On their first visit to a new planet, SG-1 finds it subject to totally destructive volcanic activity and saves ten natives, the Tollan, a far more technologically advanced society. Their leader Omoc isn't grateful, nor interested in such a primitive race as the earthlings or any of the 'even more primitive' planets which are prepared to host them. Only one Tollan, Narim, shows an active interest in life on earth, especially in captain Samantha Carter and the cat Schrodinger she gives him, explaining his planet was destroyed after the Tollan supplied an unlimited energy source to a primitive neighboring planet which abused it for a cataclysmic weapon. Meanwhile, the White House authorized NID colonel Maybourne to take charge over the Tollan for military purposes, exactly Omoc's nightmare.

The SG-1 team is requested by the Tollan to participate in a trial concerning Skaara and whether he or the Goa'uld parasite, Klorel, has control of his body.

With the death of Omoc, the subsequent sudden Tollan reconsideration of their tech embargo leads to SG-1 suspecting a government conspiracy.