Alliances/Transcript

Episode Guide

 * SGU 2.13 "Alliances" Episode Guide

Previously
PREVIOUSLY ON STARGATE UNIVERSE

[Excerpts of several episodes, including 2.12 "Twin Destinies", are shown.]

INT&mdash;DESTINY STONE LAB

[Telford appears on Destiny via the stones, into the body of a Marine. Young is there.]

YOUNG Welcome back, David.

TELFORD Everett? What the hell happened?

YOUNG That's going to take some explaining.

INT&mdash;YOUNG'S QUARTERS

RUSH To the best of our knowledge, the connection was only viable for a few moments, which is why you were the only one who made it through.

TELFORD/MARINE So, where'd everyone else go?

RUSH The likely answer is they were simply killed in an unstable wormhole.

TELFORD/MARINE The other me?

YOUNG He died, trying to retrieve some valuable hardware from the other Destiny. It was an accident.

[Telford gives Rush a long look.]

YOUNG David? It's a lot to process.

TELFORD/MARINE No. No, I get it. Sort of. Anyway I've been around the program long enough to know this happens. But, good luck trying to explain it to Senator Michaels.

YOUNG New head of the off-world spending committee.

TELFORD I've got to head back, but she's coming on board. She'll want a post-mortem on this latest fiasco, but what she's really interested in is Rush's little signal from God.

RUSH (annoyed) I never called it that.

TELFORD/MARINE Well, that's what a lot of them are calling it back home. It's created a bit of a stir.

INT&mdash;YOUNG'S QUARTERS

[Later, Young speaks with Wray.]

YOUNG They want to know if it's worth spending the money to get another Icarus Base up and running.

WRAY Yeah, even if they do, and they find another planet and make a connection, it's still only a one-way trip. You, me, and everyone on this ship aren't going anywhere.

YOUNG Yeah, it'd be nice to get supplies.

WRAY I should switch with the Senator. Talk to my people. Find out all this is all playing with our international partners.

YOUNG All right. We'll need a male volunteer as well. She's bringing a scientist with her to confirm Rush's findings.

WRAY Oh well, in that case, I know the perfect candidate.

YOUNG Camille&hellip;

WRAY He's the only one on board who hasn't used the stones to go back.

YOUNG He keeps turning it down.

WRAY Well, then maybe you should order him to go. He was borderline unstable when we came on board. If anyone can use some time off&hellip;

YOUNG (reluctantly) All right; I will make that happen.

INT&mdash;DESTINY STONE LAB

[Wray is waiting next to the stones case. Greer walks in.]

GREER This was your idea, wasn't it?

WRAY We don't have all day, Sergeant.

GREER I don't need R&R.

WRAY Yeah, I get it. You're the perfect soldier. No rest, no weakness, no fear. Now, can we get this over with?

[They both put their stones on the tablet.]

INT&mdash;HOMEWORLD COMMAND STONE ROOM

[Wray and Greer appear in the bodies of Senator Michaels and male scientist Dr. Culver.]

SPECIAL FORCES SERGEANT (holding a machine gun, to Wray) Identify yourself.

WRAY/MICHAELS What's going on?

SPECIAL FORCES SERGEANT Identify yourself now!

WRAY/MICHAELS I'm Camille Wray. This is Master Sergeant Ronald Greer.

SPECIAL FORCES SERGEANT Authentication code.

WRAY/MICHAELS 1-7-0-0-5-8-6.

[The sergeant relaxes a bit. Wray/Michaels stands.]

WRAY/MICHAELS What is going on? This is a scheduled connection.

[Telford walks in.]

TELFORD At ease, Sergeant. Sorry about this, Camille. Senator Michaels and Doctor Covel were briefed, but there was no time to warn you. We are at a heightened terrorist threat level.

GREER/COVEL What happened?

TELFORD Nothing yet, but intel says the Lucian Alliance is on the verge of launching an attack. Homeworld Command is the target.

END TEASER

OPENING CREDIT

INT&mdash;DESTINY MESS HALL

[Volker, Brody, and Eli sit at a table. Rush is at the bar behind them.]

VOLKER Does uh, anyone know this guy they're sending to check up on us?

BRODY Supposedly, he's the new head of research at Stargate Command. Um, Hovel or Shovel, something like that.

RUSH It's Covel. Dr. Andrew Covel. We worked together for a short time at Cornell before we were both recruited into the Program.

YOUNG (over radio) Rush, come in.

RUSH (into radio) Yeah, go ahead.

YOUNG (over radio) Our guests have arrived.

RUSH (into radio, after a moment of hesitation) Yeah, I'm on my way.

[Rather than get up, he takes a drink from his metal mug. Eli nods in approval.]

BRODY (smiling) So, uh, what's he like?

RUSH I didn't know him that well, actually.

ELI But, you said you worked with him.

RUSH (getting up) Yeah, what can I tell you. He's the type of man&hellip;who likes to keep secrets.

[He leaves.]

VOLKER Yeah, we know the type.

INT&mdash;DESTINY CORRIDOR

[Young and Scott lead the Senator and scientist.]

COVEL/GREER Incredible. The design pre-dates an Ancient technology we've seen in the Milky Way or Pegasus.

SCOTT It's a pretty big ship. Anywhere in particular you'd like to start?

MICHAELS/WRAY I'd like to start by clearing something up.

[The stop to listen.]

MICHAELS/WRAY Given recent events, I would like to know once and for all if we're closing the book on the feasibility of dialing within a star.

YOUNG I'm not the man you should be asking.

[Rush approaches from an adjacent corridor and begins to overhear; he remains out of sight.]

MICHAELS/WRAY Your first order of business was supposed to be to get these people home.

YOUNG Presumably without killing them.

MICHAELS/WRAY If I'm not mistaken, all of our people signed off it.

[She looks to Covel.]

COVEL/GREER Numbers were good. But, it's true, conditions inside a star are unpredictable. It's just unfortunate that the other Destiny was lost before anyone had a chance to go over the logs.

SCOTT We need those spare parts. There wasn't a lot of time.

MICHAELS/WRAY It's understandable. Unfortunately it means we have no idea what really happened.

YOUNG You're assuming the other Rush was lying.

MICHAELS/WRAY My impressions of the man, Colonel, are based entirely on your reports.

YOUNG We've had our differences, but this time I was prepared to support him. Stay behind, as long as we had enough volunteers to keep the mission going.

[As he speaks, Rush approaches the group.]

RUSH I'm sorry I'm late. Had problems with power distribution, as usual.

YOUNG Dr. Rush, Senator Michaels. I believe you know Dr. Covel.

RUSH Andrew.

COVEL/GREER (smiling) Nicholas, good to see you.

RUSH So, what are we talking about?

MICHAELS/WRAY I was just telling Colonel Young how I'd like to see Chloe. I was very good friends with her father, and I've known her since she was a little girl.

RUSH Sure. She's on the bridge. I'll take you to her.

INT&mdash;HOMEWORLD COMMAND STONE ROOM

[A tech sergeant walks around the room with a Geiger counter.]

GREER/COVEL Is that what I think it is?

TELFORD We're sweeping the building for radiation. The Alliance has managed to infiltrate a couple of our off-world bases and plant naquadria bombs.

TECHNICIAN All clear, sir.

TELFORD Thank you. Carry on.

TECHNICIAN Yes, sir.

[The tech leaves.]

TELFORD We have escorts waiting for both of you outside. They'll take you wherever you need to go.

GREER/COVEL All due respect, sir. With everything going on, I think I'd like to stay right here.

[Wray/Michaels smiles ruefully.]

TELFORD Appreciate the thought, Master Sergeant, but we've got this.

GREER/COVEL (approaching Telford) I know these people, Colonel. I've dealt with them. Unlike some of us, I never trusted them.

[Telford appears to take that as a challenge.]

TELFORD I'll keep it under advisement. But for now, you're dismissed.

GREER/COVEL Yes, sir.

[Greer/Covel starts to leave. Wray/Michaels nods at Telford then follows.]

INT&mdash;DESTINY BRIDGE

[Rush brings the visitors in.]

COVEL/GREER Oh&hellip;nice.

[The walk to Chloe's station.]

MICHAELS/WRAY Chloe?

[Chloe takes a moment to realize who is in Wray's body.]

CHLOE Senator Michaels? Is it you?

MICHAELS/WRAY Yes.

CHLOE (jumping up) Oh my god!

[They hug, smiling and laughing.]

MICHAELS/WRAY Hi, sweetie&hellip; Look at you!

CHLOE Welcome to the Destiny!

MICHAELS/WRAY I can't believe it&hellip; Well, what are you doing?

CHLOE Oh, I was just going over the ship's FTL jump logs. We're trying to improve the accuracy of manual navigation.

MICHAELS/WRAY Really?

CHLOE It's the new me. What do you think?

MICHAELS/WRAY (looking at Rush) Well, I&hellip;I think I'd like to leave the science and technology to somebody else for a few moments so we can talk? If that's okay with you.

RUSH Go ahead, Chloe. You can finish this later.

CHLOE Okay, come on, I'll show you around.

MICHAELS/WRAY All right.

[Chloe leads Michaels/Wray out, both smiling.]

COVEL/GREER Well, I have to say, Nicholas, I'm impressed. I think I'm starting to understand the passion you had for this mission even before you found the signal.

[He reaches out his hand to shake hands.]

COVEL/GREER Congratulations.

RUSH (shaking his hand) Yeah.

INT&mdash;HOMEWORLD COMMAND

[Greer/Covel rushes down a corridor lined with wood paneling and portraits. Wray/Michaels follows.]

WRAY/MICHAELS Master Sergeant, wait!

GREER/COVEL I'm off duty, right?

WRAY/MICHAELS Yes.

GREER/COVEL Then I don't have to talk to you.

WRAY/MICHAELS You know, if you go into this assuming it's a waste of time, it probably will be.

GREER/COVEL Do you have any idea what's going on here?

WRAY/MICHAELS We've known about the Lucian Alliance threat for a long time.

GREER/COVEL Then too bad we didn't do anything about it.

WRAY/MICHAELS I did do something about it. Those prisoners gave us valuable intelligence.

GREER/COVEL Maybe they were just feeding us a line, while we gave them food and shelter, and put our own people at risk!

WRAY/MICHAELS You don't know what&mdash;

[An alarm goes off in the building. People start running around them.]

WRAY/MICHAELS What's happening?

GREER/COVEL That's incoming.

[Wray/Michaels starts to hurry away. Greer/Covel grabs her arm.]

GREER/COVEL No, no.

WRAY/MICHAELS What are you doing?

GREER/COVEL We have to go&mdash;

WRAY/MICHAELS Let go of me! Where!

[He pushes her into an office.]

WRAY/MICHAELS No, we've got to get out of here!

[He pushes her onto the floor, while he stands above her. There is an explosion. The ceiling falls in on them, including ducting and much debris.]

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[Destiny moves through FTL space.]

INT&mdash;CHLOE'S QUARTERS

[Chloe and Michaels/Wray are there.]

MICHAELS/WRAY I don't know how you do it. I would've gone crazy in two weeks locked up in a place like this, let alone a whole year.

CHLOE It's not like we never get outside. We 'gate to planets all the time.

MICHAELS/WRAY I spoke to your mom the other day.

CHLOE How's she doing?

MICHAELS/WRAY She's holding up, you know. It's not easy, but she's&hellip;she's holding up&hellip; I'm so sorry, Chloe. We should have gotten you home long ago.

CHLOE It's not just me.

MICHAELS/WRAY Look. Everyone else on this ship, with the exception of Mr. Wallace, is a member of Stargate Command.

CHLOE Yeah, that doesn't mean they signed up for this!

MICHAELS/WRAY Maybe not. But it does mean that sooner or later they were going to wind up on some obscure planet doing god knows what kind of research, that may or may not ever have seen the light of day on Earth. Now, don't get me wrong. I realize the potential of all of that, but I never once thought that that life was for you. Your father had such plans&hellip; Now you're stuck here. I'm sorry, it just seems like such a waste.

EXT&mdash;HOMEWORLD COMMAND, DAY

[People rush from the building into the parking lot, including Telford.]

GRAHAM Colonel! You all right?

TELFORD Yeah, I think so. What happened?

GRAHAM We don't know yet. We're still getting damage reports.

TELFORD (ushering people away from the building) All right, keep going, let's go folks!

INT&mdash;OFFICE IN HOMEWORLD COMMAND

[The office where Greer/Covel and Wray/Michaels were is now rubble. Coughing, Wray/Michaels pushes away enough debris to reach her head out and stand.]

WRAY/MICHAELS Oh god. Greer! Oh, god. Greer!

[She starts walking around on top of the debris.]

WRAY/MICHAELS Greer!

[Greer/Covel groans. Wray/Michaels finds him, his upper body sticking out from pieces of concrete.]

WRAY/MICHAELS Hey. You all right?

GREER/COVEL What happened?

WRAY/MICHAELS I don't know. It sounded like an explosion.

GREER/COVEL Lucian Alliance.

[She helps him try to get free.]

WRAY/MICHAELS Watch your head.

[She touches his head, and her fingers come back with blood on them.]

WRAY/MICHAELS You're bleeding.

GREER/COVEL We've got to find out what's going on.

WRAY/MICHAELS Oh no. No, I don't think you should be moving.

[He tries to get out then grunts in pain.]

WRAY/MICHAELS What is it?

GREER/COVEL Ah, my knee. It's twisted pretty bad.

[There is a large rumbling as the building is collapsing. The hallway outside their office gets filled with debris.]

GREER/COVEL Oh no!

[They hold on to each other while the dust settles. They cough strongly.]

WRAY/MICHAELS Looks like the explosion or whatever it was might have weakened the structure of the building.

GREER/COVEL You still want to stay here?

WRAY/MICHAELS Give me a second.

[She gets two legs off of a chair, breaks into a desk and gets a roll of packing tape. She starts to splint his leg.]

WRAY/MICHAELS This might hurt a bit.

[He groans as she works.]

WRAY/MICHAELS Is that too tight?

GREER/COVEL No, that's good.

WRAY/MICHAELS All right. You ready to do this?

GREER/COVEL Let's get the hell out of here.

[He starts to get up.]

GREER/COVEL I got it.

[She helps him up.]

INT&mdash;DESTINY BRIDGE

[Covel/Greer and Rush are listening to a recording of the background radiation.]

RUSH Well?

COVEL/GREER I think I'm listening to a recording that's over a million years old. Captured with technology I can't imagine. Processed and filtered using algorithms I don't even understand.

RUSH But you can see the structure?

COVEL/GREER Yes.

[He turns off the playback.]

COVEL/GREER I'm just not quite sure I believe it.

[Rush turns away in disappointment.]

COVEL/GREER Listen, listen! I'll admit, there's a lot of impressive data here. And if I could transmit it all back to Earth and get twenty of our best people working on this for the next five years, maybe, maybe I could confirm it. I can't do that! With the stones, it's basically word of mouth. I have to make a judgement call here. Do you have any idea what kind of a position that puts me in?

RUSH I know that you were offered Icarus before they gave it to me. And I know you turned it down. You couldn't see the potential.

COVEL/GREER I thought it was a bunch of mythological mumbo-jumbo about the gods and ultimate understanding!

RUSH Yeah, well this proves you wrong.

COVEL/GREER We are talking about evidence of an intelligence present at the beginning of time.

RUSH Yeah.

COVEL/GREER Now, you can deny it all you like. They're going to call it proof of the existence of God! And for every politician that tries to take that and bend it for his own ends, there can be just as many, maybe more, who try to bury it, Nick. They'll try to bury it, and you along with it!

RUSH So what are you saying, Andrew? What are you trying to tell me? You don't want to pick a side because you're not sure which one's going to win.

COVEL/GREER (smiling) Same old Nick. You never make things easy, do you.

INT&mdash;CORRIDOR IN HOMEWORLD COMMAND

[In a corridor, Wray/Michaels opens a box below some emergency lighting and pulls out a flashlight.]

WRAY/MICHAELS Got it.

[Greer/Covel already has a flashlight. They check out the corridor. There is a noise. It sounds like labored breathing.]

WRAY/MICHAELS You hear that?

GREER/COVEL There.

WRAY/MICHAELS Hello?

[Someone groans. Wray/Michaels uncovers him. It's an Air Force airman.]

WRAY/MICHAELS You all right?

EVANS Yeah. I think so.

[Wray/Michaels helps him to stand.]

SOLDIER I gotta get out of this place.

WRAY/MICHAELS Yeah, don't worry, we'll get you out of here.

[The hear a crackle and a voice from the ruble ahead.]

GREER/COVEL (pointing) Radio. Radio.

WRAY/MICHAELS It's coming from somewhere back there.

[She starts to climb the ruble to get to it.]

EVANS I don't have time for this. I've got to get out of here now!

GREER/COVEL Maintain, Airman. We're doing the best we can.

[Wray/Michaels finds the radio, lying next to an airman with a head wound.]

WRAY/MICHAELS We've got another one.

[She checks his pulse and shakes her head.]

WRAY/MICHAELS He's dead.

GREER/COVEL See if he has a gun.

EVANS What do you need a gun for?

GREER/COVEL (slurring slightly) I was just trying to figure out what happened. We need to be prepare for whatever.

EXT&mdash;HOMEWORLD COMMAND, DAY

[Air Force personnel have set up a command center with blue prints of the building, and injured personnel are being evacuated.]

WRAY/MICHAELS (over radio) This is Camille Wray in Homeworld Command. Can anybody read this.

TELFORD (into radio) Camille, is that you?

INT&mdash;CORRIDOR IN HOMEWORLD COMMAND

WRAY/MICHAELS (into radio) David, is that you? Yes, I'm here with Greer, and another survivor, Airman Evans.

[The conversation switches between the corridor and the command post outside the building.]

WRAY/MICHAELS (into radio) What happened?

TELFORD (into radio) There's been an attack. A cloaked Alliance cargo ship was detected on approach. It crashed into the building on the inner north side.

WRAY/MICHAELS (into radio) But that's near the comm lab. If the stones were hit, we shouldn't be here.

TELFORD (into radio) That's affirmative; they must still be connected. (pointing at blue print) Sergeant, get on that. (into radio) Look, Camille, I've been talking with our intelligence people. They all agree, there's no way a loan cargo ship would try an attack on Homeworld Command without packing a little something extra.

WRAY/MICHAELS (into radio) Like what, exactly.

TELFORD (into radio) We think there might be a bomb on board, as yet unexploded. You have to get the hell out of there!

INT&mdash;DESTINY INFIRMARY

[Scott and Young escort Senator Michaels/Wray into the infirmary. They find TJ laughing playfully with Varro.]

SCOTT And in here, we have our infirmary.

TJ (brightly) Hey! Colonel.

YOUNG Lt. Johansen, this is Senator Michaels.

[TJ and the Senator shake hands.]

YOUNG We're giving her the tour. She's here to&mdash;

MICHAELS/WRAY I'm here to assess the potential long-term viability of this mission.

SCOTT And this is Varro, one of our remaining Alliance, uh, guests.

MICHAELS/WRAY Yes, I know.

GREER/COVEL He's been helping me out, volunteering down here. He's actually got a pretty good understanding of first aid.

VARRO Just trying to keep myself useful.

MICHAELS/WRAY (to Young) Well, if you don't mind, I have a few things I would like to discuss with the Lieutenant.

YOUNG Of course.

[Young and Scott leave, followed by Varro.]

MICHAELS/WRAY Look, I know you've been under a lot of pressure, trying to keep all these people alive, in some pretty difficult circumstances.

TJ Well, it hasn't been easy, but things have been looking up since we got our hands on the full Ancient database. There's some advanced medical knowledge, and (indicating a large piece of equipment) I'm starting to get a better understanding of how some of their equipment works.

MICHAELS/WRAY Well, it must be a lot to digest, especially for someone with only a medic's training. No offense.

TJ None taken. Look, if you're trying to say we'd be better off with a real doctor onboard, you're right. I just don't think you're going to get a whole lot of eager volunteers.

MICHAELS/WRAY Really? Why is that?

TJ Knowing that there's a chance that they'll never go home.

[The Senator nods.]

INT&mdash;CORRIDOR IN HOMEWORLD COMMAND

[They hit a blockage of concrete debris.]

WRAY/MICHAELS Oh, man.

GREER/COVEL This doesn't look good.

EVANS Are you sure this is the way out?

WRAY/MICHAELS Well, it's the way to what was the nearest exit.

EXT&mdash;HOMEWORLD COMMAND, DAY

WRAY/MICHAELS (over radio) David, this is Camille.

TELFORD (into radio) Go ahead.

[The conversation switches between the corridor and the command post outside the building.]

WRAY/MICHAELS (into radio) Looks like our nearest way out is blocked. How's it coming with that bomb disposal unit?

TELFORD (into radio) So far, not so good. There's a lot of debris; they can't dig through it. We've got heavier equipment on the way, but by the time they get here&hellip; I don't know.

WRAY/MICHAELS (into radio) What kind of bomb are we talking about?

TELFORD (into radio) Intelligence suggests it's a weapons-grade naquadria device with a probable yield of fifty to seventy megatons. We've already started evacuations.

WRAY/MICHAELS (into radio) All right, well, if you can't get in and we can't get out, then uh&hellip; (realizing) Maybe the best plan is for us to go for the bomb.

EVANS What?

WRAY/MICHAELS (into radio) You said impact was on the inner, north side, near the comm lab? We shouldn't be too far.

TELFORD (into radio) You don't know anything about defusing bombs!

WRAY/MICHAELS (into radio) You can talk us through it!

TELFORD (into radio) No! I-I cannot allow you to volunteer for something like this. You're not even in your own bodies.

WRAY/MICHAELS (into radio) If that bomb goes off, these bodies will die, along with everyone else. And, if we're still connected, they'll kills us to. I mean, it's not much of a choice.

[She looks at Greer, who watches calmly.]

INT&mdash;DESTINY CONTROL ROOM

[Eli is working at a console near Volker and Brody. Covel/Greer enters.]

COVEL/GREER Eli Wallace.

ELI Yee-ah.

COVEL/GREER Nick's famous young protege. Pleasure to finally meet you. I'm Dr. Andrew Covel.

[They shake hands.]

ELI Right. Nice to meet you.

COVEL/GREER People back at Stargate Command call you the boy wonder.

[Eli chuckles. Volker and Brody give him stern-eyed looks.]

ELI Does that make Rush my Batman?

[Covel/Greer smiles vaguely.]

ELI I guess not.

[He looks over to the other scientists.]

BRODY Adam Brody.

VOLKER Dale Volker.

BRODY We work here, too.

COVEL/GREER Good. Maybe you can help me.

[He nudges Eli away from the console and starts making inputs.]

ELI What can we do for you?

COVEL/GREER Well, I just want to know what you think.

ELI About?

COVEL/GREER Everything. The ship, your role in it. Nick's little discovery.

INT&mdash;CORRIDOR IN HOMEWORLD COMMAND

[The three make their way slowly, Wray/Michaels breathing heavily. Greer/Covel grunts in pain.]

WRAY/MICHAELS Are you all right?

GREER/COVEL Yeah, I'm okay.

WRAY/MICHAELS Maybe we should rest for a minute. I can hardly breathe.

[They stop, and she sits on the debris.]

EVANS It's the dust. It's in your lungs already.

GREER/COVEL We don't stop. We keep going.

WRAY/MICHAELS Greer. Greer, can you just this once, not pretend to be invincible?

GREER/COVEL Can you just this once stop talking?

WRAY/MICHAELS What is your problem?

GREER/COVEL You really want to know?

WRAY/MICHAELS Yeah, I really want to know.

EVANS We're really going to do this now?

GREER/COVEL My problem is people like you. People who talk and talk, and meanwhile, nothing gets done!

WRAY/MICHAELS No. No, that's not it.

GREER/COVEL So now you're going to tell me something about me?

WRAY/MICHAELS I know you.

GREER/COVEL You know a file and a desk! You don't know anything.

WRAY/MICHAELS You're afraid of me.

EVANS You hear something?

[Greer/Covel digs vaguely in the debris while the argument continues.]

WRAY/MICHAELS You're afraid of what I do because I help people with their problems. But I can't do it unless they admit they have problems in the first place, and that's just somewhere you won't go.

GREER/COVEL You need to just think you make a difference, instead of just taking up space!

EVANS Shut up for a minute!

WRAY/MICHAELS You're afraid that if you look inside yourself for even one second, you might find out that you're not invincible. That you're just as scared and vulnerable as the rest of us!

EVANS I said, shut up!

[They look at him silently. There is a clicking sound.]

EVANS I can hear something. (looking down the corridor) It's coming from over here. What is it?

WRAY/MICHAELS It's the Geiger counter. The Tech who was sweeping the building&hellip;

[The rush to the sound, where they see the Tech's hand sticking out from the rubble.]

WRAY/MICHAELS There he is. Hey! Can you hear us? We're going to get you out.

[She pulls on his arm and it comes free in her hand, not attached to a body.]

WRAY/MICHAELS Oh god! Oh, oh.

[She cries out in dismay and falls back. Greer/Covel holds onto her as she starts retching.]

GREER/COVEL You're okay, you're okay. It's okay. Just breathe.

[The Airman reaches into the opening and pulls out the Geiger counter. It's sounding off nearly continuously.]

GREER/COVEL That doesn't sound good.

EVANS I don't know. I can't read this thing.

WRAY/MICHAELS Here, give it to me.

[She looks at the device and sees the needle is quite far to the right.]

WRAY/MICHAELS This area is flooded with radiation. It could be from the crashed ship, or from the bomb itself, but these are deadly levels.

GREER/COVEL What you're saying is, if we stay here much longer, we could die?

WRAY/MICHAELS (shakily) No. I'm saying we're dead already.

INT&mdash;DESTINY OBSERVATION DECK

[Young joins Michaels/Wray and Covel/Greer.]

YOUNG So, what's the verdict?

MICHAELS/WRAY Well, I've hardly completed my assessment. But, I do have some concerns.

YOUNG Such as?

MICHAELS/WRAY You know how long it took to get the first Icarus base up and running. Even if I were to get Presidential approval tomorrow, and we were to find a planet immediately, it'd still take another six months before we're ready to do a dial-out.

YOUNG And?

COVEL/GREER To be perfectly blunt, we're not sure you're going to survive that long. And more importantly, we're not sure Destiny's going to survive.

YOUNG We've managed to hold it together so far.

COVEL/GREER What, are you kidding me? You're the problem here. Since you and your people came on board, you've brought this ship to the brink of destruction repeatedly. It's a wonder this thing's flying at all.

BRODY (over radio) Colonel, this is Brody. We're about to drop out of FTL.

YOUNG (into radio) That's understood. (to Michaels/Wray and Covel/Greer) Heads up. The connection's going to be interrupted for a few seconds.

INT&mdash;CORRIDOR IN HOMEWORLD COMMAND

WRAY/MICHAELS These bodies. We did this to them.

GREER/COVEL There was no way to know. It-it was the right call.

EVANS (pacing nervously) If we leave now and get out as fast as we can, we might still be okay.

WRAY/MICHAELS I'm sorry, Airman, I really am. But we've already had a lethal exposure.

EVANS You can't know that &mdash; you're not a scientist!

WRAY/MICHAELS Maybe not, but I've worked with enough of them to pick up a few things.

[The Airman goes to grab a sharp letter-opener from a box.]

[The stones disconnect, returning Michaels and Covel to their own bodies just as the Airman is about to attack.]

COVEL What the hell's going on?

MICHAELS What is this? What's happening?

COVEL Let me see that. In your hand.

[She gives him the Geiger counter.]

INT&mdash;DESTINY OBSERVATION DECK

[Wray and Greer have returned to their bodies.]

WRAY Colonel.

YOUNG We just dropped out.

WRAY There's been an attack. Lucien Alliance. There's a bomb. Naquadria. Radiation leaking. We're trying to get to it, but&mdash;

[Young stares at Greer in shock. The stones reconnect, swapping the bodies again.]

YOUNG Senator.

MICHAELS/WRAY Oh my god. Homeworld Command.

INT&mdash;CORRIDOR IN HOMEWORLD COMMAND

EVANS What happened?

WRAY/MICHAELS The connection was interrupted. You think they got the gist of what I was trying to say?

GREER/COVEL (breathing with difficulty) If they didn't, the other two can fill them in. The've seen it for themselves now.

[The building is rock by a shock. Evans grabs Wray/Michaels and puts the sharp object to her neck. Greer/Covel pulls his handgun and points it at Evans.]

GREER/COVEL Evans, what the hell?

EVANS Put the gun down. Put it down now, or I'll kill her!

INT&mdash;DESTINY STONE ROOM

[Young brings the visitors in.]

COVEL/GREER Are you sure this is a good idea? I mean, the people are already on the ground. They know the situation. We could just make things worse.

YOUNG We won't wipe the stones. We'll just disconnect long enough to get a full report. Then we will bring you back and let you know what's happening. (to technician) Go ahead.

[The technician uses gloves to remove the stones. The body swap doesn't happen.]

MICHAELS/WRAY We're still here.

INT&mdash;CORRIDOR IN HOMEWORLD COMMAND

WRAY/MICHAELS Airman, what are you doing?

EVANS I'm not going to die in here. We're going to turn around and find another way out.

GREER/COVEL You're freaking out. I understand. But this isn't going to help.

WRAY/MICHAELS Shoot him. Even if he kills me, you can still get to the bomb.

GREER/COVEL Camille.

WRAY/MICHAELS It's an act! If you give him the gun, he'll kill us both. He's Lucian Alliance.

[She grabs his hand enough to pull the letter opener away. Greer/Covel shoots him twice. He falls dead.]

GREER/COVEL You sure he was one of them?

WRAY/MICHAELS There was something wrong about him from the start. And he knew I wasn't a scientist, but I never told him that. All he knew was my name.

GREER/COVEL Telford gave them files on all of us.

[She peels back his shirt to check his neck. There is a large tatto between his shoulder blades.]

WRAY/MICHAELS Clan tattoo. He was probably the pilot.

GREER/COVEL Think there's any more like him around here?

WRAY/MICHAELS I doubt it. I mean, my guess is that the plan was to land the ship cloaked, on the roof or somewhere nearby, and then just walk away.

GREER/COVEL Nice catch.

[Later they have moved further toward the comm lab. Wray/Michaels checks the Geiger counter.]

WRAY/MICHAELS The radiation's spiking. I think we're getting close.

[Concrete slabs lie in the way.]

GREER/COVEL Can we make it through?

WRAY/MICHAELS I don't know. (peering with flashlight) You know, I think we can make it through here. We'll have to crawl, though. Sorry.

GREER/COVEL No, don't worry about me.

WRAY/MICHAELS (wryly) Right.

INT&mdash;DESTINY STONE ROOM

[Rush is studying the problem with the stones.]

YOUNG Well?

RUSH Well, it's interesting. This shouldn't be happening.

MICHAELS/WRAY What do you mean?

RUSH The stones work in pairs. They're linked. In order for a connection to be shut off, the command has to be received at both ends.

YOUNG We've seen radiation cut the signal out before.

COVEL/GREER Yes, but in this case, the transfer's still in place, which means the signal must be getting through.

RUSH The radiation must only be affecting command protocols, nothing else.

COVEL/GREER There may be a way to boost that specific portion of the signal and alter it in order to get it past the interference. I've done a fair amount of research in this technology. I can help.

[TJ arrives with Varro.]

TJ Colonel, Varro would like to speak with you.

VARRO Tamara told me what happened. I realize I'm probably the last person you want to talk to right now, but I think I can help.

YOUNG How?

VARRO I can tell you how to defuse that bomb.

INT&mdash;ROOM IN HOMEWORLD COMMAND

[The two are crawling through the rubble.]

WRAY/MICHAELS Oh, I see the hull of the ship. We're almost there.

[They reach the ship and go inside. A large device pulses.]

GREER/COVEL Is that it?

WRAY/MICHAELS (using the Geiger counter) Yeah. It's the source of the radiation.

[The top of the device is a window onto a glowing pink hologram.]

WRAY/MICHAELS (into radio) David, this is Camille. I think we found our bomb.

[There is only static on the radio.]

WRAY/MICHAELS (into radio) David, come in?&hellip; This is Camille Wray. Is anybody reading this? (to Greer/Covel) Too much interference.

GREER/COVEL So much for Plan A.

WRAY/MICHAELS We're going to have to do this on our own.

INT&mdash;DESTINY PLANNING ROOM

[Varro uses a clipboard to draw and explain to Young, Scott, TJ, Eli, Volker, and Brody.]

VARRO The Alliance uses a pretty simple design for its naquadria bombs. The tricky part is it'll be protected by a hologram shell. So whoever disarms it will have to do so by feel. (referring to his drawings) The trigger wire is a slightly thinner gauge, probably threaded. It's the only way to distinguish it.

YOUNG How do we know any of what you're saying is true?

VARRO I've worked with these devices before.

YOUNG Not what I meant.

VARRO I didn't know about the attack, Colonel. If I did, I would have warned you.

TJ Sir, I think he's telling the truth.

YOUNG Oh, I know you do.

[TJ is surprised.]

SCOTT Well, it won't matter anyway if Rush can't get those stones to disconnect.

ELI Maybe not. If it really is this simple, maybe it's something that can be explained quickly, like, say in a few seconds?

VOLKER An FTL jump. You'd deliberately interrupt the connection.

BRODY We can't do that. We just dropped out. If we jump this soon, we're going to damage the engines.

YOUNG Catastrophic, or is it something we can live with?

ELI Something we can live with. I think&hellip; But it'll be a one-shot deal. Once we're back in FTL, if we force an early drop, we're going to blow the engines completely.

BRODY We're talking about ten, maybe twelve seconds at the most.

YOUNG (to Varro) What do you think &mdash; enough time?

VARRO Yeah. I think I can get the message across.

INT&mdash;INSIDE ALLIANCE SHIP IN HOMEWORLD COMMAND

[Wray/Michaels examines the bomb with her flashlight.]

WRAY/MICHAELS Must be on a timer. The pilot probably wanted to give himself a chance to a safe distance.

GREER/COVEL How long?

WRAY/MICHAELS No way to know for sure, but it's been a while since the crash.

GREER/COVEL (weakly) So it could go off any second?

WRAY/MICHAELS Yeah. It's possible that it was damaged, and it's not going to go off at all.

GREER/COVEL Or it could go off any second.

WRAY/MICHAELS I'm going to try something.

[She dips her flashlight into the hologram and pulls it back out.]

WRAY/MICHAELS I think it's some kind of hologram.

[She reaches both hands into the hologram and feels around behind it.]

WRAY/MICHAELS The bomb's underneath. I can feel it. I'm going to have to do this blind.

GREER/COVEL (chuckling) Do what, exactly?

WRAY/MICHAELS I haven't quite figured that part out yet.

INT&mdash;DESTINY MESS

[Michaels/Wray is pacing. Chloe arrives.]

CHLOE Senator! There you are. We need you. We're going to try and force and FTL jump.

MICHAELS/WRAY Yes, I know. Based on the word of some Alliance soldier.

CHLOE I'm not sure we have a lot of choice.

MICHAELS/WRAY I shouldn't even be here. You know, I had people on my own committee telling me this was a waste of time, that our only priority should be the Alliance threat. I didn't listen to them.

CHLOE Look, I know you're worried about people back home. I am, too. But you're wrong about Destiny. You know, the other Rush, in his timeline I was one of the people who volunteered to stay.

MICHAELS/WRAY And you really think you would have done that?

CHLOE My father died so that we could all go on. I have to believe that it was for a reason. I feel like I'm part of something here. Something important.

INT&mdash;INSIDE ALLIANCE SHIP IN HOMEWORLD COMMAND

[Wray/Michaels continues to root around inside the bomb with her hands.]

WRAY/MICHAELS Okay, there's a large, cylindrical piece, and um, some kind of gasket on the end. Oh, there's a lot of wires.

[She stands up suddenly, on the verge of panic.]

WRAY/MICHAELS I don't know. I mean, I could start pulling at things randomly, but&mdash;

[Their bodies swap.]

INT&mdash;DESTINY PLANNING ROOM

[Greer and Wray are suddenly faced with Varro holding up the clipboard.]

VARRO Listen, outer shell is holographic. Inside crown is panel. Remove with pin. The trigger wire is slightly thinner, threaded, coarse. Don't pull the wire, will detonate. Pop the lynch pin by applying pressure to the base and&mdash;

[The bodies swap again.]

INT&mdash;INSIDE ALLIANCE SHIP IN HOMEWORLD COMMAND

GREER/COVEL A pin, a pin. We need a pin.

[Wray/Michaels finds one on the lapel of her jacket. She pulls it off.]

WRAY/MICHAELS I've got one.

INT&mdash;DESTINY PLANNING ROOM

WRAY/MICHAELS What happened. Did they understand it?

VARRO I don't know.

RUSH (over radio) Colonel Young, this is Rush in the communications lab. There's something you need to see.

YOUNG (into radio) I'm on my way.

INT&mdash;INSIDE ALLIANCE SHIP IN HOMEWORLD COMMAND

[Wray/Michaels has her hands in the bomb again.]

WRAY/MICHAELS I've got it.

GREER/COVEL Now the trigger wire is threaded. Find it, but don't pull.

WRAY/MICHAELS Yeah, I know, it will blow up. Okay, now what?

GREER/COVEL You didn't hear?

WRAY/MICHAELS No! I missed the last part. I was hoping that you&hellip;

[He lowers his gaze. She stands up.]

WRAY/MICHAELS Oh, god.

INT&mdash;DESTINY STONE ROOM

[Rush shows Young a signal display on his laptop. Michaels/Wray is there as well.]

YOUNG So, uh, what are we looking at?

RUSH Well, this is the enhanced command signal. It's now embedded within the frequencies of the main transfer itself.

MICHAELS/WRAY Wait, are you saying you can shut down the connection?

RUSH Oh yeah. And I would have done it a lot earlier, if Dr. Covel hadn't been sabotaging our efforts.

[Covel/Greer is there; he looks at Rush in question.]

MICHAELS/WRAY What?

RUSH He altered one of the key algorithms. I checked.

[Covel/Greer looks away. Young stands up.]

COVEL/GREER Okay, I did it. You have to understand that when we went back, and I saw that Geiger counter? The radiation levels &mdash; they're not survivable.

MICHAELS/WRAY What are you saying?

COVEL/GREER Our bodies, they're as good as dead and I-I, I panicked. I needed some time to think.

RUSH You know what happens when someone dies at the end of a connection.

COVEL/GREER No, no, I know, because Dr. Perry was in a weakened condition. It is possible that a healthier person could have survived.

YOUNG (approaching him) So, what did you do? You decided to help yourself to his new body? Is that what you did?

COVEL/GREER Why do they get to live and we don't? The put us in this position! It was easy for them to take a risk, because they weren't going to have to suffer the consequences!

MICHAELS/WRAY (upset) Uh, Colonel. Colonel Young? Could you get Varro down here? He can go over the instructions again and you can send us back.

COVEL/GREER I'm not going.

YOUNG You don't have a choice.

INT&mdash;INSIDE ALLIANCE SHIP IN HOMEWORLD COMMAND

GREER/COVEL We should try again, okay? We know which wire is the trigger.

WRAY/MICHAELS He said not to pull it.

GREER/COVEL So we find another way to release it!

WRAY/MICHAELS Yeah, and if we're wrong, this bomb blows up!

GREER/COVEL It's going to blow up anyway, right? So what do we have to lose?

WRAY/MICHAELS (emotional) What about all the people out there? People that we have to assume are being evacuated from this area. Every second gives more of them a chance to get as far away from here as possible.

GREER/COVEL You're right. So we just wait for it to happen.

[He steps away from the bomb and they sit down; Greer/Covel lies down.]

WRAY/MICHAELS You know, I'm sorry we never got along better. It's just we see things differently. And you like to take action, and I like to talk things through.

GREER/COVEL Well, we're here now. And we're not going anywhere. So, let's talk.

WRAY/MICHAELS I can't think of anything else to say.

[Greer/Covel starts laughing, and she joins in.]

INT&mdash;DESTINY STONE ROOM

[Varro is briefing Michaels/Wray and Covel/Greer.]

VARRO Remember, don't pull the wire.

MICHAELS/WRAY Oh, I've got it.

YOUNG You're sure? You're ready for this?

[She doesn't quite nod. Young nods to Rush.]

MICHAELS/WRAY Ah, just one more thing, Colonel. Could you tell Chloe that I'm proud of her?

YOUNG Of course.

[Rush turns off the stones.]

INT&mdash;INSIDE ALLIANCE SHIP IN HOMEWORLD COMMAND

[Michaels and Covel come back to their bodies. Michaels goes to the bomb and takes the pin left there.]

EXT&mdash;SPACE

[Destiny flies through FTL space.]

INT&mdash;DESTINY OBSERVATION DECK

[Greer looks out into the FTL effects. Wray arrives.]

GREER Have you heard anything?

WRAY Not yet.

GREER We've been back for hours.

WRAY I know. We're going to keep someone on the stones 24/7 until we get a connection.

GREER If we get a connection&hellip; I heard you have a friend who lives in D.C.

WRAY Sharon. She's um, more than a friend, actually&hellip; I wish I could talk to her one more time, you know? Tell her how much she means to me.

GREER Yeah. Been thinking about my mom. Things haven't really been that-that good between us. She never really wanted me to join the military.

[They smile at each other.]

GREER Last time I saw her I didn't really say everything that I wanted to say.

WRAY She's your mother, Ron. She knows.

[Greer nods, teary-eyed.]

WRAY Anyway, I'm sure this will all get resolved, and you can go and tell her yourself, soon enough.

GREER Right. Soon enough.

FADE OUT

END CREDITS

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