STARGATE SG1
Episode 309
"RULES OF ENGAGEMENT"
By
Terry Curtis Fox
Transcribed by
Callie Sullivan
ALIEN PLANET. SG-1 are walking through woods. Sam is holding
a detector of some sort, so the team are clearly searching for
something.
O’NEILL
You know, that UAV needs a swift kick
in the CPU.
CARTER
Aerial camera showed some sort of camp.
(Gunfire can be ahead. SG-1 duck down.)
CARTER
That sounded like weapons fire.
(There’s a familiar whooshing sound.)
(The team head in the direction of the noise. They reach the
top of an embankment and carefully peer over the edge. Sam looks
through her binoculars and sees Jaffa firing on a group of men.
A young man in SGC gear runs for cover but is shot in the back
with a staff blast.)
CARTER
They’re SG teams, sir. Can’t make out
their unit number. They’re pinned down.
(She hands her binoculars to Jack, who
focuses on the SG personnel down below
who are sheltering behind some boulders.)
TEAL’C
They are not returning fire.
CARTER
Out of ammo?
O’NEILL
Maybe. They’re not supposed to be here
at all.
DANIEL
SG-11?
CARTER
They were declared MIA eight months
ago, on P89 354. What would they be
doing here?
TEAL’C
Whoever they may be, they are about
to die.
(SG-1 crawl down the embankment and shelter behind some rocks
near the other SG team. Jack calls out to the team’s Captain.)
O’NEILL
Pull out! We’ll cover your six!
CAPTAIN
Identify yourself!
O’NEILL
Colonel Jack O’Neill, SG-1!
CAPTAIN
Which Quadrant?
(Another of the SG soldiers is hit by a staff weapon blast.)
O’NEILL
Get out of there!
CAPTAIN (TO HIS MEN)
Take them out!
(Two soldiers in SG uniform rise up out of hatches in the ground
and fire at SG-1. Although it looks like they’re firing real
Earth weapons, each member of SG-1 is hit by red bolts of energy
rather than bullets. They collapse.)
TENT. SG-1 are lying on military-looking camp beds. Teal’c regains
consciousness, and the other three revive moments later.
O’NEILL
Everybody okay?
DANIEL
Headache. Bad headache.
CARTER
I thought I got shot.
TEAL’C
So it would seem.
CARTER
Must be some kind of stun weapons.
O’NEILL
Looked like MP-5s to me. Well, all I
can say is ...
(A young soldier, barely old enough to be in the military, comes
into the tent. He is wearing an SG uniform and is carrying a
gun.)
O’NEILL
Hello.
HIBBARD
Boy, are you guys gonna get it!
O’NEILL
Get what? From whom?
HIBBARD
Hey, you can’t talk!
O’NEILL
Why not?
HIBBARD
Because you’re dead!
O’NEILL
Dead?
HIBBARD
Pretending not to be dead will just
get you into more trouble.
O’NEILL
More trouble than dead?
HIBBARD
Come on, Colonel, you know better. Stop
breaking the rules.
O’NEILL
Sorry. Who’s in charge here?
HIBBARD
Casualties don’t ask questions.
CARTER
Uh, what rules are we talking about
exactly?
(Hibbard walks over to her and aims his gun at her.)
HIBBARD
I said, stop!
DANIEL
We’re just trying to understand, if
we’re supposed to be dead, how are you
supposed to kill us again?
(There’s a moment of deadly silence, then ...)
DANIEL (QUIETLY)
Four-eyes?
O’NEILL
Easy, big fella. Just ... play dead.
TEAL’C
Indeed.
(Hibbard glares at Daniel for a moment longer, then finally lowers
his gun.)
HIBBARD
Captain’s waiting for you. Follow me.
(He leaves the tent. Jack gets up off
the bed.)
O’NEILL
Anyone notice the patch?
CARTER
SG-X.
TEAL’C
There *is* no SG-X, O’Neill.
O’NEILL
Not under Hammond’s command, no.
(Hibbard comes back into the tent.)
HIBBARD
Hey! I *said* follow me.
(He leaves again. Jack shrugs and everyone gets up and follows
Hibbard.)
TRAINING CAMP. Lieutenant Hibbard leads SG-1 through a military
training compound. Young soldiers, all in their late teens or
early twenties, are going through various training exercises,
climbing ropes etc. One group of soldiers jogs past SG-1.
TEAL’C
They are no more than children.
CARTER
Playing some kind of war game, by the
looks of things. Who do you think they
are? NID, Colonel Maybourne?
O’NEILL
I wouldn’t put it past him.
(Hibbard leads them to a tent. Sitting at a table with his back
to them is the Captain who ordered SG-1 shot earlier.)
HIBBARD (SALUTING)
SG-1 reporting as ordered, sir!
O’NEILL
Would that be Daylight Savings or Standard?
CAPTAIN
You may not speak. Except to answer
a direct question by the evaluating
officer. (He stands and confronts Jack.)
Is that *CLEAR*?! (Jack just smiles
at him. The Captain looks irritated.)
Is this the way you behave in your quadrant,
mister?
O’NEILL
I think ‘Colonel’ is the proper way
of addressing me, *Captain*.
CAPTAIN
No rank is above strict adherence to
the Rules of Engagement. Rule 2, Article
4. Unauthorised forces shall be shot
on sight. You were unauthorised. In
fact, you ruined our ambush. Nearly
half the enemy team got away!
O’NEILL
Carter, I’ve never been real big on
regs. Is this familiar to you?
CARTER
No, sir.
TEAL’C
They are familiar to *me*. (To the Captain)
Gel’vak, Jaffa.
CAPTAIN (STARTLED)
You’re not from D Quadrant.
TEAL’C
We are not.
CAPTAIN
You came through the chappa’ai. This
is a challenge!
DANIEL
The ... chappa’ai?
(The Captain looks aghast, as if he has realised that he said
something wrong.)
O’NEILL
Oy.
CAPTAIN
Stargate. Of course. We’ve been so long
without challenges. (To Teal’c) I am
sorry, Master Jaffa. I have revealed
myself and failed. (He takes out his
sidearm and offers it to Teal’c.) You
must execute me for the remainder of
the day.
(Hibbard hands his rifle to Jack.)
HIBBARD
You must execute me as well.
(Jack takes out the clip and looks at it. The bullets are red-tipped.
He re-inserts the clip and looks at the base of the weapon and
presses a button which makes a bleeping sound as it switches
on. Clearly this is not a standard issue weapon. He switches
it off again.)
O’NEILL
Master Teal’c. Might I suggest we ...
spare them this time?
TEAL’C
Very well ... underling. (Jack shoots
him a look.) Captain, your full name
and rank.
CARTER
Your *Earth* name?
TEAL’C (TO ROGERS)
Your standing orders given to you by
your previous Jaffa Master.
CAPTAIN/ROGERS
To practise the exercises of battle
according to the Rules of Engagement,
until the return of our Lord Apophis!
DANIEL
Really?
ROGERS
When we are ready for the final challenge,
he will come.
O’NEILL
Don’t hold your breath.
ROGERS
We *will* be ready.
CARTER
You’re training to serve Apophis wearing
SG uniforms?
ROGERS
To know the enemy. Quadrant A is spared
no detail. We’ve studied long and hard
and know much.
CARTER
About Earth.
ROGERS
Oh yes. Corn and cotton are indigenous
to North America.
O’NEILL
And that information could save your
life one day.
ROGERS
So you see, Master Teal’c, my mistake
will not happen again. I am ready to
infiltrate the Tauri at your command.
TEAL’C
That time has not yet come, Captain
Rogers.
DANIEL (TO ROGERS)
So, if you’re pretending to be ... who
were those Jaffa attacking you?
ROGERS
They were led by my second-in-command,
Captain Nelson, as part of the daily
exercise. We have kept the Jaffa encampment
separate so that we may better practise
our Earth behaviour. Shall I have him
sent for?
DANIEL
No, I don’t think that’ll be necessary.
TEAL’C (TO ROGERS)
Send for him.
DANIEL
Yes! Send for him.
(Rogers looks at Hibbard and jerks his head. Hibbard heads out
of the tent.)
ROGERS
How else may I serve?
O’NEILL
We’d like our weapons back. The ones
we came with.
ROGERS
They were stored in the Armoury Tent,
at the conclusion of this morning’s
war game.
TEAL’C
Take us to them.
ROGERS
As you wish.
TRAINING CAMP. Captain Rogers leads SG-1 through the camp. The
team look at the boys training, some of whom are stripped to
the waist.
CARTER (TO JACK)
Colonel, none of them have symbiont
pouches.
O’NEILL
I noticed that.
TEAL’C
Before Apophis requested asylum from
the Tauri, there were but a handful
of loyal Jaffa remaining in his service.
DANIEL
So he drafted ordinary humans?
TEAL’C
It is common practice among the Goa’uld
to use humans as fodder during battle.
Especially when facing defeat.
ARMOURY TENT. Rogers leads the way into the tent. Inside there
are racks of what look like various types of SGC weapons.
O’NEILL (TO ROGERS)
Alright, Captain, we can handle it from
here.
ROGERS
I can assist you.
TEAL’C (TO ROGERS)
Shel’kek.
ROGERS
Yes, Master. (He leaves.)
TEAL’C
They are the code of battle during a
young Jaffa’s training, spoken by Apophis
himself.
TEAL’C
They are intar.
TEAL’C
Intar. (Jack shrugs.) They are used
for training and only meant to stun.
They can be identified by this crystal.
(He shows the red crystal in the base
of another gun.) They can take the form
of any weapon.
CARTER
Well, I got our GDOs, but my MP-5’s
still missing.
TEAL’C
As is my staff weapon.
O’NEILL
Alright, Teal’c, I want everyone in
one place, just to make sure. Can you
handle that?
TEAL’C
I can.
TRAINING CAMP. Captain Rogers is waiting for them nearby.
TEAL’C
Captain Rogers. Where are the weapons
with which we arrived?
ROGERS
They were returned to the Armoury Tent,
of course.
TEAL’C
Do you possess a vocume?
ROGERS
Yes, sir.
TEAL’C
Use it.
ROGERS
Yes, Master Teal’c. (He walks to another
tent and goes into it.)
O’NEILL
What did you tell him to do?
TEAL’C
I instructed him to use a training instrument
to assemble his men for inspection.
It may serve to emphasise our authority.
(Rogers comes out with a small grey ball on a stand, puts it
on the ground and steps away from it. A beam of light shoots
up from it and forms a giant holographic image of Apophis, about
thirty feet tall.)
APOPHIS’ IMAGE
WARRIORS OF APOPHIS, ASSEMBLE BEFORE
ME AND LISTEN TO HE THAT POSSESSES THE
VOCUME.
(Sam and Daniel come running out of the Armoury Tent, panicked
by the sound of Apophis’ voice.)
CARTER
Sir?
O’NEILL
Just a huge honkin’ Apophis, Major.
Nothing to worry about.
(All the boys in the vicinity gather round the image of Apophis.
Some are dressed as SGC personnel, others as Jaffa.)
APOPHIS’ IMAGE
THE WARRIOR BEFORE YOU SPEAKS IN MY
NAME. HEED HIS WORDS.
(The image disappears.)
ROGERS (TO TEAL’C)
I would be honored if you would inspect
my warriors, Master. (Teal’c bows his
head in agreement.)
(A short time later, the boys have formed into ranks, ready for
inspection.)
ROGERS
Company!
(The boys come to attention.)
TEAL’C
Ready weapons for inspection.
(The boys display their weapons. Jack and Teal’c walk along the
rows looking at the weapons.)
TEAL’C
You do yourself proud, Captain Rogers.
(Jack looks at the clip that one of the boys is holding out for
inspection. Again the bullets are red-tipped.)
NELSON (TO TEAL’C)
Most of my warriors are engaged in the
day’s battle, Master. I will relay your
words to them after the battle.
O’NEILL
Master Teal’c ... if I may?
NELSON (CONFUSED)
Sir?
O’NEILL
It’s over, Nelson. Go tell your buddies
to quit fighting.
(Rogers and Nelson look at each other suspiciously.)
NELSON (TO JACK)
You speak more like a Tauri than a warrior
of Apophis.
O’NEILL
Thanks. You’re not so bad yourself.
Who taught you?
NELSON
If you are who you say you are, you
already know the answer to that, sir.
O’NEILL
Nelson, I am *ordering* you to recall
your men from the field.
NELSON
Article 7, Section 3 clearly states
that once the battle has commenced,
it cannot be stopped.
O’NEILL
Well you’re obviously referring to the
*old* Article 7.
ARMOURY TENT. Sam and Daniel are just finishing searching through
the weapons. Sam puts a final intar back onto the rack.
CARTER
That’s it.
DANIEL
That means those kids are out there
playing war games with real weapons.
O’NEILL (OVER RADIO)
Go ahead, Carter.
CARTER
So far, all we’ve recovered is one 9
millimeter and one MP-5.
(Outside)
TEAL’C (TO ROGERS)
I require all of Quadrant A to be assembled,
including those engaged in the games.
(Rogers doesn’t move.) Immediately!
ROGERS
As Captain Nelson stated, Master ...
TEAL’C (ANGRILY)
Do you wish to be punished?
ROGERS
I’ll not fail your challenge a second
time, Master Teal’c.
(Teal’c looks at Jack.)
O’NEILL
Tell them the truth.
TEAL’C (TO THE BOYS)
Warriors of Apophis. Hear me. Apophis
has been slain in battle with his enemies.
(The boys don’t even twitch. Rogers rolls his eyes a little.)
O’NEILL
Hey! He’s telling you the truth. The
battle you’ve been preparing for is
never gonna happen. He’s not coming
back.
(The boys still don’t react. Nelson smiles, clearly not believing
a word of it.)
O’NEILL (TO HIMSELF)
Hello? Is this mike on? (Raising his
voice) We’re trying to tell you something
important here!
ROGERS
Apophis is a god. And gods cannot die.
Therefore, Apophis cannot be dead.
NELSON
And anyone who says otherwise is either
testing us ... or is a traitor, sir.
ROGERS
Now we’ve passed your challenge. If
there’s nothing else, sirs, we’re scheduled
to join the games in progress. (To the
boys) Company! Dismissed!
(The boys fall out.)
TEAL’C (TO JACK)
Apophis has lived for thousands of years.
It is as if we have said the sun will
never rise again.
O’NEILL
It just might not for some of those
kids if they don’t wise up.
ARMOURY TENT. Sam is aiming an intar at Lieutenant Hibbard as
Jack and Teal’c walk in.
O’NEILL
What’s going on?
HIBBARD
I’m *trying* to get a weapon, sir. I’m
already late, the games have started.
CARTER
Colonel, one MP-5, Teal’c’s staff weapon
and two 9 millimeters are still unaccounted
for.
(Outside, horns blow.)
DANIEL
What does that mean?
HIBBARD
It means my team needs reinforcements.
O’NEILL
No, the game is cancelled.
HIBBARD
You can’t do that!
O’NEILL
I believe I can. (He takes the intar
from Carter and shoots Hibbard, who
collapses unconscious.) Everybody grab
an intar. (He tosses one to Teal’c and
picks one up himself before leaving
the tent. Sam and Daniel grab weapons
and follow.)
WOODS. SG-1 and Captain Rogers make their way through the woods.
In a hollow, they find a boy in an SG uniform lying on the ground
with a very large burn in his side which is still smoking. Sam
hurries over to the boy and checks him.
CARTER
It’s a staff weapon wound. He’s dead,
sir.
(A blast from a staff weapon hits the ground nearby.)
O’NEILL
Take cover!
(Everyone dives to the edge of the hollow. The Jaffa boy with
the staff weapon fires at them again.)
ROGERS
Colonel! I’ll draw his fire.
O’NEILL
*Negative*! That is a *real* weapon.
O’NEILL
I said stay down!
(He makes a grab for Rogers but misses as Rogers jumps up and
runs into the open to get a clear shot. He fires several times
with his intar but misses. The Jaffa shoots once with his staff
and Rogers is hit in the midriff and collapses to the ground.
Jack shoots the Jaffa with his own intar.)
O’NEILL
Secure that weapon!
CARTER
Yes, sir! (She runs towards the Jaffa.
Rogers lies on the ground, his clothing
smoking from the staff weapon blast.
Daniel rushes over to him.)
ROGERS (IN PAIN)
Have I displeased Apophis?
DANIEL
No.
TEAL’C
Apophis would be proud.
(Rogers nods, then lifts his hand from his wound and sees the
blood on his hand.)
ROGERS
This is the final challenge.
(Nelson and a group of boys have arrived.)
NELSON
What happened?
ROGERS
The day has come, Nelson. The final
challenge.
(Nelson touches Rogers’ wound roughly. Rogers cries out in pain.
Nelson lifts his hand to look at the blood.)
NELSON
Blood has been shed.
ROGERS
Prepare the men. The challenge must
begin at first light.
NELSON
Yes, sir. (He walks away.)
O’NEILL (TO TEAL’C)
What’s he talking about? The final challenge?
TEAL’C
It is a day in a warrior’s training
when first blood is shed. The games
become real.
O’NEILL
Oy.
TRAINING CAMP. Jack is walking through the camp, which is a hive
of activity as the boys rush around preparing for the impending
battle.
CARTER
(over the radio): Colonel? We’ve found
something. Our weapons were all turned
back in after the war games, sir.
O’NEILL
Roger that. Keep ‘em secure.
MEDICAL TENT. Rogers is lying on a bed while Daniel does his
best to treat him. Nelson stands nearby. Jack walks in.
O’NEILL (TO DANIEL)
How’s he doing?
NELSON
Apophis will save him.
DANIEL
Well, actually, no. As a matter of fact,
there’s probably nothing more we can
do for him as long as we stay here.
There’s probably internal injuries.
O’NEILL
So we’ll take him back with us.
NELSON
You cannot.
O’NEILL
For cryin’ out loud...
NELSON
You know as well as I do that the rules
forbid entry or exit of the sector before
the final challenge, wounded or not.
O’NEILL
Right. Right, right.
ROGERS (IN PAIN)
Apophis would be disappointed in me
if ... if there were an exception made
for myself.
DANIEL
Well, what if I told you we were bringing
you to see Apophis personally, to show
him that blood has been shed and that
your Quadrant is truly ready for his
return? (Rogers and Nelson look at each
other.) If we don’t bring you back with
us, then Apophis will know you’ve failed
our challenge and never return.
ROGERS
Then I must go.
O’NEILL
Good.
(Nelson offers Rogers his hand.)
NELSON
Tell him we will make him proud.
(Rogers grasps his hand.)
ROGERS
I will.
SGC. GATEROOM. The Stargate whooshes and SG-1 come through, Teal’c
and Daniel carrying Rogers on a stretcher.
O’NEILL
We need a medical team!
(Two medics wheel in a gurney and Teal’c and Daniel lay the stretcher
on top. Rogers looks around in confusion. Hammond walks in.)
HAMMOND
What happened, Colonel?
ROGERS (TO HAMMOND)
My Lord?
O’NEILL
Actually, we just call him ... General
Hammond.
ROGERS
Where is Apophis?
O’NEILL
He’s not here. Sorry.
(Janet runs into the Gateroom.)
FRAISER
What have we got?
(Rogers realises that he has been fooled and tries to get off
the stretcher.)
ROGERS
Liars! Traitors!
(The medics restrain him.)
FRAISER
Easy, easy!
ROGERS (SHOUTING)
You will be punished! He will avenge
me!
FRAISER
(to Jack): Who *is* this, sir?
O’NEILL
His name’s Rogers. Despite appearances,
he’s not SGC.
(The medics wheel the gurney out of the room, Rogers shouting
and struggling all the time.)
HAMMOND (TO JACK)
I’d like to debrief ASAP, Colonel.
O’NEILL
Yes, my Lord.
SGC. BRIEFING ROOM. Some of the intar weapons are on the table
as Hammond debriefs SG-1.
HAMMOND
What’s this final challenge all about?
TEAL’C
In my training, it is when we received
our actual staff weapons. The two opposing
camps then engaged in battle until one
side emerged victorious.
CARTER
You killed each other?!
TEAL’C
The Goa’uld wish only the strong to
prevail, Major Carter. I was among the
victors. We were then honored by Apophis
and I became a member of his personal
guard.
HAMMOND
And that’s what’s about to happen to
those boys.
O’NEILL
As long as they don’t have real weapons
with which to play, I don’t see how.
CARTER
Well the only lethal weapons I found
in the Armoury belonged to us. The rest
were intars.
TEAL’C
The Jaffa Masters who once supervised
their war games have long ago abandoned
them, yet they have maintained their
games until this day without fail.
DANIEL
So what are you saying?
TEAL’C
That they are extremely resourceful
and most determined.
CARTER
So they might try to fulfill the final
challenge whether they’re issued lethal
weapons or not.
TEAL’C
It is possible.
DANIEL
Well let’s face it, if they really wanted
to kill each other they don’t need guns
to do it.
CARTER
(to Jack): We have to go back there,
sir, and try to prevent this from happening.
DANIEL
General, we’re indirectly responsible
for all this. They think that we were
sent through to start this.
HAMMOND
I understand that.
O’NEILL
What we need to send back there is a
team of shrinks. Those kids are *out*
there.
HAMMOND
That may be so, Colonel, but before
I send you or anyone else into a battle
zone, I want to know what’s going on
on that planet.
O’NEILL
Why don’t I see what I can get out of
Rogers?
HAMMOND
Very well.
SGC. INFIRMARY. Rogers is lying in bed. Janet talks to Jack nearby.
FRAISER
He won’t eat, he won’t speak ... except
to call me a shol’va.
O’NEILL
You must be doing a good job.
FRAISER
There’s no internal injury. He mustn’t
have taken the full force of the blast.
Physically he’ll be fine. Emotionally
... that’s another story. He’s very
angry, Colonel.
O’NEILL
Where’s his tray?
FRAISER
Over here. (She hands it to him.) Good
luck.
(Jack takes the tray over to Rogers’ bedside and puts it down
on the trolley. He picks up a sandwich and takes a bite.)
O’NEILL
Ole Doc Fraiser says you haven’t been
eating.
ROGERS
It’s poison.
O’NEILL
It’s hospital food, of *course* it is.
(He takes another bite of the sandwich.)
Mmm, tuna.
ROGERS
Go to Sokar.
O’NEILL
It’s ‘Go to hell’ actually. Which, by
the way, is a very rude thing to say
to a person offering you a sandwich.
ROGERS
It means the same.
O’NEILL
You’ve got a point.
ROGERS
I will reveal nothing. You may begin
torturing me.
O’NEILL
Oh, I’ve already begun. This ... (he
gestures with the sandwich) is the infamous
tuna torture. (He picks up the plate
with the other sandwich on it and waves
it under Rogers’ nose.) Last chance.
(After a moment, Rogers reluctantly
picks up the sandwich and takes a bite.)
Good. So, you and I should have a little
talk about this final challenge thing.
ROGERS
We will battle to the death and Apophis
will choose the victors as his personal
guard.
O’NEILL
Alright, I’m going to tell you the absolute
truth right now. Apophis is dead.
ROGERS (VEHEMENTLY)
Gods cannot die! (The effort makes him
wince in pain.)
O’NEILL
Why do think he’s been gone for so long?
Why have all the Jaffa Masters left?
Apophis was on his way out when you
got drafted.
ROGERS
You lie.
O’NEILL
What if he told you himself?
ROGERS
If Apophis can speak, then he cannot
be dead.
SGC. INFIRMARY. A television and video player are near Rogers’
bed. Daniel puts a tape into the machine.
DANIEL
When Apophis came to us, he’d already
been tortured.
ROGERS
Impossible. He is a god.
CARTER
The images we’re about to show you are
of Apophis just before he died and his
body was sent to Sokar.
ROGERS
Gods cannot die.
O’NEILL
So you keep saying. Have a look.
(The tape starts to play and shows Apophis, aged and white-eyed,
in his last moments from “Serpent’s Song”.)
ROGERS (HORRIFIED)
What magic is this?
O’NEILL
No magic. I was there.
TEAL’C
As was I.
TEAL’C
It is.
ROGERS
What will you do to us?
CARTER
We’re not going to do anything to you.
We wanna help you.
O’NEILL
You can go home, wherever that is. War’s
over.
ROGERS
No, it’s not. Because tomorrow the final
challenge begins... (his eyes start
to fill with tears) and many of my men
will die. For him. (He nods towards
the image of Apophis on the television
screen.)
SGC. BRIEFING ROOM. Rogers sits at the end of the table as SG-1
and General Hammond question him.
HAMMOND
What’s your real name, son?
ROGERS
My true name is Rafiatrey, sir.
O’NEILL
Your Earth name’s Kyle, can we call
you Kyle?
ROGERS
That would be fine, sir, I’m very used
to that.
HAMMOND
How long have you been on that planet?
ROGERS
We were brought there through our chappa’ai
five cycles ago from a number of different
worlds.
CARTER
Right after we blew up Apophis’ ships.
ROGERS
He commanded that we worship no other
god but him. He left many Jaffa warriors
with us. They taught us everything.
HAMMOND
Who taught you all about Earth, our
uniforms, weapons?
ROGERS
Near the beginning, Apophis captured
one of your SG teams and forced them
to teach us.
CARTER
SG-11.
ROGERS
Yes. At first that was all they would
reveal. Our Jaffa Masters forced them
to say things. We listened to your speech,
observed your ways, but they did not
last long.
HAMMOND
What happened to them?
ROGERS
One day, their bodies were put on display
in the encampment. I ... do not know
how they died, only that they refused
to tell the Jaffa Masters all that was
asked of them. Then our Jaffa Masters
began to leave us, one by one. They
said, to help Apophis win a great battle.
And then we were alone.
HAMMOND
Thank you for your cooperation, son.
ROGERS
May I now ask for your cooperation,
sir?
HAMMOND
Go on.
ROGERS
As we speak, my men are preparing for
the final challenge.
HAMMOND
I was under the impression your weapons
are non-lethal.
ROGERS
They are. But before Master Gartok left,
he showed Captain Nelson and myself
a cave. Inside were weapons intended
for the final challenge. Real weapons.
O’NEILL
What are we talking about here ... weapons-wise?
ROGERS
They are exactly like your own. MP-5s.
He told us it was with those that we
would one day infiltrate the Tauri and
destroy you. (To Hammond) May I request
permission to be returned to my men,
sir, to tell them what I’ve learned
and to try and stop them?
DANIEL
They won’t believe you, you know that.
ROGERS
They are under my command.
CARTER
Teal’c, is the vocume capable of recording
other images?
TEAL’C
Yes, that is correct.
CARTER
Well then Colonel O’Neill’s already
thought of the solution. (She looks
at Jack.) I think you know where I’m
going with this, sir.
O’NEILL
Haven’t a clue.
CARTER
Seeing Apophis die was enough to convince
Kyle. All we have to do is show that
same image to everyone else.
HAMMOND
With the vocume device?
CARTER
Yes.
TEAL’C
I believe O’Neill’s solution could be
successful.
HAMMOND
In the middle of a battlefield, combining
alien technology with our own?
CARTER
Sir, the technical part of transferring
the data to the vocume I can figure
out. We’ve already been experimenting
with interfacing Goa’uld technology
with our own. The problem will be getting
there.
O’NEILL
We do have the intars, General.
HAMMOND
What good will they do?
O’NEILL
We could shoot first and ask questions
later.
(Rogers stands.)
ROGERS (TO HAMMOND)
May I request permission to join them?
Sir.
(Hammond looks at Jack.)
O’NEILL
They *are* his men, General, and he
might provide the tactical advantage
we need to pull this off.
(Hammond considers, then nods his consent.)
SGC. CORRIDOR. SG-1 and Rogers step out of an elevator and head
towards the Gateroom. They are wearing combat gear and camouflage
paint.
O’NEILL
Final challenge scenario – let’s hear
it one more time.
ROGERS
My elite SG squad is to defend the encampment
from the invading force of other SG
teams, led by Captain Nelson. The attackers
are greater in number, but the defenders
have greater firepower.
CARTER
But everyone on both sides will be in
SG uniforms.
ROGERS
As it would have been when we infiltrated
Earth, yes.
O’NEILL
Good. (To Rogers) You, stay with Carter,
who will watch you like a hawk.
CARTER
Yes, sir.
(The five of them walk up the ramp and through the Gate.)
ALIEN PLANET. SG-1 and Captain Rogers make their way through
the woods. Gunfire can be heard in the distance. A soldier wearing
SG uniform shoots at them and they take cover behind the trees.
After a moment and without any warning, Rogers jumps up and runs
down the path, drawing the soldier’s fire and allowing Sam to
take the soldier down with her intar. Jack shoots a second soldier
then runs after Rogers, seizing him roughly by the front of his
uniform.
O’NEILL
I told you to stay with Carter!
ROGERS
I was just trying to draw his fire.
ROGERS
Yes, sir.
TRAINING CAMP. Soldiers in SG uniform patrol the camp. Using
the cover of various tents, SG-1 cautiously make their way towards
the centre of the camp. Once they’re in position, Rogers steps
out into the open and calls to one of his men.
ROGERS
Status report, Sergeant!
SERGEANT
Captain Rogers?
ROGERS
I have just returned through the chapp’ai
with a message from Apophis. I have
glorious news.
(Using the distraction, SG-1 shoot the soldiers with their intars.
Rogers shoots the sergeant.)
O’NEILL (TO ROGERS)
Get the vacuum.
ROGERS
Vocume.
O’NEILL
Whatever. Get it. Carter, set it up.
Teal’c, with Carter; Daniel, with me.
(Rogers runs to fetch the vocume. Sam and Teal’c head into the
Armoury Tent to start setting up her laptop computer. Jack and
Daniel take cover behind a wall of sandbags. Rogers takes the
vocume into the Armoury Tent. Outside, soldiers in SG uniforms
start to come out of the trees.)
DANIEL
Here they come.
O’NEILL
I got some at nine o’clock here too.
(They start firing their intars at the approaching soldiers.
Rogers runs over to join Jack and Daniel.)
ARMOURY TENT. Teal’c finishes setting up the vocume. Sam is busy
typing on the laptop.
TEAL’C
It is ready.
CARTER
Good. I’m not. Give me a second.
TRAINING CAMP. Jack and the others are under heavy fire.
(IN THE TENT
)
CARTER
(into her radio): Yes, sir!
TEAL’C
What is the delay?
(Teal’c leaves the tent to go and help Jack, Daniel and Rogers
who are busy shooting at the attacking soldiers.)
TEAL’C
O’Neill!
(A high-pitched whistle can suddenly be heard.)
O’NEILL
Incoming! (They duck and cover their
heads as there’s an explosion not far
away.) Rogers! What the hell was that?!
ROGERS
Mortars!
O’NEILL
What else is in that cave?
ROGERS
Stingers, M60s, M72s ...
O’NEILL
You’re telling me this now?! What the
hell?! Get down! (They duck as another
mortar explodes.) Dammit, Carter!
(The shooting continues. Inside the Armoury Tent, Sam’s laptop
finally shows a match with the vocume.)
CARTER
Got it! (She shuts her laptop, grabs
the vocume, runs out of the tent and
puts the vocume onto the ground. The
holographic image of the thirty-foot
tall Apophis appears. The firing stops
immediately.)
APOPHIS’ IMAGE
WARRIORS OF APOPHIS, ASSEMBLE BEFORE
ME AND LISTEN TO HE THAT POSSESSES THE
VOCUME.
(All the boys who haven’t been shot come out of the woods and
gather around the image.)
APOPHIS’ IMAGE
THE WARRIOR BEFORE YOU SPEAKS IN MY
NAME. HEED HIS WORDS.
NELSON
Summoning his image during battle is
against the Rules of Engagement.
ROGERS
Hear his words!
NELSON
When the challenge is over!
O’NEILL
Now, Nelson! You *will* listen to him
*now*! Before anyone else gets hurt.
NELSON
The final challenge is to the *death*,
Colonel. (He looks up at Apophis, and
his expression changes to one of amazement
as the image changes to that of the
dying Apophis.)
APOPHIS’ IMAGE
A HOST. I AM ... AFRAID. (He lies silently
for a moment, then takes one last loud
juddering breath and dies.)
NELSON (SHOCKED)
He is a god. It cannot be so.
(The image disappears.)
ROGERS
It is so.
(The boys start to wander around in confusion.)
NELSON (TO ROGERS)
What will become of us? Where will we
go now?
ROGERS
Home.
THE END
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