Inquisition

"Inquisition" is the thirteenth episode of the fifth season of Stargate Atlantis.

Synopsis
Atlantis is asked to attend a meeting hosted by the Coalition, a group of humans from many different worlds. They now feel with the Wraith at war with each other, an alliance is more feasible to help combat them. They have asked specifically for John Sheppard and his team -- who have gained a bit of notoriety in the Pegasus Galaxy over the past few years -- to visit one of their worlds.

But soon after the team arrives, they find that they have not been asked there to join the alliance. Instead, the room is gased and the Coalition has other plans for the team after they are transported to another world. They are made to stand trial for the Atlantis expedition's crimes against the Pegasus Galaxy.

Sheppard is made to explain things such as the waking of the Wraith, their betrayal to the Genii, the existence of Michael, the Wraith-human hybrid ("Michael") and his unleashing of the catastrophic Hoffan plague that recently swept through the galaxy ("The Kindred"). Sheppard also speaks to their defense on the matter of destroying several hive ships and their elimination of the Wraith's cloning facility.

Meanwhile, Major Lorne's team returns with word the team is missing. Woolsey sends the team back out to check planetary addresses dialed recently, nearly clearing out the city doing so. Eventually, Lorne's team returns with a messenger who relays to them what has transpired. Woolsey argues with the man and imprisons him, at which point he informs him that he is prepared not to return home.

Woolsey decides to travel to the Coalition planet himself after deliberating and put his diplomatic skills to use. He will be taking over the team's public defense in hopes of winning after they were unable to track the location of the trial down. He stands in for Colonel Sheppard, he answers for further charges. After concluding that the Genii have a stake in the Coalition as part of the military agenda, Woolsey formulates a plan.

He manages to bribe one of the guards to let him see one of the councilors, Kelore. He has concluded he is the only one up in the air. Myrus will see the logic and reason to the defense. Shiana has a bias to the trial as her family was killed in the Replicators bid to kill humans as the Wraith's food supply. Woolsey reasons Kelore is the only vote he has left to win. He offers the chance to have Atlantis further theirs position in the Coalition's military agenda over the Genii.

There is but one charge left. They confront him on their dealings with Todd, to which he says without his help they Replicators would still be out there. After a tenuous vote, the team is freed of charges. Upon their return to Atlantis, Woolsey admits now they will have to put forward more military action in the galaxy, something that will take some explaining to the IOA.

Background notes

 * At the beginning of the episode, Woolsey compares the Coalition (an interplanetary government) to a Federation. McKay notes that the "Federation" had ships, which is a reference to the TV show, Star Trek, in which Earth is a part of a Federation of planets and whom Robert Picardo was a starring role on.
 * Jennifer Keller does not appear in this episode.
 * Excerps from other episodes in the flashbacks are; "Rising", "Underground", "The Hive", "Michael", "Allies", "No Man's Land", "Progeny", "Common Ground", "Lifeline", "Be All My Sins Remember'd", "Spoils of War" and "Search and Rescue".

Production

 * "Inquisition" is a clips show, though one with a significant story behind it.