Chapter Eleven: Deals to Break

"We choose not to involve ourselves in this matter," the council president said, his words transcribed by the council scribe for archive record. "As we are not directly attached to your problem it is our decision to remain as outsiders and render neither action nor aid. It is the will of the council, so let it be written."

Lathan leapt to his feet, "Not directly attached? They are dressed as Vekeynesians; in these guises they steal people. You're involved whether you like it or not. Some day soon they will kidnap the wrong person and then the captive's people will come for you. You're involved sir."

He looked down from his raised seat imperiously, "Your threats have been noted, yet it is still the will of the council to choose not to involve ourselves. And should others come, they will find the same answer as you have. It is not our trouble."

"We thank the Vekeynesian High Council for their time." Weir glanced at the faces of their alliance noting the anger and disappointment splashed across them, "We'll go plead our case to the Harkairn. Perhaps they will be more open." Somehow, she thought slamming her head into a brick wall might be slightly more productive. The other alliance members clearly felt the same judging by their body language and the frustration that radiated off of them.

Lathan seethed quietly as he walked in step beside her, a feeling John Sheppard shared. He would "give anything for some C-4 right now," as he whispered quietly. "If only to stick some right up the council president's –" Teyla bumped his side purposefully, her face didn't show it but her eyes told him she felt the same and it made him smile just a little. He tapped his radio once, "Ready the jumpers, Major, and radio Beckett that we'll be gone a little longer."

"Understood, sir."

"On second thought, he'd take Ronon over C-4 any day. If only he was with them, he could scare the council into helping. All Sheppard would have to do get his people out, then lock the doors quietly behind them, and leave Ronon to his work. It could be fun." He smirked for only Teyla to see.

"Colonel," Weir spoke loud enough to garner his attention. She sighed and for a moment the diplomat mask slipped, the drained feeling she felt peeked through. Of course, they all felt that way after searching, gathering information for months, and arguing their case to the High Council for the past two days. The Atlanteans had only been dealing with this for a little over six months while other alliance members lived with the problem for much longer. It still frustrated the hell out of her though. "The Harkairn province, please." Lathan sat beside her. "Perhaps they'll listen," she murmured to no one in particular.

Less than an hour later, Jumper 1 and the three others landed inside the capital city. No one stood though; they would not step outside until a representative of the government appeared. It allowed all twenty-four members of the alliance and their respective security forces to remain in safety as well. Yanid smoothed her gown as though she was trying to soothe her nerves. Just as the last time, the waiting was fraught with tension; but, finally a small contingent emerged from the capital flanked by guards. The jumpers opened and slowly, looking their most authoritative, the alliance exited.

"Prince Jaipeth sends his greetings to you and wishes to know your business," the robed little woman bowed deeply for a moment and then straightened.

"This is Yanid of Raellia," Weir said gesturing to her right. "And this is Lathan Radim of the Genii on my left. May I also introduce Teyla Emmagen of Athos, Karis of Qatal, the Sirani High Priestess, Minister Arvid of Xetian, Tvaere of Belufon, as well as the representatives of the Unified Clans. And I am Dr. Elizabeth Weir of Atlantis."

For a moment the woman seemed taken aback but recovered quickly, "Prince Jaipeth will wish to speak with you immediately."

The prince was young, no more than fifteen and looked like he should be outside playing rather than sitting on a dais in a grand hall. He rose as they entered and crossed the hall, "Welcome to Harkairn," he offered in greeting as his advisors grumbled in the background. He bowed to each representative as they were introduced. "It is not everyday I meet such distinguished visitors. How can I be of service?"

"Prince Jaipeth, we request your assistance with your neighbours the Medhans," Weir spoke, her voice neutral. "We have evidence they have been kidnapping citizens of the peoples represented here and many other planets. They capture their victims at random, yet, whole clans and tribes have also disappeared. What makes their crime worse is they masquerade as Vekeynesians at times, and it's not only Medhans who are involved. One of Lathan Radim's men managed to subdue his captor who was later identified as Harkairn. The victims are being held prisoner with no ransom asked in return. We can only calculate their numbers to be in the thousands."

"My people? They cannot be involved," Jaipeth replied incredulously. "It makes no sense." His gaze fell across their faces, trying to discern the truth. "We do not freely associate… I do not understand."

Unfolding her clasped hands, "Given your histories I know it's difficult to believe," replied Weir. "Yet it's not impossible. However, the more important issue is our people being held against their will. As there is no formal Medhan government, we first approached the Vekeynesian High Council - "

" – and they chose not to respond," he interrupted her. "It is not you; the High Council prefers to keep to themselves. They would not assist us if we ever required it. We may be one world, yet, as you have found we are wholly divided peoples. But this theft of thousands troubles me." He snapped fingers, "Irie, fetch me the records from the last overview and… Comm Ragan should still be in the city, send him back here as well." Jaipeth rubbed his temple wearily, "If they held all your people we should have noticed – we would have noticed!"

The door of the hall flew open, "Prince Jaipeth."

"Comm Ragan."

The man bowed curtly, his face scarred, harsh with unforgiving angles. Ragan's eyes glittered darkly as he looked over the alliance contingent. "I thought our meeting concluded some time ago."

"It did, but these guests have leveled some serious charges at the Medhans which I felt you should hear." Jaipeth sighed, "Many of their collective citizens have been kidnapped and they have proof some of your people are involved. To complicate this, the captors are posing as Vekeynesian and some Harkairn are working in conjunction with them. I have asked for the records of the last overview to be brought – ah, here they are. Dr. Weir, we conduct overviews every ten lunae cycles as per the Peace Accords. This last one was conducted a little more than three cycles past. Ragan, if you would read our findings."

With a slight nod of his head he took the record book from Irie. "The record states," he spoke loudly, his voice rough and measured. "Some advancement in the areas of industry and farming have occurred; however, it does not deviate from expected increases as a result of growth within the province. The level of technology commensurates with the levels as previously observed. The only significant change is in population which has decreased."

"And why did the Medhan population decrease Ragan?"

"We lost them in a rosura fever epidemic. The weakest succumbed first, those too sick or unable to fight the illness. Many of the elders passed as well, only the strong survived."

"If I may," Weir interjected. "How did you prevent further outbreaks especially with the high death rate?"

"We burned the bodies so that our soil and water would not be contaminated." He did not notice the look that passed between Lathan, Weir, and Sheppard. "We are still burning victims as it has taken much time for our people to recover their strength, hopefully we will be done with it soon – another six days or so I think."

Her eyes narrowed slightly, "How do you answer the claims of kidnapping?" Her voice had become frosty, the obfuscations by Ragan and the relative acceptance Jaipeth displayed wore too thin. It was plain to see the Comm was lying, and the prince's advisors should have picked that something was off in his responses. Nothing felt right about the whole situation anymore. "Well?"

Ragan stared at her for a moment as if sizing her up; he broke his gaze when Sheppard's hand came to rest on his P-90 near the trigger guard. "I can state with full knowledge that no such act has taken place on our soil nor would we harbour any such criminal. I can only offer that perhaps you are mistaken for no one in the Medhan province has carried out such an act. However…" His voiced oozed and dripped placation, "Some of our people have chosen to build societies on other worlds, as I cannot vouch for them I suggest you seek your people there." He turned towards the prince, "Prince Jaipeth, I hope I have answered satisfactorily your questions. If so, I must beg your pardon for I have many matters needing my attention."

"Of course," he replied with a wave of his hand. He rubbed his eyes tiredly, "Dr. Weir, other guests, I hope this has satisfied you. Our records and Comm Ragan's own testimony show that your claims, at least in regards to the Medhan province, are unfounded. I can only suggest you seek your people elsewhere, and wish the ancestors' blessings you find everyone you have lost."

In other situations Weir might have tried to implore him once more, but Prince Jaipeth had already left the hall with his advisors trailing behind. Only Irie remained. "We can see ourselves out," she said to the woman and turned. She waited until they were safely outside the capital's corridors before speaking again. "Lathan, get word to your man," she said lowly so only those closest could hear. "Colonel Sheppard, your mission has a 'go'. Bring them home and let the others do what they will."