"They fell for it."
Melony and Sam looked up from one of the equations that they had been working on with the shield-dropping device. While they'd been figuring it out, Daniel and Elizabeth had entered the cavern – and had gated in from Atlantis, since that's where they had been – and had pretty much snuck up on them. Of course, the two had been so preoccupied with the problem, a herd of elephants could have snuck up on them just then.
"What?"
"The Wraith," Daniel said, his expression torn between excitement and nervousness. "They fell for the trick. The hive ship that was heading for Atlantis changed course a few hours ago – and we're positive this is where they're heading."
"All of them?" Sam asked.
"We don't know for sure," Weir said. "Grodin's keeping an eye on them as well as we can – we don't know where all of the hive ships are, after all. But once we know, we'll let you know, too."
Sam looked over at Melony, who was nodding.
"How long do we have, do you think?"
"Probably another seven to ten days. Maybe less – but certainly no more than that."
"Then we'd better get to work," she said. There was a lot to do, still. "Thanks, you guys."
Elizabeth nodded.
"Is there anything we can do on this end?"
"Nothing I can think of."
But there was plenty to get done.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
The next day the Mok were relocated. And while she had a lot to do, there was no way Melony or Talon wanted to miss watching this. Tao expressed a desire to watch as well, so Mitchell and her First Prime joined Carson, Rodney and Kale in a Jumper, and they flew out to the area that the largest 'herd' of Mok were.
McKay asked Melony to pilot the Jumper, and he kept in constant radio contact with the pilot of the Wraith dart – a Lieutenant who had been the top consideration of the pilots that hadn't been chosen to fly the Jaffa collecting mission. At McKay's command, the Wraith dart swooped in over the unsuspecting Mok and the pilot toggled the device that started beaming them up. A moment later the Mok were gone, and McKay had a smug look on his face. Which wasn't really all that uncommon, since he looked smug quite often.
"They are alright?" Tao demanded, looking at the now empty clearing.
"They're fine," Carson said. "We thought that we were going to need more than one dart for the operation, but the Wraith machines, or databases, or whatever you want to call them, are capable of holding a lot more information – in this case Mok – than we originally thought. The whole population will be held in stasis until a new home is found for them, and they won't even know what's happened."
Tao didn't look all that convinced, but Melony – and Talon – was. Obviously Carson and McKay hadn't rushed into this, and they both had done their homework on it. She trusted Carson to do a thorough job, and she was willing to admit that McKay probably knew what he was doing.
Just don't say that out loud, Talon requested. I'm not sure there's room on the Jumper for all of us and his ego
Melony hid the grin that tried to break loose.
I have no intention of it.
"You're sure you found all of them?" She asked, covering the amusement with the question.
Kale nodded, and answered this one. The Light Ones, after all, had taken on the responsibility of locating the Mok for Beckett and McKay.
"We've covered the entire area of the planet, Melony. They're all accounted for – although once we're finished here, my people will go back and double check – because we know how important they are to you."
He had, actually, offered his planet as a possible habitat for the Mok – or even a small portion of the population of them – but with the Dark Ones running loose on that planet, Melony didn't want to risk the Mok coming into contact with them, and didn't think it fair to ask the Light Ones to become full-time custodians of a race of creatures they'd never even heard of before.
"Thank you, Kale."
The Light One simply smiled an acknowledgement and continued looking out the front window at the Wraith dart, which was turned and facing the Jumper.
They'd probably have a collective apoplexy if they knew we were using their ships for our own purposes, Talon said, smugly.
Even more that we're going to use them against them in the first place.
Melony didn't feel at all guilty.
"I've seen enough," she said, smiling at Carson and Rodney. "You guys don't need me hovering over you while you work, and I have things to get working on. Drop me off before you head to the next spot, will you?"
"Of course."
Kale and Tao would stay and watch, but Melony had a gate to build.
OOOOOOOOOO
"So where are you going to put the Mok?" Sam asked.
Melony had just returned to the lava base and was waiting for a fresh pot of coffee to brew. At the same time, Sam had decided to take a break from her own work, and the two had been discussing the Mok.
"There are a few places to choose from – both on this side of the gate and on the other. We might just split them up a little bit so we don't have them all on the same planet – just in case something happens to one population we wouldn't lose them all."
"But you don't know how they breed, do you?" Sam recalled that someone had mentioned that.
Melony shook her head.
"That's something we'll have to figure out."
"Well, once we're done here, you'll have time to…"
Which was exactly what she and Talon had decided, too.
"Yeah. I might see if the Tok'ra have any suggestions – maybe call in a couple of favors."
It was Carter's turn to nod.
"They have some brilliant people."
"So does Earth. I might call in some favors there, too, and see about getting a couple of geneticists to help."
"I'm sure you'll be given anyone you ask for."
There was no doubt in Sam's mind that they owed her and Talon that much, at least – just for what they'd done to the Goa'uld. Never mind nipping the Wraith problem in the bud long before it reached Earth. Well, provided everything goes well, anyways.