I took a moment to peer out at the star-dappled cosmos, letting the hum of boots marching around me settle in my chest. Though only a handful of years had passed in real time, my Ancient physiology—and a little help from time-dilation—had me standing at the cusp of my mid-twenties. Gone was the gawky teen grappling with newly won cosmic power; in his place, an older, sharper version of me, still driven by the same unwavering ambition.
I moved over to my personal ship the Phoenix . I now had a full crew aboard—a cadre of Alteran clones who volunteered for duty on my personal flagship. Most were around my age, at least on the surface, and they wore sleek uniforms that combined Ancient aesthetics with Mandalorian-inspired armor plating. The synergy was both practical and oddly stylish.
New Replicator XOs
Standing near the rear consoles, I spotted Morgan, Amelia, Lilith, and Sarah—my original replicator Valkyries. Over the years, they'd evolved into extensions of myself , each with a distinct personality and skill set. Now that i had created a new power structure, they would spend less time stationed on ships and more time acting as my roving troubleshooters and high-level advisors.
But for each of my four existing Phoenix-class warships, I'd recently fabricated a new type of replicator—a specialized "AI in humanoid form." This new generation was designed to serve as Executive Officers (XOs) and integrate seamlessly with each vessel's systems. Where I'd once relied heavily on mechanical droids, these replicator XOs offered flexibility and adaptability that pure code couldn't match.
Warship 1 (Milky Way): XO "Atria" – Tall blond Viking looking girl that seemed to have an aggressive streak.Warship 2 (Milky Way): XO "Cyrene" – A girl that looks almost like Alexandra daddario and was oddly caring .Warship 3 (Pegasus): XO "Elys" – Blue haired girl that was Reserved, leaning toward a gentler approach in crew interactions.Warship 4 (Pegasus): XO "Vara" – Red haired girl that was similar personality wise to Atria
Each replicator XO occupied a physical body on the bridge, but they could also merge mentally with the ship's infrastructure—essentially functioning as a living AI. They maintained subroutines for manning helm controls, sensor arrays, and even weapons in an emergency, all while supporting their Alteran (or clone) Captain.
Warship Dispositions
At present, each galaxy claimed two of our existing Phoenix-class warships:
Two in the Milky Way orbiting near The Anvil (and the city-ship that served as the Milky Way Legion's main base).Two in Pegasus hovering near the old Asuran homeworld, where the Pegasus Legion established its seat of power.
The presence of an XO replicator on every ship ensured each ship would operate as i intended, even if commanding officers fell ill or were away on missions. The biggest benefit to the replicator ship AI was that each replicator had a list of orders hard coded allowing me to take or disable a ship in a second.
Meanwhile, my own flagship, The Phoenix—the original I'd first constructed—had at last been assigned a proper crew. Two hundred loyal Alterans from the new legionary ranks filled out all key positions, from engineering to weapons control. Working alongside them felt both humbling and triumphant, a testament to how far we'd come.
Four More in the Pipeline
But we weren't stopping at four warships. High above the shining circle of The Anvil, an additional quartet of Phoenix-class hulls hung in various stages of completion. These skeletal frameworks would, in time, become new capital ships—each presumably equipped with its own replicator XO and human crew. Considering our production lines, I estimated they'd be spaceworthy within a few months' time.
To watch The Anvil's forging arms gracefully welding titanic hull segments was a reminder of our might. A single ship of this class could humble entire fleets of Goa'uld motherships—an empire of them would be unstoppable. The only real limit was how we chose to use this power.
Dividing the Legions
Beyond the new warships, the rest of our forces had settled into their designated posts:
Milky Way Legion: 10,000 clones stationed on the city-ship orbiting The Anvil, plus two warships.Pegasus Legion: 10,000 clones stationed on the city-ship at the Asuran homeworld, plus two warships.Midway City-Ship: A fallback outpost with a skeleton crew, bridging the two galaxies.A Moment of Reflection
Standing on The Phoenix's bridge, I let out a quiet breath of satisfaction. I was older now—mid-twenties, though my life experiences might've taken me far beyond that. In the reflection of a polished console, I glimpsed a face both familiar and changed. My eyes carried the memory of forging this empire, one leap of faith at a time.
The next step lay ahead. We had the ships, the manpower, and a massive stable of ZPMs. My original Valkyries—Morgan, Amelia, Lilith, and Sarah—remained my personal aides, ensuring I never lacked for counsel or trusted lieutenants.
"Helia," I murmured, addressing my caretaker AI that interfaced across the empire. "Are the new XOs integrated yet?"
A soft chime of acknowledgment came. "Yes, Marty. They report full operational readiness."
I nodded, turning to the assembled officers on the bridge—replicators and clones alike. "We've built the armies, built the ships. Let's see where our boundaries truly lie."