While exploring a new planet, Sheppard, McKay, Teyla and Ronon are ambushed by a group of men armed with Wraith stunners. They awaken to find themselves prisoners in a cave, where they discover the mastermind behind the attack: Lt. Aiden Ford.

On a new planet, Sheppard, McKay, Teyla, and Ronon discover an intriguing portal in a mountainside: an opaque force field surrounded by Ancient text. After inserting a camera through the field to check for danger, Sheppard decides to enter the portal himself. The instant he begins, however, he feels terrible pain. His teammates struggle to pull him back out, but the portal inexorably sucks him through.