Smoke and Mirrors

Smoke and Mirrors is the fourteenth episode of the sixth season of Stargate SG-1.

Plot
As Senator Kinsey is leaving a building a sniper prepares his rifle. Before the Senator is able to enter his car, he is shot in the heart by the sniper, much to the shock of the crowd. Suddenly Col. O'Neill leaves a building.

Back at Stargate Command, SG-1 (without O'Neill) watches TV about this incident when O'Neill enters the room. They talk about the incident when General Hammond enters. He tells O'Neill that he is under arrest for the murder of Kinsey. The remaining members of SG-1 are informed by Major Davis about the facts as they are known. The others don't want to believe it was O'Neill. General Hammond relieves them of off-world duties and reassigns them to find out what really happened.

Jonas and Teal'c visit O'Neill in prison and question him about where he was. Afterwards they talk about the time when aliens infiltrated SGC by using devices which allow them to impersonate another person. They go to Area 51 to look for the devices; all twelve devices have been replaced by non-functioning duplicates. Some time later Carter visits Agent Barrett at the NID headquarter and talks with him about the situation. Since his office is bugged, he hands her a note that asks her to meet him later in a nearby park. Barrett tells her that he was ordered by the White House to find out who is the shadow organization inside the NID and that Kinsey was helping him.

At SGC Jonas and Teal'c find out that one of the scientists named Dr. Langham, who was working with the mimic devices, was supposedly killed in a car accident but it appears that he faked his death. They find out that Langham took a new identity. Jonas and Teal'c visit his new home. Langham disguises himself but Jonas and Teal'c realize he is in disguise. Langham tries to flee but is caught. Carter and Barrett visit an underground store for weapons where the killer bought the rifle. They find out that it was bought by someone looking like O'Neill, actually an NID agent. Back at SGC Langham is imprisoned but won't talk. When Teal'c visits him he finally reveals what he knows.

Major Carter and Agent Barrett visit the NID agent who really shot Senator Kinsey. When they break into his house they only find a bomb and barely escape. At SGC Dr. Langham reveals he was working for an organization named the Committee and that they do this for profit. He also reveals the names of the people behind the assassination in exchange for immunity. They inform Carter about this. She tells Barrett about the mimic devices and he reveals that Kinsey isn't dead; he is in a coma in a hospital and will shortly be visited by Major Davis. Carter tells him that Davis is one of the persons who can be imitated.

In the meantime the rogue NID agent imitates Davis and tries to kill Kinsey in the hospital, but is stopped. The agent informs the committee, who reveal that they plan on forcing General Hammond's retirement. The agent is ordered to visit General Hammond and turns out to be Major Carter in disguise, much to the surprise of the committee, who are then arrested.

Later O'Neill is released and visits the recovered Kinsey, with whom he has to shake hands in front of the press to regain his trust. O'Neill isn't happy about this arrangement.