Off the Grid

"Off the Grid" is the sixteenth episode of the ninth season of Stargate SG-1.

Synopsis
After a failed mission to learn about the new, extremely addictive Lucian Alliance crop, Kassa, the planet's Stargate is beamed away before SG-1 can escape. After learning that multiple Stargates have disappeared, Major General Henry Landry questions the imprisoned Nerus about who is responsible.

Previously on Stargate SG-1
SG-1 and Vala Mal Doran have a run in with the Lucian Alliance. The Goa'uld Nerus offers to help Stargate Command with the fight against the Ori but leads them into a trap. Major General Henry Landry imprisons him in the basement of Area 51 without food until he can came up with a defense against the Ori.

Plot
While investigating the nature of an addictive corn-like crop grown on an alien world, found by accident by SG-3, SG-1 gets into a firefight with members of the Lucian Alliance. After SG-1 retreats to the gate, Dr. Daniel Jackson tries to dial out only to have the Stargate beamed off world before he can finish.

Having nowhere to retreat to, SG-1 is captured and Worrel, leader of the local Lucian Alliance faction, suspects them of the theft. Meanwhile on Earth, Major General Henry Landry learns from the Tok'ra that someone has been stealing Stargates all over the galaxy. He suspects Ba'al but needs proof and turns to the imprisoned former follower of Ba'al, Nerus. At the same time, the newly-commissioned Odyssey is dispatched to rescue SG-1.

Nerus confirms Landry's suspicions and tells him that Ba'al is likely trying to establish a new empire with the gates. Following a sizable feast provided by Landry, Nerus admits to have developed a way to disable a Stargate's correlative update system, effectively rendering one undetectable to the network. Ba'al's plan was to set up his own network of Stargates on his own planets, then use the Dakara superweapon to wipe out the rest of the galaxy using the original Stargate network.

Meanwhile on the alien planet, Worrel is about to execute SG-1 when they are beamed aboard the Odyssey and filled in with the latest information on Ba'al's scheme. Nerus requests his freedom in exchange for the coordinates to Ba'al's location, but Landry is reluctant to accede. As he knows better than to trust a Goa'uld, Landry secretly feeds a subspace locator beacon to Nerus and then agrees to release him. When Nerus finally returns to Ba'al's ship, the beacon transmits his position to the Odyssey. When trying to use his technology with Ba'al's ship, a virus created by Dr. Bill Lee executes, disabling the ship's defenses and rendering it blind to the arriving Odyssey. SG-1 beams aboard the ship, makes its way to where the stolen gates are stored and begins planting locator beacons on them so they can be detected by the Odyssey.

Not everything goes smoothly as the Lucian Alliance detected Ba'al as well, and three Ha'taks begin firing on Ba'al's defenseless vessel. Ba'al quickly manages to restore his shields, preventing Odyssey from beaming out SG-1 and the final gate. With Jaffa closing in, SG-1 uses the last gate to return to Earth. Soon after, Ba'al's ship is destroyed and the Odyssey, not battle-ready, escapes when the Lucian Alliance vessels target them.

Notable Quotes
Carter: What did you say to them?

Mitchell: Look, obviously it didn't go so well.

Teal'c: I did advise that you were a most unlikely drug smuggler, Colonel Mitchell.

Mitchell: Can we please just fall back to the Gate?

Jackson: What the hell was that?

Mitchell: What was what?

Carter: We're supposed to stay under the radar.

Teal'c: I doubt if this world possesses such technology.

Mitchell: I have no intention of taking anybody on. I'm just going to pose as a buyer.

Jackson: You?

Mitchell: Well no offense, Jackson, but you do not strike me as the drug dealer type. In fact you're not even close.

Jackson: I think I'm as close as you are.

Carter: Come on, you're miles away.

Mitchell: Teal'c, which one of us is closer?

Teal'c: I believe the three of you to be equidistant.

Mitchell: Oh please! Mary Poppins is not even in the running.

Carter: Hey!

Worrel: So, you were done slaying System Lords and decided to move on to more pressing agricultural concerns?

Mitchell: That's exactly it. Corn patrol.

Emerson: I can't think of a better first operational mission for the Odyssey than to bring home SG-1.

Landry: Neither can I, Colonel. Good luck.

Nerus: Individually frosted cakes!

Walter: Sir, if you don't mind me asking...

Landry: How did we plant the beacon on Nerus?

Walter: Yes, sir.

Landry: It was a piece of cake.

Mitchell: We have got the best jobs in the world, don't we?

Carter: I'm going to hit the shower.

Daniel: I'm going to find the doctor.

Teal'c: We are indeed suitably employed.

Goofs

 * Before SG-1 is beamed on board the Odyssey, Lt. Colonel Samantha Carter is seen with blood from cuts on her face. After being beamed aboard the blood and cuts are no longer visible. Also the team are all sitting down before being beamed, yet are standing when they arrive on the Odyssey.
 * When the Dial Home Device is beamed up before Dr. Daniel Jackson's eyes what is left behind is matted down grass. The DHD should have left an impression in the dirt that was devoid of grass, especially if one assumes that it had been present there for years (maybe even centuries).

Characters

 * Colonel Paul Emerson
 * Netan

Death

 * Nerus

In other languages

 * French: Hors Limite (Off Limit)
 * Italian: Un Souvenir per Nerus (A Souvenir for Nerus)
 * Spanish: Fuera de la Parrilla (Off the Grid)
 * Czech: Narušená síť (Damaged Network)
 * German (DVD/TV): Ohne Netz (Off Grid) / Das Verschwundene Stargate (The Missing Stargate)