time to study all the data on Unit 731, but she had read Szarekh's book, which detailed the crimes of those bastards in horrifying detail. Even without visual confirmation, the stories shook her to the core, depriving her of sleep for several long days. Only her husband's efforts, literally stunning her with an intar, helped her come to her senses. Since then, her reverence for technological progress as a measure of civilization had evaporated. Now, she considered the social development of the inhabitants to be the primary measure. The Tollans had been forced to undergo profound therapy after the investigation. They couldn't imagine such horrors. Even Egeria, who had lived through the vicissitudes of Ra's court, was horrified. The Goa'uld were cruel, but even their experiments seemed more humane. It wasn't a matter of advanced empathy, but rather a recognition of the futility of such an approach. The Galarans, in her opinion, were far less kindhearted than the Tollans and Asgard, but it was possible to work with them, treating them as a normal race.
— Let me clarify: you represent one of the Goa'uld, but you claim that this Goa'uld is "good"?
"It depends on your definition," Isara reasoned. "Sarakh is a pragmatist; he doesn't care about worship. He doesn't build a false religion. Having discovered a developed world, he prefers dialogue to confrontation. Does this bring him closer to the concept of good? Perhaps. But is he soft-hearted? Not at all. His favorite method of negotiation still remains firing a stun gun at his opponent."
"As a representative of the Tollan people, I confirm the trade intentions of the younger Lord Szareh. We have been cooperating with him for several years now and are ready to recommend him to other peoples," Omok declared.
— How could we be of interest to the Goa'uld?
— Industrial goods. In exchange, Szarekh is willing to provide you with mining sites for naquadah, a key mineral used in numerous Goa'uld technologies. He's also talking about nanites, which extend human lifespan to 300 years when used from early childhood. Research shows that 90% of diseases no longer pose a significant threat. He can also provide you with the technology to build an orbital fortress to protect your planet and serve as a springboard for future interstellar expansion.
The rulers were impressed, but remained cautious.
— What specific industrial goods are your husband interested in, Phaetarch Isar?
"Parts for the production of starships and warships," Isara replied. "Wars between the Goa'uld are commonplace. If Szarekh can expand his fleet through trade, it will be a profitable deal. I understand your concerns about cooperating with the Goa'uld, but I want to emphasize the mutually beneficial nature of such a relationship. The first step will be providing you with technology for an orbital fortress capable of withstanding combat with five Goa'uld ships. While producing parts for Szarekh's fleet, you will be able to build your own space citadel. The Protected Planets Treaty is extremely controversial. It certainly ensures your safety, but as soon as the Goa'uld discover your technological advancement, they may call a summit banning you from possessing technologies that threaten the Empire—power generators, for example. Therefore, view this Treaty merely as a respite, time to achieve maximum power. Use Szarekh to strengthen you." However, I must clarify: Szarekh's name is not to be mentioned by anyone except the highest leadership of your race. Such initiatives, as you understand, are a betrayal of the Empire. Furthermore, you will gain access to ideas and concepts from other worlds. For example, are you familiar with the principle of jet propulsion?
- Yes, we use it for space travel.
"How commendable! I sincerely admire it. In the homeland of the human race, this was almost always exclusively a military technology. Or used for fireworks. Well, we have some crude developments from one country: the military was trying to use rocket-propelled projectiles to destroy aerial targets—anti-aircraft missiles. Besides, Szarekh wouldn't mind selling you gliders—light fighters, widely used by the Empire."
— My government needs to discuss everything.
"Then see you tomorrow?" Isara suggested.
— It will take much longer. We will let you know our answer within a week.
"Okay," Isara agreed.
Afterwards, they were escorted to the break room for refreshments. Omok had other business, representing Tollana, so he remained on the planet.
"Do you think they'll agree?" he asked. During this time, they had become fast friends.
— I would very much like it to be so. But I won't blame them if it doesn't happen.
"If they say yes, Sareh will fool everyone again with his 30% of naquadah." Omok understood that the Khasar station required a gigantic amount of naquadah, and forty percent of that amount would be enough to build an entire khattak. "How to do nothing and still mine a lot of naquadah."
- This is the price for using his planets, which, by the way, are unknown to the Goa'uld.
Omok smiled slightly, then asked:
— Are you okay with him?
"Not exactly," Isara admitted. "Before, he would tear me away from my work when I was literally dying for it... Now he's constantly at work, becoming obsessed. In six years, an enemy fleet could arrive in our system. He might be forced to reveal himself. Urvashi has become his home. He wants to wipe out anyone who encroaches on his planet. Szarekh has never created so many theoretical weapons in all our time together since his return."
"Your husband hates the System Lords more than anyone. He hates their excessive cruelty and their lack of technological and social progress. And believe me, Isara, whatever he's doing is mere dust compared to his true capabilities. He told the Curia how to blow up a star. So the System Lords have no idea of the horror that follows them. In his hands, any law of physics is a weapon. Szarekh lacks arrogance, which is why he's capable of turning literally EVERYTHING into a weapon."
"But he won't use all that. Szarekh is a kind enough man. He instilled in the Jaffa that every civilian is his slave, and therefore they must not be killed or harmed."
- Isara, I don't want to see what Szareh is capable of if you are killed.
Even the woman herself shuddered. She, like the entire planet, had witnessed her husband's valor in battles with other Goa'uld. How he had killed Pelops and Tsigu (a minor lord killed in duel). To imagine what would happen to Szarekh in grief... No one could. It was easy to forget that her husband was a Goa'uld.
- So he does it as a gesture of care, creating weapons to protect the family.
- Thank you, Omok.
"You're welcome, Isara. But talk to him. He could easily outmatch any fleet sent to him."
- He needs the whole galaxy, my friend.
- Then I'm glad that we will have such a queen.
"Omok, I don't want to rule the galaxy, but it looks like I'll have to. Do you think Szareh will look at the papers?"
— He'll take a look, and then he'll grant independence to all the planets.