Meridian

"Meridian" is the twenty first episode of the fifth season of Stargate SG-1.

Synopsis
SG-1 have discovered that the Langarans have Naquadria, a more volatile version of Naquadah, and they plan to use it as a weapon, since the planet's three nations are on the verge of war. Dr. Daniel Jackson prevents an accident, but is stricken with radiation poisoning in the process, and will die if they don't save him in time.

Plot
The episode starts out as SG-1 returns to base, Major Samantha Carter hastily tells Major General George S. Hammond that Dr. Daniel Jackson has been exposed to radiation. Hammond asks for an explanation as Daniel and the rest of SG-1 head for the infirmary, meeting a medical team part way there. Daniel cautions them not to touch him and Carter explains that he may still be radioactive. Colonel Jack O'Neill and Teal'c tell Hammond that they did not witness Daniel's exposure and aren't aware of exactly what has transpired. Once Daniel reaches the infirmary Dr. Janet Fraiser asks Carter for details, Sam explains that Daniel was exposed to a device containing an 'unstable radioactive variation of Naquadah' and that the dosage was lethal.

A briefing is called and Carter explains to Hammond that the world Langara they were visiting has three superpowers in a situation roughly analogous to that of America and Russia in the Cold War, though the countries have yet to develop nuclear weapons. Langara's Stargate is located in Kelowna, one of the three Superpowers. The first of three flashbacks begins, introducing Jonas Quinn as an adviser to the First Minister of Kelowna, the Head of State. Jonas shows SG-1 a high security project he is overseeing, testing of a radioactive isotope called Naquadria for use as a weapon, with the aim of creating a deterrent. The flashback then cuts back to the briefing, and Jack explains that the Kelownans are accusing Daniel of attempting to sabotage their research.

Jack visits Daniel in the infirmary, where Daniel explains that because of the intense exposure to radiation he will begin to die in the next 10-15 hours, and there is no cure. Jack implies a request for help from the Asgard or Tok'ra, but Daniel responds that his life is no more important than anyone else's and they would not go to such lengths for others. Jack changes the topic and asks Daniel directly what happened, but receives the reply "That doesn't matter", but Jack insists. Daniel reveals only that there was an accident and that the scientists working on the project blamed him to avoid repercussions.

Jack speaks to Hammond in his office, where it is explained that the Asgard and Tok'ra cannot be contacted and there are no other feasible options. O'Neill then checks in on Carter in her lab, she informs Jack that she has calculated Naquadria is much more powerful than Naquadah, allowing them to generate enough energy to achieve Hyperspace and Shield technologies. General Hammond decides to send a letter to the Kelownans apologizing and requesting trade for the Naquadria, using Colonel O'Neill as the courier. While on Langara, Jack speaks with Jonas Quinn, appealing to him to admit to his government that Daniel did not attempt sabotage, Quinn replies that he could not clear Daniel's name even if he tried, which would result in the cancellation of the Naquadria project, which Quinn feels is vital to the survival of Kelowna.

Back on Earth, Janet Fraiser tells Carter that there's nothing she can do for Daniel, except sedatives and painkillers. Carter volunteers to attempt to heal Daniel with a Goa'uld healing device. The attempt causes Daniel's health to deteriorate. While the doctors try to stabilize Daniel's condition, he slips into a sort of dream, where a suited woman approaches him in the gate room with a cryptic message.

Jack visits Daniel while he is conscious, and tells Daniel that he won't let the Kelownans defame him as a saboteur, Daniel inquires as to why, and Jack admits that he respects and admires Daniel. Daniel re-enters his 'dream' and realizes the woman is Oma Desala. She speaks in Zen koans and encourages him to ascend in characteristic roundabout way. Daniel asks how, and Oma tells him to "Release [his] burden", Daniel says he has released his burden and asks for the next step, but Oma just provides another Zen koan and Daniel wryly comments that he didn't expect ascension to be easy.

Meanwhile, Jonas Quinn has had a change of heart after he realizes how destructive a Naquadria bomb would be. Jonas brings an amount of Naquadria with him and informs Jack that he has told his government the truth and then defected. The second flashback occurs, and Daniel is observing the Naquadria experiment with Jonas. Suddenly the experiment goes awry and enormous amounts of hard radiation are released. The researchers flee as the Naquadria begins to go supercritical (reaching critical mass). Daniel breaks through the glass separating the observation room from the lab and removes the top half of the device with his bare hands, exposing himself to radiation in the process of preventing a nuclear catastrophe. (This incident is much likely based on 's one, except it was plutonium that caused the radiation poisoning instead of fictional Naquadria).

The scene changes to Daniel conversing with Oma in the dream-gate room, where Daniel confesses that he feels his entire life has been a failure. Carter intrudes in the dream-gate room and tells Daniel how his perspective of life has changed her and many others. Oma Desala tells Daniel that to ascend, one must believe they are worthy of it. Daniel replies heavily that they have a large obstacle in the path of his ascension. Teal'c then expresses to Daniel what great effect he has had on the course of Teal'c's life and the course of history as a whole. Daniel is now in a dream-version of his office, where Oma asks him why he feels like a failure, Daniel explains he felt he was unable to make a real difference, but concedes that he was able to make a small difference occasionally. As Daniel battles with his own inadequacy, Oma explains to Daniel that because of the size and scope of existence, the only thing that a person really has control over in life is whether they are good or evil and instructs Daniel to judge his worthiness on that basis.

Jacob Carter/Selmak arrives and begins healing Daniel with the Goa'uld healing device. but Daniel intervenes: he pulls Jack into his dream and explains that he has decided to ascend. Jack stops Jacob/Selmak and Daniel ascends.

Notable Quotes
Oma: Why do you feel you have failed on your journey? You opened the Stargate for your world.

Jackson: I cracked the code, a lot of other people made it work.

Oma: The very next thing you did was help free the people of Abydos from evil.

Jackson: I had the chance to live out my life with her. I couldn't leave it alone. I was the one that unburied the Gate. What happened to her was my fault. I couldn't save Sha're, I couldn't save Sarah. Every Goa'uld I helped eliminate, another one took its place. Maybe I did something good every now and again, but nothing I've ever done seems to have changed anything.

Oma: The universe is vast and we are so small. There is only one thing we can ever truly control.

Jackson: What's that?

Oma: Whether we are good or evil.

Carter: [Jonas] had several degrees from their most honored education institution. Social Studies, Ancient Kelownan history...

O'Neill: He was a nerd, sir. He and Daniel got along great.

O'Neill: You're not gonna take the fall for this. I don't care what's at stake.

Jackson: Why do you care?

O'Neill: Because despite the fact that you've been a terrific pain in the ass for the last five years I may have...might have grown to admire you a little, I think.

O'Neill: All right, let me be clear about something. I think this is the point Daniel was trying to make. A weapon of mass destruction can only be used for one thing. Now you might think it will ensure peace and freedom but I guarantee you it'll never have the effect you're hoping for until you use it at least once. Now just for the record, the reason we want that stuff is because we think it could be used to create defense shields. But you just go ahead, blow yourself to hell with it.

Character

 * Jonas Quinn

Planet

 * Langara

In other languages

 * French: Zénith (Zenith)
 * Italian: Meridiano (Meridian)
 * Spanish: Meridiano (Meridian)
 * Czech: Velká cesta (Great Path)