Jack nodded. All of that dovetailed nicely with the reports on his tablet, though it meant that, at best guess, Queen Death's fleet still outnumbered them. On the other hand, they had the Hammond, and Daedalus, when it returned from Earth, and those tough, Asgard-designed ships had proven themselves more than a match for Death's cruisers.
"Of course," Guide said smoothly, "it would be far better to wait until your missing ship returns before we confront Queen Death."
"Can't argue with you there," Jack began, and Woolsey put a hand to his ear.
"What? No, I —" He broke off, his frown deepening. "Very well. I'll come at once." He took a deep breath, pushing back his chair. "Gentlemen, I'm sorry, but I've just received an urgent message. General O'Neill, I'll be back as soon as I can."
"Right," Jack said, but Woolsey was already gone. He glanced at his tablet, but there was neither text nor emaiclass="underline" Atlantis business, then, and he just hoped it wasn't a new disaster. Guide smiled at him, showing teeth, and Jack did his best to match him.
The usual Marine escort was waiting when Ladon Radim came through the Stargate. Ladon submitted to seeing his men escorted away, but did not volunteer to hand over his sidearm. The young captain didn't ask for it, either, and Ladon couldn't tell if it was an error or if the Lanteans were worried enough by what he'd told them that they weren't going to draw out the preliminaries. They followed the captain up the stairs and across a corridor — not to the usual meeting room, Ladon noted, but a place more private. He lifted an eyebrow at that, but it was too soon to guess what it might mean. He settled himself at one end of the narrow table next to Varelon, accepted an offer of coffee — Varelon needed it, even if Ladon himself disliked it — and composed himself to wait.
Woolsey did not delay long, arriving on the heels of the coffee. He looked vaguely unkempt, as though he hadn't slept, and Ladon's attention sharpened. Either the Lanteans had already heard his news, or there was some other trouble afoot.
"Mr. Radim," Woolsey said, extending his hand, and Ladon took it with a slight bow.
"Mr. Woolsey. I apologize for my insistence, but the matter is urgent."
"So you said." Woolsey seated himself on the opposite side of the table. For once he didn't have any of his subordinates with him, and Ladon wondered again what was going on. "And — forgive me — if it is that urgent, I hope we can speak plainly."
"Certainly," Ladon said. The simple shock of it should work in his favor. "We have received information that Queen Death has launched an all-out attack on Atlantis. This is Varelon, who has been our primary agent among the Wraith. He left his post to warn us, so that we could warn you."
Woolsey's expression didn't change, though Ladon thought his hands tightened on the edges of his tablet. "Can you give me more details, Mr. Varelon?"
Ladon nodded, and Varelon took a shuddering breath.
"I have been in place as a Wraith worshipper for four years," he said. "In the household of the Wraith his people call Terror. He is commander of a larger cruiser, one that carries a full Dart contingent, and he allied himself with Queen Death seven months ago. Three days ago, Death summoned all her people, committed commanders and distant allies alike, and announced that her fleet would move at once to attack Atlantis. Those summoned were given the choice to join her or die. Two other hives and six cruisers had answered the call before I was able to steal a Dart; there may be more still. But I made it to one of our hidden bases, and from there I came straight to Chief Ladon with the news."
"How long did it take you?" Woolsey asked.
"The fleet should have embarked by now," Varelon answered. "They were forty-three hours out when I left."
Woolsey's eyes flickered, doing the math, and Ladon said, "I make it thirty-two hours left, Mr. Woolsey."
"Yes." Woolsey's mouth was a thin line. "If you'll excuse me a moment, Mr. Radim?" He rose without waiting for an answer, and went to the door. He spoke to the Marine guard, and then into his radio, and Ladon caught snatches of the words, orders for an expanded sweep at the limit of Atlantis's sensor range. "And now — you're certain of this? We've known for some time that we were eventually going to have to face Queen Death's fleet."
"Varelon wouldn't abandon his post for anything less dire," Ladon said. "I hope that your second warship has returned from Earth."
Woolsey's lips were almost white. "Regrettably, it has not."
"I have the agreement of the ruling council to offer you the assistance of our own Pride of the Genii," Ladon said. "In exchange for tissue or DNA samples that would allow one of my people to pilot it properly."
"I don't know if that will be possible," Woolsey said.
"You wouldn't want to burden one of your men with the task," Ladon said. "There will be enough to do merely to fly your own machines."
"And do you really think that two cruisers will be enough to provide an effective defense against Queen Death?" Woolsey glared across the table. "Particularly if she has the kind of fleet your man describes."
"We can buy time for you to move the city," Ladon said. "You would, of course, be welcome on any of our worlds."
"I'm sure —" Woolsey broke off, touching his radio. "I see. Thank you, Dr. Zelenka." He looked back at Ladon. "Our long-range sensors are picking up no sign of a Wraith fleet."
"Perhaps your sensors are not quite as effective as you believed," Ladon said.
"If there is a Wraith fleet thirty-two hours from orbit, we should be able to see them," Woolsey said. "I'm sure you understand that I cannot take such drastic action without more proof than this."
"I know our peoples have had their differences," Ladon said carefully. This was not going precisely as he'd planned. "But you know as well as I do that neither one of us can stand alone against the Wraith."
"It is true," Varelon said. "I swear it." His hands were shaking badly. He snatched them out of sight, but Woolsey frowned.
"What's wrong with your agent?"
Ladon said, "He has spent the last four years as a Wraith worshipper."
For a moment, Woolsey looked blank, and Ladon wondered if he would have to explain. He'd do it, of course, but he'd rather spare Varelon's feelings, particularly since he was already in the throes of withdrawal. Then Woolsey's face changed, and Ladon allowed himself a sigh of relief.
"In that case," Woolsey said. "I have a — proposition for you, Mr. Radim. If you and Mr. Varelon would come with me?"
"Of course." Ladon rose, hiding his uncertainty. What was Woolsey up to now?
He and Varelon followed Woolsey down a short stretch of corridor, the Marine guard tagging along at their heels. Woolsey lifted his hand, opening the door, and gestured for Ladon to precede him. "Er — Guide, Alabaster, may I introduce Mr. Ladon Radim, Chief of the Genii?"
Ladon checked abruptly, seeing what waited. Wraith, warrior and queen, both with teeth bared in shock, the warrior starting to his feet, his body already half in front of the queen's.
"You cannot be serious —"
"Mr. Radim's man, here, has come at great personal risk to inform us that Queen Death's fleet is already on the way to attack Atlantis," Woolsey said, his tone utterly emotionless. "I propose that we have no choice but to join forces."
"You've allied with the Wraith?" Ladon heard his own voice scale up, and didn't care. "Are you mad?"
"Guide is commander of an alliance that is opposed to Queen Death," Woolsey said. "We have a common and deadly enemy."