DISCLAIMER: see chapter one

22:05 Atlantis Standard Time (AST)

The room was filled with silence. What could they say? It was Shadow, with all of her practicalness that brought the meeting back to what they needed to do.

"The addition of over one hundred people, a large proportion of them being children and teenagers, will severely tax both of our resources. Therefore, we would like to use several of our previous contacts to replenish our resources, and we would also like to check on the status of the base." Her Scottish burr was almost unnoticeable, unless, of course, you had grown up around it all your life, like Carson.

"Dr. McKay can give you an update on the condition of the city after the meeting. However, if you need to go off base, we ask that you take one of the teams here with you." Elizabeth spoke up. She had to gain control of the situation. She was the Leader of the Atlantis base, she was in charge. She was in control of her feelings; they were not in control of her.

"No offence, Dr. Weir," came the voice of Hex, "but you've barely managed to scratch the surface, hell, forget that, you haven't even managed to scratch the surface yet. This is our city, our home, and having lived here for about twenty years, we know significantly more about this place than you." She didn't mean to sound deriding, seriously.

The fact that they had located that container in the wall and had managed to disguise their position from Rodney and Radek had convinced her of that detail. But she needed to gain some control of the situation.

"And about the joint operations?" She watched as the others began to contemplate that, some of them leaning over to another's ears, and her own team watched with slightly gaping expressions that she had so easily capitulated on such a matter.

"We pick who comes on what missions with us, as we know more about the situations we'll be entering. We'll use our own equipment, but your teams will have to use their own." Hex had not lived in the same city as Dr. Weir for several years without picking up some of her tricks. If she thought she was facing a losing argument, she would fall back, recuperate, and be stronger on the other issue. The fact that they were going to propose joint operations anyway meant that it was one less argument to be fought at a later date.

"Very well, but at least four members of this base must go with you on all missions." She had to start high, she knew that she would at least get one, possibly two, but she had to make it seem as thought hey were bargaining her down.

"One only, and if we deem the mission to personal or if a person cannot be found that matches the required capabilities, none of your team will be accompanying us." Hello! She had done something similar to this with Dr. Weir several years ago, when practicing for her Earth Government and Law exam.

"Three, and you have to provide prior mission reports before going, as well as a list of personnel suitable for going on any missions you have planned." Elizabeth thought the bargaining was going well, while the rest of her team, (barring Teyla, who was a very skilled trader and bargainer), were slightly in awe of both Elizabeth's and Hex's skills.

"Two maximum, no prior mission reports unless we deem them necessary, examples being of entering enemy outposts or strongholds, but we agree to the list." Hex hadn't wanted to consent to the list of personnel, but Shadow had thought it would be a good compromise, and put them in the others 'good books'.

"Agreed." Elizabeth declared. She had gotten more than she thought they would give, positive that they wouldn't agree to the list.

"Agreed." Hex confimed. She had been positive Dr. Weir wouldn't agree to the no prior mission reports, but supposed the agreement of the list had taken up the slack.

"First order of business then is food," rose up the voice of Shadow. "We know of a few ways to obtain food from this planet itself, but we'd like to have several of the base personnel to help us organise the hydroponics and allotment areas."

"Wait a minute, we have hydroponics areas? And allotments?" Of course that was Rodney's voice rising above the commotion that has started with Shadow's words. Only his voice could reach those tones and still be audible. "How the hell did we miss those?"

"Probably because you were looking for things like ZPM's, Alpha sites, ZPM's, alternate energy sources, trading partners that won't turn around and stab you in the back, and, oh yeah, ZPM's!" Hex seriously didn't mean to be this disparaging, but three days without sleep will do things to a girl. It wasn't the longest she'd gone without sleep, but her own people knew how to handle her when she got like this. These ones didn't.

A hand on Hex's elbow calmed her down slightly, and Shadow spoke up again. "We'd like to request that some of your personnel join us in the embarkation area, as well as any of your scientists that express an interests in such an endeavour, at 09:00 tomorrow, AST."

"Of course, the Major and Sergeant Bates will be more than willing to organise personnel to assist you, and Dr. McKay, (can't call him Rodney in public), will be happy to locate any scientists who may wish to accompany you."

The looks that came across both Jason's and John's face were identical, their not-exactly-hatred for the other clearly showing across their faces, but being military knew they had to suck it up. Besides, it was for a good cause. Sure, it may take a while to get food back, but it would be worth it to finally have some good food for once. Not that the food they got wasn't good, (especially those turkey-like sandwiches he'd been able to find), but something that resembled food from home would be good.

Rodney, however, shot a look towards Elizabeth, plainly asking why he had to do it. Elizabeth just returned his look with a glare, practically daring him to speak up. He declined the offer. Smart man.