Summary
Horizon opens up with Travis in the so-called "sweet
spot" of the ship, last seen in "Broken Bow." He
is reading, upside down, of course, until Hoshi hails him
over the CONN. Travis hops down to the wall unit and learns
that Admiral Forrest has ordered them to reverse course.
After the first break, we find the main crew meeting.
Archer explains that Forrest has ordered them to reverse
course to a star system 30 light-years behind them where
two gas giants are pulling a planet apart.
After laying in a course Travis comes into Archer's office
and asks for a personal request. It seems, the Enterprise
is going to be passing by his old ship, the Horizon, only
ten hours out of their way. Archer approves Travis' request
to be dropped off on his ship along the way. As the two
talk about the Horizon, Travis tells Archer of his father's
illness, but supposedly it's nothing his mother (who
seems to be both the engineer and the doctor onboard the
horizon) can't handle. Archer tells Travis there
was a time, a few years before Starfleet was chartered,
that he seriously considered joining a cargo ship. After
prompting as to why he didn't, Archer says he will
tell Travis the story later.
In engineering, Tucker and T'pol discuss their mission
and how "there isn't going to be a lot to do
once [they] get there." Tucker, it seems, has planned
a movie night every night in the mess. Frankenstein, Bride
of Frankenstein and Son of Frankenstein. It seems T'pol
enjoyed a western before and Tucker believes she will enjoy
the horror movies as well. After a little prodding, it
seems like T'pol might reluctantly agree.
In the mess hall, Travis and Reed discuss families. Reed
hasn't had a family reunion for almost a decade,
but Travis is used to being closer to his family. When
Travis brings up the suggestion of Starfleet putting families
on starships, Reed disagrees. "Well they better post
a psychologist onboard, cuz I'd need one if my parents
were roaming the corridors." After being hailed by
Hoshi that his mom has sent him a message, Travis runs
off to his quarters.
Later, Archer comes to join Travis in the "sweet
spot." Travis does not look happy as Archer starts
some small talk with him. It seems Tucker had told Archer
that six weeks ago, Travis' father died. His mother had
sent a message to Starfleet but it had never been received.
Travis tells the Captain how his dad was never happy with
him joining Starfleet and how he wished he had a chance
to clear things up with him. Archer tells Travis of a letter
that his father had sent to the Captain as a letter of
recommendation when he was trying to pick a helmsman. It
said how his father had never seen a more natural helmsman
in his life. Travis seems a little pleased by this but
wishes his father had told him this.
In Sickbay, T'pol and the doctor discuss her headache.
It seems T'pol wants it to be something more serious as
an excuse to get out of going to the movie night. It seems
the doctor will be there also though, and he encourages
her to go.
As the Enterprise connects with the Horizon, Tucker tries
to get Travis to allow him a tour of the reactor room.
When Travis declines, Tucker offers him a PADD with a bunch
of pictures on it. It seems, he had downloaded every picture
he had taken since the beginning of their journey for Travis
to give to him Mom. After a sober thank you, Travis boards
his ship.
After the commercial break, Travis and his mom discuss
some of Travis' missions (the events from "The Catwalk," and "Minefield.")
It seems she has many contacts because of her years on
a cargo ship. An alert comes over the intercom warning
everyone of a warp jump. Travis and his mother hold on
as the ship shakes jumping into warp. They reminisce over
old friends as Travis meets an old friend in the hall.
When Travis tries to enter the guest quarters, his mother
puts him into his old room. She has put out some of his
old things to make him feel more at home in his room.
Later, Travis walks into a storage module, where a man
is giving out orders. It seems this is his brother and
he is now the acting captain of the ship. He even has "the
jacket," which seems to be their signal for who the
captain is. After talking Travis finds out they are having
a few issues because their father had kept some of the
inventory lists in his head and they haven't recovered
fully from his lost yet. When Travis offers his help, his
brother turns him down rather quickly, looking irritated.
As Travis begins to leave, his brother, Paul, tells him "to
change into something a little less conspicuous." It
seems Paul does not approve of his Starfleet career.
Back on Enterprise, they are setting up sensors to record
the volcanic planet. Archer tells Hoshi to use Echo One
(the relay they had set up in "Silent Enemy")
to send the images to Forrest at command. As Tucker and
T'pol begin to work on the sensors, Trip asks T'pol once
again if she is coming to the movie night. T'pol responds
by saying that she has learned that Frankenstein is a literary
work as well, and that instead of the film, someone should
read the book to the mess hall full of crewman, because
they would be "more likely to appreciate the author's
true intent." Trip laughs it off and leaves. Archer,
after having overheard the conversation, tells T'pol she
should go also for "the communal" experience.
As T'pol is still reluctant, Archer tells her to come to
the Captain's mess before hand and then they will go together
to the movie - as a date.
On the Horizon, Travis is upgrading the navigational sensors
and the stabilizers. When Paul walks in, he is angered
by the fact that Travis is working on his ship without
his permission. He is very condescending to Travis about
his Starfleet background.
Back in Travis' quarters, he lays on his bed, just
starring at his star chart. After a moment, a cute young
woman comes in and Travis and her talk about their childhood
a little bit. She tells him that things haven't been
running smoothly since his father's death. She just
doesn't think Paul is ready for command. As Travis
starts to defend him, the ship starts to shake. As it continues,
Travis determines it isn't just spatial turbulence.
The ship is under attack.
After arriving on the bridge, Travis finds out they are
under attack by unknown assailants. As the attack occurs,
Paul hesitates a lot in his decisions. After deciding eventually
to just run, Paul orders them to go to maximum warp, but
it seems they are hauling too much weight and can not out
run them. Instead, the enemy ships attach some sort of
subspace beacon. It cannot be removed because it is also
an explosive.
Later, Charley (the helmsman), Mrs. Mayweather, Travis
and Paul discuss a similar attack on the freighter Constellation.
Apparently these aliens plant a beacon on the ship, and
a large cruiser comes two days later demanding their cargo.
When the Constellation fought back, their ship was heavily
damaged and two of their crewmen were killed. Paul decides
to jettison some of the cargo to increase speed to the
nearest space station. Travis though, disagrees for he
recognizes the engine design of the attacking ship (its
similar to the Mazarites') and (referencing the events
in "Silent Enemy") thinks they should "tie
the plasma turrets directly into the impulse engines." Paul
though, disagrees and refuses to get "into a fight
[they] can't win." He tells Travis he appreciates
his advice but he is not part of their crew anymore.
Back on Enterprise, while they watch Frankenstein, T'pol
reviews that morning's sensor data. At Archer's
prodding though, she gives in and watches the film. Sitting
behind them, Phlox talks incessantly to Tucker about doctors
on Basarie II who it seems, use a similar technique to
reanimate the dead as Dr. Frankenstein did on his monster.
T'pol gets annoyed and offers to "stop the
film if it is disturbing [his] conversation." Archer,
a little amazed by what just occurred, offers T'pol
popcorn.
Back on the Horizon, Charley informs Paul that someone
is rerouting the impulse engines. Paul then hurries down
to stop Travis. They argue over whether or not the improvements
should be made. Paul seems over-confident in his opinion
and Travis tries to defend himself. Paul is angered by
Travis' abandonment of the Horizon. When Paul orders
him to remove the upgrades, Travis tells him to do it himself
and walks off.
Back on the Horizon (in a mess hall oddly similar to Enterprise's)
Travis and his mom talk about how he actually misses the
nutra-packs. He tells her he is thinking about taking an
extended leave – there is a lot for him to do on
the Horizon and he wants to help. He tells her how his
career in Starfleet is the last thing he is thinking about.
He thinks Paul is not ready to command. Mrs. Mayweather
disagrees – she tells him how his father was a worse
commanding officer when he first took over. How he almost
lost his shipping license because he got so far behind.
Mrs. Mayweather says that everyone is proud of Travis onboard
the Horizon, even Paul.
Onboard the Enterprise, Trip and Archer try to make T'pol
see why humans would want to scare themselves. When discussing
the movie, T'pol, the outsider, of course connects
with the outsider, the monster. She sees the movie as a
story of someone persecuted because of his differences.
She compares it to the Vulcan's reception on Earth
when first landing. Archer and Trip try to defend themselves,
but T'pol doesn't see it. She, in fact, plans
on recommending Soval watch it and show it to new Vulcans
arriving on Earth, so they know what to expect. As they
finish their conversation, new, bright eruptions form on
the planet below them. When they get back to the bridge,
T'pol finds living organisms on the planet, and quotes
the horribly cliché "It's Alive!"
Back on the Horizon, the enemy cruiser shows up. They
demand that they surrender the vessel. When Paul offers
their cargo, not the ship, the aliens begin to attack.
Paul looks to Travis for the solution. Travis then tells
them to release the clamps on the cargo so he can maneuver
better. After taking the helm and releasing all the clamps,
Travis takes the, now small Horizon into a dancing battle
with the enemy ship. As the Horizon gets badly damaged,
Travis finally gets behind them and knocks out their engines
and weapons. Paul then hails the enemy ship, threatens
them to stay away, gathers up the cargo and they leave.
Later, in Travis' quarters, Travis packs as Paul
comes in. He tells him the Enterprise is 20 minutes out.
Travis offers the Enterprise's help in removing the
beacon. Travis and Paul bond over Travis' old star
chart and they walk away from each other smiling.
Archer awaits Travis on the other side of the airlock
as he comes out. When Archer asks about some damage on
the Horizon, Travis says it's probably some old meteorite
damage. After Archer prompts if everything is all right,
Travis responds with "never better."
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