EPISODE: "Minefield" PROD#: ENT029 EP#: 2.03 RATING: PG AIRDATE: wed-2-oct-2002-20:00 EPDATE: [Unstated; spring 2152] OFFICIAL: startrek.com/library/ent_episodes/episodes_ent_detail_125700.asp FROM: Phillip Thorne, thorne@underbase.org POST-TO: rec.arts.startrek.tech, rec.arts.sf.tv REVIEW#: 22.0 FORMAT#: 3.6 URL: underbase.org/dept/trek/ent203_minefield.txt This technical overview is intended to support more detailed discussion of this episode and others, by specifically indicating who did what, and by indicating the spelling of proper nouns and technobabble, as attained through closed-captioning (CC). The NOTES are listed in approximate seen-on-screen order, and ANALYSIS summarizes topics. These may constitute plot spoilers; continue at your own risk. Abbreviations used: (m/f/?) name belongs to mel/fem/unclear, (os) on viewer screen, (?) quote is uncertain, (sp?) spelling is unclear, (vo) voiceover, VDB is "Vulcan database", VHC "Vulcan High Command". Captions use the spellings "Launch Bay", "Sick Bay", and "shuttle pod", but I sometimes abbreviate to one word. "Star Trek" and all related indicia are copyrights of Paramount Pictures. This overview is (c)2002 Phillip Thorne, thorne@underbase.org. If you wish to reuse large hunks of text, or use this as a major source, please notify me by email, and include a citation. I. TERMS TRICKY [...] TECHNICAL torpedo launchers, Minshara-class, standard orbit; thermo-kinetic explosion, port-forward quarter, C-Deck, D-Deck, subsection, emergency bulkheads, plasma fire, EPS grid, imaging chamber, aft-port quarter, secondary plasma vent, Impulse Reactor 2, tri-cobalt explosives, quantum beacons, grappler arm, phase variance, gamma spectrum, bolt couplings; impulse manifold, maneuvering thrusters, Triton-Class spatial torpedo; power cell, hyperspanner; scanner, kiloton, duratanium. CULTURAL World Cup, Romulan Star Empire, Royal Navy. CHARACTERS Cpt.Jonathan Archer Ens.Travis Mayweather Dr.Phlox Lt.Malcolm Reed Ens.Hoshi Sato Sub-Cdr.T'pol Cdr.Charles "Trip" Tucker Tim Glenn as Med Tech Elizabeth Magness as Injured Crewmember MENTIONS Chef Ens.Tanner, Armory Ens.Hutchison, Helm Reed's late great-uncle III. NOTES TEASER * Reed is invited to breakfast with Archer, and is nervous. * Archer refers to Chef's "famous eggs Benedict". * Red-stripe male steward. * Archer mentions that England has reached the World Cup (soccer) finals, but Reed confesses he doesn't much follow "football" or other sports. * Reed reports that only two "crewmen" are assigned full-time to the Armory, but a third would free "Ens.Tanner" to begin upgrades to the "torpedo launchers". * T'pol calls: they've "detected" and "uncharted system" along Ent's course, containing one "Minshara-class" planet. * T'pol reports the planet is uninhabited. * To her, the most interesting feature is the chain of volcanoes crossing an entire continent. * "Put us in a standard orbit", Archer tells Mayweater. * Boom! A hole is blown out of the edge of the saucer, about 1/12 circumference in size, port-forward quarter, just forward of the docking port. Inside are brief blue flashes and brief orange fireballs (as though fed by outgassing atmosphere), but no open flames; debris tumbles away. ACT I * On the bridge, the only alarm is a medium-loud beeping. * Reed reports a "thermo-kinetic explosion" (cc absent), on the "port-forward quarter", across "C-Deck" and "D-Deck". Eight "subsections" have decompressed, and "emergency bulkheads" are in place. * Engineering has small fires and rolling smoke. Trip reports "plasma fires" and an "overload in the EPS grid". * Casualties: 17 including Sato, none fatal. * Sickbay is crowded. * Phlox orders one crewman into "the imaging chamber", then goes to a female redstrip no-pip. * Reed detects something on the "aft-port quarter" (?? should be starboard), near the ship's "secondary plasma vent" and "Impulse Reactor 2". With a flicker, a cloaked mine appears. * It contains "tri-cobolt[sic] explosives". * The "quantum beacons" are still mounted on the "grappler arm", and Archer orders them deployed. * It emerges from the aft-starboard of the four shuttlebays. * T'pol notes that they're calibrated for Suliban cloaks, and prepares to adjust the "phase variance". * On the "gamma spectrum", at a "phase variance" of 0.0075, she reveals an entire minefield. * Reed suits up for EVA. * He enters the starboard airlock, and exits via lift (out of frame) through a circular upper hatch. * The mine is locked to the hull via two "magnetic spikes", narrow legs with pointed tips splayed into three-pronged feet. * Using a tablet-sized computer, he scans and finds "proximity sensors". * He sees a ship decloak. * Trip explains that detaching the hull plate would require re-routing some EPS conduits, and removing about 300 "bolt couplings"; it would take 3-4 hours. It would also expose part of the "impulse manifold". ACT II * T'pol claims not to recognize the ship. * She reports that it's "deflecting" scans. * The beacon didn't see it. * The ship hails them, and communicates in a harsh alien tongue. [See Analysis.] * The translator doesn't lock on. * The ship fires warning shots: green bolts. * Archer orders an exit from the minefield, "maneuvering thrusters" only. * A control stick double-telescopes out from the helm console. * In Sickbay, Hoshi is conscious, but had suffered a concussion. * He offers to bring her the "com-logs". * Phlox refers to his "osmotic eel", which he's using to cauterize wounds. * Reed provides commentary. * The mine contains 4(four) separate "detonation circuits" which must be deactivated in the right sequence. * The closest he's seen is a "Triton-Class spatial torpedo", of which he's disarmed "at least half a dozen". * The ship shakes, triggering the mine. A third leg extends rapidly, impaling Reed through the upper left leg. Drops of blood float from the exit wound, and a white paste (sealant?) from the entry. * Archer goes EVA. * Each hull panel is labeled with two lines of text. * Archer's scan indicates the spike missed the bone. * It can't be cut; it contains detonation circuits. * Archer injects a painkiller into Reed's left upper arm (there's no sign of a medical fitting on the suit sleeve). Reed quotes Oliver Twist, giddily asking "Please sir, may I have some more?". * Reed claims to be "trained" to disarm mines. * Archer tells him they're "about five meters" from an "impulse reactor". * Hoshi figures out the alien language. * The message is (1) an order to leave the system immediately, or be destroyed, and (2) they've annexed the system "in the name of the -- Romalin? -- Star Empire?" * "Romulan," says T'pol. "It's pronounced Romulan." ACT III * Archer (still outside) explain's he's heard the name, but that's all; he saw it on a book while with Daniels. * T'pol says they're "rumored to be an aggressive, territorial species", but that VHC has had no direct contact. * Outside, they've disarmed 2(two) detonation circuits, 3(three) to go. * To Reed's annoyance, Archer insists on chatting. * Reed has no hobbies. * He was honored to be asked to sit at the captain's table, but was trained not to fraternize with superior officers. * Mayweather finally pilots them out of the minefield. * Trip suggests "Ens.Hutchison" could take over. * Reed directs Archer to use the "power cell" of the "hyperspanner" to fool the mine's arming circuit. It's a clear tube with a red-glowing interior [as seen in a prior ep inside a phase-pistol]. * Reed comes from a long line of Royal Navy men. He was raised on the water, but never overcame his aquaphobia (fear of drowning). A great-uncle did, however. In the "submarine service" he rose to become "chief engineer" of the "HMS _Clement_". Archer claims not to have heard this story: While on routine patrol, they hit a mine "left over from some world war", and were trapped beneath an ice shelf. He sealed himself in Engineering, kept the reactor online long enough for the crew to use the "escape pods", and went down with the ship. * Reed needs "to use the bathroom." "In my EV suit, sir?" * Oops! Archer re-arms the mine, then fixes it. Reed realizes there's a final circuit, buried too deeply to disable. * Two Romulan ships appear, with the standard decloak-noise (apparently audible to Archer, Reed, and the bridge). * The Romulan speaks (translated?) in English. Their scans show Ent ready to detach the hull segment (and apparently that one man is pinned to it), and demand they to do so -- one man outside, 82 inside. ACT IV * Reed's "scanner" (the tablet). * Reed's ready to sacrifice himself, and when Archer doesn't leave, disconnects the left air hose from his helmet. Archer rushes over to twist it back, but sees the backpack's linear gauge drop to zero. He extends a tube from his pack to Reed's, recharges it, and disconnects. * From the first mine's damage, Reed guesses its "yield" is "about a quarter-kiloton". * Archer goes inside. * Reed confirms that a shuttlepod hatch might withstand a quarter-kt blast; it's reinforced with "duratanium". Archer orders two. * One hull plate is labeled (two lines) "V070-39-89791" and "-1034 MN-HULL". * The hull section is detached. It's a flat plate of irregular shape. Ent pulls away. * Using a red beam, Archer truncates the mine's leg on each side of the wound. * The mine re-arms in response. * They grab the hatches and jet away. * The mine explodes, in a brief white-orange fireball. * The plates tumble and fly. * On bridge, sound of decloak. * While the Romulans fire warning shots, Mayweather (apparently) flies Ent to the duo, and swallows them into Launchbay 2. * Inside, they sprawl on door #4. V. CONNECTIONS [...] VI. ANALYSIS 1. Romulan ships: The two Romulan ships are of identical design, similar to the classic TOS-"Balance of Terror" shape, but more curvaceous. The circular main hull tapers to an aft point with a pair of yellow engine throats, bisected by the dorsal fin. Atop the hull are two concentric teardrop-shaped tiers, then the bridge blister. The wings sweep out to the blade-shaped nacelles, each with two green-glowing warp-grilles on the outer edge, and three on the inner (aft of the wing-root). The ventral main hull has a two-tiered set of undercuts, but no sign of a big painted avian. The color is pale green. The weapons (green bulbous-bolts) are fired from the forward midpoint of the saucer edge. 2. Spoken Romulan: Several scenes featured live or recorded spoken Romulan, then Hoshi got involved and fixed the translator. The following is the CC of the utterances, but the spellings are so unnatural I can't vouch for complete accuracy. Yes, half of it was in caps. The pronunciation didn't closely match the CC. Uhn Kan'aGANNA! Tehca zuhn ruga nok TAN! Uhn kan'aGANNA! Tehca Zuhn! NeeMASTA kan'aGANNA uckWAZTA! Kuhn'uKCTACHT zuhn VockWADA! BAR'AK T'STU ANNANKANA! Is this a sample of what we'll be hearing later this year in ST10-"Nemesis"? Has Marc Okrand finally had reason to write his _Romulan Cherestomathy_? It appears to be nothing at all like the Romulan phonetics invented by author Diane Duane (for the purpose of inventing names and vocabulary) for her Romulan novels. 3. Established TOS history: The Romulans are not seen, by us or the Ent crew; they communicate only by voice. T'pol knows of them only by repute, and claims the Vulcan High Command has made no direct contact. The name is natively pronounced "Romulan" (it's not a human-applied term), but sounded like "Romalin" to Hoshi, for some reason (the commander's accent? a noisy channel? her skepticism?). The Romulans have annexed this (apparently uninhabited), whereabouts unknown. There's no mention of prior hostilities, as with the Vulcan and Andorians. 4. What is an impulse reactor doing in that portion of the ship's saucer section? The exhausts seem to be on the aft tips of the "pontoons", which aren't even in line with the "impulse manifold". Are there as-yet-unseen backup engine exhausts in the wedge-shaped feature located in the cutout (interrupting the circular edge) right there? 5. "I'm afraid I have to go to the bathroom." Do the EV suits have no provision for waste management? Or is it perhaps optional (and uncomfortable), and Reed chose not to install that feature, thinking it'd be only a short walk? 6. Apparently the Royal Navy still (or within the past few decades) exists as a separate entity on Earth (perhaps it's become the *only* wet-navy). Patrols by (presumably nuclear "reactor", not antimatter) subs are still conducted; they now have escape pods. Has Earth been fully unified or not? Are they defending against invaders from beneath the planet's crust? 7. Does Reed have a death-wish, a not-so-subtle desire to die heroically, and perhaps remove an embarrassing non-nautical blot from his family? When Archer first arrives, he jokes about amputating the lake; that Chef might get hold of it -- but when the mine proves unfixable, it's not considered again (as an alternative to certain death). Instead, he suicidally unplugs his own air hose. VII. NITS 1. In Act 2 the mine had four detonation circuits; in Act 3, five. Did further scans reveal another, not including the deeply-buried final backup? 2. How did Archer inject the painkiller into Reed's arm, through his suit? That portion of Reed's suit sleeve was obscured, but the corresponding spot on Archer's showed no special fitting. VIII. NEXT WEEK _Enterprise_ discovers a brightly-lit automated repair station -- of DEATH!