Earlier in the day…

"Dr. Beckett, it is a pleasure to meet you." First Minister Linel was a stout, balding man with an easy smile and a firm handshake. "I'm delighted you've volunteered your services to help my people."

"Volunteer is such a subjective term," Carson muttered, giving the colonel a sideways glare. He gave Linel his best dimpled grin and took the chair he was offered. Sheppard, Ronan and McKay likewise seated themselves around the table.

Linel took his seat with a flourish of his moss-green robes. "Welcome back to Kaleria, gentlemen. Where is your lovely companion?"

"Teyla had some personal business to attend to. Carson is our new, er, lovely companion," Sheppard said, earning a snort from McKay.

Chuckling, Linel bowed his head. "And he is most welcome. As I told you during your last visit, we are happy to initiate trade with your people. Kaleria will supply a specific quantity of grains and vegetables, in exchange for medical assistance."

"I'll gladly do all I can," Carson replied. "We can help you set up a vaccination program for the children. We've also made great strides in diagnosing, preventing and treating various diseases in adults, and we'll certainly share that with you."

"That is most generous, Doctor, but we conquered disease centuries ago."

"Hold it," Rodney leaned forward. "You're saying nobody on Kaleria gets sick?"

"Very rarely. Most live to a very old age and die of natural causes. Those few who don't perish in accidents."

Ronan posed the question on everyone's mind. "Then what do you need a doctor for?"

Leaning forward excitedly, Linel splayed his hands on the tabletop. "Our biggest health concern is population control. It has been for years. That, Doctor, is where you come in."

Beckett frowned in confusion. "Minister, if you've cured disease, surely you've figured out the basics of contraceptive methods."

"I'm afraid it's much too late for that," Linel said. "Our forefathers were so pleased with their medical advances that they never foresaw the end results of their labors. Kaleria simply cannot support the sheer volume of people living here."

Carson felt he had lost the plot. "I still don't see –"

"We've heard about your brilliant work on Hoff. A fifty per cent mortality rate, and the survivors immune to the Wraith culling! It's a perfect solution, a completely fair and unbiased way of reducing the population. Not only will our resources be sufficient, the reduction in populace will hopefully keep us from the Wraiths' notice." The First Minister smiled, his eyes bright with excitement.

Carson felt warm all over, aware that the blood was rushing out of his face. A fist closed in the back of his jacket and pushed his head down between his knees. His breath was coming in short pants. His stomach threatened to revolt. "Oh God," he murmured. "God. Oh God."

Rodney's voice sounded near his ear. "Breathe, Carson. Deep, slow breathes." The voice moved slightly away from him and became much less comforting. "Are you insane? You're asking us to help you kill half your people?"

Linel's voice sounded hollow and distant from Carson's position under the table. "I don't understand," he said, sounding genuinely confused. "Have I said something to upset you?"

This time it was Sheppard who responded. "We are not going to help you murder innocent people!"

"You're being a bit dramatic, Colonel. It's simply good resource management." Linel frowned and folded his arms. "I really don't understand your reluctance. You certainly didn't seem to have any qualms about reducing the population of Hoff."

Carson was unable to bite back a sickened groan. Sheppard stood up abruptly. "We're outta here." The colonel moved to Carson's other side, and he and Rodney levered him gently to his feet. "Come on, Doc, let's blow this freak show."

"No!" Linel shot to his feet, prompting two guards at the door to reach for their weapons. Sheppard and Ronan drew down on them in the space of a heartbeat, and for a tense moment no one moved or spoke.

"Please, my friends," Linel coaxed, wringing his hands. "Return to the negotiating table. Whatever your price is, I am sure we can meet it. My people need your help if we are to survive."

Carson looked at his teammates. Sheppard's blue eyes were chips of ice, his mouth twisted in a disgusted sneer. McKay was red-faced, his jaw clenched tightly, his thin lips pressed together in anger. Ronan hadn't been with them at Hoff, but his solidarity was clear.

Carson spoke for them all. "Go to hell."