STARGATE SG1
Episode 801
"NEW ORDER I"
By
Joseph Mallozzi & Paul Mullie
Transcribed by
Callie Sullivan
SGC. DANIEL’S OFFICE. Daniel is packing some books. Doctor Weir
comes to the door.
DANIEL
Doctor Weir.
WEIR
Elizabeth.
DANIEL
Elizabeth. Almost ready. Can’t believe
we’re finally going. I mean, I know
I should have been ready a long time
ago but I needed some ...
WEIR
The talks have stalled again.
DANIEL
You’re kidding me.
WEIR
It’s a complicated situation.
DANIEL
The Antarctic Treaty was established
to promote scientic research in the
area.
WEIR
With the interests of progress for *all*
mankind, not just that of the United
States. So argue the other eleven states,
all claiming shared jurisdiction. I
mean, Article 1 states quite clearly
there can be no establishment of any
military base, and no testing of any
weapons. You saw first-hand how powerful
the Ancient outpost is.
DANIEL
And so meanwhile Jack just stays frozen
in a stasis pod down there? He sacrificed
himself to save us - *all* of us, not
just this country.
WEIR
I know, but the scale of Anubis’ attack
makes covering it up tenuous at best.
If we’re gonna keep the entire world
from finding out everything to do with
the Stargate, we’re gonna need the full
co-operation of every government now
aware of what’s been going on. It’s
just gonna take more time.
DANIEL
And in the meantime, we just sit here
and do nothing.
WEIR
I’m sorry, Doctor Jackson. (She turns
and starts to walk away.)
DANIEL
Daniel.
(Elizabeth stops and turns around again.)
WEIR
Daniel. (She walks away.)
SGC. BRIEFING ROOM. Doctor Weir is talking with SG-1.
CARTER
We use the Gate.
WEIR
It’s not that we can’t use it. Officially,
all normal Gate activity will remain
suspended. It will just be until the
agreement for the Antarctic site is
resolved.
CARTER
What does one have to do with the other?
WEIR
While we obviously still have full jurisdictional
control over the Stargate, the President
feels that ultimately how we proceed
with operations here at SGC will reflect
on our international goodwill.
DANIEL
In other words, it’s our political leverage
in negotiations.
WEIR
I would *never* say that.
CARTER
What about Colonel O’Neill?
WEIR
Look, I know what he means to the three
of you. We all appreciate the sacrifice
Colonel O’Neill made.
DANIEL
The Asgard can help him. Last time they
were able to erase the Ancient knowledge
from his mind before it killed him.
WEIR
We’ve tried contacting them. What do
you suggest we do?
CARTER
You’re aware of how we helped the Asgard
trap the Replicators in the time dilation
field on the planet Halla.
WEIR
Something to that effect, yes - that
was a couple of years ago, right?
CARTER
Basically we know that that trap is
only gonna hold them for so long. Thor
and the Asgard must be monitoring the
situation. If we can get there, we should
be able to contact them.
WEIR
Isn’t the planet you’re talking about
in another galaxy?
DANIEL
Othalla.
TEAL’C
O’Neill used his knowledge of the Ancients
to modify the Goa’uld vessel currently
in our possession.
WEIR
According to your report, Major, that
ship is capable of flying faster and
farther than anything the Goa’uld have.
CARTER
Yes. I think it might just get us there.
WEIR
And back?
CARTER
That may be a problem. There’s a good
chance the trip will burn out the engines.
WEIR
OK, now that’s a *big* problem. If you
get there and it turns out you can’t
contact the Asgard?
CARTER
We’re willing to take the risk.
WEIR
As admirable as that is, I can’t let
you do it.
TEAL’C
For what reason?
WEIR
Colonel O’Neill was able to fend off
Anubis’ fleet using the weapons from
the Ancient outpost. Hopefully that
will make the other Goa’uld think twice
before attacking Earth in the foreseeable
future but the truth is, we don’t know
if we’re ever going to be able to use
those weapons again. And if we can’t,
we’re gonna need a new tactical advantage
over the Goa’uld - at least that’s what
the Pentagon tells me; and the modified
cargo ship - it’s too valuable right
now. I’m sorry - request denied. (She
stands up and leaves the room.)
SGC. WEIR’S OFFICE. Sam comes to the door and knocks.
WEIR
What can I do for you, Major?
CARTER
I want you to reconsider my request.
WEIR
I’m sorry.
CARTER
That cargo ship was modified using the
knowledge of the Ancients. Now, there
is no guarantee that *anyone* will *ever*
be able to figure out how it was done.
WEIR
And as the most likely person on the
planet *to* figure it out, are you saying
that if I don’t let you attempt to contact
the Asgard, you won’t even try?
CARTER
I would never say that.
WEIR
Right now that is the most advanced
piece of technology we have.
CARTER
If it weren’t for Colonel O’Neill, we
wouldn’t *have* that ship. For that
matter, we wouldn’t even *be* here discussing
this.
(Elizabeth nods thoughtfully.)
SGC. CARTER’S OFFICE. Sam is talking to Teal’c.
CARTER
We got the co-ordinates from the Prometheus.
Now based on the amount of time it took
to get the modified ship from Taonas
to Earth, I’m estimating our trip to
Othalla from Earth will take roughly
ten days.
(Daniel comes in.)
DANIEL
Hey! So, uh, how did you talk Weir into
letting us go?
CARTER
I didn’t. I talked her into letting
*us* go (indicating herself and Teal’c).
You’re staying here. (Daniel stares
at her and Teal’c disbelievingly.) Daniel,
even *with* the modifications to the
ship there’s no guarantee it’ll get
us there, and if it *does* there’s a
good chance it’ll burn out the engines.
The ship was never meant to fly at that
speed which means, if we don’t find
the Asgard, we’ll be stranded.
DANIEL
I know.
CARTER
We need you here. You’re our best chance
at deciphering whatever information’s
in that Ancient outpost.
TEAL’C
If we fail, you will be O’Neill’s only
hope.
HYPERSPACE. CARGO SHIP. Teal’c is sitting up front. Sam comes
forward.
CARTER
Hey, Teal’c. (She holds up a sandwich.)
Can I get you anything? I packed lots
of turkey - I know it’s your favourite.
TEAL’C
Thank you, but I am not currently hungry.
Have you been able to determine how
O’Neill modified the engines?
CARTER
No. I’m just taking a break. I didn’t
think it would be easy, but at least
it’s a good way to pass the time. (She
flinches.) I’m sorry - have I been ignoring
you? (She sits down.)
TEAL’C
I am fine.
CARTER
I thought maybe working on the engines
would help take my mind off Colonel
O’Neill ... which is kinda silly considering
he’s the one who modified them. Look,
I know this plan isn’t exactly foolproof.
I have *never* plotted an intergalactic
course before. I mean, if the co-ordinates
are off by even one half of a percent
we could wind up ten thousand light
years from our destination. But still
(she laughs nervously), tryin’ to stay
positive.
TEAL’C
I have the utmost confidence in your
ability.
CARTER
I know. So, you wanna talk?
TEAL’C
Concerning what subject?
CARTER
I dunno. How’s Rya’c?
TEAL’C
Fine.
CARTER
You still keeping in touch with Ishta?
TEAL’C
Indeed.
CARTER
Bra’tac?
TEAL’C
Bra’tac is well.
CARTER
C’mon, Teal’c, throw me a bone here!
TEAL’C
How is Pete Shanahan?
CARTER
He’s fine. (She turns away, looking
awkward.)
TEAL’C
Is not all well between the two of you?
CARTER
No! Everything’s great. It’s just -
as you well know - it’s not easy saying
goodbye to someone you care about when
you think there’s a chance you may never
see them again. I know that’s a risk
we take every time we step through the
Stargate but ... still ... try to stay
positive. (She pauses for a moment.)
I’ll get you a sandwich. (She gets up
and goes to the rear of the ship. Teal’c
opens his mouth to stop her, but then
closes his mouth again and smiles.)
SGC. WEIR’S OFFICE. Daniel comes to the door and knocks.
WEIR
Daniel.
DANIEL
Elizabeth. Just wondering if you’d heard
anything.
WEIR
They’re still bogged down.
DANIEL
It’s been over a week.
WEIR
Well what do you expect? A quick round
of handshakes, champagne toast, seal
the deal?
DANIEL
We were attacked from space by an armada
of alien ships. If that doesn’t get
us past our distrust of each other,
what will?
WEIR
You forget those alien ships were destroyed
by a single weapon. I mean, that kind
of power’s gonna give anyone cause for
concern.
DANIEL
Yup. Not that I want this to come off
as an attempt to get rid of you, but,
uh, isn’t this sort of international
negotiation exactly your area of expertise?
(The Stargate starts to dial in. Alarms go off.)
DAVIS
Unauthorised offworld activation!
SGC. CONTROL ROOM. Doctor Weir and Daniel come down the stairs
and walk over to Walter.
DAVIS
We’re receiving a signal. It’s a text
message.
(Symbols start to appear on the screen.)
DANIEL
It’s Goa’uld.
WEIR
What does it say?
DANIEL
Um, it’s from one of the System Lords,
Camulus, the Celtic god of war.
WEIR
I’m not familiar with him.
DANIEL
Um, we’ve never had any contact with
him before. (He reads on.) Wow.
WEIR
Uh, yeah, of course, ‘wow’.
DANIEL
Sorry. It says he wants to arrange a
meeting for the purpose of negotiating
a treaty.
WEIR
A Goa’uld wants to arrange a treaty
with us?
DANIEL
Not just one Goa’uld - all of them.
The System Lords. They wanna send representatives
here.
HYPERSPACE. CARGO SHIP.
TEAL’C
We are preparing to emerge from hyperspace.
(He puts on a headset similar to the
one that Jacob wore in “Serpent’s Venom”.)
CARTER
As soon as we drop out I’ll start broadcasting
a signal. If the Asgard are monitoring
the region, they should find us.
(The ship comes out into normal space. Teal’c checks his headset.)
TEAL’C
Should we not be able to see the planet?
CARTER
Yes.
(The ship vibrates.)
TEAL’C
We are experiencing the effects of an
extremely powerful gravitational force.
CARTER
Something’s not right. Teal’c, turn
us around and get us outta here now.
TEAL’C
Hyperspace generator will not engage.
Sub-light engines are at maximum, yet
we are not moving.
CARTER
There’s only one thing I know of that
could create this kind of gravitational
pull.
behind the cargo ship, matter and light
are spiralling into a black hole.)
SGC. BRIEFING ROOM. Doctor Weir is reading Daniel’s translation
of the Goa’uld message.
WEIR
You’re sure this is an accurate translation
of the message?
DANIEL
Pretty much.
WEIR
What do you make of it?
DANIEL
Well, to be honest I’m not sure *what*
to think.
WEIR
The Goa’uld did come here once to negotiate
a treaty.
DANIEL
Yeah, with the Asgard, not with us.
Earth just served as neutral territory.
For them to want to meet with us as
equals is extremely unusual.
WEIR
Maybe we gained a bit of respect in
their eyes.
DANIEL
Yeah, they must have heard what happened
to Anubis. They couldn’t defeat him,
not with all their combined forces and
we did it in a single day.
WEIR
Which may explain why they wanna come
here.
DANIEL
Yeah - to see how we did it.
SPACE. CARGO SHIP. Sam comes forward from the engine room.
CARTER
It’s pretty much what we expected -
we burned out the hyperdrive getting
here.
(Teal’c takes off his headset.)
TEAL’C
That is most unfortunate.
CARTER
Even if it *was* working, it would have
been very dangerous to open a window
this close to the event horizon of a
black hole.
TEAL’C
Are we that far off course?
CARTER
No! We came out of hyperspace right
where we were supposed to. This just
doesn’t make any sense. Halla’s sun
wasn’t nearly massive enough to collapse
into a black hole.
TEAL’C
Yet that is what appears to be happening.
CARTER
I’ll see if I can get a little more
out of the sub-light engines. (She heads
back to the engine room.)
SGC. Weir finishes a phonecall in her office and comes out into
the Briefing Room to join Daniel.
WEIR
The President has authorised me to pursue
negotiations with the Goa’uld.
DANIEL
OK.
WEIR
You don’t think I can handle it?
DANIEL
I didn’t say that, but, if I may, *you*
don’t sound all that confident.
WEIR
Well, as you said, I have brokered my
share of international negotiations;
this will just be my first *interplanetary*
one.
DANIEL
The System Lords can’t be trusted, either
as a group or individuals. They’re posturing
egomaniacs driven by an insatiable lust
for power, each one capable of unimaginable
evil.
WEIR
See - why should I be nervous?! Sounds
like an average day at the United Nations.
Look, I’m not afraid to admit that I
need help. So what can you tell me?
DANIEL
The High Council of the System Lords
is a rather flimsy coalition of the
most powerful Goa’ulds in the galaxy
who only co-operate when it suits them.
Their numbers vary from time to time
- new ones rise up, old ones get knocked
off. We think there’s about a dozen
right now. I’ve put together a summary
of what we know.
WEIR
Alright. I assume I can’t just open
the iris and let the representatives
just walk through.
DANIEL
No, that would probably be a bad idea.
We should get them to meet us in a neutral
location, preferably a planet of our
choosing. Send a team, make sure they’re
unarmed and then escort them back.
WEIR
Good. Send the message.
(Daniel doesn’t look happy, but gets up to comply with her order.)
SPACE. CARGO SHIP. The ship is slowly being pulled backwards
towards the black hole.
TEAL’C
We are now being pulled backwards. Advise
that we divert power from the shields.
CARTER
Right now they’re the only thing holding
the ship together. Drop them and the
gravitational fields will tear us apart.
TEAL’C
I do not believe there is any other
choice.
(Sam goes to a bank of crystals and takes one out.)
CARTER
Diverting power.
TEAL’C
We are now moving forward.
CARTER
It’s not gonna be good enough - we’re
losing hull integrity.
(There’s an explosion and air starts rushing around the ship.
Teal’c jumps up from his seat.)
CARTER
We’ve got a hull breach!
(The back of the ship starts to rip open. Instinctively Teal’c
grabs hold of Sam and pulls her forward even though it won’t
make any difference. At that moment, a transporter beam engulfs
the two of them and whisks them away and they reappear on ...)
THOR’S SHIP.
THOR
Greetings!
CARTER
Thor!
THOR
It is good to see you again, Major Carter,
Teal’c.
CARTER
Likewise!
TEAL’C
Indeed. Your timing is impeccable.
SGC. DANIEL’S OFFICE. Doctor Weir walks in.
WEIR
So the Goa’uld have agreed to our terms
for their travel here.
DANIEL
Yeah. I was just going over some research
material on the delegates they’re sending.
Camulus is the one who sent the original
message. Then there’s Amaterasu, the
Japanese sun goddess; and the last one
is Lord Yu.
WEIR
Yu?!
DANIEL
Don’t. Every joke, every pun, done to
death, seriously.
WEIR
I just thought I remembered reading
he was not himself, or something. Of
course, for a Goa’uld, what that means
exactly, I’m not sure. Please, continue.
DANIEL
Well, he no longer has the ability to
take on a new host and it seems the
regenerative powers of the sarcophagus
are losing its effectiveness for him.
Basically, he’s suffering from old age.
WEIR
He’s senile. Why did they choose him
as a representative?
DANIEL
Well, his underlings may be doing a
good job of covering for him.
WEIR
The other System Lords don’t know.
DANIEL
The interesting thing is, Lord Yu is
the one System Lord who opposed Anubis’
desire to be reinstated to the Council
after his banishment. (Elizabeth looks
at him.) Long story. The point is that
he fell out of favour when the other
System Lords accepted Anubis back and
he used his power to become an effective
leader.
WEIR
So now that Anubis has gone, you think
the balance of power shifted back to
Yu.
DANIEL
On the bright side, out of all the Goa’uld,
Lord Yu has been the most co-operative
with us in the past.
WEIR
I thought you said none of them could
be trusted.
DANIEL
Oh, they can’t, especially not a ...
crazy one.
WEIR
Huh - that’s the bright side?
DANIEL
More of a slightly less dark side.
THOR’S SHIP.
THOR
I am afraid I cannot leave this sector,
Major, not at the moment.
CARTER
Thor, you’re the only one who can save
Colonel O’Neill.
THOR
As you have said, he is being preserved
in stasis at the moment. I will be glad
to return with you to Earth as soon
as my mission here is completed.
TEAL’C
What is your mission?
THOR
I must wait here until I am certain
the Replicators have been destroyed.
You may have noticed that Halla’s sun
has collapsed into a black hole.
CARTER
Just before the back of our ship was
torn off.
THOR
I’m sorry I did not reach you sooner.
I was not expecting you.
CARTER
Yeah, you haven’t been responding to
our attempts to contact you.
THOR
I am sorry. Time/space distortions caused
by the black hole have been interfering
with my ship’s long-range communications.
CARTER
Understandable.
TEAL’C
Indeed - for some.
THOR
The time dilation field was only a temporary
measure. We knew the time it would take
for the Replicator humans to reach the
machine would translate to less than
two years outside the field. Therefore
a more permanent solution was devised.
CARTER
So you collapsed the sun.
THOR
By artificially increasing its gravitational
field, yes.
CARTER
That’s ... pretty cool!
(Thor calls up a computer image.)
THOR
As you can see, the planet has already
broken apart. However, a large number
of Replicators have managed to come
together in a coherent mass that has
yet to pass the event horizon.
CARTER
Well, even if they can withstand the
gravitational force without being torn
apart, there’s no way they could ever
...
THOR
Interesting.
CARTER
What is it?
THOR
The mass of Replicator blocks have begun
moving away from the event horizon.
CARTER
How is that possible?
THOR
They have the time dilation device.
I do not know exactly how, but they
seem to have used it to counteract the
gravitational effects that should be
pulling them in.
CARTER
Frightening - not only that they can
do that, but you don’t know how.
THOR
I agree. (The computer shows the Replicator
mass moving.) They are picking up speed.
Scans indicate the blocks have formed
together.
TEAL’C
Into what?
THOR
A ship. They *are* escaping. Their course
indicates they are headed this way.
SGC. GATEROOM. Weir is waiting nervously at the bottom of the
ramp as the Gate dials. Daniel walks in.
WEIR
I thought you were going to stand me
up.
DANIEL
Yeah, sorry. Heard anything from Teal’c
and Sam?
WEIR
No.
(The Gate whooshes.)
DAVIS
Receiving a signal, ma’am. SG-7 reports
that we have a green light.
WEIR
Open the iris.
(The iris opens and Amaterasu, Camulus and Yu step through, accompanied
by Oshu, Yu’s First Prime. SG-7 follow behind.)
WEIR
Welcome to Earth. Allow me to introduce
...
CAMULUS
We are not interested in your name.
WEIR
Really? I generally find it helps so
much.
AMATERASU
We prefer to present our offer, so we
can spend as brief a time as possible
on this planet.
(Elizabeth looks at Daniel, who smiles ruefully.)
WEIR
Right this way. (She indicates the direction
and they head out of the Gateroom.)
THOR’S SHIP. The Replicator ship is still approaching.
CARTER
Have you ever seen anything like it?
THOR
No, and it is doubtful my ship’s weapons
will be effective against it.
CARTER
We should probably get out of here,
then, huh? Can you jump into hyperspace?
THOR
We must clear the gravitational distortion
field of the black hole first. (The
Replicator ship fires part of itself
towards Thor’s ship.) They have fired
upon us.
CARTER
Can it penetrate your shields?
THOR
It is more than likely. Brace for impact.
(The Replicator weapon hits the ship.)
The hull has been breached.
CARTER
Where?
THOR
The damage is minimal. The projectile
was likely composed of Replicators.
They are not visible to my ship’s scanners.
This is how they have boarded Asgard
ships in the past.
CARTER
Can you use the shields to prevent decompression
in those sections?
THOR
Yes.
(Sam and Teal’c go to one of the crates that Thor beamed over
from the cargo ship, take out rifles and head off.)
SGC. BRIEFING ROOM. Camulusand Yu are seated on one side of the
table, Daniel and Amaterasu on the other and Weir at the head.
Oshu stands behind Yu.
CAMULUS
Your unexpected defeat of Anubis has
created an unstable situation among
the System Lords. In order to avoid
open war, we came to an agreement to
divide his territories and his armies
evenly.
DANIEL
How civilised of you(!)
CAMULUS
Yes. Unfortunately, one of those among
us has broken that agreement.
DANIEL
Oh, no, no, no, don’t tell me, let me
guess, it’s, um ... (He drags out the
suspense as long as he can but Amaterasu
gets tired of waiting.)
AMATERASU
Ba’al.
DANIEL
Ba’al!
CAMULUS
He was able to learn the location of
the planet where Anubis was creating
his Kull warriors.
DANIEL
Ba’al got there before you did and found
a way to reprogramme the soldiers to
serve him.
AMATERASU
With those Orac at his command, Ba’al
has tipped the balance of power in his
favour.
WEIR
Orac?
DANIEL
“Unspeakable.”
CAMULUS
In battle, the Kull are far superior
to the Jaffa. Already many among us
have begun to speak of capitulation,
much as they did with Anubis. If that
happens, Ba’al will indeed be unstoppable.
WEIR
Well, this is all very interesting,
I’m sure, but I fail to see what it
has to do with us.
(Yu beckons Oshu forward. Oshu leans down and Yu whispers into
his ear. Oshu straightens up.)
OSHU
My master wishes to say it is well known
the Tauri possess a powerful new weapon,
something far beyond their current level
of technology.
DANIEL
Yes, we used it to kill Anubis and destroy
his fleet.
OSHU
By means of this weapon, Ba’al can be
prevented from conquering the galaxy.
THOR’S SHIP. Sam and Teal’c are cautiously making their way through
corridors. After a while they hear the all-too-familiar sound
of Replicators. They move towards the sound but Teal’c is distracted
by damage to the walls. Sam continues on alone and shortly afterwards
we see Sam from the point of view of a Replicator moving up behind
her. She finally hears it and turns towards it, but is transported
away.
TEAL'C
Major Carter! (A Replicator is nearby.
He shoots it, then speaks over comms)
Thor, it is Teal’c. Major Carter was
beamed away. Is she in your presence?
THOR
I did not do it. The Replicators must
have her.
(More Replicators appear. Teal’c shoots them all into bits. Outside,
the Replicator ship goes into hyperspace. Teal’c goes to the
bridge.)
TEAL'C
I have eliminated all of the Replicators
I could locate.
THOR
There is no way of knowing if there
are more. The Replicator ship has entered
hyperspace.
TEAL'C
Can you follow?
THOR
Yes.
SGC. BRIEFING ROOM.
CAMULUS
If Ba’al defeats us, how long do you
think it will be before he turns his
attention to you?
WEIR
If he does, he’ll suffer the same fate
as Anubis.
AMATERASU
Perhaps, but there are other worlds
in this galaxy without the luxury of
such advanced defences.
DANIEL
What are you talking about?
AMATERASU
We could not help but notice that the
Asgard did not come to your aid when
Anubis threatened your planet. In fact,
we’ve heard nothing from the Asgard
for quite some time now.
DANIEL
Really? That’s odd, cos we talk to them
all the time.
WEIR
The Asgard didn’t come because they
knew it wasn’t necessary.
AMATERASU
Ba’al believes otherwise. He is convinced
that the Asgard can no longer exercise
power in this galaxy. He intends to
take the planets protected under the
Goa’uld/Asgard treaty for himself.
CAMULUS
If you do not help us stop him, millions
of humans will die, and millions more
will be enslaved.
THOR’S SHIP. The ship is now in hyperspace, following the Replicator
vessel.
TEAL'C
Do you know its destination?
THOR
Before you destroyed them, the Replicators
managed to access the ship’s computer.
They learned the location of Orilla,
the planet where we are attempting to
rebuild the Asgard civilisation. I assumed
it would be their first target.
TEAL'C
What is your reasoning?
THOR
Orilla is rich in neutronium, which
is a key element in Asgard technology.
It is also essential for the creation
of human-form Replicators.
REPLICATOR SHIP. Sam, disarmed, is in a room. She walks around
cautiously and soon realises that the walls are made of Replicator
pieces. She touches some of them, and a shape appears where her
fingers touched. The shape distorts, and Fifth walks out of the
wall.
FIFTH
Major Carter.
CARTER
Fifth!
FIFTH
I imagine you never expected to see
me again. (He advances on her threateningly.)
CARTER
I’m sorry we left you behind, but we
had to do it. We couldn’t risk the others
getting out. You know what they’re capable
of. I know you must be upset.
FIFTH
“Upset”.
CARTER
We betrayed you. It must have hurt.
(She reaches the far wall and can go
no further.) See, that’s the part of
you that’s most like us, the human part
of you. I understand how you feel.
FIFTH
No you don’t! You couldn’t! But I promise
you, you will.
(He reaches out his hand towards her head. Sam grabs his hand
to stop him, but his fingers elongate and plunge into her head.)
SGC. BRIEFING ROOM. The meeting is in recess and some food has
been provided for the System Lords. Yu tries something, and spits
it out in disgust. Meanwhile Weir and Daniel are talking in her
office.
WEIR
How many planets are protected under
this treaty?
DANIEL
Um, twenty-six. Twenty-seven if you
include Earth.
WEIR
And what good is it if the Asgard aren’t
actually available to protect anything?
DANIEL
At one time they were - more recently
we’ve been trading on the *threat*,
kind of a big bluff.
WEIR
Well, Ba’al is about to *call* the bluff.
DANIEL
Unfortunately there’s nothing we can
do about that. Earth is safe so long
as the Goa’uld think we can defend ourselves.
WEIR
But that’s a bluff too.
DANIEL
Yeah, more or less.
WEIR
When I was a kid, my dad used to have
these weekly poker games. All I remember
is smoke making my eyes water. I’m starting
to wish I’d paid more attention.
DANIEL
I’m sure you’ve misrepresented the truth
before in negotiations.
WEIR
Actually, no - my job has usually been
to get people to *recognise* the truth.
DANIEL
Well if they even get a hint of the
fact that we can’t use the Ancient weapon
to defend ourselves, trust me, this
game is over. Too dramatic?
WEIR
At this point, not for me.
THOR’S SHIP. The ship is still in pursuit of the Replicator vessel.
TEAL'C
How can we stop them?
THOR
My ship’s weapons will not function
in hyperspace, much like the shields.
However, in close proximity, the self-destruct
may be sufficient to eliminate both
ships. I am sorry, but we have no choice.
If the human-form Replicators reach
Orilla, they will have the resources
to replicate many thousands of times.
We cannot allow that to happen.
TEAL'C
So be it.
REPLICATOR SHIP. Sam is experiencing a multitude of images flashing
through her mind in rapid succession. Finally Fifth pulls his
hand out of her head and she drops to the floor, gasping.
CARTER
Why are you *doing* this?
FIFTH
You think you deserve better?
CARTER
You can *see* my thoughts. You *know*
I didn’t wanna do it.
FIFTH
I suppose in a way I should thank you.
It was because of what you did to me
I came to realise my full potential.
I am more human than the others. At
first I thought it was weakness, but
now I see it makes me capable of so
much more.
CARTER
Fifth, please!
FIFTH
My brothers and sisters will devour
entire civilisations in order to replicate,
but they will know nothing of cruelty,
or betrayal, or revenge. Not like us.
Isn’t that right, Major Carter? (He
moves his hand towards her head again.)
CARTER
No.
SGC. BRIEFING ROOM. The meeting has resumed.
WEIR
We appreciate you bringing us this information,
but it doesn’t change the fact that
we can’t get involved in any internal
Goa’uld dispute, and if Ba’al tries
to attack any of the protected planets,
he’ll suffer the consequences.
CAMULUS
Unfortunately, we do not share your
faith in the Asgard. We must stop Ba’al
before it comes to that.
WEIR
You’ll forgive my bluntness, but that’s
not our problem.
(Yu slams his hand down on the table angrily.)
YU
Enough! With each passing moment, Anubis
grows more powerful!
(Everyone looks uncomfortable.)
DANIEL
You mean Ba’al.
OSHU
My master is fatigued. We request a
short adjournment.
YU
Silence! I need no adjournment.
CAMULUS
We know you have a formidable new defensive
weapon, but with it you must wait for
your enemies to come to you, and that
can be dangerous. What if an enemy were
to devise a means of defeating this
weapon?
WEIR
What exactly are you offering?
CAMULUS
Hyperdrive engines.
AMATERASU
We know you have battleships that are
not capable of interstellar travel.
CAMULUS
We are offering you a means of producing
a fleet of ships as advanced as the
Goa’uld Hatak vessels. You could take
the fight to the enemy.
THOR’S SHIP. The ship has almost caught up with the Replicator
vessel.
THOR
We are almost in range ... (On the screen,
it shows his ship getting closer and
closer.) Now. (He activates the self-destruct
but the power goes down momentarily
before resuming.) We are slowing down.
Something is interfering with the controls.
(He checks his read-outs.) The auxiliary
control console outside the engine room.
(Teal’c picks up his rifle and heads out.)
SGC. BRIEFING ROOM.
WEIR
Your offer is very generous, but I’m
afraid we’re going to have to decline.
CAMULUS
You would be able to uphold the Protected
Planets Treaty with or without the aid
of the Asgard.
DANIEL
How many hyperdrives are you willing
to give us?
AMATERASU
How many ships can you build?
DANIEL
I think the real question is: how many
ships do you *have*? I mean, if we’re
gonna enforce this treaty ourselves,
we need to build enough ships to match
any fleet that would oppose us.
CAMULUS
We are not at liberty to disclose such
information.
WEIR
Well then, this discussion is over.
AMATERASU
How can you blindly reject such an offer?
WEIR
Because we’re not about to fight your
battles for you in exchange for a couple
of hyperdrive engines that may or may
not do us any good in the long run,
and especially since we already have
that technology at our disposal.
(Camulus looks startled.)
CAMULUS
You have viable hyperdrive technology?
WEIR
Yes, we do, and with the help of the
Asgard, we are in the process of implementing
it right now. So, thank you very much.
(She stands.)
AMATERASU
This Ancient weapon: such an advanced
piece of technology. The power requirements
must be enormous. Even simple maintenance
must be extremely difficult, given your
limited capabilities.
WEIR
We manage.
AMATERASU
Of course, we believe you. (She looks
at Camulus.) But I wonder what Ba’al
would think if he were to receive intelligence
that the weapon was temporarily out
of commission.
CAMULUS
Hmm. He would come to this world to
claim it for himself. The Tauri would
be forced to destroy him.
AMATERASU
And we would have to give them nothing.
DANIEL
Oh, come on! Ba’al would never fall
for that. He knows how desperate you
are. I think he might find this information
a little bit convenient ...
CAMULUS
Perhaps, but you leave us few options.
WEIR
OK, we’ll do it.
DANIEL
We *will*?!
WEIR
In exchange, we want Ba’al’s territory.
CAMULUS
What do you mean?
WEIR
Well that’s the way it works, right?
When one System Lord kills another,
he takes over his armies, his fleet,
his planets. That’s what we want - everything
in Ba’al’s possession.
AMATERASU
You cannot be serious.
WEIR
If we’re gonna be the ones who destroy
Ba’al for you, why should we settle
for anything less?
CAMULUS
Preposterous. We can’t accept those
terms.
WEIR
Take it or leave it.
CAMULUS
We must send a message to the other
System Lords to advise them of the current
situation.
WEIR
Go ahead. (She stands and leaves the
room.)
THOR’S SHIP. Teal'c destroys a final Replicator.
TEAL'C
The problem has been eliminated.
THOR
Unfortunately the Replicators are now
beyond our reach. We are too late to
stop them from reaching the new Asgard
homeworld.
SGC. WEIR’S OFFICE. Weir and Daniel are talking.
DANIEL
I guess you *did* learn something from
your father’s poker games.
WEIR
Always bet big when bluffing?
DANIEL
I just didn’t know you were looking
to become a System Lord.
WEIR
I just had to do something to keep them
talking. It looked like they were going
to try and draw Ba’al here no matter
what we said.
DANIEL
You can be pretty sure they’re not gonna
agree to our terms.
WEIR
I know. (She sighs.) We may have to
revive Colonel O’Neill.
DANIEL
What?!
WEIR
If they suspect we’re bluffing, they’ll
come here and take the weapon for themselves.
If they don’t, they’ll trick Ba’al into
coming. Either way we may actually have
to use that weapon again, to defend
this planet.
DANIEL
We don’t even know if there’s enough
power to fire another shot.
WEIR
I know.
DANIEL
If you try to revive Jack without the
Asgard standing by, it’ll kill him.
In fact, he’ll probably die before he
can do anything to help us.
(Walter knocks on the door.)
DAVIS
Doctor Weir. (He hands her a disc.)
It’s a copy of the message the Goa’uld
sent back to the System Lords. It’s
coded.
(Elizabeth hands the disc to Daniel.)
WEIR
We need to know what they’re thinking.
THOR’S SHIP.
THOR
I have managed to send advance warning
to Orilla. By providing them with the
Replicator ship’s course and speed,
they should have a fair approximation
of where it will drop out of hyperspace.
What ships we have available will be
waiting in ambush.
TEAL'C
You believe the Asgard ships can destroy
the Replicators before they can raise
their shields.
THOR
They will only be defenceless for a
few moments, but if my calculations
are accurate, that should be sufficient.
REPLICATOR SHIP. Again Sam is being tormented with images. As
Fifth pulls his hand out of her head, she collapses to the floor
sobbing.
CARTER
Stop it, please!
FIFTH
Why should I?
CARTER
You can’t change what happened. Is this
making you feel better? I never intended
to abandon you.
FIFTH
But you did. You gained my trust, then
you used me and left me behind.
CARTER
It wasn’t my decision.
FIFTH
You could have come back for me.
CARTER
There was no time!
FIFTH
Time! Thanks to what you did, I had
plenty of time to think about what a
fool I was.
CARTER
I’m sorry. I’m sorry for what we did
to you.
FIFTH
Yes, you are now.
CARTER
Part of being human is having compassion,
learning to forgive.
FIFTH
Yes. I’m not there yet. I need more
time.
(He reaches out his hand ready to plunge it into her head again.
Sam flinches, sobbing in fear and pain. His hand stops just before
it reaches her head and he hesitates for a moment, looking confused,
as Sam continues to weep. Then he reaches out slowly and gently
cradles her head in his hand, stroking her hair.)
SGC. DANIEL’S OFFICE. Weir comes in as Daniel works on the translation
of the System Lords’ message.
WEIR
Progress?
DANIEL
Yeah, it’s basically a confirmation
of what we suspected. They think we’re
bluffing but have no way of confirming
their suspicions, so they’re not sure
what to do.
WEIR
They could still try and draw Ba’al
here, let him figure it out for them.
DANIEL
Yeah, that’s dangerous for them, because
if we can’t power the weapon ...
WEIR
... which we can’t ...
DANIEL
... Ba’al would end up with both Earth
*and* the Ancient outpost in his possession.
(Alarms go off.)
DAVIS
Unscheduled offworld activation.
(Elizabeth goes to the nearest phone and dials.)
WEIR
This is Weir, what’s happening? ...
OK, we’ll be right down. (She hangs
up and turns to Daniel.) Our guests
just got a response.
THOR’S SHIP. An Asgard appears on the communications screen.
AEGIR
Commander Thor, this is Aegir of the
Valhalla. We have assumed defensive
positions and are awaiting the target
ship.
THOR
Understood.
(The Replicator vessel comes out of hyperspace to find a fleet
of Asgard ships waiting for it. They open fire immediately and
the ship disintegrates.)
AEGIR
The enemy ship has been destroyed.
(Teal’c stares at the viewscreen, mourning the loss of his colleague
and friend.)
THOR
I am sorry, Teal’c.
SGC. CONTROL ROOM. The Gate is dialling out. Daniel comes in
and goes over to Walter.
DANIEL
I need to see the most recent message
they received.
(Walter calls up the information.)
SGC. GATEROOM. Weir is with the System Lords.
WEIR
It’s unfortunate you’re being recalled.
I thought we were making such good progress.
CAMULUS
Your demands were ridiculous. We had
no choice but to terminate negotiations.
WEIR
Well, give my regards to Ba’al. (She
walks away from him. Camulus smiles
smugly as the Gate whooshes.)
SGC. CONTROL ROOM. Daniel finishes reading the message.
DANIEL
Shut it down.
DAVIS
What?!
(Daniel walks round Walter and hits the button to shut the Gate
down just as the System Lords reach the top of the ramp.)
SGC. GATEROOM.
AMATERASU
What is the meaning of this?!
(Daniel comes into the Gateroom. Weir turns to face him.)
DANIEL
The second message. They’ve been recalled
because the System Lords have decided
to test our defences. They’re sending
a ship to attack Earth. It’ll be here
within the hour.
THE END
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