Mina Kolya

> ***"I don't feel like watching my husband kill a man, so I'm going to go find Mekhai and break him out."- Mina to Acastus Kolya***
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Mina Kolya was born Mina Delaine to Markand and Nola Delaine around 1976. She is the wife of Commander Acastus Kolya. She is the main character in the fanfiction story entitled *Say the Words.*

## Biography

### Early Life

Mina lived with her family on the Genii homeworld, living under the guise of simple farmers. Her mother Nola was originally from another planet and did not agree with the military ways of the Genii. Her culture of her home planet encouraged dance, which she taught to Mina throughout her childhood. She died when Mina was 11 giving birth to Thali. Her father Markand was a military man serving under Cowen until he defected from the Genii when Mina was 16. His defection was viewed as treason and he was executed on Cowen's orders. Mina and her sister Thali were left in the care of their older brother Caleb. Mina did not join the military as her brother did, instead working as a farmer alongside her younger sister.

### Marriage and Life Under Cowen's Reign

In an effort to regain their family's standing within the Genii, Mina's brother Caleb came up with a plan to marry Mina off to one of Cowen's loyal underlings. Cowen chose Acastus Kolya to serve the role of Mina's husband, even though he was 15 years older than her. Mina agreed to the marriage and went through with it.

Mina was desperate to make her marriage to Kolya worth her while, but was disappointed when it seemed that he wanted nothing to do with her. He even gave her a separate bedroom in their shared home. Mina gave up on having a romantic relationship with her husband and instead decided to simply be there if he needed her. This changed as she began to develop feelings for him. Just before he left for Atlantis, she kissed him as she feared she wold never see him again. After he returned from his failed mission to take Atlantis, injured from being shot by John Sheppard, Kolya was bitterly angry and snapped at her whenever she attempted to comfort him. Feeling at a loss, Mina turned to her younger sister, confiding in her that she couldn't handle being in this marriage. She felt that Kolya only viewed her as an order he was to carry out, when she wanted a husband that wanted her. Thali encouraged Mina to not give up, saying that Kolya was only a man and would eventually come around.

## Casting

### Actor

Ashley Clements

After an interaction in the infirmary where Kolya didn't react to Ladon's blatant flirting, Mina could see that he didn't care. The realization broke her heart and she left Kolya's home to return to her siblings, leaving her wedding ring behind along with a note. Before long Koyla tracked her down and confessed that he had always wanted her and apologized for his angry behavior. This confession led to the two of them kissing and making up. Mina returned home with her husband and they ended up sleeping together, beginning the romantic part of their relationship.

When Kolya got wind of the Atlantis team coming close to recovering a ZPM, he organized a team to stop them without Cowen's authorization. Mina expressed her opinion that it was not a good idea to go against Cowen's wishes since Kolya had already lost his prominent position within Cowen's inner circle. Ignoring her concerns, Kolya assured her that he success would lead to him regaining his position. When his mission to recover the ZPM failed, Kolya fell even further from Cowen's graces. In an attempt to repair the damage, Mina approached Cowen, asking to be allowed to join the Genii military. Her request shocked Cowen but he allowed her to join under the condition that she would quell her husband's ambitious endeavors. Kolya was angry when he found out that Mina had joined the military, as he had begun to care about his wife and worried that her involvement with the military would get her hurt. He expressed to Caleb that he didn't believe Mina had the makings of a soldier. Mina and Kolya disagreed on this issue and she proved to him that she could handle herself, even though she still had much to learn.

### Losing Her Siblings

During a culling of the Genii home world by the wraith, both Caleb and Thali were taken by a wraith dart in front of her eyes. If Ladon had not stopped her and pulled her to safety, Mina would have been taken too. Mina was distraught by the loss of the only family she had left besides her husband. The trauma of watching her siblings being taken caused her to miscarry her first pregnancy, which she kept secret from her husband. Kolya comforted Mina through her grief, leading to her realizing that she had fallen in love with him. She kept this fact to herself, sure in her understanding that he did not feel the same way.

### Searching for Kolya

When Kolya's plans to overthrow Cowen were revealed by Ladon Radim, Kolya was forced underground, abandoning Mina in the process. Mina believed that Cowen had her husband killed for his goal to rule the Genii, not knowing that Kolya had simply left rather than having been killed. She confronted Cowen and Ladon, accusing them of killing her husband like Cowen had killed her father. Cowen told her that he had nothing to do with Kolya's sudden disappearance. He remarked that when he had arranged her marriage, he had not expected Mina to fall in love with Kolya. Mina was angered by his remark and left his office in anger. She decided to leave the Genii, as she felt there was no longer any reason for her to stay since all of her family was dead. Ladon tried to talk her out of it, attempting to convince her to stay. Mina refused and left the Genii homeworld, setting out on her own.

For a few months, Mina lived with her aunt Kyra on her mother's home planet. She searched other worlds that were allies of the Genii in search for her husband, but when her efforts fell through, she gave up. She befriended a young woman named Ayla who lived in the village with her father. When men came to find Ayla's family, Mina and her aunt hid them, for which they were eternally grateful. The pair left to reunite with Ayla's older sister to find a new place to hide from the men that were hunting them. Ayla trusted Mina with their location so she could find them if something happened.

After Ladon's coup, Corric left the Genii and made his way to the planet where Mina was living and told her what had happened since she left. In the months that they lived in the town, they became closer friends. One day, some Genii soldiers came to the village looking for a Genii medic that they had heard was living in the town. They captured Corric, and Mina chased after them, intending to rescue her friend. She followed them through the gate to the planet where Kolya was stationed. She was stopped by the men on the other side of the gate and was almost shot when Mekhai Jarrus, who Mina knew and happened to be Kolya's right hand man, recognized her. She was brought to her husband, who was very surprised to see her. Mina was overcome with joy that he was still alive and ran to embrace him, catching him off guard.

After reuniting with Kolya, Mina met John Sheppard for the first time in person. She visited his cell in Kolya's bunker, wanting to meet the man her husband hated so much. Sheppard expressed that her husband seemed to care about her since he had inquired about her whereabouts when conversing with Atlantis over Sheppard's release. Mina disliked Sheppard's cocky attitude and the fact that he couldn't believe that Kolya could have a wife like her. She was later shocked to find out that the cell next to him held a wraith and was visibly distressed when she witnessed the wraith feeding on Sheppard at her husband's request. Given the circumstances behind her siblings' deaths, Mina left the area and was sick in the hallway. Corric stayed with her and comforted her until Kolya found them. He apologized for his insensitivity towards her feelings about the wraith and guided her to a room to stay in. After Sheppard escaped and Kolya figured it was time to leave, he came and retrieved Mina and they left the planet through the stargate together.

### Life on the Run

Kolya's group bounced around after leaving the compound where he had been holding Sheppard. With few men, he had no choice to work in smaller numbers, leaving Mina and Mekhai to work together. They were sent to salvage supplies from an old outpost of the Genii. While they were there, they were intercepted by Sheppard and his team, who had gotten a tip that Kolya was behind their operation. They were able to capture Mina and question her about her husband's whereabouts. They didn't hold her for long before Mekhai returned and helped her escape.

Sometime during this period, Mina became pregnant. She was hesitant to tell Kolya, given their current situation and due to the fact that she had lost her first child so early on. Corric urged her to tell him, but she asked him to keep it between them for the time being.

### Widowed

When Kolya got wind of the fact that Sheppard and his team were in Lucius's village, he formulated a plan. Sending Mina and Corric ahead to pose as visitors, he put his plan into action. He told Mina and Corric to stay out of sight if possible and gave Corric specifc instructions to protect her if anything happened to him. After capturing the Atlantis team and baiting Sheppard to return to the village, Kolya and Sheppard were at a stand-off. Mina watched helplessly from the crowd as Sheppard shot and killed her husband. She screamed and ran to Kolya's body, weeping ofver his lifeless form. Corric's intervention, stating her pregnant state was the only thing that saved her from being shot like her husband.

Mina and Corric were taken back to Atlantis as prisoners to be returned to Ladon for punishment. Mina was very depressed by the loss of her husband, and would only talk to Corric. When they were given over to Ladon's custody, she was locked in a set of quarters. Ladon attempted to reason with her, saying that she could still have a place with the Genii. She could raise her child and live out her life. When his many attempts to talk to her failed, he sent Sora to talk to her. Sora told Mina that Kolya would not want her to act this way and said she was being childish. Mina retaliated that she had every reason to be upset, more so than Sora did when it came to her feelings about Teyla.

Mina spent a month in Genii captivity, her depression getting worse the longer she was there. Corric desperately tried to convince her to do something to help herself. He feared that she would lose this baby like she did her first one. Mina accepted that he was right, but her grief continued. One night while Mina was in her cell she heard fighting. Confused, she grabbed something to defend herself with and was surprised when the door opened to reveal Mekhai, who had avoided capture, coming to her rescue. With the help of Dahlia, they were able to free Corric. The three of them escaped the underground Genii compound, running for the gate.

### Injury and Capture by Ladon

After Mekhai rescued her from the Genii, he brought her back to where Kolya was hiding out, having actually survived being shot by Sheppard. Mina was ecstatic that her husband was still alive and nearly knocked him over when embracing him. He told her that he had been able to survive by using an ancient shielding device. When she questioned him on why he hadn't told her, he said that he wasn't sure that it would work and only told Mekhai of his plan. He had tasked Corric with protecting her if anything had happened to him, which he had done. Mina expressed that she had been heartbroken by his death and that the only reason she was still alive was that she was pregnant. Kolya was surprised by this news and asked why she hadn't told him. MIna replied that since her first pregnancy had failed so early, she had wanted to wait until she was further along to tell him. Kolya seemed upset that she had kept the pain of the loss to herself. Mina also told him that she was worried that he wouldn't accept the pregnancy and that he didn't feel the same way she way. She took this opportunity to tell him that she loved him, even if he didn't feel the same. He told her that he had loved her for a long time.

Their happiness did not last long before Mina discovered that Kolya still intended to overthrow Ladon, putting his life in danger. Mina expressed her inability to watch him die in front of her again, as it had nearly killed her before. She also made it clear that life on the run was no place for a child. Kolya agreed with her and Mina decided to return to Dorin to live with her aunt. Parting with her husband so soon after getting him back was painful for Mina, but she lived apart from him for two months.

## Relationships

### Acastus Kolya

Mina's marriage to Kolya was arranged by her brother Caleb and Chief Cowen, in an effort to restore her family into good standing within the Genii. At first she had no romantic feelings for her husband, but over time they grew. Their relationship went through several phases: physical attraction, caring about each other, falling in love. Mina was emotionally destroyed by her husband's 'death' at the hands of John Sheppard, and very happy when she found out he was not dead. Their relationship has many ups and downs. Kolya's power-hungry actions and Mina's need to displace herself from pain, mostly by running away, drives them apart. Despite their trials, the pair truly love each other.

### Caleb Delaine

After the death of their parents, Caleb took responsibility for Mina and their younger sister Thali. Mina trusted her brother's judgment and looked up to him. He gave her away at her wedding to Acastus Kolya. He supported her when she joined the Genii military, helping her train and conceal her secret from her husband. He defended her choice to Kolya when he was confronted by the man, saying that she could handle herself. Mina watched Caleb and Thali be culled by the wraith, even attempting to shoot down the dart that culled them. She was extremely grieved by his death at the hands of the wraith. She eventually named her son after him.

### Thali Delaine

Mina and her sister Thali were close despite their 11 year age gap. Mina provided the motherly guidance Thali needed after the death of their mother at Thali's birth. Thali did not approve of Caleb arranging Mina's marriage to Kolya and wanted nothing more than for her sister to be happy. They had a strong friendship and Mina considered her to be her best friend. Even though Thali was not fond of Kolya, she encouraged Mina to work on the relationship to turn it into something more. Mina told Thali of her first pregnancy, without even telling her husband. Thali encouraged her to tell Kolya and had convinced her that it was for the best.

When the wraith culling on their planet began, Mina ran into danger to save her sister. She watched helplessly as Thali and Caleb were sucked up by a dart tractor beam. She ran from her safe hiding place and attempted to shoot at the dart with Ladon's pistol, and was almost sucked up herself before Ladon pulled her back to safety. The death of her sister broke Mina's heart and the stress contributed to her subsequent miscarriage.

### Nola Delaine

Mina had a close relationship with her mother before her death. Nola taught Mina the ways of her culture, including dance. Mina is said to look a lot like her mother and shares her compassionate spirit.

### Markand Delaine

Mina was not as close with her father as she was with her mother and siblings. His military lifestyle kept him away from their home when she was a child. Before his death when Mina was 16, Markand had begun training Mina how to fight in a way that built off of her already present dance skills. His death at Cowen's hand fuels part of her hatred for the man.

### Mekhai Jarrus

Mina formed a close friendship with her husband's right-hand man while living underground with Kolya. Though they knew each other before Kolya separated from the Genii, they were not close. Mina views Mekhai as another older brother and trusts him with her life. He has rescued her many times and stood by her when she visited Atlantis after being injured in a wraith attack.

### Corric Indo

Mina and Corric developed a friendship over their shared value of compassion. Their realtionship started when Mina started to serve as a medic after displaying her skill in the field. When Kolya was shot through the stargate by Sheppard, Corric tended to his wounds. He showed compassion towards Mina, who was at her ailing husband's side and took pity on her when Kolya was raging out while in recovery. He helped train her to become a better medic, even when that training would lead to her leaving her position as his assistant. When Mina became pregnant, he was the one that confirmed it for her. Mina later asked him to cover up her miscarriage, not wanting Kolya to know about the failed pregnancy.

When Mina left the Genii, Corric was not far behind her. By coincidence, they ended up on the same planet and their friendship grew. After they had resided on the planet for a while, word reached a group of Genii insurgents that Corric was on the planet. They captured Corric and Mina chased after them, intending to rescue her friend. This led to her being reunited with her husband. Corric later helped her find out about her second pregnancy and agreed to keep it from Kolya for the time being. He protected her when she was in danger of being killed like her husband by Sheppard's team, anouncing that she was pregnant so they would not shoot her. He was the only person she was willing to talk to while imprisoned by Ladon. He was worried that if she did not find some way to move on after Kolya's death, she would lose this pregnancy like she had her first one. They escaped Ladon's captivity with the help of Mekhai and returned to Kolya.

After Mina was injured during her pregnancy, Corric was distressed by the fact that he could do nothing to help her. He felt similar when she was struck with the Hoffan drug disease. When Mina was rescued from her capture by Callistair Dart, Corric helped her work through her trauma. Corric became Mina's best friend after the death of her sister.

### Ayla Nix

Mina met Ayla while living on Dorin with her aunt. She gained the girl's trust when she helped protect her from men that were looking for her family. Ayla trusted MIna with the location of the planet she relocated to in case she needed to find her. While she was living on her own with her infant son, Mina lived with Ayla on the planet Idor. Ayla helped Mina when Kolya came to retrieve her, allowing her to get a headstart as she was running away. Ayla however was, the one who had told Kolya where Mina was, not wanting to see her friend continue to be miserable. When Mina became sick from the Hoffan drug administered by Michael through the food and water source of Idor, she returned to seek help from Jennifer Keller, who was helping the population with the outbreak. This visit led to Mina's capture by Callistair Dart.

### Cassie Lunn

When Mina was given the position of training others to fight within the Genii, Cassie Lunn was put under her command. Mina felt a connection to the girl, having been friends with her older sister Alaina. Cassie also reminded Mina of Thali and this drew her to want to help the girl. Cassie accompanied Mina back to Idor when she was ill, and was captured alongside Mina and Mekahi by Callistair Dart. Cassie was tortured by Callistair and his men, landing her in the infirmary of Michael's complex. When the complex was raided, Cassie went to save Mina from Callistair, telling him to blame her for Alaina's death rather than Mina. He responded by shooting her in the chest, killing her right in front of Mina. Mina greatly regretted Cassie's death while under her command and it still haunts her that yet another young woman died and she was unable to stop it.

### Alaina Dart

Mina and Alaina grew up together, both coming from farming/military mixed families. They were friends, but not extremely close. Mina attended Alaina's wedding and the celebration of her son Lowell's birth. Alaina was killed in the same culling that killed Mina's siblings.

### Ladon Radim

Mina knew Ladon since they were children, but was never close to him. She found him untrustworthy and was unhappy with her sister's suggestion of him as a husband. Unknown to Mina, Ladon harbored feelings for her. Ladon was with Mina when her siblings were culled by the wraith and saved her life by pulling her to safety. When Kolya was forced underground, Ladon tried to talk Mina into staying with the Genii, hoping that she would eventually return his feelings. Her rejection hurt him, but he was determined. After Kolya's 'death' Ladon offered Mina safety within the Genii despite her husband's actions, again hoping to win her over. Again he failed, and Mina was able to escape. When Mina was injured during her pregnancy, Ladon was willing to help her get the medical assistance she needed. When she returned weeks later from Atlantis however he kept her captive, using her as bait to catch Kolya. Once he had them both in custody, Ladon offered Mina an ultimatum, marry him or he would kill Kolya. Mina was willing to marry Ladon to save her husband's life, but they were able to apprehend him, so she did not have to marry him. Even after this, Mina was bothered by the idea of Kolya killing Ladon.

When Mina returned to the Genii after a year on her own, she was shocked to find that Ladon was still alive. When his appearance reminded her of a younger Ladon she was engulfed in the memory of the Ladon she left behind when she went to find her husband. She asked him if he was in Kolya's position, would he choose power over her. Ladon surprised her by truthfully answering that he would choose her. He restated that he loved her and kissed her on the forehead. Mina replied saying that he shouldn't. She avoided contact with him, not wanting to encourage his feelings or develop some of her own. She wrestled with her feelings, unsure of how she felt until she was forced to face them by Dahlia, Sora, and Kolya. She was able to admit that she could have seen a future with Ladon had she not gone in search of her husband when he went underground. When Kolya disclosed that he would indeed choose her over power, an answer that Mina did not expect, she buried her feelings towards Ladon. She later told Ladon that she was happy with her husband and that he should not risk his life in pursuit of her.

### John Sheppard

Mina was not overly fond of the Atlantis expedition members, having a similar opinion as the rest of the Genii. After Kolya returned from his failed mission to take Atlantis with a bullet wound to the shoulder, Mina's dislike of Sheppard individually increased. When Kolya had Sheppard captive, Mina finally met the man in person and didn't like his attitude towards her being Kolya's wife. The next time they encountered each other, Sheppard and his team captured Mina while she and Mekhai were raiding an old Genii stronghold. Again he commented on her marriage, saying that it being arranged finally made sense to him more than them coming together on their own. Mina was able to escape with Mekhai's help and didn't encounter Sheppard again until the day he killed Kolya. Mina watched as he shot her husband and raised her own gun to shoot Sheppard in retaliation, but was stopped by the surrounding crowd. Sheppard and his team brought Mina and Corric back to Atlantis, holding them until Ladon came to retrieve them.

### Callistair Dart

After leaving the Genii once Ladon had been overthrown, Mina was living in a village when Callistair Dart tried to find her in an attempt to use her against her husband. Mina escaped capture but lived in fear he would find her again. When Mina was taken captive by Michael, Callistair recognized her as the wife of Kolya. He and his followers tortured Mina in an effort to gain access to the Genii and seize power. He shocked Mina many times with an electric rod. He stabbed Mekhai and shot Cassie right in front of her as they tried to rescue her. Mina hates Callistair for causing Cassie's death more than for torturing her.