“They’ve moved it up to summer,” Davis said. “So they’re sending out their support personnel and material beforehand. So that when the Asoka arrives in Atlantis there will be any necessary repair and maintenance equipment already there, as well as the people to use it.”
“Nobody’s told Atlantis anything about it,” Woolsey said.
“I don’t know why that is, sir,” Davis said. “But we’ve also been working out the logistical support. It’s only fair that India is supplying additional rations and supplies, so we’re getting a shipment from the Indian Air Force to the SGC.”
“Why aren’t they just using the Stargate instead of going on Daedalus?” Woolsey asked.
“The IAF thought that it would be a good idea for them to become acclimated to spaceflight,” Davis said. “Only four of them have been off-world before, and all of those are civilian scientists. So they’re riding along on Daedalus and seeing it operationally.”
And if Caldwell was fine with that, well and good. That was an Air Force problem, not his. His was to make sure that Sheppard knew that they were coming. They’d need quarters and lab space and storage for the spare parts for Asoka. If they wanted to be near the landing space on the south platform, there might be room in the tower just north of it to store parts and set up office space overlooking the landing pad…
But that was also not his problem. Sheppard would do that. He had to stop micromanaging Atlantis and think about the big picture.
“This is the first major cooperative operation,” Davis said. “The IOA is very invested.”
Which was code for ‘if it doesn’t go well, it’s someone’s head.’
“It’s an exciting opportunity,” Woolsey said. “And I’m sure it will go fine. Get me the documentation on who’s leaving on Daedalus tomorrow so I can brief Atlantis. Let’s make sure everything is ready when they arrive.” First impressions meant a lot, and arriving to prepared quarters and good food was the first step to a smooth working relationship.
This was the shape of the future, not an isolated expedition on a one-way trip but all nations venturing into the cosmos together, and here, sitting at his desk on Massachusetts Avenue, it was up to him. Richard Woolsey could make it work.
Half the miners started packing up to leave Lorvine. Fenna made no attempt to persuade them to stay. “What can I say?” she asked. “Between the Wraith and the Genii, this has become a real dangerous place.” She looked around the well-lit caverns. “Those of us who are staying are staying because we’ve got no place to go.”
“You could come aboard the Durant,” Dekaas said. “We’ll be casting off soon. No point in staying longer.”
“Nor risking your ship.” Fenna’s eyes were suspiciously bright. “And do you speak for your captain then, that you invite us to crew?”
“You’ve skills we can use,” Dekaas said. “And I’d speak to the captain on your behalf. He’s a reasonable man.”
Fenna glanced around the caverns again, then sighed. “No,” she said. “I’ll stay. Thank you kindly for the offer, Dekaas.” She glanced at Elizabeth. “And you can dial out for Sateda. Just get in line. Lots of people going lots of places.”
“Thank you,” Elizabeth said, and watched her walk away. She squared her shoulders. “And I will be sorry to say goodbye to you, Dekaas.”
The old man smiled. “And I to you, Elizabeth. I hope you find the home you’re looking for.”
There was one more thing she wondered. “Why did you ask the Wraith about his queen?”
“I thought it might be someone I’d heard of.”
“Is she?”
Dekaas shook his head. “I’ve never heard of Waterlight. Her line, well, I’ve heard of that.” He dropped his voice. “The hive I served on once was an Osprey hive. But that was years ago, and there are many queens. Or were. I’d guess she’s young and wasn’t very important before this alliance against Queen Death.”
“Do you think the Wraith was telling the truth?”
“That she killed Queen Death?” Dekaas shrugged. “It could be. That’s how it’s supposed to work, mind to mind and hand to hand between queens. Not that it always does. There are plenty who are content to throw men and Darts at each other from a distance. But it could have happened that way. Which would make her much more prominent now, as many of Queen Death’s men would be obligated to follow her. She could have staked quite a large claim.”
“Including sovereignty over human settled planets?”
“For what it’s worth,” Dekaas said. “Hives often divide up hunting grounds, and it does make a difference. Some hives Cull recklessly. Others are more occasional hunters. Not that it matters to the prey.”
Elizabeth frowned. “What about this retrovirus?”
“That’s been tried before,” Dekaas said. “And the idea of strengthening humans against the feeding process…” He frowned. “Medically, the way it works is that when a Wraith feeds it injects the prey with an enzyme that temporarily, and I do mean very temporarily strengthens the human so that it won’t die from shock immediately, before the Wraith has finished feeding. There have been many attempts, both by humans and Wraith, to synthesize this enzyme so that humans can survive a feeding. It doesn’t work. And the effects of the enzyme on the human system in the long run are deleterious.” He drew her aside, away from anyone who might overhear. “Atelia’s husband was addicted to the enzyme when he first came aboard the Traveler ships. I helped him get through the withdrawal, and he just barely pulled through. He had continuing problems for months, and there are issues that are never going to go away. Most don’t live through the withdrawal. He was lucky and he was a physically fit young man. But messing with the enzyme is a very bad idea.”
“But they said this was a retrovirus.” Elizabeth frowned again. There was something this should remind her of, some problem, some dilemma she’d seen before. But it wasn’t there. Whatever the important memory was, it escaped her.
“And you know what a retrovirus is,” Dekaas said. He smiled unexpectedly. “Interesting.”
“You don’t think I’m Satedan?”
“You may be. But there are other places…” He stopped. “Does Hoff sound familiar?”
“Maybe?” And there was a dark story there too, lost somewhere in the black depths of her mind.
Dekaas put his hand on her shoulder. “I hope for your sake that your home is out there, and that there are people you love who are looking for you.”
“But you don’t think so?”
“I doubt it,” Dekaas said solemnly. “But I understand you need to know. And if you decide you want to come with us, there’s good work and a place for you here.”
“Thank you,” Elizabeth said, unexpectedly touched. “I’ll remember that.”
Elizabeth stepped through to Sateda at night. Unfamiliar stars shone over the ruined city, dimmed by the lanterns that surrounded the square where the Ring stood. The pavement was cracked but everything was swept clean, and the buildings surrounding the square showed lights here and there in the windows. A series of low fences directed inbound travelers to a kiosk with an awning some kind of customs booth. Elizabeth looked around in surprise. Somehow she had not expected this. Surely everything should have been rubble? Surely there should be no people?
The façades of the buildings were darkened from fire here and there, upper windows still boarded up, but at street level there were shutters with louvers on them and even a few windows with glass. The bricks had been neatly scrubbed. The streets were clean and well lit. From one building across the square came the sound of music, some kind of stringed instrument and voices raised in song. This city was not deserted. It was alive.
It was cold, and Elizabeth shivered even in the jacket Dekaas had given her. She carried her bundle around the line of fences as a door opened and two men came out. They were unarmed, but their voices sounded official. “Inbound traveler, who are you and what’s your business on Sateda?”