Stargate Atlantis

Season 6

Episode 7

Queen Death's Hive supported by cruiser emerges over a planet where two rival Hives are firing on one another. Queen Death's Hive master contacts both of the other Hives. They are told to stand down are be destroyed. The two Hives stopped firing especially after two Wraith destroyers emerge from hyperspace. The Queens aboard the two Hives joined with Queen Death. She then unleashed her own Darts to cull the planet of every human. Once the Darts return with their captives the ships jumped back into hyperspace. Queen Death is now heading to a Wraith Stronghold. The ships emerge from hyperspace under the guns of five Hives and their support ships, but the destroyers took up positions ready to protect the Primaries Hive. The Wraith Stronghold and the ships in orbit all without queens joined Queen Death. A day later at another Wraith control planet several Hives attempted to fight back but where eventually destroyed and without their queen the Drones and the rest on the surface pledges themselves to Queen Death. Queen Death has also attacked and destroys Trictinia, Anava, and Manaria to help feed her growing army because she has another purpose to find the empress grandson and kill him and all that are with him after she brings the rebel Wraith back into the fold. The worlds she attacked the General Horton and the rest had no clue because the new base is having technical difficulties long range sensors and even the gate is down and it will be days before they are back up and running. Two days later a Super Hive emerges from hyperspace supported by three destroyers, eight cruisers and four Hives. Queen Death along with a dozen Wraith soldiers and several of her trusted commanders board a Wraith Shuttle to take them to the empress flagship. In the hanger bay she sees five dozen Wraith soldiers waiting for her rival. Four Wraith Lords are present. Lord Doom approaches her. She felt his mind but he is able to resist even the strongest queen. "Queen Death, leave your escorts here you will follow me to the empress chambers. " She follows Lord Doom and a dozen Drones/Wraith soldiers. They enter the empress chamber. She goes straight to her knees just by being in the room. Lord Doom bowls to the empress. Lord Doom is the empress consort now and once her plans are complete possibly even the new emperor. Queen Death wishes to be like the empress, but to do that you must kill her, but to do so would not give her the power that the empress has over the Wraith and the Wraith would all look to her son for leadership and she would be cast aside and forgotten. She had to cast those thought aside unless the empress finds those thoughts of betrayal. The empress looks at her from her thrown chair.

"Rise Queen Death," she says. Queen Death rises up. "You have done well many rebels have rejoin the empire but under your banner. Have you forgotten who you serve? You're a very young queen. You're trying to hold to traditions. Your mother was a strong queen leading my forces against the Lantians; she never forgot who she serves."

"No, my empress I have not forgotten," Queen Death answered.

"You better not forget or I will destroy you and your Hive." She says. "Speaking of Hives watch the screen and watch how you troops pledge themselves to me." The Super Hive fires destroying two of Queen Death's Hive with two queens that have joined her also a cruiser was targeted and destroyed. Death can sense how every Wraith on all the ships go to their knees and swear loyalty to the Wraith Royal Family. The empress looks at her. "I sense your thoughts and I saw your thoughts on betrayal. If you remain loyal, you will be the empress of another galaxy where it's richer then this galaxy." Death didn't know what to say.

"Thank you my empress you are very generous."

"Know this your blades, Cleverman, and all the rest fight for you in my name if you should betray me they will see to your downfall. You are dismissed." She boards her shuttle and returns to her Hive just before the empress leaves and jumps into hyperspace. Queen Death wasn't happy with the empress visit. Death orders more attack on human worlds but to Cull them first before destroying them. Two more hives joined her.

Guide hates that his alliance has fallen and that they have joined with this knew queen named Death. Guide has on heard fairy-tales about a Wraith Queen named Death. She has to be young because he knows all the other queens that have rebelled against the Royal Family. Rumors have it that the Empress of the entire Wraith is behind the rise of Queen Death. Guide left his Hive ship for a couple of days to see the Wraith King that helped General Horton out. He learned that the Wraith King is going into hiding because the empress has put a price on his head so he and his hive are disappearing for a while. He returns to the hive and he finds out that his Hive was attack by another Hive when it Culled a planet. The situation is worse than Guide expected it to be when he was told about it when he returns. The hiveship was faltering, slow to heal damage taken in the last battle. He followed Bonewhite they pass the medial weapons array, where a trio of clevermen labored. Their leader freed himself as Guide approached, folding himself into a respectful bow. He was of the new men, Ember from another hive: flavor of his mind was young and bold, banked fire at its heart, and Guide hoped he was as clever as Bonewhite claimed. Ember tells him that they have made progress. "What's the problem?" Ember flicker glance in his direction, lowered eyes and head again.

"We took damage to the outer hull when we Culled on Irrin. It was a long fight, and I believe the heat of the guns power condalets further damage the structural members. We replace healthy tissue from the lower hull." Guide studied the damage, a raw edged break in the smooth surface of the corridor wall. He could see where they had used cautery, and thoughts he recognized the paler tint of at least one graft, but the hull still looked ugly, the surface swollen ready to split, oil shimmering on the edges of the break.

"How long will it hold?"

"This is a weak point," Ember answered. "I believe we've caught it in time. Guide laid his feeding hand gently on a healthy stretch of a hull, letting the life of the ship tremble against his handmouth. It was willing, responsive; it arched to be whole, but it was old as Ember has said. Its reactions were no longer as quick as they had been. "I don't know how long it will hold. Guide thought it was an honest answer. A second clevermen rises and tells Guide that it will probably hold for about one hundred hours. Guide looked at Bonewhite. "How long before we arrive at Korris."

"Two hours," Bonewhite replies.

"Put us in orbit and prepare the Darts for a Culling," Guide says.

"As you command," Bonewhite replies.

The hiveship dropped from hyperspace smoothly enough, Guide watching at the commander's post, was pleased to see the transition indicators flutter only a little as the window opened and released the ship. "We're beginning the planetary check," Bonewhite said. "And the Darts are ready to launch."

"Hold them until we know where the best Culling ground will be," Guide said. The screen lit, showing absence, emptiness where there had been human settlements, and he snarled aloud. "Close the bay doors! Ready a hyperspace window." Alarms sounded as another hiveship emerged from hyperspace. They had the advantage broadside so that their guns and Darts could come to bear. Guide snarled again. He was caught, they were trapped and the hive would not stand another attack. "Open communications," Guide said. A blade jumped to obey, broadcasting image to accompany the mental voice. "Stranger! You are trespassing."

"Guide." Guide knew that mind in an instant it belongs to Farseer who was part of his alliance but was a commander of a cruiser at the time.

"Who's Hive is that?"

"Winds. I didn't know Farseer had been made Hivemaster, through." Guide thought it was probably because of Death.

"Farseer, it's nice to see you again, but you are still trespassing."

Incoming image," a cleverman said, and Guide nodded. A screen shifted, the planet vanishing to be replaced by Farseer's shaven head. Farseer tells that the old alliances are void. Guide replies back that he heard many things and seen others.

"You disapprove?" there was a definite note of contempt in Farseer's mind, and Guide's answer was sharper then he had meant.

"I dislike waster. Particularly when so many of us are already going hungry. Especially with the royal family keeping the rich feeding grounds safe so we don't destroy the human race."

"But not for long." Farseer smiled. "we have a new queen; Guide, a great queen and she will lead us to new feeding grounds. She has sent me to bid you join her."

"I do my queen's bidding." Guide said. "Not another's."

"Death is the greatest queen living the greatest in ten thousand years." He felt the sincerity in Farseer's mental voice was almost frightening. "Your queen would be wise to join her. death has been most generous to her weaker sisters." He tells him that he is fortune his queen was not present to hear him say that. "Come, let's not quarrel see for yourself."

"And if I do not wish to attend her?" Guide glanced around the control room: he sees blades tensed and ready, all of them knowing they could not win a fight. "We came here to Cull and must do so soon." He saw Bonewhite relax slightly, felt again the touch of contempt in Farseer's mind.

"You may Gull later, or perhaps there will be food to spare. Queen Death will see you now.

"Give us the coordinates, and then we will follow you."

"I will send the coordinates. You will precede me." Guide agrees.

They came out of hyperspace under the guns of a dozen ships, four hives and their attended cruisers. Guide hadn't expected as much, but he still bared teeth at the screen as Farseer's hive emerged firm its window behind him cutting off any escape not that they could have fled no with so many ships waiting for them, but the betrayal still rankled. He had expected the rest as well, the summons, barely polite, from Death's Hivemaster, an older blade whose mind ran in narrow channels, his own carful delay, so that there was a little more time to choose the company who would go to meet this queen. Guide chooses Bonewhite Hivemaster of Guide's hiveship, Precision master of the Darts who had been so in love with Queen Steelflower that it might be some protection; Ember as leader of the clevermen, and Ease to control the drone escort. Guide goes to his quarters to prepare himself to meet Queen Death. Guide meets them at the shuttle. They are all looking their best to meet the queen. Death's blades were waiting in the Dart Bay, ranged in rows that were as much threat as honor. Guide did not bother to bare teeth at them, though he allowed a touch of contempt to flavor his thoughts as he nodded to Death's Hivemaster. The Hivemaster nodded back, matching exactly the inclination the other's head and said, "Welcome I am Edge, Master of the Primary Hive."

"An I'm Guide, Commander and Consort under Queen Steelflower."

"The queen awaits you," Edge said and motioned them forward. He demands that the drones remain behind, or concern himself with their weapons. He glanced sideways, and saw the same concern on Bonewhite's eyes. Ember looked frankly from side to side assessing the ship, a slight frown creasing his forehead. Edge brought them to a stop before the door of the queen's chambers. A pair of drone guards drew themselves to attention. "The Queen's Hivemaster and her guests." The doors slid back, and they enter. The Antechamber was lovely as it should be, walls polished and shimmering like shell, the day's mist coiling cool and gentle about his ankles. Death reclined in her coral throne smiling faintly and Ease's drones fell to their knees at her glance. Young, she was young and beautiful enough to stop the breath in his throat, so that he had to think to breath, and heard himself gasp aloud. She heard too and she smiles. Ease ducked his head unable to meet her gaze and she raises to her feet her full skirts swirling and dividing to reveal a glimpse of shapely leg. The long bodice caressed her like a second skin, small high breast shaped by leather black as blood; her claws where tinted the same shade, her claws were tinted the same shade, and her jet black hair fell to her waist, held by a simple fillet of silver. Guide could feel the others' response as she came slowly toward them; Ease was lost, Bonewhite and Precision were faltering caught in her spell. Ember's eyes were wide, pupils dilated in wonder. He felt it too the pull of the queen, the sheer power of her mind not even directed at them yet, but simply present. He remembers Snow and there would be no other queen. She looks at them and she understands this is how the whole Wraith Armed Forces are with the Wraith Royal Family.

"So you are Guide, Consort of Steelflower. I have heard much about the both of you."

"You honor me," Guide replies.

"Yes." Guide lifted his head, cautiously saw her smiling still.

"I would give much to meet your queen," Death says. "I believe we could make an alliance that would be fruitful to us both."

"I am certain that is so," Guide says. "but I'm sure you've heard, I have been a prisoner these last months and I have lost contact with my queen. Our search was only interrupted to Cull and then to meet with you."

"I have heard this," Death admitted. "It is another reason I have wished to speak with you. I suspect there is much you tell me of Earth and of the grandson of the empress know that he has return. Protocol first." She lifted her feeding hand, including the others in gesture. "I would meet your men." Guide bowed again. He introduces them. they all bowed to Queen Death. Guide sees the blades in the shadows behind the throne. "I'm pleased to meet you all." Death says."You see behind me my counselors and companions, the lords of m zenana." Her eyes are full of mischief and promise. "I have no consort." Guide swallowed, moved in spite of himself. He thought he saw one or two counselors frown. "To business then, I am told Guide, that Steelflower left you in her place, to be obeyed as she would be obeyed."

"That is so, my queen," Guide says.

"So I may assume that you also have the authority to make decisions in her place." Guide could see the trap, but no way to avoid it.

"That is also true, my queen."

"then I must ask that you make this decision for her, as I have no time to spare. The old alliances are dead, and we must find a new feeding ground the new feeding ground that is earth and its galaxy or we Wraith will perish. To do this we must unite. There can no longer e confusion of hives, some hunting here, other Culling there. It will tall take all of us, all our strength, our blades, and clevermen, to find the way to Earth. Your presence, counsel, Guide and the skills of your men would be most welcome. I cannot will not allow anyone to stand aloof. So Guide, speak for your queen. Will you join me?" guide straightened slowly met her gaze fully for the first time. Her eyes were amber, deep and knowing.

"I will join you my queen."

"I am pleased," Death answers. "Let us seal the bargain." In spite of himself Guide hisses softly/ that was an old ritual, one that had gone out of fashion before Snow's death, but clearly Death believed in tradition in the restoration in the old ways, but maybe the old was are practice where the Wraith Home world where the Royal Family rules. He tells her that is men are hers. She says thank you. Death moved past him her eyes flicking over the blades Ease trembled visibly, as though it took all his strength not to go to his knees and beg her to choose him, but he stopped in front of the cleverman. Ember met her stare for an instant, and then bent is head. She chooses Ember and Guide bows his head. Ember exposes his chest to the queen. Death raises her feeding hand set it almost gently against Ember's chest. She flexed her fingers snarling and Ember's head snapped back as she fed. Death released him. Precision steadied him discreetly. "The Empress of the entire Wraith has invited every queen that rebelled several years after the war with the Ancients to rejoin the Empire because she needs every ship, every blade, every clevermen, and every foot soldier to face a new threat to the Wraith Empire. The son of Merenwen has return to this galaxy to destroy the Wraith with the humans from Earth. They must be silent." Guide knew that most didn't know about the emperor's fornication with a Lantian 10,000 year ago and the child she produce. Guide knew and so did Bonewhite since they have met him. "I hold to old traditions that every other queen lost after leaving the empire." She beckoned to a waiting pallax an old blade. Guide saw thin white hair scraped into a single braid, so old that his sensor pits were barely more than shallow grooves of his sunken cheek. He bowed deeply and Death rested her off hand gently to his arm. "My Old One has been valuable source in matters of tradition he severed the empress and her husband for a long time. I hope you will be valuable Guide. I believe we must return to our traditions, and recover our strength from them. this is the way that hives fed in the days before the Ancient war." She nodded to another blade, who ran is hand over the chamber wall, opening a door Guide or the others had not seen until now. A drone emerged, and then another and with them staggered a string of human prisoners. There were at least a dozen of them, perhaps more and for the moment Guide wondered if they would hunt them but their hands are bound. The drones prodded them forward and Death beckoned to one after another of her blades as the humans are herded into line in front of her, shoved to their knees. They fed on the defenses humans along with Guide and the others.

Elsewhere in Pegasus a massive hiveship emerge from hyperspace supported by three cruiser, four destroyers and two small hives. They are over an unhabited worlds meeting one of the emperor's lords. A shuttle lands in the Dart bay of the massive hiveship. The emperor is there to greet his old friend who has been his most trusted lord and general. "How are you Lord Death?"

"You know there is a queen named Death now," he says.

"You will always be the first Death to me my old friend."

"Well as to be expected my emperor," he says.

"I hear my mother but a price on your head. Why is that?"

"My emperor I helped your son escape from your mother's grasp." Lord Death news doesn't startle the emperor. "How did you know he was alive?"

"If he was dead I would know and so would the entire Wraith. My mother fears him because she believes that he will be the downfall of the Wraith, but I don't. I think that he will make it where we can coexist with the humans and not have to kill them by feeding on them where we drive their species to the brink of extinction. As of right now much of the Wraith within the Empire remain in hibernation only the defense fleet and small numbers of troops that are awake watching over them while they sleep unlike where the rebels have came they have all been awaken and I fear they will come back to the Empire and begin Culling the worlds that are under our protection that have grown in numbers and are only Culled on a small scale. Plus there are plenty of worlds that we have never been too within our own galaxy that may be full of humans which we must find out. We don't have the gate coordinates it will take months to reach some of them. my mother I believe is preparing to overthrow me since she believes that with my son I will side with him. she is right I would side with him in certain situations. Only an emperor can awake the Wraith Army so either she will have to get me to do it or attempt a coup."

"My emperor the army is loyal to you sire. the empress only has a handful of queens under her; the ships that protect her serve you and her." Lord Death says.

"Your forgetting one thing if I was to die by someone other than the race she can take over at that point and even choose my successor which I'm sure would be Lord Doom. He's my mother's obedient servant. He would do anything for her. do you have anyone you trust that can keep an eye on this Queen Death and find out what my mother's pawn is up too."

"I only know one man Guide whose queen was Snow your sister." The emperor nods. Lord Death boards his shuttle and returns to the surface to his hidden hive ship. The emperor's flagship and his small fleet jumped into hyperspace and return to his palace.