Jack finally broke into the silence.
"So we can use the crystals and the things that… Kale and his buddies… brought here to open a gate back to Earth anytime?"
McKay nodded.
"And we can do it from anywhere?"
"No. The Atlantis gate is the only one that will gate to Earth. The Ancients set it up that way as a failsafe against the Wraith. They wanted-"
"Do the Wraith know about Earth?" Jack interrupted.
Weir shrugged.
"We're not sure."
"They didn't find out about it from Colonel Sumner," Sheppard said. "And non of our other people have fallen into their hands long enough to be interrogated. I'd say they have to wonder where the new threat is coming from, but I don't think they know about Earth, no."
"We need to keep it that way," Jack said. "If the Wraith are that dangerous-"
"They are." Rodney interrupted.
"Then we need to keep them here."
"Colonel Mitchell had the same idea, General," Weir said. "Which is why she set up her lab on another planet and wasn't coming to Atlantis through that gate, instead planning on going through that gate to A-021, which is uninhabited, and coming here from there, and vice versa. That way there wouldn't be any trail back here."
"But you guys are able to go straight there?"
Weir shrugged.
"We didn't plan on going to visit all that often – and knew she'd come to us when she needed something or had information we could use. The Wraith were something she was studying – we were still trying to find a way home. That was our primary goal."
Jack nodded; that made sense, and it sounded like a plan Melony would come up with.
"So now that we have the ability to make contact with Earth…?"
"We need to concentrate on the Wraith." This was from Sheppard.
"I would like to see one of the Wraith," Teal'c said. He still looked as if he didn't actually believe that they existed – and Talon had been just as skeptical, Sheppard remembered. It had to be a Goa'uld/Jaffa thing.
"We have videos and reports," Weir said, looking at Teal'c, but including everyone in the invitation.
Jack nodded, standing up and effectively ending the meeting.
"That's the first order of business, then. I want to know as much about these things as I can. Once Melony wakes up, I'm going to want to be able to ask her what her intentions are now that she has… a couple… of Wraith ships to study, and what she needs from us."
And what he'd be able to do to help, because the Atlantean expedition might have intended to let her face these things alone, but Jack had no intention of allowing it. And unlike them, he had the rank to make her do what he wanted her to do – even if he had to bully her into it.
Weir nodded.
"You're planning on being here a few days?"
"If not longer."
"We'll find you some quarters, then."
"Thank you."
"I'd still like that tour…" Daniel said.
"I can show you around," Teyla offered.
"Great."
This would kill two birds with one stone, since it would also give him a chance to ask her about her people and their customs – once an archeologist, always an archeologist, after all.
"I want to see the reports," Sam said.
"As do I."
"We'll set it up in the lounge," Weir said, gesturing to Rodney and asking him in that gesture to take care of it.
McKay nodded, and headed out the door.
"Follow me."
Everyone except Daniel and Teyla did just that, filing out of the room with very little conversation. The Athosian looked at Daniel, her expression cheerful.
"What would you like to see first?"
OOOOOOOOO
The lounge turned out to be just that – although Jack had expected another briefing room of sorts. This room was large and filled with all the comforts of home – literally. It looked like this was where they'd brought all the things they'd brought from home – including books of all sorts, several videos which were neatly stacked next to a large view screen (that didn't look like anything they'd brought with them and was probably an Ancient one modified for their own use) and even a couple of bowls of popcorn.
"How are your supplies holding up?" Jack asked, looking at the popcorn in surprise. Of course, popcorn wasn't like beef or something – it lasted forever if you didn't pop it – but he was still surprised they had any left.
"We're glad to see yours," Weir admitted. "We ran out of MREs and other basics fairly early on, but have been bartering with Kale and several other races of peoples for what we need – and some of the Athosians have taught us to use raw materials like grains to bake breads and such."
"How about coffee and-"
"We're fine on coffee," McKay said, smugly. "One of the first things Colonel Mitchell found on Talonopolis was a large number of bushes that grow berries extremely similar to coffee beans once they're harvested and dried. We've managed to stay ahead of that need – although I do hope you've brought some candy, because I want chocolate."
Sam smiled.
"I know we brought some."
Plus the MREs all had candy in them – or cookies or something.
"We brought extra coffee," Jack said. Daniel had insisted on bringing an extended supply, and Jack had known that Melony would never turn down a cup. It was absolutely no surprise to him that Melony had found coffee once hers had given out. If there was a deserted planet with only one coffee bean buried twenty feet down and under a large pile of stones, he knew she would have been able to find it.
"We can always use it," Weir said, smiling. She gestured for them to sit down, and everyone – including Kale and the other two Light Ones, as well as Sheppard, and McKay all sat down. They already knew what was on the videos – Kale knew somewhat as well – but they'd stick around in case there were questions.
"I could use a cup," Jack said, sitting on one of the sofas next to Carter, and scowling when Kale sat beside him.