12x06 "Secrets and Lies"
Synopsis: Following up on a new lead, SG-1 visits a reclusive world of industrialists which may hold the key to locating their missing attacker.
Synopsis: Following up on a new lead, SG-1 visits a reclusive world of industrialists which may hold the key to locating their missing attacker.
Spoiler:
Cameron Mitchell is waiting expectantly in the gate room, facing an active stargate. In the background, something slightly odd is seen; a Chinese SG team is preparing for an offworld mission. But no one seems to take note of it besides a few ISGC personnel, no doubt because things are changing ever since the Program was revealed.
Suddenly, Teal'c comes through the stargate, dressed in Jaffa politician clothing. He greets Mitchell warmly, happy to be back on Earth, and appologizes for being away for so long. Apparently, he's been very busy rushing across the galaxy to settle planetary disputes within the Jaffa Nation, and couldn't break away sooner. But he claims to be back for SG-1 now, and that's all that matters.
As the two leave the gate room, they are nearly bowled over by a jubilant Samantha Carter, who just stepped out of the elevator from a higher level. She says she has great news, and tells her teammates to meet her in the briefing room in twenty minutes. When they arrive, they find Vala, Daniel, and General Landry waiting for them. Carter has a presentation all ready for them, so everyone is seated and the lights are dimmed.
Quickly, Carter summarizes recent events for Teal'c's benefit; she has spent the last few weeks studying the al'kesh they retrieved from their missing man ("The Fugitive"), and managed to finally crack its memory crystal's encryption layer. After spending a morning of searching, she thinks she's got a gate address to a planet he stole the ship from, and wants to head there right away to pick up any leads. Landry wholeheartedly agrees, and tells the team to be ready for departure in a half hour.
A short time later, SG-1 steps through the stargate into an impressive-looking hall, filled with people of all races hurrying about. The five of them look somewhat confused for a moment, but are soon approached by a Serrakin man who asks them what they want; Daniel replies they're looking for information on a stolen al'kesh. The alien nods solemnly and asks that they follow him.
The team is led down a widning maze of windowed hallways, through which dozens of al'kesh, tel'tak, death gliders, and numerous craft never before seen are being built. Vala recognizes the place and tells the othersthat this world is called "Cindari", and is renowned for its shipbuilding facilities around the galaxy. During the reign of the System Lords, this sector was one of few able to retain its sovreignty, owed to the massive amount of starcraft churned out on this planet.
Finally, they arrive at an officer overlooking a snow-covered valley. In fact, a fierce blizzard is blowing outside, and they begin to understand why everything has been enclosed indoors; the outside is deadly. As they enter, a female Jaffa stands and introduces herself as Mina, the coordinator of this facility and two others like it scattered across Cindari. She explains that there are dozens of them, along with a few underground cities, but they are only accessible via an underground transit system or ship transport, since land travel would kill anyone stupid enough to try.
Mitchell gets to business at once, asking about the stolen al'kesh they found and its possible stealer. Mina brings up some security footage for that incident, which shows their man using a strange energy pistol to take out the guards in an assembly room. Then he lowers the ship's entry ramp, gets onboard, blasts through the roof, and flies away. The coordinator explains that the loss of a single ship wasn't that hard, as they produce a dozen or so every month and a half, but it was still hard to believe one man could fight through all their security. Carter asks if there are any leads as to where he went next, and Mina tells them to check with the man in charge of that sector for the day; Joman Shern.
As they make their way to Shern's office, Mitchell wonders why they never heard of this place before, as Earth could have really used the ships during the Goa'uld days. But Vala quickly fills him in; Cindari usually only trades with mercenary or pirate groups, and rarely makes ties with established galactic powers. In this way, they can avoid getting caught up in any intergalactic disputes while still turning a hefty profit.
Suddenly, an explosion can be heard coming from just ahead. Sub-zero air blasts the team as the outside winds creepy indoors, and the power flickers overhead. Still, they rush ahead, round a corner, and stop... the entire area ahead, where Shern's office was located, as been ripped away by a massive bomb. As security officers arrive to seal off this area, SG-1 is hurried away to avoid the freezing temperatures.
Waiting for Mina in one of the lounges overlooking an assembly room, Daniel states what is now obvious; someone does not want this investigated, and it's someone with enough power to know they're here and kill who they need. Carter is busy looking over some files she has been given, and notices a gate address amid a scramble of Goa'uld writing (not all of Shern's files were in his officer). She asks Teal'c to translate, and it is revealed that this is a planet that the Cindari Security detail believes their man fled to. But why weren't they told earlier?
Just then, the door slides open and Mina enters, flanked by two guards who immediately pull weapons on SG-1. The team, caught offguard, can do nothing. Mina calmly explains that "they" have been watching this facility, and that she must eliminate the team for the safety of all the people on this world. Mitchell tries to reason with her, bringing up the new Alliance and saying that it could protect Cindari from any sort of attack. But Mina just laughs and says that the Alliance will be gone before long, and it will matter little to "them".
Vala realizes then that it must have been Mina that ordered the bomb detonated to kill Shern, probably because he wasn't in on whatever's going on here. Mina admits she did it, and for exactly that reason; as the coordinator of this facility, "they" only watch her. Most everyone else here is completely innocent, but if she was to cross "them", "they" would destroy this place.
As she's talking, Teal'c has slowly been reaching behind him, and has grabbed a thin, decorative piece of naquadah from a shelf. Before anyone can react, he hurls it at the nearest guard's throat, and the man goes down. Carter lashes out with a kick as soon as she sees what's going on, bringing the second man down, too, and grabbing his weapon. In an instant, they have Mina at gunpoint, and try to convince her that if she comes with them, to Earth, she'll be safe. They have the gate address they need, and they can protect her at the ISGC.
She seems about to agree, but suddenly a dull roar builds. Everyone turns to the window and is shocked to see a ship (much like the Covenant Phantoms in Halo) rise up, its rear hatch opening to reveal six men with staff weapons. the SG-1 members dive through the doorway into the hall just as the people on the ship open fire, shattering the glass, destroying much of the room, and killing Mina. Then the hatch closes and the ship veers off.
Some time later, the team is back on Earth, talking in Daniel's office. Apparently, the Cinbari government isn't pressing charges for the damage caused and has launched an internal invesitgation into the corruption of Coordinator Mina, but they doubt they'll find anything. Whoever was controlling her and the facility has enough influence to cover their tracks.
Still, they have the gate address they need to track down their man. But as Daniel reminds them, innocents had to die for them to get it. How far are they willing to go to figure this out?
To that, no one has an answer.
Suddenly, Teal'c comes through the stargate, dressed in Jaffa politician clothing. He greets Mitchell warmly, happy to be back on Earth, and appologizes for being away for so long. Apparently, he's been very busy rushing across the galaxy to settle planetary disputes within the Jaffa Nation, and couldn't break away sooner. But he claims to be back for SG-1 now, and that's all that matters.
As the two leave the gate room, they are nearly bowled over by a jubilant Samantha Carter, who just stepped out of the elevator from a higher level. She says she has great news, and tells her teammates to meet her in the briefing room in twenty minutes. When they arrive, they find Vala, Daniel, and General Landry waiting for them. Carter has a presentation all ready for them, so everyone is seated and the lights are dimmed.
Quickly, Carter summarizes recent events for Teal'c's benefit; she has spent the last few weeks studying the al'kesh they retrieved from their missing man ("The Fugitive"), and managed to finally crack its memory crystal's encryption layer. After spending a morning of searching, she thinks she's got a gate address to a planet he stole the ship from, and wants to head there right away to pick up any leads. Landry wholeheartedly agrees, and tells the team to be ready for departure in a half hour.
A short time later, SG-1 steps through the stargate into an impressive-looking hall, filled with people of all races hurrying about. The five of them look somewhat confused for a moment, but are soon approached by a Serrakin man who asks them what they want; Daniel replies they're looking for information on a stolen al'kesh. The alien nods solemnly and asks that they follow him.
The team is led down a widning maze of windowed hallways, through which dozens of al'kesh, tel'tak, death gliders, and numerous craft never before seen are being built. Vala recognizes the place and tells the othersthat this world is called "Cindari", and is renowned for its shipbuilding facilities around the galaxy. During the reign of the System Lords, this sector was one of few able to retain its sovreignty, owed to the massive amount of starcraft churned out on this planet.
Finally, they arrive at an officer overlooking a snow-covered valley. In fact, a fierce blizzard is blowing outside, and they begin to understand why everything has been enclosed indoors; the outside is deadly. As they enter, a female Jaffa stands and introduces herself as Mina, the coordinator of this facility and two others like it scattered across Cindari. She explains that there are dozens of them, along with a few underground cities, but they are only accessible via an underground transit system or ship transport, since land travel would kill anyone stupid enough to try.
Mitchell gets to business at once, asking about the stolen al'kesh they found and its possible stealer. Mina brings up some security footage for that incident, which shows their man using a strange energy pistol to take out the guards in an assembly room. Then he lowers the ship's entry ramp, gets onboard, blasts through the roof, and flies away. The coordinator explains that the loss of a single ship wasn't that hard, as they produce a dozen or so every month and a half, but it was still hard to believe one man could fight through all their security. Carter asks if there are any leads as to where he went next, and Mina tells them to check with the man in charge of that sector for the day; Joman Shern.
As they make their way to Shern's office, Mitchell wonders why they never heard of this place before, as Earth could have really used the ships during the Goa'uld days. But Vala quickly fills him in; Cindari usually only trades with mercenary or pirate groups, and rarely makes ties with established galactic powers. In this way, they can avoid getting caught up in any intergalactic disputes while still turning a hefty profit.
Suddenly, an explosion can be heard coming from just ahead. Sub-zero air blasts the team as the outside winds creepy indoors, and the power flickers overhead. Still, they rush ahead, round a corner, and stop... the entire area ahead, where Shern's office was located, as been ripped away by a massive bomb. As security officers arrive to seal off this area, SG-1 is hurried away to avoid the freezing temperatures.
Waiting for Mina in one of the lounges overlooking an assembly room, Daniel states what is now obvious; someone does not want this investigated, and it's someone with enough power to know they're here and kill who they need. Carter is busy looking over some files she has been given, and notices a gate address amid a scramble of Goa'uld writing (not all of Shern's files were in his officer). She asks Teal'c to translate, and it is revealed that this is a planet that the Cindari Security detail believes their man fled to. But why weren't they told earlier?
Just then, the door slides open and Mina enters, flanked by two guards who immediately pull weapons on SG-1. The team, caught offguard, can do nothing. Mina calmly explains that "they" have been watching this facility, and that she must eliminate the team for the safety of all the people on this world. Mitchell tries to reason with her, bringing up the new Alliance and saying that it could protect Cindari from any sort of attack. But Mina just laughs and says that the Alliance will be gone before long, and it will matter little to "them".
Vala realizes then that it must have been Mina that ordered the bomb detonated to kill Shern, probably because he wasn't in on whatever's going on here. Mina admits she did it, and for exactly that reason; as the coordinator of this facility, "they" only watch her. Most everyone else here is completely innocent, but if she was to cross "them", "they" would destroy this place.
As she's talking, Teal'c has slowly been reaching behind him, and has grabbed a thin, decorative piece of naquadah from a shelf. Before anyone can react, he hurls it at the nearest guard's throat, and the man goes down. Carter lashes out with a kick as soon as she sees what's going on, bringing the second man down, too, and grabbing his weapon. In an instant, they have Mina at gunpoint, and try to convince her that if she comes with them, to Earth, she'll be safe. They have the gate address they need, and they can protect her at the ISGC.
She seems about to agree, but suddenly a dull roar builds. Everyone turns to the window and is shocked to see a ship (much like the Covenant Phantoms in Halo) rise up, its rear hatch opening to reveal six men with staff weapons. the SG-1 members dive through the doorway into the hall just as the people on the ship open fire, shattering the glass, destroying much of the room, and killing Mina. Then the hatch closes and the ship veers off.
Some time later, the team is back on Earth, talking in Daniel's office. Apparently, the Cinbari government isn't pressing charges for the damage caused and has launched an internal invesitgation into the corruption of Coordinator Mina, but they doubt they'll find anything. Whoever was controlling her and the facility has enough influence to cover their tracks.
Still, they have the gate address they need to track down their man. But as Daniel reminds them, innocents had to die for them to get it. How far are they willing to go to figure this out?
To that, no one has an answer.
Comment