US Airdate : 11 February 2000
UK Airdate : 9 February 2000
Summary
During a return visit to Tollana, when the Tollans refuse to trade their advanced
technology, Jack steals a piece shocking the rest of SG-1.
When the Tollana demand their technology back, O'Neill complains vocally and chooses to
retire. Soon after, he is approached by Colonel Maybourne, with an interesting
proposal....
Synopsis by Katana
On Tollana Daniel is addressing Travell "Your eminence our government has asked us
to return to Tollana to arrange formal diplomatic relations with your people.
"Consider it done you are after all you are the people who saved us from the
Gou'ald", she tells him.
Daniel asks to trade technology, that is refused, Tollan law forbids it. Daniel tries
to debate the point.
Jack asks for an Ion cannon, to defend against the Gou'ald. Travell reckons that we
would be likely to use that against enemies on our own planet.
Jack says he will give his word that will never happen.
"Are you the commander of your entire nation?" she asks
Jack has no choice but to admit "no"
"Then in Truth you cannot guarantee it" Travell states.
" You know what forget it! " Jack feels they are wasting their time there,
Daniel tries to protest, Jack leaves.
The others follow, in the corridor an irritated Jack, spots a weapons disabler, despite
the protests of the others he removes it.
At the briefing back at the SGC they pass the technology around.
Hammond is really pleased, he asks what was given in return.
Nothing, "Offered us a nice fruit basket, " quips Jack
Hammond is confused, SG1 hesitate, unsure whether to speak out, then Jack confesses,
"I took it sir "
"You stole it!" Hammond exclaims.
Jack is nonchalant "I like to think of it as borrowed sir, Major Carter can figure
out how to reproduce it and we'll give it back."
"I can't believe what I'm hearing you and your team stole an alien, device from an
extremely advanced alien culture."
"They won't retaliate if that's what you re worried about, " he looks across
the table, "not their way right Daniel?"
"This command has already been accused of stealing from several other alien
cultures. Colonel till now we have denied it, perhaps that was a bit premature. Dare I ask
how many other items you have stolen?"
"None" He's unconcerned, "this is the first "
"Colonel you don't seem to understand how serious this matter is you and your team
have committed a court martialable offence"
"To be fair, General, I did it, Carter and Daniel protested, and Teal'c well he
didn't really say anything but I could tell that he was opposed to my actions by the way
he cocked his head and sort of raised his eyebrow…"
"Enough Colonel, " Hammond cuts him off. He orders Daniel Sam and Teal'c to
return the device immediately to the Tollan.
"Why?" questions Jack, " Our core mission is to go through that gate and
find technology we can use to defend against Gou'ald incursion." He is getting very
heated, " am I right?"
Hammond is not impressed, "You are bordering on insubordination, we do not steal
from friends."
Jack angrily interrupts, "with no due respect General that's just plain
stupid"
"Colonel!"
"And since the Pentagon won't approve our back up programme." Well that's
news to Daniel, his face shows he's never heard of that one before.
Now Jack and Hammond are shouting
"We have no choice to take whatever steps we need to get what we need." Jack
insists.
"As long as I am in command of the SGC we will hold ourselves to the highest
ethical standards
Jack continues, voice still rising "And when the Gou'ald wipe us out because we
have nothing with which to defend ourselves I'm sure we'll all feel great about ourselves,
and our high moral standards."
Sam glares horrified at his outburst.
Hammond has had enough " Colonel O'Neill you are out of line! Stand down!"
Jack obeys the order.
Hammond relieves him of duty and orders him to the infirmary.
"No holding cell sir? " he defiantly questions.
"That could very well be your next stop if you say another word "
In the background we heard the incoming traveller alarms, as Hammond asks Teal'c to
escort Jack to the infirmary.
Hammond tells Teal'c that he is no longer under Jack's command. He understands.
The incoming travellers are the Tollans they easily pass through the closed iris using
their technology.
Daniel welcomes them and introduces Hammond; they are not happy campers. They want
their stolen property back and all diplomatic relations are off. Daniel pleads with them.
Jack is undergoing tests in the infirmary, Janet has found nothing so far she reels off
a list of tests and ones she is still waiting results for. Jack attempts to leave Teal'c
bars the way. Jack attempts to order him to move. The confrontation is stopped by a
message from Hammond via Janet; he wants to see him in his office. Teal'c lets him pass.
They meet Sam on the way; he acknowledges her but keeps walking
" Sir" she calls after him.
"What?" he snaps
"Is there anything I can do? She asks
" About?
"Well sir with respect you weren't acting like yourself"
"No Carter I haven't been acting like myself since I met you, " he coldly
replies " now I'm acting like myself." He walks off. Sam stares after him in
disbelief.
Passing through the briefing room, Jack sees the Tollans, " Well look who's here,
come to retrieve your vastly superior stuff." They walk past ignoring him, he
continues, " It would be a lot more superior if it wasn't so easy to steal."
Hammond calls him into the office, with Teal'c as a witness, he tells Jack he has
really crossed the line. Jack apologises for his insubordination to a senior officer,
Hammond has no choice it is court martialable situation, he has to press charges however
he has a suggestion, he offers Jack early retirement. Jack protests, Hammond has a whole
list of other offences, Jack accepts. "Guess I'm retiring" he confirms.
Later the retired Jack is in his house playing Chess by himself, the doorbell rings;
it's Daniel!
"Hi!" Daniel
"What do you want?" Jack demands
"I'm not sure to tell you the truth To talk I guess"
"So talk", still standing in the doorway, Jack takes a slug from his beer
bottle
"You got another one of those?" Daniel indicates the beer.
"Yeah"
"Feel like sharing?"
"Beer?" Sure, he goes back inside, Daniel follows
As Jack emerges from the Kitchen, Daniel asks, "so, howya feeling about all
this?"
"Yes to the beer, no to the feelings"
"That's too bad because I don't really like beer"
Jack hands him a bottle "Stop your worrying I'm fine", they sit
Daniel puts the untouched beer on the table, "Really that's funny cos I didn't
figure you for the early retirement type anymore."
Jack drinks and shrugs
"There's another reason you're angry isn't there?" Daniel suggests
"Oh here we go pop psyche 101 right?"
"No," raising a finger, "when we were in the briefing, you said
something about the Pentagon not giving us the back up we requested. What?… What were
you talking about?"
Jack thinks for a moment. "Hammond and I were planning a secondary SGC base off
world it was going to serve as a back up in case ours was attacked I was going to
command".
"And the pentagon pulled the plug?"
Jack nods
Daniel tries to understand, "So you're acting out because you're hurt because you
didn't get a command"
"Give me a break Daniel, Their denial of the programme was just another indication
that they're not serious about attaining our goals"
"Which you think is attaining the weapons and technology?"
"Protecting ourselves"
"But isn't our mission also about establishing and maintaining diplomatic
relations with other cultures?"
"What's the point if we don't gain anything to help our other interests?"
"Well there's a lot we could learn from people like the Tollan that has nothing to
do with technology and weapons"
"Stuff that interests people like you Daniel, not people like me"
Daniel just stares at him
"I want to see tangible gains from our efforts and if people like the Tollan don't
want to share we should just take "
"You really believe that?"
"Being sweet and nice isn't going to stop 3 or 4 Gou'ald mother ships if they
decide to come back again. I'd rather be a thief and alive and than honest and dead, it's
a cliché but there it is"
"If you really believe that I guess err I guess I never really knew you at
all"
"Come on you're a bright guy you had to sense some of this?" He tilts his
head questioningly.
Daniel has no reply
"But no I guess you couldn't relate to me any more than I could relate to
you"
"So this whole this whole friendship thing we're been working on the last few
years…"
Jack cuts in, "Apparently not much of a foundation there huh?"
Daniel visibly upset just stares at Jack who takes another slug of beer then without
another word he picks up his jacket and leaves.
Later Jack is still playing chess with himself, once again the bell rings, this time
it's Colonel Maybourne He has an offer for Jack he can arrange for him to lead a team that
would go through the gate to acquire whatever they want whenever they want. Jack refuses,
however Maybourne leaves his pager number.
Back at the SGC, SG1 is to be assigned it's new CO. the team discuss who it will be.
It's Colonel Makepeace, because he is the most senior officer in the field. . Daniel
protests surely Sam deserves to be in charge of SG1, Hammond says that Major is a far cry
from Colonel.
Makepeace addresses his new team "I'm proud to join you folks I hope you can trust
my command as much as you did Colonel O'Neill's"
"I'm sure we will sir" The slick military response from Sam
Daniel however is more honest "I never really trusted Jack's command but, " a
small smile, "I'm open"
One week later Jack contacts Maybourne, as he arrives Jack is siting outside listening
to opera and reading a comic. He tells Maybourne that yes he interested in his offer.
Aboard a plane 30, 000feet in the sir, Maybourne produces a Gou'ald communication device.
He uses it to contact the temporary commander of the unit he wants Jack to run. Jack
recognises him as the kid they saw in Utah escaping through the second Stargate
(Touchstone) The mission of the unit is acquire tech and weapons for earth by any means. .
Although Jack never thought he would agree about anything with Maybourne he does on this
and he's ready.
Makepeace and Hammond discuss SG1, Carter has accepted his command, Daniel and the
Jaffa have not, Hammond suggests that if he stopped referring to Teal'c that way it would
be a start.
Jack enters; Hammond asks how the retirement is going.
"Great I retire I wake up I retire it's a living, I'm bored out of my skull
sir."
Jack asks a favour he would like to retire off world to Edora to be with Laira (100
Days) there would be no coming back, no GDO. We see the gate activate, Jack is leaving, a
small group see him off in the gateroom, but not Daniel he watches from the control room
On Edora Jack runs straight to the DHD and re-dials, he gates to a planet with an
ancient temple, which houses the Stargate, the home of the rogue base. He is greeted by
Newmann and introduced to Lt. Tobias who explains how the technology is returned to earth
she deals with the larger stuff which she reverse engineers and sends the plans back to
Maybourne.
Maybourne contacts then he has Jack's first mission P3X 595, they gate there and steal
an invisibility device. It's an Asguard protected planet. Can you backwards engineer the
object Jack asks no the mole will collect it. Jack says he will do the drop off.
He gates to the rendezvous, hiding the object by the DHD. Seconds later SG1 appear.
Makepeace issues his orders; Jack hides in the undergrowth. Teal'c comes close to the DHD
but leaves the object. It's Makepeace who takes it. After SG1 have left Jack dials up and
leaves, seconds later an Asguard appears who takes note of the lit up co-ordinates on DHD,
The Asguard have arrived at the rogue base Jack dials Earth. The ship retrieves the
technology, Jack says they can go with the Asguard or come with him. He leaves his arm in
the event horizon so the wormhole can't be shut down. The rogue team are all arrested,
then Jack personally arrests Makepeace.
The Tollans enter the Gate room. Makepeace argues his point. "You're pissed off
the wrong people" he defiantly tells them.
Jack tells him referring to the other races, "We don't need their stuff, Makepeace
we do need them
Daniel is still a little confused, " so just to err to clarify this whole past
week beginning with the appeal we made on Tollana in which I did a lot of hard work by the
way, I take that was all a scam?"
Hammond explains, " within the last 2 weeks the Asguard and the Tollan approached
us independently of each other with evidence that we were stealing technology from
them."
"We the SGC?" Sam asks
"Yes the Asguard, the Tollan and the Nox were going to sever all ties with us. But
we convinced them that the theft must be the action of a rogue group from outside the SGC
"
"We insisted that you apprehend them yourself, " Trevel says then
smiles," you have now regained our trust.
" So, "says Sam " you set that whole thing up on Tollana in the hopes
that the mole would think you were one of them and approach you"
"And you didn't think you could trust us to help?" Daniel asks.
Jack looks awkward, Hammond answers, " we wanted to assure that your reactions to
the Colonels' behaviour was as it should be. And the Asguard insisted that Colonel O'Neill
be the only one involved.
Jack shrugs, "they like me!"
Hammond leads the Tollans away
Jack spreads his arms wide, big smile; " I'm back!"
They stare at him for a second then Sam says, "good to have you back sir"
"Indeed" Teal'c acknowledges
"Thank you"
" Em Daniel " he gestures to him, they start to walk, " the stuff I was
talking about at my house the place was bugged
Daniel makes an acknowledging noise, "I understand"
"Obviously the whole friendship thing the foundation is all solid, " Teal'c
and Sam are following behind
" Obviously," Daniel nods.
They make a few agreeing noises
"I feel, kinda," Jack begins, " I do appreciate that you were the one
that came to see if I was OK, that's means something"
"Ahh actually, no it doesn't," They stop. " We err, draw straws, he
pauses for effect "I lost"
He looks at Jack and walks off, Sam follows then Teal'c, Jack watches bemused.
Review
February 9th 2000, why that date? That was the day that Shades of Grey aired
for the first time on Sky One. How you do know when something will change you life? You
just look back as I do and know when it happened
I've always watched Stargate SG1 from the beginning and it was always a mustn't miss
programme for me, but this episode was the one that changed my whole view. It was easy to
guess that Jack hadn't really gone bad, it is always an obvious plot device, but the scene
in his apartment when Daniel comes to visit was so painful to watch. I felt Daniel's pain
and immediately changed my whole perception of the show and his character.
I remember exclaiming aloud at the TV, how could he do that? That is so cruel. I
remember walking down the road with my friend the next day trying to explain, never have
been able to then or since <g>. Within a month I had written my first ever
fanfiction and the rest they say is history. |
