Whoo! Thankyou to everyone who has reviewed so far! YOU ALL ROCK:-D Also, I'm not sure if this Chapter is a bit too much, but one of the reasons for it was so I could have a way to kill off Michelle and/or the baby if you thought that it was a bad plot. If there's anything you would like to see happen in the story, just tell me and I can put it in for you. At the moment I'm basically taking this chapter by chapter and seeing where it goes, but I might have to do something of consequence at some point in time. Anyhow, on with the show!...Well, on with the story, anyway…
SGASGASGA
"Doctor Weir, unscheduled off-world activation," announced the new tech, recently arrived from the Daedalus as a replacement for Dr Grodin.
"Do we have an IDC?" Dr Weir asked, striding over to the balcony looking over the Stargate.
"No ma'am, still no IDC. We're receiving a video feed, patch it through?"
"Yes, thankyou. Put it up on the main screen."
The tech quickly did as he was bid; patching the video/audio feed they were receiving through to the main control room screen. On the screen appeared the face of a man whom Dr Weir did not recognise, but once he began talking she recognised his voice as being that of the governor of a planet that one of her teams was currently trying to broker a trade with. As she looked at the screen, Elizabeth was vaguely aware of her commanding military officer – the newly promoted Lt. Col. John Sheppard – joining her side to watching the transmission.
"This is Governor Detronius of the Kelnar people. Might I speak with the leader of your facility?"
Elizabeth nodded to the new tech and he connected a return audio transmission. "This is Dr Weir. Might I ask what the reason for your call is, Governor Detronius? I was under the impression that one of my teams was currently on Kelnar negotiating a trade. Is there a problem?"
"I'm afraid so, Dr Weir. We seem to have hit a slight snag in the trade agreements."
John swallowed dryly. That didn't sound good. He knew that it had been a bad idea to continue this trade. Negotiations with these people had begun weeks ago, before the siege on Atlantis. They had opened the trade talks with Lieutenant Reese's team and had mostly been dealing with Captain Webb, as she had the most negotiating experience of the team members. After the Atlantis doctors had found out about Captain Webb's condition, she had been placed on light duty only. Unfortunately, the Governor had refused to proceed negotiating with any other team. To invite new people to the trade the process would have to begin all over again, and neither party was willing to do all three weeks of negotiations again. Reluctantly, John and Elizabeth had cleared Michelle for duty once her injuries had healed. At least the connections had already been established, which minimised the chances of encountering hostilities.
Returning his attention to the screen, John listened as Detronius continued.
"You see, Kelnar has recently been visited by the Wraith. Most fortunately, they did not come to destroy us. The Wraith told us that if we were to encounter any people who wore a uniform matching a very specific description, we were to contact the Wraith immediately. In return for giving them captives, the Wraith have promised us amnesty from culling." Detronius moved the camera around. The room he was in seemed bland and dank, with no notable features of any sort. On the far side of the room, Weir and Sheppard were angry but not entirely surprised to see Lieutenant Reese's team, all gagged, unconscious and bound to chairs.
As the camera focussed on them, some of the team began to stir. Lieutenant Reese was sporting a rather nasty black eye, but that seemed to be the extent of the damage. From what could be seen on the camera, Dr Ingram and Captains Pearce and Webb all just looked to have minor cuts and bruises.
"I am, however, not a fool," the Governor continued after a moment, "I am smart enough to realise that for the Wraith to go to such desperate measures simply to take a few people, there must be something special about you. I also know enough to believe that it is most probably that even if we hand over your people, they will not honour their end of the bargain. To that end, I am willing to make you a deal."
"I'm not sure if you've noticed, but it doesn't exactly seem like our last deal went so well," Weir said, coldly analysing the situation.
"Ah, but you have not even heard our offer yet. If the Wraith want you so badly it is obvious that you must have something that is of value to them. If you can propose a suitable trade, we will not hand your people over to the Wraith. However, if you choose not to deal with us, or if you truly do not have anything that could be of value to us, we will have no choice but to find out if the Wraith will uphold their promise."
"I'm sorry, Governor, but I'm afraid we have nothing of value here. Our city was recently destroyed and we have not yet had time to establish ourselves again. I also feel the need to point out that I will not deal with terrorists," Elizabeth announced. John looked at her meekly – if glares could kill, that screen would be dead.
"Then I am sorry also, Doctor Weir, but I feel there is no need to continue this conversation. I am willing, as a small atonement, to allow each of your people to give you a last message."
First moving to Lieutenant Reese, Detronius untied his gag to allow him to speak.
"I just want to say that you're doing the right thing, Doctor Weir," Reese said resignedly. "Can you contact my sister and tell her goodbye for me?" Weir nodded silently, knowing that Reese did not need a verbal reply to know that his request had been accepted.
Leaving him ungagged, Detronius moved onto the next chair, containing Dr Ingram. "Please tell Dr Zelenka to finish my research on the hydraulic transference systems," she stated clearly. John was impressed. Lieutenant Reese had trained his geeks well. John had almost given up on the possibility of making Rodney act reasonably in tense situations, but obviously the task was possible, even if it was just barely so. But then again, Rodney was about twice a potent as some of the other scientists, so maybe it was impossible.
The next was Captain Webb. "You know sir, I think I'm beginning to regret staying…wait…nope, no I'm not. Wouldn't have missed it for the world," she commented, plastering a smirk on her face. Even so, John did not miss the distant, fearful look in her eyes. Her body might be chained to a chair on that alien planet, but her mind certainly wasn't. If he had to guess, John would say her mind was somewhere in Iraq after having a plane shot down. "Sorry we didn't recognise the ambush sooner, sir, but if there's a next time I'll try a little harder to not get caught. Dr Weir, before I go I'll just say thankyou for the opportunity to come here. Well, not here, but you know what I mean. I've had a hell of a time, I just wish it had lasted longer."
Detronius moved finally onto Captain Pearce, who, having time to think, had obviously decided what he was going to say. To be honest, none of the people standing in the control room would have guessed what he said.
"I agree with Captain Webb," he began, "in that I would just like to thank you, Dr Weir, and Col. Sheppard, for giving me the opportunities I've had. But I'd also like to comment, since it might be the last thing you ever here from me: Kavanaugh, you are a spineless, weaselly jerk. And you really need to wash your hair." More than half the occupants of the control room simply stared at the screen with surprise. Ofcourse every-one thought that, but no-one ever really had the courage to tell Kavanaugh that. If Captain Pearce managed to make it back to Atlantis, he was definitely going to receive some sort of award or medal from both the scientific and military staff. Hell, even Dr Weir and Col Sheppard were both contemplating giving him a crown, sceptre and promotion.
After re-gagging all the prisoners, Governor Detronius addressed the camera again. "Now then, I am sorry for your loss Dr Weir, but I am sure you know the burdens of leadership. I am simply doing what I must to defend my people from the Wraith. If you will excuse me, I now have business to attend to. Good day and good bye, Doctor Weir."
The screen went back to schematics of Atlantis as the transmission ended.
"Burden of leadership my ass!" ground Sheppard.
Elizabeth turned to face him. "Colonel, go rescue our people," she said, effectively giving him permission to launch a rescue mission. Colonel Sheppard did not bother wasting time responding, instead he left the control room to organise a rescue mission. He knew Elizabeth would not be offended by his lack of reply – their people were about to be handed to the Wraith, every second counted.
SGASGASGA
Well, what do you think about this latest plot development? Too much, or is it alright? Review and let me know what you think!
PS: Before posting this I just managed to finish chapters 4, 5 and 6. I will post one per day for the next few days, and hopefully by the time they are all up I will have completed the chapters to follow them as well.
Coming up:
Chapter 4 – Fighting
The two guards stopped on either side of the cell door, each holding a stunner, while the white-haired Wraith continued into the cell until it stood barely a foot away from Lt Reese. "We wish to know the location of Earth," it hissed, staring down at the soldier.
"I'm sorry, but that's classified information .You're going to have to get security clearance before I can disclose that information." Well, now the Wraith looked thoroughly pissed – as if it hadn't before.