First Strike (Stargate Atlantis)

"First Strike" is the 60th episode and the third season finale of the science fiction television series Stargate Atlantis.

Its commander, Abe Ellis (Michael Beach), informs the Expedition that recon missions have discovered the Asurans building ships on their homeworld, which the IOA believe will be used to attack Earth.

As the ships are built from only conventional materials, Apollo has been assigned to destroy them in a preemptive strike, using the new "Horizon" weapons delivery system.

Apollo successfully carries out the mission over the objections of Weir (Torri Higginson), who feels her authority being increasingly sidelined.

Lorne (Kavan Smith) and a squadron of F-302s are sent to temporarily block the beam using a large moon fragment, so that shield power can be redirected into the stardrive.

However, the beam resumes as the city lifts off, briefly grazing the central tower before the shield can be restored.

[1] It was conceived after the completion of the mid-season two-parter, "The Return", where writer Martin Gero wanted Atlantis leave the planet, but didn't know how and why it would happen until the episode was written.

The scene where Weir thought her leadership challenged was needed to be written, since there were several instances in past episodes where the military step in as leaders.

Staite was originally cast because the producers loved her appearance as Ellia, a Wraith adolescent in season two episode "Instinct".

Gero created the character to not take over Carson Beckett, but to fill in for him, and thought it endearing to have Keller uncomfortable in her new position.

[2] The third season saw less of Mitch Pileggi as Colonel Caldwell, commander of the Daedalus, due to other commitments (including Day Break).

During the actual sequence, the stuntwoman wore a plastic mask to prevent the flying glass from injuring her face.

[2] Gero wrote the scene involving the minute long sequence where the Horizon weapon fires from the Apollo to the Asuran homeworld.

[4] The sequences where Atlantis takes off from the bottom of the ocean were stock footage from "Rising", with the shield and beam added on.

[16] Brett Love of TV Squad considered the episode a classic season finale, and liked the introductions of Keller and Ellis to the storyline, as well as stating the return of the Asurans as a welcoming one.