Air, Part 1

Air, Part 1 is the first episode of the first season of Stargate Universe, and is the first of the series premiere's opening three-parter.

Synopsis
A team of scientists and soldiers from the Icarus Base uncover the mysteries of the ninth chevron of the Stargate. As they are forced to evacuate when the base is under attack from an alien race, they end up on the Destiny, an Ancient ship, stranded several billion light years from Earth.

Plot
Shortly after the Destiny exists Faster-Than-Light travel, the Stargate engages. The first to emerge through it is lieutenant Matthew Scott, who stumbles through the gate and quickly draws his gun in a state of alertness. Following his arrival are countless other people, each of whom stumble through the gate in a state of panic and disorientation. Several people are injured, including colonel Everett Young, the last one to emerge, who flies across the gate room. No one knows where they are or what is happening when the Destiny then enters back into FTL.

In a flashback, Eli Wallace, a collage-age student, is playing the online game Prometheus, when he claims that he was able to beat the, seemingly impossible, Dakara Weapons puzzle. However, he is disappointed to find that, after solving it, the game simply restarts. The following day, a knock is heard at his door. When he answers it, it is Colonel Jack O'Neill and Dr. Nicholas Rush, who proceed to tell him that the Dakara Weapons puzzle was actually created by them as a way to solve an Ancient mathematical proof, which has thus far eluded them. They offer him a prize for his accomplishment, a non-disclosure agreement, and tell him that if he refuses to sign, he'll be beamed out of his house to their spaceship. Believing this to be a joke, Wallace re-enters his home and is suddenly beamed away in a flash of light.

Eli is now aboard the George Hammond, a Tau'ri Daedalus-class battlecruiser in Earth orbit, when he is met again by Dr. Nicholas Rush, who explains the situation, and that they need his help. Eli is informed that for his help, his mother's medical expenses will be taken care of and he accepts the offer. The Hammond then leaves Earth orbit and enters hyperspace, en-route to a planet 21 light years away where a Tau'ri military outpost, Icarus Base, resides. On this several hour-long voyage, Eli is shown a video, hosted and narrated by Daniel Jackson, which explains the history of the Stargate Program and the workings of the Stargate itself. After a short time, Eli calls his mother, who is back on Earth, and tells her that everything is fine and that she will be taken care of by the Air Force. Wallace then proceeds to the ship's commissary, where he has a brief conversation with Chloe Armstrong, the Daughter of the California senator.

Back to the present aboard the Destiny, Eli Wallace and Matthew Scott arrive at a large observation deck and discover Nicholas Rush, the man they were looking for, is already there. Rush explains that Destiny (name still unknown to them) is an Ancient ship, launched hundreds of thousands of years ago, and that they are traveling at speeds faster than light yet not through hyperspace. Scott then informs Rush that many people back in the gate room are wounded and that they need to get home. Among problems is the failing life support system, which becomes apparent when several air vents shut off and air becomes thinner. The trio then exits the observation deck as Rush seeks to fix the life support.

In a dream, Colonel Everett Young is speaking in his house with his wife about a new military assignment he recently received - his post at Icarus Base. Then back aboard the Destiny, the injured Col. Young has a seizure after briefly regaining consciousness.

Back to the flashback, the George Hammond exits hyperspace over the planet that Icarus Base resides on. In the Base, Vanessa James and Matthew Scott are having sexual relations in a secluded location when Col. Young radios. He informs Scott that the Hammond has arrived and to report to duty. Scott quickly dresses as he proceeds to run down the halls of Icarus Base to the meeting location. He just barely arrives when Eli Wallace, Chloe Armstrong, Alan Armstrong, and Nicholas Rush are beamed down to an external location of the Base, high atop a mountain that the base is constructed into. During the greeting, Col. Young introduces himself and Eli remarks about the impressive armaments the base has, including several large railguns. The group then proceeds into the base.

Upon entering the base, the group is led into the gate room where they are greeted by Icarus Base's senior staff. Meanwhile, Scott explains to Wallace about the planet's unique radioactive core, which provides large amounts of power for Stargate activation. However, this core is very unstable and so the gate has been modified to only allow outgoing wormholes to prevent the core from going critical. After the senior staff are dismissed, including Colonel David Telford, the Stargate's ninth chevron address - which was procured from Atlantis' database - is dialed using the information from the proof Eli solved after a month of playing Prometheus. However, the dialing sequence is averted when power levels in the core reach critical levels shortly after the eighth chevron engages.

Background notes

 * The antagonists during the Battle of Icarus Base have several Goa'uld ships in their possession. This means that they are either some never-before encountered Goa'uld faction, or the Lucian Alliance.
 * Of the principle cast, only Dr. Nicholas Rush was definitely assigned to the expedition to explore the ninth chevron destination. Young, Scott, and Greer were assigned to Icarus Base, T.J. was quitting the program, Eli, Chloe and her father were civilians, and Camile Wray was an IOA official. As such, Rush is the only member of the principle cast who is 'supposed' to be aboard Destiny.
 * The level of Lou Diamond Phillips' participation in the series was a topic of speculation since press information and cast photos made it appear that he was to be a full cast member. Phillips' character does not travel to Destiny and his role in the series was confirmed to be as a recurring character.

Airdates

 * October 2, 2009 (Syfy, United States)
 * October 2, 2009 (Space, Canada)
 * October 6, 2009 (Sky1, United Kingdom and Ireland)
 * October 9, 2009 (Sci Fi Australia, Australia)

Production

 * According to Robert Carlyle, three characters will be killed in those first three episodes.
 * Richard Dean Anderson, Gary Jones, Amanda Tapping and Michael Shanks are confirmed to have guest appearances as Jack O'Neill, Walter Harriman, Samantha Carter and Daniel Jackson, respectively. Bill Dow also cameos as Dr Bill Lee.