The narrative begins at the Antarctic Outpost , where Dr. Daniel Jackson discovers an eight-symbol gate address leading to the legendary city of Atlantis in the Pegasus Galaxy. Dr. Elizabeth Weir leads a multinational expedition of scientists and military personnel on what is framed as a one-way trip, as the mission requires Earth's only Zero Point Module (ZPM) to power the gate.
The conflict escalates when the Wraith attack, kidnapping several Athosians and members of the expedition, including Colonel Sumner. During a daring rescue mission to the Wraith hive-ship, Sheppard is forced to mercy-kill Sumner to spare him from a slow death by life-drain. This act effectively transfers military command to Sheppard, a pivotal moment for his character development. In the process of escaping, the team inadvertently awakens the entire Wraith species from a long hibernation, setting the stakes for the rest of the series. [S1E1] (1-2)Rising
To save the expedition, a team led by Colonel Sumner and Major Sheppard travels to a nearby planet, where they meet the , led by Teyla Emmagan. This meeting introduces the central threat of the series: the Wraith , a vampiric race that "harvests" human life energy. The narrative begins at the Antarctic Outpost , where Dr