Episode Report Card Keckler: B | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Blue Swayed Crews
By Keckler | Season 3 | Episode 13 | Aired on 01.20.2004
In the Armory, Andorianna says she wishes they had more time: "You're only going to get ninety-four percent efficiency from the phase cannons." Reed stops in his tracks and says, "I've never gotten them above ninety-three!" He adds, "If you ever decide to leave the Imperial Guard, Starfleet could certainly use you." So could he. Andorianna returns the compliment by saying, "And if you ever get tired of exploring, you'd do well in the Imperial Guard." Aw, isn't it so nice how everyone's getting along so well?
Quantum stiffs out an acceptance of Shran McCain's offer. The Andorian starts to toddle off to his ship, but Quantum says he's going with him. Shran McCain doesn't think it's necessary and says they'll keep him informed, he starts to rush out and Quantum shouts, "That isn't good enough! If something goes wrong..." Shran McCain argues that his crew is competent and can handle the task. Quantum questions the "joint venture," and glances back at T'Pol as he says it. "We'll render whatever assistance we can, but my crew won't take orders from you!" says Shran McCain. Who says they had to? "They're going to have to," Quantum says. Oh. But why? Why would Quantum be giving orders? Wouldn't he just be on the ship overseeing stuff? I don't get it. "The Imperial Guard does not serve at YOUR LEISURE, PINKSKIN!" Shran McCain shouts. Quantum shouts back that it's HIS MISSION! Quantum shouts some more that it was seven million PEOPLE the Xindi killed, not ANDORIANS, and that he's calling the shots. If that's not acceptable -- he walks back to stand by T'Pol and nearly trips over the anvil of solidarity -- they'll go it alone. Shran McCain stares.
On the Andorian ship, Shran McCain talks to an Andorian General who is impressed by the scans of the weapon he sent. Shran McCain reports that T'Pol thinks the weapon is unstable. "The Vulcan?" General Andorian Clark sneers. "I have no reason to doubt her assessment," responds Shran McCain."She seems...capable." General Andorian Clark says that they will review her data and Shran McCain is to proceed as planned. Shran McCain tells General Andorian Clark that he thinks the humans would be valuable allies. "If your mission is successful, we won't need allies," General Andorian Clark tells him. Shran McCain argues some more, and General Andorian Clark tells him to shut it and hopes that his "regard" for Quantum won't cause him to lose sight of his duty. General Andorian Clark hangs up.
Armory. Reed is annoyed that Andorianna is playing with the sensors, since they weren't damaged. "Not by the anomalies," Andorianna explains. "With all the bypasses we've been running, we obviously could've created some additional problems." "You're just being thorough," Reed says, sort of shamefacedly. As a body cavity check. Andorianna tells him she fixed the lateral array, which was out of alignment, and says she'd take the ship into battle herself. That must be her highest compliment. "Even with our primitive weapons?" Reed asks, recalling the earlier conversation. "It's not the weapon, it's the solider who wields it," Andorianna says, and walks away. Are we still talking about starships? Reed smiles -- knowing he has nothing to fear in that department -- and then puts on a serious face and starts looking at what she was doing.