Liberation
LANGARA. In a room far underground, part of a massive fallout shelter, the stargate lays dormant on top of a small altar with steps leading down from it. Besides the stargate, the room is empty. Suddenly, the ring on the stargate begins to spin and the chevrons lock into place. A wormhole appears. The commotion brings a few soldiers in from the hallway outside the room. They point their guns at the new arrival, a man dressed in an SG-1 uniform.
GUARD: (raising weapon) Halt!
(The figure stops on the steps. It is Colonel Cameron Mitchell. He smiles at the guards. He does not have a weapon.)
MITCHELL: (waves) Hiya fellas.
GUARD: Who are you?
MITCHELL: Cam Mitchell, Earth. I just wanted to check in on our long-time allies and see what happened in their battles with the Ori.
GUARD: The Gods are not here anymore. This planet belongs to Kelowna.
MITCHELL: Gods?
GUARD: The Ori are the true Gods of this Galaxy. They have powers unknown and unchallenged by anyone.
MITCHELL: Yes, we know. We’ve seen their powers, and I’ve come here to tell you that the Ori are gone. We destroyed them.
GUARD: That is impossible. You lie!
MITCHELL: Well then it wouldn’t be a problem for you to call them here and take care of me, would it?
GUARD: The Priors have all left. This planet belongs to Kelowna!
MITCHELL: Yes, that’s what you say. (pauses and looks around) Well that’s good news. Anything we can do to help?
GUARD: (He motions to the other soldiers to move towards Mitchell.) Don’t move, you are under arrest.
(Mitchell does not move as the other soldiers approach.)
MITCHELL: I’m afraid that’s not going to happen.
GUARD: Don’t try anything funny. (to other soldier) Bind him.
(Another guard moves towards Mitchell, who still does not move.)
SECOND GUARD: Hands behind your back.
(Mitchell puts his hands behind his back, a faint smile on his face. The guard moves to place cuffs on him, but as the guard touches Mitchell, his hand goes straight through him. A ripple runs through Mitchell and then he flashes back to normal.)
GUARD: What the hell was that?
MITCHELL: I told you it wasn’t going to happen.
(The second guard moves away from Mitchell and the other soldiers open fire on Mitchell. The bullets go straight through him, causing ripples in his flesh and burying into the walls behind him. The soldiers stop firing and stare at him.)
MITCHELL: Later, boys.
(He salutes them, then disappears entirely. The wormhole closes and the guards are left, looking around at each other.)
STARGATE COMMAND. The ramp to the stargate had a small, round device on it. In front of it was Mitchell, who walked down the ramp towards the rest of SG-1 and General Landry.
MITCHELL: Asgard technology is great.
CARTER: We’re finally getting some of the prototypes from Area 51 from the layouts that they left us. Hopefully we’ll be able to reverse engineer the rest of what they gave us.
(Vala goes over to the small device on the ramp and picks it up. Daniel moves to stop her.)
JACKSON: Don’t touch that.
VALA: (tosses the device into the air and catches it.) Why not?
JACKSON: Because it’s a valuable piece of technology.
(Vala tosses it up into the air again. Daniel grabs it.)
LANDRY: What did you find out, Mitchell?
MITCHELL: Well, sir, apart from the shooting and wanting to arrest me, the Kelownans seem to be just like we remember them.
LANDRY: Were they building ships?
MITCHELL: Don’t know, sir. We didn’t get that far. They didn’t seem like the talkative type.
LANDRY: Alright. It’s clear that the Kelownans are up to something. I’m setting up a meeting in an hour. Dismissed.
STARGATE COMMAND. Inside the briefing room, SG-1 and General Landry are sitting around a table, discussing their options on how to deal with the Kelownans.
CARTER: We still don’t know whether or not they’re even building any spaceships.
MITCHELL: Then why did that guard say the Ori had left and that Langara belonged to Kelowna?
CARTER: Maybe they were able to defeat the Ori somehow.
JACKSON: Defeat the Ori?
TEAL’C: I do not believe that the Kelownans had the technology to overcome the powers of the Ori.
CARTER: It’s still a possibility. We shouldn’t just take it for granted that the Kelownans have turned sides. At least not until we know more about the situation.
MITCHELL: Sam, the guards at the stargate seemed pretty hostile towards me.
LANDRY: Colonel Carter’s right. We need more information on what’s going on there.
MITCHELL: Well, we tried the stargate.
LANDRY: Yes, it seems that the stargate is out of the question.
TEAL’C: Perhaps we could use one of the Tau’ri vessels to scout the area?
JACKSON: If the Kelownans are making ships for the Ori, then that means that the Ori must have shared some of their technology with them. They may have weapons that they could use against any of our ships.
CARTER: Teal’c, could you get a cloaked Jaffa scout ship to search the planet?
(Teal’c nods.)
TEAL’C: The Jaffa High Council has been scattered ever since Dakara was destroyed. There is no governing body to the Jaffa worlds. I believe our chances would be better if we went to the Tok’ra instead. Not only do they have scout ships, but some of the Jaffa have aligned with them.
JACKSON: The Kelownans have a vast network of tunnels and underground bunkers. If they are building ships, then they’ll be underground. We won’t be able to see them with a scout ship. And I’m sure the caverns are shielded, what with all the naqahdah testing.
CARTER: If we could broadcast a message, maybe get someone we trust on the inside. Then, we’d be able to receive some information on whether or not there are ships down then.
MITCHELL: Who’s down there that we can trust?
JACKSON: Not many people. Our relations with the Kelownans have always been a bit… rocky.
CARTER: What about Jonas?
VALA: Who?
JACKSON: Sam…
MITCHELL: Jonas Quinn? The Kelownan who joined SG-1 when Daniel ascended?
TEAL’C: The first time Daniel ascended.
CARTER: Yes. Daniel, Jonas is really the only option we have down there. You said it yourself, we need information from the planet’s surface. Besides, he’ll definitely know more of what’s going on than we will.
JACKSON: We don’t even know if he’s alive. We haven’t heard from him in forever.
CARTER: It’s worth a shot.
VALA: This Jonas guy… Is he cute?
CARTER: He’s a lot like Daniel.
VALA: (disappointed) Oh.
(Daniel gives Vala a cold stare, then turns back to Carter.)
JACKSON: Alright, even if he is still alive, how are we going to contact him? We can’t just send a message down there. The Kelownans or the Ori, if they’re still there, may intercept it.
MITCHELL: Would Quinn know any of the Stargate Commands codes? Something that only he would know on Langara?
(Carter shakes her head.)
CARTER: Any code that Jonas would know, the Kelownan leadership would know as well.
LANDRY: So how do we get a message to Jonas Quinn?
(They all pause to think. Carter turns to Daniel.)
CARTER: Daniel, did Jonas and you ever talk about Morse code?
JACKSON: Well, we talked about a lot of things.
CARTER: He was pretty curious about everything we had to offer.
JACKSON: Well, if he does know Morse Code, then he’d be the only one on Langara that would know it.
CARTER: Exactly.
MITCHELL: You think this Quinn character knows an old Earth coding system?
CARTER: You’d have to know Jonas.
LANDRY: Very good. Let’s not take any chances with this one. This is a recon mission, first and foremost. Teal’c, see if you can get us that scout ship. The rest of you get ready for the journey if Teal’c sends us the green light.
ORBIT AROUND LANGARA. A hysperspace window opens up and a Jaffa scout ship arrives. It quickly cloaks and flies towards the planet. On the bridge of the scout ship, a Jaffa warrior is piloting the ship.
JAFFA: Begin transmitting the message on all channels.
STARGATE COMMAND. At the gate control room, Teal’c walks in to meet with General Landry.
TEAL’C: General Landry, the Jaffa scout ship has begun transmitting the Morse Code message requesting a meeting at the coordinates given.
LANDRY: Very good, Teal’c. Inform SG-1 to prep the Odyssey for immediate launch. Have the scout ship meet the Odyssey at a safe spot away from Langara, then take the cloaked scout ship to Langara. If there is someone on Langara that can receive the code and understands it, then I want to find out who.
(Teal’c nods.)
ABOARD THE ODYSSEY. Colonel Jacobson and his crew are on the bridge along with SG-1. The ship is moving through hyperspace towards the rendezvous point outside of Langaran space.
NAVIGATOR: Colonel, we’re receiving an authentic message from Stargate command. Text message.
JACOBSON: Let’s hear it.
NAVIGATOR: Message reads: Have received a response to coded morse code message. ‘Will meet at coordinates at requested time. Stop. Underground resistance numbering in the thousands. Stop. Will explain more detail in person. Stop. Jonas Quinn.’ You are confirmed for contact on Langara.
JACKSON: Sounds like Jonas did learn Morse Code.
CARTER: Did he say resistance numbering in the thousands?
MITCHELL: Did he mean resistance against Kelowna or against the Ori?
CARTER: I don’t know. Both? Either way, hopefully they’ll be willing to help us take out the spaceships.
TEAL’C: If there are indeed spaceships underground. We do not know for sure yet.
VALA: Maybe this is a stupid question, but how are we supposed to land on Langara undetected? Won’t the Ori notice our arrival?
CARTER: Only if the Ori are still on Langara, but it sounds like they’ve moved on and left the Kelownans the planet.
VALA: Well then won’t the Kelownans notice our presence? I’m sure they have some kind of radar.
CARTER: That’s why we aren’t staying long. We’re going to meet with Jonas and then the Odyssey is going to leave. After twenty-four hours, the Odyssey will come back and pick us up at the rendezvous point.
VALA: And where are we meeting Jonas?
JACKSON: Don’t you pay attention at the meetings?
VALA: Not really, no.
JACKSON: Well maybe you should put that on your to-do list.
VALA: Oh, come on, Daniel. The only thing that happens in those meetings is the same boring stuff over and over again. You start talking about why we need to do something off-world, then Carter starts talking about the technical mumbo jumbo reasons that might be a problem. Mitchell talks about the risks and military ramifications, and muscles over there just sits and nods his head a little bit. And then General Landry approves the mission and we go off-world. This whole time I’ve been with SG-1, I’ve never paid attention at any meeting.
MITCHELL: Why is that not surprising?
VALA: And you can skip the little speech you’re about to give to me. So, where are we meeting Jonas Quinn?
TEAL’C: In Andari.
VALA: Is that a lovely beach on the shore?
MITCHELL: No, it’s one of the rival countries to Kelowna. If Kelowna really did receive help from the Ori to destroy the Andaris and Terranians, then Andari should be relatively deserted.
JACOBSON: We’re here.
(Out in space, a hyperspace window opens up and the Odyssey arrives in orbit around Langara. There are no other ships in the area.)
JACOBSON: Looks like the coast is clear. SG-1, you have twenty-four hours before we come back to pick you up. Remember, this is just an intel operation. Don’t do anything stupid.
VALA: You know us, sir!
MITCHELL: Exactly. Don’t do anything stupid, Vala.
(Vala turns to Mitchell, ready to argue with him, but at that moment SG-1 is beamed off the ship and onto the planet’s surface. The Odyssey turns and leaves the area.)
ANDARI. SG-1 is walking through a deserted and decimated city, void of any life. There are half-destroyed buildings left and right, and piles of rubble surrounding them for miles and miles. There is no plant life and everything is silent.
VALA: Someone killed the party here.
JACKSON: These people never had a chance against the Ori. Do you think there are any survivors?
CARTER: (checking a handheld device) I’m not reading any life signs in the city.
MITCHELL: Do you think they fired off their nuclear weapons before they were destroyed?
CARTER: It’s possible. I’m not viewing any fallout, though.
MITCHELL: There’s no one here. We need to get to the rally point. How far is it, Sam?
CARTER: A mile north, right at the edge of those dead trees.
JACKSON: This doesn’t make sense. Why would the Ori destroy the Andaris and Terranians? Wouldn’t they rather have more slaves for worshipping?
TEAL’C: Maybe the Andaris and Terranians fought against the Ori too much.
MITCHELL: Or maybe the Ori don’t control the armies anymore. That superweapon took care of the Ori and now the Priors are left in charge. What do they care about followers?
JACKSON: Actually, that brings up a good point. If the Ori really are dead, then where are the Priors getting their powers from? Shouldn’t they have all returned to normal after the Ori downfall?
CARTER: That’s interesting, Daniel. I hadn’t thought about that. It’s possible that the Priors’ powers are somehow imprinted on them, and that they could keep their powers. However, I don’t know why the Ori would give Priors self-control over their powers. It’s possible the Ori are still alive.
MITCHELL: That’s a scary thought.
CARTER: You’re telling me.
TEAL’C: Indeed. If the Ori are still alive then we have no other means to destroy them. If Merlin’s weapon had no effect then we must find another alternative.
MITCHELL: We’ll have to worry about that another time. Quiet!
(SG-1 halts outside the border of a dead forest, where a large rock ridge is impeding their way. On top of the ridge, with his back to SG-1, is a man in a long, brown cloak, hooded.)
CARTER: Jonas?
(The man does not move.)
MITCHELL: Show yourself!
(The cloaked figure turns slowly and removes his hood. It is a man, familiar in every aspect to SG-1.)
MAYBOURNE: Hello, SG-1. (Smiles. Looks to Mitchell.) Where’s Jack? I was looking forward to seeing the look on his face when he saw me again.
MITCHELL: Who is this?
CARTER: Maybourne? What are you doing – ? How?
JACKSON: What are you doing here?
MAYBOURNE: That is a long story, and is worth waiting until we are somewhere safer. Come on, Jonas told me to bring you back to camp.
MITCHELL: Woah, hold on there, we’re not going anywhere yet. We were told we were going to meet Jonas. Where is he?
MAYBOURNE: I told you, he’s at camp. Carter, who is this?
CARTER: Maybourne, this is Cam Mitchell. Cam, it’s okay. Let’s go, Maybourne.
VALA: Ahem. Forgetting someone?
CARTER: No… Maybourne knows all of us already.
VALA: I meant me!
MAYBOURNE: Vala Mal Doran.
VALA: You know who I am?
MAYBOURNE: You’d have to go to a non-Ori planet not to. Everyone knows you are the mother of the Orici. I’d be careful if I were you. There are several people who want to see you dead for what you brought into this Universe.
VALA: Now wait a minute –
JACKSON: The Orici, Adria, is dead. She ascended.
MAYBOURNE: Then why is it that there have been reported sightings of her all around Langara? Word is she is still giving orders to the Priors.
JACKSON: That… is not good.
VALA: I thought she couldn’t interfere once she ascended.
JACKSON: Well, Anubis technically didn’t interfere and he caused a lot of trouble. Adria probably knows the rules. She may not be able to use her powers, but I’m sure she can give counsel to her Priors.
MAYBOURNE: Excuse me. I hate to interrupt this little epiphany, but we’re a bit exposed. Can we go now? Excellent.
(Maybourne begins leading the group away from the dead forest and onto a long, open plain. There are cracks in the ground and absolutely nothing in sight.)
JACKSON: Do you know what happened here?
MAYBOURNE: As far as I know, the Kelownans launched a massive nuclear strike against Terrania and Andari. The countries weren’t technologically advanced enough to counter the strike, so they launched their own weapons against Kelowna. That’s when the Ori came in.
CARTER: They shielded all of Kelowna?
MAYBOURNE: That’s what I was told. After the attacks, the Priors cleaned up the atmosphere and opened up the entire planet to Kelowna. But it’s still closed for the most part. The army is rounding up anyone that may have survived and putting them into concentration camps. They don’t come around here much anymore.
CARTER: How do you avoid being captured?
MAYBOURNE: The camp’s underground in one of the shielded bunker systems that Andari had. The rebellion has spies inside the Army that told us that this bunker had been cleared out weeks ago and locked up. We broke in and now make sure that if any Army patrols come by they can’t get back in to the bunker.
MITCHELL: So how did you get here?
MAYBOURNE: I told you before, I’ll explain it when we get to the camp.
MITCHELL: And how do we know that you aren’t working for the Ori and leading us into a trap?
MAYBOURNE: (laughs) Oh, please! Is this guy serious?
CARTER: Cam, Maybourne wouldn’t betray us. He is an evil backstabber, but he’s trustworthy.
MAYBOURNE: Thank you, Colonel.
JACKSON: It is kind of suspicious that you’re here in the first place, Maybourne. How did you get here?
MAYBOURNE: Oh, come on, Jackson.
TEAL’C: I too would like to know.
MAYBOURNE: Alright, alright!
(Maybourne stops, gives up, and turns to SG-1.)
MAYBOURNE: You’re not going to trust me until I tell you how I got here?
MITCHELL: Nope.
MAYBOURNE: (sighs) Alright, let’s find some cover.
(He leads them over to a small rubble pile where a building once stood. SG-1 finds a half-destroyed corner and sits down.)
VALA: Oh boy, I love story time!
MAYBOURN: Right, well as Sam, Daniel, and Teal’c will remember, the last time I saw you I was King Arkhan the First, ruler of –
MITCHELL: King Arkhan the First?
MAYBOURNE: Bear with me here, kid.
MITCHELL: Kid?
MAYBOURNE: Anyways, I was dialing gate addresses that I remembered from my days on Earth, and I came across the gate address to Langara. I remembered Jonas Quinn had joined the group for a while and that they were relatively technologically advanced. I was hoping to open trading routes with them for basic things: medicine, food, tools.
CARTER: But you didn’t find what you were expecting, did you?
MAYBOURNE: Oh, I found Jonas Quinn and the Kelownans, but I also found an Ori Prior named Ademus. He is the leader of the remaining Priors. He claims to be a former Doci, whatever that is.
JACKSON: Doci? That was a person that the Ori would speak through. They were the voice of the Ori, so to speak. But how could a Doci turn back into a Prior? Supposedly a Doci was a higher-form of Prior, a more advanced and ascended being.
MAYBOURNE: Jonas had a theory that this Ademus knew something bad was about to happen to the Ori and saved himself by becoming a Prior again.
CARTER: Woah, wait. They can de-evolve?
JACKSON: Hang on… Sam, do you think the Ori would have known that we were sending a weapon towards them?
CARTER: It’s possible. They were pretty powerful. Why? Do you think they could stop it somehow?
JACKSON: Maybe. I’m thinking that some of them might have de-evolved themselves and became Priors. Is that possible?
CARTER: Well, with an unlimited knowledge at their hands, I’m sure they could do it if they wanted to.
MITCHELL: Wait a minute. Didn’t that Orlin fellow de-evolve to help us a while back? He didn’t last very long, did he?
CARTER: But he didn’t come back as a Prior. With the evolved genealogy of a Prior, the Ori may be able to survive for an extended period of time.
VALA: That is a very scary thought.
MAYBOURNE: Can I continue now? I don’t like being out in the open like this for so long. There are eyes everywhere.
MITCHELL: Sure, knock yourself out, old man.
MAYBOURNE: Old man?
CARTER: Maybourne… continue.
MAYBOURNE: I had never seen a Prior, or had heard of the Ori before then, understand that. At first, I was tempted by them. They offered to share their powers and help my people. And these guys aren’t like the Goa’uld. They can do things that I can’t explain.
TEAL’C: We have seen their powers.
MAYBOURNE: I still wasn’t convinced, so Ademus invited me to witness ‘something spectacular’. I watched in horror as the Kelownans opened fire with their nuclear arsenal on their neighbors. Everything and everyone was destroyed. Maybe it was because the Prior sensed something about me, but I assume he thought this show of power might persuade me to join with Origin.
CARTER: But you didn’t.
MAYBOURNE: There was something unsettling about his calm, collective demeanor. Trust me, I’ve been around enough scumbags in my life to know a two-timing liar when I see one. I refused his services and returned to my world. He followed me. He tried to convince my followers that I was a fraud and that the true path lay with Origin.
MITCHELL: We’ve seen that before.
MAYBOURNE: But I had taught my people science and their knowledge of such ‘magic’ was quickly thwarted as a ploy to gain their trust. I taught them well, apparently, but Ademus was furious. He left, claiming that the unwilling and the unbelievers will be swept away in a flood of death. Everyone was scared, I had seen what had happened on Langara and knew what he was capable of. A few days later, people started getting sick. It was a terrible plague, I had never seen anything like it. Even with my knowledge of the body and diseases, I couldn’t find a cure. A third of my people died, crops were lost, animals perished. Those that survived quickly claimed that it was the work of the Ori because we did not accept Origin. The remaining citizens of my world banished me from their sight and welcomed the Prior back. Ademus told my people that I was to be burned in eternal fire to cleanse my soul of impurity. So I fled. A few people still loyal to me helped take me to the gate. There was a mob approaching us. In my panic, I dialed the last address that I remembered, and ended up back in Langara.
MITCHELL: The gate is in an underground bunker. You must have been captured?
MAYBOURNE: There was a panic on the other side, too. People were rebelling against the Ori and the Kelownan government. In the chaos, I met up with Jonas Quinn and a group of rebels. The government was killing and executing traitors that refused to follow Origin. So, we made our way into Andari. We’ve been hiding ever since.
MITCHELL: Have you tried to get off the planet?
MAYBOURNE: A few people have tried, and they’ve been killed.
(Overhead, the team can hear the sounds of an incoming fighter jet. As they try to find cover, it flies above them out of sight.)
MAYBOURNE: Alright, that’s it. We need to get under cover.
ANDARI. Maybourne leads SG-1 to a half-covered bunker, where a trap door lay closed on the ground. He picked up the handle and below them was a steep tunnel that led deep underground.
MAYBOURNE: The Kelownans weren’t advanced enough to understand the full potential of an atomic wasteland, so they just decided to build their bunkers as deep as they could. There’s still a residual amount of radiation, but nothing lethal.
VALA: You mean our feet may become webbed and little wings will sprout out on our backs?
MAYBOURNE: No, no (chuckles) maybe just a bad taste in the water.
VALA: (whispers to Mitchell) We brought our own water, right?
MITCHELL: We always bring our own water, Vala.
VALA: Just checking.
(The group walked down the tunnel which leveled out about fifty feet below the ground. Up ahead was a large metal door, closed and barred. Maybourne walked up to it and banged three times. Soon, there was a clanking from the other side and the door opened. On the other side of the door was Jonas Quinn. Behind him was a large room, where dozens of people were looking towards them apprehensively.)
CARTER: Jonas!
QUINN: Captain Carter.
CARTER: Actually, it’s Colonel now.
QUINN: Congratulations. Teal’c, Doctor Jackson. I … do not know these two.
JACKSON: This is Colonel Mitchell and Vala Mal Doran (the two nod towards Jonas).
QUINN: The mother of the Orici?
VALA: You know, you give birth to one murdering leader of false gods and everyone knows your name.
QUINN: Can she be trusted?
JACKSON and MITCHELL: No.
JACKSON: But she has proven to be helpful.
QUINN: Well, I trust your judgment. Come in.
(SG-1 walks through the door, which is shut behind them. In the room are dozens of men, women, and children. There are a few hallways leading out to other caverns.)
QUINN: The bunker extends for four miles in both directions. It was meant to house the upper echelons of the Andari government, their families, support staff, and military leaders. Unfortunately, with the help of the Ori, they never made it here. I don’t think any of them had any warning.
JACKSON: What have you been up to down here?
QUINN: Surviving mostly. We’ve been trying to gain access to the stargate to leave the planet, but it was moved underground into one of the Kelownan’s main bunkers.
TEAL’C: What about your resistance?
QUINN: It’s tough against Ori-backed Langaran troops. And if we fight around here, they may come searching us out. We can’t afford to lose this bunker; it has to be kept safe.
(Quinn leads them to a table, where they all sit.)
MITCHELL: (pointing to one of the Kelownan men in the crowd behind Jonas.) Haven’t I seen you before somewhere?
MAN: (shakes his head, then disappears into the crowd.)
QUINN: They’re a bit wary of strangers. (takes a deep breath) So, why are you guys here?
MITCHELL: The Kelownans are building Ori spaceships.
QUINN: Yes, I know.
CARTER: You do?
QUINN: (nods) I was the head engineer of the project. At least until Kelowna bombed Andari and Terrania. It was then that the first of us finally realized what was going on. Some had already left when the Ori came and went into hiding. The rest of us left after the bombings.
MITCHELL: Do you know where the ships are?
QUINN: Yes, assuming they haven’t been moved. Of course, they’re quite big so there’s really only a few underground caverns large enough to hold an Ori battlecruiser. However, they’re deep in Kelownan territory, so how you’re going to get there is another matter.
JACKSON: If you could give us their coordinates, then we can be beamed right into the ship. Once we’re there, we’re going to destroy them.
QUINN: Destroy three Ori ships? With what? We weren’t able to retrieve any naqahdah bombs when we left.
CARTER: The Odyssey is carrying heavy-grade nuclear warheads combined with naqahdria.
MAYBOURNE: Alright, sounds like you guys have a plan. What do you need us to do?
(SG-1 looks at each other.)
MITCHELL: All we really needed was some information. We can take care of the rest.
QUINN: Colonel, you’re looking at fifty military men in this room, and a dozen scientists who worked on the project. We know the layout of the bunkers, we have the manpower. You’d be stupid to not accept our help.
MITCHELL: Really?
QUINN: No offense. The soldiers can distract the army long enough for myself and a few of the scientists to lead you to the ships.
MAYBOURNE: I’ll be in charge of the soldiers.
JACKSON: Look, it’s not that we don’t appreciate the help, I just think it’s best if we did this ourselves. We wouldn’t want your people to take the fall for this once we escaped. I’d assume the Kelownan government would be pretty upset. They’d track you all down.
QUINN: We’re on the run anyways.
JACKSON: But you’re safe in this bunker as long as Kelowna doesn’t know you’re here.
(There was a frantic knock on the door, and everyone looked towards the door. A man near the door opened it, where a panic-looking young man walked in.)
SCOUT: There is a Kelownan patrol half a mile away. They are coming directly here.
CARTER: (to Jonas) Could they have found out the location of the bunker?
QUINN: That’s impossible.
MAYBOURNE: They might have seen us coming here. Remember those planes we heard?
MITCHELL: They couldn’t have known where the bunker was exactly. Maybe they’re just checking the area.
(Above, there were hurried footsteps. Someone shouted.)
MAYBOURNE: They’ve found the entrance.
VALA: What can we do? Fight?
TEAL’C: These people do not appear to be in any fighting condition.
CARTER: If they have found out your location, the government would have sent an entire legion to break in.
(There is a commotion in the back of the room. Someone screamed.)
MAN: Hands up!
(SG-1 turns to see a few soldiers in cloaks, armed, pointing their weapons at them. One of them is the man Mitchell had noticed earlier.)
MITCHELL: (dropping his weapon) I knew I recognized you. You were in the Stargate room and attacked my hologram.
QUINN: Malfus, what is this?
MALFUS: We finally caught you in our trap, Jonas.
QUINN: We saved you from the Ori.
MALFUS: The Ori have gone. You are all traitors to Kelowna!
(The front door is knocked in, and a squadron of soldiers moves in.)
SQUADRON LEADER: Nobody move!
(SG-1 looks at each other, then slowly puts their hands in the air, along with everyone else in the bunker.)
KELOWNAN PRISON CELL. SG-1, Jonas, Maybourne, and a few other rebels werein a cell, and a few soldiers were guarding them on the other side of the prison bars.
MALFUS: The Langaran Council has expedited your sentencing. They will be trying you today for your crimes. If you’re lucky, it will be a quick death.
(Malfus walked away down a dark, underground corridor, leaving two guards near the cell.)
CARTER: (looking at Daniel) Something wrong?
JACKSON: (looking around the cell) I just had the weirdest feeling of déjà vu. It’s like I’ve been in here before.
VALA: Been in many Langaran prison cells recently?
JACKSON: Funny.
(On the other side of the cell, another conversation is going on.)
QUINN: I can’t believe Malfus would betray us like that.
MITCHELL: You should be more careful picking people for rebellions in the future.
CARTER: You said you saved him from the Ori?
QUINN: Yes, he was going to be sent to the Prior for his lack of faith. We rescued him.
MITCHELL: He doesn’t seem very grateful.
MAYBOURNE: Malfus hated the Ori, but when it comes to Kelowna, he’s a hardline government follower to the death.
VALA: Well then we can’t turn him to our cause, that’s what you’re saying.
QUINN: (shakes his head) He’d walk away at any mention of it.
TEAL’C: Perhaps if we showed him that the Ori will return once the ships are finished.
MITCHELL: And that the Ori need the Langarans to worship them.
KELOWNAN PRISON CELL. SG-1 is sitting down in their cell when Malfus and a few other Kelownan soldiers arrive outside their bars.
MALFUS: (smiling) The Council has decided that you shall die two days from tomorrow for your brazen disregard for Langara’s independent rule.
JACKSON: Don’t we get a trial?
MALFUS: There will be no trial for rebels and traitors, along with anyone who sides with them.
QUINN: After all we’ve been through, you’re just going to kill us?
MALFUS: Everyone who stands against Kelowna deserves to die.
(There is communication on Malfus’ radio, and he takes it off his belt to listen.)
SOLDIER: (over radio) – Ori Battleship has just arrived outside Capital City. Requesting a meeting with the Prime Minister.
MALFUS: (angry) Ori. (spits on the ground) They have no business here.
TEAL’C: I thought you said that Langara was under its independent rule.
MALFUS: The Ori have said as much.
TEAL’C: Perhaps you were mistaken.
(There is a flash of white light, and an Ori Prior and the Kelownan Prime Minister appear next to Malfus.)
MALFUS: Prime Minister, what is this?
PRIOR: I am Prior Ademus. The Mother of the Orici and her allies will be turned over to the Ori. It is by their will that this must happen.
VALA: Why don’t you just kill us now and get it over with.
ADEMUS: The Orici said you were braver than you seemed, Vala Mal Doran. I sense it in your compatriots as well. However, it is by her orders that I must not harm you – any of you – until we reach Toronas. She will deal with you herself.
VALA: And why doesn’t she just come here and whisp us away.
ADEMUS: Do not question the ways of the Orici! This is how it will be. There is no way to deny the power of the Ori. After your failed attack with your weapon, you should understand this.
MITCHELL: Maybe it did work, and you’re just toying with us.
ADEMUS: The Ori are all-powerful and all-knowing. They are indestructible.
MALFUS: Certainly, Prime Minister, you cannot agree to this! These are prisoners of Langara, of Kelowna. We must deal with them!
PRIME MINISTER: Silence, Malfus! We shall discuss this later.
PRIOR: There shall be no discussing, Minister. Langara is under your rule by the grace of the Ori. Do not push the boundaries of your freedom, or you shall find yourself surrounded by a legion of my soldiers.
PRIME MINISTER: There is no need for threats, Prior Ademus. Malfus is a loyal servant to us.
MALFUS: To Kelowna!
ADEMUS: Then serve Kelowna well. This matter is trivial. The prisoners will return with me to Toronas. I wish for Malfus to escort them personally onto my ship so that he can witness the might and power of the Ori warships. Remember, Prime Minister, that our arrangements here can change under certain circumstances, and that you should learn to be thankful for what you have been given.
PRIME MINISTER: As you wish, Prior. Hallowed are the Ori.
ADEMUS: Hallowed are those that worship the Ori.
(Another flash of white light and the Prior and Prime Minister disappear.)
MALFUS: (To the other guards) Ori. What business do they have here?
QUINN: Langara will never be truly free from Ori rule. They need followers to worship them. That’s where they get their power.
MALFUS: Silence, traitor! (to the guards) Open the cell.
(The doors open, and three armed guards approach SG-1.)
MALFUS: The Ori can have you for all I care. Get moving.
(Malfus and the guards lead SG-1 down the underground corridor.)
MITCHELL: So you’re content with Kelowna doing slave labor for the Ori then? Building ships and weapons for them? That doesn’t sound like an independent planet’s actions.
MALFUS: There is nothing I can do about that at the moment.
JACKSON: You can help us destroy them.
MAYBOURNE: Daniel…
JACKSON: That’s why we’re here.
MITCHELL: Jackson, keep quiet!
MALFUS: (looking back at SG-1) We can take care of the Ori ourselves.
JACOBSON: (over radio) SG-1, this is the Odyssey, are you ready for transport?
MALFUS: What is that?
SECOND SOLDIER: They have a ship!
(Malfus wrenches the radio away from Colonel Mitchell.)
MALFUS: The ship must be trying to rescue them. (hands radio to the second soldier) You three go send word to the Prime Minister that the planet is under attack!
SECOND SOLDIER: Yes, sir.
(The three soldiers rush down the hallway in the opposite direction.)
MITCHELL: Are you sure you don’t want to keep any of your boys with you?
MALFUS: Relax, Colonel, I can handle all of you by myself. But it does not matter. (tosses Mitchell his weapon) You will help me destroy the Ori ships that we are building. Then Kelowna will be free.
CARTER: You’re helping us now?
MALFUS: For the moment.
TEAL’C: The Ori will return with an army far more powerful than your own.
MALFUS: Then we will fight, and die if need be. But this planet will never belong to the Ori.
CARTER: Why did you turn in our ship like that? We could’ve used the help.
MALFUS: I needed a distraction. Hopefully, your ship will retreat and we can make it through to the stargate. Maybourne and I will raid the ammo storage for explosives while Jonas leads you to the chasm.
(An alarm begins to sound.)
MALFUS: Your ship has been detected!
QUINN: They may try to launch the prototypes to intercept it. We have to hurry.
(The team splits up, SG-1 going straight, while Maybourne and Malfus turn left. Only Mitchell has a weapon.)
ABOARD THE ODYSSEY. Jacobson and his crew are awaiting SG-1’s return.
SCIENCE OFFICER: Should we beam them up, sir?
JACOBSON: Try to get a lock on their position.
SECOND IN COMMAND: Sir, two Ori ships just appeared out of hyperspace!
JACOBSON: We can’t take on two Ori ships. Take us into hyperspace immediately.
SECOND IN COMMAND: What about SG-1?
JACOBSON: We’ll come back for them!
(A hyperspace window appears, the two Ori ships fire their beams, but the Odyssey jumps away in time.)
KELOWNA UNDERGROUND FALLOUT BUNKER. SG-1 is rushing through the corridors, and now the corridor is full of people hurrying this way and that way. In the confusion, SG-1 goes unnoticed.
QUINN: This way.
(The team takes a right turn, then follows it down a winding, steep corridor. There are fewer people down here. It finally opens up into a sprawling cavern, with a catwalk leading into the middle of it, where the three Ori prototype ships are being built. They are similar to the Ori Battleships, however they are incomplete and are a bit smaller. There is a security house right before the catwalk, but no one is there.)
QUINN: We’ll have to wait here for Malfus.
AMMO STORAGE ROOM. Malfus and Maybourne open the door, and inside are shelves upon shelves of explosives, C4, detonators, etc.
MALFUS: Quickly! We need enough to destroy all three ships. Here! (shoving explosives into Maybourne’s arms) Go!
(Maybourne leaves, and Malfus turns to get more explosives.)
(A glaring white light behind him, and he turns to see Prior Ademus standing in the doorway.)
ADEMUS: The Ori are all-knowing, Malfus. You dare betray them?
MALFUS: The Ori have no business on Langara!
ADEMUS: The Ori have every right! It is by their will that you live. (raises cane, which begins to glow) However, traitors to the Ori are not allowed to live.
MALFUS: Langara will never be yours!
ADEMUS: Everything will be ours! (A searing flash of white emits from the Prior’s cane straight into Malfus’ chest. Malfus falls over, dead.) Hallowed is the Orici.
UNDERGROUND CHASM. Maybourne returns to meet the rest of the group.
MAYBOURNE: Is this going to be enough?
CARTER: Unlikely.
QUINN: We might be able to set the core to overload. It’ll cause enough damage, along with the explosives, to take out most of the ship.
MITCHELL: Alright, Jonas are there any security guards on the ships?
QUINN: (shakes head) Just the one up front, who isn’t here.
MITCHELL: Alright. Sam, you and Jonas take the first ship. Teal’c and Jackson, you come with me. Maybourne, you and Vala take the last ship.
JACKSON: Actually, it’s probably best if Vala comes with us.
VALA: Hey I can –
MITCHELL: No, Jackson’s right. Maybourne, can you handle the last ship by yourself?
MAYBOURNE: No problem.
MITCHELL: Let’s move out.
PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE IN THE UNDERGROUND BUNKER. Ademus and the Prime Minister are having a heated discussion.
Prime Minister: My Lord, I had no idea! We will stop them! (she kneels before the Prior)
ADEMUS: It is too late. They are at the ships already. I will stop them myself. As for you and your planet, I shall deal with your lack of faith when I return.
(He disappears.)
THE FIRST PROTOTYPE ORI SHIP. Carter and Jonas have arrived and are placing the charges on the ship’s power core.
CARTER: (over radio) Cam, we’re ready here.
THE SECOND PROTOTYPE ORI SHIP. Mitchell, Teal’c, Vala, and Daniel are working on their power core.
MITCHELL: (over radio) Copy, Sam. Just a few more minutes.
(White light envelopes them, and Prior Ademus appears behind SG-1.)
ADEMUS: You truly believe I would not know of your actions?
(Mitchell, in one quick move, jumps up and unloads his clip into the Prior. They reflect off a shield harmlessly.)
ADEMUS: I am a messenger of the Ori, a follower of Origin. I have their protection in me. You cannot harm me. (Taps his cane on the ground. The ground shakes with the power of an earthquake, knocking SG-1 backwards.) Those who cannot see the light of Origin will perish in the darkness of apocalypse.
(There is another flash of white light, but no explosions with it. SG-1 turns to see another shimmering being, a frail, old man facing off against the Prior.)
OLD MAN: You cannot interfere.
ADEMUS: (surprised) An Alteran, forgotten brother of the Ori. You do not have the power to stop me.
OLD MAN: We have your Orici, Prior. By crossing into our domain, she has unwillingly given us all the knowledge of the Ori. We see that they are still alive and are determined to destroy us. The time for action has come.
ADEMUS: Your rules forbid you to stop me!
OLD MAN: The Alterans have taken a new approach towards the Ori, and the Ori alone. Their assault on our border has made it clear that we must prevent our own demise. Go back to your masters. Send them word that we have their Orici, we know her greatness, and if they want her back then they shall meet us on Toronas, where their underlings do their fighting. Begone!
(The old man swipes at the Prior, who disappears immediately. The old man turns to SG-1, and without a word, disappears in a fog of white smoke.)
VALA: What was that all about?
JACKSON: It looks like the Ancients are finally taking things seriously.
MITCHELL: We can discuss this later! (finishes rigging the explosives) Charges set!
JACOBSON: (over radio) Colonel Mitchell, the Odyssey is back in orbit and ready to beam you aboard.
MITCHELL: (over radio) Do it!
ABOARD THE ODYSSEY. SG-1 watches from the bridge as there are several explosions on Langara’s surface.
JACOBSON: Good work, SG-1. Is this Jonas Quinn?
MITCHELL: Yes, he helped us with the explosions. (looks around) Where’s Maybourne?
(SG-1 all look at each other)
CARTER: He didn’t have a transmitter on him.
MITCHELL: Yes, he did. I put one on him and Jonas when we were inside the bunker. Guess he didn’t want to come back.
JACKSON: Or couldn’t.
(SG-1 looks down at the planet again.)
STARGATE COMMAND. SG-1 is in the briefing room, along with Jonas and General Landry.
LANDRY: While you were away I decided to check in on our other allies.
JACKSON: To see if they had come in contact with the Ori, like the Kelownans?
LANDRY: Exactly. I was able to talk with the leaders of the Jaffa, what’s left of them anyways, and some of our remaining human allies. However, there was one planet that I was unable to contact.
CARTER: Which one?
LANDRY: The Tok’ra homeworld.
MITCHELL: You think they were attacked by the Ori?
LANDRY: I don’t know, but we can’t allow what happened to the Kelownans to happen to the Tok’ra. The powers of the Ori combined with the powers of the Goa’uld?
CARTER: The Tok’ra would never willingly side with the Ori. If anyone is sure of the fact that there are false gods out there, it’s the Tok’ra. They separated from the Goa’uld because of their false god image.
LANDRY: Nevertheless, we need to get in contact with them and find out what’s going on. What do you think happened to Maybourne?
CARTER: It’s possible that he couldn’t detonate the explosions from a safe distance and perished in the blast.
JACKSON: It’s also possible that he was captured, either by the Kelownans or the Ori.
MITCHELL: I don’t think either one of those scenarios plays out. I may not know Maybourne for as long as you guys have, but he seems like a resourceful individual. He made it back to the stargate.
CARTER: You sure? What about the transmitter?
MITCHELL: He could have spotted it and taken it off, or maybe it got knocked off him.
TEAL’C: I agree with Colonel Mitchell, Maybourne’s ship blew up before ours did. It is possible that he escaped before we did.
CARTER: No, I remember his ship blowing up after ours.
VALA: I only remember hearing two blasts.
JACKSON: So do I.
(Everyone pauses.)
LANDRY: Is he a threat?
CARTER: I don’t think so, sir. Maybourne’s changed since his days with the Trust. I think he just went back to his planet. We won’t have to worry about him again.
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