The Tempest is the first of its class, the EX-305 and the first British vessel under the control of the Royal Navy tried and tested in the late months of 2013 and then prepared for launch in January 2014. While her design is based upon that off the BC-303 it was changed significantly by the designers in the United Kingdom, and is the first ship to be built outside of Area 51 as the British decided to use their own resources and facilities. It is designed to be a Research and Exploration Vessel in contrast to the BC-304 which was designed specifically for combat leaving the niche wide open for ships such as the Tempest and several more are already being planned. However though she may not be designed for combat duties the Tempest is still fully capable of defending herself with four dual 4.5 inch Mark 8 Naval Gun Turrets, multiple railgun positions and six missile silos complemented with eight F-302s.
This ship is the epitome of Asgard and Human Technology. With the latest shields, hyperdrive and computer systems all complemented off with an Asgard Computer Core in the centre of the ship she is the most advanced thing to be constructed on Earth since the Ancient known as Orlin managed to build a Stargate out of a Toaster and some wire. It is the only vessel built on Earth to have a Stargate wired into the ship, the gate itself is from the Pegasus Galaxy so that it becomes the priority gate in orbit of any planet so that if the ship is in orbit it can be resupplied directly.
She lies in a hangar below a Scottish Loch, the doors sealed and shielded. Not visible to anyone who for whatever reason chooses to take a dive in a cold Scottish Loch. Her systems have been tested and retested making her ready for launch, only one system requires to be tested. That off the onboard Stargate and that system is soon to be tested by an incoming visitor. Sergeant William Thomas sat in the little booth of Stargate control. It was less elaborate than that of the one in the SGC, however it gave him a view of the gate and control over the gates systems, however had no access whatsoever to the rest of the ships systems to prevent anyone who managed to get in to take control of the ship from the gateroom. He activated the mic into the gateroom. "Prepare for Stargate initialization." His hands flew over the keyboard as a diagnostic ran, each of the chevrons turned green on the screen indicating that there was a connection to the Stargate. "Receding gate plug." The metallic cylinder that extended from the rear wall into the gate began receding into the wall, until a metallic clunk was heard. The symbols on the gate lit up, the gate was active and online. "The Stargate is online and ready for operation."
Idalia placed the last of the folded garment into the large wooden box she was using to transport her few belongings. The final things to be placed in where still on the table next to her, but before she picked them up she took the time to admire the view from her quarters one last time. The sands of the world that had become her home over the last few years stretched out below the clear night sky, looking like a sea of pale gold frozen in time. Ariadne also took the sight in, but Idalia could feel that her symbiote did not particularly care for the view. After a few seconds, she felt Ariadne’s impatience growing, and went back to the task at hand. She first picked up her Zat’nik’tel, still in its forearm holster, and placed it atop the clothes in the box. The Tau’ri had many like it, and it was more the holster that was important to bring. Next was the Tok’ra healing device that would fit over her hand. She had no need for it now, and so packed it too. Finally was a locket containing a picture of Idalia and her sister on a short golden chain.
She toyed with opening it, but seeing the picture again now would only unsettle the pair of them. Her sister had been taken by the Goa’uld a long time ago, and that was not a memory she wanted to relive. Instead, she simply placed that in the box as well, inside one of the garments.
There was a chap at the door, well, at the lax of door as there was no doors in the city built by the Tok’ra as they held no secrets from one another. At the door stood an elderly looking man, Liel who had been Adrianes guide, mentor and had more or less been charged to keep an eye on her during her transition to the Tok’ra.
Idalia closed the box, mentally asking Ariadne if she was ready, even though she knew the answer. The pair had few possessions as they had been here only a short while, and the Tok’ra placed little value on owning objects. All that Idalia had once owned had been destroyed before becoming Tok’ra anyway, except the locket. Upon noticing her guide waiting at the doorway, she realised she was slightly late. She closed and locked the box, picking it up in both hands and turning to follow the old man. “Forgive me, I took too long… I’m slightly apprehensive about this mission.”
“Would you rather you went on a mission deep cover? No, the High Council feels that this is the best mission for your transition especially as it will be your first on your own. Just remember the Tauri do not know that Adriane was once Goa’uld, and they do not need to know as she is now Tok’ra.” He walked them down the corridor, walking them through the maze of buildings.
“I know, I know…” She thought for a minute, trying to decipher the source of this sudden fear. Ariadne was not at all afraid, in fact if anything she seemed happy to be active again. It occurred to her that even knowing about the vastness of the galaxy, even having been to two worlds other than her own, it still hadn’t quite sunk in that she could actually go and see it all.
“I want to see more of this galaxy, I guess its just… fear of change?”
“Fear of change? You successfully overthrew the Goa’uld of your homeworld and became a host to a Adriane and helped her become a Tok’ra. I doubt she could of made the transition without you.” He stopped and signalled the way out of the pyramid past the columns and to the gate. “She’s all yours. The gate address is just the Earth address. Happy trails.” He turned around and walked off in the opposite direction, he’d be the last Tok’ra she’d see until she returned.
“Farewell.” Was all she said by way of reply, before walking through the two rows of obelisks towards the Stargate. She placed her box next to the DHD, and gave control of her body over to Ariadne, who knew the gate addresses far better than her, and was not plagued by irrational apprehension.
Taking control quickly, not bothering with the physical indicators due to being alone, Ariadne raised the hand that was not her hand but was and quickly pressed the chevrons for Earth. As it always did, the Stargate lighting up, then forming the brilliant cascade of the wormhole opening, finally settling at its water-like appearance. She raised the blocky device the Tau’ri had given her for identifying herself and pressed its buttons in the combination she’d been told, and waited a second or two, picking up the box.
It was finally time to stop waiting around the Tok’ra capital and go forth back into the galaxy, this time, to make it a better place.
Sgt.Thomas was waiting as the gate activated and the alarm blared on the deck with the Gateroom. “Defence teams to the gate room, incoming wormhole.” The screen gave an alert indicating that an IDC had been sent, and received as a Tok’ra IDC. “Opening the Iris.”
Corporal Miller was in the gateroom when the gate dialed in with the rest of Tempest Strike One. He took a knee and signalled for his section to do the same as he saw Sgt. Aldurren order hers to do the same. He nodded at her as it was indicated that their was an IDC received and that the iris was going to be opened. He lowered his rifle slightly but still stood ready to fire if the need arose. The first gate activation of the Tempest.
General O’Neills face was on the screen of the bridge. “Morning Captain, You all set?”
