*
"What think?" Jensen asked after Chaya finished scanning server cabinet. Last ten minutes she visually examined construction, but no enlightenment visible on her face.
"This just scrap metal," she sighed. "Afraid Genii not immediately understood exactly how your people's info storage devices look. And besides, their extraction method of computer elements..."
"Method?" I surprised. "They just pried out parts!"
"Well, also method," Jensen reasonably noted. "Under capital almost all storages in such state."
"Almost?" Chaya asked again.
"In some removed all quite safely—either cut boards at soldering places or cut mounts."
Proculian took with two fingers thin microchip like Earth one. True only fragment, but... Worth Chaya press small plate on contact group, element popped from slots and into her hand. Girl looked at us skeptically.
"Fifteen seconds," she said. "Exactly so much needed to understand how your ancestors secured boards. Not hard if ever removed system unit cover and saw what's inside."
"Likely soldiers did this," Alvar supposed. "That brotherhood not smartest."
"Agree," Chaya, thrusting hand inside server, began inside pull side to side, then demonstrated us crumpled metal piece. Very characteristic piece. "Afraid you wrong, Alvar. They didn't extract devices and data. They destroyed them."
After which handed Ermenian flattened jacketless bullet.
"Eight millimeter bullet," he examined ammo remnants. "Genii caliber."
"So if Genii interested in info, why destroy servers?" Chaya voiced question aloud.
"On them unnecessary to them info was?" Alvar supposed.
"Think still not for that," thinking, I answered. "Think they exactly not understood what deal with. But same time saw what we do. Suspect destruction targeted."
"Stupid," Chaya said. "Why destroy info if not know what's on server?"
"Then that they sent here people but couldn't contact them," Alvar figured. "Sent new, those saw bodies, started sort out, reached tunnels. And here met us. Yes, we so learned they're here—started shootouts in tunnels, but then they retreated—we drove them farther from storages."
"And then we started hunt on them and Genii decided revenge," I summed up. "Understood can't get off planet and let loose all heavy."
"This not army, but some rabble," Jensen grimaced. "Not defenders, but saboteurs."
"And also excellent way cover tracks," Chaya said. "We can't learn exactly what they hauled from here in info terms. And don't know exactly what they destroyed. Consequently all we know not more than Tyrus words. And yet he could be not only commander here."
"Can't exclude various variants," I said. "There other cities, other storages."
"And Genii squads that already surely there either visited earlier or hold path there," Alvar supposed. "Don't think Genii lost time here after our destruction."
"Strange you didn't cross them after return," I said. "Though these guys know hide."
"Can't exclude part disks can be with escaped squads on them," Chaya said.
"Yes, and you yourself said data may not survive so much conservation time," Jensen waved hand. "Seems chase ghosts. Completely stupid spend heap time and distract people from unloading to run after Genii across whole planet, and then learn they have on them info on grandma pie recipes or river water filtration method."
"Strange words for one who recently wanted kill all Genii," I voiced.
"Yes, kill them," Alvar blurted. "But not chase them like Wraith after Runners! How much time we'll waste on such? Days? Weeks? I can spend years try teach Athosians be soldiers. But only few of them become. We had over forty shootouts in Capital alone. And about hundred wounded Athosians. Six died from wounds before we managed evacuate them from here. They not soldiers. Yes, militia knowing which way rifle barrel should point, but exactly not today and not tomorrow become soldiers. I simply can't tear between Athosians training and help here. And as understand, due to lack of military force we can't move further."
"Think month," Chaya said. Seeing our bewilderment, she turned to us scanner screen and explained:
"Approximately so much needed to scan planet and find Genii," girl looked saddened. "In past visit even didn't think look planet data. But even if rebuild 'Jumpers' sensors increasing coverage zone, even if me and Mikhail in air round the clock, search planet like Ermen three times larger Lantea will be very hard. Not to mention improving systems lead to brief energy consumption increase."
And we again approach that our poor ZPM will give from self energy faster than MMM vouchers issued. Unacceptable costs to track even thousand Genii. In end, when leave here, they simply can't return to home planet. Whatever stolen left on them.
"Suppose we stop tracking them as haul from here all most needed," I said. "But fact remains—need Ermens researches to learn make generators ourselves."
"Actually we just need naquadah," Chaya corrected. "Think can assemble several generators by own forces. But will be Lantean tech, so..."
"Unlikely we'll use them outside city," I guessed. "But... Do we even need this? At least now."
Silent several minutes, came to conclusion on surface. What Genii took from us already can't return—at least with current forces. Can of course arm all Athosian males and send storm Genii home, but here certain problem. Their philosophy.
If Teyla doesn't understand reason why people should war each other while more dangerous enemy exists desiring exterminate humanity for own food, then how explain to other Athosians? Yes, they understand self-defense—when Genii attacked, they defended. Moreover first tried negotiate—those who died exactly from talk lovers. War against Wraith—no problem. Against people—only defend.
Maximum can take from Athosians—products, yes info they no-no bring from other planets after talks. Well and possibly won't object work on mines extracting us useful minerals. Yes... Simpler build self robots army. But here Chaya categorically against—fears everything connected with autonomous apparatuses remotely performing human-like functions.
Understand exactly what Genii dragged to self—also impossible. Scoundrels tried so we get little of what was in storages. By Chaya words from fragments unlikely get anything—at least if not about whole knowledge.
And means just take and launch production of weapons, grenades, mines, rounds and so on won't work. Have to disassemble samples and recreate copies by trial and error method. Long, of course, but... We have time.
Besides, we only approached exhausting Capital reserves, and they exist in other cities too. But to them yet no turn came. And unlikely we'll manage it. Alfhar knew nothing about where storages in other cities located, so only our way find still intact knowledge—this search ruins there.
Though need in this fell away, worth us fly to these cities. Destruction that was in Capital—nothing compared to what we saw in two other cities. Wraith not just razed them to ground—even voids under ruins not find. No corridors, no rooms. Only several basements or miraculously survived corridor sections.
"But... Why tunnels under capital not destroyed?" Alvar asked when recovered from seen shock.
"Stargates," Chaya supposed. "Naquadah contained in them at detonation could damage Wraith ship itself. So they more careful."
No words, only emotions.
Ermen that seemed me that very 'piano' thanks to which we can substantially improve our affairs turned in fact no more than aftertaste from enticing aroma. In fact we have properly no knowledge got locals from Sekkari race, no technologies, no production specifications. Only reserves valuable but renew them can only spending heap resources on reverse engineering experiments and precious energy.
Didn't console even that from air managed discover several more Genii groups. Three projectiles sufficed to scatter them and my with Alvar participation to track and destroy. But on them only weapons yes some from Genii technologies. Compared to what we got from Ermens—this just joke.
Though, no need mope too.
Goal initially get at least something—at least weapons. Now all available large rooms of central spire in Atlantis stuffed with obtained good. And offensive only that volumes will only decrease. So essentially need rejoice.
Athosians on new unknown to Wraith planet. We got large quantity resources, weapons and much other allowing not expend Lantean technologies on routine needs.
We got coordinates of naquadah mines and have illusory possibilities get power sources in which so needed. Yes, didn't get maximum, made enemies in Genii form (but this far future perspective, as unlikely on this people home know our involvement in happened), but we still alive, became stronger... In several weeks finish finally study tunnel, haul from planet all that can be useful for Ermen tech study and think what do next.
Though one thought already had on this score.
Voice it decided after all four us returned to Atlantis. Curiously, our captives even from hunger not died in two days our absence. Hardy bastards.
"My people grateful for all you did and do for us," Chaya assured. "New, let temporary homes, generators, energy, lighting, water desalters, weapons, clothes, ammo, medicines... Even don't know how thank you. We never so sure in next day. Finally stopped fear Wraith and count self pre-doomed. Ahead, of course, much work on tech search in ruins, but more my people, men and even children, interested in this. We know be grateful. As soon as first harvest on new planet ripens, you all—our most desired guests."
"Glad my people legacy can somehow help you," Alvar said. "As soon as sort affairs here, think return to continue train them. From last storage hauled fifty launchers and plenty rounds to them. Think now Wraith 'Darts' not so comfortable fly in skies."
Yes, MANPADS direct excellent find. Seems remembered them last of all, as together usual 'little of everything', found in Capital storage filled with ammo and installations for repelling enemy attacks. Judging by what on surface found only large 'Darts' debris and no large nodes and aggregates, on hit opponent generally nothing 'catch'.
Though had several more storages about which Alvar wanted report later—they blocked by passwords and well-armored doors. Not like that barring access to main storage servers, but and not simple as in rest. There clearly something valuable. But bringing this news Teyla clearly disappointed if interrupt become-tradition evening summing up and go profit found. Oh how hope this will be server storage. Or e.g. generators... Only not uniform clothes, please. We now so much of it that gladly shared with Athosians. To them even 'on hooray' went three-layer suits with membrane. Anyway much better than what they had before.
"On Ermen at minimum one well-preserved mine," I said. "If your people not against help us there, then as soon as check all and assure in its safety, can invite them work there."
"Naquadah in ore form and even separated from impurities, enriched, doesn't emit radiation," Chaya corrected me. "Without directed detonation safe."
"Even better," I sighed. "Well, some problems we solved. But came to that lack soldiers to act on several missions simultaneously."
"You have proposal?" Alvar interested.
"Want lure Sora and Tyrus to your side?" Emmagan interested.
"Say you don't want again create replicator-servants," Chaya implored.
"No," at least now. "However thanks Alvar know in this galaxy soldiers excellently fighting Wraith... And they'll pay dearly to get rid of pursuit, get blood, food and place where always welcome with open arms."
"M?" Chaya interested.
"Nothing even comes to mind."
"You joked, probably?" Jensen clarified. "Overwhelming majority of them sociopaths and loners."
"Exactly for this reason intend find them," had to explain. "At them at minimum no grounds cooperate with Wraith or any other our enemies. E.g. Genii."
"Would like know who in question," Chaya admitted.
"Runners," I explained. "If need soldiers against Wraith, better them we definitely not find."
***
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