Summary
The episode begins as the camera pans across a ruined
city. The derelict buildings are interspersed with bursts
or weapons fire. We soon find ourselves in a bunker filled
with Andorian Imperial Guardsmen who are discussing their
present state of affairs. The Vulcans have apparently found
a weakness in the Andorian positions and are using that
advantage to press the Andorians into agreeing to a cease
fire. Our old friend Shran believes that the Vulcans are
attempting to dupe them, but believe that a pinkskin known
as Archer might be able to help them.
Some time later, Captain Archer is contacted by Admiral
Forrest with his new orders. Forrest is obviously excited
about the fact that, for the first time, Vulcans are asking
Humans for help. Situated on the border between Vulcan
and Andorian territory, the Vulcans apparently want control
of the planet, which the Andorians call Weytahn and the
Vulcans, Paan Mokar, because of its strategic value. Apparently
the conflict over the planet - in truth, it's little more
than a planetoid, being slightly larger than Earth's moon
- some hundred years ago when the Vulcans forcibly removed
an Andorian colony. Since then, the two powers have almost
gone to war twice to possess it. According to T'Pol, Humanity
would react in much the same was as the Vulcans if the
Klingons had tried to establish a colony on Pluto.
After some grousing by Tucker over the strain being placed
on the plasma injectors - including an interesting line
about flame-retardant underwear - Enterprise arrives at
the planet where Ambassador Soval and a Subcommander Muroc
(whom Soval will later try to send with Archer, only to
be shot down by Archer's claim that he'll take along a
Vulcan he trusts) come aboard to brief Archer on the situation.
It seems, however, to say that the Vulcans wanted Archer's
help was a bit of an overstatement. Soval is not happy
- to the extent that a Vulcan can be unhappy - about Archer's
involvement in the negotiations. However, the Andorians
have taken three Vulcan soldiers hostage and will only
negotiate their release if Archer mediates the discussions.
Before heading down the planet's surface with T'Pol for
an initial meeting with Shran, Archer stops by Sickbay
where Doctor Phlox needs to bombard his immune system with
some radiation so that Archer can survive the Class D planet's
unique atmosphere. While carrying out the procedure, Phlox
informs Archer that he spent some time as a medic in the
Denobulan infantry, and cautions the Captain on the hazards
of a battleground. Archer also wonders if maybe he's out ‘here',
not just to study comets and meet new species, but to help
Earth join a larger interstellar community.
Flash ahead to the next day aboard the vaunted Shuttlepod
One as Archer and T'Pol descend to the planet's surface.
The science officer is concerned about whether or not Archer
is sufficiently prepared for his role as negotiator, and
queries him as to whether or not he read any of the materials
she sent to his quarters last night. The material included
the Territorial Compromise between the Vulcans and Andorians
ceding control of Paan Mokar to the Vulcans - a 1,200 page
document, V'Lar's Treatise on Negotiating Tactics, the
Revised Intersystem Agreement, the High Command Briefing
on the Border Incursions of 2112, etc. T'Pol does not appear
impressed when she learns that Archer ‘glanced' over
the material, and that his plan consists of getting Shran
to trust him then "playing it by ear".
On the planet, T'Pol and Archer are waylaid by several
Andorians under the command of Shran's Lieutenant, Tarah
(played by TNG veteran Suzie Plakson). It's obvious right
from the get-go that Tarah isn't terribly fond of Shran's
plan, nor of Vulcans as she tries to force T'Pol to remain
behind while Archer is taken to the meeting with her commander.
Archer manages to convince her otherwise and the pair are
blindfolded and lead off to meet the Imperial Guard commander.
Finally arriving at the Andorian bunker, Archer immediately
demands to see the hostages, so as the ascertain their
condition. Tarah reacts quite vociferously to this, claiming
that criminals take hostages. The Vulcans captives are
prisoners of war. The Andorians relent, and allow Archer
to see the Vulcans, but do not allow him to do more than
look at them, setting off another confrontation between
T'Pol and Tarah. Interceding, Shran informs Archer that,
in exchange for the release of the three soldiers, the
Andorians want the Vulcans to cede control of Weytahn to
Andoria. Archer responds that he'll relay the message,
but warns Shran that he doubts the Vulcans will accept
the deal. This sets Tarah off again, prompting her to call
Archer a Vulcan puppet. Shran disagrees, and consents to
a face-to-face meeting, in the Andorian compound, of course,
with Soval to discuss the situation, and to release one
of the hostages as a sign of good will.
Back aboard Enterprise, Archer and T'Pol are in a meeting
with Soval and Muroc, neither of whom seem to be impressed
with Starfleet's progress thus far. They also reveal that
three Andorian ships are en route to resupply the Andorian
troops. T'Pol obviously fears that an actual war is going
to break out, and, off Archer's prompting, Soval reluctantly
agrees to a meeting with Shran.
Later, Shran instructs his troops that they are to treat
Ambassador Soval with respect when he arrives. Tarah, once
again, questions why he is behaving as he is. She suggests
launching an assault so as to have the Vulcan forces on
the defensive by the time their ships arrive. She also
wonders why Shran is willing to trust Archer. Her protests,
however, fall on deaf antenna as Shran continues about
his business. Meanwhile, Shuttlepod One, with Archer, T'Pol,
and Soval aboard, comes under attack from an unidentified
source, and is forced to crash land some distance from
the Andorian compound. Upon exiting the shuttle, Soval
reveals that he was once stationed on Paan Mokar as an
intelligence officer and that it was he who later negotiated
the original Territorial Compromise, and suggests that
they try to reach the Vulcan headquarters. Archer dissents,
insinuating that maybe it was the Vulcans who shot them
down, and that he intended to keep his meeting with Shran,
lest he lose the Andorian's trust. Soval isn't happy, but
has no choice by to comply when T'Pol follows Archer.
We take a quick break from the plight of our planet-bound
heroes to check up on Enterprise. Commander Tucker, having
been informed by Muroc of the situation, advises the Vulcan
officer that a more moderate response than the one he witnessed
on Coridan in "Shadows of P'Jem".
Having been informed of the attack on the Starfleet shuttlepod
Shran demands to know why his men fired. Tarah replies
that it wasn't them, and suggests that the Vulcans tried
to kill Soval so they could blame it on the Andorians and
launch an attack. A skeptical Shran reluctantly agrees
to reinforce his defensive positions in preparation for
a Vulcan attack. At the same time, Archer temporarily splits
up with his Vulcan companions so as to scout about, making
a quip about his ears being less of a target as he leaves.
A confused Soval asks T'Pol why Humans constantly refer
to Vulcan ears. T'Pol replies that she believes the behaviour
is prompted by envy. Soval goes onto point out that T'Pol
seems to have developed a Human accent and wonders why
she is still serving aboard Enterprise when, had she returned
to the Diplomatic Corps her career could have advanced
further, he goes so far as to suggest that T'Pol ought
to be reassigned because her emotions are being affected
by her exposure to Humans. Back aboard Enterprise, Hoshi
announces that she's detected an EM signature and that
it's definitely Captain Archer. Unfortunately, she'll need
at least another hour to localize the signature, while
the Andorian ships are only minutes away. The engineer
orders Reed to take the ship to tactical alert.
Returning to where he left T'Pol and Soval, Archer and
company are soon ambushed, with Soval taking a blast to
the chest. The wound is not life threatening, but he is
in need of medical attention. T'Pol recognizes the weapons
fire as Andorian and Archer passes his phase pistol to
Soval, who protests that it's been 50 years since he last
fired a weapon, so that the Vulcans can provide covering
fire while he attempts to outflank their attackers. Archer
manages to get the drop on the first Andorian, knocking
him out and stealing his weapon as we jump back to the
situation aboard Enterprise. In hopes of preventing the
Vulcans and Andorians from starting to shoot at each other,
Tucker orders Mayweather to move the ship between to the
two sides. Reed, understandably concerned, demands to know
what Tucker is up to.
Archer, in the meantime, managed to sneak up on the other
Andorian, who turns out to be none other than Tarah, Shran's
dissatisfied Lieutenant. The two scuffle, Archer finally
gaining the upper hand, just before several Andorian soldiers
arrive on scene. Shran confronts Archer and learns of Tarah's
attempts to undermine the peace process. Sending her away
he orders his medics to treat Soval's wound. Flash back
to Enterprise again, where Tucker informs both the Vulcan
and Andorian commanders that he will first on any ship
taking hostile action. Fortunately, before he has a chance
to fire, Archer contacts them and tells them that the Andorians
will be withdrawing.
Later, aboard Enterprise as it seems that the negotiations
between Shran and Soval are going nowhere, Shran proposes
as toast to their mutual dissatisfaction, the cease fire,
and to Archer himself. Soval first points out that Vulcans
do not drink, but agrees to a compromise, stating that
he is looking forward to continuing the negotiations on
Andor. After the toast, T'Pol offers to escort Soval back
to his ship, and, as a parting comment, he informs Archer
that his presence was not as overly meddlesome as he had
expected. Shran claims that this is a sign that he likes
Archer, though the Captain isn't sure he'd go that far.
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