The first thing they really needed to do, though, was to get Tao completely up to speed on the Wraith. How they acted, what they were like and also the fact that they regenerated so quickly – which was something that the Jaffa needed to know so they wouldn't be caught off guard by a Wraith assumed dead rising from the ground and attacking from behind.
Tao didn't seem at all concerned by the prospect of battling warriors who were practically immortal. He was a Jaffa, and finer warriors had never been born. Besides, Sheppard and Mitchell had both told him that they did die, and Mitchell told him that zats worked just as well on Wraith as they did on anyone else. The Jaffa had far more zats than the Tau'ri, and Tao would make sure to bring plenty.
"The idea that we've come up with so far," Melony said, standing in front of the small group but mainly addressing Tao, "is to use the fact that the Wraith can't turn down a good meal to their disadvantage."
"How so?" Tao asked.
"By letting them think there's an entire planet filled with Jaffa close at hand."
"The Wraith know that Atlantis is the key to an abundant feeding ground," Sam explained. "They don't know that the person that they tortured to get that information was from Earth – they just know it's somewhere, and that they need to get to Atlantis to find it."
"If Atlantis possesses the only Stargate leading into our system, then the Wraith must not be allowed near it." Tao said, looking at Sam and then over at Mitchell.
"They're not going to get anywhere near our peoples, Tao," Melony assured him. "We're already making plans to evacuate Atlantis and blow it up to keep the Wraith from getting their hands on it."
"Good."
"But we don't really want to do that if we can avoid it," McKay said with a pained look on his face. He didn't like that Tao was all for blowing up Atlantis, too – although he knew he should have expected the Jaffa to be.
"Explain."
Tao intimidated McKay, and Rodney didn't like that. Of course, he was also well aware of the fact that Mitchell was the only one who had any control over the Jaffa, and that if he wanted to Tao could break him in half rather easily. So it wasn't a big surprise that the pained expression stayed on his face while he spoke again.
"We can learn a lot from the Ancients if we don't destroy all their technology when we blow up Atlantis."
"Why not simply move their technology to a different location?"
"Because not all of it is portable."
"And we might learn something interesting from them," Mitchell added, much to Rodney's relief. "So we should save the city if we can."
Tao nodded. If that was what Talon wanted, he'd try to save the Ancient's city.
"So you wish to lure the Wraith to the Jaffa – who will be where?"
"On a planet somewhere…"
"And then what?"
"We blow the planet up, and the Wraith with it."
"And the Jaffa…"
"No," Talon said. "The Jaffa will not be there any longer. That's the whole point of this meeting. If we bring in 300 Jaffa to lure the Wraith to the planet in question, I fully intend to bring 300 back."
Tao nodded.
"The first thing we need to do is decide if blowing up a planet is even feasible," Jack said.
Sam looked over at him, surprised that he used the word feasible. He knew why she was giving him the odd look, and he scowled, but tempered that frown when he reached out and rested her hand lightly on her leg for just a moment.
Sam smiled.
"Blowing up a planet isn't really all that hard. Most planets are very unstable at the core anyways, and it's simply a matter of adding to that instability."
"So we need a planet," Mitchell said.
"We… kind of have one in mind…" Daniel said, suddenly looking uncomfortable.
"One that has a history of volcanic activity – which is a sure sign of the instability that we require," Sam added, also looking at Mitchell oddly. She looked almost guilty, Melony decided.
Yes, she does, Talon agreed.
"And is almost completely deserted," Daniel said, speaking up again.
"Almost?" Mitchell asked, looking over at Jack, who wasn't looking guilty at all – and was watching the others curiously.
Whatever it is, he doesn't know…Yeah.
McKay did, though. Melony could see his expression becoming uneasy as well.
"There are a few… creatures here and there on the planet in question…" Rodney said, wishing he could inch away from his position next to Tao without looking too obvious.
"A few creatures…" Melony scowled, suddenly, as she put two and two together. And felt Talon's indignation as well. "Absolutely not."
"But Colonel, it's perfect," Sam said. "We already know it's deserted, and we can-"
"It's not deserted!"
"There aren't any people on it," Rodney said.
"It's not deserted," Mitchell repeated. "And I'm not going to allow you guys to blow it up. Find another-"
"Melony…" Daniel looked just as guilty, but he was the only that dared call her by name just then. "We've looked through the mission logs left and right. You have, too, I know. You know that there are very few planets that are exactly what we need, but-"
"What the hell are you guys talking about?" Jack asked, annoyed that he even had to ask.
"They want to blow up Talonopolis," Melony said, scowling.
"What?"
"They want to blow up-"
"I heard you," Jack said, looking from Mitchell and over to Sam. "Really?"
She nodded.
"It's the best bet we have…"