Plot

The Atlantis expedition must turn to an old friend for help as the Asurans prepare to invade the city.

The day Rodney McKay has long been waiting for finally arrives: the inaugural test of the interstellar subway that will link the Pegasus and Milky Way galaxies. Arranged as a series of interconnected gates, the traveler only stops at a mid-way transfer station. With Sheppard at the controls of a puddle jumper, the test is uneventful and works quite well. McKay does catch one anomaly however - a passing ship traveling just below the speed of light, apparently belonging to the Ancients. When they make contact, they learn that the Ancients' ship had lost its hyper-drive and the Daedalus offers assistance. Once back on Atlantis, the Ancients have only one request - that the Earthlings leave Atlantis immediately. The Replicators however also have their eye on the city—garykmcd

While Sheppard successfully tests, from the Daedalus, by jumper McKay and Carter's interstellar subway that links the Pegasus and Milky Way galaxies via cleverly chosen interconnected Stargates, debriefed at delighted SGC, Rodney duly wonders what superior spaceship approaches just below the speed of light. It turns out a war-damaged Aurora class Ancient ship, which they are happy to help return to Atlantis. Once arrived, their CO Captain Helia decides to take control of Atlantis, even tells earth representatives, Wallace and general O'Neill, to leave fast. They refuse help at the approach of the Replicators, trusting the 'programmed law' preventing them from hurting their creators, only to find it circumvented and be overrun in no time. Landry obeys the brass orders to stand back, but Sheppard, McKay and Weir, who were bored reassigned to other missions or base duties, decide to 'escape' from SGC and return by Stargate after picking up Ronon and Teyla, who were evacuated elsewhere.—KGF Vissers