Template:Realworld In the mirror universe, the destruction of Enterprise leaves the crew stranded aboard the USS Defiant, a ship from a future parallel universe where a governing body known as the United Federation of Planets reigns, inspiring T'Pol to speak out against the tyranny of the Terran Empire. (Part 2 of 2)
Summary
On the bridge of the USS Defiant, having just witnessed the destruction of the ISS Enterprise by the Tholians, Commander Archer orders Chief Engineer Tucker to get the Defiant underway. Tucker reports that the ship's thrusters are online, but T'Pol adds she is unable to release the docking clamps that hold Defiant in the Tholian dock. Archer then pressures Tucker to get the Defiant's weapons online.
At the navigator's station, Major Reed reports that shields are online, and Archer orders them raised. The shields are able to weaken the docking clamps, but not enough to release the ship. Manning the helm station, Archer alternates the ship's port and starboard thrusters, which shakes the Defiant free from the docking clamps.
A Tholian web seals the Defiant's escape route
As Archer begins to maneuver the Defiant out of the dock, T'Pol informs him that six Tholian vessels are approaching the starship. Archer again pressures Tucker to bring weapons online, but the engineer reports that he is not sure if he can do so, as the power couplings needed to activate the weapons have been removed. Before Archer can reply, Corporal Mayweather directs Archer's attention to the main viewscreen in time for him to see the Tholian ships creating an energy net over the opening of the dock, effectively preventing the Defiant's escape.
Act One
As Tucker continues working to get the ship's tactical systems online, Reed reports that more Tholian ships are approaching. Commander Tucker notifies the captain that the weapons systems will be ready in a few more seconds, shortly before the bridge suddenly shudders. Reed explains that the Tholian station has locked on a tractor beam and is dragging the Defiant back into the dock. With T'Pol's assistance, Tucker manages to bring the ship's tactical systems online. Using the vessel's phaser banks, they destroy the tractor beam emitter and three of the six ships generating the energy web that was blocking them from leaving the dock. Archer and Reed smile as the remaining Tholian ships retreat. However, as the Defiant exits the dock, the Tholian station fires at the ship. The Defiant retaliates by launching several aft torpedoes at the meteor-based station, attacking the dock until the vessel is out of range. Reed then informs Archer that scanners have detected several life pods, all belonging to the destroyed Enterprise. Archer has the pods brought aboard.
As the Defiant travels on impulse power, Archer confers with his officers in the ship's briefing room, where he demands that Tucker repair the ship's warp drive. The commander informs him that engineering was heavily stripped, and even though most of the missing components are still in the hangar deck, Tucker would need a few days to figure out how to put them back together. Archer responds that if the ship does not have warp power within twelve hours, he'll recruit a new chief engineer. T'Pol then advises that they make use of the alien slave workers aboard the Defiant, as their intricate knowledge of the systems aboard the vessel may help to quicken repairs. Archer approves of T'Pol's idea, telling Reed to keep the workers under close surveillance. The captain reveals he intends to rendezvous with the assault fleet fighting the rebellion against the Terran Empire as soon as warp capability is restored. T'Pol protests, believing the ship is in no condition for battle, especially since there are only 47 officers currently aboard, when the Defiant was designed to be operated by a crew of 400. The Vulcan suggests that Archer take the Defiant back to Earth for study, but the captain interjects, stating that the Terran Empire could lose the war against the rebels within weeks if the Defiant and its advanced weaponry are not brought to the front lines immediately. He then dismisses everyone in the room, with the exception of T'Pol and Mayweather, who has become his personal guard. Once the others have left, Archer takes a phase rifle from Mayweather. Threatening T'Pol with the weapon, the captain warns that he is considering killing her for betraying him earlier. T'Pol desperately pleads that the Starfleet orders giving Archer command of Enterprise were obviously fabricated and that, as a Starfleet officer, it was her duty to help Captain Forrest regain command of his ship. She reveals to Archer that, prior to transporting aboard the Defiant, Forrest had ordered her to kill Archer. However, because Forrest was killed aboard the Enterprise, his orders are no longer valid, and she is now willing to accept Archer as her commanding officer. Archer then claims that he never had any problem with Vulcans until they joined the rebellion, and that he would kill her now if he didn't need her skills to get the Defiant operational again. He then begins to forewarn T'Pol of the consequences if he suspects that she may betray him again, but the Vulcan interrupts, stating that she understands, and Archer dismisses her.
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Archer proudly displays a Starfleet captain's wraparound tunic
Later, Hoshi Sato – the Captain's woman – arrives at the captain's quarters, where she finds Archer wearing a 23rd century captain's wraparound tunic, which he found in the captain's wardrobe. Sato is unimpressed, stating that the people of the alternate universe have strange concepts for uniforms. Archer tells Sato that he can find no mention of the Terran Empire in the Defiant's computer banks. He notes that many of the names from the parallel universe are the same, but history is drastically different. In the other universe, rather than forming an Empire, Earth became a part of an interspecies alliance known as the United Federation of Planets. When Sato asks if she and the captain existed in the other universe, Archer cues up her counterpart's profile. As Archer reads the data in the profile, Sato grows increasingly uncomfortable with the unremarkable details. She tells the computer to bring up the profile on Archer's counterpart. She is amused to find that the other Archer was not only given command of that universe's Enterprise, but he was also a noted explorer and diplomat. The captain argues that his counterpart was not a great man and believes he sold out Earth's future to "a group of sub-Human species." Archer remarks that great men are not peace-makers, they are conquerors. Sato encourages him not to worry about his counterpart's future, as this Archer's future is only just beginning. She tells him that when he returns to Terran space with the Defiant, he will be declared a hero of the Empire. She claims that Starfleet Command will have no choice but to give Archer a ship of his own, but the captain replies that he already has his own command – the Defiant.
In the ship's engineering section, Tucker arrives at a warp junction after he was summoned there by Ensign Kelby. Kelby notifies the chief engineer that the two plasma regulators needed for the ship to achieve warp are missing, but that they were in place only ten minutes prior, meaning someone must have removed them in that time. Tucker threatens Kelby to find the regulators, or he will be made responsible for the Defiant's inability to go to warp. Tucker then leaves Kelby to his work. A moment later, Kelby hears rattling in the crawlway above and climbs up to investigate. He finds one of the plasma regulators lying on the floor of the crawlway. When he goes to retrieve it, however, he is pulled headfirst into the Jefferies tube above him.
Archer orders his crew to find the saboteur
On the bridge, Doctor Phlox later informs Archer he has determined that a large reptilian creature killed Ensign Kelby, as traces of reptilian saliva were found in the ensign's wounds. T'Pol states that the ship's internal sensors indicate that the creature is not present in the primary hull, but notes that the sensors in the engineering hull are still off line. Tucker arrives to tell Archer the plasma regulators cannot be found. Without them, the engineer is unable to initialize the reaction chamber that activates the ship's warp drive. T'Pol notes that whoever sabotaged the ship must have had knowledge of the ship's systems. Archer turns to Reed and orders the major to bring one of the alien slave workers to the briefing room for interrogation.
Later, one of the alien workers is bound to a chair in the briefing room as Mayweather punches him. The alien cries in pain that the reptilian creature told the workers it would kill them if they revealed any information about the creature. However, Archer responds that the alien will die now if he refuses to talk. The worker continues to beg, so Archer tells Mayweather to stand aside before pulling out a hand phaser and adjusting the weapon's settings. Using an intercom, T'Pol contacts Reed and tells him to bring in another worker. Archer tells the alien he has heard that the newly-discovered phaser weapons can cause matter to disintegrate, and that he has been wanting to test it. He then points the phaser at the worker's head. Consequently, the worker reveals that the reptilian creature is his slave master, named Slar. The alien tells Archer that the creature is hiding in the ship's crawlways, most likely in an area where conditions are most warm, as the creature's species prefers hot temperatures. When pressed to reveal the name of the creature's species, the worker informs the captain that Slar is a Gorn, a reptilian race Archer has encountered before.
Act Two
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Reed shows Archer a schematic of the Defiant
Later, Reed shows Captain Archer an internal schematic of the Defiant on the starship's bridge. The major reports that a team of officers cornered the Gorn in turboshaft three. However, when Slar escaped through an access tube, Reed lost communication with McKenzie and Brown. Archer thinks he hears a voice from the command chair - his counterpart in the parallel universe that the Defiant came from. However, the captain is simply hallucinating that the second Archer is on the bridge. Archer's duplicate, an embodiment of the real Archer's self doubt, comments that the real captain is taking too long. (Archer's duplicate, while supposedly from "our" universe, reacts as if he is from the parellel universe) Reed continues indistinctly as the hallucination boasts that he took care of his own crew himself when they were in jeopardy, instead of expecting security officers to handle the situation. Listening to the fantasy character, Archer shouts at Reed that a team of Tellarites could find the Gorn faster than the major's officers. Archer also orders Reed to form an assault team that the captain will lead. At her station, Hoshi Sato receives a transmission from inside the Defiant that she suspects is being sent by the Gorn. Although Ensign Sato is unable to locate the reptilian, Archer informs her that he is willing to talk with Slar. After a brief moment, Hoshi remarks that the translation matrix is online, allowing Archer and the Gorn to understand each other.
The captain demands that the creature returns the plasma regulators that it stole. With hissing, raspy snarls, Slar's translated voice indicates that the Gorn is desperate to leave the ship. Archer offers to discuss the reptilian's predicament if Slar returns the regulators, but the Gorn refuses the possibility of a compromise. Slar reveals that he is familiar with Humans, but he does not trust them. The reptilian orders Archer to give him a shuttlecraft, stating that he will disclose the location of the vital components once he has escaped the Defiant. However, Archer shouts that he will not negotiate with the Gorn and insists that Slar immediately returns the regulators. The captain begins to threaten the creature, but is interrupted when the reptilian abruptly ends their conversation by closing the channel. Archer angrily turns to Reed at the navigator's console and reminds the major to arrange an assault team consisting of the best security officers aboard. Reed promptly leaves his position and heads for a turbolift at the rear of the bridge. T'Pol approaches Archer and comments that Slar's proposition seems fair, but the captain suspects that the creature's offer is not genuine. Archer fears that, if Slar was given the shuttlecraft he has asked for, the creature would contact the Gorn Hegemony and accompany a warship back to the Defiant. As the captain heads for the turbolift, he states he also believes that the Gorn does not intend to return the plasma regulators that the Defiant needs to go to warp. With only impulse velocity available, the starship would be easily damaged, or even destroyed. Before T'Pol can respond, Archer steps into the turbolift and the doors close behind him.
Inside the turbolift, the captain's hallucinatory double reappears. The fantasy character whispers to the real Archer that he will be finally rewarded with the honor he deserves if he manages to defeat Slar.
Later, three MACOs follow Archer and Reed through a corridor, up a ladder and into a crawlway. When they reach the crawlway, Reed detects an extremely faint biosign. Believing it is an indication of Slar's presence, Archer devises a strategy to corner the Gorn. Reed takes two of the MACOs with him, and separates from Archer. Reed's team approach the creature's position, but find only a communicator that has been rigged to emit a biosign. The major contacts Archer and informs the captain of their discovery. Archer instructs Reed to rendezvous with him and the remaining MACO and then ends their discussion. Reed orders one of the MACOs in his team to deactivate the communicator when he hears a beeping sound from overhead. Realizing that Slar has set a trap, the major begins to run further down the corridor, but the explosion throws him to the ground. The blast also shakes the bulkheads where Archer is situated. The captain soon arrives at the scene of the explosion, where Reed apologizes for his failure and loses consciousness. Using his communicator, Archer hails the bridge and asks T'Pol where the Gorn is hiding. As the captain rolls Major Reed's body over to face upwards, the Vulcan reports that Slar has moved to a location on deck nine of the primary hull, the saucer section of the ship. Archer tells her to access the environmental controls on deck nine and wait for his to signal. T'Pol acknowledges the captain's order and Archer replaces his communicator on the belt around his waist. On his way out of the wreckage caused by the Gorn's detonation device, Archer passes one of the MACOs who died alongside Reed when the bomb exploded.
Slar
Soon, Archer climbs down a ladder to deck nine while the MACO with him searches the area for possible traps. As the captain leads the MACO down the corridor, they pass a dead member of the Defiant's crew. From overheard, Slar watches while Archer and the MACO continue through the corridor. More dead crew members lie in a separate section of the corridor, where broken cables hang from above. After the MACO and Archer stealthily creep past a sign that points the way to the briefing room, the captain walks directly beneath the Gorn. Archer turns round to face the opposite direction. When he sees nothing there, he turns back to the MACO and nods. The MACO responds to the gesture by continuing through the corridor. Relieved, Archer begins to follow the MACO but Slar's ambush comes quickly, when the Gorn suddenly leaps from the ceiling. Although the captain is armed with a phaser, he drops it in the unexpected attack. As Archer battles with the creature on the Defiant's floor, the MACO punches Slar from behind. The Gorn furiously rips at the captain's leg, tearing a gash in Archer's flesh. Injured by Slar's blow, the captain rolls in agony, unable to defend himself.
Seeing Archer in jeopardy, the MACO continues his attack. The creature roars with each of the MACO's impacts, but soon manages to overpower its attacker. Archer watches as the Gorn violently batters the MACO, hammering the officer against a bulkhead. When Slar drops the MACO to the ground and turns his attention towards Archer, the captain desperately contacts T'Pol while hauling himself away from the Gorn. As the creature follows Archer, the captain passes a sign on the floor positioned between two sections of the corridor. The captain reads the section of the deck from the sign to T'Pol and gives her an indication to put their plan into action. Archer pulls himself past the sign shortly before T'Pol increases the artificial gravity in the section of corridor where Slar is. Archer's plan is successful and Slar is dragged down by the force of the gravity plating. After the captain gets to his feet, two armed MACOs enter from a turbolift in his section. Using one of the MACOs' weapons, Archer immediately shoots Slar six times.
- "Defiant Starlog, January 18, 2155. We've recovered the missing engine components and I've ordered a course to rendezvous with the assault fleet."
Next to a game of three-dimensional chess, T'Pol and Doctor Phlox discuss Major Reed while they eat at a separate table. When the Vulcan asks about Reed's condition, Phlox is unsure whether the major will survive his injuries. However, the doctor is amused by the fact that there are probably a number of people aboard who would discreetly celebrate Reed's death. T'Pol switches the topic of their conversation when she comments that Phlox has frequently been using the ship's library database. The doctor explains that he was using the ship's computer to research classical literature of the Defiant's universe and compare it with his own. He discovered that the stories were similar, but the characters in the classics of the parallel universe showed weakness and compassion. Phlox notes that one exception was William Shakespeare's plays, which were equally "grim" in both universes. While Phlox takes a drink of his beverage, T'Pol advises the doctor to examine the historical files of the other universe. T'Pol is interested that Humans, Vulcans and Denobulans are considered equals in the parallel universe. When Phlox only replies with a murmur before taking another drink, T'Pol thinks that the doctor does not find her statements fascinating. Setting his glass down firmly on their table, Phlox tells T'Pol that he is scared the ship's historical files may lead the crew to adopt the ideals of the other universe. T'Pol begins to answer the doctor, but she is interrupted when Captain Archer's voice orders the crew to battlestations.
T’Pol watches helplessly as Archer orders an attack on a Vulcan rebel ship
Meanwhile, the NX class starship ISS Avenger rushes through a debris field, pursued by four hostile alien vessels – a Tellarite craft, two Kumari-class Andorian ships and a D'Kyr-type Vulcan cruiser.
On the damaged wreckage that was once Avenger's bridge, the ship's captain sits in the command chair with a piece of shrapnel embedded in his skull. While the bridge continually shudders, Admiral Black checks whether the captain is still alive. When Black confirms that the captain dead, he turns to Crewman Soval at the science station and demands a report. According to the Vulcan science officer, a hull breach is imminent on Avenger's B Deck, although emergency bulkheads are in place and holding. Black instructs the ship's tactical officer to concentrate what little fire-power Avenger still has on the two Andorian ships. However, Soval calls from his station that the starship's hull plating is at 32%. Soval adds that another vessel is approaching their position. When Black asks if the arriving craft is another rebel ship, the science officer seems surprised that the answer is negative.
In space, the Defiant destroys one of the Andorian vessels and seriously cripples the other, although the enemy Tellarite craft approaches the Avenger and opens fire.
On the Defiant's bridge, Corporal Mayweather reports that the starship's offensive was successful. When the room shudders slightly, Hoshi Sato explains that it was caused by an attack from the Tellarite craft. She adds that the Defiant has not been damaged by the enemy ship. Archer orders Mayweather to lock weapons on the Tellarite vessel's warp reactor and fire when ready. Using the viewer at his station, Mayweather complies with Archer's instructions and destroys the Tellarite craft. At the comm station, Hoshi notes that the Vulcan cruiser is attempting to leave the battle. When the captain orders Mayweather to pursue the rebel cruiser, T'Pol approaches the command chair and tries to persuade Archer to let the Vulcan ship escape as they pose no threat. However, the captain interrupts T'Pol and authorizes Mayweather to open fire. With a deeply saddened expression on her face, the science officer turns her attention to the main viewscreen.
The Defiant destroys the Vulcan cruiser
From Avenger's bridge, Admiral Black contacts the Defiant
Firing a barrage of photon torpedoes, the Defiant completely obliterates the Vulcan cruiser.
With a barely concealed look of misery and disgust, T'Pol turns to focus on Hoshi Sato, who comments that the last rebel ship – the remaining Andorian vessel – is retreating from the conflict. Mayweather reports that weapons are locked on the surviving enemy craft, but Archer refuses him permission to fire on the rebel ship, as he believes it will carry news of the defeat back to the other rebels. Archer leans back, sprawled across his command chair, and tells Sato to contact Avenger. On the main viewscreen, an image of Admiral Black appears. Upon seeing Archer, the admiral is stunned. The captain moves from his chair and apologizes for the Defiant's lateness. When Black wonders where Enterprise and Captain Forrest are, the captain responds that it will take a while for him to explain the situation. He also suggests that the admiral may enjoy a tour of the Defiant.
While the two Starfleet ships travel alongside each other, Archer, Soval, Mayweather, Admiral Black and his Starfleet Security bodyguard enter the briefing room aboard the Defiant. T'Pol stands at attention and waits inside for the officers to enter. Admiral Black remarks that the Defiant is an impressive ship. When the admiral refers to Archer as a "commander", the captain bristles slightly at hearing his official rank. Soval and T'Pol share a look of recognition as they pass each other. Taking a position in the middle of the room, Admiral Black opines that Starfleet can use the Defiant to successfully crush the rebellion. He reveals that he is planning to recommend Archer for command of his own ship, but the captain reminds Black that he has the authority to grant officers a battlefield promotion. The admiral reacts slightly, shocked at Archer's overconfidence. When Black answers that there are no vessels currently available for Archer to command, the captain attempts to convince Black to officially promote him to commanding officer of the Defiant.
The admiral smiles but comments that Fleet Admiral Gardner probably has other plans for the advanced starship. Again, Archer's mind adds the presence of his parallel universe duplicate to the situation. As Black continues talking indistinctly, the imaginary character mocks Archer's attempts to gain command of the Defiant. The captain listens as his counterpart tells him that Starfleet are obviously planning to dissect the starship for study of its advanced systems, while Archer will probably become the commander of an unsophisticated moon shuttle. Archer's expression becomes more stern as his duplicate states that Admiral Black is obviously intending to present the Defiant to the Emperor and take all the credit for the starship himself, while Archer's legacy will be some small historical footnote. Black claims that Humans owe Archer for helping to overpower the rebellion and changing the course of the war. Maintaining that his rank is captain, Archer "relieves" Admiral Black. Suddenly, Mayweather swings a kick at the Starfleet Security bodyguard, knocking him to the deck. Ensuring that Archer stays in command of the Defiant, the captain shoots Black with a phaser, instantly vaporizing the admiral.
Act Three
While the Defiant and Avenger continue to travel alongside each other, several officers are gathered in the launch bay aboard Avenger. The crew members present include Doctor Phlox, Hoshi Sato, Commander Tucker, Avenger's Andorian helmsman, a female Orion officer from Avenger, Soval and T'Pol. The other attendees are all members of Avenger's crew. The officers stand in order as Archer, standing on a walkway above them, talks about the war against the rebels. He dramatically reminds the officers that the rebels have destroyed an entire assault fleet, killing thousands of Starfleet officers in the process. Archer comments that the officers who stand before him now would also be dead, if the Defiant had not arrived when it did. The captain leaves the walkway and steps on to a shuttlepod as he blames the "criminals" who sit comfortably in their offices back at Starfleet Command for the outrageous loss to the Terran Empire. The captain adds that he will not sit back and watch as the dishonorable officers at Starfleet Command continue to destroy the Empire, a government that has existed and endured for centuries. Archer lowers himself on to one knee and implores the officers before him to grant him their allegiance. The captain insists that they must defeat the officers at Starfleet Command before they can tackle the problem of the rebellion. He also claims that the Defiant will help them to succeed and that they will be unstoppable with the starship's advanced systems.
Later, Soval sits in his quarters aboard Avenger in deep thought. When he hears a visitor signal their arrival outside his door, he permits them to enter. T'Pol steps inside the room and displays a Vulcan salute, although Soval states it is not wise to perform the hand gesture, even in private. When T'Pol lowers her arm, Soval comments that he is pleased to see her. The Vulcan female asks Soval whether he has read the Defiant's historical files, the same files that she recommended to Phlox earlier. Soval replies that he found the differences between their universe and the Defiant's universe "intriguing". However, he doubts that an organization like the parallel universe's Federation could develop in their own universe. T'Pol confronts the Vulcan crewman, stating that she had the impression that Soval was an idealist, but he replies that he stopped being a visionary many years ago. When T'Pol argues that they must attempt to stop Archer from conquering the Terran Empire, Soval responds that the captain is correct in his belief that the Empire has become corrupt.
Although Soval speculates that a new leader may help to improve the Terran Empire, T'Pol retorts that the Vulcan species will suffer if Archer manages to seize control. T'Pol emphatically adds that the Defiant's advanced weaponry will massacre the rebels, killing thousands of Vulcans who fight for the rebellion. She tells Soval that they can provide the rebels with an advantage by giving them data concerning the Defiant's engines and tactical systems from the ship's computer. Soval remarks that the data will be of little help to the rebellion, as Archer will still be in command of the starship. When T'Pol declares that she intends to destroy the Defiant, Soval is shocked and alarmed as he backs away from her and rises from his chair. T'Pol urges him to help her disable the Defiant's power systems. She also asks if Soval really wants to serve the Terran Empire for the rest of his life, but the Vulcan lieutenant commander answers that he is "too old to become a revolutionary". T'Pol informs him that, during her close relationship with Archer, she has learned that the captain blames Vulcans for provoking the rebels and will destroy the planet Vulcan if he becomes Emperor. She encourages Soval again and states that she needs his help.
While Archer sits upright in the darkness of the captain's quarters aboard the Defiant, Sato lies in his bed. When she sits forward and kisses Archer's back, the captain gasps. Sato runs her hand over Archer's back as he worries that the senior staff are not confident he will manage to overthrow the Emperor. As Sato massages his back, she whispers to Archer that the officers will change their opinion. When the captain states that T'Pol doesn't approve of his plan, Sato lowers her hand and quietly suggests that Archer could get rid of the Vulcan. She kisses Archer's back again, shortly before the captain spins round to face her. He announces his intention to transfer all the non-Terrans currently aboard Defiant off the ship, claiming that the rebels have spies everywhere. Sato seductively leans forward and quietly reminds Archer that the ship's doctor is an alien. In the dark, the captain's woman moans as she kisses Archer again and slowly works her way down his body. Archer states he doesn't have a problem with Phlox, as the doctor's species are not members of the rebellion. When Sato moves back up, Archer embraces her in a passionate kiss. He confirms that Phlox can stay aboard the ship and continues to caress Sato in a kiss. As she sighs and moans, Sato informs the captain that she has never been the lover of an Emperor before. When she asks if there is anything she will be required to learn, Archer replies that she is already equipped with the basics. Sato leans back and returns to the bed with Archer.
Using a data card, T'Pol downloads schematics of the Defiant
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From his office at Starfleet Command, Fleet Admiral Gardner contacts the Defiant
Later, while T'Pol sits at the science station on the Defiant's bridge, the Vulcan looks around at the other officers in the room. When she is certain that no one is watching her, T'Pol begins to download schematics of the vessel's systems from the ship's computer to a data card. Archer, Mayweather and a MACO emerge from a turbolift and the captain orders the relief communications officer to contact Fleet Admiral Gardner. T'Pol discreetly slips the data card into her hand before she hears Archer instruct the MACO to accompany her to transporter room two. After the MACO walks to her station, T'Pol stands up and heads for the turbolift, but is stopped by Archer. Mayweather removes T'Pol's dagger and phase pistol from her belt and the captain dismisses her from active service aboard the Defiant. He intentionally knocks into her as an image of Admiral Gardner appears on the main viewscreen. In his office at Starfleet Command, the admiral is outraged that Archer has sent a message demanding Starfleet's "unconditional surrender". Mayweather and the MACO escort T'Pol into the turbolift as Archer and Gardner continue their discussion. The admiral shouts angrily at Archer, wondering if he has gone mad. As the captain moves to the command chair, he coolly replies that the Defiant has extremely powerful weapons. When Gardner demands to talk with Admiral Black, Archer claims that Black is momentarily unavailable and takes a seat. The captain advises Gardner to order all Starfleet ships to surrender, as they will be destroyed if they attack the Defiant. In response, the admiral threatens Archer to stay away from Earth or the starship will be fired upon. Gardner works a control off-screen, ending his transmission. The Defiant's viewscreen changes to an image of the passing stars as Archer continues to sit in the command chair with a frustrated expression.
Meanwhile, the ship's doctor walks through a corridor, where he is signaled by an intercom and a female's voice from the bridge. Activating a control on the communications device, Phlox answers the call. The female voice reports a medical emergency on the Avenger and adds that the doctor is needed immediately aboard that ship. Phlox acknowledges the message and leaves the intercom.
In a corridor aboard the Avenger, Soval holds a PADD and waits with T'Pol. Carrying a medkit, Phlox rounds a corner and sees the two Vulcans. When he approaches them, he comments that they do not look injured.
On the walkway above the Avenger's launch bay, the Vulcans attempt to convince Phlox to join them. The Denobulan doctor is astonished that they have asked him to help sabotage the Defiant. Soval explains that Phlox's actions will not arouse suspicion aboard the Federation starship, but the presence of any other alien would, as the doctor is now the only non-Terran aboard the Defiant. As Phlox turns to leave, T'Pol reminds him of the captain's speech, evidence that Archer is delusional. Phlox argues that the captain is not delusional if he can achieve what he promises, and adds that there has been reason to doubt Archer's word. The doctor tells the Vulcans that he intends to report their conspiracy to the captain and again turns to exit. As he is about to go, Soval questions Phlox's loyalty to the Terran Empire. When the doctor answers that he would never betray the Empire, T'Pol points out that Archer is meaning to kill the Emperor and replace him. Phlox responds that Archer has proven himself a worthy soldier and could be a successful Emperor. The Vulcans present the doctor's options to him - assuming that Archer will fail, the Defiant's crew will be executed for aiding him; if any of the officers turn against Archer and help to save the Emperor's life, the ruler of the Empire will grant them any request they ask of him. The doctor states that, if the Emperor were his patient, Phlox would be responsible for the Emperor's life. The Denobulan likens his current dilemma to that situation and finally agrees to help the Vulcans.
Act Four
Later, T'Pol hurriedly paces through a corridor aboard Avenger, occasionally looking behind her to check that she is not being followed. When she comes to a turbolift door at the end of the corridor, T'Pol activates a control at the side of the entrance. The door opens, revealing Hoshi Sato and a MACO inside the turbolift. The officers are armed with phase weapons that they aim at T'Pol. Although the Vulcan feigns innocence, Sato is aware of T'Pol's deceit. Forcing T'Pol back, the officers exit the turbolift. Sato has learned of the schematics that the Vulcan downloaded and demands to know where they are, but T'Pol continues to act surprised. When Ensign Sato glances at the MACO, he interprets her look as an indication to disarm T'Pol. After the MACO removes the Vulcan's dagger, he and Hoshi raise their weapons and order T'Pol to keep walking away from the turbolift. Although she initially complies, the Vulcan suddenly swings round to fight the officers. T'Pol manages to kick Sato's phase pistol out of her grasp. Kicking the MACO against the turbolift door, T'Pol is struck when Sato's dagger rips a wound in her cheek. The injury draws green Vulcan blood that slowly pours down the side of T'Pol's face. Sato attempts to strike T'Pol again, but she misses when the Vulcan dives out of the way. The female officers continue to battle with each other, trading insults and comments as they fight. Eventually, T'Pol punches Sato, who falls to the deck. T'Pol tries to escape, but the MACO shoots her in the back with his phase rifle, rendering her unconscious. As Hoshi rises to her feet, she instructs the guard to bring T'Pol with them.
In a corridor aboard the Defiant, Phlox makes sure he is alone before he climbs into a warp junction tube and begins to ascend the maintenance conduit.
On the bridge of the Avenger, the Andorian helmsman removes a dead officer from the helm and takes his place. From directly behind the Andorian, Soval issues orders to disable the turbolift system and to secure the bridge. The female Orion crew member, a tactical officer, removes a dead member of the crew from her station and begins to comply with the Vulcan's commands.
Interrogated by Archer in Defiant's briefing room
Phlox begins his work
In the darkened briefing room aboard the Defiant, Archer holds the data card that T'Pol used earlier and suspends it before her. T'Pol's hair droops down in front of her face and her wound appears to have healed. When the captain asks the identity of T'Pol's accomplices, the Vulcan does not respond. As she sits silently in manacles, Archer lifts T'Pol's fringe up with the data card. He implies that she will die if she does not answer his questions and tosses the Vulcan's hair back over her face. T'Pol assures the captain that her death would be inconsequential, as Archer's defeat is inevitable. In response, Archer claims that he will prevail as long as he commands the Defiant and the starship's highly-developed tactical systems. Although T'Pol states that the Federation of the parallel universe will be formed in the future of their own universe, Archer responds that she is mistaking their reality for someone else's. T'Pol angrily asserts that Humans will eventually pay for their arrogance.
In a crawlway between decks, Phlox removes the exterior casing from a panel. Using instruments from his medkit, the Denobulan begins his work, but is interrupted when Soval hails him. Answering his communicator, Phlox implies annoyance at the Vulcan's frequent communications. He also expresses frustration that the panel's interior looks completely different to its appearance in a schematic. Soval instructs him that the relays he requires are hidden beneath a duotronic module. After Phlox removes the module, the Vulcan tells him to disengage the plasma flow regulators before removing the relays or he will ignite the plasma. The doctor seems slightly agitated when he hears Soval's instruction, but ultimately continues with his task.
On Avenger's bridge, the science station alerts Soval that someone is attempting to hack into the bridge lock-outs. The Vulcan contacts Phlox and advises him to hurry.
Meanwhile, on the bridge of the Defiant, Corporal Mayweather notices that the advanced starship's warp field is unstable. He notifies Commander Tucker of his discovery, who determines that the fluctuation is being caused by a power drain. Just before Travis contacts Archer, Trip stops him. The engineer theorizes that a microfracture may be causing the power drain. He suggests that they do not alert the captain to something that may be insignificant and takes responsibility for the situation. Tucker orders a relief officer to man his station, while Mayweather continues to monitor the helm.
In the briefing room, Archer instructs a MACO to transport to the Avenger with an assault team and arrest every alien aboard that ship. The MACO nods in acknowledgment of his orders and leaves the room. Approaching the captain, Sato suggests that he should kill T'Pol as she is still not responding to questions. Archer remarks that Sato has been anticipating the Vulcan's death for a long time and moves to kiss the ensign. Suddenly, the room shudders, splitting Archer and Sato.
As the crawlway trembles around him, Phlox removes another relay.
Simultaneously, Archer hails the bridge as the briefing room continues to shake violently. A male voice from an intercom reports that the Defiant has lost main power and is no longer traveling at warp.
Aboard the Avenger, Soval directs the Andorian helmsman to bring their ship near to the Defiant. The Vulcan then leans close to the Orion tactical officer and orders her to target the saucer section of the other vessel.
In space, the NX-class starship rushes toward the Defiant while attacking with plasma bursts The Avenger swoops below the advanced craft as sections of the Defiant's primary hull explode.
Phlox defends himself after sabotaging Defiant's power grid
In the crawlway aboard the Defiant, Commander Tucker creeps toward Phlox. As the doctor hails the Avenger and requests to be transported off the Federation ship, the engineer pounces on him. They collide and hit the deck as nearby explosions repeatedly illuminate their faces. As they struggle, Tucker shouts, "What the hell have you done?" Phlox throws Tucker off him and starts to get up.
A console on the bridge erupts as Archer and Hoshi enter from a turbolift. Running to the helm, the captain pushes an officer off the navigator's station. Explosions erupt as Mayweather informs him that all of the ship's systems, including Defiant's weaponry, have been disabled. Archer furiously thumps his fist against the helm as the undefended starship continues to be battered by Avenger.
Meanwhile, the tactical station aboard the NX-class ship signals. Looking at the Orion female's console, Soval instructs her to keep firing weapons at the Defiant.
In the crawlway, Phlox's phase pistol lies on the ground. The doctor tries to pick it up, but Tucker grabs Phlox and lifts him back from the weapon. Standing, the Denobulan punches Trip and tries to retrieve the weapon again. Using an instrument from the doctor's medkit, Tucker injures Phlox and the Denobulan falls to the ground, unconscious. The engineer moves to the relays and begins to replace them in their correct positions.
On the Defiant's bridge, Corporal Mayweather utilizes the viewer at his station and reports that power is being restored. When he notifies Archer that the vessel's shields are on-line, the captain orders them raised.
On Avenger's bridge, Soval contacts Phlox.
However, in the crawlway aboard the Defiant, the Denobulan's communicator lies on the ground as Tucker continues to return the relays to their rightful places. Soval's voice calls that the Federation vessel's primary systems are coming back on-line and demands the doctor to report, growing increasingly frantic as he does so.
On the bridge, Mayweather announces the Defiant's armaments are functional. Consequently, Archer shouts at him to destroy the Avenger.
In space, the Defiant turns toward its target, firing a barrage of photon torpedoes at the NX-class ship. The Federation craft shoots phasers from its engineering hull as it ruthlessly hammers the Terran Empire vessel.
Aboard Avenger, Soval and the Orion officer flinch at explosions on the ship's bridge. While the Vulcan moves to the command chair, he instructs the Andorian helmsman to maneuver the ship out of weapons range of the Defiant. When a support strut falls down from the roof, Soval stumbles over it and lands in the command chair. Shouting above the din of detonations that surround him, the Vulcan desperately directs his officers to channel all of the Avenger's power to the vessel's hull plating. Defeated, Soval cowers in the command chair.
On the Defiant's bridge, Hoshi smiles as she informs Archer that the enemy craft is severely damaged. When Mayweather adds that the Avenger is distancing itself from the Federation vessel, Archer directs the corporal to fire photon torpedoes at the Avenger's warp reactor.
With the Andorian and Orion officers dead, Soval screams on the bridge of his doomed starship as flames completely engulf the room.
In space, torpedoes continue to hit Avenger before the craft finally explodes.
Later, Archer and Sato are in the captain's quarters, drenched in sweat. They lie down on Archer's bed and the captain rolls on to Sato's back. He tells her to delete the Defiant's historical database in the morning, so the files do not influence any other members of the crew. Once Archer rolls off her, Sato leans over the side of the bed and takes two glasses from the floor. Handing Archer one of the drinks, she states that the crew should purge all information about their counterparts from the ship's computer. Both officers simultaneously take a drink from their glasses and Sato changes the subject of their conversation. She states that the assault fleet will return to Earth in a day and asks Archer if he thinks the commanders of those vessels will support him. The captain responds that his reign as Emperor will have already begun by the time the fleet come home and that the commanders are always willing to serve the Emperor, whoever that may be. Archer lifts his glass in the air and pours a celebratory drink into his throat. He laughs with Sato and makes plans to expand the Empire after the rebellion is crushed. Unexpectedly, the captain becomes extremely weak and is unable to finish his sentence. He groans as his body tenses in agony and falls off the side of the bed. Sato jumps off the bed and whispers to Archer, asking him if he feels all right. When he gasps, Sato runs to the door of the captain's quarters. Corporal Mayweather enters and gazes at Archer. Turning Mayweather's head to look at her, Sato kisses him as Archer's head falls to the ground.
The Defiant orbits the Earth
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Hoshi Sato declares herself Empress
In space, the Defiant orbits the planet Earth.
On the ship's bridge, Sato, Mayweather and a MACO enter from a turbolift. A communications officer contacts Fleet Admiral Gardner and displays his image on the main viewscreen. Sato threatens the admiral that the Defiant will attack Earth's cities if Starfleet does not agree to immediately surrender. Gardner asks why Archer is no longer in command of the advanced vessel and wonders who he is speaking to. Sato identifies herself as Empress Sato and advises Gardner to wait for her commands.
Memorable Quotes
"It may take centuries, but one day Humanity will pay for its arrogance."
- - T'Pol, referring to the eventual events of "Crossover"
"I'm surprised you're not exhausted from all the beds you've jumped into recently."
"Commander Tucker told me I should give you a few pointers in that area."
- - T'Pol and Hoshi Sato
"You are speaking with Empress Sato. Prepare to receive instructions."
- - Hoshi Sato
"Great men are not 'peacemakers'. Great men are conquerors!"
- - Jonathan Archer
"More like a Federation of fools!"
- - Jonathan Archer, remarking on the creation of the United Federation of Planets in our universe
"You're confusing our universe with someone else's"
- - Jonathan Archer, pointing out a mistake that could only be made in Star Trek
Background Information
Story and Script
- This episode was a sequel to TOS: "The Tholian Web" and a prequel to TOS: "Mirror, Mirror".
- For the second episode in a row, the show brings back an alien not seen since the original series; in this case the Gorn. Unlike the original series, though, the Gorn featured in this episode is computer-animated.
- In production art, this episode confirms James T. Kirk's month, date and year of birth: March 22nd, 2233. In real life, William Shatner celebrates his birthday on March 22nd.
- A freeze-frame of Archer's bio reveals that he will later become an Admiral and serve as Starfleet Chief of Staff, Ambassador to Andoria, Federation councilman, and Federation President (2184 – 2192). It also says that historian John Gill considered Archer the "greatest explorer of the 22nd Century," and that two planets were named after him, one of them Archer IV, the planet his crew visited in "Strange New World". The original production artwork can be viewed at MikeSussman.net.
- Although it did not appear on-screen, the final section of the bio would have revealed that Archer dies in 2245, one day after attending the christening ceremony of the USS Enterprise, the first Federation starship to bear the name.
- Phlox's speech comparing Shakespeare in the two universes was influenced by a passage in the non-canon novel Dark Mirror, which Sussman read before writing the script. Additionally, author Diane Duane's decision to make the mirror version of Reginald Barclay the personal guard of Mirror Picard inspired Sussman to make Mayweather the chief bodyguard for Archer.
- The script reveals that the scene in which Doctor Phlox learns about a medical emergency aboard the Avenger was originally set in the Denobulan's quarters aboard the Defiant, not in a corridor. This minor change was made to save time and money.
- This is the only episode of the series where no scenes take place aboard or near a starship Enterprise (real or mirror).
- Archer's rousing "call to action" speech in the ISS Avenger's cargo bay was trimmed for the final episode, but the full version is available as a deleted scene in the Season 4 DVD set for Star Trek: Enterprise. The deleted section is a quote from Julius Caesar's legendary battle cry ("the die is now cast"), allegedly spoken as Caesar crossed the Rubicon at the beginning of another civil war.
- The author of the teleplay has written the story for a non-canon sequel to "In a Mirror, Darkly." The novella, Age of the Empress is one of three short novels in a volume entitled Glass Empires, which was published in February 2007.
Production
Director Marvin V. Rush on the set with Anthony Montgomery.
- This is the first Star Trek episode Marvin V. Rush directed in eight years. The previous episode he directed was the 1997 Star Trek: Voyager episode "Favorite Son".
- Rather than continue to wear the bulky EV suits they came aboard in, Archer, Reed, T'Pol, Tucker, and Mayweather raid the closets of the Defiant and don TOS-style uniforms.
- Archer, who dons the Defiant's version of Kirk's infamous "green wrap-around shirt," is the only one who has rank braid on his sleeves.
- The Defiant's conn station was built by Herman Zimmerman for a museum attraction and was taken from Paramount storage for use in this episode. Due to time and budget constraints, Paramount was loaned the helm station's tactical scope from the internet fan films Star Trek: New Voyages.
- A painting of an 18th century British warship, the HMS Defiant, is seen the briefing room of the Federation ship – but in real life, no such sailing vessel ever existed. A fictional Defiant was seen in the 1962 movie Damn The Defiant! (based on the Frank Tilsey novel Mutiny), which may have been the namesake for the Template:ShipClass ship.
- When T'Pol summons another slave prisoner to the briefing room, the intercom sound effect from Star Trek: The Next Generation is used.
- In a "tip-of-the-hat" to The Original Series, T'Pol's scenes at the library computer station on the Defiant bridge were shot at the same angles as Spock's were.
- This episode marks the first time the classic red alert klaxon, which was used throughout all of the classic Star Trek series and throughout Star Trek: The Next Generation, is used since DS9: "Waltz", where it was used aboard the USS Honshu.
- The climactic fight between Phlox and Tucker was originally scripted to be shot in the Emergency Manual Monitor, a room overlooking main engineering. Unfortunately, the expense of building this set (and the optical effects showing a computer-generated Engineering through the window) necessitated the action be moved to the access tunnels. In TOS, it was not shown where (if at all) the Jefferies tubes ended up, or whether they just "ended" somewhere further up the ladder. Now it is known they lead to wider, horizontal access tunnels through which crew members can walk (slightly crouched).
Cast and Characters
- It was during the shooting of this episode that the cast was informed that the series had been cancelled.
- With this episode, Majel Barrett has been credited as a performer in all six televised Star Trek series, and all five live-action versions. She appeared as Number One, Nurse Chapel, and Lwaxana Troi, and provided the voice for the computers aboard Enterprise (NCC-1701-D), Defiant (NX-74205), various Runabouts, Voyager, and the Defiant (NCC-1764).
- Bobby Clark, who played the Gorn Captain in the original series episode "Arena", was on the set during the filming of Archer’s fight with Slar. Clark was a guest of Enterprise Stunt Coordinator Vince Deadrick, Jr., who has his own personal connection to Star Trek. He is the son of Vince Deadrick, an actor and stuntman who appeared in numerous episodes of The Original Series.
- Teleplay writer and Enterprise producer Mike Sussman appears in his only on-screen role to date as one of the redshirts littering the deck during Archer's hunt for the Gorn.
- This is the only episode where we see Admiral Gardner, albeit only his Mirror Universe counterpart.
- Some of this background information was contributed by teleplay writer and Enterprise producer Mike Sussman.
Links and References
Main Cast
- Scott Bakula as Jonathan Archer (mirror)/Jonathan Archer
- Jolene Blalock as T'Pol (mirror)
- John Billingsley as Phlox (mirror)
- Dominic Keating as Malcolm Reed (mirror)
- Anthony Montgomery as Travis Mayweather (mirror)
- Linda Park as Hoshi Sato (mirror)/Hoshi Sato
- Connor Trinneer as Charles Tucker III (mirror)
Guest Stars
- Gary Graham as Soval (mirror)
- Gregory Itzin as Black
- John Mahon as Gardner (mirror)
- Derek Magyar as Kelby (mirror)
- Pat Healy as an Alien Slave
Co-Stars
- Majel Barrett as the computer voice
- David Sobolov as Slar (voice)
Uncredited Co-Stars
- Yoshio Iizuka as V. Brown
- Glen Hambly as Andorian helmsman
- Mike Sussman as Defiant crewperson
- Michael Hugghins as B. Scott
- Andrew MacBeth as E. Hamboyan (mirror)
- Vince Deadrick, Jr. as movement track stand-in for Slar
Uncredited Stunt Doubles
- Diana Lee Inosanto as stunt double for Linda Park
- Shawn Crowder as stunt double for Connor Trinneer
- Vince Deadrick, Jr. as stunt double for John Billingsley
References
Andorian; Andorian battle cruiser; Avenger, ISS; concubine; Template:ShipClass; Defiant, HMS; Defiant, USS; Template:ShipType; Empress; Gorn; Gill, John; master systems display; Orion; photon torpedo; phaser; plasma regulator; Shakespeare, William; Tarsus IV; Tellarite; Tellarite cruiser; Tholians; velociraptor; Vulcan
| Mirror universe-related episodes | |
|---|---|
| ENT: | "In a Mirror, Darkly" • "In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II" |
| DIS: | "Into the Forest I Go" • "Despite Yourself" • "The Wolf Inside" • "Vaulting Ambition" • "What's Past Is Prologue" • "Terra Firma, Part 1" • "Terra Firma, Part 2" |
| TOS: | "Mirror, Mirror" • "The Tholian Web" |
| DS9: | "Crossover" • "Through the Looking Glass" • "Shattered Mirror" • "Resurrection" • "The Emperor's New Cloak" |
Revision ID missing! • Date missing! • Blurb
| Previous episode: "In a Mirror, Darkly" |
Star Trek: Enterprise Season 4 |
Next episode: "Demons" |