I savored a fine orange juice as I immersed myself in analyzing the current reports. Pelops had generously endowed me: ten colonizable planets, densely packed into a single sector, and a colossal array of intelligence data. With the cunning of a seasoned Goa'uld, his archives contained information on the political geography of the warring clans that was inaccessible to me. This allowed him to selectively attack weak opponents, rather than commit a folly like attacking Ra. For example, the Spartans (they should be renamed) to this day believe that Pelops acted on his own initiative, and that inevitable retribution has already overtaken them. I wouldn't disappoint them, for I am Ra's heir, and that fact alone is undeniable.
All in all, life was wonderful. In just ten years, with the arrival of 75,000 Tok'ra, I'll be able to afford a well-deserved rest. I reached an agreement with the Tollana Curia to hand over all medical nanotechnology. In exchange, they increased my share of the naquatdah production to 35%, committed to constructing orbital cannons for all my planets (with detailed agreements on the number of them for each world), and granted access to their unique suits, resistant to all environmental conditions. Those same silvery robes that shone in the series, allowing their wearers to withstand the apocalyptic conditions of the planet without a single burn.
These devices are capable of regulating body temperature, heating or cooling it as needed. They also serve as light armor, which I envision as an underlayer for the new Jaffa masks I'm developing. Everything was going smoothly, except for Ra's sudden desire to increase naquatdah production quotas. Espionage is out of the question; most likely, someone discovered my Jaffa purchases and assumed I had excess capacity. This means that any new acquisitions will have to be postponed for the foreseeable future, or else processed exclusively through Kronos. Being a less-than-scrupulous Goa'uld, I have no intention of reporting Pelops's death; that would mean Ra would have to promote me to the rank of the lord he killed—a breach of basic etiquette. I can avoid such folly, especially since Ra will demand the handover of all nanotechnology and then give me a preventative "kick" for delay. And that's before he even learns about Khasar Station, the five Hattaks, the thousands of gliders, and the 33 Alkesh (soon to be 45, considering the repairs to Pelops' 12 machines).
If he finds out, he'll immediately dispatch his fleet and possibly strip me of my power. Therefore, I must diligently train the Spartans, instilling loyalty in them so that if my rank is revoked, they can arrest all of Ra's Jaffa. Of course, rebellion while the Supreme Lord of the Systems is alive is a rather foolish undertaking, and I will not voluntarily undertake such a step. Ship production is what can ensure at least some independence. In the meantime, I shouldn't become too complacent about my successes and focus my efforts on exploring the Stargate network while the Jaffa are training.
The specific nature of my forces dictates a military doctrine built solely on high mobility and technological superiority. After all, replacing a dead Jaffa takes fifteen years, and that's assuming everyone starts having children right now. Incidentally, I've lifted many restrictions: boys are no longer thrown off cliffs, and Jaffa can have as many children as they want. Nevertheless, they are a fighting nation, and comparing the Jaffa to even the 18-hour training required for a human recruit is simply laughable. The problem is that humans will always have replacements, while my Jaffa reproduction conveyor belt will only be operational in ten years.
The downsides of this approach are obvious: an extremely long time to restore lost resources and bring them up to the required level of competence. The upside of a militant nation is that the Jaffa don't rape, burn, or take out their losses on civilians. They can be instilled (and literally hammered) with the understanding that every ordinary person is my property, and damaging the master's property is unacceptable. So the Spartan administrators went out into the cold. No matter how useful they were, they retained the notion of having some kind of entitlement to people, which is unacceptable to me. For them, only war exists.
While searching through the addresses, I came across Altair, which apparently matches the version from the series—an underground bunker. It looks like I've found Harlan, and I'll have to mentally prepare myself for interacting with this android. After all, it contains artifacts capable of advancing any science by millennia: functioning prosthetics, computers capable of housing human consciousness and processing tactile sensations. And there's an entire planet strewn with artifacts! Archaeological excavations, and perhaps the discovery of other worlds—all of this requires cooperation with the Tollans, since I can't spare competent archaeological forces with the proper understanding of technology.
The Tollans and Asgard have already established contact with Unity. We've collectively isolated the planet, moving the gate farther away and erecting a shield filled with hazardous gases. The Asgard have also deployed equipment that, when scanned professionally, makes the planet appear completely uninhabitable. Unity has already managed to create a humanoid form, and my and the Tollan scientists are writing entire volumes on the supposed biology of these creatures. Can they even be called biological beings? Hardly, since they are crystals. Egeria passively studied their "bodies" and nearly went mad from the realization of the potential energy hidden in such small quantities. She assures us that if we could replicate this effect in our technology, it would be a breakthrough. She makes it sound as if I don't understand it myself, but we're not ready for such a feat yet.
The Asgard could do something, but they're clearly not interested. One potential use for these new theoretical crystals is to absorb energy surges during intense combat, when the wiring sparks. This isn't to mention that Unity is an extremely friendly race, willing to cooperate. Their understanding of technology is more of a biological trait (we need to come up with a name for the natural abilities of sentient stones), as they are essentially energy, capable of being transformed into one technology or another. Therefore, they may be natural engineers. True, at first they lacked the vocabulary to explain what exactly was wrong with this or that technology. Expecting them to understand the Ancient hyperdrive and explain its operation would be naive. They can transform themselves into this hyperdrive (if it's small, the law of conservation of energy will still apply), but how it works is beyond them. Even though they wear human bodies, their entire biology is just temporary physics to them, just like it is to me, because I know how to handle quantum physics. Thanks to Goa'uld knowledge.
Isara entered my office with a thick folder of documents.
- You must sign this.
"Me?" Usually, all the administrative work fell to her. Besides, we're digitizing our document flow, using digital keys instead of signatures.
"These are official documents for history," my queen answered.
— Calligraphic handwriting?
- Exactly.
"Very well, so be it." The Tollan bureaucracy was extremely efficient and progressive, and I adopted it as well. "You work, the Jaffa train, and trade with Tollana continues to improve."
"Trade is going better precisely because the Jaffa are training. And you're not capturing planets, so my job is easier. Tell me, can we sell medical nanite technology to planets that are part of a protected treaty?"
I thought about it. Of course, this technology would be spread throughout my domain, providing positive propaganda and, quite simply, saving people from death. But what about the "protected planets"? According to the Treaty, no such planet can possess technologies that pose a threat to the Goa'uld. My transfer of such technologies could be perceived as an attempt to "plant" them for subsequent "legal" annexation. As if I were some kind of maniac. On the other hand, medical technology can't possibly pose a threat to the Goa'uld, since it only prolongs human life. And it's unclear how the obelisks at the gates on the protected planets would react to this. I don't particularly want to tell Thor how I'm circumventing all the treaty restrictions.
"We'll try, but we'll establish that this isn't a gift, but a purchase on credit. We'll negotiate directly with the local planetary leadership. It will work out that they'll buy the required number of devices from us and then chase down the debtors themselves. They won't break ties with us, after all, children will be born who will need bracelets with control nanites. But don't make the amount prohibitive. A month or two of income will be enough. For our residents, we'll pay them at cost plus a small bonus to the workers' salaries. Producing 50 million devices for free would be a blow to our budget."
"I'll do it. I also want to say that the Spartans have already built their houses."
"Did they complain that this wasn't the work of great warriors?" I asked her.
- Certainly.
— Did they explain to them that they are now shit?
— They explained.
- I'm so glad.
The military compound where my Jaffa lived was quickly emptied to discipline the Spartans. But it remained the central base for theoretical training, as well as a school for Jaffa children, where they were prepared for devoted service to their master—me. To expedite human logistics, they maintained a private military network of rings, allowing children and adults from various settlements to attend the military academy. Over the course of the Jaffa's existence on this planet, everything settled into its own rhythm, even the training system.
I was furious that they complained about 18-hour workouts. Lazybones! I doubled the workload to 20 hours, wanting to knock some sense into their thick heads.
"Training is common sense," Isara retorted with a caustic grin. "It's just a way to keep them off your case."
"Hey, but it works! They think I'm forging the best soldiers in the galaxy. And it's true!"
With the increase in troop numbers comes the opportunity to expand the navy's manpower. However, the selection process for the navy will only be held after a year of grueling, 18-hour training. Then comes the selection process, where training will continue. And I want to emphasize: there is no leniency in the navy. Training lasts longer than McVay himself sleeps, and unlike a Jaffa, he needs rest.
The crew of Khasar Station is predominantly female, but they work with dedication. "Training" attacks are carried out daily on the station and the planet. The Urvashi fleet constantly clashes with male squadrons, despite having spent several hours fighting each other beforehand. In the glider training regimens, newcomers will feel almost no difference upon joining the fleet (the exception being pregnant women, for whom only the practical part is simplified, not the theoretical part). The same 18 hours of training and constant combat. I think it's because my Jaffa don't need to guard anyone, which leaves them with plenty of free time, which we use for training.
What's the point of being a Jaffa pilot? They spend 12 hours a day, 84 hours a week, 336 hours a month at the controls. By age 40, they don't become wrecks, unfit for duty. Even when pilots become more numerous and shift work has to be implemented, their numbers will only increase. Earth can't boast such a thing. An Earth combat pilot is already an old man at 40, with slowed reaction times, impaired coordination, and a host of chronic illnesses. Jaffa, however, thanks to their physiology, remain in excellent shape at 20, 120, and with nanites, even at 220.
My motto could be: "While others are guarding the slaves, I'm pumping."
"Speaking of military matters, funding has been increased tenfold," I sighed.
"Don't sigh, the economy is important," Isara countered. "Of course, Pangar becoming our colony helped. Expanding food production on each planet also increases surpluses. But they need personal finances, clothing, everything else."
"And the military is a non-productive sector. But it seems to me that the industrial potential of our planets is steadily growing. New enterprises are opening thanks to cheap electricity. Setting up a factory is a simple matter."
— Over time, the question of sales markets will arise.
— Why do you think I get involved with the Treaty planets?
— Because they have a hard-working population that mines naquadah for you?
"That too," I sighed again. "You know, I think I'm bored. I understand that administrative work is important, and that's what wins wars. But the adrenaline is pumping through me, and I want to do something else. Conquer someone. Or punch another Goa'uld in the face, asserting my dominance."
"Please don't seize anything for the next year. There's always Kenya; you can make it another government under your control. Or fight the British troops."
"You don't like earthlings, but that's a great idea! I just need to explore a couple of planets. I'll take a couple of Maine's men with me."
"How's the investigation into Unit 731 and Mengele going?" Isara asked, wincing at the mention of their names.
"The Tollans work in three shifts. Each one has an hour of interrogation. I hope you finish off these bastards soon. Executing these... creatures will give the Jaffa confidence that I'm as much a Goa'uld as they are. But most of all, I'm consumed by the desire to destroy them all."
- You can kill them at any moment, why...
"Because of their sacrifices. They took their names. All I can bring back are their faces. So that the faces of their victims will live on for centuries, and everyone will know of the great evil these people committed. Every time one of their descendants thinks about human experimentation, let them go to the museum and see the fate of past experimenters."
— Fair enough. And as for your boredom, can't you dispel it with research?
"Yes, I have many projects for nanites. But they're mostly technical, not biological. Pelops has amassed a huge amount of data on the subject, but it's all biological. Essentially, I'd have to start from scratch. But yes, I'm interested. Theoretically, there's a material similar to what I need—replicators. However, each of them is like the computer you have, even more advanced. My goal isn't to create something like that, but something much simpler. Also made of nanites, also capable of interaction and communication, but existing solely for repairing technology. If you think about it, for repairing everything. But that would take decades, if not centuries. I'd have to start from scratch. Pelops's nanites are carbon, while I need ones made of metals."
"And what will the future look like in ten years?" she asked, staring into space.
"Like Earth in the twentieth century, but with high technology. People will move to cities, as just 4% of the population can provide 96% with food. High technologies, such as robotic machines, teleportation, and universal electrification, will create a unique situation. Over time, part of the population will begin to migrate into space to extract minerals. The service sector will begin to develop. Yesterday's farmers will become workers, and then workers will turn into cultural figures. They will form a large stratum consuming the goods they produce. And what comes next—no idea."
— Mechanization is quite fast.
"I think in 10-15 years there will be 60-100 million of us on this planet alone. It will take a long time for people to realize that infant mortality has become zero, and that you don't need to have 10-15 children to ensure the survival of your offspring. Pangar is already grasping these concepts, so population growth there won't be as significant. But all the "medieval" planets will be actively producing population. Ultimately, my Empire will reach 100-150 million."
Isara groaned.
— There are 800 million people on Earth, in China, and they are somehow controlled.
"Don't mention Mao Zedong's name in front of me!" she shouted.
- Okay, okay! I won't. Don't shout like that.
I need to collect a couple more additions to the Jaffa's gear. They already carry backpacks for useful items, so I can expand that list.