

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.
A group of trainees and their leader, veteran gate traveller Gus Bonner, must help an alien named Draga, who is being pursued by both alien forces and bounty hunters from Earth, get back to her homeworld.
The team stay on a jungle planet, cut off by Nephestis who has framed Gus as a traitor. The local Thorn aliens are dying of a disease which Gus believes he left there on a previous expedition. The others choose to head out with the Ancient chrysalis but are ambushed by the Tlak'khan but escape...as the chrysalis hatches and the winged Ancient escapes. The Tlak'khan leader De'kyll takes the Thorn village hostage and Bonner surrenders but the Ancient intervenes and the cadets take them prisoner (except De'kyll escapes). The Ancient learns English through Seattle and asks the team for help, and after being named Draga. Draga heals the ailing Thorn but knows nothing about the Stargates and remains with the team.