60 Second Recap of ‘Tomorrow’s Yesterday’
As the screen comes into focus, we see two puddle jumpers streaming through space and heading directly towards the camera. Panning slightly, the camera view swings around behind both jumpers to reveal an enormous asteroid field filling the horizon.
Inside the lead jumper, we see Col. Sheppard piloting the craft with MacKay in the secondary seat. In the background, Ronon, Teyla, and Alt-Ronon peer ahead. A look of awe is seen on MacKay’s face who briefly comments on the sheer size of the asteroid field.
Sheppard taps the controls and the HUD screen reveals Major Lorne and his team in the second puddle jumper. They briefly go over the orders and Sheppard instructs Lorne to keep close as they prepare to enter the field.
As the jumper’s initially approach the field, there is slight turbulence. The size of both jumpers becomes dwarfed in comparison as they move deeper in the asteroid field. Sheppard cautiously adjusts the flight plan as smaller pieces of the asteroid field are seen moving much quicker than their larger counterparts.
Suddenly and without warning, the HUD screen lights up as if instantly detecting something in the distance. Sheppard is slightly confused and looks at MacKay for answers. MacKay simply grinning ear to ear, points to large asteroid to the far left of their position.
As the jumper rounds the asteroid, MacKay taps the jumper’s controls in acknowledgement to signal being sent to the HUD screen. On the surface of the asteroid a large Lantean designed landing bay decloaks. MacKay reviews the sensor data once again, glances back at Alt-Ronon, and then back to Sheppard and indicates he’s detecting an Aurora-class vessel.
(SGA Title Sequence – Long Version)
Having landed, the rear hatch of both puddle jumpers begin extending downward. MacKay emerges with his laptop in hand, explaining to Sheppard that he believes this to be an Ancient maintenance platform – which MacKay theorizes was used as a ‘pit-stop’ to conduct any needed repairs.
Both teams begin to fan out to secure (and search) the area. The area itself is fairly dark with an increasing sense of ‘oldness’ surrounding the area. Sheppard moves over towards a hatch that lights up upon his presence – obviously detecting the ATA gene.
As the hatch opens, a tunnel is revealed with various display screens on either side. Sheppard leads the way moving deeper into the tunnel and towards the hatch located at the opposite end. MacKay, as he passes through, glances back and forth at the various information flowing across the screens – one appearing to be a long range sensor network using the various asteroids in the field as satellites.
Stepping through the next hatch, Sheppard peers upward at the large Aurora-class ship before him. As the remainder of the two teams catches up, Alt-Ronon is the first to break the silence indicating it looks like they found what they came for.
***
Walking through the corridor of the vessel, Sheppard instructs Lorne and his team to do a deck-by-deck search and to note anything of interest. Meanwhile, Sheppard’s team would make their way to the bridge and to see what they can learn from there.
MacKay reviewing data from a bridge console reveals the name of this Aurora-class vessel to be Pentaran. He further begins listing the various damaged parts of the ship – most of which are secondary systems. MacKay explains, however, that the most significantly damaged part of the ship is the engines and he presumes that is why the ship had originally been left behind. From MacKay’s review, other main systems such as the weapon’s, shields, and power distribution are working perfectly.
There is a brief discussion as to whether MacKay could fix them, but unfortunately he does not believe it possible – he simply doesn’t have the proper equipment to complete the tasks. Looking over the data, he is optimistic that he may be able to get the sublight thrusters working enough to allow them to move the ship.
Sheppard gives the go ahead on this, but eventually contacts Lorne to advise to begin setting up C4 throughout the ship. MacKay instinctively objects, but Sheppard quickly explains that he won’t risk having this ship fall into enemy hands no matter how valuable it could end up being to them.
***
Inside the puddle jumper, Sheppard and Ronon are looking down at similar marked crates. Over the radio, Sheppard asks MacKay which one he was looking for again. Picking the two up, Sheppard and Ronon begin making their way back to the Pentaran, passing through the tunnel the numerous display screens surrounding them.
Stopping at one of the screens, Ronon sets down the crate and alerts Sheppard that something doesn’t appear right. The screen shows an unidentified vessel, highlighted in red, approaching their position. Sheppard motions for Ronon to grab the crate and the two quickly make their way back to the Pentaran.
Back on the bridge, Sheppard enters and tells MacKay of what they discovered. Obviously concerned, MacKay taps the controls bringing up a small display of the sensors, but is unfortunately unable to detect any approaching ship. He taps the controls once again, this time accessing the sensor network from the maintenance platform – their fear is revealed, an approaching unidentified ship.
Alt-Ronon steps forward and asks for a more detailed scan of the ship. MacKay follows this direction and the rough outline of the vessel is revealed. As a look of anger overcomes his face, Alt-Ronon turns to Sheppard and tells him that the Telsk’e have somehow detected their presence.
***
Sheppard begins outlining possible strategies, most of which MacKay shuts down. He explains that while the Pentaran is fully equipped with weapons, it will do them no good inside the maintenance platform; which, itself unfortunately does not have any defense capabilities.
Believing their actions to be futile, Sheppard indicates they will have no choice but to blow the ship and retreat in the puddle jumpers. MacKay is reluctant to do this, believing that weapon systems of the Pentaran should be able to handle the firepower of one Telsk’e vessel regardless of its damaged engines.
Unfortunately, Sheppard is unwilling to take the risk. He radios Major Lorne and instructs him to set the timers on the C4 explosives for ten minutes and begin to make their way back to the puddle jumpers. Hearing this, MacKay frantically begins downloading various data to the hard drive of his laptop.
As the two teams converge outside the hanger, they look back briefly at the Pentaran – obviously disappointed on having to leave the ship. The teams pass through the first hatch and into the tunnel, making their way through towards the hanger that houses the jumpers.
Sheppard approaches the next hatch, but is thrown against the wall when the entire facility comes under attach by the Telsk’e vessel in orbit. The teams pick up their pace, but as Sheppard opens the hatch to the hanger bay where the jumpers are, another volley of weapon’s fire strikes their position causing a breach in the facilities exterior hull. The hatch leading to their escape immediately closes before them, obviously detecting the breach in atmospheric pressure.
The teams are stunned by this, but MacKay quickly pipes up that it may be best to go with his plan now. Sheppard fires him a quick glance and the two teams quickly make their way back to the Pentaran as the facility rocks again after another strike by weapon’s fire.
***
Rushing back onto the bridge of the Pentaran, MacKay moves into a seat and frantically taps the controls, bringing the ship to life. Sheppard asks whether the thrusters are ready to go, to which MacKay simply responds they will have to be.
Sheppard turns to Lorne and tells him to take command of the bridge, while he goes down to the ship’s weapon’s control platform. He further instructs the rest of Lorne’s team that it may be best to deactivate the C4 explosives. Before leaving, Sheppard tells MacKay that this better work.
The Pentaran finally lifts off the floor of the facilities hanger bay, just as MacKay sends instructions to the hanger doors to open. There is a brief change in atmospheric pressure as the hanger becomes exposed to space for the first time in thousands of years. The Pentaran rocks slightly because of this.
Lorne instructs MacKay to raise the shields, but MacKay explains he will be unable to do so until the ship clears the hanger – the process is unfortunately automatic. The Pentaran reaches outer space and in the distance, the Telsk’e warship is seen approaching their position.
One strike of their weapon grazes the hull, but the second is deflected as the shields are activated. The ship still jolts when it is hit, but the damage is minimal. MacKay announces that all weapon systems are functioning at peek efficiency.
The thruster’s of the Pentaran are pushed beyond acceptable levels as MacKay attempts to push the ship forward through the asteroid field – unfortunately, navigating with only thrusters is increasingly difficult.
Running through the halls, Sheppard finally enters the weapon’s control platform. He quickly moves into the control chair, which automatically powers up and begins to recline backwards. Sheppard fires a small volley of drones, which the Telsk’e ship detects and executes evasive actions to take cover behind a large asteroid.
The drones pierce easily into the surface of the asteroid, causing it to break apart. MacKay’s voice is now heard over the radio indicating to Sheppard that he missed. Sheppard shouts back that he knows this.
The Telsk’e vessel re-emerges from the asteroid debris now firing a significant amount of weapon’s fire down at the facility, causing its total destruction. This chaos within the asteroid field causes the sensor’s to become overwhelmed and now unable to accurately detect the attacking warships position.
The Pentaran pushes onward, now encountering turbulence as it begins striking the much smaller baseball sized asteroids on the outer perimeter. Sheppard fires another volley of drones towards a few of the larger asteroids just as the Telsk’e warship begins to show itself. As the asteroids begin breaking apart, several of the large pieces strike the Telsk’e ship causing its destruction.
MacKay appears relieved and surprised that any of this actually worked. However, before he can relax, there is a pulsating beeping noise coming from one of the consoles – the sensors have now detected yet another Telsk’e vessel.
Teyla (yes, she’s still around here somewhere) comments that the first ship must have simply been scouting the asteroid field. The Pentaran shakes once again as a stream of weapon’s fire strikes the shields.
The two ships exchange fire for several minutes, while MacKay attempts to pilot the Pentaran into some form of evasive actions. The Pentaran’s shields begin to weaken and a few of the Telsk’e weapons fire damages the hull. Eventually, one of the Pentaran’s drone’s pass through the Telsk’e weakened shields and through a portion of the hull.
The Telsk’e warship appears to now be retreating, to which Alt-Ronon responds over the radio instructing Sheppard to destroy it before it gets away. Sheppard is reluctant to do this as the ship was now preparing to leave. As Alt-Ronon shouts over the radio again, Sheppard simply responds by powering down the chair just as the Telsk’e ship enters their form of hyperdrive.
***
As Sheppard steps back onto the Pentaran’s bridge, he is immediately confronted by Alt-Ronon who is visibly angry and upset over Sheppard not destroying the ship before it got away. Ronon steps forward getting in between Sheppard and his future counterpart.
Tensions are obviously high, it takes Teyla approaching Alt-Ronon and guiding him away for him to somewhat calm down. It’s here we finally begin to glimpse the emotional pain the war torn Alt-Ronon has endured in his timeline and gives hints that there may be even more pain that he never divulged to Sheppard and the team.
Even though they the team has just came away with an outstanding victory, the mood is suddenly somber. As Sheppard takes the command chair way from Lorne, he glances over at Alt-Ronon and then back over to MacKay, informing him send a subspace communication to Atlantis advising them of their status.
***
The camera pans across the hull of the Pentaran showing some of the damage caused by the recent attack by the Telsk’e. The camera stops moving and its now only the Pentaran moving and leaving our line of sight. The red glow of the thruster engines are seen flickering slightly due to their recent overuse.
