“O’Neill suggested I send you to a distant planet for your actions here, but I am reasonably certain his statement was in jest.”
- Release Date: 22nd January 2003
- Season 6
- Episode 17
- Director: William Gereghty
- Writers: Jacqueline Samuda & James Tichenor, Joseph Mallozzi & Paul Mullie
We open in a conference room, Chekov is speaking to a Chinese ambassador, arguing about a Russian submarine that was destroyed near a ‘meteor’ strike. The Chinese intelligence reports claim it was still taking on supplies, and Chekov says that their intelligence is wrong. The Chinese ambassador says that America has been hiding stuff for years, and it’s even more suspicious that the Russians are the ones backing them up. The French and British ambassadors join in, saying that they also believe that the Americans are up to something. Chekov claims that they can provide evidence of these meteors when Major Davies and General Hammond come in. Davies informs them that this meeting is about a top-secret operation the US has been conducting called the Stargate Program.
Davis introduces the Stargate, explaining that it was an alien device found in Egypt, and that, apart from one lucky dial in 1945, it sat unused until Dr Daniel Jackson managed to figure it out, and that it’s a device capable of interstellar travel. The US Air Force has visited hundreds of planets since then. The French and British ambassadors think it’s a joke, but Chekov says it’s true, and that the Russians have also been involved since someone sold them data. They talk about the Second Stargate and how it was recovered from a crashed Asgard ship – the start of many clips as this is a clip show episode (and are unimportant to the story).
They all discuss the confusion about the multiple gates, and how the one in now use was the original they found in Egypt, the other got destroyed and that the Russian submarine incident was a different incident with a crashed Gou’ald ship, and that three recent meteors have actually been alien ships. Senator Kinsey then shows up, telling Hammond and Davies that they aren’t doing a good job at convincing them if the ambassadors don’t even believe them yet. Kinsey explains that he knows because he looked into the massive amount of money being spent on a secret project, and that he’s called this meeting because the planet is in imminent danger.
They explain that the Gou’ald, who use the Stargates but didn’t build them, have hundreds of ships capable of attacking Earth. They’re more advanced and aren’t interested in negotiating, and they have the capabilities of taking out threats from orbit before moving troops in. Kinsey makes it sound like the US Air Force are responsible for this, but Hammond retorts that Earth was only saved because SG-1 ignored Kinsey’s orders. Kinsey points out that only more dangerous Gou’ald have replaced the ones they have killed.
They bring up Anubis and how he’s tried to destroy Earth twice (although it was three times), mentioning the asteroid he threw at Earth, but SG-1, once again, saved Earth. They mention that Anubis is busy with the other System Lords but will eventually turn his attention back to them. Hammond and Chekov want the five largest militaries to work together, as well as keeping the Stargate Program a secret. The Chinese ambassador hilariously claims that his government doesn’t keep secrets from its people. Hammond hopes it won’t come to a full scale invasion, as Stargate Command has fended off many attacks, particularly SG-1, mentioning how they once destroyed an entire fleet of ships.
They talk about the mandate of bringing back alien technology to defend Earth, and they’ve made some progress (with Kisney disagreeing with it being significant). They reveal the X-301 and X-302 fighters, and the ambassadors are appalled that the US military have fighters with these capabilities, and could potentially use it against them – they only have the word of the USA to “trust”. The next reveal is the X-303 Prometheus – Earth’s first true interstellar spaceship. The Chinese ambassador is even more appalled, and thinks that the USA shouldn’t be in charge of this operation. The Russians support the USA, and Kinsey has another idea: another group can take over the Stargate, a civilian Agency called the NID. They argue about the bad that the NID have done, how they’ve endangered other planets and were stealing technology from their allies.
Kinsey brings up a few reports on how issues at Stargate Command have caused Earth to nearly be taken over or destroyed, such as the black hole or a few foothold situations. Kinsey says that Hammond has risked stuff too many times. Hammond calls a recess, and Davies informs him that Kinsey is moving department and will be in direct control of the NID – all of this makes sense as it’s a grab for power. Hammond says he has an ace up his sleeve. Meanwhile, Chekov talks to the Chinese ambassador – the Russian deal is that they get access to all the technology. The US has to spend all the money and work out the kinks, while everyone else benefits – and they could have the same deal.
The meeting starts and the Chinese and French ambassadors both say that they will recommend disclosing everything to their people. All of a sudden, Thor appears, introducing himself and informing Kinsey that Jack suggested sending him to a distant planet and shuts him down in a brilliant way. He says that he supports General Hammond and would much prefer that the Stargate be left in his capable hands, informing them that he will be installing shields and weapons into the Prometheus as a thank you for SG-1 saving both of their galaxies. This convinces everyone who agrees with the US plan.
While it’s a clip show, it’s at least an interesting moment of introducing the Stargate Program to more countries (although just France, China and the UK is just odd). That said, the placement of this episode is just odd. The replicator threat is gone, so the Asgard are in a position to protect Earth and Anubis hasn’t done much for a while, so this is the safest Earth has been since the start of the show.
