"In times past, this world has found itself squarely in the sights of an aggressive enemy. In each case, the men and women of this world have bonded together to meet these threats.
Enemies known as the Wraith have decided for themselves to lash out at Earth and her allies. They do this not out of rational thought, but instead in a desperate attempt to cling to a past that no longer embraces them.
Their empire is an example of tyranny; it may have been wrong to take it, and it is certainly now too dangerous to let go of.
The fleet of our world stands ready to meet this threat in both the Pegasus galaxy and in our home space. If we wish to be free, if we seek to further the security of humanity, we must fight!
The billions of people, sure in their task and desire, are invincible to any force our enemy sends against us.
We will not fight this battle alone. That battle is not left to just the strong; it also resides in the hands of the vigilant, the active, and the brave.
There is no retreat, but into slavery and submission. This war was not of our choosing, but it is inevitable nonetheless.
Let it come!
We must brace ourselves for this task. Generations from this moment, those that come after us will look back at our actions and know that in this series of events is seen humankind's finest hour.
The bravest are those who have a clear vision of what stands before them—glory and danger alike—and still go out to meet it.
Freedom is a sure possession of those who have the courage to defend it.
Future generations will wonder at us, as we wonder at those in our past. If Earth appears great to you, then consider those valiant men and women who did their duty and purchased her glories.
Like those brave men and women, you must realize that happiness depends on freedom, and freedom comes only to the courageous.
I refuse to accept the end of man.
It can be said that man is immortal simply because he has the capacity to endure—that when the last bell of doom has rung and faded from the diminishing rays of the sunset, there will be one more sound: that of an inexhaustible voice still crying out.
Man will not simply endure; he will prevail.
Man is immortal not because he has an inexhaustible voice, but because he has a spirit capable of sacrifice, compassion, and endurance.
It is the privilege of every world leader to urge man on to endure, reminding him of the courage, honor, and sacrifice that have been the glories of his past.
As the Commander in Chief, I do hereby activate the National Emergency Response Plan. Updates will be passed through the Emergency Broadcast System.
Now is the time to remain strong and be with your loved ones. This crisis will pass.
God bless our fighting men and women, and God bless all who inhabit this home we call Earth."
Hayes finished.
Seconds later, the Presidential address over, the screen returned to the newscaster sitting in CNN Center. On the career journalist's face was a look of shock, concern, and uncertainty.
Realizing that the camera was on him, his composure quickly snapped back into place.
"Those were strong words from President Hayes. In this hour of uncertainty, we should remember those words. Never before in my career has such a message of confidence come from the sitting administration. Let us take those words to heart.
This is Jeremy Matheson, CNN, reporting."
Matheson spoke as they entered a commercial break.
Viewers found themselves unsure of what to say about the message they had just heard. Feelings welled up within them—shock, panic, terror, hope—mixing into an uncertain quiet.
Many simply walked out of their homes and workplaces. Looking to the sky above, they were greeted by the sight of a vibrant blue sky.
In the heart of every person looking at that sight, their hearts grew icy with an ominous feeling.
Pegasus Galaxy
Warned by the Vanir, both Atlantis and Borealis had brought their long-range sensors to maximum sensitivity.
Twelve hours later, those sensors detected the oncoming Wraith fleet.
Hyperspace velocity was well above the norm the Wraith were known to achieve.
For twelve hours, McKay and Zelenka had tracked this oncoming fleet, hoping to determine when and where the Wraith would drop out of hyperspace to rejuvenate their unshielded hulls.
Once that schedule was established, the allied fleet shifted to an interdiction stance.
At each stopping point, the Wraith were met by a group of four vessels.
The first was greeted by the Asgard.
The second gave the former followers of the Ori their chance to strike.
Forces of the Tau'ri fleet met the third.
Instead of engaging in prolonged battle, the ambushing vessels struck quickly—destroying a handful of ships before retreating safely into hyperspace.
In this way, the Wraith's numerical advantage was gradually reduced.
Despite these losses, the fleet pressed forward.
Had their ships not been recently upgraded, many more rejuvenation stops would have been required, and the interdiction strategy might have destroyed them entirely.
That opportunity, however, was lost.
Lantea System, Pegasus Galaxy
Six hundred thousand kilometers from Lantea, the allied fleet waited.
It was composed of thirty-seven Athenas, twenty O'Neills, the Hala, four Ori motherships, and twenty-eight Traveler generational ships.
Traveler vessels were paired with Asgard ships in a wingman role. Each Athena was similarly paired.
Prometheus sat near the center of the formation, protected by an escorting Athena.
To safeguard the hybrid fleet, it had been agreed that only Todd's ZPM-powered Hive ships would deploy. The rest remained in reserve, a short hyperspace jump away.
Around the fleet, F-302s, FB-302s, and UCAVs deployed—sixty from each vessel.
The Athenas alone fielded 2,220 interceptors. With Prometheus included, the total rose to 2,620.
AWACS jumpers cloaked behind the fleet stood ready to coordinate the battle. Additional jumper variants acted as fuel tankers, ensuring all fighters were fully fueled before contact.
On Lantea's ocean surface, Atlantis buzzed with activity.
Under Lieutenant Colonel Evan Lorne's command, non-essential personnel were ordered to quarters. Traveler civilians were also secured.
Klaxons blared as the city entered lockdown.
In the control room, Lorne stood.
"Chuck, is everything ready?" he asked.
"Yes, sir. The city is fully operational," Chuck replied.
"Atlantis, do you concur?"
"I do, Colonel," the city's avatar answered.
"I never thought this day would come," Lorne murmured.
"I have been ready since before your civilization began," Atlantis replied.
Lorne nodded.
"Doctor Beckett, status?"
"I'm ready, Colonel."
"Take us out."
The star drive engaged.
Atlantis rose from the ocean in a storm of mist and spray, climbing steadily. At five thousand feet, the shield activated.
Moments later, the city broke into space and accelerated toward the fleet.
Eighty kilometers behind Prometheus, Atlantis took position.
Twenty cloaked jumpers deployed, forming a defensive screen.
"Open a channel," Lorne ordered.
"Channel open."
"All ships, this is Atlantis. Enemy fleet arrival in ninety seconds."
Harbinger Vessel
Seated in his command throne, Harbinger awaited victory.
This battle would secure his dominance over Pegasus.
His fleet—one hundred five cruisers and forty-eight Hive ships—surged through hyperspace.
Rather than commit everything to Atlantis, he had split his forces. The second half, led by the queen Primary, had been sent to Earth.
It was a calculated gamble.
If humanity valued Earth more than Atlantis, they would divide their forces.
If Primary succeeded, Earth would become a feeding ground.
If she failed, she would be eliminated as a rival.
Either way, he would win.
Seconds later, his fleet dropped out of hyperspace—nine million kilometers from the allied line.
In chevron formation, they advanced at five percent light speed.
Time to contact: ten minutes, forty-five seconds.