Chapter 68

Atlantis

In the conference room of the ancient city ship sat the ship captains of the Pegasus Group along with key members of the Atlantis command staff. On the flat panel view screens the most recent photographic intelligence of the Wraith shipyard was on display. After careful review by Air Force photographic intelligence specialists a timeline of sorts for ship completion had been formulated.

"The math doesn't lie. Based on the size increase of the vessels on the planets surface now compared to when they were first discovered shows they are nearing completion in their grow cycle" stated Colonel Ellis.

"The IOA concurs with your findings Colonel" answered Mr. Woolsey.

"Sam where are we at with the modifications to the Horizon" asked Colonel Sheppard.

"The modifications are complete and standing by for deployment" answered Colonel Carter.

"Our fleet in the Milky Way with assistance from the Asgard fought a very nasty battle to keep Destiny safe once it entered the galaxy. We essentially fought them to the last ship. With the major threat in our home galaxy contained for now several vessels are being transferred to Pegasus" stated Woolsey.

"Which vessels" asked Colonel Caldwell.

"All of the Athena class vessels and the remaining 304's that are in the Milky Way, so a considerable amount of firepower is coming this way" replied Woolsey.

"Even with the added sh.i.p.s we still can't guarantee the two sh.i.p.s launching the Horizon's can get past the defending fleet of Wraith in orbit. We still need a distraction" protested Ellis.

"We've got that taken care of, nothing to worry about there. Let's just say I've called in a favor" hinted Sheppard.

Deep within the confines of his lab Zelenka was busy at work within the database. For several days at the request of the SGC the Czech poured over reams of planetary profiles within the Pegasus galaxy. He was searching for a habitable planet with a large ocean, no native civilizations, and off the beaten path of Wraith forces. The scientist knew the purpose of his search. He was searching for the planet Borealis would soon call home. Each likely candidate he found was added to his very short list of potential landing sites. With a few keystrokes his list was transferred to the compressed data file that would be transmitted along with a myriad of other doc.u.ments to the SGC on Atlantis's next scheduled dial home.

New Heliopolis

With brilliant flashes of purple hued light the colony sh.i.p.s of the Tenaran people appeared in orbit. In an orderly fashion small groups of Tenaran's were transported to the city on the planet below. Specially constructed for them this settlement would be their new home until the Great Races deemed them ready to step into the galaxy of their ancestors. Much needed to be learned before they would be deemed ready. Until that time came here they would reside under the tutelage and care of the Great Races and their ancestors.

Wraith Hive Ship

Untold amounts of energy coursed through the power conduits of Todd's hive ship. This ship like its twin utilized a once very rare piece of ancient technology; the zero point module. Having mastered the process of adapting the hive ship's systems to fully utilize the energy output of the module the unlocked potential of the hive and its contained technologies was achieved. Hull density and rigidity were increased by a factor of thirty. Weapons strength, range, and endurance were now on par with and surpassing even the strongest vessels of the Tauri. Just one of these zpm enhanced hives had been an almost insurmountable challenger to the defensive forces of Earth. The fact Todd had two in his fleet mad him a military threat to the Wraith larger than even Atlantis.

After a series of key defections to his side the number of Todd's followers had blossomed. Eight new hives and forty assorted cruisers joined his swelling ranks. As defectors arrived they were began the conversion process into hybrids. The fact that Todd's forces had yet to cull a world shocked the Tauri, but their suspicion was hard to tame.

The pieces of the puzzle were fast falling into place. Tauri were primed to throw their full force into the Wraith fight, defectors flowed in daily further dwindling Wraith numbers, and an agreement had been reached to relocate the hybrids to a galaxy peaceful to their presence once hostilities were over. While Todd accepted that the distraction the Tauri requested he provide was entirely necessary it also served to display his true strength to the Wraith which would lead to further defections to his side. It was a win-win situation, and those were Todd's favorite kind.

In preparation for actions in the near future the already monstrously strong hulls of the zpm powered hives were being further fortified. Raw power surged through the organic power conduits, carrying an energy they were never conceived to carry. With each passing moment the cellular interactions of the living hull produced ever more resilient biopolymers able to resist unimaginable amounts of Wraith weapons fire. Leaving nothing to chance Todd would continue to prepare his fleet until the first shot was fired. After coming so far nothing would derail his path to leadership.