Stargate Defense - season one

Chapter Two

Mal took a seat at the briefing table. "General, we have good news and bad news."

"Just fill me in, Colonel, did you find anything on P1N-035? We're running out of addresses that match the partial addresses Dr. Jackson's people found in the information gathered from the outpost on P7B-732. If we don't find a match then we're out of luck."

"They have a ZPM."

"Wonderful. What do they want for it?" she asked Mal.

"That's the problem, ma'am, they won't give it to us. Not even to study briefly."

"Why?"

"It's a relic. A very highly prized one," Van informed her. "It's kept in a museum behind glass and protected by an alarm that I'm certain would take our people months or maybe years to figure out."

"So we have no idea if it's even charged?" Sam asked.

"If it's charged, I have no clue how charged it is. There was no way for me to test it with the equipment I had with me, not when it was stuck behind glass." Van shrugged.

"Then we keep looking."

"Can't we just, you know, take it?" Lee asked.

"No, Captain, we can't. That isn't how we do things. It is not up to us to judge how a society does things and we certainly can't go around stealing things from those we'd rather call friends. The ZPM stays with the people on P1N-035. Dismissed." Sam shoved her chair back and left the room.

Van sent Lee a glare. "How could you even suggest stealing what is a holy relic to those people?"

"Look, Van, we need it, they don't. It's sitting behind glass being useless. If we had it and it's charged it could potentially get Atlantis home to the Pegasus galaxy," she reasoned.

"It doesn't matter, it belongs in the museum!" With a disgusted snort he stomped away from the table. He sent them a glare before he knocked on General Carter's door and stepped inside her office.

"General, I'd like permission to return to the planet to study the artifacts in the museum. There's so much there and it's all Ancient technology. We might learn something about the Ancients we didn't already know. Perhaps in time they'll consider letting us have the ZPM if we foster good relations."

"That's a good idea. You have a go, Dr. Walsh. Be careful, there's no telling what they have in the museum, we know that some of that tech is dangerous."

"I will, promise."

"Send, Colonel Hughes and Captain Kain in will you?"

"Yes, ma'am."

Van stepped out of the room. A minute or so later, Mal and Lee took his place.

"You wanted to see us, General?" Mal asked.

"Yes, I've given Dr. Walsh authorization to return to the planet to study the artifacts in the museum there."

"We can go with him and make certain he remains safe."

"No, I want the two of you to remain here."

"But, General—"

"No buts, Colonel. Van is hoping they will see he treasures their artifacts as much as they do and in time they may trust him enough to hand over the ZPM. That is how we're doing this. Understood, Colonel?"

"General, please!"

"Is that understood, Colonel Hughes?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Good. Dismissed." She waved them from the room.

Mal shut the door behind them with a sigh.

Lee snorted. "In time. They'll never turn that ZPM over. It's their stupid prized relic. I don't care if Van seduces that Mala woman, they'll never give us that ZPM."