The "jumper" entered the atmosphere of the second and last planet in the Lantean system without any problems. My fears that the ionized atmosphere (as the ship's scanners warned) might interfere with the communication systems' operation were based on the fact that it was so in the series.
But in fact, everything turned out not quite like that.
Yes, the atmosphere ionization was off the charts compared to Lantea itself. And yes, it really affected the stable operation of the "jumper's" communication systems. While I had only those on board who weren't particularly versed in Ancient technologies, I conducted some research.
"What's that?" Kirik asked, seeing a blinking red dot on the virtual screen displaying a schematic piece of the Earth's surface of the system's second planet.
"A subspace transmitter operating on Wraith frequencies," I explained. Feeling my companions tense, I added:
"It's too weak to call the nearest Wraith here. The ionized atmosphere weakens it so much that beyond this planet's low orbit, it doesn't propagate."
"Otherwise the Wraith would have arrived already," Teyla figured.
"Exactly," I confirmed. "The other question is why they, immediately attacking Atlantis, didn't detect their ship here and whoever sent this message."
"Good question," Kirik agreed, pulling the Ermenian pistol from his thigh holster and checking the ammo in the magazine. The man went to the aft compartment and began gearing up for the upcoming sortie.
Like us, he didn't need long explanations of the advantages of Ermenian uniforms and body armor. Though he liked the body armor and armor elements less than the convenient load-bearing vests, pouches, and hanging pockets that were stuffed full of ammo for him.
We hauled a fairly large amount of weapons from Ermen. And despite expecting it to be quite uniform—one or two models per firearm type, it turned out not.
Weapon production in Alvar's civilization flourished. A couple of state enterprises, small workshops engaged in small-series production... Doesn't quite fit with developing the economy of a planet whose population hardly exceeded the official number of Muscovites in the best times.
But either way, however, up to half a hundred various types and kinds of weapons accumulated in Atlantis arsenals. Only lacking a couple of mortar batteries or multiple rocket launchers to form a separate assault battalion with attached heavy weapons. Though a couple of barrel guns would suffice for me...
But there weren't any.
How does it go? Demand determines supply? So in a galaxy populated by bloodthirsty Wraith, weapons are developed primarily to counter them. Why create tanks, submarines, ballistic missiles, barrel artillery or the like if the enemy never had or has such weapons?
What's the use of a tank or BMP if a Wraith, flying over the "box" on a "dart," can take the crew with him without breaching the armor? What's the sense in developing barrel or rocket artillery if the Wraith never attack in dense formations, don't dig trenches or turn houses into pillboxes?
No, the Wraith quite substantially influenced the development of military affairs in the Pegasus galaxy.
Small arms are needed because the enemy has plenty of infantry. And it can land on positions literally out of thin air, dropped by a "dart." But it doesn't attack in chains, doesn't capture strongpoints, and so on.
Weapons are developed to counter the enemy's specific tactics. And the Wraith, relying on their technological advantage, actually don't have that many strong sides.
Their ships and orbital bombardment capabilities can only be opposed by own ships or guns capable of firing at orbital targets. The Ermenians managed to reach only creating fighters equally effective for combat both in atmosphere and near space. Logically, basing on space ships, they can serve as aviation of starships.
But that's details already.
The Wraith have plenty of infantry capable of taking many wounds—so for their destruction, large-caliber small arms, grenades are needed. The Wraith don't act in large squads, so the need for artillery and even mortars drops away. This approach justifies the great development of small arms and mine-explosive weapons.
Understanding that their fighters are too few to repel even a hundred "darts" raid, the Ermenians also emphasized anti-aircraft artillery development. But not in the area of high-rate automatic or semi-automatic guns. I saw several damaged samples— in fact, something in between Earth "Oerlikons" and heavy machine guns. Twenty-five millimeter explosive rounds... Yes, a good defense method.
Portable anti-aircraft missile systems, Alvar's people only started developing and didn't advance beyond prototypes and small-series production. Actually, on Sudaria, Alvar used the overwhelming majority of what remained in storage. Another half a hundred complexes very reminiscent of American "Stingers," but the size of the "Mukha" grenade launcher, we managed to dig up and deliver to Atlantis.
Otherwise... Pistols, revolvers, submachine guns, assault rifles, sniper rifles, machine guns—handheld and turret-mounted, grenades... No reason to complain, actually. After all, the Ermenians went the way of standardizing requirements and calibers for each weapon type. A single type, as well as type, caliber for pistol, revolver (though mostly ceremonial and award weapons), rifle, machine gun, and anti-aircraft types.
So rifle rounds, for example, are equally useful and effective both in Alvar's favorite "Alya-FAMAS" rifle and in the SIG Sayger-like automatic cherished by Kirik.
By the way, the Ermenians didn't have a "pure" submachine gun as a weapon type. And no wonder, since a single sample cartridge for assault rifle was adopted. Actually, their pistol isn't just a pistol, but more a submachine gun or pistol with automatic fire function.
What pleased in Ermenian production weapons was their dimensions. Their "assault rifles" had the compactness of a submachine gun with a removable stock, short barrels, but at the same time equally effectively suited both for medium and close range combat. Of course, I personally wouldn't risk fighting with them somewhere in houses, but as Alvar explained to me, that's what large-caliber (by my standards) pistols are created for. Big explosive round, excellent stopping power... What else is needed if you suddenly face a regenerating Wraith head-on? Earthlings, for example, "standard" Berettas didn't cope with the task at all. There they could pour half or a whole magazine into a Wraith, and he still wouldn't fall... And wouldn't even stop.
But that's all details I didn't delve into particularly. Not yet, since I use the Ancient pulse blaster pistol. It perfectly turns a whole Wraith into not whole at fifty meters distance. Yes, rate of fire one shot per second, but with such destructive power... Why more?
What amused me was how similar the names of Ermenian weapons are to Earth ones. Alvar's FAMAS-like rifle was called "Amas." And the one chosen by Kirik was "Alash" altogether. It touched me to the depths of my soul that here too people name weapons after their creator.
Kirik explained his choice of "Alash" by the fact that it lies well in the hand, is light, compact. Yes, the magazine doesn't have forty-five rounds like in Alvar's preferred "Amas," but only thirty. But even that increases the weapon's weight and convenience for him.
Teyla turned out to be of the same opinion, trying the new assault rifle. By the way, the official name of this type is SHAV. SHAV "Amas," SHAV "Alash"... Assault Automatic Rifle such-and-such model. And yes, no numbers for the new generation or modification—all the same rifle as before. Or a new one was created altogether if there was a need.
So, for example, "Amas" was a past generation rifle—precisely because of the large mass in loaded state, excessive construction complexity, large amount of metal in the body.
"Alash" came to replace it but couldn't fully displace "Amas" from production. The army stayed with the first, the latter were favored by law enforcement and civilians. And yes, probably the Ermen government acted wisely by allowing free weapon circulation on the planet. After all, living in constant danger of sudden raid disciplines people in handling weapons.
Yeah... And no frequent military attacks, robberies, and so on... Of course, if Alvar isn't embellishing stories about his homeland.
Kirik's assault rifle, "Alash."
In the known events to me, Earthlings preferred close-range combat, no more than a hundred meters. And used Belgian FN P90 submachine guns for that. I don't know why Americans didn't impose their "best" automatic rifles, but such weapons...
Maybe I don't understand planetary enemy warfare too well, but... No, seriously! The "Belgian" has many merits, of course. But against Wraith... The cartridge used by the "Belgian" has excellent penetrating properties, but...
Okay, I'm probably just nitpicking. Now it's not too important to me actually. To understand what Ermenian weapons do to Wraith, it's enough to recall the meeting with Alvar on Sudaria. He then chopped the Wraith simply into salad. And that's despite the fact that "Amas" actually yields to "Alash" in rate of fire.
Things...
"Approaching the surface," I warned my companions. "The planet isn't one you want to return to. Sandy surface, weak vegetation, dunes, plenty of open space. No signs of life detected."
"Are you sure there's a Wraith here?" Teyla clarified, returning to the cockpit fully equipped. Throwing a glance at her "Alash," I silently approved. The Athosian was the only one of my three "fighters" who always kept the weapon on safety outside combat. Alvar and Kirik preferred not to waste extra seconds before battle start.
"Maybe the equipment is glitching at such distance?" Kirik asked, sitting in the chair behind me. Hm, looks like he's feeling better. Well, or anticipation of battle with a Wraith who lived over ten thousand years on this planetlet inspired him. "You yourself talked about interference."
"They're in the atmosphere," I reminded. "We've already entered the lower atmosphere layers. The troposphere here is quite peculiar, about five kilometers from the surface, but interference here is much less than in the stratosphere."
View of the landscapes of the Lantean system's second planet.
"Did the Ancestors name this world somehow?" Teyla became interested.
"They weren't particularly interested in planets without Stargates," I explained. "And installing more than one in a solar system doesn't allow the technology of these devices themselves."
"Why?" Kirik became interested.
"When close, addresses of one gate overlap on others," I explained. "This is a hardly eliminable 'glitch,' so with different gates close to each other, you can dial one planet's address and end up on another. Not the most pleasant surprise actually."
But these are my guesses. Whether it's so within one star system remains only for me to guess. But within one planet—yes, that's exactly how it happens. Earthlings in the known events to me experienced this (as always) on their own skin when due to an accident people were transferred from the gates the Earthlings used to those in Antarctica installed by the Ancients millions of years ago.
But I think the Ancients wouldn't have had much trouble placing gates on every planet interesting them even within one star system. If, of course, it didn't cause a certain paradox.
Need to talk about this with Chaya sometime. Maybe she knows the answer or can find a solution to such a problem, write some program or something like that.
"Since they had ships capable of traveling between planets of one star system, yes, no big sense in placing gates on every planet in the system," Kirik unexpectedly approved the Ancients' actions. "Have you considered the version of building a backup base on this planet? Say an underground shelter in case Atlantis falls?"
"And why do we need a base on a planet without gates?" I asked.
"But if Atlantis falls, its gate disappears too, right?" Kirik clarified.
And here I have nothing to counter.
The idea is actually not as superficial as it might seem at first glance. No, really it's a great idea!
If we can create a backup base here, and even equip it with Stargates, secure it, then why not? And the point here isn't even to create a quiet spot for ourselves in case of Atlantis's death. This base and this planet can be used as a prison, for example, without worrying that prisoners will escape (just don't leave the DHD). And fly here, say on a "jumper" in which the DHD is integrated into the ship's systems.
Or here can be the laboratory so desired by Chaya outside Atlantis. And no need to spend fifteen hours flying between planets. Why, then we won't even need to drag the satellite from here to Lantea!
In general, the idea is really wonderful.
But there's a nuance.
By this moment, the "jumper" had already descended to a height of two hundred meters from the sandy planet's surface.
"We have no interstellar ship that would allow us to deliver new gates here," I explained. "To install them here, we'd need to take from somewhere. And that's clearly talk of another star system. Can't reach there on a 'Jumper.' At least in our lifetime."
"Maybe we can use this ship?" Teyla asked, pointing to the landscape that opened before our eyes. Extremely uncharacteristic for this planet.
"Boys and girls, I present to you the crashed Wraith transport ship," I announced the belonging of the giant lying on the planet's surface. And only a small part of the ancient starship is visible—the bulk of the ship is hidden under sand. "Been lying here ten thousand years, shot down by that very satellite that Chaya and Alvar are repairing now."
"And somewhere inside is a Wraith who didn't die of hunger in such time?" Kirik clarified. "I doubt that's possible. They're extremely resilient, but still dependent on food..."
The man fell silent, obviously catching the meaning of what I said.
"Usually Wraith don't need transport ships," Emmagan said. "I've never heard of them using them. All their equipment is on hive ships."
All, yes not all. Interesting, does she really not guess, or just doesn't want to believe it?
"I think after the war with the Lanteans, the need for such ships disappeared," I suggested. "Or they were all destroyed and no more were grown. For lack of need. After all, the Atlantis siege was lifted and no more need for food supplies to the blockade forces."
Crashed Wraith transport ship. Frame from the series.
***
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