In the command vehicle, immersed in analyzing the accumulated data, Egeria and I sorted through the trophies generously delivered to our gates by prisoners. Pelops's technology, miniaturized and actively applied to the Jaffa, opened up astonishing possibilities. The warriors captured targets using various methods: some, like Imotekh, were "shandared" over the head, others used "Z" rounds, others used tear gas, and still others used nets. All this was done to identify the most effective means before storming the central city. "Intar" proved useless and was ignored. "Z" rounds merely slowed the enemy without incapacitating them. The nets required reinforcement, but overall they proved effective, as did tear gas and smoke.
Each Spartan was equipped with a bracelet containing a computer that controlled the nanites in their body. These nanites suppressed the activity of genes responsible for diseases. The exception was female Jaffa without a "bag": for them, this function was disabled. Pelops likely had only a few symbionts, although at his level of 75,000, that's a considerable number. I don't have such a thing, even though I have the money, but it would have attracted unnecessary attention. Thus, the women received "civilian" nanite modifications, and the men received combat-ready ones. The latter included life extension, regeneration, resistance to chemical weapons, and increased strength and speed. A complete package that saved on a transmitter. A superb human modification.
"Pelops even considered jamming the signals," Egeria commented, hacking one of the devices they'd found. "The transmitter is too close to the person to jam their nanites. But transmitting orders is entirely possible." Since we were familiar with his technology (he didn't password-protect the other devices), the firewalls were breached relatively quickly. We studied the code in detail.
"His Jaffa turned out to be truly outstanding," I stated.
An entire school of thought stood behind this entire project, primarily Jaffa women. They retained their fertility for up to 170 years, technically lacking immunity because they were Jaffa. However, instead of symbionts, nanites performed all their functions, and even better. The symbionts served as a means of controlling their own army of men. What would happen if this were applied to humans? Life extension and perfect health, immune to a vast list of diseases. Thanks to Pelops. Of course, I need more comprehensive research data, but what we have is quite sufficient. Redesigning the bracelet and using nanites is an excellent tool for many people. Jaffa women, of course, don't need it, since they carry larvae, as the Tok'ra call them. But for ordinary people, it's perfect. And there's a good deal to be had in bargaining with the Tollan. A ready-made method for life extension would surely interest them. What's more, on cue, the nanites are supposed to deliver controlled adrenaline injections, boosting strength and speed to the limit. There are codes for transmitting the signals, and thanks to Egeria, I've gotten a bit of a knack for biology.
"However, in the new versions, he completely abandoned the implantation of knowledge," I noted.
"The Jaffa must be doing something," Egeria replied. "It's extremely interesting. If we use something like this, any mortality rate from disease will collapse. All standard pathogens will be ignored."
— A panacea, similar to tretonin.
Egeria winced. She was uncomfortable mentioning the name of the medicine the Pangarians had tried to administer to her children.
"It's all about universality. When the nanites are turned off, a person retains immunity to all the diseases the nanites helped fight. When exposed to any pathogen, the nanites activate a program that stimulates the production of the necessary antibodies. This is how immunity develops. With these nanites, an ordinary person can dance and kiss everyone, even in a damn plague-ridden village."
— However, these bracelets do not have any analogue of neural network learning.
"Yes, perhaps there's a lab somewhere with software upgrade capabilities. And that's considering it only applies to women. Apparently, he was interested in maintaining the constant population of his troops."
I watched as my troops slowly encircled the city, taking control of the main roads and setting up checkpoints manned by Rhino machine gunners—my modified version of the M113, which didn't even exist yet. My vehicles could withstand plasma fire, though. Aircraft were also deployed. It's doubtful, but I'll offer the garrison an honorable surrender. Although I'm almost certain they'll send me packing, considering they only have a few hundred staffs left, at most. However, it's worth remembering that urban combat is the most dangerous, so I didn't even engage in it on Prakitia. Even with spears and swords, the Spartans would be a formidable opponent.
It was precisely as a show of force that twelve gliders were deployed, ready to bombard pockets of resistance with tear gas at a moment's notice. I didn't think they'd agree to surrender, but I'll do my best. If you analyze the combat effectiveness of Jaffa women, they can be ruled out as combat units. They're simply very healthy and long-lived people, susceptible to the effects of "inthar." I'll be fighting not 150,000 elite supersoldiers, but 50,000-65,000 spread across two planets. Given how I trained the women, they're every bit as capable as the men in war. And the girls' training for home defense should be the same as that of ordinary Jaffa, but Pelops has delegated administrative duties to them. While that may be logical in some ways, they're essentially aristocratic, which the Goa'uld don't like. Yes, Jaffa women are cult leaders, but they're not damn administrators. Also due to the Goa'uld's dislike of women. Women are considered very treacherous. Egeria now has a reputation.
"Imotekh, as soon as sunrise begins, go under the flag of truce and try to convince them to surrender," I said to my Bratak counterpart.
He replied that he would do so, and added that the Goa'uld also had flags of truce, for discussing various aspects of the war, mainly for such ultimatums of surrender.
"We'll need to capture Pelops's laboratories. I'm sure he's not on Aegis; he's most likely on Sparta. That fits into a specific logic. We could block the planet by constantly dialing the address," Egeria said.
"Pelops's domain is very compact; they could send alkeshi. And I don't want to destroy them, even though I could," I countered.
"Very well. But I'd prefer to destroy it; it's safer," Egeria countered.
"He might be wary. He's the one committing robbery, or rather, his warriors are. He might think it's the same kind of robbery directed at him. Although, if he's anything like me, when will they report this to him, locked in the lab?"
"Not anytime soon," Egeria agreed. "It's pretty good electronic warfare, but other planets might have better communications systems."