SATEDA: A planet in the Pegasus Galaxy, which was left utterly decimated by a Wraith assault.
Sateda is the homeworld of Ronon Dex, who for years was hunted for sport by the Wraith
as a “Runner.” Ronon and a handful of other survivors keep the Satedan civilization alive,
now scattered throughout the galaxy without a home to call their own.
Over many centuries the peoples of the Pegasus Galaxy reached different levels of cultural and
technological advancement, with the threat of the next Wraith culling always looming.
And they responded to the Wraith in different ways – some offering sacrifices to try and
appease the creatures, while others fought back. The people of Sateda were proud, guided by a
common sense of honor. Defiant, they fought back against their oppressors. In what may have been a
protracted conflict the Satedans fought the enemy in the streets of their cities, with squads of
soldiers fighting the Wraith in close-quarters combat. A young Ronon Dex was among them,
fighting valiantly in the city streets against the unstoppable onslaught of a more advanced foe.
Ronon was ultimately culled by the Wraith, along with countless others. And rather than
being allowed to rebuild for future cullings, the great cities of Sateda were laid waste as
punishment for their resistance. The Satedan civilization was no more.
Beyond this tragic history, we know little about the once great Satedan people.
Their level of technology was somewhat noteworthy for the Pegasus Galaxy,
including large cities and a military armed with chemical-propelled weapons – perhaps roughly
approximate to early twentieth-century Earth. The common design aesthetic on Sateda is
industrial, which can be seen in the architecture, civilian clothing, and in the military uniforms
worn by soldiers. Like many worlds, the Satedans appear to have used their Stargate to visit
other planets for purposes of trade. For a long time after the fall of Sateda
Ronon was alone, and believed that he was the only survivor of his people. Shortly after joining the
Atlantis team, however, he discovered that others from his world are alive. On the planet Belkan he
found Solen Sincha, who served with him in the same regiment in the Satedan military.
Solen told him of more than 300 civilians still living, who had each gone their own
way to relocate on various worlds. Also on Belkan Ronon also found Kell,
his former military commander who ordered thousands of loyal soldiers to their deaths
in order to save himself. When they came face-to-face, Ronon summarily executed him.
After some years on the run Ronon was recaptured by the Wraith, who took him home to the ruined
capital city of Sateda to hunt him once again. Ronon was forced to relive the memories of his
deep trauma – fighting in the streets, the loss of his mate, and the destruction of his
home – while Wraith hunters prowled the ruins looking for him. But Ronon held his own, using
his homeworld advantage to eliminate the hunters until his team could find him and rescue him.
Other friends of Ronon’s also survived the destruction of their world. Ronon was overjoyed
to be reunited with Tyre, Ara, and Rakai, who had survived the Wraith’s final attack on
their world because they were offworld at the time – attacking a known Wraith stronghold.
But Ronon came to learn that his friends had survived only because they capitulated to Wraith
torture. They had been turned, now worshiping the Wraith, and Ronon was forced to fight and
kill two of his friends – yet another injury inflicted by the Wraith upon the Satedan people.
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