Svetlana Markov

Svetlana Markov International Oversight Advisory Name(s): Svetlana Markov Species: Human (Tau'ri) Homeworld: Earth Rank(s): Doctor Gender: Female (she/her) Affiliation: Russian Federation Russian Intelligence Russian Stargate Program  (formerly) International Oversight Advisory Portrayed by: Marina Sirtis

Doctor Svetlana Markov is a Russian member of the International Oversight Advisory, formerly of the Russian Stargate Program.

History

The Russian Federation first became aware of the Stargate Program after one of their submarines — codenamed Blackbird — became infested with Replicators. The extraterrestrial mechanoids had arrived on Earth via the Biliskner: the flagship of Supreme Commander Thor of the Asgard. While the Replicators themselves were dealt with by Stargate Command, the solution necesitated the destruction of the Blackbird, which in turn required disclosure of the Stargate Program to the Russian military, to avoid a diplomatic incident.  (SG1: "Small Victories")

Russian knowledge of the Stargate Program drew their attention to the wreckage of the Biliskner, from which they were able to recover the "Alpha Gate": the Stargate discovered at Giza, which had been originally brought to Earth by Ra. Russia was also approached by Colonel Harold Maybourne, formerly of the NID, who had gone on the run following the discovery of his unauthorised offworld operations. Maybourne offered to defect, lending his expertise as well as a considerable amount of stolen US intelligence to any Russian efforts to utilise the Stargate. At a facility codenamed "Anchor" by US intelligence — a former experimental power station — Russia established its own Stargate Program under the command of Colonel Sarkalov. Already a world-renowned astrophysicist, Russian military intelligence recruited Svetlana Markov as the program's Chief Scientist.  (SG1: "Shades of Grey", "Small Victories", "Watergate")

Under Markov and Sarkalov, the Russian Program conducted a total of 7 offworld missions over a span of 37 days, making use of the Dial Home Device — which had been recovered by the Soviets from the Nazis after World War II — to assert the Alpha Gate's primacy over the Beta Gate being used by Stargate Command at the time. The Program's last mission connected to a Stargate entirely submerged, which was explored via a submersible, and a sample of the water collected. When that sample — or rather, lifeforms within the sample — proved to be sentient and began taking control of base personnel, emergency containment measures were taken and contact was lost, but the Stargate remained active, eventually bringing the Program to the attention of Stargate Command. SG-1 accompanied Svetlana Markov to the facility to investigate, and the Stargate was eventually shut down, with the Russians (grudgingly) agreeing to suspend the Program.  (SG1: "Watergate", "48 Hours"; Origins)

After the suspension of the program, Markov continued to work with Russian Intelligence as one of their analysts and advisors on extraterrestrial matters. In that capacity, she became aware of a covert mission during the Russian Stargate Program of which she had been unaware, sending a team to P2X-338 and essentially stranding them when the Russian Program was suspended. Markov arranged for a team led by Colonel Alexi Zukhov — an officer she trusted — to accompany SG-1 on a search and rescue mission. Only one Russian officer, Natalia Tolinev survived the mission; despite the urgings of Colonel Chekov, Tolinev refused to place the blame for those Russian casualties on the SGC and SG-1 — a move that might have proven more damaging to her career were it not for the intervention of Doctor Markov.  (SG1: "The Tomb")

Markov's relationship with Colonel Chekov was not always an amicable one, with Markov often finding herself being "handled" by Chekov's second-in-command, Daria Voronkova. After the destruction of the Beta Gate, she was a vocal opponent of a potential new Russian Stargate Program, and was not particularly fond of the "rental" agreement established with Stargate Command, frustrated that her government was more interested in the military and monetary value of the Stargate rather than its social and scientific benefits. After some senior members of the Russian military were implanted with Goa'uld by The Trust, however, a certain resistance to the military-first view of the Stargate began to form, and Markov's voice of dissent began to gain traction in certain circles. Despite this, Russia still remained more interested in military gains from the Stargate Program. Markov was particularly disappointed in the reluctance of her government to push for a greater involvement in the Atlantis Expedition, although she did manage to convince Elizabeth Weir — with whom she had a tense but respectful relationship — to select at least one Russian national for the Expedition's original detail.  (SG1: "Redemption, Part 2", "Full Alert"; ATL: "Rising, Part 1"; SGR: "The Arrow")

After the formation of the IOA, Doctor Markov became increasingly concerned that Russia's military approach might alienate them from the other nations. Numerous opportunities to work more closely with the other IOA nations were overlooked, perhaps fearing the opposite: that being seen as too aligned with the IOA would alienate Russia from further military cooperation with the United States. Russian representation was notably absent from the IOA's visit to the Gamma Site, an exercise in political posturing to suggest to the other nations that Russia was already too familiar with the Stargate to need that kind of treatment. Those efforts were arguably successful: with the lease agreement for control of the Stargate due to expire, the Chinese approached Russia, suggesting that if they were to restart a Russian Stargate Program, they would do so with the backing of their neighbours. While Russia was not necessarily interested in taking on the expense and responsibility of such an arrangement, they were interested in the potential leverage that the idea of such an arrangement might provide. Colonel Chekov was able to negotiate for Russian control of a BC-304 Battlecruiser, the Korolev, among other concessions, although the move did prove damaging to his working relationship with the Chinese representative, Shen Xiaoyi.  (SG1: "The Scourge", "Crusade", "Camelot")

Following Colonel Chekov's death and the destruction of the Korolev at the Battle of P3X-22Y, elements within the Russian government managed to arrange for Chekov's former role to be split into distinct military and political components. Daria Voronkova would take over Chekov's responsibilities as the military liaison to Stargate Command, but Doctor Markov would be appointed Russia's new representative on the IOA, with the two working together to coordinate their efforts. It was hoped that the change might soften some of the animosity that the Korolev situation had caused, letting Chekov — or rather, his former role and objectives — take the fall. Markov faced an uphill struggle winning back the good graces of Ambassador Xiaoyi, however, whose own political savvy was not quite as susceptible as her government's to such spin.  (SG1: "Camelot", "Flesh and Blood"; SGR: "The Arrow")

As part of a deliberate effort to showcase the new status quo, both Voronkova and Markov participated in the IOA's visit to the Beta Site. While Markov was not particularly interested in the offworld trade opportunities that the Beta Site planned to make available, she was interested in the many members of the Atlantis Expedition that had been reassigned there after the return of the crew of the Ancient ship Tria to Atlantis. Though the status of the Expedition's many scientists and specialists was in a state of uncertainty and flux, Markov was keen to ensure that Russia was a more participant participant in whatever projects might end up succeeding the Atlantis Expedition — and the recently-destroyed Gamma Site.  (SG1: "The Scourge"; ATL: "The Return, Part 1"; SGR: "The Arrow")

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Behind the Scenes

Svetlana Markov is portrayed by Marina Sirtis in 1 episode of Stargate SG-1. She is best known for appearing in Star Trek as Counselor Deanna Troi.

Appearances
Stargate SG-1 "Watergate"	Stargate Sagittarius "The Arrow"