A Lesson in Trouble Times Three in “Arthur’s Mantle”
The Ancients had a knack for making some pretty sophisticated technology and then just leaving it behind for anyone to find. Most of the time, the use of this technology, such as the Stargate itself, can be exciting, but more often than not, the results of such use can be unpredictable and sometimes quite harmful.
Such is the case when the SGC brings back more Ancient technology discovered in the caverns of Avalon found under the Glastonbury Tor in England (in “Avalon Part 1”). Carter and Dr. Lee have found a device that has them baffled, so they decide to send it to Area 51 for further study. Carter inadvertantly triggers it, sending not only herself, but an unsuspecting Mitchell as well, into another dimension. Daniel and Dr. Lee conduct an investigation to find out what happened to half of SG-1. Daniel determines that his teammates have been sent into another dimension similar to his experience with the Crystal Skull about six years ago.
In the meantime, the Sodan Jaffa have sent a distress call to the SGC. Teal’c goes to the planet with SG-9 to assist them. Mitchell, feeling that he’s invincible as an invisible man, tags along with Teal’c and nobody else is aware that he’s made this rather rash decision. Thus: Trouble Example #1.
Once on the planet, Teal’c starts his investigation. He decides to use the Eye of the Gods transporter housed in a stone obelisk. This is the device which shocked Dr. Lee when he tried to override its security codes when the SGC was searching for a captured Mitchell from SG-1’s first mission to the planet (“Babylon”). Daniel translated the words written in Ancient carved on the face of the device as simply, “gateway to enlightment.”
So, Teal’c and his team use the device to get to the Sodan’s village, which is several months’ journey on foot to the mountains of Dor’ta’nak. And according to Jolan, Mitchell’s Sodan friend, “No one who’s attempted the journey has ever survived.” Unfortunately, Teal’c discovers that the Eye of the Gods device near the village has been destroyed and he and his men are stranded! Thus: Trouble Example #2.
The Eye of the Gods wasn’t the only technology left behind by the Ancients on the Sodan homeworld; they also left behind personal cloaks. These cloaks are worn on the Sodan Jaffa’s arm, similar to the way the control to the ring transporter is worn by Jaffa in service to the Goa’uld. (The ring transporter, by the way, is also Ancient technology.) After examining the bodies of those killed in the massacre and interviewing Sodan leader Lord Haikon, Teal’c determines that the assassin is one of the Sodan’s own — Volnek! Why would a Sodan Jaffa kill his brethren? How did Volnek accomplish his horrendous mission? He used the Sodan’s own technology against them by wearing one of these cloaking devices. Thus, Trouble Example #3.
Each instance of Trouble eventually leads to the resolution to the misuse of Ancient technology as only SG-1 can do it — with some humor, some jeopardy, some smarts, and a whole lot of luck. Tune in to the SciFi Channel on Friday, February 24, at 8pm Eastern to find how it all works out and how the events of this episode lead into the final two episodes of Season Nine!
[Mythology Note: According to Arthurian legends, Arthur’s mantle, or cloak, gave the wearer invisibility while he could see everyone around him. Arthur’s mantle is one of the Thirteen Treasures of the Island of Britain which “reveal a preoccupation with worthiness of the person finding or using them: they will not work for the unworthy. This is a clear indication of their function in the king’s relationship with Sovereignty: they cannot be found or wielded by any save the rightful king or champion of the king. Merlin was supposed to have procured these from their owners and taken them to his abode of glass on Bardsey Island.” — Encyclopedia of the Celts (see also: Mystical WWW).]