The trip was more or less instantaneous. As Archer stepped into the Gate room of Atlantis, he didn't marvel at it. He immediately fell on the ground and vomited. His body was frozen; his very blood felt like it was ice. Someone bent over next to him and lifted him to his feet.

"Alright." He asked. The voice belonged to Ripley. Archer shivered as he shook off the cold that had plagued his body.

"Is it like that every time?" he asked.

"No." This voice belonged to another man. Archer looked up and saw a tall man with short grey hair and a small, scraggly beard. He had to, at least be in his sixties. He too wore a Stargate uniform though it had red stripes on the front. He had to be the commander of Atlantis. He had a kind face with a protruding nose that must have been broken several times. "The effects you are feeling are merely your body adapting to gate travel." Archer detected a hint of a Russian accent.

"I'm Dr. Zalenka. I run all of this." He extended his hand for a shake. Archer extended his own hand and shook it.

"Archer." He said as he began to look around the room at his surroundings. SGC was gone. He was in Atlantis. He was standing in a reddish brown room. It was pretty big with a huge ceiling. There was a trail of stairs leading up to a control room that was similar to SGC's. There were a few guards standing next to the Commander, P-90s in hand.

"Welcome to Atlantis." Zalenka said, as Archer continued to look around the vast Gate Room. "Let me say that it is a great pleasure having you and Major Ripley here. Your credentials are very promising."

"It's a pleasure to be here." Ripley said, clapping Archer on the back.

"Yeah." Archer said, shaking his head, trying to lose the icy feeling. "This is…"

"Great." Ripley finished.

"We've prepared rooms for each of you but if you'd like to have a rest before we begin our tour and briefing…"

"I'm fine." Ripley said. "Though young Archer looks a little peaky." Archer shook his head and stood up straight.

"I'm good. Let's have a look at Atlantis." The effects of Archer's first Stargate trip seemed to have worn off. He now felt extremely energized and the excitement he had been feeling had come back.

"Alright." Zalenka said clapping his hands. "If you'll follow me, we'll begin our tour."

"I hope you enjoyed your tour." Zalenka said as he sat down at the head of the briefing table. "I've never actually been to the one to give the tour." Archer and Ripley sat themselves on either of the Head of Atlantis. The tour had been absolutely amazing. The city was extremely big. There were rooms for almost everything and the fact that the city had been inhabited for 23 years had come out. There was a training room with a variety of hand to hand weapons and styles of combat being learned. There was a cafeteria with many different foods and drinks. Zalenka had informed them that there was livestock and vegetables being raised on the mainland. There was a shooting range with movable targets and near the range was a paintball range for stealth training. Next to that room was an armory with a huge variety of weapons: pistols, shotguns, rifles, P-90s, grenades, bombs and even alien weapons like Staff Weapons and Goa'ld grenades.

As they were walking the halls, Zalenka showed them the teleporters. He explained how they worked and then demonstrated. He merely programmed in where he wanted to go in the city, stepped into the closet-like space and just like Star Trek, vanished. Archer and Ripley followed and were transported instantaneously to where Zalenka had chosen on the map. It turn out that Archer had been half right about Atlantis. It was in the middle of the ocean. Zalenka had saved that detail for last, taking them outside at the end of the tour. The ocean surrounded the entire city, stretching for miles and miles in all directions Archer had never really been one to be impressed by scenery but it was a beautiful to look at.

The outside of the city (spires and towers) were a pale, light blue that almost looked a little like icicles rising up from the ocean.

After the tour was through, Zalenka had led them to the briefing room which more or less resembled the SGC briefing room except it had a nice view of the ocean.

"The tour was great and the city's even better." Ripley said. Archer nodded in agreement.

"So I've been with Sg-1 for like seven years. I know basically what the SG teams do but what's Atlantis's main responsibility?"

"Good question, Major." Zalenka said.

"We do mostly the same as Sg-1. Looking for technology and such. We also explore the Pegasus Galaxy and its peoples. Another key duty is seeking out allies against the Wraith." Archer, not knowing what the Wraith were, looked over at Ripley. His battle hardened face looked as confused as Archer felt.

"Sorry, Doctor. The Wraith?" Archer said, feeling stupid for having to ask. Zalenka looked from Archer to Ripley.

"What? You don't know of the Wraith?"

"With respect, Dr. Zalenka. I just found out several hours ago that I was coming to Atlantis."

"They're an enemy?" Ripley said.

"Not "a" enemy. "The" enemy." Zalenka said folding his hands over the table. "Picture the Goa'ld. Then think a thousand times worse.

"Is that even possible?" Ripley asked, his face turning white.

"I'm afraid so." Zalenka said gravely. "The Wraith are an alien species that are grown in hives. When they are fully grown, they leave the hive to serve the Wraith Empire. With each Wraith is the ability to absorb the life energy from a human individual. Your energy becomes their food. Their numbers are immense, their methods deadly and their results unquestionable."

"Results?" Ripley said.

"It is believed that the Wraith were the destroyers of the Ancients. The founders of Atlantis and the makers of the Stargate."

"And how is it possible to defeat such an enemy?" Ripley said, looking over at Archer. "I mean, shouldn't Atlantis just be abandoned? If we just left, the Wraith wouldn't we be able to find Earth."

Archer could see the logic in Ripley's reasoning but also could see Zalenka's.

"Ripley, if the Wraith could find a way to destroy the Ancients, the actual makers of the Stargate, what are the chances that these bastards won't find a way to Earth."

Lieutenant Archer is correct." Zalenka said. "That is the precise logic we are settled upon."

Zalenka stood up, picking up two folders sitting on the table.

"Some initial information on the Wraith and your objectives and responsibilities."

He held them out. "If you choose against joining the mission, I understand. I must say though that a new SGA would be a benefit to this city and out cause."

Archer knew what he was getting into when he agreed to the Stargate Program. He was willing.

He and Ripley both reached forward and took their folders.

"Great." Zalenka said walking past Archer and towards the door.

"If you'll follow me, I would like to introduce you to the third member of SGA."

As Zalenka stepped through the door, Archer and Ripley exchanged looks.

"Third member?" Archer said.

You know." Ripley said as the two walked towards the door. "I'm sort of getting tired of this top secret crap."