01x23 - Fallen Hero

[bunniefuu]

Excuse me?

I asked if you...

We heard you.

What makes you think
we're suffering

from a lack of sexual activity?

Starfleet forbids officers

from fraternizing
with subordinates.

Unless you've been
violating regulations...

Those regulations don't

apply to you.

Have... you been

suffering?

On Vulcan, we mate
only once every seven years.

That's a hell of a dry spell.

Why are you suddenly
so curious about this?

It's my understanding
that your mating ritual

is effective in easing tension.

That hasn't always been
my experience.

And you think that

we need our tensions eased?

Efficiency's down three percent.

Mm-hmm.

We've all gone

about ten months
without a break.

I think it's normal for people
to get a little sloppy.

Perhaps it's time
the crew takes shore leave.

Well, I like the sound of that.

I took the liberty

of locating a suitable planet

approximately nine days
from our present location.

It's called Risa.

What's your idea of suitable?

It's tropical, with an abundance
of pristine beaches.

You'll find more information
in the Vulcan database.

Is it, uh, populated?

Yes.

By a humanoid culture
receptive to easing tension.

♪ It's been a long road ♪

♪ Getting from there to here ♪

♪ It's been a long time ♪

♪ But my time is finally near ♪

♪ And I will see my dream
come alive at last ♪

♪ I will touch the sky ♪

♪ And they're not gonna
hold me down no more ♪

♪ No, they're not gonna
change my mind ♪

♪ 'Cause I've got faith ♪

♪ Of the heart ♪

♪ I'm going where my heart
will take me ♪

♪ I've got faith to believe ♪

♪ I can do anything ♪

♪ I've got strength
of the soul ♪

♪ No one's gonna bend
or break me ♪

♪ I can reach any star ♪

♪ I've got faith ♪

♪ I've got, I've got, I've got ♪

♪ I've got faith ♪

♪ Faith of the heart. ♪

If you're wearing that
to impress the women on Risa,

you may as well stay on board.

Rule number one:

You've got to be seen
to get noticed.

And I plan on getting noticed.

Don't say she didn't warn you.

Figure out your itinerary yet?

I think I'm going to pass.

Captain, you need this

as much as I do.

Nobody needs this
as much as you do.

The ship will be nice and quiet.

I've got
some astrometric surveys

that have been piling up.

It'll be a good chance
to get some work done.

We're going to a planet

with over 200 registered
Nuvian masseuses

and you're going to sit
in your cabin

with a bunch of starcharts?

Mr. Tucker has a point.

You think I need a massage?

The safety of this ship
depends on its Captain

being at his most efficient.

I suppose I could read
those surveys on a nice beach.

Incoming transmission

from Starfleet Command.

Transfer it to my ready room.

Her name's V'Lar.

She's the Vulcan Ambassador
to a planet called Mazar.

If you don't mind
my asking, Admiral,

why is this our problem?

Apparently, it's imperative that
she be taken off that planet

as soon as possible.

The nearest Vulcan ship
is at least a week away.

Do they expect us to take her
all the way back to Vulcan?

You'll rendezvous
with the Vulcan Ship Sh'Raan

in three days.

They'll take her
the rest of the way.

Any idea what the emergency is?

Well, this may come as a shock
to you, Jon,

but the Vulcans aren't talking.

Imagine that.

Thank you for volunteering
your quarters.

I'm happy to do it.

I'm looking forward
to meeting her.

I imagine she'll spend
most of the journey alone,

engaged in meditation,
but if it seems appropriate,

I'll ask
if she'll meet with you.

Thanks.

Well, if there's
anything else I can do...

If you wouldn't mind,

taking that.

Ambassador V'Lar is accustomed

to a Spartan environment.

Hoshi, thanks
for giving up your cabin.

Just hope it's Spartan
enough, sir.

Everything set?

I believe so.

I've prepared this
to familiarize the crew

with the necessary protocols.

We should assign a steward
to attend to her needs.

"Don't address the Ambassador
unless spoken to first.

"Don't offer to shake hands.

Refrain from laughing
in her presence."

Those guidelines are
largely precautionary.

I doubt the crew
will have much opportunity

to interact with her.

You seem to be pulling out
all the stops.

I'm simply following
the protocols

used in dealing
with an ambassador

of V'Lar's distinction.

Well, she'll be here
soon enough.

Let me know if you need
any help.

Thank you, Captain.

Entering orbit, sir.

We're being hailed.

It's the Mazarite High Council.

Someone's in a hurry.

Captain Archer?

I'm Jonathan Archer.

Are you prepared to receive
Ambassador V'Lar?

That's why we're here.

If you'll transmit
your landing coordinates to us,

we'll send down a shuttlepod.

I'm looking forward
to the visit.

I regret there won't be time
for that.

The Ambassador is already
on her way to your ship.

A small craft's
approaching, sir.

I assume the Vulcans have
informed you

of the urgency of this matter.

They said it was important

that we pick up the Ambassador
as quickly as possible.

They didn't say why.

V'Lar has been expelled
for abuse of her position

and criminal misconduct.

Captain Archer?

Ambassador.

On behalf of my crew,

I'd like to welcome you
aboard Enterprise.

Thank you.

May I take that?

That's very thoughtful, Captain.

This is Commander
Charles Tucker,

my Chief Engineer.

Pleased to meet you.

The pleasure is mine, Commander.

And this is my Science Officer,

Subcommander T'Pol.

T'nar pahk sarat y'rani.

T'nar jaral.

But please,

I've been anticipating
the opportunity

to practice my English.

I hope you like
your quarters, Ambassador.

T'Pol tried very hard
to anticipate your needs.

Fortunately, my needs
are few, Captain.

I am curious, though.

Who previously occupied
the cabin?

The odor.

The human scent
is difficult to mask.

Actually, I was hoping
to meet the crew member,

in order to thank her

for allowing me
to disrupt her routine.

I prefer not to inconvenience
anyone if possible.

That philosophy has served me
well in the diplomatic service.

T'Pol tells me you negotiated
the first territorial accords

between Vulcan and Andoria.

The Andorians required

a somewhat firmer hand
at the negotiating table.

But I was younger then.

That was before we even
made contact with Earth.

That was over 90 years ago.

How long have you
been a diplomat?

Commander Tucker,
I understood that on your world,

it is considered bad manners
to ask a lady her age.

Well, I wasn't... um...

I, uh...

didn't mean to imply
that you were...

Forgive me, Commander.

My attempt at humor.

Oh.

Suffice it to say,

that with T'Pol and myself here,

you're almost certainly dining

with the two oldest people
on this ship.

I hope, Ambassador,
that you regard the charges

against you with less levity.

Of course I do.

How do you intend
to defend yourself?

There is no defense.

Are you saying you're guilty?

T'Pol.

It's all right, Captain.

A person in my position carries
the trust of all Vulcans.

The fact that

the Mazarites believe
that trust has been compromised

justifies T'Pol's concern.

I'm afraid my age
is betraying me, Captain.

Would you mind if I retired?

Of course not.

I've never been to Earth,
but I find the humans

I have encountered
quite unpredictable.

I'd be interested in hearing

about your experiences there.

Another time perhaps.

I understand.

This is your cabin.

I'll say good night.

T'Pol...

I sense your anger.

You presume that
my time with humans

has left me susceptible
to their emotions.

They're our emotions as well.

We simply hide them better.

If you're sensing anything
from me, it isn't anger.

No.

Disappointment.

Good night, Ambassador.

T'Pol.

Captain.

Is there a problem
I should be aware of?

I assume you're talking
about Ambassador V'Lar.

You were a bit abrupt with her.

If you believe I was rude,

I'll convey my apologies.

I don't pretend
to understand Vulcans,

I never have.

But I wouldn't be
a very good Captain

if I didn't know when something

was bothering my
Science Officer.

It's uncommon for a Vulcan
to commit a crime.

Uncommon, but not unheard of.

Unheard of for a person

in Ambassador V'Lar's position.

We don't know what she's done.

It doesn't matter.

If she were innocent,

she would have insisted
on staying to defend herself.

You seem to know
a lot about her.

I've met the Ambassador before,

though she clearly
doesn't recall.

It was many years ago on Vulcan

during my early schooling.

She had just negotiated
the Treaty of Ka'Tann

and I traveled
a great distance to see her.

Was it worth the trip?

The Ambassador inspired me

to choose a direction
in my own life.

A path that led me
to the Science Council,

and eventually here.

I've had a few heroes
in my life.

It's never easy when one
of them lets you down.

Vulcans don't have heroes.

No, I'm sure they don't.

Captain, can you come
to the Bridge?

On my way.

An unidentified vessel, sir,

50,000 kilometers and closing.

They're hailing us.

Let's find out who they are.

What can we do for you?

My apologies, Captain.

There's been a change of plans

regarding Ambassador V'Lar.

We... weren't told.

We've been having some problems

with our long-range
communications.

What's the change of plans?

The magistrate feels

that we let the Ambassador
go too quickly.

She's needed
for additional questioning.

We don't want to cause you
any more inconvenience.

If you'll drop out of warp,
we can dock with you

and take the Ambassador
aboard our ship.

Your Magistrate seemed
in a big hurry

to get rid of her.

Now he wants her back?

I'm just a Transport Captain.

I never try to make sense

of what government bureaucrats
are thinking.

I'll have to contact
my superiors.

There's really no need.

I'm just a Starship Captain.

You don't think they'd trust me

to make these kinds of decisions
on my own?

We'll wait for you to confirm
whatever you have to.

Get me Starfleet Command.

I can't get through.

That ship's jamming
all our com frequencies.

"Just a Transport Captain."

They're charging weapons.

Polarize the hull plating.

What the hell is he doing?
Hail him.

He's not answering.

Port hull plating's off-line.

They're closing...
fast.

Aft torpedoes.

Return fire.

No effect.

They're using some kind
of energy shielding.

Direct hit

to Engineering, Subsection 12.

We've taken damage.

Would the phase cannons

be more effective?

Undoubtedly.

But we can't
fire them at warp.
What do you mean

we can't fire them at warp?

Particle discharge, sir.

It would destabilize
our warp field

and most likely
blow out both nacelles.

I've been working on the
problem, but I haven't quite...

Drop to impulse.

Deploy the aft cannon.

I've got a lock.

Fire.

Their shields are failing.

See what you can do
about their engines.

They're dead in the water, sir.

Not dead enough.

Resume course, warp 4.

Aye, sir.

Any idea what that
was all about?

Well, I think
we know someone who might.

We were asked to pick you up

and deliver you
to a Vulcan ship.

No one said anything
about getting sh*t at.

You have no idea who they were?

Obviously they weren't sent
by the Council on Mazar.

Then who sent them?

I have no answers for you.

Ambassador...

we're here at the request
of the Vulcan High Command.

It would be illogical for you
to withhold information

from us.

There are diplomatic matters
at stake here,

which do not concern you.

To tell you any more would only

put your ship and your crew
at greater risk.

How much greater could it get?

A few more volleys
from that ship

would have ruptured our hull.

I'm sorry, Captain.

So am I.

You're leaving me
no choice, Ambassador.

Archer to Mayweather.

Go ahead.

Change of plans, Travis.

Lay in a course back to Mazar.

Sir?

You heard me.

Aye, sir.

You're under strict orders
to transport me to the Sh'Raan.

It's more than two days
to the rendezvous point

and there could be other
hostile ships tracking us.

Unless you can convince me

why it's worth
risking all our lives...

The Vulcans are raising
holy hell about this, Jon.

You could always order me
to take her

to the rendezvous point.

You're out there, I'm not.

It's your call.

I just want you to know
there'll be repercussions.

They certainly considered
the repercussions.

They knew someone was after her.

Why risk one of your own ships
when you can risk one of ours?

Jon...

They're doing it to us again,
Admiral.

Keeping us in the dark.

Have you talked
to the Ambassador?

I've tried.

Maybe she brought this
on herself.

You did say

that she admitted the charges
against her were true.

I don't even know what
the charges against her are.

Well, I'll talk to Soval,
see what I can find out.

You really enjoy this,
don't you?

Replacing power
couplings? Hardly.

No, I mean having
people sh**t at us.

If you must know,

I much prefer the
sh**ting back part.

I thought this mission was
about peaceful exploration.

I need something
to do on this ship,

Commander.
Fair enough.

I'm just hoping we don't
keep you quite so busy.

I read those Nuvian masseuses
have 12 fingers.

On each hand.

Then I'd say Starfleet

needs to make its
presence known on Risa.

Mm-hmm.

I hope I'm not interrupting.

Not at all.

We were just talking
about my quarters.

I was wondering why

they were so sparsely decorated.

If you need anything,
it can be brought to you.

I don't want to be waited on.

And since I doubt

I'll be traveling to
Earth any time soon,

I decided to spend a little
time with my hosts.

Thank you for the use
of your quarters.

You'll have them
back soon enough.

Pash tah.
Pash tah.

Subcommander.

Have you tried iced tea?

I don't care for it.

Captain Archer certainly does.

It's flavored
with passion fruit.

An appropriate ingredient
for him, don't you think?

It was the Captain that
I wanted to speak to you about.

He's a most intriguing man.

He deserves to be
told the truth.

Will you join me?

Please.

We'll be back at Mazar
in a few hours.

I'd prefer not to waste
that time alone.

This must be awkward for you.

Having a foot in two worlds...

loyal to your Captain,
yet still a Vulcan.

You can make things
easier for him.

The High Command has
requested his assistance.

It doesn't seem
unreasonable to ask why.

You believe Captain Archer
can be trusted.

Yes.

Even though he clearly
doesn't trust us?

He's... resentful.

Why?

He believes we held back
their development

of warp technology.

We've kept many
things from them,

all for good reason.

But situations like this
only reinforce their resentment.

If we expect to continue

our relations with humanity,
we have to earn their trust.

I would not have succeeded
at my career for 94 years

without earning people's trust.

I meant no insult.

Of course not.

You were simply
speaking your mind...

as you always have.

It was at Vulcana
Regar, wasn't it?

During the second
Ka'Tann conference.

You approached me
during a recess.

You remember.

You were not easy to forget.

Your questions about
my negotiating tactics

were quite presumptuous
coming from one so young.

I apologize if I acted
inappropriately.

Not at all.

In fact, your bluntness
made me reconsider

some of my positions.

Much as it has now.

T'Pol, I have something
to tell you.

Come in.

Something wrong?

I took the liberty of speaking
with Ambassador V'Lar.

Go on.

Any luck?

The Ambassador and I spent
the last two hours talking.

She's even more remarkable
than her reputation suggests.

I don't doubt that.

But it doesn't affect
my decision.

I believe it should.

She's not guilty of the crime
she's been accused of.

She told you that?

The charges were fabricated

to get her off Mazar

and divert attention
from her actual mission.

Which is?

She can't reveal that.

But she's convinced me

that it's critical
we help her accomplish it.

I'm sorry, T'Pol,

but... I'm going to need
more than that.

She also told me that
if we return her to Mazar,

she'll be k*lled.

By who?

She wouldn't tell me.

But you believed her?

Yes.

Why?

I can't accept
that she'd sacrifice

a lifetime of accomplishments
with an act

of criminal misconduct.

It happens all the time.

Not to her.

We must take her to the Sh'Raan.

You're asking me

to put the lives of everyone
on board in jeopardy

based on your talking to this
woman for a couple of hours?

Captain...

since I've served
aboard Enterprise,

I've never asked you
for anything.

I'm asking

for this now.

Don't return the Ambassador
to Mazar.

Please.

Thank you.

Our Mazarite friend, sir,

and he brought company.

Why didn't we see them coming?

Our aft sensors are
still out of alignment.

They're targeting our engines.

We could drop to impulse,

use the phase cannons.

And go three against one?

You're familiar
with the Mazarites.

What's their top speed?

Comparable to Starfleet.

I don't believe they've
exceeded warp 5.

Then let's give them
a run for their money.

Travis,

increase speed
to warp 4.8.

Aye, sir.

Warp 4.8.

They're matching our speed

and accelerating... warp 4.9.

They're closing
to 20,000 kilometers.

Fifteen.

Travis.

Warp 4.9.

They're holding at 4.9, sir.

How far to the rendezvous point?

At this speed, a
little over two hours,

but I don't think we
can hold it that long.

Can we get a message

through to the Vulcans?

The Mazarites
are still jamming us.

Keep trying.

That Vulcan ship
better not be late.

Captain.

What's our situation?

We're being chased
by three Mazarite ships.

Will we reach the Sh'Raan before
they can do any more damage?

I'm not sure.

In that case,
I need to speak with you.

I have to consider
the possibility

that this mission will fail.

You still haven't told me
what "this mission" is.

I've been under orders to tell
you only what you need to know.

But that wasn't the only reason

I kept things from you.

I didn't trust you.

As your Mr. Tucker

pointed out,
I have been around a long time.

I remember when news of your
people first reached Vulcan.

I was fascinated by humanity,

but worried as well.

You hadn't even met us.

You had just emerged
from a global w*r.

The idea that you
deemed yourselves ready

to join the interstellar
community seemed...

premature.

And a century of good behavior
hasn't changed your mind?

The Mazarites pursuing us
are criminals.

They are members

of an organization
that's infiltrated

all levels of government,

making themselves
wealthy and powerful

at the expense of many

innocent victims.

Their methods include
eliminating anyone

who stands in their way.

And that would include you.

Many Mazarites
want their government

purged of this corruption.

They asked the Vulcan Consulate

to help them
expose these criminals.

And that job fell to you?

I have been gathering
evidence against them.

In three months, I will
be called to testify.

It was decided that until then,

I would be safer on Vulcan.

Why couldn't you tell us?

The investigation was
considered too sensitive.

And the story of you
being recalled in disgrace?

It was hoped that,
if my reputation were sullied,

they would not consider me
a credible witness

and they might
not come after me.

Obviously, it didn't work.

The corruption ran
deeper than I thought.

I appreciate...

you telling me the truth.

I can no longer
put you and your crew

in danger, Captain.

Please drop out of warp.

I plan to surrender
myself to them.

It hasn't gotten to that yet.

It's the most logical
course of action.

If you've learned
anything about humans,

you'd know...

we don't always take

the most logical
course of action.

Captain, report to the Bridge.

They're hailing us.

What's our status?

Holding at warp 4.9,
but Commander Tucker

doesn't believe we
can sustain it

for more than
another ten minutes.

I don't believe
they can either, sir.

They're releasing drive plasma

to keep their warp coils
from overloading.

Open a channel.

Captain.

Ambassador.

What do you want?

Just giving you
a friendly warning.

Are you aware that your
engines are overheating?

So are yours.

We have no quarrel with you.

Give us the Vulcan,
and you'll be free to go.

I have a better idea.

Why don't you slow down
before your engines explode?

Why would you risk the lives
of your crew for this criminal?

I've been ordered to
deliver her safely

to the Vulcans,

and that's exactly
what I plan to do.

They're increasing speed.

Warp 4.95.

They're re-entering
weapons range, sir.

Archer to Engineering.

Please tell me
you're ready to slow down.

Sorry, Trip, but we need
a little more speed.

I don't know how much more
I can give you.

It's called a warp 5 engine.

On paper.

We don't have any choice, Trip.

Aye, sir.

Ambassador.

Warp 5.

4.93.

.95.

Don't take your eyes
off that antimatter stream.

Yes, sir.

4.97.

They're matching our speed.

4.99.

Warp 5.

They're still gaining on us.

How far to the Vulcan ship?

Their jamming signal

is disrupting our
sensors as well.

Then use their last-known
position and do the math.

Take a guess.

If we could maintain
our present speed,

approximately 53 minutes.

The Mazarites will be in
f*ring range long before then.

What if we could get
a message through...

Tell them to get here
as fast as they can?

The Sh'Raan is capable
of warp 7.

If we could maintain warp 5,

we'd reach them in 12 minutes.

Hoshi, any way you can get

a message through
the interference?

I don't see how, sir.

There's a diplomatic frequency
we sometimes use.

It's in a lower subspace band.

I doubt the Mazarites
are aware of it.

It's been a few years

since I did this.

If we do get a message
through to the Vulcans,

we don't want the Mazarites
to see them coming.

We could try deflecting
their jamming signal, sir.

Use it to blind
their sensors as well.

See what you can do.

Aye, sir.

Hoshi?

We may have gotten a message
through to them, sir,

but I'm not sure.

Wouldn't they respond?

Tucker to the Bridge!

Go ahead.

The port injectors just blew!

We've got to slow down, Captain!

Hoshi?

The com just went down, sir.

They're right on top of us.

How long?

Eight minutes.

That's a direct hit
to our starboard nacelle.

We're dropping to impulse.

They're hailing us.

How long now?

If they received our message,

another ten minutes.

But it was down to eight.

That was before we
dropped out of warp.

We can't hold off
those ships for that long.

You've done your best,

Captain, and I thank you for it.

But it's time for me

to turn myself over to them.

We just need to buy
ten more minutes.

Captain...

I want you to go to Sick Bay.

Sick Bay?

I'll explain later.

If there was ever a time
to start trusting us,

this would be it.

Put him through.

Give us the Vulcan.

You know...

I honestly didn't think
you'd be able to catch us.

Just out of curiosity,

how fast do your ships go?

Put her on a shuttle
and bring her

to our lead vessel.

That could be a problem.

Our Shuttle Bay was damaged,
thanks to you.

I doubt we could launch
a shuttlepod

until it's repaired.

What...

What would you
have topped out at?

Warp 5.5?

Warp 6?

I can't imagine you

could do much more than that.

It seemed like your engines
were starting to run pretty hot.

Prepare to be boarded.

Malcolm...
I'm counting on you.

T'Pol.

Okay.

Where is she?

Your last att*ck

blew out systems
across half the ship.

Power's down in Engineering.

A plasma conduit
exploded on E-Deck.

I didn't ask
for a damage report.

Where is she?!

I was getting to that.

Her quarters are on E-Deck.

She was no more than
ten meters away

when the conduit blew.

Her injuries are extensive...

Plasma burns,
neurological trauma.

I want to see her.

This is Dr. Phlox.

The Vulcan?

She's undergoing
dermal regeneration.

Open it.

I will not.

I don't know what business
you have with this woman,

but when she
was brought in here,

she became my patient.

If I remove her from the Imaging
Chamber prematurely, she'll die.

Open it.

Yes?

Our sensors just went down,
Captain.

What's causing it?

Enterprise is redirecting
our jamming signal.

No!

Report.

Answer me.
What's going on?

I imagine they have their
hands full right about now.

I believe that's the Sh'Raan.

She's a Vulcan combat cruiser.

One of their most powerful,

if I'm not mistaken.

Sir, the Captain of the Sh'Raan
wants to speak to you.

Put it up.

Captain Archer,
are you in any danger?

You could say that.

Tell the Mazarites to turn
their weapons over immediately

or we'll destroy their ships.

We'll be standing by, Captain.

Thank you.

We did what we came to do.

That's all that matters.

I am sorry to disappoint you.

I look forward
to adding this incident

to my testimony at your trial.

Captain's Starlog,
February 9, 2152.

The Vulcans have allowed
the Mazarites to leave.

Ambassador V'Lar says there's
a good reason for doing so,

though she's certainly not
sharing it with me.

Someday, I'd like
to walk into a room

without it seeming
like a state visit.

Occupational hazard?

I'll be along in a moment.

Thank you, Captain.

I'm sorry

for the trouble I've caused you
and your crew.

We're glad we could help.

I sense a great bond
between you.

A bond of trust and respect.

But also...
a bond of friendship.

I think it bodes well

for the future relations
of our two peoples.

Good-bye, Ambassador.

Live long and prosper.