McKay concocts a plan to send a message through the stargate back to Earth, warning them of the Wraith approach to Atlantis and relaying all that the team has found in the city to date – all in 1.3 seconds, thanks to data compression. Despite Major Sheppard’s objections, Dr. Weir gives McKay’s plan the go-ahead. While he continues his plans, Weir sends Sheppard and Teyla to warn Teyla’s people about the coming of the Wraith. Teyla promises to save some refugees from a predetermined meeting point in the event of a Wraith attack, again despite Sheppard’s objections. After the warning is delivered, the Wraith arrive, harvesting defenseless people by the hundreds. Teyla and Sheppard have to leave their ship cloaked on the surface to avoid detection, as the Wraith have the stargate occupied. Trapped, unable to offer assistance without giving away their own presence, they bear witness to the slaughter of hundreds. And on Atlantis, it becomes apparent that there may be enough time left from McKay’s highly-compressed message to send brief personal video messages home from each of the crew.
written by Carl Binder
directed by Mario Azzopardi
music by Joel GoldsmithGuest Cast: Amanda Tapping (Colonel Samantha Carter), Terence Kelly (Orin), Paul McGillion (Dr. Beckett), David Nykl (Dr. Zelenka), Ben Cotton (Kavanagh), Gary Jones (Technician)
LogBook entry by Earl Green