Between Two Fires

"Between Two Fires" is the ninth episode of the fifth season of Stargate SG-1.

Synopsis
The Tollans are suddenly willing to give away their Ion cannons to the Tau'ri to protect Earth. Omoc died, and Narim believes he was murdered, a crime which has not been committed on Tollana for several years. SG-1 comes to the conclusion that those two events are connected somehow, and a conspiracy is brewing.

Previously on Stargate SG-1
SG-1 save several members of an advanced race called the Tollan. Their leader Omoc refused to share their technology with such a primitive society. Even after SG-1 saved Tollana from an attack from the Goa'uld Zipacna, the Tollan government refused to alter their policy.

Plot
SG-1 is attending the funeral of Omac, who died of a heart attack recently. Afterwards Couselor Travell invites them back to discuss Tollan policy of not sharing technology with less advanced cultures, much to their surprise. Before they leave through the Stargate, Narim secretly gives Samantha an object. Back at the SGC the object is revealed to be a hologram of Narim telling them that Earth is in grave danger.

The next day Jack and Daniel meet with Travell who tells them that the Tollan civilization is expanding quicker than anyone anticipated and their reserves of Trinium is becoming depleted. She proposes an exchange to them: the Tau'ri would supply Trinium and in exchange they will get a Tollan Ion Cannon. Outside they inform Samantha, Teal'c and Narim of this and the latter is shocked since it goes against everything the Tollan stood for. However back at the SGC Samantha informs them that only one cannon is not enough to defend Earth and they would need a minimum of 38.

The next day SG-1 return to Tollan with a sample of Trinium and are met by Narim. He has been going through Omac's personal affects and found his old health implant. However it revealed that Health officers took over 10 minutes to reach Omac when he had a heart attack which is simply not possible, which leads Narim to believe that Omac was murdered. Daniel and Jack take the Trinium to Travell and inform her that they would require 38 cannons instead of one. Travell says that she will discuss it with the Curia. At Narim's house Narim, Samantha and Teal'c are looking through the Curia records to find any evidence of disagreements between Omac and the Curia in hopes of finding out why he was murdered. Daniel and Jack return and tell them that they are getting all 38 cannons much to Narim's disbelief. Teal'c then says that he found an official protest in the records from Omac after an unscheduled test an an Ion Cannon but on further examination Narim is shocked to discover that there is almost two hours of notations missing from the meeting's records which is a heinous crime on Tollan. Back at the SGC they inform General Hammond of all this and Samantha recommends tagging the Trinium with a radioactive isotope which would allow them to track it, which Hammond approves.

They return to Tollan and inform Narim about this and they ask him to help them break into Travell's office to uncover the truth to which Narim reluctantly agrees. Teal'c and Jack track the Trinium to a warehouse where they find a large number of devices being stored. Narim, Daniel and Samantha break into Travell's office and look through her computer. They discover that a Goa'uld mothership entered orbit above Tollana and an Ion Cannon fired but was unable to destroy the ship but the records say that the ship left peacefully which Daniel and Samantha find hard to believe. They then find records of weapons of mass destruction, which utilizes the trans-phasic technology which enable the Tollan to walk through solid matter, being built but then Travell arrives with security guards. Narim demands to know what is going on and it is revealed that the Tollan are being manipulated by Tanith, in the service of another Goa'uld, into building the bombs or else Tollana will be destroyed.

Narim activates a device and jumps through the wall while security guards chase him. Outside he is grabbed by Teal'c and Jack and he tells them everything to which Jack says that they would have to destroy the weapons so that the Goa'uld cannot get their hands on them to which Narim is very reluctant to do since it would mean the destruction of Tollana. Back in Travell's office Tanith contacts Travell and demands the first shipment of weapons which Travell informs him that they will make. But before they do, Tanith tells Travell to activate one of the weapons and send it to Earth in 30 minutes which shocks Travell. Security guards bring in Jack and Teal'c who have been trying to disable the weapons but they reveal that while the guards have been concentrating on them, Narim has been able to move freely. Narim is seen on an Ion Cannon, destroying the warehouse and the weapons. Realizing this Travell and her guards leave, abandoning SG-1 but Narim comes through the wall and rescues them. Outside the Goa'uld start destroying Tollana and Narim tells SG-1 to get to the Stargate. They ask him to go with them but he wants to stay with his people while they fight an un-winnable battle.

Back at the SGC Hammond debriefs them and try to determine who was controlling Tanith but they do not know. Walter informs them they they are receiving a communication from a Tollan long-range communication satellite. It is Narim who tells them that the Stargate is buried and the city is being destroyed but the transmission is cut off before he can finish.

Notable Quotes
Narim: Counselor Omoc was well aware that he had very few true friends. He was not concerned with trivial relationships. In his testament, he asked that his memorial be attended only by those whom he respected.

Jackson: Uh, no offense, but what are we doing here?

Narim: He may not have shown you much warmth or affection, but I can tell you Omoc had a great deal of reverence for all of you.

Hammond: Narim gave you no other indication that something might be wrong?

Carter: No sir, everything was fine.

O'Neill: For a funeral.

Jackson: You have to admit it did seem a little strange there were so few people there.

O'Neill: Hey! You knew him. What's strange?

Carter: Whatever he knew, I'd be willing to bet that Omoc's warning has something to do with why Travell wants to meet tomorrow.

O'Neill: In exchange we get?

Travell: A Tollan ion cannon.

O'Neill: One of those... big honkin' space guns that shoots Goa'uld ships out of the sky?

Travell: Yes.

O'Neill: Cool.

Narim: As you know another world once destroyed themselves because we shared our technology with them. That's why we had so strongly resisted sharing what we know with more primitive societies.

O'Neill: You know we prefer "less advanced" if you don't mind.

Hammond: Colonel, under the circumstances—

O'Neill: If you're going to recommend, sir, that I continue to be suspicious and skeptical...

Hammond: I wouldn't waste my time.

O'Neill: Good thinking, sir.

Hammond: What you're sensing as trouble could be simple internal political wrangling.

O'Neill: I understand that.

Hammond: Or we could be walking into a minefield.

O'Neill: Thank you sir. These little chats of ours always bring me great joy. And serve to ease my mind.

O'Neill: We just don't feel one cannon... is gonna work.

Jackson: You see, one doesn't go so far in protecting an entire planet.

Travell: Yes, that was discussed by the Curia.

O'Neill: Well we've come up with a solution you may not have considered.

Travell: Yes.

O'Neill: Give us more than one.

Travell: How many would you require?

Jackson: Thirty.

O'Neill: Eight.

Jackson: Thirty-eight. Total.

Travell: I see. Well I understand your dilemma. Please, give me some time to present your demand to the Curia. (she leaves)

O'Neill: That went well.

Jackson: Mm hm.

Jackson: You think Narim's right about Omoc?

O'Neill: I think this thing smells worse and worse by the minute.

Jackson: Are you still willing to proceed?

O'Neill: Well, I think it's the only way we're going to find out what's really going on.

Jackson: The question is, how far do we go?

O'Neill: Well, all we know is that these people might be willing to part with some very powerful weapons. I have No problem with that.

Jackson: Oh—no surprise there.

O'Neill: At worse, some people disagree on some philosophical level that I don't even care to understand.

Jackson: Actually, worst, they killed someone to make sure this would happen.

O'Neill: Now, see? That makes no sense to me.

Jackson: So we push on blindly then?

O'Neill: Blindly, yes, But we still have our slightly-heightened sense of smell.

Jackson: So, who are you taking orders from now?

Travell: Apparently the one he serves has no name.

Tanith: Oh, he has a name. The likes of you are simply forbidden to know it.

Carter: Aren't you coming with us?

Narim: My actions have forced my people to fight a battle we may very well lose. The least I can do is stay and fight with them.

O'Neill: Thank you. Good luck.

Carter: I hope this isn't goodbye.

Narim: Go.

Goofs

 * When the Ion cannon shoots the building containing the Phase-shifting weapons, several people are visible in the street and they do not react to the large explosion right beside them.
 * Just before SG-1 leaves Tollana during the attack, the raised letters of can be seen on one of the buildings in the background.

Deaths

 * Narim
 * Travell

In other languages

 * French: Traquenard (Trap)
 * Italian: Tra Due Fuochi (Between Two Fires)
 * Spanish: Entre Dos Fuegos (Between Two Fires)
 * Czech: Mezi dvěma ohni (Between Two Fires)
 * German: Der Kampf der Tollaner (The Battle of the Tollans)