Didn't I mention that the Goa'uld Empire is a macro-scale "Game of Thrones," where only those who cling to life, like the Nords, survive? Indra and Vritra are a prime example. By all rights, after destroying 40-50% of Vritra's forces, Indra, having occupied her territory, should have achieved complete victory. But no. By forging alliances with two other lords, securing Nirrti's support, and taking out loans, Vritra rebuilt its army, and the balance of power was restored. There was even a chance that Indra, having acquired the powers of two Domains, would become a High Lord. The most astonishing thing: the neighbors didn't pounce on the weakened Vritra, tearing her domain apart, but united against their common enemy—Indra. And so, Indra turned to me for help, for a price, of course. This proves that, while the Goa'uld might destroy an unfortunate comrade, they are capable of forming alliances, fearing the rise of one. Ultimately, Indra was so afraid that she would be killed in the war I unleashed, which she so foolishly joined. Although it's possible that Indra could have made a deal with Vritra to hand me over as part of some kind of deal. Like I said, "Game of Thrones," only mega-version. It's a good thing De Wiart didn't tell her exactly how I planned to attack each of her enemies. Why risk it? First, there's a chance to eliminate a couple of lords. Second, in six years, Apophis will come to me, and in seven, Ra, who will see something that shouldn't be seen in a lesser Goa'uld. Therefore, I need the Jaffa's unwavering loyalty. Such loyalty is born from victories in which the Jaffa exterminate their brethren who serve another deity. The Spartans possess the rudiments of such loyalty, but the Jaffa Ra... I don't know yet. Yes, that's the recipe for Jaffa loyalty: send them to fight in a place where they'll consistently win, with the "blessing" of the gods, of course. But this operation requires more than just a few days of planning; it requires thorough preparation for various scenarios, with detailed interviews with Egeria. She's a master at such games.
Then the one I was thinking about entered my office – Egeria. Maybe I should get a secretary?
- Hello.
- Do you want to go against the three lords?
"No, do I look crazy?" I'm starting to get annoyed that everyone around me thinks I'm insane. "I'll conduct reconnaissance, attack minor worlds with small garrisons."
"Do you think you can do it again? Do you think she hasn't come up with a countermeasure?"
"Did she hire an ashrak with stealth technology to keep the Tok'ra around the two lords from learning of this deal? And are they trying to frame me, so that instead of a blitzkrieg, Indra and I end up fighting a protracted war of attrition against the three lords, with a little help from Nirrti, the Elder Lord?" I listed the remaining threats. "I understand. And I haven't planned any specific steps until I consult with you, among others. At the very least, I don't need a reputation as a reliable mercenary. But the Jaffa needs to be taken out for a walk. You can't train dogs all the time; they need to be taken out hunting. That way, they become more obedient."
"You don't consider the Jaffa people," Egeria pointed out the obvious.
"Yes. And I admit it openly. Egeria, you don't consider them human either. You were the Queen of Ra, I don't know how you changed your mind, but I respect you for it. Your Tok'ra have been undermining the power of the System Lords for over two thousand years, waging a war they may not win. Jolinar if Malkshur, Garshau if Beloth, and a few other Goa'uld chose the fate of the weak and defected to the Tok'ra, several over the past five hundred years. And how many Jaffa have done so? The Sodan tribe of Jaffa—over five thousand years. Not to mention that your Jaffa betrayed you, despite the fact that you were kind to them. So you should treat them as they deserve—as tools. And every tool needs to be treated properly: this one—regularly sent out to kill his brethren, to increase his Sense of Self-Greatness."
— Doesn't this seem too cruel to you?
"Egeria, your Tok'ra could blow up the moon if it kills Ra. Are you concerned about my feelings toward a race of supersoldiers who have repeatedly confirmed they would defect if the System Lords declared their god to be Tok'ra?"
- This is Evgenia, she is shocked by this attitude towards soldiers.
"She's a lieutenant, not a general. A million Soviets died at Rzhev, the Third Reich used the Volksdeutsche as expendable material, the British didn't care about colonial troops, the Chinese blew up dams to hold off the Japanese, killing nine hundred thousand people, the Americans gave command in Africa to a general who was drunk most of the time. And I could go on and on about the disregard commanders have for the lives of their soldiers. But I care about them: if there are heavy losses, it will reduce my strength, so I care about them. I can't lose a million Jaffa and then get another million from somewhere. My attitude is deeply rationalistic, like that of a machine with a clearly defined price. Okay, let's not talk about that. How was your time?"
Egeria looked at me with interest, then replied:
"Listening devices have been installed in the most important locations," she said, handing me an invisibility device. She spoke mainly of the important locations where world order on Earth was being discussed. Using an Asgard signal repeater, she connected it to ultra-short-range subspace transmitters. Then she arranged for listening devices to be delivered to various locations—just in case, to keep my finger on the pulse and protect my interests on Earth. Which are expanding. The thing is: I don't know what will happen in fifty years, what the political climate will be like, or my capabilities. It's better to have a backup in the form of Earth, just in case, which will provide the means to contact Atlantis in the future. Of course, I want to take it myself, but anything can happen. That's why I'm spending a certain amount of resources on creating an intelligence network on Earth. An additional reason is the people of Earth. They are sufficiently developed that the average representative is suitable as a Tok'ra host. Building a recruitment network for carriers is a priority for Egeria, too, plus it flexes her intelligence skills. Of course, I'm not completely crazy to send my only source of normal Goa'uld to personally fight the CIA, MGB, and MI5. She was simply overseeing operations. Technological superiority is certainly a plus, but the war ended not long ago, and most of the experienced operatives, with their almost animal-like nose for trouble, are still alive. Some, like Maine, defect to the aliens because, let's be honest, no government is honest. I have nanite technology, and those people, after wars, are riddled with chronic illnesses within seven years. And then there are the families... many people want their relatives to live three hundred years. Ironic as it may sound, such recruited agents are more reliable than the Jaffa. The Jaffa serve out of religious fanaticism, while here they serve under strict contractual terms.
"Okay, Earth will be a backup gathering point for the new Tok'ra, with control over several local governments and a large number of people. In the worst-case scenario, Earth can be used as a backup airfield."
"You plan to take control of a number of countries, but not the entire planet. Technically, it's possible."
"Yes, we could create orbital weapons suitable for planetary fire, but that's highly counterproductive. While their combined industrial potential could allow me to become a System Lord in ten years, Earth is too close to Ra's territory. He might detect the arrival of a fleet or any other activity. Plus, the local partisans would be a headache, and there are hundreds of thousands of them, professionals in their field. So, not yet. Plus, I prefer to speak with developed planets on equal terms, but Earth is politically divided and teetering on the brink of another war."
"Don't tell me. I saw it. People are a bit like the Jaffa: they just want to kill each other because the other person has a different symbol on their forehead."
— Yeah. That's very typical of people. As much as I dislike the USSR, only that country somehow manages to unite so many nationalities and peoples into a single whole.
— And the USA?
"It's not funny," Evgenia grinned, taking control. "The United States is a melting pot of different peoples, who will lose many people in battle and kill just as many before integration. For eighty years since the Civil War, black people have been treated extremely reprehensibly, and then there are these laws banning marriage to people of other races. The United States is a constant battlefield. I hope that won't happen in my country."
"Work towards this, don't push everything onto Isara," said Evgenia.
"Speaking of work, Senior Lieutenant, your experience will be very useful to me when planning the operation." At this point, the woman realized she was trapped.
- Fine.