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stargÅtefan.com : episodes > season 3 > next episode: forever in a day

SG-1 makes its way through a forested world looking for a camp spotted by the UAV. They drop when they hear weapons fire, including staff weapon blasts. At the crest of a hill, they stop to observe the battlefield below. An SG unit is fighting with Jaffa. Perhaps it's SG-11, declared MIA since they disappeared months ago on P89534. Jack tries to hail the unidentified Sierra Gulf Unit on his COM. There is no response, and he decides to assist them as they are about to be overrun. As SG-1 draws closer, the leader of the SG unit under attack tells Jack to identify himself, which he does. Then the leader asks… "Which quadrant?" When Jack has no answer, he commands his forces to "Take 'em out!"

SG-1 comes under fire from multiple positions and as they are hit with red energy blasts, they fall unmoving to the ground. The team awakens in a medical tent, lying on cots. They seem to be alright, only bad headaches. Sam figures they were hit by stun weapons, only they looked just like MP-5's.

A young soldier enters and tells them they can't talk, because they are dead, "Pretending not to be dead will just get you into more trouble!" he adds. Jack raises his brow asking, "More trouble than dead?" This angers the young man who screams at them, "Stop breakin the rules!" He further tries to intimidate them, and eventually brings them to the Captain of the camp.

SG-1 is lead through the yard of a military training camp, filled with very young men, not more than children. Their patches say SG-X, and Sam wonders to Colonel O'Neill if they might be NID or working for Colonel Maybourne.

The Captain of the camp tells them they are all casualties until 1400 hours. Jack wants to be addressed as Colonel, and the Captain reminds him that "No rank is above strict adherence to the Rules of Engagement." Teal'c understands what the Captain is referring to, and greets him using the Goa'uld language. The Captain understands, realizing they aren't from D quadrant, and that they've come through the Chappa'ai to challenge the troops.

He apologizes to Teal'c, calling him Master Jaffa, admitting his failure, and asking to be executed for the day. Jack suggests he be spared this time and Teal'c agrees, referring to the Colonel as his "underling." Captain Kyle Rogers, as his Earth name is been called, explains how the camp is training to support Apophis wearing SG uniforms. The team asks for their weapons back, and ask that the leader of the opposing Jaffa troops also be summoned. Going to the armory tent, they discover some of their weapons are missing, presumably taken by soldiers who think they are simply stun guns, or Intar.

Teal'c tells SG-1 that the Rules of Engagement are the code for battle learned by a young Jaffa in training. Teal'c orders Captain Rogers to use the vocume. It projects a huge image of Apophis that commands the warriors to assemble and listen to whomever possesses the vocume. Teal'c inspects the troops. Jack tries to tell them Apophis has canceled the war games and called off the invasion of the Tau'ri. The soldiers think this is another challenge and they don't believe it. Finally, Teal'c tells them Apophis has been slain, they also refuse to believe a god can die.

Understanding how they must feel, Teal'c tells O'Neill, "Apophis has lived for thousands of years. It is as if we have said the sun will never rise again." Carter sums up that one MP-5, Teal'c's staff weapon and 2 9mm's are still missing. Jack commands SG-1 to each take an Intar and to into the battlefield in search of the weapons, before someone gets hurt or killed.

As they explore, they find a dead soldier, apparently killed by a staff weapon. Then they come under fire as well. Captain Rogers is hit by the staff weapon and severely wounded. As he realizes he is bleeding, he orders the start of the Final Challenge to begin at first light. The Final Challenge, Teal'c reveals, is the day first blood is shed and the games become real.

The team accounts for all the missing weapons and Daniel promises to Rogers that he will personally bring him to Apophis, as the young man is reluctant to leave with them to get treatment for his wounds.

When they return to the SGC, Rogers becomes angry and depressed as he realizes they've lied to him. Teal'c understands how the Final Challenge will be completed. The two camps will fight until one side prevails, leaving the strongest alive to join Apophis.

Jack tries to talk to Rogers, but he won't eat or speak. He is very angry, telling Jack to go to Sokar. After several attempts, Jack succeeds in changing the boy's heart when he is shown a videotape of Apophis' death. Rogers immediately realizes the need to stop the Final Challenge. Rogers was taught by Jaffa Masters who brought an SG team with them to learn from. Apparently it was the missing team, SG-11. Eventually, the team was killed when they refused to cooperate fully.

Rogers also explains about a cave where real weapons are stored for the Final Challenge. SG-1 plans to return with Rogers and upload the video of Apophis dying into the vocume, so that all the soldiers will see it and stop fighting. The team will use Intars against real weapons to get Carter to the vocume. They enter the battle and fight their way to the camp, taking it over and defending it from attackers until Carter can upload the data.

It isn't simply MP-5's the army is using against them. Apparently they have mortars as well! As Teal'c and Carter work on the vocume, Daniel and Jack defend the camp. Amid mortar fire, Carter activates the vocume. The fighting comes to a sudden stop as everyone witnesses the death of Apophis. The soldiers mull about, stunned and confused as they contemplate going home.

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