Arimai
Curmudgeon
He was or He became
They'd
Scattered
Rooftop access or rooftop door
Drew, prepared, palmed, primed
Crumple to
Unconscious
Cleared
Stars bound in shadows
- Thread starter Illuviar
- Start date
- Crossover
Fellow Human
Verified Roado Rolla
Eh? A shitty old transport ship not even built by humans is being called Enterprise?
- Location
- USA
I think his rebuttal was the more definitive in this argument.
That's Lyda's ship, and she chose the name. Earth didn't get to vote on it. Now, the name, and the reason she chose it might have been due to cultural misunderstanding, and not the best to calm down tensions, but that's another question.
Now it is Perun's turn to make a point too.
Chapter 25 Part 6
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Star Wars, or Stargate movies, TV shows, games, books, or comics. This story features elements inspired by Warhammer 40K. They all belong to their respective copyright owners. This story is not for sale or rent.
"Victory", Perun's flagship
low orbit above Varanasi
Milky Way Galaxy
Compared to Ra's yacht, experiencing Ha'tak's sensors felt like looking through a blurry glass. They were still more than adequate for the task at hand. What was causing some issues was the lack of an integrated command and control system that had seen the test of battle. Even after all the training my Black Legion underwent, there were still many issues to iron out. That was why tonight was as much a training exercise as a large-scale raid to capture traitors.
I had a third of my fleet concentrated here, with Prime Iasen running the show under my supervision. Tracking all the strike groups descending through the atmosphere was easy. Coordination between them, the Ha'tak in orbit, and the Ha'tak themselves was easier said than done.
I kept watching, looking for weaknesses to be addressed, mistakes to note in the after-mission debriefings, and ways to improve everything. The low-hanging fruit would be adding more neural interface stations. These separate systems could still get data from the sensors dedicated to command and control. We would also need better communication protocols and training.
A significant reason nothing went disastrously wrong was that once deployed, each strike group didn't require a change in orders until after neutralizing their targets. Otherwise, I could see issues.
Despite that, this was a very far cry from the utter mess that was my sorry excuse for a space navy before months of intensive training. The improvement was there, and it was clear to see. Nevertheless, I still wouldn't consider most of my crews more than barely qualified to do basic jobs. Only the Goa'uld ship designs and control systems, which allowed a handful of people to command a Ha'tak, mitigated otherwise crippling issues.
On the bright side, there were no noticeable issues with my pilots and squadron leaders. The Death Gliders kept tight formations around the bombers they were escorting, with a squadron flying ahead of each group to detect and intercept potential enemies. There weren't any aerial or anti-air threats to speak of on the planet because everything that flew down there was supposed to be under the control of my loyalist. Still, being complacent was foolish, and the training opportunity this operation represented was priceless. This was the largest deployment and action my navy executed after its expansion, becoming a proper, if small navy in the first place.
Another proof of the lack of adequately integrated communications, command, and control systems was that I got second-hand reports on the ground deployments from the Al'kesh pilots. Only unit leaders had proper communication devices, and the expectation was that they would only use them to either confirm mission success or call for reinforcements and support fire if things went to hell.
I simply lacked the spare production capacity to outfit even my core loyalists with proper communicators, much less the near million Jaffa my fabricators were straining to produce modern armor and weapons for. That was why I was toying with the idea of using Earth's military communication technology in the short term. That would give my Jaffa an advantage for the opening clashes of the war and, more importantly, time to train and become accustomed to using comm devices to coordinate on all levels.
Ultimately, going for easier-to-produce dumbed-down models would be a complete waste of time, resources, and production capacity. At the same time, standard comm devices, like those used by pilots, were more complex to produce, given their capabilities.
One after another, news of successful operations reached me. Jaffa compounds on the planet map hanging before me shifted from red to green, designating them as secure. Motorized units moved from the Stargate area to take custody of the closer sites and begin processing prisoners. Meanwhile, the Al'kesh would be moving batches of prisoners with Jaffa escort to a pre-designated place, where I would speak with the local Elders.
All things considered, I was pleasantly surprised by the operation's success. It was rare things went as flawlessly as this, though considering the tactical surprise we had, it wasn't so surprising. After all, I didn't go for an honorable battle, like most Jaffa were taught to fight and expect.
Varanasi
Lord Perun's Domain
Milky Way Galaxy
It has been a very long time since Ahsoka suffered the effects of a shock grenade. He was a much younger man then. When his awareness returned, pains in all his muscles accompanied it, followed by a massive headache. He couldn't see, and his ears rang like someone was beating a gong like their life depended on it.
The Jaffa's hearing came back first. He could hear pained groans and curses. Some of the voices were familiar, very familiar at that. By the time Ahsoka could stumble to his feet and kind of see, he was painfully aware that they had misjudged how Lord Perun would react to being reminded of the way things should be. That he was alive, alongside many other Elders, was a good sign. At the same time, so many, if not everyone involved, were with him, which was of great concern.
When Ahsoka could finally see, he found himself in a large building empty of furniture. There was only one entrance, blocked by large Jaffa in heavy armor, the likes of which he had never seen. Over a hundred people were stuck there with him, and every single one of them was an Elder he had spoken with about making a point or knew others brought in.
"Jaffa, Kree!" One of the armored warriors snapped. "Lord Perun is ready to speak with you!" The man sneered.
The Elders looked at each other, wondering what the wrath of their new God would entail, and slowly shuffled toward the exit. The Jaffa there stepped aside, holding their weapons at the ready.
It was mid-morning outside. The sky was clear enough to let the sunshine blind the Elders still suffering side effects from shock grenades. More curses followed as they stumbled out.
Perun was out there, glowering at them.
"You've made your point," their God growled. "It is time I made mine. We are going to do this the old-fashioned way. Through your foolish schemes and the actions of your sons, your Clans are now damned, through no fault of all their members. I am a benevolent God, so I will offer your people a chance to regain their honor," Perun smiled a terrible smile. His eyes burned with the fires of the abyss itself. "Each of you will choose a champion to defend the honor of your Clans. In one week, they will face me in personal combat at your proving grounds while the Varanasi Clans watch. You will have one chance to make your point properly before I judge you for your treachery. Choose your champions well, Elders."
Ahsoka stared at Perun as he gave them one last look of contempt before walking away.
Chapter 25: Adjustments
=SBS=
Part 6
=SBS=
=SBS=
Part 6
=SBS=
"Victory", Perun's flagship
low orbit above Varanasi
Milky Way Galaxy
Compared to Ra's yacht, experiencing Ha'tak's sensors felt like looking through a blurry glass. They were still more than adequate for the task at hand. What was causing some issues was the lack of an integrated command and control system that had seen the test of battle. Even after all the training my Black Legion underwent, there were still many issues to iron out. That was why tonight was as much a training exercise as a large-scale raid to capture traitors.
I had a third of my fleet concentrated here, with Prime Iasen running the show under my supervision. Tracking all the strike groups descending through the atmosphere was easy. Coordination between them, the Ha'tak in orbit, and the Ha'tak themselves was easier said than done.
I kept watching, looking for weaknesses to be addressed, mistakes to note in the after-mission debriefings, and ways to improve everything. The low-hanging fruit would be adding more neural interface stations. These separate systems could still get data from the sensors dedicated to command and control. We would also need better communication protocols and training.
A significant reason nothing went disastrously wrong was that once deployed, each strike group didn't require a change in orders until after neutralizing their targets. Otherwise, I could see issues.
Despite that, this was a very far cry from the utter mess that was my sorry excuse for a space navy before months of intensive training. The improvement was there, and it was clear to see. Nevertheless, I still wouldn't consider most of my crews more than barely qualified to do basic jobs. Only the Goa'uld ship designs and control systems, which allowed a handful of people to command a Ha'tak, mitigated otherwise crippling issues.
On the bright side, there were no noticeable issues with my pilots and squadron leaders. The Death Gliders kept tight formations around the bombers they were escorting, with a squadron flying ahead of each group to detect and intercept potential enemies. There weren't any aerial or anti-air threats to speak of on the planet because everything that flew down there was supposed to be under the control of my loyalist. Still, being complacent was foolish, and the training opportunity this operation represented was priceless. This was the largest deployment and action my navy executed after its expansion, becoming a proper, if small navy in the first place.
Another proof of the lack of adequately integrated communications, command, and control systems was that I got second-hand reports on the ground deployments from the Al'kesh pilots. Only unit leaders had proper communication devices, and the expectation was that they would only use them to either confirm mission success or call for reinforcements and support fire if things went to hell.
I simply lacked the spare production capacity to outfit even my core loyalists with proper communicators, much less the near million Jaffa my fabricators were straining to produce modern armor and weapons for. That was why I was toying with the idea of using Earth's military communication technology in the short term. That would give my Jaffa an advantage for the opening clashes of the war and, more importantly, time to train and become accustomed to using comm devices to coordinate on all levels.
Ultimately, going for easier-to-produce dumbed-down models would be a complete waste of time, resources, and production capacity. At the same time, standard comm devices, like those used by pilots, were more complex to produce, given their capabilities.
One after another, news of successful operations reached me. Jaffa compounds on the planet map hanging before me shifted from red to green, designating them as secure. Motorized units moved from the Stargate area to take custody of the closer sites and begin processing prisoners. Meanwhile, the Al'kesh would be moving batches of prisoners with Jaffa escort to a pre-designated place, where I would speak with the local Elders.
All things considered, I was pleasantly surprised by the operation's success. It was rare things went as flawlessly as this, though considering the tactical surprise we had, it wasn't so surprising. After all, I didn't go for an honorable battle, like most Jaffa were taught to fight and expect.
=SBS=
Varanasi
Lord Perun's Domain
Milky Way Galaxy
It has been a very long time since Ahsoka suffered the effects of a shock grenade. He was a much younger man then. When his awareness returned, pains in all his muscles accompanied it, followed by a massive headache. He couldn't see, and his ears rang like someone was beating a gong like their life depended on it.
The Jaffa's hearing came back first. He could hear pained groans and curses. Some of the voices were familiar, very familiar at that. By the time Ahsoka could stumble to his feet and kind of see, he was painfully aware that they had misjudged how Lord Perun would react to being reminded of the way things should be. That he was alive, alongside many other Elders, was a good sign. At the same time, so many, if not everyone involved, were with him, which was of great concern.
When Ahsoka could finally see, he found himself in a large building empty of furniture. There was only one entrance, blocked by large Jaffa in heavy armor, the likes of which he had never seen. Over a hundred people were stuck there with him, and every single one of them was an Elder he had spoken with about making a point or knew others brought in.
"Jaffa, Kree!" One of the armored warriors snapped. "Lord Perun is ready to speak with you!" The man sneered.
The Elders looked at each other, wondering what the wrath of their new God would entail, and slowly shuffled toward the exit. The Jaffa there stepped aside, holding their weapons at the ready.
It was mid-morning outside. The sky was clear enough to let the sunshine blind the Elders still suffering side effects from shock grenades. More curses followed as they stumbled out.
Perun was out there, glowering at them.
"You've made your point," their God growled. "It is time I made mine. We are going to do this the old-fashioned way. Through your foolish schemes and the actions of your sons, your Clans are now damned, through no fault of all their members. I am a benevolent God, so I will offer your people a chance to regain their honor," Perun smiled a terrible smile. His eyes burned with the fires of the abyss itself. "Each of you will choose a champion to defend the honor of your Clans. In one week, they will face me in personal combat at your proving grounds while the Varanasi Clans watch. You will have one chance to make your point properly before I judge you for your treachery. Choose your champions well, Elders."
Ahsoka stared at Perun as he gave them one last look of contempt before walking away.
On the one hand Vael could beat the shit out of these champions bare handed earning their respect as a warrior. On the other hand wide scale sith lightning usage may serve him well in reinforcing his Thunder god status.
Either way this trial is going to be a (religious) enlightening experience for the clans.
Either way this trial is going to be a (religious) enlightening experience for the clans.
- Location
- USA
Perun: "I've got one million things to do and not enough time and resources to get them done"
Also Perun: "Schedule a fighting tournament of me vs dozens of opponents. That I will fight one-on-one"
Also Perun: "Schedule a fighting tournament of me vs dozens of opponents. That I will fight one-on-one"
Chapter 26 Part 1
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Star Wars, or Stargate movies, TV shows, games, books, or comics. This story features elements inspired by Warhammer 40K. They all belong to their respective copyright owners. This story is not for sale or rent.
Proving Grounds, Varanasi
Lord Perun's Domain
Milky Way Galaxy
Jack didn't enjoy being out of the loop. There were no news outlets through which to glean precisely what was happening. While it was clear that a lot of Perun's Jaffa deployed on a mission somewhere, O'Neill only knew it due to noticing barracks emptying and the lack of cadre who were present during his previous visits to various training sites.
Perun's Jaffa kept quiet as well. The town-criers, which was how news apparently spread here, kept talking about the same points they were on about for days now. That part of the report for the powers that be back on Earth would better fit Weir or the bloody Russian woman. Jack was pretty sure that she was a spook, even if her scientific credentials were real. She was also old enough to have been part of the KGB instead of someone trained by the FSB goons after Russia had gone to hell. As a consequence, Jack had to keep an eye on Markova and whatever crazy shenanigans she might be up to instead of only worrying about all the fanatical aliens around.
Jack was half-convinced that the Russian did something stupid when a bunch of Jaffa marched him to a vehicle and brought him to another world. As it turned out, traveling through a Stargate in an APC felt the same as when you walked through. That was nice to know, and Jack could share his newfound knowledge. After all, it didn't make sense for Perun to cart him off to another world just to vanish him. If it came to that, the man had a whole planet and enough people with shovels. There was no need to move him to another world to bury him there.
Right?
The Jaffa with him were tense and not particularly happy, though they kept their mouths shut despite Jack's best efforts to lighten the mood. Perhaps if he got Perun to introduce them all to Star Wars and then the Simpsons, they might loosen up and even share a secret or two? Now, there was an idea…
The APC came to a stop so smoothly that Jack only noticed it after the driver turned around. "We are here. There are many of the treacherous bastards outside, brothers. Keep safe!"
"Traitors?" Jack asked casually.
"Traitors," One of the Jaffa confirmed. "Lord Perun is about to make an example," He added, finally sharing something.
Jack looked critically at the combat load everyone but him had and suddenly felt entirely naked in his field uniform. The rear ramp opened, and the Jaffa disembarked. Jack sighed and followed them.
There were indeed a great deal of people all around. Most were dressed as if this was some kind of medieval fare, though there were solid blocks of Jaffa in combat armor. There was no trace of that parade plate – Perun's people were bringing their A-game, which was most concerning.
"Colonel," Weir greeted in a tone that was carefully void of emotion.
Jack's head snapped to the right and saw her disembark from another APC, escorted by her own Jaffa bodyguards.
"Doctor, I don't think we will enjoy what we are about to witness."
Weir's mouth formed a brief, grim smile before her expression returned to a mask of professional interest.
Jack let the Jaffa guide them and looked around, taking in their surroundings. They were in a vast valley surrounded by lush green hills. It was clear that once upon a time, this whole place had been a tropical forest, though not quite a jungle. Now, it was cleared up, with many stone stairways leading towards the valley's floor. The fate of the trees was clear – the hills below them were carved, creating a massive stadium with tree trunks shaped into benches. Jack could see platforms down below and wondered if this was some kind of amphitheater or something in that vein. Or perhaps it was precisely what it looked like – a stadium. The ideas of those were ancient, at least as old as the original Olympics in Ancient Greece.
The Jaffa kept leading them down one of the paths while many locals moved to take still free seats. Some gave them curious looks, though more than a few were hostile. The place was packed with people – tens of thousands on the nearby hills, with many more spread all around. Conservatively, perhaps two hundred thousand souls were gathered for what was about to happen, and more people kept coming from all directions.
Jack did note that the APCs remained on the hills, giving them better fields of fire. After looking for them, he noticed more vehicles in strategic positions, surrounded by groups of Perun's Jaffa. That and air power could turn the whole area into a slaughterhouse. Jack sorely hoped that it wouldn't come to that, not just because he would be caught in the middle. He doubted Perun would use a light hand if there was a disturbance if he was about to make an example of traitors anyway. It wasn't like public opinion mattered out here. There was no media to spread the news and, more importantly, show piles of torn-apart and burned corpses.
The Jaffa brought them to what had to be a VIP stand, complete with a tarp of some expensive-looking blue fabric. Jack and Weir sat at the places their escort pointed out and focused on the other people with them. O'Neill could see a lot of old men and a handful of women wearing very old-fashioned clothes made of high-quality cloth, a far cry from what most people outside wore. No one seemed particularly happy at being here. Frustratingly enough, they weren't discussing what was about to happen or why they were gathered. That was no surprise – the whole area crawled with Perun's Jaffa, so no one dared utter a sentiment that could be considered less than loyal. While understandable, the oppressive silence was highly aggravating.
Jack ignored the people in the VIP stand and looked down at the platforms. There were apparent groups of prisoners, including a large crowd of women and children. The implication was clear, and the potential for something extremely ugly rose exponentially. Those had to be the families of the traitors. There were thousands in that crowd. Nearby was a group of hundred-odd old men, separated by a company worth of Jaffa in the heaviest armor Jack had seen to date. Their clothes distinguished them as quite wealthy compared to everyone around them. Despite the distance, it was clear that the men had been wearing the same outfits for days, if not longer. Perhaps a week and change if Jack was right about when Perun's people left for this world.
Interestingly enough, a group of Jaffa was in combat armor under heavy guard. They all had some kind of melee weapons – odd swords and axes with teeth? Jack looked between them and the group of distinguished prisoners. Their number was about equal. A quick count confirmed it – there were one hundred and thirty-three, or close enough, in both groups. What was this about? Were those loyalists who might plead their families' case before Perun?
There were many women and children among the prisoners and many teenagers as well, though very few men. Jack didn't like the implication of that. At best, they were kept nearby out of his sight. At worst, they were already dead.
The skies rumbled, and a Goa'uld bomber with fighter escort tore through the low cloud cover. The familiar thunder of aircraft breaking the sound barrier echoed throughout the valley. The bomber made a sharp turn that would have torn any Earth aircraft in two if attempted, then decelerated in a way that should have knocked out everyone on board, if not outright killed. A side door opened while the bomber was a few hundred feet above them, and a figure in golden armor jumped out.
Jack had a moment to stare at the crazy stunt. His heart clenched at the potential suicide attempt or unexpected execution. Instead, the man landed lightly on his feet as if what just happened was the most natural thing in the world. The bomber and Death Gliders rose and began circling above the valley like hungry birds of prey. As soon as they were out of the way, the air above ripped, forming a massive hologram, allowing everyone to see what was happening on the platform below in great detail.
"I am your Lord Perun!" A cold voice thundered, demonstrating that this place had been chosen for its incredible acoustics. The Goa'uld's words echoed as if there were many of him speaking.
"We are gathered here to address the complete and utter stupidity of many of your honored Elders," Perun sneered. "These men right here," He pointed at the small group of prisoners, "brought ruin and dishonor to their Clans, putting every man, woman, and child they were responsible for under the threat of annihilation. I am a benevolent ruler, yet treason is not something I can forget and forgive," Perun made a sharp gesture, and dozens of holographic windows formed in the air.
Everyone watched with bated breath what had to be drone footage. Groups of Jaffa in plain clothes assaulted men and women and set houses, barns, and even temples on fire. The images changed, showing those same people coming and going from clusters of buildings straight out of the Middle Ages, if not earlier.
Jack had to give it to Perun. He had those poor stupid bastards dead to rights. He was sure he was looking at the ringleaders and their families. Regarding show trials, this one at least had a basis in reality as far as the charges were concerned. It would make what was about to happen no less unjust as far as any civilized country on Earth was concerned.
"However, not every member of those disgraced Clans had a choice or even knew of the treason. I am a reasonable ruler. I will give these disgraced Clans a chance to regain a shred of honor and prove that not all of them have to be condemned," Now everyone was looking at Perun's face. His expression was cold and unyielding. "We will do it the old way. I am the God of War. You, my Jaffa, are warrior people. Many of your Elders wanted to make a point. Let it be decided in the court of battle," Perun pointed at the company's strong group of Jaffa prisoners.
"Each disgraced Clan has a Champion ready to face me in combat. Those are their best warriors, outfitted with the finest weapons and armor," Perun declared and pointed at the prisoners. "Come and regain a shred of honor. The fate of your Clans hangs in the balance!"
Jack couldn't believe his ears. Did Perun lose it, or what? If he got himself killed here, Earth was fucked!
Perun's Jaffa around the armed prisoners marched back, leaving a clear path to the large platform Perun stood in the center of. The Goa'uld raised a hand, and a familiar cylinder jumped into his hand. An angry crimson blade came to life with a snap-hiss sound that carried throughout the deadly silent valley.
Perun smiled and flourished his weapon in a salute as the champions warily approached him. He took a combat stance, raising his burning blade overhead. Something shifted around his neck. The metal moved, almost flowing like a liquid around Perun's head, turning into a helmet shaped like an Eagle's head.
Somehow, the most surreal thing about all this madness was that the first thing Jack could hear from the people around him wasn't surprise or outrage but quiet murmurs of approval.
Chapter 26: This is the Way
=SBS=
Part 1
=SBS=
=SBS=
Part 1
=SBS=
Proving Grounds, Varanasi
Lord Perun's Domain
Milky Way Galaxy
Jack didn't enjoy being out of the loop. There were no news outlets through which to glean precisely what was happening. While it was clear that a lot of Perun's Jaffa deployed on a mission somewhere, O'Neill only knew it due to noticing barracks emptying and the lack of cadre who were present during his previous visits to various training sites.
Perun's Jaffa kept quiet as well. The town-criers, which was how news apparently spread here, kept talking about the same points they were on about for days now. That part of the report for the powers that be back on Earth would better fit Weir or the bloody Russian woman. Jack was pretty sure that she was a spook, even if her scientific credentials were real. She was also old enough to have been part of the KGB instead of someone trained by the FSB goons after Russia had gone to hell. As a consequence, Jack had to keep an eye on Markova and whatever crazy shenanigans she might be up to instead of only worrying about all the fanatical aliens around.
Jack was half-convinced that the Russian did something stupid when a bunch of Jaffa marched him to a vehicle and brought him to another world. As it turned out, traveling through a Stargate in an APC felt the same as when you walked through. That was nice to know, and Jack could share his newfound knowledge. After all, it didn't make sense for Perun to cart him off to another world just to vanish him. If it came to that, the man had a whole planet and enough people with shovels. There was no need to move him to another world to bury him there.
Right?
The Jaffa with him were tense and not particularly happy, though they kept their mouths shut despite Jack's best efforts to lighten the mood. Perhaps if he got Perun to introduce them all to Star Wars and then the Simpsons, they might loosen up and even share a secret or two? Now, there was an idea…
The APC came to a stop so smoothly that Jack only noticed it after the driver turned around. "We are here. There are many of the treacherous bastards outside, brothers. Keep safe!"
"Traitors?" Jack asked casually.
"Traitors," One of the Jaffa confirmed. "Lord Perun is about to make an example," He added, finally sharing something.
Jack looked critically at the combat load everyone but him had and suddenly felt entirely naked in his field uniform. The rear ramp opened, and the Jaffa disembarked. Jack sighed and followed them.
There were indeed a great deal of people all around. Most were dressed as if this was some kind of medieval fare, though there were solid blocks of Jaffa in combat armor. There was no trace of that parade plate – Perun's people were bringing their A-game, which was most concerning.
"Colonel," Weir greeted in a tone that was carefully void of emotion.
Jack's head snapped to the right and saw her disembark from another APC, escorted by her own Jaffa bodyguards.
"Doctor, I don't think we will enjoy what we are about to witness."
Weir's mouth formed a brief, grim smile before her expression returned to a mask of professional interest.
Jack let the Jaffa guide them and looked around, taking in their surroundings. They were in a vast valley surrounded by lush green hills. It was clear that once upon a time, this whole place had been a tropical forest, though not quite a jungle. Now, it was cleared up, with many stone stairways leading towards the valley's floor. The fate of the trees was clear – the hills below them were carved, creating a massive stadium with tree trunks shaped into benches. Jack could see platforms down below and wondered if this was some kind of amphitheater or something in that vein. Or perhaps it was precisely what it looked like – a stadium. The ideas of those were ancient, at least as old as the original Olympics in Ancient Greece.
The Jaffa kept leading them down one of the paths while many locals moved to take still free seats. Some gave them curious looks, though more than a few were hostile. The place was packed with people – tens of thousands on the nearby hills, with many more spread all around. Conservatively, perhaps two hundred thousand souls were gathered for what was about to happen, and more people kept coming from all directions.
Jack did note that the APCs remained on the hills, giving them better fields of fire. After looking for them, he noticed more vehicles in strategic positions, surrounded by groups of Perun's Jaffa. That and air power could turn the whole area into a slaughterhouse. Jack sorely hoped that it wouldn't come to that, not just because he would be caught in the middle. He doubted Perun would use a light hand if there was a disturbance if he was about to make an example of traitors anyway. It wasn't like public opinion mattered out here. There was no media to spread the news and, more importantly, show piles of torn-apart and burned corpses.
The Jaffa brought them to what had to be a VIP stand, complete with a tarp of some expensive-looking blue fabric. Jack and Weir sat at the places their escort pointed out and focused on the other people with them. O'Neill could see a lot of old men and a handful of women wearing very old-fashioned clothes made of high-quality cloth, a far cry from what most people outside wore. No one seemed particularly happy at being here. Frustratingly enough, they weren't discussing what was about to happen or why they were gathered. That was no surprise – the whole area crawled with Perun's Jaffa, so no one dared utter a sentiment that could be considered less than loyal. While understandable, the oppressive silence was highly aggravating.
Jack ignored the people in the VIP stand and looked down at the platforms. There were apparent groups of prisoners, including a large crowd of women and children. The implication was clear, and the potential for something extremely ugly rose exponentially. Those had to be the families of the traitors. There were thousands in that crowd. Nearby was a group of hundred-odd old men, separated by a company worth of Jaffa in the heaviest armor Jack had seen to date. Their clothes distinguished them as quite wealthy compared to everyone around them. Despite the distance, it was clear that the men had been wearing the same outfits for days, if not longer. Perhaps a week and change if Jack was right about when Perun's people left for this world.
Interestingly enough, a group of Jaffa was in combat armor under heavy guard. They all had some kind of melee weapons – odd swords and axes with teeth? Jack looked between them and the group of distinguished prisoners. Their number was about equal. A quick count confirmed it – there were one hundred and thirty-three, or close enough, in both groups. What was this about? Were those loyalists who might plead their families' case before Perun?
There were many women and children among the prisoners and many teenagers as well, though very few men. Jack didn't like the implication of that. At best, they were kept nearby out of his sight. At worst, they were already dead.
The skies rumbled, and a Goa'uld bomber with fighter escort tore through the low cloud cover. The familiar thunder of aircraft breaking the sound barrier echoed throughout the valley. The bomber made a sharp turn that would have torn any Earth aircraft in two if attempted, then decelerated in a way that should have knocked out everyone on board, if not outright killed. A side door opened while the bomber was a few hundred feet above them, and a figure in golden armor jumped out.
Jack had a moment to stare at the crazy stunt. His heart clenched at the potential suicide attempt or unexpected execution. Instead, the man landed lightly on his feet as if what just happened was the most natural thing in the world. The bomber and Death Gliders rose and began circling above the valley like hungry birds of prey. As soon as they were out of the way, the air above ripped, forming a massive hologram, allowing everyone to see what was happening on the platform below in great detail.
"I am your Lord Perun!" A cold voice thundered, demonstrating that this place had been chosen for its incredible acoustics. The Goa'uld's words echoed as if there were many of him speaking.
"We are gathered here to address the complete and utter stupidity of many of your honored Elders," Perun sneered. "These men right here," He pointed at the small group of prisoners, "brought ruin and dishonor to their Clans, putting every man, woman, and child they were responsible for under the threat of annihilation. I am a benevolent ruler, yet treason is not something I can forget and forgive," Perun made a sharp gesture, and dozens of holographic windows formed in the air.
Everyone watched with bated breath what had to be drone footage. Groups of Jaffa in plain clothes assaulted men and women and set houses, barns, and even temples on fire. The images changed, showing those same people coming and going from clusters of buildings straight out of the Middle Ages, if not earlier.
Jack had to give it to Perun. He had those poor stupid bastards dead to rights. He was sure he was looking at the ringleaders and their families. Regarding show trials, this one at least had a basis in reality as far as the charges were concerned. It would make what was about to happen no less unjust as far as any civilized country on Earth was concerned.
"However, not every member of those disgraced Clans had a choice or even knew of the treason. I am a reasonable ruler. I will give these disgraced Clans a chance to regain a shred of honor and prove that not all of them have to be condemned," Now everyone was looking at Perun's face. His expression was cold and unyielding. "We will do it the old way. I am the God of War. You, my Jaffa, are warrior people. Many of your Elders wanted to make a point. Let it be decided in the court of battle," Perun pointed at the company's strong group of Jaffa prisoners.
"Each disgraced Clan has a Champion ready to face me in combat. Those are their best warriors, outfitted with the finest weapons and armor," Perun declared and pointed at the prisoners. "Come and regain a shred of honor. The fate of your Clans hangs in the balance!"
Jack couldn't believe his ears. Did Perun lose it, or what? If he got himself killed here, Earth was fucked!
Perun's Jaffa around the armed prisoners marched back, leaving a clear path to the large platform Perun stood in the center of. The Goa'uld raised a hand, and a familiar cylinder jumped into his hand. An angry crimson blade came to life with a snap-hiss sound that carried throughout the deadly silent valley.
Perun smiled and flourished his weapon in a salute as the champions warily approached him. He took a combat stance, raising his burning blade overhead. Something shifted around his neck. The metal moved, almost flowing like a liquid around Perun's head, turning into a helmet shaped like an Eagle's head.
Somehow, the most surreal thing about all this madness was that the first thing Jack could hear from the people around him wasn't surprise or outrage but quiet murmurs of approval.
Last edited:
Fellow Human
Verified Roado Rolla
Arimai
Curmudgeon
"Like" or "as though"
Week and change
Helmet.
It's not shaped like an Eagle's head. The helmet is a fully animated Eatern European Eagle's head composed of golden smart metal. At least if you are going by movie lore and EU.
Thanks. That's the best version of the tech that Ra's personal guard has, and he is using. Perun's own helmet is a gift from Ra and is an inferior version. The helmets of Perun's Jaffa aren't smart metal, except for any captured and rebuild from Ra's guard on Abydos that might be put to good use in the future.
jack is going to be slack jawed once Vael is done here. I would love to see earths reaction to a holographic 3d video of this fight. Weir is going to hate this immensely. The Russian one i barely remember but wasn't she a Russian non combat focused Carter? She will at lest find the weaponry and armor fascinating from a technical standpoint.
Arimai
Curmudgeon
Still KGB though. It was standard ploy to have a defection of high ranking scientists as sleepers
Chapter 26 Part 2
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Star Wars, or Stargate movies, TV shows, games, books, or comics. This story features elements inspired by Warhammer 40K. They all belong to their respective copyright owners. This story is not for sale or rent.
Proving Grounds, Varanasi
Lord Perun's Domain
Milky Way Galaxy
One of the champions walked in front of the others and raised a wicked-looking ax. A distinct whine carried over from the arena, and what had to be metal teeth spun until they were moving too fast to see. Perun was insane enough to give his opponents working chain weapons! Jack saw Jaffa demonstrate what a few of these war crimes could do, thankfully on dummies with old-style ceremonial armor. The sound of it was nothing he could put into words, and the less said about what such a thing would do to a human after grinding its way through armor, the better.
"I am Rohan, proud son of Ahsoka!" The Jaffa proclaimed. A ragged cheer came from the prisoners and a few daring souls across the valley.
"Boy, none of you traitors have earned the right to speak yet," Perun scoffed. His free hand snapped in a pulling motion, and the Jaffa flew forward, screaming in shock. In a single smooth movement, Perun sidestepped the incoming projectile. He caught Rohan as if he wasn't a huge man wearing an obscene weight in armor and slammed his lightsaber under the armpit, a prominent weak spot on any armor.
For a moment, the champion struggled. The giant hologram displaying the bloody spectacle for all to see zoomed in, showing how molten metal splashed on the stones, hissing angrily. Rohan suddenly went still. Perun let the corpse go, and it fell on the ground with a loud clang that echoed throughout the valley.
"This is not a duel but a battle, traitors. Come at me!" Perun demanded.
Jack narrowed his eyes at the madman. There was hunger in his tone, anticipation even. Perun was looking forward to this. Jack was sure of it!
The champions milled around for a few seconds before a handful of them nodded at each other and charged the Goa'uld. The rest activated their weapons and followed warily.
The whine of chain swords and axes drowned all other sounds. Despite sitting in a VIP stand close to the arena, Jack could barely hear the metal boots of the charging Jaffa as they went for Perun. Instead of waiting for the five warriors to reach him, Perun shot at them, moving so fast he was a blur. The Warlord went for the Jaffa at the left flank, who was closest to the stand. Perun vaulted over a slash, and the warrior, too, as if he was an Olympic athlete wearing only a shirt and shorts, not at least a hundred pounds of armor!
While in the air, the Goa'uld whirled his lightsaber so he could immediately slam it into the back of the champion's knee when he landed in a kneeling position. Before the Jaffa could figure out what just happened, the weak point in the armor gave out, and he collapsed with a pained cry.
Perun grabbed the crippled alien and threw him as if he weighed nothing at the closest champion, sending them crashing into a heap of armor and whirling blades. That display gave most of the Jaffa pause. However, the three already committed simply changed their direction and sprinted at Perun. Their warcries carried far and wide, turning into a bloodthirsty chorus.
"DIE!" Perun bellowed when they were almost upon him. The air before his helmet rippled. Heavy armor buckled, cracking. The charging Jaffa recoiled as if bouncing off a wall. Blood splashed in a semicircle behind the three champions before they collapsed, with blood seeping through their damaged armor.
That was some spooky Sith shit right there, Jack decided. The more he saw of Perun, the more he doubted that everything had a technological explanation. Hell, O'Neill was convinced there was more to it after experiencing that nightmare upon Perun's ship, even if he did his best to deny it daily.
A heartbeat later, Perun reinforced that notion by waving a hand. The crippled Jaffa rose in the air, then slammed into the one he collided with moments earlier with such momentum that the stone below the chattered. The sound of metal hitting metal rang like a bell, doing its best to deafen people.
Six champions were down. The other hundred and twenty Jaffa looked at the corpses of their fellows, then at Perun. Slowly, the echoing cry the Goa'uld released died out, replaced by the whine of the chain weapons. Countless people watched the spectacle in stunned silence.
"Come at me, boys! Show me what the Jaffa of Varanasi are made of!" Perun taunted.
The Jaffa glanced at each other. Despite their helmets, Jack could practically feel their uneasy looks.
"For Clan and honor!" One of them screamed and waved a hissing ax. He pointed at Perun. "With me brothers! Even Gods can bleed!" The champion charged Perun. His example opened the floodgates, and the first ranks of the champions followed suit. The rest charged moments later, finding their balls or due to simple peer pressure.
"This is it! Come!" Perun laughed.
Now, Perun moved. Jack blinked, then blinked again, not trusting his eyes. Perun was a blur, moving faster than any man should be able to. It didn't matter if he was an alien snake in some poor bastard's head. Muscles would rupture, tendons would snap, and bones would break if anyone could move as fast as this!
Perun didn't care. He was among the Jaffa coming at him faster than they could react. The air rippled, and armored men flew away as if hit by a speeding truck. Perun grabbed the arms of a Jaffa clutching an ax, picked the champion up as if he were a toy, and slammed him into the ground with enough force to crack the stone. The Goa'uld followed up with his lightsaber, pressing it at the thick armor covering the throat of the stunned man. At the same time, Perun made a dismissive gesture, and the first rank of Jaffa converging on him froze mid-charge. Those behind them slammed into the champions before them and bounced off as if hitting solid stone columns instead of people standing in place.
Perun tilted his head to the right and shouted again.
"DIE!"
The closest Jaffa crumpled in bleeding heaps, while those farther away staggered, the sonic attack apparently breaking their charge. Many in the next rank of champions couldn't maneuver fast enough to avoid the unfortunate bastards on their path and collided. No one bounced off this time, and over two dozen people fell over each other.
Perun stood up, leaving a corpse with a melted hole in his chest at his feet. He grabbed a fallen chain ax and charged the Jaffa still coming at him. Perun not only moved fast, but the Warlord positioned himself so the champions were getting in each other's way. He parried a slash, slipped by a stab, and slammed the chain ax in the crotch of a particularly unlucky Jaffa with enough strength to pick the poor bastard off his feet.
Metal ground against metal with a piercing screech, followed by an agonized howl.
More Jaffa got around those on the ground or around the frozen ones. For a brief moment, it looked like they could pile up on Perun and tear him to pieces with their cruel weapons.
Instead, a group of Jaffa fell on their knees screaming like damned souls, let go of their weapons, and clawed at their helmets. Perun slipped through that group, slid around a hissing chain sword, and riposted, striking his attacker's wrist, leaving a glowing rent in the armor.
There were dozens of dead or incapacitated champions already, and by the looks of it, Perun was just getting started. Everyone else reached similar conclusions. Here and there, people among the prisoners wailed for dead or dying loved ones. Others fell on their knees in prayer.
Yet, the most common reaction was a chant that slowly grew in strength.
"Perun!" "Perun!" "PERUN!"
Its origin was clear – it was Perun's loyalist Jaffa who started it, yet within moments, more and more people among the spectators picked it up.
It finally began to dawn upon Jack that Perun might not be as mad as he thought him just now. He was still a crazy snake, but one who knew precisely what he was doing. Perun was also far more dangerous than even Jack's deepest, darkest nightmares dared to suggest. He was afraid that Perun was about to give him even more nightmare fuel, too.
Chapter 26: This is the Way
=SBS=
Part 2
=SBS=
=SBS=
Part 2
=SBS=
Proving Grounds, Varanasi
Lord Perun's Domain
Milky Way Galaxy
One of the champions walked in front of the others and raised a wicked-looking ax. A distinct whine carried over from the arena, and what had to be metal teeth spun until they were moving too fast to see. Perun was insane enough to give his opponents working chain weapons! Jack saw Jaffa demonstrate what a few of these war crimes could do, thankfully on dummies with old-style ceremonial armor. The sound of it was nothing he could put into words, and the less said about what such a thing would do to a human after grinding its way through armor, the better.
"I am Rohan, proud son of Ahsoka!" The Jaffa proclaimed. A ragged cheer came from the prisoners and a few daring souls across the valley.
"Boy, none of you traitors have earned the right to speak yet," Perun scoffed. His free hand snapped in a pulling motion, and the Jaffa flew forward, screaming in shock. In a single smooth movement, Perun sidestepped the incoming projectile. He caught Rohan as if he wasn't a huge man wearing an obscene weight in armor and slammed his lightsaber under the armpit, a prominent weak spot on any armor.
For a moment, the champion struggled. The giant hologram displaying the bloody spectacle for all to see zoomed in, showing how molten metal splashed on the stones, hissing angrily. Rohan suddenly went still. Perun let the corpse go, and it fell on the ground with a loud clang that echoed throughout the valley.
"This is not a duel but a battle, traitors. Come at me!" Perun demanded.
Jack narrowed his eyes at the madman. There was hunger in his tone, anticipation even. Perun was looking forward to this. Jack was sure of it!
The champions milled around for a few seconds before a handful of them nodded at each other and charged the Goa'uld. The rest activated their weapons and followed warily.
The whine of chain swords and axes drowned all other sounds. Despite sitting in a VIP stand close to the arena, Jack could barely hear the metal boots of the charging Jaffa as they went for Perun. Instead of waiting for the five warriors to reach him, Perun shot at them, moving so fast he was a blur. The Warlord went for the Jaffa at the left flank, who was closest to the stand. Perun vaulted over a slash, and the warrior, too, as if he was an Olympic athlete wearing only a shirt and shorts, not at least a hundred pounds of armor!
While in the air, the Goa'uld whirled his lightsaber so he could immediately slam it into the back of the champion's knee when he landed in a kneeling position. Before the Jaffa could figure out what just happened, the weak point in the armor gave out, and he collapsed with a pained cry.
Perun grabbed the crippled alien and threw him as if he weighed nothing at the closest champion, sending them crashing into a heap of armor and whirling blades. That display gave most of the Jaffa pause. However, the three already committed simply changed their direction and sprinted at Perun. Their warcries carried far and wide, turning into a bloodthirsty chorus.
"DIE!" Perun bellowed when they were almost upon him. The air before his helmet rippled. Heavy armor buckled, cracking. The charging Jaffa recoiled as if bouncing off a wall. Blood splashed in a semicircle behind the three champions before they collapsed, with blood seeping through their damaged armor.
That was some spooky Sith shit right there, Jack decided. The more he saw of Perun, the more he doubted that everything had a technological explanation. Hell, O'Neill was convinced there was more to it after experiencing that nightmare upon Perun's ship, even if he did his best to deny it daily.
A heartbeat later, Perun reinforced that notion by waving a hand. The crippled Jaffa rose in the air, then slammed into the one he collided with moments earlier with such momentum that the stone below the chattered. The sound of metal hitting metal rang like a bell, doing its best to deafen people.
Six champions were down. The other hundred and twenty Jaffa looked at the corpses of their fellows, then at Perun. Slowly, the echoing cry the Goa'uld released died out, replaced by the whine of the chain weapons. Countless people watched the spectacle in stunned silence.
"Come at me, boys! Show me what the Jaffa of Varanasi are made of!" Perun taunted.
The Jaffa glanced at each other. Despite their helmets, Jack could practically feel their uneasy looks.
"For Clan and honor!" One of them screamed and waved a hissing ax. He pointed at Perun. "With me brothers! Even Gods can bleed!" The champion charged Perun. His example opened the floodgates, and the first ranks of the champions followed suit. The rest charged moments later, finding their balls or due to simple peer pressure.
"This is it! Come!" Perun laughed.
Now, Perun moved. Jack blinked, then blinked again, not trusting his eyes. Perun was a blur, moving faster than any man should be able to. It didn't matter if he was an alien snake in some poor bastard's head. Muscles would rupture, tendons would snap, and bones would break if anyone could move as fast as this!
Perun didn't care. He was among the Jaffa coming at him faster than they could react. The air rippled, and armored men flew away as if hit by a speeding truck. Perun grabbed the arms of a Jaffa clutching an ax, picked the champion up as if he were a toy, and slammed him into the ground with enough force to crack the stone. The Goa'uld followed up with his lightsaber, pressing it at the thick armor covering the throat of the stunned man. At the same time, Perun made a dismissive gesture, and the first rank of Jaffa converging on him froze mid-charge. Those behind them slammed into the champions before them and bounced off as if hitting solid stone columns instead of people standing in place.
Perun tilted his head to the right and shouted again.
"DIE!"
The closest Jaffa crumpled in bleeding heaps, while those farther away staggered, the sonic attack apparently breaking their charge. Many in the next rank of champions couldn't maneuver fast enough to avoid the unfortunate bastards on their path and collided. No one bounced off this time, and over two dozen people fell over each other.
Perun stood up, leaving a corpse with a melted hole in his chest at his feet. He grabbed a fallen chain ax and charged the Jaffa still coming at him. Perun not only moved fast, but the Warlord positioned himself so the champions were getting in each other's way. He parried a slash, slipped by a stab, and slammed the chain ax in the crotch of a particularly unlucky Jaffa with enough strength to pick the poor bastard off his feet.
Metal ground against metal with a piercing screech, followed by an agonized howl.
More Jaffa got around those on the ground or around the frozen ones. For a brief moment, it looked like they could pile up on Perun and tear him to pieces with their cruel weapons.
Instead, a group of Jaffa fell on their knees screaming like damned souls, let go of their weapons, and clawed at their helmets. Perun slipped through that group, slid around a hissing chain sword, and riposted, striking his attacker's wrist, leaving a glowing rent in the armor.
There were dozens of dead or incapacitated champions already, and by the looks of it, Perun was just getting started. Everyone else reached similar conclusions. Here and there, people among the prisoners wailed for dead or dying loved ones. Others fell on their knees in prayer.
Yet, the most common reaction was a chant that slowly grew in strength.
"Perun!" "Perun!" "PERUN!"
Its origin was clear – it was Perun's loyalist Jaffa who started it, yet within moments, more and more people among the spectators picked it up.
It finally began to dawn upon Jack that Perun might not be as mad as he thought him just now. He was still a crazy snake, but one who knew precisely what he was doing. Perun was also far more dangerous than even Jack's deepest, darkest nightmares dared to suggest. He was afraid that Perun was about to give him even more nightmare fuel, too.
- Location
- Places
You've used the specific phrasing twice in a one sentence you might want to change one of them to "perish" instead, or perhaps another synonym.
Why would Perun not use the same word for the Force Scream he utilizes to shout people to death?
- Location
- Places
Fair enough, it just hits upon my repeated word pattern recognition as a reader.
There are times when that is an issue, and there are times it is a 'feature'.
yeah, Jack thinking this is crazy warlord stuff is funny.
I think Weir on the other hand actually understands what this is. Older, more tribal civilizations react better to this kind of brutal display. Hell, our modern sensibilities react far better to this than we are willing to admit to. There is a reason you see riots after soccer games, or people willing to stand in the snow wearing only boxers while painted green and yellow to watch a football game, but you don't see the same thing for local governor elections. How many people would respect and listen to their leaders if they saw them fighting alongside them?
I think Weir on the other hand actually understands what this is. Older, more tribal civilizations react better to this kind of brutal display. Hell, our modern sensibilities react far better to this than we are willing to admit to. There is a reason you see riots after soccer games, or people willing to stand in the snow wearing only boxers while painted green and yellow to watch a football game, but you don't see the same thing for local governor elections. How many people would respect and listen to their leaders if they saw them fighting alongside them?
- Location
- USA
Don't those Jaffa know to watch out for his threat cones and to combat-roll out of them when he goes into his Special Attack animation!?! It's like none of them have done 100-man raids before!
Awww, there were No calls of "All the Powah" While throwing Lightning around? Shame.
OH, jack buddy you barely got a glimpse into Darth Vael's mind. I don't think you want to know more about what is going on there. Note that the man will happily drag you along, as his Obi Wan replacement.
OH, jack buddy you barely got a glimpse into Darth Vael's mind. I don't think you want to know more about what is going on there. Note that the man will happily drag you along, as his Obi Wan replacement.
Perun really needs a straight man/woman around, and his Jaffa don't qualify. They are all too happy to jump at any idea Perun has without a second thought.
Chapter 26 Part 3
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Star Wars, or Stargate movies, TV shows, games, books, or comics. This story features elements inspired by Warhammer 40K. They all belong to their respective copyright owners. This story is not for sale or rent.
Proving Grounds, Varanasi
Lord Perun's Domain
Milky Way Galaxy
Stone shattered, and metal armor broke, turning another man into a bloody pulp. Elizabeth felt sick at the carnage yet forced herself to keep watching. To be a witness to this was the least and the only thing she could do.
The immense cheering crowd made it all worse. Such bloodshed should never be condoned, much less enjoyed. Lord Perun was making a point. There was no mistake about that. He acted like a throwback to an era that had been over, or at least should have been, a long time ago.
That wasn't the case here and now. As a diplomat, she had seen some ugly things, and the people cheering to the tune of slaughter were high on her list. This wasn't civilized society as she knew it, and she did her best to bring it forth through her work with the US government. Instead… Weir averted her eyes when Perun somehow levitated multiple spinning chain weapons and cut a group of Jaffa into bloody chunks. She could see children among the gathered crowds. Instead of their parents trying to shield them, they pointed at the bloodbath below, cheering.
This was sheer insanity!
Elizabeth's gaze went back to the bloodstained arena. Almost half of the champions, more like sheep to the slaughter, were already dead. Some of the rest were obviously injured, moving in ways that favored arms, legs, or sides. They still kept going forward, doing their best to kill Perun for all the good it would do. Weir wanted to stand and scream at everyone to end this damned spectacle!
Sadly, she knew better. For all the gruesome nature of what was happening, it wasn't pointless. Tens of thousands cheered Perun's murder spree. Many, if not most of them, appeared genuine, too, Elizabeth decided. This wasn't Earth, and even on Earth, there would be too many cheering such a gruesome spectacle.
Weir forced herself to look at the unfolding tragedy through a professional prism. They were here for a reason. Lord Perun was making a point in a straightforward, brutal way. He was proving for all to see that he was an extremely dangerous Warlord. The context was different compared to how the word was used these days on Earth. Perun couldn't be simply dismissed with contempt, and not just because of the raw power he wielded, though that was the most critical factor.
Another Jaffa died, with his head smashed into the ground with such force that the armored helmet buckled, collapsing and splashing a halo of blood and bone that sunk through the cracked stone. Perun picked up a chain sword and charged a small group of alien warriors. The remaining Jaffa could no longer bring overwhelming numbers to bear, so now Perun was demonstrating his prowess in a different way. Instead of using his technology to slap around large groups of them, he wadded in with blades of spinning teeth and energy, leaving shredded corpses in his wake.
Elizabeth decided something like this couldn't be seen on Earth anytime soon. It would send the wrong message to too many people, making them underestimate Perun. It was only now that Weir began to fully understand how the meaning of the titles they gave Lord Perun were both to the point, yet in too many regards, entirely missed the point due to Earth's recent history and preconceptions.
That realization was harrowing because Elizabeth was one of those who warned people about falling into such pitfalls. Despite that, here she was, recognizing that even she was not immune to that train of thought. The problem was that for all her experience, for everyone's experience, the kind of politics and societies they were dealing with now haven't truly existed on Earth for longer than they were alive. There were similarities, sometimes very close ones, which only made it easier to misjudge what they were dealing with. Or perhaps she was overthinking things and attempting to put the slaughter she was watching in a familiar context that made sense.
Perun's chain blade bit into the knee of a Jaffa while he held the champion's ax, locked in place with the lightsaber, no matter that the lager, and in theory stronger man, was doing his best to overpower the Goa'uld. The alien warrior collapsed with a pained scream, allowing the self-proclaimed god to slip behind him. Perun slammed his energy blade in the back of the Jaffa's head and, at the same time, forced the crippled man to parry the spinning teeth of the chain sword after swinging it at his face. Four champions tried to pounce on the Goa'uld while he was killing their ally. They all froze in the middle of their jumps, held in place by alien technology. Well, Weir prayed it was technology because Perun was dangerous enough already without being some kind of space wizard!
The struggling Jaffa stiffened after the lightsaber finally burned a hole in his helmet. Elizabeth was thankful for the small mercy of not seeing what happened to the poor man's head. And he was one of the lucky ones, receiving a relatively clean and fast death.
More Jaffa charged at Perun. He swept down with the hand holding the chain blade, and the four champions suspended in the air slammed into the ground with incredible force. Stone imploded with a deafening sound that drowned everything else. The arena's brutalized stone shattered in a feet-long circle around each impact point, bringing over a dozen Jaffa to their knees.
By now, only a third of the champions Perun decided to slaughter were still alive, and many of them were obviously injured by being slammed into the ground or through close encounters with his blades. Bloody, dirt-coated figures stumbled forward with fanatical tenacity. Perun met them with spinning blades. Metal screamed and hissed as teeth ground their way through, and a lightsaber melted it. Screaming, Jaffa fell in bloody heaps while Perun turned around them, avoiding their weapons as if he knew where they would strike before they did it. The champions were becoming less coordinated as their numbers declined, and they spouted injury after injury. If anything, Perun was consistently moving even faster now. He was a blur, and Weir could hardly track his weapons as they struck repeatedly, rending armor to get to the flesh below. A mauled Jaffa corpse flew away from Perun, and before it could fall, he was already dismantling another champion. Blood, shredded metal, and pieces of the poor man flew in all directions before the Goa'uld mercifully finished him off.
In desperation, a Jaffa who couldn't get off his knees threw an ax at Perun's back. The Goa'uld didn't even turn. He kept slashing at another champion, yet the spinning weapon froze in midair before it could hit him in the back. Perun let go of his chain sword, caught the Jaffa he was dismantling, and shoved him against its still spinning blade. Metal shrieked, followed by the Jaffa's howl of pain. Perun held him in place until the screams turned into gurgles, then finally cut off, letting the terrible sound of a chainsaw mulching through flesh and bone carry throughout the valley.
Instead of screaming in horror, the Jaffa spectators went utterly wild with their screams of support. There was no faking their sheer joy. At that moment, Elizabeth finally understood that for all its problems, Earth had been a shining gem in a galaxy of bloodthirsty maniacs.
Perun tore the mangled corpse off the ax, picked up the weapon, and headed for the Jaffa, who threw it. A few of the champions who could still move stumbled his way in a final show of defiance.
They lasted less than a minute, leaving Perun intact, now covered in even more blood and gore. He looked around and let go of the chain weapon. There were only a few Jaffa left on unsteady feet. All other survivors were lying on the ground or on their knees, unable to move.
Perun extinguished his lightsaber and attached it to something on his belt.
"I find myself disappointed," the Goa'uld's inhuman voice struck like a whip.
He raised his hands, and every alive champion floated in the air. Perun clenched his fists, and twenty armors imploded into balls of twisted metal. Fountains of blood exploded from breaches in the broken metal, splashing all over the ravaged arena.
A moment of utter silence descended upon the valley before the crowds went insane, screaming Perun's name with religious zeal, the likes of which Elizabeth had never seen or heard before.
Chapter 26: This is the Way
=SBS=
Part 3
=SBS=
=SBS=
Part 3
=SBS=
Proving Grounds, Varanasi
Lord Perun's Domain
Milky Way Galaxy
Stone shattered, and metal armor broke, turning another man into a bloody pulp. Elizabeth felt sick at the carnage yet forced herself to keep watching. To be a witness to this was the least and the only thing she could do.
The immense cheering crowd made it all worse. Such bloodshed should never be condoned, much less enjoyed. Lord Perun was making a point. There was no mistake about that. He acted like a throwback to an era that had been over, or at least should have been, a long time ago.
That wasn't the case here and now. As a diplomat, she had seen some ugly things, and the people cheering to the tune of slaughter were high on her list. This wasn't civilized society as she knew it, and she did her best to bring it forth through her work with the US government. Instead… Weir averted her eyes when Perun somehow levitated multiple spinning chain weapons and cut a group of Jaffa into bloody chunks. She could see children among the gathered crowds. Instead of their parents trying to shield them, they pointed at the bloodbath below, cheering.
This was sheer insanity!
Elizabeth's gaze went back to the bloodstained arena. Almost half of the champions, more like sheep to the slaughter, were already dead. Some of the rest were obviously injured, moving in ways that favored arms, legs, or sides. They still kept going forward, doing their best to kill Perun for all the good it would do. Weir wanted to stand and scream at everyone to end this damned spectacle!
Sadly, she knew better. For all the gruesome nature of what was happening, it wasn't pointless. Tens of thousands cheered Perun's murder spree. Many, if not most of them, appeared genuine, too, Elizabeth decided. This wasn't Earth, and even on Earth, there would be too many cheering such a gruesome spectacle.
Weir forced herself to look at the unfolding tragedy through a professional prism. They were here for a reason. Lord Perun was making a point in a straightforward, brutal way. He was proving for all to see that he was an extremely dangerous Warlord. The context was different compared to how the word was used these days on Earth. Perun couldn't be simply dismissed with contempt, and not just because of the raw power he wielded, though that was the most critical factor.
Another Jaffa died, with his head smashed into the ground with such force that the armored helmet buckled, collapsing and splashing a halo of blood and bone that sunk through the cracked stone. Perun picked up a chain sword and charged a small group of alien warriors. The remaining Jaffa could no longer bring overwhelming numbers to bear, so now Perun was demonstrating his prowess in a different way. Instead of using his technology to slap around large groups of them, he wadded in with blades of spinning teeth and energy, leaving shredded corpses in his wake.
Elizabeth decided something like this couldn't be seen on Earth anytime soon. It would send the wrong message to too many people, making them underestimate Perun. It was only now that Weir began to fully understand how the meaning of the titles they gave Lord Perun were both to the point, yet in too many regards, entirely missed the point due to Earth's recent history and preconceptions.
That realization was harrowing because Elizabeth was one of those who warned people about falling into such pitfalls. Despite that, here she was, recognizing that even she was not immune to that train of thought. The problem was that for all her experience, for everyone's experience, the kind of politics and societies they were dealing with now haven't truly existed on Earth for longer than they were alive. There were similarities, sometimes very close ones, which only made it easier to misjudge what they were dealing with. Or perhaps she was overthinking things and attempting to put the slaughter she was watching in a familiar context that made sense.
Perun's chain blade bit into the knee of a Jaffa while he held the champion's ax, locked in place with the lightsaber, no matter that the lager, and in theory stronger man, was doing his best to overpower the Goa'uld. The alien warrior collapsed with a pained scream, allowing the self-proclaimed god to slip behind him. Perun slammed his energy blade in the back of the Jaffa's head and, at the same time, forced the crippled man to parry the spinning teeth of the chain sword after swinging it at his face. Four champions tried to pounce on the Goa'uld while he was killing their ally. They all froze in the middle of their jumps, held in place by alien technology. Well, Weir prayed it was technology because Perun was dangerous enough already without being some kind of space wizard!
The struggling Jaffa stiffened after the lightsaber finally burned a hole in his helmet. Elizabeth was thankful for the small mercy of not seeing what happened to the poor man's head. And he was one of the lucky ones, receiving a relatively clean and fast death.
More Jaffa charged at Perun. He swept down with the hand holding the chain blade, and the four champions suspended in the air slammed into the ground with incredible force. Stone imploded with a deafening sound that drowned everything else. The arena's brutalized stone shattered in a feet-long circle around each impact point, bringing over a dozen Jaffa to their knees.
By now, only a third of the champions Perun decided to slaughter were still alive, and many of them were obviously injured by being slammed into the ground or through close encounters with his blades. Bloody, dirt-coated figures stumbled forward with fanatical tenacity. Perun met them with spinning blades. Metal screamed and hissed as teeth ground their way through, and a lightsaber melted it. Screaming, Jaffa fell in bloody heaps while Perun turned around them, avoiding their weapons as if he knew where they would strike before they did it. The champions were becoming less coordinated as their numbers declined, and they spouted injury after injury. If anything, Perun was consistently moving even faster now. He was a blur, and Weir could hardly track his weapons as they struck repeatedly, rending armor to get to the flesh below. A mauled Jaffa corpse flew away from Perun, and before it could fall, he was already dismantling another champion. Blood, shredded metal, and pieces of the poor man flew in all directions before the Goa'uld mercifully finished him off.
In desperation, a Jaffa who couldn't get off his knees threw an ax at Perun's back. The Goa'uld didn't even turn. He kept slashing at another champion, yet the spinning weapon froze in midair before it could hit him in the back. Perun let go of his chain sword, caught the Jaffa he was dismantling, and shoved him against its still spinning blade. Metal shrieked, followed by the Jaffa's howl of pain. Perun held him in place until the screams turned into gurgles, then finally cut off, letting the terrible sound of a chainsaw mulching through flesh and bone carry throughout the valley.
Instead of screaming in horror, the Jaffa spectators went utterly wild with their screams of support. There was no faking their sheer joy. At that moment, Elizabeth finally understood that for all its problems, Earth had been a shining gem in a galaxy of bloodthirsty maniacs.
Perun tore the mangled corpse off the ax, picked up the weapon, and headed for the Jaffa, who threw it. A few of the champions who could still move stumbled his way in a final show of defiance.
They lasted less than a minute, leaving Perun intact, now covered in even more blood and gore. He looked around and let go of the chain weapon. There were only a few Jaffa left on unsteady feet. All other survivors were lying on the ground or on their knees, unable to move.
Perun extinguished his lightsaber and attached it to something on his belt.
"I find myself disappointed," the Goa'uld's inhuman voice struck like a whip.
He raised his hands, and every alive champion floated in the air. Perun clenched his fists, and twenty armors imploded into balls of twisted metal. Fountains of blood exploded from breaches in the broken metal, splashing all over the ravaged arena.
A moment of utter silence descended upon the valley before the crowds went insane, screaming Perun's name with religious zeal, the likes of which Elizabeth had never seen or heard before.
As I predicted A very Religious enlightening experience. Poor Elisabeth to life in a time to see all your Peaceful Intentions and Democratic Ideals are just smoke in the wind.
And this is going to terrify earth. The simple thought that there could be thousands of Goa'uld that can do what perun has shown them. Hell why are there still people that wish to explore? At this point the majority on earth should just decide that being ruled by Perun is a blessing and stay as far from the gate as they can. All while they hope that no one else ever finds earth.
And this is going to terrify earth. The simple thought that there could be thousands of Goa'uld that can do what perun has shown them. Hell why are there still people that wish to explore? At this point the majority on earth should just decide that being ruled by Perun is a blessing and stay as far from the gate as they can. All while they hope that no one else ever finds earth.