Author's note: The things in this fic that aren't mine include characters, settings, plots and most of the words.

Duchess: I'd like to read yours. Let me know. :)

Trecebo: Thanks! I'm doing my best to make it so if you didn't really know, you wouldn't know which bits I stole and which ones I made up...glad to know it's working at least so far. :D

Previously on Atlantis: Long range scanners detected three Hives on their way to Atlantis. ETA: two weeks.

Letters From Pegasus

"Well, we knew they were coming; at least now we know when." Elizabeth stared at her hands, clasped together on the table.

"That's something," John agreed.

"That's something?" Rodney repeated disbelievingly.

"It means there's still time, Rodney—there's no reason to panic...yet."

Alice, prowling the edges of the room, glared at him for that.

"Where there is time, there is hope," Teyla said placidly.

"Agreed. So, recommendations?" Elizabeth looked around at the group.

"Other than panic?" Carson muttered.

"Other than panic, yes."

"I realise this might not be cool," Ford said hesitantly, "but we should consider M7G-677."

"As a possible evacuation site?"

"No, ma'am. I'm suggesting we take their ZPM."

"Their only means of protection from the Wraith?" Elizabeth said pointedly. "A planet populated mostly by children?"

"He raises a valid point," McKay said thoughtfully. "We've already established that the ZPM is nearly depleted, but it could be of some limited use to us."

"You asked for suggestions," Ford reminded her. "It's a matter of survival."

"I see. Well, we're not quite there yet, and as long as I'm in charge, we will never be there."

"I agree, Doctor Weir. If this is to be our end, it is best we face it with both dignity and honor." Teyla even managed not to sound accusatory.

"To that end, I actually have an idea – in addition to panic." Rodney looked even more proud of himself than usual.

"Let's hear it," John prompted him.

"It's really a long shot, but I think it's, uh, most likely worth the effort. Of course, it will mostly be my effort, so..."

"What is it?"

"I think we can send a message back to Earth through the Stargate."

"Excuse me?" Carson's exclamation was mostly overruled by Weir's, "I thought we didn't have enough power."

"Not to send a person, no," Rodney said. "We'd never be able to maintain the wormhole long enough. But I think if we were able to tie together all of our power-generating capabilities, we might – and I emphasize might – be able to establish a wormhole long enough to send a message."

"How much time are we talking about?" John asked.

"Well, approximately, uh, one point three seconds, give or take."

"That's not much time," Carson said dubiously.

"Time enough to say, 'SOS' " Ford muttered.

"Don't be so analogue!" Rodney protested. "One point three seconds is more than enough time to send a message if it's in the form of a high compression data burst. Now, I helped refine the encoding for the US Air Force a few years back. Colonel Carter should be able to, uh, decipher it on the other side."

"You're suggesting this now?" John asked.

"Because it probably won't work, and there's a very good chance it could overload our naqahdah generators in the process."

"Well, then, we can't take the risk! No power, we won't have a chance in hell!"

"There are three Wraith hive ships on the way, Major! Desperate times call for desperate measures. Besides, I spent the last few days working out ways of minimising the risk."

Elizabeth cut between them. "Assuming it's possible, how much information could we send?"

"Everything. I mean, uh, mission reports from all the senior staff, uh, a ton of stuff on Atlantis, things we've learned in Pegasus..."

"All that, one second?" Ford said in surprise.

"One point three," John reminded him semi-seriously.

"See, you jest, but if I can finesse the compression ratios, you'll be looking for things to add."

"Do it," Elizabeth said.

"Doing it," Rodney agreed, leaving. The others followed him; John followed Elizabeth through the Control room towards her office.

"Elizabeth. You realise that if Stargate Command was able to send help..."

"I know. They would have – but still, we have a responsibility to report what we've learned here, about Atlantis, about the Ancients..."

"...the Wraith," he finished.

"Exactly. We have to warn Earth."

"Even if it's the last thing we do?"

"Especially if it's the last thing we do."

John nodded, peeling off and heading for one of the corridors. The city was unusually busy, everyone aware of the oncoming ships, and eventually he took a transporter to an empty sector.

"There's nothing helpful here," Alice told him.

"I was looking for you. Rodney's plan. Will it work?"

"His program works," she said carefully. "The information will be small enough. I don't know about the power. The Stargate was designed to run on a ZPM. Your generators are fine for what you ask of them, but to dial your galaxy..." She shrugged helplessly. "I don't know."

"Keep an eye on him. Let me know if anything goes wrong." Alice nodded, and he considered her for a moment. "How are you doing?"

"If the Wraith take Atlantis, every bit of information in the computers, all over the City, will be wiped. They'll get a husk. Less than that; none of the machinery will function. Nothing."

"Are you telling me or warning me?" John wondered.

"It's hardwired into every system. If they come I will kill the City, and I will die. They will not get to Earth this way."

He thought about that for a moment, deciding to take it in the spirit it was apparently offered. "Thank you."

His radio crackled to life before she could answer. "Major Sheppard?"

"Yeah, Teyla."

"You are needed in Control."

"I'm on my way." He turned the radio off, heading for the transporter. "Coming?"

"I'll meet you there," Alice told him.

In command John stood with Elizabeth and Teyla, watching the screen over Zelenka's shoulder.

"They don't seem threatening as dots on the screen, do they?" Elizabeth said wistfully.

"Which is why we need to do recon and see what we're up against first hand," John agreed.

"How?"

Zelenka gestured to the screen. "I've been tracking their progress. The Wraith ships apparently go in and out of hyperspace periodically – either because their hyperspace technology is limited..."

"...or they're stopping to feed along the way," John muttered.

"The point is, the pattern is predictable. I can guess with some certainty that they'll be making stops here, here and here." He pointed out the places on the screen.

"Even so, those ships are light years away. How do you expect to reach them in a Puddlejumper?" Elizabeth protested.

"We fly to a Stargate en route that Zelenka thinks they're gonna drop out of hyperspace and we watch 'em pass by," John explained.

"That's good."

"Well, I have my moments. Teyla and I were just deciding which planet to go to."

"I am familiar with the people of this world." She gestured to the screen. "Their Stargate is in the open and so accessible by ship."

"And you think you can remain undetected by the Wraith as they go by your position?" Elizabeth asked.

"Stealth mode," John reminded her. "They won't even know we're there."

"OK," she agreed. "Go. Get what intel you can and get back – before Rodney sends his message. I need the both of you here."

"Won't even stop at the duty free," John promised. He and Teyla headed off.

"On the off-chance you decide to take the Wraith ships on yourself, Major," Elizabeth said over his radio, "I am hereby ordering you not to."

John was mostly concentrating on the 'Jumper, but he spared enough attention to tell her, "Believe me, you don't have to."

"Still..." Elizabeh let it trail off.

"...don't take on an alien armada single-handed. Understood!"

Teyla glanced around as they reached the other side of the wormhole. "Are we alone?"

John glanced over his shoulder; Alice held both hands up innocently and vanished. "We are now."

"She follows you?"

"She likes the 'Jumpers," John said innocently.

"She likes you."

"She's a program, she doesn't like anything."

Teyla eyed him, wondering if he really believed that, but she decided to ignore it for now. "I have spoken with Halling," she said instead. "We feel that perhaps the Athosians should be evacuated."

"We're keeping it in mind," John promised. "We won't leave your people in trouble, Teyla."

"Does Atlantis believe she can stand against the Wraith?"

"Not sure. She's already promised to trash the city if it comes to it, though."

Teyla shifted. "She can do that?"

"Wipe the computers, burn out the operating systems," John said easily.

"She would destroy herself?"

"To protect the city and the expedition, yeah." John glanced at his HUD. "Is that your friend's village?"

"Yes." Teyla studied the display. "The village has grown."

"Good. Al—Atlantis."

Alice stepped out of the rear compartment. "Yes, Jo...Major."

"Definitely too much time in Rodney's systems," he muttered. "We're landing here. Watch the sensors and warn me if the Hives come."

"You already know they're coming," she pointed out.

"Ahead of schedule," John said semi-patiently. Catching Teyla's look, he added, "What?"

"She thinks it's funny you're arguing with yourself," Alice said blandly.

Overlapping, Teyla said, "Watching you argue with no one is...interesting." Glancing over her shoulder, she added, "No offence intended."

"I'm not programmed to take offence," Alice said politely.

"You're forgiven," John told Teyla. "Keep an eye out," he added to Alice, pushing away from the console.

"Always do," she reminded him.

John had set down near the fields, and it was only a few minutes before they were recognized. "Father! Teyla's here!"

John glanced up at the call to see a young boy running towards an older man. Teyla smiled, waving, and both returned the gesture.

"Teyla!"

"Orin! It has been many days."

"Too many!" Orin had reached them by now; he and Teyla touched foreheads. "Look at you! You're so different!"

"Much has changed since my last visit. This is Major John Sheppard – and Orin."

"Pleased to meet you," John said politely. He offered a hand, but Orin was already saluting him, hand on his heart. John mimicked the gesture a little more awkwardly.

Orin smiled vaguely and turned to Teyla. "The harvest is still several months away."

"Yes, I know. We have not come to trade, but to deliver a warning. We have reason to believe the Wraith may be on their way."

Behind Orin, the other villagers began to protest, and John added quickly, "We don't know that for a fact but we're about to go and find out."

"Yes," Orin agreed grimly. "It seems they are awakening everywhere."

"You should tell your people to take precautions in case they do come," Teyla told him.

"I will – but you know as well as I do, Teyla, that the Wraith will track us down wherever we go. There will be no escape."

"What about through the Stargate?" John asked.

"The cullings are taking place on many worlds. None are safe. Even we have taken in refugees." He glanced down at a boy leaning against his hip; his meaning was clear, and Teyla nodded.

"If they do come, stay far from the Stargate. Take your family to the far tree line, there, and wait for us."

"Teyla..." John said warningly.

"One family, Major, that is all I ask."

John looked around at the group, then back at Orin. "I'm sorry, Orin, I can't make that promise."

"It will be the very least we can do," Teyla said, directly to John this time. Giving up, he gestured vaguely.

"If there's time."

"Then we must hurry." Teyla leaned her forehead against Orin's again and then led John back towards the 'Jumper. Behind them, John could hear Orin call for the village to begin preparations.

John managed to hold back until they were back in orbit. Teyla waited him out, sitting silent in the copilot's seat.

"This wasn't supposed to be a rescue mission." John flipped on the cloak, not looking at her.

"Orin was a good friend of my father."

"I agreed to warn him."

"If someone close to your family – a dear friend – was in danger of being taken by the Wraith, would you have not done the same?"

"Not if it jeopardized the mission."

"So in fighting the Wraith, we are to give up that which makes us different from them?"

"She's good," Alice said admiringly. John rolled his eyes at her.

"I agreed to stop and pick him up if there was time – but only if there was time. I could be saving everyone in the damned galaxy if we could."

"One man and his children are not every person."

"I agreed to help if there was time. You can only fight the battles you can win."

"John," Alice said warningly, cutting him off. She leaned between them, gesturing to the viewscreen.

"Woah!"

He managed not to duck as two Hives emerged from hyperspace and flew directly overhead. A moment later another joined it, and Darts began to swarm around them.

"I'll get this thing turned around," John muttered.

"They are heading for the planet," Teyla said sharply.

"Aw, damn. Alice, get the display up...no, smaller. I need to see the Hives and the planet."

"It won't be any good to you that small," Alice protested, but the HUD came up anyway.

"They are definitely going to the planet," John muttered. The 'Jumper spun, going from a standstill to almost full speed.

"That's going to hurt later," Alice said.

"I'll have Zelenka check you out," John promised. They hit atmosphere and he slowed a little, watching the display. "Sorry, Teyla. Even flying full out we're just ahead of the armada. I can't risk putting down for Orin or his family."

"I see," Teyla said neutrally.

"I'm gonna take us out of stealth mode for the pass through. Dial the Gate."

Teyla hesitated for a moment before beginning to dial. Halfway through the sequence an alarm went off.

"Hang on! Incoming wormhole!" John yanked the 'Jumper into a tight curve, pulling them hard away.

"I have heard stories of the Wraith dialing in to prevent their victims from using the Stargate as a means of escape," Teyla said thoughtfully.

"Takes some timing," Alice muttered.

"So we're stuck here," John clarified.

"Once the ship is rendered invisible again, we will be perfectly safe."

"I'm worried about getting the intel about the Wraith fleet back to Atlantis."

"They will keep dialing in through the night at the very least – but if we wait in the location I told Orin and his family to meet us..."

"That's where I'm headed," John said with a sigh.

"Orin's family?" Alice repeated.

"Teyla's contact. We promised we'd try to swing back for them," John told her. Catching Teyla's look, he added, "Atlantis was wondering."

"There's a landing spot there," Alice offered, gesturing. The HUD flashed once before returning to the view of the system.

"No. In the tree line. That's where Orin will be looking for us."

"Landing's harder in the trees," Alice mused. "There." The HUD flashed again.

"Is that not distracting?" Teyla asked.

"No." John glanced up; the HUD obligingly flashed the landing spot again. "It's not."

The HUD vanished as the 'Jumper landed; John glanced out, gauging the sky. "It's dark already."

"The days are short here."

"18.3—"

"Thanks, Alice, good enough." John pulled his binoculars out of his pack, scanning what he could see of the village. "C'mon, Orin, show up!" He dropped the binoculars, drumming on the control panel until he realized Teyla was staring at him. "What?"

"Not long ago you would have blithely left him behind."

"Well, the situation has changed."

"Earlier today Lieutenant Ford suggested we steal from a community of children."

"It's because they have a ZPM and we can bring them back."

"Only to face death in Atlantis?"

John took a deep breath. "Look, Ford and I are military. We've spent a lot of our lives learning how to survive."

"I have spent my life surviving the Wraith."

"Part of that training," he continued doggedly, "is knowing who you can save and who you can't."

"And that decision is yours alone?"

"I said that I'd wait for your friend if there was time. Now there's time. What else do you want from me?"

"Too much, I fear." Teyla turned away, heading into the rear compartment. Alice crammed herself against the wall to avoid her, glancing almost timidly at John.

"It's gonna be a long night...Don't say it," he ordered her.

"What would you like me not to say?"

"I would like you not to say..." He hesitated, thinking the sentence through. "Never mind. What do your scanners say?"

"Darts. No Wraith on the ground yet, though."

"That's one good thing," he muttered. He tensed as a Dart flew overhead, transporter beam flaring as it crossed the village.

Teyla slipped back up by his side, watching with him as the Darts continued to criss-cross the village. "This is hard to sit and watch," he said quietly.

"There's nothing we can do," Teyla said wearily.

"We could do a lot. It'd just be the last thing we'd ever do."

"We are far outnumbered and the Gate is still inaccessible." She glanced at him. "But if we save Orin and his family, we will have done something."

"Something," John echoed vaguely.

"Gate's shut off," Alice commented. "No...it's dialed back in."

"You can stop reporting that unless it doesn't redial," John told her.

Alice tensed suddenly, eyes flickering. "John..."

She cut herself off as a solid white beam shot up into the sky from the village. John swore softly, staring at it.

"What is that?" he demanded.

Teyla shook her head. "I have never seen such a thing."

"No references in the database," Alice added quietly.

"I'll go and check it out." He headed for the rear compartment; Teyla caught his arm, stopping him.

"You may be discovered," she warned him.

"I'll make a point not to."

"Major..."

"I just wanna see what...whatever that is. Just stay here until Orin and his family show up."

He clipped his P90 on, slipping out as the 'Jumper opened. Teyla waited for him to walk past the front of the little ship, heading for the village.

He faded from sight quickly, and Teyla stepped into the back of the 'Jumper, aimlessly shifting kit from one pocket to another. "Atlantis," she said as though to herself. "Do you watch him?"

The HUD flashed up, showing a scan of the life signs in the village. One blinked as she watched.

"That is the major?" It blinked again, steadily, and she smiled faintly. "Thank you."

The HUD switched off again and Teyla went back to aimlessly moving the kit. The noise of the Darts rose outside; she gritted her teeth, deliberately not looking at the viewscreen.

Suddenly she stopped, thinking, and then turned slowly towards the back of the 'Jumper. John had left the ramp open and she had a narrow view of the clearing...enough to see a Wraith wander into view. It looked puzzled; Teyla held her breath, morbidly sure it could see her through the cloak.

It wandered around the clearing for a minute, coming in and out of her view; she eyed her gun, lying on one of the benches, but she was afraid to move for it in case the Wraith heard her. The cloak blocked sight, not sound, and she was very aware of how close the scout was.

It turned away, eventually, unable to find her, and she relaxed, sighing. The lights flickered once and she smiled ruefully. "Yes, that was too close," she agreed softly.

When she'd moved all the kit twice, she finally gave up and went back to the cockpit. The HUD periodically showed John's life signs, but it stayed off most of the time, letting her watch through the viewscreen.

Figures moving through the woods caught her attention and she rose to her feet, studying them. Two men, and a women with a child...not figures she recognized, but that hardly mattered.

She flicked the cloak off, stepping onto the ramp so they could see her. "Over here! It is alright – I am a friend! Please! Hurry! This way! Hurry! This way." As soon as they were inside she put the cloak back on.

She glanced out the screen to be sure no one else was coming before turning back to one of the men. "How many of you remain?"

He shook his head, exhausted. "I don't know. The Wraith are everywhere."

Teyla found a water bottle, offering it to the woman. "Here – drink this. It is water." To the man, she added, "Orin? Have you seen him?"

"Not since before the Wraith arrived...Thank you." He drank form the bottle she was offering him. "We must go now – the Wraith will find us."

He started to leave, but Teyla stopped him. "No they will not. Our ship has a shield which makes it invisible to them. You are safe here. Just rest. We will leave soon."

The man hesitated, but she was able to urge him to sit with his friends. Making sure they were all as comfortable as she could make them, she retreated back to the cockpit, picking up John's binoculars to watch the tree line.

It was some time before John appeared, running towards them. Teyla dropped the binoculars, threading her way between the refuges to stand on the ramp, guiding John in.

"Major!"

"It's pretty ugly out there. Is this Orin's family?"

"No. They have not seen Orin since the culling began."

"The village is pretty much wiped out." He slipped past her, picking up the binoculars and looking through the viewscreen. "The Gate just shut off. We should be able to dial up and get out of here before the Wraith can do anything about it."

Teyla stepped into the cockpit, watching him. "Please, Major – give Orin more time."

"If he was able to get here, he'd be here by now. We've gotta get back."

"Then go. I will stay and search in the daylight. You can return for me later."

John shook his head. "Can't do that."

"I consider Orin as family, Major. I am sorry if you do not understand what that means."

"I understand it, Teyla, but that's not the point."

"With or without you, I am staying."

He studied her for a moment. "You won't make it."

"Then I ask that you stay as well – just a little longer. Allow something good to come of this."

"Alright. We'll give him a little more time."

"The Darts are leaving," Alice offered. "The Wraith on the ground are almost gone. Attack's about over."

"Good," he said absently.

"What was the beam?"

"What?"

"The beam. The white beam. The one you went to look at."

"Oh. No clue." He passed the binoculars to Teyla. "Someone's coming."

Teyla glanced through them, smiling, and grabbed her P90, following him out of the 'Jumper. "Orin! Orin!"

"How big is his family!" John asked.

"He must have met up with others along the way." Orin was leading several people...she counted six without even trying.

"That's gonna be a problem."

"I didn't think you'd still be here," Orin gasped when he reached them.

"We would not have gone without you," Teyla said soothingly, glancing over his group.

"We found others on the way," Orin explained, "and even more further behind."

"How many more?" John demanded.

"Uh, twelve – perhaps more."

The second group were now visible, running for the 'Jumper. One of the men already in the ship stepped onto the ramp, marking it for them. "In here! This way! Quickly!"

"Wait!" John protested.

Anything else he might had said was interrupted as two Darts flew overhead. John ducked automatically, watching them circle to come back. "Alright, we'll fit as many people as we can!"

"Hurry! Come on!" Teyla ordered, pushing Orin towards the 'Jumper.

John snatched up a child, carrying her towards the ship as the Darts flew by again. A transporter beam ranged through the group, sweeping several people away; John dived for the ramp, crashing onto it with the girl still in his arms.

The group still outside were too late; the second Dart swept them up. Orin began to cry, holding another of the children.

John sat in silence for a moment before climbing to his feet, handing the girl off to another man before heading to the cockpit. Alice was sitting in Teyla's seat; she didn't speak as he powered up, dialing the Gate for Atlantis.

Teyla settled the refuges as best she could and came to join John, staring at the remains of the village as the 'Jumper passed over it.

Once they were through the Gate Alice straightened, standing just behind John. "No change, Hives still on course. The message is almost ready; Rodney's compressed it, so there's all your logs, a lot of things they've deciphered from my databanks, personal messages from the expedition...the power's fine. It won't drain the ZPM."

John nodded absently, glancing back at the refuges. "Welcome to Atlantis, everyone. Just stay where you are for a few minutes, we're gonna get the medstaff up here to check you over, ok?"

Teyla was already on the radio, calling the infirmary and assuring Elizabeth that both she and John were fine. Carson's medics were waiting when the 'Jumper docked, and they rapidly decided no one was seriously injured. John and Teyla quietly absented themselves, joining Rodney in the conference room.

Elizabeth came in a couple of minutes later. "Are our guests comfortably settled in?"

"Yes."

"Good. So tell me..." She took a deep breath. "How bad is it?"

"Bad," John said bluntly. "Each hive ship acts like a carrier group with cruisers and hundreds of Darts escorting it. Grodin's downloading the sensor readings right now."

"I have never witnessed a culling that took so many," Teyla agreed.

"We saved a few – that's worth something."

Elizabeth looked at Rodney. "Rodney, are we ready to send our message?"

"When you are."

"OK."

Rodney and Teyla left, but Elizabeth held John back. "Lieutenant Ford is just finishing recording the personal messages from all the team members. If you'd like..."

He shook his head. "I'm good."

"OK. Well, then, along with a short note of my own, I took the liberty of recording messages to the families of the people we've lost."

"It's a good idea."

"But there's one in particular I thought maybe you'd like to do yourself."

John took a deep breath. "Sumner."

"If you want to."

"Yeah. I'll take care of it."

A little later Rodney stuck his head into Elizabeth's office. "We're ready when you are."

Most of the city had managed to find a reason to be in the 'Gate room; Elizabeth smiled faintly, turning to Grodin. "Dial Earth, please."

It was fairly anti-climatic; as Rodney had predicted, the wormhole was only open for just over a second, barely enough to register. Rodney watched the power levels, nodding in satisfaction.

"We still have more than enough to protect the city," he announced.

"And the messages?" John asked.

"They reached Earth safely."

Everyone drifted away; John left Rodney still explaining the brilliance of his message compression programme and chased Teyla. "Teyla, wait up."

"I wish to speak with Orin and make sure he is well." She didn't look at him as she spoke.

"Just wait a second, would you? I wanna apologize!"

"There is no need." She did finally stop, turning to face him. "I understand your reasoning."

"I would have found a way to help him."

"I believe you." She sighed, taking a step closer. "I understand, John. I have made such decisions. Now I must go and see Orin. I will see you soon."

She turned away, heading for the infirmary; Alice stepped out of the nearest door as she passed, watching her vanish. "She worried for you while you were gone," she offered.

"I worried for me while I was gone, too," he retorted. "How much power is left in the ZPM?"

"Not much. Shields, drones. Life support, for a while. I'd start shutting down all unnecessary programs, if I were you."

"You stay online," he said quickly. "I need you."

"Yes, John."

"Warn me when the Hives reach the system, ok? Wherever I am."

"In your quarters?"

"Yes, in my quarters. Anywhere. Understood?"

"Understood. John?" she added as he turned away.

"Yes."

"You didn't send a message home."

"There's no one waiting for me."

Alice shook her head. "I know your personal file, remember. Father, brother, ex-wife."

"There's no one waiting for me," he repeated. "Anything else? I need to get going."

"No. There's nothing else." She turned away, vanishing in mid-step. John sighed, scrubbing a hand through his hair before going to find Rodney and begin powering the city down for the coming fight.