EPISODE: "The Shipment" PROD#: ENT059 TRAN#: 3.07 RATING: PG-L AIRDATE: wed-29-oct-2003-20:00 EPDATE: [three months after entering the Expanse] OFFICIAL: startrek.com/startrek/view/series/ENT/episode/2664.html FROM: Phillip Thorne, thorne@underbase.org POST-TO: rec.arts.startrek.tech REVIEW#: 50.0 FORMAT#: 5.0 URL: underbase.org/dept/trek/ent307_shipment.txt I. INTRODUCTION This technical overview is intended to support discussion of the current episode, and to later serve as a reference: it contains PLOT SPOILERS; CONTINUE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Whenever possible, it indicates who did/claimed/knew what. Spellings of technobabble and alien nouns are obtained from TV closed-captioning ("CC") -- which is imperfect: it may not match spoken dialogue, or the official website, or be consistent within or between eps. In the Synopsis, I sometimes condense or reorder scenes, for clarity. If you have corrections or clarifications, please contact me, and I'll (eventually) make corrections. "Star Trek" and all related indicia are copyrights of Paramount Pictures, while this overview is (c)2003 Phillip Thorne. Some details provided by _The Star Trek Encyclopedia_, 1st ed., 1994. Feel free to use this document as a reference, but please give credit where due. Abbreviations commonly used: -(m/f/?) name belongs to mel/fem/unclear, (os) on [viewer] screen, (vo) voiceover, -(?) quote is uncertain, -(sp?) spelling is unclear; VDB Vulcan database, XDB Xindi database, VHC Vulcan High Command; series: TOS TAS TNG DS9 VGR ENT. Although CC uses "Launch Bay," "Sick Bay," and "shuttle pod," I often condense those terms to single words. II. TERMINOLOGY TECHNICAL: kemocite, diamagnetic ore, scanning beam, positron, antiproton burst, multiphasic isotope, subquantum imprint, delta radiation, omicron radiaton, Seeker, topaline ore, radiolytic signature, isotopic analysis, submolecular scans, energy portal TECHNICAL/ENTERPRISE EQUIPMENT: spatial charge, blast suppressor, portable EM emitter, forcefield emitter BIOLOGICAL & MEDICAL: synaptic impulses, [Xindi gun worm], tree scarabs CULTURAL: Xindi-Sloth, -Reptilians, -Primates, -Reptilians, -Avians LOCATIONS, POLITIES and ORGANIZATIONS: Calindra system III. ANALYSIS 1. What we get... A relative date. Data on Xindi history and technology. A Xindi shuttle. Some classic Trek props: the orange-flickery cylinders. 2. What we don't get... Names other than Degra and "Gralik Durr". The Xindi mothership. 3. The shirtless files... For once, nothing. 4. Arcs... Progress on the Xindi planet-buster. 5. There were originally six sentient species on the Xindi homeworld: the Avians, Primates, Sloth, Reptilians, Insectoids, and (as-yet-unnamed) aquatics. The planet was destroyed as a final act in a long civil war, when explosives were detonated along its eight largest seismic fissures. The Avians were wiped out, but the other five scattered across the Expanse. The existence of Earth, or Xindi efforts against it, are not generally known among the Xindi colonies; Gralik's facility is merely a subcontractor, kept in the dark (so he claims). Whether there's an overarching Xindi government is unaddressed. 6. The unnamed planet hosts under 100 Xindi (probably all Xindi- Sloth), and at least 80 work at the kemocite facility, which is located in a dense forest and has no security provisions. The uniform is white, with horizontal and vertical stripes (tan) across the chest and shoulders, and three belts at the waist. Both shoulders host an emblem (possibly of the facility): a trefoil, each of its arms trailing a tapered 120° arc (red on white). Gralik Durr has been chief technician of the facility for 42 years. Degra calls him Gralik, so is "Durr" his personal, informal name? 7. Kemocite is a "multiphasic isotope", with multiple uses depending on the degree of refinement. Its production requires high-energy reactions; this facility uses antimatter. It leaves a recognizable "subquantum imprint" on metals in its vicinity. Since "quantum" usually connotes "indivisible", the term "subquantum" doesn't make much sense. Perhaps its "sub-" denotes "subspace", and "multiphasic" means kemocite is a mix of ordinary and subspace-variant elements, ie, in the way we assume *di*lithium is a member of a second periodic table, one that extends into subspace. The imprint, then, would be some subspace-induced twist on the "underside" of ordinary materials, one that doesn't affect their operation. 8. The Xindi-Reptilian seem to use organic-enhanced technology: the captured gun contained a pair of pallid worms, and the damaged Seeker was packed with green tendrils. For the gun- worms, delta and omicron radiation act as green and gold kryptonite: poisonous and beneficial, respectively. 9. Delta radiation is electromagnetic in nature. It's hazardous to both the gun-worms and humans. (In TOS-"The Cage", Cpt.Pike was rendered paraplegic by exposure to delta radiation.) In real science: alpha, beta, and gamma radiation refer respectively to helium nuclei, electrons, and EM with wavelengths shorter than X- rays; released by a variety of nuclear decay processes. (They were named before their nature was elucidated.) A rare form of nuclear decay, recently discovered, emits double protons; but it doesn't have a catchy name. 10. The Xindi-R ship escaped ENT's tracking by entering an "energy portal" (not shown), presumably like the one in 3.04- "Raijin". Are these a natural feature of the Expanse, that anyone can use? Are they akin to Borg transwarp conduits? IV. NITS 1. ENT's sensors suddenly lose sensitivity: they can't distinguish between an antimatter-fueled industrial facility, an electrical storm, or an ore body. 2. Archer et al don't bother checking that Gralik has no communication devices in his house or on his person. 3. Why does the captured gun have the same subquantum imprint as the kemocite and the Probe? Does it also (coincidentally) use kemocite manufactured here? 4. Earth at this time doesn't have much forcefield technology. How then do the (presumably portable) "blast suppressors" operate? 5. Phlox calls the gun-worm "the most sophisticated bio- mechanical engineering I've ever seen." Has he forgotten the Borg? 6. The instant growth of the gun-worm is biologically implausible, but no more so than other Trek events. Eg, Troi's hair turning white overnight, then instantly black, in TNG-"Man of the People". 7. Phlox identifies the worm only as part of the gun's control system, but Tucker's response to T'Pol's "remove the power cell" implies it has a further role. 8. Before sharing the toast with Gralik, did Archer bother to check if the beverage was safe for human consumption? V. THIRD-PARTY COMMENTS [...] VI. EPISODE SYNOPSIS TEASER: Previously on... relevant events in 3.06-"Exile". (35 seconds) In the Xindi Council Room, a hologram of the Weapon (an upsized version of the Probe) rotates as DEGRA reports to two Xindi- Reptilian superiors. A systems test is planned on an "uninhabited planet in the Calindra system", but another shipment (over 100 kg) of "kemocite" will be needed -- GRALIK will be contacted. If successful, the weapon could be deployed in "a matter of weeks". (26 seconds) ACT 1: In the Command Center: Archer, Reed and T'Pol examine the Xindi colony world: no sign of defenses, but there are energy readings indicative of a weapons complex. (Or "electrical storms", or "diamagnetic ore", T'Pol points out.) They'll hide on the far side of its moon. Two hours later, in a shuttlepod: Archer, Reed, and MAJ.HAYES descend; they "ionize the hull" (flaming plasma!) to disperse any "scanning beams". They land in the forest, 12 km north of the energy readings, and sneak up on the facility. They use enhanced binoculars; readings of "positrons" and "antiproton bursts" indicate heavy power use; Reed finds no security devices; there are about 80 people inside. Archer uses a sustained beam from his phase-pistol to cut through the chain-link fence. Re: CORP.HAWKINS and an assault team. Inside the lab, they find cylinders containing "some kind of radiolytic compound", totally several hundred kilos. They hide when three Xindi-Sloth enter (GRALIK and two unnamed technicians), speaking of refinement problems and Degra. A window looks onto the production floor [it's flanked by two standard Trek props, orange-flickery cylinders]. They beam up a canister for T'Pol and Tucker to analyze. In the forest, Hayes suggests that two "spatial charges" would be sufficient to destroy the facility. Archer wants to first know where they're shipping their product. To that end, they accost Gralik in his secluded private cabin. ACT 2: The Xindi-Sloth reacts calmly to the interrogation: gives his name as "Gralik Durr", and explains that kemocite is a "multiphasic isotope" with "numerous applications, depending on the level of refinement". He's shaken to learn it's used in "a weapon to exterminate my people." T'Pol measures a "subquantum imprint" that matches the signature of the Probe; Tucker confirms that it matches the captured rifle [3.04-"Raijin"]. Reed is almost giddy at the first progress in the three months since they're entered the Expanse. He's hawkish, but Archer has misgivings about attacking the complex: they came to *stop* a war, but will this confirm the Xindi intent? He orders Hayes to lay down "blast suppressors" around the facility, so that the surrounding settlement won't be destroyed. Hayes guards Gralik. Archer tosses a chunk of Probe to him (beamed down by T'Pol and Tucker) as evidence. Tucker seeks Phlox's aid: the gun has organic components. Opening the cover, they find two fat, worm-like creatures inside; Phlox reads "synaptic impulses", and removes one with forceps. Instantly, a new one grows to take its place. Gralik confirms the debris matches his factory's kemocite, but explains that it supplies many species; when Degra arrived with such a large order, the staff celebrated. He calls Degra a "Xindi-Primate" and "ape-like", and says the Xindi-R are untrustworthy. There used to be six Xindi species: the "Avians", extinct since the war that destroyed the homeworld, a war that (lasted? transpired?) nearly 100 years. Its geology was even more unstable that its politics; the Xindi-R and -I detonated massive explosions beneath the eight largest "seismic fissures". Gralik's grandfather lived through this; those who escaped scattered. T'Pol calls: a ship has appeared, matching "the Xindi vessel that attacked us." ACT 3: Through binocs, they see the shuttle, two Xindi-P (including Degra) and two Xindi-R. (The cc indicates inaudible dialogue.) In Sickbay, Phlox reports to Tucker. The worm's neural pathways help modulate the weapon's power output; he calls it the most sophisticated bio-mechanical engineering he's ever seen. The worm is immune to viruses and pathogens -- but not a sustained burst of "delta radiation". Tucker: "portable EM emitters" could thus disable the Xindi-R weapons; but Phlox cautions that the quantity would also be hazardous to humans. "Omicron radiation", on the other hand, causes the worm to multiply. Gralik hadn't expected Degra for another three days, and he won't leave till sees the result of the final isotopic separation. Appalled at the use of his work, he volunteers to spy -- but Archer's not sure. Reed calls, warns of the approach of two Xindi-S; everyone hides, not answering the door. There are under 100 people on the planet. In the Armory, Tucker sets up a plate (four inches of "solid duranium") for target practice, surrounded by four of "Malcolm's forcefield emitters" to contain debris. Phlox watches; T'Pol disapproves of the location. He's unable to fire it; T'Pol scans rising energy levels, and he realizes its display indicates a countdown. "If you remove the power cell--" she suggests; "-- It'll just grow back," he finishes. He dashes to the transporter niche and beams it into space. "You were right. We probably should've found a nice empty asteroid to test it on," he concedes. The two Xindi-S report to Degra and the Xindi-R that Gralik can't be found, but he often takes long hikes in the forest. Archer, Reed, Hayes and Gralik hide in the forest. Reed scans something approaching; "bloody fast, whatever they are." It's a pair of hovering devices that Gralik identifies as "Seekers", created by the Xindi-R and used to great effect during the War. They manage to shoot one down (it twitches on the ground, bleeding blue ichor, green tendrils squirming), but the other escapes. That night, they hide in a cave; Gralik points out the "topaline ore" (a yellowish layer in the walls) that "should disrupt scanners and Seekers." T'Pol calls: the Xindi is still in orbit. Archer explains his plan... ACT 4: Night: Archer sends Gralik home, and per his suggestion, unaccompanied. Reed's not so sure, but Archer insists he believes the Xindi-Sloth. On the Bridge, Sato and T'Pol receive Archer's call of a change in plans. They beam down the cylinder, with its "radiolytic signature" modified for easy tracking. Gralik arrives in the lab and insists on running yet another "refinement test" (featuring an "isotopic analysis" and "submolecular scans"). Later, Degra and the Xindi-R barge in. He blusters through: he'd been out looking for "tree scarabs", and has been running the facility for "42 years". Night: Archer sneaks through the hole in the fence. He sneaks into the shuttle (through its belly cargo lift), opens one of the transport cases, and swaps a kemocite cylinder. He's sneaking out, when Gralik, Degra and the XR step outside the facility; Gralik distracts the two while their backs are turned. He nonchalantly asks what the kemocite is for; Degra describes "a ruthless alien species" who, if not stopped, "will destroy us." On ENT's bridge (T'Pol, Reed(?), Sato), tracking is fine. In Gralik's cabin, he and Archer share a toast. "I may have just betrayed my people to a ruthless alien species," the technician confides, without conviction. "I promise you, you didn't. Please trust me," answers Archer, unconvincingly. Gralik urges Archer to find the weapon, but the captain says the ship entered "an energy portal" and the signal was lost. Their "range is only a few light years," Gralik reassures him. VII. VFX SHOTS Ent at warp, right to left, dorsal. Shuttlepod in flaming descent. Binoculars POV. Ent behind moon (1). Binoculars POV. Facility. Grounded Seeker bleeds. Gun explodes outside ENT (2). Ent behind moon (1). Facility. Binoc POV of shuttle. Binoc POV, Archer runs. Ent behind moon (2). Binoc POV, Xindi exit facility. Ent behind moon (1). ENT departs orbit. VIII. PRODUCTION REGULAR CAST: Scott Bakula as Cpt. Jonathan Archer Connor Trinneer as LtCdr. Charles "Trip" Tucker III Jolene Blalock as Sub-Commander T'Pol Dominic Keating as Lt. Malcolm Reed Anthony Montgomery as Ens. Travis Mayweather [no lines] Linda Park as Ens. Hoshi Sato [briefly twice] John Billingsley as Dr. Phlox [No Porthos] GUEST CAST: John Cothran Jr. as [Primary Technician] Gralik [Durr] Jack Alsted as Sloth #2 Sam Witwer as Sloth #3 John Eddins as Xindi-Reptilian Steven Culp as Major Hayes Randy Oglesby as Degra [the Xindi-Primate] CREATIVE STAFF: Directed by David Straiton Written by Chris Black & Brent V. Friedman NEXT WEEK: In 3.08/060-"Twilight", an anomaly gives Archer anterograde amnesia; flashforward years and years for a horrible outcome! See: http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/series/ENT/episode/2906.html