An hour passed. An hour passed and Daniel was no closer to figuring out the riddle of the pillar than he had been an hour earlier. Random combinations did nothing; Jon tried touching it, interacting with it in the hopes that the ATA gene would affect it but his efforts proved futile as well. Jack was ready to dismantle it with the hope that reverse engineering would enable them to figure out the proper coordinates, or the last coordinates punched in. All in all, everyone was growing frustrated and annoyed or just plain bored.

Daniel was beginning to think that they should pack up and move over ground, particularly since they'd long ago lost the element of surprise.

"We should continue the rescue above ground," Daniel told those still below ground with him. "It's great if we can find some way to get this pillar to work, but we're losing time while trying to figure it out. We know that we have a guide to the women, one that we can take over ground. Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea for half of us to go that route, and a few to remain behind with the pillar.

"Jack, do you think that you or the Doctor could rig a way for the two groups to remain in radio contact? Maybe re-wire a few cellular telephones?"