"I think we would be interested, but would take some time to find the right person to take such a visit, to evaluate everything properly. We're a bit hesitant to offer something similar to you because in the past, major disasters have occurred due to single malicious actors. Perhaps something could be arranged under escort, though."

"We would be interested in learning more about this world, when it can be arranged. Would you like us to describe the outline of situation in the galaxy now, or should we discuss trade opportunities? There are things about the galaxy that you should be discussed today, but they shouldn't affect our initial negotions."

"If you intend to warn us about great dangers upon the horizon, let's do that first."

"That is a fairly apt description, very well."

"Let me start at the beginning. Around five million years ago, a race we call the Ancients, who inhabited Earth at the time, suffered from a great plague, that consumed the whole galaxy. Some of them decided to leave and come here, in a city-ship called Atlantis. They built a network of stargates, and seeded some of the planets here with human life - we don't know exactly why, but that's a thing they did back in our galaxy as well. In this way, they lived for many generations, until around ten thousand years ago. In their confidence, the Ancients missed a growing threat - a species of insect found on one of the planets has been feeding on humans, and slowly transforming into a hybrid species called the Wraith. They can feed on human 'life-energy' - we don't understand the process exactly, visually it looks like people getting old at a rapid pace, but medically it's different. When the Ancients learned about them, they tried to exterminate them, but their first attempts were overconfident, they allowed some of their ships to be captured and Wraith had numerical advantage. The war raged on for hundrends of years, and eventually the Wraith controlled most of the galaxy, leaving Atlantis as the only remaining Ancient outpost, under constant siege. The Ancients abandoned the city, and used the stargate to get back to Earth."

"Since then, the Wraith were the dominant force in the galaxy. They treat humans as food source - allowing them to breed while the Wraith hybernate, and then performing Cullings, taking away most of the population. If any civilization develops to the point of threatening the Wraith, they are wiped out of existence. We believe your planet hasn't encountered them because they don't know you exist - your gate was buried for a long time, and they won't be trying to get to unreachable stargates many times."

"A few years ago, we uncovered an Ancient outpost on Earth, containing the location of Atlantis, and mounted an expedition to explore it and the galaxy. We had an encounter with the Wraith, in which they learned some information about Earth - importantly, because Earth has never been culled, its population is many times that of any planet known to them. Since then, they've been trying to reach it. Fortunately, they have neither the location of Earth, nor a ship capable of crossing the distance between galaxies. They have also made attempts to destroy Atlantis."

"And so, we are currently at war with the Wraith. Their numbers have been greately diminished since their war with the Ancients, but they are still a formidable foe. As long as location of your planet is a secret, they should not come for you, and I intend to guard it as safely as the location of Earth. We can't ask you for your support in the war, but we hope you will understand our position."

"We are familiar with those who use life as fuel," the Major snarls in fury. He pounds the table. "Our very nation was founded on an uprising against those who used the blood and life of slaves to enrich themselves further! The Ironbones were driven out with blood and fire. The war was terrible, we were reduced to living in shacks using broken roads and crumbling bridges, and only the Bull's steel-clad guts pulled us back together again with a carefully planned economy. Fighting against such an awful foe would be in the interests of Chelska."

The diplomat frowns at the military man, but doesn't contradict him. "I must agree. If the Wraith are as described, they are the foe of all right-thinking people. If, our observers report that what they learn is consistent with this, there will be much work to do."

Ronon responds with a smile and a satisfied chuckle to a Major's speech.

Well, that went well, if in an unexpected way.

"We appreciate your bravery and enthusiasm. Should we move on to discussing potential trade deals?"

"We are most interested in technologies, since the gate seems difficult to use for bulk resource transfer- Unless a train could be run through it? We have some engineers who were available on short notice."

"Osmium," the diplomat says dryly, "Is very useful for certain special applications, we value it more per weight than gold. I would like to keep the discussion confined to potentials until we can send an observer and have them report back, as well."

"The gate is not very suited to bulk transfer, but a significant quantity of material can still be transported."

"As I'm sure you understand, we are disinclined at this point to offer technologies or resources that are likely to be useful for offensive purposes. I'm certain you would have appreciated this precaution if the stargate happened to be located in another country's territory. We can offer medical assistence - in medicine, knowledge, and technology."

"We're not sure what of our technology is going to be applicable to your current state of knowledge, but we do possess a lot of knowledge in material engineering and various other fields that we may be willing to share."

"I would like to know more about 'special applications', but that can be negotiated."  

"It is no great secret on this planet. Osmium is very valuable for shielding against magic."

"Magic."

Rodney fiddles with the tablet in his hands, looking increasingly annoyed over the course of the meeting.

"I believe there's some langauge issue. Can you say what 'magic' is? Also, is the rock around here radioactive? Please tell me it's not radioactive."

"Magic is the use of energy known as mana. Recent advances have enabled it to be effectively industrialized, and there is great promise of further development. These lights, the ventilation systems, and so much more... Either magic or steam to power it all. I'm not familiar with the term Radio."

Someone with purple skin runs forward from the party hanging back by the door. "Radio is a kind of light! I don't think there's a lot of radio light here, no."

The Major glares. The diplomat looks resigned. "...This is Bost, the engineer I mentioned. Bost, I believe we wanted to do more confirmation first before introducing you."

"Hi!!" Bost ignores that comment, and grins and waves eagerly. He- She?- Is four foot nothing, long pointy ears, sharp teeth, purple skin and deeper purple hair, and carrying an improbable amount of tools. "Those copper motors on the thing are really interesting!"

Uh. What.

"Nice to meet you, Bost."

"Uh, Rodney, what is going on?"

"Okay, checked MALP readings again, the place doesn't seem radioactive. Sorry to do this in the middle of the talks, but can you tell me a bit about what 'mana' is, and whether it interferes with electrical systems?"

To Elizabeth - "My equipment's breaking down - both the tablet and the MALP, though the dialler seems fine. Looks like radiation wrecking memory, but nothing out of the ordinary on MALP sensors."

"I don't know any way to define mana other than as raw energy, or perhaps excitation of the ethereal field if Gaspodan's theory is right! High excitation can definitely cause all sorts of unpredictable effects including sparks and lightning! I can bring in the Osmium plates and smash together a flattener if you want to try that!"

"I think further experiments can wait, but we would like to gain understanding of magic, if you will consider it a safe trade. Anything else we should discuss?" 

The Major seems a bit more cheerful at their seeming incomprehension of magic.

"Much like you, we will have to consider carefully what knowledge of magic we trade. It too has potential for potent offensive weapons that we would not necessarily want going to unknowns."

Rost frowns. "Does that mean-"

"We'll talk later. Medical technology seems like something that would be more difficult to use to make things worse, for example."

"Very well. Then we can move on to the question of the stargate. We are capable of providing you with devices and knowledge to operate the gate in its normal functionality, but that is a major decision that affects your whole planet, and also the rest of the galaxy. I would like to know more about the political situation before making that decision."

"We can, however, provide you with the ability to dial Atlantis, a limited power-source for the gate, and security measures under your control."

"We currently intend to heavily fortify the area against any possible intrusion. Seeing Atlantis should be the next matter, aside from perhaps a discussion of medical technology."

"Very well. You can perhaps send someone with the observer party to also have a conversation with our medical officers about what would be the most valuable trade."

"Will recording devices be permitted?"

"Yes, of course…"

"Ah, there might be a problem. If they are based on magic, I’m not sure they will work anywhere besides your planet."

"We haven’t observed anything like your mana anywhere else, it seems to be specific to your planet. If they have their own power source, it might be fine, but if they rely on whatever mana seems to be doing to the environment, it’s going to be tricky."

"Most magical equipment is powered by crystals or by personal mana. It may be prudent for us to prepare shielding to prevent contamination, if you... Don't... Have mana at all."