fic: A City Arising - PG [Teyla, Ronon]
TITLE: A City Arising
SUMMARY: It's harder to sue for peace than prepare for war.
CATEGORY: AU, crossover
RATING: PG
SERIES: Fly The Stars - sequel to ' The Answer, Yes'
DISCLAIMER: Don't own the rights. Making no money.
NOTES: The last chapter and the epilogue! All done and finished! I'll be putting up a post with the whole series collected together sometime in the next couple of days, maybe.
A City Arising
There were a lot more uniforms in the city this time around. Men and women - mostly men - who stood around with apparently little better to do than lord it over the general populace.
It made Ronon glad he'd brought his weapons, even if Teyla had given him a long, hard look when he turned up at the transport shuttle wearing them.
"A strong military presence," Halling muttered beneath his breath as he tugged at the collar of his shirt while peering out the shuttle window.
"Clearly, they think we're dangerous." Ronon grinned at Halling, shrugged innocently at Teyla when she arched a brow at him. "And your wife will kill you if you rip that shirt," he added to Halling.
"She made it too tight."
"I do not believe the troops will be long-term," Teyla said as they passed a series of food vendors strung with red and gold streamers. "An initial strong presence would be considered necessary for a few months. I imagine they will be gone by New Year." She regarded Halling, ignoring the view outside the window for the moment. "Your collar will not be long-term either."
"Good to know," Halling muttered as the shuttle soared over an avenue of trees, and settled down on the shuttlepad of a parklike estate with a fancy, formal-looking house. "Threats, intimidation, or assassination?"
"I believe that the process of formally inviting me to this meeting is a little extensive if the Alliance had assassination in mind," Teyla observed as waiting servants stepped forward to pull open the shuttle door.
"And what about the Acts of Acquisition?"
Ronon managed not to quail beneath the slow, flat look Teyla gave him as the noises of the garden and restive people waiting spread through the shuttle. "There are many different ways to acquire something. Not all of them require force."
Which, to Ronon's mind, said enough about what they were doing here - as well as put him on notice that this was just as political as the meeting she'd had with the first Alliance representative in the city, back before the war.
His impression of the estate was of green, well-manicured gardens that probably cost more in a week's upkeep than the entire population of Athos could earn in a month. The house was impressive, elegant, and well-secured, with guards at every corner and checkpoints at every door.
In the formal entryway, Major Sheppard was just emerging from a side door. This time, his uniform collar was buttoned and he looked fresh-shaved. Ronon eyed him; he smelled fresh-shaved.
"Hey." The greenish eyes immediately flew to Teyla, fixing on her face with what seemed like a genuine smile. "Ms. Emmagan."
"Major." Teyla inclined her head. "Is the ambassador ready to see us?"
"If you'll follow me, I'll show you in." He indicated the direction and they moved off through the room. Ronon noted the man kept just alongside her, rather than leading the way, and wondered whether that was a professional nicety of the man, or a personal inclination. "You didn't have any trouble getting into the city?"
"Not with the shuttle that was sent for us," said Teyla, mildly, but with a hint of laughter in her voice as they turned into a corridor where the wall screens had been pushed back to show the profusely growing gardens in the bright spring morning.
The room into which they were shown - a formal reception room - was similarly open to the gardens, and cast a glowing, vivid light onto everything in the room, including the Ambassador and the military man who stood behind her.
Teyla stepped in, past Sheppard. "Ambassador Weir."
The woman rose from her chair, fine, stiff silk skirts rustling around her. "Ms. Emmagan, thank you for coming. Please, have a seat."
"Thank you for inviting me."
Teyla took a seat, and the ambassador followed a moment later, signalling to someone by the door.
By some kind of silent agreement, nothing was discussed until the tea was served and poured out. Small talk was made - the weather, the estate, the current political situation back on Sihnon in the wake of the war. And by the time Teyla had refused the tiny tzin dui that came with the tea, the topic had wound its way back to Pegasus and the Alliance's plans for it.
"Among the directives I was given regarding Pegasus, is the development of peace between the government and the local population," Ambassador Weir admitted, and when Teyla's eyes flickered to the hard-faced commander who stood at her shoulder, watching them all with eyes like ice-blue chips, she smiled. "Colonel Sumner and his troops are only here for the initial settling-in period of the government. Once our situation is stabilised, the majority of the military will be returning to other planets, with only a small core security force."
"Ah." Teyla seemed relaxed as she placed her teacup back and folded her hands in her lap. "Is it the Alliance's intent to sue for peace, having already made their war?"
Green eyes gleamed with amusement. "If you want to put it like that, yes. I think that you and I both know that Pegasus is a valuable planet in the system, populous and productive and key in the trade routes that run out to some of the border sectors."
"Most of Pegasus fought against Unification. They are unlikely to take well to Alliance governance."
"And the Alliance is unlikely to take well to rebellion and revolt," said Colonel Sumner flatly.
"What about dissent and disagreement?" Ronon asked.
Weir shot a brief, flashing look at her bulldog before she turned back. "We have no issue with dissent and disagreement - both are expected and a healthy sign of democracy at work."
"And yet the respect for democratic outcomes were sadly missing when the core worlds went to war," said Halling mildly.
Teyla shifted in her seat and spoke before Weir or the Colonel could take insult at the remark. "I take it that you have plans for easing the transitory phase into Alliance governance that would be assisted by my endorsement."
"I was given your name as a possible ally on the planet."
Standing behind Teyla's chair, Ronon couldn't see her expression, but he could see the expression on Sumner's and Sheppard's faces. Sumner looked like he wouldn't trust the Athosian delegation any further than he could throw them. Sheppard looked...neutral. Carefully so.
"The Alliance would have my name down as having fought for the Independents in the war."
"The war is over," said Weir with a touch of sharpness. "Why continue to fight a rearguard action?"
"Is that what I seem to be doing?"
Across from Teyla, the ambassador's eyes narrowed. "Is this a test?" Whatever she saw on Teyla's face both relieved and exasperated her. "I suppose I can't fault you for wanting to be sure of us. Are you satisifed?"
"I am content to sue for peace," came Teyla's answer. "And I am willing to assist the government in dealing with Pegasus towns and peoples - within reason. I will not be a figurehead for the government, and I will not be its mouthpiece to the Pegasus population. But I am willing to do what can be done to help in this phase of transition. Will that be enough?"
The question hung in the spring morning, underpinned by the lazy buzz of insects and the chirp of birds in the trees outside. Somewhere distant on the estate, a lawn-cutter hummed.
Then the ambassador smiled. "That's enough."
--
Epilogue: To The Winners
"Do you think they'll keep their word?"
Teyla glanced up from the fence on which she perched, staring down at the town in the valley. Overhead, the blue arch of sky was coming out in faint twinkling stars. "The ambassador believes what she says. She believes in the peace of the Alliance, whatever its faults. Colonel Sumner...is less trusting."
"Sheppard seems to think he'll be left to head the troops left in Atlantis," Ronon said, using the city's new name. "You going to invite him around to dinner again?"
She turned to arch a brow at him. "I do not think you are his type, Ronon."
He guffawed, loud in the still evening. "Maybe I could change his mind!"
"You would have to change your own at the same time." Teyla smiled back, clearly amused at the thought. "He might come. To dinner, I mean," she said severely as Ronon guffawed again.
"If you asked him, he would."
It was hard to see in the dusk light, but she might have blushed. Ronon smirked to himself. "We shall see," she prevaricated. "We have a planet to reconcile to the Alliance."
"Now who's trying to change their own mind?"
"We do what we must. If that means making peace with the Alliance, then so be it. History belongs to the winners." She stood and surveyed the small figure hiking enthusiastically up the path towards them. "And now, I think, we have Jinto coming to tell us of dinner."
Ronon poked her in the ribs with a grin. "Race you down."
Teyla beat him to the bottom, but only because he stopped to sweep Jinto up along the way, and they jogged down into the town beneath the sparkling stars, out of breath, but happy in the warm light of home.
- end -
FINAL NOTES: Thank you to all the people who read these things and most especially to the people who leave feedback. Feedback - and the hope that someone actually enjoys this shit - is what keeps me writing fanfic, now and always. It's been a hard year, and I suspect the coming year will be worse yet.
SUMMARY: It's harder to sue for peace than prepare for war.
CATEGORY: AU, crossover
RATING: PG
SERIES: Fly The Stars - sequel to ' The Answer, Yes'
DISCLAIMER: Don't own the rights. Making no money.
NOTES: The last chapter and the epilogue! All done and finished! I'll be putting up a post with the whole series collected together sometime in the next couple of days, maybe.
A City Arising
There were a lot more uniforms in the city this time around. Men and women - mostly men - who stood around with apparently little better to do than lord it over the general populace.
It made Ronon glad he'd brought his weapons, even if Teyla had given him a long, hard look when he turned up at the transport shuttle wearing them.
"A strong military presence," Halling muttered beneath his breath as he tugged at the collar of his shirt while peering out the shuttle window.
"Clearly, they think we're dangerous." Ronon grinned at Halling, shrugged innocently at Teyla when she arched a brow at him. "And your wife will kill you if you rip that shirt," he added to Halling.
"She made it too tight."
"I do not believe the troops will be long-term," Teyla said as they passed a series of food vendors strung with red and gold streamers. "An initial strong presence would be considered necessary for a few months. I imagine they will be gone by New Year." She regarded Halling, ignoring the view outside the window for the moment. "Your collar will not be long-term either."
"Good to know," Halling muttered as the shuttle soared over an avenue of trees, and settled down on the shuttlepad of a parklike estate with a fancy, formal-looking house. "Threats, intimidation, or assassination?"
"I believe that the process of formally inviting me to this meeting is a little extensive if the Alliance had assassination in mind," Teyla observed as waiting servants stepped forward to pull open the shuttle door.
"And what about the Acts of Acquisition?"
Ronon managed not to quail beneath the slow, flat look Teyla gave him as the noises of the garden and restive people waiting spread through the shuttle. "There are many different ways to acquire something. Not all of them require force."
Which, to Ronon's mind, said enough about what they were doing here - as well as put him on notice that this was just as political as the meeting she'd had with the first Alliance representative in the city, back before the war.
His impression of the estate was of green, well-manicured gardens that probably cost more in a week's upkeep than the entire population of Athos could earn in a month. The house was impressive, elegant, and well-secured, with guards at every corner and checkpoints at every door.
In the formal entryway, Major Sheppard was just emerging from a side door. This time, his uniform collar was buttoned and he looked fresh-shaved. Ronon eyed him; he smelled fresh-shaved.
"Hey." The greenish eyes immediately flew to Teyla, fixing on her face with what seemed like a genuine smile. "Ms. Emmagan."
"Major." Teyla inclined her head. "Is the ambassador ready to see us?"
"If you'll follow me, I'll show you in." He indicated the direction and they moved off through the room. Ronon noted the man kept just alongside her, rather than leading the way, and wondered whether that was a professional nicety of the man, or a personal inclination. "You didn't have any trouble getting into the city?"
"Not with the shuttle that was sent for us," said Teyla, mildly, but with a hint of laughter in her voice as they turned into a corridor where the wall screens had been pushed back to show the profusely growing gardens in the bright spring morning.
The room into which they were shown - a formal reception room - was similarly open to the gardens, and cast a glowing, vivid light onto everything in the room, including the Ambassador and the military man who stood behind her.
Teyla stepped in, past Sheppard. "Ambassador Weir."
The woman rose from her chair, fine, stiff silk skirts rustling around her. "Ms. Emmagan, thank you for coming. Please, have a seat."
"Thank you for inviting me."
Teyla took a seat, and the ambassador followed a moment later, signalling to someone by the door.
By some kind of silent agreement, nothing was discussed until the tea was served and poured out. Small talk was made - the weather, the estate, the current political situation back on Sihnon in the wake of the war. And by the time Teyla had refused the tiny tzin dui that came with the tea, the topic had wound its way back to Pegasus and the Alliance's plans for it.
"Among the directives I was given regarding Pegasus, is the development of peace between the government and the local population," Ambassador Weir admitted, and when Teyla's eyes flickered to the hard-faced commander who stood at her shoulder, watching them all with eyes like ice-blue chips, she smiled. "Colonel Sumner and his troops are only here for the initial settling-in period of the government. Once our situation is stabilised, the majority of the military will be returning to other planets, with only a small core security force."
"Ah." Teyla seemed relaxed as she placed her teacup back and folded her hands in her lap. "Is it the Alliance's intent to sue for peace, having already made their war?"
Green eyes gleamed with amusement. "If you want to put it like that, yes. I think that you and I both know that Pegasus is a valuable planet in the system, populous and productive and key in the trade routes that run out to some of the border sectors."
"Most of Pegasus fought against Unification. They are unlikely to take well to Alliance governance."
"And the Alliance is unlikely to take well to rebellion and revolt," said Colonel Sumner flatly.
"What about dissent and disagreement?" Ronon asked.
Weir shot a brief, flashing look at her bulldog before she turned back. "We have no issue with dissent and disagreement - both are expected and a healthy sign of democracy at work."
"And yet the respect for democratic outcomes were sadly missing when the core worlds went to war," said Halling mildly.
Teyla shifted in her seat and spoke before Weir or the Colonel could take insult at the remark. "I take it that you have plans for easing the transitory phase into Alliance governance that would be assisted by my endorsement."
"I was given your name as a possible ally on the planet."
Standing behind Teyla's chair, Ronon couldn't see her expression, but he could see the expression on Sumner's and Sheppard's faces. Sumner looked like he wouldn't trust the Athosian delegation any further than he could throw them. Sheppard looked...neutral. Carefully so.
"The Alliance would have my name down as having fought for the Independents in the war."
"The war is over," said Weir with a touch of sharpness. "Why continue to fight a rearguard action?"
"Is that what I seem to be doing?"
Across from Teyla, the ambassador's eyes narrowed. "Is this a test?" Whatever she saw on Teyla's face both relieved and exasperated her. "I suppose I can't fault you for wanting to be sure of us. Are you satisifed?"
"I am content to sue for peace," came Teyla's answer. "And I am willing to assist the government in dealing with Pegasus towns and peoples - within reason. I will not be a figurehead for the government, and I will not be its mouthpiece to the Pegasus population. But I am willing to do what can be done to help in this phase of transition. Will that be enough?"
The question hung in the spring morning, underpinned by the lazy buzz of insects and the chirp of birds in the trees outside. Somewhere distant on the estate, a lawn-cutter hummed.
Then the ambassador smiled. "That's enough."
--
Epilogue: To The Winners
"Do you think they'll keep their word?"
Teyla glanced up from the fence on which she perched, staring down at the town in the valley. Overhead, the blue arch of sky was coming out in faint twinkling stars. "The ambassador believes what she says. She believes in the peace of the Alliance, whatever its faults. Colonel Sumner...is less trusting."
"Sheppard seems to think he'll be left to head the troops left in Atlantis," Ronon said, using the city's new name. "You going to invite him around to dinner again?"
She turned to arch a brow at him. "I do not think you are his type, Ronon."
He guffawed, loud in the still evening. "Maybe I could change his mind!"
"You would have to change your own at the same time." Teyla smiled back, clearly amused at the thought. "He might come. To dinner, I mean," she said severely as Ronon guffawed again.
"If you asked him, he would."
It was hard to see in the dusk light, but she might have blushed. Ronon smirked to himself. "We shall see," she prevaricated. "We have a planet to reconcile to the Alliance."
"Now who's trying to change their own mind?"
"We do what we must. If that means making peace with the Alliance, then so be it. History belongs to the winners." She stood and surveyed the small figure hiking enthusiastically up the path towards them. "And now, I think, we have Jinto coming to tell us of dinner."
Ronon poked her in the ribs with a grin. "Race you down."
Teyla beat him to the bottom, but only because he stopped to sweep Jinto up along the way, and they jogged down into the town beneath the sparkling stars, out of breath, but happy in the warm light of home.
- end -
FINAL NOTES: Thank you to all the people who read these things and most especially to the people who leave feedback. Feedback - and the hope that someone actually enjoys this shit - is what keeps me writing fanfic, now and always. It's been a hard year, and I suspect the coming year will be worse yet.