P8X-412

Pyramid and village of P8X-412

Summary

P8X-412 was a minor naquadah mining outpost ruled by the Goa'uld Qetesh. After the Goa'uld’s death, Vala Mal Doran continued to pretend to be Qetesh, using the planet as a safe house for her smuggled goods and accepting the naquadah tributes from the villagers. The planet has recently been forcibly converted to the Ori religion.

Factoids

Names and Designations: P8X-412
Number of Suns: At least one
Number of Moons: Unknown
Source of Address: Unknown;
Introduced in Episode: 9.05 "The Powers That Be"
Earth Cultural/Technological Equivalent: Primitive desert human civilization; from temporary structure of their homes, likely nomadic.
Main Interest: Naquadah/Battleground with Ori
Influenced/Dominated by: Formerly Goa'uld/then Vala/currently Ori
History of Stargate: Unknown

Stargate Glyphs

Unknown

Geopolitical Structure and History

P8X-412 was a minor Goa'uld mining outpost, and since the naquadah mines were almost depleted, was of no strategic importance to the other system lords after Qetesh’s death. Subjugated by the Goa'uld, the native human population did not use the Stargate themselves.

The physical topography of the planet is very desert-like. A stone pyramid temple to Qetesh with an outer courtyard and common area exist. However, most of the homes are tent structures, made of cloth, indicating the natives are possibly nomadic.

The natives of the planet were human slaves of the Goa'uld Qetesh, made to work in the naquadah mines, and subject to the torture and death usual to the sadistic whims of the Goa'uld. Unbeknownst to them, Qetesh was killed, though a Tok'ra saved the human host of Qetesh, Vala Mal Doran.

Vala, discovering that the planet’s population did not know Qetesh was overthrown, impersonated the Goa'uld, continuing the practice of having the population work in the mines and accepting their naquadah tribute as a way for her to “get back on her feet.” She also used the planet as a safehouse for her smuggled and stolen goods. While pretending to be their god, Vala stopped the practices of torture and executions, and instituted a judicial system of sorts. Parties in dispute would present their positions to Vala as judge, and she would rule on the matter. Vala named this judicial process after herself, calling it a “Mal Doran”. Vala, as Qetesh, had devout followers, first among them was the village leader, Azdak, who even performed such personal services as rubbing her feet.

Vala disappeared for a time, and the community fell into hard times. The harvests were poor, the society was barely holding itself together, awaiting the return of their god to save them. During this desparate time, a Prior arrived. He healed one villager, Vachna, who was suffering from a debilitating illness. His now devout follower Vachna spread the word of the Ori to the village, proclaiming Qetesh to be a false god. Somehow the SGC became aware of the Prior’s visit.

Four years after the death of Qetesh, Col. Cameron Mitchell, Teal'c, and Dr. Daniel Jackson arrived at the planet with Vala. The men were shocked when they realized Vala was still pretending to be Qetesh. Daniel eventually convinced Vala should tell the natives the truth. Furious at the deception, Azdak imprisoned Vala and ordered her execution for the following day. Col. Mitchell convinced Azdak to hold a Mal Doran, with the village as the jurors.

While Daniel was acting as Vala’s defense counsel during the Mal Doran, the Prior (who was formerly the Administrator of Ver Ager) returned. He and Dr. Jackson made compelling arguments about the merits of the Ori religion which presented new issues for the villagers to ponder. Later, Azdak agreed to commute Vala’s sentence to life imprisonment. While discussing the Prior situation, they learned Vachna had fallen ill. During the Prior’s visit, he had infected Vachna with a plague.

Vala healed Vachna with a Goa'uld healing device, and in gratitude, Azdak pardoned her. However, the plague spread to other villagers, including Azdak. Dr. Carolyn Lam and a medical team came in full hazmat gear to treat the villagers. Even with Vala’s use of the healing device, the plague was spreading too quickly and many, like Azdak, were becoming reinfected. Even Col. Mitchell succumbed to the disease. Dr. Lam could not find any successful treatment.

The Prior returned for the response to his ultimatum: follow the Ori, or die from the plague. Azdak had already died from the disease. Grieving over Azdak’s death, Vala attempted to shoot the Prior, but the bullets fell harmlessly to the ground. Witnessing this miracle, Vachna interceded, pleading with the Prior to spare the village, the children. He led all those still healthy enough in prostration to the Ori. In response, the Prior used his orbed staff to send out an energy wave which resurrected Azdak and healed the village, including Col. Mitchell.

As far as is known, the population of P8X-412 still follow the Ori.

Gallery

Villagers perform a play to Vala in the pyramid	Tented village of the natives	Vala's prison
Outer courtyard during Mal Doran	Villagers ill from the plague	Villagers in Prostration before the Prior