Prometheus Unbound

"Prometheus Unbound" is the twelfth episode of the eighth season of Stargate SG-1.

Synopsis
Lt. General George S. Hammond returns and offers Dr. Daniel Jackson to go with him on board the Prometheus to find the missing Atlantis expedition. However, on the way they pick up a distress signal and investigates. There, a Kull warrior makes its way on board, and imprisons Daniel and leaves the rest of the crew trapped on a damaged Al'kesh.

Plot
Dr. Daniel Jackson and Brigadier General Jack O'Neill are arguing about whether or not Daniel can go on the upcoming mission to Atlantis. Daniel wants to go but Jack refuses, stating that he needs Daniel right here.

Lt. General George S. Hammond solves the issue by telling O'Neill that Daniel will in fact be taking part in the mission, as Hammond himself is going to be in command of the Prometheus, and therefore, the mission. MSgt. Walter Harriman will also be going.

On board the Prometheus, Daniel briefs the command crew on where they're going. He meets Dr. Lindsey Novak, who apparently turned down the opportunity to go on the first mission to Atlantis. As they are talking, an alarm goes off on the ship. Daniel goes to the bridge, where they are picking up a distress call.

They drop out of hyperspace, and find a suspicious-looking Al'kesh, sitting dead in space. SG-3 is sent to investigate; however, the team is stunned and a Kull Warrior transports over to the Prometheus. It rings the entire crew (except for Daniel) to the Al'kesh, then pilots the Prometheus away.

Daniel finds his way to the bridge, having grabbed a FN P90 Personal Defense Weapon with the Kull Disruptor embedded in it. He sneaks up on the Kull and shoots it twice in the back but to no avail. The Kull Warrior then turns round and shoots Daniel with a Zat'nik'tel.

Meanwhile, the Prometheus' crew attempts to get the Al'kesh running again.

Daniel wakes up on the bridge of the Prometheus, tied up in the command chair. Daniel attempts to make small talk until the Warrior removes "its" helmet, revealing Vala Mal Doran. She attempts to extract the Prometheus command codes from Daniel, but he resists, eventually managing to break free of his bonds and regain control of the situation. However, the computers have been programmed to accept commands only from Vala, and an Al'kesh suddenly appears on their radar. (Unbeknownst to Daniel and Vala, it is the Al'kesh containing the Prometheus crew.) Vala explains that she has commandeered the vessel only as a means of helping her people, who are refugees. She and Daniel struggle for control of the ship and Daniel gains the upper hand, but not before the Prometheus jumps into hyperspace.

Daniel puts Vala in the brig and returns to the bridge, but cannot figure out how to access the navigational controls. When she wakes up, he tries, unsuccessfully, to get her to tell him how to turn the ship around. When the ship arrives at the given coordinates, Daniel disembarks, only to find out that there are no refugees at all. Apparently, Vala instead planned to trade the Prometheus for a large quantity of refined, weapons-grade Naquadah. While Daniel attempts to explain the situation to Vala's trading partners (members of the Lucian Alliance), a pair of Death Glider begins strafing their position. Daniel Zats the two traders and returns to the Prometheus.

Daniel is forced to allow Vala out of her cell so that she can fly the ship. They lift off, and attempt to go to hyperspace, but the hull has taken too much damage. They raise the shield and activate the automatic weaponry, but the shields soon fail when more Gliders and some Al'kesh arrive. As they are running out of ammunition, they notice that one of the Al'kesh is firing on the other ships. It proves to be the crew of the Prometheus. Daniel persuades Vala to unlock the Transportation rings, and the crew rings aboard.

Vala asks Daniel what he intends to do with her, and he admits that he's not sure. However, as she begins to make some conciliatory remarks, he shoots her with the Zat again.

Finally, it turns out that the Prometheus has sustained too much hull damage to make the trip to Atlantis. The crew plans to return to Earth to make repairs. As this discussion concludes, another alarm sounds: Vala has escaped. She rings to the Al'kesh and escapes into hyperspace.

Notable Quotes
O'Neill: General!

Hammond: Jack. I let myself in. Hope you don't mind.

O'Neill: Absolutely not. Welcome.

Hammond: Thank you.

O'Neill: Miss the chair?

Hammond: Actually, I do.

O'Neill: Want it back?

Hammond: As a matter of fact, I do. My new one just isn't the same.

O'Neill: That's not exactly what I meant...

Jackson: I'm sorry, what was I saying?

Novak: Oh, you were assuming the Lost City was at the other end of this field trip. (She hiccups) Ignore me.

Jackson: It's hard to.

Jackson: It's little strange, isn't it? See, that weapon I shot you with should have killed you. What's even stranger is you guys usually don't take prisoners either. I mean it's kind of kill first and.... No, that's generally just about it. Just the killing.

Jackson: You're a Goa'uld.

Vala: No, but I was once a host to one.

Jackson: Which would explain the naquadah in your blood that lets you use Goa'uld technology.

Vala: And how I can quickly learn to fly this rather primitive ship.

Jackson: Yeah, so primitive I wonder why it was worth the bother.

Vala: Well in this case it's the size that matters...I think that's pretty much in every case.

Jackson: (to Vala) You're a fruitcake!

Vala: Did you have fun taking off my clothes?

Jackson: It was your idea.

Vala: I meant when I was conscious. You know, so I could distract you and kick you in the head.

Jackson: Hi guys.

Tenat: Who are you?

Jackson: Ah... The name's Olo. Hans... Olo.

[Reynolds has just rescued Hammond from the hull, but Hammond is unconscious]

Colonel Reynolds: General? General? Sir!

Sgt. Walter Harriman: Is he breathing?

[Reynolds shakes his head no]

Dr. Lindsey Novak: He may need mouth-to-mouth.

''[Reynolds looks dismayed at the prospect; she glares at him impatiently, so he reluctantly moves Hammond's head. Just as he is about to start mouth-to-mouth, Hammond coughs]''

Colonel Reynolds: Oh, excellent! Excellent waking up, sir!

Goofs

 * The crew of the Prometheus could have merely stood within the Transportation rings while aboard the Al'kesh and wait for the Kull intruder to ring other crew from the Prometheus, thus transporting them back on board.
 * When fighting with Vala in the Engine Room and is knocked backwards into and over the control console, Daniel makes the set move.
 * Vala claims that the bodysuit of the Kull armor will still protect her from a zat'nik'tel discharge. She is either bluffing or this is a continuity error as Daniel uses it effectively twice against her and both times the discharge struck the bodysuit itself, not her exposed head.

Characters

 * Vala Mal Doran
 * Dr. Lindsey Novak
 * Tenat
 * Jup

Race

 * Oranian

In other languages

 * French: En Détresse (In Distress)
 * Italian: Prometheus Sciolta (Prometheus Unbound)
 * Spanish: Ataque al Prometeo (Attack on the Prometheus)
 * Czech: Upoutaný Prometheus (Confined Prometheus)
 * German: Vala (Vala)
 * Hungarian: A megszabadított Prométheusz (Prometheus Unbound)