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Long-range communication device

From SGCommand

< Communication stone
Long-range communication device
Production information
Manufacturer
Designer
Technical specifications
Function

Intergalactic communication

Control system

Communication stones

Power source

Subspace

Usage
Affiliation
[Source]

The long-range communication device is a device originally created by the Alterans before they left their home galaxy millions of years ago. A variant of the original was developed by the Tau'ri sometime around 2009.

Contents

[edit] Original Alteran device

[edit] Overview

While the specifics of the device is unknown, what is known is that the device draws power from subspace to link the consciousness of up to twelve beings to the bodies of beings who have been in contact with initialized communication stones. The device also establishes a physiological link, so if a person dies while connected to another body, their original body dies as well; stressful situations have a similar transfer effect. The link is activated using communication stones, and will remain until the device is either destroyed or shut down through an unknown mechanism. Daniel Jackson stated that the device was able to translate from Ancient to English suggesting it can read the mind of the user to learn their language. (SG1: "Avalon, Part 2", "Origin") (ATL: "Identity")

[edit] History

The first encounter the Tau'ri had with a device of this nature was discovered on Avalon in Merlin's vault. Daniel Jackson and Vala Mal Doran used it in hopes of meeting non-ascended Ancients living in another galaxy. Instead, they linked to Harrid and Sallis, heretics who had discovered a similar device outside Ver Eger. The device found in Avalon was destroyed when Cameron Mitchell and Teal'c threw it into the kawoosh of an activating Stargate. The device in Ver Eger was taken to Celestis to be destroyed, but Seevis' contacts in Celestis smuggled it out to Ver Isca before that could happen. Vala, while stranded in the Ori home galaxy, used it to link to Daniel and warn Earth of the impending Ori invasion; however the device was rendered useless when Tomin shot it with his staff weapon. (SG1: "Avalon, Part 2", "Origin", "Crusade")

In 2008, the Atlantis Expedition had an encounter with one of these devices. Neeva Casol, in Jennifer Keller's body, stabbed Radek Zelenka with a pair of pliers and tried to seduce Rodney McKay into flying a puddle jumper away from the city, but he refused; she then held him at gunpoint, and was about to shoot him when Ronon Dex stunned her. Meanwhile Keller, in Neeva's body, was about to be executed for crimes that Neeva had committed. It was discovered that Neeva, while stealing artifacts from a village, activated the device and switched bodies with Jennifer because she was the last to touch the related communication stone in Janus' lab. To restore them both to their proper bodies, Ronon shot the device, rendering it off-line. (ATL: "Identity")

[edit] Tau'ri device

The Tau'ri variant.

[edit] Unique specifications

This variant is much smaller than the original and the effect can be controlled so that once one is finished with the device, it can be deactivated without needing to disable or destroy it. The top of the device has a panel that has five intersecting rings. The panel lights up when active and the stone (which appears to be the same stone used in the original device) is placed in one of the five rings. The fact that the device still requires Ancient stones, and that it can only transmit consciousness and not other forms of data (such as sound or video), suggests that it is still not fully understood by the Tau'ri how the Ancient technology actually works and therefore they are unable to adapt the technology to other applications, only to reproduce it and add an "off" switch. If one of the connected persons is aboard the Ancient ship, Destiny, when the ship enters or exits FTL, communication between the devices is temporarily disrupted. (SGU: "Air, Part 2", "Earth")

The Tau'ri variant is similar to the original in that whatever happens to the body, happens to the mind currently occupying the body. For instance, if a person were to become intoxicated while the device is active, they would be affecting the host body of their partner; if the device were to be deactivated or disrupted while that person is intoxicated, the user would find him/herself sober in the original body, leaving the other user to feel the effects of intoxication. (SGU: "Earth") A side effect of the device not shown with the Ancient version is the transfer of traces of memory from the host body, which can be experienced in the form of brief visions or dreams. (SGU: "Life")

[edit] History

The Tau'ri had developed the variant of the communication device by 2009. At least one device was stationed at Icarus in anticipation of traveling through the Stargate to the nine-chevron address. When the base came under attack by an unknown force, an evacuation was immediately underway. However, rather than dial Earth, Dr. Nicholas Rush dialed the ninth-chevron address, effectively stranding roughly 80 Icarus personnel aboard the Ancient ship, Destiny. As the last person to evacuate the base, Col. Everett Young spent valuable seconds in securing a device. As a result, he was critically injured as the base exploded and he was flung through the Stargate and across the Gate room aboard Destiny. In the ensuing chaos, Rush discovered the device and discretely made use of it. (SGU: "Air, Part 1", "Air, Part 2")

[edit] Known uses

Destiny personnel Earth counterpart Reasoning and circumstances
Nicholas Rush Bill Lee Rush first used the device in order to contact Earth about the situation when the personnel of the Icarus Base found themselves on-board the the Ancient vessel Destiny. Bill Lee had been waiting for the connection. Rush, after returning to Destiny, claimed that General O'Neill had placed him in charge. (SGU: "Air, Part 2")
Everett Young David Telford Young further briefed Earth personnel about their situation aboard Destiny, then used his remaining time to talk to his ex-wife. Meanwhile, Telford assessed the situation aboard Destiny, pushing Young's injured body to the limit. (SGU: "Air, Part 3")
Airman Roberts Upon learning that Telford has been spending time with Young's wife via a residual memory "glitched" into Scott's mind after their previous transfer, Young confronted Telford and his wife at her home. Telford called the Pentagon and the connection was abruptly terminated moments before Young could attack him. (SGU: "Life")
Airman Lucas In a scheduled transfer, Young posed as Dr.Volker and finished his previously attempted assault on Telford as he left his house. (SGU: "Life")
Chloe Armstrong Doctor Mehta After the death of her father, Chloe visited Earth to tell her mother the news. Aboard Destiny, Mehta assisted Telford and toured the ship. She was outraged when T.J. sedated Telford to prevent further injury to Young's body.
Doctor McCormack Doctor McCormack was a scientist who developed plan with Dr.Williams to dial Destiny's stargate back to Earth and switched bodies with Chloe to carry it out. (SGU: "Earth")
Eli Wallace Doctor Williams Doctor Williams was a scientist who developed a plan to dial Destiny's Stargate back to Earth and switched bodies with Eli Wallace to carry it out. Eli, in Williams' body, visited his mother under the guise of "Philip Fry" before going to a club with Chloe Armstrong, also in another person's body. (SGU: "Earth")
Matthew Scott David Telford Scott posed as Telford and visited his estranged girlfriend, Annie Balic after receiving a letter telling him he has a son. In Scott's body, Telford used the opportunity to question Young about the information gathered when he enacted his plan to dial Earth, and expressed suspicion about how Rush was able to defuse the situation. (SGU: "Life")
Camile Wray Msgt.Mooney Camile treated this excursion as a personal one, rather than business, much to the dismay of Carl Strom. In the body of Msgt. Mooney, she visited her long-time partner, Sharon. (SGU: "Life")

[edit] Gallery

Neeva finds the device.

Neeva and the stones.

Neeva activates the device.

Keller finds the stones in Janus' lab.

[edit] External links

Schematics for the device
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