STARGATE SG1
Episode 517
"FAIL SAFE"
By
Joseph Mallozzi & Paul Mullie
OUTSIDE SOMEWHERE
A man is on the phone, nearby is a telescope set up. He will
be known as Telescope Guy (TG)
TG
No, listen to me now. If you can't confirm
my observations then you must have the
co-ordinates wrong because there is
definitely something up there. For the
tenth time it is in Casseopia. Declination
61 degrees 6 minutes. Right ascension
2 hours 48 minutes. Well that's impossible.
Yes I'm sure. Listen. Listen, I am not
some crackpot phoning in a UFO here.
I happen to be the co-founder of the
Northern (Something?) Amateur Astronomical
Society and I've been tracking this
thing for three nights. Now whatever
it is it is very big, it is very close
and I am not going to shut up about
this until.....
A car drives up and Air Force personnel get out.
TG
Never mind.
BRIEFING ROOM, SGC, CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN
Sam is at the projection screen while Hammond, Jack, Daniel and
Teal'c are sat at the table.
CARTER
This image was generated based on satellite
observations made over the last few
hours. The asteroid has an irregular
shape but we've calculated its length
from end to end to be approximately
137 km.
O'NEILL
I've seen this movie. It hits Paris.
CARTER
Actually Sir, it'll strike somewhere
in the Arctic Circle. Probably Greenland
or the Barren Sea.
DANIEL
And nobody knows this but us? How is
that possible?
CARTER
Well, the asteroid was actually discovered
by a civilian who's since been persuaded
to keep it quiet. The reason no one
else has detected it is that the object's
path is highly atypical. It's a rogue
well outside the plane of the solar
system occupied by the planets in the
asteroid belt. In fact it's a fluke
that anyone saw it at all. We got lucky.
DANIEL
I don't see how in any conceivable way
this is lucky.
CARTER
Well if this had happened 7 or 8 years
ago there would be nothing we could
do. The Stargate opens other options
for us.
O'NEILL
A little help from our friends?
CARTER
Yes sir.
TEAL'C
Perhaps the Tok'ra could be of assistance.
HAMMOND
Unfortunately they've been on the run
since the Goa'uld attacked their base
at Revanna. We've already sent a message
asking for their help but so far there
hasn't been any reply.
O'NEILL
The Asgard owe us a favour.
DANIEL
We could contact them through the Katal
through their Hall of Wisdom.
TEAL'C
According to the treaty with the Goa'uld,
the Asgard cannot prevent natural disasters
from occurring on protected planets.
O'NEILL
Hey, the Goa'uld tried to make the Tollan
send a bomb through the iris. Screw
the treaty.
DANIEL
Well one of our allies will help.
CARTER
I hope your right. Otherwise in 11 days
and 16 hours, all life on Earth will
be wiped out.
TITLES
ASGARD HIGH COUNCIL
Jack is stood in front of the Asgard.
FREYR
I'm afraid the answer is no.
O'NEILL
Come on guys, throw me a bone here.
FREYR
The protected planets treaty leaves
no room for interpretation.
O'NEILL
They tried to attack us.
FREYR
It was the Tollan who attempted to send
the explosive device through your iris.
O'NEILL
By whose order?
FREYR
The System Lords deny any knowledge
of this incident.
O'NEILL
Of course they deny it.
FREYR
The treaty does allow for the arbitration
of such disputes. We would need to assemble
a commission of inquiry consisting of
equal numbers of Asgard and Goa'uld
representatives. We would also need
corroborating testimony from the Tollans.
O'NEILL
Now see, that's gonna be a problem.
Seeing as they've been wiped out by
the Goa'uld.
FREYR
That is unfortunate.
O'NEILL
And Earth gets hit by that rock and
we're all wiped out, that's gonna be
unfortunate too?
FREYR
Very.
BRIEFING ROOM
Hammond and SG1 are sat round the table.
O'NEILL
And after that I kind of lost my temper.
HAMMOND
What exactly does that mean?
DANIEL
Let's just say Jack made a reference
to Freyr's mother.
HAMMOND
We'll discuss Colonel O'Neill's diplomatic
shortcomings later, right now I'd like
to know what options remain.
O'NEILL
I say we nuke it ourselves.
CARTER
We have sufficiently high yield warheads
to deflect it. We don't have a multi-stage
delivery system capable of reaching
the asteroid in time.
DANIEL
Wait a minute, what about the cargo
ship that Jacob and I crashed on Revanna
during the Goa'uld attack. That must
still be there.
O'NEILL
In how many pieces?
CARTER
Our understanding of Goa'uld technology
has improved quite a bit. We might be
able to fix it.
HAMMOND
How much time?
CARTER
Given the right team, maybe a couple
of days.
HAMMOND
I'll assign anyone you need, Major.
DANIEL
Assuming we can fix it, how long will
it take to fly back to Earth?
CARTER
Revanna's not exactly next door. Even
pushing the engines past 100%, it would
take eight, nine days.
TEAL'C
Leaving little margin for error.
HAMMOND
Then let's get started. Dismissed.
Everyone gets up.
HAMMOND
Colonel. I have every confidence in
SG-1's abilities however as a contingency
plan the President has ordered me to
begin Alpha team evacuation through
the Gate. Major Davis will be arriving
shortly from the Pentagon to co-ordinate.
O'NEILL
Yes sir.
HAMMOND
If Major Carter is unable to repair
the cargo ship you will report immediately
to the Alpha site and assume command.
O'NEILL
General?
HAMMOND
No debates on this one Jack, that's
an order.
Hammond walks off.
O'NEILL
Yeah.
GATEROOM
Carter is already in with some technicians working on the bomb
and Jack, Daniel and Teal'c walk in.
CARTER
We're good to go Sir.
O'NEILL
Teal'c, show `em the way.
Teal'c walks up the ramp.
TEAL'C
This way.
Sam, Jack and Daniel stand by the bomb.
DANIEL
This, uh, big enough?
CARTER
Packs twelve hundred enhanced megatonnes.
DANIEL
That's a lot?
CARTER
This is the most powerful warhead ever
created, Daniel. It's the equivalent
of one billion tonnes of TNT.
O'NEILL
That's a lot.
Jack looks at a guy walking away from the Gate.
O'NEILL
Hey. What you doing?
SPELLMAN
I'm sorry, I can't do this. I can give
you a list of some very good engineers.
O'NEILL
Come on Spellman, I do this every day.
SPELLMAN
That's probably because you don't understand
what actually happens to your body when
you go through this thing. I do.
CARTER
We need you for this mission.
SPELLMAN
It defies the laws of physics and you
know it.
O'NEILL
Spellman. You're going.
Sam and Jack push him through and they and Daniel follow him
through.
REVANNA
There's a crashed cargo ship in a field. SG-1 and the engineers
walk towards it.
THE CARGO SHIP
The door opens and the team walk in.
O'NEILL
Doesn't look so bad.
CARTER
Okay, our first priority is auxiliary
power, then it's hyperdrive and life
support.
WEBBER
Right.
SPELLMAN
Is there a rest room? My first priority.
Sam walks off with him.
O'NEILL
Ah, they'll fix it up.
DANIEL
I'm confident.
O'NEILL
Me too.
TEAL'C
As am I.
ASTEROID MOVING TOWARDS EARTH.
CARGO SHIP
Various shots of people doing things.
Spellman is looking through a magnifying glass while Sam looks
at some crystal above him.
Daniel is reading a book leaning on the bomb.
Webber and Guy3 are replacing crystals.
Jack is looking at a flashing crystal and Sam looks over his
shoulder.
Daniel has fallen asleep leaning on the bomb holding his book
and his glasses have slipped down his nose.
Guy3 replaces a crystal and it glows, then goes out.
Spellman is testing the controls.
WEBBER
I looked again and I still can't find
it.
SPELLMAN
Did you check the guidance system?
GUY2
Twice.
CARTER
Okay, guess we'll have to assume there
isn't one on board.
O'NEILL
What?
CARTER
We're about ready to attempt an engine
start, sir.
O'NEILL
Yeah fine. Assume there isn't one what?
CARTER
Recall device.
O'NEILL
The X301? That was you guys?
WEBBER
You have to admit it performed beautifully
right up until the point you and Teal'c
were sent into deep space.
O'NEILL
Yeah.
DANIEL
Nice work.
O'NEILL
Carter?
CARTER
Attempting engines, sir.
She presses the control panel. Some lights come on and then go
off.
O'NEILL
Carter? She tries again. It works the
second time.
CARTER
That's got it Sir. We're good to go.
I'll repair the remaining systems on
the way.
She turns to the engineers.
CARTER
Once you get to the Revanna Gate, dial
the Alpha site. They'll be expecting
you.
SPELLMAN
I think I speak for about six billion
when I say Good Luck.
CARTER
You too.
They turn to leave.
O'NEILL
I'm gonna want to talk to you guys.
CARTER
Teal'c, try to take it easy on the engines
when we take off.
DANIEL
Why?
CARTER
Well I'm just slightly concerned that
if we push them too hard and they burn
out before we reach escape velocity
that... we'll come crashing back to the
planet.
DANIEL
I'm confident.
O'NEILL
Me too.
TEAL'C
As am I.
CONTROL ROOM, SGC, CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN
Hammond and Major Davis walk in.
DAVIS
I appreciate that sir, but if we don't
hear from SG1...
WALTER
We're getting a message, sir. It's SG1.
HAMMOND
You were saying Major?
WALTER
The signal's being relayed through AF
SAT-COM Sir. Audio only.
HAMMOND
Pipe it through Sergeant.
CARTER
...Please respond.
HAMMOND
SG-1, this is General Hammond. Please
respond.
CARTER
Sir, this is Carter. We've just dropped
out of hyperspace and should reach the
asteroid in a few minutes. HAMMOND:
We're relieved to hear that Major. You
sent those engineers to the Alpha site
ten days ago.
CARTER
Ship's barely flying as it is, sir.
We're lucky we made it this far.
HAMMOND
Understood. Proceed with your mission.
CARTER
Yes sir.
CARGO SHIP
SG1 are gathered around the main console.
CARTER
All right. 39 minutes before impact
the asteroid will reach the fail safe
position. Once it's past that point
it will be too close to earth for the
explosion to deflect it. That leaves
us three and a half hours.
DANIEL
So we just drop off the bomb and what?
CARTER
Our scans show the asteroid is potmarked
with impact craters and fissures. We
fly the ship into the deepest crater
we can find at a right angle to its
current trajectory. The crater itself
should help direct the explosive force
of the bomb like a rocket nozzle. When
we're a few metres above the surface
we ring down the MALP with the bomb.
And we land and two of us go EVA.
O'NEILL
That would be me and you.
CARTER
We walk the MALP down into one of the
fissures at the bottom of the crater
to focus as much as the blast as possible.
We set the timer and then we get out
of there.
O'NEILL
Piece of cake.
CARTER
There is one other thing. We're about
to pass through the Leonids. It's a
commentary trail that Earth passes through
periodically. The shields should help
protect the ship but anyone caught outside
is gonna have to find cover, fast.
There's a strange noise.
O'NEILL
What was that?
TEAL'C
I am having difficulty with the sublight
engines.
Another strange noise.
DANIEL
Yes, you are.
CARTER
Sir.
Sam gets up and walks into the back room, Jack follows her. She
goes to a panel and pushes it, opening it. She checks the crystals.
O'NEILL
What is it?
CARTER
It's building up an overload in the
control systems.
O'NEILL
Backups?
CARTER
We don't have any.
The crystals spark and Sam goes down. Jack goes to her.
SGC CONTROL ROOM
WALTER
Sir. We just lost SG1's signal.
HAMMOND
SG1, this is Hammond. Do you read me?
SG1, please respond.
Walter shakes his head.
CARGO SHIP
Jack is propping Sam up.
O'NEILL
How's the head?
Sam looks confused. Teal'c walks in.
TEAL'C
The sublight engines have shut down.
DANIEL
Big asteroid problem here.
The cargo ship is approaching the asteroid too fast.
Sam, Jack and Teal'c walk to the front of the ship.
CARTER
Try using maneuvering thrusters to slow
us down.
DANIEL
I am. It's not working.
Teal'c takes over flying the ship.
TEAL'C
Daniel Jackson is correct. Maneuvering
thrusters appear to be insufficient.
CARTER
They're all we've got.
SGC CONTROL ROOM
DAVIS
Sir. Deep space tracking still has a
fix on the ship but we show them approaching
the asteroid way too fast.
CARGO SHIP
The ship is still approaching the asteroid.
O'NEILL
Any time now.
TEAL'C
Thrusters are at full reverse, O'Neill.
CARTER
We're coming in a lot faster than we
should be.
DANIEL
Yes we are.
CARTER
Faster than we should with thrusters
at maximum. Ninety metres per second.
Eighty. This rate of deceleration isn't
gonna cut it. We're gonna hit.
The ship plummets.
O'NEILL
What happened?
CARTER
We're inside a deep crater. Fifty metres
per second. Forty. Thirty.
The ship plummets but seems to come to a stop a few metres above
the ground.
CARTER
We stopped descending.
SGC CONTROL ROOM
Davis is listening to someone.
DAVIS
No I understand. Thank you. (He turns
to Hammond) Sir. We just got a message
from NASA. According to their latest
calculations, SG1 has crashed into the
asteroid's surface at over sixty metres
per second.
HAMMOND
Do they have confirmation?
DAVIS
No sir. It's an estimate based on the
ship's last known position and trajectory.
HAMMOND
Any chance of survivors?
DAVIS
At that velocity, sir, it's very unlikely.
Sir, if this is true, then the mission
is down. We're out of options. It's
time to call the President.
CARGO SHIP.
SG1 are still gathered near the main console.
CARTER
Sub light drive is down.
TEAL'C
As are shields and communications.
DANIEL
It might be easier to list what is working.
O'NEILL
Bomb?
CARTER
It's good to go Sir. If it comes right
down to it, we can detonate it right
here. What's our position?
DANIEL
Well personally I'm against it. You
wanna know where the ship is, we're
about five metres above the surface
of the bottom of the crater.
TEAL'C
The rings will be functional at that
distance.
CARTER
All right, here goes.
She activates the rings and the MALP is ringed down.
O'NEILL
Let's suit up.
They go into the back and go to the suits. Sam stumbles and Jack
catches her.
O'NEILL
Carter? You all right?
CARTER
I'm fine sir.
O'NEILL
Look, you took a pretty good shot. Why
don't you sit this one out?
CARTER
No, I'm fine really.
O'NEILL
Teal'c and I can handle it.
CARTER
Yes sir.
HAMMOND'S OFFICE
Hammond is on the red phone.
HAMMOND
No sir. There's been no response on
the radio. But if they crashed there
should have been visible evidence, we
found nothing. Frankly sir, if SG1 survived
and they manage to complete their mission
then no one needs to know any of this
happened. If not, there's nothing anyone
can do that will make the slightest
bit of difference. Going public now
would only serve to create panic. Yes
sir, I know how you feel. My place is
here. Thank you Mr President.
CARGO SHIP AIRLOCK
The door opens and Jack and Teal'c move into the airlock suited
up. Teal'c shuts the door.
TEAL'C
Depressurizing airlock.
CARTER
(on radio) Sir, once you're off the
ship you'll experience very little gravity.
But the asteroid's surface is mostly
iron and your boots are magnetized so
you shouldn't go spinning off into space.
O'NEILL
Well that's very reassuring there Carter.
Thank you very much.
TEAL'C
Depressurization complete. Opening outer
door.
They walk out and the door shuts behind them.
O'NEILL
I'll drive.
They start to walk off with O'Neill controlling the MALP. They
go into a cave.
CARGO SHIP
Daniel and Sam are sitting down. Sam is typing on a computer.
DANIEL
What is it?
CARTER
Well our approach to the asteroid was
a lot faster than it should have been
even on thrusters only. I'm gonna check
something.
ASTEROID
TEAL'C
We can proceed no further.
O'NEILL
Then this'll do.
Jack sets the timer for 2 hours.
O'NEILL
Weapon is armed.
They walk off back towards the cargo ship.
CARGO SHIP
CARTER
Something's not right. The asteroid's
gravitational field is way stronger
than we thought.
DANIEL
So?
CARTER
Gravity is determined by mass and mass
is determined by size and composition.
DANIEL
So?
CARTER
So the core of the asteroid must be
made up of something a lot heavier than
nickel and iron.
DANIEL
So, what was that?
We hear a bang.
CARTER
We're passing through the Leonids way
sooner than I expected.
Sam grabs her radio.
CARTER
Colonel O'Neill, what's your position?
O'NEILL
We're almost out of the cave.
CARTER
Better stay where you are Sir. We're
taking meteor hits.
O'NEILL
Carter, any chance of getting those
shields in play here?
CARTER
We're working on it Sir. Stand by. Daniel,
try to re-route power from the hyper
drive. Bypass systems are all blown.
A rock hits the roof of the ship.
CARTER
Hull breach! We're venting atmosphere.
ASTEROID
O'NEILL
Carter. Any progress on those shields?
CARTER
Stand by, sir.
Daniel starts to burn something and the smoke drifts towards
the breach.
CARTER
That's it.
Another crash is heard.
DANIEL
And now there's two more.
ASTEROID
O'NEILL
Carter! Daniel! This is O'Neill. Please
respond. Carter!
TEAL'C
It appears the meteor storm has subsided.
O'NEILL
Go.
They walk towards the ship.
O'NEILL
Carter. Carter, Daniel? Report.
They go inside.
TEAL'C
O'Neill. These readings indicate zero
atmosphere within the ship.
O'NEILL
Hull breach?
TEAL'C
If that is indeed the case Major Carter
and Daniel Jackson could not have survived.
O'NEILL
Open it.
Teal'c opens the door and they walk in. They look round. Jack
walks into the back and sees nothing. Teal'c walks to the control
panel and pulls up a screen which indicates where the hull breaches
are.
O'NEILL
I got nothing Teal'c.
TEAL'C
The hull has been damaged in several
places.
Jack turns around and see the escape pods.
TEAL'C
What are you considering O'Neill?
Jack puts his hand on a pod and kicks it with his foot. We hear
someone kicking back.
O'NEILL
They're in the escape pods.
TEAL'C
I have identified the breached areas
of the hull. We can begin repairs immediately.
Jack kicks the pod again and rests his hand on it to feel the
vibrations.
O'NEILL
All right.
HAMMOND'S OFFICE
Janet walks up and knocks.
FRAISER
General?
HAMMOND
Doctor? Shouldn't you be off world by
now?
FRAISER
I'm leaving with the next group Sir.
Your name isn't on the list Sir.
HAMMOND
That's correct.
FRAISER
May I ask why?
HAMMOND
If that asteroid hits, the only chance
for the survival of the human race will
rest with the Alpha site. We limited
their number because they'll have limited
resources. Everyone will have to contribute.
FRAISER
Your experience makes you more than
qualified, Sir.
HAMMOND
I appreciate what you're trying to do,
Doctor, but my decision is final.
FRAISER
Yes, Sir.
CARGO SHIP
Jack presses some button and the escape pods open.
Daniel and Sam step out.
O'NEILL
Hey kids, how you feeling?
DANIEL
Not bad, under the circumstances.
O'NEILL
That's great. Let's go.
CARTER
Sir, I don't think we should leave just
yet.
DANIEL
Don't look at me. Something to do with
gravity or something.
CARTER
It's too high, Sir. At least it's higher
than it should be. I need to reconfigure
the ship's sensors to determine what
the core is made of.
O'NEILL
Oh here we go.
CARTER
I'm sorry Sir.
O'NEILL
Oh come on, we came, we saw, we planted
a bomb, we had a little fun with a meteor
shower, we went home. It's a great story.
Isn't it?
Daniel and Teal'c just look away.
CARGO SHIP
CARTER
I was right.
DANIEL
This could be a problem.
TEAL'C
Indeed.
O'NEILL
I don't wanna hear it.
CARTER
Sir, the asteroid's core is composed
almost entirely of naqahdah.
O'NEILL
Of course it is.
CARTER
It makes up about 45% of the total mass.
DANIEL
Of course it does.
TEAL'C
Naqahdah does not occur naturally in
this solar system.
CARTER
Which is why I never even thought to
look for it. Sir, this whole thing must
have been a Goa'uld set up.
DANIEL
Circumvent the protected planets treaty
with the Asgard. It's almost unthinkable.
O'NEILL
What?
CARTER
The Goa'uld brought the asteroid here
and set it on a collision course to
make it look a natural disaster.
DANIEL
They knew the only way we could stop
it would be with a nuke.
O'NEILL
So, what happens when that bomb goes
off?
CARTER
Well, the explosion will be enhanced
by the naqahdah, probably to the force
of a small nova. This close to Earth,
it would be enough to set the atmosphere
on fire and boil the oceans.
O'NEILL
Okay, this was not in the movie.
DANIEL
If we deactivate the bomb, the asteroid
goes past the fail safe point, there's
no turning back, are you absolutely
sure about this?
CARTER
Well I can't be a hundred percent.
O'NEILL
We don't have a lot of choices here.
DANIEL
It's what I'm saying, we're damned if
we do, we're damned if we don't. We
need other options.
TEAL'C
The presence of the asteroid itself
may be sufficient evidence of a treaty
violation.
DANIEL
Right, the Asgard could intervene.
CARTER
We have no way to tell them.
O'NEILL
We do if you get that radio back online.
Teal'c, suit up.
ASTEROID
Jack and Teal'c go outside back to the bomb.
CARGO SHIP
CARTER
Okay, try it now.
DANIEL
Stargate Command, this is SG1, do you
read, over. Nothing.
CARTER
I don't know what else to do. The radio's
working short range but there's no way
the signal can penetrate this much solid
naqahdah.
ASTEROID
Jack and Teal'c approach the bomb. There's a piece of meteor
embedded in the timer.
O'NEILL
Oh crap.
Teal'c takes the rock off and Jack enters the deactivation code.
It doesn't stop the timer.
TEAL'C
The bomb has yet to be deactivated.
O'NEILL
I can see that Teal'c.
Jack tries again unsuccessfully.
TEAL'C
Perhaps the code is incorrect.
O'NEILL
Yeah. Carter, come in.
CARTER
Go ahead.
O'NEILL
Confirm the deactivation code for me
will ya.
CARTER
Zero, three, three, one, zero, three,
one, zero.
Jack enters the code and it doesn't deactivate.
O'NEILL
Yeah, that's it. Nothing.
CARTER
Is there a problem, Sir?
O'NEILL
Well there was a cave in, it seems to
have damaged the keypad, it's not accepting
the code. Other than that, everything's
fine.
CARTER
How much time is left exactly?
O'NEILL
Under three minutes.
CARTER
Sir, you're gonna have to open up the
bomb and deactivate it manually.
Teal'c gets the tool out from the back and hands it to Jack.
CARTER
First thing you need to do is remove
the casing around the timer. There should
be two screws.
O'NEILL
I got `em.
He unscrews them.
O'NEILL
Got it.
CARTER
Now find the wires leading from the
timer to the detonator and cut the red
one.
Teal'c hands Jack the pliers and he moves to cut the wire.
O'NEILL
Carter, they're all yellow.
CARTER
Say again?
O'NEILL
There are five wires and they're all
yellow. Maybe I should cut `em all.
CARTER
Uh, the thing is Sir, if you interrupt
the wrong circuit it's basically the
same as telling the bomb that the timer's
reached zero.
O'NEILL
I knew that.
CARTER
I'm sorry Sir, you're just gonna have
to cut them randomly.
O'NEILL
Yeah, I knew that too.
Jack cuts the middle wire, the timer keeps going. He cuts the
bottom wire and the timer continues. He cuts the fourth wire
from the top and the timer keeps going.
CARTER
How's it coming Sir?
O'NEILL
I've cut three. I've got two to go.
He moves to cut the second wire from the top and then pauses.
O'NEILL
You know, I'd like to take this opportunity
to say that this is a very poorly designed
bomb and I think we should say something
to somebody when we get back.
CARTER
I agree Sir.
Jack hovers over the second wire and suddenly decides to cut
the top wire. The timer goes off.
CARTER
Sir?
O'NEILL
WE'RE STILL HERE. GATEROOM
We see Janet and some others waiting.
SGC CONTROL ROOM
DAVIS
Twenty seconds to fail safe.
HAMMOND
Still no word from SG1?
WALTER
No, Sir.
DAVIS
Ten seconds. (We see the counter pass
fail safe) Asteroid has passed fail
safe.
HAMMOND
Very well. Major, Sergeant, take your
positions with the last alpha group.
That's an order, Sergeant.
WALTER
Yes, sir.
DAVIS
General.
HAMMOND
I haven't been relieved of this command,
Major.
DAVIS
Yes, sir. Good luck.
Davis leaves.
CARGO SHIP JACK AND TEAL'C WALK IN.
O'NEILL
We get communications back yet?
CARTER
Sorry Sir, we tried. The only way would
be to pull the components we used to
fix the hyperdrive. It would take hours.
O'NEILL
What then?
DANIEL
Well we have a couple of options. Number
one, we give up. Use what's left of
power and life support to make it to
the nearest unoccupied Gate world. Small
chance we'd make it. From there we head
to the Alpha site.
O'NEILL
Number two?
DANIEL
We take off and hope that our radio
signal can be picked up by the Asgard
in time to inform them that this was
a Goa'uld attack disguised as a natural
disaster.
CARTER
There not enough time for that.
DANIEL
I know.
O'NEILL
Is there a number three?
CARTER
There's no three.
DANIEL
Well maybe there is. Teal'c, you said
naqahdah wasn't native to our solar
system. Which means that the Goa'uld
must have towed it through hyperspace
by ship.
TEAL'C
A mothership.
CARTER
Daniel, that's it.
O'NEILL
What's it?
DANIEL
We don't have a mothership.
CARTER
The effect only has to last a few seconds.
O'NEILL
What.. only has to last a few seconds?
What?
CARTER
Choice three, Sir. We expand the ship's
hyperspace field to encompass the entire
asteroid. We take it out of normal space
long enough to avoid the collision with
Earth.
O'NEILL
Is there a four?
CARTER
I know it sounds far-fetched Sir, and
it is.
O'NEILL
You wanna ride an asteroid through Earth?
DANIEL
Yes.
CARTER
To the outside observer, it would disappear
on one side and reappear on the other.
The problem is, it would take every
ounce of power we've got. The field
would have to be expanded far beyond
its usual envelope. It could cause the
engines to explode.
O'NEILL
Explode?
CARTER
Even if we survived the engine overload
sir, we wouldn't be able to take off
again. We'd have a couple of hours of
life support and that's it.
O'NEILL
But you think this is the best shot
we have of stopping this rock?
CARTER
Yes Sir, I think so.
O'NEILL
Well that's the plan then.
SGC CONTROL ROOM
Hammond is watching the countdown go under a minute. He then
turns and walks away.
CARGO SHIP
CARTER
I really need more time to make the
calculations.
O'NEILL
Well Carter, now might be a good time.
CARTER
Almost.
DANIEL
Now?
CARTER
If I engage too soon we'll reappear
right inside the Earth.
Jack looks out of a window.
O'NEILL
Carter, I can see my house!
CARTER
Engaging hyperdrive now!
The asteroid goes into hyperspace and reappears on the other
side of the Earth.
CARTER
We're there.
TEAL'C
The navigational computer confirms we
have emerged from hyperspace on the
other side of the planet.
O'NEILL
Yep, plan three. Works every time.
We see the asteroid continue on past the moon.
HAMMOND'S OFFICE
Hammond is on the red phone.
HAMMOND
Yes Mr President. Yes Sir. Well from
what NASA and SATCOM are telling me
it looks like the asteroid just disappeared.
I don't know Sir, it may have been the
Asgard but it's my opinion SG1 had something
to do with it.
CARGO SHIP
Daniel and Teal'c are sat on the chairs while Sam and Jack lie
on the floor.
DANIEL
So, two hours of life support. Then
what?
O'NEILL
Hammond'll find us.
DANIEL
I'm confident.
CARTER
Me too.
TEAL'C
As am I.
Alarms go off. Sam and Jack get up.
TEAL'C
Sensors are picking up a vessel approaching.
It appears to be another cargo ship.
CARTER
Goa'uld?
TEAL'C
I do not know. The ship has taken up
position directly above us.
The screen pops up.
JALEN
I am Jalen of the Tok'ra. We received
your distress call and came as fast
as we could. Can we render assistance?
O'NEILL
Well, you know, it's not like we don't
have everything totally under control.
But, sure, render away.
THE END
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