Fair Game

Fair Game is the third episode of the third season of Stargate SG-1.

Plot
At Stargate Command, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, Arthur Simms, visits and gives a speech during a gathering in the gate room. During this event, Captain Carter, for her valiant actions in the episode "Into the Fire," is promoted to the rank of Major. However, when Col. O'Neill wants to speak, he is suddenly transported away, much to everyone's shock. Jack finds himself aboard an Asgard ship where he is greeted by Thor. Thor wastes no time in telling him that the Goa'uld System Lords plan an attack on Earth due to the killing of Hathor even though she tried to overthrow the System Lords. The System Lords will send a fleet far more powerful than the one SG-1 faced at the hands of Apophis. The majority of the Asgard fleet is busy. However, Thor offers Earth a membership in the Asgard's Protected Planets Treaty as an alternative to destruction.

Back at SGC, SG-1 talks with General Hammond about the offer, when Thor appears and says that the System Lords will appear soon to negotiate and that O'Neill will represent Earth. Later, Daniel informs the people at SGC about the three System Lords who will be appearing on behalf of the System Lords: Cronus, Yu, and Nirrti. Cronus was the Goa'uld who banished Sokar. Yu was based on one of China's greatest emperors. Yu is most willing for Earth to join the Protected Planets, because his territories are located on the far side of the Goa'uld Empire and thus Earth's survival would destabilize his enemies with little adverse affect on himself. Nirrti was an Indian god of destruction and death and also the Go'a'uld who destroyed Cassandra's planet. The SGC takes immediate actions to follow the rules of the meeting as given them by the Asgard, which includes the removal of every weapon from the premises.

Finally, the Goa'uld arrive and are quickly ushered away as Cronus seems to resentfully regard Teal'c. Daniel learns from Teal'c that his father was Cronus' First Prime and Cronus his executioner. Cronus sent his father to fight against a System Lord much more powerful than himself and when his father came back defeated, Cronus killed him, and Teal'c and his mother fled to Chulak. Teal'c then vowed to become Apophis' First Prime seeing as Apophis and Cronus are mortal enemies. The negotiations soon begin but O'Neill offends the visitors before the meeting even starts by talking without recognition, effectively ending it. Thor explains that he spoke out of term and the System Lords don't like each other which is the reason they didn't help Apophis. Jack and Daniel later talk with Thor, asking him why the Asgard haven't taken the Goa'uld out. Thor tells them that the Asgard are not proud of the situation, but reveals to them that the Asgard have to constantly bluff their power with the Goa'uld because a much greater threat is at the forefront of their galaxy. Banished System Lords like Sokar, will be thrown back if he is to attack Earth.

O'Neill informs SG-1 of the situation and negotiations continue, after an apology is sent for any previous "misdemeanors." Finally, the Goa'uld agree to the Asgard offer, yet demand a high price from Earth, immediate and unconditional surrender of the two Earth Stargates which would end SGC and destroy any potential for future acquisition of advanced alien technology. Therefore, the Tau'ri would cease to be a threat to the Goa'uld. After talking it over with SG-1 and Hammond, O'Neill asks Thor for his advice but he is unable to help him. Regretfully, the United States Secretary of Defense informs them that Earth agrees to the demands of the Goa'uld arguing that the Stargates would be of no use if Earth was gone. Daniel goes to relay this to the System Lords when he hears an alarm and discovers both Cronus and Teal'c badly wounded. Upon the sight, it's assumed Teal'c would be the main suspect for attack considering his family's unfriendly connection with Cronus.

Dr. Fraiser diagnoses that Cronus is mortally wounded. SG-1 enlists the aid of Nirrti to use a healing device (the one device Carter is able to leave at the base as seen earlier in the episode) yet she claims he is beyond her help. Thor tells O'Neill he must depart from Earth, leaving the negotiations in the hands of the Tau'ri.

Teal'c later wakes up and recalls that he and Cronus were attacked by an invisible force, however it was no Reetou, which is the first suspect. Putting that aside how, Sam herself is able to use the healing device on Cronus again and heals his abrasions which suddenly causes a guilty Nirrti be backed into a corner. They accuse her of lying and developing cloaking technology which throws Yu into a rage, accusing her threatening their relationship with the Asgard and coveting Cronus' territory. He attacks her but she easily cloaks herself, procures a weapon and flees. However, Sam and a few SGC soldiers were able to capture her with TERs.

Under the circumstances, both Yu and Cronus agree to allow the continual use of the Stargate. Before the Goa'uld leave (with Nirrti now a prisoner of Cronus), Cronus informs SGC that he will show no mercy to captured personnel in the future nor will any other System Lord. The episode ends with Thor's ship leaving Earth.

Memorable Quotes
Dr. Jackson: And the third representative we're expecting is Yu.

Colonel Jack O'Neill: Me?

Colonel Jack O'Neill: Hello, Nirrti. Hello, Cronus. Hello... Yu.