STARGATE ATLANTIS SEASON ONE  LETTERS FROM PEGASUS EPISODE 117

With a brief opportunity to send a data transmission to Earth, members of the Atlantis expedition compose video messages home to their loved ones. The Wraith have cruiser-type ships, much larger than Darts but smaller than hive ships. Each hive ship acts as a carrier group, with cruisers and hundreds of Darts escorting it. Cruisers are capable of travelling through hyperspace, and it is likely that several carrier ships can land on a hive ship.
Dr. Cavanaugh hasn't let go of his issues with Dr. Weir since she put him in his place several months ago ("Thirty Eight Minutes"). Instead, he has been keeping detailed records of what he believes to be serious misjudgments on her part.
Wraith culling beams are apparently programmed to discretely transport the living beings being targetted. They sweep over trees and other plant life without disturbing them at all. It is likely that the beam operates in tandem with a sophisticated sensor.

BECKETT, CARSON
Biologist and chief medical doctor at Earth's Atlantis base in the Pegasus Galaxy. Beckett was originally assigned as a representative from Scotland to the Ancient outpost in the Antarctic, where it was discovered that he possessed a rare gene from the Ancients that allows him to use their technology. In fact, it was Beckett who discovered the gene necessary to operate many Ancient devices.

Despite the fact that Beckett himself is not especially technologically inclined, Dr. Rodney McKay forced him into the outpost's command chair in the hopes of learning something more about the technology. Beckett accidentally activated a dormant drone weapon, but was able to shut it back down before it harmed General O'Neill and Major Sheppard as they traveled toward the base in a helicopter.

A member of the expedition under the command of Elizabeth Weir, Beckett traveled through the Stargate to Atlantis. One of his first duties was to dissect a severed Wraith arm that Sheppard brought back from Athos after the creature's Dart was shot down. His study led to the first insights into Wraith physiology. Beckett later learned even more about Wraith biology when he helped the Hoffans to develop a drug that prevents the creatures from feeding on the life-force of a human victim.

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
 John Sheppard - Major Sheppard dropped his guard and allowed himself to fall for Chaya. He continually supported her even as the evidence mounted that she isn't who she said she is, and he still wished to be with her even after learning that she is an ascended Ancient.

SHEPPARD, JOHN
Major in the United States military and a highly skilled pilot with a checkered past, John Sheppard commands the flagship reconnaissance team from Earth's Atlantis base. He travelled to the Pegasus Galaxy with the Atlantis expedition under the command of Dr. Elizabeth Weir, and became the base's ranking military officer following the death of Colonel Marshall Sumner at the hands of the Wraith. He leads the base's flagship reconnaissance team in exploring other worlds through the Stargate.

Sheppard was based at McMurdo Air Force Base -- possibly due to the black mark on his record -- and preferred the quiet of the Antarctic. He was assigned to fly General Jack O'Neill to the remains of the Ancient outpost to oversee the research team's latest developments. There he discovered that he possesses the rare gene that allows him to use Ancient technology -- and unlike most others who possess the gene, he is a natural at it. Weir emplored O'Neill to allow Sheppard to be a part of her team despite his record, tarnished for disobeying orders to save two teammates in Afghanistan.

Once in the Pegasus Galaxy Sheppard was sent on a mission to planet Athos in the hopes of recovering additional Z.P.M.s to power the sunken city of Atlantis. He met the Athosian leader Teyla Emmagan and her people, and the two immediately hit it off. He learned of the threat of the Wraith, who had once defeated the Ancients, and witnessed a culling of the Athosians -- including Teyla -- and Sumner, his commanding officer. Sheppard returned to Atlantis with the surviving Athosians, and embarked on a daring rescue mission to recover them. He was successful -- but in the process, Sheppard was responsible for reawakening the entire Wraith civilization when he killed the Wraith Keeper.

Sheppard enjoys ferris wheels, college football, and "anything that goes faster than 200 miles per hour." He is kind and generous, and not afraid to voice his opinions, particularly when the end result is in the best interests of a needy teammate.