Episode 030 – Enterprise 2×03 – Minefield
The Enterprise finds itself with a mine stuck to its hull after accidentally stumbling into a minefield placed by something calling itself the Romulan Star Empire. Before long, Reed soon finds himself skewered through the leg by said mine, and really begins to test the patience of his captain (and the audience) with his mournful “woe is me” attitude.
Enterprise 02×03 – Minefield
Directed by James Contner
Written by John Shiban
Guest Stars: None?
There Are Four Mics is a weekly Star Trek podcast discussing the Star Trek episodes and movies in stardate order. Join Anna Heiser, Jason Allen, Joe Heiser, and Joshua B. Jones as we discuss the 3rd episode of season two of Star Trek: Enterprise, Minefield.
Subscribe, rate, and review us on iTunes and Stitcher!
Music credits:
Faith of the Heart/Where My Heart Will Take Me – Written by Diane Warren, performed by Russell Watson, Jerry Lubbock, and the New York Trek Orchestra
Archer’s Theme – Dennis McCarthy and New York Trek Orchestra
===
Show Notes
Cold Open
The Captain invites Reed to a meal for some long overdue bonding time, but the armory officer is all about business and is just generally awkward and not fun to be around. Thankfully T’Pol interrupts their meal when a Minshara Class planet is discovered nearby. As they’re making arrangements to visit the surface, the Enterprise is rocked by a major explosion that takes a huge chunk out of the saucer section.
Act I
The explosion didn’t cause any fatalities, but sickbay is flooded with a dozen and a half injured crewman. They detect a cloaked mine that has attached itself to the Enterprise but has not yet gone off, and believe another one is what caused the massive explosion. Reed kind of volunteers to head out there, while Archer sets the bridge crew to the task of detecting other mines in the area. Archer asks Trip the possibility of just abandoning the part of the hull the mine is attached to into space, and due to the dangers, is tabled as a backup plan only. While Reed is on the hull trying to disarm the device, a vessel decloaks and approaches the Enterprise
Act II
The approaching ship hails the Enterprise, but with Hoshi knocked unconscious, T’Pol tries her hand at translating duties and it isn’t going well. While they continue trying to figure out what to do, the ship fires off warning shots nearly hitting the Enterprise’s nacelles. They decide to get outta Dodge, and Travis takes control of maneuvering thrusters and attempts to navigate out of the cloaked minefield manually. A sudden course alteration from Travis upsets the mine Reed is working on and it attaches one of its magnetic legs to the hull – going through the lieutenant’s leg in the process. Archer heads out to keep Reed co
mpany on the outside of the ship, and asks him to provide guidance on disarming that bad boy. Back in sickbay, Hoshi has been given the communications with the alien ship where she learns that something called the Romulan Star Empire has annexed this planet and demands the Enterprise leave immediately.
Act III
Hoshi is working on a response to the Romulans in an effort to explain the situation. Reed continues guiding the Captain through disarming the mine, while the Captain makes an effort to guide Reed through normal human conversation. Travis skillfully navigates the Enterprise out of the minefield, and the Captain skillfully navigates the emotional walls that Reed has erected, finally getting Reed to open up about his vulnerabilities and insecurities. Two Romulans vessel decloak demanding that they jettison the hull plating with Reed attached, or they’ll open fire. After Archer is able to disarm the last circuit, a sub-detonator is revealed that they are unable to access, leaving Reed feeling hopeless and ready to die for his crew.
Act IV
Reed thinks the Captain is being foolish in trying to disarm the mine, so he jettisons his oxygen into space like a jerk. Archer gives him his oxygen, and comes up with an idea that has him returning to the ship requesting a couple of shuttlepod hatches. The Enterprise detaches the hull plating with the mine attached, allowing it some distance from the ship. The Romulans reappear and arm weapons, just as Archer cuts through the mine’s magnetic leg and it begins the detonation process. They leap away from the mine with their shuttlepod hatches, and are sent spiraling into space once the explosion hits. Travis finds them, scoops them up, and warps out of the system just as the Romulans start targeting the Enterprise’s warp engines.