Enigma

Enigma is the seventeenth episode of the first season of Stargate SG-1.

Plot
SG-1 reaches a planet which is at the brink of destruction, something which happened only recently. There they find several survivors of an advanced civilization, fleeing the destruction of their planet and despite the protests of one of them the team brings them all back to Earth. However, the survivors, known as the Tollan, flaunt an arrogant air about Stargate Command over their advanced knowledge and technology. Especially their leader, Omoc, behaves very arrogantly and is even angry about being rescued by SGC since a rescue transport was already on its way. However another Tollan, named Narim, becomes interested in Captain Carter and they even develop some kind of relationship. SGC offers to find the Tollan a new home, but the Tollan are doubtful of SGC's ability to help them. This becomes evident when SGC offers the Tollan a place on a world they met some time ago (see "The Broca Divide"), but they react very arrogantly about the primitive civilization on that world.

The US government, seeing their first chance at securing some advanced technology, places the Tollan under lock-down. They also send Col. Harry Maybourne to get information from them. Nevertheless, the Tollan, using their advanced technology, are able to walk through walls, and easily escape to the surface. This proves that their technology is far superior to that of the Goa'uld. However, they are unwilling to share their technology with what they see as primitive cultures because of what happened on their home planet. In former times, the Tollan discovered another inhabited world, named Serita, near their planet and when they became advanced enough, the Tollan shared an unlimited energy source with them. Within one day, the people had used the gift to make weapons and destroyed their entire civilization. This was what caused the destruction of their world.



Because SG-1 is unhappy about how Maybourne is treating the Tollan, they decide to help Omoc and his people. Daniel Jackson then tells the Tollan about the Nox and leads the Tollan leader outside where he sends a signal to the coordinates Daniel provides for the Nox homeworld. Daniel then leads them to the gate room where the Nox come through the Stargate and offer the Tollan a home with them until they can leave to their new homeworld. Col. Maybourne intervenes and says that if Dr. Jackson allows them to leave he will be court martialed, but Col. O'Neill reminds them that Daniel isn't in the military, and therefore can't be court martialed. Daniel says goodbye to the Tollan and the Nox take the Tollan home with them. Lya tells Daniel that, "Your race has learned nothing, but you have." Later the team recalls "what the little guy with funny hair" once told them "That the very young do not always do as they are told."

Background notes

 * This episode marks the first appearance of the Tollans, who will appear in several future episodes.
 * This episode marks the first appearance of Col. Maybourne, who will be a recurring villain, then antihero, until season 8.
 * This episode marks the first appearance and use of a UAV.