THE PLOT

[Lornedo]

In 2004, following various other failed attempts to destroy the Tau'ri, the Goa'uld Anubis sent a fleet of Ha'tak vessels to destroy every last living creature on Earth. The search for a weapon to defend Earth against impending doom eventually led SG-1 to a large dome structure beneath the ice in Antarctica - an ancient outpost that was excavated and explored.

The size of the outpost ruled out the possibility that it was the lost city, but Anubis was still feared by the SGC. The ZPM powering Earth's only defense against the Goa'uld remained where it was, much to the disappointment of Dr. Daniel Jackson.

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November 15, 2009
"Two Russian controlled 304s are on approach to this facility with hostile intentions. We suspect they want the Stargate back. Well, we're not going to let them have it! I want the required personnel in the departure area within three minutes. Colonel, General, you are to stop them gaining control of the mountain at all costs. Shoot them out of the sky if need be. Now go, and good luck."
-- General Benjamin Hamish, SGC.

In a coordinated attack, the Russian forces gained Area 51 long enough to steal a large amount of alien technology. The Cheyenne Mountain attack was a distraction, though one of the 304s sent to distract was destroyed by the George Hammond. Their motives were later revealed to be purely for financial gain through the sale of alien technology after the inevitable happened.

That's right, the truth came out. There wasn't much choice in the matter, considering the wreckage of a 304 landed just outside Colorado Springs. There would be no meteor showers this time.

"For the past eleven years, the United States Air Force has been operating a highly classified program out of the Cheyenne Mountain Complex called Stargate Command. By means of an alien device found at a dig in Giza, known as the Stargate, we have been sending teams to other planets within the Milky Way galaxy. Our goal was to find technology capable of defending Earth against such incursions, and with the public's blessing, we will continue exploring the galaxy in search of new technology and allies. Major, if you please."
-- President Hayes' televised statement from aboard the Odyssey.

Every government official worth his salt wanted in on the action. The five "superior" nations who were previously told of the Stargate's existence were scorned for not disclosing such information. As you could imagine, the summit called to discuss the future of the SGC was an absolute nightmare. Each nation wanted the gate, but most agreed that it could not stay in the hands of the Americans because of the potential problems it caused. A neutral location and a primarily civilian command was required, but they were nowhere to be found.

Both the Tok'ra and Free Jaffa were present at the summit, and a resolution was eventually achieved with a suggestion from Ka'lel. With the Tok'ra a minority, the Free Jaffa Nation desired to show its independence from the Tau'ri and requested they find another galaxy to explore.

"Now we all know what happened five years ago after Anubis' fleet was destroyed. The antarctic building is an outpost, it's not the lost city. It's not Atlantis. At the time it wasn't considered, because the government had what they wanted."
"Then where is it?"
"In the Pegasus galaxy. Which is why we need the ZPM. We need it to provide enough energy to lock the eighth chevron and open a wormhole to another galaxy."
"It would work, according to all our simulations, General."
"Exactly! Why don't we take this opportunity to find what could possibly be the first evolution of humans. Some of them could still be out there, somewhere in Pegasus. And, like you said, we need a new place for the SGC."
-- Daniel Jackson's speech to the UN summit (with interruptions from Colonel Carter and General O'Neill).

Along with the smug look of Dr. Jackson, there was agreement from almost every nation at the summit. The Russians, in exchange for continued involvement, returned all stolen technology and the three remaining 304s - Nijinsky, Tsander and Gagarin.

A skilled diplomat, Dr. Elizabeth Weir, was chosen to lead the two thousand strong Pegasus Expedition, with the support of nine fully crewed 304s and a military command with officers and enlisted from most countries on Earth. The MALP indicated that the city was flooded, making it all the more likely their destination was the lost city. A small team was immediately sent through to disable the locking mechanism holding the city on the ocean floor. They obviously succeeded, because the first ship to arrive found Atlantis floating on the surface of a planet known as Lantea.

From here, the story continues. The city is slowly coming to life, the water damage being repaired. The Pegasus Expedition is about to explore an entirely new galaxy full of unknown wonders, but who will find them first.