First details on Atlantis‘s Season Five premiere!

The first solid info has arrived at GateWorld for “Search and Rescue,” the premiere episode of Stargate Atlantis‘s fifth season.

With next year’s cast list still somewhat unknown, just who appears in the first episode is as significant as the story info itself. Samantha Carter (Amanda Tapping), Jennifer Keller (Jewel Staite), Rodney McKay (David Hewlett), and Major Lorne (recurring guest star Kavan Smith) all appear in the episode, as does Michael (Connor Trinneer) and Kanaan, the Athosian who Teyla believes fathered her child (“Missing”).

This list is, of course, not exhaustive of who will return for Season Five, or for this episode. Mention is also made of Colonel Sheppard (Joe Flanigan) returning from a mission (“The Last Man”). Our information on “Search and Rescue” is limited, and Jason Momoa (“Ronon Dex”) and Rachel Luttrell (“Teyla Emmagan”) are certainly expected to return.

Tapping has already confirmed that she will not be a regular cast member in Season Five.

The premiere will also feature Captain Alison Porter, a new member of the Atlantis expedition’s military contingent. Porter arrived on the base one week before the episode’s start, but has not yet been assigned to a team. The episode may be introducing her as a new recurring character or, if we dare to speculate before this Monday’s impending cast announcement, perhaps even a new regular.

Since the story follows up on the concluding events of Season Four’s “The Kindred” two-parter and the season finale, “The Last Man,” which have not yet aired, we will avoid any major plot spoilers from the end of those episodes:

Captain Alison Porter, a 28-year-old new addition to Atlantis, speaks with Colonel Carter about her lack of an assignment. When the Stargate activates, the two rush down the stairs to meet Lt. Edison. Edison has rushed back from Michael’s compound, where a number of Atlantis personnel are now trapped. He has come for back-up and to secure rescue for his team and the others.

Carter and Porter, joined by Dr. Keller and a contingent, gear up and head to the planet in a cloaked Jumper. They begin searching for their missing people — including McKay and Lorne, who find themselves trapped together with no way out. But the team is being watched from overhead: Michael is on board a cruiser orbiting the planet, scanning their life signs. When he determines that the Atlantians are there and may still prove useful to his agenda, he launches Wraith Darts to capture them.

The search team falls back to their Jumper to wait for reinforcements, but it’s too late to use the Stargate: the Wraith have dialed into the planet, preventing their escape. Now they, like their missing friends, are trapped.

“Search and Rescue” was written by Martin Gero, is expected to go before cameras in late February under the direction of Andy Mikita. SCI FI Channel in the United States has not yet announced when Season Five will premiere. If they stick with last year’s schedule, look for it in the fall.

New episodes of Season Four are now airing every Friday night at 10 p.m. (9 p.m. Central) on SCI FI! “The Kindred” airs February 22 and 29.