Teta Prime
Written By: The Ascended Ancient
Chapter III: "Teta Prime"

"It's called Teta Prime," Rodney McKay says as he paces in the conference room. In the room with him are Doctor Weir, Colonel Sheppard, Doctor Zelenka, Ronan Dex, and Teyla Emagen.

"For all intents and purposes," Rodney continues, "it was the Ancient version of a university. The best and brightest went there to study and invent new technologies."

"According to ze database," Zelenka says, "zey improved ze efficiency of ze Z.P.M. on Teta Prime."

"Right, right, so, anyway," Rodney says, "the database also mentions that towards the end of the war the scientists there were working on a planet-wide cloaking device. This device would first create an extremely realistic hologram mimicking the planet's destruction before establishing a cloaking field over it."

"But how will this help us?" Colonel Sheppard asks. "We used the whole 'blow-the-place-up' trick six years ago. I don't think the Wraith are going to be fooled by it again."

"Yes, Colonel, I know," Rodney explains. "But the cloaking device is not what we're after."

"Then what are we after, Rodney?" Doctor Weir asks.

"The powerful weapons that were being developed on Teta Prime ten-thousand years ago," McKay tells her. "According to the Ancient Database, Teta Prime was the site of a program designed to create weapons that could counter the Wraith's natural healing ability and destroy their ships in a few hits."

"How do you know that they're still there?" Ronan asks. "If these technologies did exist, the Wraith would've destroyed them when they conquered the planet."

"Yes, that's true," the doctor admits. "But I don't think they conquered Teta Prime." Everyone at the table has a look of confusion on their faces.

"How could the Wraith have just skipped this very serious threat to their security?" Teyla asks.

"Because they thought they destroyed it," Rodney tells her. "Remember what I told you about the cloaking technology? Well, according to the Ancient database, Teta Prime spontaneously exploded as the Wraith were about to lay siege to it."

"So, you think they used the cloaking technology to fool the Wraith?" Sheppard asks.

"Exactly!"

"And if they did..." Elizabeth starts to say.

"Then there might be living, breathing Ancients with a stockpile of anti-Wraith weapons just waiting for us," Rodney finishes. Everyone in the room stares at him as they process this revelation. Finally, Doctor Weir speaks up.

"Did the database include a gate address?" Weir asks.

"Yes, but it won't take us to the planet," Rodney explains.

"According to ze database," Zelenka tells them, "ze Ancients tried to reach Teta Prime via Stargate after its supposed destruction. Zey found ze Stargate floating in space."

"So how do we know that the planet isn't still there?" Weir asks skeptically.

"We don't," McKay tells her. "But, given our current situation, I think it's worth checking out." Everyone is silent for a moment. Then John leans forward.

"How do we get there if there isn't a Stargate on the planet?" he asks.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"It won't be that bad, Colonel," Teyla reassures Sheppard as they walk down one of Atlantis's many corridors.

"Teyla, we're spending three days in a Jumper traveling to what may or may not be an asteroid field," John tells her. "That's time we could be spending preparing this city's defenses."

"I'm sure Atlantis can do just fine for a few days without us, John," Teyla tells him.

"I hope you're right," Sheppard tells her.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

On the outskirts of the Teta System, a Stargate floats through space. One by one, the chevrons along its edge light up, glowing the pale blue that is the signature for a Stargate in the Pegasus galaxy. As the last chevron lights up, a vortex forms in the center of the gate. After the classic "Fwoosh!", a Puddle Jumper flies out of the event horizon.

'Puddle Jumper' is the name that then-Major Sheppard gave to the Ancient shuttlecraft that are capable of flying through Stargates. Originally a joke, the name just stuck.

This Puddle Jumper was on-course for where the planet Teta Prime should be. For three days it soared through space. Finally it approached what looked like a giant asteroid field.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Inside the cockpit of the Jumper, the tension was almost palpable. The team, consisting of Colonel Sheppard, Doctor McKay, Ronan Dex, and Teyla Emagen, all stared out the forward viewport at the approaching debris.

"This had better be the right place," Sheppard says, "or this is gonna be a rough ride."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

In space, the Jumper flies straight into the asteroid field and disappears.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

In a badly-damaged Wraith bridge, a trio of Wraith, two male and one female, watch the screen of a computer. On the screen, the Jumper can be seen making its approach into the asteroid field.

End of Chapter III

Author's Note: So, are Sheppard and his team walking into a trap? Will they find Teta Prime? Find out in "Stranded", Chapter IV of Teta Prime.