Earth (episode)

"Earth" is the seventh episode of the first season of Stargate Universe.

Synopsis
IOA scientists have hatched a plan that could return the crew to Earth. But the plan is far from foolproof and carries potentially deadly consequences. General O'Neill and Homeworld Command instruct Colonel Young to implement their orders, but he's not convinced, and buys time to consult his comrades.

Prologue
A group of around 80 unprepared soldiers, scientists and civilians evacuate Icarus Base to the Ancient spaceship Destiny, located several billion light years from Earth, and are trapped there; the ship doesn't have enough power to dial such distances. They are able to bring a Long-range communication device with them to make contact with Earth, by taking a host body back home. Chloe Armstrong lost her father, and told her mother about this.

Plot
Lieutenant Tamara Johansen is checking up on Colonel Everett Young. During the check up, Young tells TJ that she is beautiful, and that he is sorry he hurt her. At first, TJ doesn't want to talk about it, but they inevitably kiss. This turns out to be a dream; Matthew Scott wakes him up, and tells him "they" are waiting for him. After looking at his watch, he gets up and enters a room with Camile Wray. The two place two communication stones into the long-range communication device. Young and Wray end up on the bodies of Hamilton and Baldwin respectively in Homeworld Command, at the Pentagon. Colonel David Telford is expecting them. He escorts them to a meeting room to see a number of scientists, IOA personnel, including Carl Strom, and General Jack O'Neill; they are also expecting them. Telford announces that they may have found a way to bring the people on the Destiny home.

Sometime later, a young scientist, Williams has just given details of the plan. He explains that the power flow issues are the biggest variable, but the simulations prove encouraging. Though Strom and the IOA support the decision, Wray and Young have their skepticism, believing the plan to be dangerous, though Telford believes it may be worth it. When Young continues to show his doubts, O'Neill sends him to his office. There, he lectures Young that Colonel Samantha Carter saved his life several times with "all kinds of whacky science" he didn't understand, and that since Young is in charge of the ship, he should play it out rather than see what everybody on the ship thinks. Even though the President wants this done, Young still insists on letting him know his decision by tomorrow.

Wray joins Strom in the park, who is buying a hot dog. He compliments Wray on her work so far. However, she knows he is holding off on the conversation, and wants him to get to the point; he wants her to make the plane happen by using her influence among the rest of Destiny's expedition. He wants the plan to work so could use the data to re-engineer the process on one of the Daedalus-class ships, so they can dial Destiny without another Icarus-type planet, and hopefully send the right people. He then admits that he didn't want to talk to Nicholas Rush, since the IOA is not convinced he wants to return home.

In Destiny's Mess hall, Eli Wallace talks with Scott, TJ, Chloe Armstrong and Ronald Greer. He says that the ship hasn't enough power to Gate to Earth, but they could do it if they drain all the power and use the ship as a conduit to get into the next star, though that part is difficult. It will also take months to drain the power, but Adam Brody, who is listening in, suggests they drain it up faster. He seems in on the idea, but wants to consult with Rush first.

In the control interface room, Rush talks with Wray and Young back in their own bodies. Rush believes the plan they are suggesting on Earth is dangerous, which could lead to the ship exploding. Sometime later, Young, Eli and Chloe plan to use the communication device. Eli seems weary using it for the first time, not knowing what to say to his mother. The three then put on their stones to the pad, and they switch bodies with three people. Eli occupies Williams' body, Chloe has swapped with McCormick's body, Young occupies Telford's body. Eli seems excited to be back on Earth, and in someone another persons body, noticing he is wearing a suit. Williams, meanwhile, doesn't approve of Eli's dress sense. Telford visits Rush, and explains that he will be taking over from Young, and wants the proposed plan to go ahead.

Young learns that Telford is taking over, as O'Neill doesn't want to wait. He tells Eli and Chloe about it. However, they can see their families as long as they follow the rules. Eli is concerned about what would happen if Destiny explodes in the test; Young believes they will die, so Eli decides to "live it up" while they can. Meanwhile, Telford arraives at the mess hall to meet Greer. His first order of business is to confine him to quarters, to either carry out his punishment or in case he would assaulted again. He later joins McCormick and Williams with several personnel to inform them of the plan. They do have doubts, but the three tell them that due to the ship's condition, it may experience a fatal breakdown at any time. Telford admits that they may not be sent home, but assures them that the plan is worth a try. Telford later joins Rush in the Observation deck. He has heard the plan, and still thinks it's impossible, since they barely have access to everything on the ship, and that although firing its weapons may drain the power, there is still a big risk.

On Earth, Major Green drops Eli off at his mother's house. However, since he's in a different body, he has no idea what to say to her. However, he knocks on the door. When Maryann answers the door, Eli says that his name is Philip Fry, and he recently became close friends with Eli. She invites him over, wanting to know how her son is doing. "Philip" explains he is on a "crash diet" (considering Destiny has scarce supplies, but she doesn't know what her son is going through) and that he is doing fine. When he mentions that "Eli" told her she makes chocolate chip cookies, she offers to make some so "Philip" can send them back to Eli. While he helps out, Maryann admits that it was partl her fault Eli didn't apply himself even though he was intelligent, and that she's worried about him, since he doesn't call. "Philip" puts her mind at ease when he tells her Eli is doing good, and misses her. Meanwhile, Chloe talks with her mother, who is starting to get a little comfortable about seeing her daughter in other people. The two are still trying to deal with the loss of their husband/father.

On board Destiny, Brody and Hunter Riley are in space suits, working on some pipes for the plan. They are able to fix it. However, Telford feels that this is taking too long, but Rush says they need to do it to understand more about the ship first. He later sends the power through the pipes, but there appears to be a coolant leak. However, since ihttp://stargate.wikia.com/index.php?title=Earth_(episode)&action=submitt so close to the hull, it could explode, and the decompression while in FTL will likely destroy the ship. Against Brody's wishes, Riley goes back to repain the leak. Unfortunately, the pipes ignite; the force of the explosion seriously injures Riley.

TJ is checking up on Riley in the infirmary, and tells Rush and Telford that it is "touch and go", leaving his fate unknown. Telford later tells Rush that they are proceeding with the plan, even though Riley nearly died. Telford claims Rush put Riley's life in danger, and that after more talking, Telford believes Rush has doubts about the plan because if it does work, Rush may never return to the ship.

Back on Earth, Chloe calls Eli about their visits. Eli admits he told his mother he was a co-worker, and Chloe tells him that she told her old friends that she is Chloe's "Cousin Liz", and that they are planning on taking her to see Janelle Monáe, and invites Eli. Meanwhile, Emily Young arrives home to unpack her shopping. Young, who is in Telford's body knocks on the door; she closes the door after seeing him, and threatens to call the Police if he doesn't leave. Young tells her he won't leave, and talks to her through the door. He says that the only thing keeping him from losing it on the ship is her, and even that makes him crazy after what he did to her, and wants her to forgive him. He also believes Emily is afraid that he would die, and that all he wants is to come back home to her. After a moment, he leaves. However, what Young said got through to Emily, who opens the door, and forgives him with a hug.

Eli and Chloe enter the nightclub Janelle Monáe is attending. An attractive young woman, Mindy approaches Eli for some small talk. Amazed that a woman is talking to him, he offers her to dance, which she accepts. Meanwhile, Chloe notices a couple, Celina and Josh, and is somewhat disgusted by them. The reason is that Josh was Chloe's ex-boyfriend, and belives Josh left her for Celina. Chloe tries to take her mind off it by buying a drink, but runs into Celina. Their conversation turns into a heated argument, since Celina was her best friend, and just realised she is seeing Josh.

Young and Emily are in bed, making love. Meanwhile, Destiny drops out of FTL. This apparently disrupts communications for a short time, placing Young, Eli and Chloe in their wn bodies again. In that time, Telford is in shock to discover that Young was using his body to have sex with Emily. Seconds later, they swap bodies again. Both Telford and Young in particular shocked. Telford learn that in the few seconds, Young wants to remove the stones, but Telford overrides it.

Notable quotes
(Eli is sitting in a nightclub, when an attractive woman, Mindy, talks to him) Mindy: Hi. Eli: Me? Mindy: What's your name? Eli: Phil. Can I buy you a drink? Mindy: I have one. Eli: Yes, you do. Wanna dance. Mindy: Sure. Eli: Oh my God, this is awesome.

Background notes

 * The name Eli Wallace chose to give his mother, Philip Fry, is a reference to the main character of the TV show, Futurama.

International airdates

 * Canada: November 6, 2009 (Space)
 * United Kingdom: November 10, 2009 (Sky1)
 * Australia: November 13, 2009 (Sci Fi Australia)

Production

 * This was the second episode to be scripted.
 * Richard Dean Anderson guest appeared as Jack O'Neill
 * Grammy Award nominated Janelle Monáe appears in this episode as herself, where she performs the songs "Many Moons" and "Sincerely".