While exploring the city, the Atlantis team discovers a stasis chamber holding a woman who appears to be over 10,000 years old. Excited at the possibility that she is one of the Ancients, the alien race that built Atlantis, the team decides to bring her out of stasis despite the risk to her health. Everyone is shocked when, once re-animated, the elderly woman identifies herself as none other than Dr. Weir.

Having learned that the entire Wraith armada is headed towards the city, the Atlantis team prepares to send a data message to Earth with information about the Wraith threat, and what could be their last messages home to loved ones.As the rest of the team records their touching and often humourous messages back home, Major Sheppard and Teyla embark on a reconnaissance mission where they witness the vastness of the Wraith army, and look on helplessly as the Wraith cull the planet's helpless inhabitants.