04x14 - The Aenar

[bunniefuu]

NARRATOR:
Previously, on Enterprise:

ARCHER: From what I've heard
about Romulans, they mean business.

We have to find some way to stop them,
or next time

they might come back
with a thousand of those ships.

Unless this m*rder*r meets me
in combat,

your precious alliance is finished!

The ambassador has decided to fight
in place of his underling.

Not the ambassador.

[GRUNTING]

Trip, Malcolm,
we can make one more pass.

Get the hell out of there.

They're clear.

The drone has re-entered
Romulan space.

Disconnect the pilot.

I believe we have more to discuss
than trade disputes.

There's no reason our people
can't become allies.

NARRATOR:
And now, the conclusion.

This mission was supposed to cause
dissension in the region.

- It's had the opposite effect.
VALDORE: Senator, you--

The Andorians and Tellarites
have formed an alliance.

They're working together
for the first time in history.

VALDORE:
It won't last.

The group of senators
doesn't share your optimism.

They're presenting a motion
to cancel this mission.

That would be a mistake.

The mistake was mine
when I supported this endeavor.

Do you realize
how you've weakened my position?

When this is over, you'll be First Consul.

After a failure of this magnitude,

I could be dead.

This isn't a failure.

It's a setback.

We have to deal with the humans.

They're the ones that brought
the Andorians and Tellarites together.

The second drone ship is armed
and ready for battle.

With two ships,
I can deliver a devastating blow.

We will hunt down Enterprise
and destroy it.

ARCHER:
Captain's starlog, supplemental.

A transport ship is returning the Tellarite
ambassador to his home world,

but Shran has offered to stay
and help us track down the marauder.

The drone is being operated
by telepresence.

It's a process which allows a vessel
to be controlled from a remote location.

We experimented with that years ago.

Nothing came of it.

A pilot can operate the drone
from a great distance,

over many light years.

REED:
So there really was no one on that ship.

And the people running it are back
on their homeworld safe and sound.

- Essentially.
- Doesn't seem fair.

Is there any way
to interrupt this telepresence?

I'm still reviewing the data
Commander Tucker brought back,

but I believe we can construct
our own telepresence unit.

- And use it to hijack their ship?
T'POL: Doubtful.

The most we can hope for
is to interfere with their navigation.

- Get started.
T'POL: There is one problem.

The data from the marauder
also contained a brain wave pattern.

I believe it belongs to the pilot.

I've analyzed it.
The individual is highly telepathic.

Apparently, telepathy is necessary
to operate the device.

Vulcans have telepathic powers.

Not to this extent.

Can you identify the species?

There's no exact match in my database.

However, the nearest genome
is Andorian.

The humans did considerable damage
to the bridge.

We'll have to replace
the entire receiver array.

VALDORE: Assign every spare man
to the repair crew.

NIJIL:
The ship isn't what concerns me.

- It's the pilot.
- What about him?

Operating the vessel is extremely taxing.

He'll have at least three days to rest.

That won't be enough.

He's suffering from severe mental fatigue.

Piloting one ship
would be difficult enough but two...

- You'll have to increase the stimulants.
- Dosage is already at a dangerous level.

He could be permanently damaged,
he could die.

If I didn't know you better,
I'd say you're more concerned

with this creature's well-being
than you are with this mission.

Without the pilot,
there would be no mission.

Just keep him alive long enough
to destroy the Earth ship.

After that,
his health is of little consequence.

[DOORBELL BEEPING]

ARCHER:
Come in.

I just received a transmission.

Our scientists identified
the brain wave pattern.

- And?
- It's from my world.

But it's not from any Andorian you'd know.

It's Aenar.

They're a kind of subspecies,
blind ice-dwellers.

For most of our history,
they were considered a myth,

stories we told our children.

But 50 years ago, they were discovered
living in the northern wastes.

They're extremely secretive.

I can count on one hand
the number of Andorians

who've seen one face-to-face.

Could they have built a ship
like the marauder?

I seriously doubt they have the capacity.

There are only a few thousand left,

and even if they could, they're pacifists.

They don't believe in v*olence.

One of them does.

Seems that way.

We need to find out
who's controlling that ship.

Agreed.

ARCHER: Travis.
MAYWEATHER: Yes, sir.

Set a course for Andoria, maximum warp.

You should rest.

I just need a second.

Phlox thinks it's too soon
for you to return to duty.

Phlox?

You were talking to him about me?

- It came up in conversation.
- Right.

I don't have the option of taking a break.
The captain needs this done fast.

I can manage.

You might be the best there is
at crunching numbers,

but when it comes
to actually sticking things together,

you're a little out of your league.

These work better when you strip off
the duranite caps.

Don't ask me why, they just do.

I'll make a note of that.

You know,
when I was on that ship with Malcolm,

I was convinced I was gonna die.

[COMPUTER BLEEPING]

You ever been there?

Since Enterprise was launched,

we've all been near death,
on more than one occasion.

I'm not talking close scrapes, I mean,

when you're in a bad situation
and you know this is it,

there's no way out.

And you have time to think about it.

In the Expanse,

when we were attempting
to destroy Sphere 41,

I didn't believe we'd survive.

What went through your mind?

Whether or not to transfer auxiliary power
to the deflector array.

Why do you ask?

Just curious.

The Aenar compound is surrounded
by a dampening field.

Once you're inside,
you won't be able to contact the ship.

I'd feel better about this
if you'd take a couple MACOs with you.

We go in there with a show of force,
we won't get a thing out of them.

We're going alone.

REED: Captain, we don't know anything
about these people.

That's why we're here.

Energize.

SHRAN:
Ah.

Taste that air. Heh, heh.

Really gets the blood running.

[DEVICE BLEEPING]

Twenty-eight below?

- Lucky for you, it's the middle of summer.
- Yeah.

The entrance is 20 meters ahead.

The Vulcans say that the desert
teaches men the meaning of endurance,

but it's the ice that forges real strength.

ARCHER: It's hard to believe
anything can survive here.

It isn't easy.

Andorian cities are built underground
to take advantage of geothermal energy.

I didn't see the sun until I was 15. Unh.

Careful, Shran.
You don't have your balance back yet.

Hands off, pink skin.

[DEVICE BEEPING]

These tunnels branch out
for thousands of kilometers.

Not a good place to get lost.

We'll be ready to launch in 12 hours.

- And the pilot?
- He's resting.

- Will he be ready?
- I'll make sure that he is.

Spoken like a soldier.

I'm a scientist.

We're all soldiers, Nijil,
from the moment we're born.

When we forget that, we invite disaster.

- You know I was once a senator?
- No.

Many years ago,
Vrax and I were colleagues.

- I even considered him a friend.
- What happened?

I made the mistake of challenging
the precept of unlimited expansion.

I asked the question:

"Is conquest truly the best course
for our people?"

And I was expelled.

I'm sorry.

I'm not trying to evoke your pity.

I want you to learn from my experience.

When I was led away
from the senate chamber,

I vowed never to repeat my error
and never to forget my purpose.

I understand.

Continue with your preparations.

Ice-bores.

Worms, they live in the ice,

generate heat
through a chemical reaction.

Big swarm came through here
a day or two ago.

I'm sure Phlox would love
to get his hands on one.

SHRAN:
Best to avoid them.

When I was a boy,
I stumbled into a large den,

wound up with third-degree burns
over half my body.

- Ugh.
- Shran, listen to me.

We should find another way.

Afraid of heights, captain?

Shran!

[SHRAN SCREAMING]

[GRUNTING]

The ice gave out beneath me.

Uh-uh.

[GRUNTING]

Argh!

You're losing a lot of blood.

[SHRAN PANTING]

ARCHER:
Hold still.

SHRAN: Argh!
- Hold still.

Bleeding's stopped,

but if you move, it could start again.

We can't stay here.

We'll freeze to death.

[COMMUNICATOR BLEEPING]

Archer to Enterprise.

- Archer to Enterprise.
- We're well inside the dampening field.

It doesn't hurt to try.

How far are we from the Aenar?

I think we just got a lot closer.

ARCHER:
Hello.

We need your help.

My friend's been hurt.

We'll assist you.

PHLOX: There's not as much data
on the neural interface as I'd like.

T'POL:
It's all we have.

I can connect someone to the unit,
but it'll be dangerous.

- How dangerous?
- Well, if the interface malfunctions,

there could be severe neurolytic shock,
possibly resulting in brain damage.

There's got to be some way
we can make it safer.

Diagnostics will only tell us so much,
I'm afraid.

When can we test it?

A day.

I want to be the first one to try it out.

You're not telepathic.

It wouldn't be a true measure
of the unit's effectiveness.

Well, at least we'll find out
if it causes brain damage.

I'll test the unit.

You're the ranking officer, too risky.

Considering what's at stake,
the risk is acceptable.

We could at least wait
until the captain gets back.

Our goal should be to have the unit ready
by the time he returns.

That means conducting a full series
of tests.

The discussion's closed.

We have a lot of work to do.

Your wound is healing well.

You'll be able to walk on your own
in a few hours.

My thanks.

LISSAN:
You're Captain Archer.

You can read minds.

We have a strict law here, captain.

No one may enter another's thoughts
without permission.

I know your name because
the Andorian Chancellor contacted us.

I need to speak with someone in authority.

We assign our leaders as the need arises.

For this occasion,
I have been chosen as speaker.

I take it you know why we're here.

LISSAN:
I know what the Andorians have told us.

Someone's been attacking your ships
and you believe we're involved.

It's a bit more complicated than that.

It will save time and foster our trust,
if I can have your thoughts.

Go ahead.

You have an interesting mind, captain,
many facets.

Thank you.

Some of those facets are in conflict.

- That explains a lot.
- Shran.

The evidence you've gathered
appears irrefutable.

It seems there was an Aenar
controlling that ship.

But you're skeptical.

We're a non-violent people.

That a member of our race
could cause so much death,

it's extremely disturbing.

ARCHER:
Do you have any idea who it could be?

- There's one possibility.
- Who?

A year ago, one of our citizens
disappeared while collecting ice-bores.

We assumed he'd been k*lled
in an accident,

but we never found his body.

Now you know why.

Gareb would not be doing this voluntarily.

You think he was abducted?

It's the best explanation.

It doesn't matter why he's doing it,
he has to be stopped.

This device
you're building aboard your ship...

We're hoping it will disrupt the signal
that's controlling the marauder.

You will need one of us to operate it.

You owe us that much, at least.

I'll consult with the others.

[BEEPING]

Coffee, strong.

[COFFEE TRICKLING]

T'POL: Commander.
- Hey.

Trip.

I appreciate your concern for my safety.

I just don't want Enterprise
to lose a good officer.

I think you're letting your feelings
impact your work.

My work's as good as it's ever been.

As far as my feelings go,

they're purely professional.

SHRAN:
I've never been able to sleep

with someone standing
at the foot of my bed.

I didn't mean to disturb you.

Actually, I was awake.

What is it?

- I've never met a blue skin.
- You're blind.

How can you tell my skin is blue?

Don't ask me to explain.
I was never very good at science.

Neither was I.

Is it true that where you come from
the temperature rises above freezing

for weeks at a time?

Every few years, there's a heat wave.

I've been on worlds
where the temperature is

only slightly below
the boiling point of water.

I can't imagine such a place.

I'm trying to forget it.

I lost ten percent of my body weight
in two days.

[CHUCKLES]

I came here to apologize.

For what?

When I saw you for the first time,
I sensed some of your thoughts.

I didn't intend to.

It's never been all that hard
to figure out what I'm thinking.

I know what it's like
to lose someone.

Gareb, the one who's missing...

he's my brother.

I'm sorry.

He would never hurt anyone,
not intentionally.

So we've been told.

Do you think he's in pain?

There's no way of knowing.

I have nightmares.

Gareb's bound,
locked in a strange cage.

He's calling for me.

He wants me to rescue him.

Forgive me.

[INJECTION HISSES]

[BLEEPING]

[GASPS]

How do you feel?

I just need a moment.

Whenever you're ready.

Indicator's moving. Doc?

So far, so good.

[MACHINE BLEEPING]

I'll be damned, it's working.

[GRUNTS]

- She okay?
- Her synaptic response is erratic.

T'POL:
I'll be fine.

[MACHINE BEEPING]

[GRUNTING]

- It's getting worse, commander.
- That's enough. Shut it down.

[MACHINE POWERS DOWN]

You're all right.

It worked.

I'll rest for a few minutes
and then we'll try again.

You said Gareb was abducted.

If that's true,

don't you want to help him?

Not with v*olence.

ARCHER:
We're trying to stop v*olence.

LISSAN: I won't deny that your intentions
are honorable,

but our decision stands.

Forget it, captain.

They've never even helped defend
their own world.

We're wasting our time.

[DOOR OPENS]

Systems ready.

Launch the drones.

[MACHINE BLEEPING]

- You need to rest.
- I've had enough rest.

[DEVICE BEEPING]

ARCHER: We should clear
the dampening field soon.

- Wait.
- What is it?

A swarm.

I don't see anything.

It'll take a few minutes
for them to pass.

Gareb and I loved chasing ice-bores.

Once, we followed a swarm for two hours,
caught hundreds of them.

We were almost at the surface.

My family was very worried.

They're going to be worried
about me now.

Are you sure you want to do this?

I won't abandon my brother.

What's it like?

Your ship?

Warm.

[DEVICE BLEEPING]

TRIP:
She wants to try again.

You think it's smart?

PHLOX:
You know the risks.

So does Commander T'Pol.

Commander...

she's doing her job.

She's gonna hurt herself.

Take my advice. Don't interfere.

I can't believe
I'm getting this from you now.

Has everyone on this ship
gone crazy?

Not everyone.

Oh, I'm crazy?

It's not your fault.

As far as I know,
there are no species in the galaxy

that have mastered the art
of mixing romance and vocation.

You're the last one
that should be giving me a lecture.

- Vulcan neuro-pressure was your idea.
- You were having trouble sleeping.

What the hell am I gonna do?

This is one ailment
that is universally untreatable.

You'll have to suffer through it.

[GRUNTING]

We've been here before.

He's right, we're going in circles.

They're trying to stop us.

How?

They're not letting us
see the path to the surface.

How could that be possible?

LISSAN:
It's time to come back.

I can't.

They're fighting a w*r.

Do you want to be a part of that?

I don't want to fight anyone.
I want to help my brother.

Help him by standing up
for what we believe in.

- She's doing what she thinks is right.
- She's betraying her people.

That's not true.

Shouldn't she be allowed
to follow her own conscience?

- She's not following her conscience.
ARCHER: How do you know?

Have you read her mind?

I thought
that was against your custom.

Jhamel...

Take my thoughts.

You're certain this is what you want?

Yes.

Very well.

[DEVICE BEEPING]

ARCHER:
Captain's starlog, supplemental.

We've returned to Enterprise,

where we received word that
the cargo ship Ticonderoga is missing.

ARCHER: Anything on long-range sensors?
- Not yet.

What's our ETA?

We'll be at their last known coordinates
in six hours.

Tell Malcolm to finish his upgrades
to the targeting scanners.

If we run into that marauder again,
I want to make sure every sh*t counts.

T'POL:
Understood.

Report.

She's good to go.

Whenever you're ready.

I'm ready, captain.

[COMPUTER BLEEPING]

TRIP:
A lot of movement.

Fifty percent spike.

Are you feeling all right?

We can stop any time you like.

JHAMEL:
It's strangely enjoyable.

[MACHINE WHIRRING]

She's maxed it out.

JHAMEL:
Is that good?

Very good.

JHAMEL:
Is there another test we can try?

We could simulate
a course correction.

[COMPUTER BLEEPING]

[BEEPING AND JHAMEL GASPS]

Synaptic trouble.

[MACHINE BEEPING]

[GASPING]

Shut it down.

[MACHINE POWERING DOWN]

ARCHER:
Captain's starlog, supplemental.

We've arrived at the last known
coordinates of the Ticonderoga.

T'POL:
I'm picking up debris.

Hull fragments...

nacelle casings...

several bodies...

human.

Keep scanning.

Try to find
the marauder's warp signature.

Is there any word from Sickbay?

She's gonna be okay.

But Phlox says
it's too dangerous to try again.

Looks like
we went all the way to Andoria...

for nothing.

What happened?

You had a convulsion.
You're all right now.

I was dreaming...

about Gareb.

I failed, didn't I?

Ridiculous.

That kind of bravery
is never a failure.

I'm a commander
in the Imperial Guard.

I'd be afraid to go anywhere
near that thing.

Talas was a fortunate woman.

I was the fortunate one.

My brother's going to die, isn't he?

I won't hear that from you.

It's hard to be strong.

You make it look easy.

Keep being strong...

for me.

A ship's dropping out of warp.

It appears to be a Tellarite freighter.

ARCHER:
Tactical Alert.

Hail them.

[COMPUTER BLEEPING]

Target their engines.

If it is a freighter...

Anything?

One hundred kilometers.

Fire.

[EXPLOSIONS AND RUMBLING]

- Aim for their weapons.
- They're too damn fast.

I can't get a target lock.

- What's happening?
- We're under att*ck.

- I'm going to the Bridge.
- Wait.

I can feel him.

[RUMBLING]

Where do you think you're going?

Take me to the device.
I need to try again.

I can't allow it.
You barely survived the last attempts.

I can reach him.

I can make him stop.

Let her try.

[RUMBLING]

Enterprise is taking heavy damage.

Target with the second drone.

att*ck vector 177.

- It may not be necessary.
- Follow my orders.

Yes, admiral.

[BLEEPING]

Another ship's approaching
bearing 016 mark 12.

An Andorian battle cruiser.

T'Pol?

- Its power signature is not Andorian.
- Target them.

Captain, I'm picking up
an energy reading from Sickbay.

It's the telepresence unit.

Archer to Sickbay. What's going on?

Jhamel's going to make
another attempt.

Is she up to it?

She's quite insistent.

[expl*si*n AND RUMBLING]

[RUMBLING]

[COMPUTER BEEPING]

Cortical fluctuation.

It could trigger a seizure.

SHRAN: Jhamel...
JHAMEL: I can do it.

Disconnect her now.

JHAMEL: No.
- She can do this.

They've lost warp power.

Continue targeting their engines.

Someone's tapping
into the telemetric array.

[BLEEPING]

GAREB:
Jhamel?

JHAMEL:
It's me.

GAREB:
It's not possible. How?

JHAMEL:
You have to stop what you're doing.

GAREB:
Where are you?

JHAMEL:
I'm on the ship you're attacking.

[COMPUTER BEEPING]

Both drones are coming to a stop.

We're defenseless.

They've stopped f*ring.

GAREB:
I thought you were dead.

They said
I was the last surviving Aenar.

JHAMEL:
They lied to you.

GAREB:
I've k*lled so many people.

JHAMEL:
It wasn't you.

It was them, they forced you.

You can stop it.

You know what you have to do.

[BLEEPING]

The first drone
is targeting the second.

Take all weapons off-line.

I've lost access.

- They're attacking each other.
- Let's give them a hand.

- Photonic torpedoes. Full spread.
REED: Aye, sir.

VALDORE:
Stop this.

- Now.
- No!

Resume your att*ck
on the Earth ship.

GAREB:
Remember me, Jhamel.

JHAMEL:
Gareb?

[BEEPING]

[PHASER FIRES
AND GAREB & JHAMEL GASP]

[COMPUTER BEEPING]

[MACHINE POWERING DOWN]

ARCHER:
Captain's starlog, supplemental.

There's been no sign
of any other marauder ships.

We're returning Shran
and Jhamel to Andoria.

ARCHER:
I want to thank you again.

JHAMEL:
I owe you thanks.

If I hadn't come with you,
my brother would have d*ed alone.

Goodbye, captain.

Goodbye.

I regret much of what happened
between us recently.

Same here.

When you lose your ship, you aren't
usually rewarded with another one.

I may not see you for a while.

If there's anything we can do...

or say on your behalf.

I appreciate the offer.

Let's just see
what the future brings.

Try to stay out of trouble,
pink skin.

[DOORBELL BEEPING]

Come in.

I've been looking over your report.

I think you're being a little hard
on yourself.

There's no getting around it.

I missed a ten-degree variance
in the telepresence emitter.

I spoke to Phlox.

He doesn't think it had anything to do
with Jhamel's seizure.

But he can't be sure.

Either way, I should have caught it.

We were all under a lot of pressure.

My mind wasn't on the job.

If that were true...

you probably
wouldn't be standing here now.

Captain, I want a transfer.

Where?

Columbia.
They need experienced people.

You turned them down twice before.
Why now?

I think I can do some good
over there.

I need you here, Trip.

They need me more.

What's this really about?

I told you.

I haven't heard one thing
that explains this.

I've said everything I want to.

That's it?

I'm supposed to accept that?

And if I refuse your transfer?

Captain...

as a friend, I'm asking you...

let me do this.

It's your career, Trip.

But as a friend...

I'm asking you to stay.

I can't.

All right.

Thank you.

Dismissed.