Stargate: The Ark of Truth

We cannot hide our ways any longer.

Nor should we.

The Ori have amassed armies and move to destroy us.

Everything we believe, all we are, is an affront to them.

They will stop at nothing to destroy every last shred of evidence

that opposes their fanaticism.

We have no choice. We've tried to argue reason.

We can fight. Use what we know to oppose them.

- We are so few compared to them. - The Ark can change everything.

Is forced indoctrination really the answer?

You would deny the Ori the very essence of self.

It is no different than the murder they propose.

The only moral way to change someone's mind,

make them see the truth, as you put it, is to present evidence.

We believe in the systematic understanding of the physical world

through observation and experimentation, through argument and debate,

but, most of all, freedom of will. I will not compromise

the fundamental tenets of my devotion in order to preserve it.

We acknowledge the incredible potential of the technology of the Ark.

And the danger such power presents.

It will not be used as a weapon against the Ori.

The debate on the issue is closed.

Give me a hand?

Really think this is it?

Well, it's covered in Ancient writing.

These symbols here are part of the oldest dialect I'm aware of.

It says, "Safely kept is the something of old."

What's the something, Daniel?

Well, if I knew for sure, I wouldn't have said "the something..."

- Why am I answering her? - Stop your yammering and open it.

- We can't just open it. - Why not?

Well, if this is what I think it is, it's a powerful piece of Ancient technology

capable of making anyone who looks into it believe the Ori...

- Are not Gods. - Are not Gods.

As far as we know.

We already believe that. No harm done. Open it.

I said as far as we know.

There may be other things it's capable of making you believe.

Maybe we're supposed to believe those other things, too.

You know, that's beside the point.

There's another reason we can't just open it.

Look at my hands, all right? They are raw and bleeding.

I've broken every nail.

We've been out here in the scorching heat for days.

- I haven't showered. - None of us have.

That is painfully obvious.

Now, according to you, this crusty old chest

is our salvation from oppression at the hands of the Ori army.

Our best and, maybe, only remaining chance that we have.

We've dug how many holes in the ground?

- Help me out here, muscles. - Many.

Now, all the years the Jaffa were here,

they knew that Dakara was the first landing place

of the Alterans in this galaxy.

You mean to tell me they never looked for Ancient artifacts?

There were a few artifacts that were excavated and cataloged

when the city was being rebuilt.

But with the constant change in leadership,

- little time or manpower... - Yes, yes, yes, and blah, blah, blah.

But here we are.

Finally, we may have found it, the ultimate weapon,

so could someone please explain to me why we can't confirm our blessed fortune

- by simply opening it? - Because it's sealed shut!

It literally won't open.

Why didn't you say so?

Well, I was trying to, but you wouldn't stop your yammering.

No, no, no, no, no! You can't do that!

I told you, this is a piece of technology. You could damage it.

It's been buried for millions of years, Daniel.

Quiet!

- What? - What?

Hey, kids, guess what?

We are under fire.

I do not remember sending out invitations to this party.

We have to fall back!

Move ahead!

- What are you doing? We have to go there. - We know.

- There's too many of them. - There's no other way out of here.

We know!

- How about now? - Yeah, now works for me.

Commander, we have them trapped.

Vala, it's Tomin.

Throw down your weapons and surrender and I promise you will all be spared.

That's funny. I was just about to say the same thing.

Vala, you have to trust me. Your position has been targeted from space.

Comply now, or you will be destroyed.

- I think we have to trust him. - Jackson?

What if we got them to open it?

Well, it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, would it?

All right.

Invite them in.

You can come in.

I look like crap.

Hi.

How are you?

What's new?

What are you doing here?

Wow, we really are on the same page.

Took the words right out of my mouth.

How did you know we were here?

The power of the Ori need not be questioned.

Oh, here we go.

Tell me. What is this artifact you have found?

Hang on a second. Shouldn't you know that already?

Your logic.

No, wait, wait. No need to be difficult here.

You want to know what it is, I'll tell you.

Inside this Ark is the secret to destroying the armies of the Ori,

and I think the last thing you're gonna want to do is open it.

- You think I fear the contents? - I'm saying you really should.

Open it.

- You didn't hear what I just said? - Open it!

It's sealed shut.

Wait! No!

Okay. Not what I was expecting.

Foolhardy are those who do not follow the path.

Anyone want to bet what he's gonna say next?

- Kill them. - Could've made money on that one.

Prior. I gave them my word.

If they surrendered peacefully, they would be spared.

Your word? The word of the Ori is all that matters.

The Book of Origin says that truth is the beginning of the path!

Tomin, I grow tired of your questioning.

Kill them now, or you shall burn in the fire of everlasting torment!

Don't do it. He can't hurt you, Tomin.

We trusted you.

Trust me now.

- Fire your weapon! - You think he's testing you.

But, really, he's forcing you to do it,

because he's realized that, for some reason beyond his comprehension,

he's completely powerless.

Kill them!

Kill them now! I command you!

Stop! Do not fire!

- How? - Here.

I can show you.

We use this device. It temporarily neutralizes their abilities.

According to Tomin,

the Ori crusade is planning to send a new wave of ships

through the Supergate sometime soon.

A coordinated attack on Earth may be imminent.

That's a little non-specific.

Yes, sir. I suspect the Priors release details on a need-to-know basis.

Shame you didn't find the real Ark.

- Yes, sir, but not for a lack of trying. - No other useful intelligence?

Well, at the moment, Tomin is coming to grips

with the fact that he's devoted his life to serving false Gods.

- Oh, great. What does he want? - Who's that?

Come on in. You might as well meet him.

General. Colonel Mitchell. I recognize you from your file.

Mitchell, this is James Marrick, IOA oversight.

I'm a huge fan, Colonel. It's a real pleasure to meet you.

What happened to Woolsey?

His time was being taken up by the Atlantis expedition,

which, quite frankly, I'm grateful for. It is a thrill for me to be here.

You have been doing such an incredible job

under such difficult circumstances.

I don't think there's gonna be much for me to do here

other than stay out of your way.

What do you want?

I believe protocol requires me to notify you that I will be interrogating

- the prisoner personally. - What prisoner?

I believe your report refers to him as Tomin. No last name.

Right, sorry. I get confused. See, we were thinking of him more as a guest.

Of course, my mistake.

I trust the enemy commander hell-bent on our total annihilation

has been given comfortable quarters?

Yeah. He's had a change of heart.

Come on, Colonel.

Don't all bad guys say that after we capture them?

Actually, he captured us, and then he surrendered.

And my people have already questioned the man.

I see. Look, I'm sorry.

I really don't want to step on any toes here.

My superiors have asked me to prepare a report on this matter personally,

and I don't want to disappoint them, me being new on the job and all.

You understand.

Of course.

Thanks so much.

I can't tell you how exciting it is for me to be working here with you.

Actually, I used to do what you do, Colonel, so I know exactly how it feels.

I'm sure you know I'm just trying to do my job.

- Thank you, Mr. Marrick. - General. Colonel.

He used to do what I do?

What the hell does that mean? What's his background?

Former CIA, black ops.

Oh, great. So, the IOA is having one of our own spies spy on us?

I have no doubt the IOA chose him carefully.

Why do I get the feeling we're gonna miss Woolsey?

The Ori are dead and gone?

As we said, we don't exactly know for sure.

We know we sent a weapon to the Ori galaxy

that was supposed to be capable of destroying them.

But not those that worshipped them?

No, not humans. Just the Ascended beings.

I know it sounds complicated, but the point is, unless we stop it,

this holy crusade in the name of the Ori could end in a bloody mess for all humans.

A futile bloody mess.

And your hope is that this Ark will convince those that still believe in the Ori

to stop believing as they do?