Chevron
From SGCommand
A chevron is a V-shape, often used in architecture as a fret. All known Stargates have nine chevrons used to lock in coordinates, with the exception of the Asuran Stargate Satellite, which only had eight. The top chevron 'scans' each co-ordinate and the corresponding chevron lights up. Only seven of these chevrons are normally used, as use of the eighth, which allows transport to other galaxies, requires tremendous power.
[edit] Tau'ri customs
At Stargate Command, a technician, usually Walter Harriman, shouts out the chevrons being encoded in the following manner:
- "Chevron One, encoded."
- "Chevron Two, encoded."
- "Chevron Three, encoded."
- "Chevron Four, encoded."
- "Chevron Five, encoded."
- "Chevron Six, encoded."
- "Chevron Seven, locked."
According to Harriman, he uses "locked" as a way to change things up.
In 1994, when dialing Abydos for the first time, a technician named Jenny shouted out the chevrons locking in a lengthier manner: "Chevron _ is holding," when the symbol came up on the screen and "Chevron _ is locked in place," when it locked. (Stargate)
In 2004, when the Atlantis Expedition arrived in Atlantis, the first thing Rodney McKay said when activating the gate was "Chevron One encoded", even though the Atlantis gate dials much faster than the dialling computer on Earth. (ATL: "Rising")
[edit] Behind the scenes
In Stargate Infinity, Stargates have eight chevrons.
