The Enterprise crew once again finds themselves caught in the middle when Archer and Trip accidentally befriend the head of a terrorist organization. The duo are forced to flee into the desert to escape a bombing run. Archer’s sidekick, Trip, gets a mild case of heat stroke and flirts with the idea of slipping into a coma. Your hosts disagree with each other about–everything.
We’re short two members again for this episode!
Memory Alpha: Link
Enterprise 1×24 – Desert Crossing
Directed by David Straiton
Written by Andre Bormanis, Rick Berman & Brannon Braga
Guest Stars: Clancy Brown, Charles Dennis
There Are Four Mics is a weekly Star Trek podcast discussing the Star Trek episodes and movies in stardate order. Join Jason Allen, Joe Heiser and Joshua B. Jones as we discuss the 24th episode of Star Trek: Enterprise, Desert Crossing.
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Music credits:
Faith of the Heart/Where My Heart Will Take Me – performed by Russell Watson, Jerry Lubbock, and the New York Trek Orchestra
Archer’s Theme – Dennis McCarthy and New York Trek Orchestra
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Show Notes
Cold Open
After sounding happy to resume their course back towards Risa after the interruptions of last week’s episode, Archer is advised that they have picked up a distress call and orders the Enterprise to alter course.
Act I
After repairing the alien vessel, its captain invites them to his home for dinner to show his gratitude, and Archer agrees to delay Risa once more. Trip tries to get out of joining the away mission because deserts aren’t really his jam, but Archer guilts him into it. After recounting some of the Enterprise’s journey to their host over dinner, Trip and Archer participate in a post-dinner Geksana match, a local game that looks similar to lacrosse that gives the captain an excuse to take off his shirt. Aboard the Enterprise, T’Pol receives a hail from the planet advising them that they are unlikely to see their captain ever again.
Act II
After several slow-motion sequences, their game is interrupted by T’Pol calling to let the captain know that he may be palling around with terrorists. As Archer and Trip slyly try to make their exit, Zobral tells them the jig is up as they picked up the communication between the Enterprise and the government. He explains they are only seeking to terrorize their oppressors the same way they have been terrorized for centuries. Zobral heard about the liberation of the Suliban internment camp and hopes Archer will join them in the fight for freedom. The Torothans begin their nightly bombing raid of the encampment, and Archer and Trip are forced to delay their return home.
The Enterprise bridge crew witnesses ships strafing the encampment, but are unable to effectively communicate the captain with the jamming signals blanketing the area. The Captain and Trip discuss what to do about their situation as the building they are hiding beneath explodes and decide taking their chances out in the desert seems like the best option.
Act III
T’Pol asks the planet’s chancellor to suspend the assault on the encampment so they can bring back their crew, but the chancellor scoffs at that nonsense and further blocks Enterprise scanners. Archer and Trip struggle their way across the desert, and hide beneath the sand when unknown ships approach. Aboard the Enterprise, the crew try to find a way to non-invasively circumvent the Torothan sensor block, and once again discuss the idea that maybe some kind of ultimate directive is needed.
Trip begins suffering the effects of heat exhaustion and Archer forces him to drink all their water. Zobral has escaped the encampment and reboards the Enterprise, learning that Captain Archer isn’t the great liberator of thousands of Suliban he was led to believe. He reveals there is a recurring gap in the planet’s detection field, and T’Pol demands he exploit it to save the crew because they are his responsibility. Trip and Archer reach an abandoned structure for shelter and take a rest.
Act IV
Archer is able to start a fire and boil the water for his thirsty buddy, but Trip finds himself much more interested in falling into a coma than drinking the captain’s stupid water. Archer tries to keep Trip’s mind busy by playing fun games like naming different foods. Just as the fun is kicking into high gear and they start naming different places, the game is interrupted by incoming mortar fire. In a shuttlepod above, T’Pol realizes this means the Torothans have located the captain and commander. After blowing up the mortar gun, they land and rescue Archer and Tucker. Archer bids goodbye to Zobral and says he’s not out here to join causes like his. After his departure, he privately tells T’Pol that even though he isn’t getting involved, he feels Zobral’s cause is one worth fighting for.
good! super!