Shades of Grey

US Airdate : 11 February 2000

UK Airdate : 9 February 2000

Summary

During a return visit to Tollana, when the Tollans refuse to trade their advanced technology, Jack steals a piece shocking the rest of SG-1.

When the Tollana demand their technology back, O'Neill complains vocally and chooses to retire. Soon after, he is approached by Colonel Maybourne, with an interesting proposal....

Synopsis by Katana

On Tollana Daniel is addressing Travell "Your Eminence our government has asked us to return to Tollana to arrange formal diplomatic relations with your people."

"Consider it done you are after all you are the people who saved us from the Gou'ald", she tells him.

Daniel asks to trade technology, that is refused, Tollan law forbids it. Daniel tries to debate the point.

Jack asks for an Ion cannon, to defend against the Gou'ald. Travell reckons that we would be likely to use that against enemies on our own planet.

Jack says he will give his word that will never happen.

"Are you the commander of your entire nation?" she asks.

Jack has no choice but to admit "no".

"Then in Truth you cannot guarantee it" Travell states.

" You know what forget it! " Jack feels they are wasting their time there, Daniel tries to protest, Jack leaves.

The others follow, in the corridor an irritated Jack, spots a weapons disabler, despite the protests of the others he removes it.

At the briefing back at the SGC they pass the technology around.

Hammond is really pleased, he asks what was given in return.

Nothing, "Offered us a nice fruit basket, " quips Jack

Hammond is confused, SG-1 hesitate, unsure whether to speak out, then Jack confesses, "I took it sir "

"You stole it!" Hammond exclaims.

Jack is nonchalant "I like to think of it as borrowed sir, Major Carter can figure out how to reproduce it and we'll give it back."

"I can't believe what I'm hearing you and your team stole an alien device from an extremely advanced alien culture."

"They won't retaliate if that's what you re worried about, " he looks across the table, "not their way right Daniel?"

"This command has already been accused of stealing from several other alien cultures. Colonel till now we have denied it, perhaps that was a bit premature. Dare I ask how many other items you have stolen?"

"None" He's unconcerned, "this is the first."

"Colonel you don't seem to understand how serious this matter is you and your team have committed a court martialable offence".

"To be fair, General, I did it, Carter and Daniel protested, and Teal'c well he didn't really say anything but I could tell that he was opposed to my actions by the way he cocked his head and sort of raised his eyebrow…"

"Enough Colonel, " Hammond cuts him off. He orders Daniel Sam and Teal'c to return the device immediately to the Tollan.

"Why?" questions Jack, " Our core mission is to go through that gate and find technology we can use to defend against Gou'ald incursion." He is getting very heated, " am I right?"

Hammond is not impressed, "You are bordering on insubordination, we do not steal from friends."

Jack angrily interrupts, "with no due respect General that's just plain stupid."

"Colonel!"

"And since the Pentagon won't approve our back up programme..." Well that's news to Daniel, his face shows he's never heard of that one before.

Now Jack and Hammond are shouting

"We have no choice to take whatever steps we need to get what we need." Jack insists.

"As long as I am in command of the SGC we will hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards

Jack continues, voice still rising "And when the Gou'ald wipe us out because we have nothing with which to defend ourselves I'm sure we'll all feel great about ourselves, and our high moral standards."

Sam glares horrified at his outburst.

Hammond has had enough, "Colonel O'Neill you are out of line! Stand down!"

Jack obeys the order.

Hammond relieves him of duty and orders him to the infirmary.

"No holding cell sir? " he defiantly questions.

"That could very well be your next stop if you say another word "

In the background we heard the incoming traveller alarms, as Hammond asks Teal'c to escort Jack to the infirmary.

Hammond tells Teal'c that he is no longer under Jack's command. He understands.

The incoming travellers are the Tollans they easily pass through the closed iris using their technology.

Daniel welcomes them and introduces Hammond; they are not happy campers. They want their stolen property back and all diplomatic relations are off. Daniel pleads with them.

Jack is undergoing tests in the infirmary, Janet has found nothing so far she reels off a list of tests and ones she is still waiting results for. Jack attempts to leave Teal'c bars the way. Jack attempts to order him to move. The confrontation is stopped by a message from Hammond via Janet; he wants to see him in his office. Teal'c lets him pass.

They meet Sam on the way; he acknowledges her but keeps walking

" Sir ", she calls after him.

"What?" he snaps

"Is there anything I can do?" She asks

" About?"

"Well sir with respect you weren't acting like yourself."

"No Carter, I haven't been acting like myself since I met you," he coldly replies, "now I'm acting like myself." He walks off. Sam stares after him in disbelief.

Passing through the briefing room, Jack sees the Tollans, "Well look who's here, come to retrieve your vastly superior stuff?" They walk past ignoring him. He continues, "It would be a lot more superior if it wasn't so easy to steal."

Hammond calls him into the office, with Teal'c as a witness, he tells Jack he has really crossed the line. Jack apologises for his insubordination to a senior officer, Hammond has no choice it is a court martial situation, he has to press charges. However, he has a suggestion, he offers Jack early retirement. Jack protests, Hammond has a whole list of other offences, Jack accepts. "Guess I'm retiring," he confirms.

Later the retired Jack is in his house playing Chess by himself, the doorbell rings; it's Daniel!

"Hi!" Daniel greets him

"What do you want?" Jack demands

"I'm not sure to tell you the truth, to talk I guess"

"So talk", still standing in the doorway, Jack takes a slug from his beer bottle

"You got another one of those?" Daniel indicates the beer.

"Yeah!"

"Feel like sharing?"

"Beer?" Sure, he goes back inside, Daniel follows

As Jack emerges from the Kitchen, Daniel asks, "so, howya feeling about all this?"

"Yes to the beer, no to the feelings."

"That's too bad because I don't really like beer."

Jack hands him a bottle "Stop your worrying I'm fine", they sit.

Daniel puts the untouched beer on the table, "Really that's funny cos I didn't figure you for the early retirement type anymore."

Jack drinks and shrugs.

"There's another reason you're angry isn't there?" Daniel suggests

"Oh here we go pop psyche 101 right?"

"No," raising a finger, "when we were in the briefing, you said something about the Pentagon not giving us the back up we requested. What?… What were you talking about?"

Jack thinks for a moment. "Hammond and I were planning a secondary SGC base off world it was going to serve as a back up in case ours was attacked I was going to command."

"And the pentagon pulled the plug?"

Jack nods.

Daniel tries to understand, "So you're acting out because you're hurt because you didn't get a command."

"Give me a break Daniel! Their denial of the programme was just another indication that they're not serious about attaining our goals."

"Which you think is attaining the weapons and technology?"

"Protecting ourselves."

"But isn't our mission also about establishing and maintaining diplomatic relations with other cultures?"

"What's the point if we don't gain anything to help our other interests?"

"Well there's a lot we could learn from people like the Tollan that has nothing to do with technology and weapons."

"Stuff that interests people like you Daniel, not people like me."

Daniel just stares at him.

"I want to see tangible gains from our efforts and if people like the Tollan don't want to share we should just take."

"You really believe that?"

"Being sweet and nice isn't going to stop 3 or 4 Gou'ald mother ships if they decide to come back again. I'd rather be a thief and alive and than honest and dead, it's a cliché but there it is."

"If you really believe that I guess err I guess I never really knew you at all."

"Come on you're a bright guy you had to sense some of this?" He tilts his head questioningly.

Daniel has no reply.

"But no, I guess you couldn't relate to me any more than I could relate to you."

"So this whole this whole friendship thing we've been working on the last few years…"

Jack cuts in, "Apparently not much of a foundation there huh?"

Daniel visibly upset just stares at Jack who takes another slug of beer then without another word he picks up his jacket and leaves.

Later Jack is still playing chess with himself, once again the bell rings, this time it's Colonel Maybourne. He has an offer for Jack, he can arrange for him to lead a team that would go through the gate to acquire whatever they want whenever they want. Jack refuses, however Maybourne leaves his pager number.

Back at the SGC, SG-1 is to be assigned it's new CO. the team discuss who it will be. It's Colonel Makepeace, because he is the most senior officer in the field. Daniel protests, surely Sam deserves to be in charge of SG-1?, Hammond says that Major is a far cry from Colonel.

Makepeace addresses his new team "I'm proud to join you folks I hope you can trust my command as much as you did Colonel O'Neill's."

"I'm sure we will sir," the slick military response from Sam

Daniel however is more honest, "I never really trusted Jack's command but... " a small smile, "I'm open."

One week later Jack contacts Maybourne, as he arrives Jack is siting outside listening to opera and reading a comic. He tells Maybourne that yes he is interested in his offer. Aboard a plane 30,000 feet in the air, Maybourne produces a Gou'ald communication device. He uses it to contact the temporary commander of the unit he wants Jack to run. Jack recognises him as the kid they saw in Utah escaping through the second Stargate (Touchstone) The mission of the unit is acquire tech and weapons for earth by any means. . Although Jack never thought he would agree about anything with Maybourne he does on this and he's ready.

Makepeace and Hammond discuss SG-1, Carter has accepted his command, Daniel and the Jaffa have not, Hammond suggests that if he stopped referring to Teal'c that way it would be a start.

Jack enters; Hammond asks how the retirement is going.

"Great! I retire, I wake up, I retire, it's a living, I'm bored out of my skull sir."

Jack asks a favour he would like to retire off world to Edora to be with Laira (A Hundred Days) there would be no coming back, no GDO. We see the gate activate, Jack is leaving, a small group see him off in the gateroom, but not Daniel, he watches from the control room

On Edora Jack runs straight to the DHD and re-dials, he gates to a planet with an ancient temple, which houses the Stargate, the home of the rogue base. He is greeted by Newmann and introduced to Lt. Tobias who explains how the technology is returned to earth she deals with the larger stuff which she reverse engineers and sends the plans back to Maybourne.

Maybourne contacts then he has Jack's first mission P3X 595, they gate there and steal an invisibility device. It's an Asgard protected planet. Jack asks if the object can be backwards engineered and he is told no, the mole will collect it. Jack says he will do the drop off.

He gates to the rendezvous, hiding the object by the DHD. Seconds later SG-1 appear. Makepeace issues his orders; Jack hides in the undergrowth. Teal'c comes close to the DHD but leaves the object. It's Makepeace who takes it! After SG-1 have left Jack dials up and leaves, seconds later an Asgard appears who takes note of the lit up co-ordinates on DHD.

The Asgard have arrived at the rogue base, Jack dials Earth as the ship retrieves the technology. Jack says they can go with the Asgard or come with him. He leaves his arm in the event horizon so the wormhole can't be shut down. The rogue team are all arrested, then Jack personally arrests Makepeace.

The Tollans enter the Gate room. Makepeace argues his point. "You've pissed off the wrong people," he defiantly tells them.

Jack tells him referring to the other races, "We don't need their stuff, Makepeace we do need them."

Daniel is still a little confused, "so just to er, to clarify this whole past week beginning with the appeal we made on Tollana in which I did a lot of hard work by the way, I take that was all a scam?"

Hammond explains, "within the last 2 weeks the Asgard and the Tollan approached us independently of each other with evidence that we were stealing technology from them."

"We the SGC?" Sam asks.

"Yes the Asguard, the Tollan and the Nox were going to sever all ties with us. But we convinced them that the theft must be the action of a rogue group from outside the SGC. "

"We insisted that you apprehend them yourself, " Trevel says then smiles," you have now regained our trust."

" So, "says Sam " you set that whole thing up on Tollana in the hopes that the mole would think you were one of them and approach you?"

"And you didn't think you could trust us to help?" Daniel asks.

Jack looks awkward, Hammond answers, " we wanted to assure that your reactions to the Colonels' behaviour was as it should be. And the Asgard insisted that Colonel O'Neill be the only one involved.

Jack shrugs, "they like me!"

Hammond leads the Tollans away.

Jack spreads his arms wide, big smile; "I'm back!"

They stare at him for a second then Sam says, "good to have you back sir."

"Indeed," Teal'c acknowledges

"Thank you!"

" Em Daniel", he gestures to him, they start to walk, "the stuff I was talking about at my house the place was bugged."

Daniel makes an acknowledging noise, "I understand."

"Obviously the whole friendship thing the foundation is all solid," Teal'c and Sam are following behind

"Obviously," Daniel nods.

They make a few agreeing noises.

"I feel, kinda," Jack begins, " I do appreciate that you were the one that came to see if I was OK, that's means something."

"Ahh actually, no it doesn't," They stop. " We err, draw straws, he pauses for effect "I lost."

He looks at Jack and walks off, Sam follows then Teal'c, Jack watches bemused.

Review

February 9th 2000, why that date? That was the day that Shades of Grey aired for the first time on Sky One. How you do know when something will change you life? You just look back as I do and know when it happened

I've always watched Stargate SG-1 from the beginning and it was always a mustn't miss programme for me, but this episode was the one that changed my whole view. It was easy to guess that Jack hadn't really gone bad, it is always an obvious plot device, but the scene in his apartment when Daniel comes to visit was so painful to watch. I felt Daniel's pain and immediately changed my whole perception of the show and his character.

I remember exclaiming aloud at the TV, how could he do that? That is so cruel. I remember walking down the road with my friend the next day trying to explain, never have been able to then or since <g>. Within a month I had written my first ever fanfiction and the rest they say is history.