When the younger team members reminesce about birthday's, Ec'co thinks back to his own torn life. The team convinces Gus to take Ec'co to his homeworld. An electrical storm shorts out their Stargate while Gus and Ec'co get taken into custody by the hostile Hrathi, who know of Gus' alleged betrayal. The rest of the team rig a way to recharge the Stargate using lightning while the Tlak'khan launch an attack on the Hrathi. Gus helps to drive them off and then are taken to a cache of data crystals. It turns out the crystals are a fake, but one of the Hrathi reveals he is a shapeshifter. Gus and Ec'co pass the test and receive the real Tlak'khan data crystal they need.

The team intervenes on a planet when one group of the locals, the Mystari, use high-tech weapons to attack another faction – they meet up with Shepherd, a former Stargate team member who trained Gus. Shepherd claims the faction his men attacked are bandits but his followers worship him. Gus overlooks his apparent abuse until Stacey brings him around. Knowing Gus will act against him, Shepherd summons the Tlak'khan but when he finds out they plan to kill the team he and the locals side with Gus. Shepherd tells the Mystari to find their own way and then takes off on his own.

Major Bonner's team arrives at a world destroyed by its inhabitants. Kreeda, the inventor, attempts to save what's left of her civilisation—even if it means stealing and lying. Ec'co acquires a sympathy for her, but the next day the team finds their power sources stolen. Kreeda is the obvious suspect. She wishes to make up for her previous actions and warns the team about Tlak'kahn warriors nearby—but will they listen?

The team arrives on an ice planet and intervenes in a fight between the Tlak'khan and the native Ursons. They win the day for the natives but begin to suspect all isn't as it seems. Seattle follows a young Tlak'khan to a hidden city while Gus interrogates the prisoners who it turns out are farmer/refugees. The team realizes the Ursons are in the wrong and turn against them to help the Tlak'khan farmers.