No Man's Land/Transcript

Episode Guide
No Man's Land Part 2" Episode Guide

Previously
PREVIOUSLY ON STARGATE ATLANTIS

''[Excerpts from 2.18 "Michael" and 2.20 "Allies Part 1" are shown.]

END EXCERPTS

TEASER

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[Daedalus is under attack by two hive ships, its shields taking most of the energy.]

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIDGE

[Caldwell is in command. Sheppard stands beside between him and Marks, hanging onto their chairs as the ship rocks from the blasts.]

SHEPPARD With some 302s, we might be able to take out the hyperdrive, save us some time.

CALDWELL Do it.

KLEINMAN Shields are at sixty percent!

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[Four F-302s launch from the hangar bay of Daedalus. The pilots speak to each other over their radios.]

MEYERS I've got incoming.

SHEPPARD Dagger 3 and 4, let's try to keep these darts off our six.

MEYERS Roger that.

[Sheppard moves forward and fires on one of the Hive ships. After a moment, many darts come out to face them, then split up to follow each pair of 302s. As each speak, they are shown in their cockpits.]

ANDERS Half the bogies are pursuing Daggers 3 and 4. We've got the other half hot on our tail.

MEYERS I'm taking fire. I've lost the generator.

SHEPPARD Stand by to break left on my mark. Mark! Fox Four.

[Sheppard's ship fires two missiles at one of the Hives. They explode amidst the swarm of Darts, destroying many.]

SHEPPARD We're in the clear. Continue to target.

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIDGE

KLEINMAN Shields are under twenty percent.

CALDWELL Colonel Sheppard, get your flight back to the ship. We need to jump out of here as soon as possible.

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[Sheppard's F-302 moves in very fast, very close to the Hive.]

SHEPPARD Two minutes and I can shut down their hyperdrives.

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIDGE

CALDWELL Unless you can shut down their weapons, it's not going to do us much good.

INT&mdash;F-302 COCKPIT

[Sheppard sees two boggies move around behind his ship.]

SHEPPARD Damn it. Dagger 2, I could use some cover on my attack run to the target hyperdrive.

MEYERS Roger that, leader. I'm on my way.

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[She takes out the two boggies. She and Sheppard speak over the radios.]

MEYERS The remaining darts are returning to the hives.

SHEPPARD Can you go to max thrust?

MEYERS Negative.

SHEPPARD Head back to the Daedalus.

MEYERS Roger that.

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIDGE

KLEINMAN The hives are opening hyperspace windows.

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[Both Hives enter hyperspace.]

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIDGE

[Caldwell gets up and approaches the forward viewscreen.]

CALDWELL Why the hell'd they do that?

KLEINMAN Three of our 302s are returning to Daedalus, sir.

CALDWELL Sheppard?

KLEINMAN His fighter isn't one of them. The only contacts I have on screen are wreckage.

CALDWELL What about his locator beacon?

KLEINMAN Nothing, sir. He's just gone.

CALDWELL Understood.

INT&mdash;F-302 COCKPIT

[Sheppard removes his air mask and looks upward through his window.]

SHEPPARD Okay. This is new.

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[Sheppard's F-302 is attached to the top of one of the Hives as it speeds through hyperspace.]

END TEASER

OPENING CREDITS

EXT&mdash;ATLANTIS, DAY

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CONTROL ROOM

[Caldwell climbs the stairs to the control room, where he meets Weir.]

WEIR Colonel Caldwell. What's the status of the repairs?

CALDWELL Ongoing. We lost a few key personnel in the attack.

WEIR Yes, we did.

CALDWELL I'm sorry.

WEIR So am I, but this isn't the time to mourn them. I've just briefed General Landry. We're to check in in an hour and advise him of our response to this.

[The walk to Weir's office, Zelenka and Teyla following.]

CALDWELL I've got a broken ship and serious casualties. I don't know what sort of response you have in mind, but&mdash;

WEIR I want you to redeploy immediately.

CALDWELL Excuse me?

WEIR As long as they're still in striking distance, we have to at least try.

CALDWELL You know we can't intercept them in hyperspace.

WEIR Radek?

ZELENKA Well, obviously they've upgraded their FTL drives using the information they were able to steal from our database. The Aurora mission reports&mdash;

CALDWELL Obviously.

ZELENKA However, their ships are organic in nature. They will need to make brief pauses to recover from the effects of hyperspace radiation.

WEIR Where and when?

ZELENKA Uh, yeah, uh, it will take some time to calculate.

WEIR Go.

ZELENKA Okay.

[Zelenka leaves.]

CALDWELL Look, Dr. Weir, I want to go after these bastards as much as you do, but the Daedalus is in no position to fight right now. Our shields are severely depleted. Several decks are inaccessible. Even if we could catch up with them, I don't know how long we'd last.

WEIR Which is why I'm committing the Orion as well.

TEYLA It was recalled the moment the Wraith computer virus was revealed.

CALDWELL And it's in no better shape than Daedalus.

WEIR It will fly, and by the time you reach the hive ships, it should also be able to fight.

CALDWELL And if it isn't?

WEIR Currently, Stargate Command has no vessels capable of engaging the hive ships before they reach Earth. They cannot be allowed to get that far, Steven.

CALDWELL You know what you're asking me to do?

WEIR I do.

CALDWELL There's still repairs that need to be made.

WEIR Do what you have to do.

[He leaves. Weir and Teyla exchange concerned looks.]

EXT&mdash;HYPERSPACE

[The two Hives move through hyperspace.]

INT&mdash;HIVE SHIP

[Ronon and McKay are trapped beside each other inside Wraith pods, stored there as future food. McKay's face is partially protruding from the webbing. Ronon is pushing hard on the webbing of his pod.]

MCKAY They couldn't have. Even if they somehow deduced the location of Earth, they still wouldn't be able to get there, not unless they&hellip; They downloaded something along with the hive ship plans, something like spyware. It's like when I stupidly downloaded por&mdash;Music. When I downloaded music. I asked them to do it. I did this. I'm responsible for the destruction of my own planet.

RONON If anybody was going to do it, it'd be you.

MCKAY Thank you. Thank you so much for that!

RONON Stop worrying about it now. Just focus.

MCKAY Focus on what? What is there to focus on? I'm stuck in a cocoon.

RONON Getting out of here.

MCKAY Oh, right. Of course. Now, why didn't I think of that? Of course. Here goes. Um, nope. Still can't move. I'm pretty sure they're struggle-proof, there, big guy.

EXT&mdash;HYPERSPACE

[The two Hives move through hyperspace. Sheppard's F302 sits on a surface on the underside of one. His ship is tiny compared to the Hive, merely a speck on the hull.]

INT&mdash;F303 COCKPIT

SHEPPARD Okay, can't sit here forever.

[He brings up a control panel that asks if he wants to disengage docking clamps. He hesitates.]

SHEPPARD Hit them while they're in hyperspace. They'll never know what happened. Is that even possible?

FLASHBACK

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CAFETERIA

[McKay and Zelenka argue as Sheppard eats and looks between them at an attractive female crew-member.]

MCKAY There is no reason to believe that their hyperspace field is any different from ours, and we can't launch 302s from the Daedalus while in hyperspace.

ZELENKA No, I'm simply talking about maneuvering within the field, not passing through it. What do you think?

[The woman smiles back at Sheppard.]

ZELENKA Colonel?

SHEPPARD Hmm? What? Yes.

MCKAY He's not listening.

END FLASHBACK

INT&mdash;F303 COCKPIT

SHEPPARD I've got to pay more attention to those guys.

[He pushes the "no" selection on releasing the docking clamps.]

INT&mdash;HIVE SHIP

[Michael approaches the Queen of the Hive.]

QUEEN Yes, Michael?

MICHAEL You should have told me that we were going to betray the Atlanteans.

QUEEN Are you feeling sympathy for them?

MICHAEL No. But I don't understand why I wasn't told. I told you of their plan because I believed it was a viable way of&mdash;

QUEEN You are only alive because you still may prove to be useful. But I fear, Michael that the lingering stench of what they've transformed you into will never fade.

[Michael hisses at her, then turns and walks away.]

EXT&mdash;CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN COMPLEX, DAY

INT&mdash;SGC CONTROL ROOM

[The gate is active. Weir speaks to Landry over a video link.]

WEIR In approximately one hour, the Wraith will drop out of hyperspace (showing a map) here. It's just outside of the Pegasus Galaxy.

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CONTROL ROOM

[Weir speaks into a laptop.]

WEIR There they will pause for 15 hours. If Daedalus and Orion break orbit on our current schedule, they should be able to reach those coordinates in just under fourteen hours, best possible speed.

LANDRY Narrow window.

WEIR It's the only window, sir.

[The rest of the conversation switches between the two control rooms.]

LANDRY Understood. Now, the International Oversight Advisory want you to brief them on this matter.

WEIR When would you like me to dial in again?

LANDRY You misunderstand me. I mean in person, and I mean right now. The president himself assigned&mdash;

WEIR I can't just leave, not now.

LANDRY I'm afraid that's not up to you.

WEIR There is far too much going on here.

LANDRY Doctor&hellip; You've done all you're going to do for now. I need you to step through that gate. They're waiting for you in my briefing room&hellip; Dr. Weir?

WEIR I see.

[She signs off and stands up.]

WEIR (upset) Teyla&hellip;we are awaiting several teams to return from their missions. Once that happens, I'd like to suspend all gate travel till this whole thing is over.

TEYLA Of course.

WEIR And I'll need you to dial in once the Daedalus is ready to leave.

TEYLA I know what to do, Elizabeth.

WEIR Of course you do.

TEYLA I will see you when you return.

WEIR Thank you.

[Teyla sits in Weir's chair. Weir walks down to the gate room and through the active wormhole, carrying only a laptop.]

EXT&mdash;WORMHOLE

[The travel is much longer than an intra-galaxy trip.]

INT&mdash;SGC GATE ROOM

[Weir walks through. Landry awaits her at the bottom of the ramp. The walk and talk, making their way down the corridor and up to the control room.]

LANDRY Welcome back to Earth.

WEIR Thank you, general.

WEIR It's wonderful to be here.

LANDRY I can see that.

WEIR You know, I considered disobeying your order. There wouldn't have been too much you could do about it.

LANDRY You made the right decision in coming.

WEIR We're in the middle of a crisis, General. This is absolutely&mdash;

LANDRY Don't bite my head off, Elizabeth. The recall order didn't come from me.

WEIR Who it came from doesn't matter.

LANDRY What if I told you it came from the President?

WEIR I wouldn't believe you.

LANDRY And you'd be right. But in a couple of weeks, there could be aliens on our doorstep determined to feed on the human race. The President had no choice but to accede to the I.O.A.'s demand that you be brought back to explain yourself.

WEIR (looking up toward briefing room) So, what do they really want?

LANDRY To point fingers, cover their asses&hellip;

WEIR I am honestly not sure how I will respond to that, sir.

LANDRY They're bureaucrats, Elizabeth. You'll have them for breakfast.

EXT&mdash;HYPERSPACE

INT&mdash;WRAITH HIVE SHIP CORRIDOR

[Michael walks down a corridor. Two Wraith drones step in front of him and block his path.]

MICHAEL There is work I must attend to&hellip; Stand aside&hellip; Am I to sit quietly in my quarters?

[They ignore him. He hisses at them strongly, then walks back the way he came.]

INT&mdash;WRAITH HIVE SHIP POD SECTION

MCKAY You know, these things are actually quite comfortable. Surprisingly warm, take all the pressure off the spine&hellip; I suppose they're as good a place as any to witness the end of humanity as we know it.

RONON You're wasting your energy talking.

MCKAY Okay, let's say a magic fairy comes down and grants you one wish, and we break out? Then what, huh? We're still on a hive, we're still traveling through hyperspace, probably in the massive void between our two galaxies&hellip;where there aren't even planets, let alone Stargates. What then, huh? Do we fly home on the wings of imagination? Is that what we do, Ronon?

RONON You can sit here and die if you like, but I'm not giving up.

MCKAY Oh, fine. I will.

RONON Fine!

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[The Hives exit hyperspace and come to a stop in space.]

INT&mdash;F302 COCKPIT

SHEPPARD Okay. Time to do some damage. Ronon, Rodney, can you hear me?

INT&mdash;MICHAEL'S LAB ABOARD HIVE SHIP

[Michael has Ronon and Rodney's gear, including their radios, which come to life with Sheppard's voice.]

SHEPPARD Rodney? I know this is a long shot, but if you can hear me, please respond. If you're near a radio, I need you to come in. I need to know your location. Guys?

MICHAEL Colonel Sheppard? Is that you?

[The rest of the conversation switches between Sheppard's F302 and Michael's lab.]

SHEPPARD Who's this?

MICHAEL You know me as Michael.

SHEPPARD Sorry&hellip;I got the wrong number.

MICHAEL Ronon and Dr. McKay are still alive.

SHEPPARD What are you going to do with them?

MICHAEL If you want them to live, listen to me&hellip; If your friends are in pursuit, you need to disable these ships in order for them to reach us.

SHEPPARD If you really want to help, why don't you just do that?

MICHAEL They would know.

SHEPPARD Aren't you "they"?

MICHAEL Please believe me when I say I was as deceived as you were.

SHEPPARD Oh, I don't know. I was pretty deceived.

MICHAEL It seems, Colonel, that because of what you did to me&hellip;the Wraith no longer see me as one of their own.

SHEPPARD (falsely sympathetic) Oh, that's why you want to help, because you don't feel welcome.

MICHAEL We don't have time to discuss this.

SHEPPARD Sure we do. I've got a&hellip;good three hours of air left.

MICHAEL Where are you?

SHEPPARD Oh, wouldn't you like to know.

MICHAEL I need to know what level you are on so I can guide you from there.

SHEPPARD You mean, trust you.

MICHAEL Are you in a position not to?

SHEPPARD Oh&hellip;I've got you right where I want you.

MICHAEL I doubt I will be allowed to live much longer&hellip;and yet I very much want to continue living. If you want to survive as I do, then I suggest you tell me where you are.

SHEPPARD I'm outside the hive in a 302 about to blast your ship. You still want to help?

MICHAEL Targeting the ventral hyperdrive generators would be most effective.

SHEPPARD (confused) Yeah, that's what I was thinking.

MICHAEL Then I suggest you act now before you are discovered.

EXT&mdash;CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN COMPLEX, DAY

INT&mdash;SGC BRIEFING ROOM

[An array of familiar IOA officials sit opposite Weir.]

WEIR The leader of the hive presented a scenario which made it seem we were under a time constraint. To speed up the problem solving, we distributed the file&mdash;

SHEN And played right into their hands.

WEIR Yes.

WOOLSEY In fairness, Dr. Weir kept us informed of every action they took along the way.

SHEN And we supported her recommendations, I know&hellip; but clearly, we were not in possession of all of the facts.

WEIR Obviously, neither were we, ambassador.

WOOLSEY So, what measures have you taken to prevent the Wraith from reaching Earth?

WEIR I was coordinating a strike against the hive ships when you recalled me.

BRITISH IOA REP With what?

WEIR With everything we've got.

SHEN Is that wise?

WEIR General Landry has informed me that in light of fleet resources committed to fighting the Ori, the weapons platform in Antarctica, powered by a pair of Mark II generators, would be Earth's only defense. Now, I believe it would be far better to stop them while they're still within reach of Atlantis.

WOOLSEY Wouldn't it have been more prudent to send the ZPM back to Earth on the Daedalus ensuring successful operation of the Antarctic weapons platform when the Wraith arrive?

WEIR The Daedalus suffered severe damage during the first battle. A long journey at full power was out of the question. And there is no way of knowing how much faster the Wraith ships have become.

SHEN You would risk the lives of everyone aboard those ships in order to undo your mistake?

WEIR Daedalus is in orbit above Atlantis, performing emergency repairs. There is still time to beam the ZPM aboard. But either plan will require Daedalus to break orbit within the next hour.

BRITISH IOA REP Then if you'll excuse us&hellip;we need some time to discuss our options.

WEIR I have instructed Atlantis to&hellip;to contact the SGC when both Daedalus and Orion are ready to leave. If you would like to overturn my standing orders at that time, go right ahead. But you will have to fire me first.

[Angry, she stands and leaves.]

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[The Hives hold their stations.]

INT&mdash;WRAITH HIVE SHIP POD SECTION

[Ronon seems to be trying to cut through the webbing.]

MCKAY I wonder what they'll do to us. Feed on us, probably. I mean, that's&hellip; That's what they do.

RONON It's not going to come to that.

MCKAY Maybe. Earth'll probably mount some kind of defense, in which case, I imagine death would be instantaneous. Unless we're trapped on a deck with a fire or something. Then we'd be burned alive. Well, burned alive or suffocate. I wonder which would be worse, being life-sucked by the Wraith or burned alive. I honestly couldn't consider two worse options.

RONON Stop talking.

MCKAY Okay, you know what? Make me.

[Ronon begins cutting at the webbing with a knife.]

MCKAY What are you doing? Where did you get that?

RONON I was trying to get my hands free so I could get to it.

MCKAY Would it have killed you to tell me?

[Ronon breaks free of the pod and steps out of it.]

RONON Maybe I would have if you'd shut up for more than a minute.

MCKAY What? Don't just stand there. Cut me loose.

RONON Only if you put an end to all this "we're going to die, there's no hope" talk.

MCKAY Well, now there is hope!

RONON Ready.

MCKAY No!

[Ronon cuts Rodney out of his pod.]

MCKAY God, a little help, please? Oh, it's freezing out here!

RONON Would you prefer to go back in?

MCKAY No.

RONON So now what?

MCKAY What?

RONON How do we get out of here?

MCKAY Well, I don't&hellip;

RONON What?

MCKAY You said no more death talk.

RONON McKay&hellip;

MCKAY Look, fine, we're out of the cocoons. So what? We're still stuck on the ship, and there's no way off it without&hellip; Well, in any survivable way.

RONON You'll think of something.

MCKAY It's not a question of thinking.

RONON You'll think of something.

[McKay pulls at the tendrils still attached to him.]

MCKAY Fine. Can we at least go somewhere else? Can you get this off me? It's down my back. It's down my back.

RONON Just&hellip;

[They head away from the pods.]

INT&mdash;SGC CONTROL ROOM

[Weir is there with Harriman. Woolsey arrives.]

WEIR So, what do they want to do?

WOOLSEY They're still arguing about it.

WEIR Of course they are.

HARRIMAN Incoming wormhole.

[The wormhole activates in the gate room.]

TECHNICIAN (over radio) This is Atlantis. We have a scheduled check-in with Dr. Weir.

HARRIMAN Stand by, Atlantis.

[Weir looks to Woolsey.]

WOOLSEY They haven't reached a decision.

WEIR And they don't want to, Mr. Woolsey, because if they agree or disagree with me, then they have to take some sort of responsibility. No, they'd rather have someone to blame. I give this order, either way, they have a scapegoat if something goes wrong. It's all part of the game.

HARRIMAN Ma'am?

[Weir steps forward.]

WEIR Teyla&hellip;

INT&mdash;ATLANTIS CONTROL ROOM

TEYLA Yes, Elizabeth.

WEIR Tell Colonel Caldwell to proceed with the mission as planned&hellip;.And Godspeed.

TEYLA I will tell him.

INT&mdash;SGC CONTROL ROOM

[Weir nods.]

EXT&mdash;SPACE ABOVE ATLANTIS

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS CORRIDOR

[Caldwell walks down a corridor.]

CALDWELL (into radio) Hermiod, what's our status?

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS ENGINE ROOM

HERMIOD Shields are at full strength. I have re-routed all non-essential power in order to ensure power levels for a longer period.

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS CORRIDOR

[Kleinman has joined Caldwell as he walks.]

CALDWELL I want all operable missile tubes loaded with Mark III tactical warheads.

KLEINMAN That'll be every one of our nukes, sir.

CALDWELL I'm well aware of that. Secondly, I want to disable all firing safeties to enable the launch of every one of our missiles the moment we exit hyperspace.

KLEINMAN I'm not even sure that's possible.

CALDWELL Make it possible, please.

[They arrive at the bridge and take their stations.]

KLEINMAN Yes, sir.

EXT&mdash;SPACE ABOVE ATLANTIS

[Daedalus continues in orbit. Right above her is Orion.]

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIDGE

CALDWELL (to Lorne in Orion) Major Lorne, we're approaching our T-Zero.

INT&mdash;ORION BRIDGE

[Lorne sits in command chair, Zelenka at a station in front of him.]

LORNE Zelenka says she'll fly, sir, but as of right now, that's about all she can do.

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIDGE

CALDWELL You'll have thirteen hours en route to get your weapons and shields online, but we need to leave right now to make this window. Are you go or no-go?

INT&mdash;ORION BRIDGE

LORNE We're go, sir.

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIDGE

CALDWELL Very well. On my mark. Three, two, one&hellip; Mark.

EXT&mdash;SPACE ABOVE ATLANTIS

[Each ship opens a hyperspace window and enters it.]

INT&mdash;F302 COCKPIT

SHEPPARD Are you sure McKay and Ronon are nowhere near the area I'm about to light up?

INT&mdash;MICHAEL'S LAB ABOARD HIVE SHIP

MICHAEL I'm certain&hellip; Good luck.

INT&mdash;F302 COCKPIT

SHEPPARD Thanks. It'll be a walk in the park. A very scary park, filled with monsters who are trying to kill me.

MICHAEL I don't understand.

SHEPPARD Never mind.

[Sheppard puts his breathing mask on and disengages the docking clamps.]

SHEPPARD Operation "This Will Most Likely End Badly" is a go.

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[Sheppard flies his F302 off the Hive, then turns it back around and flies toward a different area. He fires one missile. It impacts the Wraith ship.]

INT&mdash;MICHAEL'S LAB ABOARD HIVE SHIP

[The ship shakes.]

SHEPPARD (over radio) Target is destroyed.

MICHAEL Disable the second hive as quickly as possible. Their fighters will be already headed your way.

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[Dozens of Wraith darts leave the Hive hangars in search of the aggressor.]

INT&mdash;F302 COCKPIT

[Sheppard's ship is being fired upon.]

SHEPPARD Okay, how about some of this help you were talking about?

MICHAEL I told you to target the hyperdrive.

SHEPPARD I already knew that.

INT&mdash;MICHAEL'S LAB ABOARD HIVE SHIP

MICHAEL There is nothing I can do.

SHEPPARD Like hell there isn't. Call off the darts.

MICHAEL They won't listen to me.

INT&mdash;F302 COCKPIT

SHEPPARD This is not helpful, Michael.

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[Sheppard speeds away from the Darts, trying to evade their fire. His ship takes a shot that shears off the right wing. He grunts inside. His ship spins away, seemingly without power or control.]

EXT&mdash;CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN COMPLEX, DAY

INT&mdash;SGC CORRIDOR

[Woolsey catches up to Weir as she walk.s]

WOOLSEY Dr. Weir&hellip;

WEIR What can I do for you, Mr. Woolsey?

WOOLSEY The ambassadors have finished convening.

WEIR Oh, good timing.

WOOLSEY Uh, yes. They'd like to continue debriefing you now.

WEIR Yeah, I bet they would.

WOOLSEY Excuse me?

WEIR No. I'm not going to sit there and have them rake me over the coals about every decision I've made these past two years that they don't agree with in hindsight.

WOOLSEY Dr. Weir, you know I have the greatest respect for you, but as far as the I.O.A. is concerned, you're not exactly the employee of the month right now.

WEIR If the Wraith make it to Earth, then keeping my job will be the least of my concerns.

WOOLSEY And if your plan succeeds?

WEIR Then I expect to keep my job, yes, because I did what they, apparently, are incapable of doing. I made a decision. The fact is, at this point there really is nothing more we can do but wait and see what happens. But give them my best.

[She leaves him stunned in the hallway.]

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[A Wraith ship slowly approaches Sheppard's disabled ship.]

INT&mdash;WRAITH HIVE SHIP CORRIDOR

[Ronon and McKay keep out of sight of passing Wraith.]

MCKAY We have been walking around here for the better part of a day, and I haven't seen one exit sign. Look, sooner or later, I'm going to have to eat something.

RONON I think I have a plan.

MCKAY You? Really?

RONON You know a lot about these ships, right?

MCKAY Oh, maybe. Why?

RONON If I can get you to a control panel, how much damage could you do?

MCKAY What do you mean?

RONON Could you overload the engines and blow up the ship?

MCKAY How is that an escape plan?

RONON I never said it was an escape plan.

MCKAY (incensed) How is it a plan?

RONON You're the one who says there's no way out of this. If we're already dead, I say we take them with us.

MCKAY (resigned) I suppose I'd rather die as a hero than as a meal.

RONON So you can do it?

MCKAY Yeah, probably.

RONON Now you're talking.

[The move off.]

INT&mdash;WRAITH HIVE SHIP CORRIDOR

[Two Wraith soldiers drag a semi-conscious Sheppard down a corridor, lead by a Wraith. They encounter Michael.]

WRAITH You should not be here.

MICHAEL She asked me to question the prisoner&hellip;If you'd prefer to discuss it with her&hellip;

WRAITH Release him.

[The soldiers push Sheppard to Michael. He walks on his own, touching a wound on his face.]

MICHAEL I will take him from here.

[Michael and Sheppard walk away together. Michael lowers the gun he'd been holding on Sheppard.]

SHEPPARD You had me worried there.

MICHAEL You've slowed them down at least for a little while. We need to get to a transport ship and hope your friends find us.

SHEPPARD Not 'til we free Ronon and McKay.

MICHAEL We're headed toward them now.

[Michael hand a handgun to Sheppard.]

SHEPPARD Now that's what I call help.

EXT&mdash;HYPERSPACE

[Daedalus moves through hyperspace.]

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIDGE

KLEINMAN Exiting hyperspace in ten seconds.

CALDWELL Launch the moment the target is acquired. Don't wait for my order.

KLEINMAN Five, four, three&hellip;

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[Many Darts fly outside the two Hives. Daedalus exits hyperspace right in front of them. It launches its missiles instantly.]

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIDGE

KLEINMAN Missiles are away.

CALDWELL Dart activity?

KLEINMAN Quite a number of them, sir. They're moving to intercept our missiles.

CALDWELL (to himself) Now would be a good time, Orion.

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[Many of the missiles explode far from the Hives as the Darts sacrifice themselves. One finally impacts a Hive.]

INT&mdash;WRAITH HIVE SHIP CORRIDOR

[McKay and Ronon are shaken by the blast.]

MCKAY What the hell?

INT&mdash;WRAITH HIVE SHIP CORRIDOR

[Michael approaches a control station.]

MICHAEL One of your ships has launched an attack. Their first strike inflicted serious damage on this hive.

SHEPPARD Good.

MICHAEL The other hive was undamaged, but your vessel is continuing to engage.

SHEPPARD Are you going to go through the whole play-by-play, or are we going to get out of here?

MICHAEL This way.

INT&mdash;WRAITH HIVE SHIP CORRIDOR

[Many soldiers run past Ronon and McKay's hiding place.]

RONON This ship's engaged in battle.

MCKAY With who?

RONON Doesn't matter.

MCKAY Well, it matters to us.

RONON Why?

MCKAY Because if it's our guys, then our chances of survival just went back above zero, albeit fractionally.

RONON If it's our guys, all the more reason to damage this ship and help them win the battle. Now, move it.

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIDGE

KLEINMAN One missile got through, sir. One of the Wraith ships suffered serious damage, but the other one is&mdash; Sir, the Orion has arrived. The other hive is moving to intercept.

CALDWELL They launched their weapons?

KLEINMAN Negative, sir.

CALDWELL Open a secure channel. (into radio) Major Lorne, now would be a good time to open fire.

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[The Hives are firing on both ships.]

INT&mdash;ORION BRIDGE

LORNE Yes, sir. I was just thinking the same thing. I gave the order, but nothing happened. Zelenka!

ZELENKA I'm trying! speaks Czech.

LORNE We're having a little difficulty transferring power from shields to weapons.

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIDGE

CALDWELL There's a hive bearing down on your position.

LORNE Yes, sir, I see that.

INT&mdash;ORION BRIDGE

LORNE Stand by. Doc, you're killing us, here.

ZELENKA Okay. I have it. I have it. I have it.

LORNE Firing drones!

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[The Orion launches dozens of drones at the Hives, as it takes heavy fire itself. The drones evade the Darts and make their way to one of the Hives, where they inflict such heavy damage that it explodes.]

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIDGE

KLEINMAN Sir, the remaining hive is shifting their attack to the Orion.

CALDWELL Move to intercept.

KLEINMAN Orion has no shields. We're not going to make it there in time, sir.

[Crewmen try to contain the damage on the bridge.]

INT&mdash;WRAITH HIVE SHIP CORRIDOR

[Sheppard et al are on the surviving Hive. They find the cocoons where Ronon and McKay had been, empty.]

SHEPPARD Where are they?

MICHAEL I'm sorry. They must have been taken for feeding.

SHEPPARD No, no. These were cut from the inside. They escaped.

MICHAEL They could be anywhere on this ship.

SHEPPARD Well, that's a start.

MICHAEL Why? What could their objective possibly be?

SHEPPARD If I know Ronon, they're somewhere where they can do as much damage as they can, and McKay would know where and how to do that, so&hellip;

MICHAEL There's a control station this way.

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[The remaining Hive fires on both Daedalus and Orion, with more force directed at Orion.]

INT&mdash;ORION BRIDGE

[The bridge is smoky and sparking.]

LORNE One more shot, Zelenka! That's all I'm asking!

ZELENKA I just cannot give you what I do not have! There's too much damage! We need to abandon ship!

[He starts to leave the bridge.]

LORNE Hey, Doc! Listen to me!

ZELENKA We sacrificed our shield capability for that first salvo. This ship is going to blow any moment, Major.

LORNE (into radio) Colonel Caldwell, I'm afraid we've done everything we can on our end. We request immediate beam-out to Daedalus.

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIDGE

CALDWELL Get them over here!

INT&mdash;WRAITH HIVE SHIP CORRIDOR

[McKay works at a control station as Ronon keeps a look-out.]

MCKAY Their operating system is a mess. Thank goodness I remembered DOS. Trust me, that was hilarious.

RONON Have you done it yet?

MCKAY Look, this ship has been seriously damaged. It's hard for me to find something to overload.

SHEPPARD Let Mikey try it.

[The two pairs see each other. Ronon whips out a knife and points it at Michael.]

SHEPPARD Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. He's helping us.

MCKAY Where did you come from?

SHEPPARD I managed to latch on to the hull of the hive before it went into hyperspace.

RONON Nice move.

SHEPPARD Saw it in a movie once.

[The ship shudders under attack.]

SHEPPARD We've got to get to the Daedalus.

MCKAY The Daedalus&mdash;the Daedalus is here?

MICHAEL First we need to get to the transport.

RONON Why should I trust you?

MICHAEL Because I'm trusting you.

[Michael hands his weapon to Ronon then steps away. Ronon points the weapon at Michael. Sheppard grabs his arm.]

SHEPPARD Because I said so.

[They move off. Ronon grabs Sheppard so that Michael can't hear them. Rodney stands with them.]

RONON I don't like this.

SHEPPARD You got a better idea?

RONON We take the ship on our own and leave him here.

SHEPPARD He's the reason I'm alive right now.

MCKAY Besides, I don't think that's even possible. It took me days to crack the Wraith dart interface, and this ship is a whole lot bigger.

RONON I don't like it.

SHEPPARD Yeah, I get it, you hate the Wraith.

RONON Him in particular.

SHEPPARD (to McKay) Is there anything you can do to boost the radio signal? I want to reach the Daedalus as soon as possible.

MCKAY Well, I could try.

MICHAEL Hang on. They'll most likely open fire on us the second we leave the bay.

MCKAY Oh, great. The day just gets better and better.

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[A single transport ship leaves the Wraith ship and speeds toward Daedalus. The Orion explodes.]

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIDGE

[Through the damage and chaos, Lorne makes his way to Caldwell.]

LORNE Sorry, sir. We did our best.

CALDWELL Nothing to apologize for, Major. (to Kleinman) Bring all rail guns to bear on the main Dart bays. Hold fire till I give the order. Channel every ounce of power to the forward shield until then.

KLEINMAN I have a contact, sir. A single Wraith ship, possibly a transport, just left the hive and is on a course for us. It's broadcasting a comm on our frequencies.

CALDWELL What the hell do they want?

ZELENKA Maybe they want to surrender.

CALDWELL Not likely. Let's hear it.

SHEPPARD (over radio) This is Colonel John Sheppard, authentication code Alpha Seven Tango Three. Please respond.

CALDWELL Open a channel. Colonel Sheppard, we'd written you off.

SHEPPARD Don't get all emotional on me now. Look, I've got McKay, Ronon, and Michael aboard a Wraith transport.

CALDWELL Michael?

SHEPPARD Yes, sir, and he's got a plan I think you're gonna like. But it probably won't be long before they start shooting at us.

KLEINMAN The hive just opened fire on the transport, sir.

CALDWELL Beam them directly to the bridge.

[Sheppard, McKay, Ronon, and Michael beam in. Sheppard turns to Caldwell.]

SHEPPARD Colonel!

CALDWELL Colonel. You said something about a plan?

MICHAEL I've disabled their jamming code, but it's only a matter of time before they realize.

SHEPPARD All you have to do is send over a nuke.

CALDWELL We deployed all our warheads in the first attack.

KLEINMAN The hive is launching darts, sir.

CALDWELL Open up on those bays, all batteries!

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[The two ships fire on each other furiously. The Wraith Hive is hit on its broadsides, and the repeated hits being to damage it, causing explosions. Daedalus approaches while firing. It takes severe hits on its underside.]

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIDGE

[The ship takes major damage. The gunner is thrown from his seat. A fire starts behind Caldwell. Sheppard takes over the weapons position. McKay rushes to the back.]

CALDWELL Cap that off! Report!

KLEINMAN The plan worked, sir. The concentrated fire on the bays created a number of secondary explosions. They've stopped firing.

SHEPPARD Nice work, Colonel.

CALDWELL Fortunately a draw is a win for our side. Ship's status?

DAEDALUS Shields completely depleted, and we're venting atmosphere.

CALDWELL Seal off all affected decks.

DAEDALUS Yes, sir, but that last blast took out our life support, and the back-ups aren't responding. As of right now, we're shallow-breathing.

RONON Meaning?

MCKAY Meaning that in a little under nine hours, we're all going to suffocate.

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS CORRIDOR

[Zelenka and McKay walk with Kleinman.]

ZELENKA As l&mdash;As long as we don't have to worry about shields and weapons, we may be able to cannibalize parts from some of our other systems, in order to create, at the very least, a-a CO2 filtration system.

MCKAY By the time we got something like that up and running, the CO2 levels will overwhelm any makeshift scrubbers we'd be able to concoct.

ZELENKA But, it's worth a try.

MCKAY Yes, yeah, but regardless, we need more electricians and welders than are technically certified on the ship's roster. Anyone, and I mean anyone, who took shop needs to report to us.

KLEINMAN There are teams assembling on every deck.

MCKAY Good, good.

[The arrive at a supply room and see sets of personal survival packs.

MCKAY Ah, now we're talking. How many more of these do we have?

KLEINMAN Twenty in total.

MCKAY How many people on board?

KLEINMAN In and around the two hundred mark.

MCKAY Oh, so, I guess buddy-breathing our way through this one's out of the question.

KLEINMAN I'm afraid so, sir, yes.

MCKAY Okay, fine they're reserved for people working on getting life-support systems operational. We need those people as clear-headed as possible.

KLEINMAN And by "those people"&hellip;

MCKAY Yes, I will be one of them.

ZELENKA How many levels are inaccessible?

KLEINMAN Seven.

ZELENKA Okay, we need to find out if there are any pockets of breathable atmosphere in there. We may be able to squeeze another hour or so out of regions that have been sealed off.

MCKAY We can't exactly transfer the Oh-two where we need it.

ZELENKA Yes, but we could be&mdash;

MCKAY We will be able to access key panels that have been closed off to us. Let's get Sheppard in a 302. He can eyeball it from the outside. I'll take this.

[He takes one of the packs.]

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[Sheppard flies an F302 around the ship, shining a light on it to see the damage and atmosphere escaping from many places.]

INT&mdash;F302 COCKPIT

SHEPPARD These sections are completely open to space Rodney. There aren't even pockets you could beam into. What about an E.V.A.?

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS POWER ROOM

[Rodney works on panels filled with crystals.]

MCKAY The space suits were stored in those sections.

SHEPPARD (over radio) All right. I'm heading back.

MCKAY Copy that.

ZELENKA Have you tried routing the power through the initial&mdash;

MCKAY Yes, yes, yes. We have tried everything.

ZELENKA Subspace communications?

MCKAY (shakily) We are floating between two galaxies, Radek. Atlantis has no ship to send, and even if we were somehow able to repair the array and get a message back to Earth, it would still take them weeks to get a rescue here.

ZELENKA I wasn't thinking of rescue. I was thinking simply of telling them that we've stopped the Wraith, and perhaps letting someone know the sacrifice that we've done.

MCKAY Well, a noble sentiment, but I would prefer to dedicate my last breath of air to getting more air. (inspired) Wait a second.

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIEFING ROOM

[McKay speaks to Caldwell, Michael and Sheppard.]

MCKAY The only breathable air within light years is on the Wraith ship.

CALDWELL There're also Wraith aboard that Wraith ship, doctor.

SHEPPARD So we take them. Beam an assault team in.

MICHAEL You would be far out-numbered.

SHEPPARD Well, we're dead here. I'll take my chances.

MICHAEL I admire your courage, Colonel, but you would be dead there as surely as here&hellip; Unless we send over the gas.

MCKAY Yes, yes, yes. That could work.

MICHAEL The retrovirus gas would make them virtually harmless.

SHEPPARD Do we still have it on board?

CALDWELL Yes, we do. And now that Michael's disabled their jamming codes&hellip;

MCKAY We finish the plan we started.

SHEPPARD We beam over the gas and wait. We wait long enough, they won't even want to put up a fight.

MCKAY Because they'll be humans with no memories. I can't believe I might actually survive this.

CALDWELL We're almost out of breathable air now, and the retrovirus takes a minimum ten hours to run its course.

SHEPPARD Yeah, we'll rotate the crew in and out of the 302s. (to Michael) If this works, can you fly the hive ship?

MICHAEL I could.

SHEPPARD What do you say, Colonel?

CALDWELL (into radio) Weaps, get us within beaming range of the hive.

WEAPONS Yes, sir.

EXT&mdash;CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN COMPLEX, NIGHT

INT&mdash;SGC VISITORS' OFFICE

[Landry knocks on the doorway of Weir's SGC office. The door is open.]

WEIR (concerned) Anything?

LANDRY No. No contacts yet. Our tests of the Mark Two generator and the chair in Antarctica are promising.

WEIR "Promising." That doesn't sound very promising.

LANDRY Yeah, we're fairly confident the Ancient weapon will take care of the hive ships, but doing so will probably require the last of our drones, and there goes our secret weapon. We'd really rather not have to do that. How'd it go with the I.O.A.?

WEIR Oh, you know. I mean does anyone ever come out of an I.O.A. deposition saying, "That went well"?

LANDRY No, I don't suppose they do.

WEIR It was what it was.

LANDRY Well, at least most of the time you're a galaxy away. That Woolsey guy is here almost every other week.

[Landry sits across from Weird.]

WEIR I think they're going to ask me to step down.

LANDRY Well, if they're just going to ask, you can always say no.

WEIR I messed this one up, General.

LANDRY Yeah, you did.

WEIR And I lost some of the best people I've ever&mdash;

LANDRY But you proceeded with the blessing of the I.O.A and Stargate Command, as I recall.

WEIR Somehow, that doesn't seem to help much.

LANDRY "Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It's the courage to continue that counts." And I think you've got that in spades.

WEIR Churchill?

LANDRY Yeah except for that last part about you. That was all me. Get some sleep, Elizabeth.

WEIR Yes, sir.

[Landry leaves, and Weir contemplates his words.]

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[Daedalus moves slowly around the Wraith ship, the Milky Way visible behind it.]

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS CORRIDOR OUTSIDE BRIDGE

[Crewmen sit on the floor as those with survival breathing packs work on the ship. McKay is one of those working. Sweating, he walks slowly on the bridge.]

INT&mdash;DAEDALUS BRIDGE

KLEINMAN (weakly) Our CO2 levels are getting dangerous, sir.

CALDWELL (weakly) The gas has barely had a chance to run its course.

[Sheppard and a team of marines sit behind Caldwell. They stand.]

SHEPPARD We don't have much of a choice. We've got to go now.

[They leave the bridge, Ronon assisting McKay.]

INT&mdash;WRAITH HIVE SHIP CORRIDOR

[The team beams aboard. The move out and find many Wraith now turned human, lying on the floor. One gasps. Sheppard looks on over.]

SHEPPARD Some of them are dead.

LORNE Looks like they killed each other.

WRAITH TURNED HUMAN What's happened?

[Sheppard and the others turn their weapons on the man for a moment.]

SHEPPARD It's all right. (to a marine) Find a holding area. Start marshaling the survivors there.

MCKAY The queen's chamber should be that way.

INT&mdash;QUEEN'S CHAMBER ON HIVE SHIP

[They arrive cautiously. The Queen struggles on her throne, her face hidden.]

SHEPPARD Hello? You all right?

[Lorne goes to her aid.]

LORNE It's okay. You're going to be all right now.

[The Queen, still a Wraith, grabs Lorne at the throat and lifts him off the deck. She yells and prepares to feed on him. McKay and the others shoot her, and she drops Lorne on the stairs.]

LORNE It didn't work on her.

MCKAY Oh. Beckett wondered if the females would be immune.

LORNE Yeah. Something you might have mentioned before she almost killed me, Rodney.

MCKAY I only thought of it now.

MARINE (over radio) Colonel Sheppard, so far we haven't run into a single Wraith, sir.

SHEPPARD Understood. (into radio) Sheppard to Daedalus.

CALDWELL (over radio) Go ahead.

SHEPPARD (into radio) You can start sending people over, sir. They're all human, and the air is good. I think we're out of the woods.

TO BE CONTINUED

FADE OUT

END CREDITS

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