SGU 104: Darkness (Spoilers)

[Bilbo]

I liked the ATA gene reference. Makes me wonder if the gene and corresponding technology was created as a failsafe against the Wraith and eventually became a core feature of all of their technology.

Unlikely. The chairs seem to predate such things. Witness Proclarush Taeonas. Likely they started with the Gene stuff when they made humans. Don't want humans hurting themselves.

Have not seen that episode in a very long time. Did they accurately list it as older than the Atlanteans return to our galaxy from Pegasus?

[Bilbo]

Also like to point out that Colonel "Lou Diamond Philips" is the real moron here. He shows up and starts fucking with things. Way to channel Jimmy Carter you moronic chumfucker.

But the Colonel has shown incompetence at every level. No one has any clue if they could dial the 9th chevron more than once. Yet he did not have the gateroom stocked with the right supplies in case of an Atlantis style we have to go now one shot trip. That is just complete laziness on his part. The gateroom should have been stocked with food, water, medical supplies, several Naquadah Generators, with everything clearly marked so that the right stuff can be grabbed if something happens.

What was with the relieving Young of command? Who was he planning on putting in charge? Exactly how well did he think he was going to run things from the Pentagon a million miles away. Hopefully the damn stones will start to fail.

I do not know how well he selected his team for this mission since Carter beamed a large number of people up during the battle. My guess is decent medical personel, experts in ancient languages, and more engineers, either were killed in the attack or beamed up. Which left us with Senators, their aids, the bimbo in HR, and other fairly useless people like the cook. Though in respect to the cook, moral may in the end rest on his shoulders more than anyone, if the crew has to eat crappy oatmeal for too long who knows how many people will crack.

[JME2]

Also like to point out that Colonel "Lou Diamond Philips" is the real moron here. He shows up and starts fucking with things. Way to channel Jimmy Carter you moronic chumfucker.

There's been speculation as to whether someone on the Earth end might try to use the stones to hijack the body of a member of Destiny's crew against their will. Based on what we've seen of Telford's character, I think we might see him getting fed up enough with Young's handling of the situation to enact this kind of scenario.

[NecronLord]

I liked the ATA gene reference. Makes me wonder if the gene and corresponding technology was created as a failsafe against the Wraith and eventually became a core feature of all of their technology.

Unlikely. The chairs seem to predate such things. Witness Proclarush Taeonas. Likely they started with the Gene stuff when they made humans. Don't want humans hurting themselves.

Have not seen that episode in a very long time. Did they accurately list it as older than the Atlanteans return to our galaxy from Pegasus?

The Pegasus Project has Morgan saying that Proclarush Taeonas was abandoned when the inhabitants realised that the sun was nearing the end of its life. She was in role as the Atlantis child-program, and so it must have been reasonably common knowledge. Her tone suggests that this was a historical thing, not as recent as the war with the wraith.

I suppose they could have gone around and installed the gene on pre-existing systems, but it seems unlikely.

[Alyeska]

But the Colonel has shown incompetence at every level. No one has any clue if they could dial the 9th chevron more than once. Yet he did not have the gateroom stocked with the right supplies in case of an Atlantis style we have to go now one shot trip. That is just complete laziness on his part. The gateroom should have been stocked with food, water, medical supplies, several Naquadah Generators, with everything clearly marked so that the right stuff can be grabbed if something happens.

Incorrect. They had the supplies but did not manage to bring them across. In Atlantis they had their equipment pre-palleted for the gate insertion. They were not ready to make the trip from Icarus base yet. When they made the connection all they could do was have everyone grab a container and cross through. They had the supplies, just not the time or resources to gather them.

[CaptainChewbacca]

Oh OF COURSE lt. nipples is on her high horse, MAYBE she should have worn a bra before going through the stargate? Those things are like six pounds each!

Amusingly she actually is wearing a bra, you can see the straps when she turns her back

I don't care Lt.Nipples is now her official fan name.

Actually, fandom seems to be going with Lieutenant Hooters. Best moment in the show-

Colonel Young: You're sticking with that story?
Eli: Yeah.

[Burak Gazan]

Eli said the "showers" don't tap into the main reserves, so I guess the mist is some sort of chemical mix that can't be purified into drinking water.

I missed that, it would be a handy bit of handwavium to allow the cast to keep from looking pretty ragged in short order

Still, the attitude and actions of some of these people is mind boggling -- you would think after the Atlantis expedition -- and that data is available to the SGC -- that personnel would be aware that you dont just wander around flipping on cool bits of Ancient technology. Jesus, did they delete all of Rodney McKay's journals? Aside from the power hog stuff (bt, dt on Atlantis) there is also the slight chance some of the stuff just might KILL you

Hooters huh? Maybe more pg-rated I say we keep Lt Nipples as an SD Net exclusive badge

[Burak Gazan]

Also like to point out that Colonel "Lou Diamond Philips" is the real moron here. He shows up and starts fucking with things. Way to channel Jimmy Carter you moronic chumfucker.

There's been speculation as to whether someone on the Earth end might try to use the stones to hijack the body of a member of Destiny's crew against their will. Based on what we've seen of Telford's character, I think we might see him getting fed up enough with Young's handling of the situation to enact this kind of scenario.

Given Telford's actions the two times that the stones have been used, I think the best place for them is locked up tight for extreme emergency only, or tossed over the side into the star's gravity well.

Either that or next time, he wakes up looking at Greer, with orders to render him senseless and ignore everything he says *Not shoot, since it is still Young's body after all....

[Stargate Nerd]

I liked this episode although nothing much happened. My only concern is that this show might focus on character interactions too much and put exploration on the back burner. But it's only the 4th episode, so that remains to be seen.

[Ragnarok]

So seems like we have a firm date of at least 4+ million years for the age of the Destiny, since it pre-dates ATA technology and the exodus of the Ancients from the Milky Way, since both Atlantis, and Proclarush Taenas had that technology in their chair control systems.

[Bilbo]

But the Colonel has shown incompetence at every level. No one has any clue if they could dial the 9th chevron more than once. Yet he did not have the gateroom stocked with the right supplies in case of an Atlantis style we have to go now one shot trip. That is just complete laziness on his part. The gateroom should have been stocked with food, water, medical supplies, several Naquadah Generators, with everything clearly marked so that the right stuff can be grabbed if something happens.

Incorrect. They had the supplies but did not manage to bring them across. In Atlantis they had their equipment pre-palleted for the gate insertion. They were not ready to make the trip from Icarus base yet. When they made the connection all they could do was have everyone grab a container and cross through. They had the supplies, just not the time or resources to gather them.

They had unlabeled boxes that they had to open and search to determine what they had brought with and at least some of it looked like useless crap, which at a bare minimum means that the gear was not stacked in the gateroom in order or priority with generators, food, water, and medical supplies at the front. To me the single most important item as demonstrated by the Atlantis mission would be power generation.

[Alyeska]

They had unlabeled boxes that they had to open and search to determine what they had brought with and at least some of it looked like useless crap, which at a bare minimum means that the gear was not stacked in the gateroom in order or priority with generators, food, water, and medical supplies at the front. To me the single most important item as demonstrated by the Atlantis mission would be power generation.

You say they are incompetent because their equipment wasn't ready. Except their equipment wasn't ready BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT READY. Is it that freaking hard to understand? They were not ready given the circumstances in which they made the connection. We already know that they can and do prepare for rapid gate movement. Atlantis proved this. In both the start and end of the first season of Atlantis we see rapid supply movement through a gate. The first Atlantis expedition and the reinforcements received in Siege PT2. And your seriously arguing that the crew of Icarus was supposed to be able to duplicate this? Why? They had been under attack. They didn't have their full expedition crew ready. You don't send the group through the gate on the first time. You make the connection and make sure everything is good to go. Atlantis was a case of a nearly depleted ZPM. Icarus has no such problem. Make the connection, verify working. Contact Earth and give them the status. Now you prepare the team and head through.

They had no reason to be immediately packed and ready. And yet you use that fact as a claim against them. Thats like saying that someone who is going to be moving out of their house in 2 months is an idiot for not having their belongings and supplies ready to leave their house when it floods the very next day.

[Bilbo]

They had unlabeled boxes that they had to open and search to determine what they had brought with and at least some of it looked like useless crap, which at a bare minimum means that the gear was not stacked in the gateroom in order or priority with generators, food, water, and medical supplies at the front. To me the single most important item as demonstrated by the Atlantis mission would be power generation.

You say they are incompetent because their equipment wasn't ready. Except their equipment wasn't ready BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT READY. Is it that freaking hard to understand? They were not ready given the circumstances in which they made the connection. We already know that they can and do prepare for rapid gate movement. Atlantis proved this. In both the start and end of the first season of Atlantis we see rapid supply movement through a gate. The first Atlantis expedition and the reinforcements received in Siege PT2. And your seriously arguing that the crew of Icarus was supposed to be able to duplicate this? Why? They had been under attack. They didn't have their full expedition crew ready. You don't send the group through the gate on the first time. You make the connection and make sure everything is good to go. Atlantis was a case of a nearly depleted ZPM. Icarus has no such problem. Make the connection, verify working. Contact Earth and give them the status. Now you prepare the team and head through.

They had no reason to be immediately packed and ready. And yet you use that fact as a claim against them. Thats like saying that someone who is going to be moving out of their house in 2 months is an idiot for not having their belongings and supplies ready to leave their house when it floods the very next day.

Are you fucking stupid? They are attempting to dial the 9th Chevron. They have no fucking clue if they can dial more than once. That being said if they are anything but fucking incompetent they have will everything set so they can send off an expedition when a connection is made just like they did with the Atlantis Expedition. The fact that they did not have the personel assembled, prepped, and equipment properly placed shows they were a bunch of fucking idiots.

The obvious answer is that no one expected this to suceed. How long was the Atlantis mission on its own? The same thing could happen here yet no planning was done. Hell, Rush himself wasnt prepared to make the trip. He was still a caffeine addict and he smoked. These are two habits anyone with a fucking brain would quit if they truly expected to take a long trip where travel home is uncertain. Or did Rush really expect someone was going to pack him a few tons of coffee and smokes to make him happy.

Face it, the command was a fucking joke being led by a moron and manned by idiots.

[NecronLord]

Are you fucking stupid?

No, he's not. You clearly are.

They are attempting to dial the 9th Chevron. They have no fucking clue if they can dial more than once.

They have a giant power source. Their plan is specifically to verify if they can dial more than once, so they don't get stuck with a one-shot thing again. What's more, there is still a difference between an organised run through and an evacuation under fire that makes it out with less than a second to spare.

The fact that they did not have the personel assembled, prepped, and equipment properly placed shows they were a bunch of fucking idiots.

Background material indicates Telford was intended to be expedition leader. He was on site, he was however, involved in a small battle? You may have noticed it.

He was still a caffeine addict and he smoked. These are two habits anyone with a fucking brain would quit if they truly expected to take a long trip where travel home is uncertain. Or did Rush really expect someone was going to pack him a few tons of coffee and smokes to make him happy.

I note that they found supplies of tea within their first day in Atlantis. I expect the Athosians may smoke something too.

More seriously, that's something people don't notice at all unless there's a reason to.

You're assuming anyone thought Destiny was worth as much as Atlantis and prepared with the same level of err, preparation. Their first plan here was to make sure they had a stable one-way connection and send probes. Not exactly the same as a one-shot ZPM.

[Soontir C'boath]

They are attempting to dial the 9th Chevron. They have no fucking clue if they can dial more than once.

They didn't have an expedition prepped when they were demonstrating the Senator the failed attempt to dial. They must have thought they could do it again.

[NecronLord]

It's explicit that they want to send a probe, shut down, analyse and try again. They've no idea what's on the other side. As opposed to a 'structurally intact city of the Ancients'

[Gramzamber]

I would think that ESPECIALLY after the Atlantis expedition they'd be a lot more careful, considering that if not for a series of events leading to a fortunate time travel event, the entire expedition gets to drown as the city floods itself due to drawing too much power for their arrival.

[Darksider]

You're assuming anyone thought Destiny was worth as much as Atlantis and prepared with the same level of err, preparation. Their first plan here was to make sure they had a stable one-way connection and send probes. Not exactly the same as a one-shot ZPM.

I wouldn't say their caution was indicative of their appraisal of the ninth chevron's worth, more likely they were finally learning from their mistakes. Stranding two teams in other galaxies wouldn't really look good when the whole thing goes public. (assuming it ever does )

[Bilbo]

It's explicit that they want to send a probe, shut down, analyse and try again. They've no idea what's on the other side. As opposed to a 'structurally intact city of the Ancients'

That is assuming that nothing happens during connection that makes it a one shot affair. At the very least everything should be prepped. Any COMPETENT military man, which the colonel is demonstrating that he isnt, hopes for the best but plans for the worst.

Of course this is the same moron that felt it was necessary for their to be an "officers mess" which suggests that officers and enlisted eat seperately. How moronic. Even in a much larger facility like the SGC there was only one messhall we ever saw and O'Neil had no problem eating there with the shrubs under him. I guess this colonel is too good for that. So instead he reinforces the us/them mentality that is coming back to bite them in the ass with the little disgruntled enlisted Eli had to deal with in this episode.

[Bilbo]

You're assuming anyone thought Destiny was worth as much as Atlantis and prepared with the same level of err, preparation. Their first plan here was to make sure they had a stable one-way connection and send probes. Not exactly the same as a one-shot ZPM.

I wouldn't say their caution was indicative of their appraisal of the ninth chevron's worth, more likely they were finally learning from their mistakes. Stranding two teams in other galaxies wouldn't really look good when the whole thing goes public. (assuming it ever does )

You still plan for worst case which there is no indication that they did.

[Zac Naloen]

If they couldn't dial again they weren't going to go. The emergency evacuation plan was to go to earth so there is no sense in packing all kit onto the transport trolleys ready to go at any time because there was never any intent to go to destiny under duress. Rush abandoned the plan for his own ego, the reason they are unprepared is 100% rush's fault and no one elses.

[Bilbo]

If they couldn't dial again they weren't going to go. The emergency evacuation plan was to go to earth so there is no sense in packing all kit onto the transport trolleys ready to go at any time because there was never any intent to go to destiny under duress. Rush abandoned the plan for his own ego, the reason they are unprepared is 100% rush's fault and no one elses.

Rush was entirely right in not dialing Earth, though that did not leave Destiny as the only other option. I also agree that Rush was completely at fault in them being on Destiny. That being said the gear should have still be properly prepped in the gateroom. There is no reason for it not to be other than laziness.

[Alyeska]

Are you fucking stupid? They are attempting to dial the 9th Chevron. They have no fucking clue if they can dial more than once. That being said if they are anything but fucking incompetent they have will everything set so they can send off an expedition when a connection is made just like they did with the Atlantis Expedition. The fact that they did not have the personel assembled, prepped, and equipment properly placed shows they were a bunch of fucking idiots.

Care to explain why they attempted to dial with the Senator right there while not prepped for insertion? Atlantis was prepped for insertion when they wanted to cross. Icarus was not prepped. Ergo, they had no intention of immediately crossing. Ergo lack of preparation just means they weren't ready. So it cannot be held against them.

The obvious answer is that no one expected this to suceed. How long was the Atlantis mission on its own? The same thing could happen here yet no planning was done. Hell, Rush himself wasnt prepared to make the trip. He was still a caffeine addict and he smoked. These are two habits anyone with a fucking brain would quit if they truly expected to take a long trip where travel home is uncertain. Or did Rush really expect someone was going to pack him a few tons of coffee and smokes to make him happy.

Which is why they spent 5 billion dollars and sent a Senator to go review the facility. Which is why they kidnapped Eli. Bullshit. They didn't know where the 9th Chevron dialed. You assume they knew it was a ship. They didn't. They had no idea where it went. But they aren't going to send a suicide mission that nets zero benefits. Atlantis taught them that preperation is a very good thing. Look at what they benefited from the Atlantis expedition.

Face it, the command was a fucking joke being led by a moron and manned by idiots.

Your a fucking idiot who can't even examine the situation with a shred of logic. Why the fuck should they have the gear prepped when they were not prepared to go through themselves? Why the fuck are you calling them out on not having prepped gear when they had no fucking reason to be prepared? I reiterate my Flooded Homeowner example.

[Zac Naloen]

It appears to me that the equipment in the gate room was properly prepared, they got food and medical supplies.. And then they ran out of his hands..

[NecronLord]

That is assuming that nothing happens during connection that makes it a one shot affair. At the very least everything should be prepped.

Which it was. The people weren't ready to go because of the fucking attack. I bet you couldn't even get dressed if you were being shot at by a group of lunatics. Why do you expect them to run a full on expedition perfectly?

Of course this is the same moron that felt it was necessary for their to be an "officers mess" which suggests that officers and enlisted eat seperately.

Ooooorrrr, he didn't design the facility? Why do you assume that the Air Force colonel designed the buildings he's in?

I note that this facility was designed by people who can hollow out mountains with asgard beams and tok'ra technology. The SGC was built by the United States of the 70s or some such. Space is likely to be at less of a premium in Icarus base.