INT. CREEK MOUNTAIN/LEVEL 27/BRIEFING ROOM – DAY
Daniel, Barbara, and Meyers sit on the left side of the conference table, Gen. West, O’Neal, and Lt. Anderman on the right. At the head of the room, several variations of a single recorded still image of the stargate taken by the MALP on the alien planet are being projected onto the whiteboard.
GEN. WEST: This is the last image the probe sent back to us, frozen and enhanced. You can clearly see the details of the gate on the other side.
MEYERS: (squinting his eyes at the enlarged captures of the alien stargate’s glyphs) The markings appear to match the symbols on our gate.
GEN. WEST: That’s why I wanted you to see this.
LT. ANDERMAN: The readings tell us it’s an atmospheric match. Barometric pressure, temperature, and – most importantly – oxygen.
BARBARA: Is it an M-class world, though?
LT. ANDERMAN: At precisely 0600 hours tomorrow, we’ll re-establish contact with the probe and, provided we can get it out into the open, automatically set it to make a quarter-mile perimetre sweep of the surrounding area to gather data on local terrain, microorganisms, flora, fauna, and so on. Once six months have elapsed, we’ll re-establish contact again to download the data the probe has collected.
GEN. WEST: We’re planning a short reconnaissance mission as a follow-up to the probe’s survey – nothing fancy. Provided we find no signs of dangerous bacterial or animal life, an away team will be sent through to go over the area the probe has already covered, gather as much new information it may have missed as possible, then bring it back.
LT. ANDERMAN: Once on the other side, though, we’d have to decipher the markings on the gate and, in essence, dial home in order to bring the team back.
GEN. WEST: But here’s the thing – I’m not going to send our men over there unless I’m sure I can bring them back. The question is, can any of you do it?
MEYERS: Why not try re-establishing contact from this side?
O’NEAL: Because once our team goes through, the entire facility will be evacuated and sealed. (beat) We don’t know what might come through the other side.
BARBARA: (shrugs) Based on this new information, I don’t see how we could do it. (beat) If it took decades to decode the stargate with a point of reference to work from on this end, it’ll be next to impossible to do the same on an alien world without one. We’d need –
DANIEL: (confident) I could do it.
BARBARA: (nonplussed) What!?
GEN. WEST: Are you sure?
MEYERS: General, I may be the proverbial fifth wheel on this team, but –
DANIEL: (answering West) Positive.
The general exchanges glances with O’Neal.
O’NEAL: It’s your call.
GEN. WEST: (to Daniel) You’re on the team.
BARBARA: (shakes her head) This isn’t funny. Daniel doesn’t have the background to make a call –
GEN. WEST: (cutting her off with a raised hand) I’m pleased with the results you’ve brought in, Dr. Shore, and both you and Dr. Meyers should be proud of the work you’ve done here. (beat) However, the time has come to pack your bags and leave this base, because officially as of now, you have both been discharged from this project.
MEYERS: (dumbfounded) You’re firing us?
GEN. WEST: (blunt) Yes.
BARBARA: (angry) What game are you playin’ here, Daniel?
DANIEL: I translated the text on the coverstone, I figured out that the inner band was a map –
BARBARA: (enraged) We got as far as we did workin’ as a team, and you damn well know it! (beat) You’re full of shit!
GEN. WEST: Dr. Shore, if you’re finished –
BARBARA: (bears her teeth) I’m not finished, big man, not by a long shot. (to Meyers) Let’s blow this sausage fest.
Rising from their seats, the astrophysicist and comparative linguist storm out of the room. Daniel watches them go, the haughty expression on his face changing to one of shame.