Chapter nine
Four days later, over M9R-193 in Pegasus, the Daedalus, Tsun Tzu and the Zeus dropped out of hyperspace.
The plant was rich of animal life, and did not have any inhabitants. The three ships scanned the surface for the best location for the base.
The sensors detected a cave system in a mountain that stretches over four kilometres in every direction.
How ever, the planet did not have a stargate, so the Tsun Tzu had dropped out of hyperspace and beamed aboard one of the gates from the McKay/Carter gate bridge.
The three ships had a lot to do during the next two weeks. They where to set up camps, a command center..
All of the ships had begun to beam down engineers and equipment. This was the first time that the new plasma cutter would come in hand.
The plasma cutter was a small asgard plasma beam weapon, that could churn out large walk ways and room. You could set it on different settings.
If you'd like to make a room, you just set it to "Short, and wide" mode. If a corridor, "long and thin". Sort of like that.
The Zeus had orders to travel to an old allied that could hold information about what had happened the past months.
A few hours later, the Zeus dropped out of hyperspace over the Genii homeworld. They scanned it, and detected their underground complex. The Zeus opened hailing frequencies.
"Genii complex, this is Colonel Hagberg of the earth vessel Zeus. Please respond" Hagberg said.
"This is Ladon Radim, Leader of the Genii. We have not heard from you in months what happened with your people?" Radim asks.
"Atlantis flew to our homeworld to destroy the most power full wraith hive ship ever created. But they did not come in time"
"Has earth fallen?"
"No. This vessel was in battle with the hive over earth, we almost got destroyed. Another of our vessel had to ram the hive so that the hive could be destroyed.."
"Oh, I'm sorry, Colonel" Radim said
"Don't be. Now, we need you to answer a few of my questions.
During the months that we have been away, what is the state of this galaxy? More exactly, the Wraith." Hagberg asked.
"The Wraith has grown more power full. They managed to find a few of those devices that you refer to as "ZPMs".
One of the worlds that we trade with, got destroyed by one of those hives.. We could very well use some help."
"Oh my god. Radim, how long have these hives been here?"
"Since you left, the galaxy was left with out protector.. The Wraith could do what every they wanted..
If one of those ships indeed comes here, they will notice the energy signature of our underground bunkers. It won't matter if we shut our generators down."
"I will se what I can do. I need to return to our other ships in this galaxy. We will contact you soon. Hagberg out" And the com cut. Hagberg was concerned about these new ZPM hives. It could very well mean the end.. Hagberg ordered a secure communications channel opened to the Amateus which could relay the message to earth since they had barley left the Milky Way.
"This is Colonel Hagberg onboard the Zeus. Transfer to stargate command. The Genii report several ZPM hives. Outpost could be at risk. Please advice." Hagberg said. The message was relayed to stargate command via the Amateus. Very soon a reply came.
"Colonel Hagberg, this is General Landry. Halt the construction of the base. Take every thing aboard your ships, and head for any allie in Pegasus. Landry out."
That was the only reply. Hagberg ordered yet another secure channel opened to the Daedalus and the Tsun Tzu.
"This is Colonel Hagberg. According to the Genii, the wraith have constructed several ZPM hives. We have reported to stargate command. General Landry orders us to halt construction until further notice. Beam aboard personnel and supplies. We will arrive soon. Hagberg out."
A few minutes after that message, the Zeus dropped out of hyperspace. The Tsun Tzu and the Daedalus opened a channel.
"Colonel Hagberg, how much can we trust the Genii. I've worked with them, they very often lie you know.." Caldwell said.
"Yeah, I've read the reports. But from what I've heard, Radim seems like a trust worthy guy. We should leave, the wraith could already know that we're here." Hagberg said.
"We should.. We'll beam up the equipment and be on our way" Colonel Chung, commander of the Tsun Tzu said.
"Yeah. Us to. Should we proceed to the Genii home world?" Hagberg asked.
"Yeah, we'll proceed to Genii home world. Caldwell out"
"Good. Transport's complete. Entering hyperspace for Genii home world. Hagberg out!" And the com shut down.
Seconds later, the Zeus, Daedalus and the Tsun Tzu entered hyperspace. Hagberg sent a message to the Amateus and the Queen that they shall proceed to the Genii home world. They responded by saying that they would.
"Sir, sensors are just working at minimal while in hyperspace, but it seems like a ship with ZPM power levels dropped out of hyperspace when we left the planet." Lund reported.
"Ah crapp. That is probably one of the super hives.. Did we leave anything behind on that planet?" Hagberg asked.
"We left some equipment sir. Not vital, just a few tools, low tech.
They shouldn't even know it's earth in origin."
"Yeah, I hope so. But it was hard enough with one super hive.. Now we got several of them. I wonder where they got that ZPM" Hagberg said. But he then remembered, the ancients had planted out several ZPMs in Pegasus, should they return. The Wraith where bound to find one of those places. The brother hood of fifteen had one for example..
This was bad, very, very bad. Colonel Hagberg went to his quarters to get some sleep before they dropped out of hyperspace over the Genii world.
