I resolved the issue. You don't need aliases. Yes, they can be used, but you can make your references via dialogue.
Those references can be 'getisid' or an alias.
I used the Story Manager to start both quest 1 and 2.
Each quest has its own dialogue.
Since the dialogue was in Quest 2, I assumed it would advance the stage there.
Finally, yes it worked.
For what ever reason, the original script didn't work, I kept trying to re do it different methods, then put it back, now it works.
Some of the declared variables were not used, but I didn't feel like removing them, in case I use them later.
;BEGIN FRAGMENT CODE - Do not edit anything between this and the end comment
;NEXT FRAGMENT INDEX 3
Scriptname TIF__03010293 Extends TopicInfo Hidden
;BEGIN FRAGMENT Fragment_2
Function Fragment_2(ObjectReference akSpeakerRef)
Actor akSpeaker = akSpeakerRef as Actor
;BEGIN CODE
;
; StartQuest.Start()
StartQuest.SetObjectivedisplayed(ObjectiveNum)
StartQuest.SetStage(StageNum)
;END CODE
EndFunction
;END FRAGMENT
;END FRAGMENT CODE - Do not edit anything between this and the begin comment
Quest Property StartQuest Auto
Int Property ObjectiveNum Auto
Int Property StageNum Auto
Location Property akLocation Auto
Actor Property akActor1 Auto
Actor Property akActor2 Auto