Amy Griswold - The Lost

The trick was making the consequences sound significant enough to justify handing over an Ancient battle cruiser, but not so dire as to make the IOA question the wisdom of trying to make a deal with the Genii in the first place. He very much suspected that couldn’t be done. He wasn’t looking forward to the IOA reading this report. A diplomatic incident that…

…that would have been very embarrassing , Dick typed, and then deleted the words with a sigh.

He looked up at a diffident knock on the doorframe, feeling grateful for the distraction. “Dr. Zelenka, please come in. What can I do for you?”

“Well, I have good news and bad news,” Zelenka said.

“At least there is some good news,” Dick said.

“A bit, yes,” Zelenka said. “We have managed to reactivate the Ancient systems intended to protect the city from damage by floating ice. We may still have problems if we encounter extremely large icebergs, but Major Lorne says there is no problem with towing those out of the way, or even just blowing them up.”

“Is blowing up icebergs entirely safe?”

Zelenka shrugged. “I think not particularly, but he says that the demolitions experts could use the practice, and I suppose it is not more dangerous than blowing up anything else.”

“I suppose that makes sense,” Dick said. He had been dealing with the military for decades, now, and he still sometimes found their perspective a little hard to grasp. “Any more good news?”

“Not really,” Zelenka said. “The biologists are concerned about the pigeon issue.”

“I’m sorry?”

“They sent you memos? We have pigeons?”

“Of course,” Dick said. “The pigeons.” He’d seen an email about pigeons, he was fairly sure, but it hadn’t seemed to be a priority compared to the offworld teams that still hadn’t reported back at the time. “And they’re concerned because…”

“It could be damaging to this planet’s ecosystem,” Zelenka said. “Pigeons can be an invasive species. However, as far as we can tell there are no native birds, and I am skeptical that the pigeons can survive outside the city in this weather. Here they have warmth, and they seem to be finding sources of food.”

Dick frowned. “Would that be our supplies?”

“We have taken measures to make our storerooms pigeon-proof, so we will see how that goes. They are resourceful birds.”

“Is there something else we should be doing?”

Zelenka shrugged again. “I think poison would be more likely to harm the ecosystem than the pigeons, especially if the pigeons were eaten by any of the native sea life. We have a sort of giant squid, apparently. There are various strategies for driving pigeons away, but as there is essentially nowhere for them to go, that is unlikely to be effective.”

“Back up a moment,” Dick said. “Giant squid?”

“They seem to be doing no harm, although they were alarming for our divers to encounter unexpectedly. They are probably interesting to the marine biologists, but in terms of their effect on city systems. Zelenka made a dismissive gesture, possibly indicating that as long as they didn't pose a technical problem, he didn't consider them a priority.

And essentially you are recommending that we do nothing about the pigeons.

Yes. I think the pigeon situation is not really a crisis.

Let's do that, then, Dick said. He was very much in the mood for problems that could be solved by doing nothing. Was that the bad news?

What would be nice, Zelenka said. So, the bad news is much worse. I have been working on trying to ensure that the Wraith cannot access Atlantis' computer systems using information they have gained from Rodney. Dick nodded. It is a bigger problem than I thought. I am finding multiple back doors into the system, and this is suggesting that there are many I am not finding. Right now in my opinion the computer system is not secure.

Dick let out a breath. All right. What do we do?

I will need help on this one, Zelenka said.

Dick had a sinking feeling about where this one seemed to be going. I suppose we could ask Colonel Carter if she could spare any time to our computer security, he said. Asking the person who had his job before him for help wasn't exactly a position he wanted to be in, but neither was having the Wraith with free access to Atlantis' computers. I know she plans to keep the Hammond on station here for at least a few more days in case we do hear from Todd.

What would be helpful. I am just thinking that if we do not, we will need help for more than a few days. The Daedalus should be leaving Earth shortly on its way here.

Yes, Dick acknowledged. Unfortunately, I think we're in no position to request additional staff. The IOA has made it very clear that they will not authorize any further expenses this fiscal year, and that was before they read the report I'm about to send them.

Zelenka's eyebrows raised. Is it that bad?

Dick spread his hands. I have to tell them that we let Todd escape, that Dr. McKay is in the hands of the Wraith and may be handing over the access codes to our computer system as we speak, and that we just gave a functional Ancient battle cruiser to the Genii. Let's just say they won't be happy.It was worse the first year, Zelenka said, with the ghost of a smile.

Most of the first year, Dr. Weir was entirely out of contact with Earth, Dick said. I'm beginning to envy her.

I am not suggesting we hire someone new, Zelenka said. Frankly what I need as much as someone with Rodney's computer skills is someone who understands how Rodney thinks. Myself, I try not to think like Rodney most of the time. It is better for my peace of mind.

What are you suggesting? Dick asked as patiently as possible.

Jeannie Miller, Zelenka said.

Mr. McKay's sister?

She has worked with him in the past, and she understands him as much I suspect as anyone does. If anyone can figure out what back doors Rodney has left for himself and how to close them, I suspect it is her.

I should really write to her in any event, to inform her. I was planning to wait a little longer, but I'll go ahead and ask if she willing to come out and give us some assistance.

What would be very helpful, Zelenka said. It will be at least couple of weeks before the Daedalus can get here, but if we wait and it leaves without her, it will be a month or more.

I'll see what I can do. And then figure out how to explain it to the IOA in a way that doesn't overly emphasize Dr. McKay's unauthorized modifications to the computer system.

I will leave you that in your hands, Zelenka said quickly, and left.

I sure you will, Dick said to no one in particular, and began typing again.

Teyla stretched, trying to find balance. Her left hip was still tender, though the range of motion was back. The problem was weight. When she tried to stand on her left foot and extend her right foot straight out in front until her toes were level with her shoulders, her left hip gave. It was very frustrating.

Dr. Keller had said that the bone bruise would heal well eventually, but a matter of weeks seemed like such a long time. It has only been six days, Dr. Keller had said. You have to give it time. And yet time was the thing it felt there was so little of. Every day, every moment that flew by, was another moment that Rodney remained in captivity, was another day that he might be giving the Wraith everything they wished to know, was another day he might be in torment while they had no idea where he was or what they might do.

It weighed upon them, knowing there was nothing to do. How do you search the galaxy for one man?

Teyla stretched, extending her arms in counterpoint to her legs, each extension graceful and controlled, her long thin slitted skirt opening in flowing lines.