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After ten months without a break, T'Pol notes
efficiency onboard Enterprise is down three percent, and
suggests a shore leave on the nearby tropical planet of Risa.
Archer and Trip agree wholeheartedly and lay in a course to the
exotic paradise. However, en route Archer receives a
transmission from Admiral Forrest, informing him of a Vulcan
Ambassador in need of immediate extradition from the nearby
planet of Mazar. The matter is of some urgency, and with the
closest Vulcan vessel over a week away Enterprise is to retrieve
the Ambassador and deliver her to the Vulcan ship Sh'Raan at a
rendezvous point in three days time.
Grudgingly belaying the crew's shore leave,
Archer orders Mayweather to lay in a course for Mazar. After
Hoshi donates her cabin for the Ambassador's use, T'Pol
meticulously prepares the room and crew as to proper protocol in
addressing the distinguished dignitary. Despite denying it to
Archer, T'Pol is obviously highly anticipating the arrival of
Ambassador V'Lar.
Arriving at Mazar, the ship is immediately hailed by a Mazarite
Official, who informs Archer there is no need to send a
shuttlepod to retrieve the Ambassador, as she is already on her
way up. Curious at the extreme urgency of the Mazarites to be
rid of the Ambassador, Archer and T'Pol are surprised to hear
V'Lar has been expelled for abuse of her position and criminal
misconduct. The Mazarite Official will give no further details,
and abruptly ends the transmission.
Greeting V'Lar in the shuttle bay, Archer and T'Pol are taken
aback at how cordial and friendly the Vulcan dignitary is:
actually extending her hand to shake with the Captain and Trip;
preferring to speak in English with T'Pol; and wishing to
personally meet Hoshi to thank her for the use of her quarters.
Over dinner at the Captain's table, V'Lar displays a disarming
charm and grace, which she effectively uses to handle T'Pol's
somewhat abrupt questions regarding how she intends to defend
herself against the criminal charges. To T'Pol's shock V'Lar
simply states she doesn't intend to defend herself, as there is
no defense to use, and then excuses herself to retire for the
evening. T'Pol escorts V'Lar to her temporary quarters for her
stay, and there is a discernable tension between the two. T'Pol
obviously believes V'Lar to be guilty of whatever crimes she is
accused of, as she admitted there is no defense, conduct which
is unheard of for a Vulcan Ambassador.
Archer intercepts T'Pol in the hall and addresses her behavior
over dinner, but learns T'Pol actually met V'Lar years earlier,
and the Ambassador had a profound influence on her life. Archer
slowly understands what has been bothering his Science Officer:
she is disappointed at her hero's sudden fall from grace.
Interrupted from their talk, Archer is called to the bridge to
address an unidentified approaching vessel. Answering the ship's
hail, Archer speaks to a cordial Mazarite Captain who apologizes
for the inconvenience, but it seems the Ambassador left too
early and is to be returned to Mazar for further questioning,
which he would be glad to do for Enterprise.
Sensing something awry of the Mazarite Captain, Archer stalls
and asks for time to contact his superiors, then ends the
transmission. Without warning, the Mazarite ship opens fire!
Reed works furiously, but the torpedoes have no effect. Dropping
out of warp, he fires the pulse cannons and disables the
Mazarite ship's engines, leaving Enterprise clear to resume its
course. Confronting V'Lar to get some answers, a fuming Archer
finds the Ambassador regretfully unable to reveal the truth of
her circumstances. Equally regretful, Archer has no choice but
to act in the best interests of his crew's safety, and orders
Mayweather to set a course to return to Mazar in order to drop
the Ambassador off back with the Mazarites. En route, Archer
again speaks to Admiral Forrest, who supports Archer's decision,
but warns there may be repercussions for his actions.
Meanwhile, T'Pol finds V'Lar in the Mess Hall and joins her. The
two discuss several things, including Archer's trustworthiness,
and V'Lar recalls meeting T'Pol years ago, noting she was just
as presumptuous and blunt then as she is now. Later, T'Pol
informs Archer that V'Lar confided in her enough to know they
must not return her to the Mazarites, or she will be killed.
Despite being unable to learn anything more, T'Pol
uncharacteristically displays passion in asking Archer to risk
the crew's safety for the Ambassador by continuing to rendezvous
with the Sh'Raan.
Trusting his instincts and seeing T'Pol's commitment to her
words, Archer agrees and resumes his intercept course with the
Vulcan ship. Nearly immediately, Enterprise comes under attack
from three Mazarite ships. Outnumbered, Archer opts for flight
and pushes Enterprise to her limits in a race to stay out of the
Mazarite's weapons range long enough to rendezvous with the
Sh'Raan. With the engines straining at warp four-point-five,
Trip is unsure how long they will be able to hold their speed,
much to Archer's chagrin as the Mazarite ships are all still
steadily gaining on Enterprise.
Ambassador V'Lar suddenly asks to speak with Archer in the
privacy of his ready room, and confesses the truth of her
mission: she was to infiltrate the Mazarite government and
gather evidence against corrupt officials, then testify against
them in three months time. Her reputation was intentionally
sullied with false allegations in an attempt to make the
Mazarites believe she would no longer be a credible witness,
thus leaving her alone long enough to testify.
Seeing that Enterprise cannot outrun the Mazarite ships, V'Lar
wishes for Archer to drop out of warp so she may surrender
herself for their safety. Finally understanding the importance
of V'Lar to the Vulcan and Mazarite governments, Archer refuses
to give up the fight until the very end, and resolves to push
the ship to its limits in order to save V'Lar's life. Mayweather
informs Archer the Mazarite engines are also overheating in the
strain to keep up the grueling pace, but they're continuing to
close in on Enterprise. With no choice, Archer orders a
reluctant Trip to push it all the way to warp five.
Enterprise trembles from the strain, but the Mazarite vessels
continue to gain. Sending a message to the Sh'Raan to meet
Enterprise at maximum warp or it will be too late, Hoshi
estimates the Vulcan ship should arrive within twelve minutes.
Reluctantly realizing he has no choice but to drop out of warp
or explode from the strain, Archer sends V'Lar to Sickbay.
Stalling for time, Archer informs the Mazarite Captain that
thanks to their weapons fire, Ambassador V'Lar suffered
extensive plasma burns and is in critical condition.
Allowing the Mazarites to board Enterprise and go to Sickbay to
see for themselves, where Dr. Phlox gives a surprisingly
impassioned performance to save the life of his patient. The
Mazarite visitors are unmoved, and fire their weapons into the
chamber they believe is holding V'Lar in stasis. The Vulcan ship
Sh'Raan arrives and threatens to destroy the Mazarite ships
unless they surrender their weapons immediately, which they do.
At this point, V'Lar appears and Archer's ruse is exposed.
Rescued at the last minute, V'Lar is seen off the ship by Archer
and T'Pol. With no more secrets between them, the three are
finally able to fully appreciate the gravity of their sacrifices
for each other, and a grateful V'Lar departs to continue her
mission. |
