RULES OF ENGAGEMENT

Written by Terry Curtis Fox

Transcribed By: Dee

TEASER

FADE IN

EXT - ALIEN PLANET, WOODS (DAY)

SG1 are walking through the woods, searching for a downed UAV.

O'NEILL : You know, that UAV needs a swift kick in the CPU.

CARTER : Its aerial camera showed some sort of camp.

There is the sound of a battle ahead and SG1 take cover.

CARTER : That sounded like weapons fire.

TEAL'C : Could have been a staff weapon blast.

SG1 quickly head towards the sounds. They take cover behind an embankment and watch as a battle unfolds below them.

CARTER looks through her binoculars and sees an unidentified SG unit exchanging fire with Jaffa.

CARTER (to O'NEILL) : They're SG teams, Sir. Can't make out their unit number. They're pinned down.

She hands her binoculars to O'NEILL, who watches as the unidentified SG unit takes cover behind a cluster of boulders.

TEAL'C : They are not returning fire.

CARTER : Out of ammo?

O'NEILL : Maybe. They're not supposed to be here at all.

DANIEL : SG11?

CARTER : They were declared MIA months ago, on P89 354. What would they be doing here?

TEAL'C : Whoever they may be, they are about to die.

O'NEILL (into his radio) : Unidentified Sierra Gulf Unit, this is Sierra Gulf One. We're on your six. Standing by to offer fire support. Over.

There is no reply over the radio.

O'NEILL (into his radio) : Sierra Gulf Unit, your position is about to be overrun. Over.

The unidentified SG unit still fails to respond.

O'NEILL : Alright. They're either on a different frequency or they don't have coms. RV at the tree line. Move. Now.

Keeping low, SG1 crawl down the embankment and take cover behind a group of rocks, close to the unidentified SG unit.

O'NEILL (to the SG unit's CAPTAIN) : Pull out! We'll cover your six!

CAPTAIN : Identify yourself!

O'NEILL : Colonel Jack O'NEILL, SG1!

CAPTAIN : Which Quadrant?

One of the unidentified SG soldiers is hit by staff weapons' fire.

O'NEILL : Get out of there!

CAPTAIN (to his men) : Take them out!

Two soldiers in SG uniform appear out of hatches in the ground and fire upon SG1.

Taken by surprise, each member of SG1 is hit by red bolts of energy. They collapse and are left unmoving in the clearing.

END OF TEASER

INT - MEDICAL TENT

SG1 are lying unconscious and unarmed in the Medical Tent. They gradually start to come round.

O'NEILL : Everybody ok?

DANIEL : Headache. Bad headache.

CARTER : I thought I got shot.

TEAL'C : So it would seem.

CARTER : Must be some kind of stun weapons.

O'NEILL : Looked like MP-5s to me. Well, all I can say is...

A young soldier enters the tent, dressed in an SG uniform.

O'NEILL (to the SOLDIER) : Hello.

SOLDIER : Boy are you guys gonna get it.

O'NEILL : Get what? From whom?

SOLDIER (to O'NEILL) : Hey you can't talk!

O'NEILL : Why not?

SOLDIER : Because you're dead.

O'NEILL : Dead?

SOLDIER : Pretending not to be dead will just get you into more trouble.

O'NEILL : More trouble than dead?

SOLDIER : Come on Colonel, you know better. Stop breaking the rules.

O'NEILL : Sorry. Who's in charge here?

SOLDIER : Casualties don't ask questions.

CARTER : Uh, what rules are we talking about exactly?

The soldier walks over to her and charges his weapon, aiming it at her.

SOLDIER (to CARTER) : I said, stop it!

DANIEL : We're just trying to understand, if we're supposed to be dead, how are you supposed to kill us again?

SOLDIER (pointing his gun at DANIEL) : You wanna find out four-eyes, huh?

DANIEL : Four-eyes?

O'NEILL (to DANIEL) : Easy, big-fella. Just...play dead.

TEAL'C : Indeed.

SOLDIER : Captain's waiting for you. Follow me.

He heads out of the tent.

O'NEILL : Anyone notice the patch?

CARTER : SGX.

TEAL'C : There is no SGX O'NEILL.

O'NEILL : Not under HAMMOND'S command, no.

The soldier reappears.

SOLDIER : Hey! I said, follow me.

He leaves the tent once more.

O'NEILL shrugs and SG1 heads out of the tent.

EXT - MILITARY TRAINING CAMP (DAY)

The soldier leads SG1 through what appears to be a military training compound. Teams of very young soldiers are climbing ropes and doing various training exercises.

A group of soldiers jog passed SG1.

O'NEILL (to the soldiers) : Hey guys.

TEAL'C : They are no more than children.

CARTER : Playing some kind of war game, by the looks of things. Who do you think they are? NID? Colonel MAYBORNE?

O'NEILL : I wouldn't put it passed him.

The soldier leads them to another tent. The CAPTAIN, who had previously ordered them shot, is sitting at a table with his back to them.

SOLDIER : SG1 reporting as ordered, Sir!

CAPTAIN (to SG1) : You were all casualties until fourteen hundred hours?

O'NEILL : Would that be Daylight Savings or Standard?

CAPTAIN : You may not speak. Except to answer a direct question by the evaluating officer.

He rises to his feet and faces O'NEILL.

CAPTAIN (to O'NEILL) : Is that clear?! Is this the way you behave in your quadrant, mister?

O'NEILL : I think Colonel is the proper way of addressing me...Captain.

CAPTAIN : No rank is above strict adherence to the Rules of Engagement. Rule 2, Article 4. Unauthorized forces shall be shot, on sight. You were unauthorized. In fact, you ruined our ambush. Nearly half the enemy team got away!

O'NEILL : CARTER, I've never been real big on regs, is this familiar to you?

CARTER : No, Sir.

TEAL'C : They are familiar to me. (To the CAPTAIN) Kel vak Jaffa.

CAPTAIN (surprised) : You're not from D-Quadrant.

TEAL'C : We are not.

CAPTAIN : You came through the Chapp'ai. This is a Challenge!

DANIEL : The...Chapp'ai?

O'NEILL : Oi.

SOLDIER (to his CAPTAIN) : You meant the STARGATE, Sir.

CAPTAIN : STARGATE. Of course. We've been so long without challenges. (To TEAL'C) I am sorry, Master Jaffa. I have revealed myself and failed.

He hands TEAL'C his sidearm.

CAPTAIN (cont'd) : You must execute me for the remainder of the day.

The SOLDIER gives his MP-5 to O'NEILL.

SOLDIER : You must execute me as well.

O'NEILL checks the weapon.

O'NEILL : Master TEAL'C. Might I suggest we...spare them this time?

TEAL'C : Very well...underling. CAPTAIN, your full name and rank.

CAPTAIN : My Earth name is Captain Kyle ROGERS! Acting Quadrant-A Commander! Sir!

CARTER : Your Earth name?

TEAL'C (to ROGERS) : Your standing orders given to you by your previous Jaffa Master.

ROGERS : To practice the exercises of battle according to the Rules of Engagement, until the return of our Lord APOPHIS!

DANIEL : Really.

ROGERS : When we are ready for the Final Challenge, he will come.

O'NEILL : Don't hold your breath.

ROGERS : We will be ready.

CARTER : You're training to serve APOPHIS wearing SG uniforms?

ROGERS : To know the enemy. Quadrant-A is spared no detail. We've studied long and hard and know much.

CARTER : About Earth.

ROGERS : Oh yes. Corn and cotton are indigenous to North America.

O'NEILL : And that information could save your life one day.

ROGERS : So you see, Master TEAL'C, my mistake will not happen again. I am ready to infiltrate the Tau'ri at your command.

TEAL'C : That time is not yet come, Captain ROGERS.

DANIEL (to ROGERS) : So, if you're pretending to be...Who were those Jaffa attacking you?

ROGERS : They were led by my Second-in-Command, Captain NELSON, as part of the daily exercise. We have kept the Jaffa encampment separate so that we may better practice our Earth behavior. Shall I have him sent for?

DANIEL : No, I don't think that'll be necessary.

TEAL'C (to ROGERS) : Send for him.

DANIEL : Yes! Send for him.

The young SOLDIER is sent to fetch NELSON.

ROGERS : How else may I serve?

O'NEILL : We'd like our weapons back. The ones we came with.

ROGERS : They were stored in the Armory Tent, at the conclusion of this morning's war game.

TEAL'C : Take us to them.

ROGERS : As you wish.

EXT - MILITARY TRAINING CAMP (DAY)

SG1 follows Captain ROGERS through the training camp.

CARTER : Colonel, none of them have symbiote patches.

O'NEILL : I noticed that.

TEAL'C : Before APOPHIS requested asylum from the Tau'ri, there were but a handful of loyal Jaffa remaining in his service.

DANIEL : So he drafted ordinary humans?

TEAL'C : It is common practice among the Goa'uld to use humans as fodder during battle. Especially when facing defeat.

INT - ARMOURY TENT

SG1 follows ROGERS into the Armory Tent. Inside there are racks containing rows of what appear to be SG issue weaponry.

O'NEILL (to ROGERS) : Alright Captain, we can handle it from here.

ROGERS : I can assist you.

TEAL'C (to ROGERS) : Shel'kek.

ROGERS : Yes Master.

He leaves the tent.

SG1 start to search for their own missing weapons.

O'NEILL : So TEAL'C. How do you know about these Rules of Engagement?

TEAL'C : They are the code of battle during a young Jaffa's training. Spoken by APOPHIS himself.

CARTER : TEAL'C, what about these?

She holds up one of the MP-5s.

TEAL'C : They are intar.

O'NEILL : Short for?

TEAL'C : Intar. They are used for training and only meant to stun. They can be identified by this crystal. (He points out a red crystal set in the base of the gun's clip) They can take the form of any weapon.

CARTER : Well, I got our GDO's, but my MP-5 is still missing.

TEAL'C : As is my staff weapon.

O'NEILL : Alright, TEAL'C, I want everyone in one place. Just to make sure. Can you handle that?

TEAL'C : I can.

O'NEILL (to CARTER and DANIEL) : You two keep looking.

He and TEAL'C head out of the tent.

EXT - MILITARY TRAINING CAMP (DAY)

Captain ROGERS is waiting for them outside the tent.

TEAL'C : Captain ROGERS. Where are the weapons with which we arrived?

ROGERS : They were returned to the Armory Tent of course.

TEAL'C glances at O'NEILL, who shakes his head.

TEAL'C (to ROGERS) : Do you possess a vocume?

ROGERS : Yes, Sir.

TEAL'C : Use it.

ROGERS : Yes, Master TEAL'C.

ROGERS heads over to another tent and enters it.

O'NEILL : What did you tell him to do?

TEAL'C : I instructed him to use a training instrument to assemble his men for inspection. It may serve to emphasize our authority.

ROGERS reappears with a small, grey sphere and places it on the ground before his men, activating it.

A beam of energy shoots up into the sky and forms a giant, holographic image of APOPHIS.

APOPHIS' IMAGE : Warriors of APOPHIS, assemble before me and listen to he that possesses the vocume.

CARTER and DANIEL come running out of the tent in alarm at hearing APOPHIS' voice.

CARTER : Sir?

O'NEILL : Just a huge honkin' APOPHIS, Major. Nothing to worry about.

ROGERS and his men, dressed as both SG soldiers and Jaffa, gather before the hologram.

APOPHIS' IMAGE : The warrior before you speaks in my name. Heed his words.

The hologram breaks up and vanishes.

ROGERS (to TEAL'C) : I would be honored if you would inspect my warriors, Master.

TEAL'C signals his assent.

ROGERS : Company!

The young warriors come to attention.

TEAL'C : Ready weapons for inspection.

The warriors hold up their weapons. TEAL'C and O'NEILL walk along their ranks searching for any weapon missing an intar's red crystal.

TEAL'C : You do yourself proud, Captain ROGERS.

ROGERS : Master TEAL'C.

He draws TEAL'C'S attention to another young warrior, dressed as a Jaffa.

ROGERS : This is my Second-in-Command, NOVAR. For the games, he leads the side of the Jaffa warriors. His Earth name is Captain NELSON.

NELSON (to TEAL'C) : Most of my warriors are engaged in the day's battle, Master. I will relay your words to them after the battle.

O'NEILL : Master TEAL'C...if I may?

TEAL'C (addressing the warriors) : This is Colonel O'NEILL. He is much loved by APOPHIS. (To O'NEILL) You may address the warriors.

O'NEILL (to the warriors) : APOPHIS wanted me to tell you that you've all been doing a wonderful job. Couldn't ask for more. Well done. But, he also wanted me to tell you the whole...invasion of the Tau'ri idea has been canceled due to...rain.

The warriors appear confused.

O'NEILL : So. The war games are officially over as of right...

He checks for a watch, but finds he isn't wearing one.

O'NEILL (cont'd) : ...now. You can all go home.

NELSON : Sir?

O'NEILL : It's over NELSON. Go tell your buddies to quit fighting.

NELSON shares a suspicious look with ROGERS.

NELSON : You speak more like a Tau'ri than a warrior of APOPHIS.

O'NEILL : Thanks. You're not so bad yourself. Who taught you?

NELSON : If you are who you say you are, you already know the answer to that, Sir.

O'NEILL : NELSON, I am ordering you to recall your men from the field.

NELSON : Article 7, Section 3 clearly states that once the battle has commenced, it cannot be stopped.

O'NEILL : Well you're obviously referring to the old Article 7.

INT - ARMOURY TENT

CARTER replaces an intar back onto the rack.

CARTER : That's it.

DANIEL : That means those kids are out there playing war games with real weapons.

CARTER (into her radio) : Colonel?

O'NEILL (over the radio) : Go ahead CARTER.

CARTER (into her radio) : So far, all we've recovered is one 9 millimeter and one MP-5.

EXT - MILITARY TRAINING CAMP (DAY)

O'NEILL (to CARTER, into his radio) : Roger that. Keep looking.

TEAL'C (to ROGERS) : I require all of Quadrant-A to be assembled, including those engaged in the games.

ROGERS doesn't move.

TEAL'C : Immediately!

ROGERS : As Captain NELSON stated, Master...

TEAL'C (angrily) : Do you wish to be punished?

ROGERS still refuses to do as TEAL'C instructs.

ROGERS : I'll not fail your Challenge a second time Master TEAL'C.

O'NEILL (to TEAL'C) : Tell them the truth.

TEAL'C (addressing the warriors) : Warriors of APOPHIS. Hear me. APOPHIS has been slain in battle with his enemies.

The warriors assembled don't react to this.

O'NEILL (to the warriors) : Hey! He's telling you the truth. The battle you've been preparing for is never going to happen. He's not coming back.

The warriors still don't respond.

O'NEILL : (Quietly) Hello? Is this mike on? (Loudly, to the warriors) We're trying to tell you something important here!

ROGERS : APOPHIS is a god. And gods cannot die. Therefore, APOPHIS cannot be dead.

NELSON (to O'NEILL) : And anyone who says otherwise is either testing us...or is a traitor. Sir.

ROGERS : Now we've passed your Challenge. If there's nothing else, Sirs, we're scheduled to join the games in progress. (To the warriors) Company! Dismissed!

The warriors fall out to either continue with their training or head off to join the current battle.

TEAL'C (to O'NEILL) : APOPHIS has lived for thousands of years. It is as if we have said the sun will never rise again.

O'NEILL : It just might not for some of those kids if they don't wise up.

INT - ARMOURY TENT

O'NEILL and TEAL'C enter to find CARTER aiming an intar at the young soldier who they first met in the Medical Tent.

O'NEILL : What's going on?

SOLDIER : I'm trying to get a weapon, Sir. I'm already late, the games have started.

CARTER : Colonel, one MP-5, TEAL'C'S staff weapon and two 9 millimeters are still unaccounted for.

Outside, a horn is blown.

DANIEL : What does that mean?

SOLDIER : It means my team needs reinforcements.

O'NEILL : No. The game is canceled.

SOLDIER : You can't do that!

O'NEILL : I believe I can.

He takes the intar from CARTER and shoots the young soldier.

O'NEILL (to SG1) : Everybody grab an intar.

EXT - WOODS (DAY)

SG1 and Captain ROGERS cautiously make their way through the woods. They discover a body in SG uniform. CARTER hurries over to the fallen soldier.

CARTER : It's a staff weapon wound.

She checks for a pulse, but doesn't find one.

CARTER (shocked) : He's dead, Sir.

A blast from a real staff weapon strikes the ground close to SG1.

O'NEILL : Take cover!

Their assailant fires again.

ROGERS : Colonel! I'll draw his fire.

O'NEILL : Negative! That is a real weapon.

ROGERS : APOPHIS will protect me.

O'NEILL : I said stay down!

ROGERS ignores him and run towards their attacker, opening fire with his intar.

The warrior, dressed as a Jaffa, returns fire and ROGERS is hit in the side.

O'NEILL shoots the warrior with his own MP-5 intar.

O'NEILL : Secure that weapon!

CARTER : Yes, Sir!

She quickly goes to retrieve TEAL'C'S staff weapon from the unconscious warrior. ROGERS is lying on the ground, his clothing smoking from the staff weapon blast.

DANIEL hurries over to him.

ROGERS (to DANIEL, in pain) : Have I displeased APOPHIS?

DANIEL : No.

TEAL'C (to ROGERS) : APOPHIS would be proud.

ROGERS nods, then lifts his hand from his wound, seeing blood on his fingers.

ROGERS : This is the Final Challenge. A group of warriors, led by NELSON, hurry over.

NELSON : What happened?

ROGERS : The day has come, NELSON. It's the Final Challenge.

NELSON touches ROGERS' wound and sees blood on his fingers.

NELSON : Blood has been shed.

ROGERS : Prepare the men. The Challenge must begin at first light.

NELSON : Yes, Sir.

NELSON heads off with the other warriors as DANIEL treats ROGERS' wound.

O'NEILL (to TEAL'C) : What's he talking about? The Final Challenge?

TEAL'C : It is a day in a warrior's training when first blood is shed. The games become real.

EXT - MILITARY TRAINING CAMP (DAY)

O'NEILL is heading through the camp.

CARTER (over the radio) : Colonel? We've found something. Our weapons were all turned back in after the war games, Sir.

O'NEILL : Roger that. Keep them secure.

He continues on through the camp.

INT - MEDICAL TENT

ROGERS is lying on a bed as O'NEILL enters the tent.

O'NEILL (to DANIEL) : How's he doing?

NELSON : APOPHIS will save him.

DANIEL : Well, actually, no. As a matter of fact, there's probably nothing more we can do for him as long as we stay here. There's probably internal injuries.

O'NEILL : So we'll take him back with us.

NELSON (to O'NEILL) : You cannot.

O'NEILL : For crying out loud...

NELSON : You know as well as I do, that the Rules forbid entry or exit of the Sector before the Final Challenge. Wounded, or not.

O'NEILL : Right. Right, right.

ROGERS (in pain) :

APOPHIS would be disappointed in me if...if there were an exception made for myself.

DANIEL (to ROGERS) : Well, what if I told you we were bringing you to see APOPHIS personally? To show him that blood has been shed and that your Quadrant is truly ready for his return.

ROGERS shares an uncertain look with NELSON.

DANIEL (cont'd) : If we don't bring you back with us, then APOPHIS will know you've failed our Challenge and never return.

ROGERS (nodding) : Then I must go.

O'NEILL : Good.

NELSON offers ROGERS his hand and ROGERS takes it.

NELSON (to ROGERS) : Tell him we will make him proud.

ROGERS : I will.

INT - SGC, GATEROOM

The STARGATE opens and SG1 emerges. TEAL'C and DANIEL are carrying ROGERS on a stretcher.

O'NEILL : We need a medical team!

Two medics quickly wheel in a gurney to take ROGERS to the Infirmary.

HAMMOND (to O'NEILL) : What happened, Colonel?

ROGERS (to HAMMOND) : My Lord?

O'NEILL : Actually, we just call him...General HAMMOND.

ROGERS : Where is APOPHIS?

O'NEILL : He's not here. Sorry.

Dr. FRASIER hurries into the Gateroom.

FRASIER : What have we got? ROGERS, realizing he has been tricked, starts to struggle with the medics.

ROGERS : Liars! Traitors!

FRASIER : Easy, easy!

ROGERS : You will be punished. He will avenge me!

FRASIER (to O'NEILL) : Who is this, Sir?

O'NEILL : His name's ROGERS. Despite appearances, he's not SGC.

ROGERS : He will strike you down! You will all die!

FRASIER (to the medics) : Go! Let's get him to the infirmary.

They quickly wheel ROGERS, who is still yelling, away.

HAMMOND (to O'NEILL) : I'd like to debrief ASAP, Colonel.

O'NEILL : Yes, my Lord.

INT - SGC, DEBRIEFING ROOM

SG1 are seated in the debriefing room, a scattering of intar weaponry on the table before them

HAMMOND : What's this Final Challenge all about?

TEAL'C : In my training, it is when we received our actual staff weapons. The two opposing camps then engaged in battle until one side emerged victorious.

CARTER : You killed each other?

TEAL'C : The Goa'uld wish only the strong to prevail, Major CARTER. I was among the victors. We were then honored by APOPHIS and I became a member of his Personal Guard.

HAMMOND : And that's what's about to happen to those boys.

O'NEILL : As long as they don't have real weapons with which to play, I don't see how.

CARTER : Well the only lethal weapons I found in the Armory belonged to us. The rest were intars.

TEAL'C : The Jaffa Masters who once supervised their war games have long ago abandoned them. Yet they have maintained their games until this day without fail.

DANIEL : So what are you saying?

TEAL'C : That they are extremely resourceful and most determined.

CARTER : So they might try to fulfill the Final Challenge whether they're issued lethal weapons or not.

TEAL'C : It is possible.

DANIEL : Well let's face it, if they really wanted to kill each other they don't need guns to do it.

CARTER (to HAMMOND) : We have to go back there, Sir, and try to prevent this from happening.

DANIEL : General, we're indirectly responsible for all this. They think that we were sent through to start this.

HAMMOND : I understand that.

O'NEILL : What we need to send back there is a team of shrinks. Those kids are out there.

HAMMOND : That may be so, Colonel, but before I send you or anyone else into a battle zone, I want to know what's going on on that planet.

O'NEILL : Why don't I see what I can get out of ROGERS?

HAMMOND : Very well.

INT - SGC, INFIRMARY

FRASIER (to O'NEILL) : He won't eat, he won't speak...except to call me a Shova.

O'NEILL : You must be doing a good job.

FRASIER : There's no internal injury. He mustn't have taken the full force of the blast. Physically he'll be fine. Emotionally...that's another story. He's very angry Colonel.

O'NEILL : Where's his tray?

FRASIER : Over here. (She hands it to him) Good luck.

O'NEILL takes the tray of food over to ROGERS' bed. He picks up a sandwich and takes a bite.

O'NEILL (to ROGERS) : Ole Doc FRASIER says you haven't been eating.

ROGERS : It's poison.

O'NEILL : It's hospital food, of course it is.

ROGERS doesn't respond.

O'NEILL takes another bite of the sandwich.

O'NEILL : Mmm, tuna...

ROGERS : Go to SOKAR.

O'NEILL : It's 'Go to hell' actually. Which, by the way, is a very rude thing to say to a person offering you a sandwich.

ROGERS : It means the same.

O'NEILL : You've got a point.

ROGERS : I will reveal nothing. You may begin torturing me.

O'NEILL : Oh, I've already begun. This...is the infamous Tuna Torture.

He waves a plate of food under ROGERS' nose.

O'NEILL : Last chance.

ROGERS gives in and reluctantly takes sandwich.

O'NEILL : Good. So, you and I should have a little talk about this Final Challenge thing.

ROGERS : We will battle to the death and APOPHIS will choose the victors as his Personal Guard.

O'NEILL : Alright, I'm going to tell you the absolute truth right now. APOPHIS is dead.

ROGERS : Gods cannot die!

O'NEILL : Why do think he's been gone for so long? Why have all the Jaffa Masters left? APOPHIS was on his way out when you got drafted.

ROGERS : You lie.

O'NEILL : What if he told you himself?

ROGERS : If APOPHIS can speak, then he cannot be dead.

INT - SGC, INFIRMARY

A television and video recorder have been brought into the Infirmary. DANIEL inserts a tape into the VCR.

DANIEL (to ROGERS) : When APOPHIS came to us, he had already been tortured.

ROGERS : Impossible. He is a god.

CARTER : The images we're about to show you are of APOPHIS just before he died and his body was sent to SOKAR.

ROGERS : Gods cannot die.

O'NEILL : So you keep saying. Have a look.

The TV is switched on. It shows a picture of an aged APOPHIS, taken when he was held in the SGC infirmary.

APOPHIS (on the screen) : Help me. A host. I am...afraid.

He takes a gasping breath, then dies.

ROGERS : What magic is this?

O'NEILL : No magic. I was there.

TEAL'C : As was I.

ROGERS : Then it is true.

TEAL'C : It is.

ROGERS : What will you do to us?

CARTER : We're not going to do anything to you. We want to help you.

O'NEILL : You can go home. Wherever that is. War's over.

ROGERS : No, it's not. Because tomorrow the Final Challenge begins...and many of my men will die. For him.

He nods towards the image of APOPHIS, frozen on the television screen.

INT - SGC, DEBREIFING ROOM

ROGERS is siting at the end of the table as SG1 and General HAMMOND question him.

HAMMOND : What's your real name, son?

ROGERS : My true is Rafyatre, Sir.

O'NEILL : Your Earth name's Kyle, can we call you Kyle?

ROGERS : That would be fine, Sir, I'm very used to that.

HAMMOND : How long have you been on that planet?

ROGERS : We were brought there through our Chapp'ai...five cycles ago from a number of different worlds.

CARTER : Right after we blew up APOPHIS' ships.

ROGERS : He commanded we worship no other god but him. He left many Jaffa warriors with us. They taught us everything.

HAMMOND : Who taught you all about Earth, our uniforms, weapons?

ROGERS : Near the beginning, APOPHIS captured one of your SG teams and forced them to teach us.

CARTER : SG11.

ROGERS : Yes. At first that was all they would reveal. Our Jaffa Masters forced them to say things. We listened to your speech, observed your ways. But they did not last long.

HAMMOND : What happened to them?

ROGERS : One day, their bodies were put on display in the encampment. I...do not know how they died. Only that they refused to tell the Jaffa Masters all that was asked of them. Then our Jaffa Masters began to leave us, one by one. They said, to help APOPHIS win a great battle. And then we were alone.

HAMMOND : Thank you for your cooperation, son.

ROGERS : May I now ask for your cooperation, Sir?

HAMMOND : Go on.

ROGERS : As we speak, my men are preparing for the Final Challenge.

HAMMOND : I was under the impression your weapons are non-lethal.

ROGERS : They are. But before Master GAR'TOC left, he showed Captain NELSON and myself a cave. Inside were weapons intended for the Final Challenge. Real weapons.

O'NEILL : What are we talking about here...weapons wise?

ROGERS : They are exactly like your own. MP-5s. He told us it was with those that we would one day infiltrate the Tau'ri and destroy you. May I request permission to be returned to my men, Sir, to tell them what I've learned and...to try and stop them?

DANIEL : They won't believe you, you know that.

ROGERS : They are under my command.

CARTER : TEAL'C, is the vocume capable of recording other images?

TEAL'C : Yes, that is correct.

CARTER : Well then Colonel O'NEILL'S already thought of the solution. (To O'NEILL) I think you know where I'm going with this, Sir.

O'NEILL : Haven't a clue.

CARTER : Seeing APOPHIS die was enough to convince KYLE. All we have to do is show that same image to everyone else.

HAMMOND : With the vocume device?

CARTER : Yes.

TEAL'C : I believe O'NEILL'S solution could be successful.

HAMMOND : In the middle of a battlefield, combining alien technology with our own?

CARTER : Sir, the technical part of transferring the data to the vocume I can figure out. We've already been experimenting with interfacing Goa'uld technology with our own. The problem will be getting there.

O'NEILL : We do have the intars General.

HAMMOND : What good will they do?

O'NEILL : We could shoot first and ask questions later.

ROGERS gets to his feet.

ROGERS (to HAMMOND) : I request permission to join them. Sir.

O'NEILL : They are his men, General. And he might provide the tactical advantage we need to pull this off.

INT - SGC, CORRIDOR

SG1 and ROGERS step out of an elevator and head down the corridor. They are wearing combat gear and camouflage paint.

O'NEILL : Final Challenge scenario. Let's hear it one more time.

ROGERS : My elite SG squad is to defend the encampment from the invading force of other SG teams, led by Captain NELSON. The attackers are greater in number, but the defenders have greater firepower.

CARTER : But everyone on both sides will be in SG uniforms.

ROGERS : As it would have been when we infiltrated Earth, yes.

They enter the Gateroom, where the STARGATE has already been dialed.

O'NEILL : Alright, once we take the encampment, we become the defenders to buy CARTER time. Is everyone clear on that? DANIEL?

DANIEL : What?

O'NEILL : Good. (To ROGERS) You, stay with CARTER, who will watch you like a hawk.

CARTER : Yes, Sir.

HAMMOND : SG1, you have a go.

They head up the ramp and enter the STARGATE.

VFX: SHOOTING THROUGH THE WORMHOLE

EXT - ALIEN PLANET, WOODS (DAY)

SG1 and Captain ROGERS head silently through the woods. Sporadic gunfire is heard in the distance.

A warrior in SG uniform shoots at them and they duck behind the trees. ROGERS jumps up and runs down the path, drawing his fire and enabling CARTER to shoot their attacker with her intar.

O'NEILL shoots and disables a second assailant then goes after ROGERS, grabbing him by the front of his uniform.

O'NEILL (to ROGERS) : I told you to stay with CARTER!

ROGERS : I was just trying to draw their fire.

O'NEILL : You will listen to every word I tell you and you will do everything I tell you or I will shoot you myself! Is that clear?

He cuffs ROGERS across the head, then walks away.

ROGERS (quietly, to himself) : Yes, Sir.

INT - MILITARY TRAINING CAMP (DAY)

Warriors in SG uniform are patrolling the camp as SG1 makes their way through the compound.

ROGERS steps out and calls to one of his men.

ROGERS : Status report, Sergeant!

SERGEANT : Captain ROGERS?

ROGERS : I have just returned through the Chapp'ai with a message from APOPHIS. I have glorious news.

SG1 shoots the patrolling soldiers with their intars. ROGERS shoots the SERGEANT with his sidearm intar.

O'NEILL (to ROGERS) : Get the vacuum.

ROGERS : Vocume.

O'NEILL : Whatever. Get it. CARTER, set it up. TEAL'C with CARTER, DANIEL with me.

ROGERS runs into a building to fetch the vocume, while CARTER and TEAL'C head into another to set up the transfer.

O'NEILL and DANIEL take cover behind a wall of sandbags as attacking warriors in SG uniforms start to come out of the trees around them.

DANIEL : Here they come.

O'NEILL : I got some at 9 o'clock here too.

They open fire on the approaching warriors, using their intars.

ROGERS takes the vocume to CARTER then runs over to help O'NEILL and DANIEL.

INT - TENT, MILITARY TRAINING CAMP

TEAL'C finishes setting up the vocume. CARTER is using a laptop to transfer the data onto the device.

TEAL'C : It is ready.

CARTER : Good. I'm not. Give me a second.

EXT - MILITARY TRAINING CAMP (DAY)

O'NEILL ducks down as gunfire passes overhead.

O'NEILL (into his radio) : Anytime CARTER.

INT - TENT, MILITARY TRAINING CAMP

CARTER (into her radio) : Yes, Sir!

TEAL'C : What is the delay?

CARTER (working on the laptop) : You can't just combine Goa'uld technology with ours with a snap of a finger. I have to match the frequency the vocume operates on before I can record and transmit.

EXT - MILITARY TRAINING CAMP (DAY)

TEAL'C leaves the tent to go and help O'NEILL and DANIEL, who are busy shooting at a sudden wave of attacking warriors.

TEAL'C : O'NEILL!

There's high-pitched whistle.

O'NEILL (in realization) : Incoming!

They quickly duck and cover as a mortar explodes in the compound, destroying the climbing frame.

O'NEILL : ROGERS! What the hell was that?!

ROGERS : Mortars!

O'NEILL : What else is in that cave?

ROGERS : Stingers, M60s, M72s...

O'NEILL : You're telling me this now! What the hell? Get down!

They duck as another mortar hits inside the encampment close to the tent where CARTER is still working.

O'NEILL : Dammit! CARTER!

INT - TENT, MILITARY TRAINING CAMP

CARTER finally manages to transfer the data onto the vocume.

CARTER : Got it!

She shuts her laptop and grabs the vocume.

EXT - MILITARY TRAINING CAMP (DAY)

CARTER runs out of the tent with the vocume, narrowly avoiding an exploding mortar, and plants the device in the center of the camp.

The giant image of APOPHIS appears.

APOPHIS' IMAGE : Warriors of APOPHIS, assemble before me and listen to he that possesses the vocume.

The attacking warriors stop firing. They slowly come of the woods and enter the encampment, assembling before the image of APOPHIS.

APOPHIS' IMAGE (cont'd) : The warrior before you speaks in my name. Heed his words.

ROGERS (to the warriors) : It's a message from APOPHIS himself!

NELSON : Summoning his image during battle is against the Rules of Engagement...

ROGERS : Hear his words!

NELSON : When the Challenge is over!

O'NEILL : Now, NELSON! You will listen to him now! Before anyone else gets hurt.

NELSON : The Final Challenge is to the death, Colonel.

NELSON looks up in astonishment as the image of APOPHIS changes.

APOPHIS' IMAGE : A host. I am...afraid.

He takes a gasping breath, then dies.

NELSON (shocked) : He is a god. It cannot be so.

ROGERS : It is so.

The other soldiers start to wander around in confusion, no longer willing to fight.

NELSON (to ROGERS) : What will become of us? Where will we go now?

ROGERS : Home.

He exchanges a look with SG1 as the rest of the warriors fall out and start to walk away.

FADE OUT

THE END