Plot

Radek discovers an alien device that Rodney finds holds serious surprises. Sheppard runs into a reincarnated Acastus Kolya who plans to attack Atlantis. An IOC representative arrives to replace Woolsey who receives advice from a mysterious woman.—David Foss

It's time for Woolsey's performance appraisal and he is, not surprisingly, somewhat apprehensive. He welcomes Ambassador Shen Xiaoyi who is there to undertake the evaluation but it soon becomes apparent that she has her eye on his job. Woolsey meets a new arrival, Vanessa Conrad, who seems to have good advice for him on how to deal with his current situation. Meanwhile, Sheppard accompanies two scientists on an off-world mission but is kidnapped by an old foe - none other than Acastus Kolya who claims to have escaped death. Back on Atlantis, McKay is egged on by Zelenka to conduct a search of the ocean floor for anything that might be of interest. They do find a cylindrical tube that presents Woolsey with a major dilemma. It also proves to be the key to what is going on around them.—garykmcd

Woolsey admits to Teyla, Ronan and Dr. McKay that he's apprehensive about an upcoming performance evaluation. Later, while en route to his quarters, he encounters Dr. Vanessa Conrad, an engaging scientist recently arrived on the Apollo, and finds himself more than a little attracted to her. But she is quickly forgotten when I.O.A. representative Shen Xiaoyi appears and advises him that he's been reassigned to a new position back on Earth. Woolsey is shocked by this news but, aided by his new acquaintance, elects to fight the I.O.A.'s decision.

Col. John Sheppard, meanwhile, has flown several astrobiologists over to the mainland for a two-day research expedition. On his way back to camp, he is ambushed and captured by an old foe hell-bent on acquiring Sheppard's identification code.

Back on Atlantis, McKay and Zelenka investigate a mysterious object discovered at the ocean's bottom.