STARGATE SG1
Episode 303
"FAIR GAME"
By
Robert C. Cooper
The Gateroom Hammond is standing at the top of the ramp talking
to SG1, who are standing down the side of the ramp, and other
personnel standing in the Gateroom.
HAMMOND
You have fought with valour and courage,
sacrificed for each other, for this
country, for this planet. To honour
the men and women of the SGC, I present
Arthur Simms, the Secretary of Defense
of the United States of America.
SIMMS
Since the re-inception of this programme,
I have eagerly awaited every word of
every mission report stemming from this
base like a wide eyed child waiting
for his next bed time story. Not actually
being here, seeing your faces or this
Stargate here behind me it is sometimes
easy to forget that it's all really
happening. The President regrets not
being able to be here but I'm glad because
it gives me the opportunity to congratulate
you on your recent effort in defeating
a formidable enemy and rescuing SG1,
captured in the line of duty. You risk
your lives every day in a way more dangerous
and fantastic than any of us could have
ever dreamed. Understand that I represent
every person of this great nation when
I salute your ongoing heroic spirit.
You should be proud.
HAMMOND
Before we finish today I have one other
small bit of business. Please come to
attention. From the Vice Chief of Staff
of the Air Force in recognition of Captain
Samantha Carter's outstanding work I
hereby authorise her immediate promotion
to the rank of major. Captain, step
forward.
Sam walks up the rank where General Hammond takes off her Captains
bars.
HAMMOND
The United States Air Force recognises
that you have fulfilled tasks and duties
well beyond the responsibility of captain.
Jack has moved forward and attaches the oakleaf on her left shoulder
while Hammond does her right.
HAMMOND
It is with great pleasure that I bestow
upon you the responsibilities, the respect
and the rank of Major.
CARTER
Thank you Sir. Sam salutes Hammond and
turns to Jack who shakes her hand and
salutes as well.
O'NEILL
Well done Major.
Sam smiles and walks back to her place.
HAMMOND
In closing, Major Carter's supervisor,
Colonel Jack O'Neill would like to say
a few words.
Jack walks to the podium.
O'NEILL
Normally, I am a man of very few words.
A bright light suddenly appears and
engulfs Jack, beaming him somewhere.
HAMMOND
Code Nine!
A ship orbiting Earth
O'NEILL
And in conclusion, I'd like to say..
Suddenly realising he's not in Kansas any more, Jack stops and
looks around. Behind him, Thor suddenly beams in.
THOR
Greetings Jack O'Neill.
O'NEILL
Greetings. Have we met?
THOR
I am Thor.
OPENING CREDITS
Thor's ship
THOR
I apologise for taking you by surprise,
but I have come on a matter of great
importance.
O'NEILL
We're in orbit around Earth, right?
THOR
Yes.
O'NEILL
You know, we have satellites and telescopes
that can see things like space ships.
THOR
Our ships have never been detected in
orbit around Earth before.
O'NEILL
Hm. All right. I'm sorry. You were saying
something. A matter of great importance?
THOR
We received word of what transpired
with your people and the goa'uld named
Hathor.
O'NEILL
She had it coming.
THOR
As a result, the Goa'uld System Lords
have turned their attention towards
you.
O'NEILL
What, for killing Hathor? They should
be thanking us. She was planning to
overthrow them.
THOR
Her intentions are irrelevant. Earth
has once again proven it can be a formidable
threat to the Goa'uld.
O'NEILL
Oh, now, we're a threat to them?
THOR
They have decided it is a concern to
be dealt with. The System Lords are
capable of launching and assault one
hundred times more powerful than that
you previously withstood at the hands
of Apophis.
O'NEILL
Okay, uh, that could be a problem.
THOR
The Asgard agree. I have come to offer
our assistance.
O'NEILL
Now see that would be appreciated. I've
seen your work. It's great.
THOR
The vast majority of the Asgard fleet
is currently unavailable.
O'NEILL
Oh. So what d'you have in mind?
THOR
With your permission the Asgard will
attempt to negotiate with the Goa'uld
System Lords to include Earth in the
Protected Planets Treaty.
O'NEILL
That's a good thing right?
THOR
it would prevent this attack.
O'NEILL
Good. Uh, to be honest with you, I'd
rather have a fleet of you ships here.
A few of these babies and we could just.
We could try the negotiating thing.
THOR
I will contact the System Lords. You
may return to your planet now. Thor
beams out.
O'NEILL
Excuse me? I assume someone's gonna
show me the way back? He is beamed out.
O'NEILL
Thank you.
The Briefing Room Hammond, Jack, Sam, Daniel and Teal'c are walking
up the steps.
HAMMOND
Why would the Goa'uld agree to this
negotiation?
TEAL'C
The Goa'uld fear the Asgard.
DANIEL
Plus I assume the Asgard would offer
the Goa'uld something in return, that's
generally the way negotiations work.
HAMMOND
Well what if the summit fails?
O'NEILL
Well Thor said that's pretty much the
only option he could offer. If it fails.
total annihilation.
HAMMOND
Well the President is wondering how
confident we are in trusting the Asgard.
CARTER
The Tok'ra trust them.
DANIEL
They helped Jack out when he got the
Ancients language downloaded into his
brain.
O'NEILL
You gotta love 'em for that.
HAMMOND
But we know very little about the politics
out there. How do we know the Asgard
truly have our best interests at heart?
O'NEILL
I suppose we don't. But if they have
any other agenda in mind.
Thor suddenly beams in.
HAMMOND
Colonel, do we need Security?
O'NEILL
No I'll vouch for him Sir. Major Samantha
Carter. Dr Daniel Jackson. You remember
Thor? Thor, this is Teal'c and Major
General George Hammond. He's the leader
of our facility here.
THOR
The System Lords have agreed to negotiate.
O'NEILL
That's good news.
THOR
They will arrive in four days.
O'NEILL
Here?
THOR
It is customary for such negotiations
to take place on the planet in question.
Three representatives from the System
Lords will arrive by Stargate. You must
be prepared to speak on behalf of all
the inhabitants of Earth.
O'NEILL
Uh well maybe not me, personally.
THOR
We have chosen you, O'Neill, to represent
your planet at the proceedings.
O'NEILL
Now, see, that could be a mistake. You
see, Dr Jackson here is an extremely
educated and articulate man. Very well
versed in all the languages.
THOR
You have led your people into the galaxy
through the Stargate. You are our choice,
O'Neill. Further instructions to aid
you in your preparation will follow.
Thor beams out.
O'NEILL
Well, there you go.
Briefing Room Daniel is stood by the projector screen telling
everyone else including Jack, Sam, Teal'c, Janet, Hammond and
Simms about the 3 Goa'ulds that will be arriving.
DANIEL
Cronus was amongst the earliest Greek
Gods, one of 12 Titans who eventually
ascended to supreme domination. He was
god of Fate and eventually became father
to Zeus, Hera, Poseidon and Hades. Now
this last relationship may indicate
a connection to the Goa'uld Sokar.
TEAL'C
Cronus is the most influential of the
System Lords. It was he who originally
banished Sokar. Cronus was also a mortal
enemy of Apophis.
DANIEL
Which may indicate why the System Lords
didn't join in Apophis' attack on Earth.
TEAL'C
The System Lords reluctantly banded
together to defend Goa'uld territory
against outside threats such as the
Asgard and Reetou. However they still
battle amongst themselves for control
of their own individual domains.
DANIEL
The second Goa'uld representative we're
expecting is.. Yu.
O'NEILL
Me?
DANIEL
Yu is the name of the Goa'uld.
O'NEILL
Ah. Sorry.
DANIEL
Also known as Yu the Great. He did not
assume the role of a God per se but
may have been one of China's earliest
emperors. Legend says he possessed great
mythical powers and sprang into the
world from a dragon's body. Ancient
scrolls say he founded the first recorded
dynasty whose advances came about under
harsh rule. However it should be noted
that Yu did account for a number of
positive influences.
O'NEILL
Thank you.
Daniel looks at him.
O'NEILL
Sorry.
DANIEL
According to Thor's message, Yu is the
most likely to favour this treaty, as
his interests no longer reside in this
area of the galaxy.
HAMMOND
And the third Goa'uld Dr Jackson?
DANIEL
Another one we haven't met but have
a certain familiarity with. For those
in the room that don't know, Nirrti
is the Goa'uld who wiped out all but
one survivor of P8X 987 along with four
members of the SGC in an attempt to
destroy Earth's Stargate.
CARTER
Cassandra's planet.
DANIEL
Little is known about Nirrti from Earth's
perspective. In early Hindu reference
she was a destructive goddess of Darkness.
CARTER
So we're gonna let these Goa'uld just
walk in here?
HAMMOND
There are a number of aspects of this
situation I'm not comfortable with Major.
Thank you Dr Jackson. Teal'c, I would
like you to act as liason to the Goa'uld.
Dr Jackson..
TEAL'C
General Hammond.
HAMMOND
Is there a problem?
TEAL'C
I mean no disrespect, but I have given
my allegiance to you, to the SGC and
to the people of this world freely.
I will not, however, not see to the
petty needs of these Goa'uld.
DANIEL
I'll see to the petty needs of the Goa'uld,
Sir.
HAMMOND
Okay, Dr Jackson. Teal'c, you will assist
Major Castleman with base security.
According to Thor, treaty law will not
permit weapons of any kind in this facility
during negotiations.
O'NEILL
Whoa! Sir, that doesn't sound wise.
HAMMOND
We're largely trusting the Asgard based
on your word Colonel. This is their
rule. As a result the base is completely
sealed off from the surface. The Secretary
of Defense will be staying to represent
the President. Storage room 12A on Level
17 will be converted to a meeting room
for security reasons. You've all received
folders that include your individual
assignments as preparation instructions
as laid out by the Asgard. There's a
lot of work to do people, and not much
time.
Room within the SGC A woman inputs a code into a safe and takes
out a tray. She passes it to Sam who takes the Goa'uld hand device
off it and hands it to man. She then gives him the harakesh from
In the Line of Duty and passes the trays back to the woman.
SERGEANT
What about that one Major?
CARTER
This is a Goa'uld healing device. Those
two are the weapons.
Corridor within the SGC Jack walks along to catch up with Hammond.
O'NEILL
General!
HAMMOND
Colonel, how are your briefings going?
O'NEILL
I had no idea how exciting diplomacy
could be Sir. What's this about?
HAMMOND
I'm not sure. It's Teal'c. They reach
Teal'c. HAMMOND: Teal'c, Sergeant, what's
the problem? SERGEANT: He won't relinquish
his weapon Sir. O'NEILL: Teal'c? TEAL'C:
Like you I do not believe we should
remove all weapons from this base. HAMMOND:
The Asgard were explicit. If they detect
weapons, there will be no summit. O'NEILL:
No summit, no treaty. TEAL'C: The Goa'uld
that you are allowing through your Stargate
are amongst the most deceptive and treacherous
that I have ever known. HAMMOND: Thor
assures us the Goa'ulds are also forbidden
from bringing weapons. O'NEILL: If this
treaty doesn't happen, they're gonna
send a hundred of those motherships
here. You know as well as I do what
that means. HAMMOND: Teal'c, I'm ordering
you to turn your weapon over. Teal'c
looks at Jack and reluctantly turns
the staff weapon over.
BRIEFING ROOM DANIEL
Are we seriously going to give up Gate
travel? HAMMOND: Considering the alternative..
SIMMS: I believe that ring out there
is the single most important thing on
this planet. And I understand what losing
the Gate would mean. But is on your
word we trust these Asgard. Peaceful
solutions to this crisis must be considered.
O'NEILL: True, but. CARTER: The point
is, sir, with all due respect, it's
not nearly as simple as you put it.
TEAL'C: There are other threats to this
world that this treaty will not protect
you from. O'NEILL: From what my buddy
Thor tells me, an enemy far worse than
the Goa'uld. SIMMS: If any of you can
tell me absolutely why we should not
accept this proposal, I will forward
your opinion to the President. And I
assure you it will be given serious
weight.
THOR'S SHIP THOR
Have your people reached a decision?
O'NEILL: Um, not yet. That's kinda why
I'm here. I was wondering what you think
we should do. THOR: It is your decision.
O'NEILL: I see. Or do I? You guys, do
you ever say one thing and mean another?
Kinda speak between the lines, if you
know what I mean? THOR: I do not. O'NEILL:
Do not what? Speak between the lines
or understand? THOR: What do you, O'Neill,
think your people should do? O'NEILL:
Well, see, I don't know. It's a bit
much for one guy to make that call for
an entire planet. On the other hand,
it's pretty obvious. Give up the Stargate
or be destroyed. THOR: So it would seem.
O'NEILL: But you see, the Goa'uld could
call your bluff, attack us anyway and
we'd have given up our only means of
finding a way to defend ourselves. THOR:
That is true. O'NEILL: Oh come on! Gimme
something! Anything! I won't hold you
to it. A little head nod if there's
another way around this. THOR: It is
your planet at stake. I believe you
have it within you to make the right
decision. O'NEILL: All right. Send me
back. Wait! Right there! Is that a head
nod? A nod is usually down then back
up. You kinda just went down. Wait!
Thor beams Jack down.
THOR'S SHIP THOR
You must let them take Cronus. O'NEILL:
They'll attack us! THOR: If you hold
them against their will, the rest of
the System Lords will attack regardless.
O'NEILL: Look, Teal'c didn't do this.
THOR: I have been instructed by the
Asgard High Council to leave Earth's
orbit. O'NEILL: And that's what, in
line with your policy of limited benevolence?
THOR: I have explained our position.
To borrow from a human euphemism, it
is not a perfect galaxy. O'NEILL: Well
I'm sorry, I get a little testy when
faced with the total annihilation of
our little corner of it. THOR: We sympathise
with your situation. O'NEILL: Right.
And yet you'll still just sit by and
watch 'em destroy us. THOR: We cannot
interfere without beginning a much larger
war that cannot be won at this time.
STORAGE ROOM 12A YU
I command that you release us. NIRRTI:
We must leave now and take Cronus before
his death is on your heads. HAMMOND:
I'm sorry. I can't let you go. NIRRTI:
If we do not report back, your planet
will suffer the full force of the System
Lord's wrath. HAMMOND: That's going
to happen whether we let you go or not.
YU: You have violated every code mandated
for these negotiations! The Asgard will
not protect you! O'NEILL: Actually you're
wrong about something. There's one rule
we haven't broken yet. Four SF's come
in heavily armed.
THE END
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