Stargate SG-1 s05e10 Episode Script

2001

Previously on "Stargate SG-1" - What is it?|- You tell me.
"Under no circumstances|go to P4C-970, Colonel Jack O'Neill.
" - This looks like your handwriting.
|- That is my handwriting.
- And it's my signature.
|- That looks like blood, sir.
I want P4C-970 removed from|the dialling computer immediately.
I wonder why you sent it.
I wonder when.
Welcome back, SG-1 .
Break out the fishing gear, General!|Our job here is done.
- I take it your mission was successful?|- In a word, sir, yes.
In two words, yes, sir.
Your report said the Volians|were a simple agrarian society.
- That they are.
|- They introduced us to another race.
Who, while lacking a sense of humour,|make up for it in advanced technology.
They just wanted to make sure|we were trustworthy first.
Long story short, I think we just|carried out our standing orders, sir.
Indeed.
We may have found|a race both willing and capable of defending this world|against the Goa'uld.
- If that outburst didn't convince you|- I'm convinced.
We just wrapped up several hours|of talks with a guy named - Borren.
|- Who really lacks a sense of humour.
But he wants the negotiations|to move up to the state level.
Well done.
While I inform the president,|you prepare a mission briefing.
Yes, sir.
By the way,|what do our new friends call themselves? The Aschen, sir.
|They're called the Aschen.
So, out of security concerns,|the Aschen wish not to reveal the location of their home world|until we have an agreement.
- They're a little paranoid.
|- Appropriate, as they don't have an iris.
We do know they've created|a secondary star in the Volian system by igniting a gas giant, thereby|doubling the Volians' growing season.
They made a star? How? Well, theoretically, by increasing the|density of a sufficiently massive gas giant until a thermonuclear reaction took place.
- In fact, Arthur C Clarke posited|- Ambassador.
You gotta be careful about using the word|"how" unless you really wanna know.
My mistake, Colonel.
My point is, the achievement|itself goes a long way to prove the Aschen are advanced|enough to take on the Goa'uld.
The Aschen could be formidable allies.
If they're Stargate capable,|why haven't we heard of 'em? Good question.
They only use their ships|to go to planets in their confederation.
Of which the Volian system is a part.
Yes.
Borren said the Aschen and Volian|gates were discovered buried, like ours.
No DHD was ever recovered.
The Aschen tried dialling|numerous symbol combinations, but without a DHD to compensate for|stellar drift, they were stuck, like us.
- We could only go to Abydos.
|- Exactly.
Only after Daniel found|the cartouche on Abydos could we make the drift calculations|to successfully dial other planets.
Add the database Colonel O'Neill|retrieved from the library of the Ancients We can offer access to a galaxy of worlds|and races the Aschen never knew existed.
The news must have|come as a shock to them.
Oh, not really.
Jack is saying that if they were surprised,|they'd never show it.
They don't get excited in general,|General.
It's like an entire planet of accountants.
Colonel O'Neill mistrusts the Aschen.
- I didn't say that.
|- Indeed you did.
No, I didn't.
What I said was I didn't trust|people without a sense of humour.
- Especially that boring guy.
|- Borren.
I know his name.
He was boring.
The Aschen have agreed to meet|our representative on P3A-194 tomorrow.
Colonel O'Neill and Major Carter are to be available|to the ambassador as consultants.
- Yes, sir.
|- Dr Jackson, I'd like you and Teal'c|to confer with the Volians.
Find out how they feel about the Aschen.
- I can tell you that now, sir.
|- Dig deeper.
Find out from the Volians if the Aschen|are the good neighbours they seem to be.
You'll embark at 0700.
Gentlemen? Major Carter? Since we're trading|knowledge of the Stargate, I could probably use a little more|of that knowledge myself.
After you, Ambassador.
- This place never ceases to amaze me.
|- Anything yet? The computer should have it down|to a handful of candidates by tomorrow.
- Candidates?|- Yeah.
We're trying to determine|the location of the Aschen home planet.
How can you, without the coordinates? - How?|- Oh, I asked that question again.
In my early work with the Stargate|programme, I theorised that the limit for a lock between two Stargates|without a DHD was 300 light years.
We are searching for viable coordinates within that radius|of the Volian system, P3A-194.
- As the Aschen world is in this area?|- There's a 70 per cent probability.
Why don't the Aschen want us to know? Until we share our database, they have|only our word of what's out there.
They're vulnerable.
If we didn't have|an iris, I think we'd do the same.
You know what?|I have not eaten since, uh oh, today.
The mess is this way.
|If you'd like, we can talk more there.
I'd like that very much.
Chevron three, encoded.
Morning.
- This is what you're wearing?|- What's wrong with it? - Nothing.
|- Chevron four, encoded.
- You look fine.
|- They said I didn't need a uniform.
- I just wanna make a good impression.
|- Chevron five, encoded.
- You look great.
Very sharp.
|- Thank you.
Chevron six, encoded.
It's the shoes.
They're gonna get ruined.
It's a farm planet.
Chevron seven, locked.
Enjoy the ride, Ambassador.
|We'll look forward to your return.
- After you.
|- Thank you.
- It looks just like, uh|- Oh, yeah.
Just when you think you're not|in Kansas any more, turns out you are.
- We'll see what we can dig up.
|- Have fun.
You said the Volians and the Aschen|enjoy a long-standing trade relationship, but there aren't any signs of trade|infrastructure around the Stargate.
- What is that sound?|- Have a look.
It's a harvester.
The Aschen provided|hundreds of them all over the planet.
When a field is ready, it harvests the crop and then brings it to the Stargate|for transport to the Aschen home world.
We're gonna want a few of those.
I'm sure that can be arranged, Colonel.
- Borren!|- Colonel.
I thought I made it clear|your weapons were unnecessary.
I thought you were jokin' around.
You know, like you always do.
Borren, may I introduce|our official representative, Ambassador Joseph Faxon|of the United States.
- I bring greetings|- I am not your counterpart.
The harvester possesses a suitable|compartment.
This way, please.
Shoes.
- You have something?|- I'll show you on the star map.
We've calculated five|possible Stargate coordinates within a 300 light year radius|of P3A-194, the Volian system.
And there's a good chance|one is the Aschen world? These three were just calculated,|so they're unexplored.
This one was determined uninhabitable|by a MALP probe three years ago.
But, sir, this gate was locked out|of our dialling computer by your order seven months ago.
So there's a one in four chance that the Aschen home world|is a planet that I ordered off limits? Yes, sir.
Have SG teams 3, 12 and 15 report to|the briefing room as soon as possible.
Yes, sir.
Keel.
It's Dan Jackson and Teal'c.
You said you'd not likely|be this way again.
We wanted to learn about|your relationship with the Aschen.
- What would you like to know?|- If they are honourable.
Yeah.
I wouldn't have put it|quite that way, but They've been friends to us|since I remember.
I was raised by an Aschen family.
Orphan.
They give medicine freely, machines|freely Light and heat for our homes.
So they've never been|unreasonable with you in any way? They just float around in their harvesters|mostly, what few of them there are.
- You maintain freedom from their world?|- If freedom is bein' left alone, we have it.
OK.
Well, thank you.
Uh when next you speak to one,|tell 'em I got iron root in my south field.
Can't dig it out myself.
|Need one of their machines.
Iron root?|Well, maybe maybe we can help.
Stand here.
Oh, yeah we're gonna|want a few of these too.
Let me introduce your|counterpart from our confederation.
- Mollem.
|- I offer greetings from our president, in the hope we can forge a friendship|to enrich both our peoples.
This seating arrangement is suitable|for our negotiations.
Please.
I assume there are facilities on board? In the next compartment.
Just wanted to make sure|before we flew off somewhere.
The harvester will remain in the vicinity of|the Stargate throughout the negotiations.
Mind if I check out the view first? Daniel, Teal'c, we're on board|one of their harvesters.
When you get back, report to Hammond.
|Let him know proceedings have begun.
Copy that.
And good luck.
Here it is.
It goes deep, I'll tell you that.
Keel, we can probably take care of this|for you with Teal'c's staff weapon.
General Hammond's request|was to gather information.
He also said we should dig a little deeper.
There's a jug|of my best sweetwater in it for you.
OK.
- Have you discovered something?|- Oh, God, I hope not.
Probably, though.
Our position is straightforward.
You discovered means of travel|between Stargates all over the galaxy.
- Several hundred worlds, I am told.
|- Yes.
And you seek technologies|for purposes of defence against hostile races you|have encountered on these travels.
Yes, we do.
We agree, in principle, to provide you|with these defence technologies, and much more, in exchange for your full|disclosure of this Stargate network.
And we also agree, in principle.
An ancient city once stood here.
I don't know about ancient.
|Certainly, extinct.
I don't wanna talk semantics,|but even if this was a city just a few hundred years ago, what happened? What is the current population of Earth? Well, forgive me.
|I don't know the exact number.
Somewhere in|the neighbourhood of six billion? Growing at a rate|of several million a year.
- That growth rate is unsustainable.
|- We agree.
- You represent the dominant nation?|- That is a fair assessment.
And so are you taking military action|to curtail this growth rate? No.
We respect|the sovereignty of our neighbours.
We are pleased to hear that.
The worlds of the confederation|are a partnership of equals.
(clanking) Do not be alarmed.
The harvester|is continuing its normal operations.
While you may respect these neighbours, you have not yet revealed to them|the existence of your Stargate.
Not to all.
Any treaty between the Aschen|Confederation and the people of Earth must be with all the people of Earth.
I think we can agree to that.
The level of technology appears|to be similar to Earth, circa 1910.
There appears to be|no sign of battle, Daniel Jackson.
But I can tell you that,|barring a natural disaster, it takes nature|several centuries to bury a city.
This place looks like|it was just ploughed over recently.
- Perhaps to create farmland.
|- Or the Volians had a Luddite movement.
Whoever did this, they probably did it|long after the city was abandoned.
- There are no human remains.
|- Exactly.
So the question is: why? This looks like a public building of some|sort.
I'm gonna go and take a look around.
It may be extremely dangerous.
Yes, it may.
I'm gonna go inside|and take a look around.
Several months ago we received|a message through the Stargate that simply stated "Under no|circumstances go to P4C-970.
" - The warning from the future.
|- That's the theory.
We don't know|the circumstances it was written in, only that the signature and the blood|found on the note match Colonel O'Neill's.
We've determined that the race of people we're currently in trade|negotiations with, the Aschen, may be from one of these four planets.
Then the only way to rule out 970 as the|Aschen world is to check the other three.
That's your mission.
|Have your teams ready once the MALPs|determine you're good to go.
Just out of curiosity, what kind of defence technologies|are we talking about? Space guns? Force fields? Motherships? This is an example of a bioweapon|we can make available to you.
A living, radioactive|genetic material that may be designed to attack and destroy|only the specific DNA of your enemy.
We have a number|of efficient delivery systems.
(clears throat) We'd want certain assurances That we take military action only against|your enemies, and not your friends.
Of course.
The question arises,|why have these "friends" of Earth not already provided you with the defence|technologies that you seek from us? Most advanced races that|we've befriended hesitated to share their technology with us for fear|that we could use it to destroy ourselves.
True friends would|endeavour to prevent that.
You have changed|the way in which we view the universe.
Do not underestimate|what we offer in return for that gift.
We can put an end to disease.
|Double the human life span.
Provide the means to cross|entire continents in a single step.
Much more than simply a means to|defend yourselves against your enemies.
We offer Earth membership|within the Aschen Confederation.
- Chevron one, encoded.
|- Sir? Pentagon, line one.
This is Hammond.
- Yes, sir, we were just about to de|- Chevron two, encoded.
May I ask why? Understood.
- Sergeant, abort the dialling sequence.
|- Yes, sir.
Aborting dialling sequence.
SG-15, your recon mission is scrubbed|until further notice.
You may stand down.
- Sir, what's going on?|- That's what I aim to find out.
It would not be wise to attempt|that again, Daniel Jackson.
OK.
Now, if I'm right,|these are newspapers.
There seems to be faint pictures.
Yes, and hopefully|they'll paint a thousand words.
It's similar to an ancient Celtic text I found|in Wales.
I can make some of this out.
(falling masonry) We need to look for big headlines first.
This cavern may be unstable.
It would be best|if we returned to the surface.
Oh, I don't think so.
If this doesn't help us,|we'll have to take another look around.
If the Aschen really|do have something to hide, I don't think|we're gonna get a second chance.
Colonel, you seem pensive.
No, I was just thinking.
You're offering|a lot more than we asked for.
Our motives are not entirely selfless.
Perhaps you offer more|than you give yourself credit for.
- Access to the Stargate network.
|- And the promise of much more, Major.
An introduction to advanced races|you have befriended, just as the Volians introduced you to us.
Your ways and culture will enrich ours.
The Aschen are not the natural explorers|that you so obviously are.
Fortified by our technology,|you can continue your exploration, share with us what you learn.
You understand I have|to present your offer to our leaders? You'll find we are|a very patient people, Ambassador.
In the meantime, I will also confer with|my leadership, and recommend to them the immediate commencement|of trade between our worlds.
I look forward to our future together.
As do l.
Well, that was easy.
This was just the first stage.
If you thought it was too easy,|you won't feel that when we're done.
So I'm the only one|that has a bad feeling about this.
Yes.
Just checking.
The headline says something|about a pandemic.
Some sort of I can't translate that.
Maybe "fever".
If the Aschen are the "newcomers"|in this article, they provided a Can't translate that, but it|appears to have been a sort of vaccine.
And the Volian people|were immensely grateful.
Which serves to prove|the Aschen are honourable.
All it proves is the city was abandoned|after they made contact with the Aschen.
Cities are usually abandoned|when civilisations fall.
Perhaps they relocated|in the Aschen Confederation.
I don't like the sound of that either.
|Keel said he'd never been anywhere else.
This city has been|abandoned for many years.
Yes, but long enough ago for Keel to have|absolutely no idea it was ever here? Welcome back.
As per your instructions,|Ambassador, an air-force jet is waiting to take you to Washington|as soon as you're cleared by our doctors.
Thank you, General.
History will|remember your contribution to this.
O'Neill.
Two Ls.
And, Major, next time I'm here, I know a restaurant that|beats your mess, hands down.
I'd like that.
Well, General, it might be time|to reconsider this retirement thing.
Not yet, Colonel.
Come with me.
The president doesn't want to risk|a potentially rewarding alliance on the basis of a note that may or may not|be a warning from the future.
I knew that thing|was gonna come back to haunt me.
General, to confirm the Aschen are from|a world other than 970 is only prudent.
And if we encounter the Aschen|on one of those other worlds? - They wouldn't be too happy about it.
|- It could jeopardise the treaty.
- Send a probe.
|- Maybe sending a probe was what caused the problem you were|trying to avoid by sending your note.
Technically, I haven't sent it yet.
But if I get a chance again,|I'll add a lot more detail.
You were probably trying to limit the|causality violation by keeping it simple.
I wonder whose idea that was.
You know me.
I wouldn't have sent|that note without a damn good reason.
- The president should know that.
|- He's under pressure to present a real benefit of the Stargate|programme before the next election.
- Oh, here we go.
|- The bottom line is, he wants us out of it.
From now on, this treaty is a state matter.
- What did Daniel and Teal'c find out?|- They haven't returned yet.
The Aschen vaccine had a side effect.
|I don't know what.
It might be an Aschen word,|but I know it was big news here.
- How would you know this?|- It's in big black letters.
"Aschen vaccine causes " something.
I don't know what, but it's not good.
These pictures appear to be like|those we saw of people celebrating.
I don't think they're celebrating.
I think they're rioting.
(O'Neill overradio) Daniel? Teal'c? We're in an underground cavern.
|Do the Aschen know we're down here? Negative.
Keel said|you were digging a hole around here.
Yeah.
Um, stay put.
We'll come meet you.
Boy, when they dig a hole Daniel, where exactly are you? We're in the buried ruins|of the Volian union's capital city.
By all accounts, a thriving metropolis.
That is, I think,|until the Aschen wiped them out.
(Daniel) OK, here's what we know.
approximating turn-of-the-century|North America in terms of technology.
- That wasn't very long ago.
|- No, it wasn't.
- What happened to them?|- We know there was a flu pandemic, Iike the one on Earth in 1918|that killed over 20 million.
- Now that is when the Aschen came.
|- Through the Stargate? In ships.
The Volian gate|wasn't discovered until years later.
They befriended the Volians, offered|them a vaccine and saved their world.
So the Aschen were heroes to the Volians|and their friendship lasted years.
But then something happened.
- What?|- I don't know.
- We found no evidence of battle.
|- I found one clue.
Here.
This word loosely translates|as "medicine", "vaccine", "drug", Followed by "from the newcomers", Followed by "causes", followed by|some word I can't translate.
This was the latest issue we found,|which most likely indicates the paper shut down|or was shut down the very next day.
Vaccine causes what? I don't know.
But it caused something.
In 200 years, they went|from an urban civilisation of millions to an agrarian one of thousands,|after they were "saved" by the Aschen.
- You have to speak to the president.
|- I just tried.
He's being briefed by|the ambassador and won't take my call.
General, I never did cash in on that|open invitation to visit the White House.
Remember?|Last time we saved the world? Driver.
Pennsylvania Avenue is that way.
We're picking up another passenger, sir.
I beg your pardon? Colonel Starsky.
Or is it Hutch?|I can never remember which one you are.
Kinsey.
What the hell are you doing here? I know it's more upscale|than you're used to, but I wanted a comfortable place to talk.
Drink? I have an appointment.
No, you don't.
You shoulda heard the president when|he heard you want to change his mind.
- He can be cruel.
|- The treaty's a mistake.
- You recommended it in the first place.
|- I was wrong.
Hell, this was worth it just to hear that.
Let me tell you what it comes down to.
Those of us who actually have been voted|into office would like the opportunity to make the damn decisions about|the governments we make treaties with.
- You don't have all the information.
|- I know all about the note.
- That's why you should take it seriously.
|- We have experts who know these things.
They tell me that the ink on your note was a new biodegradable something-or-other|that hasn't quite been invented yet.
- What's your point?|- What's the future like? You can tell me.
- As far as I know, it hasn't happened yet.
|- It has, for you.
Hell, you've been back in time,|forward in time, you've seen it all.
I just wonder how things turn out.
You know, without you|being a hero any more.
This has nothing to do with me.
I wonder how far you'd go to stop me|becoming president of the United States.
You think this is about you? - Of all the self-centred, egotistical|- Egotistical? You're the one who can't stop|playing God with our future.
The minute we try to make|a deal for alien technology, you decide that they're|the wrong kind of aliens! Even our current president's|begun to see the pattern.
And, boy, he used to love you.
We know all about the 70 per cent|probabilities, the one-in-four chances.
Kinsey you're in way over your head.
Am l? This is really a political matter, Colonel,|which will require bilateral approval.
And that's why the president put me in|charge of the next stage of negotiations.
Driver, stop at the athletic club, please.
Oh, you'll get your invitation|to the White House soon enough, Colonel.
Just not tonight.
Jonathan, when we get|to the athletic club, I'll step out.
You go on and take|our guest back to Andrews.
Apparently, we have agreed to make|a token gesture of our good faith.
Ambassador Faxon will deliver it and return with an Aschen delegation|to meet Senator Kinsey.
We're actually going ahead with this? - I'm told we're proceeding with caution.
|- What are we offering? - Gate coordinates.
|- There goes the neighbourhood.
Ambassador Faxon has asked that Colonel O'Neill and Major Carter|accompany him again.
- I thought we were out of it.
|- Apparently, he's insisted.
Senator Kinsey agreed,|but only to Major Carter, which presents us|with a window of opportunity.
- What can I do?|- Force their hand somehow.
If we accuse them directly,|they may simply lie.
Maybe we don't have to.
|I have an idea.
Major, I can't order you to do this.
I know, sir.
When do we leave? - Chevron one, encoded.
|- Historic day, General.
- Let's hope so, Senator.
|- I was referring to your retirement.
Chevron two, encoded.
- Ambassador.
|- Major.
Is that what you're wearing? Sir, I have a lot to tell you,|and not a lot of time.
- So, please, listen carefully.
|- All right.
- Mollem, Borren.
|- Ambassador, Major Carter.
- Colonel O'Neill is not here?|- Duties require him elsewhere.
- Of course.
|- It is my pleasure to offer a gesture.
Coordinates and Stargate symbols|to several new worlds.
It is our honour to receive such a gift.
The coordinates are|on the hard drive in the laptop.
It'll just take a moment to display.
Our leaders would also like to extend an|invitation to Earth to formalise our treaty.
All in time.
By the way, Borren.
|Would you read this aloud for me? - I couldn't quite translate it.
|- Of course.
"Sterility.
" We knew what you were planning,|Mollem.
This just confirms it.
What are you talking about? "Vaccine Causes Sterility.
"|That was the headline.
You wiped out most of the Volians and|turned their entire world into farmland.
You'd do the same to Earth.
Lock them in here.
|We have a treaty to conclude.
If we don't come back alive,|the treaty is off.
That'll be your loss.
|We have what we wanted.
I'm sorry.
- What do you think they'll do?|- I don't know.
O'Neill sent the note|to prevent this from happening.
We were so sure.
Listen.
They're dialling the Stargate.
They're dialling Earth.
(whoosh) - What is that?|- I don't know, but we gotta find out.
OK, when I get to the bottom,|follow me down.
We'll only have|a few seconds over the gate.
What? Just do what I tell you,|when I tell you.
Trust me.
OK.
Where's Major Carter? Ambassador! Now! Go! Close the iris! - What in God's name is going on here?|- When they knew we were on to them, - they launched a bioweapon.
|- Colonel.
I had to warn you.
|I couldn't wait for the ambassador.
- Colonel, I asked you a question.
|- You did good, Major.
- Thank you, sir.
|- Let's get her to the infirmary, now! Colonel! I swear, O'Neill, there's gonna be|an investigation into this.
Well, that'd be fine.
O'Neill! Two Ls.
I guess we dodged a bullet there.
Senator Kinsey appears most displeased.
Yeah, that's a crying shame, isn't it? - Will we regret giving the addresses?|- I don't think we will.
First one being a black hole, and all.
They get progressively darker after that.
Carter, you all right?
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