Reliable power generation is one of our greatest concerns.
With this project, we hope, soon, to be able to convert
and utilize the intense heat trapped beneath the surface of our planet.
Geothermal energy.
What, using this?!
Do you have any idea how complex geo-thermal...
McKay...
It's gonna work like a charm.
Looks like you're accomplishing great things here, Chancellor.
Since the last Wraith culling
we have worked diligently to rebuild our society.
Are you not concerned that your efforts will attract the attention of the Wraith?
Yes...
but we refuse to let that stop us from striving to reach our potential.
To do otherwise would simply mean victory for them.
However, we currently are working on a viable defence.
Defence?
Really?
We've been here for two days before you mention that?
I had to learn that you could be trusted.
You're talking about some sort of defensive weapon?
You could call it that.
Something that we hope will protect us from the next Wraith culling.
So you are expecting it to happen again?
Of course.
But if the Wraith return as they have historically,
they won't be here for at least another fifty years.
Fifty years, you say.
How about that weapon?
Yes, yes if you'll just come this way.
You haven't told them that we practically woke the Wraith from hibernation, have you?
Well... I really haven't had the chance
We've been here two days!
One and a half, really.
Major, they're not expecting the Wraith for another fifty years.
We have to let them know they could show up at any time now.
If you're so eager, why don't you tell them!
Reminds you of Area 51, doesn't it?
Circa 1918.
I don't think Area 51 was around in 1918, sir.
- Well, the area was. - True!
I don't think there's a hope in hell these people could have a weapon that...
Weapons come in all shapes and sizes, Lieutenant.
Major Sheppard, I think you'll find this intriguing.
OK, I'm intrigued.
What is it?
Something that we hope will one day make us completely immune to the Wraith.
Team24 et SG-66 Transcript: Callie Sullivan
Season 1: Episode 7 Poisoning the well
According to Chancellor Druhin the drug is still
several years away from being finished.
I'd say, given their current level of technology, that, er,
could be an under-statement.
Just because they believe they're close to a breakthrough, it doesn't mean that they are.
You saw for yourself their entire civilisation is
based upon the completion of that goal, Doctor McKay.
I would not under estimate them.
Do we even know for certain that the Wraith are an immediate threat?
We can probably bet they don't have fifty years.
Hence Major Sheppard has generously offered our help to the Hoffans.
Has he?
Look,
the fact is, if they're onto something,
maybe we can speed up the process.
OK, Major, you have a go.
But if the drug really is just a pipe dream...
Our Doctor Beckett's already volunteered to help us find that out.
Oh, he has, huh?
He will.
It's not that I mind lending people a hand...
- No, of course not. - You're a generous man, Carson.
but it's the principle of the thing, isn't it?
You can't go volunteering someone for something without consulting them first.
That's not even volunteering, is it?
It's being pressed into service.
Not to mention the fact that I'm not...
not military, I can't give you orders.
I know.
Nonononono, he just doesn't like going through the Stargate.
He's worse than Doctor McCoy.
Who?
The TV character that Doctor Beckett plays in real life.
Converting a human body into energy
and sending it millions of light years through a wormhole bloody insanity.
C'mon, how often do you get to travel to an alien planet?
I was already on an alien planet!
Should you be messing with that stuff?
I know what I'm doing, Major, thank you.
From the looks of things they've mastered a few basics biochemistry, physiology,
perhaps even some form of molecular biology.
- Fairly impressive considering... - It is our people's legacy.
This room represents hundreds of years of medical knowledge.
I am Perna, chief scientist for the project.
John Sheppard.
Uh, and this is Teyla, and Lieutenant Ford...
Carson.
Beckett.
Doctor.
I mean, call me Carson.
I'm, uh, Doctor McKay, Doctor Rodney McKay.
I hope you will find our facilities suitable.
Oh, they're charming!
Perfectly charming!
Long ago, this city was once a testament to our imagination,
our creative spirit, to endless possibility.
How long ago was that?
It is true that we have been forced
to rebuild many times and
never to our potential.
That is why perfecting the drug is so important.
It is more than just a defence against the Wraith it is our future.
With respect, Chancellor, you cannot prevent the culling it is a fact of existence.
A fact we challenge.
We will always search for a way to end the cycle of destruction.
The Wraith will always prevent any race from advancing too far.
You figure you can beat 'em?
Yes, through knowledge.
A number of archives like this one are hidden throughout the city.
Their existence is known only to a few.
This is...
very...
impressive.
We meticulously preserve the accomplishments of each generation
before they are wiped out by the Wraith.
So everything your people ever learned is in here?
And in other archives identical to this one.
In case they destroy one.
You guys are serious about this.
Standing on the shoulders of our forefathers.
How long have you been working on this Wraith drug?
One hundred and fifty years ago,
our scientists were close to creating a viable prototype,
only to die before seeing its fruition.
So you're hoping that, if this world's no good to them,
they're just gonna move on?
The Wraith cannot possibly perceive us as a threat.
Y'know, to tell you the truth, I don't know how they would react.
If they choose to wipe you out of existence, you will be helpless.
We cannot hope to control their actions.
We can only do what we can
to end the cycle that has gone on for far too long.
His name was Ferrel Mylan.
Before he died in the last culling,
he was one of our most celebrated medical researchers.
He was the one who found it.
Found what?
The key.
His journals tell of one man who survived an encounter with the Wraith.
Ferrel Mylan's team discovered that this man possessed a unique protein,
one that enabled him to resist the chemical released by the Wraith
to precipitate draining of life from their victims
After painstaking trial and error...
Ferrel made a copy of the protein.
He was eventually able to create a prototype of a drug
designed to interfere with the Wraith feeding process.
And it worked?
Ferrel was killed before the drug could be used to defend Hoff.
And it's been your job
to make certain his work wasn't in vain.
Quite the responsibility.
It is a great honour.
How do you know for certain that this Ferrel wasn't just embellishing his results,
or for that matter making them up?
I mean, all you have to go on are his notes.
He and his team worked until the last possible moment.
They knew the Wraith ships were overhead
and still they worked through the night,
hoping to provide one more insight,
one last thread of knowledge not for themselves
but for the generation that would survive.
Ten thousand soldiers gave their lives to give them those last few hours.
The last words of Ferrel's journal are known to all Hoffans.
I meant no disrespect, Perna.
It's alright.
More than just his journals survived the culling.
His research materials were safeguarded as well,
including carefully preserved Wraith cell samples
which we still use in our work today.
Please.
See for yourself.
Oh!
That's incredible!
I saw it with my own eyes, Doctor Weir.
Yes, in a Petri dish,
and we are talking about a hundred and fifty year old Wraith cells.
I mean, for all we know, they could be immune to the drug by now,
or come up with defences against it.
Well, I don't think so, Doctor.
I took the liberty of running a few tests of my own
using cells taken
from the Wraith arm Major Sheppard brought back from Athos.
The results were the same...
near complete resistance.
They've definitely got something.
Believe me, I'm more surprised than anyone.
So what do you recommend?
That we take their work to the next level.
I've informed the Hoffans of our guest in the brig.
You realise what you're asking for?
I do.
Anything I should know about, Sergeant?
No, sir, he's been quiet.
Still trying to make you see things?
He's given up on that.
I didn't think he'd last this long.
Hello again, Major Sheppard.
Sorry if I woke you.
Just came by to see if there's anything you needed.
Magazine, fresh towels.
You hide your fear poorly, Major.
Y'know, we've been having these conversations for a couple of weeks now,
and I don't even know your name.
You guys do have names, right?
Let me guess...
Steve?
I am your death.
That is all you need to know.
I prefer Steve.
What do you hope to gain from this?
Just trying to bridge the gap between our two cultures; get to know you better.
That and try to figure out how to keep your kind
from sucking the life out of millions of innocent people.
Even if I told you what you want to know,
it would change nothing.
You are doomed as are any humans that stand in our way.
Can't be a nice way to die?
Hungry,
slow,
knowing your food source is just...
out of reach.
Why do you keep me here?
I need to know what we're up against.
For example,
how many of those big hive ships have you got and where are they?
You have nothing to offer me in return.
We could talk about easing your hunger...
Steve.
You would never sacrifice one of your own kind.
And yet, it is all that stands between
you and the information you seek.
Using living Wraith cells is our only recourse at this juncture.
Without them we have no way of knowing for certain if the drug is actually viable.
You said it worked effectively on the cells
of the severed Wraith arm we brought back.
It did.
But those were already in a partially decayed state.
We need live samples.
And with new samples
you think it's possible to create a prototype?
Given enough time, yes I do.
He's got a good point the Hoffans are practically obsessed.
Thank you, Rodney.
I agree, Doctor.
But their obsession may become their undoing.
Well, even if they do... undo, it'd be good for us.
I mean, given the choice, wouldn't you want to be immune?
Not if it meant the lives the Wraith might otherwise spare.
This drug would only be of value if everyone,
everywhere, possessed the same immunity.
There's a thought worth pursuing.
I agree.
Major, have you made any progress with your prisoner?
Well, not yet, but he just blinked.
He blinked?
What does that mean?
It means he's still holding on
but he's indicated to me that he may break soon.
And he indicated this to you by...
blinking?
Yes.
No offence, Major, but so far he hasn't told you a thing.
For all we know he could linger
this way for months and ultimately
we'll learn nothing.
The Wraith could be on their way to Hoff as we speak.
If your prisoner holds the key to the creation of this drug,
should we not take advantage of this?
How can we get the sample off him safely?
We still possess the weapons used in his capture.
It would be a simple matter of incapacitating him again.
So, then, it's possible?
It's possible.
Hi, Steve.
Bye, Steve.
Doctor.
Is he...
I mean, you're certain he's...
He's down, Doc.
Do your thing.
Almost looks peaceful, doesn't he?
Peaceful?!
You're out of your bloody mind!
I have never seen devices such as these!
The work you've done refining
the drug has been good up til now.
With all this we can make it better.
From what I can tell,
your biggest problem is that the test inoculations
failed to show enough of a presence
in human cells to be effective.
What we need is a better delivery system.
Exactly.
And the best place to start is to recreate the key protein
in the serum and work our way up from there.
If we can avoid having
to re-engineer it from a natural source,
and make an entirely synthetic version,
it should ultimately increase the efficiency.
Such a thing is possible?
Anything's possible if you're willing to give it a go.
C'mon then, a bald head is soon shaved.
You speak differently than the others.
Noticed that, did you?!
Sorry if I confuse you.
Trust me, where I come from, it all makes perfect sense.
What is it like?
Scotland? Oh, I think it's beautiful.
But I'm told it's something of an acquired taste.
I meant your world.
It must be so peaceful there,
knowing that the Wraith will not come.
Oh, you'd be surprised how not peaceful it is.
We're spoiled rotten, now that I think of it.
You miss it.
I'm sorry for enquiring.
Oh, no, no. Don't be, love.
Perna!
One hundred percent cellular penetration
in all five test inoculations.
Incredible!
There's still a lot of data to be analysed
but the initial results are very promising, I agree.
Doctor Beckett's efforts have advanced the project by decades.
Perna's formula was right on track.
It was just a matter of changing its molecular design
so it could be better absorbed by the body.
This is an enormous victory for our people, Doctor.
I don't know how to thank you.
No need.
Of course, it's only a preliminary.
How soon until you can set up the next stage of testing?
You'll have a schedule later today, Chancellor.
I'm sorry next stage?
Your report makes it abundantly clear that
the project is ready to proceed to its next phase.
We want to test the serum's effectiveness against your prisoner.
And you support this?
Well, I know for certain he's gonna die
so we might as well make good use of him
while he's still alive.
You do understand the Geneva Convention
prohibits using prisoners for scientific experiments?
No offence, Doc, but had the Wraith
attended the Geneva Convention,
they would have tried to feed on everyone there.
Beckett's report indicates that we have no idea
what the long-term effect of this drug on humans might be.
Well, we know damn well what
the long-term effects of Wraith culling are, don't we?
We're talking about putting a human being
in the same room as a starving Wraith.
Now once we start down that road...
Which road did you think we were headed down?
Not this one.
At least not this fast.
Having spent time with the prisoner, I don't pity him.
He's gonna die anyway.
This drug could be useful some day.
Some day.
The point is, we don't get a lot of opportunities like this.
Do you know how obsessed with this the Hoffans are
when they found out we had a live Wraith prisoner?
He's going to die.
I've tried to feed him all sorts of life stuff
but apparently there's only one item on his menu.
What about the test subject?
If the drug fails...
We're not just grabbing anybody off the street.
The test subject is a terminally ill
patient who has volunteered himself.
These are not exactly the type of decisions
I was expecting to make on this expedition.
Do it.
Hi, Steve.
More samples?
I was thinking more along the lines of a field trip.
You want sustenance?
I want information.
You are incapable of offering such a trade.
You tell me something of value, I let you eat.
That's the deal.
Take it or leave it.
Very well.
Are they ready?
Major Sheppard and Lieutenant Ford are loading the prisoner into Jumper Two.
Sergeant bates is already on the ground
and standing by for their arrival at the rendezvous site.
Jumper Two, this is Weir.
What's your status?
Nice and cosy in here.
We're ready to depart.
Be safe, Major.
That's the plan.
Jumper Two, you are go for launch.
Roger that.
Dial it up.
Hey, man, this isn't supposed to be fun.
Perna explained to me about your illness.
I want you to know how sorry I am.
I wish there was something I could do for you.
It's my time, Doctor Beckett.
I'm at peace with my fate.
I think it's important you know
that we may be talking about a less than peaceful ending here.
I have explained to Merell in great detail what may befall him.
You should also understand that this drug has never worked
in anything other than a laboratory simulation.
We don't know for certain what will happen.
Even if it doesn't work,
you'll learn something of value
how to perfect it in the future?
Possibly, but that's no reason for you to face that creature.
Doctor Beckett, I'm not afraid.
No matter what happens, my death will have meaning.
Is that not something we all strive for,
to die knowing we made a difference?
I want to do this.
Please don't deny me the chance to help my people.
What do you think?
That it goes against everything I believe in.
There's an oath among medical people where I come from.
It begins, First, do no harm.
- Important words to you. - More than words, Perna.
The battle rages at the very threshold of our laboratory now.
Those of us working to the last know
that these few final hours have been dearly purchased,
yet our concentration has not waned.
We cannot hope to save ourselves
but we can hope that one last insight,
one last revelation before we take our dying breaths,
may prevent this terrible day from happening again.
Ferrel's last journal entry.
More than words, Carson.
I understand that.
I do.
But there are too many unknowns.
We need time to determine the possible side-effects...
There is no time!
Are you so afraid of making a mistake
that you can no longer see what we're up against?
This isn't about making mistakes Perna,
it's about the end justifying the means,
and in our profession that's a very slippery slope.
We have no idea if this'll work.
We could be sacrificing that man to a monster.
There will be another to take his place.
That's just what I'm afraid of.
They are ready.
Careful, sir.
This is the sustenance you promised?
Little change in plans.
You tell me something right now, or the damned party's cancelled.
What do you want to know?
How many hive ships have become operational
since we awakened the first one?
All of them, Major Sheppard.
First, they will travel to their own feeding grounds and gather strength.
We are a patient race, Major.
When we have taken our fill and gathered our strength,
we will join force and come for you.
D'you have any idea when that'll be?
Morning?
Afternoon?
Open it up.
You don't have to do this.
I know.
I'm ready.
He is weak.
You are both heroes of the Hoffan people.
I'll admit, it was amazing.
I hope your friends will join us for
a celebratory banquet to honour your work.
We'll be glad to attend, but don't you
think celebrations are a bit premature?
The results speak for themselves.
I intend to ask the Council to approve
mass production of the serum, effective immediately.
After what happened today, I doubt they will offer any resistance.
That is wonderful news, Chancellor.
With all due respect, no it isn't.
We're talking about one test here.
Now I'm as pleased as anyone with the results
but we still have a lot of work to do
before we can start using it.
Doctor Beckett wishes to run a full series of tests
on Merell prior to issuing his final report.
There may have been mitigating circumstances
the man was dying, for one.
Of course.
I'll bring it up with Council.
To success.
What is it?
It's Steve he doesn't look so good.
How long has he been like this?
Since the test.
Think it's a ruse?
It is not their way.
Hey.
What have you done to me?
We need Beckett in here.
Go.
We're gonna help you.
Don't feel pity for me.
You will suffer far worse when the others come for you.
Major.
I was just about to cut him open.
Then, I was just leaving.
I've already done a series of tests you might like to know the results of.
You know what killed him?
I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say
that it was all of his vital organs shutting down almost simultaneously.
Did he starve to death?
No.
Based on the condition his body's in,
I don't think he died from a lack of nourishment.
Well, then, what was it?
Initial tests revealed a significant amount
of Hoffan serum in his bloodstream.
I'm guessing we'll find similar trace amounts
in each of his organs once we analyse those as well.
Why did the Hoffan drug end up in his blood?
From the Hoffans' research,
we know that when the Wraith feed,
they release a chemical into their victims' bodies.
What it actually does, we don't yet understand,
but I can only assume that it prepares the human body
in some way to be drained of life.
The serum is designed
to shield the victim from that initial chemical release, blocking it.
OK.
I think the serum protein may have mutated
when it was exposed to the Wraith chemical,
triggering some sort of toxic reaction.
So instead of feeding off of him...
...he was poisoned.
So if the serum did this,
then it's more than just a defence against the Wraith.
It kills 'em.
I fail to see cause for alarm, Major.
If anything, this development dramatically increases the value of the serum.
No it just takes away any doubt
about what the Wraith'll do when they eventually come here.
I fail to see the difference.
Once they learn you possess a weapon such as this,
the Wraith will wipe your people from existence in retaliation for the Wraith deaths.
Or they may simply leave us alone once they learn we are...
unpalatable.
Cos they're such an easy-going live-and-let-live kind of race.
Y'know, maybe there was half a chance
of that when you were talking
about this being defensive, but now...
You fail to see the larger picture, Major.
For the first time we have a way to not
just defend ourselves but to strike back.
Is this about revenge, or saving your people?
You can't hope to understand the generations of suffering...
I've been in one of their hives and I've fought against their ships and,
trust me, when the first Wraith dies because of this drug,
they're not gonna simply move on.
They're gonna make their problem go away.
Once your world has been destroyed,
they will seek out any who have had contact with you.
They will spare no-one.
Listen, I know how passionate you are about this
this drug is sort of your Holy Grail, but...
You're gonna have to shelve it till we get a better idea...
No, no.
I'm serious otherwise we can't help you any more.
You don't understand, Major, it's too late.
I have made my recommendation to the Council and they've agreed.
We have already begun inoculating our people.
You are leaving?
Unless you're willing to go back to formal work
on the serum there's no point my staying, is there?
- Carson - Perna, you need to re-open the project.
With more work,
maybe you could prevent the mutation
maintain it as a defensive drug only.
Merell is dead.
They found him this morning.
The cause of death is still to be determined.
There's still time they need to stop the inoculations.
- They won't. - A man is dead.
Which doesn't necessarily mean more will follow.
Even if I wanted to, I couldn't make them stop, not without more proof.
Perna you're one of the brightest people I've ever met.
For your own sake, I beg you,
have no more part in this,
at least until we know more.
I can't do that.
Why not?
Because I was among the first to be inoculated.
I appreciate your sense of urgency, Doctor,
but at this point it would be unwise to rush to any conclusions.
Now you wanna exercise caution?
Are you serious?!
Major, you yourself have told us the Wraith could be on their way here right now.
We have no choice but to move forward.
You're speaking on behalf of a lot of people, Chancellor.
You think I would force this choice upon my own people?
No, sir, our people are in complete agreement.
Your people may be dead before the Wraith even get here for all you know.
Chancellor, please, it's not too late.
Suspend the inoculations at least until we know what killed Merell.
He was terminal.
We don't know for certain the serum played any part in his death.
He suffered a sudden and complete respiratory breakdown.
Which could well have been due to his condition.
His sickness had spread through most of his body.
Are you willing to risk thousands of people's lives
based on that assumption, because I'm not!
Major Sheppard?
Go ahead, Teyla.
We're in the medical centre.
We need help.
My God!
Major Sheppard.
The doctors say they began arriving last night,
and their numbers have been increasing by the hour.
Major.
I'm on it go.
Lieutenant, radio Weir, tell 'em we need
a full medical support team on a Jumper and inbound ASAP.
I need help here!
Oxygen!
Take it easy.
Leave us.
D'you have any idea what's going on out there?
I do, Major.
Half the people you gave that drug to are dying.
Half of them, Major, half.
The statistics are clear
and the numbers are holding at that level, it's just been confirmed,
which means the other fifty percen of those we inoculated will live,
and destroy any Wraith who try to feed on them.
I don't believe this!
Now the Wraith will know the full conviction of the Hoffan people.
Conviction?!
Do you realise that if we could spread
this drug to every human in the galaxy,
future generations would never
know the horror of a culling.
You're deliberately sacrificing millions of lives.
An end to the Wraith!
You can't comprehend the bargain in that?
You can't make a bargain lik that for your entire people!
Do you think I'm alone in this conviction?
I think you're delusional!
You shall see.
We are putting it to a vote as we speak.
I will stand by the decision of the majority.
Does that satisfy you?
Do they have any idea what they're voting on?
Yes.
I promise you.
And you'll back off if it doesn't go your way?
You have my word.
Use whatever rooms you need for overflow.
We need to keep this area clear for triage.
Teyla, there you are.
Make sure that our oxygen is properly deployed throughout the hospital.
Doctor.
Have non-critical patients use it in turns
just long enough to stabilise their breathing.
Teyla, what are you doing here?
You're not listening to me.
Now where's Perna? I need her here.
Carson.
I would... like to have seen Atlantis.
Perna.
I'm so sorry.
Don't be.
I am at peace with what I have done,
as you should be.
I wish I'd had no part in this.
You gave us hope.
For... years, our people have been working...
towards this...
very moment.
We didn't betray the forefathers.
We have fulfilled their destiny, their promise.
Aye.
Stay.
- You OK? - Aye.
I am told you are leaving.
Yes, we are.
Not that it hasn't been... lovely.
I wanted you to see the results of the vote before you left.
Ninety-six percent in favour.
Does the vote include all your people?
Every one.
So you see, Major, we speak with one voice, and we are resolute.
Yeah.
I can see that.
When next we meet, I would like to discuss the best way
to disseminate the drug on as many worlds as possible.
We won't be doing that any time soon.
Perhaps our victory will change your mind.
If and when we ever return, I don't imagine you'll be here.
I don't imagine anybody else will be, either.
Good luck.
"Victory at all costs".
That sound familiar, Major?
Churchill.
Aye.
Never thought I'd disagree.