05x09 - Between Two Fires

[bunniefuu]

Previously on "Stargate SG

-1": I am Omoc.

Our world is called Tollan.

I find it unbelievable anyone so primitivecould have deciphered the gate system.

Primitive?

You are, after all, the peoplewho saved us from the Goa'uld.

In that spirit,we'd like to arrange for a trade.



- What would you like to trade?



- Technology.

You know that is the one thingwe cannot give you.

Cover! Narim was right about you.

Perhaps in time we'll meet again.

(man) We should not mournthe passing of our friend Omoc, as much as we shouldcelebrate his existence.

He helped us through one of the greatestchallenges in our people's recent history.

His efforts contributed to the rebirthof our great nation as it stands today.

He will always be remembered.

Very nice.

Very intimate.

Councillor Omoc was well awarethat he had very few true friends.

He was not concernedwith trivial relationships.

In his testamenthe asked that his memorial be attended only by thosewhom he respected.

No offence, but what are we doing here?

He may not have shown you warmth, butOmoc had a lot of reverence for all of you.

As do we all.

Colonel O'Neill, we have not dismissedwhat you have done for the Tollan people.

Don't mention it.

We appreciate everythingyou've done for us, too.

If you are referring to our policyof not sharing our technology, renewing such a discussion would bebetter suited for another time and place.

Really?

The Tollan curia has recessed for a dayof mourning out of respect for Omoc.

Would you consider returning tomorrowto meet with me?



- Sure.



- Thank you all for coming today.

I look forward to seeing youagain soon, Colonel.

Narim, will you showour guests to the Stargate?

Any idea what she was talkin' about?

I was as surprised as youby her invitation.

She seems to suggest the curia maynow be willing to share its technology.

I doubt that.

She merely saidthey wished to discuss it with you.

You think she'd invite us backif things were status quo?

I am not on the curia.

I really have no ideawhat she wishes to see you about.

Have a safe trip home.

Samantha.

I hope I will have the chanceto see you upon your return.

Sir.

Narim just handed me this.

Samantha, sorry I was unable to tell youthis in person.

I do not know who to trust.

Before his death, Omoc gave mea warning and I believe it to be true.

Earth is in grave danger.

Narim gave no other indicationsomething might be wrong?



- No, sir.

Everything was fine.



- For a funeral.

It did seem strangethere were so few people.

Hey, you knew him.

What's strange?

Whatever he meant, I bet Omoc's warning has something to do with whatTravell wants to meet with us about.

Agreed.

Let's see what they have to say.

Cosy.

Colonel O'Neill, Dr Jackson,thank you so much for returning.

Thanks for havin' us.

Are Major Carter and Teal'c not with you?

They want to spend timecatching up with Narim.

Of course.

Shall we get down to business?

The curia met this morning, as I indicated, and the topic was our policyof sharing technology with Earth.

In an odd way, Colonel O'Neill, the unfortunate death of Omochas proven to be advantageous for you.

Well, then I guess I'm both sad and happy.

You've often expressed a strong interestin obtaining some of our technologies.

You could say.

In the past,the prevailing beliefs of the curia have made any sucharrangements impossible.

What's this have to dowith Omoc's death?

Some curia members have been changingtheir view about our isolationist ways.

Recently, the balance of the voteson these issues have been split.

Omoc strongly supported the old ways.

With his passing,those in favour now control the vote.

We would like to propose an exchange.

Ah, the sound of the other shoe.

Please, Colonel, have you ever knowna political body to act solely without concern for its own needs?



- What do you want?



- We chose this planet for our new home because of its natural supply of trinium.

However, our nation has grownmuch quicker than anyone anticipated.

Resources are becoming depleted.

Always reason to reassessisolationist ways.

As I said, Dr Jackson, politics havecommon threads wherever you go.

OK, so you need trinium.

Why not go get some?



- What did I say?



- I don't know.

I have temporarily deactivatedsecurity in this room.

Normally everything is recorded.

I wish totalk confidentially without repercussions.



- Off the record?



- Yes.

The truth is, Colonel, those councillorsthat oppose this arrangement still have strong voicesamong our people.

So the whole trinium thingis just an excuse to save face publicly?

We do need it but, as you have suggested,we can get it elsewhere if necessary.



- How much do you need?



- Would you repeat that?

How much do you need?

Our scientists will work out the specifics.

But, given that you now havean offworld trinium mine, I am sure it is within your capabilities.

OK.

In exchange we get?

A Tollan ion cannon.

One of those big, honkin' space g*ns that sh**t Goa'uld ships out of the sky?

Yes.

Cool.

Narim appears to havestrong personal feelings for you.



- I know.

It's just that

- Forgive me, Samantha.

Teal'c.

My duties did not allow meto get away before now.



- It's OK.

You all right?



- Yes, fine.

You look concerned.

I apologise for having to sendthat message the way I did.

There were so many extra security forcesyesterday, I didn't know who I could trust.



- Except you, of course.



- It's OK.

Thank you.

Did Omoc not say any moreabout the danger to the Tauri?

All I know is what I said in the message.

Omoc seemed to beunder great strain recently.

Which may explainwhy he had the heart att*ck.



- Colonel O'Neill, Dr Jackson.



- What did Chancellor Travell say?

She offered us an ion cannon.



- I don't believe it.



- Neither did we.



- In exchange for trinium.



- The curia would never agree to that.

Apparently, Omoc was the swing vote.

But it goes againsteverything we've stood for.

Do you think this iswhat Omoc was so worried about?

Of course.

It must have been.

Another world once destroyed themselvesbecause we shared technology with them.

That is why we have resisted sharingwhat we know with primitive societies.

We'd prefer "less advanced",if you don't mind.

My apologies.

You know what I meant.

If used the wrong way, this ion cannoncould lead you to disaster.

The ion

-beam technologyis very advanced.

So much so, that backward

-engineeringone for mass production is beyond us.



- And that poses a bigger problem.



- How so?

Well, sir, even strategically placedin, say, Washington DC, one ion cannon provides very little rangeof defence coverage for a planet our size.

Even if we could mobilise it, a fleet ofGoa'uld motherships could still strike.

And the Russians might take issue withour having control of a single ion cannon.

Our current relationship with themon these matters is tenuous at best.

So, at this point, one ion cannonis likely to cause more harm than good.

How many do we need to set up a properprotective net around the entire planet?

(both) 38?

! To provide total global coverage, yes, sir.

And that's not including backups.

It couldn't hurt to ask, sir.

Sir, I feel obligated to mention the factthat Narim is opposed to this exchange, and thinks that Omoc's warningwas directly related.

Do you believe the Tollan Councilhas ulterior motives that do not represent our best interest?

Something's going on.

I just don't know what.

I'm ordering youto proceed with the negotiation.

OK.

Colonel, under the circumstances If you're going to recommend, sir, Icontinue to be suspicious and sceptical

- I wouldn't waste my time.



- Good thinking.

Remember, this could changethe course of our history.

So don't blow it?

What you're sensing as trouble could besimple internal political wrangling.

I understand that.

Or we could be walking into a minefield.

Thank you, sir.

These little chats of oursalways bring me great joy and serve to ease my mind.

Greetings.

Chancellor Travell has askedthat I escort them the rest of the way.



- Is that true?



- No.

I heard you were back on Tollana to meet with Chancellor Travell.

Yeah.

We're gonna ask fora whole whack of space g*ns.

This is worse than I thought.

We understand why you're concerned,but those cannons could save Earth.

You have to trustwe won't k*ll each other with them.

And if we do,we won't blame you.

Promise.

You don't understand.

Every Tollan has a small implantthat monitors their health.



- This is my current health data.



- I'm assuming you're OK?

Yes.

Pertect health.

However, I am overseer of Omoc'sproperty, including his health records.

After our last conversationI did some checking.



- As you know, Omoc had a heart att*ck.



- Narim, where are you going with this?

Despite the fact Despite the fact Omoc looked as if he wasunder stress, he too was in pertect health.

People sometimes dieof heart att*cks without warning.

Our implants link to a central system.

Ifanything is wrong officers are dispatched.

Normally, maximum response timeis under five minutes.

The night of Omoc's deathit took them over ten minutes.



- What are you saying?



- That just doesn't happen.

No.

What are you saying?

Well, I believe I believe Omoc may have been m*rder*d.

(Daniel) Mind if I askwhat you need the trinium for?

Trinium is combined with a numberof elements to create a compound that is usedin various Tollan technologies.

Do you people practise being vague?

I will have this sample analysed for purity.

Then I will be able to give youthe amounts we require for our exchange.

Yeah, about that

- Have you reconsidered?



- No.

No, no, no.

Um We just don't feelone cannon is gonna work.

One doesn't go so farin protecting an entire planet.

Yes, that was discussed by the curia.

Well, we've come up with a solutionyou may not have considered.



- Yes?



- Give us more than one.

How many would you require?



- Mm, thirty

- Eight.

Thirty

-eight.

Total.

I see.

Well, I understand your dilemma.

Please, give me some timeto present your request to the curia.



- That went well.



- Mm

-hm.

Greetings, Narim.

Welcome home.

Atmosphere control is active.

Shall I prepare a mealforyou and yourguests?

No, thank you.



- Narim?



- Yes, Samantha.

Is that my voice?

I'm sorry.

I was hoping you wouldn't notice.

Colonel O'Neill asked usto find proof of Omoc's m*rder.

Should we not begin?

I don't know where to start.

There hasn't been a m*rder herefor as long as I can remember.



- Is crime so uncommon here?



- There are crimes of indiscretion, but nothing even approachingthe severity of m*rder.

Our security systems prevent it, which iswhy I was so reluctant to even suggest it.

This doesn't make any sense.

The curia disagreed with Omocover whether to give us your weapons, but do you really thinkthey would k*ll him over it?

I don't know whatto believe any more, Samantha.

The records of all curia meetings arepublic.

We can read through them here.

There appears to be much information.

Yes, but as Samantha suggested,maybe there is something in all this to indicate the seriousness of the conflictbetween Omoc and the other members.

Can you translate it for us?

You think Narim's right about Omoc?

I think this thing smellsworse and worse by the minute.

But you're still willing to proceed?

It's the only way we're gonna find outwhat's really going on.

The question is, how far do we go?

Well, all we know is these people mightbe willing to part with powertul weapons.



- I have no problem with that.



- No.

No surprise there.

At worst, some people disagree on somephilosophical level I don't understand.

At worst, they k*lled someoneto make sure this would happen.

Now, see, that makes no sense to me.

Exactly.

So push on blindly, then?

Blindly, yes.

But we still have our slightlyheightened sense of smell.

Chancellor Travell is ready for you now.

Shall we take a break?

Isn't there a way to narrow this down,search the records for specific topics?

Please indicate the topic ofinterest.



- OK, how do we shut that off?



- Voice system off.



- What do you want to search for?



- Let's start with ion cannons.

OK.

Search topic: ion cannons.

Time frame: six months.

Hello?

Hello?



- You sure this is the right spot?



- The directions he gave led us here.

How do you know this is Narim"s house?

They all look the same here.

Cos that's Narim.



- You're good.



- Come in.



- Whatcha readin' there, fella?



- Tollan curia records.

Don't wreck it for me.



- So what did Travell say?



- We got the g*ns.

It cannot be true.



- All of them?



- Over time, as we deliver the trinium.



- Wow.



- What do you guys got?

Uh, well, so far not much.

(Teal"c) Narim.

Colonel O'Neill.

It says that two months ago there was anunscheduled test of Tollan ion cannons.

Omoc filed an official protest.

Yes, I remember it well.

We were supposed to have a meal.

Omocwas late and very angry when he arrived.

He was ranting about the unfairnessof random testing on the Tollan people.

Why is this important?

We want signs of Omoc'sdifference of opinion with the curia.



- This can't be.



- What?

According to this record, the curiameeting adjourned in the late afternoon.



- When Omoc came here it was evening.



- So?

It means there are two hours of notationsmissing from the records.



- A slight omission?



- That's not possible.

If the curia can commit m*rder, they canerase two hours from the public records.

You don't understand our laws.

For the highest members ofour government to deceive the people, as strange as it may sound, it's aneven more heinous crime than m*rder.

It's It's unthinkable.

At the time I thought it was strange Omocwould be upset over an ion cannon test.

Slightly more to it than that, eh?

If the curia wanted to cover up this matter,why leave Omoc's protest on record?

Because a protest of Tollan policyis filed with every level of the government.

It would be impossible to erase it withouta conspiracy of massive proportions, reaching far outside the curia.

So whatever happened in the timemissing, it could be why Omoc was k*lled.

As far as what you told me, there seemsto be an evil conspiracy among the curia whose goal is to give useverything we've wanted.



- That makes no sense.



- I said that.

Unless the Tollan cannot procure triniumon their own as easily as they claim.

Travell tried hard to convince us it wasa face

-saving exercise to calm naysayers.

Do we know what the Tollanswill do with the trinium?

Lots and lots of very interestingand unspecific things.

We could tag the first shipmentto see where it goes.



- How?



- We introduce a radioactive isotope.

If the Tollans catch it, we say it'sa by

-product of the purification process and we've been unableto eliminate it entirely.

Do it.



- Travell doesn't suspect you?



- If she does, she's not letting on.

We're a primitive race.

Why would she suspect us?

The trinium's still moving.

It's south

-southwest of here.

Do you realise what you have doneby involving me?

Hey, you involved yourself in thiswhen you sent us that warning.

Warning you your world is in dangeris not the same as treason! If your leaders are involved in somethinguntoward, what you're doing isn't treason.



- What I am doing is nothing!

- Then help us.

How?

Tell us how to get into Travell's officeand access her computer.



- What?



- If there is a conspiracy, she's in on it.

It was, in fact, Travellthat offered us the ion cannons.



- It's impossible.

There is no way.



- Narim, get your head outta your ass!

- You started this.



- Your government is deceiving you.

You said yourself that's the mostheinous crime you can think of.



- I should have told the security office.



- But the curia have more power.

As a citizen, is it not your dutyto investigate such a crime?



- The security systems

- Travell can turn them off.



- Why would she do that?



- So she could talk to us off the record.

That is a violationof the governmental conduct code.

Gee, what a shock.

There is one chance.

Only high

-ranking members of the curiahave access to the security system in the building whereTravell's office is located.



- Omoc was among them.



- And you have his personal effects.

His code would be in the data device,if it is not deactivated.

OK.

Daniel, Carter, go with Narim.

Check out Travell's office.

Teal'c and I will track the trinium.

Um, that's the thingthat lets you go through walls, right?



- Yes.



- Got a couple extra layin' around?



- That would be a violation

- Good.

And weapons?

Colonel O'Neill

- Just in case.



- Our security sensors The weapons carried byyoursecurity forces remain unaffected.

If this doesn't work,Security will be here in seconds.

Way to go, Omoc.

Here.

This is a communication sentto our chief of science and technology just after the meeting.

That was no random ion cannon test.

It says a Goa'uld ship entered orbitand the ion cannons fired in defence.

Ineffectively.

I don't see how that could be.

Our ioncannons have always been successful.



- Maybe this Goa'uld can defend itself.



- That would be catastrophic.



- We have no other weapons capable of

- Wait a second.

This makes no sense.

It says despiteresisting att*ck, the ship left peacefully.

Yeah, right(!) Why would a Goa'uld mothership,impervious to your ion cannons, leave?

There must be more.

No other records mention a Goa'uld ship.

Must've been discussed off the record.

The ion cannons are useless if they won'tdefend against Goa'uld motherships.

That's why Travell would give usas many as we wanted.

Let's see if we can find outwhat the trinium's being used for.

Looks like our trinium's in here.

Narim said in order for the device to workon both of us we must hold hands, O'Neill.

I know.

This is unlike any Tollan deviceI have previously seen.

Well, whatever it is, they seem to thinkthey're gonna need a lot of 'em.

Whoa.

It's a w*apon of mass destruction.

OK, where does the trinium come in?

Trinium is required to house any devicethat generates our phase

-shift technology.

Are you saying this b*mb is being madeso it can go through anything?

Theoretically, yes.

That must be it.

This w*apon is to replacethe ion cannon in defence of our planet.

(Carter) Narim, that doesn't add up.

A Goa'uld wouldn't drop by just soyou could see his new shield technology, then go away to give your people timeto build a w*apon to penetrate it.

What else could have happened?

Please, lower your weapons.

The building is full of security.

What do you think you're doing, Narim?

What do you think you are doing,Chancellor?

She is doing what she mustto preserve your world.

Hello, fellas.

This is not a good sign.



- (Narim) You are in league with a Goa'uld.



- His name is Tanith.

Yeah, aren't you supposed to be dead?



- If you must know

- I must.

I had left Apophis' ship in an escape podlong before the sun exploded.

Thank you, by the way.

In destroying his fleet,you did me a great favour.



- It was nothing.



- How lovely it is to see you both here.

I assume Teal'cmust be around somewhere.

The others are being apprehendedas we speak.

I am so looking forward to seeing himand Colonel O'Neill again.

How can you do this?

I have done nothing alone, Narim.

The curia is actingin the interest of Tollana.

You m*rder*d Omoc.

Had we not done what we did,there would be no Tollana.

And there won't be, if you do notfulfil your promise, Chancellor.

Rest assured, we will deliver as promised.

You and the curia cannot make suchdeals on behalf of the Tollan people.

We would rather fight and diethan trade our technology to the Goa'uld.

I wonder if you'd be so quick to makethat decision were you in my position.

After him! He will not get away.



- How did you find me?



- You're the one wearing grey.

Jackson and Major Carter?

We were caught by Travell andthe Goa'uld the curia are bargaining with.

I managed to escape with this.

But the entire security force of Tollanamust be looking for me.



- And you, for that matter.



- Back up to that Goa'uld bargain part.

The Tollan curia have made a dealwith a Goa'uld.

His name is Tanith.

Easy, big fella.

What kind of deal?

This Goa'uld's mothership has a newshield impervious to our ion cannons.

For the first time,Tollana is vulnerable to att*ck.



- There hasn't been an att*ck.



- No.

To prevent one the curia has agreedto build weapons for the Goa'uld.

We have seen these weapons.

There are a great many.

What exactly can they do?

They are expl*sives of great power thatutilise the Tollan phase

-shift technology.

They will be able to penetrateany solid matter prior to detonation.

Like an iris?

As you have seen, I have used ourtechnology to walk through the barrier that protects your planet's Stargate.

We've been unable to locate themthus far.

Our efforts continue.

Use Narim's health implant to locate him.



- That would be in violation of the code

- Do it! Tell your masterwe will make the delivery on schedule.

Excuse me?

Your master?

You don't think he coulddo all this by himself, do you?

Apophis dead,fresh out of an escape pod He'd have to ally himselfwith someone more powertul.



- So who you taking orders from now?



- The one he serves has no name.

Oh, he has a name.

The likes of youare simply forbidden to know it.

Do with them as you wish.

However, if your pathetic security forcesfinally manage to capture Teal'c, have him transported up to me.



- Tanith must not possess these weapons.



- I know.



- What can we do?



- Destroy them.



- How?



- You tell me.

Travell was right.

It's not so easy whenthe fate of your planet is in your hands.

Narim The Goa'uld will att*ck if we don't deliver.

You are asking meto destroy my own world.

I'm asking you not to sacrifice Earthand God knows how many other planets to save your own ass! I'm asking you to do the right thing,and you know it.

Your time is up, Chancellor.



- We are ready to make the first delivery.



- Very well.

However, before accepting, we will firstrequire a demonstration ofthe technology to ensure that it works as expected.

I assure you it has been testedand each w*apon is fully You will activate one ofthe weapons andsend it through your Stargate to the Tauri.

You have 30 minutes.

You got any idea what you're doing?

None.

(alarm) Good enough.

You knew why you were buildingthe devices and what they'd be used for.

You just didn't expect themto make you pull the trigger.

The Goa'uld have no choice.

Earth is protected.

They can't do it withoutdealing with the Asgard.

I had no choice either.

Yes, you did.

Hi, kids.

They were attempting to sabotage oneof the weapons.

They had this on them.

Narim's health implant.

What have you done to him?

Nothing.

However, whilethese guys were chasing us Narim was able to move freely.

Leave them! Come! Where you guys goin'?

Hey! Ow! Damn! The Goa'uld will soon realise that we willno longer honour our end of the bargain.

Um, hey.

We should go.

(screaming) (explosions)

- You must hurry to the Stargate.



- Aren't you coming with us?

I have forced my peopleto fight a battle we may lose.

The least I can do isstay and fight with them.

Thank you.

Good luck.

I hope this isn't goodbye.

Go.

So, we can reasonably assume theGoa'uld did not get any of the weapons?

We can only hope.



- What about these new shields?



- The Goa'uld do not share technology.

Well, whoever Tanith is now working for,these new shields give him an advantage.

Teal'c, any guesses who it might be?

None, General Hammond.

I suppose that, whoever it is, they'restill afraid of confronting the Asgard,

- or they'd've att*cked Earth themselves.



- For now.

(technician overPA)Incoming communication.

We're getting a direct transmission from aTollan long

-range communication device...

managed to get some people out.

Stargate was destroyed.

- Narim.

- All defences failing.

Ourships attempting to escape are beingshot down.

I wanted you to know that I'm sorry, sir.

That's it.

The transmission just d*ed.