McKay, Sheppard, Beckett and Weir are on the Daedalus. McKay finds a Wraith virus that is infecting ship systems and sending a signal to the Wraith.

The Trust, a Goa'uld terrorist organization, has planted a bomb in Atlantis.

Fallen into the Wraith trap, McKay initially resigns to fatal captivity in a cocoon, but Ronon keeps struggling to attempt escaping, or at least taking some Wraith down with them. Sheppard managed to hide his glider on the very hive ship, seeking a way out, surprised to get radio contact with Michael, who seeks revenge after the ingrate queen has him semi-restrained as 'too human' suspect. While they try to sabotage the hive and maybe escape, the Daedalus and Orion race just in time to fight the two hive ships before they may attack earth. Weir is summoned to SGC for a pointless grilling by the International Oversight Advisory, finding them bureaucrats unable to risk a decision beyond questioning what was already done. So she returns, never mind the career risk compared to a Wraith culling. Sheppard manages to reach the Daedalus and his party comes up with a daring plan to overpower the hive with the weaponized retrovirus, despite bombarded damage compromising even their life-support systems.

The Atlantis expedition must turn to an old friend for help as the Asurans prepare to invade the city.

The team returns to Atlantis in an attempt to regain control of the city.