Episode:Air, Part 1

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"Air", Part 1
An episode from Stargate Universe
Eli Wallace, Dr. Lisa Park, and MSgt Ronald Greer discover all the path Destiny travelled since its launch from Earth several millions years ago.
Episode Nb	Season 1 Episode 01
Directed by	Andy Mikita
Written by	Robert C. Cooper Brad Wright
Director of photography	Rohn Schmidt
Original air date	(2009-10-02) USA: October 2, 2009 (2009-10-06) UK: October 6, 2009 (2009-10-09) AUS: October 9, 2009
Length	43'48"
Guest starring
Richard Dean Anderson as LtGen Jack O'Neill Amanda Tapping as Colonel Samantha Carter Michael Shanks as Dr. Daniel Jackson Ona Grauer as Emily Young Peter Kelamis as Dr. Adam Brody Mark Burgess as Jeremy Franklin Jennifer Spence as Dr. Lisa Park Martin Christopher as Maj Kevin Marks Gary Jones as CMSgt Walter Harriman Bradley Stryker as Sgt Curtis with Christopher McDonald as Senator Alan Armstrong and Lou Diamond Phillips as Col David Telford
Episode chronology
"Air", Part 2

When a research team is forced to evacuate their secret base, they find themselves on board a derelict Ancient vessel that is many galaxies away from Earth.

"Air", Part 1 is the 1st episode of Stargate Universe Season 1.

This episode is part 1 of 3. It is followed by "Air", Part 2 and "Air", Part 3.

Summary

• Eli Wallace, a young unemployed computer genius, plays on a network game which will change his life for ever.
• Since the death of his wife, Doctor Nicholas Rush dedicates himself heart and soul to find out the usage of the mysterious 9th chevron of the Stargate.

Story development

Planets: P4X-351 Technology: Dial Home Device Spaceships: Destiny Locations: Unnamed galaxy • Icarus base Miscellaneous: Lieutenant General • Prometheus

Story

This episode has several flashbacks. All of them are labeled with a "Flashback:" warning at the beginning of the paragraph.

Act 1

• Somewhere in deep space, a huge spaceship drops out what it seems to be hyperspace. Inside the ship, some corridors start to light on automatically. In a big room, a Stargate of an unusual design is entirely spinning and then activates. Soon after, somebody is thrust out of the puddle and falls loudly on the floor. This military is Lieutenant Matthew Scott. Scott gets up surprised, and starts to check out the perimeter. Suddenly a box, then other people are thrust out like he was. Scott figures out how it's dangerous and orders all the comers to get out of the way.
• Among them are Camile Wray, Doctor Nicholas Rush, Lieutenant Tamara Johansen, who rushes to help and care for wounded people, and Eli Wallace, who is knocked out by a case. Scott tries to warn the other side by radio to slow down but nobody answers. Camile Wray grabs Scott and asks where they are and why they didn't reach Earth. Rush starts to realize where they are, focusing on a what it seems to be a control panel. Watching more and more people coming, Rush starts climbing some stairs and expresses a small smile. Among all people coming in, Senator Alan Armstrong and his daughter Chloe, Master Sergeant Ronald Greer, and finally , Colonel Everett Young who is thrust out with a great velocity from the Stargate, and falls at the other side of the room. Then, the wormhole disengages.
• Scott rushes to Young who lays on the floor. Barely conscious, Young asks Scott where they are, and says that Scott is in charge before passing out. Scott removes his hand from behind Young's head and finds it covered with Young's blood. Scott yells at T.J. for help as she is a nurse. She tries to care about Young, but doesn't know exactly what he has. Scott calls Eli Wallace to come here and help him to find Rush who has vanished. Then a strange noise is heard and the ship changes velocity. Scott asks Greer to get these people settled, to find out who and what they have here. Then Scott asks again Eli to come, who looks around him, visibly scared.
• Flashback: In his bedroom, Eli is playing an online game called Prometheus. A friend is chatting with him. Eli states that the planet core is the power source and one just has to channel it to the weapon and destroy the enemy ship. Eli's friend thinks it's a programmer's joke which cannot be solved. Eli claims to have solved the equation and proves its statement by hitting a key. Unfortunately, the screen fades out and the game starts at the beginning of the level. Eli's friend mocks Eli then closes the chat connection. Eli expresses his dissatisfaction.
• Flashback: The next day, somebody knocks a the Wallaces' home. Eli opens the door and finds Lieutenant General Jack O'Neill asking if he is Eli Wallace. Eli claims that he's not here, but O'Neill gestures an other man to come at the door. Doctor Nicholas Rush introduces himself and gives the reason they're here; Eli played a fantasy game called Prometheus and solved last night the Dakara weapons puzzle. Eli protests, saying he spent a month of his life to solve it for nothing. For price, Rush gives him a non-disclosure agreement, stating that it'll be worth for him to sign it. Eli hesitates, tells them he will call them soon and shuts the door. When Eli climbs the stairs reading the non-disclosure agreement, he is beamed out inside a spaceship, the Daedalus class ship George Hammond. There, on the observation deck, he meets again Dr. Rush who makes Eli realize he is not on Earth anymore. Nervous, Eli gets his cell phone, wanting to call his mother. Rush tells Eli that they must go on another planet located 21 light-years away from Earth and they don't know how long it's going to take. He also says that they know about his mother's condition and tells that the US Air Force will take care of her. Realizing he's wearing a pajama, Eli asks to get some pants. Soon after, Hammond leaves Earth's orbit and gets into hyperspace.
• Flashback: Later aboard the ship, in a conference room, Eli is sitting alone and watching several videos showing Dr. Daniel Jackson giving many information and explanations regarding the Stargate, the Ancients, ascension, hyperspace, and the founding of Icarus base and its purpose to dial a nine-symbol address. At first, Eli jumps up when he sees an establishing wormhole, but he gets worry after a long time spent watching the videos. Later, Eli is able to communicate with her mother, who is worried, but Eli cannot tell her anything else but it's a top secret mission. Eli tells her mother that it's the kind of thing he always dreamed of.
• Flashback: Eli comes inside the mess hall with a tray of food, meets Chloe Armstrong and asks her if she doesn't mind he sits at her table. When Eli introduces himself, she tells him she already knows about him and introduces herself as she's working for Alan Armstrong, Senator of California. She was political science major in Harvard, and knows about the MIT session of Eli. Eli is surprised, and Chloe smiles to him.
• Inside the ancient spaceship corridor, Eli and Scott find a closed door. Eli notices the writing and starts to study it. He also studies the panel, pushes a button and the door unlocks and opens. Behind the door is a huge bridge, showing space and the light shifting the spaceship. Rush is there, observing the course. Eli realizes that they are inside a spaceship. Rush tells them that the design is Ancient, as very old as well. This spaceship has been launched hundred of thousands years ago. He also says that the ship travels faster than light, yet not through hyperspace. Scott tells Rush that there are a lot of wounded people and they need to get home.
• Inside the gate room, while T.J. checks on Young, the air vents seem to fail. Doctor Franklin who is just near a vent, notices the issue. T.J. calls Scott by radio, warning him that a vent shut down. Eli notices that it happens in the observation deck too. Rush tells them that the life support system is failing and they will have to fix it.

Notes

• Ona Grauer, Emily Young's portrayer, has already played the character of "Ayiana" in the Stargate SG-1 episode "Frozen" and the Stargate Atlantis pilot "Rising", Part 1.
• Michael Shanks (Daniel Jackson) only appears on video recordings showing most of the knowledge of the Stargate Program.
• There are actually four versions of "Air":
  1. The original USA airing consisting of "Air", Parts 1 and 2 as a whole episode, and then "Air", Part 3 as a single episode;
  2. The DVD pilot showing the 3 parter as a full movie, whith some parts removed and other parts added;
  3. The three parts following each other, without ending credits after part 2, and no SG°U card on part 3 on the zone 2 Season 1 DVD #1;
  4. A version with three separate and distinct parts, splitting Part 1 and 2 at the moment when Colonel Samantha Carter asks General O'Neill where did go the Icarus Base members.
• Unlike Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis episodes, SGU episodes don't have title screenshots.