Stargate Atlantis: The Mysteries of Emege is a short story, which was published by Fandemonium in Stargate SG-1 / Atlantis: Homeworlds.
Summary
Athos the homeworld of the Athosian people has been abandoned after the awakening of the Hive thanks in no small part to the arrival of the Atlantis expedition into Pegasus. Teyla recounts an old tale of Emege the once great city of the Athosian culture which relates to the "gifts" the Ancients gave them, sword and shield. Rodney realises this could be literal truth and maybe Emege had drones and energy shields powered by a ZPM. The ruins of Emege are sacred though but Teyla believes she could get permission to investigate them with the ultimate goal of perhaps one day returning the people of Athos back to their homeworld.
Chronological Placement
The events depicted in this adventure take place after the novel called Stargate Atlantis: The Third Path by Melissa Scott and Jo Graham, which was the eight book in the legacy series.
Publishers Extract
An official extract from the short story:
STARGATE ATLANTIS
The Mysteries of Emege
“Once when Arda ruled in Emege, it was a very great city indeed. It was beautiful and prosperous, and under his wise rule it became even more so, adorned like a great lady dressed in jewels. Yet its jewels were parks that ran with flowing streams and white towers that reached to the dawn, gardens beside the lake filled with fruit and blossoms, theaters and workshops, and its streets were filled with music. In Emege, all good things were possible. Arda ruled, and all was well. Indeed, so peaceful and prosperous had Emege become that the Ancestors gave to Arda three great gifts, scroll and sword and shield, that the city might ever be so.”
“Why are you telling us this?” Dr. Rodney McKay demanded, leaning forward over his breakfast tray of half-eaten scrambled eggs. “I mean, it’s a very nice fairy tale and all that, but what does that have to do with anything?”
Teyla clasped her hands around her mug of tea patiently. “Because it is important, as you will hear if you listen."
Beside her, John Sheppard stirred. “This is about the city, isn’t it? The one you showed me the pictures of in the cave that first day on Athos.”
Across the table beside Rodney, the fourth member of their party frowned. “The one the Wraith had culled?” Ronon said. He had not been there then, but he had heard about it often enough since.
“Yes,” Teyla said. “But this was long before. Thousands of years.”
“Go ahead and tell the story,” John said. “We’ll save our questions until you finish.”
Teyla took a breath and continued. “Under the wise rule of Arda and the favor of the Ancestors, Emege fruited, but as always happens the harvest-tide came, and in the day of Arda’s great grandson there came the Reapers. Death came, and our world shuddered beneath the fury of her guns. But because of the blessings placed upon Emege, the city stood alone for a year and a day, and each beautiful street was filled with throngs of people who sought safety and mercy. But at last, when a year and a day had passed, the bright blessings that had protected Emege faded, and then Death drank deeply of the Children of Emege.”