V-shaped symbol; one of nine locking mechanisms equally dispersed around one side of a Stargate. Chevrons serve to lock in stellar coordinates and pinpoint a location in space. An inner track on the Stargate moves and halts in a particular place, allowing a chevron to snap down and back up, storing the symbol in its memory until all the chevrons have locked. Ordinarily seven chevrons are required to lock on to a destination. Six chevrons determine a specific point in space. The seventh chevron applies as the point of origin, allowing two points in space to connect and generate an outgoing wormhole. A more uncommon eighth chevron is believed to be the equivalent to dialing, in essence, a different area code. Evidence proves that the eighth chevron dials beyond normal space into an entirely different galaxy, but this typically causes extreme power consumption. The purpose of the ninth chevron is, as yet, unclear. See also: address KEY EPISODE(S) -  |
