“Apparently, the host was on the verge of a pulmonary failure long before it encountered them.”
- Release Date: 22nd August 2003
- Season 7
- Episode 11
- Director: Peter DeLuise
- Writers: Damian Kindler & Michael Shanks
Teal’c and Bra’tac arrive on the planet in the aftermath of a battle, with dead Jaffa everywhere. This was supposed to be a meeting between two lesser Gou’ald and it seems that many Jaffa were killed while retreating. They find the first or em of Raimus, who says there was no betrayal and that a single warrior did this.
The first prime is shot and they see a soldier in black armour. It makes its way forward as Teal’c and Bra’tac shoot it, but it’s immune to staff blasts. The two Jaffa need to take cover and Teal’c tries a Zat, which seems to not work before the soldier stumbles over.
The soldier is brought to Stargate Command, where they are concerned about his capabilities and want to find out what they can. Carter suggests contacting the Tok’ra and Jacob is sent over. The two manage to open up the helmet and reveal a very pale and almost see though face, and the soldier is grafted to the suit itself.
In a briefing, they explain that there’s a Gou’ald in the body, however the organs are all wrong. The heart and lungs are larger than usual, and it was clearly crafted with no care for lifespan. The armour is still impervious to energy damage and Teal’c didn’t kill the soldier – it had a heart attack.
In the lab with Daniel, they’ve figured more out. This was intended to be a new footsoldier and not a new host for the Gou’ald, and the creature was dead until maturity, when it was brought to life, as energy signatures match use of a sarcophagus – but a standard one isn’t powerful enough. Jacob thinks it’s based on the original ancient technology the Gou’ald used to make the sarcophagus, which was in the hands of a Gou’ald called Telchak.
Daniel shows them research in his lab, his grandfather was at one point obsessed with the Fountain of Youth, which he traced back to a good called Chak – an interesting pairing. He shows Jacob work or the notes and part is written in an ancient dialect or Gou’ald. The note reveals that the device is in Honduras, and from Gou’ald history, it’s likely that Anubis is behind this new warrior.
Daniel and Dr Lee head to Honduras and meet with a guide. They say where they want to go and, while he’s adamant that there’s no temples there, agrees to take them as they’re the ones paying. At Stargate Command, they discuss how much of a threat these are as well as Ambubis’ tactic of absorbing all the troops of minor Gou’ald. They can’t rely on the device and Tok’ra. So decide to try and capture one alive.
Carter fills Jack in in the plan. They’re going to Raimus’ planet and keep an eye on the Stargate, use a Tor’ra forcefully and then use darts to tranquillise it (their tests show it’s the only thing to get though the armour). Jack doesn’t sound too keen. In Honduras, the guide takes them to the spot, but there’s nothing there. Daniel asks everyone to look around, when Lee falls down the hole – he’s found it.
On the planet, everything gets put in place when Jack orders for more Claymore and C4 as a backup. The warrior arrives and the shield goes up, Jack hits him with darts, but they have no effect. The soldier then goes through the shield. They shoot at it with no effect, and not even the claymores or C4 stop it. As it heads off, Jaffa arrives and captures them all.
Daniel and Lee explore the temple and find a small room with no markings. Based on the clue they all water flows toward it, Daniel pours water onto the floor and they find a loose stone. They find a cube shaped object with ancient writing on it, but they’ve also triggered a trap, forcing them to swim out
In Ramius’ cell, Jack tries telling the truth: that a deadly warrior is after him and they’re actually trying to save him. He doesn’t buy it and heads off. They try to convince the guard to let them out when they hear shooting, telling him that his god will be cowering. He heads off then returns shortly, telling them that Ramius is dead and lets them go.
Outside the temple, Daniel, Lee and their guide are ambushed, taking them hostage. Daniel explains that they’re just scientists, but the leader, Rafael, says everyone is worth something to somebody and binds them and escorts them away blindfolded. The guide tries to run, but gets shot. Daniel and Lee are taken to a camp and thrown in a small shack
The team on the planet are having better luck and locate a ship managing to use it to capture the soldier as it heads to the gate. They take it back to Stargate Command, unconscious as they disabled the life support in the cargo hold. When it wakes, they speak to it, but it doesn’t seem intelligent enough to answer questions, but they use a memory recall device to find its homeworld
Rafael interrogates Daniel and Lee but doesn’t believe Daniel when he says powerful people will come for him. He says he’s heard it before and is happy to kill them to get their government’s attention. At Stargate Command, they discover the planet is called Tartarus when Hammond comes in to tell them that Daniel has been kidnapped in Nicaragua as the episode ends.
It’s definitely the right time for the Gou’ald to have a new enemy. We know enough about the Jaffa and their brainwashing and desire for freedom that killing them is unfortunate, even when necessary. These new enemies are bred for killing and incapable of conversation or swapping sides
Next: SG-1: Evolution, Part 2
