Chapter 26
War crimes - part 1.
Moonlight was sitting on a bench in the cell, wrapping her arms around the leg bending.
Somewhere, deeply inside, she always knew that one day she will be have to pay for the events of that night. However, the more time elapsed, the more guilt... decreased. Everyday winning, and her conscience slowly accept the deeds that night. They're all dead, and no one could fix it, and she had to think about the future... her own and her loved ones.
Therefore, from the beginning she calmly took the whole the situation. Besides, she knew that New Lanteans not allow this... lawsuit. She was too precious for them. It from her depended result of the meeting Teyla with Wraith Grey Council. Besides, if her uncle and Skall learned of this, there would be no place in this galaxy, where Travelers would be able to hide from their anger.
But the more longer she sat in the room, alone, and the door not opened to let Sheppard and his team, the more she began to get nervous.
She tried in meditation to reach her mind in other parts of the ship, but human minds were too... chaotic, undisciplined. In truth, for a while managed to her get connected telepathic bond with one of the members of the crew - he must have had a natural talent for telepathy, she concluded - but yet, their connection was quickly broken.
Finally, the metal plate jumped to the side, and in the threshold appeared... Richard Woolsey!
Mo stood up, surprised to see him. Certainly, not his person she expected to see.
- Mr. Woolsey... What you doing here?
A man looked first at the accompanying guard, then walked closer the cell lattice.
- Supposedly you need a lawyer, and I, as it happens, I have a law degree - he said calmly.
The female smiled.
- Why do you want to defend the Wraith? - she asked incredulously, tilting her head slightly to the side.
Male thought, that sometimes, her face is so human... Like now.
- Because I agree with colonel Sheppard : this whole lawsuit is a farce, private revenge. Following this path, we would have to judge and condemn any Wraith for genocide... Miss Larrin not want justice... Perhaps as a child, she listened to the stories of the Night Fury... like you become named by Travelers, and since then she carries a hatred for it what happened to her people. The problem is, that the same thing happens for thousands of years all human societies in this galaxy - he paused for a moment and adjusted his glasses. - I admit, that the main reason for my coming here is, that we need you to you prepare Teyla to meet with the Council. But I would lie, if I said that this is the only reason. I never thought that I'd say this about the Wraith... but I like you. You are proof, that our species can live together... in peace... and learn from each other.
Moonlight smiled again.
- Just because I do not have to feed on you - she said with a hint of irony. - But my grandmother, though reluctantly, sometimes telling me about the times before the Great War. From her few stories I know, that's what used to be. Wraith did not have to feed on humans and both species lived long together. War changed this situation.
- You know why the war broke out? - interested Woolsey.
- For the same reason, which is usually: jealousy, betrayal, greed.
- It's very enigmatic explanation - he said.
- This is a very general version of what I know - she said calmly. - It was thousands of years ago, and the history know, that such events always have different versions. Wraith version has is, that part of Lanteans and humans attacked first. Probably, the other side, has the opposite version... As says your saying: "The truth always lies in the middle"...I was born a just two hundred years ago, and although I know that my grandmother is from the Second Generation, I do not know how her memories are objective... Maybe, as Larrin grandmother, she remembers only what she wants.
The man smiled corner of his mouth. Prudence Mo sometimes surprised him. If others was shared at least partly her logic, he thought.
- And speaking of facts - he said. - If we have to win this case, please, tell me exactly what happened then.
But Mo not right away answer.
First, she looked him straight in the eye, and then her gentle usually eyes made through him shiver. This time, he felt, that was looking at him Wraith, penetrating and contemptuous stare.
She smiled corner of her mouth, with a hint of malice.
- You do not want to know, Mr. Woolsey - she said mysteriously and ominously. - Some human stories are closer to the truth, than you might think.
- You are Wraith. You do not shock me, that you lead fighters during the harvest...
- It was not harvest... not the original intention... It was revenge, Mr. Woolsey - she said calmly, again looking straight in his eyes.
This time the male felt a wave of heat through him. He swallowed saliva louder.
- Revenge? - he repeated, puzzled. - For what?
Moonlight sighed softly harder.
- For death my father - she explained.
Richard sensed the seriousness in her voice and something else... something like sadness. Probably, talking about it, recalled unpleasant memories, he thought.
- We call this action of during emotions...
- These emotions, cost the lives of nearly two thousand humans, Mr. Woolsey - she interrupted him, trying to keep composure, but her voice could now feel nervous. - It rather sounds like... war crimes.
- Well, whatever was the motivation of your actions, and whatever call them, I need to know the whole truth, to prepare myself to trial. So, I listen, what happened then?
He looked at her calmly, waiting. Her eyes also softened again, and even she dropped her eyes little and sighed heavily.
- 62 years ago, my father and Skall flew to scout for one of the uninhabited planets on the outskirts of the galaxy - she began calmly finally, but at the same time with a hint of sadness in his voice. - This terrain does not belong to any Clan, because the surrounding systems are not suitable for colonization by humans and has long been depleted of resources that we think are useful... The planet itself only slightly fit to live in, especially in and around the equator, because more part covered glaciers... But one of our scout ships was detected in this region human activity. The first scout was just a quick scan from orbit, but brought interesting data: almost two thousand human colony. Therefore my mother decided to send a scout on the planet, and the best scouts were my father and Skall... Unfortunately, the first scan not gathered information, that the colonists have the technology to detect the movements of our ships...
She paused for a moment.
Memories become alive again, as if those events took place quite recently. Again she felt the same anxiety, which then woke her in the middle of the night, by suggesting, that something went wrong. Anyway, at that time, from the beginning she was suspicious attitude to the whole thing. The sudden appearance of such a large human colony was not something ordinary and her mother knew it. But it was like a gift from the gods, after when the a few months earlier one of their larger feeding grounds, on which they were soon go to the harvest, decimated by the plague. Specter of hunger was stronger than caution... as always in such cases.
Anyway, Icestorm personally insisted on this mission. After all he doing this a thousand times: fighter leave him far from the village, to which the Wraith approached on foot and far observed. There was nothing dangerous, just a routine scouting mission. Her father liked it, therefore usually alone took part in them, abandoning from trained worshipper. Anyway, he considered, that even the best-trained human is not able to replace the knowledge and experience gained over the millennia.
And yet Moonlight, before the outlet, begged him to give up... that first he sent human.
But Icestorm smiled softly and kissed her in the forehead…
.
"- …Do not worry. We will return soon - he said calmly and stroked her cheek, and then moved toward the platform, which was to take them fighter.
She looked at him with growing anxiety, which started squeezing her heart and throat.
She flinched when someone put a hand on her shoulder. She looked away for Skyfall. Like her father, he was dressed in scout uniform: jacket and off-road shoes that were much more convenient than daily uniform, especially a long coat. Additionally jacket had a wide hood that allowed camouflage in the darkness of white hair. And sometimes even hide face.
- Please, you be careful for both of you- she said, looking at him imploringly. - Father ignore it, but I really have a bad feeling - she said and grabbed his arm. - Please, you come back quickly safe and sound. Do not risk unnecessarily.
If it would say someone else, Skyfall would find, that he was hysterical. But now, as he looked straight into her eyes, he saw in them the determination. And he knew, that she normally would never have been so acted. This behavior was unlike to her. By whole her life only a few times she mentioned about such hunch... and she was always right. Therefore, he took it seriously.
- I promise - he said, and smiled slightly. - It's a simple reconnaissance. Nothing risky - he assured her, and also moved toward the platform.
Mo looked behind him all the time. And she stood there, even when one of the fighters took his beam two Wraith and left the hive hangar.
Moments earlier Icestorm looked at her and smiled, raising his hand slightly on goodbye. She said the same gesture.
It was the last time when she seen him… alive.
Finally, she returned to her job, trying to take her mind something other than THIS thought. But that day she could not concentrate. Or she dropping tools or she maiming herself for various things. Finally she returned back to her quarters and took a long bath. Hot water and aromatic oils relaxed her a little... she fell asleep for a while... or so it seemed to her... And then she jumped up suddenly. This, what she saw, frightened her. She was breathing rapidly, squeezing hard edges of bathtub, unable to get rid of the mind image of the bloody face of her father.
After a few minutes she stood up slowly and wiped out to go back to the room, not knowing what to do. She wanted to read a book ... but looking her personal library, she put off each book back on the shelf. In the end she went down to the bed to sleep.
And when she finally fell asleep, she dreamed again. But this time not only the father but also about Skyfall... imprisoned and tortured by the humans. The dream was so realistic, as if she was there, along with them.
Again, she jumped up suddenly, all warm and sweaty, breathing heavily. Eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness of the room, which was lighted only pale lights around the window. It could not be just a dream, she thought. It was too realistic. It must mean something. For so long it could not be just silly, unfounded thoughts. They really are in danger.
She jumped out of bed to get dressed quickly and ran out of the quarters, only in pants and shirt. Just outside the door she fell straight surprised Skyrim.
He was older than her by a few years and often helped her father with technical issues. He went even intelligence officer training, but in the end he decided to remain one of the engineers in the fleet Nightwind.
- Burns somewhere? - he joked, and his round, always cheerful face, embellished a wide smile.
- Worse - she said, and ran away.
He looked behind her for a moment, confused, and then followed her.
- Hey! Wait a minute! - he called, and ran into the transporter in the last moment, slipping between already closing door.- What ... - he said, but dematerialized their transporter beam, moving them to another part of the hive - ...happened? - he finished in a different compartment.
- Father and Skall are in trouble - Mo said quickly and walked past him, running into another corridor.
Skyrim again ran after her, after a while realizing where they are: they approached the door of the Queen's chambers.
He slowed down and finally stopped, looking just like the female opens the door from a distance and runs into the royal apartments inside. And then the door slid shut behind her quickly.
- Mother! - she called already from the doorway, looking her quickly gaze, and at the same time sending a telepathic call, just to be sure.
She stopped in the middle of a sizeable room and spun on her heel, in search of the Queen, who just came out of a side room. She had just to get up, Mo thought, because she was still wearing a long robe.
- Why do you screaming, girl? - asked sternly little the Queen, with a frown.
The young female jumped to her.
- Father and Skall are in trouble - she said, as the Queen sighed and returned to her bedchamber. - I know you think that I hysterical - continued Mo, following her - but I... I had a dream. Very realistic. If I was there... The humans caught them and tortured... Please, mom, let me go there. I'll be careful, I promise...
- Enough of this - she interrupted her sternly, turning to her. Her face clearly stood out annoyance mingled with anger. - Stop panic and finally you take care of repairs. Your father is one of the best scouts. He'll be fine without you.
A young female did not answer anything. She only nodded slightly her head and whit heavy heart, she left chambers mother.
The Queen looked calmly as her daughter leaves, and when the door slid shut behind her, all her calm and proud posture suddenly disappeared. Shoulders slumped down and her hands trembled. Heart began to beat wildly. She swayed slightly on her feet, so she sat on the edge of the bed.
- I'm sorry, honey, but I had to choose between you and him - she said, and her eyes streamed with tears.
- I can not lose you both.
She looked down, trying hard to calm shaking hands... but in vain. Emotions were too strong to control them now. But here, in the privacy of her chambers, she could not afford these moments of weakness.
Moonlight came out into the corridor leading to the chambers Nightwind, clenching his hands into fists. Although she knew that she did not convince mother, she could not leave it and calmly get back to work. She had to do something. Even if it meant opposition to the Queen.
She looked straight ahead. Skyrim still stood by the door to the transporter. She quickened her pace.
- Will you lend me your fighter? - she asked.
- For what? - he was surprised.
She glanced quickly behind him and pushed him to the transporter room.
- I want to go on that planet, and make sure that nothing's happened to my father - she almost whispered, though she did not know why. Here and so no one would hear. - If I'll fly my, they stop me before I leave the hangar.
Wraith slightly furrowed brow.
- You still have this... feeling? - he asked with a hint of irony.
- It's more than a feeling - she grumbled and crossed her arms. - Did I ever hysterical?
- Well... noo… - he said.
- So, the more I worry about these feelings... Do you lend me this damn fighter or not?
Skyrim seemed to think about something for a moment.
- You can not go there alone - he said. - Let's say you're right. If they caught so experienced scouts, like your father and Skyfall, they catch you too.
- But I can not just idly sit here and wait! - she raised her voice, losing patience, but then she calmed down. - I'm sorry, I just...
- I understand - he said calmly, and suddenly bared to her sharp teeth in a wide smile.
- That's why I'll fly with you - he said, and she looked at him in surprise. - It just so happens that I have today freighter flight on Stellarguardian... so we can slightly off course. It's better than a flight fighter. They can keep an eye on the gate.
Now, he folded his arms across his chest, proud of his idea.
- You will have trouble...
- Not if we fly, peek and quickly back - he said. - No one will even realize.
- And what whit the record in the computer?
But the young Wraith just looked at her with pity.
- You forget who you're talking - he said carelessly and hit the control panel. Beam moved them back to the level of quarters. - Nothing could be simpler. I'm doing it for years - he finished and grinned again. - Hurry up. I should fly out - he said when the door opened transporter.
- Thanks - she said and hugged him. - You're the best - she called, running out into the hallway.
- We will see after the return - he said, and the door slid shut again.
He did not have to wait long for Mo. She appeared in the dock after a few minutes, finishing the way fastening jacket. He smiled slightly on the sight of her, standing on an abandoned freighter hatch and walked slowly toward the cockpit. They have no problem left the hangar hive and jumped into hyperspace.
The ship was not large, but it is capable of jumping into hyperspace, which could not fighters. It allowed them to jump out at a safe distance from the planet, and now will be able to calmly fly on space fighter, unnoticed.
The problem is that the fighter was only one... and them two.
Skyrim grinned at the Mo, when they looked through the hatch in the floor of on cockpit of a fighter.
Guys, she thought. Did not differ from each other... regardless species.
She looked crookedly at the young Wraith.
- Hands hold on rudder - she snapped, threatening him with finger.
- But there is only one - he said sarcastically.
- Second you can even scratch ass... as long as that was not my ass - she added.
The pilot grinned again and finishing fastening his jacket, jumped as first. Mo followed him, sitting on his knee.
Wraith fighters were definitely not designed to sitting in it two person. Not only that, it was in the not enough space, but the additive chair was so shaped, that a female had to cling to the pilot in a semi-lying position.
- How humans call these moments? Tryst? - he asked playfully.
She dug her fingers into his stomach, pressing his lips. He groaned, amused.
- You do not to try to be smart just fly- she reproved him.
He grinned mischievously, pleased with himself and launched a cockpit cover. Immediately after hatch in the floor of the transporter to shut up and latches have been released. Once the fighter is detached from the ship, sinking down, Skyrim launched engines.
They did not want to risk too early, possibly to detect, which is why they now wait fifteen minutes of flight, before they reach the visible from a distance planet with a slightly blue tint. Most of its surface covered with glaciers, but in and around the equator the climate was still favorable enough for humans to be able to survive there. Original inhabitants of this globe left more than a thousand years ago, when there was an ice age, and since then no one tried to post here the human habitat.
Therefore, the arrival of new settlers was a surprise to the Clan Nightwatchers on the territory that once belonged to them. Especially since the gates were in orbit. This meant that these humans have a ship of interstellar travel. And Wraith knew only one such community which in addition led a nomadic lifestyle to avoid harvest.
The more Starwalkers colony formation by ground itself was intriguing. Could there were already too many to be able to live on board ships? If so, it meant new and rich source of food for the Nightwatchers Clan.
They fly up to the other side of the planet, where there was no gate, and quickly hid among the dense clouds. The area to which they wend, was plunged into darkness, which definitely helped them with the task. They had just landed quite close to the settlement. So they sped over the high mountains, and quickly lowered the flight, hovering just above the surface of the sea. The smell and the noise was the first thing that mastered their senses when the cockpit cover went back.
Moonlight jumped quickly to the beach, looking around for any guards. If her dreams were true, humans should expect the arrival next Wraith... and therefore they should strengthen guards. But here she did not see anyone like that.
- Where now? - whispered Skyrim.
- I think that there - she said, nodding toward spread out from them dunes covered with tall grass, humming on the sea breeze.
They went jogging in that direction, bending right at the top. Before them stretched a large valley dotted with buildings and dozens of flashing lights the torch.
- It seems that they are here for a good few months - said the Wraith - judging by the whole infrastructure that are here.
- They have the technology to quickly elevate buildings - Mo whispered. - In contrast to most human settlers they do not have to start from scratch. My father told me that he had seen how one human community was confined to the new colony ready metal structures and ships on place they built the casing stones to strengthen... Look - she pointed to one of the unfinished buildings - Starwalkers probably do exactly the same.
Skyrim looked in that direction. At the edge of the estate was a two-story building, in most cased already out small stones, but one of his metal horn was still visible.
- They had to work very hard on cutting these stones - he snorted.
- These are not stones - he scoffed. - It a brick. The mixture of clay, sand and a few other components. You dried it and then fired... More I wonder if they have some sensors installed in the area - she said, and reached into a small backpack for the binoculars.
In truth, the Wraith have a much better vision than humans, but even they were not able to see the details of hundreds of meters.
- I think they are celebrating something - she said finally. - Most of the soldiers had gathered in the main square by the fire. - She ran quickly binoculars, watching the buildings. - I do not see patrols.
- Show me - he said, taking her binoculars and alone quickly looked across the valley. - I think we can safely go down this way. Grasses us hide.
- What you do not say? - she sneered again, but seeing his gloomy eyes, she smiled broadly. - Move this fat ass - she said jokingly, patting him on the shoulder and she quickly got up.
- I beg your pardon - he said, following her. - My ass is very slim.
This time she gave him an unpleasant, while still ironic look.
- Now I know why you need such a big mirror... unfortunately - she said and smiled maliciously corner of her mouth.
- Very funny - he retorted, carefully making their way through the nearly three meters stems. - It's probably trimenti - he said.
- I think so - she said. - It has the lowest requirements of any grain, so it would be a logical choice for those on a semi-sandy areas...
She paused, hearing behind a strange sound. She stopped and looked back. Skyrim just caught a balance, waving his arms.
- What are you doing?
- I kicked at something - he growled, looking around.
- In any variety cucbits - she said with a note of irony, shaking his head. - Grows it full here... I think that would be miserable scout of you - she scoffed. - As this goes on, they just caught us also.
- Do not jinx, just keep going - he said. - This field will end soon and we will be have to somehow slip through the open space.
Mo did not answer, moving on.
The area sown trimenti finish a few meters away and the two Wraith stopped watching carefully nearby buildings. In truth on one of the roofs saw the guard, but instead observe this surroundings, he looked in the direction of playing in the bottom of fellows. It was a good opportunity to slip imperceptibly into buildings and hide in dark alleys.
They glanced quickly at each other and without a word began to run.
Overcoming these few hundred meters which separated them from the building, took them only a few seconds. And then they immediately clung to the wall, looking around if by chance someone does not see them. After a while of uncertainty, they made their way through a narrow passage in the main street - if it can be called so, because it was just wide, tamped road. They looked around. Entry into one of the buildings in front, guarding two armed men in long leather coats. This is where both young Wraith senses the presence of one of their confreres... but only one.
Mo began to get nervous. Why only one, she thought. Where's the other one?
- We must somehow to lure them here - said Skyrim.
- Why are you looking at me?
- You are a female, your telepathic abilities are higher - he said, and grinned.
She shook her head, rolling his eyes at the same time and focus.
"Somehow to lure", well said, she thought, and quickly searched in their minds their names.
"Malek! Canis! Help me with this barrel " - said in their minds a man's voice.
The two guards looked at each other and carefully moved in the direction from which the voice was coming from... as they thought.
In the dark alleys Skyrim smirked corner of her mouth, "eavesdrop" the illusion that Mo invent. The idea was brilliantly simple.
He reached for his gun.
- That you, Tegal? - asked one coming.
"And who else? You move these fat ass and help me with this beer " - again sounded in their minds the same voice.
The faces of the men appeared satisfied smile at the word "beer". At once they willingly quickened their pace, entering the dark streets. But what was their surprise when, instead of a man with a barrel of their eyes appeared two Wraith. But it was too late for any reaction. The two guards were immediately backs to the wall, with a hand on their mouth does not allow them to alert the others, and seconds later, energy missile of the handy stunner strike them. They slumped slowly to the ground.
Male Wraith immediately moved his hand to chest his guardian.
- Rimi, what are you doing? - Mo whisper reproved him and grabbed his hand. - We do not have time for this.
- The one who is closed there is very weak - he said firmly. - He'll need it.
Female let go of his hand, embarrassed.
- That's right - she said. - I'm sorry.
- I would not fed on him if it was unnecessary - he muttered, returning to feeding on male.
Mo turned around, looking at the entrance to the building. She understood the need for feeding on, but nevertheless she still did not like the view. Fortunately, the two were neatly stunned, so at least they do not feel pain.
She focused on Wraith closed the building. His presence was perceptible even less than a few minutes earlier. Clearly he was losing strength with every passing moment.
- Skall - suddenly she whispered, opened wide eyes. - This is Skall - she repeated, glancing over her shoulder at her companion.
Skyrim just finished feeding on the other watchman and now under the wall lay only two dry bodies.
- He is very weak - she added, moving quickly looked at friend.
- Dress up his coat and take the gun - he told, pointing one of the bodies. - I look for the keys... Humans always have some keys to the cell - he muttered, more to himself.
Mo wordlessly made his request and as soon as he found the keys and dressed the second coat, the two walked slowly towards the house. They still felt the presence of Skyfall, but still weak, almost like a touch of the mind, barely holding the life.
The Wraith quickly slipped disputes, metal key into the hole in the door, while the female watched the roof of the opposite building, which became the third guardian. Fortunately, he was still more interested the campfire party, rather than duties.
Wooden door creaked slightly and plunged in the darkness of the interior fallen streak pale light of the street torches. At the other end of the room, behind the metal bars, sat on the ground a figure. His head fell limply forward with long white hair.
Two Wraith came quickly inside and closed the door.
- Skall? - Mo she said, walking to the bars. But no one answered. - Quickly, open it - she said, but at the same time Skyrim took just a padlock.
Female fell to her knees right in front of the officer and raised his head. Between the white curtains tangled hair she saw his face... all the wounds, bruises and swollen. Golden eyes barely looked at her, but the Wraith did not seem to recognize her.
They both knew what it means: the humans tortured him a lot, because his regenerative abilities no longer deal with the injury. That is why they so poorly sensed him. Skyfall was on the verge of death.
Moonlight in horror she thought about her father. As the first officer is in such a state, in which the Commander... and where he is?..."