Atlantis mechanical anchor

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< Atlantis

Atlantis mechanical anchor
Production information
Manufacturer	Ancients
Technical specifications
Function	Anchoring Atlantis to the ocean floor
Usage
Affiliation	Ancients Tau'ri

The mechanical anchor is the clamp that keeps Atlantis anchored to the ocean floor while submerged.

Overview

While Atlantis is submerged, the anchor keeps the city tethered to the ocean floor. As noted by Lieutenant Colonel Samantha Carter, putting aside all other factors, the city contained enough of atmosphere inside of its shield for it to be buyoant and the city wasn't using any power to hold itself in place. (SGA: "Rising", "First Strike")(SG1: "Ouroboros")

History

In 2004, the Atlantis expedition first arrived in the city, causing a massive power drain on the nearly depleted remaining ZPM. As the city ran out of power, Janus' failsafe mechanism kicked in, causing the anchor to release and the city to surface. (SGA: "Rising")

In 2007, after sinking the city in an attempt to dissipate the impact of the Asuran Stargate satellite, Dr. Rodney McKay used the anchor to hold Atlantis to the seabed and then released it as the expedition prepared to leave Lantea entirely. (SGA: "First Strike")

Alternate realities

• In an alternate reality visited by SG-1, as the city's power got dangerously low, Lieutenant Colonel Samantha Carter found and activated the command to release the anchor, causing Atlantis to surface. Carter explained that she'd deduced that there had to be some kind of mechanical anchor holding the city down and she'd released it. This left the ZPM severely, but not completely, depleted and for the Atlantis expedition to move back into the city along with the Athosians. (SG1: "Ouroboros")

Alternate timeline

• In an alternate timeline where Earth was destroyed by the Goa'uld, Atlantis eventually ran out of power and the anchor was released, sending the city to the surface where it was eventually found by the Wraith. (SG1: "Apocalypse")
• In an alternate timeline, when the Atlantis expedition arrived in the city, Atlantis ran out of power and flooded without the anchor being released. After Dr. Elizabeth Weir accidentally traveled back in time using the Time Jumper, Janus programmed a failsafe mechanism that would cause the anchor to release if power dropped below a critical level just in case his and Weir's plan didn't work. (SG1: "Before I Sleep")