On Earth, a galaxy away from Atlantis, Gen. Landry receives intelligence that The Trust, a group of conspirators controlled by the evil Goa'uld, have learned of the Ancient city and sent an undercover operative there to plant a bomb. Details are sketchy, but any use of Atlantis's stargate to dial Earth will somehow trigger the explosion.

Sheppard, McKay, Teyla and Ronon visit an oppressed, poverty-stricken village that sacrifices half of every harvest to a mysterious Lord Protector in a great tower — a tower that looks exactly like the central spire of Atlantis. In exchange for the farmers' tribute, the Lord Protector defends them from the Wraith with amazing weaponry.