Genii - SCIFIPEDIA

Genii

<span class="SFPTagline"> From SCIFIPEDIA </span>

The Genii are a race of humans in the Pegasus Galaxy who appeared to be an agrarian society, with similarities to the Amish. They have previously traded with the Athosians and were introduced to the Atlantis expedition by Teyla Emmagan. Despite having traded with them several times, Teyla was unaware that their peaceful agrarian culture was merely a facade which hid budding technological advancements and a militaristic culture.

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The Genii have a vast underground facility where they have been working on nuclear technology in hope of using it to combat the Wraith. They hoped to have viable technology by the time of the next culling.

One thousand years ago, the Genii were the center of an interplanetary confederation but the Wraith nearly destroyed them completely. In order to surive they withdrew into underground bunkers designed for times of war. They maintain the facade of a benign civilization to prevent drawing attention from the Wraith. After agreeing to share C4 explosives with the Genii to help uproot stumps, Dr. Rodney McKay and Lt. John Sheppard returned from Atlantis and discovered radiation readings which led them to the Genii facilities.

The Genii were wary of the Atlantis team but suspected they had even more advanced technology and Dr. McKay's in depth knowledge of the working of their nuclear technology assured them their suspicions were true. Earth is approximately sixty years ahead of the Genii technologically. The Genii military leader, Cowen, showed the team a Wraith data storage device they managed to retrieve from a downed Wraith dart and revealed their future plans. They were angered to discover they might not have the time they needed to refine their technology as Sheppard had awakened the Wraith ahead of schedule and culling would begin sooner than expected and threatened to kill the team before Sheppard was able to convince them they could help each other.

They came to an agreement and decided to work together to retrieve information from a nearby Wraith vessel. One of the Genii officers was captured by the Wraith and Teyla was blamed for his death. The Genii turned on the Atlantis team but fortunately Sheppard foresaw the problem and ordered reinforcements, allowing them to escape.

The rift between Atlantis and the Genii came to a head in "The Storm" when Atlantis sought a place to evacuate when faced with a vast hurricane. The Genii took the opportunity to attempt a takeover lead by Acastus Kolya. The Genii lost more than sixty of their soldiers to Sheppard, McKay and Dr. Wier's ingenuity and were forced to retreat.

The Genii home world was culled by the Wraith not long after. Many on the surface died but even more survived in the bunkers and went undetected by the Wraith. Only six days after the culling, they were contacted by Dr. Weir who offered them an opportunity to test their nuclear technology against the Wraith. After some negotiation, officer Prenum agreed to send two warheads to Atlantis, one of which was used to destroy a hive vessel.

Ladon Radim

The Genii were encountered several more times and proved dangerous to the team. Sheppard came across Kolya in "The Brotherhood" and promised to kill him at their next meeting. In "Coup D'etat", one of Atlantis' teams were attacked and captured by the Genii. A Genii soldier, Ladon Radim offered a ZPM in exchange for weapons he could use to lead a coup against the current Genii government. He claims that Cowen plans to use their nuclear weapons on other planets. It later turns out that Cowen and Ladon cooperated in a plot to extort more advanced technology from Atlantis. Ladon nevertheless turned against Cowen, killing him and his men and taking over the Genii leadership.

Acastus Kolya returned in "Common Ground" and captured Sheppard. He had a Wraith prisoner feed on him, hoping to get Atlantis to turn over Ladon to him. Atlantis refused and Sheppard was very nearly killed. Only his cooperation with the Wraith prisoner saved his life and returned his health and youth. Kolya again escaped but was killed later.