In debriefing, Hammond asks the team what they brought back. Jack seems quite pleased with himself and tells him of the emitter.

However, when the general asks what SG-1 traded the Tollan in exchange, Jack admits to stealing the weapon.

Hammond gets upset and tells O'Neill he has committed a court-martial offense. Rather than shaming Jack, this only sparks an argument between the two men about Stargate Command's fundamental purpose.

Jack feels that the organization's "core mission is to go through that gate and find technology to defend against Goa'uld incursion." Hammond reiterates that they don't steal from their friends.

This continues until Hammond relieves O'Neill of his command, sending him to the infirmary until further notice.

She tells Hammond that she is here to retrieve her property and that the Tollan are severing all diplomatic ties with Earth. As is his wont, Daniel tries to smooth things over.

Meanwhile, Jack wants to leave the infirmary but Teal'C won't let him. Hammond then calls to request his presence.

Jack and a wary Teal'C meet Carter in the hall. She shows concern for O'Neill's mental state, but he insults her, then blows her off.

When Jack gets to Hammond's office, he tells the general that he is sorry for being insubordinate to him but he feels that what he did was right.

Hammond offers Jack early retirement as opposed to court-martial. O'Neill takes it.

Later, Jack is enjoying a game of solitaire chess in his nicely decorated home when the doorbell rings.

It's Jackson. Daniel asks Jack how he's feeling, but gets no real answer. To fill the awkward conversational void, Daniel asks Jack about a "backup plan" that emerged in the fight back in the original mission debriefing.

O'Neill tells him of an off-world backup SGC proposal that Jack was supposed to lead. Unfortunately this plan was scrubbed -- which in Jack's humble opinion exemplifies the Pentagon's nonsensical position on the Goa'uld threat.

Daniel tries to convince Jack that their goals include establishing diplomatic relations with other cultures, but O'Neill insists it's all for naught if the Goa'uld come down and blow them to hell.

Jackson leaves on uncomfortable terms.

More chess, then another ring at the door. This time, it's General Maybourne, which seems to annoy O'Neill.

Maybourne tells Jack he may have an offer for him that would allow him to achieve his goals. What if O'Neill were to lead a team through the gate to take the technology that they need to defend the planet?

Jack tells Maybourne he is not interested but the general leaves his card anyway.

Meanwhile, back at Stargate Command, Hammond tells the remaining members of SG-1 that Colonel Makepeace will now lead the team. Jackson protests and insists it should be Carter but Hammond is not taking suggestions.

Jack decides to call Maybourne.

When the general shows up the next day, he takes O'Neill on a mysterious airplane trip, warning him that he has two choices from here out: participate or "disappear."

On the plane, Maybourne shows Jack a Goa'uld communication sphere. He explains that he would like Jack to head the unit and, using the sphere, introduces him to his second-in-command, Newman.

Newman explains that they are to use whatever means necessary to acquire goods and technology to combat the Goa'uld or other unforeseen aggressors.

Jack agrees to lead the unit

Later, Makepeace and Hammond are discussing the new structure of SG-1 when Jack comes in and asks for one final favor.

After a few good-byes Jack goes through, ostensibly never to see his former teammates again.

Once on the other side, however, he quickly punches new coordinates into the dial home device and walks through to Maybourne's secret base -- which resembles a Greek temple perched on a tall pillar of rock.

O'Neill walks into a high-tech room filled with military types, including Newman, who waits at the bottom of the ramp.

Newman introduces Jack to the group and then gives him the tour. Sherman -- the team's scientist -- shows Jack a bunch of their "acquired" technology, but a call from Maybourne cuts the demonstration short.

For their first mission, the team must acquire a stealth device that was not accessible through negation. The team goes through and gets the device, which O'Neill finds out was created by the advanced Asgard race.

Back in Maybourne's temple complex, Jack learns about the next stage of the operation. The team drops small devices like the one they just acquired in prearranged spots where a mole in one of the SG teams will retrieve them back to Earth.

O'Neill decides to go on the drop because, as he puts it, "the best way to understand a command is to do each job at least once."

Jack walks through the gate into a lush world. He stashes the device, but as he is about to dial home, the gate opens again.

Fearing apprehension, O'Neill hides in the foliage and observes.

SG-1 comes through, led by Makepeace. After a brief reconnaissance, they head back and Jack observes Makepeace pick up the device.

Jack then dials Maybourne and walks back to the base. Afterward, an Asgard beams down and does some observation of its own.

Back in the temple base, O'Neill blames his lengthy absence on faulty intelligence gathering.

Just then an Asgard ship descends over the base and begins beaming their proprietary technology out of the base.

Jack decks Newman, somewhat gratuitously, then explains to the team that they have two choices -- follow him through the gate, or go with the presumably angry Asgard.

He also tells them that he will keep the gate open so they can't go anywhere else.

Plots within plots

The criminals choose to throw themselves on human justice and go back to Earth with Jack. Makepeace is also rounded up.

In a thoughtful gesture toward any viewers who remain confused, Hammond explains that the thefts of alien technology had not gone unnoticed.

Rather than risk leaving Earth without allies, Hammond convinced the Asgard, Tollan and Nox that the crimes were the work of a rogue group within Stargate Command.

True to their typical inscrutable nature, the aliens agreed to continue their support of Earth, but insisted that Stargate Command personnel -- in particular, O'Neill, working alone -- must capture them on their own.

Once everything is explained, Jack enjoys a brief reunion with the other members of SG-1.